The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-28


in black, clergyman, seated by the osbin-door-
cursed be Canaan, a servant Of servants shall he
be- the scripture says"
81 say, stranger, is that ar what that text
means, said tall man, standing by.
Undoubtedly Il pleased Providence. for
some inscrutable reason, to doom the race TO
bondage ages ago, and we must not set up our
opinion against that
"Well then, well all 20 ahead and buy up Mig
gers said the man, if that's the way Of Provi-
dence, wont we squirrel said be, turning to
Haley, who had been standing with his hands in
his pockets by the stove, and ntenty listening to
the conversation.
"Yes, y continued the tall man, we must all be
resigned TO the DEGREES Of Providence Niggers
must be sold, and trucked round. and kept
under-its what they's made for-pears like this
yer views quite refreshing-aint it stranger"
said he to Haley.
al never thought on't, " said Haley " couldn't
have said as much myself, han't no larnin,
took up the trade just TO make lvin IL faint
right, calculated to 'pent ont in time ye know
And now you'll save yerself the trouble wont
ye ~ said the tall man. See what tits now to
know scripture-if ye'd only studied yer Bible
like this yer good man, ye might have know'd il
before and saved We heap troHble-ye could,
jist have said cussed be'-whats-hi name D.
and twoupd all have come right}p And the
stranger, who was no other than the honest drover
whom we introduced TO our readers in the Ken
lucky tavern, sat down, and began smoking with
curious smile on his long dry face.
tall slender young man, with face express
sive of great feeling aud intelligence, here broke
in, and repeated the words "'All things whatso-
ever ye would that men should do unto you, do
ye even so unto them II suppose" he added,
" that is scripture as much as cursed be Canaan"
Wal il seems quite as plain text, stranger"
said John the droVer, 4" to poor fellows like us
now" and John smoked on like volcano.
The young man paused looked as IL he was
going to say more, when suddenly the boat stop
ped, and the company made the usual steamboat
rusa ~ sSg 49, - xS.i-cAss9-
:" Both them ar chaps parsons 2" said John to
So a..'S'z. ss,.hey V~y-s'ng ont mt :, ee4.
As the boat stopped, q black woman came run
ming wildly up the plank darted into the crowd,
few up to where the slave gang sat, and threw
her arms round that unfortunate piece Of mer-
chands before enumerated-"J John aged thirty l"
and with sObs and tears bemoaned him as her hus-
band.
But what needs tell the story-told too oft; every
day told-of hesrt-strings rent and broken-the
weak broken and torn for the profit and conve-
nienoe of the strong IL needs not 10 be told
every day is telling it-telling it, too In the ear OF
One who is not deaf, though be be long silent.
The young man who had spoken for the cause
Of humanity and God before, stood with folded
arms looking on this scene He turned, and Ha-
ley was standing at his side. my friend" he
said, speaking with thick utterance, How can
| you, how dare you, carry on n trade like this .
| Look at those poor creatures! Here sm, rejoic-
ing in my heart that am going home to my wife
and child and the same bell which is signal to
carry me onward towards them, will part this
poor man and his wife forever. Depend upon it,
| God will bring you into judgment for this"
The trader turned away in silence.
81 say, now said the drover, touching his ell
bow, there's differences in parsons, amt there
| Cussed be Canaan don't seem to 20 down with
| this un-does 1t ~
Haley gave an uneasy grOwl
! "And that ar amt the worst ont y said John,
mabbe it won't 20 down with the Lord, neither
when ye come to settle with Him, one o these
days, as all on us must, reckon"
Haley walked rehectively to the other end Of
the boat.
@If make pretty handsomely on one or two
next gangs" he thought, ''l reckon Pll stop of
this yer--its really getting dangerous And he
took out his pocket book, and began adding over
his accounts-a process which many gentlemen,
besides Mr.. Haley, have found specific for an
uneasy conscience.
The boat swept proudly away from the shore,
and all went on merrily, as before. Men talked,
and lOafed, and read, and smoked Women sewed,
and children played. Suns rose and set, and men
did business for some days, till the boat had pass
ed far on her way.
One dav, when she lay to for a while at a small
town in Kentucky, Haley went up into the place
on little matter Of business
Tom, whose letters did not prevent his taking
q moderate circuit had drawn near the side of the
boat and stood listlessy gazing over the ratings
After time, he saw the trader returning, with
an alert step, in company with colored woman,
bearing In her arms a young child. She was
dressed quite respectfully, and colored man fol-
lowed her, bringing along small trunk The
woman came cheerfuly onward, talking, as she
came, with the man who bore her trunk and 80
passed up the plank into the boat. The bell rung
the steamer whizzed the engine groaned and
coughed and away swept the boat down the river
The woman walked forward among the boxes
and bales Of the lower deck, and, sitting down,
busted herself with cherrupng to her baby.
Haley made turn or two about the boat, and
then, coming up, seated himself near her. and be-
gan saying something to her in an Indifferent I'M
dertone.
Tom soon noticed heavy cloud passing over
the womans brow and that she answered rapid
ly, and with great vehemence.
&C don't believe it, won't believe IL ~ he heard
her say. "You'r jist a foolin with men
I" II you won't believe it, look herel y said the
man, drawing out paper, " this yer's the bill Of
SALE and there's your masters name TO Il and
paid down good solid cash for IL, too can tell
you-so Down
g don't b'lieve massr would cheat me so-it
can't be true !" said the woman, with increasing
agitation.
"You can ask any Of these men here that can
read writing 4" HereiD he said, 10 a man that
was passing by, jist read this yer wont you
This yer gal won't believe me when tell her
what tisn
"Why, it's a bill Of sale, signed by John Fos-
dick said the man. "making over 10 you the girl
Lucy and her child. Its ell straight enough, for
aught seen
The wOman's passionate EXPLANATIONS collected
q crowd around her. and the trader briefly ex-
planned TO them the cause Of the agitation.
Ale told me that ] was going down TO Louis
Vile, to hire out cook to the same tavern where
my husband works-thaps what mass'r told me
his own self, and ] can't believe he'd lie 10 me-"
said the woman.
"But he has sold you, my poor woman, there's
no doubt about it,n said good natured looking
man, who had been examining the papers-"he
has done IT, and no mistake"
"Then it's no account talking" said the woman,
suddenly growing quite calm, and, clasping her
child tighter in her arms she eat down on her
box, turned her back round, and gazed listlessly
into the river.
aGOiDg to take 1t easy, after all !" said the
trader 3Gals got grit, see"
The woman looked calm, as the boat went on
and beautiful, soft, summer breeze passed like
a compassionate spirit over her head-the gentle
breeze that never inquiries whether the brow is
dusky or fair that it fans. And che saw the sun
shine sparkling on the water, In golden ripples,
and gay voices full Of ease and pleasure, talking
around her everywhere--but her heart lay as II
great stone had fallen on It. Her baby raised
himself up against her, and stroked her cheeks
with his little hands, and springing up and down,
-.An daAn 81 IA