The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-01-27
THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY
By AN EMANo1pATED ooRrRABAND.
CHAPTER I

ever free. Mr.. Lincoln has said so. The
Tribune has printed it in big type,
My moster was planter in Hoghole Swamp.
Arkansas. lie was a descendant of the Ar
kansas Traveller. When the Union army ar
rived, he became traveller also. There is
no law for the return of fugitive masters.
was left alone.
I went into the Union lines, and on New
Years day General read me Mr.. Lincoln's
Proclamation, and told me was free man
Then he gave me some bacon that smelt bad,
and set me to work digging trenches. I do
not like digging trenches. told soldier so
He laughed. 1 told an officer so. He said ::
tGo to the d-l' I told him was free and
wouldn't Then he kicked me. The kick
was of that character which makes sitting
down uncomfortable.
I thought that my liberty was not properly
respected, so I took to the swamp. A senti-
mel shot at me as passed, What had to do
with the couptersign Am I not 9 free
man
CHAPTER II. -
In the tangled swamps, sat upon highly
picturesque ue stump, and thought of Phyllis.
% Joy ? I cried, in sort of rapturous rev.
erie Liberty is mine. l will fly to Phyllis,
my dark-eyed love of the slumberous soul and
the raven wool, and bear her far away with
me to isles Nhere the mango apples grow
So rose AMI went to the plantation where
Phyllis liz ed. She met me with childish
delight. told her we were free.
20 gollyl' she said:
At that moment her master appeared. -
accosted him in friendly manner, and in
formed him Of mysproject concerning the isles
above mentioned.
There's where you'll get your mango ap-
plescart upset. he replied ccarsely; this yer
= Tho -orOolomotion don't
take no effect here Now you jest como
foolin found my niggers agin, an,ayou'h git
thunder
Sir responded, with dignity, Il am a
free man sIike yourself That proclamation,
makes me your equal
He called two large muscular slaves; they
we're creatures without nobility of soul. They
pumped water en- me, apd drove me forth
weeping alone.
CHAPTER III.
Northward Over dreary plains of frosty
herbage through frosty deserts among wild
copses of laurel and rhododendron that truised
my shins.
I trust bear no shame for that. May
not free mans shins be the tenderest part
Does long heal ne cessarily aaeeIaPanE a Toe
BILE brain? 1 have not studied theology for
nothing
1t was very cold. Ny race is not fitted
for low tempcratures My clothing was scan,
ty and thin. 1 felt that was free yet,
somehow, fond memory would persist in re-
yerting to the warmssavannahs of the old plan
tation. The North is cold, dark, forbidding.
Yet toiledson. l had but little food
Nobody would employ me, and nobody wished
to give aims. Nor did L care to obtain work
Why should I? Was not free worked
when a Slave where is the merit OF liberty,
if must work now!
knew that the North is full of philan-
thropic souls. Greeley. Stowe, Gerrit Smith,
Lovejoy-these at least, were my friends
1 arrived, at length nssWashington-a
great city of intellect and power. L felt that
[ was one of the sovereign people, Who own
and support that city. stood before the
Capitol and murmured
I am freep =
A very tall, homely man, with black whis-
kers and honest eyes, came downsthe steps
caught his hand. He looked at me as IT
surprised and spoke
- well; what is it p
81 am a free man. / came from Hoghole
Swamp, Arkansas. l am hungry and cold.
% go 'wayp replied the man. Don't both 10Th
er me. I'm sick of the very sight OF you
niggers -
sSir,' said, syouinsult your equal. l am
your peer The Proclamatton-
.Confound TIE Proclamation I almost wish
L had never issued it,
CHAPTER 1Y.a
A lot of Congressional magnates stood near,
chewing tobacco. approached to ask for a
ohey, and heard one addressed as Mr.. Love-
you are a.friend at least z I cried with
real emotion I was slave. am now at
liberty =
The gentleman drew down his under eye
lid with his Httlel6nger, -
DO you see any thing green there ne
asked. sa
man and a brother p
why don't you go to work, you lazy .fel-
low p asked another Congressman, who had a
smell of cobbler's wax about him; Il used te
work down at Natick.'
Sir answered scornfully, 4 am free.
They laughed rulgarly, and I went away
with heavy heart.
/ CHAPTER Y.
Still farther northward. Colder, more in
hospitable. Vague doubts and half regrets
creps into my brain. Is this Liberty All
poor h cart, take courage
Still I was free and free to confess that
had never suffered SO much before.
Some one showed me Mrs. Negrophile'
| house. A splendid carriage stood before th
door. I rang. A servant come
T wish to see Mrs. Negrophile. Tell her
newly freed slave wishes to see her.
The lackey returned very soon.
| sYour card, please p
Il have no cardl am cold and hun
The laekey went and came again.
/ sShe doesn't see that kind he said.
shuddered and went to the Office of the Tr,
bune I found two men there with their fee
on the desks.
Greeley Thpeak up brldder! Yah, yah
sYoung man. said' Il am friend of a
men,
/ sHe keeps the place next door, said tn
other. @
4 come to You in the name Of humanity.