On a bright sunny morning, when a boy, I was seated on a rock watching a flock of lambs, that were frisking and skipping about in a meadow.  An old lady by name S., and a gentleman by name M., met within a few yards from where I sat.  After the usual salutations; “Well, Mrs. S.,” said the gentleman, “I understand that you have sustained a heavy loss by fire.”  “Yes,” replied Mrs. S.  “Well I am very sorry to hear it, and I intend to send you a wagon load of provisions, &c., shortly.”  “I thank you Mr. M., but don’t trouble yourself about the matter, for we have already received twice as much as we lost by the fire.”  I will relate yet another.

A wealthy gentleman being informed that a poor Irish widow in his neighborhood was likely to suffer for provisions; went immediately to her cabin in order to ascertain her condition.  When about taking his leave, he remarked to the widow, “if she would send over, she could have some Irish potatoes, and any other articles of food that her family needed.”

“Bless your dear soul,” replied the widow, “when you undertake to do a good and charitable deed, and sarve the Lord Jasus, if you expect a blessing on your soul, don’t half do the thing, and leave a poor widow to do the other half.  Go home and send the potatoes, and send some meat to cook with the potatoes, and send meal to make bread, to eat with the meat; and then may ye expect a blessing on yer soul.”  The gentleman returned home and complied with her request.

Whatever the faults of Southern slaveholders may be, and they are many, these are redeeming traits in their characters; nor are they so devoid of sympathy for their slaves, as is generally supposed in the North.  I know that they are represented by a certain class in the North, as a set of tyrants, ruling their slaves with a rod of iron.  All such representations are untrue, for a majority of them seldom correct an adult slave with the rod, except as a punishment for some flagitious crime, for which a white man would be fined or imprisoned, or else, confined in the State penitentiary.

Go to the field, and there you will find the aged slave and his master, busily engaged in the same employment; listen to their kind and familiar converse.  Direct your steps from thence to the parlor, and there behold the aged house-woman and her mistress, seated side by side.  Listen to the soothing and affectionate tones of this amiable lady, and behold the happy, joyful countenance, of this aged African.  Cast your eyes around the splendid mansion, and behold the indiscriminate groups of white and black children, chattering, skipping, jumping, wrestling or rolling over the fine Turkey carpet.  If freedom was tendered to these aged slaves, what think you, would they accept it?  No, they would spurn the offer with indignation.  They are happier than their masters or mistresses, and they well know it.  They are provided for; partake of the same food, while they are exempt from