The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-10-15

for Saxon seffs, has contempt 81 base
s.axon l,s.Fl- wia.sa aely as.bmlttca d
their fate. and lis admiration Of ihc bold
outlaws. who lived by plander in tie wild
freedom 81 Saxon forests
lis republican sympaihies- and the
4 system entailcd upon him by his aaces-
tons were obviously ont Of joint with each
other; and the skiIIolesl soldering Of cas-
uistry could by no means make them ad-
here together Clear as the tones Of a
cathedral bell above the hacks and drays
of a city, the voice Of reason rose above
an The prctcxts Of selishness and apollo
gies Of sophisirg, and loudly proclaimed
that BIS sympHhies yefe right and bis
practice wrong. Had there been IL his
elbow some honest John Woodman, or
fearless Elias Hicks, that hour might per-
haps have seen him freeman in giving
freedom 10 his seris. But lie was alone !;
and tie preiudiees Of education, and the
habits Of his whole life, conjured up
fearful array Of lions in his path, and he
wisi not that they were plantoms. The
admonilions Of an awakened conscience
gradually gave place TO considerations Of
personal safety, and plans for asccrtaining
tie real extent Of the danger.
The next morning he asked his slaves
with assumed nonelmlance Whether tsey.
had good meeting.
Oh, yeas, massa; berry good meet
ing"
!. Nk-ltara AL ,.nr ,,,ant ~
In the woods, behind Birch Grove,
massa.'
The newspaper was brought, aud found
t. contain renewal Of the report that
British troops were prowling about the
coast. Mr. Duncan slowly paced the
room for some time, apparently studying
the figures Of the carpet, yet utterly un-
conscious whether he tfod on the canvass
or green sward. At length he ordered
his horse and drove 70 the nextp plantation.
Seeing gang at work in the fell, he
stopped; and after some questions con-
cerning tie crop, be said to one Of the in
telligent, I" So you had fine meeting last
night?'
"Oh yes, massa, berry nice meeting
"Where was itF
The slave pointed far east Of Birch
Grove Tie white mans eye followed
the direction uf the hondman's finger, and
a deeper cloud gathered on his brow
Without comment he rode on in another
direction, and with apparent Indifference
made similar inquiries Of another gang Of
laborers. They pointed aoyA Of Birch
Grove, and replied, In the Hugonot
woods, massa."
With increasing dsquielude, he slowly
turned his horse toward the city. He en-
deavored TO conceal his anxiety under n
cheerful brow; for he was afraid to ask
counsel, even of his most familiar friends
in community 50 prone 70 be blinded by
insane fury under tile excitement Of such
suspicious. Having purchased complete
suit Of negro clothes, and black mask
well fitted to his face, he returned home
and awaited the next request for passes to
Methodist meeting.
In few days the sable faces again ap-
peared before him, one after another, ask
ing permission to hear Tom preach. The
passes we're promptly given, accompanied
by cool observation, 1t seems TO me,
boys, that you are AL growing wonderfully
religious Of late
10 which they eagerly replied, All, if
massa could hear Tom preach, II make
his hair stand up. Tom make ebcrybody
tink weder he hab soul
When the last one had departed, the
master hastily assumed his disguise, and
hurried after them Keeping them in
sight, he followed over field and meadow,
through woods and swamps. As he went
on the number of dark figures, all tending
toward the same point, continually in
creased. Now and then some one spoke
to him but he answered briefly, aud with
an effort to disguise his voice. AT last
4 they arrived at one of those swampy ISL
ands 30 common at the south. insulated by
broad, deep belt Of water, and efieciual-
ly screened from the mainland by luxu-
riant glowih Of forest trees, mattel togeth-
er by rich ENHANCEMENT Of vines and
underwood. large tree had been felled
for bridge; and over this dusky forms
were swarming Ike ants into their new
made nest
1 Mr.. Duncan had large share Of that
animal instinct called physical courage,
but his heart throbbed almost audibly as
he followed the dark multitude.
AT tie end Of rough aud intricate pas
sage then opened to him scene Of pictur-
esque and imposing grandeur. A level
space, like a vast saloon, WAS inclosed by
majestic trees, uniting their boughs over
il IN fantastic resemblance TO some Gothic
cathedral. Spanish moss formed a thick
united roof.ond foated in funereal stream
ers. From the points Of arches hung
wild vines in luxuriant profusion, some in
heavy fesioons, others lightly aud grace
fully leaping upward. The blaze Of pine
torches threw some into bold relief, and
cast others into a shadowy background.
And here, in this lone sanctuary Of na-
tore, we're assembled many hundreds Of
swarthy figures, some seated in thought