The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-02-17
Nrw YoRx, Feb. 6, 1860.

1 cd .I NEW YoRx, Feb. 6, 1860.
The usual morning service yesterday in
Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, was followed
by an incident Of unusual and thrilling in
terest. Mr.. Beecher made successful ap-
peal for the liberation Of slave. And the
generous, noble response from his congrega-
tion presented at once practical exempli6-
cation of the doctrine Of the human brother
hood, and o strong testimony to the faithful
ness of this distinguished preacher and phi
lanthropist. -
A student, who is preparing himself at
college in the immediate noighborhood Of
Washington, for the Episcopal church, had
met with an aged colorcd woman of intelli-
rence and religious character. living in the
Federal city, and become interested in her
grand-child, fair aud bright little girl Of
nine years. The grandmother had once been
q slave, and by hard work she had earned
money enough to purchase her own freedom,
but her children and her childrcn's children,
save one, had been scattered no one knows
where, neither Is IL .. paFt OF this accnrsed
traffic i'm the bodies and souls of men TO care
or know. This lamb of the flock, Pink, (for
that is the little girls name,) was suffered as
peacc-ollcring to remain with her grand
mother, andas some acknowledgement OF her
faithful services TO her owner, lent out OF
compassion for separating large family;
for twice had the child seen her own mother
sold from the block in sight of the stars and
stripes which float over the capitol OF this
free country. But the child herself had
been brought up with oil the advantages Of
other white childrcn-for the blood which
flowed in her young veins was only q six
tecnth part Alrican-ignorant of the condi.
ton that she was only chattcl, the proper
IN of another. The time had come when she
was to learn that terrible truth. She had
been sold. Two Christian slaye-dcalcrs, with
clubs in their hands, suddenly entered the
house and demanded their property, for u
southern market The child fled in alarm
to an upper room and attempted to barricado
the door with trunks and other moyables
against her pursuers. The grandmother was
compelled to make the confession that she
could no longer protect her. She had saved. !.
by her lrugality and industry, two hundred
dollars, but the offer Of this sum was OF no
avail when five times the amount was demand
cd for her freedom. There was no alterna-
tive but to submit-and thcymust part. The
case touched the heart of the student, and he
determined to make an effort to ransom her.
His brother is one OF the supcrintendents in
the Plymouth Church Sabbath School, and
Mr.. Bccchor was appealed to for aid-and hc
has many such appeals every week; Tho
case particularly interested him, and he re-
piled, {" II the child can he bought here ut
New Years time, we will SEQ what can be
done" Negotiations were opened with her
owners, but they were unwilling to let tho
:. abolitionists " have her or to trust them.
But the student gave them no peace hc i'm.
portuncd them day and night, in season and
out of season; and finally, like tho unjust
Judge of scriptures, they were wearicd out,
and one of them gave his consent, but not be-
fore the student had obtained three or four
of his friends in Washington to give bonds
for the return of the slave. On the word OF
AR. Becchcr. that the money or the child
should be returned, she remained in the slave
jail from December until last week, when the
student with his charge arrived in Brooklyn,
at his own expense, and they made their ap-
pearance in the Sunday school room yestcr.
day morning. The members ut once pledged
themselves to raise two hundred dollars to-
wards the sum required, which was nine hun
dred. At the close of the services in the
church, Mr.. Beccher placed the octoroon be-
side him on the platform and stated the case,
rcmarking us he removed her cloak and bon
net, that he wished he could Us easily remove
the garments of slavery. His words, and the
silent appeal of the intelligent and at
tmctivc little girl, was most nobly respond
cd to. There was no resisting an application
so forcible and touching: and as she stood
by the side of her reverend friend, singing
the closing hymn from the same book, the
song of praise that went up from the hearts
and voices of that vast congregation seemed
like ppan to human liberty, us well us OF
gratitude to God. The plates were passed
round for the contribution, and as they came
back piled up with hills, it was evident the
generosity OF the assembly would neither
take the hard earnings of the grandmother,
which had been offered, nor allow the Sun.
day school to contribute. a thousand and
seven dollars were collected, and valuable
ring of gold and opal was put in by some un-
known lady. And Mr.. Bcecher Afterwards
stated, that the ring should be placed upon
the finger of the young girl, never to leave It,
and to be regarded us sacred gift, or me-
mortal of her freedom. In alluding to the
liberal manner in which thcappcal had been
met by his people, he also remarked, MS the
plates were placcdupon his table loaded with
money, that" never was richer feast pre-
parcd-thc priceof Freedom" B.