Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-01-21
A Kentucky Planter Selling his
Daughter.

possessor of a hundred negroes, and he
was noted for his thrifty, money-making
disposition. He had never been mar
ried, and was an incorrigable bachelor of
fifty. His house was managed by young
lady of about twenty, his daughter by a
quadroon, whose complexion was lighter
by half than his, and in whom the negro
blood was scarcely visible. The mother
died ten years ago, leaving her daughter
with its fathers solemn promise that she
should be educated, and should live as a
free woman rather than as slave, and
that she should pass as his daughter, as
she was. The planter gave this promise,
because he had been really attached to
the dying woman, and was greatly at
tached to his beautiful child. And so
she grew up, radiantly beautiful, receiv-
ing a reasonable education, all that her
faith er could give, and in time took the
management of his household. She new
er knew that there was any negro blood
in her veins, and never dreamed that she
was a slave.
Last fall a series of misfortunes over
took the planter. His house burned down
and in it the notes. hooks and papers
/ that composed large portion Of his for
tune. His crops failed to great degree,
and some heavy speculations in which he
was engaged resulted disastrously. Ad-
ded to all this, he had lost heavily at
play, the besetting sin of Southern gen
tlemen, and had completely exhausted all
his ready means, and found himself in a
terrible situation of having more money
to pay than he could possibly raise in a
given time.
He applied to his attorney for counsel
in his extremity. The attorney after
examining the situation Of his affairs,
advised him to sell off a portion of his
negroes. A list was made out, and every
head that could be possibly spared was
put down. After all was done, and the
most favorable prices for them, the ag-
+ gregate fell five thousand dollars short of
/ the sum.
The attorney remarked quietly that
he had not included all that could be
spared.
| have put down all l can dispense
with replied the planter
l do not see Mary the housekeeper's
name in the list replied to lawyer. 'She
if offered to the right person, would max {
up the deficiency. would give that for
her myself
At any other time the planter would
have taken the suggestion as an insult.
but necessity is hard master, and he
grasped at the idea, and before an hour
the transaction was closed. Ii troubled
him not little to disclose the matter to
her, but the fear of bankruptcy and ruin
drove fiim to it. The poor girls horror
and distress may be imagined. She had
known nothing bat happiness, and now
was to be plunged into the deepest ana
most hopeless misery. She had been
sold, and was then the property, soul and
body, Of one who purchased her merely
for the qualification of his lusts. The
idea was too horrible, and she swooned
remaining almost delirious for several
days.
There was another upon whom the
intelligence came with crushing weight.
A junior partner in produce house in
Louisville had frequently visited the plan
ter's house on business, and. struck with
the beauty and intelligence of the SUP.
posed daughter, had become enamored
and after prosecuting his suit proper
time had declared his passion, and uo.
known to the father the two had betrotb.
ed themselves. As soon as possible after
her father had told her her fate. she dis
patched messenger to him, stating the
facts, and imploring him 10 save her from
the tate that awaited her. Though thun.
derstruck at the intelligence that his aft.
anced bride was a slave. and had lust been
sold 10 fate worse than death. like a tr,e
man be determined to rescue her. That
night ne saw her. and a plan was formed
Tor fight. The day she was transferred
70 the possession, Of her purchaser the,
fed, and in due time arrived at Cincin.
natl, where they were married"
The lawyer, as soon as he learned n
the flight Of the young woman, commeDc.
ed active measures to recover her. bat
through the aid Of watchful friends she
and her husband foiled their pursuers
and in short time reached Canada and
settled in Toronto, where they are now
residing"