She shuddered with a vision

Of the bloodhounds on her track, As she thought how deadly certain They would be to bring her back! O, she could not, could not bear it! She would kill herself and him! Then, across her 'wildered memory Stole a vision, faint and dim, Of some reverent childish teaching, Prayer to God, and faith and fear"Lead us not into temptation!"

Was He listening? Did He hear? Then she thought of old Aunt Dinah, Who had taught her thus to pray, Living free in Oppoloosa,

Half a score of miles away,

And at last, she rose, determined

That the danger should be braved; Though her life might pay the forfeit, Little Philip should be saved! So she wrapped her sleeping treasure In a mantle dark and thin,

Tied a gaudy-hued bandana

'Neath her smoothly-rounded chin,

Planned her flight to escape detection,
And removing every trace,
With the subtle, stealthy movement
Of a leopard, left the place.
And she paused not in her journey,-
Life or death still lay before!
'Till she struggled, worn and weary.
To Aunt Dinah's cabin door.-

Hush! a voice of prayer and pleading
On the midnight calm is heard:-
"Teach us, Lord, through all our blindness
To believe Thy precious word.
Help us when our hearts are heavy;

Guide us when we go astray;
Lead us in the paths we know not,
Nearer to Thee, day by day."

With her spirit vision opened
By some unseen inner sight,
Old Aunt Dinah had arisen

And was praying in the night.
In her strong, black arms she gathered
Weary mother, wondering child;

And she listened to their story

Full of anguish, fierce and wild.

Knowing well she could not save them, That her love though strong and bright, Was as chaff before the whirlwind

Of the white man's power and might. "I would give my poor old heart's blood, Every drop for yours and you,

If I could but keep you, honey,

From this path you're walking through.

"But, I've seen it all too often;
They will hunt you if you hide,
They will catch you if you're fleeing,
They will take you from my side;
And they'll take your baby from you,
Stop! De Lord's own voice I hear;
Will you trust your precious darling
To my care and leave him here?

"I will keep him from all danger;
Hide him where no eye can see;
And 'twill be a comfort, deary,

If you always know he's free.
Don't look so; give me the baby;
Yes, I know how hard it is,
But we do the Father's bidding,
Not in our way, but in His.
"I will pray for you to-morrow;
Now, the moon is going down,
You must take my little donkey,
Child, and hurry back to town.
Ride him just as far's you dare to,
Then tie up the bridle rein,

Turn his head, and he's done sartain
To come right straight home again !"

When next morning she was summoned
From her room, she walked alone;
Though her fierce, brown eyes burned darkly,
They were tearless, dry as stone.
And the lawyers and the keepers
Looked at her and shrank away,
Minded by her wondrous beauty
Of a tigress turned at bay.

But a query ran among them,—

Of the baby-where was he?

'Till she heard their words and answered

Very calmly-" He is free!"

"Free! The house was strongly guarded,.

Every window, every door;

They had seen both child and mother

Safely caged the night before!

"Not a living thing had ventured

O'er the threshold that they knew; And the hounds with hungry voices Bayed outside the whole night through." Instant search sufficed to show them That the baby was not there;

Not a hint, or trace, or sign

Could they discover anywhere.

Then, with threatening look and gesture
To the mother they returned,
But she said, in words triumphant,

While her eyes more brightly burned:

"Strike me! Minions! I expect it!
Scourge me! burn me! beat or kill!
But it will not help you find him,
He is FREE! my darling Phil!
Think you, I would fear to hide him.
In the darkness of the grave?

Ah, my baby's father's baby

Was not born to be a slave!"

So, with furtive eyes they watched her,
Talking low 'mid fear and fright,
Half afraid 'mid their bravado,

She would vanish from their sight.
But she stood as stands the martyr
When his last frail hope dies out,
And the murmuring sea of voices
Rises to an angry shout.

And she thought not of her beauty
As her heart beat fast and faster,
Gazing on those stranger faces,

Wondering which would be her master. But, the horrid truth awoke her,

66

Going! going! gone!" It told
That beyond all hope or dreaming,
She was sold, to slavery sold!

Then, as if the soul within her
Larger grew with pain and strife,
Or, as if some marble statue
Started forth, a thing of life,
Turned she, and with footsteps silent
As a specter of the dead,

From their midst she swiftly fled.

Ere a hand could lift to stay her

On--to where the lofty margin
Overlooks the river's flood,

There she paused and turned in triumph
As upon its brink she stood:-
"Cowards! Do you dare to follow

To yon gulf, to find your slave?

Think you that I fear to render
Back to God the life He gave!

"Let Him in his righteous judgment
Weigh the guilt 'twixt you and me;
Let Him guard my boy and keep him
When his mother, too, is free!
Back! you have no power to stay me!
Stop! I would not hear you lie.
Back! I laugh at you, my masters!
Free I lived! and free I die!"

J