Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-03-24

| the fear of her master bofore her ewes haI
given her heart to Jeffrey. Whether wha
followed was a just retribution on Jeffre,
and Dorcas, for daring to take such liber
ties with their masters property as to ex
change hearts, or whether it only goes tt
prove that with black as with white th,
saying holds, that "the course of true love
never did run smooth" cannot now be told
Certain it is that these two lovers wert
not to realize the consummation of theil
hopes in happy wedlock. Jeffrey and Dor
cas- had told their loves, and exchanged
their simple VOWS, and were betrothed, each
to the other as dear, and each by the othel
as fondly beloved, as though their skins
had been of fairer color. And who shall
say that in the sight of Heaven and all
holy angels, those two humble hearts were
not as closely welded as any two of the
prouder race that call them slaves?
Be that as it may, Jeffrey was sold. He
finds out his new master; and, hat in hand,
the big tears standing in his eyes, and his
voice twembling with emotion, be stands
before his master and tells his simple story,
and praying that his betrothed may be
bought with him. Though his voice trem-
bles, there is no embarrassment in his
manner; his fears hare killed bashfulness
that would naturally attend such recital
to stranger, and before unsympathizing
witnesses, he feels that he is pleading for
the happiness of her he loves, as well as
his own. and his tale is told in frank and
manly way.
81 loves Dorcas, young mas'r, l loves her
well an true; she says she loves, and l
know she does; de good Lord knows I
loves her better than l loves any 'one in de
wide world never can love another woman
half so well. Please buy Dorcas, mas'r.-
We're be good sarvants to you as long as
we live. We're be married right soon,
young mas'r, and de chillun will be healthy
and strong, mash and dey'll be good sar-
wants too. Please buy Dorcas, young
mas'r. We loves each other heap-do,
really, true, mas'r.'
Jeffrey then remembers that no loves
and hopes of his are to enter into the bar
gain at all, but in the earnestness of his
love he has forgotten to base his plea on
other ground till now when he bethinks
him and continues, with his voice not trem-
bling now, save with eagerness to prove
how worthy of many dollars is the maiden
of his heart:
"Young mas'r, Dorcas prime woman-A
1 woman, Sa. Tall gall, Sir; long arms,
strong, healthy, and can do heap of work
in day. She is one of de best rice hands
on de whole plantation; worthy $1,000
easy, mas'r, an fus' rate bargain at that"
The man seems touched by Jeffrey's last
remarks, and bids him fetch out his "gal,
and let's see what she looks like"
Jeffrey goes into the long room and
presently returns with Dorcas, looking very
sad and selfpossessed, without particle
of embarrassment at the trying position in
which she is placed. She makes the ac-
customed courtesy, and stands meekly with
her hands clasped across her bosom wait
ing the result. The buyer regards her
with a critical eye, and growls in low
voice that the ''gal has good pints." Then
he goes on to more minute and careful
examination of her working abilities. He
turns her round, makes her stoop and walk;
and then he takes off her turban to look
at her head that no wound or disease be
concealed by tie gay handkerchief; he
looks at her teeth, and feels her arms, and
at last announces himself pleased with the
result of his observations, whereat Jeffrey,
who stood near trembling with eager hope,
is oyeJoyed, and he smiles for the first
time. The buyer then crowns Jetfrey's
happiness by making promise that he
will buy her, if the price isn't run up too
high. And the two lovers step aside and
each other ON their good for
tune. But Dorcas is not to be sold till the
next day, and there are twenty-four long
hours of feverish expectation.
Early next morning is Jeffrey alert, and
hat in hand, encouraged to unusual free
dom by the greatness of the stake for which
be plays, be addresses every buyer, and of
all who will listen, he begs the boon of
word 20 be spoken to his new master to en-
courage him to buy Doreas. And all the
ong morning he speaks in his homely way
with all who knew him that they will inter
,ede to save his sweetheart from being sold
away from forever. No one has the heart
% deny word of promise or encour-
,gement to the poor fellow, and Joy
,us with so much kindness, his hopes and
spirits gradually rise until he feels almost
certain that the wish of his heart will be
And Dorcas too is smiling,
or is not Jeffrey's happiness her own?
At last comes the trying moment, and
)orcas steps on the stand.
But now most unexpected feature in
he drama is for the first time unmasked;
Dorcas IS not to be sold alone; but with a
amily of four others. Full of dismay,
effrey looks at his master, who shakes his
lead, for although he might be induced to
'uy Dorcas alone, he has no use for the
est of the family. Jeffrey reads his doom
n his masters look, and turns away, the
ears streaming down his honest face.
So Darcas is sold, and her toiling life is
o be spent in the cotton fields, of South
carolina, while Jeffrey goes to the rice
'lantations of the Great Swamp.
And tomorrow Jeffrey and Dorcas are
o say their fearful farewell, and 90 to
heir different ways in life, to meet no
nore as mortal beings.
But didn't Mr.. Pierce Butler give them
silver dollar apiece? Who shall say
here is no magnanimity in slave-owners?
In another hour l see Dorcas in the long
pom, sitting motionless as a statue, with