Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-10-05
From Mrs Child's Life of Isaac T. Hopper.
DANIEL BENSON.

they had sevtrf ehfiafci, Monty supported Sy her IN
dustfy. His mother was od1a6d heiplcs5, and the
master, finding it rather burdensome 10 support her
told Daniel that if he would support her. and pay him
forty dollars year., he might go where he pleased.
The offer gladly accepted, and in 1905 he moved
TO Philadelphia, with his mother and family. He sawed
wood for a living, and established such charac-
ter for industry and honesty, that many of the citizens
were in the habit of employing him TO purchase their
wood and prepare it for the winter Upon one occa
sion, when he brought in bill TO Alderman Todd that
gentleman asked him if he had not charged rather
high Daniel excused himself by saying he had an
aged mother 10 support, in addition to his own family
and thath punctuay paid his master twenty dollars
every six months according to an agreement he had
made with him. When the Alderman heard the par
ticuurs his sympathy was excited and he wrote to
Isaac T. Hopper requesting him to examine into the
case, stating his opinion that Daniel had legal
right to freedom
The wood-sawyer started off with the note with rreat
aacrity and delivered il TO Friend Hopper, saying in
very animated tones, Squire Todd thinks am free !"
lie was in a state Of agitation between hope and fear
When he had told his story, he sent home to get
receipts for all the money he had paid his since
his arrival in Philadelphia 1t easy to prove from
these that he had been resident in Philadelphia with
his owners consent, much longer time than the law
required to make him free man. When Friend Hop
per gave him this information, he was overoyed He
could hardly believe it. The tidngs seemed too GOOD
to be true. When assured that he was certainly free
beyond all dispute, and that he need not pay any
OF his hard earnings TO MASTER the tears rolled down
his cheeks, and he started off to bring his wife, that
she also might hear the glad news. When Friend Hop
per was an old man, he often used to remark how well
he remembered their beamng counenances on that oc-
ondt hoir
Soon after this interview, a letter was addressed to
Perry Boots, informing him that his slave was legally
free, and that he need not expect any of his
wages He came TO Philadelphia Immediately, to an
swer the letter in person. His first saluation was
" Where | find that ungrateful villain, Dam
will take him home in irons"
Friend Hopper replied, " Thou wilt find thyself re.
lieved from such unpleasant task for can easily
convince thee that the law susains thy slave in taking
his freedom"
Reading the law did not satisfy him. He said he
would consult lawyer, and call again When he re-
turned, he found Daniel waiting TO sec him. and he
Immediately began TO upbraid him for being so I'M
grateful Daniel replied, d" Master Perry, il was not
justice that made your slave. 1t the lato and
you took uuvuntuge s
free and ought you to blame for taking the advan
tage which it offers me- But suppose not free,
what would you be willing to take to manumt me :"
His master, somewhat sofened, said, Why, Dan,
always intended to set you free time other >"
q" am nearly forty years old" reoined his bondman
" and if | am to be free, think it is high time
now. What would you be willing to take for a deed of
manumission ?"
Mr. Boots answered, Why, think you ought to
give a hundred dollars"
" Would that satisfy you, Master Perry Well,
can nav n hundred dollars said Daniel
Here Friend Hopper nterfered, and observed there
nothing rightfuly due to the MASTER that if JUS
ce done in the case, he ought to pay Daniel for
his labor since he twenty.one years old.
The colored man replied, &c slave to Master
Perry's father; and he was kind to Master Perry
and are about the age We were brought up
more like two brothers than like master and slave
can better afford to give him hundred dollars than he
afford to do without it will go home and get the
money, if you will make out the necessary papers
while | am gone
Surprised and grat6ed by the nobility of soul mani
Tested in these WORDS Friend Hopper said no more to
dssuade him from his generous purpose. He brought
one hundred silver dollars, and Perry Boots signed
receipt for it, accompanied by deed of manumission
He wished to have it inserted in the deed that he was
not 10 be responsible for the support of the old
But Daniel objected; saying, Such agreement
would imply that would not voluntarily support my
poor old mother
When the business concluded, he invited his for
mer master and Friend Hopper TO dine with him. say
ing, We going to have pretty good dinner in
honor of the day" Mr. Boots accepted the invitation,
but Friend Hopper excused himself on account of an
engagement that would detan him till after dinner
When he called he found that they had not risen from
table, which the remains of roasted turkey,
a of vegetables and q decantpr of Friend
Hopper smiled when Daniel remarked, 81 know Mas
Perry loves little brandy, but did not like to get
brandy; bought quart of Mr.. Morris best wine
and thought that would do instead. | never drank any
thing but water myself"
: Soon after Daniel Benson became free man, he
gave up saving wood and opened shop for the sale
of secondhand Clothing He was successful in bu-
siness brought up his family very reputably, and sup
ported his mother comfortably to the end of her days
For many years he class leader in the Methodist
{ church for coored people, and his department
e gained the respect of all who knew him.
. TO PARENTS.
He who checks a child with terror
" Stops its play and stills its song,
Not alone commits error
n But great, a moral wrong.
d Give it play and never fear it
10 Active life is no defect;
" Never never break its spirit
Curb 1t only to direct.
II Would you stop the flowing river,
h Thinking it would cease to flow!
e Onward it must flow forever,