, and want to do what I can to give you a start. It's
more than the Northern government has done for you, although such wise
men ought to know that you have had no training in caring for
yourselves."

There was a slight sneer in the Southerner's voice. Jerry perceived it
and thought it directed against him. Instantly his pride rose and his
neck stiffened.

"Nemmine me," he answered, "nemmine me. I's free, an' w'en a man's free,
he's free."

"All right, go your own way. You may have to come back to me some time.
If you have to come, come. I don't blame you now. It must be a great
thing to you, this dream--this nightmare." Jerry looked at him. "Oh, it
isn't a nightmare now, but some day, maybe, it will be, then come to
me."

The master turned away from the newly made freeman, and Jerry went forth
into the world which was henceforth to be his. He took with him his few
belongings; these largely represented by his wife and four lusty-eating
children. Besides, he owned a little money, which he had got working for
others when his master's task was done. Thus, bur'dened and equipped, he
set out to tempt Fortune.

He might do one of two things--farm land upon shares for one of his
short-handed neighbours, or buy a farm, mortgage it, and pay for it as
he could. As was natural for Jerry, and not uncommendable, he chose at
once the latter course, bargained for his twenty acres--for land was
cheap then, bought his mule, built his cabin, and set up his household
goods.

Now, slavery may give a man the habit of work, but it cannot imbue him
with the natural thrift that long years of self-dependence brings. There
were times when Jerry's freedom tugged too strongly at his easy
inclination, drawing him away to idle when he should have toiled. What
was the use of freedom, asked an inward voice, if one might not rest
when one would? If he might not stop midway the furrow to listen and
laugh at a droll story or tell one? If he might not go a-fishing when
all the forces of nature invited and the jay-bird called from the tree
and gave forth saucy banter like the fiery, blue shrew that she was?

There were times when his compunction held Jerry to his task, but more
often he turned an end furrow and laid his misgivings snugly under it
and was away to the woods or the creek. There was joy and a loaf for the
present. What more could he ask?

The first year Fortune laughed at him, and her laugh is very different
from her smile. She sent