frosty autumn, as Tidy was hovering over the embers, eating her
corn-bread, "put on de ole shawl, and we'll tote ober de hills to
Massa Bertram's. De meetin's dare dis yer night, and Si's gwine to go.
Come, honey, 'tis chill dis ebening, and de walk'll put the warmf
right smart inter ye;" and they started off at a quick pace,
over the hills, through the woods, down the lanes, and across
little brooks, the pale, cold moonlight streaming across their path,
and the warm sunlight of divine peace and favor enlivening
their hearts as they went on, making nothing at all of a walk
of three miles to sing and pray in company with Christian friends.
Would WE take as much pains to attend a prayer-meeting?

It was not the customary place of meeting, and the people for the most
part were strangers. One party had come by special invitation,
to see a new PIECE OF PROPERTY which had just arrived upon the place,--
a piece of property that thought, and felt, and moved, and walked,
like a thing of life; that loved and feared the Lord, and sung and
prayed like any Christian. What wonderful qualities slaveholders'
chattels possess!

The woman, whose name was Apollonia, familiarly called Lony,
was a tall, gaunt, square-built negress, with a skin so black
and shining, and her limbs so rigid, that she might almost have been
mistaken for one of those massive statues we sometimes see carved
out of the solid anthracite. A bright yellow turban on her head rose
in shape like an Egyptian pyramid, adding to her extraordinary hight,
and strangely contrasting with her black, thick, African features.
Altogether her appearance would have been formidable and repelling,
but for a look in her eye like the clear shining after rain,
and a tranquil, peaceful expression which had over-spread her hard visage.