Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-30


Mas sunny spot, some twenty miles from
,she pldce where our story opens, that the plan
tation otT Col Montague was situated. The
mansioH itself was large building built in the
gothic style of architecture, and richly ornament
ed with carved work. A long portico, almost
always seen upon Southern dwellings surround
ed the house. = The honeysuckle, jassamine,
magnolia and thousand other exoti.s shed
rich fragrance through the air, while the vines
clambered over the portico. interlacing its net
work arrangements, and making it almost i'm
pervious to the rays of the MONDAY sun. A
large sweeping lawn, through the centre Of
which ran q walk surrounded on either side by
giant oaks stretched far away to the road which
led past the house.
Separated short distance from the main
building, was one Of less pretensons, where
some sable negroes, who had long ministered to
the wants and tastes of Col. Montague's fami-
", presided over the destinies of the Kitchen
Although it was not finished with the same ell
egance which characterized the mansion, yet it
was built in the same style, and everything
around it was neat, showing that some tasteful
hand guided its operations.
The home of Col. Montague was built upon
aislieht eminence, and with it's surroundings
formed charming prospect. The whole was
surrounded by white fence, and altogether,
tho grounds showed taste and thrift seldom
seen upon Southern plantations where slave la
Dor performs and arranges everything
Unlike most wealthy planters, Col. Montague
chose to live near his own plantation, which
was only short distance from his residence,
hidden from view by grove of oaks. His
slaves, or those belonging to the plantation, the
greater part of which were owned by his son,
amounted to nearly hundred in number, Of
all ages and both sexes, from the antiquated
and venerable Peter, dawn to the (. four year
olds,' who lead an easy life of it, their chief
occupation being in gathering upon the lawn
and rolling and frollicing upon the greensward
beneath the protecting shade of the trees, tt
their hearts content
The cabins of the slaves were rough but sub
stantial affairs, built of logs whitewashed upol
the out side to give them more tidy appear
ance. The interior was divided into two apart
ments, one of which was occupied by the sabl
pair who called it home, and the other by tn
J." little nigs' Eachlcabin had small plot o
xvbsoh xvno tba colo tv n
the slaves, and by cultivating it, they often re
allied, in the course Of the year, quite littl
sum--spent by some in making their dwelling
more comfortable. but by far the greater shar
for 6nery and ornaments with which to dec
themselves when the work of the we was over
Thus it will be seen that the plantation o
Col Montague was model one in every respec
but alas for the interests of the oppressed an
down-trodden who groan under the galin
shackles of Slavery, its like was rarely Inc
with.
Col. Montague always realized better crop
than those around him, and the neighborn
planters often wondered how it happened H
we'll knew that it was policy to treat his slave
we'll, and though a naturally kind heart prompt
ed him to do SO, yet selfinterest was stronge
than all the love he bore his slaves. He wa
man somewhat past the prime of life, but thu
silver pencil of Time had not traced its line
amid his raven hair. His form was as erect an
his mind as vigorous as when he arrived at tn
var,ad of ruanhnn{ Uo n .
cold, forbidding, and repulsive at times, an
again warm, impulsive and generous, ever read
to share his bounty with those in need Yeal
before he had lost his wife, whom he worshij
ped rs being but little short of perfection
and from that time his whole nature underwel
q complete change, and he found but lit
pleasure in anything save the company of h
children, Walton and Clara. To them he ",
ever gentle, ever yielding, and his time was o
cupied in doing something for their happines
But there was one subject in regard to whic
he entertained opinions that even from them
would bear no opposition, and that was SLAYER
He freely spent his wealth in its propagatio
and If there was one person he despised abo
ali others, it was Northerner.
1t was upon the evening following the ope
ing of our tale, that we introduce the fAmi
of Col. Montague to the reader.
Upon the verandah, half hidden by the cl,
tering vines, two females were sitting. I
first was a TALL finely formed girl, Of perha
twenty years, with fine open features, faultle
" regular, and a pair of lastrous black eyes
Her skin was almost dazzling in its whitene
and the long waves of jet black hair, VIII
fell about her alabaster shoulders and sw'
like neck. contrasted wildly with her compl
ion and gave her an air of regal beauty.
mouth was small and finely chisseled, curl
slightly, which gave its possessor tinge
haughtiness Her arm was thrown affecti
ately around the form Of he- companion, WI
with her other hand she was pushing back
curls which hung around her face, gazing il
its pensve depths with plain tokens of admi
tien.