"You's a purty cretur, honey. You dun know noffin how yer
mudder lubs ye."

Tidy remembers to this day the delightful afternoon thus spent
the very last time she went to see her mother, though neither of them
then thought it was to be the last. Mr. Carroll, Annie's master,
was very close in all his business transactions, never allowing,
as he remarked, his left hand to know what his right hand did.
He stole Tidy away, as we have already told you, from her mother;
and this was the way he usually managed in parting his slaves,
especially any that were much valued. He said it was "a

part of his religion to deal TENDERLY with his people!"

"'Tis a great deal better," said he, "to avoid a row.
They would moan and wail and make such a fuss, if they knew they
were to change quarters."

Humane man, wasn't he?

Mr. Carroll got into debt, and an opportunity occurring, he sold
Annie and her four boys. The bargain was made without the knowledge
of any one on the estate; and in the night they were transferred
to their new master. Nobody ever knew to what part of the country
they were carried.

When the news reached the ear of Marcia, Annie's mother, it proved to be
more than she could bear. Her very last comfort was thus torn from her.
When she was told of it, the poor, decrepit old woman fell from her