Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-10-25

j I4t4utulsS Nou-d JULIUS ailluSe me
negroes with descriptions of the various
things he saw a, the north, and about
what was said there of the negroes, for
and against them. He entertained them
with the adventures of runaways. who
succeeded IN getting to Canada in safety.
He told them various things about the
underground rail road. He took his map
and pointed out the different directions
from southern TO northern points. He
gave them amusing sketches OF the lyce-
um meetings and discussions in Arena,
and among them wha, was said abou, sla.
very and freedom.
Among the negroes on his father,
plantation was tall, muscular, s,alwor,h
fellow. black as ebony, ye, with high
forehead and remarkably intelligent
countenance. He was quite an orator in
the religious meetings of the negroes,
and having an unusually high moral
character, he showed ,ha, his christianity
was not assumed for sinister purposes
He was respected by white and black.
This man seeing julius alone one day
and said to him:
Mass Julius, will you larn me 10
read e.
Why" said Julius, " asked Pa this
morning why he did no, have a nigh,
school for the negroes, as they have in
the north for apprentices and laborers
who have not chance 10 study in the day
time. and he told me j, was contrary TO
law here to teach the negroes to read"
Well, but. Mass Julius, what de law
guine 10 do wild little boy like you! You
Pa aini guine 10 pu, de law to you, and
eff he don't who is ia da, kin do it a'
"Oh; but somebody might sue Pa
when he finds out that you can read"
- Bui wa de proof who larn me You
kin come TO we house soon ebery maun-
IN, nobody guine see You but Paupa and
Nanny and odder niggers, and de law
amt iow dem 10 witness gin buckra."
Ben, for that was his name, although
A"Sb'S -hfc ltdto tiu, iAau NEVER tdhcN d
wife, and was living in The cabin with
his father a-l mother.
Well" said Julius, since Pa didn',
tell me not to do 1t. and am pretty sure
Ma wants all the negroes TO learn to
read, (for she Joined with me when |
talked 10 Pa about ~ if you will wake
nm I'll ,oa.h
read end write, and that Pa may no, be
accused of allowing it, we mus, SO man
age as TO keep j, from him.
This matter being thus arranged, Ben
every morning had Julius up a, the dawn
of day; and he, clubbing himself profess
sor, Was soon dressed and at the log hut,
which he designated as the College.
julius, although then only twelve years
old, vas unusually far advanced in his
studies, and could compose well, aud
write very fair hand. Under his in
s;ruction Ben made rapid progress. In
two years he became net only a fluen,
but well Informed reader, and wrote c
good hand, and with accurate diction.
Julius asked him one day: "How is
1t, Ben, that you can write in such cor
rect language, and yet You continue to
speak like the other negroes -
Bekase," replied Ben, "ef / talks
ike de buckra da might spec | kin read.
or da will link | is too smart"
but what are you going to do with
your learning If you appear to no better
advantage than other negroes &"
Mass julius, it'll keep. Bum-by may
be hab use fur en-"
But Ben did 10, lie; Julius know iha,
he had already been taking The adyan-
tage of his knowledge for The instruction
of others. He had indeed impaired more
CT less OF his own acquisitions not only to
his father and mother. brothers and SIS
lers, but to several others of the men and
women on the plantation.
TO BE CONTINUED.