36 
LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
received the same answer, — Sar? Iss, Sar.” At 
last, after much exercise of patience, the old woman 
got up, and went to another house, and began to 
call — ^‘Mas’ James! Mas’ James!” but Master 
James was still less inclined to turn out than the 
sable lady herself had been, and for a long time 
either could not or would not understand what was 
desired of him. All this, everything being so per-^ 
fectly new to me, was more amusing than vexa- 
tious ; it was not at all cold, and no inconvenience 
arose from remaining in the balmy air. When 
Master James tardily opened his castle door, rub- 
bing his eyes, yet not half awake, I found that this 
lad, a boy of twelve years, son of the manager, 
was, with the exception of the negro maid, the only 
person on the premises. He tumbled into bed 
again, while she raked among the ashes and got 
me some breakfast, by which time it was daylight. 
My luggage remained all this time on the steps at 
the river’s marge, perfectly free from risk, so lonely 
was the spot, until at daylight Master James blew 
his conch long and loudly to call the people ; and 
soon a dozen black fellers ” appeared with their 
mules, to whom having given orders about my 
trunks, I set out for the country. 
In the yard were some towering oaks, on which 
several Fox Squirrels [Scmrus capistratus) were 
frisking and leaping from bough to bough with 
great animation. A pair of the beautiful Summer 
Ked-bird ( Tanagra cestwa) were also chasing each 
other about the same trees. Though this is a gaily 
dressed little fellow, I don’t think him so handsome 
as his congener, the Scarlet Tanager ( Tanagra ru- 
bra) ; the fine contrast between the vermilion body 
and the jet black wings and tail of the latter 
