Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-01-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE SLAV E. WIFE.
BY FRANCIS H. GREEN.

one hand, ana the decp ndllBnltN vi lh' utH-
or, outvie the most eNtravagant romance,-
NAV be found evidence that truth Is, indeed
stranper than fiction. The following story
was related to me by one who well knew the
parties; and | give it, as nearly as possible
in his own words.
81 had BEEN said he, "sojourning for sew
eral weeks at Dawn, Upper Canada, which
YOU well know, was settled by a colony of
Fugitiyc Slaves. observing the regencratlng
influence Of IA free atmosUheTe, which Is DAT
" working out a phenomenon more wonder
ful than the dreaming alchemist ever i'nPu-
ted u the philosophers stone-trdnsmut2-
ton of chattels Into men. These facts stand
out against the deep black ground ct slave
nv like miracles wrought In Lightning, AM
fraught with an interest strong dnd deep 40
the eternal interests of humanity. There arc
amonr these prupie some fine specimens Of
the race; whom it would do our negro-haters
GOOD to know-and many whose fne manly
ch7ractrr-ay, and intellect also, would put
TO the blush our traducers, Of the co!orod
race. OF ali these none pleased me better,
or interested me more deeply, than haco Ray.
He was, | think, as fine a specimen Oh tn
physical man, as | ever knew. Tall. muscu-
lar, and every way well-prOportloned. he had
the large expansion of chest and shoulders
that are sren in the best representations Of
Hercules. He was quite black, the skin soft
and glossy; but the features had none Of the
reyoltinp characteristics which are supposed
by some to be inseparable from the African
visage. On the contrary they were remarka-
bly, fine-the nose aquliine; the mouth even
Handsome; the forehead singuldriy high and
broad. Superadded to this WIS Il nobl> in
tellect, with a power of language and eX-
preston which under happier circumstances.
might have produced the poet, or the orator.
and which under every incumbrance, rose at
time TO the %loltiest eloquence. ! had often
been astonished at the spontaneous exercise
of this power; and the rude mcn among
whom we dwelt likewise felt, and quietly
yielded to the sway of n master spirit. Al
though he mad been in Dawn only about two
years, he had yet acquired no small degree
of influence among his people; and beth for
integrity and ability he was highly esteemed.
But Notwithstanding all this | observed that
a deep shadow seemed to rest upon his heart,
and that there was a void in his being which
nothing appeared to fill. These tendencies
became more distinct as | knew him Letter;
and | was convinced that some very painful
circumstance connected with his former life,
hung like Il pail above him, darkening the
glad sunshine, and making bitter the free air
he breathcd. | determined to learn his his
tory from his own mouth the first opportunity
that presented itself. Fortune soon favored
my wishes.
| had been walking through the fields of
various acquajntAnces. convecsing with them
as they worked, or listening to the happy
song, or the merry whistle that rang out on
the clear mir of IA fine spring morning, when.
at about nine o'clock, / leaned over ;he rude
fence that enclosed the field where my friend
Laco was at work. He was at the lower
end Of the lot; and | stood listening to the
native melodies that resOunded on every side.
There was in this music a tullnesS of ioy
that spoke at once of the consciousness and
the love OF freedom; yet net unmiAglcL Nth
occasional notes of the sweetest and the deep
est pathos. that whispered of friends left far
behind, yet cropping darkly in the land Of
bondage; or, may be, it uttered the sadness
which belonged to memory-orp pictured forth
shadows which the long-brooding wing of
Slavery yet left resting on the free soul. 1t
was infinitely touching; and | could not list
en- to il without tears. As Laco drew near,
saw that he was unusually sld and disjnciin-
ed to talk; and, after passing the compliments
Of the morning, he dropped his eyes to the
ground, and appeared quite absorbed with his
business of pllnting. | waited, celebrating
within myself how | should best enter upon
the subject, until he had adyanced TO the end
Of the row, and stood opposite me.
swell Laco,' | said, extending my hand,
as he was about turning to commence another
row. This is a fine morning, hat YOU are
not quite in the spirit of it. You seem UNI
happy. Has any thing happened to distress
you'll"
mo Massa, no. Nothing happen to Laco
now. Nothing now ever hlppcn to him. he
replied, turning upon me a look Of u%nuttera-
BILE sadness.
why do you say that, Laco! you surely
are happy now you are free; and you cannot
be insensible to the beauty ofthis lovely morn
ing! The free sunlight is shining abroad
The birds are singing. The neighbors are
singing. They are happy; all are happy.
Why should not Laco sing and be happy too!'
'Ihe BIRDS he answered, are singing songs
OF love. Each one has IA mate in his nest;
but LAGOS nest is cold and silent. Why thea
should he singh The free are singing the
song of liberty; but the light of LAGOS free
dom is put out. The sun is shiulnr very
bright; but he never reached here,' he added
laying hlnd on his breast, and smiling with |
the expression of one who feels that he has
already met the worst. M lssa very GOOD;
but he never make darkness light; he meyer
make the dead live again. It's no use talk
ing, Massl. LEO better work. If he would
eat, he must m Ike corn grow. Talking nev-
er help him; and he turned away, as if re-
solve to say nothing more.
Excuse me Laco,' | urged, as | spranr
over the fence and stood beside him, Il am
your fiend. Speak to me freely, as to a
friend; a brother; and the confidence NAV re-
lieve you. | see your story is a sad ONE
An. Massa, so slave story always be-
But come to the cabin, MassA; and Laco will
tell you, what he has whispered only in the
great ear of night, when God and angels a.