started along the road, and in the morning laid down exhausted, starved and cold by a pile of wood, where Jack found him and “took him in” as above related.
Tom Hawkins proved himself worthy of the freedom he had achieved. It was edifying to witness the enthusiasm of the Doctor in speaking of Tom’s capabilities. He employed him as a “man of all work” at $15 per month, high wages for that time. Tom had a “weakness” that stood in the way of financial prosperity, namely, a soft heart toward everybody that wanted to borrow his money, and so many of these were lazy, dishonest scamps, that at the end of six months he had nothing to show for the wages he had earned except a suit of clothes. The Doctor advised him to take better care of his money, so as to buy him a home. “Well, then,” said Tom, “you must keep my money, and when I ask for money to lend to a lazy chap that won’t pay, you can just get mad and not let me have it.” About that time a man offered for sale fifteen acres of heavily timbered land two miles from town, and the Doctor proposed to Tom to buy it. He hesitated about getting into debt, but Dr. C—— said, “I will take care of that.” “Well, then,” said Tom, “you know best, master.” Tom always persisted in calling him “master.” At the end of five years Tom had paid for his land, and bought one of the best teams in the country, and a first rate harness and wagon, and commenced marketing his wood. The Doctor said that one of Tom’s peculiarities was that when he purchased anything for his own use he always bought the best that was to be had. An English gentleman living in the town had, in his family, a handsome colored girl. She was well educated, industrious, and a very capable housekeeper, of a sunny temper and agreeable address. Tom built a good house, and then asked this girl to become his wife. They were married, and
