Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-11
VOLUME X. NO. 33.
well-feigned indignation the double life Of which
she was not permitted IN be nrond

well-feigned indignation the double life Of which
she was not permitted to be proud.
The chief difficulty, however, still remained.
Would two days of trial be allowed? "Unless
they are" said Madoula to the girl, ~ shall not
buy you. How do know what bad habits you
may have? You have acknowledged you talk
in your sleep. don't care for that, as you will
be shut up at night; but you may be liar, you
may be thief, you may -" And here follow
ed list of vices incident TO female slaves, dur
ing the utterance of which l scarcely knew
whether 10 look at the ceiling or the foor but to
which poor Zarifeh listened most patiently, firm
y denying that she possessed such habits and
mperfections.
Eventually, Zarifeh was dismissed, not be-
cause the mistress feared her being guilty of
any Of these faults, but for quite opposite rea-
son, namely, that she was supposed to be too
clever. a She wns.n says M St John. Is in the
Eastern style, a refined and well-easca,sa -.-
man." The next candidate was Of very differ
ent class; after expatiating TO her European
guest, at great length, on the tricks of slave
Dealers and closing with the pious ejaculation {,
May misfortune come to them" the Levantine
matron suddenly turned to one Of the girls, who
stood with the rest, buddled in corner, aud /,
" cursing her race, ordered her, in an insulting
manner, to come forward"
1t is impossible to describe the expression Of
rage and hatred which shot, like lightning
fash, athwart the face of the girl, who thus, in
an unguarded moment, betrayed that she still
possessed all the wild, untamed feelings Of her
native wllds looked at once with interest up
on herr for that glance revealed that not all the
iiltreatment and suffering to which she had been
subjected during journey Of thousand of miles,
over deserts which we should consider mighty
triumph to traverse, had broken her spirit and
rendered her insensible to injury. To my mind,
such character would recommend ITSELF The
readiest 10 resent ill-usage are often the most
susceptible of kindly impressions. But this
young savage was at once judged by my prudent
friend, who dismissed her to join her companions
below, and applauded her own keen appreciation
of character on behodng the look Of scorn and
defiance, that would have become princess,
with which she gathered her rags about her and
walked away.
Nov come you here, child of the Devil" said
Slit Madoula to the remaining girl, who, with
stupefed yet anxious gaze, had watched tho
scene have described. She approached, or
rather crept forward, keeping her eyes on those
Of Slit, who was right good soul at bottom, and
expressed to me, in broken Italian, her sorrow at
being obliged to put on an appearance of harsh
ness. | need not repeat the conversation that
epsoed suffice it to say that it was satisfactory.
Tho girl was very ignorant and apparently good
patured. But the worthy Slit would not trust
appearances she had whole host of little
expedents for diving into the recesses of the
human heart
"Give me your hand, Zara," said she choosing
one Of the half-dozen names commonly bestowed
on slaves.
The girl obeyed Slit Madoula took the thin
hand held out to her, looked rather awkardly at
me for moment, and then spat in it started
and uttered an exclamation.
estate tranquillo!" quoth she 10 me aside in
her Hngua Franco. "Be quiet it is the custom.
Wha. do you call that in your country, Zara ?"
The girl looked perplexed but if she was Of
Tended, she kept down her resentment in the very
lowest depth of her heart. Her reply was, in
tone of angelic meekness, 81 know the name Of
it in Arabic, o LADY,"
Slit Madoula blushed scarlet. The unntend-
ed rebuke told. She let fall the slaves hand,
and said, "You are good girl, and very learn
ed. shall pay your price. Don't look angry,
o Frank, she added, turning to me with some
confusion: you know mean to be kind to her.
Anybody else would have struck her on the
mouth with slipper; but am not so cruel"