The thoughtfulness and anxiety felt by them on this occasion being
reciprocated by their masters, a proposition was made for an exchange.
The wife of one of Billy's fellow-servants being in the family with
Jenny, accommodations were soon made, and Billy was admitted a resident
in the family with his beloved partner: when they all proceeded to
their new settlement, where they lived in harmony and concord for many
years, and until their master's children were all married and settled.
During this period, Billy and Jenny, with all their children, were
liberated by their master, and such of them as were old enough, were
placed where they might be brought up to habits of industry, and be
prepared to provide for themselves a comfortable subsistence; but Billy
and Jenny remained with him.
Age and infirmity at length put a period to their kind master's life.
And his family, being thus deprived of his care and exertions, were
induced to leave their abode. The mistress, who had long exercised an
affectionate care over her household, finding herself lonely, retired
to live with her children. And with her youngest son, she remained to
an advanced age, and was then gathered into rest, as a shock of corn in
its season.
Billy and Jenny having a house provided for them, remained under the
care of their former master's descendants, and with their own industry,
and the generosity of their friends, they were comfortably situated.
But when Billy was so disabled by infirmity, that he could not work as
a day-laborer, he cultivated a little garden, and did some light jobs
for his neighbors.
Their children being out, while Jenny's health and strength remained,
she went out to washing and housecleaning. Billy generally waited on
her to the place of destination, and then, returning to his habitation,
nursed his garden and poultry until toward evening, when he would go to
accompany her home. More genuine politeness and unremitting attention,
between a man and his wife, are rarely to be found, in city or country,
than were manifested by this sable pair.
Thus they lived several years; but Jenny at length became enfeebled
by age, and her sight failed, so that she was no longer capable of
laboring abroad, or using her spinning-wheel at home, as heretofore,
which made it necessary for them to be placed in a different situation.
One winter, while they remained at housekeeping, there came a very
severe snow-storm, with high wind, so that passing from one place to
another was rendered very difficult for several days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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