Bond and Free | Page 6

chillen. Nora, she' ten year ole Christmas, an' helps a heap 'bout nussin' de baby; now Missus, she says, 'Nora must wait in de house, an' let Carline nuss de baby,' an' she's so little."
A knock at the kitchen door; and without waiting for an invitation, Terence, a field hand entered: "Skuse me, Aunt Dinah, I comes in fur ter light my pipe. W'ats you an' Miss Nellie consolodatin' 'bout; you looks so solemn like?"
"I reckon w'es a right to be solemn, Terence, wi' Joe an' Miss 'Titia sold to Georgy."
"Don't say so. Dat's business in de navy. Wonder what all's Maus Hunt sold 'em to Georgy for? But you orter see how him an' dis 'ere oberseer bosses; gettin' us up 'fore day, an' workin' us like mules. No more Saturday evenin's to make shuck mats, nor baskets, nor nuffin'; but work on de place. Dat's all we's made for, I reckon he thinks."
Mr. Templeton, in taking up the thread of his brother's business, found that it did not glide smoothly through his own hands, but became sadly entangled.
Coming in one evening, in a disturbed state of mind, he said to his wife: "There's 'Squire Munser has had a man in tow who wanted to buy out the whole line of trading vessels. 'Squire says he has backed out, and will not buy. I've done my best to keep in with the agents, but somehow there is nothing coming in from them. Here I am kept running one way and another, and it is my opinion they are keeping me blindfolded, pullin' an' grabbin' in all directions; the more I reach and grasp, finding nothing, the more these agents chuckle, and, in my opinion, pocket the profits. I must set out for Charleston to-night."
His scalp, like a storm-cloud, lowered; and the flash of his eyes was too well understood by Mrs. Templeton to attempt the use of any soothing influence.
Stepping out to the back porch, he raised his voice in a prolonged "Ho-o-o, Terence! Ho-o-o, Terence!"
That individual presenting himself at a cabin door, his master proceeded, "Saddle Daisy for me, and get on one of the work horses to bring her back. Right off; do you hear?"
Instead of obeying, Terence walked toward the house, "Yes, Massa; but Daisy's mighty bad, sir; I 'spects you'd better take Prince, sir."
"What's the matter now?"
"She got cast in the stable, sir; an' her foot's mighty bad, sir."
At this, Terence was made the victim of a torrent of invectives; curses of the entire African race were centred upon him; not because he had been guilty of any offense, but chance had thrown him in the path to receive pent up wrath from an irritated master. Having exhausted his supply of censures, he added:
"Tell Harry to put my saddle on Prince, and get ready to go with me to the river to bring him back; take care of that mare, and, if I lose her, you get fifty lashes; do you hear?"
"Yes, Massa."
The two older sons, Thomas and Jerry, were too idle to remain in school; in a few weeks they returned home, and devoted their abilities to rearing and fighting game cocks.
With other idle lads in the neighborhood, they assembled in the rear of a little school-house in the woods; and passers by, every Saturday, would meet the interested parties with gaily plumed fowls under their arms, and find them engaged in whetting gaffs to arm the cocks for the conflict. After the battle, when small stakes were risked, the winner was to "liquor up all around;" whisky bottles were emptied, and with cards the day's entertainment was completed.
To join in this weekly pastime, the boys sallied out of the house, and called Terence with the order, "Saddle Daisy and Prince right away; do you hear?"
"Maus Thomas, I hears; but Maus Hunt, he tole me fur to take good keer de mare; she's mighty bad crippled wid her foot, so I tuck off her shoes, an' keep her in de stable, sir."
"What do you mean, you saucy nigger; I tell you to saddle the horses, right away; do you understand?"
"I un'stan', sir; but I'm 'feared it 'll go hard wid 'er to put 'er on de road bar' foot, an' 'er foot so bad."
By this time the headstrong boy, who knew no will but his own, descended from the porch, and shook his fist at Terence. "You dare to disobey my orders! I tell you to saddle that mare and Prince, and have 'em here inside of ten minutes, or I'll send you up for seventy-five lashes. You know it won't hurt her to get a little exercise."
Seeing remonstrance was in vain, the horses were saddled, and the boys started off.
Terence looked after them, as, urged to the utmost speed she could make over