Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-03-12

From the Liberty Chimes.
THE SLAVE"WIFE.

which, from the wild daring on the one hand
and the deep malignity on the other, oulyie the
most extravagant romance-~may be found evil
dence that truth is, indeed stranger than fiction
The following story was related to me by one
who well knew the parties; and give it, as near
ly as possible, in his own words.
4 had been, said he, 'sojournihg for several
weeks at Dawn, Upper Canada, which, you well
know, was settled by colony of fugitive slaves,
observing the regenerating influence of free at
mospherc, which is daily working out phenom.
enon more wonderful than the dreaming alchym-
list ever imputed to the philosophers stone
transmutation of chattels into men. There are
among these people some fine specimens of the
race, whom it would do our negro-haters good to
Lnow-and whose manly character, aye, and in
tellect also, would put to blush our traducers, off
the colored race Ofall these none pleased me
better, or interested me more deeply, than Laco
Ray. He was, THINK as fine a specimen of
the physical man as ! ever knew Tall, muscu-
lar and every way well-proportloned, he had the
large expansion Of chest and shoulders that are
seen in the best representations of Hercules.
He was quite black, the skin soft and glossy,
but the features had none of the revolving char
acterStics which are supposed by some to be in
separable from the African yissagc On the
contrary they were remarkably fine, the nose a.
outline, the mouth even handsome, and the fore
head singularly high and broad. Superadded to
this was a noble intellect, with power of Ian
guage and expression which, under happier Cir
cumstance3, might have produced the poet, or
the orator, and which under every incumbrance,
rose at times to the loftieSt eloqucnce. had Of
ten been astonished at the spontaneous exercises
of this power; and the rude men among whom
we dwelt likewise felt, and quietly yielded to the
sway of master spirit. Although he had been
in Dawn only about two years, he had yet &C.
quired no small degree Of influence among his
people, and both for integrity and ability he was
highly esteemed But Notwithstanding all this
observed that deep shadow seemed to rest upon
his heart, and that there was void in his being
which nothing appeared to fill These tenden-
ces became more distinct as knew him better
and was convinced that some very painful cir
cumstance connected with his former life hung
like pail above him, darkening the glad sun
shine, and making bitter the free air he breath
ed determined to learn his history from his
own mouth the first opportunity that presented it
self Fortune soon favored my wishes,
had been walking through the fields of yari
aus acquaintance, conversng with them as lhel
worked, or listening to the happy song. or th'
merry whistle that rang out on the clear air of
fine spring morning, when at about nine o'clock
| leaned over the rude fence that enclosed thu
field where my friend Laco was at work. HI
was at the lower end of the lot; and stood lis
tening to the native melodies that resounded OF
every side.
There was in this music fullness of 10y tina
spoke at once Of the consciousness and the low
Of freedom, yet not unminged with occasional
notes Of the sweetest and deepest pathos, tina
whispered of friends left far behind yet gropn
darky in the land of bondage, or, may be, it vi
tered the sadness which belonged to memory, O
pictured forth shadows which the long
wing of slavery yet left resting on the free sou
1t was infinitely touching and | could not liste
to it without tears. AS Laco drew near, sa,
that he was unusually sad and disincned to t ak
and after passing the compliments of the MOI
ming, he dropped his eyes to the ground and ap
pearcd quite absorbed with his business of plan
ting. | waited, deliberatng within myself no,
/ should best enter upon the subject, until h
had advanced TO the end of the row, and stoo,
opposite me-
Well Laco,' l said extending my hand as h
was about turning to commence another row
This is fine morning, but you are not quit
in the spirit of it. You seem unhappy. Ha
anything happened to distress your
No Massa, no. Nothing happen to Lac
now. Nothngnow ever happen to him, he re
piled, turning upon me look of unutterablC
sadness
Why do you say that, Laco1 You surel are
happy now you are free, and you cannot be i'll
sensible to the beauty of this lovely morning
The neighbors are singing. The birds are sing
ing. They are happy, all are happy. Why
should not I.aco sing and be happy to-?
The BIRDS he answered. are singing song
of love- Each one has mate in his nest bu
LAGOS nest is cold and silent Why then SHOULD
he singl The free are singing the song of lib
crty, but the light of LAGOS freedom is put out
The sun is shining very bright; but he neve
reaches here, he added laying a hand on hi
breast, and smiling with the expression of ont
who has already met the worst. Massa yer,
good but he never make darkness light h
never make the dead live again. It's no us
talking, Massa Laco better work. Ifhe wou
eat, he must make the corn grow. Talking neve
help him, and he turned away, as if resolved t
say nothing more.
Excuse me Laco, I urged, as sprang owe
the fence and stood beside him. | am you
friend Speak to me freely, as to friend,
brother and the confidence may relieve you.
see your story is a sad one
All, Massa, so slave story always be- BIZ
come to the cabin, Massa; and Laco will tie
you what he has whispered only in the great e;
of night, when God and angels alone are wal
ing He laid down his hoe in the furrow, an
spranp over the fenca at single bound I fo