to “do right” by his negroes, and willing to afford them an opportunity of employing their time after task, for their own benefit.  And yet it is evident that he must in some way be connected with Graspum and his party, for there is a continual interchange of negroes to and from his plantation.  This, however, we must not analyse too closely, but leave to the reader’s own conjectures, inasmuch as Major Wiley is a very distinguished gentleman, and confidently expects a very prominent diplomatic appointment under the next administration.

Harry, in a very quiet way, sets himself about gaining a knowledge of his master’s opinions on religion, as well as obtaining his confidence by strict fidelity to his interests.  So far does he succeed, that in a short time he finds himself holding the respectable and confidential office of master of stores.  Then he succeeds in inducing his master to hear him preach a sermon to his negroes.  The major is perfectly willing to allow him the full exercise of his talents, and is moved to admiration at his fervency, his aptitude, his knowledge of the Bible, and the worth there must be in such a piece of clergy property.  Master Wiley makes his man the offer of purchasing his time, which Harry, under the alias of Peter, accepts, and commences his mission of preaching on the neighbouring plantations.

Ardently and devoutedly does he pursue his mission of Christianity among his fellow-bondmen; but he has reaped little of the harvest to himself, his master having so increased the demand for his time that he can scarcely save money enough to purchase clothes.  At first he was only required to pay six dollars a week; now, nothing less than ten is received.  It is a happy premium on profitable human nature; and through it swings the strongest hinge of that cursed institution which blasts alike master and slave.  Major Wiley is very chivalrous, very hospitable, and very eminent for his many distinguished qualifications; but his very pious piece of property must pay forty-seven per cent. annual tribute for the very hospitable privilege of administering the Word of God to his brother bondmen.  Speak not of robed bishops robbing Christianity in a foreign land, ye men who deal in men, and would rob nature of its tombstone!  Ye would rob the angels did their garments give forth gold.

The poor fellow’s income, depending, in some measure, upon small presents bestowed by the negroes to whom he preached, was scarcely enough to bring him out at the end of the week, and to be thus deprived of it seemed more than his spirits could bear.  Again and again had he appealed to his master for justice; but there was no justice for him,—­his appeals proved as fruitless as the wind, on his master’s callous sensibilities.  Instead of exciting compassion, he only drew upon him his master’s prejudices; he was threatened with being sold, if he resisted for a day the payment of wages for his own body.  Hence he saw but one alternative left-one hope, one