He could feel for Isabella, for he, like her, had been separated from near and dear relatives, and he often tried to console the poor woman.

One day Isabella observed to him that her hair was growing out again.
"Yes," replied William; "you look a good deal like a man with your short hair." "Oh," rejoined she, "I have often been told that I would make a better looking man than woman, and if I had the money I might avail myself of it to bid farewell to this place." In a moment afterwards, Isabella feared that she had said too much, and laughingly observed, "I am always talking some nonsense; you must not heed me." William was a tall, full-blooded African, whose countenance beamed with intelligence.

Being a mechanic, he had by industry earned more money than he had paid to his owner for his time, and this he had laid aside, with the hope that he might some day get enough to purchase his freedom.

He had in his chest about a hundred and fifty dollars.

His was a heart that felt for others, and he had again and again wiped the tears from his eyes while listening to Isabella's story.
"If she can get free with a little money, why not give her what I have ?" thought he, and then resolved to do it.
An hour after, he entered the quadroon's room, and, laying the money in her lap, said,-- "There, Miss Isabella, you said just now that if you had the means you would leave this place.