“‘No, sir; he was a good master.’
“‘And was your mistress unkind to you?’
“‘No, sir—no! My mistress was always good to me.’
“‘What could induce you to leave a good home, then, and run away, and go through such dangers?’
“The woman looked up at Mrs. Bird with a keen, scrutinizing glance, and it did not escape her that she was dressed in deep mourning.
“‘Ma’am,’ she said suddenly, ‘have you ever lost a child?’
“The question was unexpected, and it was a thrust on a new wound; for it was only a month since a darling child of the family had been laid in the grave.
“Mr. Bird turned around and walked to the window, and Mrs. Bird burst into tears; but, recovering her voice, she said:
“‘Why do you ask that? I have lost a little one.’
“‘Then you will feel for me. I have lost two, one after another, ... and I had only this one left.... And, ma’am, they were going to take him away from me—to sell him—sell him down south, ma’am, to go all alone—a baby that had never been away from his mother in his life! I couldn’t stand it, ma’am.... And when I knew the papers were signed, and he was sold, I took him and came off in the night; and they chased me—the man that bought him and some of Mas’r’s folks—and they were coming down right behind me, and I heard ’em. I jumped right on to the ice; and how I got across I don’t know—but, first thing I knew, a man was helping me up the bank.’”