Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-07-04
Ont Of Jail.


Ont Of Jail.
THE BLACK MAN WHO WAS IMPRISONED
FOR READING UNCLE roM's CABIN.
lam asked to make an appeal for poor
mana criminal, just out Of Jail. He was
convicted for three ofenses first, because
black skin covered his face second, be.
cause the English alphabet came and sat up
on his tongue and third, because he had
read the story of Uncle Toms Cabin"
For these crimes he was tried and con.
victed BY Maryland Court in 1857, and
centenced to the Baltimore Penitentiary for
ten years. After wearing out Ave years Of
his long penalty, the gate Of his cell was
opened few weeks ago by the new Gov
erncr Of Maryland, who told him that he
might quit the Jail IL he would quit also tho
United States He Immediately promised
to 60 to Canada, and is now in New York
on his way tl,ither.
The culprit's name is Samuel Green. He
is 81 years Of age, though, except for his
gray hair, he seems younger good.lookins,
intelligent and amiable showing in his
face Gods plain handwriting Of a good
character, a man whom stranger would
trust at first sight
He was born slave 10 MARYLAND, and
wore the chain for 80 years, until his MASTER
died, bequeathing his freedom at the end Of
five years. The slave, kindled with this
hope Of becoming man, worked extra
hours and earned in one year enough money
10 buy his service for the remaining four.
While slave, he had married slaye-
woman, the property Of a kind master, who,
after her husband had 80 handsomely work.
ed out his freedom, sold him his wife for 25
centsl Mr.. Green says, my wife was
worth more, but 1 was willing to take her
for thatp n.s
They had two children---a son and daugh-
ter--both slaves Of one master. Eight or
nine years ago the son, after praying long
for his freedom, got it at last, after the
manner Of Frederick Douglass who : pray
ed with his legs" The boy Green started on
moonlight night, and ran away to Canada.
His master, fearing the sister would follow.
sold her straightway to Missouri, breaking
her heart by separating her from her hus-
band and two little children.
About this time, when almost everybody
was laughing Underlying over the pages Of
Uncle Tom, one morning while Samuel
Green was going to mill, blacksmith came
out Of his shop at the roadside--himscIf
black man, and since Methodist clergy
man-exclaimings
Sam Green, would you like to see
Uncle Toms Cabin p
"What is 2" asked Sam, who thought
It was some new shanty put up in the neigh-
borhood.
"It's book" replied the blacksmith
its the story Of q slave, and it goes for
Abolition"
Yes, I'd like to read it" said Sam and
he took home the story, in two volumes,
and began to read. But before he finish
ed, he received letter from the boy in
Canada, saying, "Come and bring mother,
and let us all live together here" It was
a good idea, but the old man, before ventur-
ing TO take all his little property TO a for
eign country, made hurried trip to Cana
da, to see what was the prospect of earning
a livelihood in the high attitudes. Mean
while, the story Of his absence made noise
enough to reach the attentive ears Of the
civil officers. On his return, a constable
knocked at his door, and said, sYou are sus-
pected Of holding correspondence with the
north, and ! shall search your house."
"Come in, sir" said Mr.. Green ''it is
small cottage, you can soon search it
through; but you will find nothing, for there
is nothing to fnd."
But Samuel Green--unsuspecting mani
found to his cost that he was agreat rogue,
and that the proof of it was in his own
house. The constable found three guilty
things first, Uncle Toms Cabin second,
map Of Canada; third, a picture of hotel
at Niagara Falls. These were all, but were
they not enough3 What constable in Mary
land would have asked for more7 What
Court in the State would have given less
than ten years in the State-prison after
such proofs Besides, even out Of Mary
land, does not Gov. Stanly, and the editor
Of The Herald, and other good men, call it
a crime for a black man to know how to
read?
But without pallating Samuel Green's
crime, If any kind-hearted person can be
persuaded to show kindness to the criminal,
by giving little money to help the cid
man off to the penal colony Of Canada, It
will reach him il sent to
THEODORE TILToN,
Omce Of the independent No. Beekman street, N. Y.