his talent, too.  Little Elise, he said, looked like me.  He used to tell me that I was the most beautiful woman in Louisiana, he was so proud of me and the children.  He used to love to have me dress them up, and take them and me about in an open carriage, and hear the remarks that people would make on us; and he used to fill my ears constantly with the fine things that were said in praise of me and the children.  O, those were happy days!  I thought I was as happy as any one could be; but then there came evil times.  He had a cousin come to New Orleans, who was his particular friend,—­he thought all the world of him;—­but, from the first time I saw him, I couldn’t tell why, I dreaded him; for I felt sure he was going to bring misery on us.  He got Henry to going out with him, and often he would not come home nights till two or three o’clock.  I did not dare say a word; for Henry was so high spirited, I was afraid to.  He got him to the gaming-houses; and he was one of the sort that, when he once got a going there, there was no holding back.  And then he introduced him to another lady, and I saw soon that his heart was gone from me.  He never told me, but I saw it,—­I knew it, day after day,—­I felt my heart breaking, but I could not say a word!  At this, the wretch offered to buy me and the children of Henry, to clear off his gambling debts, which stood in the way of his marrying as he wished;—­and he sold us.  He told me, one day, that he had business in the country, and should be gone two or three weeks.  He spoke kinder than usual, and said he should come back; but it didn’t deceive me.  I knew that the time had come; I was just like one turned into stone; I couldn’t speak, nor shed a tear.  He kissed me and kissed the children, a good many times, and went out.  I saw him get on his horse, and I watched him till he was quite out of sight; and then I fell down, and fainted.

“Then he came, the cursed wretch! he came to take possession.  He told me that he had bought me and my children; and showed me the papers.  I cursed him before God, and told him I’d die sooner than live with him.”

“‘Just as you please,’ said he; ’but, if you don’t behave reasonably, I’ll sell both the children, where you shall never see them again.’  He told me that he always had meant to have me, from the first time he saw me; and that he had drawn Henry on, and got him in debt, on purpose to make him willing to sell me.  That he got him in love with another woman; and that I might know, after all that, that he should not give up for a few airs and tears, and things of that sort.

“I gave up, for my hands were tied.  He had my children;—­whenever I resisted his will anywhere, he would talk about selling them, and he made me as submissive as he desired.  O, what a life it was! to live with my heart breaking, every day,—­to keep on, on, on, loving, when it was only misery; and to be bound, body and soul, to one I hated.  I used to love to read to Henry,