Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-20

brow; for he was afraid to ask counsel, even
OF his most familiar friends, in a community
so prone to be blinded by insane fury under
the excitement Of such suspicious. Having
purchased complete suit OF negro clothes,
and a black mask well fitted TO his face, he re.
turned home, and awaited the next request for
passes TO a Methodist meeting.
In few days the sable faces again appeared
before him, one after another, asking permits
sion to hear Tom preach The passes were
promptly given, accompanied by the cool OBJ.
servation, at seems TO me, boys, that you
are all growing wonderfully religious of late"
To which they eagerly replied, "Ah, if mas
sa could hear Tom preach, it make his hair
stand up. Tom make cherry body tink weder
he lab 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 increased Now and then some
one spoke to him but he answered briefly
and with an effort to disguise his voice At
last they arrived at one of those swamp islands
so common at the south, insulated by broad,
deep belt of water, and etiectually screened
from the mainland by luxuriant growth of
forest trees, matted together by rich eutang.
lement of vines and underwood. A large tree
had been telled for bridge; and over this
dusky forms were swarming like ants into their
new-made nest.
Mr.. Duncan had large share OF that ami
NAL instinct called physical courage, but his
heart throbbed almost audibly as he followed
that dark multitude
At the end OF a rough and intricate passage
there opened before him scene of picturesque
and imposing grandeur. A level space, like
vast saloon, was inclosed by majestic trees,
uniting their boughs over it in fantastic resem.
blance to some Gothic cathedral. Spanish
moss formed a thick matted roof and tpated
in iunereal streamers From the points of
arches hung wild vines in luxuriant pr1tusion
some in heavy iestoons, others lightly and
gracefully leaping upward. The blaze OF pine
torches threw some into bold relief, and cast
others into sha1owy background. And here
III this lone sanctuary OF nature, were assem-
bled many hundreds of swart figures, some
seated in til )ughtlul attitudes, others scattered
i'll moving groups, eagerly talking together.
AS they glanced about, now sinking into dense
shadow and now emerging into lurid light,
they seemed to the shareholders excited imag.
ination like demons from the pit, come TO claim
guilty souls. lie had, however, sufficient pres
cnce OF mind to observe that each one, as he
entered, Frustrated himself till his forehead
touched the ground, and rising, placed his fin
ger ON his mouth. Initiating this signal, he
passed in with the throng, and seated himself
behind the glare OF the torches. For some
time he could make out no connected meaning
amid the confused buzz of voices and half
suppressed snatches of songs. But, at last
tall man mounted the stump of decayed tree
nearly in the center of the area, and request
ed silence.
"When we had our last meeting" said he,
II suppose most all of you know, that we all
concluded it was best for to join the British, if
so be we could get a good chance. But we
didn't all agree about our masters. Some
thought we should never be able TO keep our
freedom without we killed our masters in the
first place others didn't like the thoughts OF
that; so we agreed to have another meeting
to talk about it, And now, boys, if the Brit
ish land here, in Caroliny, what shall we do
with our masters 90
n.