Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-10-03
Grove, and replied, ain the Husonot woods,

to conceal his anxiety under cheerful 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 excite
ment 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 a
Methodist meeting.
In few days the sable faces again appeared
before him, one after another, asking permis-
sion to hear Tom preach. The passes were
promptly given, accompanied by cool obser-
vation, at seems to me boys, that you are all
growing wonderfully religious of late"
To which they eagerly replied, "Ah, if massa
could hear Tom preach, it make his hair stand
up. Tom make eberybody tiDk weder he hab
q 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, and with an ef-
fort to disguise his voice. At last they arrived
at one of those swampy islands so common at
the south, insulated by a broad, deep belt of
water, and elfectually screened from the MAIN
land by uxuriant growth of forest trees, mat
ted together by rich ENHANCEMENT of vines
and underwood. A larg tree had been feIled
for bridge and over this dusky forms were
swarming like aunts into their new-made nest
Mr.. Duncan had a large share of that animal
instinct called physical courage, hut his heart
throbbed almost audibly as he followed the dark
multitude.
At the end of rough and intricate passage
then opened before him scene of picturesque
and imposing grandeur. A level space like a
vast saloon, was inclosed by majestic trees,
uniting their boughs over it in fantastic resem-
blance to some Gothic cathedral. Spanish moss
formed thick matted roof, and foated in fu-
neral streamers. From the points of arches
hung wild vines in luxnriant profusion, some in
heavy fcstoons, others lightly and gracefully
| leaping upward. The blaze Of pine torches
threw some into bold relief, and cast others in
to a shadowy background. And here in this
! lone sanctuary of nature, were assembled many
hundreds of swarthy figures, some seated in
thoughtful attitudes, others scattered in 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 Imagination like
demons from the pit, come to claim guilty souls.
He had, however, sufficient presence of mind
10 observe that each one, as he entered, pros
trated himself till his forehead touched the
ground, and rising, placed his finger on his
mouth. lmita ing 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-suppresscd snatches OF
songs. But, at last, tall man mounted the
stump of decayed tree nearly in the center oi
the area, and requested silence.
"Whcn we had our last meeling," said he
| p,Oct oil of yO,, know that vp oil
concluded it was best for to join the British, il
so be we could get a goo chance. But we
didn't all agree about our masters. Some
thought We should never be able to keep oui
freedom without we killed our masters in the
first place; others didn't like the thoughts o.
that so we engaged to have another meeting
TO talk about it. And now, boys, ii the British
land here, in Caroliny, what shall we do with
our masersW
lie sat down, and tall, snewy mulatto step
ped into his place, exclaiming with fierce ges
lures :-"Ravish wives and daughters before
their eyes, as they have done to u.s. Hun
them with hounds as they have hunted us
Shoot them down with rifles as they have sho
as! Throw their carcasses to the crows the,
have fattened on O,W bones and then let th'
devil take them where they never rake up fire
O. nights. Who talks of mercy to our mas
tiers P"
81 do" said an aged black man, who rose u
before the fiery youth, tottering as he leane;
both hands on an oxen staff 81 do becaus
the blessed Jesus always talked OF mercy.
know we have been f.d like hogs and shot a
like wild beasts. Myself found the body q
my ikeliost boy under the tree where buckra
rifles reached him. But thanks be to the bles
sed Jesus, feel it in my poor old heart to for
give them. ! have been a member of tn
Methodist church these thirty years, and Nv
heard many preachers, white and black am
: they all tell me Jesus said, Do good to ther
that do evil to you, and pray for them tina
spite YOU Now say let US love our eneme
let as pray for them, and when our master
fog us, and sell our piccaninnieS, let US breo
out singing
'You may beat upon my body,
p But YOU cannot harm my soul;
. shall join the forty thousand by and bye
{ You may sell my children to Gcorgy
But YOU cannot harm their soul;
, They will Join the forty thousand by and bye.
+ Come, slave trader, come in too;
, The Lords got pardon hero for you;
i You shall join the forty thousand by and bye.
Come, poor Niger, come in too;
The Lords cot a pardon here for you;
You shall join the forty thousand by and bye
, Nv skin is black but my soul Is whto
And when we get to heaven wen all be alike;
We will Join the forty thousand by and bye"
o That's the way to glorify the Lord.
S Scarcely had the cracked voice ceased Ii
s trcmulous chant in which these words were u
C tered, when a loud alteration commenced
J. some crying out vehemently for the blood
It the white men, Others maintaining that the ol
C mans doctrine was right. The aged black r.
e naming leaning on his staff, and mildly reptile
;, to every outburst of fury "But Jesus said,
= good for evil" Loud rose the din of excite
e voices, and the disguised STAKEHOLDER shrar
l, deeper into the shadow.
II In the midst of the confusion, an athleti
st gracefully proportioned young man sprNng ul
IS on the stump, and throwing off his coarse cote
o garments, slowly turning round and round b
" fore the assembled multitude. Immediately
was hushcd for the light of a dozen torchc
h eagerly held up by fierce, reyengeful tomrade
ID showed his back and shoulders deeply gasht
by the whip and oozing with blood. In Il
midst of that deep silence he stopped abrupt
and with stern bre'ity exclaimed, "loys shc
we not murder our masters P'
% "Would you murder all" inquired tim
ii voice at his right hand. They don't all crueli
r. their slaves"
e, "Thcre's Mr.. Campbell" pleaded anothc
t, "he never had one of his boys logged in his Ii
ne You wouldn't kin him, would YOU"
ri Oh, no, no, no. shouted many voices "'
n. wouldn't murder Mr. Compbell. He's alwa
i; good to colored folks"
p, "And wouldn't murder my MASTER" sa
nf AIr Dnnno,,is s1o Hubf M