Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-05-10
VOL. IX....NO. SO.

Fort until next morning. Ii the masters
do not choose then to pay sll and 8 odd
bits (about so cts for the release of each
slave, they are put to work on the streets
for 8 days The operation of this barba-
rous practice is rendered more severe
from the fact that when the laborers on
streets are abundant, the slaves are suf-
tered to be out until 9 o'clock. Ofcourse
they can have no warning to place them
on their guard. The police men pounce
upon them at once and hurry them away.
The testimony of this slave concerning
! the severity of slavery in St. Thomas,
was confirmed by another slave with
whom | met in taking a mornings walk.
had assembled the preci pltous mountains
in the rear of the town and having ia ken
a view ofthe picturesque scenery around,
and surveyed the distant prospect Of sea
and islands, was descending to the town.
About half way down the winding road,
which was so long and steep that had
been half hour in ascending, l saw a
young negro man who had stopped to
rest. BY his side were two large stones,
which had been hewed out by the mason.
The man had carried these stones from
town on his head, and, when | asked him
how far he had still to carry them, he
pointed to building which stood on the
pinnacle of one OF the highest hills, and
said, cup to dat house, massa." He told
me that his master had hired him to the
man that lived on the hilltop. His pre-
sent employer was very kind to him, he
said, and treated him well, (who would be-
lieve it after seeing the burthens which
he laid upon him y but his master was
very cruel and whipped him often.
asked him if he could read and SPELL
He answered, No. massa, l got no larn-
in" asked him if he would like to be
free-he replied that he would like to be
free, even if his master didn't treat him so
cruelty. Upon my asking him if he
knew where God was and if he loved
God-his face lighted up with smile
90, yes, massa, | loves God-God be
above-I loves him." asked him if he.
would like to be where God was, and why?
He replied in the affirmative, with strong
emphasis, and added, in tone. which l
shall never forget, "cause no slavery
where God is-what's bad is slarery and
a0hafs not bad Is not sldvery." What
sentiment is that SIR for a negro slave
Deserving of a philosopher of any cline
, or complexion As left the poor man
(" rich in faith" trust,) reflected with
myselfupon the meaning and force Of that
strange expression which he uttered
"What's BAD is slavery" | thought Of
the toilsome walk he had taken up the
hill, and Of the steep which he had vet to
climb before he could req CHI the top, load
ed with burden which would have al
most crushed me to tbe earth. thought
again, most probably he will be engaged
in the same business all dsy beneath
;, blazing sun. But this mathought is a
single day, then added it to the many
weary days Of his past life, in which he
had been forced to submit to similar
drudgeries-his toll afternated only by the
scourgings of a cruel master. l then
thought of the hopelessness Of the future
his life a cherries pilgrimage, lit up
by no star save that of Bethlehem-and |
was ready to exclaim, No wonder that
this poor man should consider slavery as
the essence of all that IS dGd."
SUNDAY IN ST. THOMAS.
! A stranger to the institution of the Sab
bath, passing through the streets of St.
Thomas, would be al loss to determine
whether it was a day sacred to business
or pleasure. There is doubtless more,
both of amusement and business, crowded
into the Sabbath, than is enjoyed or trans
acted on any other day of the week. The
stores and shops are all open. The la
dies stand in their fancy stores and mil
liners shops. Every trade is driven with
increased vigor. A very small portion
of males, especially white men, attend
church of any kind. In one meeting, at
which was present, there could not have
been more than or 10 white men out of
congregation of 2 or 800. There were,
perhaps, as many mere cOIored men the
mass of the congregation being white and
colored females This is the fact uniform
y in all the churches. The merchants,
| should think, rarely, if ever, attended
Divine worship The heathenism of ST.
Thomas is different, in one respect, from
that which prevails in other parts of the
world. The latter regards a0Oman as
having no souI-the former, if we may
judge from the appearance of the religious
meetings, make man the soulless sex.
SUNDAY MARKET IN ST. THOHAs
Learning that the Sunday market sys-
tem-ft accompaniment of slavery-w
still in vogue, walked out after break
fast to witness it. 1t might be we'll to
say, that the Sunday market IS the slaves
market. Yhe Sabbath being the only day
on which they are aIlowe'! to 60 to town
with their small stock of provisions,
(which they raise by extra labor they
gather on that day from all the estates,
more or less, and enjoy general meeting
in town. Each one brings his or her
little store of goods TO sell. Having spent