The Garies and Their Friends | Page 7

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mail as he went out--but I duno what it was"--and as he finished he
vanished from the apartment, and might soon after have been seen with
his mouth in close contact with the drumstick of a turkey.
Mr. Moyese being now released from the children, took his way to the
office, with the portentous red-tape document that was to so greatly
change the condition of George Winston in his coat pocket. The old
man sat down at his desk, smiling, as he balanced the papers in his
hand, at the thought of the happiness he was about to confer on his
favourite. He was thus engaged when the door opened, and George
entered, bearing some newly-arrived orders from European
correspondents, in reference to which he sought Mr. Moyese's
instructions.
"I think, sir," said he, modestly, "that we had better reply at once to
Ditson, and send him the advance he requires, as he will not otherwise
be able to fill these;" and as he concluded he laid the papers on the
table, and stood waiting orders respecting them.
Mr. Moyese laid down the packet, and after looking over the papers
George had brought in, replied: "I think we had. Write to him to draw
upon us for the amount he requires.--And, George," he continued,
looking at him benevolently, "what would you like for a New-year's
present?"
"Anything you please, sir," was the respectful reply.
"Well, George," resumed Mr. Moyese, "I have made up my mind to
make you a present of----" here he paused and looked steadily at him
for a few seconds; and then gravely handing him the papers, concluded,
"of yourself, George! Now mind and don't throw my present away, my
boy." George stood for some moments looking in a bewildered manner,
first at his master, then at the papers. At last the reality of his good

fortune broke fully upon him, and he sank into a chair, and unable to
say more than: "God bless you, Mr. Moyese!" burst into tears.
"Now you are a pretty fellow," said the old man, sobbing himself, "it's
nothing to cry about--get home as fast as you can, you stupid cry-baby,
and mind you are here early in the morning, sir, for I intend to pay you
five hundred dollars a-year, and I mean you to earn it," and thus
speaking he bustled out of the room, followed by George's repeated
"God bless you!" That "God bless you" played about his ears at night,
and soothed him to sleep; in dreams he saw it written in diamond letters
on a golden crown, held towards him by a hand outstretched from the
azure above. He fancied the birds sang it to him in his morning walk,
and that he heard it in the ripple of the little stream that flowed at the
foot of his garden. So he could afford to smile when his relatives talked
about his mistaken generosity, and could take refuge in that fervent
"God bless you!"
Six years after this event Mr. Moyese died, leaving George a sufficient
legacy to enable him to commence business on his own account. As
soon as he had arranged his affairs, he started for his old home, to
endeavour to gain by personal exertions what he had been unable to
learn through the agency of others--a knowledge of the fate of his
mother. He ascertained that she had been sold and re-sold, and had
finally died in New Orleans, not more than three miles from where he
had been living. He had not even the melancholy satisfaction of finding
her grave. During his search for his mother he had become acquainted
with Emily, the wife of Mr. Garie, and discovered that she was his
cousin; and to this was owing the familiar footing on which we find
him in the household where we first introduced him to our readers.
Mr. Winston had just returned from a tour through the Northern States,
where he had been in search of a place in which to establish himself in
business.
The introductions with which Mr. Garie had kindly favoured him, had
enabled him to see enough of Northern society to convince him, that,
amongst the whites, he could not form either social or business
connections, should his identity with, the African race be discovered;
and whilst, on the other hand, he would have found sufficiently refined
associations amongst the people of colour to satisfy his social wants, he
felt that he could not bear the isolation and contumely to which they

were subjected. He, therefore, decided on leaving the United States,
and on going to some country where, if he must struggle for success in
life, he might do it without the additional embarrassments that would
be thrown in his way in his native land,