Mrs. Bellmont found her one day quietly reading her Bible. Amazed and half crediting the reports of officious neighbors, she felt it was time to interfere. Here she was, reading and shedding tears over the Bible. She ordered her to put up the book, and go to work, and not be snivelling about the house, or stop to read again.
But there was one little spot seldom penetrated by her mistress’ watchful eye: this was her room, uninviting and comfortless ; but to herself a safe retreat. Here she would listen to the pleadings of a Saviour, and try to penetrate the veil of doubt and sin which clouded her soul, and long to cast off the fetters of sin, and rise to the communion of saints.
Mrs. Bellmont, as we before said, did not trouble herself about the future destiny of her servant. If she did what she desired for her benefit, it was all the responsibility she acknowledged. But she seemed to have great aversion to the notice Nig would attract should she become pious. How could she meet this case ? She resolved to make her complaint to John. Strange, when she was always foiled in this direction, she should resort to him. It was time something was done ; she had begun to read the Bible openly.
The night of this discovery, as they were retiring, Mrs. Bellmont introduced the conversation, by saying:
“ I want your attention to what I am going to say. I have let Nig go out to evening meetings a few times, and, if you will believe it, I found her reading the Bible to-day, just as though she expected to turn pious nigger, and preach to white folks. So now you see what good comes of sending her to school. If she should get converted she would have to go to meeting: at least, as long as James lives. I wish he had not such queer notions about her. It seems to trouble him to know he must die and leave her. He says if he should get well he would take her home with him, or educate her here. Oh, how awful ! What can the child mean ? So careful, too, of her ! He says we shall ruin her health making her work so hard, and sleep in such a place. O, John ! do you think he is in his right mind ? ”
“ Yes, yes ; she is slender. ”
“ Yes, yes ! ” she repeated sarcastically, “ you know these niggers are just like black snakes ; you can’t kill them. If she wasn’t tough she would have been killed long ago. There was never one of my girls could do half the work. ”
“ Did they ever try ? ” interposed her husband. “ I think she can do more than all of them together. ”
“ What a man ! ” said she, peevishly. “ But I want to know what is going to be done with her about getting pious ? ”
“ Let her do just as she has a mind to. If it is a comfort to her, let her enjoy the privilege of being good. I see no objection. ”
“ I should think you were crazy, sure. Do n’t you know that every night she will want to go toting off to meeting ? and Sundays, too ? and you know we have a great deal of company Sundays, and she can’t be spared. ”
“ I thought you Christians held to going to church, ” remarked Mr. B.
“ Yes, but who ever thought of having a nigger go, except to drive others there ? Why, according to you and James, we should very soon have her in the parlor, as smart as our own girls. It’s of no use talking to you or James. If you should go on as you would like, it would not be six months before she would be leaving me ; and that won’t do. Just think how much profit she was to us last summer. We had no work hired out ; she did the work of two girls — ”
“ And got the whippings for two with it ! ” remarked Mr. Bellmont.
“ I’ll beat the money out of her, if I ca n’t get her worth any other way, ” retorted Mrs. B. sharply. While this scene was passing, Frado was trying to utter the prayer of the publican, “ God be merciful to me a sinner. ”
CHAPTER IX.
DEATH.
We have now
But a small portion of what men call time,
To hold communion.
SPRING opened, and James, instead of rallying, as was hoped, grew worse daily. Aunt Abby and Frado were the constant allies of Susan. Mrs. Bellmont dared not lift him. She was not “ strong enough, ” she said.
It was very offensive to Mrs. B. to have Nab about James so much. She had thrown out many a hint to detain her from so often visiting the sick-room ; but Aunt Abby was too well accustomed to her ways to mind them. After various unsuccessful efforts, she resorted to the following expedient. As she heard her cross the entry below, to ascend the stairs, she slipped out and held the latch of the door which led into the upper entry.
“ James does not want to see you, or any one else, ” she said.
Aunt Abby hesitated, and returned slowly to her own room ; wondering if it were really James’ wish not to see her. She did not venture again that day, but still felt disturbed and anxious about him. She inquired of Frado, and learned that he was no worse. She asked her if James did not wish her to come and see him ; what could it mean ?
Quite late next morning, Susan came to see what had become of her aunt.
“ Your mother said James did not wish to see me, and I was afraid I tired him. ”
Why, aunt, that is a mistake, I know. W at could mother mean ? ” asked Susan.
The next time she went to the sitting-room she asked her mother, —
“ Why does not Aunt Abby visit James as she has done ? Where is she ? ”
“ At home. I hope that she will stay there, ” was the answer.
“ I should think she would come in and see James, ” continued Susan.
“ I told her he did want to see her, and to stay out. You need make no stir about it ; remember: ” she added, with one of her fiery glances.
Susan kept silence. It was a day or two before James spoke of her absence. The family were at dinner, and Frado was watching beside him. He inquired the cause of her absence, and she told him all. After the family returned he sent his wife for her. When she entered, he took her hand, and said, “ Come to me often, Aunt. Come any time, — I am always glad to see you. I have but a little longer to be with you, — come often, Aunt. Now please help lift me up, and see if I can rest a little. ”
Frado was called in, and Susan and Mrs. B. all attempted ; Mrs. B. was too weak ; she did not feel able to lift so much. So the three succeeded in relieving the sufferer.
Frado returned to her work. Mrs. B. followed. Seizing Frado, she said she would “ cure her of tale-bearing, ” and, placing the wedge of wood between her teeth, she beat her cruelly with the raw-hide. Aunt Abby heard the blows, and came to see if she could hinder them.
Surprised at her sudden appearance, Mrs. B. suddenly stopped, but forbade her removing the wood till she gave her permission, and commanded Nab to go home.
She was thus tortured when Mr. Bellmont came in, and, making inquiries which she did not, because she could not, answer, approached her ; and seeing her situation, quickly removed the instrument of torture, and sought his wife. Their conversation we will omit ; suffice it to say, a storm raged which required many days to exhaust its strength.
Frado was becoming seriously ill. She had no relish for food, and was constantly overworked, and then she had such solicitude about the future. She wished to pray for pardon. She did try to pray. Her mistress had told her it would “ do no good for her to attempt prayer ; prayer was for whites, not for blacks. If she minded her mistress, and did what she commanded, it was all that was required of her. ”
This did not satisfy her, or appease her longings. She knew her instructions did not harmonize with those of the man of God or Aunt Abby’s. She resolved to persevere. She said nothing on the subject, unless asked. It was evident to all her mind was deeply exercised. James longed to speak with her alone on the subject. An opportunity presented soon, while the family were at tea It was usual to summon Aunt Abby to keep company with her, as his death was expected hourly.
As she took her accustomed seat, he asked, “ Are you afraid to stay with me alone, Frado ? ”
“ No, ” she replied, and stepped to the window to conceal her emotion.
“ Come here, and sit by me ; I wish to talk with
you. ”
She approached him, and, taking her hand, he remarked:
“ How poor you are, Frado ! I want to tell you that I fear I shall never be able to talk with you again. It is the last time, perhaps, I shall ever talk with you. You are old enough to remember my dying words and profit by them. I have been sick a long time ; I shall die pretty soon. My Heavenly Father is calling me home. Had it been his will to let me live I should take you to live with me ; but, as it is, I shall go and leave you. But, Frado, if you will be a good girl, and love and serve God, it will be but a short time before we are in a heavenly home together. There will never be any sickness or sorrow there. ”
Frado, overcome with grief, sobbed, and buried her face in his pillow. She expected he would die ; but to hear him speak of his departure himself was unexpected.
“ Bid me good bye, Frado. ”
She kissed him, and sank on her knees by his bedside ; his hand rested on her head ; his eyes were closed ; his lips moved in prayer for this disconsolate child.
His wife entered, and interpreting the scene, gave him some restoratives, and withdrew for a short time.
It was a great effort for Frado to cease sobbing ; but she dared not be seen below in tears ; so she choked her grief, and descended to her usual toil. Susan perceived a change in her husband. She felt that death was near.
He tenderly looked on her, and said, “ Susan, my wife, our farewells are all spoken. I feel prepared to go. I shall meet you in heaven. Death is indeed creeping fast upon me. Let me see them all once more. Teach Charlie the way to heaven ; lead him up as you come. ”
The family all assembled. He could not talk as he wished to them. He seemed to sink into unconsciousness. They watched him for hours. He had labored hard for breath some time, when he seemed to awake suddenly, and exclaimed, “ Hark ! do you hear it ? ”
“ Hear what, my son ? ” asked the father.
“ Their call. Look, look, at the shining ones ! Oh, let me go and be at rest ! ”
As if waiting for this petition, the Angel of Death severed the golden thread, and he was in heaven. At midnight the messenger came.
They called Frado to see his last struggle. Sinking on her knees at the foot of his bed, she buried her face in the clothes, and wept like one inconsolable. They led her from the room. She seemed to be too much absorbed to know it was necessary for her to leave. Next day she would steal into the chamber as often as she could, to weep over his remains, and ponder his last words to her. She moved about the house like an automaton. Every duty performed — but an abstraction from all, which shewed her thoughts were busied elsewhere. Susan wished her to attend his burial as one of the family. Lewis and Mary and Jack it was not thought best to send for, as the season would not allow them time for the journey. Susan provided her with a dress for the occasion, which was her first intimation that she would be allowed to mingle her grief with others.
The day of the burial she was attired in her mourning dress ; but Susan, in her grief, had forgotten a bonnet.
She hastily ransacked the closets, and found one of Mary’s, trimmed with bright pink ribbon.
It was too late to change the ribbon, and she was unwilling to leave Frado at home ; she knew it would be the wish of James she should go with her. So tying it on, she said, “ Never mind, Frado, you shall see where our dear James is buried. ” As she passed out, she heard the whispers of the by-standers, “ Look there ! see there ! how that looks, — a black dress and a pink ribbon ! ”
Another time, such remarks would have wounded Frado. She had now a sorrow with which such were small in comparison.
As she saw his body lowered in the grave she wished to share it ; but she was not fit to die. She could not go where he was if she did. She did not love God ; she did not serve him or know how to.
She retired at night to mourn over her unfitness for heaven, and gaze out upon the stars, which, she felt, studded the entrance of heaven, above which James reposed in the bosom of Jesus, to which her desires were hastening. She wished she could see God, and ask him for eternal life. Aunt Abby had taught her that He was ever looking upon her. Oh, if she could see him, or hear him speak words of forgiveness. Her anxiety increased ; her health seemed impaired, and she felt constrained to go to aunt Abby and tell her all about her conflicts.
She received her like a returning wanderer ; seriously urged her to accept of Christ ; explained the way ; read to her from the Bible, and remarked upon such passages as applied to her state. She warned her against stifling that voice which was calling her to heaven ; echoed the farewell words of James, and told her to come to her with her difficulties, and not to delay a duty so important as attention to the truths of religion, and her soul’s interests.
Mrs. Bellmont would occasionally give instruction, though far different. She would tell her she could not go where James was ; she need not try. If she should get to heaven at all, she would never be as high up as he.
He was the attraction. Should she “ want to go there if she could not see him ? ”
Mrs. B. seldom mentioned her bereavement, unless in such allusion to Frado. She donned her weeds from custom ; kept close her crape veil for so many Sabbaths, and abated nothing of her characteristic harshness.
The clergyman called to minister consolation to the afflicted widow and mother. Aunt Abby seeing him approach the dwelling, knew at once the object of his visit, and followed him to the parlor, unasked by Mrs. B ! What a daring affront ! The good man dispensed the consolations, of which he was steward, to the apparently grief-smitten mother, who talked like one schooled in a heavenly atmosphere. Such resignation expressed, as might have graced the trial of the holiest. Susan, like a mute sufferer, bared her soul to his sympathy and godly counsel, but only replied to his questions in short syllables. When he offered prayer, Frado stole to the door that she might hear of the heavenly bliss of one who was her friend on earth. The prayer caused profuse weeping, as any tender reminder of the heaven-born was sure to. When the good man’s voice ceased, she returned to her toil, carefully removing all trace of sorrow. Her mistress soon followed, irritated by Nab’s impudence in presenting herself unasked in the parlor, and upraided her with indolence, and bade her apply herself more diligently. Stung by unmerited rebuke, weak from sorrow and anxiety, the tears rolled down her dark face, soon followed by sobs, and then losing all control of herself, she wept aloud. This was an act of disobedience. Her mistress grasping her raw-hide, caused a longer flow of tears, and wounded a spirit that was craving healing mercies.
CHAPTER X.
PERPLEXITIES. — ANOTHER DEATH.
Neath the billows of the ocean,
Hidden treasures wait the hand,
That again to light shall raise them
With the diver’s magic wand.
G. W. COOK.
THE family, gathered by James’ decease, returned to their homes. Susan and Charles returned to Baltimore. Letters were received from the absent, expressing their sympathy and grief. The father bowed like a “ bruised reed, ” under the loss of his beloved son. He felt desirous to die the death of the righteous ; also, conscious that he was unprepared, he resolved to start on the narrow way, and some time solicit entrance through the gate which leads to the celestial city. He acknowledged his too ready acquiescence with Mrs. B., in permitting Frado to be deprived of her only religious privileges for weeks together. He accordingly asked his sister to take her to meeting once more, which she was ready at once to do.
The first opportunity they once more attended meeting together. The minister conversed faithfully with every person present. He was surprised to find the little colored girl so solicitous, and kindly directed her to the flowing fountain where she might wash and be clean. He inquired of the origin of her anxiety, of her progress up to this time, and endeavored to make Christ, instead of James, the attraction of Heaven. He invited her to come to his house, to speak freely her mind to him, to pray much, to read her Bible often.
The neighbors,
who were at meeting, — among them Mrs. Reed, — discussed the opinions Mrs. Bellmont would express on the subject. Mrs. Reed called and informed Mrs. B. that her colored girl “ related her experience the other night at the meeting. ”
“ What experience ? ” asked she, quickly, as if she expected to hear the number of times she had whipped Frado, and the number of lashes set forth in plain Arabic numbers.
“ Why, you know she is serious, don’t you ? She told the minister about it. ”
Mrs. B. made no reply, but changed the subject adroitly. Next morning she told Frado she “ should not go out of the house for one while, except on errands ; and if she did not stop trying to be religious, she would whip her to death. ”
Frado pondered ; her mistress was a professor of religion ; was she going to heaven ? then she did not wish to go. If she should be near James, even, she could not be happy with those fiery eyes watching her ascending path. She resolved to give over all thought of the future world, and strove daily to put her anxiety far from her.
Mr. Bellmont found himself unable to do what James or Jack could accomplish for her. He talked with her seriously, told her he had seen her many times punished undeservedly ; he did not wish to have her saucy or disrespectful, but when she was sure she did not deserve a whipping, to avoid it if she could. “ You are looking sick, ” he added, “ you cannot endure beating as you once could. ”
It was not long before an opportunity offered of profiting by his advice. She was sent for wood, and not returning as soon as Mrs. B. calculated, she followed her, and, snatching from the pile a stick, raised it over her.
“ Stop ! ” shouted Frado, “ strike me, and I’ll never work a mite more for you; ” and throwing down what she had gathered, stood like one who feels the stirring of free and independent thoughts.
By this unexpected demonstration, her mistress, in amazement, dropped her weapon, desisting from her purpose of chastisement. Frado walked towards the house, her mistress following with the wood she herself was sent after. She did not know, before, that she had a power to ward off assaults. Her triumph in seeing her enter the door with her burden, repaid her for much of her former suffering.
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