"
Hester was a character in Killamet, and must be described.
She was a pure-blooded African of Guinea, who, when a wee child, was
rescued from a slave-trader by Captain Plunkett, Miss Prue's father.
The poor little black baby's mother had died during the cruel march to
the coast, and the little creature, become almost a skeleton, and
looking more like a baby chimpanzee than anything human, was made a pet
of by the crew on the homeward voyage, growing fat and saucy daily, so
that when the captain presented her to his daughter, then an infant of
two years, she was as cunning a specimen of a negro baby as one often
sees.
Instantly the fair little Prudence took a great fancy to her, thinking
her, doubtless, some new queer kind of doll; and from that time the two
were almost inseparable companions.
The little stranger was soon given free papers, formally adopted, and
baptized under the Christian name of Hester Plunkett; and from her
twenty-first birthday had always received wages for her services.
Her love for the family, especially Miss Prue, almost the only survivor
of this especial branch, was simply unbounded; and nothing could have
tempted her to leave the latter.
Even as she made the simple announcement, her great, soft black eyes
rested lovingly on her friend and mistress, then turned, with a smiling
welcome, upon the children.
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