“God heard her prayer, but often He in wisdom doth withhold The boon we crave, that we may be pure and refined like gold; And the mother saw Xariffe grow in loveliness and grace, Till the roses of five summers blushed in beauty on her face. “At length, one day, one sunny day, when earth and heaven were bright, The mother to her daily toil went forth at morning light; At evening, when her task was done,--how can the tale be told? She came back to her empty hut, to find her darling sold. “Come nearer, my own precious ones, your soft white arms entwine Around my neck, and kiss me close, sweet Ella, daughter mine; Five years in beauty _thou_ hast bloomed, of my happy life a part, Oh, God! I guess the anguish of that lone slave-mother’s heart. “Now, darlings, go and kiss papa, and whisper your good-night, Then hasten to your little beds, and sleep till morning light; But oh! before you close your eyes, God’s care and blessing crave, On the saddest of His children, that poor heartbroken slave.” THE MAN-OWNER. A friend of mine, on the ---- day of ----, 18--, (the dates it is unnecessary to specify,) became the owner of a man. He had never owned one before; and he has had so much trouble with him, that I doubt if he will ever allow himself to become owner of one again. My friend is not a Southerner; yet the circumstances by which so singular a dispensation fell to him, it is unnecessary for me to recount. I will briefly describe the master and the man, and show how they succeeded in their relationship.