don't shoot anybody, George, unlesswellyou'd
better
not shoot, I reckon; at least, I would n't
hit
anybody, you know. Where is your wife, George?" he added, as he nervously rose, and began walking the room.
|
"Gone, sir, gone, with her child in her arms, the Lord only knows where;gone after the north star; and when we ever meet, or whether we meet at all in this world, no creature can tell."
|
"Is it possible! astonishing! from such a kind family?"
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"Kind families get in debt, and the laws of
our
country allow them to sell the child out of its mother's bosom to pay its master's debts," said George, bitterly.
|
"Well, well," said the honest old man, fumbling in his pocket. "I s'pose, perhaps, I an't following my judgment,hang it, I
won't
follow my judgment!" he added, suddenly; "so here, George," and, taking out a roll of bills from his pocket-book, he offered them to George.
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"No, my kind, good sir!" said George, "you've done a great deal for me, and this might get you into trouble. I have money enough, I hope, to take me as far as I need it."
|
"No; but you must, George. Money is a great help everywhere;can't have too much, if you get it honestly. Take it,
do
take it,
now,
do, my boy!"
|
"On condition, sir, that I may repay it at some future time, I will," said George, taking up the money.
|
"And now, George, how long are you going to travel in this way?not long or far, I hope. It's well carried on, but too bold. And this black fellow,who is he?"
|
"A true fellow, who went to Canada more than a year ago. He heard, after he got there, that his master was so angry at him for going off that he had whipped his poor old mother; and he has come all the way back to comfort her, and get a chance to get her away."
|
"Not yet; he has been hanging about the place, and found no chance yet. Meanwhile, he is going with me as far as Ohio, to put me among friends that helped him, and then he will come back after her."
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"Dangerous, very dangerous!" said the old man.
|
George drew himself up, and smiled disdainfully.
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