The mountain Democrat., 1864-02-20
LIB Err n T.
A ROMANCE IN Srx CHAPTERS.
ruApTRR 4

-
CHAPTER I.
I am an intelligent contrabSnd. am
forever free. Mr.. Lincoln has said s0.-
The Tribune has printed it in big type.
Nv master was 4 tobacco planter in
Hoghole Swamp, Arkansas. He Was .
descendant of the Arkansas Traveller
When the Union army arrived, be be-
came a traveller also. There 10 ~ ~
for the return Of fugitive masters IWas
left alone.
/ went into the Union lines, and on
New Years day a General read me Mr..
Lincoln's Proclamation, and told the was
. :, ~ >Av&a. S,.~.- -. e~,< % some b.
cos .S.St' G,S1i:. '~c33a~an4 -: H. e, S-Hse
digging trenches. ! don't like digging
tr,aHshes. Il3tA y s6ahher SO. hsAGuHh.
ed. told an officer 30. He said "Go
to the ID" ftold him ] was free, and
wouldn't. Then he kicked me. The
kick was Of character which makes sit.
ting down uncomfortable.
i thought that my liberty was not
properly respected, SO / took to the
swamp. A sentinel shot at me as pass.
ed. What had to do with the counter
sign Am not free ?
CHAPTER II.
In the tangled swamps, I sat upon q
highly pictul esque stump. and thought
of Phyllis.
U JOY = cried. in a sort Of rapturous
reverir; Liberty is mine. I will fly to
Phyllis, my dark eyed love OF the slum-
bros soul and the raven wool, and bear
her far away with me, to isles where the
mango apples grow
So rose and went to the plantetion
where Phyllis lived. Shs met inc with o
childish delight. | told her we were free.
% golly! she said.
AT that moment her master appeared.
I accostcd him in friendly manner, and
informed him Of my project concerning
the isles above mentioned.
There's where you'll get your mango
apple. cart upset, he replied coarsely
: tins yer is Union territory. The proc
lamash'n don't take no effect here. Now
you Jest come a-foolin' round my niggers
agin, an you'll git thunder
Sir responded. with dignity, am
ITce uldU, llhc fpuISelL. LHhb AOSiaiAo
tion made Inc your equal
He called two large muscular slaves
thewy creatures, without nobility of soul
They pumped water on me, and drove INT
forth, weeping, alone.
cHAPTER III.
Northward Over dreary plains 0
frosty hrrbage through frosty deserts
among wild copses of laurel aud rhoden
dron at bruised my shins.
trust bear no shame for that. Ma,
not free mans sh ms be the tendcres
part ? Does long heel necessarily ac
company q feeble brain l have no
studied ethnology for nothing.
was very cold. Ny race is not fitte
for low temperatures. My clothing va
scanty and thin. felt that was free
yet, somehow, fond memory would pei
sSt in reverting to the warm savannas u
the old plantation. The North is cold
lark, forbidding.
Yet | toiled on. had but little food
No one would employ me, and nobod.
Wished to give the aims. Nor did car
to obtain work. Why should |? Wa
l IDl Tree NOIhCu NlISll SihNC
where is the merit Of liberty, il | worl
now
knew that the North was full Of ply
lanthropic souls. Greeley, Mrs. Stow.
Gcrrt Smith, Lovejoy-these, at Least
were my friends.
arrived, at length, in Washington
great city Of intellect and power. l fel
that was one of the sovereign peopl
who own and support that city. | stoo
before the Capitol and rnurmured:
Il am free /!
A very tall, homeiy man, with blacl
whi,kers and honest eyes, came down tn
steps. caught his hand. He looked Il
me as if surprised and spoke:
We'll; what is it
i am free man. ! came from Hog
hole Swamp, Arkansas. l am hungry ant
cold
%, 60 way p replied tire man. Don
bother me. I'm sick Of the very sight u
! you niggers
Sir, said, you insult your equal. :
am your peer. The Proclamation-.'
/ 'Confound the Proclamation al
most wish had never issued itV
/
/ cHAPTER Nv.
. A knot of Congressional magnate'
stood near, chewing tobacco. approach
ed, to ask for chew, and heard one ad
/ dressed as Mr.. Lovejoy.
You are friend, at least " ! criet
with real emotion Il was slave. | al
now at liberty !
The gentleman drew down his under
. eyelid with his little finger.
Do you see anything green there nj
| asked.
Mock me not = exclaimed; 'am
not u man and brother /
'Why don't you 60 to work, you lazy
fellow ? asked another Congressman ~ ht
| had a smell of cobblcr'S wax about him
used to work, down at Natick.'
Sir answered scornfully, i an
! free.
They laughed, vulgarly, and I wen
away with heavy heart.
CHAPTER v.
Still further Northward. Colder, NOR
inhospitable. Vague doubts and half re
grets crept into my brain. Is this liber
tyS All poor heart, take courage
Still | was free and free to confess tha
! had never suffered Sn much before.
Some one showed me Mrs. Negrophile'
house. A splendid carriage stood at tn
door. rang. A servant came.
i wish to see Mrs. Nrgraphile. Tel
her a newly freed slave wishes to see her
The lackey returned soon.