ought to be free to meet and mingle；—to rise by our individual worth； without any consideration of caste or color； and they who deny us this right are false to their own professed principles of human equality。 We ought； in particular； to be allowed here。 We have more than the rights of common men；—we have the claim of an injured race for reparation。 But； then； I do not want it； I want a country； a nation； of my own。 I think that the African race has peculiarities； yet to be unfolded in the light of civilization and Christianity； which； if not the same with those of the Anglo…Saxon； may prove to be； morally； of even a higher type。
“To the Anglo…Saxon race has been intrusted the destinies of the world； during its pioneer period of struggle and conflict。 To that mission its stern； inflexible； energetic elements； were well adapted； but； as a Christian； I look for another era to arise。 On its borders I trust we stand； and the throes that now convulse the nations are； to my hope； but the birth…pangs of an hour of universal peace and brotherhood。
“I trust that the development of Africa is to be essentially a Christian one。 If not a dominant and commanding race； they are； at least； an affectionate； magnanimous； and forgiving one。 Having been called in the furnace of injustice and oppression； they have need to bind closer to their hearts that sublime doctrine of love and forgiveness； through which alone they are to conquer； which it is to be their mission to spread over the continent of Africa。
“In myself； I confess； I am feeble for this；—full half the blood in my veins is the hot and hasty Saxon； but I have an eloquent preacher of the Gospel ever by my side； in the person of my beautiful wife。 When I wander； her gentler spirit ever restores me； and keeps before my eyes the Christian calling and mission of our race。 As a Christian patriot； as a teacher of Christianity； I go to my country；—my chosen； my glorious Africa！—and to her； in my heart； I sometimes apply those splendid words of prophecy： ‘Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated； so that no man went through thee； I will make thee an eternal excellence； a joy of many generations！’
“You will call me an enthusiast： you will tell me that I have not well considered what I am undertaking。 But I have considered； and counted the cost。 I go to Liberia； not as an Elysium of romance； but as to a field of work。 I expect to work with both hands；—to work hard； to work against all sorts of difficulties and discouragements； and to work till I die。 This is what I go for； and in this I am quite sure I shall not be disappointed。
“Whatever you may think of my determination； do not divorce me from your confidence； and think that； in whatever I do； I act with a heart wholly given to my people。
“George Harris。”
George； with his wife； children； sister and mother； embarked for Africa； some few weeks after。 If we are not mistaken； the world will yet hear from him there。
Of our other characters we have nothing very particular to write； except a word relating to Miss Ophelia and Topsy； and a farewell chapter； which we shall dedicate to George Shelby。
Miss Ophelia took Topsy home to Vermont with her； much to the surprise of the grave deliberative body whom a New Englander recognizes under the term “Our folks。” “Our folks；” at first； thought it an odd and unnecessary addition to their well…trained domestic establishment； but； so thoroughly efficient was Miss Ophelia in her conscientious endeavor to do her duty by her eleve； that the child rapidly grew in grace and in favor with the family and neighborhood。 At the age of womanhood； she was； by her own request； baptized； and became a member of the Christian church in the place； and showed so much intelligence； activity and zeal； and desire to do good in the world； that she was at last recommended； and approved as a missionary to one of the stations in Africa； and we have heard that the same activity and ingenuity which； when a child； made her so multiform and restless in her developments； is now employed； in a safer and wholesomer manner； in teaching the children of her own country。
P。S。—It will be a satisfaction to some mother； also； to state； that some inquiries； which were set on foot by Madame de Thoux； have resulted recently in the discovery of Cassy’s son。 Being a young man of energy； he had escaped； some years before his mother； and been received and educated by friends of the oppressed in the north。 He will soon follow his family to Africa。
Chapter 44
The Liberator
George Shelby had written to his mother merely a line； stating the day that she might expect him home。 Of the death scene of his old friend he had not the heart to write。 He had tried several times； and only sucomeeded in half choking himself； and invariably finished by tearing up the paper； wiping his eyes； and rushing somewhere to get quiet。
There was a pleased bustle all though the Shelby mansion； that day； in expectation of the arrival of young Mas’r George。
Mrs。 Shelby was seated in her comfortable parlor； where a cheerful hickory fire was dispelling the chill of the late autumn evening。 A supper…table； glittering with plate and cut glass； was set out； on whose arrangements our former friend； old Chloe； was presiding。
Arrayed in a new calico dress； with clean； white apron； and high； well…starched turban； her black polished face glowing with satisfaction； she lingered； with needless punctiliousness； around the arrangements of the table； merely as an excuse for talking a little to her mistress。
“Laws； now！ won’t it look natural to him？” she said。 “Thar；—I set his plate just whar he likes it；round by the fire。 Mas’r George allers wants de warm seat。 O； go way！—why didn’t Sally get out de best tea…pot；—de little new one； Mas’r George got for Missis； Christmas？ I’ll have it out！ And Missis has heard from Mas’r George？” she said； inquiringly。
“Yes； Chloe； but only a line； just to say he would be home tonight； if he could；—that’s all。”
“Didn’t say nothin’ ’bout my old man； s’pose？” said Chloe； still fidgeting with the tea…cups。
“No； he didn’t。 He did not speak of anything； Chloe。 He said he would tell all； when he got home。”
“Jes like Mas’r George；—he’s allers so ferce for tellin’ everything hisself。 I allers minded dat ar in Mas’r George。 Don’t see； for my part； how white people gen’lly can bar to hev to write things much as they do； writin’ ’s such slow； oneasy kind o’ work。”
Mrs。 Shelby smiled。
“I’m a thinkin’ my old man won’t know de boys and de baby。 Lor’！ she’s de biggest gal； now；—good she is； too； and peart； Polly is。 She’s out to the house； now； watchin’ de hoe…cake。 I ’s got jist de very pattern my old man liked so much； a bakin’。 Jist sich as I gin him the mornin’ he was took off。 Lord bless us！ how I felt； dat ar morning！”
Mrs。 Shelby sighed； and felt a heavy weight on her heart； at this allusion。 She had felt uneasy； ever since she received her son’s letter； lest something should prove to be hidden behind the veil of silence which he had drawn。
“Missis has got dem bills？” said Chloe； anxiously。
“Yes； Chloe。”
“’Cause I wants to show my old man dem very bills de perfectioner gave me。 ‘And；’ say he； ‘Chloe； I wish you’d stay longer。’ ‘Thank you； Mas’r；’ says I； ‘I would； only my old man’s coming home； and Missis；—she can’t do without me no longer。’ There’s jist what I telled him。 Berry nice man； dat Mas’r Jones was。”
Chloe had pertinaciously insisted that the very bills in which her wages had been paid should be preserved； to show her husband； in memorial of her capability。 And Mrs。 Shelby had readily consented to humor her in the request。
“He won’t know Polly；—my old man won’t。 Laws； it’s five year since they tuck him！ She was a baby den；—couldn’t but jist stand。 Remember how tickled he used to be； cause she would keep a fallin’ over； when she sot out to walk。 Laws a me！”
The rattling of wheels now was heard。
“Mas’r George！” said Aunt Chloe； starting to the window。
Mrs。 Shelby ran to the entry door； and was folded in the arms of her son。 Aunt Chloe stood anxiously straining her eyes out into the darkness。
“O； poor Aunt Chloe！” said George； stopping compassionately； and taking her hard； black hand between both his； “I’d have given all my fortune to have brought him with me； but he’s gone to a better country。”
There was a passionate exclamation from Mrs。 Shelby； but Aunt Chloe said nothing。
The party entered the supper…room。 The money； of which Chloe was so proud； was still lying on the table。
“Thar；” said she； gathering it up； and holding it； with a trembling hand； to her mistress； “don’t never want to see nor hear on ’t again。 Jist as I knew ’t would be；—sold； and murdered on dem ar’ old plantations！”
Chloe turned； and was walking proudly out of the room。 Mrs。 Shelby followed her softly； and took one of her hands； drew her down into a chair； and sat down by her。
“My poor； good Chloe！” said she。
Chloe leaned her head on her mistress’ shoulder； and sobbed out； “O Missis！ ’scuse me； my heart’s broke；—dat’s all！”
“I know it is；” said Mrs。 Shelby； as her tears fell fast； “and I cannot heal it； but Jesus can。 He healeth the broken hearted； and bindeth up their wounds。”
There was a silence for some time； and all wept together。 At last； George； sitting down beside the mourner； took her hand； and； with simple pathos； repeated the triumphant scene of her husband’s death； and his last messages of love。
About a month after this； one morning； all the servants of the Shelby estate were convened together in the great hall that ran through the house； to hear a few words from their young master。
To the surprise of all； he appeared among them with a bundle of papers in his hand； containing a certificate of freedom to every one on the place； which he read sucomessively； and presented； amid the sobs and tears and shouts of all present。
Many； however； pressed around him； earnestly begging him not to send them away； and； with anxious faces； tendering back their free papers。
“We don’t want to be no freer than we are。 We’s allers had all we wanted。 We don’t want to leave de ole place； and Mas’r and Missis； and de rest！”
“My good frien