husband paid from his own pocket the purchase-money
of his own wife and child, this sum to be returned
to him by Mr. Ponder whenever convenient. The joy
of the wife can be conceived. It can not be expressed.

In due time all arrived at Atlanta, where Mr. Ponder
had purchased about twenty-five acres of land and had
erected thereon, at great expense, a superb mansion
for his own family, a number of substantial frame
dwellings for his slaves, and three large buildings
for manufacturing purposes.

Of sixty-five slaves nearly all of the men were
mechanics. All of them except the necessary household
servants, a gardener, and a coachman, were permitted
to hire their own time. Mr. Ponder would have
absolutely nothing to do with their business other
than to protect them. So that if any one wanted any
article of their manufacture they contracted with
the workman and paid him his own price. These bond
people were therefore virtually free. They acquired
and accumulated wealth, lived happily, and needed
but two other things to make them like other human
beings, viz., absolute freedom and education. But

"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform."

And through that very mysteriousness this people
was destined to attain to the higher enjoyment of