Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-04-10

Duncan slowly paced the room for some time,
apparently studying the figures of the carpet,
vet utterly unconscious whether he trod on
canvas or on the greenswGrd AT length he or.
dered his horse and drove to the next plantation.
Seeing gang at work in the fields, he stopped;
and, after some questions concerning the crop,
he said to one of the most Intelligent
$50 you had fine meeting last night?"
"Oh yes, massa, berry Sgee meeting"
Where was it | -
The slave pointed far east of Birch Grove
The white mans eye followed the direction Of
the bondman's finger, and deeper cloud gath.
cred on his brow. Without comment, he rode
on in another direction, and, with apparent in
difference, made similar inquiries of another
gang of laborers, They pointed north of Birch
Grove, and replied
In the Hugunot woods. massa."
With increasing disquietude, he slowly turned
his horse toward the city He endeavored to
conceal anxiety under cheerful brow for he
was afraid to ask counsel, even of his most fa-
miliar friends, in q community so prone to be
blinded by insane fury under the excitement of
such suspicious. Having purchased complete
set of Negro clothes, and mask well fitted to
his face, he returned home, and awaited the
next request for passes to Methodist meeting.
In few days the sable faces again appeared
before him, one after another, asking to hear
Tom preach The passes were promptly given,
accompanied by the cool observation
"It seems to me, boys, that you are all grow
ing wonderfully religious of late"
To which they eagerly replied
"Ah, if massa could hear Tom preach, it
would make his hair stand up. Tom make eb-
cry body tlnk weder he hab a soul"
When the last one had departed, the master
hastily assumed his disguise, and hurried after
them. Keeping within sight of them, he fol.
lowed them over field and meadow, through
woods and swamps. AS he went on, the num-
Der of dark figures all tending toward the same
point, continually increased Now and then,
some one spoke to him, but he answered briefly
and with an effort to disguise his voice. At
last, they arrived at one of those swamp islands,
so common at the South, insulated by broad,
deep belt of water, and effeetualIy screened from
the main land by uxuriant growth of forest
trees, matted together by rich entangemcnt
of vines and underwood A large tree had been
felIed FOR br{ge' md pSkF 'hia, loshy f,rn,a
were swarming, like ants stotheir new-made
nest.
Mr.. Duncan had large Rhare of that animal
instinct called physical co'A Aage; but his heart
throbbed almost audlbly as lie followed that dark
multitude.
At the end of rough ard intricate passage,
there opened before him scene of picturesque
and imposing grandeur A level space, like a
vast saloon was enclosed by majestic trees, unit
ing their boughs over it, in fantastic resem-
blance to some Gothic cathedral. Spanish moss
formed a thick matted roof, and Aoated in fune-
real streamers From the points of arches hung
wild vines in luxurant profusion, some in heavy
festoons, others lightly and gracefully leaping
upward. The blaze of pine torches threw some
into the bold relief, and cas-. others into shad-
owy back ground And heie, in this lone sane
tuary of Nature were assembled many hundreds
ofswarthy figures, some seated in thoughtful at
ttudes, others scattered in moving groups, ea-
gerly talking together. AS hey glanced about
now sinking into dense shadow, and now emerg-
ing into lurid light, they seemed, to the slave
holders excited imagination, like demons from
the pit, come to claim guilt souls. He had
however, sufficient presence of mind to observe
that each one, as he entered, Frustrated himself
till his forehead touched thoground, and, rising
placed his finger on his mouth. Initiating thi:
signal, he passed in with the throng, and seatet
himself behind the glare Of the torches. Fo
some time, he could make out no connected
meaning amid the confused buzz of voices, an(
the half suppressed snatches OF songs. But a
last tall man mounted the stump of decayeC
tree, nearly in the centre of the area, and re
quested silence.
"When we had our last meeting" said he, {"
suppose most of you know, that we all concluded
that it was best for to join the British, if SO bc
we could get good chance. But we didn't al
agree about our masters. Some thought W.
never should be able to keep tsa-1feedom, with
out we killed our masters, inthe first place 9th
ers didn't like the thought of that; so we agreeC
to have another meeting to talk it.. And now
, boys, if the British land here in Caroliny, wha
shall we do with our masters ?"
He sat down, and tall, sinewy muatto step
ped into his place, exclaimng, with fierce ges
lures
"Ravish wives and daughters before thei
eyes, as they have done TO us! Hunt then
with hounds, as they have hunted us! Shoe
them down with rifles, as they shot us Throw
their carcases to the crows, they have fattene
on our bones and then, let the Devil take then
where they never rake up fire o nights VIII
talks of mercy 10 our masters p
81 do" said an aged black man, who rose u
before the fiery youth, tottering as he leane
: both hands on his oaken staff, 81 do; becaus
the blessed Jesus always talked of mercy.
know we have been fed like hogs, and shot d
" like wild beasts. Myself found the body of m
5 likelest boy under the tree where burka rife
reached him. But thanks to the blessed Jesu
= feel it nmy poor old heart to forgive them,
. have been a member of Methodist Churc
these thirty years; and I've heard many preacl
e ers, white and black; and they all tell me est
y said, Do good to them that do evil to you an
, pray for them that spite you. Now, say, Il
+ us love our enemies; let us pray for them; al
when our masters fog us, and sell our piccan
Il MES, let US break out singing;