9.  The poor blacks, who were thus dragged from their home and kindred, were thrust into the holds of ships and carried to America.  Sometimes they suffered much on the voyage.  The weakest of them died, and were thrown overboard.

10.  When they reached America they were sold to the cotton-growers and sugar-growers, who carried them off to work in the fields.  Sometimes they were kindly treated; sometimes they were flogged to make them work.  But whether kindly or cruelly treated, they were no longer men and women, but slaves.

11.  This went on for many years.  At last some kind-hearted men in the northern states said, “It is wicked to own slaves.  All the slaves in America shall be set free.”

12.  The farmers of the south were very angry when they heard this, and said that they would not free their slaves.  Then a fierce war broke out.  The North beat the South, and when the war came to an end all the slaves in America were set free.

13.  The blacks still work in the cotton and sugar and tobacco fields; but they now work for wages, just as I do.  They are free to come and go as they please.

[Illustration:  {Five black children}]

14.  The darkies are very merry and full of fun.  When their work is over they love to sing and dance to the music of the banjo.  Some of their songs are very pretty.  I will sing some of them to you when I come home.  Good-bye, dears.  I shall soon be with you now.—­Your loving father.

* * * * *

29.  Home again.

1.  The telegram came soon after breakfast.  Father was coming home that very day.  We were so delighted that we sang and danced and clapped our hands, just like the darkies.

2.  Mother was very busy.  “You must all come and help me,” she said.  “The house must be made beautiful for father’s return.”

3.  May and I worked with mother, but the day passed very slowly.  Father’s train was to arrive at six o’clock.  By half-past five we were all at the station waiting for him.

4.  At last the train steamed in, and out jumped father.  Oh, how we hugged and kissed him!  Father was well, and he looked very brown.

5.  I sat next to him in the cab.  He told us that his ship had only reached Liverpool that morning.  He had taken the first train for home, because he wished to see us so much.

[Illustration:  {Father in cab with one of his daughters}]

6.  After tea he opened one of his boxes.  “I have brought each of you a present,” he said.  “Sit down, and I will show you some pretty things.”

7.  Mother’s present was a dress from India.  It had gold and beetles’ wings on it.  They were a lovely shiny green, just like jewels.

8.  My present was a necklace of beautiful blue stones.  May’s was a dolly, dressed just like an Indian lady.  Tom’s was a kite from Japan.  It was shaped just like a dragon.  Of course, we were all delighted with our gifts.