ALL'S WELL.
Two months have passed since the events recorded in the preceding
chapter. Tom has been arraigned before a jury of his peers, and
honorably acquitted, although strong efforts were made to procure a
conviction, for Mr. Snivel had many friends in Charleston who considered
his death a loss. But the people said it was a righteous verdict, and
justified it by their applause.
And now, the dark clouds of sorrow and trial having passed away, the
happy dawn of a new life is come. How powerfully the truth of the words
uttered by the woman, Undine, impresses itself on her mind now,--"You
are still richer than me." It is a bright sunny morning in early April.
Birds are making the air melodious with their songs; flowers blooming by
the roadside, are distilling their perfumes; a bright and serene sky,
tinged in the East with soft, azure clouds, gives a clear, delicate
outline to the foliage, so luxuriant and brilliant of color, skirting
the western edge of the harbor, and reflecting itself in the calm,
glassy water. A soft whispering wind comes fragrant from the west; it
does indeed seem as if nature were blending her beauties to make the
harmony perfect.
A grotesque group, chiefly negroes, old and young, may be seen gathered
about the door of a quaint old personage near the millpond. Their
curiosity is excited to the highest pitch, and they wait with evident
impatience the coming of the object that has called them together. Chief
among the group is old Cato, in his best clothes, consisting of a tall
drab hat, a faded blue coat, the tail extending nearly to the ground,
striped pantaloons, a scarlet vest, an extravagant shirt collar, tied at
the neck with a piece of white cotton, and his bare feet. Cato moves up
and down, evidently feeling himself an important figure of the event,
and admonishing his young "brudren," who are much inclined to mischief,
not a few having perched on the pickets of the parsonage, to keep on
their best behavior. Then he discourses with great volubility of his
long acquaintance with Mas'r Tom and Miss Maria.
As if to add another prominent picture to the scene, there appears at
the door of the parsonage, every few minutes, a magnificently got-up
negro, portly, grey hair, and venerable, dressed in unsullied black, a
spotless white cravat, and gloves. This is Uncle Pomp, who considers
himself an essential part of the parsonage, and is regarded with awe for
his Bible knowledge by all the colored people of the neighborhood. Pomp
glances up, then down the street, advances a few steps, admonishes the
young negroes, and exchanges bows with Cato, whom he regards as quite a
common brought-up negro compared with himself. Now he disappears, Cato
remarking to his companions that if he had Pomp's knowledge and learning
he would not thank anybody to make him a white man.
Presently there is a stir in the group: all eyes are turned up the road,
and the cry is, "Dare da comes." Two carriages approach at a rapid
speed, and haul up at the gate, to the evident delight and relief of the
younger members of the group, who close in and begin scattering sprigs
of laurel and flowers along the path, as two couple, in bridal dress,
alight, trip quickly through the garden, and disappear, Pomp bowing
them into the parsonage. Tom and Maria are the central figures of the
interesting ceremony about to be performed. Old Cato received a warm
press of the hand from Tom as he passed, and Cato returned the
recognition, with "God bress Mas'r Tom." A shadow of disappointment
deepened in his face as he saw the door closed, and it occurred to him
that he was not to be a witness of the ceremony. But the door again
opened, and Pomp relieved his wounded feelings by motioning with his
finger, and, when Cato had reached the porch, bowing him into the house.
And now we have reached the last scene in the picture. There, kneeling
before the altar in the parlor of that quaint old parsonage, are the
happy couple and their companions. The clergyman, in his surplice, reads
the touching service in a clear and impressive voice, while Pomp, in a
pair of antique spectacles, ejaculates the responses in a voice peculiar
to his race. Old Cato, kneeling before a chair near the door, follows
with a loud--Amen. There is something supremely simple, touching, and
impressive in the picture. As the closing words of the benediction fall
from the clergyman's lips, Maria, her pale oval face shadowed with that
sweetness and gentleness an innocent heart only can reflect, raises her
eyes upwards as if to return thanks to the Giver of all good for his
mercy and protection. As she did this a ray of light stole in at the
window and played softly over her features, like a messenger of love
come to announce a happy future. Just then the cup of her joy became
full, and tears, like gems of purest water, glistened in her eyes, then
moistened her pallid cheeks. Truly the woman spoke right when she said,
"You are still still richer than me."
HOME INSURANCE COMPANY.
OFFICE, No. 112 & 114 BROADWAY.
CASH CAPITAL, ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
Assets, 1st July, 1860, $1,481,819 27. Liabilities, 1st July, 1860,
54,068 67.
The Home Insurance Company continues to issue against loss or damage
by FIRE and the dangers of INLAND NAVIGATION AND TRANSPORTATION,
on terms as favorable as the nature of the risks and the real
security of the Insured and the Company will warrant.
LOSSES EQUITABLY ADJUSTED AND PROMPTLY PAID.
Charles J. Martin, President. A.F. Willmarth, Vice-President.
J. MILTON SMITH, Secretary. JOHN MCGEE, Assistant Secretary.
DIRECTORS.
Wm. G. Lambert, of A. & A. Lawrence & Co.
Geo. C. Collins, of Sherman, Collins & Co.
Danford N. Barney, of Wells, Fargo & Co.
Lucius Hopkins, President of Importers and Traders' Bank.
Thos. Messenger, of T. & H. Messenger.
Wm. H. Mellen, of Claflin, Mellen & Co.
Chas. J. Martin, President.
A.F. Willmarth, Vice-President.
Charles B. Hatch, of C.B. Hatch & Co.
B. Watson Bull, of Merrick & Bull.
Homer Morgan,
Levi P. Stone, of Stone, Starr & Co.
Jas. Humphrey, late of Barney, Humphrey & Butler.
George Pearce, of George Pearce & Co.
Ward A. Work, of Ward A. Work & Son.
James Low, of James Low & Co., of Louisville.
I.H. Frothingham, late firm of I.H. Frothingham & Co.
Charles A. Bulkley, Bulkley & Co.
Geo. D. Morgan, of E.D. Morgan & Co.
Cephas H. Norton, of Norton & Jewett.
Theo. McNamee, of Bowen, McNamee & Co.
Richard Bigelow, of Doan, King & Co., St. Louis.
Oliver E. Wood, of Willard, Wood & Co.
Alfred S. Barnes, A.S. Barnes & Burr.
George Bliss, of Phelps, Bliss & Co.
Roe Lockwood, of R. Lockwood & Son.
Levi P. Morton, of Morton, Grinnell & Co.
Curtis Noble, late of Condit & Noble.
J.B. Hutchinson, of J.C. Howe & Co., Boston.
Chas. P. Baldwin, of Baldwin, Starr & Co.
Amos T. Dwight, of Trowbridge, Dwight & Co.
H.A. Hurlbut, of Swift, Hurlbut & Co.
Jesse Hoyt, of Jesse Hoyt & Co.
Wm. Sturgis, Jr., of Sturgis, Shaw & Co.
John R. Ford, of Ford Rubber Co.
Sidney Mason, late of Mason & Thompson.
Geo. T. Stedman, of Stedman, Carlisle & Shaw, Cincinnati.
Cyrus Yale, Jr., of Cyrus Yale, Jr. & Co., of New Orleans.
Wm. R. Fosdick, of Wm. R. & Chas. B. Fosdick.
David I. Boyd, of Boyd, Brother & Co., Albany.
F.H. Cossitt, of Cossitt, Hill & Tallmadge, Memphis.
Lewis Roberts, of L. Roberts & Co.