heart, Dudley, with our tears, but we will weight you down with our
love and prayers."

It was not so easy with Mam' Henry. Without protest, she took him to
her bosom and rocked to and fro, wailing "My baby! my baby!" and the
tears that fell from the young man's eyes upon her grey old head cost
his manhood nothing.

Gideon was behind the door when his master called him. His sleeve was
traveling down from his eyes as he emerged.

"Gideon," said his master, pointing to his uniform, "you know what
this means?"

"Yes, suh."

"I wish I could take you along with me. But--"

"Mas' Dud," Gideon threw out his arms in supplication.

"You remember father's charge to you, take care of the women-folks."
He took the servant's hand, and, black man and white, they looked into
each other's eyes, and the compact was made. Then Gideon gulped and
said "Yes, suh" again.

Another boy held the master's horse and rode away behind him when he
vaulted into the saddle, and the man of battle-song and warrior name
went back to mind the women-folks.

Then began the disintegration of the plantation's population. First