“I can appreciate and sympathize with your feelings.” said Mrs. Nelson, “for I have myself endeavored to change my husband’s determination.  But he is a rigid disciplinarian, and makes it a rule never to overlook the first symptom of insubordination in any of the servants.  He says if a servant is once permitted to retort, all discipline ceases, and he must be sold South.  It is his rule and he never departs from it.  O!  I sometimes feel so sick when I see the punishments inflicted that seem necessary to keep them in subjection.  But we wives can do nothing, however great our repugnance may be to it.  The children have begged me to take them to see Mark before he goes.  I heard from one of the servants that his owner intended starting to-morrow, so that this will be the only opportunity they will have to see him, and I think I will gratify them and let them go.”

Mrs. Nelson rang the bell, and in a few moments Sally had the children ready.

“I intended to go down myself,” said Mrs. Jennings, “and if you have no objections, I will take the children down in my carriage, as it is waiting at the door.”

“O, I thank you, that will suit me very well,” said Mrs. Nelson, “as my engagements this morning will hardly permit me to go, and I was almost afraid to trust them with any of the other servants, now that Mark has gone.”

Mrs. Jennings and the children immediately entered the carriage and drove to the yard.  As the carriage drew up before the door, Mr. M’Affee came out and assisted the party to alight, and on hearing the business, summoned Mark to them.

“O!  Massa Eddie and Missy Bell,” said he joyfully, “I’se so glad you cum to see poor Mark; I was afeard I would never see you again.”

“O yes,” said Eddie, “we came as soon as mamma told us about it.  You see we didn’t know it until yesterday, when we went out to ride, and that cross old Noah drove us, and we couldn’t tell what it meant; so as soon as we came home Bell asked mother about it, and she said that you had been naughty, and papa sent you away.  But I don’t care; I think pa might forgive you just this once.”

“Yes, so do I,” broke in Bell; “pa ought to let you stay, because little Fanny won’t have any father to come and see at our house, and I like her to play with me.”

“I’se afeard Fanny won’t play any more,” said Mark sadly.  “She is berry sick; de doctor said it was de scarlet fever, and the oder night, when I was up home, she was out of her head and didn’t know me.”

“Why, is she sick?” asked Bell; “I didn’t know that; I’ll ask mamma if I can’t go and see her when I get home.  But mamma says maybe you’ll come back one of these days.  Won’t you, Mark?”

“No, honey, I don’t ever ’spec to get back; and if I do, it will be a long, long time.  It’s so far down where I’se sold to, down the Arkansas river, I believe.”

“Are you sold there, Mark?” inquired Mrs. Jennings.