The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-05-24
THE FREyCHMAN'S HOUSE.
BY DR. :. COMPTON SMITH.


Of New England, there lived certain old
Frenchmar called Captain Morrice, very
quiet and retiring kind Of person, who. in
spite of the prying curiosity Of a Yankee
village, managed to keep his own concerns
to himself aud though occupying one of the
finest residences in the principle street Of
the town, living a very secluded kind 0.
life. He was said to have been a well-to-
DO coffee planter of the Island Of Santo Do.
mingo, who, during the negro revolution,
being protected and assisted by the black
patriot, Toussaint L'Ouverture, escaped
with his movable wealth to the Island OF
Cuba
Thus much Of the history of our Mon
sieur Morrice had learned just enough,
in fact, to excite my Yankee curiosity to
know more, and l would have given all the
books and toy boats possessed for the pri-
vilege Of freely questioning the taci:urn
and incommunicable Frenchman in rela-
ton to his past life but it was not til
years passed away. and | became a young
man, that my curiosity upon this especial
subject was gratifed.
Like many New England lad arrived
at that sanguine and hopeful period Of the
teens. bordering on the tweuties, longcd
to test in my own person the wonderful
scenes Of those torplc shores of which bad
heard 50 many exc!tlI 2 stories, and | found
myself one summer morning entering one
of the harbors Of Cuba in the capacity Of
supercargo of fine ship, with permission
to travel over the beautiful island wherev-
er inclination might direct
There, amid the scenes Of a portion of
the history Of our Monsieur Morrice. was
told many interesting incidents Of his for
mer life, one Of which | will relate. But
it will be necessary for me frst to revert to
his residence in Hayti.
The beautiful estate of Monsieur Nor
rice, coffee plantation, lay in fertile val.
ley, some four or FIVE leagues from St
March. southwark, in the direction of the
mountains From its isolated position
and being in the route Of predatory par.
ties of negroes and mulattoes as they
came down from their mountain rendez
vous, this place had been frequently threat
encd after the outbreak Of the Insured
ton
The roads and bride paths were ex
treniely dangerous for small parties ot
horsemen, as they were continually watch
cd hy the maraudiug maroon negroes, anG
murders and rcbberles We're Of hourly oc
currence.
Notwithstanding this state Of things how
ever, Morrice found it impossible TO sus
pend bis customary ride to town.
One morning being on the road, within
a few miles Of It. Marc, his horse, Span
ish genet from Cuba, which he had hat
but a few months, gave notice of danger b,
peculiar snort, and disinclination to ad
vance But, drawing his pistols from tn
holsters, the Frenchman drove the spur
into his fanks, and dashed towads the spo
on which the watchful animal had fixed hi
excited gaze Before he reached it, how
ever, there sprang out from the cover of tn
thicket party of half 4 dozen fierce look
ing bandits. armed with knives and club:
F ready to seize his bride, should be atteml
Y to pass. AT the same instant, an equ;
e number of the gang filed the path in h
: rear.
1t was not the first time the fearless T
der had been in similar position But |
: had never encountered danger of any kin
before with the same animal be was no
- riding, and therefore could not &C, with Il
<. same coolness and confidence tha, he cou
if he had all confidence in the courage
his horse. However, to turn back wou
be out Of the question even if there b;
not been danger TO encounter from the 70
bers in the rear So, urging bis horse o
ward, at the top Of his speed Nonsie
Morrice charged upon the rufians wh
ly with their drawn knives maintained the
stand with determined ferocity As
approached them nearer, the Frenchm
rapidly discharged lis pistols, and laid two
= the negroes dead in the road. His gala
little genet now, instead of evincing alar
I'M at the noise of the firing, and the threate
:, = ing attitudes Of his assailants as his mast
q expected, caught the bit of his bride |
on tween his teeth, and sprang with the fer,
res ity of tiger upon them. With GiIat
nostrils and eyes flashing with anger,
nd became altogether unmanageable; a,
ce with ears laid back, and dis,cuded il,
leapt upon one Of the negroes, and dash
him beneath his feet at the same til
clutching him by the throat and teari
, open the juglar vein. he killed him as
- simultaneously as if he had been shot tn
I. the brain. Then turning suddenly W
his hind legs, the maddened animal strC
No down another; and having cleared the "
before him. few at rapid speed along
road, bearing his master from the scene
- danger.
In few days after this adventure, NJ
seur Morrice, in visiting a neighbour
planter. whose negroes were suspected
,ns o fayoring the in>urrec,iOns, was wsylayed
ate before, and again his horse proved his tic
ma ing qualities lie now began to appreci
ns, his value. and shortly afterwards, when
- negroes had carried their successes so
D that it was no longer safe sor him TO
. main, even with his still faithful slay
,ot. and Monsieur Morrice was forced 10
age from the Island. he took this noble All
with him