“The leader of the mob was a young lawyer from these parts, a sad, mischievous fellow; the widow became aware of this, and she invited him one evening to take tea with a small party at her house.  He accepted the invitation, was charmed with her hearty and hospitable welcome, and soon found himself quite at home; but only think how ashamed he must have felt, when the same ’larum commenced, at the usual hour, in front of the lady’s house!

“‘Oh,’ said Mrs. R—–­, smiling to her husband, ’here come our friends.  Really, Mr. K—–­, they amuse us so much of an evening that I should feel quite dull without them.’

“From that hour the charivari ceased, and the old lady was left to enjoy the society of her young husband in quiet.

“I assure you, Mrs. M—–­, that the charivari often deters old people from making disgraceful marriages, so that it is not wholly without its use.”

A few days after the charivari affair, Mrs. D—–­ stepped in to see me.  She was an American; a very respectable old lady, who resided in a handsome frame-house on the main road.  I was at dinner, the servant-girl, in the meanwhile, nursing my child at a distance.  Mrs. D—–­ sat looking at me very seriously until I concluded my meal, her dinner having been accomplished several hours before.  When I had finished, the girl give me the child, and then removed the dinner-service into an outer room.

“You don’t eat with your helps,” said my visitor.  “Is not that something like pride?”

“It is custom,” said I; “we were not used to do so at home, and I think that keeping a separate table is more comfortable for both parties.”

“Are you not both of the same flesh and blood?  The rich and the poor meet together, and the Lord is the maker of them all.”

“True.  Your quotation is just, and I assent to it with all my heart.  There is no difference in the flesh and blood; but education makes a difference in the mind and manners, and, till these can assimilate, it is better to keep them apart.”

“Ah! you are not a good Christian, Mrs. Moodie.  The Lord thought more of the poor than he did of the rich, and he obtained more followers from among them.  Now, we always take our meals with our people.”

Presently after, while talking over the affairs of our households, I happened to say that the cow we had bought of Mollineux had turned out extremely well, and gave a great deal of milk.

“That man lived with us several years,” she said; “he was an excellent servant, and D—–­ paid him his wages in land.  The farm he now occupies formed a part of our U.E. grant.  But, for all his good conduct, I never could abide him, for being a black.”

“Indeed!  Is he not the same flesh and blood as the rest?”

The colour rose into Mrs. D—–­’s sallow face, and she answered with much warmth—­

“What! do you mean to compare me with a nigger!”