Missy Sylvia won't let him," declared
Estralla, who was perfectly sure that "Missy Sylvia" could do whatever
she wished. With a pair of shoes on her feet and the blue cape over her
shoulders Estralla had more courage. Sylvia's kindness had given the
little colored girl a hope of happier days.
"Aunt Connie, I'll do all I can for Estralla," said Sylvia.
"Will you, Missy? Then ask yo' pa not to let Estralla be sold," pleaded
Aunt Connie.
Sylvia promised, and Aunt Connie went off smilingly. But Sylvia wondered
if her father could prevent Mr. Robert Waite from selling the negro
girl. "Estralla," she said very soberly, "I have promised that you shall
not be sold, and I will ask my father. But if he cannot do anything, we
will have to do something ourselves. Will you do whatever I tell you?"
"Oh, yas indeed, Missy," Estralla answered eagerly.
"Well, I'll ask Father to-night. And to-morrow morning you bring up my
hot water, and I'll tell you what he says. But don't be frightened,
anyway," said Sylvia.
"I ain't skeered like I used to be," responded Estralla. "Yo' see,
Missy, I feels jes' as if you was my true fr'en'."
"I'll try to be," Sylvia promised.
Estralla went off happy with her new possessions, and Sylvia turned to
the window, and looked off across the beautiful harbor toward the forts.
She had heard her father say, that very noon, that South Carolina would
fight to keep its slaves, and she wondered if the soldiers in Fort
Moultrie would not fight to set the black people free.
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