The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-03


"'Humph and you had that child concealed
under your shawl when first stopped you in the
woodsr
"In course, MASTER saysI.
"'WhOsc is itY
".Master,' says I, 1T Sit IS dead secret for
haddent another lie ready.
"He broke out into rude, scornfn, laugh, and
seemed not half to believe me and yet not to care
about questioning me too closely He made me
sit down then in the dark, and went out and
turned the key on me. wet my finger with
the paragoric and put it to the baby's lips to
quiet its pains of hunger. Then heard whisper
ing in the next room. Now my eyesight never
was good, but to make up for it believe / had
the sharpest ears that ever was, and don't
think anybody could have heard that whispering
but me. ] saw little glimmer of light through
the chinks that showed me where the door was,
and so creeped up to il and put my ear to the key
hole. Still they whispered so low that no ears
could o. heard them but my sharp ones The
first words l heard good, was grumbing voice
asking
".How old?
"Fifty-more or less, but strong, active, a good
nurse, and very light mulatto, says my williams
voice
"'Hum--too DID, says the other.
"'But will throw the child in
"A low, cracking laugh the only answer.
"'You mean that would be only q bother. Well,
want to get rid Of the pair OF them said my viii
liam, so name the price you are willing to give
"'Cap'n! you and me have had too many trans
actions together To make any fummery about this.
You want to get shet o. them pair. hant no OBJ
jections to turning an honest penny SO Jest make
ont the papers-bill o'sale o. the oman Kate, OF
whatsoever her name may be, and the child, with
any price you please, so it is only n make believe
price and I'll engage to take her away and make
the most can of them in the South--that won't he
much, seeing it's only an old oman aud child
scarcely fair profit on the expense o takn
of her out, Now, as moneys no object to you,,
Capn-
bot m rot for 1n
81 understand Cap'n; but reckon you needn't
threaten, for if you could blow me-why would re-
turn you the same favor, said the other raising his
voice and laughing aloud
"'Be quiet, fool or come away farther-here
And the two Williams moved out of even my hear
ing.
al should O. been uneasy, master, if it hadn't
been the oman they were talking about was named
Kate, and that want my name, which were well
beknown to be Nancy
presently heard the carriage drive away; and
almost 'medately after the door was unlocked, and
great. big, black bearded and black headed beasi
of ruffian came in, and says he
"'Well, my woman, have you had any supper"
ono, said |, Il haint; and ef I'm to stay here
any length of time I'd be obleeged to You to let me
have some hot water and milk to make pap for this
pershing baby
"'F0llow me- says he.
"And he took me into the kitchen at the back of
the house, where there was fire in the fireplace
and cupboard with all that needed. Well sir,
baby, and fed it. And then ] got something
for my own supper, or rather breakfast for it
was now near the dawn of day. Well, sir, |
thought would try to get, out and looi
looked like by daylight; but when tried the door,
found myself locked up, a close prisoner look
ed out of the window, and saw nothing but little
back yard, closed in by the woods tried to raise
the sash, but it was nailed down. The back-head-
ed monster came in just about that minute, and
seeing what was ADDING Of says he.
"'Stop that
"'what am stopped here forY says I; "a free
oman says l, 'a-vented OF going about her own
business = says ].
"But he only laughed loud, cracking, scornful
laugh, and went ont turning the key after hun.
A little after sunrise, old, dried up, spiteful
looking bag of q woman came in, and began to get
breakfast
"'What am l kept here for?' says to her.
"But she took no notice at all; nor could get so
much as a single word outen her. In fact, master,
the little oman deaf an dumb.
"Well, sir to be short, was kept in that place
all day long, and when nigh come was druv into
shay at the point of the pstil, and ratified along
as fast as the horses could gallOp road as
wct, and just about the dawn Of day we come to
a broad river with vessel laying to, not far from
the shore.
AS soon as the shay druv down on the sands.
he william rs had run away with me puts pipe to
his wainous mouth, and blows like mad Some
body else blowed back from the vessel. Then a
boat was put off and rowed ashore. was forced
0 get into il and was follered by the william. We
was rowed to the vessel, and l was druv up the
adder on to the decks And there, master, right
afore my own looking eyes, me and the baby was
raded off TO the captain 1t was use for me to
splan or 'spostulate want b'lieved. The will
lain as had stole me got back into the boat and
went ashore, and saw him get into the shay aud
drive away. 1t was no use for me to howl and cry,
though did both, for couldn't even hear myself
for the swearing of the captain and the noise of the
n n i'm orr p "a
Well, sir we sailed down that river and out to
"Now, sir come strange providence, which
the very thoughts OF it might convert heather !!
We had been to sea about five days when dread
full storm riz Oh, master the inky blackness Of
the sky, the roaring Of the wind, the raging of the
sea, the leaping of the waves, and the rocking Of
that wessel-and every once in a while, sea and
ship all ablaze with the binding lightning
of tell you marster, that looked like the wrath
of God! And then the cursing and swearing and
bawling of the captain and the crew, as they were
aakin' in Of SAIL was enough to raise ones hair on
their head Rugged the baby to my breast-and
went 10 praying as hard as ever could pray.
Presently ! felt an awful shock, as if Heaven and
earth had come together, and then everybody
vessel trembling like live creetur and the water
pouring. in everywhere. Rugged the babe and
scrambled up the companion way to the deck. II
was pitch dark and heard every man rushing
towards side of the vessel.
"a Fash Of lightning, that made everything a.
bright as day again, showed me that they were all
taking to the boat. rushed after, calling to them
to save me and the baby. But no seemed to
hear me; they were all too busy trying to save
themselves and keep others out Of the boat, and
cursing and swearing and hollering that there was
no more room--that the boat would be swamped
and so on. The end was, that all who could crowd
into the boat did SO. And me and the baby and
poor sailor lad and the black cook were left behind
to perish.
But, marster, it turned out, we az was left to
die were the only ones saved We watched after
that boat with longing eyes, though we could only
see il when the lightning flashed. And every time
we saw it it was farther of At last, marster,
fash of lightning showed US the boat far Off a.
ever we could see her, capsized and beaten hither
and tilither by the wild waves-its crew had per
ished
Marster, az soon as the sea had swallowed up
that wicked captain and crew, the wind died away
the waves fell and the storm lulled-just as If il
had done what 1t was sent to do and was satisfied
The wreck-wherc we poor forlorn ones stood-the
wreck that had shvered and trcmbled with every
wave that struck it-untl we had feared it would