The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-03-30

We pass over this portion of his life. ''Tis al
old tale and often tod of unrestricted passion anc
iegalized brutality the part of the master, O
fierce resistance ano worse than useless struggles
on the part of the slave. Such scenes as were en-
acted on that remote plantation in the Floridar
brakes have been frequently described and
are too horrible to be here repeated. Let it suf
fee that after making two or three Intellectual at
tempts to run away, for which he was nearly kill
ed by the fend who owned him, he was sold tc
another planter for tribe.
The effect of all this upon the man may readily
be imagined. Such spirit IS net easily broken
It requires along crushing and goadng with
alterations of hope and despair. ending finally in
the utter going out othe last hope to subdue such
spirit. He had become hardened, reckless. long
ing for freedom thrsting for vengeance. The new
master fed and treated him well, until he was in
good working condition and then required of him
toll almost ineessant. He owned large pIanta-
ton, but thought himself unable to keep as many
hands as were required to work it properly and
as a consequence his slaves were soor worn out.
Ned was strong, and could in hurrying time do
nearly the work of two ordinary men, and his mas
ter knew this and apportioned his tasks according
ly. But the stoutest frame will sink under such
unreasonable exactions. and Ned sometimes failed
in his task, in which case he received no mercy.
lie grew desperate, and one day in the field
knocked down his overseerand beat him nearly life
less. He was again sold, and agan-but why fol
low the fortunes of the wretched slaye-wretched
ana biood-thirsfy because forsooth, the instinct of
manhood was SO strong within him, that the whip
ping and starving him into brute must be a mat
ter of unusual difficulty, and because of all those
who had made him their property not one had
thought OF trying the effect of kindness upon him.
AT last he was purchased as we have seen by
Mr.. Herbert, and for time the restless striving
spirit seemed TO eleep. With Jamie on his knee.
ms slender fingers clasped confdingly about his
neck how could he feel himself hopeless friendless
altogether forlorn: At first Mr.. Herbert watched
him narrowly, for he had heard dreadful tales of
slaves numbering their masters children; but Ned's
interest in the winning little fellow could not be
msconstrued. 1t was strange attachment-the
gentle guileless hoy and the fierce dark man!
But this intimacy, SO softening and humanizng
in its effects upon the the slave not to be
timed. Nixon, whose hatred had never for mo-
ment relaxed its intensity, Informed his master
that SO much indulgence made Ned couceited and
idle, and infected the other hands. Mr.. Herbert
more than half suspected that Nixon's i'll will
at the foundation of this complaint: but the corner
stone of plantation discipline is to sustain the
ihoriy of the overseer; and as Nixon extracted
decidedly more labor fl ON given amount of buue
and muscle than any of his Predecessors the plan
ter could not be expected to stand upon trifles in
the way of his administrator.
Accordingly Ned was ordered to keep away
from the house and because the child would some
times come to him, command was issued that he
should take no notice of the boy, neither speak to
him nor look at him.
Then the outraged blood boiled in the veins Of
the insulted man. He could have borne the Sc
verest beating better than this The one soace
of his captivity, the one sweet drop in the bitter
cup, the one pleasant thought which consoled him
through long days of labor was denied him. The
ell savageness returned. The lion in his nature
reused himself to new fury. He d:sobeyed his
orders, refused TO work, was repeatedly called to
the lash. and at last, goaded almost to madness he
took the resolution to escape or die.
He had accidentally found knife upon the
ground near the house, which he whetted to its
keenest edge and hid among the logs of his hut
This trustY friend he intended 10 take with him in
his flight and Once off said he sno more chains
for me. If | am taken this shall free me, so help
me God! Pshaw There's no God for me to
pray to. Fne white man 8 God never made me
-l'!l never believe that Yet if Pm of the same
blood these stupid, srong black creatures around
me, why am l not like them? But don'G be-
eve the race are all dolts and drudges.. l won't
believe it! Who knows but there are minds
among them that only want leader and favo a
bic moment to strike and cut bloody road through
white mems hearts to freedom. Heaven! If L
could put my spirit into them, if could arm them
against their oppressorF, how gladly would die in
the strife But it will come o! God of my race,
the time sciU come if not in my day, when our feet
shall stand on the necks of the naughty race, and
they shall sue to as and not find merry
Thus chafed the darkened, eagle spirit, as night
after night he returned from joyless thanhess toll
to his dismal shed, which Nixon took cnre should
be the poorest the quarter afforded. By day he
attempted to re-assume his former docllity; but in
spite of this, perhaps because OF it, the overseer
suspected his design of escaping and watched him
narrowly. He felt no inclination to pursue his old
course of encouragement, for he had seen enough
of the desperate to know that he would never be
retaken alive; and he had DO desire to lose the
pleasure Of tGrmening him.
He therefore naintained strict watch, and
even took the trouble upon several occasions to en-
ter the cabin in the middle of the night, when be
fanced Ned had intentions of taking leave without
a farewell. He proposed TO MIR. Hel belt to chain
the cussed dog % nights in his hui; but the atter
thinking he had already yielded sufficiently to the
overseers spleen, refused to grant this little favor,
reminding him that the watch dogs were well train
ed and savage enough even to iutimidate The des-
perate Ned.
One night terrible storm arose and before mid
night the skies were shrouded in ptchy black
ness which no eye could penetrate. AT first little
rain fell, but the vivid ghtnings and quick ratiing