And these," and Mr. Fulton held
up the smaller documents, "give them permission to leave Charleston for
the north at any time within six months."
For a moment neither Sylvia nor her mother made any response to this
wonderful statement.
"Truly, Father? Truly?" exclaimed Sylvia with shining eyes.
"Yes. These papers have been recorded. Estralla and her mother are no
longer slaves. They are free," said Mr. Fulton, as he folded the papers.
"Mr. Waite has made you the finest gift in the world, little daughter,"
he added seriously.
"And Estralla and Aunt Connie may go to Boston with us?" pleaded Sylvia,
quite sure that her father and mother would agree. "Won't Grandma be
surprised to see them?"
Mrs. Carleton was as pleased and surprised as Sylvia herself over Mr.
Waite's gift, and it was decided that directly after breakfast Sylvia
should tell Aunt Connie and Estralla the wonderful news. It was too
great to be kept a secret even until Christmas Day.
"Dar, Mammy! Wat I tells yo'? I tells yo' Missy Sylvia gwine to look out
fer us," Estralla declared triumphantly, evidently not at all surprised.
"But it is Mr. Robert Waite who has given you your freedom," Sylvia
reminded them, "and my father says that you must both go with me and
thank him."
"Yas, Missy," responded Aunt Connie, "but I reckons we wouldn't be
thankin' him if 'twan't fer yo'. Massa Robert HE knows dat all his
niggers gwine to be free jes' as soon as de Yankees come. Yas, indeedy,
he knows.
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