Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-07-29

tcndlnS 10 the ilttie lnNaild. lound
he was father. aud inquired the
names vi his children: l brought him
presents for them. and 80 ingratiated
myself into his favor iha, | soon had
free access to the lar,lcr. and often
found nice things prepared for myself
as well a. for the little one in tho
cabin. But whatever | could procure
was divided with the famished hand.
which 10 me had become precious
charge. There must have been an eye
to watch my motions. In fancy j
could see that eye cleaning at my APP
proaeh. but at other times closed in
dim despair.
A. all was tranquil on board. il was
evident that | alone was aware Of the
presence of the unseen fugitive; and ]
humbly returned thanks to God for
allowing me the privilege Of minister
ing TO the wants of this, his outcast,
despiscd and prosecuted image. That
the unfortunate being was n slave, !
doubted not; but how could / serve
him, or her, or whoever it might be.
eilectually? / knew the laws and
usages in such cases. l knew the
poor being had nothing to hope from
the captain and crew OF the vessel, and
repeatedly asked myself the agonizing
question, Will there he any way of
escape? i had hoped that we might
land in the night, and so, under favor
of darkness, the fugitive be enabled to
go on shore unseen by those ON board
| determined to watch for and assist
the creature who had been thus provi-
dentially consigned to my care.
On the sixth day / found that the
goods below were being moved, in or
der to come at something which was
wanted; and SO filled up was the pass
age that | could not go below. Nv
heart seemed to die within me, for the
safety of the sufferer had become dear
to me. We sat down to dinner, but
the dishes swan before my eyes.
felt that discovery must take place.
The tumbling of the freight below had
not ceased. Each moment / expect
ed an alarm. At length | heard a
sudden 'hallol"-and all was quiet.
Presently the steward came into the
cabin, looked significantly at the COM
pany, and whispered to the captain
The captain was carving, but imme-
diatcly laid down his knife and fork
and went on deck. One of the pas
scngers followed him, but soon re-
turned. and. in laughing manner,
informed us that passenger had been
found among the freight. at is So"
added he. ga small mulatto boy, who
says he belongs to Mr.. -, of Nor
folk; that he had been concealed
among the lumber on the wharves, for
two weeks, and secreted himself in the
schooner the night before we sailed.
He is going to New York to find his
father, who escaped two years since.
And" continued he, "he is starved to
skeleton, hardly worth taking back"
Many jokes were passed as to the
manner of his being renovated when
he should again fall into the hands of
his master. Some thought the vessel
must put Immediately back. Others
were of opinion that, as We were with
in eight or ten hours sail of n. York,
the trip would be made and the boy
carried back on her return.
The unfortunate child had been
brought on deck and we all left the
cabin to look at him. / followed be-
hind, almost unwilling to see him,
and stood some time by the compan-
ion-way in order to gain strength for
the interview. then proceeded for
ward. AS. soon as he discovered me,
bright gleam passed over his coun-
tenancc. and he instantly held out to
me the same tdmisked hand! My
feelings were no longer to be controll-
ed. There stood child before me.
not more than eleven or twelve years
of age, of yellow complexion and sad
countenance, nearly naked, his back
scared with scars, and his flesh wasted
to the bone. burst into tears-into
lamentations--and the jeers of others
were for moment turned into SYM
pathy. Il. l mc
1t, however, began to be suspected
that had brought the boy away; and.
in that case, the vessel must be put
back in order to give me up also But
| related the circumstances as they oc-
cur,al and oil an.,aa,nd ea,;s1,al ,,.;tb
the truth of my statement.
requested that might be allowed
to feed the boy. which request was
granted; and | carried him some din
ner on plate He ate voraciously;
and, as | stood beside him, he looked
into my face at every mouthful. There
was something confding in his look.