"Their mother was a slave, and was never manumitted." "Couldn't a subscription be raised, or an appeal be made to some court in their behalf ?" asked the young man, with constrained calmness in his tones, while the expression of his face betrayed his inward suffering.

"They are elegant, accomplished young ladies, and their good father brought them up with the greatest indulgence." "Perhaps you are in love with one or both of them," rejoined Mr.
Bruteman.

"If so, you must buy them at auction, if you can.

The law is inexorable.

It requires that all the property of an insolvent debtor should be disposed of at public sale." "I am very slightly acquainted with the young ladies," said the agitated youth; "but their father was my benefactor when I was a poor destitute orphan, and I would sacrifice my life to save _his_ orphans from such a dreadful calamity.