from its general tenor, that it militates against the slavery system.

Christianity brought about the abolition of slavery all over Europe about the close of the twelfth century; and through its influence slavery had declined in heroic Greece and papal Rome centuries before. It will also be the main cause of freeing the slave in our own country. God grant that period may soon arrive!

"This is the last letter I will address you on this subject, and I do not wish to receive any more from you, as it is evident that there is nothing to be gained by further correspondence.

"Yours, &c.

"J. M. TENNYSON."

CHAPTER V.

"The master of a well ordered household is kind to his servants, yet he exacteth reverence, and each one feareth at his post."

Tupper.

During Arlington Melville's stay with his friend, his time was principally employed riding about and visiting the surrounding country, sometimes accompanied by the Colonel; occasionally by Eugene, and oftener by Miss Buckingham, with whom the young Englishman had become almost as much in love as our hero was with Julia. Cora was certainly delighted with his society, and as her father made no objection, they were very often together, riding, walking, or sitting in a vine covered arbour at the farther end of the spacious garden, in the rear of the mansion; where, with books and music their time

passed quickly and happily away. But Cora was always attended by Rosa, her favorite slave, who was a pretty light mulatto; and the presence of the girl prevented Melville from saying many tender things

by way of declaring his passion. Yet his dark, eloquent eyes spoke plainly what his lips never whispered; and Cora understood, and replied in the same delightful language.

One day Eugene expressed his intention of visiting his Plantation in Georgia, and invited Melville to accompany him, which he willingly agreed to do. The young men therefore left Charleston in the morning train for Macon, Georgia, near which place was Fairfield Plantation, the domain of our hero. They arrived at Augusta the same evening, and immediately changed cars for Macon. While doing so Melville was much amused, as well as surprised, in watching the removal of a lot of slaves from one train to another. The reader must know that there are always a number of "stock cars" on these Southern railroads, attached to the end of the passenger train, for the purpose of freighting slaves. These cars are perfectly round, like a coal wagon, or looking like a large hogshead on wheels, yet capacious enough to hold near a hundred; and here the poor creatures are huddled together like so many pigs or cattle going to market, and when the weather is warm they suffer intensely from the heat and closeness of the

cars.

Melville observed that there were several lots of slaves in these cars which had been bought in Vir

ginia for the New Orleans market. It was in the dusk of the evening, and each trader or owner went round hunting up his own property, which was rather difficult to do, as he scarcely knew one from another. But the slaves knew their proper owner, and with a grin on their shining ebony faces, called out, "I 'longs to you, massa, I 'longs to you." While others would cry "I no 'longs to you, sir; I 'longs to dat oder man wid de red face and big whiskers."

At length the slaves were arranged to their masters' satisfaction if not to their own, and the cars started. Soon after, our friends began to doze in their comfortable seats, for the passenger cars were as well furnished as the others were miserable.

At the break of day some of the passengers were aroused by the car-agent, to look at a curiosity called Stone Mountain, near Atalanta, which was quite a resort for travellers. It rose in the shape of a pyramid, several hundred feet, on an open plain, and was ascended by a winding road. Half way up was situated an elegant hotel, and the top of the mountain was surmounted by a statue.

They soon left it behind, however, and as they passed onward various amusing and pleasant sights met their inquiring gaze. At length, in the course of the afternoon. Eugene and Arlington arrived at Macon, after which half an hour's ride brought them

to Fairfield Plantation, which they had no sooner reached than dozens of slaves young and old ran out of the house, with the greatest appearance of delight, to welcome their young master. Eugene shook hands with many of them, and spoke kindly and frankly to the others.

After a slight refection, the young men went forth to survey the premises. As they passed along in the rear of the mansion, Melville noticed with much pleasure the neatness of the out-buildings and the rural appearance of the white-washed cabins, in which resided the most of the slaves. They were surrounded by flowers and creeping plants, and in a little garden attached to each were vegetables and herbs. There were plenty of chickens and other poultry running about: and Melville thought that the numerous cabins placed in rows at the rear of the large house, gave the place the appearance of a little town.

"One would imagine," said he, "that these creatures were happy, with so many little comforts; but I never can believe that a slave can be happy."

"They are happy," replied his friend. "You see these little gardens and that poultry-well, these negroes, when their daily task is finished, cultivate their vegetables and attend to their poultry until they are fit for market, and then they will sell, for a good price, either to the family of their master or other per