Young master still slept, from the strong effects of the sleeping potion which had been administered to him. Miss Bradly, overcome by the night's watching, dozed in a large chair beside the bed, and an open Bible, in which she had been reading, lay upon her lap. The blinds were closed, but the dim light of a small fire that blazed on the hearth gave some appearance of life to the room. Every one who passed in and out, stepped on tip-toe, as if fearful of arousing the sleeper.
Oh, the comfort of a white skin! No darkened room, no comfortable air, marked the place where she my friend had died. No hushed dread nor whispered voice paid respect to the cabin-room where lay her dead body; but, thanks to God, in the morning of the resurrection we shall come forth alike, regardless of the distinctions of color or race, each one to render a faithful account of the deeds done in the body.
Mr. Peterkin came to the kitchen-door, and called Nace, saying:
"Where is that old store-box that the goods and domestics for the house was fetched home in, from L——, last fall?"
"It's in de smoke-house, Masser."
"Wal, go git it, and bury ole Poll in it."
"It's right dirty and greasy, Master," I ventured to say.
"Who keres if 'tis? What right has you to speak, slut?" and he gave me a violent kick in the side with his rough brogan.
"Take that for yer imperdence. Who tole you to put yer mouth in?"
Nace and Dan soon produced the box, which had no top, and was dirty and greasy, as it well might be from its year's lodgment in the meat-house.