Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-01-03
Nisceiiaqy.
THE ETHIOPIAN SOCRATES

Many years ago, said an aged gen,lema,
TO me, was travelling among the noun
tains Of Virginia, when one Of those terri
BILE storms arose which are known onl,
| among the mountains when the rain fall.
/ in sheets, and the thunder roars in on.
continuous crash and peal, seeming as i
the hills would be shaken from their foun
( da,ions. and the heavens CLEAN like mas.
Of fire which The drenching waters canno
! quench We were a long distance from
any village, and for long lime looked il
vain for ID temporary shelter. but at lengtt
came ia sight of small inn. which ou
| iiule party fitted TO OVERLOOKING. Soor
/ another patty arrived. which the pitil-ss
storm had drlven TO the same shelter But
| The landlord was more pitiless still. and
! .ud.iy told them that he had IN room far
more But, as we were all Of one family
VIC offered io share with the new corners
| half our own accommodations, and were
| soon on such terms If acquainianceship
! with a cultivated gentleman and his in.
te1tigrni daughters a> storm and the close
proximity OF country inn knows best how
to produce. ~s e
| Before dark, the storm had ceased, and
| the moon arose in all her queeniy beauty
inviting Us 10 sit upon the broad piazza
aud enjoy the evening air. Our new
, friends We're from a more southern cline
and commenced conversation by asking il
we had heard Of sad instance of wrong
ard crime which occurred. not long ago, il
mighboring county. As things of tina,
kind did not then 40 frequently find thri,
way into the public prints as in these days
We han seen u" allusion to the matter, aud
listened with unspeakable emotion whilst
the gentleman related 10 US the following
story
| A southern trader had been commission.
ed to purchase b acksmiih, and to pay
any price for one of superior skill and
qualifications, wherever he might be found
In his roamings about the country, he
heard Of one belonging to rirh lady, bu,
| doubted about being able TO obtain him, as
necessity would not compel her to parl
with him. and he had been long a faithful
servant in her family. She was sick, too
and would not, as a dying act, wish to sell
from his wife and children one who had
proved Of such invaluable service to her.
Blu, a thousand dollars proved a tempta-
ton which even dying woman could moi
resist. and the bargain was finished, and
the soul and body OF noble man consign.
ed as property to hear less trader, without
word Of consultation with him on The
subiec. On being called and informed oil
the transfer, he exclaimed, 10 bitter agony,
What have done TO deserve this p
Have not been faithful servant, laboring
night and day for my mistress. wiihou,
ever in single instance refusing TO obey
her orders I" Here his voice choked sc
that he could net speak, as he seemed ove..
whelmpd with a sense of the wrong which
had been done him, and of his helplessness
hut soon added, /" Well, know ] am Z
poor slave, and must submit to my fate,
bu, it is hard.'
| The trader was neither moved to com
passion nor Kindness, and approached Il
place upon his limbs the CALLING letters
which were only The symbols Of NOR,
| CALLING seryitude, when the negro venturet
again to demonstrate He did not ask 70
| freedom, or to be returned to his mistress
Alas! the thought Of her must have beer
bitterness indeed to him now-but he ask
ed the one little boon Of being permitted Il
see his wife and children before he va,
separated from them forever.
.. / know. ;" he said, am your slave
You have bought me and paid for me, au'
am bound TO obey you. This ] will 40
refuse to DO But have a wife and litt,
children. two miles from here. with WHOM
have lived very happy. Will you no
permit me 10 see them once more before
got l promise solemnly / viii return to
morrow moraine. and go with you and d
4 your bidding without murmur"
No." said the trader. you cannot GO.
sBut oh. il is very hard that Ieanne
see mr. wife and children before ! 60. an
bid them farewell. am man OF Truth
ard p'oinise faithfully 10 return to-morre'
Morning il you will let me go"
| mo-" was the indignant answer: "ye
scannot GO; and you may as well com
along wi,hou, any more fuss"
.Nsil,. answered the honest ard inJure
Ihusbaud ard father. ~ must submit.
tcaas.t help myself. But ] tell seu piai'
" I-xiisnesst serye yap: will neser Pc
!. form siusie aes for Tour benefit"
-. OIL ata NOT treuhied about that. " cal
/ the trader :. know how to deal Wit
!, speh ~ ycp. and have no fears about yc'
oheyipg my roamapds." Ard be- place
The manaeles ppca his wrists spd spklv
gave him q blow from bis whip, and
iwas driven away.