st about to be taken with regard to the red
barbarian.

Mrs. Reynolds resumed: "While you were gone, Burl, I sat here in my
great distress and made a solemn promise to myself and to Heaven, that
if you were permitted to bring me back my child alive and well, I would
give you your freedom at once, as the only fitting reward I had it in my
power to bestow for so great a proof of your fidelity and love to us."

"Now, Miss Jemimy!" exclaimed Burl in a tone of remonstrance, the water
welling up in his great ox-like eyes.

"Yes, but I must do it," rejoined his mistress. "Heaven has heard my
prayer, and I must keep my promise. Faithful and good have you been to
us, and richly deserve the reward I offer. Would it were in my power to
give you more."

"Now, Miss Jemimy!" repeated Burl, in the same tone, "you needn't,
indeed you needn't." And seeing that his mistress had had her say, he
seized upon the subject with sudden energy, and thus unburdened his
mind: "Miss Jemimy, I don't want my freedom; I 's no use fur it. Hain't
I got de bes' mistus in de worl' an' de finest little marster? Hain't I
got a gun an' a dog? Plenty to eat an' plenty to w'ar? A whole cabin to
myse'f, an' Saturday ev'nin's to go a-huntin' an' a-fishin' ef I likes?
De only thing I hain't got an' would like ter hab--dough dat's no fault
uf yourn, Miss Jemimy--is a white skin. Ef I had a white skin, den might
I hab my freedom an' know whar's my place an' who's my comp'ny. As I is,
turn me out free an' whar's my place? No whar. Who's my comp'ny? Nobody.
Too good fur common niggers, not good 'nough fur white folks. What den
would I be? A Ingin I s'pose. Sooner be Grumbo dar dan a Injun. Den Miss
Jemimy wants to make a red varmint uf her ol' nigger. Git out! 'Scuse
me, Miss Jemimy; I didn't go to say dat ter you. But I's bery glad an'
thankful to hear you talk dat way. Makes me gladder to be what I is, so
glad to be what I is, I won't be nothin' else ef I kin he'p it."

Deeply touched at this new proof of fidelity and self-sacrifice, yet not
a little amused withal at the droll shape in which it came, Mrs.
Reynolds rejoined: "Well, Burl, you can do as you please, but so far as
my will and wishes can make you free, free you are from this day forth,
either to go and play or stay and work. My promise is given, never to be
recalled."

"Den, Miss Jemimy," replied Burl with look and tone of deep respect, "ef
you's gwine ter let me do 's I please, w'y den, I pleases