Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-11-21
VOLUME VII. NO. AZ.

nights old fashioned jollifcaton. On these last
mentioned occasions the music was done by old
Frizbie, stout negro who dwelt in log cabin
which had been built and deserted by one Of the
first settlers near the south end of the street, &
remained unoccupied until Frizbie took possess
ion of it, preferring TO cobble shoes and fiddle
in Vermont to enjoying the comforts of slavery,
into which he had been born else where; for
all the old States were all slave States at that
time,
| At the close OF a Drgnt winters day IN the
year 176-,a large, good looking, well dressed
stranger, in handsom, well equipped sleigh,
drawn by span of elegant horses, stopped at
Norton's tavern and put up for the night After
supper he mingled os was then the fashion, with
the towns people who had gathered round tho
bar-room fire to have their evenings talk. He
kept up his share of the conversation, interspers-
ing it with various questions about the price and
productivness of land, the estimated cost of the
houses he had seen as he came along, and the
names of their occupants, giving the listeners
room to infer that he was wishing to take uphis
abode among them. He went to bed, and next
morning persued his inquiries of the landlord
and whether it was that the answers were not
entirely satisfactory or that he wanted longer
time to consider, he did not leave Norton's until
after dinner; and meanwhile every man, woman
and child was talking about the great rich gen.
teman who was coming to buy the best place
in town and live there. At length however, he
paid his reckoning, called for his horses ana
started on his way back. Frizbie, who possess
sed full share of the instructive curiosity OF
his race, had already heard of the great acces"
session whicn the village was about to receive,
and no sooner did the approaching bells Jingle
upon his ear than, throwing down his lap"stone'
he hurried into the street to have nearer Vlew'
where he had hardly more than time to admire the
horses before the sleigh was beside him, and as
he looked into it who should be there but Colonel
-. the eldest son of his ancient master! -
Before he could recover from his stuperfachon
he was seized by the collar, snatched INTO tne
vehicle, and they wepe going at most rapiu
rate towards the South. The whole proceeding
was however seen by a neighbor, and in the
!, shortest time possible all the village was IN an
=. uproar, and every man who could procure a
. horse was engaged in full pursuit. The road
then led down the river about two miles and Q
:. half, when it turned at sharp angle through
- narrow rovine, and led up a long Sery steeI
: hill, over which it crossed to the next town.
= 1t was in the middle ofthis hill where the
- i -, h., ooft nd
= with Stacker reign, was overtaken by the en-
i ragged inhabitants, who rushed past and arou nd
him, knocked down his horse with their blud-
geons, and by their violent gestures and impre-
cautions seemed on the eve of doing him the
same favor. In great terpedation he begged
them not 20 murner him, declared his readiness
to give up the negro, or do any thing to satisfy
=. them if they would only permit him to pass on
g in safety. But no, this not answer he must
drive Frizbie back to the spot from whence he
4 had been taken, which, with rueful face, he
consented to do. His horses were accordingly
got on their feet and turned about. Frizbe was
placed on the front seat with his fiddle, which
one of the laggards had for some reason or
, other brought along and put into his hand, and
so the cavalacade sloly commenced its return.
In lhe rear were some sixty or eighty horsemen
in pairs, before them the Colonel as driver, filed
, with unutterable thoughts, and Frizbe seated in
the vain, playing with all the energies af fresh
emancipation the tunes which he happened 10
know, such as 'Peggy and Molly, "Hlgh Blddy
AZ, ~ fNrancbarO Whom
they came opposite his cabin and he was fairly
= deposited at home the Col. supposed he would
now be at liberty to depart in peace. But the
- people assured him it would not do to parts So
= that now he had set matterst to right ou his part
they must have an opportunity on convincing
Il him that what they had done arose from no per-
sonal i'll will to himself--in fine he must go on
: to Normans and be "treated'. Thther accor-
dinghy they went. His horses were put up IN
B the barn, and one messenger was dispatched to
b bring Frz and his fiddle while others went to
8 fetch the women and girls. How they carried on
S that night it would be impossible now to discr-
p be, but there was fidding and dancing and tod
v DIV. and somuch was made of the COL, who was
d really Jolly fellow, that in the morlhg he de-
cared that he had never had so good time IN
his life that it was shame to balk such hon.
est people-that the negro should have his free
dom papers, which were made out on the spot,
and the Colonel departed amid the applauses
and best wishes of the whole community
Frisbe lived many years after, and finally died
and was buried in all the odor of freedom, and
and there are still many inhabitants, then young
but now old, who can well remember his honest
face, manly voice, independent habits, and the
peculiar regard with which he was looked upon
by all the old settlers
Such was the tone of feeling in Vermont be-
fore she was admitted into our "glorlous Umon''
Whether and what she has gained in this re-
spect by that measure remains to be seen,-and
whether the spirit which once animated her is
wholly fled.
-----------------------
N1sNo man knows what he can do till he is
fbllv resolved to do what he can. When men
have thought themselves obligated to set about
uny business iu good earnest, they have done
tbot which their Incidence made them suppose
impossible. There are several abilities un-
known TO the possessor, which lie. hid in the
lid Cor ,vant of an occasion TO bring them forth,