WANDERINGS IN 



SECOND cr y near the white man's door, sorrow and grief 



JOURNEY. * 



will soon be inside ; and they expect to see the 



master waste away with a slow consuming sick- 

 ness. If it be heard close to the negro's or Indian's 

 hut, from that night misfortune sits brooding over 

 it ; and they await the event in terrible suspense. 

 You will forgive the poor Indian of Guiana for 

 this. He knows no better; he has nobody to 

 teach him. But shame it is, that in our own 

 civilized country, the black cat and broomstaff 

 should be considered as conductors to and from 

 the regions of departed spirits. 



Anecdote. Many years ago I knew poor harmless Mary ; 

 old age had marked her strongly, just as he will 

 mark you and me, should we arrive at her years 

 and carry the weight of grief which bent her 

 double. The old men of the village said she had 

 been very pretty in her youth ; and nothing could 

 be seen more comely than Mary when she danced 

 on the green. He who had gained her heart, 

 left her for another, less fair, though richer than 

 Mary. From that time she became sad and pen- 

 sive ; the rose left her cheek, and she was never 

 more seen to dance round the May-pole on the 

 green : her expectations were blighted ; she be- 

 came quite indifferent to every thing around her, 

 and seemed to think of nothing but how she 

 could best attend her mother, who was lame, and 

 not long for this life. Her mother had begged 

 a black kitten from some boys who were going to 



