wife. He was a servant of
Hunter's and _afraid of some trick_. He seemed satisfied, and thanked
me. When I asked him where his wife lived and if he had seen her, he
said, "Shum dere?" pointing to a woman hoeing, towards whom he made
his way again. At the next gate I was cutting cherokee-roses before
opening it, when a slight sound behind me attracted my attention to a
boy on a mule who had come noiselessly up, so I got into the sulky
again, and as he followed me along and I questioned him, found he was
coming here to see his "aunty." In a few minutes a loud whistle
attracted my attention and Sharper[125] announced Mass' Charlie, who
came cantering up behind me. He had sent the boy with a note to me and
exemption-papers for the old and feeble on his places, as he could not
go home and had met the black soldiers out taking the men for the
draft. With Sharper for attendant I drove on to Pine Grove, where I
gave C.'s note to William and the papers to distribute on both the
Fripp places while I went on to deliver those here. Heard one man say
to William that he wished his old master was back,--he was at peace
then. Poor fellows!

By the time I reached our quarters it was bright moonlight, and in
that light I drove through the street, read the names on C.'s papers
and the contents to the men named as they came out at Primus' knock. A
little group gathered about to hear what I had to say as I explained
to the men,--a sober, disturbed set, saying nothing, but receiving the
explanation with a sad silence that went to my heart.

FROM W. C. G.

_Coffin's Point, March 31._ You see I write from my first home. In
truth it seems like a home. Mrs. Philbrick and Miss W., Mr.
Philbrick, and Mr. Hall are here, besides Mr. Folsom--of '62,
Harvard--who is to be my future house-mate. A week ago, after settling
up all business at Captain Oliver's, I resigned my place of Government
Superintendent, and last Friday came down here. To-morrow we shall
take up our quarters at the "Pine Grove." I am going to take charge of
the two William Fripp places. The people are old friends. I used to
teach school for them. I think I shall like the work here much better;
the people are far better and the locality less exposed to outside
influences. It is a much better opportunity for trying the experiment
of free black labor. I manage the places, Mr. Philbrick supplies money
to carry them on, and at the end of the year, after deducting all
expenses, we s