The old woman did not move nor take off her eyes from her fallen foe, but answered, “Oh, he one gran’ rascal, Missy, one gallows face vilyun as ever lib—use to drive me ’bout ’mong corn hills, when he great man, when he Massa Churchill oberseer—black oberseer—_black_ gemmun—_black_ Massa! kik—kik—kik!” And the old woman snapped her fingers under the nose of the prisoner. The harshness of black overseers, who are often selected for their greater vigilance and severity, and the hatred the negroes feel towards them, is notorious in the Southern States. The old woman continued her abuse, the negro suffered it without reply. Sophia Churchill watched him “Until the pity of her heart grew strong.” At last the old woman said, “Now I gwine out, see ef dey comin’ wid cons’ble,” and left the room. Sophia looked at the poor wretch tied like a beast for slaughter, and thought of the dreadful death hanging over him, until pity overcame terror and conquered reason. She arose, and drawing near him stealthily as one would approach a bound tiger, she said gently: “Jim, I’m sorry for you.” “Oh! Miss Sophia,” said he weeping. “_Very_ sorry for you. Oh! Jim, _why_ did you run away, and _why_ did you break into houses and rob, and _why, why_ did you stab the overseer?” “_Is_ he dead? tell me _that, is_ he dead, Miss Sophia?” “No, Jim, he is not dead, he has recovered, so you are free from blood-guiltiness.” “Thank God, then, I’m no murderer.” “But, poor wretch, your fate in this world will be the same as though you were. You made an assault upon the life of an overseer in his attempt to re-capture you; not just to _see_ what you have brought yourself to.” The negro wept outright. “But I did not come over here to reprove you, Jim. Jim, if I were to cut your bands and let you go, what would you do?” He half started up, gazed intently on her and said, “I would go down on my knees and bless you; I’d learn to pray, so I could pray for you.” “I don’t mean that; would you try to reform?” “Miss Sophia, would you believe me if I were to promise?” Sophia was silent. “There, I knew you wouldn’t, Miss Sophia, you couldn’t if you were to try,” and he sighed heavily.