The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-12-01

negro-trader, and he purchased me- and &vaa
taken to New Orleans. On the steambeat Sva
were kept in a close room where slaves are uspal-
ly confined, so that saw nothing of the nassen-
gers on board, or the towns we passed. We ar
rived at New Orleans, and were all nut into tha
slave market for sale. was examined bv mapv
persons but none seemed willing to purchase me:
as all thought ME too white, and said would run
away and pass as white woman. On the second
day, while in the slave market, and while n,anters
and others were examining slaves and making thar
purchases. L observed tall young man with long
black hair, eyeing me very closely, and then talk
ing to the trader. felt sure that my time had
now come, but the day closed without nv being
sold. did not regret this, for ! had heard that
foreigners made the worst of masters, and felt
confident that the man who eyed me SO closely,
was not American.
The next day was the Sabbath. The bells
called the people to the different places of worshps
Methodsts sang, and Baptsts immersed,and Pres
byterians sprnkled, and Episcopalians read their
prayers, while the ministers of the yarious sects
preached that Christ died for all; and vet there.
were some twenty-five or thirty of US poor crea-,
lures confined in the Negro Fem awaiting the,
close OF the holy Sabbath, and the dawn of auoth-
er day, tobe examined like SO mapy beasts of bur-
den. | need not tell you with what anxiety we
waited for the advent of another day. On Mon
day we We're again brought out, and placed in rows
to be inspected and. fortunately for me, was
sold before we had been on the stand an hour
was purchased BY gentleman residing in the city,,
tor waiting maid for his wife, who was just ON
the eve of starting for Mobile, to pay visit to a
near relation. l was then dressed to suit the sta.
ton of a servant-mad; and upon the whole, 1
thought that in my new dress looked as much
the lady as my mistress.
"On the passage TO Mobile, who should see
among the passengers, but the tall, long-haired
man that had eyed me so closely in the slayesmar-
ket a few days before. His eyes were again on
me, and he appeared anxious TO speak to me, andI
as reluctant to be spoken to. The first evening
after leaving New Orleans, soon after twilight had
let her curtain down, and pinned it with star,
and while l was seated on the deck of the boat,
near the ladies' cabin, looking upon the rippled
waves, and the reflection of the moon upon the
sea, all at once saw the tall young man standing
by my side. l Immediately rose from my seat,
and was in the act Of returning to the cabin, when
to have word with you. I am your frieud.' I
stopped and looked him full in the face, and he
said, i saw You some days since in the slave mar
sket, and intended to have purchased you, to save
you from the condition of slave. l called on
Monday, but you had been soil and had left the
market. 1 inquired and learned who the purehas-
er was, and that you had to go to Mobile, SO re-
solved to follow you. Ifyou willing, will try
and buy you from your prese nt owner, and you
shall be freed. Although this was said in an hon
est aud ctf-haDd manner, l could not believe the
man to be sincere in what he said. Why should
you wish to set me free? I asked i had an only
sister,, he replied, who died three years ago in
France, and you are so much like her, that had
not known of her death. I would most certainly
have taken you for her. However much may
resemble your sister, you are aware that am not
her. and why take SO much interest in one whom
you saw before?' The love- said he (which
had for my sister is transferred to you.' / had
all along suspected that the man was knave, and
this profession of love confirmed me in my former
! belief, and turned away and left him..
"The next day, while stardng in the cabin and
looking through the window, the French gentle-
man (for such he was) came to the window, while
walking on the guards, and again commenced as
on the previous evening. He took fiom his pock-
ct bit of paper and put it into my hand, and at
the time saying, 'Take this, it may some
day be of service to you, remember it is from
FRIEND and left me instantly. I unfolded the pa
per and found it to be $100 Bank note, on the
United States Branch Bank, at Philadelphia
My first impulse to give it my mistress but
upon second thought, Iresolved to seek an oppor-
tunty, and to return the hundred dollars to the
stranger. Therefore, l looked for him butin vain
and had almost given up the idea of seeing him
again, when he passed me on the guards of the
boat and walked towards the stern of the vessel-
1t being now dark, I approached him and offered
the money to him. He declined saying at the
same time, / gave it to you-keept.' $ ] do not
want it, Isaid Now said he you had better
give your consent for me to purchase you, and you
shall go with me TO France But you cannot
buy me now,' ] replied, for my master is in New
Orleans, and he purchased me not to SELL but TO
retain in his family Would you rather re-
main with your present mistress than be free?,
No. said l. Then fly with me tonight; we
shall be in Mobile in two hours from this, and
when the passengers are going on shore, you can
take my arm and you can escape unobserved.-
The trader who brought you to New Orleans ex-
hibted to me certificate of your good character,
and one from the minister of the church to which
you were attached in Virginia; and upon the faith
of these assurances, and the love bear you, I
promise before high heaven that viii marry you
as soon as it can be done.' This solemn promise
coupled with what had already transpired, gave
me confidence in the man; and rash as the act
may seem, determined in an instant to 90 with
him. My mistress had been put under the Charge
of the captain and it would be past ten O'Clock
when the steamer would land, she accepted an iu-
vtation of the captain to remain on board with
eral other ladies till morning. I dressed myself
in my best clothes, and put veil over my face