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LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY 339 |
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face; the blood rushed to his cheeks, and tears to his eyes.
" Here, Dodo," said his master, imperiously.
Dodo sprang and held the horse, while his master mounted.
" There 's a picayune for you to buy candy with, Dodo," said Henrique ; " go get some."
And Henrique cantered down the walk after Eva. Dodo stood looking after the two children. One had given him money; and one had given him what he wanted far more, — a kind word, kindly spoken. Dodo had been only a few months away from his mother. His master had bought him at a slave warehouse, for his handsome face, to be a match to the handsome pony; and he was now getting his breaking in, at the hands of his young master.
The scene of the beating had been witnessed b}' the two brothers St. Clare, from another part of the garden.
Augustine's cheek flushed; but he only observed, with his usual sarcastic carelessness, —
" I suppose that's what we may call republican education, Alfred ? "
" Henrique is a devil of a fellow, when his blood 's up," said Alfred, carelessly.
" I suppose you consider this an instructive practice for him," said Augustine, dryly.
" I could n't help it, if I did n't. Henrique is a regular little tempest; — his mother and I have given him up, long ago. But, then, that Dodo is a perfect sprite, — no amount of whipping can hurt him."
" And this by way of teaching Henrique the first verse of a republican's catechism, 'All men are born free and equal!' "
" Poh! " said Alfred ; " one of Tom Jefferson's pieces of French sentiment and humbug. It's perfectly ridiculous to have that going the rounds among us, to this day."
" I think it is," said St. Clare, significantly. |
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