Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-12-04
A Scene in Virginia.

While travling not long ago in one OF the
Southwestern countiesIin Virginia, the ioi-
loving thrilling incident took place. Start
ing in the stage coach, soon af;er "reakias''
the morning being delightful one IN the
latter part of the month OF May, took by
seat on the box by the side of the driver ana
behind me, on the top, was seateu O'iSn''
inteIlisen,-lookngm mulattu boy. apparently
oils CT 10 years os age. After being on
! the road few minutes, :urued aboct and
ask, d him where he was going. he re-
piled he was going duwn a Few miles 10 hfe
| with Master, who kept the stage house
/ at The west stand: that he had lived with
him the last Summer, and that his master
had senr him down 10 i've with him the
| coming reason.
Turning from thr''6oy,,he driver remarked
to me in en- under tone, .'the boy iscece'Tet;
[ am taking him down to the slave-Pen, d
few miles on, where slaves are kept rP-ePa-
ratory to being sent TO Louisiana; th's de
,ept;on is practiced TO get him from his
home and mother without creating distur-
bance On the place"
| Shortly alter we drew near TO the pace
where the ooy supposed he was to stop' ne
began to gather up, preparatory 20 l'aV'n2
| the stage, the few articles he had brought
away from his home The driver sail to
him in a decided tone Of v"ice: "fou are
not to get off the stage here" The bow IN
astonishment, replied: "Ies, | is; Use GOT
letter for Master. Tse gong 10 iITe
.here this Summer By this time we had
reached the house, and Master making
his appear ..ce John (fur that was the name
of the bow. delivered his letter and appeal
ed TO Master TO be delivered from the
command of the driver. The Master made
no reply, as this kind of deception was no
new Thing TO him. After reading the letter
and folding it up, he was about putting it in
his pocket, when it flashed on the mind o.
the boy that he was sold and was bound ter
the slave-pcn. He exclaimed, in agony
"Tell me Master, if Use sold!'' No reply
was made. He exclaimed again, "'Fell me
If Use sold!'' This LIST appeal brought the
respon e: "Yes. John YOU are sold"
The boy threw himself back on the top o.
the stage, and rolling in agony, sent I'D sue!
= as wall of woe as NJ one in the stage could
endure; even the hotel-keeper walked away
in shame, and the driver hurried into bis 5ox
and drove Off in haste. TO drown The noise o
his cry.
The passengers were all deeply move'
by the distress of the boy, and tried IN va
rious wavs to soothe his wounded and crush
ed spirit, but his agony was beyond the
reach of their sympathy.
When his agony had some what aSased
he exclaimed, 80, if they had only let IN
. bid nv mother 9 ,od-bye. They have lied II
me. II they had at told me Twas sold and
could a. bid my mother good bye Id gon
without making them troubl', hard as it Is
By this time we had passed on some Two Q
three miles since leaving the last stand
when drawing near to pretty thick wood
they boy became tranquil. Waitingtil W
had entered lie wood few rods, he dare
:, from the top of the stage and ran into tn
u woods, as agile as deer, no doubt with tn
feeling that it was for his life. The drive
II instantly dropped his reins and pursued tn
boy. Providing himself no match, he rt
: turned, exclaiming. You see, | have don
, what | could to catch him"
- He mounted his box and drove on mi
or so. when he reired up his horses TO
II house and calling to the keeper, aske'
"Where are your sons!" He replied, the
D." left home this morn ing, with the dogs,
y hunt negro, md woald,not be home beiol
L niabt. The DIR iver said to him that Mr.. -
~ had sent his boy Jchn on the stage tn
~ morning TO be delivered at the pen, and tn
IL ne had jumped irom the top Of the stage al
" taken toIhe woods. His reply was: "N
7' will hunt him for you tom REV." The d.
T. yer sa id he wished only 10 rotify o. his b
= ing ia thu woods.
u AS We drove on, made the inquiry
a "How long have you driven stage on tn
s. rond!, He replied, about fifteen years
81 "Do YOU frequently take negroes down
IS the slave -pen!' "Yes, frequently. >
ie "What will become of this boy, John" +
replied, "He will skulk about the woods u
y al he is nearly starved, and vii! some mig
~ make lis way up to his masters house. al
= in about two weeks shall bring him dow
- again to the slave pen in hand-ruifS." a
< Ter a pause, even this driver feeling his d
At gradatiln in being the instrument OF SUI
misery, broke out in the exclamation:
nu This is a cursed business; but in this ca
this ls moi the worst feature in it. The M
q who sold hin is his own iather!"-N.
Indelendeat.