Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-01-16

Their bed was of ample dimensions, and made up
so as to reach almost TO the top of Marys head.
"iour master" said Mary, will be here imme-
diately. | will save You if | can. Get on to
this straw bed, each Of you, side by side-there
straghten out, and lay as still as if YOU were
dead. Now, am going to put this feather bed
over you and make il as smooth as if nothing
was below and perhaps we can cheat them. #
you are quiet--don't speak one word" And
Mary threw the feather bed over them, pstted it
down to his usual height, threw on the spread
and pillows, and the white pyramid lay sheltered
beneath the snowy folds Of that diInily curtain,
as still and as natural as if three women, born in
the image of their Maker--three painting fug-
hyes, flying from their tyrant master, lay not be-
meath, with hearts throbblng wildly with fear
and despair.
as You value freedom and hate slavery, be
quiet" said Mary, as she ended her work.
1--WE will, missus," answered back that
wretched mother,
Mary stepped noiselessly back to the sitting
room just as the tramp of feet was heard at the
front door. Then came a knock Mary and
Thomas exchanged chances, while Uncle Josh
wondering " who the devil was coming ut that
time OF night, went to open the door There
to his utter dismay, stood dozen men, ard fore
most among them the constable with his warrant.
Their GRAND was soon told. Uncle Josh was
III perfect phrenzy of passion-he. sWore he
raved, and squaring himself in his own door,
vowed that his house should not be ransacked
by such set of black-guards
81 told YOU said Bill Ryon, with wink,
shat we should find the slaves here"
"And tell you, you are lying scoundrel,"
said Uncle Josh. "You lazy, loafng vagabord.
you'd sell your soul for dram of whskey -
\ on whte-liyered excuse for a -;'; but
we will skip over all the wrath and profanity as
II doesn't suit our pen.
"Father," said Mary, coming to the door, pale
as her own white cape, and g~asping his arm,
don't swear So DO let the men come in, and
search, if they wish to. Surely it WON'T do
harm, you know, if their people are not here"
Yes, butt can do no harm. I'm not going
70 be trod on by - shareholders; and I'll see
them all -, before they shall darlen nay doors.
| swear they shan't"
lind I say they SlaU," said Mary, with one
of her determined looks, her little head, which
was not much higher than his elbow, thrown
back little, so that she could look him right in
the face: Il sag hcy shall. They have the law
Tor 1t, and you are violating the law. There is
no need of getting into scrape when we can
Just as well keep out of it. You know they are
strong enough to come in, whether we will it or
not"
Uncle Josh said not one word, but salked off
into the siting-room, and bounced down into his
big chair, with a weight that shook the whole
house.
Mary quietly closed the door behind him, then
turning to the men without, Is cd in a soft cen
tie voice, if their people we've men or women.
Three women, nam" said the owner, rath-
er dandylsh chap, that stood bowling, hat in
hand to the lady.
"Three women! You don't say ?" replied
Mary, almost gasping with fear for her expert
u":t. "Wa.k in, FenGemor~ q twelve OF YOU.
II II Will take twelve strong men 70 catch three
women. Walk in, you are welcome pride
myself little on being good housckeeper, and
don't feel at all afraid to show you the inside Of
my cupboard or bureau drawers Look into the
par.or first gentlemen. Here, under the bed
in this closet; sha. lift the lid Of this bandbox?
Some fat negro woman might be, you know, in
the crown OF my white satin bonnet Come.
you don't half look Behind this tre-board-
here's plenty Of room for two or three
The men backed ont, and one of them, clear
ing his throat, which her bitter, yet quiet irony
had well nigh filed, replied
''Of course, Mrs. Bell, you would not put our
black folks into your neat and beautiful parlor
Il is not worth while to be spending our time
here" and they all retired into the hall
Mary followed them but now the worst was
over, she could hardly lead the way to the other
parts Of the house But into every part she did
lend them--up garrett, down cellar, and then to
the milk house, the smoke houae, the barn--eye-
rywhere. The hounds that she had Shut out of
the door smeIt a.! about, but gave no howl of re-
cogniton, and the men reluctantly gave up the
search.
Il hope, Mrs. Bell. you will not take it umise,
our coming here" said the mea y-mou,hed dan
dy. These women were worth two thousand
to me. My property, am, you know, and we
look uPoa those who would en:ice and steal "a
way. our property, inst as you DO upon one that
would open your stable door and take away your
horses and cattle
These girls Of mine needn't have run away;
they were always kindly treated-indeod, think
a good deal of them myself treated them We
~ kindly, indeed, ma am, and think they have
been cnt.ced, and think its just as bad as horse
stealing"
Are they horses, sir ?" said Mary.
"Oh, no, ma am, we don't look upon them in
that light; no, ma 'ata, not at ell. We consider
them humans, and respect them as such, ma'am.'
"Oh,' said Mary again, you only take them
then as human beings, and put them in your sta
b.es, and make horses and cattle Of them; ur-
deTstan3. We, on this side, don't entce them
then, as horses--we aid them as men and NO
men"
Good evening, Mrs Bell--ehem; much obi
ged to you--ahem hope your husband won't
think hard Of us--ahcm;' and away vert The
whole troupe, mortified humbled and crcum-
vented by the rea1y-wi, Of q little gentle wo-
man.
But, oh, how mad Uncle Josh was He set
chewing his Guild, while they passed through lis
loom, Is stoically as North American Indian
would have borne bis torture
As soon IS they were ont Of hearing Mary
flew 70 him, and throwing her arms around his
neck, burst into tears.
"What TIE devil - said Uncle Josh
Come with me. come, come! | know you
viii forgive me = and she pulled lin into the
Par.1r, and again stripping of the bed, exposed
the thee women "Ihzre," said she. trium-
paaaily, laughing and crying all ct once, 'hav nj
l done Il? Saved you, or somebody else, q BIO
ken head and a law suit; and these poor crea-
lures. too, from their master, by saying / ieiU"
God bless you, my Mary, you never said
tol' in the wrong place n your life, and Uncle
Josh cried too, and the poor fugitives cried, and
then they all laughed, and talked, and chartered
their thankfuiness, and their admiration Of &
w Omau's VIII and a Womau's VIII" Yes,
they all shed tears Of Joy. and they fell--th0se
tears-upon the chains that bound that slave mo-
Their and her daughters and rustad away all the
fastening links. and they have been free ever