But you
has been mighty good to me," Estralla replied. "It's mighty hard to go
off and leave my mammy an' never see you-all no more, Missy Sylvia. I
dunno whar I'll be sent."
"Estralla, if you were earning wages for Mr. Robert Waite would he let
you stay here?" Sylvia asked eagerly.
"I reckon he would, Missy. But who's a-gwine to pay wages for a
pickaninny like me? Nobuddy! Missy, I'se a-gwine to run off an' hide
myself 'til the Yankee soldiers comes and sets us free," said Estralla.
"You can't do that. But don't be frightened, Estralla. I have thought of
something. I will hire you! Yes, I will; and pay wages for you to Mr.
Waite. I'll go tell him so this very day," declared Sylvia, her face
brightening, as she remembered the twenty dollars in gold which her
Grandmother Fulton had given her when she had left Boston. "You can do
whatever you please with it," was what Grandmother Fulton had said.
Sylvia had thought that she would ask her mother to buy her a watch with
the money, but she did not remember that now. She knew that, more than
anything, she would rather keep Estralla safe. Twenty dollars was a good
deal of money, she reflected. If the northern soldiers would only come
quickly and set the slaves free! But even if they did not come for a
long time the money would surely pay Mr. Waite wages for Estralla, so
that he would not insist on selling her.
Estralla's face had brightened instantly at Sylvia's promise. And when
Sylvia explained that she had money of her very own, and even opened her
writing desk and showed Estralla the shining gold pieces, the little
darky's fears vanished.
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