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she could be bought； and let Jerome pay him in work。 With such a
prospect of future happiness in view； this injured descendent of outraged
and bleeding Africa went daily to his toil with an energy hitherto unknown
to him。 But oh； how vain are the hopes of man！
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CHAPTER XXVIII
FAREWELL TO AMERICA
THREE months had elapsed； from the time the fugitive commenced
work for Mr。 Streeter； when that gentleman returned from his Southern
research； and informed Jerome that Parson Wilson had sold Clotelle； and
that she had been sent to the New Orleans slave…market。
This intelligence fell with crushing weight upon the heart of Jerome；
and he now felt that the last chain which bound him to his native land was
severed。 He therefore determined to leave America forever。 His nearest
and dearest friends had often been flogged in his very presence； and he
had seen his mother sold to the negro…trader。 An only sister had been torn
from him by the soul…driver； he had himself been sold and resold； and
been compelled to submit to the most degrading and humiliating insults；
and now that the woman upon whom his heart doted； and without whom
life was a burden； had been taken away forever； he felt it a duty to hate all
mankind。
If there is one thing more than another calculated to make one hate and
detest American slavery； it is to witness the meetings between fugitives
and their friends in Canada。 Jerome had beheld some of these scenes。
The wife who； after years of separation； had escaped from her prison…
house and followed her husband had told her story to him。 He had seen the
newly…arrived wife rush into the arms of the husband； whose dark face she
had not looked upon for long； weary years。 Some told of how a sister had
been ill…used by the overseer； others of a husband's being whipped to
death for having attempted to protect his wife。 He had sat in the little log…
hut； by the fireside； and heard tales that caused his heart to bleed； and his
bosom swelled with just indignation when he though that there was no
remedy for such atrocious acts。 It was with such feelings that he informed
his employer that he should leave him at the expiration of a month。
In vain did Mr。 Streeter try to persuade Jerome to remain with him；
and late in the month of February； the latter found himself on board a
small vessel loaded with pine…lumber； descending the St。 Lawrence； bound
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for Liverpool。 The bark； though an old one； was； nevertheless； considered
seaworthy； and the fugitive was working his way out。 As the vessel left
the river and gained the open sea； the black man appeared to rejoice at the
prospect of leaving a country in which his right to manhood had been
denied him； and his happiness destroyed。
The wind was proudly swelling the white sails； and the little craft
plunging into the foaming waves； with the land fast receding in the
distance； when Jerome mounted a pile of lumber to take a last farewell of
his native land。 With tears glistening in his eyes； and with quivering lips；
he turned his gaze toward the shores that were fast fading in the dim
distance； and said；
〃Though forced from my native land by the tyrants of the South； I
hope I shall some day be able to return。 With all her faults； I love my
country still。〃
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CHAPTER XXIX
A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND
THE rain was falling on the dirty pavements of Liverpool as Jerome
left the vessel after her arrival。 Passing the custom…house； he took a cab；
and proceeded to Brown's Hotel； Clayton Square。
Finding no employment in Liverpool； Jerome determined to go into
the interior and seek for work。 He； therefore； called for his bill； and
made ready for his departure。 Although but four days at the Albion； he
found the hotel charges larger than he expected； but a stranger generally
counts on being 〃fleeced〃 in travelling through the Old World； and
especially in Great Britain。 After paying his bill； he was about leaving the
room； when one of the servants presented himself with a low bow； and
said；
〃Something for the waiter； sir？〃
〃I thought I had paid my bill；〃 replied the man； somewhat surprised at
this polite dun。
〃I am the waiter； sir； and gets only what strangers see fit to give me。〃
Taking from his pocket his nearly empty purse； Jerome handed the
man a half…crown； but he had hardly restored it to his pocket； before his
eye fell on another man in the waiting costume。
〃What do you want？〃 he asked。
〃Whatever your honor sees fit to give me； sir。 I am the tother waiter。〃
The purse was again taken from the pocket； and another half…crown
handed out。 Stepping out into the hall； he saw standing there a good…
looking woman； in a white apron； who made a very pretty courtesy。
〃What's your business？〃 he inquired。
〃I am the chambermaid； sir； and looks after the gentlemen's beds。〃
Out came the purse again； and was relieved of another half…crown；
whereupon another girl； with a fascinating smile； took the place of the one
who had just received her fee。
〃What do you want？〃 demanded the now half…angry Jerome。
〃Please； sir； I am the tother chambermaid。〃
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Finding it easier to give shillings than half…crowns； Jerome handed the
woman a shilling； and again restored his purse to his pocket； glad that
another woman was not to be seen。
Scarcely had he commenced congratulating himself； however； before
three men made their appearance； one after another。
〃What have *you* done for me？〃 he asked of the first。
〃I am the boots； sir。〃
The purse came out once more； and a shilling was deposited in the
servant's