Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-07-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Travelling Tinman,
BY MISS LESLIE.

of August, they heard the noise OF a TN trumpet
| Soon they saw the cart OF tn-pediar rat'IIhS
down the hill at a brisk trot. The tinman came,
Having his horn to the steps Of the porch. After
huvinp some articles the farmer invited him to sit
down and take supper with the family. He ac-
cepted the invitation very readily.
While the pedlar led his horse into the barn
vard to carry him bucket of water, from the
pump, and to feed him by the light of the moon,
the girls went to the back of the cart, when they
were startled at seeing something alive, moving
behind the round opening of the cover.
In a moment the head of little black child
peeped out Of the hole. The girls were sur
prsed that they could not utter a word. The
young negro, afraid of being seen, popped down
its head among the tins.
Amy, did thee see that!' asked Orphy, in a
low voice.
eyes, | did so, replied Amy; "what can the
man be doing with that little negro. and why does
he hide it? Let's go and ask the child"
"No, no p' exclaimed Orphy, 'the tinman will
be angry"
done something he is ashamed Of, and we need not
be afraid of hm.'
They then went quite close to the back of the
cart and Amy said "Here little one, show myself
and speak; and do not be afraid, for nobody's go
ing to hurt thee"
CHOW did thee come in this carl?" asked Or
phv. "and WHY does the tnman hide thee? Tell
us all about it, and be sure not to speak. loud.'
The black child again peeped out of the hole,
and looking round, said, care you quite sure the
naughty man won't hear u.s."
"QuIte sure," answered Amy, "but is thee
boy or girl?"
;sPm little gall" replied the child, "and my
names Dinah and Pm five years old, and my dad
DIV and nanny are free coored people, and they
lives big piece off, and daddy works out, and
nanny sells gingerbread and molasses-beer, and
we have sign over the door with bottle and
cake on it,"
.4,nu. But how did this man get hold of thee, if
thy father and mother are free people? Thee can't
be bound to him, or he need not hide thee.
Dinah. O, know amt bound to hm-I eX-
pect he stole me.
An,y Stole thee What here in the free State
of Pennsylvania!
Dinah. was out picking huckleberries in the
woods up the road, and srayed off big piece
from home Then the tinman coined along, drIV-
ing his cart land run close to the roadside to look
as always do when anybody goes by SO he
told me to come to his cart and he would give me
a tin mug to put my huckeberres in, and might
choose it myself, and it would hold them heat
better than my old Indian basket. SO was very
glad, and he lifted me up into the Garland choOs
ed the very best and biggest tin mug he had, anc
enptied my huckleberres into it.
And then he told me he'd give me ride in hi
cart, and then he set me far back OH box, ant
he whipped his beast, and druv and druv, and jolt
ed me so that tumbed all down among the tins
And then he picked me up, and tied me fast will
his handkerchief to one of the back posts OF tn
cart to keep the steady, he said. Ana then, for al
~ was steady, couldn't help crying, and wanted
him to take me home to daddy and nanny. Blu
he only staggered at me- and said he wouldn't
~ and bid me bush; and then he got mad, and be
cause wouldn't hush up just in minute, h
whipped me quite smart.
Orphy. Poor little thing!
Dinah. And then got frightened, for he put o
M wiched look s. said he'd kill me deadlf cried an
of MORE or made the least bit of noise. Aud so h
has been carrying me along in his cart for tw
ny days and two nights, and he makes me hide ava
nd all the time, and he won't let nobody see me. An
he hate him, and yesterday when | knOw'd he did'I
:, see me, spit on the crown of his hat.
- Amy. Hush !-thee must never say thee hate
e), anybody.
IKE Dinah. At night sleeps upon the bag of featl
ear ers; and when he stops anywhere to eat, he come
to the back OF the cart, and pokes in vctuals, Ct
'P' has Just now brung me some,9 and he tells me
ing wants me to be fat and good-looking. And +
ing almost all the time very sorry, only sometimes +
not, and then should like to play with the tin
only he won't let me. don't dare to cry out lou
"' for fear the naughty man would whip me; but
md always cry when we're going through the wood
the and there's nobody in sight to hear me. He ne
H., err lets me look out Of the back of the cart, on
~ when there's nobody to see me, and he won't
as me sing, even when want to.
md .4nly. Now, Orphy, what's to be done? III
en- tinman has, of course, kidnapped this black chill
,,i to take her into Maryland, where he can sell h
''0 for good price; she is fat healthy-lookil
rs thing, and that is slave State. Does thee thin
we ought to let him take her off?
IF Orphy No, indeed! Yonder's Israel coming
turn the cows into the clover-feld. Little gi
had lay quiet and don't offer to show thyself.
hat Israel now advanced-"We girls" said h
,ere "what's thee doing at the tnmans cart? N
r,,, meddng among his tins, | hope?"
''"' "Israel" said Amy, "step softly-we have SON
thing to show thee"
and The girls then lifted up the corner of the CT
and cover, and displayed the little negro gr, crouch
on bag of teuthers-a part of his goods which
had not shown.
onai The young man much amazed, and his t.
no sisters began both at once to relate to him the s
,ore ry of the black child Israel looked angry. {"
be sure we won't let the man carry this child
bet with him."
n a 81 Judge we WON'T" answered Israel.
n of "Then," said Amy, "let us take her out of
cart, and hide her IN the barn or somewhere, till
=, has gone"
the "No," replied Israeli 81 can't say feel free
,ney do that. 1t would be too much like stealing
Thv, over again. Put her down in the cart and let
alone. lll have no underhanded work about
Let's all 60 back to the house. But say nothln
The girls cautioned Dinah not to let the tim
know they had seen her, and to keep herself gu
and they then went with their brother to the HOT
feeling very uneasy.
&c if "Israe," said his mother, as he entered, CT
du,v friend is making the china as good as new, o
Itho Ill, No. -.