the swift rains to wash up the new planted
seed, and the hungry birds to devour them. She sent the fierce sun to
scorch the young crops, and the clinging weeds to hug the fresh
greenness of his hope to death. She sent--cruellest jest of all--another
baby to be fed, and so weakened Cindy Ann that for many days she could
not work beside her husband in the fields.

Poverty began to teach the unlessoned delver in the soil the thrift
which he needed; but he ended his first twelve months with barely enough
to eat, and nothing paid on his land or his mule. Broken and
discouraged, the words of his old master came to him. But he was proud
with an obstinate pride and he shut his lips together so that he might
not groan. He would not go to his master. Anything rather than that.

In that place sat certain beasts of prey, dealers, and lenders of money,
who had their lairs somewhere within the boundaries of that wide and
mysterious domain called The Law. They had their risks to run, but so
must all beasts that eat flesh or drink blood. To them went Jerry, and
they were kind to him. They gave him of their store. They gave him food
and seed, but they were to own all that they gave him from what he
raised, and they were to take their toll first from the new crops.

Now, the black had been warned against these same beasts, for others had
fallen a prey to them even in so short a time as their emancipation
measured, and they saw themselves the re-manacled slaves of a hopeless
and ever-growing debt, but Jerry would not be warned. He chewed the
warnings like husks between his teeth, and got no substance from them.

Then, Fortune, who deals in surprises, played him another trick. She
smiled upon him. His second year was better than his first, and the
brokers swore over his paid up note. Cindy Ann was strong again and the
oldest boy was big enough to help with the work.

Samuel Brabant was displeased, not because he felt any malice toward his
former servant, but for the reason that any man with the natural amount
of human vanity must feel himself agrieved just as his cherished
prophecy is about to come true. Isaiah himself could not have been above
it. How much less, then, the uninspired Mr. Brabant, who had his "I told
you so," all ready. He had been ready to help Jerry after giving him
admonitions, but here it was not needed. An unused "I told you so,"
however kindly, is an acid that turns the milk of human kindness sour.

Jerry went o