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〃When did he leave you？〃 asked Mr。 Johnson。
〃About eighteen months ago； and I have never seen hair or hide of him since。〃
〃Did he have a wife？〃 enquired a very respect… able…looking young gentleman； who was sitting near my master and opposite to the lady。
〃No； sir； not when he left； though he did have one a little before that。 She was very unlike him； she was as good and as faithful a nigger as any one need wish to have。 But； poor thing！ she became so ill； that she was unable to do much work； so I thought it would be best to sell her； to go to New Orleans； where the climate is nice and warm。〃
〃I suppose she was very glad to go South for the restoration of her health？〃 said the gentleman。
〃No； she was not；〃 replied the lady； 〃for niggers never know what is best for them。 She took on a great deal about leaving Ned and the little nigger； but； as she was so weakly； I let her go。〃
〃Was she good…looking？〃 asked the young pas… senger； who was evidently not of the same opinion as the talkative lady； and therefore wished her to tell all she knew。
〃Yes； she was very handsome； and much whiter than I am； and therefore will have no trouble in getting another husband。 I am sure I wish her well。 I asked the speculator who bought her to sell her to a good master。 Poor thing！ she has my prayers； and I know she prays for me。 She was a good Christian； and always used to pray for my soul。 It was through her earliest prayers；〃 con… tinued the lady； 〃that I was first led to seek for… giveness of my sins； before I was converted at the great camp…meeting。〃
This caused the lady to snuffle and to draw from her pocket a richly embroidered handkerchief； and apply it to the corner of her eyes。 But my master could not see that it was at all soiled。
The silence which prevailed for a few moments was broken by the gentleman's saying； 〃As your 'July' was such a very good girl； and had served you so faithfully before she lost her health； don't you think it would have been better to have eman… cipated her？〃
〃No； indeed I do not！〃 scornfully exclaimed the lady； as she impatiently crammed the fine handkerchief into a little work…bag。 〃I have no patience with people who set niggers at liberty。 It is the very worst thing you can do for them。 My dear husband just before he died willed all his niggers free。 But I and all our friends knew very well that he was too good a man to have ever thought of doing such an unkind and foolish thing； had he been in his right mind； and； therefore we had the will altered as it should have been in the first place。〃
〃Did you mean； madam；〃 asked my master； 〃that willing the slaves free was unjust to yourself； or unkind to them？〃
〃I mean that it was decidedly unkind to the servants themselves。 It always seems to me such a cruel thing to turn niggers loose to shift for themselves； when there are so many good masters to take care of them。 As for myself；〃 continued the considerate lady； 〃I thank the Lord my dear husband left me and my son well provided for。 Therefore I care nothing for the niggers； on my own account； for they are a great deal more trouble than they are worth； I sometimes wish that there was not one of them in the world； for the un… grateful wretches are always running away。 I have lost no less than ten since my poor husband died。 It's ruinous； sir！〃
〃But as you are well provided for； I suppose you do not feel the loss very much；〃 said the pas… senger。
〃I don't feel it at all；〃 haughtily continued the good soul； 〃but that is no reason why property should be squandered。 If my son and myself had the money for those valuable niggers； just see what a great deal of good we could do for the poor； and in sending missionaries abroad to the poor heathen； who have never heard the name of our blessed Re… deemer。 My dear son who is a good Christian minis… ter has advised me not to worry and send my soul to hell for the sake of niggers； but to sell every blessed one of them for what they will fetch； and go and live in peace with him in New York。 This I have concluded to do。 I have just been to Rich… mond and made arrangements with my agent to make clean work of the forty that are left。〃
〃Your son being a good Christian minister；〃 said the gentleman； 〃It's strange he did not advise you to let the poor negroes have their liberty and go North。〃
〃It's not at all strange； sir； it's not at all strange。 My son knows what's best for the nig… gers； he has always told me that they were much better off than the free niggers in the North。 In fact； I don't believe there are any white labouring people in the world who are as well off as the slaves。〃
〃You are quite mistaken； madam；〃 said the young man。 〃For instance； my own widowed mother； before she died； emancipated all her slaves； and sent them to Ohio； where they are getting along well。 I saw several of them last summer myself。〃
〃Well；〃 replied the lady； 〃freedom may do for your ma's niggers； but it will never do for mine； and； plague them； they shall never have it； that is the word； with the bark on it。〃
〃If freedom will not do for your slaves；〃 replied the passenger； 〃I have no doubt your Ned and the other nine negroes will find out their mistake； and return to their old home。
〃Blast them！〃 exclaimed the old lady； with great emphasis； 〃if I ever get them； I will cook their infernal hash； and tan their accursed black hides well for them！ God forgive me；〃 added the old soul； 〃the niggers will make me lose all my religion！〃
By this time the lady had reached her destination。 The gentleman got out at the next station beyond。 As soon as she was gone； the young Southerner said to my master； 〃What a dd shame it is for that old whining hypocritical humbug to cheat the poor negroes out of their liberty！ If she has religion； may the devil prevent me from ever being converted！〃
For the purpose of somewhat disguising myself； I bought and wore a very good second…hand white beaver； an article which I had never indulged in before。 So just before we arrived at Washington； an uncouth planter； who had been watching me very closely； said to my master； 〃I reckon； stranger； you are 'SPILING' that ere nigger of yourn； by letting him wear such a devilish fine hat。 Just look at the quality on it； the President couldn't wear a better。 I should just like to go and kick it overboard。〃 His friend touched him； and said； 〃Don't speak so to a gentleman。〃 〃Why not？〃 exclaimed the fellow。 He grated his short teeth； which appeared to be nearly worn away by the incessant chewing of tobacco； and said； 〃It always makes me itch all over； from head to toe； to get hold of every dd nigger I see dressed like a white man。 Washington is run away with SPILED and free niggers。 If I had my way I would sell every dd rascal of 'em way down South； where the devil would be whipped out on 'em。〃
This man's fierce manner made my master feel rather nervous； and therefore he thought the less he said the better； so he walked off without making any reply。 In a few minutes we were landed at Washington； where we took a conveyance and hurried off to the train for Baltimore。
We left our cottage on Wednesday morning； the 21st of December； 1848； and arrived