Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-16

ana his last beams SpaIhl0u Oh tue waves
which laved the shores Of a fairy isle. Light
winds came over the waters as if to taste the
orange flower which CLEANED in the silent
groves; and strains of wild, warlike music
hoated from its plains. Tall shadows rested
upon the level ground but where ii swelled
up gently into a hill looking upon placid
bay, here were pitched the tents of armies.
1t seemed the eve Of battle, for long bright
~lances flashed in the sunbeams, and proud
horses wheeled to and fro as if they too felt
the excitement Of military parade. The flag
Of France foated proudly over one army, and
the other bore upon its ensign the figure of a
slave just bursting his letters. Yet no cam
non roared, no blood was seen flowing, nor
signs appeared. Aye, twas a harder con-
fict which one leader at least was called to
endure. A white banner was borne from the
ranks Of the French, and their commander
stepped forth accompanied by two boys whose
youthful countonances and looks Of innocence
contrasted strangely with the tall forms of
veteran troops, gilded over with the insignia
of war. And the African General also came
forward and met him. "Here," said the
white man, "are thy sons they are our
prisoners now, but we will return them TO
You've will give you and them freedom,
and gold, and honors, and you shall be great
among the princes of France. But you must
cease this rebellion, you must surrender your
army to us, and use your influence to calm
the minds of your soldiers" His tall form
drew up to its manifest height; his dark eye
flashed its widest fire, and the beavings Of
his proud breast betrayed the struggle 'twixt
father and patriot. o! twas grand TO see
him, as he stood there, partly relieved against
the deep blue sky, with his white plume nod
ding DER his brow in the gentle breeze, and
his glittering sword rejecting back the first
star of even. 1t was long and Geep, that con-
iict. He looked where his sons stood in
their youth and beauty. Images of blood
stained hair, death-distorted features, and
teeth clenched in the last struggle, rose up
before him. His wife broken-hearted, him
self branchless and withered, and both sink
ing to premature decay. Oh! that avalanche
of fatherly affection, it was bearing all before
it. He was almost resolved TO be a traitor.
But just then the sun sank in glory in his
ocean bed. First one, and then another bright
star q%uivered awhile on the waves crest, and
sprung into the fImament. The winds moan
Il Gtc,ll, ,lro,nb tho aoocio hou,orc and
bore with them a long, loud, piercing shrek,
wrung from some proud, noble soul at last
crushed, and this wall its first of agony
lie turned his eyes upon tue long lnSs Of
dusky, anxious faces fixed so eagerly upon
him who could be either their savior or de-
stroyer. The thick veil of futurity was lift.
ed to him, and he saw all these, either bow
ed down in oppression or elevated by free
dom; and he was there with their blessing
or their curse upon him. Couldh he, ought he
to sacrifice these to save the lives Of his chill
drenl Let this answer. "Take back my
sons, | trusted them to your honor, and base
ly have you betrayed me. | love them, oh
how dearly but | love my race, their free
dom and elevation better. | can give uI
these two, my children; but cannot rive
again the chains of my brothers," lie dis
! missed his soldiers with the same calm tones
; with which he was wont, and they were deeI
> and musical as when he urged them to attes
their liberties. But when he reached hi
tent, alone and childless, his fathers feelings
d rose up in their might, how strangely VIII
i can tell? And he suffered, oh how bitter
ly! 1t was softening TO see tears wrun.
D from manhood's strong heart, and the sam
!, moonbeam and starbeam were there to wit
i ness his agony.
And why have not historians recorded thes
n as noble examples for fathers and sons TO fol
low Why have they not been ~extolled
'e yea, trumpeted forth in the notes of fame a
y greatest among men and children Ha
- he, who was none other than Toussaint l.
ia Overture, been king, or prince, or Presiden
he would have been immorialized for thi
ne single act. He was more than all these bl
'h God had seen fit TO stain his complexion wit
a darker dye than ours, and though his hea
IN beat with all noble and generous emotion
er and his intellect was a greater spark of De
DO ty than is common among mortals, yet onl
IS a few God-like hearts have beat quicker
nd only a few tears have fallen at this recita.
nd and when far less noble acts have been to,
&C. US of our pale checked neighbor, our hear
ne have overfown with sympathy.
And these children of a Virginian sla'
:, mother. Why do not fathers point to The
-. bright example of %fraternal affection, and e
hort their own so to love one another, III
in when trials come they may stand up togetht
and the burden will be less hard to bear.
us, Oh! my country, ye know not what heal
nv rest within your bosom what heroes Ii
Ter. unknown c~lanking their chains in SLAYER