MY SISTERS. 15

leaving everything behind us, with the exception
of my sisters’ wardrobes and a few ornaments,
which they claimed as their property. Mammy did
her best to cheer us. She had taken, unknown to
my sisters, some humble, though clean, lodgings in
the outskirts of the town, and to these she had
carried whatever we were allowed to remove.

‘See, Massa Harry,’ she said, showing me an
old leathern purse full of gold. ‘We no want food
for long time to come, and before then God find us
friends and show us what to do,’

My sisters possessed various talents, and they
at once determined to employ them to the best ad-
vantage. Jane and Mary drew beautifully, and
were adepts in all sorts of fancy needle-work.
Emily, though young, had written one or two
pretty tales, and we were sure that she was
destined to be an authoress. Mammy, therefore,
entreated them not to separate, assuring them that
her only pleasure on earth would be to labour and
assist in protecting them. Had they had:no other
motive, for her sake alone, they would have been
anxious to follow her advice.

I was the only one of the family who felt un-
able to do anything for myself. I wrote too bad a