The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-24

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will sufficiently introduce it to our readers.
From the Hartford Comm Republican
| OUR WORLD; OR, THE SHAREHOLDERS DAUGH-
TER.
! The story may be thus summarized, premis-
| ing that the tale, though subsidiary to the main
| object is a full and fearless exposure, by means
| Of scenes and characters, Of the unspeakable
horrors of Slavery.
The tale opens with picture of the planta-
ton of one Hugh MarStOn, situated on the banks
of the Ashly river, in South Carolina.
In the quadrangular yard of Marston's
mansion are two cottages, conspicuous among
the humber huts by the brightness of their
white-wash, the Towering plants in their win
dows, and the general neatness OF arrangement
We cross the threshold Of one, and are accosted
by a female who, speaking the musical accents
invites us to sit down. She has none of Afric's
blood IN her veins; no her features are beau
tifully olive, and the information of her voice dis
covers different origin. How reserved she
seems, and yet how quickly she moves her
graceful figure Now she places her right hand
upon her finely -arched forehead, parts the heavy
folds of glossy hair, that hung carelessly over
her brown shoulders, and with a halfsuppress-
ed smile answers our salutation. We are well
come in her humble cabin but her dark, Ian
gushing eyes, so full of intensity, watch us with
irresistible suspicion.
| Her name is Clotilda she is pretty: and vet
her beauty has made her the worst slave-a
slave, in the sight of heaven and earthl Her
large, meaning eyes, glow beneath her finely
! penciLed brows, while her auburn hair, laid in
smooth folds over her ears, and braided into a
heavy circle at the back of her head. gives her
the fascinated beauty ola Norman peasant. An
nette plays around her, is dressed in her very
best, for Marston is proud of the childs beauty.
and nothing is withheld that can CRAFTY the am.
biton of the mother to dress it in fantastic col.
ors.
In the next cabin we meet the shortish figure
of tawny female, whose Indian features stand
boldly out. Her high cheek bones, long, glossy,
| black hair, and flashing eyes, are the induces of
her pedigree. To our inquiry, she answers, in
broken accents, "My master saws am slave. y
AS she sits in her chair, near the iirep place of
bricks, male issue of the mixed blood toddles
round her. The little boy is much fairer than
his mother. This woman's name is Ellen Ju-
varna. She has youth on her side, and though
she retains the name Of her Indian sire, is proud
of being "master's MISTRESS
The company at Marstons residence, at this
period is chosen for the purpose of presenting us
with clear idea of the component parts of
Southern society. First, we have Marston him.
self, an easy, improvident, and not unkind plant.
er, of truly Southern laxitv of morals; Deacon
| Rosebank worthy and charitable man, who
seeks the moral elevation of the slave, though
| himself slave-owner; Elder Pemberton Praise
worthy, the preacher to Marstons slaves; Max
well, young Englishman, and Miss Franco
MIA" the lovely niece Of Marston, who also plays
a prominent part through this history
| Elder Pemberton Praseworthy preached to
! Marston's property" on SUNDAYS, but Elder
/ Praiseworthy grows insolent and drunken; and
n clever young negro, Harry" having got
religious" and a sound Scripture knowledge, su-
persedes Mr.. Praiseworthy, who, in an after part
of the story, is found engaged in the curious
business Of buying up old, or rather diseased
negroes, men, women, or children, at "dead "
price, and then curing them, if possible, for
sale! This singular calling we are assured is no
| fiction
| Marston has a favorite nephew, the brother
of Franconia, named Lorenzo. His companion
is Monte Graspum, "an immense dealer in hu.
man flesh-a great man in that dealing in the
flesh and blood of mankind, which brings with
it all the wickedness of the demon" Monte
Graspum has other gentlemanly' pursuits,
which he turns to profit. Besides watching
closely and shrewdy the fluctuations of the flesh.
market, he was ever ready, by advancing money,
and planting confederates, to ensnare and ruin
the rash and unsuspecting young Southerners
This villain has gradually enmeshed Lorenzo;
made him his debtor to a large amount and,
finally, by fraud, cajolery, and playing upon
Marston's better feelings, has got his bond for
LOrenZos responsibilities. In a moment of in
toxication and despair, he has induced the in
cautious youth to forge his uncle's name to bills
and these instruments he uses to drive him FORTH
an exile from his native place. that he (Gras-
pum) with his atrocious crew. may consum
mate the ruin, and seize upon the chattels, es
pecially the human property" of Marston
which, as may be supposed, is Of "frst-rate' -
quality, In more respects than one. Lorenzo
departs, and Marston's affairs hurry into ruin.
We are made acquainted now with the worst
side of state of society," which, at the best, is
in its moral aspect
"Like 10 the apples on the Dead Sea shore
All ruddy smiles without but ashes at the CORE
Marston finds himself beset with the difficult
les Of the law; and now, his better nature ava
kening, he would fain save his offspring by the |
Kidnapped girls, than from the horrors Of slave |
trade. Other scoundrels now crowd the scene. |
Anthony Romecus, a ruffan whom men dread |
as one of Graspum's gang. He is a pattern /
man-stealer, and the drinking scene at Gras- |
pum's slave-pen, wherein Romecus and his |
companions, ruiians who hunt runaway slaves |
for the "alive or dead" rewards is one that |
will 90 far to open the eyes and mind of the |
reader to a state of Southern morals, of which |
he could otherwise have formed but faint and /
imperfect idea.
MarSton is at his plantation house, perplexed |
in the extreme. Graspum will sell Clotifda |
and Annette, her fair daughter-Ellen Juvarna |
and Nicholas her and his son. The sheriff will /
levy, the human chattels are seizable: Mars
toms feelings are moved. His "preacher,"
Harry, his wife and children, Daddy Bob, who |
has nursed "young massa," and literally adores
him this fine old specimen of a faithful negro
faithful 10 the death of his white oppressor-
must be sold, perhaps to stripes and brutality.
There is true pathos in poor old "Daddy's" I
interview with his ruined "mas'r" The time,
is the night before the expected levy on the
estate of Marston. The children, Annette and
Nicholas, are bought in by their fathers desire,
without the knowledge of their mothers.
Marston resolves to recognize his children.
The document Marston had signed for Lorenzo
guaranteed the holder against all loss. This,
in the absence of Lorenzo, and under such
strange circumstances, implied an amount
which might be increased according to the will
of the wretch into whose hands he had so mn.
fallen.
Nearly twelve months have elapsed since the
disclosure of the crime Maxwell, the younp
whom we have previously incident
ally mentioned as guest at Marstons, had
spent the time among the neighboring planta
tons, and failing to enlist more than friendly
from Franconia, resolved to re.
turn to Bermuda, and join his family. He had.
however, taken a deep interest in Clotilda and
gone to their cottage, and listen
ed to Clotilda's tale of trouble. Its recital
enlisted his sympathies; and being of an ardent
and impressible temper, he determined to carry
put design for her relief. Her close resem-
nlonco too To 4 I