The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-08-06
[Flom the Anti-Slavery Standard.
THE FAMISHED HAND.
B Y S f S =.

1.-THE writer of the following article is lady of
great responsibility, who has removed her family
from slave State to free State, and whose state
ments may be relied on as rue.-EmancipatOr.l
In the year 1884 or 5, l left Norfolk,
Va, in large schooner, bound for New
York. One Of the cabin passengers had a
sick child, and no attendant. The sec
ond day after we left Norfolk, the child
asked for food, and | offered to prepare a
toast for it. For this purpose l went to
the cooks room, which was below the deck,
and in going to which it was necessary to
pass quantity of freight, which had been
put on board at Norfolk.
The steward kindly assisted me in max
ing the toast, and added cracker and a
cup of tea. With these on small wait
er, was returning to the cabin, when in
passing the freight, which consisted of
boxes, bags, &c, little tawny, ,,famished-
looking hand was held out from between
the packages. The skeleton fingers, agi-
tated by convulsive movement, were evil
IDENTIFY reached forth with a view to the
food in my possession. Shocked, but not
alarmed by the apparition, l laid the crack
er on the hand, which was Immediately
withdrawn. No one observed the transac-
ton, and 1 went swiftly to the cabin. The
sick child was gratifed with its meal, and
when, in the afternoon, it wanted more, |
again offered my services. l apologized
to the steward for the liberty | was taking
in visiting his premises SO often, but plead
ed the necessity of attending to the little
invalid. / found he was father, and in
quired the names of his children. /
brought him presents for them, and SO in
gratiated myself into his favor that soon
had free access to his larder, and often
found nice things prepared for myself as
we'll as the little one in the cabin. But
whatever I could procure was divided with
the famished hand, which to me had be-
come precious charge. There must have
been an eye to watch my motions. In
fancy 1 could see that eye cleaning at my
approach, but at other times closed in dim
despair.
As all was tranquil on board, it was evil
dent that alone was aware of the pres
ence of the unseen fugitive, and / humbly
returned thanks to God for allowing me
the privilege of ministering to the wants of
this, His outcast, despised, and prosecuted
image. That the unfortunate being was a
slave, l doubted not; but how could l
serve him, or Ler, or whoever it might be,
effectually2 | knew the laws and usage
in such cases. l knew the poor being had
nothing to hope from the captain and crew
of the vessel, and repeatedly asked my
self the agonizing question, Will there be
any way of escape? had hoped we
might land in the night, and SO, under "a
vor of darkness, the fugitive be enabled to
go on shore, unseen by those on board. l
determined to watch for and assist the
creature, who had been thus providentially
consigned to my care. On the sixth day,
we having long passageD / found that
the goods below were being moved, in Or
der to come at something which was want
ed, and SO filled up was the passage that 1
could not go below. My heart seemed to
die within me, for the safety of the suffer-
er had become dear to me- We sat down
to dinner, but the dishes swan before my
eyes. / felt that discovery must take
place. The tumbling of the freight below
had not ceased Each moment expected
an alarm. At length l heard sudden
halo and all was quiet. Presently the
steward came into the cabin, looked signi-
fcantly at the company, and whispered to
the captain. The captain was carving, but
Immediately laid down his knife and fork,
and went on deck One of the passen-
gers followed him, but soon returned, and
in a laughing manner informed us that
strange passenger had been found among
the freight. q" 1t is" added he, a small
mulatto boy, who says he belongs to MIR.