Capt. Helm was not a very hard master; but generally was kind and pleasant.

Capt. Helm was the owner of about one hundred slaves, which made the residents on the plantation number about one hundred and sixteen persons in all.

Mrs. Helm was a very industrious woman, and generally busy in her household affairssewing, knitting, and looking after the servants; but she was a great scold,continually finding fault with some of the servants, and frequently punishing the young slaves herself, by striking them over the head with a heavy iron key, until the blood ran; or else whipping them with a cowhide, which she always kept by her side when sitting in her room.

Lina Helm was an easy, good-natured, clever fellow; but his brother Frank was his opposite in nearly every thing; proud, fractious and unyielding.

Mrs. Helm was the daughter of this marriage.

T. McBirney was first judge in the county, and Capt. Helm was side judge; and notwithstanding their participation in, and conviction of, a flagrant outrage on the laws of God and man, they managed not only to escape the penalty, but to retain their offices and their respectable standing in community for years after.

He also kept a distillery, which in those days was well patronized, for nearly every body drank whisky; and with Capt. Helm it was a favorite beverage.

Capt. Helm was not a good business man, unless we call horse-racing, fox-hunting, and card-playing, business.

" The helm was a-weather, and the lively brigantine had already turned more than half aside, when another gun drew every eye towards the point.

When the helm was amidships, the light was shown straight ahead, and could not be moved until the helm was shifted.

And yet Capt. Helm was not the worst of masters.