Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-04

] well, well, Mr. Miflin.p the Colon
would say, Tom is a good boy; he appear
= well satisfied, and really ! don't know no
could well spare him. ARd so mneh
I thls manner did the Colonel answer War
+ er, year after year for some five or six year
after Thomas was Of age.
AT length, when Thomas was som
twenty-six or twcnty-seven years of age
warner Mifiiin having spent day or tw
with his kind and hospitable friend. Col
o., and family renewed his old concer
abont poor Thcmas
well, my friend, said Warner. 4 havt
= heretofore at times taken the liberty Il
speak to thee, hope, always in Christian
love concerning Thomas-thee understand
the merit OF the case--that it was my faith
er's religious concern he should be free
NOW. my friend, has he not amply paid
thee all the purchase-money ? and. If so
why not let him fare as bis brethren Nav
| not appeal to thy own Judgment. and
again solicit for his freedom p This was
expressed by Warner in close, loving ear.
nestness so much so, as to awaken a little
RE, perhaps, in the Colonel, who replied ,
We'll, well, Mr.. Miffiin, you know how
myself and family esteem you, and how
very happy we always are to see you, but
really, sir, / should be pleased il you would
IN future waive any mention of Tom he
is good, faithful servant, appears content,
and, really, don't know how we could do
well without him and in future, | do
trust, sir, you will be so kind as to waive
any mention Of concern about him.
Well, very well, says Warner to Col,
u, as thou requests, so it shall be- /
viii never mention the name of poor Thorn.
as to thee, provided that before 60 thou
will permit me TO once more see him and
converse With him in private
Col. C, of course, politely acquiesc.
ed. Tom was called in, and left alone with
his young master, Warner.
Well says Warner, Thomas, have
spoken to thy master since thou vast of
age in regard to thy freedom, but in vain
ne seemeth disposed to retain thee as a
slave. This being the case, l asked him
tor this liberty to see thee once more, that.
as could not accomplish thy freedom, /
might impart such counsel and advice to
thee as would be of use to thee in thy fn.
ture walking through life, not knowing
that may ever see thee more. And now,
Thomas, this my counsel is, that thou be
honest and faithful to thy master dutiful
and obliging 10 thy mis- tress, and kind to
their children and, above all, Thomas.
love and serve thy Maker, daily pray to
Him for strength to perform all thy duty,
and ever keep in mind that thou must die
and, if thou art good while here, thou will
be as happy hereafter as thy master can be,
for our Heavenly Father is no respecter of
persons.
And now, Thomas, at our parting, let
me take thee by the hand An affection
ate shake of the hands took place. Warn
er says, Farewell, Thomas, farewell
But poor Thomas could not articulate
word he retired in food of tears But
now the most moving scene of all the
rigid, unbending stakeholder, the warrior
who had 'braved the tug Of war, very soon
entered the room in an entirely subdued
tone, being little better off for speech than
poor Tom. At first he could only excaim
Tom is free ? After crossing the room
two or three times, Colonel c. repeat
ed twice more-'Tom is free,' Tom is free T.
and then proceeded to explain to bis friend
Warner that he had been walking in the
adjoining room, and distinctly heard every
word he had said to Thomas that whore
as be fully expected he would have advised
Tom to come up to his residence in Kent,
and that he would secure to him those
rights which his master so nnjustly refused |
But when heard yonr angelke advice
to Thomas, in which me and my family were
so ienderly recommended to bis duty and |
kindness, | said | must reciprocate his
goodness; my heart yearned toward yours
l remembered you had administered to me |
when in prison, and my heart said, Tom is |
free And now, Mr.. Miflin, write the
manumssion for though you are ready
to leave us, you must, before yon depart
know that Tom may join his brethren in |
freedom from this day
The paper was prepared and signed /;
poor Tom was full of gratitude; and though |
told he was at liberty to go, he said
NO, no / will stay till my masters |
crop is secured, which he did, his master
remunerating him therefore.
There is an exemplifeation of the true
Quaker Abolition Love can, and moth
ing but love ever did, or ever will, accom-
plish a righteous reformation"