Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-28
THE QUAKER PUNISHMENT.


4 Long Island Quaker, who mad very
unruly negro boy living with him, and
whose disposition he had tried for long
time TO bring under the control of the
peaceful influences Of Quakerism. in vain,
tried new species of punishment, that
he related thus:
Tired of moral suasion. the old Quaker
was about giving up in dispair, when
thought struck him. Il will punish the
lad said Amendab to himself, Il will not
strike him, for he is one of Gods crea-
lures, on which men should not lay their
unworthy hands. JOSIAH said he. ad-
dressing the boy. come here Josiah.
whose keen eye discerned in the look and
manner Of the old Quaker, signs of some
mysterious movement, came doggedly up
to his master. and hung down his head in
token of humble submission. Josiah
continued the old man, thee has been a
bad boy, very bad boy. and thy master
has lost all patience with thee. Dos. thou
know, Josiah. where the wicked and unru-
~ APPS. like thee, go to-
No whined the negro.
No! boy, has thee never heard of the
bad place.
Yes was the reply: Il have heard dat
bad boys 90 to -, down. down. down
to dat dark dungeon whar day get brm-
stone from
That is the place, boy continued the
Quaker. in a solemn tone, and there
must take thee, Josiah
Me. massa; oh Lora, oh Lora, Ill
oh Lora massa.'
Get thy hat. Josiah. get thy hat and
come with me; can hear no word from
thee
The boy got his hat and followed the
Quaker to the railroad depot. where they
took the cars for Brooklyn. On flew the
cars at a rate the boy never had rode be-
fore-the engine snoring and putting not
unlike his imagination had pictured the
Internal regions.
Trees, houses and fences seemed to hy.
as if on wings, and before the cars reach
eG Brook YIN, the poor lads brain was
fairly bewildered and he scarcely knew
whether he was going up or down. down.
down. Furious as the wind, came the
train down Atlantic street, horses snorted
and dashed away from the track in fright,
the boys hooted and screamed, and poor
Josiah looked as though he was on the
way to the world of spirits. Presently the
engineer gave one Of these terrible whis-
ties that echoed throughout the whole city,
and the engine plunged into the tunnel.
Good bye, Josiah, said Amenidab, and
he suddenly stepped from his seat to the
platform outside the cars. A screech-a
groan--and then stitiled moan was heard
where the negro sat. and then all was dark
and still, save the putting and whstling of
the engine. and the rafting Of the cars, as
they whstled on through the narrow pas
sage. Once or twice noise like a strug-
gle or catching for breath was family heard
coming from the negroes seat, but nothing
was known of the horrors of that middle
passage until the train emerged from the
tunnel on the west side. The passengers
were then Mortified at sight which, they
supposed, was case Of cholera in their
midst. A dead niger sure, was right
among them. The old Quaker had poor
Josiah by the collar, shaking and scolding
and trying to make him stand upon his
feet. But Josiah was a conner to all
appearances, and it was an hour before
the passengers and the boy could under
stand that he had passed through the IN
fernal regions. For few minutes the old
Quaker was as frightened as any body,
and thought that his punishment had ter
minated in manslaughter; but Josiah final
ly came out right and it is hoped that
he will hereafter be better boy, and long
remember his visit to the bad place.
I The Merchants Day Book.