"Yes, missy, dar not eben a shadow left ob him; and, [the negro had a
remarkable imagination], 'pears like I see de print ob a cloben tread in
de soft ground, by his door; and among de hay de old fellow hab lef some
ob his plunder trough mistake."

Sea-flower hastened to the dog's kennel, and there indeed was a small
parcel, folded neatly in white paper, but no trace of the dog was to be
seen; opening the package, there was a small locket, containing the
likeness of her mother and herself, which had been left upon the parlor
table, but how it came in the dog's kennel was a mystery.

"Oh, our faithful Neptune! how much we shall miss him! It must be that
he has gone with his master; but perhaps it is all for the best."

"I tinks eberyting should be ob de best for you, missy; 'pears like if
my poor old Phillis could get used to de tribilations, like you do, it
help to make de road easier; but I specks she neber learn how."

"O, Vingo, it makes my heart bleed to think that your people have no
opportunities for learning that they may cast their burdens on the Lord.
I cannot imagine anything more dreadful than the ignorance in which the
slaves are kept."

"Yes, missy, I neber remembers much about it till I leabes old Berginny;
some how or oder, I finds out dat old massa's people hab a God, but I
neber 'spect he know anyting 'bout poor black man."

Days and months passed on, as the lonely days of sorrow do come, and go,
and come again; but as the lengthened shades of the summer solstice had