'David,' he said, 'do you remember a darky we used to
have named Isaac?' I was startled. 'Well, he has become a lawyer up in
Richmond. He has done very well, and I want you to know what I have
done for him. You are to own this place some day--soon, I fear. I have
signed a paper to-night, deeding over to Isaac the little five-acre
patch on the creek where he was born and where his father and
grandfather were born. He saw your uncle Frank in Richmond recently
and asked him if it would be possible for him to buy the ground. He
wants to put up a building to be known as the Old Negroes' Home. I
have thought it over. I did not sell it to him, David. I _gave_
it to him. It is all quite regular and legal. The paper is in that
drawer there. You are taking the law course at the university. I want
you to look over the agreement to-night or to-morrow morning, before
it is taken over to the county seat. It is just as well that you, who
are to be the next master of Jenison Hall, should understand all that
there is in it.'
"'Has Isaac Perry been here?' I asked, for I was strangely troubled.
'He has,' said granddaddy, 'he brought the document over this evening.
Pages:
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164