The slaves were all deeply affected by the scene; some doubtless truly lamented the death of their mistress; others rejoiced that she was no more, and all were more or less frightened.  One of them I remember went to the pump and wet his face, so as to appear to weep with the rest.

What a field was opened for reflection, by the agonizing death of Mrs. Helm?  Born and reared in affluence; well educated and highly accomplished, possessed of every means to become a useful woman and an ornament to her sex; which she most likely would have been, had she been instructed in the Christian religion, and had lived under a different influence.  As infidelity ever deteriorates from the female character, so Slavery transforms more than one, otherwise excellent woman, into a feminine monster.  Of Mrs. Helm, with her active intellect and great force of character, it made a tyrannical demon.  Her race, however, is ended; her sun gone down in darkness, and her soul we must leave in the keeping of a righteous God, to whom we must all give an account for the deeds done in the body.  But in view of the transitory pleasures of this life; the unsatisfactory realization of wealth, and the certainty of death, we may well inquire, “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

Some little time after the scene just recorded, there came to Bath a young physician named Henry, who commenced practice under very flattering prospects.  He was an accomplished young man, well educated and very skillful in his profession.  He was affable and gay in his manners, and very fond of company.  An intimate acquaintance was soon formed with Capt.  Helm and family, and he called almost daily to chat and drink wine with the Captain,—­both being quite fond of a social glass.

One night in the depth of winter, the Doctor was called to see a patient who lived six miles down the Conhocton river.  Previous, however, to the call, he had accepted an invitation to attend a party at Capt.  Helm’s, and there he was found.  They had music and dancing, while the wine passed around very freely.  None seemed to join in the dance and other amusements of the evening with more enjoyment than did Dr. Henry; but after he was sent for, it being a most bitter cold night, he asked the Captain for a horse to ride to see his patient, to which he readily assented, and had his fine race-horse (for the Captain had not left off all his old habits), brought out from the stable, and the Doctor sprang lightly into the saddle.  Unfortunately his way led by the race-course, and when the trained animal came to it he started with such speed as to throw the Doctor to the ground, where he lay all that terrible cold night.  In the morning, some person going after wood, came in sight of the Doctor as he was trying to creep away on his frozen hands and feet.  He was put into the sleigh and taken to the village with all possible speed.  All was done for him