Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-07-21

'bNlih Ni'hh - 10y
with alarm and horror indescribable, they
heard the deep 5aying of hounds in pursuit
of some f%ugitives like themselves, and trem-
bled, 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 themselves of the ferry in the immediate
neighborhood, they went for a long distance
M and down the stream, until just at day.
break, they resolved to make the desperate
attempt to swim across, and 1t they persisted,
to die together. TO do this, they were OBJ
liged 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 Will
liam 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 10 throw
himself and his almost insensible wife upon
it. For some hours they lay there, utterly
incapable of moving, and so completely ex-
hausted in mind and body, that the fear of
discovery ceased to operate as a stimulus to
farther e~xerlion. When at length the be-
numbing influence of cold, fatigue and hun
ger had in some measure passed away, they
found that the little wallet, which contained
all their remaining provisions, was lost, leav-
ing them totally destitute Of food, or a change
Of raimpnt. 1t was a moment Of sore trial,
but even then, they found consolation in the
consciousness of strong mental affection, and
the certainty that nothing but death could
part them, for William was resolved, If re-
taken, to yield his liberty only with his life.
From that day, the privalions and suffer-
ings Of the fugilives were increased ten-fold;
and poor Lucy, who bore them all with he
roic fortitude, and mistaken courage, was
evidently dropping. She made no complaint,
and eXerted herself even more than before /;
but a constant fever wasted her strength, and
a racking cough told too plainly that her days
were numbered. For SOM weeks they jour
neyed on, while her emaciated form was fire.
quently borne in the arms of her poor hus-
band, until, from sorrow and fatigue, he was
compelled to drop the precious burthen, and
throw himself on the ground utterly exhaust
ed. Lucy was sensible that she was dying,
and her only remaining wish was, to reach
a free State, that her last breath might be
drawn beneath a free sky, and with the bless
ed breeze of freedom tanning her fevered
brow. For this, she bore up, with a courage
and energy almost superhuman, but it was
not so to be. They had entered Maryland,
and were e%xulting in the prospect of soon
reaching Pennsylvania, when her strength
failed, and she became convinced that her
last hour was rapidly approaching. They
were in the midst of an extensive forest, far
from the habitation of man, and this, which,
under other circumstances, would have aggra-
waited their distress. was now the only solace
of their misery. But who can describe, or
conceive, the agony Of the heart-broken hus-
band, as he gazed on the faded form of the
wife Of his bosom, the companion ofhis suffer-
ings and tolls, the being who was literally
the world ohm, and without whom even
paradise would be a desert. Pale, emaciated,
but still lovely, with both her attenuated
hands fondly c~lasping his, and her large dark
eyes fixed on him with the tender, coniding
expression Of infancy, she lay like bruised
reed in his arms, calmly awaiting the dread
which was 10 leave him alone,
without one ray of hope or comfort from the
future. Alas! he had not then learned to
seek consolation whence alone it can be de-
rived. The blessed book which brings life
and immortality to light, was to him a sealed
volume, and no one had ever guided his feet
to that compassionate Saviour, who wept
with Mary and Martha over the tomb of
Lazarus. Who can wonder then, that his
heart grew sick, and his brain turned round,
in that dark hour, while images of the past
came thronging up before his mind, as if to
mock his anguish. He remembered the
childhood of his Lucy; the early love which
made even slavery seem less bitter, and the
few short months of welded bliss, which
had once been his own. Then came the
memory Of deep and bitter wrong-of avarice
and lust, stepping in between those whom
God had Joined together, and crushing hu-
man hearts with the relentless grasp of des-
potic power. He thought too of the months
of toll and suffering which had followed their
joyful reunion, and Of the patience and for
titude, and love which had sustained the part
ner of his flight, and made her voice to him
as the voice of an angel. Without one muir
muring or reproachful word, she had endured
all the hardships of their lot, encouraging
and cheering him by the b~uoyant hopeful
ness OF her nature, in his moments of deep
est depression. And now this cherished OBJ
lect OF his love and care was ~dying-dyinp
just as the goal was in sight, and thew were
about to enter that land of freedom, for which
she had so pined, and which even in dreams
was always before her eyes. How valueless,
then, seemed to him the liberty which she
could not partake! How vain all the sacri.
ces he had made 10 procure it! While his
heart was thus wrung with anguish, the suf-
terer revived, and, after thanking him for the
love and kindness which had been the bless.
ing of her life, she e%nlreated him to make no
delay after her death, but to hasten his FIGHT.
lest even then the pursuer might be on his
track, and The cup of freedom be dashed from
his lips ere he had tasted its sweetness.-
True TO her unselish and affectionate nature
to the last, her latest breath was snent in
comforting the poor mourner, who sat stunt
fed with grief, long after the spirit had fled,
holding the l~ifeless body in his arms. and
gazing on it with a look in which every
emotion of the soul seemed concentrated.
"There was darkness all within his heart.
And madness in his BRAIN"