Byron, Goethe, often speak words more wisely descriptive
of the true religious sentiment, than another man, whose
whole life is governed by it. In such minds, disregard of
religion is a more fearful treason, -- a more deadly sin.

St. Clare had never pretended to govern himself by any
religious obligation; and a certain fineness of nature gave
him such an instinctive view of the extent of the require-
ments of Christianity, that he shrank, by anticipation, from
what he felt would be the exactions of his own conscience,
if he once did resolve to assume them. For, so inconsistent
is human nature, especially in the ideal, that not to under-
take a thing at all seems better than to undertake and come
short.

Still St. Clare was, in many respects, another man. He
read his little Eva's Bible seriously and honestly; he thought
more soberly and practically of his relations to his servants,
-- enough to make him extremely dissatisfied with both his
past and present course; and one thing he did, soon after
his return to New Orleans, and that was to commence the
legal steps necessary to Tom's emancipation, which was to
be perfected as soon as he could get through the necessary
formalities. Meantime, he attached himself to Tom, more.
and more every day. In all the wide world, there was noth-
ing that seemed to remind him so much of Eva; and he would
insist on keeping him constantly about him, and, fastidious
and unapproachable as he was with regard to his deeper feel-
ings, he almost thought aloud to Tom. Nor would any one
have wondered at it, who had seen the expression of affec-
tion and devotion with which Tom continually followed his
young master.

"Well, Tom," said St. Clare, the day after he had com-
menced the legal formalities for his enfranchisement, "I'm
going to make a freeman of you; so, have your trunk packed,
and get ready to set out for Kentuck."

The sudden light of joy that shone in Tom's face as he
raised his hands to Heaven, his emphatic "Bless the Lord!"

rather discomposed St. Clare; he did not like it that Tom
should be so ready to leave him.

"You have n't had such very bad times here, that you
need be in such a rapture, Tom," he said, dryly.

"No, no, Mas'r! 't an't that, -- it's bein' a free man!
That's what I 'm joyin' for."

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