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THE SUNNY SOUTH.
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With Lee In Virginia.
A Story of the American Gvil War.
By G. A. HENTY,
Author of “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” “In Freedom’s Cause,” “In
Reign of Terror,” Etc.
the
Chapter II.—Buying a Slave.
Mrs. Wingfield did talk the matter over
with the overseer, and things went on in
consequence more smoothly. Vincent,
however, adhered to his wish, and it was
arranged that as soon as he could get a
nomination he should go to West Point,
which is to the American army what
Sandhurst and Woolwich are to England.
Before that could be done, however, a
great political agitation sprang up. The
slave states were greatly excited over
the prospect of a Republican president
being chosen, for the Republicans were
to a great extent identified with the aboli
tion movement: and public feeling, which
had for some time run high, became in
tensified as the time approached for the
election of a new president, and threats
that if the Democrats were beaten and a
Republican elected the slave states would
secede from the Union, were freely in
dulged in.
In Virginia.’which was one of the most
northern of the slave states, opinion was
somewhat divided, there being a strong
minority against any extreme measures
being taken. Among Vincent's ft lends,
however, who were for the most part the
sons of planters, the Democratic feeling
was very strongly in the ascendant, and
their sympathies were wholly with the
southern states. That these had a right
to secede was assumed by them as being
unci uestionable.
But in point of fact there was a great
deal to be said on both sides. The states
which first entered the Union in 5776 con
sidered themselves to be separate and
sovereign states, each possessing power
and autnority to manage its own affairs,
and forming only a federation in order
to construct a central power, and so to
operate with more effect against the
mother country. Two years later the con
stitution of the United States was fram
ed, each state giving up a certain por
tion of its authority, reserving its own
self-government and whatever rights were
not specifically resigned.
No mention was made in the constitu
tion of the right of a state to secede from
the Union, and while those who insisted
that each state had a right to secede if
it chose to do so declared that this nght
was reserved, their opponents affirmed
that such a case could never have been
contemplated. Thus the question of ab
solute right had never been settled, and
it became purely one of force.
Early in November. 1S60. it became
known that the election of Mr. Eincoln.
the Republican candidate, was assured,
and on the ninth of that month the repre
sentatives of South Carolina m-t at
Charleston, and unanimously authorized
the holding of a state convention to meet
in the third week in December. The an
nouncement caused great excitement, f tr
it was considered certain that the conven
tion would pass a vote of secession, and
thus bring the debated question to an is
sue. Although opinion in Virginia was
less unanimous than in the more southern
states, it was generally thought that she
would imitate the example of South Caro
lina.
On the day following tbf yeoipt of the
news. Vincent, who had rioden over to
the plantations of several of his friends
to talk the matter over, was returning
homeward, when he heard the sound of
heavy blows with a whip and loud eurses,
and a moment later a shrill scream in a
woman's voice rose in the air.
Vincent checked his horse mechanically
with an exclamation of anger. He knew
but too well what was going on beyond
the screen of shrubs that grew on the
other side of the fence bordering the
road. For a moment ho hesitated, and
then muttering, "What's the use!" was
about to touch the horse with the whip
and gallop on. when the shriek again rose
louder and more agonizing than before.
With a cry of rage Vincent leaped from
his horse, threw the reins over the top
of the fence, climbed over it in a moment,
and burst his way through the shrubbery.
Close by a negro was being held by four
others, two having hold of each wrist
and holding his arms extended to full
length, while a white lad. some two years
Vincent's senior, was showering blows
with a heavy whip upon him. The slave's
back was already covered with welts, and
the blood was flowing from several places.
A few yards distant a black girl, with a
baby in her arms, was kneeling on the
ground screaming for mercy for the slave.
Jnst.as Vincent burst through the hushes,
the young fellow, irritated at her cries,
turned round and delivered a tremendous
blow with the whip on her bare shoulders.
This time no cry came from her lips, but
the slave, who had stood immovable
while the punishment was heing inflicted
upon himself, made a desperate effort to
break from the men who held him. He
was unsuccessful, but before the whip
could again fall on the woman’s shoul
ders, Vincent sprang forward, and seiz
ing it. wrested it from the hands ol the
striker. With an oath of fury and sur
prise at this sudden interruption, the
young fellow turned upon Vincent.
"You are a coward and a blackguard,
Andrew Jackson!" Vincent exclaimed,
white with anger. “You are a disgrace
to Virginia, you ruffian!”
Without a word the young planter, mad
with rage at this interference, rushed at
Vincent; but the latter had learned the
use of his fists at his English school, and
riding exercises had strengthened his
muscles, and as his opponent rushed at
him. he met him with a blow from the
shoulder which sent him staggering hack
with the hlood streaming from his lips.
He again rushed forward, ana heavy
blows were exchanged; then they closed
and grappled. For a minute they swayed
to and fro; but although much taller, the
young planter was no stronger than Vin
cent, and at last they came to the ground
with a crash, Vincent uppermost. Jack
son's head as he fell coming with such
force against a low stump that he lay in
sensible.
The contest had been so sudden and fu
rious that none had attemnted to inter
fere. Indeed the negroes were so aston
ished that they had not moved from the
moment when Vincent made his appear
ance upon the scene. The lad rose to his
feet.
“You had better carry him up to the
house and throw some water on him." he
said to the negroes, and then turned to go
away. As he did so, the slave who had
been flogged broke from the others, who
had indeed loosened their hold, and ran
up to Vincent, threw- himself on his knees,
and taking the lad’s hand pressed it to
his lips.
“I am afraid I haven't done you much
good." Vincent said. "You will be none
the better ofT for my interference; but I
couldn’t help it." So saying he made his
way through the shrubbery, cleared the
fence, mounted, and rode homeward.
“I have been a fool," he said to him
self as he rode along. “It will he all the
worse for that poor beggar afterward:
still I could not help it. I wonder will
there be any row about it. I don't much
expect there will, the Jacksons don’t
stand well now, and this would not do
them any good with the people round;
besides I don’t think Jackson would tike
to go into court to complain of being
thrashed by a fellow a head shorter than
himself. It's blackguards like him who
give the abolitionists a right to hold up
the slave-owners as being tyrants and
brutes.”
The Jacksons wfre newcomers in Vir
ginia. Six years before, the estate, of
which the Cedars, as their place was
called, formed a part, was put up for
sale. It was a very large one, and having
hern divided into several portions to suit
buyers, the Cedars had been purchased
by Jackson, who, having been very suc
cessful as a storekeeper at Charleston,
had decided upon giving up the business
leaving South Carolina, and settling down
as a land owner in. some other state. His
antecedents, however, were soon known
at Richmond, and the old Virginian fami
lies turned a cold shoulder to the new
comer.
Had he been a man of pleasant man
ners. he would gradually have made his
way; but he was evidently not a gen
tleman. The habits of trade stuck to
him. and in a very short time there were
rumors that the slaves, whom lie had
bought with the property, found him a
harsh and cruel master. This in itself
would have been sufficient to bring him
disrepute in Virginia, where as a rule
the slaves were treated with great kind
ness, and indeed considered their position
to be infinitely superior to that of the
poorer class of whites. Andrew Jackson
had been for a few months at school with
Vincent; he was unpopular there, and
from the rumors current as to the treat
ment of the slaves on the estate, was
known by the nickname of the "slave-
driver.”
Had Vincent been the son of a white
trader, or a small cultivator, he know
well enough that his position would be
a very serious one, and that he would
have had to ride to the border of the
state with all speed. He would have
been denounced at once as an abolition
ist. and would have been accused of stir-
ring up the slaves to rebellion against
their masters; a crime of the most serious
kind in the- southern states. But placed
as he was, as the heir of a great estate
worked by slaves, such a cry could hard
ly be raised against him. He might doubt
less he fined and admonished for interfer
ing between a master and his slave: but
the sympathy of the better classes in
Virginia would be entirely with him. Vin
cent, therefore, was but little concerned
for himself, but he doubted greatly
whether his interference had not done much
more harm than good to the slave and his
wife, for upon them Andrew Jackson
would vent his fury. He rode direct to
the stables instead of alighting as usual
at the door. Dan. who had been pitting in
the veranda waiting for him. ran down to
the stables as he saw him coming.
“Give the horse to one of the others.
Dan; I want to speak to you. Dan," he
went on when he had walked with him
a short distance from the stables. "I
suppose you know some of the hands on
.Ml-kCCf'.'*. .'eKt.VvT :• ’>■ « j
Dan grinned, for although th^re 'was
not supposed to be any communicaMon
between the slaves on the different es
tates, it was notorious that at night they
were in the habit of slipping out of their
huts and visiting each other.
"I know some ob dent, Marse Vincent.
What yo want ob dem? Berry bad mas
ter, Marse Jackson. Wust master here
abouts."
Vincent related what had happened, to
Dan's intense delight.
"Now, Dan." he went on, “I am afraid
that after my interference they will treat
that poor fellow and his wife worse than
before. 1 want you to find out for me
what is going on at Jackson's. I do not
know that I can do anything, however
badly they treat them; hut I have been
thinking that if they ill treat them very
grossly. I will get together a party of 15
or 20 of my friends and we will go in a
body to Jackson's, and warn him that if
he behaves with cruelty to his slaves, we
will make it so hot for him that he will
have to leave the state. I don't say that
we could do anything; hut as we should
represent most of the large estates round
here. I don't think old Jackson and his
son will like being sent to Coventry. The
feeling is very strong at present against
ill treatment of the slaves. If these trou
bles lead to war almost all of us will go
into the army, and we do not like the
thought of the possibility of troubles
among the hands when the whites are all
away.”
"I will find out all about it for you to
night sah. I don't suspect dat dey will
do nuffin today. Andrew Jackson too
sick after dat knock against de stump.
He keep quiet a day or two.”
"Well, Dan. you go over tonight and
find out all about it. I expect I had bet
ter have left things alone, but now I
have interfered I shall go on with it.”
Mrs. Wingfield was much displeased
when Vincent told her at dinner of his
incident at Jackson's plantation and
even his sisters were shocked at this in
terference between a master and his
slave.
“You will get yourself into serious trou
ble with these fanciful notions of yours.”
Mrs. Wingfield said angrily. “You know
as well as I do how easy it is to get up
a cry against any one as an abolitionist
and how difficult to disprove the accusa
tion: and just at present, when the pas
sions of every man in the south are in
flamed to the utmost, such an accusa
tion will be most serious. In the present
instance there does not seem that there is
a shadow of excuse for your conduct.
You simply heard cries of a slave being
flogged. You deliberately leave the road
and enter these people's plantation and
interfere without, so far as I can see, the
least reason for doing so. You did not
inquire what the man’s offense was; and
he may for aught you know have half
murdered his master. You simply see a
slave being flogged and you assault his
owner. If the Jacksons lay complaints
against you it is quite probable that you
may have to leave the state. What on
earth can have influenced you to act in
such a mad-brained way?"
"I did not interfere to prevent his flog
ging the slave, mother, hut to prevent
his flogging the slave’s wife, which was
pure wanton brutality. It is not a ques
tion of slavery one way or the other.
Any one has a right to interfere to put a
stop to brutality. If I saw a man brutally
treating a horse or a dog I should cer
tainly do so: and if it is right to inter
fere to save a dumb animal from brutal
ill treatment surely it must be justifiable
to save a woman In the same case. I am
not an abolitionist. That is to say. I
consider that slaves on a properly man
aged estate, like ours, for instance, are
just as well off as are the laborers on
an estate In Europe: but I should cer
tainly like to see laws passed to protect
them from ill treatment. Why, in En
gland there are laws against cruelty to
animals; and a man who brutally flog
ged a dog or a horse would get a month's
imprisonment with hard labor. I consider
it a disgrace to us that a man may here
ill treat a human being worse than he
might in England a dumb animal.”
"You know, Vincent,” his mother said
more quietly, "that I object as much as
you do to the ill treatment of the slaves,
and that the slaves here, as on all well
conducted plantations in Virginia. are
well treated; but this is not a time for
bringing in laws or carrying out reforms.
It is bad enough to have scores of north
erners doing their best to stir up mis
chief between masters and slaves with
out a southern gentleman mixing himself
up in the matter. We have got to stand
together as one people and to protect our
state rights from interference.”
"I am just as much in favor of state
rights as any one else, mother; and if,
as seems likely, the present quarrel is to
be fought out, I hope I shall do my best
for Virginia as well as other fellows of
my own age. But just as I protest against
any interference by the northerners with
our laws. I say that we ought to amend
our iaws so as not to give them the
shadow of an excuse for interference. It
is brutes like the Jacksons who have af
forded the materials for libels like ‘Uncle
Tom's Cabin’ upon us as a people; and I
can't say that I am a bit sorry for hav
ing given that young Jackson what he
deserved.”
“Well. I hope there will he no trouble
come of it,” Mrs. Wingfield said. “I
shouldn't think the Jacksons would like
the exposure of their doings which would
he caused by bringing the matter into
court; but if they do, you may be quite
sure that a jury in Richmond at the pres
ent time would find against you.”
“I don’t suppose that they will do any
thing. mother. But if they must, they
must; and I don't suppose anything se
rious will come of it any way.”
The next morning Vincent went down
early to the stables. As he approached
them Dan came out to meet him.
“Well, Dan, what’s your news?”
"Berry great bobbery ober at Jackson's
last night, Massa Vincent. Fust of all
I crept round to de huts Ob de field hands.
Dey all know nuffin 'bout It; but one of
dem he goes off and gets to hah a talk
with a gal employed in de house who was
in de habit of slipping out to see him.
She say when de young un war carried
in de old man go on furious; he bring suit
against you. he hah you punished berry
much—no saying what he not going to do.
After a time de young un come round, he
listen to what the ould man say for
some time: den he answer: ‘No use going
on like dat. Set all de county families
against us if we have suit. As to dat
infernal young villain, me pay him out
some other way.' Den de old man say he
cut de flesh off de bones oh dat nigger;
but de young one say: ‘Musn’t do dat.
Yon sure to hear ahout it. and make
great bobbery. Find some oder way to
punish him.’ Den dey talk together for
some time, but girl not hear any more.”
“Well, then, there will be no suit any
how," Vincent said. "As to paying me
out some other way, I will look after my
self, Dan. I believe that fellow Jackson
is capable of anything, and- I will be on
the lookout for him.”
"Be sure you do. Marse Vincent. You
ride about a great deal: dat fellow bery
like take a shot at you from behind tree.
Don't you go near dat plantation, or sure
enough trouble come.”
“I will look out, Dan. There is one
thing, I always ride fast; and it wants a
very good shot to hit one at a gallop.
I don't think they will try that; for if he
missed, as he would he almost stir- 4 '
i llao he
''it vvouiii i>(• a gt/oa fitrvi. ivurl
than this affair would have been liafl he
brought it into court. You keep your
ears open, Dan. and find out how they are
thinking of punishing that poor fellow
for my interference on his behalf.”
After breakfast a negro arrived with a
note for Mrs. Wingfield from Mr. Jack-
son, complaining of the unwarrantable
and illegal interference by her son on
behalf of a slave who was heing very
properly punished for gross misconTluct;
and for the personal assault upon his
son. The writer said that he was most
reluctant to take legal proceedings
against a member of so highly respected
a family, but that it was impossible that
he could submit to such an outrage as
this.
Although Mrs. Wingfield had expressed
her disapproval of Vincent's conduct on
the evening before, there was no trace
of that feeling in her reply to this letter.
She wrote in the third person, coldly ac
knowledging the receipt of Mr. Jackson's
letter, and saying that she had heard
from her son of his interference to put a
stop to one of those brutal scenes which
brought discredit upon the southern
states, and that she considered he had
most rightly punished Mr. Jackson. Jr.,
for his inhuman and revolting conduct;
that she was perfectly aware the in
terference had been technically ille
gal. hut that her son was fully prepared
to defend his conduct if called upon to do
so in the courts, and to pay any fine that
might be inflicted for his suffering himself
to he carried away by his righteous in
dignation. She ended by saying that as
Mr. Jackson was a stranger in Virginia,
he was perhaps not aware that the public
sentiment of that state was altogether
opposed to such acts of brutality as that
of which his son had been guilty.
“What have you been doing to that fel
low Andrew Jackson?” one of Vincent's
friends, a young fellow two years older
than himself, said to him a few days
later. "There were a lot of us talking
over things yesterday, in Richmond, and
he came up and joined in. Something
was said ahout abolitionists, and he said
that he should like to see every abolition
ist in the state strung up to a tree. He is
always pretty violent, as you know, but
on the present occasion he went further
than usual, and then went on to say that
the worst and most dangerous abolition
ists were not northern men. hut southern
ers, who were traitors to their state. He
said; ‘For example, there is that young
Wingfield. He has been to England and
has come hack with his heart tilled with
abolitionist notions,' and that such opin
ions at the present time were a danger to
the state.
"Two or three of us took the matter up,
as you might guess, and told him he had
better mind what he was saying or it
■would be the worse for him. Harry Fur-
niss went so far as to tell him that he
was a liar, and that if he didn't like that
he would have satisfaction in the usual
way. Master Jackson didn't like it. but
muttered something and slunk off. What’s
the matter between you?”
I should not have snid anything about
it.” Vincent replied. “If Jackson had
chosen to hold his tongue, but as he
chooses to go about attacking me, there
is no reason why I should keep the mat
ter secret. And he then related what
had taken place.
The young Virginian gave a low whistle.
“I don't say I blame you. Wingfield, but
I tell you. you might have got yourself
into an awful mess if the Jacksons had
chosen to take it up. You know how hot
the feeling is at present, an<T It is a se
rious matter at any time to interfere be
tween a master and his slaves in the
southern states. Of course, among us
our feelings would be all against Jack-
son. but among the poorer class of whites,
who have been tremendously excited by
the speeches, both in the north and here,
the cry of abolitionist at the present mo
ment Is like a red rag to a bull. How
ever, I understand now the fellow’s en
mity to you.
None of us ever liked him when he was
at school with us. He Is an evil-tempered
brute, and I am afraid you may have
some trouble with him. If he goes about
talking as he did to us, he would soon get
up a feeling against you. Of course it
would be nonsense to openly accuse a
member of an old Virginian family of be
ing an abolitionist, but it would be easy
enough to set a pack of the rough classes
of the town against you,and you might get
badly mauled If they caught you alone.
The fellow is evidently a coward, or he
would have taken up what Furniss said,
but a coward who is revengeful is a good
deal more dangerous than an open foe.
However, I will talk it over with some of
the others, and we will see If we can’t
stop Andrew Jackson’s mouth.”
The result of this was that the next day
half a dozen of Vincent’s friends wrote
a Joint letter to Andrew Jackson, saying
that they regarded his statements re
specting Vincent as false and calumnious,
and that if he repeated them they would
jointly and severally hold him responsible,
and that if. as a result of such accusa
tions, any harm happened to Vincent they
should know where to look for the orig
inator of the mischief and punish him ac
cordingly.
“You should be more careful. Andrew,"
his father said, as white with fury he
showed him his letter. “It was you who
were prenching prudence the other day
and warning me against taking steps that
would set all the whole country against
us; and now. you see, you have been let
ting your tongue run. and have drawn
this upon yourself. Keep quiet for the
present, my son; all sorts of things may
occur before long, and you will get your
chance. Let this matter sleep for the
present.”
A day or two later when Vincent went
down to the stables he saw that Dan had
something to tell him, and soon found out
that he wished to speak to him alone.
“What is your news, Dan?"
”1 heard last night, Marse Vincent, that
old man Jackson is going to sell Dinah;
dat de wife ob de man dey flogged.”
“They are going to sell her!” Vincent
repeated indignantly. “What are they
going to do that for?”
“To punish Tony. sah. Dar am no law
against dar seiiing her. I hear dat dey
are going to sell two oder boys, so dat it
cannot be said dat dey do it on purpose
to spite Tony. I reckon, sah, dey cal
culate dat when dey sell his wife Tony
get mad and run away, and den when dey
catch him again dey flog him pretty near
to death. Folk always do dat with run
away slaves; no one can say nuffin agin
dem for dat.”
“It’s an infamous shame that it should
he lawful to separate man and wife,”
Vincent said. “However, we will see what
we can do. You manage to pass the word
to Tony to keep up his spirits, and not let
them drive him to do anything rash. Tell
him I will see that his wife does not get
into bad hands. I suppose they will sell
the baby, too?”
"Yes. Marse Vincent. Natural the baby
will go wld de modder.”
Vincent watched the list of advertise
ments of slaves to be sold, and a day or
two later saw a notice to tne effect that
Dinah Morris, age twenty-two, with a
male baby at her breast, would be sold
on the following Saturday. He mounted
his horse and rode into Richmond. He
had not liked to speak to his mother on
the subject, for she had not told him of
the letter she had written to Jackson, and
he thought that she might disapprove of
any interference in the matter, conse
quently he went down to Mr. Renfrew,
the family solicitor.
“Mr. Renfrew," he said. ”1 want some
money; can you lend it to me?”
“You want money,” the solicitor said in
surprise. "What on earth do you want
money for? and if you want it. why don’t
you ask your mother for it? How much
dp you want?”
("! don't know exactly. About eight
vt'i—, i:-t «•-’ ijiougti
it may be a thousand. I wan* to buy a
slave.”
“You want to buy a slave?” repeated
Mr. Renfrew. "What on earth do you
want to buy a slave for? You have more
than you want now at the Orangery."
“It's a slave that man Jackson is going
to sell next Saturday, on purpose to spite
the poor creature’s husband and drive
him to desperation," and Vincent then re
peated the whole story of the circum
stances that had led up to the sale.
"It is all very abominable on the part
of these Jacksons,” Mr. Renfrew said,
"but your interference was most impru
dent, my young friend; and. as you see.
it has done harm rather than good. If
you are so quixotic as to become the
champion of every ill-treated slave in the
state, your work is pretty well cut out
for you.”
"I know that, sir," Vincent replied,
smiling, "and I can assure you I did not
intend to enter upon any such crusade;
but, you see. I have wrongly or rightly
mixed myself up in this, and I want to
repair the mischief which, as you say, I
have caused. The only way I can^ee is
to buy this negress and her baby.”
"But I do not see that you will carry
out your object if you do; Vincent. She
will be separated just as much from her
husband if you buy her as if any one else
does. He is ar one plantation and she is
at another, and were they ten miles apart
or a hundred, they are equally separ
ated.”
“I quite see that. Mr. Renfrew; but. at
least, she will be kindly treated, and his
mind will be at rest on that score. Per
haps some day or other the Jacksons may
put him tip for sale, and then I can buy
him. and they will be reunited. At any
rate, the first step is to buy her. Can
you let me have the money? My mother
makes me a very good allowance.”
“And I suppose you spend it,” the law
yer interrupted.
“Well, yes, I generally spend it; but
then, you see. when I come of age I come
in for the outlying estates.”
“And if you die before, or get shot, or
any other accident befalls you,” Mr. Ren
frew said, “they go to your sisters. How
ever, one must risk something for a
client, so I will lend you the money. I
had better put somebody up to bid for
you, for after what has happened the
Jacksons would probably not let her go
if they knew that you were going to be
the purchaser.”
“Thank you very much,” Vincent said
warmly, “it will he a great weight off my
mind." and with a light heart he rode
back to the Orangery.
Vincent said nothing during the next
two days to any of his friends as to the
course the Jacksons were taking in sell
ing Tony’s wife, for he thought that if
the news got about some of his friends
who had heard the circumstances might
go down to the auction and make such a
demonstration that Jackson would he
obliged to withdraw Dinah from the sale,
in which case he woulfi no doubt dispose
of her privately. On the Saturday he
mounted his horse and rode into Rich
mond, telling Dan to meet him there. At
the hour the sale was announced he went
to the yard where it was to take place.
This was a somewhat quiet and seclud
ed place, for although the sale of slaves
was permitted by law in Virginia, at any
rate these auctions were conducted quiet
ly and with as little publicity as possible.
For although the better classes still re
garded slavery as a necessary institution,
they were conscious that these sales, in
volving as they did the separation of
families, were indefensible, and the more
thoughtful would gladly have seen them
abolished, and a law passed forbidding
the sale of negroes save as part and par
cel of the estate upon which they worked,
an exception only being made in the case
of gross misconduct. Many of the slave
owners. indeed, forbade all flogging upon
their estates, and punished refractory
ft
44 One Swallow Does
Not Make a Spring.
cMp, it is the myriads of
birds that announce the open
ing of bright days. They bring
us promise of renewed health
and strength. They teach us
a lesson, which is to set our
human house in order by
thoroughly cleansing our
blood, iri fact, making it new,
pure and bright.
There is only one real specific with
which to accomplish this, and that is
Hood’s Sarsaparilla, America’s Great
est Spring Medicine, which never disap
points. As a purifier, its work is thor
ough, and good health is sure to follow.
Scrofula — " My little daughter, at three
months, had terrible scrofula eruptions,
scratching till the blood came. Hood’s Sar
saparilla cured a year ago. Skin is now
white, smooth and soft.” Mrs. Wilbur
Wells, Warren, Conn.
Neuralgia — “I had dreadful neuralgia.
Was miserable for months. Neighbors
persuaded me to use Hood’s Sarsaparilla,
and it cured me perfectly.” Mrs. Fred
Turner, Barre, Vt.
Tired Feeling — “ I had that tired, dull
feeling, dyspepsia, headaches and sinking
spells, but Hood’s Sarsaparilla made me a
new man. I never was better than now.'
John Mack, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Poor Appetite—” Spring finds me with
a weakness and lack of appetite. I recom
mend Hood's Sarsaparilla highly as a
strength builder and creator of appetite.”
J. F. Ward, Labelle, Ohio.
Dyspep8la—“I know a positive relief
for dyspepsia and that is Hood’s Sarsapa
rilla. It cured me. My neuralgia also
stopped.” W. B. Baldwin, 104 Oak Street,
Binghamton, New York.
Running Sores - “ We feared our little
brother wohld be a cripple from a running
■ore on his foot. He grew worse under
hospital treatment. Mother gave him
Hood's Sarsaparilla and now he is entirely
cured.” Miss Mary Mascarie, Aurora, Ind.
Impure Blood — “ My work was a
burden to me until I took Hood’s Sarsapa
rilla. Poor blood was the cause. Have
gained flesh and have color in my face.”
Mrs. A. A. Howard, Taunton, Mass.
TtbctiA SaUabautfa
Hood’s Pills ( tire liver ills, the non-irritating and
_oniy rathartir to take with Hood's 8ars.ip.iri 1 la.
Vincent felt uncomfortable. He had al
ready been round to Mr. Renfrew, who
had told him that he had deputed an
agent to buy, and until the man near the
platform stopped he had supposed that he
was the solicitor’s agent.
“Now, gentlemen.” the auctioneer said,
“surely you are not going to let this de
sirable piece of property go for seven
fifty? She would be cheap at double the
price. I have sold worse articles for
three thousand.”
“I will go another twenty-five dollars,”
a tall man in homespun anrl a broad
planter’s straw hat said quietly.
The contest now recommenced, and by
bids of twenty-five dollars at a time the
amount was raised to twelve hundred and
fifty dollars.
“That’s enough for me,” the man stand
ing by Andrew Jackson said, "he may
have her at twelve fifty, and dear enough,
too, as times go.”
“Will any one else make an offer?” the
auctioneer asked. There was no response
and the hammer fell.
“What name?”
"Nathaniel Forster," the tall man said,
and advancing to the table he counted
out a roll of notes and gave them to the
auctioneer, who handed to him a formal
note certifying to his having duly and le
gally purchased Dinah Moore and her in
fant. late the property of Andrew Jack-
son, Esquire, of the Cedars, state of Vir
ginia.
The purchaser had evidently made up
his mind beforehand to secure the lot. for
he handed a parcel he had been holding to
Dinah, and said briefly, "Slip those things
on, girl.”
(Continued on Page Nine.)
EPILEPSY
OR FALLING
FITS.
slaves, in the first place, by cutting off
the privileges they enjoyed in the way of
holidays, and if this did not answer,
threatened to sell them—a threat which
was. in the vast majority of cases, quite
sufficient to ensure good behavior, for the
slaves were well aware of the difference
between life in the well-managed estab
lishments in Virginia and that in some
of the other southern states. Handing
his horse to Dan. Vincent joined a knot
of four or five of his acquaintances who
had strolled in from mere curiosity.
Upon the other side of the yard Vincent
saw Andrew Jackson talking to two or
three men who were strangers to him.
and who, he guessed, were buyers from
some of the more southern states. There
Are I|> all twelve A *S to • bcjdisposed of.
Of these two or three were hands who
were no longer fit for field work, and who
were bought at very low prices by men
who owned but a few acres of land and
who could utilize them for odd jobs re
quiring but little strength. Then there
was a stir of attention. Dinah Moore
took her stand upon the platform, with
her baby in her arms. The message which
Dan had conveyed from Vincent to her
husband had given her some hope, and
though she looked scared and frightened
as she clasped her babe to her breast, she
was not filled with such utter despair as
would otherwise have been the case.
The auctioneer stated the advantages of
the lot in the same business-like tone as if
he had been selling a horse:
“Lot 6. Negro wench. Dinah; age twen
ty-two. with male child. Strong and well
made, as you see, gentlemen; lit for field
work, or could be made a useful hand
ahout a house: said to be handy and good-
tempered. Now. gentlemen, what shall
we say for this desirable lot?”
One of the men standing by Andrew
Jackson bid a hundred dollars. The bid
was raised to a hundred and fifty by a
rough looking fellow standing in front of
the platform. For some time the bidding
was confined to these two, and it rose un
til it reached seven hundred and fifty, at
which point the man near the platform
retired, and there was a pause.
A member of my family having been
cured in a wonderful manner of the ter
rible disease, I will, for the benefit of
humanity, gladly make known the reme
dy, free of charge, to any one addressing
MRS.H.JONES, Box 606, Philadelphia, Pa.
‘‘AMONG THE OZARKS.”
The Land of Big Apples, is an attrac
tive and interesting book, with views of
South Missouri scenery. It pertains to
fruit-raising in that great fruit belt of
America, the southern slope of the
Ozarks, and is of interest to fruit grow
ers and to every farmer and home seek
er looking for a farm and a home. Mailed
free. Address,
J. E. LOCKWOOD,
Kansas City — — — — Missouri.
MUST HAVE
AGENTS AT ONCE
to Bell r»a*»b Locks
nnd Door Holders. Sample Sash Lock free for two-
cent stamp. Imnientse : better than wei^htH; burglar
proof. $iOadajt Write quick. Address
BKOllAKD A CO., Dept. ?, Philadelphia, Pa.
Finest Passenger Service
IN
TEXAS.
No trouble to answer questions. Write
for new book on Texas free.
P. TURNER,
General Passenger and Ticket Agent.
L. S. THORNE,
Vice-Fres. & Gen. M'g'r.
DALLAS, TEXAS.
The Alkahest Magazine.
A high-class southern magazine, has been
growing for four years, and during last
year doubled its subscription list twice. It
is doing great good in bringing to the front
unknown southern writers of merit. Its
quarterly prize contests for poems, stories
and essays cannot be entered by profes
sional writers, so every time unknown
writers will be brought out. The last short
story prize was won by a bright young
man on the first story he ever wrote.
Cash prizes are also given to those who
make the most words out of the letters
in the word Alkahest. $1.00 a year; 10c
single number.
THE
.11 MITES
DOUBLE DAILY
SERVICE
ATLANTA
TO THb
EAST.
S3 SAVED
tions, call on or address agents or
E. J. WALKER, C. P. & T. A.
W. B. CLEMENTS, T. P. A.
B. A. NEWLAND, G. A. P. D.
ATLANTA. GA.
E. ST. JOHN, V. Pres, and Gen. M'gr.
V. E. M’BEE. General Superintendent.
H. W. B. GLOVER, Traffic Manager
L. S. ALLEN, Gen'l Pass. Agt
PORTSMOUTH, VA.
ALKAHEST
REAU.
LYCEUM BB-
Furnishes the best talent on the platform
at lowest prices, and employs an influ
ential person in every town to organize
Lyceum associations. Salary, $25 a week.
Fine summer work for teachers.
THE ALKAHEST TEACHERS’ BU
REAU.
Furnishes best positions to first-class
teachers. Enrollment free for two months.
This bureau has the field in the south,
and controls the best vacancies because
it has better advertising facilities than
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tions are filled through bureaus, and all
teachers should belong to at lfast one
bureau.
THE ALKAHEST LITERARY BU
REAU.
Furnishes a training school for inexperi
enced writers. Writers need special
training as much as doctors and lawyers,
etc. No one can see his own faults and
mistakes that keep his MS. from being
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a literary criticism depends upon the
ability and gifts of the critic. Marion
Daniel McConnell is the critic for this
bureau, and there is no abler critic nor
more gifted writer in the south.
Criticism, revision, heljful suggestions
and addresses of publications to which
a MS. is suited. Short poems of not more
than six stanzas criticised and typewrit
ten for 50c.
Address any bureau or 'magazine.
ENGLISH AMERICAN BUILDING,
ATLANTA, Gil.
BY THE
SEABOARD AIR LINE.
Atlanta to Richmond $11.50
Atlanta to Washington 14.50
Atlanta to Baltimore via Washing
ton 15.70
Atlanta to Baltimore via Norfolk
and Bay Line steamer 15.25
Atlanta to Philadelphia via Wash
ington 1S.50
Atlanta to Philadelphia via Nor
folk 13.05
Atlanta to New York via Richmond
and Washington 21.00
Atlanta to New York via Norfolk.
Va. and Cape Charles Route 20.53
Atlanta to New Y’ork via Norfolk.
Va., and Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company, via Washing
ton 21.00
Atlanta to Now York via Norfolk.
Va., Bay Line steamer to Balti
more. ana rail to New York 20.55
Atlanta to New York via Norfolk
and Old Dominion S. S. Co. (meals
and stateroom Included) 20.23
Atlanta to Boston via Norfolk and ~
steamer (meals and stateroom in
cluded) 21.50
Atlanta to Boston via Washington
and New York 24.00
The rate mentioned above to WashU~-
ton. Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York
and Boston are $3 Ifss than by any other
al] rail line. The above rates apply from
Atlanta. Tickets to the east are sold
from most all points in the territory of
the Southern States Passenger Associa
tion, via the Seaboard Air-Line, at $3 less
than by any other all rail line.
For tickets, sleeping car accommoda-
for sale
Within twenty-three miles of Atlanta,
three hundred and twenty acres of good
farming land at $15 per acre. About
seventy-five acres are cleared. One hun
dred acres especially adapted for a stock
farm, balance heavily timbered. For
l t further Information address W, 36 West
aker, Atlanta, Ga.
4^
4*4