The hope of being free he had thus far communicated to none but his true-hearted wife; but now, as he had become satisfied that Mr.

Friedman was his friend, he determined to seek his co-operation in his plan. This resolution was not formed without the most careful consideration; and yet, when he approached the counting-room for the purpose of opening to the Jew his cherished plans, his heart throbbed painfully, and his knees trembled so that he could scarcely walk.

"Mr. Friedman," said he, "I've got something I want to tell you, but it 's a great secret."

"Well, Peter--"

"I've been a thinkin', sir, I'd like to buy myself and you've always dealt so fa'r with me, I didn't know but you mought buy me, and then give me a chance."

The Jew's countenance brightened. He had become much attached to Peter, and had often wished in his heart that by some means the faithful fellow might be free, but such a plan as this had not occurred to him.

"Can you get the money, Peter?"

"I reckon I could, if you didn't pay too high for me. Mars[']John Henry oughtn't to ask a great price for me, no how, when I've served the family so long."

"How much shall I give for you?"

"I think, sir, five hundred dollars is as much as you ought to pay."

"Hogan will not sell you for that price," said the Jew. "John Pollock offered him six hundred, and he laughed at him. Some men in town would give eight hundred dollars for you--not because you are worth so much, but because they know you."

"Well, sir, I have served the family for thirty-five years. I have earned 'em a heap of money, and have been mighty little trouble or expense. They can afford to sell me for five hundred dollars."

"Yes:--well, I will speak to Hogan."

The proposition of the Jew received, at first, but little favor. Peter was an old family servant, and they intended to keep him in the family as long as he lived. They did not wish to sell him.

"Well," said Friedman, "I would like to buy him. He has a cough, and if he belonged to me, I would try to cure it, but while he is your property, I can do nothing for him. I will give you five hundred dollars."

Hogun turned away. He did not want to sell the boy; if he did, that was no price for him. He would bring twice that sum.

A few months after this conversation, Joseph Friedman went to the "Red River Country," where he opened a store; leaving his brother Isaac in charge at Tusc.u.mbia. This made no change in Peter's condition. He toiled on as before, steadily adding to big precious gains, while the great hope of freedom grew stronger in his heart.

Soon after his brother left town, Isaac renewed to Mr. Hogun the proposition to purchase Peter, but with no more success. The young mistress did not want him sold; especially to a Jew, who had no higher wish than to make money. He would probably soon sell him again: for what use had he for a servant?--and then, perhaps, the poor old fellow would be carried away to the "low country."

After several attempts to purchase him had been unsuccessful, Peter determined to try the power of his own eloquence.

Accordingly, during the last week of the year, he went out to the plantation.

His young mistress had gone with her husband to town; but they soon returned. Peter met them at the gate, and "Miss Sarah," after shaking hands with him, went in; while the young master remained in the yard to inquire after his health. His cough was particularly troublesome whenever any of his master's family were near, and now it annoyed him exceedingly. "Ugh! ugh! Ma.s.s'r John Henry, I come to see you 'bout Mr. Friedman buyin' me. I like to live with him; and he said he done named it to you."

"Yes, he did; but he didn't offer any price for you-- only five hundred dollars."

"Well, Ma.s.s'r John Henry, aint that thar enough for me?"

"No--I can get a thousand dollars for you any day."

"Ugh! ugh! I think you mighty hard to ask such a big price for me, when I been in your service so long. Miss Sarah done got all my arnins ever since I belonged to her great. uncle, Mars Nattie Gist.

Now when I'm a'most fifty years old, ugh! ugh! ugh I think five hundred dollars is enough for me; and 'pears like, sir, you oughtent to ask no more."

"Well, Peter, you know people like to get all they can for their property; and it makes no difference to you, any how, whether I sell you for a big price or a little one."

"Yes, sir, it does, Ma.s.sr John, kase if a person gives a thousand dollars for me, he 'lows he's gwine to work it out of me; but Mr.

Friedman just wants me to wait on him about the store; and he says he'll cure my cough, too--ugh! ugh! He can't afford to pay a big price for me, and then doctor me up."

"Well, go 'long--I don't want to sell you any how; I'd rather bring you home to wait on your Miss Sarah, and to drive the carriage than to sell you for any such price."

"Yes, sir, if you and Miss Sarah was a livin' by yourselves, I'd like that; but I don't never want to come back to work on the plantation--ugh! ugh! I couldn't stand that now. But I belong to you, sir, and of course I must do just as you say. What shall I do, Ma.s.s'r John?"

"Go back to town, and stay till I come to see about you."

"Good bye, Ma.s.s'r John. Ugh! ugh! Ugh!"

Thus he coughed himself out of the yard. All the way back to town he walked with a heavy heart. If his master would not sell him, all his bright hopes would yet be blasted. He had, however, done all in his power. He had used every argument that would be likely to influence him in whose young hand his destiny was held--now he could only wait with patience the result.

When the young master was next seen in town, the Jew hired Peter for another year, and with his wonted cheerfulness of demeanor, the disappointed slave entered upon the labors of 1849. Was there no sublimity in his patience ?--no grandeur in his maintenance of Faith and Hope against the giant forces of Despair?

It was not long before the young master's aversion to sell an old family servant was suddenly removed. On the tenth of January an auction was held in town of certain goods--the property of his late uncle--"Old Jimmy Hogan." Among these "goods," were ten choice negroes, two of whom were boys about sixteen years old. These boys, young John Henry wished to own; and before they were put up, he called upon the Jew.

"Look here, Friedman," said he, "you want Uncle Peter, and I want those boys that are for sale to-day. If you will go in and bid off one of the boys for me, I will let you have Peter in exchange."

"I will think about it. How high will the boys go?"

"I don't know,--they're not worth as much as a tried hand like Uncle Peter. Step in, and see how the sale goes on."

He left the store, and Mr. Isaac immediately held a consultation on the subject with Peter himself. The wary slave objected to the plan.

"You are not used to dealing in slaves," said he, "and you'd best not buy the boy. There'll be some game about it. If young master wants to buy him, he'll come round, I reckon."

Soon the young gentleman called again to learn the decision of the Jew. Isaac renewed his former offer for Peter, but declined to buy the boy.

"Five hundred dollars is no price for such a servant; you may have him for six hundred, though he is worth more."

"No--I will not pay six hundred."

Away way went Hogun to the auction. The two boys were soon to be put up. He grew more and more and more anxious to buy them, and at last determined to make one more effort to bring the Jew to his terms.

"Well, Friedman," said he, as he stepped into the store, "you may have Peter for five hundred and fifty dollars."

The black eyes of the Jew twinkled with delight, but he was firm.

"I will give you five hundred dollars," said he, "my brother authorized me to pay that sum."

"But," argued Hogun, "he is a great favorite in town--I have been offered six hundred dollars for him."

"I say I will give five hundred; not one dollar more."

The sale was going on--Hogun grew desperate. The boys he wanted would not wait for bidders, for they were choice fellows.

"Well," said he, as he walked towards the door, "you may have him for five hundred; but it's a shame to sell him so."