a
visit, and answer any objections they may make to your going."

After dining with the captain at an inn, I hurried home with, what I
considered, this good news. My sisters, however, were very unwilling to
sanction my going. They had heard so much of the deadly climate of the
African coast, and of dangers from slavers and pirates, that they
dreaded the risk I should run. Captain Willis, according to his
promise, called the next day, and not without difficulty quieted their
apprehensions.

Mammy, though unwilling to part with me, still could not help feeling a
deep interest in my undertaking, as she thought that I was going to
visit her own still-loved country; and while assisting my sisters to
prepare my outfit she entertained me with an account of its beauties and
wonders, while I promised to bring her back from it all sorts of things
which I expected to collect. "And suppose, Mammy, I was to fall in with
your little piccaniny, shall I bring him back to you?" I asked, with
the thoughtlessness of a boy--certainly not intending to hurt her
feelings. She dropped her work, gazing at me with a tearful eye.

"He fine little black boy, big as you when four year old," she said, and
stopped as if in thought, and then added, "Ah, Massa Harry, he no little
boy now though, him great big man like him fader, you no know him, I no
know him."

"But what is his name, Mammy? That would be of use," I said.

"Him called Cheebo," she answered, heaving a deep sigh. "But Africa
great big country--tousands and tousands of people; you no find Cheebo
among dem; God only find him. His eye everywhere. He hears Mammy's
prayers, dat great comfort."

"That it is, indeed," said Jane, fearing that my careless remarks had
needlessly grieved poor Mammy, by raising long dormant feelings in her
heart. "And oh, my dear Harry, if you are brought into danger, and
inclined to despair--and I fear you will have many dangers to go
through--recollect that those who love you at home are earnestly praying
for you; and at the same time never forget to pray for yourself, and to
feel assured that God will hear our united prayers, and preserve you in
the way He thinks best."

"I will try to remember," I said, "but do not fancy, Jane, that I am
going to run my head into all sorts of dangers. I daresay we shall have
a very pleasant voyage out, and be back again in a few months with a
full cargo of palm oil, ivory, gold-dust, and all sorts of precious