The room probably owed the name of "study" to a set of _Farmer's Magazines_ which, in all the dignity of expensive bindings, divided the shelf with a rather damaged edition of "The Turf Register," a "Farrier's Manual," a brace of antiquated medical works, and a stack of newspapers. Fishing tackle, a cupping apparatus, a set of engineering instruments, half a dozen ears of extra fine seed corn, medicine scales, and a huge cotton stock filled the rest of the bookcase. The Squire, seated before a blazing fire, in the lazy comforts of convalescence, with pipe and tobacco at his elbow, presented a not unenviable picture when contrasted with the wintry grayness outside. Harry, who had been greatly touched by the old hog-feeder's affectionate fidelity, now sought his uncle in order to beg that as a recompense he might be given his freedom. "Freedom!" exclaimed the Squire; "why, confound it, my dear boy, what would he do with freedom, if he had it?" "I think he would like it," Harry murmured, a little sheepishly. "Why, he's as free as air now; a deuced sight freer than I am." Nevertheless Harry gained his point, and though the Squire growled, "You young jackanapes, you've robbed me of the best hog-feeder on the river," still he was evidently pleased, and in the evening old Jerry was sent for. When, in answer to the summons, Jerry presented himself at the study door, his master said to him, with a stateliness fitted to the occasion:-- "Jerry, I have sent for you to tell you that your young master here, as a reward for your fidelity, desires to give you your freedom." Here the Squire paused, and Jerry, not knowing what else to say, said, "Yes, Marster." Harry, standing by, was feeling rather wrought up, while the Squire, also somewhat excited, continued:-- "I will give you a house in the free settlement, out in the slashes, and your young master will always take care of you." Another rather disconcerting pause was broken by a second "Yes, Marster;" and the old man, picking up his hat, shuffled out. The Squire glanced at Harry with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, but the boy's face expressed such blank disappointment that he took pity upon him, and, picking up a newspaper, dismissed the matter. Upon the following evening a low knock was heard at the study door, then a fumbling at the latch, and old Jerry once more stood upon the threshold. "Well, old man, what is it now?" his master asked kindly. "Come, out with it!" he repeated, as the old man, with a feeble grin, stood helplessly fingering his hat. "What's the matter?" And old Jerry, slowly scratching his head, made answer:-- "Thank, Marster; I's come to ax Marster what I done to 'splease Mars?" "Displease me! Why, what has put that notion into your head?" "I dunno, Mars, what I's done, but I's skeared Mars mout be set agin me, 'cause he say he gwine sen' me offen de plantation."