Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-03-20
From The Standard.
RECOLLECTI0Ns OF THE SOUTH.

On one c,asion, when calling upon my hieud,
Mrs. d., discovered that she had been weeping,
and was sorry to find her nervous and restless in
manner. | did not inquire the cause. but felt anx-
ious and unhappy phy, l could not tell.
attempted to draw her into conversation, but
she was 50 listless and little interested that l met
with no success. | introduced subject after subject
but could elicit nothing beyond a vacant yes or no.
Observing that Lydia Ia colored girl) was nursing
the baby. | asked,
Where is Lucy" (tbe regular n%urse) :
Mrs. d. besitated. She moved uneasily in the
chair, %coughed, rose, and finally, sinking back into
her seat, burst into tears, exclaiming, "Uh Lucy
is sold, and to save my soul, / can't be reconciled
to it,"
Lucy sold l' I cried. "why, I'd as soon
thought Of your selling one of the children. How
can you do without her?
'Oh, | don't know. She was such a good, affoc.
Tomato nurse, aud my children loved her 40 mucbl
Besides, the separation between her and her sister
was very affecting it almost broke my heart. |
rushed up stairs, locked my door, and tried to shut
gu, the sound Of their cries."
but why did you sell herr"
'Oh. 1t is dreadful to think ofp' And, getting
up she examined the closets, looked out into the
adjacent hall, and, thus assuring herself that there
was 30 one listening, came closely up to me, and
Kissed into my ear,
II discovered tnat she was going 10 poison me"
"WhatW
YES, only think OF it. She put arsenic in a
glass Of water. Luckily, before drinking, l
CHANGED to look at the glass and discovered a Pc
culiarity in the water. l then took the pitch or
from her. and called to my husband, who not lik.
ing the appearance of the water, at once suspect
ed something wrong. He demanded of Lucy, in
u tone Of authority, to acknowledge what she had
done. Frightened and thrown off her guard, abe
half cnnfpaspd her uuilt Wa aant the uatpr IN
DR.. Il, the chemist, who after analysing it,
said there were twenty grains of arsenic dissolved
in a quart pitcher Of water. Only think Of the es'
cspel In a conversation with her sister, Lucy &C.
knowledged that her intention was to kill me but
she wished to spare the children, for whom, you
know, she has a great affection"
what prompted her to this extraordinary and
violent action !"
"Why, che had stolen one of my fine lace hand
kerchiefs, and l threatened to have her severely
whipped. She told Li dia that she had resolved
never to take another blow. and this was her re-
venge. How upgratefnl! for / have been kind IL
her. | thought her u good servant, and my child
rem were so fond of her." She added, with a
perceptibie tremor Of the lip, 1.-The poor little
things were frantic with grief when she went away
They chung to her, kissed her and begged to be
allowed to 20 with her indeed they refused to eat
anything the day she left, put away their toys and
would not play. In fact. our little Fanny declared
that she would never speak to her father again
These things are very distressing. l sometimes
wish there were no such persons as negroes; they
are tie cause OF all our trouble"
Had you not better wish .here was no suct
thing as slavery, my dear Mrs. Dr."
II wish it had never existed"
80 dol. But now that it does exist. had W,
not better try to abolish it?"
} Immediately she bristied up, full of horror e
such a proposal.
NJ .Ju.Jt H. z.s-I --- IL
would not. for the world, have Mr.. D. hear you So,
such a thing. Why, the institution of slavery i
j the bone and sinew of our country-its great liga
mens. l would not rear my children in q Ere
State. Our society is more conservative than tina
of the North. Women are much more respecte
here than there. The very thought of living in
free State is horrible"
"Are women" I asked, properly respected in
society where they are whipped, forced to do tn
the most burdensome work. and oftentimes actuaI
ly sold away from husband and family ?"
"Oh. nonsense you are speaking of slaves, @
negro women. 1 alude to ladies. to white women
When we were visiting a friend in Ohio, last sum
mer. my husband told me it was disag reeable t
him, for be could not bear to be served by whit
girls: he would not ask one of them to hand him
glass of water, but preferred performing all sue
little duties himself rather than have a coma
wait upon him. Such is his gallant respect fc
our sex. Indeed, it was annoying to me to sc
him do so many little things. which, at home, b
never thinks os performing. but allows the SER
ants to do"
II take it as a fine commentary upon the super
GRITTY of free institutions. and your husbands col
duct as q practical vote IN their favor, for it DIRE
out his slumbering energies and compelled him
wait upon himself rather than tax with useless Sc
vice a timid domestic. But how does it happel
Mrs. D., that regard for the ser has ne ever restraine
your husbands arm when the whip was uplifte
over q trembling negro woman or why did it M
prevent him from selling Hetty last year, or lea
him to show some pity to Lucy2"
Oh, nonsense they are our slaves-our propert
and he had a right to use them as he pleased
who ever thought Of remembering sex in case
slaves, who are no more than cattle ?"
True. indeed ! had forgotten that womanhoo
claims no respect, no delicacy, no regard. no tel
lerness, unless it comes to US with a white face al
fair, smooth locks. Icannot admire such galantr,
Let me rather live where liberty-human liberty
is respected as a sacred principle, without regar
to race. sex or color"
"No more of this silly talk, or Mr.. D. will n
tolerate a continuance Of our friendship"
u Held. is it. my dear, by the slight tenure
e Mr.. DIS good will! See you not that yon yourse
. are but a petted slave in his establishment?
Chains are the same, whether wrought of gold
y . iron either would oppress me-"
She looked aghast, and. shortly after, Withdrew
a thinking that women should have u double mott,
for fighting against slavery.