Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-02-26
MtsreIIaneons
THE FUGITIVE P H

Wy y pTOmiueut hCtOr III tue bce0e.-tHs ITtSc'
In travelling along the beautiful Ohio, l often
pass an old fashioned farm house, standing upon
the Kentucky shore, in the vicinity OF D
Probably it has not attracted the attention OF 9th
ers but to me it suggests many Interestingly
thoughts. ! never pass it without thinking OF a
poor old slave mother, who, a few years ago, lived
there. And perhaps some of the little readers Of
the "Press" would like to hear something about
this old mother and her family. She had eight
children. Two daughters we're grown, and the
Oldest one was herself the mother Of a little babe.
The oldest son was about sixteen but the other
children we're small, one being q babe. Among
these none, except a little boy, about five years
old, named Tom Hamer, would attract particular
attention. Add to the number already mentioned,
. sickly little orphan about the same age of Tom,
and you will have eleven. These were oil the
slaves upon the plantation. They cultivated the
farm and took care Of the house. They saw no
hope Of making their condition better, and never
seemed to think il was liable to be made worse
that they might be sold. children from mothers,
and brothers from sisters. "Oh, no masss too
good for dat" they thought. But one day a man
came that way who made a business OF buying
slaves for the Southern market. When the old
WOMAN saw us mdu IOOh az 10 ueptS o"N
suspected bis design, and anxiouslyiistened to the
conversation between him and her master. A bar
gain was soon made. The trader was to pay ST.
900 for one but on account Of the other having a
little babe. il was not so easy to make a contract.
The master did not want to separate the mother
and child yet he thought they ought to bring
him more money, il he sold them together. The
trader, however, finally persuaded him that it
would be profitable for him to keep the babe and
''let the old woman take care Of it," adding that
even il they were both sold together. they we're
liable to be separated in q few weeks. Now"
said he, "Ill give you a thousand dollars for her,
and you may keep the young one" The offer
was accepted, and Mr.. Trader was to come the
next day, to take his purchases TO Jail for safe
keeping until he should be ready to start for New
Orleans.
What was this poor old mother to do now ?
Two ofhsr daughters were to be torn from her;and
one of them. herself a mother, taken from the
babe of her bosom. This pained the poor old
mothers heart. There was no friend on earth to
help her but she had a friend in heaven. Yes,
that poor mother poor in the things of this world,
yet rich in faith-had God for a friend. She
poured ont her soul to him in prayer, asked him
TO deliver her and her children from the oppressor,
and direct her to a land of freedom. And that
night, as soon as her masters family were asleep
she wrapped up the children and started to seek
o home in Canada.
But what became Of the poor sickly little or
phan? some of you will ask. Was it forgotten
Did that mother, in her eager desire to save her
own children, forget the child that had no father
or mother to care for itf No. She wrapped it in
the best cloak and carried it to the riverand placed
il in the skiff with her own children. They al
got in and rowed to the Ohio shore. Then, those
who were able to walk got out, and the older ones
towed the skif, with the little ones in it, several
miles up the river to a little village, where they
found o colored widow, who gave them shelter,
but was afraid to keep them long for fear they
might be found and taken back it was so near
daylight, too, that they could not 60 much fur
ther.
The widow sent one of her n~eighbors to on
old man who lived near town and was q friend tc
the poor Of every color, to see il he would take
them into his house until the next night, and then
help them on further. And while he was gone
she dressed the women in mems clothes and put
-four upon their faces, which, in the dark, made
them appear like white men. The messenger
soon called the old man out and told his errand.
"Oh yes" said the old man, "bring them on
I'll keep them. Nobodyll think of coming to my
house for them; and they couldn't take them if they
did come. Go, bring them on as fast as you can
and I'll send T--to meet you"
The messenger hastened back to get them start
cd for already the people were astir about town
and a moments delay might have thwarted all thei
designs.
They met several persons, but were taken 70
the penthouse hands, who usually went to wor
early. And even the old mans boy, who WAS e
ing 70 meet them. did not recognise them. He 81
,pected to meet some colored women and children
but to eli appearances they were white men an
boys. He discovered his mistake as coon as b
heard the voice of the man who was with them. 1
few minutes they were ell seated around a larg
FIRE. and the members of the old mans famil
gathered in to hear the poor old mother tell of be
trials and how ode good Lor' b" delivered her OF
of 'em all"
And as they,afl kneeled around the family alta
more hearts than one were lifted up. in praye
Praises and thanksgiving went forth to God fC
tbe ~wondrous deliVerance for indeed he had dor
marvellous things. The old mothers heart wa
full. Such kindness was more than she expected
1t was all new to her. And when they gathere
around the breakfast table. she could eat nothin,
She bad always been accustomed to wait upon otl
ers. and could hardly be reconciled to be waite
upon. She had never thought tina, she should r.
ceive such kindness almost within sight of her oil
homo and much more did it surprise her to fin
il among aboitionists. for she had been taugl
that they we're a bad class Of people.
The tears streamed low her cheeks, and a
she could say was, MAY de- good Lor' tress y
for you all mighty kind"
After breakfast was over, the old man, wi
sympathized with her and wished her to feel thi
she Was welcome to his hospitality. began askin
questions about the children, and found that or
of them was the little orphan, mentioned abov
HA thAa aakad her how she CANA 10 hrinn IL alon