one evening mr. ellis was reading the newspaper, and mrs. ellis and the girls were busily engaged in sewing, when who should come in but mr. walters, who had entered without ceremony at the front door, which had been left open owing to the unusual heat of the weather.
"here you all are, hard at work," exclaimed he, in his usual hearty manner, accepting at the same time the chair offered to him by esther.
"come, now," continued he, "lay aside your work and newspapers, for i have great news to communicate."
"indeed, what is it?—what can it be?" cried the three females, almost in a breath; "do let us hear it!"
"oh," said mr. walters, in a provokingly slow tone, "i don't think i'll tell you to-night; it may injure your rest; it will keep till to-morrow."
"now, that is always the way with mr. walters," said caddy, pettishly; "he always rouses one's curiosity, and then refuses to gratify it;—he is so tantalizing sometimes!"
"i'll tell you this much," said he, looking slily at caddy, "it is connected with a gentleman who had the misfortune to be taken for a beggar, and who was beaten over the head in consequence by a young lady of my acquaintance."
"now, father has been telling you that," exclaimed caddy, looking confused, "and i don't thank him for it either; i hear of that everywhere i go—even the burtons know of it."
mr. walters now looked round the room, as though he missed some one, and finally exclaimed, "where is charlie? i thought i missed somebody—where is my boy?"
"we have put him out to live at mrs. thomas's," answered mrs. ellis, hesitatingly, for she knew mr. walters' feelings respecting the common practice of sending little coloured boys to service. "it is a very good place for him," continued she—"a most excellent place."
"that is too bad," rejoined mr. walters—"too bad; it is a shame to make a servant of a bright clever boy like that. why, ellis, man, how came you to consent to his going? the boy should be at school. it really does seem to me that you people who have good and smart boys take the very course to ruin them. the worst thing you can do with a boy of his age is to put him at service. once get a boy into the habit of working for a stipend, and, depend upon it, when he arrives at manhood, he will think that if he can secure so much a month for the rest of his life he will be perfectly happy. how would you like him to be a subservient old numskull, like that old robberts of theirs?"
here esther interrupted mr. walters by saying, "i am very glad to hear you express yourself in that manner, mr. walters—very glad. charlie is such a bright, active little fellow; i hate to have him living there as a servant. and he dislikes it, too, as much as any one can. i do wish mother would take him away."
"hush, esther," said her mother, sharply; "your mother lived at service, and no one ever thought the worse of her for it."
esther looked abashed, and did not attempt to say anything farther.
"now, look here, ellen," said mr. walters. (he called her ellen, for he had been long intimate with the family.) "if you can't get on without the boy's earning something, why don't you do as white women and men do? do you ever find them sending their boys out as servants? no; they rather give them a stock of matches, blacking, newspapers, or apples, and start them out to sell them. what is the result? the boy that learns to sell matches soon learns to sell other things; he learns to make bargains; he becomes a small trader, then a merchant, then a millionaire. did you ever hear of any one who had made a fortune at service? where would i or ellis have been had we been hired out all our lives at so much a month? it begets a feeling of dependence to place a boy in such a situation; and, rely upon it, if he stays there long, it will spoil him for anything better all his days."
mrs. ellis was here compelled to add, by way of justifying herself, that it was not their intention to let him remain there permanently; his father only having given his consent for him to serve during the vacation.
"well, don't let him stay there longer, i pray you," continued walters. "a great many white people think that we are only fit for servants, and i must confess we do much to strengthen the opinion by permitting our children to occupy such situations when we are not in circumstances to compel us to do so. mrs. thomas may tell you that they respect their old servant robberts as much as they do your husband; but they don't, nevertheless—i don't believe a word of it. it is impossible to have the same respect for the man who cleans your boots, that you have for the man who plans and builds your house."
"oh, well, walters," here interposed mr. ellis, "i don't intend the boy to remain there, so don't get yourself into an unnecessary state of excitement about it. let us hear what this great news is that you have brought."
"oh, i had almost forgotten it," laughingly replied walters, at the same time fumbling in his pocket for a letter, which he at length produced. "here," he continued, opening it, "is a letter i have received from a mr. garie, enclosing another from our friend winston. this mr. garie writes me that he is coming to the north to settle, and desires me to procure them a house; and he says also that he has so far presumed upon an early acquaintance of his wife with mrs. ellis as to request that she will attend to the furnishing of it. you are to purchase all that is necessary to make them comfortable, and i am to foot the bills."
"what, you don't mean emily winston's husband?" said the astonished mrs.
ellis.
"i can't say whose husband it is, but from winston's letter," replied mr.
walters, "i suppose he is the person alluded to."
"that is news," continued mrs. ellis. "only think, she was a little mite of a thing when i first knew her, and now she is a woman and the mother of two children. how time does fly. i must be getting quite old," concluded she, with a sigh.
"nonsense, ellen," remarked mr. ellis, "you look surprisingly young, you are quite a girl yet. why, it was only the other day i was asked if you were one of my daughters."
mrs. ellis and the girls laughed at this sally of their father's, who asked
mr. walters if he had as yet any house in view.
"there is one of my houses in winter-street that i think will just suit them. the former tenants moved out about a week since. if i can call for you to-morrow," he continued, turning to mrs. ellis, "will you accompany me there to take a look at the premises?"
"it is a dreadful long walk," replied mrs. ellis. "how provoking it is to think, that because persons are coloured they are not permitted to ride in the omnibuses or other public conveyances! i do hope i shall live to see the time when we shall be treated as civilized creatures should be."
"i suppose we shall be so treated when the millennium comes," rejoined walters, "not before, i am afraid; and as we have no reason to anticipate that it will arrive before to-morrow, we shall have to walk to winter-street, or take a private conveyance. at any rate, i shall call for you to-morrow at ten. good night—remember, at ten." "well, this is a strange piece of intelligence," exclaimed mrs. ellis, as the door closed upon mr. walters. "i wonder what on earth can induce them to move on here. their place, i am told, is a perfect paradise. in old colonel garie's time it was said to be the finest in georgia. i wonder if he really intends to live here permanently?"
"i can't say, my dear," replied mrs. ellis; "i am as much in the dark as you are."
"perhaps they are getting poor, ellis, and are coming here because they can live cheaper."
"oh, no, wife; i don't think that can be the occasion of their removal. i rather imagine he purposes emancipating his children. he cannot do it legally in georgia; and, you know, by bringing them here, and letting them remain six months, they are free—so says the law of some of the southern states, and i think of georgia."
the next morning mrs. ellis, caddy, and mr. walters, started for winter-street; it was a very long walk, and when they arrived there, they were all pretty well exhausted.
"oh, dear," exclaimed mrs. ellis, after walking upstairs, "i am so tired, and there is not a chair in the house. i must rest here," said she, seating herself upon the stairs, and looking out upon the garden. "what a large yard! if ours were only as large as this, what a delightful place i could make of it! but there is no room to plant anything at our house, the garden is so very small."
after they were all somewhat rested, they walked through the house and surveyed the rooms, making some favourable commentary upon each.
"the house don't look as if it would want much cleaning," said caddy, with a tone of regret.
"so much the better, i should say," suggested mr. walters.
"not as caddy views the matter," rejoined mrs. ellis. "she is so fond of house-cleaning, that i positively think she regards the cleanly state of the premises as rather a disadvantage than otherwise." they were all, however, very well pleased with the place; and on their way home they settled which should be the best bedroom, and where the children should sleep. they also calculated how much carpet and oilcloth would be necessary, and what style of furniture should be put in the parlour.
"i think the letter said plain, neat furniture, and not too expensive, did it not?" asked mrs. ellis.
"i think those were the very words," replied caddy; "and, oh, mother, isn't it nice to have the buying of so many pretty things? i do so love to shop!"
"particularly with some one else's money," rejoined her mother, with a smile.
"yes, or one's own either, when one has it," continued caddy; "i like to spend money under any circumstances."
thus in conversation relative to the house and its fixtures, they beguiled the time until they reached their home. on arriving there, mrs. ellis found robberts awaiting her return with a very anxious countenance. he informed her that mrs. thomas wished to see her immediately; that charlie had been giving that estimable lady a world of trouble; and that her presence was necessary to set things to rights.
"what has he been doing?" asked mrs. ellis.
"oh, lots of things! he and aunt rachel don't get on together at all; and last night he came nigh having the house burned down over our heads."
"why, robberts, you don't tell me so! what a trial boys are," sighed mrs.
ellis.
"he got on first rate for a week or two; but since that he has been raising satan. he and aunt rachel had a regular brush yesterday, and he has actually lamed the old woman to that extent she won't be able to work for a week to come."
"dear, dear, what am i to do?" said the perplexed mrs. ellis; "i can't go up there immediately, i am too tired. say to mrs. thomas i will come up this evening. i wonder," concluded she, "what has come over the boy." "mother, you know how cross aunt rachel is; i expect she has been ill-treating him. he is so good-natured, that he never would behave improperly to an old person unless goaded to it by some very harsh usage."
"that's the way—go on, esther, find some excuse for your angel," said caddy, ironically. "of course that lamb could not do anything wrong, and, according to your judgment, he never does; but, i tell you, he is as bad as any other boy—boys are boys. i expect he has been tracking over the floor after aunt rachel has scrubbed it, or has been doing something equally provoking; he has been in mischief, depend upon it."
things had gone on very well with master charlie for the first two weeks after his introduction into the house of the fashionable descendant of the worthy maker of leathern breeches. his intelligence, combined with the quickness and good-humour with which he performed the duties assigned him, quite won the regard of the venerable lady who presided over that establishment. it is true she had detected him in several attempts upon the peace and well-being of aunt rachel's tom; but with tom she had little sympathy, he having recently made several felonious descents upon her stores of cream and custards. in fact, it was not highly probable, if any of his schemes had resulted seriously to the spiteful protege of aunt rachel, that mrs. thomas would have been overwhelmed with grief, or disposed to inflict any severe punishment on the author of the catastrophe.
unfortunately for mrs. thomas, charlie, whilst going on an errand, had fallen in with his ancient friend and adviser—in short, he had met no less a person than the formerly all-sufficient kinch. great was the delight of both parties at this unexpected meeting, and warm, indeed, was the exchange of mutual congratulations on this auspicious event.
kinch, in the excess of his delight, threw his hat several feet in the air; nor did his feelings of pleasure undergo the least abatement when that dilapidated portion of his costume fell into a bed of newly-mixed lime, from which he rescued it with great difficulty and at no little personal risk.
"hallo! kinch, old fellow, how are you?" cried charlie; "i've been dying to see you—why haven't you been up?"
"why, i did come up often, but that old witch in the kitchen wouldn't let me see you—she abused me scandalous. i wanted to pull her turban off and throw it in the gutter. why, she called me a dirty beggar, and threatened to throw cold water on me if i didn't go away. phew! ain't she an old buster!"
"why, i never knew you were there."
"yes," continued kinch; "and i saw you another time hung up behind the carriage. i declare, charlie, you looked so like a little monkey, dressed up in that sky-blue coat and silver buttons, that i liked to have died a-laughing at you;" and kinch was so overcome by the recollection of the event in question, that he was obliged to sit down upon a door-step to recover himself.
"oh, i do hate to wear this confounded livery!' said charlie, dolefully—" the boys scream 'johnny coat-tail' after me in the streets, and call me 'blue jay,' and 'blue nigger,' and lots of other names. i feel that all that's wanting to make a complete monkey of me, is for some one to carry me about on an organ."
"what do you wear it for, then?" asked kinch.
"because i can't help myself, that's the reason. the boys plague me to that extent sometimes, that i feel like tearing the things into bits—but mother says i must wear it. kinch," concluded he, significantly, "something will have to be done, i can't stand it."
"you remember what i told you about the wig, don't you?" asked kinch; and, on receiving an affirmative reply, he continued, "just try that on, and see how it goes—you'll find it'll work like a charm; it's a regular footman-expatriator—just try it now; you'll see if it isn't the thing to do the business for you." "i'm determined to be as bad as i can," rejoined charlie; "i'm tired enough of staying there: that old aunt rach is a devil—i don't believe a saint from heaven could get on with her; i'm expecting we'll have a pitched battle every day."
beguiling the time with this and similar conversation, they reached the house to which charlie had been despatched with a note; after which, he turned his steps homeward, still accompanied by the redoubtable kinch.
as ill luck would have it, they passed some boys who were engaged in a game of marbles, charlie's favourite pastime, and, on kinch's offering him the necessary stock to commence play, he launched into the game, regardless of the fact that the carriage was ordered for a drive within an hour, and that he was expected to fill his accustomed place in the rear of that splendid vehicle.
once immersed in the game, time flew rapidly on. mrs. thomas awaited his return until her patience was exhausted, when she started on her drive without him. as they were going through a quiet street, to her horror and surprise, prominent amidst a crowd of dirty boys, she discovered her little footman, with his elegant blue livery covered with dirt and sketches in white chalk; for, in the excitement of the game, charlie had not observed that kinch was engaged in drawing on the back of his coat his favourite illustration, to wit, a skull and cross-bones.
"isn't that our charlie?" said she to her daughter, surveying the crowd of noisy boys through her eye-glass. "i really believe it is—that is certainly our livery; pull the check-string, and stop the carriage."
now robberts had been pressed into service in consequence of charlie's absence, and was in no very good humour at being compelled to air his rheumatic old shins behind the family-carriage. it can therefore be readily imagined with what delight he recognized the delinquent footman amidst the crowd, and with what alacrity he descended and pounced upon him just at the most critical moment of the game. clutching fast hold of him by the collar of his coat, he dragged him to the carriage-window, and held him before the astonished eyes of his indignant mistress, who lifted up her hands in horror at the picture he presented. "oh! you wretched boy," said she, "just look at your clothes, all covered with chalk-marks and bespattered with lime! your livery is totally ruined—and your knees, too—only look at them—the dirt is completely ground into them."
"but you haven't seed his back, marm," said robberts; "he's got the pirate's flag drawn on it. that boy'll go straight to the devil—i know he will."
all this time charlie, to his great discomfiture, was being shaken and turned about by robberts in the most unceremonious manner. kinch, with his usual audacity, was meanwhile industriously engaged in tracing on robbert's coat a similar picture to that he had so skilfully drawn on charlie's, to the great delight of a crowd of boys who stood admiring spectators of his artistic performances. the coachman, however, observing this operation, brought it to a rather hasty conclusion by a well directed cut of the whip across the fingers of the daring young artist. this so enraged kinch, that in default of any other missile, he threw his lime-covered cap at the head of the coachman; but, unfortunately for himself, the only result of his exertions was the lodgment of his cap in the topmost bough of a neighbouring tree, from whence it was rescued with great difficulty.
"what shall we do with him?" asked mrs. thomas, in a despairing tone, as she looked at charlie.
"put him with the coachman," suggested mrs. morton.
"he can't sit there, the horses are so restive, and the seat is only constructed for one, and he would be in the coachman's way. i suppose he must find room on behind with robberts."
"i won't ride on the old carriage," cried charlie, nerved by despair; "i won't stay here nohow. i'm going home to my mother;" and as he spoke he endeavoured to wrest himself from robberts' grasp. "put him in here," said mrs. thomas; "it would never do to let him go, for he will run home with some distressing tale of ill-treatment; no, we must keep him until i can send for his mother—put him in here."
much to mrs. morton's disgust, charlie was bundled by robberts into the bottom of the carriage, where he sat listening to the scolding of mrs. thomas and her daughter until they arrived at home. he remained in disgrace for several days after this adventure; but as mrs. thomas well knew that she could not readily fill his place with another, she made a virtue of necessity, and kindly looked over this first offence.
the situation was, however, growing more and more intolerable. aunt rachel and he had daily skirmishes, in which he was very frequently worsted. he had held several hurried consultations with kinch through the grating of the cellar window, and was greatly cheered and stimulated in the plans he intended to pursue by the advice and sympathy of his devoted friend. master kinch's efforts to console charlie were not without great risk to himself, as he had on two or three occasions narrowly escaped falling into the clutches of robberts, who well remembered kinch's unprecedented attempt upon the sacredness of his livery; and what the result might have been had the latter fallen into his hands, we cannot contemplate without a shudder.
these conferences between kinch and charlie produced their natural effect, and latterly it had been several times affirmed by aunt rachel that, "dat air boy was gittin' 'tirely too high—gittin' bove hissef 'pletely—dat he was gittin' more and more aggriwatin' every day—dat she itched to git at him—dat she 'spected nothin' else but what she'd be 'bliged to take hold o' him;" and she comported herself generally as if she was crazy for the conflict which she saw must sooner or later occur.
charlie, unable on these occasions to reply to her remarks without precipitating a conflict for which he did not feel prepared, sought to revenge himself upon the veteran tom; and such was the state of his feelings, that he bribed kinch, with a large lump of sugar and the leg of a turkey, to bring up his mother's jerry, a fierce young cat, and they had the satisfaction of shutting him up in the wood-house with the belligerent tom, who suffered a signal defeat at jerry's claws, and was obliged to beat a hasty retreat through the window, with a seriously damaged eye, and with the fur torn off his back in numberless places. after this charlie had the pleasure of hearing aunt rachel frequently bewail the condition of her favourite, whose deplorable state she was inclined to ascribe to his influence, though she was unable to bring it home to him in such a manner as to insure his conviction.
chapter vii.
