they laughed and said there was a great many white niggers.  Mr. Bruteman come to see us, and he said we was his niggers.  When I showed him my free paper, he said ’t want good for anything, and tore it to pieces.  O Missy Rosy, that was a dreadful dark time.  The jailer’s wife didn’t seem so hard-hearted as the rest.  I showed her the mark on the picaninny’s arm, and gave her one of the little shirts ye embroidered; and I told her if they sold me away from him, a white lady would send for him.  They did sell me, Missy Rosy.  Mr. Robbem, a Caroliny slave-trader bought me, and he’s my massa now.  I don’t know what they did with the picaninny.  I didn’t know how to write, and I didn’t know where ye was.  I was always hoping ye would come for me some time; and at last I thought ye must be dead.”

“Poor Tulee,” said Rosa.  “They wrote that Mr. and Mrs. Duroy and the black woman and the white baby all died of yellow-fever; and we didn’t know there was any other black woman there.  I’ve sent to New Orleans, and I’ve been there; and many a cry I’ve had, because we couldn’t find you.  But your troubles are all over now.  You shall come and live with us.”

“But I’m Mr. Robbem’s slave,” replied Tulee.

“No, you are not,” answered Rosa.  “You became free the moment they brought you to Massachusetts.”

“Is it really so?” said Tulee, brightening up in look and tone.  Then, with a sudden sadness, she added:  “I’ve got three chil’ren in Carolina.  They’ve sold two on ’em; but they’ve left me my little Benny, eight years old.  They wouldn’t have brought me here, if they hadn’t known Benny would pull me back.”

“We’ll buy your children,” said Rosa.

“Bless ye, Missy Rosy!” she exclaimed.  “Ye’s got the same kind heart ye always had.  How glad I am to see ye all so happy!”

“O Tulee!” groaned Rosa, “I can never be happy till that poor little baby is found.  I’ve no doubt that wicked Bruteman sold him.”  She covered her face with her hands, and the tears trickled through her fingers.

“The Lord comfort ye!” said Tulee, “I did all I could for yer poor little picaninny.”

“I know you did, Tulee,” she replied.  “But I am so sorry Madame didn’t take you with us!  When she told me she had left you, I was afraid something bad would happen; and I would have gone back for you if I could.  But it is too late to talk any more now.  Mr. King is waiting for me to go home.  Why can’t you go with us to-night?”

“I must go back,” rejoined Tulee.  “I’ve got the key with me, and I left the picaninny asleep in my bed.  I’ll come again to-morrow night, if I can.”

“Don’t say if you can, Tulee,” replied Mrs. King.  “Remember you are not a slave here.  You can walk away at mid-day, and tell them you are going to live with us.”

“They’d lock me up and send me back to Caroliny, if I told ’em so,” said Tulee.  “But I’ll come, Missy Rosy.”

Rosa kissed the dark cheek she had so often kissed when they were children together, and they parted for the night.