Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-08-07

our feelings. But there was evidently somc-
thing in the planters thoughts that seemed
10 distnrb him. His blacks were upon the
river flats, picking cotton. The day was
drawing to a close, and he frequently walked
upon the back piazza, to see it they were
coming. He said to me, | wish the niggors
would come, that | might weigh the cotton
before dark. AT length, in the dusk of the
evening, the blacks appeared one after the
other, winding round the hill from the river
fats towards the house, with the baskets of
cotton upon their heads, and | took this OPP
portunity 10 ask him how much was a DAYS
work for one to pick he replied that good
hands could pick two hundred weight a day,
that his hands were not very good as he
could rarely make them pick over one hum
bred and sixty weight a day. The blacks, as
they came up, went on to the cotton house.
A candle was lighted, and brought into the
room, in which he and | had been sitting;
the Indies being In another room. The cam
die was put upon a table, on which were a
number of books, and | was requested to a.
muse myself there, during the time he was
weighing the cotton. The cotton-house, be-
ing a little distance from his dwelling house,
on account of fire. After being absent a
short time, he returned, went to his pallet,
took a cowhide from under the pillow, carri-
ed it close to his side opposite to me, appA-
rently with a design not to let me see it, and
again walked 10 the cotton-house soon |
heard the blows, as it were with the switch
end Of the cowhide, and then with the but
end. Yet heard no groan, nor sigh, and
could not determine, for my life, what TO make
of it. At length the blows ceased, and soon
| heard the planters footsteps at the door
he entered, | cast my eyes upon him, he APP
peared to be in great heat, and perspired pro-
fusely, took n hearty drink OF water, and
went again to the cotton-house. The secret
was now revealed. The darkness of the
night could not prevent the doleful sound
from reaching my ear, and the ears of all in
the house. The blows appeared to be put on
with vengeance, and the poor bllck cried for
mercy. Oh! massa! don't kill me, DON'T
A sound as ii the black was throttled by The
dog, and a dcath-like struggle succeeded 4;
then all was still, as | supposed the black
was dead. This language thrilled my bosom.
Oh, God! is there no eye to pity lis there
no arm to save! At this instant, the ladies'
opened the door, and invited me TO take a seat
withFthem | did so, and the door was closed
after me. The room in which they We're,
was taTther from the noise, and it could not
be heard SO plainly. They endeavored, by a
lively conversation, to divert my attention.
At niue O'Clock, | retired to bed, but could
MT sitrr. Al ten o'clotk1ho moon rose, and
soon after heard the blacks shocking corn,
at which they continued till past midnight.
Af.er midnight, or about half past twelve by
the watch, the planter passed my window,
with a gun upon his shoulder, some small
weapon by his side, and his dog Il few feet
ahead Of him.
Thus, armed 10 the teeth, and a savage dog,
that is ready to throat a black at his masters
bidding, do the planters and overseerS tyran-
nize over their neutrality-suspicious. whom
God has made in his own image. Next
morning at the breakfast table, one OF the la
dies observed 10 him, that he appeared I'M
welI,-he answered | did not rest WE'LL
What was the matter, said she! | had a We
~ unpleasant dream, said he, and then repea-
ted his dream, which was in substance as
follows 81 saw a gllIows erected, a coffin
was made, and put under the galIows, and |
was placed upon the coffin, then hell was
opened before me-" Thus, God would not
permit him to become hardened in cruelty,
till he had warned him of the consequences.
Afterwards, | asked another planter how
much was n days work, for a good hand to
pick one hundred weight he replied some
years they can pick more, and | have known
cotton to open so well, that one could pick
one hundred and sixty weight a day, as easi-
ly as he can now pick one hundred. If my
hands, says he, get one hundred weight in 4
day, | find no faLlt with them. | then rcla-
ted to him what the other planter had said
was a days work; the reply was he will
kill HE hands. Nj. NJ.