Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-03-25
PERFECT SOCIAL FREEDOM.

Slavery Standard, tells the following pleasant
little story.
Ofperfect social freedom, I never knew but
one instance, Doctor Il, Of Boston, coming
home TO dine one day, found very bright-look-
ing handsome mulatto on the steps. apparently
about seven or eight years old. AS he opened
the door, the boy gided in as if it were his
home. e.--'Wha. do you want ? said the doctor.
The child looked up with smiling confidence,
and answered, 4 am little boy that run away
from Providence, and | want some dinner; and
thought may be you would give me some"
His radiant face, and childlikc freedom operated
like a charm. He had good dinner, and re.
mained several days; becoming more and more
the pet Of the whole household. He said he
had been cruelty treated by somebody in provi-
Gence, and had run away but the people he
described could not be found. The doctor
thought it would not do TO have him growing
up in idleness and he tried to find a place,
where he could run of errands, clean knives,
&c. for his living. An hour after this was
mentioned, the boy was missing. In a few
weeks, they heard of him in the opposite part
of the city, sitting on door step at dinner
time. When the door opened, lie walked in,
smiling, and said, Il am little boy, thatvrun
away from Providence; and want some dim
ner; and thought may be you would give me
some,' He was not mistaken this time, either.
The heart that trusteth so completely received
cordial welcome. After time, it was again
proposed to find some place at service; and
straightway this human butterfly was off, no
one knew whittier.
For several months, no more was heard Of
him. But one bright winter day, his first be-
nefactor found him seated on the steps Of
house in Beacon street why Tom, where
did you come from = said he. Il came from
Philadelphia. How upon earth did you get
there,' Il heard folks talk about New York,
and thought should like to see it. SO I
went on board steamboat; and when it put
off, the captain asked me who | was and
told him was little boy that run away from
Providence, and wanted to 60 to New York;
but I hadn't any money. You little black
rascal says he. I'll throw you overheard
don't believe you will, said | and he didn't.
told him ! was hungry and he gave me
something to eat, and made up nice little bed
for me.-When got to New York, Invent and
sat down on doorstep; and when the gen.
t!eman came home to dinner, ! went in, and
told him that was little boy that run away
from Providence, and was hungry. So they
gave me something to cat, and made up nice
little bed for me, and let me stay there. But
wanted TO see Philadelphia ; so went into
a steamboat and when they asked who was,
told them ! was little boy that run away
from Providence. They s,id ! had no business
t there, but they gave me an orange. When I
: got to Philadelphia, sat down on door step,
y and when the gentleman came home to dinner,
I told him, 4 was little boy that run away
9 from Providence, and thought perhaps he
e would give me something to eat. So they gave
me good dinner and made up nice little
bed. Then wanted to come back to Boston.
. and everybody gave me something to eat, and
i made me up nice little bed. And | sat down
n on this door step, and when the lady asked me
what wanted, | told her was little boy
that run away from Providence, and ! was
+! hungry. So she gave me something TO eat,
: and made me upa nice little bed and l stay
here, and do her errands, sometimes. Every.
Y body is good to me; and like everybody
a He looked up with the most sunny gayety,
and striking his hoop as he spoke, went down
o the street like an arrow. He disappeared soon
IS after, probably in quest of new adventures.
g have never heard Of him since.