Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-10-03

terS why should Wey Sleep on soft BEDS UNI
der silken curtains, while zoe, whose labor
brought It all, lie on the floor at the threshold,
or miserablv coied up in the dirt of our own
cabins? Why should clothe my master in
broadcloth and fine linen, when he knows, and
know, that he is my own brother, and mean
while, have only this coarse rag to cover my
aching shoulders? lie kicked the garment
scornfully and added, "Down on your knees, if
We like, and thank me that ye are not ilogged
and shot OF me they'll learn another lesson I"
Mr.. Duncan recognized in the speaker the
reputed SON of one Of his friends, lately deceas-
ed-one of that numerous class which southern
vice is thoughtessly raising up to be its future
scourge and terror.
Then rose a man of middle nge. short of sta
ture, with a quick, roguish eye, and spirit of
knowing droery lurking about his mouth.
Rubbing his head in uncouth fashion he began
81 don't know. how TO speak like Bob, for new
er had no chance. He says the devil made
white men our masters. Now dat's a ting I've
thought on q heap. Many time I've axed
myself how 'pon nrth Il was that iist sure as
white man and black man come togedcr, dc
white man sure to git he foot on dc black man.
Sometimes tink one ting, den ! tink anoder
ting, and dey all be jumbled up in my head,
Just like seed in de cotton afore he put in de gin.
At last find it all out. White man al,CdyS git
he foot on de black man; no mistake in dat.
But how he do il? I'll show YOU how"
The high, bold forehead and flashing eye in
dicated an intellect too active and daring for serv-
itude, while his fluent speech and appropriate
language betrayed the fact that his highly edu-
Gated parent, for some remains Of instructive
feeling, had kept him ncM his own person dur
ing his lifetime, and thus formed his conversa-
ton on another model than the rude jargon of
slaves.
His poor ignorant listeners stood spcll-bound
| by the magic of superior Mid and at first it
seemed as if he might carry the whole meeting
! in favor of his views. But the aged man lean
ing on his oaken staff still mildly spoke of the
meek and blessed Jesus, and the docility of the
African temperament responded to his gentle
words.
Thrusting his hand into his pocket, he took
out a crumplcd piece of printed paper, and
smoothing it carefully on the palm Of his hand,
he struck it significantly with his finger and cx-
claimed triunphantlv, "Dats de way dcy do it
! Dey got de LHo,cie{aei Now it'll do no more
good to rise agin our masters dan put dc head
| in de fire and and pull him nut agin. When !
was boy hear an old corjuring woman say
she could coniure de devil cut OF anybody. |
ask her why she don't coniure her massa, den
she tell me, "Oh niggers neter conjure buckra
can't dot But | say Niger can conjurc
buckra. How he do it? Get de knowledge.
Dat de way. We make dc sleeve wide and fill
full of de tea and sugar ebery time we git in
missis closet. II we take half SO much pains to
get de knowledge, dc white man he take de
loot off de blacl; man. Maybe lie British land
and maybe d, British no and, hut tell your
sons to marry de free women dat know how TO
read and wrte and tell your gals to marry de
free man dat knows how to read and write;
and den, by'm by You be de British yourselres! !!
You want 10 know how | manage to get dc
knowledge? | tell you. | want right bad to
larn to read. Ny old boss is the most begruAy
fullest massa, and know he won't let me larn.
So when see little mossa wild lie book Che
about six years old) say to him, what you call
dat? He ,Hl me da, IN. Oh, lat is 4 ? SO
/ take old newspaper and | ax missis may |
hab dis to rub my brasscs? She say yes.
put it in my pocket, ana by'm bye I look to see I;
find a, and | look at him till know him ber-
nv well. Den / ask my Young maasa, What
you call dat? He say dat is b. SO | find him
on my paper, and look at him till know him
berry well. Den ask my young massa what
G \ I spell? lie tell me cat. Den, after Il
great long time, | can read de newspaper.
And what do you tink fnd dere? | read
British going to land Den tell all de boys
British going to land and say what do you
spose British land? When stand up behind
massa'S chair hear him talk, and tell all de
boys what he say. Den Bob say must have
Methodist meeting, and tell massa Tom going
to preach in de woods. But what you tink |
did toder dayp You know Jim, massa Cub
ernors boy? Well, want mighty bad to let
. Jim know British going to land. But he ill
ten mile off, and old boss no let ME go. Well
massa Gubernor he come dine my massa's house.
and bring he horse to de gate and made
my how and say, massa Gubernor, how Jim do ?
! lie tell me Jim berry well. Den AK him be
, jim good boy? He say yes. Den tell him
Jim and little boy togeder, and want mi ghty
bad to send jim something. He tell me jim
hab enough Of eberyting. Oh yes, massa Cub
ernor, know you berry good massa, and jim
hab rberytinS he want but when little boy to
gedder dcre is something here QayinS his hnnt
on bis hearth l want to send q little backy tC
jim. | know he hab much backy he want, bu
jim and little boy togeder, and want to sent
jim something. Massa Gubernor say, berry
well Jack. 50 give him de backy done up ii
de berry bit o. newspaper dat tell British going
to land! And massa Gubornor himself carry
it And massa Gubcrnor himself carry it,"
lie clapped his hands, kicked up his heels
and turned somersets like harlequin. Thes'
demonstrations We're received with loud shouts
of merriment and it was some time betor
sufficient order was restored to proceed with tn
question under discussion.
After various scenes of fiery indi ynation, gen
tie eSpostulaton and boisterous mirth, it wa
c finally decided, by considerable majority tina
: in case the British landed, they would tax
their freedom Dchtom numbering their masters
If not few, however, went away in wrathful mood
d muttering curses deep.
: With thankiulness to heaven, Mr. Duncal
d again found himself in the open field, alone wit
o the stars. Their glorious beauty seemed to him
d that night, clothed in new and awful power
k Groups of shrubbery took to themselves start
ling forms and the wind among the trees wa
c, like the unsheathing of swords. Again he re
J. Cured to Saxon history, and remembered hoy
n he had thought that troubled must be the slce
= of those who rule n conquered people. a ne
Il significance seemed giyed to Wat Tyler's aC
5, dress to the insurgent laborors Of his day; a
\, emphatic and most unwecome application
d his indignant question why serfs should toll III
le paid in wind and sun, that lords might slee
Y, on down and embroider their garments wit
III pearl.
"And these Robin Hoods and Wat Tyei
ID were my Saxon ancestors" thought he. "Wh
&c shall so balance effects and causes us to decd
what portion OF my present freedom spran
II, from lhci, seemingly defeated efforts? WI
G. the place J saw to night in such wild and fca
full beauty, like the haunts o. the Sar0n Rohi
We HoodsP Was not the spirit that cleaned fort
Us as brave as theirs! And who slall calcula
what evcn such hopeless endeavors may do {,
id the future freedom Of this down-trodden race
4 'Ihpsp pooitotiOng did mot n fnr | ha,