Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-05-04
The Dying Slave.
BY ELIZABETH NJ. CHANDLER.

~ tcas IN The right mood for Il, and so I gaze
full scope 10 my Imagination"
He lay on q straw couch, with his face
half turned towards the sinking sum-
Tho skin was drawn tightly over his
forehead, as though it was parched and
shrunken by extreme age /; but the rest
less and uneasy w%anderings of his eye
told that he still claimed some compan-
ionship with earthly feelings.
He was a slave, and for more than an
hundred years he had gone forth TO the
daily toll of a bondman. 1t was said
that in the "lather.land," from which he
had been torn by %unprincipled violence,
he had been a prince among his people.
In the first days Of his slavery, he had
been fierce and ungovernable, nor could
his naughty spirit ever be tanned into
subsection until it had been subdued by
gratitude. The father Of his present
master had, in his childhood, by inter-
fering TO save him from punishment, re-
ccived on his W body the blows inten-
ded for the slave; and from that moment
he became 10 his youthful master a de-
voted servant. The child had grown up
TO manhood, fourished throughout his
term Of years, and faded away into The
grave, but still the aged Alric fingered
upon the earth; and ii was for the son OF
hat man that he now waited, and, TO use
his W expression; "held back his
BREATH" until he should behold him.
At length the light of the low cabin
door was d~arkeneG, as the master stoop-
ed his tall form to enter the dwelling OF
his slave. 81 have come" said he, as
he approached "what would you with
me :"
The negro raised himself up with "A
sudden energy, and Stretched out his
withercd hand. ''IIave | not borne YOU
in my arms in your helpless infancy"
said he, and should | not now once
more behold you before | die Heed
me. master ere yon sun shall sci, the
last breath will have passed my lips-ils
beams are fast growing more aslant aud
yellower-tell me-. before | die, have
| not serve! you faithfully 2"
"You have !"
81 have been honest and true-I have
never spoken to you Il IaIsehood-l have
never deserved the lash 2"
$40 my knowledge, never p said his
master.
"Then there is but one more boon that
! would crave of you'll am going home,
TO revisit the Genes of my you,h-to
mingle with the spirits Of my friends =
Suffer me not 10 return TO them IA slave!
My fathers were proud chieiiains among
their native wilds-they sought out lha
lion in the midst of his secret reccsses-
they subdued the strength of the savagr.
tger-ihey were conqucrors in butte
they never bowed to man-they would
spurn u bondman from their halls on
tell me-" exclaimed he, seizing his mas
ier's hand in the rising exc tement Of his
teelings,-'oh, tell me, while | NAV vel
hear the sound, that | am once more
free -
"lour wish is granted" said his mas
ter, ''you are n freeman"
"A freeman!" repeated the negro,
slowly sinking back upon his couch, and
cIasping his hands above his head with
all his remaining energy-"wriic it for
me, masters"
The g nlleman lore a leaf from his
pocket-book, and pencilling a hasiy GER
tihcaIe of his freedom, handed it to the
slave. The old man lifted up his head
once more, rs he received it. anl the last
ray of sunlight streamed across his coun-
%tenance, as with a strange smile he gazed
upon the paper; then falling suddenly
back, he once more repeated the name OF
freedom, and expired.