Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-08-09
FROM THE BOSTON. .CHRoN oTYPE. si.-,
STORY OF ELLEN CRAFTS.


grading condition, lei il not be understood ,ha.
she is negro. Ellen Crafts, though a slave,
Is white: or, rather 10 be strictly correct, a
brunette. She is now about nineteen years Of
age, and will readily pass in any circle as
dark -colored white girl Girls dark as Ellen.
are as often met with, as those Of farer skins
We are not describing the chief attraction Of
the ballroom, bu, something more. when We
say that firmness, intelligence, and persever-
ance are distinc,iyely and impressiyeiy marked
upon her coun,enance. Her hair is long.
straight and dark colored, nose prominent, eyes
dark, large and impressive. We are thus par
,lcular, to show her connection with the Anglo
Saxon, and to show how ltlle there is, of any
| feature by which the enslaved race is so readi-
| ly recognized. &
! In the city from which Ellen fed, she &C.
ted as body servant or slave 10 another young
woman, possibly her ss,er-for our knowledge
Of The i" palriarchaI institution" leads readily
and naturally 10 tha, inference. -.
While in this situation she married. 1t is
for the prof. of The master ,ha. early marriages
should be law of custom. The union con-
tracted by Ellen proved TO be happy one
The husband, Wlliam--saves have no right
10 other names-has proved himself to be eve
ry way worthy Of her. By his industry, and
by turning nigh, into day, he contrived to pro.
cure enough money to purchase a portion Of
his time from the man who claimed 10 own it,.
Il cos, William all he had, but ii procured him
privileges which enabled him, by assiduous ap-
plicalion, TO lay by another store-a larger
portion of which, the lion 8 share, went 10 swe ell
the masters ill-go,teh gains-for new and dear
bough. privileges.
By dint of saving and starving, William con-
.rived to accumulate for himself and wife, enough
10 purchase for each, many little comforts and
privileges. They were thus enabled TO ameli-
orale their condi,ion, and were for a time hap
py. Though not permitted to see each other
more than once week, they had many secret
meetings.
! These stolen interviews were sweet aud pre-
cious Were they not, ye. who love the wife
of your affections ! Thoughts of their condi-
non, their hard lot, mingled with unavailing re-
grets, without doubt, were the principal ones
exchanged between Them Blu, this condition
they were constrained 10 endure, almost joy-
fully, in view of the greater deprivation and
sufferings of their fellow slaves
Privileges like these, however. were des-
tined to bear their rich harvest. Thoughts of
liberty are never long absent from slave or
prisoner: Hope beckons forever, even through
soresl ills. This was, the great subjec, between
Ellen and William In The long lone hours of
the night, that were but usherng in, 20 them,
another day Of bondage, the spirit of liberty
visited them. Not Inappropriate to their con
diion is the exclamation Of David As the
hart panielh after the water brooks, so panleth
my soul after thee, o God" 1ssf @
1T is quite certain ,ha. they could haye es-
capped from the city in which they were. But
whittier could they fee { Without place,
withou. means Of support; hunted by every slave
catcher, :" like the partridge upon The noun.
tains," surrounded by enemies, their capture
was certain; and stripes, separation, 'accumu-
lated woes would be their lot. gs3 ssf a
These Considerations filled their hearts with
sadness. Blu. liberty, ever bright and fair, bid
them to hope on, For many weeks they tho.
over every plan OF escape, which promised sue
cess. but could find none.
They had heard yaguely, of the aboliiionists
of the North; but they had been represented
to the mas monsters more 10 be dreaded, than
the slave driver himself, and their hopes lei
them not tha, way. Sill they would impure
concerning ,hem and one day sufficient was
learned to determine their course They would
fee TO the aboIi,ionisls.
The star in the East, had indeed arisen but
how could they follow lis glorious pa,hl The
nearest city 10 them was Philadelphia dis
tance Of one thousand miles, weary way for
fugitives from slavery. But the determination
once formed, every obstacle was 10 be overcome
Accordingly their sleeping and waking Thoughts
were gisento find out the way TO the spot where
liberty dwelt.s & s8 eas ss8i sfs ase3
The frs. obstacle to be overcome was TO Sc.
cure the necessary funds for the proposed
fight. BY double toll, by a more than miserly
saving, sufficient sum was acquired. They
were, for slaves, really. rich, and now freedom
or death, rather than slavery, was their joint
language.
The plan adopted displays degree Of in
genui,y which could not have been acquired
under The ordinary circumstances oflife Sol
lary confinement, or life Of perpetual bon
dage are the only incentive which bring ou'.
all the latent ingenuity Of man. The thoughts
Of the captive are OPo" one point. The whole
So -~~.f--~-