The hunter came early to the plantation and took breakfast with Mr. Clarkson on the day they began to hunt for the runaway slave.  While sitting at breakfast, Mr. Clarkson said to the hunter, “My father brought up that boy as a house servant, and petted him so that it takes all the salt in the country to cure him.  Father had too much religion to keep his negroes straight; but I don’t believe in that.  I think a negro ought to be overhauled every little while to keep him in his place, and that is just the reason why I took the overseership on this plantation.”

The Hunter.  “Well, what caused your boy to run away, Mr. Clarkson?”

Mr. Clarkson.  “Well he ran away because I gave him an overhauling, to keep him in the place of a negro.”

Mr. Clarkson’s wife.  “Well, Thomas, I told you the other day, before you did it, that I didn’t see any need of your whipping Isom, because I thought he was a good boy.”

Mr. Clarkson.  “Yes, my dear, if South Carolina had many more such Presbyterians as you and Father Boston (he meant old Mr. Clarkson), in a short time there would be no slaves in the state; then who would you have to work for you?”

I wish to state a fact to my readers.  While there were exceptions, as a general thing the Presbyterians made better masters than did any other denomination among the slave holders in the South.

Mrs. Clarkson.  “Yes, Thomas, if you were such a Presbyterian as you charged Father Boston and me with being, you could have saved yourself the trouble and money which it will cost to hunt him.”

Mr. Clarkson.  “Well, we will not discuss the matter of religion any further.” (To the hunter.) “That boy has been away now for several days since I whipped him.  I thought that he would have returned home long before this time, as this is the first time he has ever run away; but I rather conclude that he got with some experienced runaways.  Now do you think that you can capture him without his being hurt, or torn by your dogs?”

Mrs. Clarkson.  “That is just what I am afraid will be done to that boy.”

The Hunter.  “O, no fear of that, madam, I shall use care in hunting him.  I have but one dog which is dangerous for tearing runaway negroes; I will chain him here until I capture your boy.”

The hunter blew his horn which gathered his dogs, chained the one he spoke of, then he and Mr. Clarkson started on a chase for the runaway slave, who, secreted in the house, had heard every word they had said about him.

After the hunter and Mr. Clarkson had gone, Mrs. Clarkson went to her room (as a general thing the southern mistresses hardly ever knew what went on in their dining rooms and kitchens after meal hours), and Isom, the runaway slave, sat at the same table and ate his breakfast.