Robert returned to Baltimore, sold himself to a Jew in that city, and sent the money to the lawyer in Philadelphia. After this he was bought by a distinguished Southern Senator--afterwards a General in the Southern army--with whom he remained, and to whom he rendered valuable services during the war. * * * * * Other instances were known of negroes who preferred being sold into slavery rather than take care of themselves. There were some in our immediate neighborhood, who finding themselves emancipated by their master's will, begged the owners of neighboring plantations to buy them, saying they preferred having "white people to take care of them." On the "Wheatly" plantation--not far from us--there is still living an old negro who sold himself in this way, and cannot be persuaded _now_ to accept his freedom. After the war, when all the negroes were freed by the Federal Government, and our people too much impoverished longer to clothe and feed them, this old man refused to leave the plantation, but clung to his cabin, although his wife and family moved off and begged him to accompany them. "No," said he, "I nuver will leave this plantation, and go off to starve with free niggers." Not even when his wife was very sick and dying could he be persuaded to go off and stay one night with her. He had long been too old to work, but his former owners indulged him by giving him his cabin, and taking care of him through all the poverty which has fallen upon our land since the war. CHAPTER XVII. O, bright winged peace! Long did'st thou rest o'er the homes of old Virginia; while cheerful wood fires blazed on hearthstones in parlor and cabin, reflecting contented faces with hearts full of "peace and good will towards men!" No thought entered there of harm to others; no fear of evil to ourselves. Whatsoever things were honest; whatsoever things were pure; whatsoever things were gentle; whatsoever things were of good report, we were accustomed to hear 'round these parlor firesides; and often would our grandmothers say: "Children our's is a blessed country! There never will be another war! The Indians have long ago been driven out, and it has been nearly a hundred years since the English yoke was broken!" The history of our country was contained in two pictures: "The last battle with the Indians" and "The surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown."