Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-01-17
From tho New York Independent.
II OLD Az z Z p J. OFT s
\ story for the season.
ny CHARLES y. narocs.

Once upon time, in very strange country,
there happened something so remarkable that
some of you may think il could nes er have really
happened at all, and that II Was only igmcnt of
some story .tecr's brain, created for the amuse-
mcnt OF an idle hour, or else, that the lime was
so remote, and the people so little like ourselves,
that we should feel no interest in them aud their
strange doings. But you shall judge for youf-
selves.
Once upon time, then, there lived a strange
people in certain strange land, who made
slaves their fellow beings, kept them in cruel
bondage, sold their children to strangers, i'm
posed heavy burdens upon them, and otherwise
grievously oppressed them.
oh yes. you know very well where and when
these things happened. Of course. IL was IN
the days of the pharaohs In Old Egypt, land in
which such things are stall permitted, and where
the sweet influences OF Christianity are un-
known.
But, wait aud see.
Well, in this strange land although the people
did make slaves of their fellow beings, they were
not altogether bad. Oh no. They believed in
Christ, the blessed Savior, and like other Chris
tians. they kept the day of his birth, and not only
made merry upon it themselves. but permitted
their slaves to make merry, too, if they could
and 10y way of showing how much they loved the
Holy Babe of Bethlehem, who came upon the
earth that peace and goodwill might prevail
among mankind, they allotted the holiday sea
son, which extended from Christmas day TO
New Years, to the use of their slaves, giving
them the privilege of finding new masters for
themselves during that time.
Now il happened that there was female
slave whose name was Juno, who had served her
master faithfully. who had cooked his food,
tended his children. nursed him when he was sick
worked in his field. and proved herself the good
genius of his household: and she would have re-
mained hhhiul to him and his children az long
as she lived, but she discovered. one holiday
season. that he intended to sci, her TO a Stranger
who would carry her away into the Southern
country, where she would never again see her
parcnts. nor her brothers and sisters, cven be
permitted 10 hear from them.
The hear, Of poor Juno was wellnigh bursting
with grief 20 tbnk Of tue ttrfiblc laic III store
foe her. But she had heard of a country in tho
North where there were no slaves, and though
the very thought of leaving her old father and
mother. who lived close by her masters. was
agoniziIg 10 her, ye. she wished she could
escape from her dreadful doom. All she knew
about the North that there we're friendly
people lived there who kept no slaves; and she
only knew that the North stas. which had been
pointed out to her. indicated the direction, like
celestial sign-post. where tha, happy country
lay. IL was Christmas night, and all the people
In her masters family had Leen drinking and
making merry, and her feliow-slaves had been
dancing and singing until they were tired. shen
Juno looked out of her little window to comfor,
herself by gazing up at the star which pointed IN,
way TO freedom and happiness. An unexpected
spectacle met her gaze. The whole of tn,
Northern heavens seemed on FIRE: the night wa'
clear and cold, and the bright flames Of th'
aurora, red and white and purple, flashed u