The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-19
TIE AFRICAN PRINCESS.
A TRUE STORY.

80 thee would hi.~eo know what first in
terested me so much in the poor slave, and if
thee will sit down BY me and listen. will tell
thee. (" said pleasant-looking Quakeress to her
young visitor
when was a child, nv home was in the
Sunny South where the delicate orange BIOS
SONS pertumed the air, and the golden fruit
hung almost within my reach.
NV father owned many slaves, far
inheriting and buying them could make them
his and both in his town and country house
we had plenty to wait on US, and do the slight
est wish.
He was called a kind master, and | sup
pose he was so; but as he could not live upon
his plantation the greatest part of the year. be-
cause it was SO unhealthy, he was obliged to
leave his slaves in the charge Of those who
might not be so considerate of their comfort
or their happiness
..While IN town he frequently attended the
slave market, and whenever lie one that
took his fancy, he would purchase, and add
to his stock. One morning, as he was looking
over q collection that lad been freshly i'm
ported from Africa, he saw two youn. girls
about the ages of my sister and myself, and
thinking they would make good servants for
US, he ordered them 10 be sent TO the house.
con their arrival we We're each presented
to be good aud useful.
Every one loves power, and of course.
young as We were, pleased 10 have
little maids of our own TO be entirely devoted
to us.
"Mine-whom / called Silpha-was the
prettier of the two. She was slightly and
delicatey formed, with small feet and hands,
and tspering fingers, evidently unused to
labor
AT first she carried her head proudly, and
moved slowly to obey order-but soon
she dropped, and scarcely lifted her eyes from
the ground. We learned from my sisters
maid. that in her own land, Silpha had been
a princess, and that she had been her slave
position Her thoughts wandered back TO the
home she had left, and She pmed for her free
dom She grew sadder and sadder-refuscd
to eat, and her companions efforts to cheer her
were of no avail. In vain she sang her her
own wild native songs, told her stories in her
own Moorish tongue, Ia vain she waited ON
her, bringing her tempting food. The royal
maiden had no heart 10 smile; sunlight nor
flowers coul rot win her from Eer grief.
No: only had she been cruelty torn from
her kindred and people. and borne TO I, dis
tant land. but she had been sold for money,
aud Ike Gagged bird could no longer roam at
will. No more could size on her feet Arab
horse chase over the hills and plains of her
own country. She was slave for lie, and
must Be ready to obey the will OF those who
had paid tor her and claimed her as their prop
er;y. Thoughts like these may have fretted
her proud spilit, and death, perhaps, seemed
q welcome exchange for such a life.
She fingered a few months. and then
brea:hed her !as: sigh il the arms of her faith
iul attendant. And we who had watched the
passing away of that young spirit had learned
a lesson we never could forget. Slavery had
revealed itself TO us without the need of an
Interpreter and as We grew older, we lon.ed
be away from influences so depressing.
"Of course, Will. children under tie pa
tcrnal roof we had 10 choice; but in after
wears we gladly gave home. aud kindred aud
wealth. that migi; live where the poor as
we'll as rich could enpy the blessings Of free
dom.
"Dost thou wonde now, dear child, tha.
we care for the slave, and love to see them
free?"-N \. Ladepadeat.