who never had the fear of God before their eyes-that he more than half starved his niggers, and charged them toll for grinding their corn in his mill.  Though the Reverend Peter —­never failed to assure his friends and acquaintances of his generosity (a noble quality which had long been worthily maintained by the ancient family to which he belonged), the light of one generous act had never found its way to the public.  In truth, so elastically did his reverend conscientiousness expand when he learned the strange motive which prompted Rosebrook to purchase Jane and her little ones, that he sorely regretted he had not put two hundred dollars more on the price of the lot.  Fortunately Jane was much worn down by grief and toil, and was viewed by the reverend gentleman as a piece of property he would rather like to dispose of to the best advantage, lest she should suddenly make a void in his dollars and cents by sliding into some out of the way grave-yard.  But Rosebrook, duly appreciating the unchristian qualities of our worthy one’s generosity, kept his motive a profound secret until the negociation was completed.  Now that it had become known that the Reverend Peter—­(who dresses in blackest black, most sanctimoniously cut, whitest neckcloth wedded to his holy neck, and face so simply serious) assures Rosebrook he has got good people,—­they are valuably promising-he will pray for them, that the future may prosper their wayfaring.  He cannot, however, part with the good man without admonishing him how dangerous it is to give unto “niggers” the advantage of a superior position.

Reader, let us hope the clergy of the south will take heed lest by permitting their brethren to be sold and stolen in this manner they bring the profession into contempt.  Let us hope the southern church will not much longer continue to bring pure Christianity into disgrace by serving ends so vile that heaven and earth frowns upon them; for false is the voice raised in sanctimony to heaven for power to make a footstool of a fallen race!

CHAPTER XL.

Containing various matters.

Great regularity prevails on the Rosebrook plantation, and cheering are the prospects held out to those who toil thereon.  Mrs. Rosebrook has dressed Jane (Harry’s wife) in a nice new calico, which, with her feet encased in shining calf-skin shoes, and her head done up in a bandana, with spots of great brightness, shows her lean figure to good advantage.  Like a good wife, happy with her own dear husband, she pours forth the emotions of a grateful heart, and feels that the world-not so bad after all-has something good in store for her.  And then Harry looks even better than he did on Master Marston’s plantation; and, with their little ones-sable types of their parents-dressed so neatly, they must be happy.  And now that they are duly installed at the plantation, where Harry pursues his duties as father of the flock, and Jane lends her cheering voice and helping hand to make comfort in the various cabins complete-and with Dad Daniel’s assurance that the people won’t go astray-we must leave them for a time, and beg the reader’s indulgence while following us through another phase of the children’s history.