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young girl； fit for house use；one that will do to wait on a lady。〃
〃I am your man；〃 said Jennings； 〃just follow me；〃 continued he； 〃and I
will show you the fairest little critter you ever saw。〃 And the two passed to
the stern of the boat to where the trader had between fifty and sixty slaves；
the greater portion being women。
〃There；〃 said Jennings； as a beautiful young woman shrunk back with
modesty。 〃There； sir； is the very gal that was made for you。 If she had
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been made to your order； she could not have suited you better。〃
〃Indeed； sir； is not that young woman white？〃 inquired the parson。
〃Oh； no； sir； she is no whiter than you see！〃
〃But is she a slave？〃 asked the preacher。
〃Yes；〃 said the trader； 〃I bought her in Richmond； and she comes from
an excellent family。 She was raised by Squire Miller； and her mistress
was one of the most pious ladies in that city； I may say； she was the salt of
the earth； as the ministers say。〃
〃But she resembles in some respect Agnes； the woman I bought from
you；〃 said Mr。 Wilson。 As he said the name of Agnes； the young woman
started as if she had been struck。 Her pulse seemed to quicken； but her
face alternately flushed and turned pale； and tears trembled upon her
eyelids。 It was a name she had heard her mother mention； and it brought to
her memory those days；those happy days； when she was so loved and
caressed。 This young woman was Clotelle； the granddaughter of Agnes。
The preacher； on learning the fact； purchased her； and took her home；
feeling that his daughter Georgiana would prize her very highly。 Clotelle
found in Georgiana more a sister than a mistress； who； unknown to her
father； taught the slave…girl how to read； and did much toward improving
and refining Clotelle's manners； for her own sake。 Like her mother fond of
flowers； the 〃Virginia Maid；〃 as she was sometimes called； spent many of
her leisure hours in the garden。 Beside the flowers which sprang up from
the fertility of soil unplanted and unattended； there was the heliotrope；
sweet…pea； and cup…rose； transplanted from the island of Cuba。 In her
new home Clotelle found herself saluted on all sides by the fragrance of
the magnolia。 When she went with her young mistress to the Poplar Farm；
as she sometimes did； nature's wild luxuriance greeted her； wherever she
cast her eyes。
The rustling citron； lime； and orange； shady mango with its fruits of
gold； and the palmetto's umbrageous beauty； all welcomed the child of
sorrow。 When at the farm； Huckelby； the overseer； kept his eye on
Clotelle if within sight of her； for he knew she was a slave； and no doubt
hoped that she might some day fall into his hands。 But she shrank from his
looks as she would have done from the charm of the rattlesnake。 The
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negro…driver always tried to insinuate himself into the good opinion of
Georgiana and the company that she brought。 Knowing that Miss Wilson
at heart hated slavery； he was ever trying to show that the slaves under his
charge were happy and contented。 One day； when Georgiana and some of
her Connecticut friends were there； the overseer called all the slaves up to
the 〃great house；〃 and set some of the young ones to dancing。 After
awhile whiskey was brought in and a dram given to each slave； in return
for which they were expected to give a toast； or sing a short piece of his
own composition； when it came to Jack's turn he said；
〃The big bee flies high； the little bee makes the honey： the black folks
make the cotton； and the white folks gets the money。〃
Of course； the overseer was not at all elated with the sentiment
contained in Jack's toast。 Mr。 Wilson had lately purchased a young man
to assist about the house and to act as coachman。 This slave； whose
name was Jerome； was of pure African origin； was perfectly black； very
fine…looking； tall； slim； and erect as any one could possibly be。 His
features were not bad； lips thin； nose prominent； hands and feet small。 His
brilliant black eyes lighted up his whole countenance。 His hair； which was
nearly straight； hung in curls upon his lofty brow。 George Combe or
Fowler would have selected his head for a model。 He was brave and
daring； strong in person； fiery in spirit； yet kind and true in his affections；
earnest in his doctrines。 Clotelle had been at the parson's but a few weeks
when it was observed that a mutual feeling had grown up between her and
Jerome。 As time rolled on； they became more and more attached to each
other。 After satisfying herself that these two really loved； Georgiana
advised their marriage。 But Jerome contemplated his escape at some
future day； and therefore feared that if married it might militate against it。
He hoped； also； to be able to get Clotelle away too； and it was this hope
that kept him from trying to escape by himself。 Dante did not more love
his Beatrice； Swift his Stella； Waller his Saccharissa； Goldsmith his
Jessamy bride； or Burns his Mary； than did Jerome his Clotelle。 Unknown
to her father； Miss Wilson could permit these two slaves to enjoy more
privileges than any of the other servants。 The young mistress taught
Clotelle； and the latter imparted her instructions to her lover； until both
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could read so as to be well understood。 Jerome felt his superiority； and
always declared that no master should ever flog him。 Aware of his high
spirit and determination； Clotelle was in constant fear lest some difficulty
might arise between her lover and his master。
One day Mr。 Wilson； being somewhat out of temper and irritated at
what he was pleased to call Jerome's insolence； ordered him to follow him
to the barn to be flogged。 The young slave obeyed his master； but those
who saw him at the moment felt that he would not submit to be whipped。
〃No； sir；〃 replied Jerome； as his master told him to take off his coat： 〃I
will serve you； Master Wilson； I