he’s brought her Bible here—to hell with her！”—and the woman laughed a wild and doleful laugh； that rung； with a strange； supernatural sound； through the old ruined shed。
Tom folded his hands； all was darkness and horror。
“O Jesus！ Lord Jesus！ have you quite forgot us poor critturs？” burst forth； at last；—“help； Lord； I perish！”
The woman sternly continued：
“And what are these miserable low dogs you work with； that you should suffer on their acomount？ Every one of them would turn against you； the first time they got a chance。 They are all of ’em as low and cruel to each other as they can be； there’s no use in your suffering to keep from hurting them。”
“Poor critturs！” said Tom；—“what made ’em cruel？—and； if I give out； I shall get used to ’t； and grow； little by little； just like ’em！ No； no； Missis！ I’ve lost everything；—wife； and children； and home； and a kind Mas’r；—and he would have set me free； if he’d only lived a week longer； I’ve lost everything in this world； and it’s clean gone； forever；—and now I can’t lose Heaven； too； no； I can’t get to be wicked； besides all！”
“But it can’t be that the Lord will lay sin to our acomount；” said the woman； “he won’t charge it to us； when we’re forced to it； he’ll charge it to them that drove us to it。”
“Yes；” said Tom； “but that won’t keep us from growing wicked。 If I get to be as hard…hearted as that ar’ Sambo； and as wicked； it won’t make much odds to me how I come so； it’s the bein’ so；—that ar’s what I’m a dreadin’。”
The woman fixed a wild and startled look on Tom； as if a new thought had struck her； and then； heavily groaning； said；
“O God a’ mercy！ you speak the truth！ O—O—O！”—and； with groans； she fell on the floor； like one crushed and writhing under the extremity of mental anguish。
There was a silence； a while； in which the breathing of both parties could be heard； when Tom faintly said； “O； please； Missis！”
The woman suddenly rose up； with her face composed to its usual stern； melancholy expression。
“Please； Missis； I saw ’em throw my coat in that ar’ corner； and in my coat…pocket is my Bible；—if Missis would please get it for me。”
Cassy went and got it。 Tom opened； at once； to a heavily marked passage； much worn； of the last scenes in the life of Him by whose stripes we are healed。
“If Missis would only be so good as read that ar’；—it’s better than water。”
Cassy took the book； with a dry； proud air； and looked over the passage。 She then read aloud； in a soft voice； and with a beauty of intonation that was peculiar； that touching acomount of anguish and of glory。 Often； as she read； her voice faltered； and sometimes failed her altogether； when she would stop； with an air of frigid composure； till she had mastered herself。 When she came to the touching words； “Father forgive them； for they know not what they do；” she threw down the book； and； burying her face in the heavy masses of her hair； she sobbed aloud； with a convulsive violence。
Tom was weeping； also； and ocomasionally uttering a smothered ejaculation。
“If we only could keep up to that ar’！” said Tom；—“it seemed to come so natural to him； and we have to fight so hard for ’t！ O Lord； help us！ O blessed Lord Jesus； do help us！”
“Missis；” said Tom； after a while； “I can see that； some how； you’re quite ’bove me in everything； but there’s one thing Missis might learn even from poor Tom。 Ye said the Lord took sides against us； because he lets us be ’bused and knocked round； but ye see what come on his own Son；—the blessed Lord of Glory；—wan’t he allays poor？ and have we； any on us； yet come so low as he come？ The Lord han’t forgot us；—I’m sartin’ o’ that ar’。 If we suffer with him； we shall also reign； Scripture says； but； if we deny Him； he also will deny us。 Didn’t they all suffer？—the Lord and all his？ It tells how they was stoned and sawn asunder； and wandered about in sheep…skins and goat…skins； and was destitute； afflicted； tormented。 Sufferin’ an’t no reason to make us think the Lord’s turned agin us； but jest the contrary； if only we hold on to him； and doesn’t give up to sin。”
“But why does he put us where we can’t help but sin？” said the woman。
“I think we can help it；” said Tom。
“You’ll see；” said Cassy； “what’ll you do？ Tomorrow they’ll be at you again。 I know ’em； I’ve seen all their doings； I can’t bear to think of all they’ll bring you to；—and they’ll make you give out； at last！”
“Lord Jesus！” said Tom； “you will take care of my soul？ O Lord； do！—don’t let me give out！”
“O dear！” said Cassy； “I’ve heard all this crying and praying before； and yet； they’ve been broken down； and brought under。 There’s Emmeline； she’s trying to hold on； and you’re trying；—but what use？ You must give up； or be killed by inches。”
“Well； then； I will die！” said Tom。 “Spin it out as long as they can； they can’t help my dying； some time！—and； after that； they can’t do no more。 I’m clar； I’m set！ I know the Lord’ll help me； and bring me through。”
The woman did not answer； she sat with her black eyes intently fixed on the floor。
“May be it’s the way；” she murmured to herself； “but those that have given up； there’s no hope for them！—none！ We live in filth； and grow loathsome； till we loathe ourselves！ And we long to die； and we don’t dare to kill ourselves！—No hope！ no hope！ no hope？—this girl now；—just as old as I was！
“You see me now；” she said； speaking to Tom very rapidly； “see what I am！ Well； I was brought up in luxury； the first I remember is； playing about； when I was a child； in splendid parlors；—when I was kept dressed up like a doll； and company and visitors used to praise me。 There was a garden opening from the saloon windows； and there I used to play hide…and…go…seek； under the orange…trees； with my brothers and sisters。 I went to a convent； and there I learned music； French and embroidery； and what not； and when I was fourteen； I came out to my father’s funeral。 He died very suddenly； and when the property came to be settled； they found that there was scarcely enough to cover the debts； and when the creditors took an inventory of the property； I was set down in it。 My mother was a slave woman； and my father had always meant to set me free； but he had not done it； and so I was set down in the list。 I’d always known who I was； but never thought much about it。 Nobody ever expects that a strong； healthy man is going to die。 My father was a well man only four hours before he died；—it was one of the first cholera cases in New Orleans。 The day after the funeral； my father’s wife took her children； and went up to her father’s plantation。 I thought they treated me strangely； but didn’t know。 There was a young lawyer who they left to settle the business； and he came every day； and was about the house； and spoke very politely to me。 He brought with him； one day； a young man； whom I thought the handsomest I had ever seen。 I shall never forget that evening。 I walked with him in the garden。 I was lonesome and full of sorrow； and he was so kind and gentle to me； and he told me that he had seen me before I went to the convent； and that he had loved me a great while； and that he would be my friend and protector；—in short； though he didn’t tell me； he had paid two thousand dollars for me； and I was his property；—I became his willingly； for I loved him。 Loved！” said the woman； stopping。 “O； how I did love that man！ How I love him now；—and always shall； while I breathe！ He was so beautiful； so high； so noble！ He put me into a beautiful house； with servants； horses； and carriages； and furniture； and dresses。 Everything that money could buy； he gave me； but I didn’t set any value on all that；—I only cared for him。 I loved him better than my God and my own soul； and； if I tried； I couldn’t do any other way from what he wanted me to。
“I wanted only one thing—I did want him to marry me。 I thought； if he loved me as he said he did； and if I was what he seemed to think I was； he would be willing to marry me and set me free。 But he convinced me that it would be impossible； and he told me that； if we were only faithful to each other； it was marriage before God。 If that is true； wasn’t I that man’s wife？ Wasn’t I faithful？ For seven years； didn’t I study every look and motion； and only live and breathe to please him？ He had the yellow fever； and for twenty days and nights I watched with him。 I alone；—and gave him all his medicine； and did everything for him； and then he called me his good angel； and said I’d saved his life。 We had two beautiful children。 The first was a boy； and we called him Henry。 He was the image of his father；—he had such beautiful eyes； such a forehead； and his hair hung all in curls around it； and he had all his father’s spirit； and 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 gamblng debts； which stood in the way of his marrying as he wished；—and he sold us。 He