After the savage dance and rites were over, and while we sat talking about it, a gentleman--the friend and minister of the family--came in. We described to him what we had just witnessed, and he deplored it bitterly with us, saying he had read and prayed with "Aunt Fanny" and tried to make her see the truth in Jesus. He then marked some passages in the Bible, and asked me to go and read them to her. I went, and said to her: "Aunt Fanny, here are some verses Mr. Mitchell has marked for me to read to you, and he hopes you will pray to the Savior as he taught you." Then said I, "we are afraid the noise and dancing have made you worse." Speaking feebly, she replied: "Honey, that kind of religion suits us black folks better than your kind. What suits Mars Charles' mind, don't suit mine." And thus died the most intelligent of her race--one who had been surrounded by pious persons who had been praying for her, and endeavoring to instruct her. She had also enjoyed through life not only the comforts, but many of the luxuries of earth--and when she died, her mistress and master lost a sincere friend. CHAPTER XVI. This chapter will show how "Virginia beat-biscuit" procured for a man a home and friends in Paris. One morning in the spring of 18-- a singular looking man presented himself at our house. He was short of stature, and enveloped in furs although the weather was not cold. Everything about him was gold which could be gold, and so we called him "the gold-tipped-man." He called for my mother, and when she went in the parlor said to her: "Madam I have been stopping several weeks at the hotel in the town of L----, where I met a boy--Robert--who tells me he belongs to you. As I want such a servant, and he is anxious to travel, I come, at his request, to ask if you will let me buy him and take him to Europe. I will pay any price." "I could not think of it," she replied. "I have determined never to sell one of my servants." "But," continued the man, "he is anxious to go, and has sent me to beg you." "It is impossible," said she, "for he is a great favorite with us, and the only child his mother has." Finding her determined, the man took his leave, and went back to the town, twenty-five miles off; but returned next day accompanied by Robert, who entreated his mother and mistress to let him go. Said my mother to him: "Would you leave your mother and go with a stranger to a foreign land?" "Yes, madam. I love my mother, and you and all your family--you have always been so good to me--but I want to travel, and this gentleman says he will give me plenty of money and be very kind to me." Still she refused. But the boy's mother, finally yielding to his entreaty, consented, and persuaded her mistress, saying, "if he is willing to leave me, and so anxious to go I will give him up."