PREPARING TO LEAVE FOREST RILL. 111

magnificent clusters of large handsome flowers, whose bright scarlet and orange corollas are three or four inches in length. Sometimes hanging from a tall tree, or extending along its branches, it presents one dazzling assemblage of blossoms, so that the roads and lanes throughout the month of June seem to be festooned with garlands and triumphal arches.

When the time arrived for settling our pecuniary affairs, it would not have surprised me if, considering the nature of the engagement, the Doctor had rather demurred at paying a full amount, when the sole object of my coming had been defeated by Cinta's impaired health; and indeed, I felt somewhat delicate in receiving the stated sum, when Cinta had not derived three weeks' benefit from my instructions, and I had in reality been availing myself of a home at Forest Rill, in order to teach the neighbours' children. But the Doctor would not hear of any abatement, and insisted on paying me the full salary, and all in gold; for he said, "You are going to travel through several States, and specie will be more convenient to you than paper money." As all monetary transactions in the North had been in paper alone, such a heap" of gold was quite refreshing to behold.

66

We all anticipated a future meeting.

"Should

you return you must not fail to let us know of it immediately." "Should you be in Richmond, we shall be sure to see you, and the Doctor will be there at

Christmas, to look after some of the servants who are "You must come and stay

hired out in the city."
with us when you return," &c.

I left Mrs. W. in very bad spirits. She had been suffering much anxiety of late, not only on Cinta's account, but from fatigue in nursing the "favourite servant," who had been so long an invalid, and often I found her in tears, not, I felt convinced, because Susan was" such an excellent servant, and so trustworthy," half so much as from deep-felt sympathy with her sufferings and her anticipated death. "She has been in the house ever since she was a child," she said, "and she is so faithful and attached to us all.”

Cinta was full of excitement aud preparations for an excursion to Old Point, and her mountain trip in company with a whole "heap" of cousins. Had I dreamed that this was to be the final parting with that sweet girl and her excellent mother, how far more painful it would have been. None of us could then foresee the terrible events in store, and even now, I have yet to learn, whether Cinta, should she be living and safe, be not a fatherless orphan.

So I left my first Virginia home, without once experiencing that dreaded shock to one's nerves and sympathies, in witnessing the "horrible sufferings of those miserable slaves."

Such a process of hand-shaking with all the negroes had to be gone through, that it was a miracle

TENDER PARTINGS.

113

And

my wrist was not dislocated in the ordeal. Flora, who had long since "lost" her spelling-book, positively appeared with a tear in each eye, which she had managed by hard squeezing to produce, as she handed my travelling-bag into the carriage.

VOL. I.

I

CHAPTER VIII.

Storm in Chesapeake Bay.-A Race with the Train.-Home in Fog, and Back in the Gale.

To add to the interest of a story, one would of course be glad to introduce as many marvellous occurrences, hairbreadth escapes, and all that sort of thing, as possible. This book has nothing but truth to recommend it; and of melancholy truth, and sad reality, so much must be recorded, that invention is unnecessary.

But one wonderful escape did really occur on our trip up the bay of Chesapeake, on board the "William Selden," which the reader will bear with a novice for relating.

Again I was fortunate enough to obtain a whole state-room for my use. These little apartments, or compartments built around the saloon upon the deck and opening from it, contain each two shelves, called sleeping-berths. The little window of each " state

STORM IN CHESAPEAKE BAY.

115

and on that boat they were particularly cosy, pleasant little rooms. I was standing before my window feeding the mocking-birds in their cage, upon the table; no petted child ever clamoured more loudly for attention than those birdlings. The weather was intensely warm, thermometer approaching 100°. A few heavy lurid clouds assumed a threatening appearance; but the sun was partially unobscured. Suddenly, a crash! as if a huge rock had fallen on the roof of the boat; one loud, strong, shivering crash! I rushed out into the saloon, and beheld the female passengers staring at each other in mute amazement. The machinery still throbbed, and the boat continued on its course; and, while we were trembling with alarm and wonder, the steward entered, who informed us that the ship had been struck by lightning, but, through a merciful Providence, not seriously damaged. The electric fluid had been attracted by the funnel, which it bent; and running down had found its way along an iron chain to the rudder, which was slightly splintered, and thence conducted by the iron work, had lost itself in the sea. That was all the storm. We must have been passing under a heavily-charged cloud, which spent itself in that one sharp crack.

The time occupied in "making the trip" up and down these rivers and bays, of course depends greatly on the wind and tide; and one is never sure of the precise time of reaching one's destination; or whether we shall be able to proceed on our journey by a