Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-01
Gbe sAnti- 5loprrp DuoIr.
From "Our World"
THE CREOLE SLAVE BETRAYED.
THE SLAVE HOLDERS DAUGHTER.

Lot us again introduce the reader to Nicholas,
rs his fine manly figure, marked with impressive
features, stands before us in Grabguy's workshop.
Tall and finely formed, he has grown to manhood,
retaining all the fiery impulses OF his race Those
black eyes wandering rresstably, that curl Of con
tempt that sits upon his lip, that stare OF revenge
that scowls beneath those heavy eyebrows and
that hate of wrong that ever and anon pcrvades
the whole tells how in his heart burns the will
that would bear the oppressor's ldsh-that woull
embrace death rather than ylelu 10 perhuy. lie
here tells us:
II came here sold-so they told me--by God 5
will Well, | thought to myself, ism this strange
tkat the curious God--they tell me he loves every
body-shoud sell me? II all seemed like misty
waste to me- | remembered home learned to
read mvself-I remembered mother, loved her,
but she left me, and have never seen her since.
loved her dear mother. loved herr but they
said she was gone FAR away, and musn mind u
l never seed her again. 1t seemed hard and
strange, but had to put up with 1t, ior they sad
never had father, and my mother had no right
to me, This piercing black eyes glare, as ferventy
he says motherO | thought at last it was true, for
every body had right to call me nigger--a bias
ted white niger as wouldn't b! worth nothing
And then they used tc kick me, and cuff me, and
lash me; and if Niger was niger, l was worse
:han q ngger because every black Niger was
laughing at me- and telling me what fool OF a
white niggcr | was--that nggers was nobody,
could be nobody and was never intended for no.
body, as nobody knew where white nggcrs came
from.
Something said-Nichoas you are just as good
MS ANYBODY; learn to read write and cypher, and
You'll be something yet. And this somcthlng-I
couldn't tell what it was nor describe lt-secmed
irresistible in its power to carry me to he that
somebody it promoted in my feelings. ! was white
and when looked at myself, | knew | wasn't a
nigger; and feeling that everybody could be some
BODY began to Look forward to the time when
should rise above the burden Of misfortune that
seemed bearing me down into the earth.
And then Franconia like n sister, used to come
TO me and say SO many kind things to me that
felt relieved and resolved to go forward. Then
lost sirht of Franconia and she seemed so pretty
and loved me so affectionatey How long it seems
since | have seen her. She dressed me so nicely,
and parted my hair and kissed me 50 kindly, and
said good by when left her, SO in regret, never
can forget it. And it was then they said was
sold Mr. Graspum said he owned me, and own
ing me was equal to doing what he pleased with
me- Then went home to nlr. Gm6gays 5, and
they told me that Mr.. Grabguy Dwncd me Just
ns he owned his great big dog they called demo
cratic bulldog, the foreman said lie paid Il demo
cratic ten dollar gold piece for. They used to say
the ONLY difference hetwcen me and the dog was
that the dog could go where he pleased without
being lashed, and couldn't And the dog always
got enough to eat and seemed great inyorite with
everybody, whereas got more kicks than cucum
hers. didn't seem to be liked by anybody, and if
cot enough to eat, | had nobody to thank but
good old Margery, the cook, who was KIND to me
now and then, and used to say, 1 like you, Nlcho-
las = And that used TO make me 80 happy U'd
Margery was coal black, Gut didn't care for that
the knowledge of somebody loving you is enough
to light up the happy of life, and make the heart
feel contented. In this manner my thoughts went
hcle and there and everywhere: and the truth IS
/ had so many thoughts, that ! got completely be-
wildered in thinking how was to better Myself
and be like other folks.
sMr. Grlbguy seemed kind TO me at lirst--said
he would make great mechanic of me, and give
me chance to buy myself. didn't know what
this great buy myself meant atstirst. But soon
found it out-he tells us that We must speak with
ca ution-that must pay so many hundred dollars
nfore that can be like other folks. Inc kinunesS
Mr. Grabguy first exhibited for me didn't last
long; he soon began TO kick me, and cutt me, and
swear Mt me- And it 'pear'd to me as If | never
could please anybody, and so my feelings got so
cmbittered didn't know what TO do. L was put
into the shop among the men, and one SAID, nlgger
here. and another said Niger get thcre.-and
thev all seemed to be inclined not to help me along
And then would get into passion but that KEY.
er made things better. The foreman now ana
then said a kind word to me, and whenever he did,
it made my heart feel 80 good that seemed new
being with brighter hopes. Well, Mr. Uraoguy
nut me to turning the grindstone-the men used
TO throw water in my face when they ground their
chisels and their plane irons and axes and adzes
i learned to saw, to plane boards, and then to
mortice and frame, and make mouIdinss. ana wi4,
dow-sash, and door frames. When | could do all
these master used to say ! was bound to make Il
great workman, and, laughingly, would say was
the most valuable property lie ever owned.
about this time began to find out how it was
that other white folks owned themselves and mas
ter owned me: but then, if | said any thing about
it. master might tie me up and lash me as he used
to do;and so | remained quiet, but kepta thinking
,,,r,,+ +,tt tlo cor ante ~ IA
and learned engineering; and when ! got enSl'
neerng perfect, took a fancy Tor making stucco
work and images And people said learned won
drously fast, and was the best workman far or
near Seeing these things people used to come to
me, and then end by wanting me to make them
speeimcns of stucco / seemed liked by every
body who came to see me, and good people had a
kind word for me: but Mr., Grabguy was very
,strict. and wouldn't allow me TO do any thing with
out his permission.
People said my work was perfect, and master
said was perfect piece of property and It used
to pain my heart when master spoke so. heH' !
rot to be man and when the foreman got drunk
master used to put me in his place. And after Il
while got to be foreman altogether; but was
n slave, they said, and men wouldn't follow my
directions when master was away they all &c,
knowledged that | was q good workman, but salu
a niger should never be allowed to direct and
order white people. That made my very blood
boil as grew older, because | was whittier than
many of them. However, submit was the woru
and bore up and trusted to Heaven for deliver
anse, hoping the day will come soon when its will
would be CARED out. With my knowledge OF me
eisn;os increased love of learning, which almost
amounted 10 a passion. They said it was agains
the the law for niger to read; but was raised SC
far above black nggers that didn't mind wha
the law said, SO got Pilgrims Progress and tho
Bible, and 'Young's Night Thoughts land IRON
diem learned great truths; they give me nov
homes refreshed my very soul and made me like
tise Of this lie. Oh, how read them at nj ght an'
rs.pead vhcm morning, and every time io9nd some
thing raw IN them, something that suited f"y case