it of the slave schooner was repeated again
and again, and the settlers brought more land under cultivation, and the
place grew more busy week by week.

But at home all remained the same, only that by the help of Hannibal our
garden increased in beauty and productiveness to a wonderful extent, and
Pomp and I revelled in the abundance of the fruit.

I used to look at the boy and his father, and wonder how it was possible
for them to have settled down so contentedly. But they had, and it did
not seem to me that they had a single thought of the past, so light and
easy-going they were.

But I misjudged them, as time proved.

I was merry and lively enough in those days, never happier than when
playing Morgan some trick to arouse his wrath; but I was the perfection
of quietness compared to Pomp, who was more like a monkey in his antics
than a boy; and his father, the morose-looking, gloomy slave that he had
been, seemed to have grown as full of life and fun as his son.

I don't think that there was anything I could have asked that pair that
they would not have done. If I expressed a wish to have a pair of young
squirrels for pets, they were sure to be obtained, just as the raccoon
was, and the woodchuck. If I wished to fish, the baits were ready and
the boat cleaned out; while if I told Hannibal I wanted him to come and
row for me, his black face shone with pleasure, and he would toil on in
the hot sun, hour after hour, with the oars, evidently sharing my
delight whenever I caught a fish.

I remember one day when my father had gone across to the settlement on
some business, taking Morgan with him--I think it was to see and select
from some fruit-trees and seeds which had been brought over from the old
country--that I sat in our room, busy over the study which I had
promised to have done by the time of my father's return.

As I sat there I glanced out of the window from time to time to see
Hannibal toiling away with his hoe, in a great perspiration which
glistened in the sun, but evidently supremely happy, as he chattered
away to Pomp, who was also supposed to be working hard, but only at
preserving his position as he squatted on the top of a post with his
arms about his knees, and his hoe laid across his head, perfectly
balanced.

I laughed to myself, and then went on with my work, a piece of Latin
translation, for my father used to say, "There is nothing to prevent you
being a gentleman, my boy, even if we do liv