With Mrs. Lee he visited the aged and the sick. The thing that brought the smile to each withered mouth was the assurance of their love and care always.
Among the servants Sam held the center of interest. The wonderful, doubtful, yet fascinating thing had come to him. He had been set free. In each heart was the wish and with it fear of the future. The younger ones laughed and frankly envied him. The older ones wagged their heads doubtfully.
Old Ben expressed the best feelings of the wiser as he took Sam's hand for a fatherly word. He had finished the packing in an old cowhide trunk which Custis had given him.
"We's all gwine ter watch ye, boy, wid good wishes in our hearts and a whole lot er misgivin's a playin' roun' in our min'."
"Don't yer worry 'bout me, Uncle Ben. I'se all right."
He paused and whispered.
"Ye didn't know dat Marse Robert done gimme five hundred dollars in gol'—did ye?"
"Five hundred dollars in gol'!" Ben gasped.
Sam drew the shining yellow eagles from the bag in his pocket and jingled them before the old man's eyes.
"Dar it is."