Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-10

lhuoJ ~ WlIhOut HtI ii she I6luSeu, WIung ueI
heart. When she next visited William, her mind
was made up to accompany him, feeling as she
said that she had rather suffer thousand deaths
with him, than to be again separated, and left in
the power Of her present master. In one week,
she had made all the needful preparations for
them BOTH and together they started for the land
Of liberty, guided only by that north star, which
had led so many pilgrims to hope and happi-
ness. will not dwell on the detail of their suf-
ferngs and privations during the sad and weary
months which were occupied in traversng the
swamps and forests of the southern States. All
night the poor fugitives travelled, and during the
day, faint and toil-worn, they lay concealed in
the woods, hardly daring to breathe, lest their
hiding place should be discovered The same
kind care which sent food to Elijah by the agen-
cy Of ravens, supplied them by means almost
equally miraculous; and cold and hunger were
UNDECIDED while they shared it together. Often,
from their entire ignorance of the geography of
the States through which they passed. they took
a wrong direction, and after long and fatiguing
circuit found themselves at the point from which
they started. Often too, with alarm and horror
they heard the deep baying of
hounds in pursuit of fugtives like themselves,
and trembled, lest at the next moment they might
dash in on their retreat, and betray them to their
inhuman pursuers At one time, they came to
a large and deep river, over which they could
find no bridge, and not daring to avail them
selves of the ferry in the immediate neighbor-
hood, they went for long distance up and down
the stream, until Just at day-break, they resolved
to make the desperate attempt to swim across,
and if they persisted, to die together To do
this, they were obliged to leave most of their few
articles of food and clothing they had thus far
carried, and trust providence for the supply Of
their future wants. By incredible exertions,
William succeeded in holding up the frightened
and fainting Lucy, while he made his own way
across the river; but when he reached the bank,
he had scarcely strength enough to throw HIM
self and his almost insensible wife upon it. For
some hours they lay there, utterly incapable Of
moving, and so completely exhausted in mind
and body that the fear of discovery ceased to OPP
crate as a stimulus to farther exertion. When
at length the benumbing influence of cold fatigue
and hunger had in some measure passed away,
they found that the little wallet, which contained
all their remaining provisions, was lost, leaving
them totally destitute of food, or change of
raiment 1t was moment of sore trial, but
even then, they found consolation in the con-
seriousness of strong mental affection, and the
certainty tina tnothing but death could part them,
for William was resolved, if retaken, to yield his
liberty only with his life.
From that day, the privations and suffering;
of the fugitives were increased ten fold and poor
Lucy, who bore them all with heroic lortitude
and mistaken courage, was evidently dropping
She made no complaint, and exerted herself ever
more than before; but constant fever WASTED
her strength, and a racking cough told too plain
ly that her days were numbered. For somt
weeks they journeyed on, while her emaciatct
form was frequently borne in the arms of hel
poor husband, until from sorrow and fatigue, he
was compelled to drop the precious burthen, anC
throw himself on the ground utterly exhausted
Lucy was sensible that she was dying, and he
only remaining wish was, to reach free State
that her last breath might be drawn beneath
free sky, and with the blessed breeze of freedom
tanning her fevered brow. For this, she bort
up, with a courage and energy almost superhu
man, but it was not to be.-They had entered
Maryland and were exulting in the prospect 0
soon reaching Pennsylvania, when her strength
failed, and she became convinced that her las
hour was approaching. They were in the mids
of an extensive forest, far from the habtaton G
man, and this, which under other circumstance
would have aggravated their distress, was nov
the only solace of their misery. But who ca
describe, or conceive, the agony of the heart
broken husband, as he gazed on the faded forr
of the wife of his bosom, the companions of hi
suflerings and tolls, the being who was literal
all the world to him, and without whom eve
paradise must be desert Pale, emaciateC
but still lovely and both her attenuated hand
fondIy clasping his, and her large dark eyes fiji
ed on him with the tender, confding expressio
of infancy, she lay like bruised reed in hi
arms, awaiting the dread summons which was
leave him alone, without one ray of hope or con
fort for the future Alas he had not then learr
ed to seek consolation whence alone it can
derived The blessed book which brings Iii
and immortality to light, was to him a sealed vo
ume, and no one had ever guided his feet to tn
compassionate Savior who wept with Mary an
! Martha over the tomb of Lazarus. Who ca
! wonder then, that his heart grew sick, and h
, brain turned round, in that dark hour, while in
' ages the past came thronging up before h
mind, as if to mock his anguish. He remen
n bered the childhood of his Lucy the early 10y
: which made even slavery seem less bitter, and IL
Q few short months of welded bliss, which had one
O been his own. Then came the memory of IL
+ deep and bitter wrong-of avarice and lust ste
/ ping in between those whom God had joined t
O gether, and crushing human hearts with the r
!, lentless grasp of despotic power, He thong
q too the months of toll and suffering which hi
T. followed their joyful reunion and of the patien
, and fortitude and love. which had sustained Il