Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-07-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the .7duocaie Of Moral Reform.
The Grave in the Wilderness.

f't'AN w AAb hht 10 NNllGAl1 hut 4 lt
circumstances were related to a gentleman of
high standing in the community, by the be-
n~evolent friend at whose house William first
stopped in Pennsylvania, and they were aE-
terward corroboraied by one who had just re-
turned from Canada, where he had met with
William, who was in a respectable business
there, and had received the account from his
W lips. They prove that truth is some
times stranger than fiction" As a proof
likewise of love stronger than death, which
many waters cannot quench. nor floods drown,
they may interest your readers.
William was a slave, belonging TO the
plantation of the Hon. VIM. e.. Of South
Carolina. He was a mulatto of fine appear
ance and uncommon intelligence, and, as
the coachman Of his master, enjoyed many
privileges denied to others of his class he
had formed an attachment fJr a young Quad
room, who was the personal attendant of her
mistress, and who had profted to the utmost
by the few opportunities afforded her, so that
in mind and manners she was far superior to
many who looked down upon her as a slave,
with contempt. Her personal appearance
was likewise, uncommonly attractive, and
poor William soon found that though his at
tachment was warmly returned, and she had
become his wife according TO the simple
form recognized among slaves, his claims to
the chosen Of his heart were not likely to be
undisputed. A gentleman () on a visit to
his master saw the beautiful Quadroon, took
a fancy TO her, ana by the payment Of a large
sum of money, became her legal owner
True, she was known TO be the wife of Will
liam who was devotedly attached to her, and it
was known too that she was purchased as
the intended paramour of her master, who was
a married man, but William might soon con-
sole himself with another, and the feelings
ofthe wretched girl were not once taken into
the account. Indeed, as a slave, what right
had she TO feelings on the subjectl So she
was torn away from home and husband, and
friends, and carried by her new owner to
Alabama. William locked up his sense of
the wrong done him ia his own bosom, and
though his merry laugh was hushed, and
his brow was always clouded, he attended to
his duties with the same faithfulness and
precision as before. But his sleeping and
waking thoughts were always full of one
image-that of his beloved Lucy, separated
from him forever, and compelled TO forget, in
the arms of a stranger, the husband who
would gladly have died to save her from this
dreadful fate. Could he, not even now, res
cue herr The very thought was rapture,
but how was it TO be accomplished Alaba-
ma seemed 10 him almost in another world,
and the fearful risks he ran in attempting TO
escape, were wildly Impressed on his mind.
Stlll the idea haunted him continually, and
while his soul was thus agitated, an unex-
pected opportunity was presented to carry his
plan into execution. His master was away
from home, for the winter, and a friend of his
mistress who had been long promising her a
visit, wrote to request that the carriage might
be sent fer her, as she was now in readiness
to fulfil her engagement. This lady resided
two hundred miles from the plantation of
Mr.. e., in the interior of the State, and thither
William was despatched with the carriage
and horses to bring the expected visiter.-
He was obliged TO wait few days for the
lady, and while there, among strangers, and
with nothing but thought to occupy him, he
first formed the definite determination to es-
cape, and make one effort to become a free
man. He was able in SOM degree to count
the cost, and knew that if he failed, a fate
worse than death awaited him, but the love
of liberty was strong within him, and his re-
solution was taken. But his wife-shouId
he escape and leave her behind, or should he
seek the far South, and endeavor to find her,
and make her the companion of his flight?
A moment he hesitated, for The star of free
dom pointed to the north, and he knew not
in what part Of the State TO seek his Lucy ;
but love %triumphed, and the day before he
was TO have started for home, he fled, leav-
ing no trace behind, by which his track might
be discovered. 1t was, of course, supposed
that he had gone to the north, and thus pur-
suit was avoided by him, in his p%erilous
flight. After some weeks wandering, he
reached Alabama, and, guided by that Pro-
violence which watches over the friendless,
he came at last to the neighborhood in which
the plantation of Lucy's master was situated.
Having made acquaintance with a slave on
the plantation, he contrived TO send word TO
Lucy that he was near, and to encourage a
meeting. And what a meeting was that
His hunger and wretchedness, his torn and
bleeding feet, his danger, his sufferings, all
were forgotten as he clasped that beloved and
long lost wife to his heart, and heard her
whispered words of tenderness and pity.-
But alas-she was not free, and her absence
might be noticed, and thus bring ruin on
them both. She must leave him, but before
they separated, a plan was agreed on by
which they might daily meet, and he had
told her his wild hopes and projects, to which
she listened with a smile of utter incredulity
1t was impossible, she said, for them 10 ira.
vel such an immense distance without dis
covery, and to one who had been delicately
brought up, the perils and sufferings of such
a flight, at such a season, were appalling
He plead his cause with all the eloquence o
love, and the assurance that he must 90 with,
out her if she refused, wrung her heart
When she next visited William, her minC
was made up to accompany him, feeling a,
she said, that she had rather suffer a thou
sand deaths with him, than to be again sepa
rated, and left in The power of her presen
, master. In one week she had made all need
: ed preparations for them both, and togethe
=, they started for the land of liberty, guide,
t only by that g north star" which has led S,
: many pilgrims 10 hope and happiness.
will not dwell on the detail of their suffer
L inns and nriVaiinns dnrinn Tho nnL 81 -.