ed the privilege of the yard, they mix with them without
discrimination or restraint. Their feelings, naturally excited by
imprisonment, find relief in discoursing upon their wrongs with those of
their own color, and making the contamination greater," said the factor,
who seemed inclined to view the matter in its proper light.

"Oh! what sir? That would never do. You mistake a nigger's feelings
entirely. Privileges never create respect with them. Just make a law to
leave 'em upon the wharf, and five hundred policemen wouldn't keep 'em
from spoiling every nigger in town, just destroying the sovereignty of
the law, and yielding a supreme right that we have always contended
for. It's 'contrary to law,' and we must carry out the law," replied
Grimshaw.

"Pshaw! Talk such stuff to me! Just take away the sixteen hundred or
two thousand dollars that you make by the law; and you'd curse it for
a nuisance. It would become obsolete, and the poor devils of stewards
would do what they pleased; you'd never trouble your head about
them. Now, Grimshaw, be honest for once; tell us what you would do if
circumstances compelled the Captain to leave that nigger boy here?"

"Carry out the letter of the law; there's no alternative. But the
Captain swears he's a white man, and that would give him an opportunity
to prove it."

"How is he to prove it, Grimshaw? We take away the power, and then ask
him to do what we make impossible. Then, of course, you would carry out
the letter of the law and sell him for a slave. * * * Well, I should
like to see the issue upon a question of that kind carried out upon an
English nigger. It would be more of a curse upon our slave institution
than every thing else that could be raised," said the factor.

"Gentlemen, you might as well preach abolition at once, and then the
public would know what your sentiments were, and how to guard against
you. I must bid you good-by." So saying, Mr. Grimshaw twisted his
whip, took a large quid of tobacco, and left the company to discuss the
question among themselves.

CHAPTER XVIII. LITTLE TOMMY AND THE POLICE.

WE must take the reader back to the old jail, and continue our scene
from where we left little Tommy spreading the Captain's present before
the imprisoned stewards, whose grateful thanks were showered upon the
head of the bestower. Kindness, be it ever so small, to a man in prison,
is like the golden rays of the rising sun lighting up the opening day.