The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-07-05
BOND AND Pr ER.
A REMARKABLE NARRATIVE.


A few nights since ther. passed through
this city, on the railroad. bound for Canada
family Of eight fugitive slaves. One Of
these-a leading spirit Of the who!e-wss .
woman sixty years Of age,a bold, courageous
prompt, and energetic woman. Two wear,
ago she was living a. slave in the South
She was the mother of six children. an of
whom she had seen torn from her arms when
Old enough to be useful, and sold away from
her. One day she heard her master BARGAIN.
ing with soul.drivsr, who desired to pur.
chase TOR the far South, her grandson, toy
some hftee" years old. Stons to the quick
oy this design Of stripping her Of the lest Of
her kindred, she instantly resolved on eight.
The same night she started with her bov
for the North. Night after night they travel
'ed oy the North star-ths only guide the
helpless fugitive knows in making for the
land Of Freedom, and one that deceives him
not, since It is fixed in the Heavens. After
long and painful wsndcrings they arrived in
Canada.
Here this heroic woman hired herself at
wages Two months ago, with p~rse we'll
hl'ed, she started back to the res;dcncs NJ
her old master At the South. Here alone ,b.
concealed herself in woods and th;cket. I.
fugitive from FreeAom-cared for. bov.r-r
by the few trusty souls to whom she reve Al.
ed the dangerous secret Of her presence in
the land Of bondage. After remaining there
some two weeks, she collected seven of her
children and grandchildren, and started with
them tor the North. Long, slow and snxiou.
was their journey. The same unerrinp sta,
sh""e faithfully from above upon her mid.
night pathway. By day they lay BY, con.
cea'ed among the thickets of tho country,
through which they made bee line for the
North. No toll discouraged, no danger die.
mayed this heroic woman. Many times the
party suffered to the verge of stsrva,;on.-
She cheered them onward-she wa their on.
ly ''euide. their counsellor and friend"
Worn down with the hardships of th;, ner.
'Ious journey, with garment. torn to shred,
and Auttering in tho breeeze; with shoes
tor" into fragments, without hats or bonnets.
this heroine conducted her PARTY to;the house
ola friend. Word vas Immediately passed
around among some Of the good souls who
dwell there a. the salt Of the earth, that eight
titute Of the means Of further progress. The
word was followed by the deed. All neces.
sary means we're instantly provided for their
safe transmission to the Nor,h, and the train
which passed through this city on the same
night, carried the whole party toward the
home Of their leader, in Canada. where they
have BY this time undoubtedly arrived.
We doubt il similar instance of devotion
to friends and kindred is on record. 1t re-
quired daring mind to even conceive the i.
dea Of going back to the scene Of bondage,
and encountering the hazard of discovery in
the lions den. But nothing short of that
heroism which under other circumstances
has made men immortal, was needed 70 nut
into execution an enterprise 20 full Of diff
Guilty and danger. Such spirits, If anv, not on.
ly deserve to be tree, bu. are fitted to enjoy
the largest liberty.-7renton STATE Gazette.