Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-20
4 CONTR

An army correspondent Of tho Portland
Transcript, gives the following sketch of the
appearance and peculiarities of one Of the
slaves met with by his regiment while
marching South
As went into the yard, saw standing IN
the midst OF the men, an aged contra band,
whose woolly pate was profusely notified
with gray; and d gray, woolly fringe about
the base of his ebJn face, gave him a most
singular appearance. His enormous mouth,
thick lips, and nAttened nose of purely Af-i-
can stamp, and retreating forehead, very low
IN height, would convey an idea of almost
idiotic intellect within. As | approached,
HE lower jaw slowly moved downwards and
thei upwards, like the first movements of
the arms of pondrous steam engine, and
then. from the expansive reservoir of his
throat came forth a sound, and be began to
sing q hymn. There was not much melody
in his music, but he seemed to enjoy i as
well as an Ole Bull or Paganini would their
own performance. He was dressed In the
cast-off uniform-overcoat and pants, of some
rebel soldier, and the coat, half dropping
from one shoulder in a careless style, plainly
lDUltdIeu
his HYMN and some one asked him if he
wouldn't pray? The old man paused for a
moment, and then said
- De good book say. dat when we worship
God, we mus do it wild de speret and de troof
and doesn't like for see sich tings treated
lightly. Now, if yen all be quiet an not
larf, an pay attention, I'll do de bes ken.
Having promised good behavior, the old
man knelt down. As he was kneeling, some
one asked him to pray for the war to close
He commenced his prayer with az cloquencc
of language and propriety OF expression ab
solutely astonishing, and | could hardly
believe that il that apparently demented
Uranium could be stored an intellect which
! displayed itself in a manner indicating that
| nature had given 1t power # utterance tar
! above many of those who were looking on the
possessor as they would a monkey or parrot,
or some other natural curiosity. There was
an expression in his prayer, which, in con-
nection with the request to pray for the
soldiers, was peculiarly noticeable. lie
| prayed
20, massa Lord God Ami-hty, hav. mercy
Oh all sogers, and GEMS gwine 10 war. y,
Lord, batter all dere big guns into Prov
sheers and der swords into prune hooks and
make peace come quick.
This expression seemed an isolated one in
his prayer, as having less proprety OF ex-
preston than any other one. At the close
| of his prayer, he was asked where his mas
| ter was. and replied. so, he's done gone dis
four months; he wouldn't jine Mr.. L'nkuH' S
company, 50 he had to leave and SO off way
down Soul
"'Twould be q snug chance for him it he
was at home here, now, wouldn't it?' some
one asked.
&" Golly. massa, deed 'twOuld, l reckon,
laughed the sable cbattel. "He'd ben dead
an buried up IN de grave long time 60, if he
hadn't run off"
lie was asked il many soldiers came there,
and replied that they came every day, IN the
morning, and that they had been there that
morning, on horseback, lie was asked what
they were, and replied,
Cant tell, massa. deed | can't some
SAYS deys sesessongers, but pom my soul an
body, massa, | can't tell one from tother,
deed can't. But Use on Mr.. Linkum I
side, deed Is.
He was then asked to preach, and finally
consented, and commenced, taking for hi;
subject the characters of Nicodemus anC
Hezekiah, and commenced in a manner dis
playing an astonishing depth of knowledgt
of Scripture history, and drawing logica
deductions with style of language anC
beauty of expression that need not b.
ashamed Of as worthy the efforts of man,
an extemporaneous preacher in the more en-
enlightened portions OF civilized communit.
in the free States.
As listened, l thought, what, but for tn
| accursed, soul destroying influence of slave
S ry, which binds its victims in shackles @
, ignorance, might this man might have been
Possessed Of an intellect of uncommo
5 wealth and vigor. though clothed in rag;
and bound by the ranking shackles of a
, unjust oppression, which forbids it to t1IS
even, to rise to seek its own level among hu
! manIty, it breaks the bonds with the fore
which nature alone imparts, and rises, vi
aided by the requirements of art, above ii
c common herd around. To what emincn(
Q might it not have attained, if cultivated an
q trained by the aids which the times now a
ford the tree mdn?