maybe he'll let him off light; but dat ain't neder hyear nur dar.
What'll yer take fur de baby, caze my min' hit's made up?"

"And mine is too, Uncle Bob," said his master, rising, and grasping in
his the big black hand. "Mine is too. I will give Ann her freedom and
her baby, and the same amount of money that you give her; that will
take her to her husband's relatives, and she can die happy, knowing
that her baby will be taken care of."

The next day Uncle Bob dug up his money, and the bag was found to
contain three hundred dollars.

His master put with it a check for the same amount, and sent him into
the laundry to tell Ann of her good fortune.

The poor woman was overcome with happiness and gratitude, and,
throwing her arms around Uncle Bob, she sobbed and cried on his
shoulder.

She wrote at once to her husband's relatives, and a few weeks after
Major Waldron took her to New Orleans, had the requisite papers drawn
up for her freedom, and accompanied her on board of a vessel bound for
New York; and then, paying her passage himself, so that she might keep
her money for future emergencies, he bade adieu to the only slaves he
ever bought.

CHAPTER IX

AUNT EDY'S STORY