Chapter IV

by Mary Jane Holmes

　　DR. LACEY APPEARS UPON THE SCENE

　　When Mr. Middleton was spoken to on the subject of sending Julia toFrankfort, he at first refused outright. "No," said he, "indeed she shan'tgo! What does she want of any more flummerdiddle notions? What she doesknow is a damage to her."

　　"But do you not wish to give your daughters every possible advantage?"said Mr. Wilmot.

　　"Who's said anything about my daughters?" said Mr. Middleton. "It's nobodybut Tempest, and she's always kickin' up some boobery. Now if 'twasSunshine, why, I might--but no, neither of 'em shall go. It's all stuff,the whole on't."

　　So saying, he turned on his heel and walked off, while Julia burst intotears and repaired to her own room, whither she was soon followed by hermother, who tried to console her. Said she, "Why, Julia, you don't takethe right course with your father. Why do you not propose having yoursister accompany you? For, if you go, she will, and you know she canalways coax father to do as she pleases."

　　This was rather humiliating to Julia, but she concluded it was her onlyalternative, so she dried her eyes, and seeking out her sister, very soontalked her into a strong desire to try the mysteries of a school inFrankfort, and also drew from her a promise to try her powers of argumentupon her father. Accordingly, that evening Fanny made an attack upon him,and as her mother had predicted, she was perfectly successful. It wassettled that she and Julia should both go, and the next morning early Mr.Middleton set off for Frankfort to find "as smart a boarding place for hisgals as anybody had." There was as yet no boarding house connected withthe school, and he was obliged to find a place for them in some one of thenumerous boarding houses with which Frankfort abounds. He at last decidedupon a very genteel establishment, kept by a Mrs. Crane, who at firsthesitated about receiving into her family persons who possessed so roughand shabby-looking a father.

　　But Mr. Middleton brought her to a decision by saying, "what the deuce youwaiting for? Is it because I've got on cowhide stogies and a home-madecoat? Thunder and lightning! Don't you know I'm old Middleton, worth atleast two hundred thousand?"

　　This announcement changed the current of Mrs. Crane's ideas. The daughterswere not rough, if the father was, so she decided to take them, and forthe very moderate sum of seven dollars per week, promised to give them allthe privileges of her house. The first day of June was fixed on for themto leave home and at sunrise Mr. Middleton's carriage stood at the door,waiting for the young ladies to make their appearance. Julia had long beenready and was waiting impatiently for Fanny, who was bidding the servantsan affectionate good-bye. Each one had received from her some little tokenof love, and now they all stood in one corner of the yard, to look attheir darling as long as possible.

　　"Lor' bless her," said one; "Kentuck hain't many like her, nor never willhave."

　　"No, nor Frankfort nuther," said a second. While a third added, "No, and Ireckon heaven hadn't nuther!"

　　To which a fourth responded, "Amen."

　　Here old Aunt Katy, who had nursed Mr. Middieton and his children afterhim, hobbled up to Fanny, and laying her hard, shriveled black hand on heryoung mistress' bright locks, said, "The Lord who makes the wind blow easylike on the sheared lamb, take keer of my sweet child and bring her backagin to poor old Aunt Katy, who'll be all dark and lonesome, whenSunshine's done gone."

　　This was regarded as a wonderful speech by the negroes, and as none ofthem could hope to equal it, they contented themselves by lustily blowingtheir trombones and wiping the same on their shirt sleeves, or the cornerof their aprons. At last the good-byes were all said, Julia merely noticedthe blacks with a slight nod, and then sprang nimbly into the carriage,which disappeared from view just as the negroes struck up in a loud, clearand not unmusical tone:

　　"Oh, it's lonesome now on the old plantation,It's lonesome now on the old plantation,It's lonesome now on the old plantation,Case Sunshine's gone away."