Oh, heavens! and for her own carelessness and mistake had Amy been sacrificed? I make no comment. I merely state the case, and leave others to draw their own conclusions. Yet, this much I will add, that there were no Caucasian witnesses to the bloody deed, therefore no legal cognizance could be taken of it! Most noble and righteous American laws! Who that lives beneath your shelter, would dare to say they are not wise and sacred as the laws of the Decalogue? Thrice a day should their authors go up into the Temple, and thank our Lord that they are not like publicans and sinners. One evening--oh! I shall long remember it, as one full of sacredness, full of sorrow, and yet tinged with a hue of heaven! It was in the deep, delicious beauty of the flowering month of May. The twilight was unusually red and refulgent. The evening star shone like the full eye of love upon the dreamy earth! The flowers, each with a dew-pearl glittering on its petals, lay lulled by the calm of the hour. Young master, fair saint, lay on his bed near the open window, through which the scented gales stole sweetly, and fanned his wasted cheek! Thick and hard came his breath, and we, who stood around him, could almost see the presence of the "monster grim," whose skeleton arms were fast locking him about! Flitting round the bed, like a guardian spirit, was Miss Bradly, whilst her tearful eye never wandered for an instant from that face now growing rigid with the kiss of death! Miss Jane stood at the head of the bed wiping the cold damps from his brow, and Miss Tildy was striving to impart some of her animal warmth to his icy feet. Mr. Peterkin sat with one of those thin hands grasped within his own, as if disputing and defying the advance of that enemy whom no man is strong enough to baffle. Slowly the invalid turned upon his couch, and, looking out upon the setting sun, he heaved a deep sigh. "Father," he said, as he again turned his face toward Mr. Peterkin, who still clasped his hand, "do you not know from my failing pulse, that my life is almost spent?" "Oh, my boy, it is too, too hard to give you up." "Yet you _must_ nerve yourself for it. "I have no nerve to meet this trouble." "Go to God, He will give you ease." "I want Him to give me you." "Me He lent you for a little while. Now He demands me at your hands, and His requisition you must obey." "Oh, I won't give up; maybe you'll yet be spared to me." "No, God's decree it is, that I should go." "It cannot, shall not be." "Father, father, you do but blaspheme." "I will do anything rather than see you die." "I am willing to die. I have only one request to make of you. Will you grant it? If you refuse me, I shall die wretched and unhappy." "I will promise you anything." "But will you keep your promise?" "Yes, my boy." "Do you promise most faithfully?" "I do." "Then promise me that you will instantly manumit your slaves." Mr. Peterkin hesitated a moment.