an' forced her to stop in de room whilst he beat Lina to death; em say dat he would teach his wife not to help his slaves to run away again. It was like de devil being in dat room. Nebber can ole Aunt Luloo forget poor Lina's cries; dey seem to come ober her now; in de day time when she be washing, and in de night when all be dark.” "Did the poor creature die under the lash, auntie ?" 66 'No, de massa beat her until he was tired, an' de passion gone, den he toss down de cowhide, an' tell de mistress she might send for a doctor if she wished. We took Lina up from de floor, and laid her on de bed in mistress's room, but no doctor could stop de blood. Lina soon die, and de mistress got de massa, when dey made friends to sell me, and I got a good home, de bery best kind ob a place. I just be as happy as a bird-singing all de day long; and bress de Lord," continued Aunt Lina, "I means to go by de boat to-morrow wid some nice presents I hab saved for my beautiful white boys, de twins, I nurse from their birth; guess dey be a watching for dem ole auntie on de wharf, when I gets to Houston, for I send a letter to say I was a coming, if it please de Lord on de Saturday." "You appear very fond of those children, auntie; what age may they be?" inquired Amy. 66 Dey be somewhere about the size of Miss Alice. Luloo calcolates she can 'stonish de English ladies wid de beauty ob dose lubly boys"—and after some trouble in searching her pocket, divesting it of articles too numerous to mention, Luloo produced, in evident triumph, a carte de visite-not white, most decidedly, and not yet totally black-just a medium, rather highly coloured, certainly, by coming into rather too close company with the other occupants of dear old Luloo's pocket. "Dey be rather soiled," said the woman in tones of apology, "for I nebber likes to part wid dem; 'pears as if I had dem boys always a running round me, and when I keeps dis picture in my pocket, I hab it ready at hand such times as I sit down to rest an' smoke my pipe, I can take dese bressed likeness, and talk to my lubly boys, or discontemplate on dere beauty." Con "Dat be wrong grammar, ole woman, quite wrong. templates be de word, I 'specks," said Bill Washington, entering the room with a small tray containing cups of coffee in one hand, a plate of sweet biscuits in the other, and a lighted candle on his head, "wishes ole niggers would either go school, hold dere tongues, or talk proper, for dey just disgrace young gen'lemen like me who be a rising in society. "Hold your tongue, you forward boy," exclaimed Aunt Luloo, in high indignation; "'pears to me dis world grows worse an' worse. Here, in dis bery house, dare he, afore my eyes, a nigger brat, dat sets emself up to be 'structing ob a woman ole enough to be em mother." Bill yawned, and without further ceremony stretched himself on the carpet, and either prepared or professed to prepare to have a nap. "Will you not take a cup of coffee, Aunt Luloo?" "If de white lady not object, I should be glad of one, for de night air feels chill." "If you feel at all cold, close the door," said Ida-and Aunt Luloo rose to fulfil her request. "Just stay one moment, auntie, I want to have a last glimpse of the city from the balcony," interposed Amy, stepping forward. The scene was pretty. The canopy of heaven, thickly studded with stars, the principal street of the city lighted, the foliage of the trees disturbed by the night wind, the elegantly built wooden houses, and in the distance the masts of various vessels, rising from the silvery bay, whose murmuring waves, mingled with the music of the gentle breeze that came sweeping from the gulf, and wafting the rich fragrance of orange blossoms through the air; carriages passed in quick succession, conveying gorgeously dressed ladies and handsome looking gentlemen to the theatre and concert halls; or now and then an American buggy rolled over the sandy road, from which came the laughter of gay Southern youths, perhaps on some frolic bent. Then the moon was at the full, and sent forth her meek but lovely rays in the room. Just beside the door which led on to the balcony sat Aunt Luloo, her dark face, and gay turban, visible ; near to her Ida, in evening dress, trying to coax Bill, still reclining on the carpet, to go and fetch Aunt Luloo's coffee - but Bill was immovable; responding to all Ida's entreaties by and “Let de ole mammy go herself; dis nigger tired, for em hab a pain at em hart." CHAPTER XXII. FAREWELL TO TEXAS. "AUNTIE," said Lilly Brooklyne, abruptly entering the room where Amy was tracing a pattern for embroidery; "Aunt Amy, do you know what Cr-a-z-y spells?" "I scarcely expected such an inelegant word would have been used in your most elegant country." Lilly "Auntie, your niece is just about experiencing the effects of being c-r-a-z-y," and Lilly tossed her slipper from one end of the room to the other, exclaiming "I hate to be made do anything I do not wish to do—I despise society, and abhor to go into it-acting the hypocrite all the time. Why may not a Texan woman please herself; the thoughts of being shackled just drives me mad-me, Lilly Brooklyne, paying morning calls. Oh! Aunt Amy, do you not pity me, pity me from your heart?" "Tell me first, Lilly, what grieves you." "Mamma says I am to dress myself neatly and call upon Rose Lee and Florence Hamilton." "Well, dear, that is quite right." "Fudge, Aunt Amy, do not you begin to lecture me," and Lilly looked defiance all the time. "Lilly, dear Lilly" "What is it, Aunt?" "Tell me why you object to do as your mamma wishes?" "Because I do not like these young ladies, and I know that they do not like me. I love my own friend Ina, and will call upon her with pleasure, or Lucy Walter either, but I detest Rose and Florence, they are hollow hearted, I cannot trust them, and you would not call any person a friend would you, auntie, whom you could not trust?" "No, decidedly not, for friendship is too precious a thing to be given or cast aside lightly." "But you see they called upon me, and mamma says politeness demands me to return their call; so I cannot disobey mamma, and am compelled to profess what I do not feel." "You can call upon the young ladies without bestowing friendship." "Fudge. You either do not, or will not, understand me. Here I am to spend ever so much time dressing, and then I am to go-(me a Texan)-go when I do not choose to goand visit when I do not want to visit-to say I hope the girls are well when I don't care a straw whether they are or not to sit and admire all the finery they bring out for my inspection, their new dresses, hats, &c., for instance; and worse than all else, to kiss them, and say all kind of polite words, when I do not mean them, Aunt Amy-is not this hypocrisy?" "Had you not better explain to your mamma the reason of your objection to return the visits of those young ladies." "Perhaps it would be advisable, only mamma has gone to make some calls herself, and taken Maud with her, and I see no help for me. I just feel like denouncing society at large." "You are wrong, Lilly, to speak thus." "Hush, in a moment, Aunt; I will brook no interference; if I must go, I suppose I must-only I shall speak out my mind, exactly as a Texan lady has a right to do. So, please, Amy, be a good kind aunt, and mend me this kid glove. No, stop though, I will not trouble you, Maud shall pay tribute if I can find her wardrobe open." And singing the Texas song— We are a band of brothers all, and native to the soil, Lilly disappeared, soon to return, well laden with numerous articles of dress, the property of her elder sister. 66 'Now, I am just going to teach Maud in future not to interfere between mamma and me. She likes to go out visiting, and so shall take my share, or I will make her wardrobe, or rather its contents, pay heavy duty." "Maud is careful. Don't, please, unfold those ribbons." "You are about right in that. Maud is good, too good for me. However, a little fresh air will not hurt the things, and what I do not require can be left on the floor-can they not, Aunt, until I return?" responded Lilly, with a mischievous light in her eye." "Maud may return home in the meantime, and be grieved to find what she is so particular about tossed over my room floor." "Grieved!" sneered Lilly, shaking out her long fair hair; "grieved is always the word Ida rises when I tease her-she |