as I was happy at others.  Much to my annoyance Mary was adored by every negro in the neighbourhood, and this excited my jealousy and made me miserable.  I was almost crazy when I saw another negro talking to her.  Again and again I tried my best to get her to give up speaking to them, but she refused to comply.  There was one negro who was in the habit of calling on Mary whom I dreaded more than all the rest of them put together, this negro was Dan, he belonged to Rogers; and notwithstanding I believed myself to be the best looking negro to be found anywhere in the neighbourhood, still I was aware that I was not the best of talkers.  Dan was a sweet and easy talker, and a good bone and banjo player.  I was led to fear that he would displace me in Mary’s affections, and in this I was not mistaken.  One night I went over to see Mary, and in looking through the window, saw Mary—­my sweet and beloved Mary—­sitting upon Dan’s knee; and here it is impossible to describe the feeling that came over me at this unwelcome sight.  My teeth clenched and bit my tongue—­my head grew dizzy, and began to swim round and round, and at last I found myself getting up from the ground, having stumbled from the effects of what I had seen.  I wandered towards home, and arriving there threw myself on the straw and cried all night.  My first determination was to kill Dan; but then I thought they would hang me and the devil would have us both, and some other negro will get Mary, then the thought of killing Dan passed away.  Next morning, when the horn blew for breakfast, I continued my work, my appetite having left me; at dinner time it was the same.  At sun-down I went to the barn and got a rope and put it under my jacket, and started off to see Mary, whom I found sitting in the kitchen, smoking her pipe, for smoking was as common among the girls as among the men.  Mary, said I, I was over here last night and saw you through the window sitting on Dan’s knee.  Now, Mary, I want you to tell me at once whose you mean to be—­mine or Dan’s?  Dan’s, she replied, with an important toss of her head, which went through my very soul, like the shock from a galvanic battery.  I rested for a minute or so on an old oak table that stood by.  Mary’s answer had unstrung every nerve in me, and left me so weak that I could scarcely keep from falling.  Now I was not at that time, and don’t think I ever shall be one of those fools who would cut off his nose to spite his face, much less kill myself because a girl refused to love me.  Life to me was always preferable, under any circumstances; but in this case I played the most dexterous card I had.  Mary, said I sternly, if you don’t give Dan up and sware to be mine, I will hang myself this night.  To this she replied, hang on if you are fool enough, and continued smoking her pipe as though not the least alarmed.  I took out the rope from under my jacket, and got upon a three-legged stool, and putting the rope first over the beam in the ceiling, then made