Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-06-13
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LUCY had been a slave, but was now free, re-
siding in Cincinnati. Her husband was still al
slave in slave State from whence she had re-
moved on being emancipated by her dying mis-
tress. All her efforts were directed to the lib
Grafton of Ben, her husband, which she hoped
to effect some day by purchase. For this pur-
pose she worked harl and lived poor, that she
might lay up what money she could get, to pur-
chase her husband and the father Of her children.
She had three children-Harry, a stout,
healthy boy Of eleven years; Susan, a slender,
sickly child Of nine; and little Ned, about five.
The elder children remembered their father, and
the little one scarcely understood that he did not
so constantly was he hearing and talking Of him.
At all events, he was fully mbued with the ami
mating spirit which pervaded this happy family
HAPPY in having constantly in view the attain
ment of blessing which called forth all the en-
ergies of their nature. Daddys freedom was
the goal toward which every thought and every
movement tended. Day and night Lucy was at
her washing and ironing. Harry brought and
carried the clothes, and gave all other assistance
in his power to his mother, in fetching water
preparing fires, &c. Susan prepared the meals,
but they scarcely allowed themselves any other
food than the broken victuals they were permit
ted to get from neighborng boarding house
Little Ned, if he could do no more, would clap
his hands at the sight of every new bundle of
clothes brought for his mother to wash.
Harry had one day been gone rather longer
than usual at the boarding house for the frag-
ments of their dinner. Little Ned, who was
watching, at last espied him, laboring under the
additional burden of well-known and welcome
sight, large bundle of clothes.
He s coming, mother, and he's got nice
great bundle of clothes for you to wash
Harry ran, OVERLOOKING with important inlor-
nation.
Oh mother! there's ever so many strangers at
Mrs. Gibson's, and know you'll have the wash
ing of them all, for the gentleman | brought
these clothes for says he'll ask them, and he s
nice kind gentleman; and told him all about
how hard you worked, and all Of us, for fathers
freedom; told him all about your great box full
of money and about how our little mug was al
most full, and he gave me quarter of dollar
to put in it, and I'm going to show him that it S
the biggest piece we've got yet
Lucy, who was accustomed to his loquacity,
did not, till this moment turn round when she
beheld gentleman standing in very thought
full mood. 1t was countenance well known to
her, though hers was entirely unknown to him.
Unless you have some portion Of romance in
your composition you will not conjecture who
this was. Know, then, it was her husbands
MASTER the master of Ben, Shareholder.
Lucy was greatly agitated, and sunk down on
the floor, covering her face with both her hands.
She had not heard from her husband for two
years, and she knew that the cholera had been
very destructive among the colored people in
that part of the country which she had left. Now
that information was at hand, she dreaded to
hear; but suspense was intolerabe.
What is the matter, good womanP said the
Shareholder; what are you frightened at7
With great mental effort, and raising her
heart to heaven for support she sobbed out,
Oh master, my poor husband! is Ben alive!'
Ben, what Benz l don't know who your
husband is
oh, masterl Ben Wilson, your carpenter,
that's got great scar on his right cheek
1t was now the shareholders turn to be agta-
ted but he repressed his emotion and fastened
to relieve Lucy.
MY carpenter Ben, your husband Yes, he's
alive and well, and as honest, faithful fellow
as ever
Thank GodP said Lucy OH if he's alive,
know he's good
The slveholder now threw himself into the ON,
ly chair in the ROOM He had been interested
by the simple narration of Harry as he walked
along with him, and had been attracted by it to
enter the dwelling He saw its reality; every
thing bespoke indgence Susan had placed
upon the wash-bench their only table, the
heterogeneous fragments ofthe dinner from which
he had dned the day before. There was no su-
perfuty of table apparatus only one dish, out
ofwhich they were all to eat, and but one knife
and fork. Yet they had hundreds of dollars
boarded up.
Harry, by this time, had placed the little mug
of silver before him. but can't lift mothers