"But the most shocking case that came under my immediate notice was that of a woman seeking employment. She came to my office with two handsome boys, all three being bright mulattoes. The little fellows were about three and five years of age, with large brown eyes and pretty faces, full of fun and vivacity. The mother was a tall, fine-looking woman of twenty-two or -three, and claimed to be a good cook. I had one place in my mind, and sent her there, as a friend had mentioned to me that he wanted a cook, and if one came for employment would like to have her sent to him. "Unfortunately, he objected to the children, but, thinking the mother could board them out, told her to 'get rid of the children' and he would employ her. "The next day he came to me with a face of horror. 'Captain,' he said, 'the cook you sent me has murdered both her children!' "'Murdered them?' I cried. "'Yes. She is in the office, and you will have to see her, I suppose. It is awful!' "I found the woman waiting my coming with a face of perfect composure. "'Hannah,' I said, after I had heard the accusation of the people in the house where the crime was committed, 'what have you to say?' "'Nuffin', Mars' Cap'n. Mars' T---- done sed I mus' git rid o' de picaninnies; and dey was bothersome, anyway--allers eatin', 'deed dey was, Mars' Cap'n'--this very earnestly, as if to defend herself--' allers a-hollerin' for suffin' to eat.' "'But, Hannah, Mr. T---- wanted you to leave them with some of the women to board.' "'Nebber sed so. Jes' sed--'deed he did--"You get rid o' dem chillens an' come here to cook." So I jes' waited till dey was asleep, an' cut deir throats. Dey nebber screeched.' "I was sick with horror, but through the whole of the examination the woman showed no sign of emotion, though we all went to the house where the two pretty babies lay, stone dead." "What became of her?" I asked. "I have forgotten. I sent her to Vicksburg, as the case was too grave for my decision. I should not have held her accountable, as she was evidently under the impression that absolute obedience was the law for her race. "It was odd," he continued, "but after that tragedy there came a farce in true dramatic order. My office was hardly cleared of the parties concerned in this dreadful murder when I was attracted to the window by the most horrible yelping and squealing, and saw two negroes, black as coals, barefooted, bareheaded and ragged, one leading a dog, one trying to drag two pigs into the yard attached to my quarters. Seeing me, one of them made a bow. 'Sarvent, Mars' Cap'n,' he said. "'What do you want?' I asked. 'Tie those pigs up before you come in,' for he was dragging them up the steps. "'Likely shoats, ain't dey?' said the other eagerly. 'We jes' come down 'bout dem ar shoats, Mars' Cap'n.' "'An' dat ar dog,' broke in the other.