Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-01-29
JEFFERSON COUNTY VA SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY 20 1859
4 pIanler selling his Daughter.

4 Planter Selling ms Daughter.
The Bucyrur ,Ohlo) Journal tells
strange story concerning wealthy plan
Ter who lives near Louisville, kentucky,
and says, I've suppress the names OF The
parties for obvious reasons This PLAN
ter, bachelor of fifty years, was the pos
SCISSOR Of a hundred negroes, and was no.
ted for his thrifty, mOney-maEirg dispC-
sition. His house was managed by
young lady of about twenty, his daughter
BY quadtoon, whose complexion was
lighter by half than his-anG IN whom The
negro blood was scarcely visible. The
mother died ten years age, leaving heT
daughter with its fathers solemn prom
ise that she should be educated, and should
live as free woman, rather than as a
slave, and that she should pass as his
daughter, as she was. And so she grew
up, radian,ly notwithstanding rea-
sonable aducalion, all that her father could
give, and in time took the management OF
his household. She never knew that
there was any negro blood in her VEINS
and never dreamed that she was slave.
Last lall a series of misiortunes over
took the planter. His house was burned
down. aud ~ ii tie notes, books and pa
peIs. lhaI composed large portion OF his
fortune. His crops failed 10 grea! de-
gree, aud some heavy speculauons IN
which he was engaged resulted disastrous
". Added to all this, he had lost hea-
vllv at play, and found himself in the ter
rbe situation OF having more money 10
pay than lie could possibly raise in CIV
en- time.
He appealed to his attorney for coun-
sci in this extremity. The attorney after
examining the situation OF his affairs, ad-
ysed him TO sell of a portion OF his ne
groes. After full deliberainn, he found
this to he the only alternative, and sor-
rowfully consented. After all was done,
and the most favorable prices obtained for
them, the aggregate fell five thousand dol
lars short Of the sum. The attorney re-
marked quietly that lie had not Included
all lhat could be spared.
IL have put down all can dispense
NllUi ltl IlNh VIZ ilHb''''
IL do NOT see Mary the housekeeper's
name in the list" replied the lawyer.
"She If offered to the right person, would
make up the deficiency ol five thousand
dollars. would give that for her myself.
At any other time The planter would
have taken lhe suggestion as an insult, but
necessity is a hard master, and before an
Aonr the transaction was closed. II trou-
bled him not lille 10 disclose the matter
to her, but the fear of bankruptcy and
ruin drove him to it. The poor girl's
horror ond distress may be imagined.
She had known nothing but happiness,
and now was TO he plunged in the deepest
and most hopeless misery. She had
been sold, and was then the property,
soul and body, ofone who purchased her
merely for The qualification Of his lusis.
The idea was too horrible, and she swoon-
cd, remaining almost deIi'lous Tor several
days.
There was another uron whom the in,
leligence came with crushing weight. A
junior partner in produce house in Lou.
i9yllle had frequently yisned the planters
house on business, and. struck with the
beauty and intelligence VI the supposed
daughter, had become cuamored, and af-
Ter prosecuting his suit proper lime had
declared his passion, and unknown To the
father the two had beuOlhed themselves.
soon as possible, after her lalher had told
4. ~ l,I
to him, stating the facts, and implnrng
him TO save her from The doom that awsi-
ted her. Though ihunJerslruck al Ih6
intelligence that his ahianced bride was,
a slave, and had just been soil to a fole.
" orse than death, like irus man ne De-
iermined 10 ruscue her. Plat night ho
3 her, and a plan was formed for fight.
The result OF the plan was The escape of
he parties into Ohio,and after few hours
,iay in Bveyrus, they were started for
Canada by the underground railroad. and
hey are COW residing 10 Ibe cIIy OF To-
-oni0.
The lawyer, as soon as be- discovered,
he fight OF his coveted puze, sent hsn
Iczrn Officers by different routes ia pur.
.uIt, and also lal lle rcleerayh in reqVi-
iiiion, but al hls acIjvuy was ~ vain, tho
1drlles wele beyond bIs reach ,aad lie had
he additional modification OF kGosms
bal at Que time the fleeing couple were
within four miles of lbelr pvrsueIs. fsf
An I:ishman who had lain sick for
ong lime, was one day net by the parish
,riesl, when the following conversation