Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-06-01
For the Telegraph.
MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SLAVERY.

.
My first impressions?-ye in certain
sense. Though to be sure had met with
slaves, and often-in our fashionable board
ing houses al the North, with their southern
masters, at the Springs and other places of
summer resort; and ] had seen them also
in the border slave States,-yet had not
had any distinct impression Of slavery. 1t |
is true had now within few days in I
remote southern State, which and where
do not now choose TO tell, for certain reas-
ons-I had within few days sent many |
delightful look over the spacious and beau
tiful plantations = had seen the operation !
of slavery in the busting city and town
Il had observed this kind of help in the
families of the wealthy, minislering at gay
parties and generous tables, and, moreover,
from sultry stroll, with feet scalding with
heat and perspira,ion, had myself had
beautiful yellow boy kneel down and battle
the feet Of young MASTER most luxurious
ly, but had as yet no impression of slave
ry-I may have had mere sensation, or a
floating idea Of sensation,' but my first
impression was not come yet-though 20 be
sure had few days previous, on being
introduced TO an excellent clerical friend
while beautiful 1ohite girl was playing
around the room-I had, say, come within
an ace Of asking if it was his little daugh-
Ter, though soon found ii to be the child
of the cook, yellow woman.
| IL CHANGED among my ?eregrinations in
tour, not long after my arrival, of some thir-
ty or forty miles, in full equestrian gear,
portmanteau and all. ] could but smile at
the dashing figure cut, mounted on fine
southern charger with good metile, in COM
pany with most noble and excellent COM
pdgnon du roydge, with heart as deep
and rich as mellow harp.string, and, of
course, as agreeable and lovely as he was
excellent true son Of the South. 1t was
exhilara,ing, certainly, thus caparisoned as,
we were to tramp among the cotton fields,
now catching radiating view from the top
OF some sunny hillock now lost amid the
valleys with blooming flowers and cypress
shade = now with a forest at our backs.
skimming over the wide prairie = and now
winding on, hour after hour amid the deep,
quiet, unbroken shade of the woody wild,
every now and then the startled deer spring
J ing up with antlers aloft, doubtful, half con-
, fdent, half fearful, till with swelled nos
t irils high, he sweeps like bird Of the ocean
: into the calm hush Of the still deeper forest.
r do not say again that this was exhilarat-
n ing, for do my readers the credit TO believe
!. that they will readily guess this.
i AT about 8 in The evening we hauled up
d before the door Of generous planter, wei
IS to live in worldly matters, and found i'm
h mediately, under the prompt welcome Q
!. our host, dark hands with ivory white a
i pearl and willing hearts, ready to dismant
J. our travelling gear, and TO lead our faithful
d animals away to fodder and s,abling.
to shall not stop 10 tell the reader about GU
lie doings in The line of eating and drinkin
re and sleeping this glad night, as interestn
!, a portion Of our mortal history as this i:
ID nor Of the bright sun that dawDed brightl
u upon US as it had done thousand time
e. before. But the immediate business of III
v, snorning' before dinner, was to ride
n town !; and TO town we went. This wa
" the shire of the County, and right sma
or of town. by the way. The streets wei
be regularly laid out in squares, one who
of square being reserved in central positie
o. as park--or square, as our Philadeiph
he friends would say --and within this beau
III fully enclosed park, with the trees Of Oh
re ginal southern growth still preserved stan
nd lug, lowered aloft half hid in the shade, Il
de CouRr HorsE, stately and beautiful ed
az fee with spacious halls Cor dispensir
lre even-handed justice = also numerous pu
Ill lie Offices, besides full quantum Of prlVa
ted Offices belonging the legal cloth = the cal
ry- esl fabricators Of good order. II was we
sed due day. which required every alterns
be week, with plenty Of business in doing
the the finale Of fancy fortunes, BY sort
cen realizing process rendered necessary
the the financial embarrassments SO prevail
had and severe in the South and Soulh-W
God within the last two or three years.
ID NV fellow traveller and after dismou
d oil ing and fastening our horses, turned as
into the beautiful park, and advanced 10
d 10 crowd thar surrounded the Court House
d to pec.ing iomeet afriend there, which we
The Outside and among the multitude va