The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-08

4
Good morning. he said, Mstily and with
out waiting for an answer {" saw in to-day's
paper that boy was for sale here; and as I'm
| getting up lot for market I'll look at him
Is that the fellow :" pointing to Peter
That's the boy. Stand up, Peter"
Peter obeyed, but with faintness and trem-
bling. His senses nearly forsook him
Holloa, you shouted the gambler, show
yourself
As the trader approached him and took hold
Of his arm to feel his muscle, the blood came
again to his heart and he summoned courage
to protest
sell me-
Hem! " sneered the trader a new trick ::
always have something don't want to go down
river
At the same time the gambler again shouted,
with an oath
"Shut up--no blubbering'
! But there was something in the look and
manner of the boy that raised n suspicion in
the mind of one of the farmers sitting by
The trader continued his examination turn
ing him around and throwing up his face to
the light
How old is he -
Twelve years old last January" Peter an
swered for himself
Not answered like slave boy-such an
one seldom knows his age, thought the farmer,
but he said nothing.
"Where were you raised
| Peter did not understand the question. He
had never heard the word raised y used in
the Southern sense, and this was another proof
that he was no slave.
He don't know, answered the gambler for
him; he has been here and there, and don't
even know where he belongs
But the intelligence of Peter was too evident,
and the farmer put the question in another
form
"Where were you born, and where have you
lived boy Z"
"In B, State of New York was the UNI
besitating reply.
"How came you here
III came as waitcrboy to that gentleman
who wants to sell me
"What are you good fort" questioned the
trader as he gave him another turn.
{" can black boots and do errands'
what did you do at home asked the
farmer
Ihelped my mother answered Peter with
a breaking voice; I" cut her wood, carried her
clothes, and took care of the children and the
now flowed down his cheeks, and sobs half
choked his voice, as he added, Don't let them
sell me, to stay here Let me go back to my
mother"
"You say you are buying lot for market,"
interrupted the gambler, addressing the slave
trader. What are you paying What are
boys worth ~
What do you ask for this one ~
. Five hundred he's well worth it. He's II
fine felow--would bring eight hundred in New
| Orleans in a couple of years. He ia little
dumplsh now, at the idea Of being sold, and
losing the fine life he has had with us, travel
ling about the country, but he will soon come
! to"
"That's too much for any boy. No know
ing how they'll turn out and this one is too
well raised--he won't stand it long Pm in
something of hurry, now. A lot up above If
to be sold-will call again and the trader
took his leave.
| Peter skunk back TO his corner the gambler
took his paper and the Kentuckian went about
the business which had brought him to Louis
Vile The latter was liberal minded kind
hearted man, and, like many other Kentuck-
ians had misgivings about slavery. He had
seen some of its cruetics, and shrank from
them and condemned them; but he owned
slaves, and found it convenient to let things
remain rs they were The surprise and grief
and seeming innocence of Peter, made an i'm
preston on HIM He colld not forget his tears
ut the mention of his mother, and the more
he thought Of it, the stronger was his convic-
ton that he was not slavc-that though hs
skin was dark, he was Northern boy child
of freedom, and he looked upon him as differ
ent from the bondmcn around him. He ad-
mitted his claim TO rights denied to them, be-
cause neper enjoyed by them. And should
those wicked men be suffered to go on in their
wickedness, and, after having taken the boy
from his mother sell him into hopeless slavery
for their own gain ? Though he was n slave
holder, he was not a kidnapper, and the I'M
guilty was too degrading to be tolerated by
him.
One and another, thinking Of purchase,
called mt the hotel, and looked at Peter but
he was too down-hearted for boy,o and no .
one wanted him Who can describe his wretch
edness through that long day! He was in de-
spair What could he dol Still it seemed 70
him that he must do something; that he could
him. What would become of his poor mother
How would she look for him, and wait for him,
with heart-breakng And his little sisters,
how they would fret for him--thus adding to
his mothers grief. God help thee, boy
On the second day OF Peters stay in Louis
vile, the farmer. who was still detained there,
rose early, for thoughts Of the poor black boy,
NO wronged and so fricndlcss, had troubled him
in the night-watches; and though it was
strange business for him, and quite undesirable,
he determined to save him, If possible. He laid
the case before m officer. who accompanied
Il L. ftn. To-
the wrath and threats Of the
gamblers, Peter was taken from their custody,
and lodged for safety in the Jail.
Had this happened in one Of our Northern
States, the gamblers had not thus lost their
deienceless prey Their oaths before an hon
orable Commissioner, anxious TO obtain some
notice or paltry favor at the seat Of Govern
ment, had been sufficient to settle the matter
beyond all question, and consign the free boy
to a hopeless slavery, far worse than death
to rob the poor widow of her only son, her
only hope and trust And when such fend.
ish work had been done 1.-THE more summary
the better) the honorable Commissioner would
have received thanks and praise from the high
in Office as one who had helped to save the
Union But in Kentucky, perhaps they love
tho Union less and there is STILL even among
shareholders, some little regard for justice,
through which Peter escaped the clutches OF
the kidnappers.
But what an escape! Alas poor Peter so
innocent, 10 good, 80 young, to he confined in
that loathsome prison day after day--no work,
no amusement, no occupation OF any kind
shut out from the pure air and cheerful sky,
hemmed in by the close, damp dark walls
no sunshine, NO laughter, no pleasant sound
and through the long night haunted by images
Of evil and strange forms, shaped by his ievered
brain One DAY Of such confinement must be