Afghanistan and the Anglo-Russian Dispute | Page 8

whom, with as many
females, he had inherited as part of the chattels of his mother.
I had a dozen slaves also; negroes who, as a race, had been in the
family almost as long as Clawbonny. About half of these blacks were
singularly laborious and useful, viz., four males and three of the
females; but several of the remainder were enjoying otium, and not
altogether without dignitate, as heir-looms to be fed, clothed and
lodged, for the good, or evil, they had done. There were some small-fry
in our kitchens, too, that used to roll about on the grass, and munch
fruit in the summer, _ad libitum;_ and stand so close in the
chimney-corners in cold weather, that I have often fancied they must
have been, as a legal wit of New York once pronounced certain eastern
coal-mines to be, incombustible. These negroes all went by the
patronymic of Clawbonny, there being among them Hector Clawbonny,
Venus Clawbonny, Caesar Clawbonny, Rose Clawbonny--who was as
black as a crow--Romeo Clawbonny, and Julietta, commonly called
Julee, Clawbonny; who were, with Pharaoh, Potiphar, Sampson and
Nebuchadnezzar, all Clawbonnys in the last resort. Neb, as the
namesake of the herbiferous king of Babylon was called, was about my
own age, and had been a sort of humble playfellow from infancy; and
even now, when it was thought proper to set him about the more
serious toil which was to mark his humble career, I often interfered to
call him away to be my companion with the rod, the fowling-piece, or
in the boat, of which we had one that frequently descended the creek,
and navigated the Hudson for miles at a time, under my command. The
lad, by such means, and through an off-hand friendliness of manner that
I rather think was characteristic of my habits at that day, got to love me
as a brother or comrade. It is not easy to describe the affection of an
attached slave, which has blended with it the pride of a partisan, the

solicitude of a parent, and the blindness of a lover. I do think Neb had
more gratification in believing himself particularly belonging to Master
Miles, than I ever had in any quality or thing I could call my own. Neb,
moreover liked a vagrant life, and greatly encouraged Rupert and
myself in idleness, and a desultory manner of misspending hours that
could never be recalled. The first time I ever played truant was under
the patronage of Neb, who decoyed me away from my books to go
nutting on the mountain stoutly maintaining that chestnuts were just as
good as the spelling-book, or any primer that could be bought in York.
I have forgotten to mention that the death of my mother, which
occurred in the autumn, brought about an immediate change in the
condition of our domestic economy. Grace was too young, being only
fourteen, to preside over such a household, and I could be of little use,
either in the way of directing or advising. Mr. Hardinge, who had
received a letter to that effect from the dying saint, that was only put
into his hand the day after the funeral, with a view to give her request
the greater weight, rented the rectory, and came to Clawbonny to live,
bringing with him both his children. My mother knew that his presence
would be of the greatest service to the orphans she left behind her;
while the money saved from his own household expenses might enable
this single-minded minister of the altar to lay by a hundred or two for
Lucy, who, at his demise, might otherwise be left without a penny, as it
was then said, cents not having yet come much into fashion.
This removal gave Grace and me much pleasure, for she was as fond of
Lucy as I was of Rupert, and, to tell the truth, so was I, too. Four
happier young people were not to be found in the State than we thus
became, each and all of us finding in the arrangement exactly the
association which was most agreeable to our feelings. Previously, we
only saw each other every day; now, we saw each other all day. At
night we separated at an early hour, it is true, each having his or her
room; but it was to meet at a still earlier hour the next morning, and to
resume our amusements in company. From study, all of us were
relieved for a month or two, and we wandered through the fields; nutted,
gathered fruit, or saw others gather it as well as the crops, taking as
much exercise as possible in the open air, equally for the good of our

bodies, and the lightening of our spirits.
I do not think vanity, or any