Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-23

Northern guns the grand old word liberty had
echoed along, its reveberations reaching even
to the low-lying Southern lands. never had
such fear crossed his mind But now, with
that fleet and the open bay, with the possibility
that the new forts in their pride and strength
might not be able to resist foolish fear, but
if-and SO the child sold the first slave
ever sold from Myrtle Bush the night grow
ing darker as the bargain was concluded the
storm rising and howiing in thr ugh the large
plate glass windows and even the forked
flames, as they glowsd up from the huge knots
of light wood, failing to Cast one ray OF happi-
over the gloomy face of the SHINING "mas-
ter"
When the deed was done slight figure
moved OF of the dark corners of the
room very dark, 100, was this figure, and no
ray from the blazing light wood came near it.
Silently, softly, as if the gloom were kind
friend sent to shield it, it stole away. Neither
of the sitting there or heard il and
never shall they again until the grave givts up
its dead.
Along that wide high hall. up those broad
stairs, almost as if it had wings, it went, tuin-
ing into the little bcudoir at the right hand.
Boudoir it surely was, with everything that
wealth and taste could lavish upon it to make
it beautiful but the most beautiful thing there
was young girl, lying at full length upon
lounge, table drawn up to its side, holding
brilliant lights, book IN her hand, and her
whole attention riveted upon it.
At the door the figure paused one moment,
and the lights revealed slight negro glrl hard
ly past her early teens, dressed with the smart
ness peculiar TO petted lady's maid. Her face,
while its features we're unmstakably those of
the ful-blood African, had in it certain ex-
preston never found where that blood has not
flowed through channels widened and deepened
by education.
In truth, Rachel's ancestry was as old and as
titled as that of her master. Ii dated back
royalty to the king, far the seas; and ever
since their captivity they held themselves Set
apart, house servants, shari7g < the grandeur OF
those whose bond people they were, and CLEAN
ing here and there, scantiy, it may be-, but still
gieanng, gems of wisdom, crumbs only, falling
FRI m the rich mans table. Many poor white,
10 the land Of the chlvalry, bad less true edu-
cation to-day than this young negro less OF
the material, that even in defiance Of the law,
makes the freedman.
At the end OF the sofa, close to his mistress
feet. lay little negro boy curled up like q
round ball. His head was nestled down upon
the tolds OF her rch silk dress,one hand thrown
over her small, slippered foot and he was
soundy asleep.
Rachel darted at him with an eagerness al
most angry in its impatisnce, and catching him
in her arms covered bis face with kisses.
. Let him be, K chel. What do you want
to wake him up for He keeps me wa1m,"
said Miss Hayward, without taxing her eyes
from the book " you are always meddling
with him"
90, mssis missis ~
Miss Hayward glanced over the covers Of her
book for moment. There something in
R9chel's tone which had caught her ear-an
earnest, pleading tone. What had gone wrong
~ith the girl ?
What is it, Rachel Let him be; /; ne
does MT trouble in me least | like to have
him here"
40, msss ! mi.sis !" and dropping the boy
for one moment, Rachel threw herself upon the
floor by he side OF the sofa, taking the jewelled
hand which held out toward her in both OF
hers then silently bowing her head upon 1t,
Nj SIS Hay ward heard this prayer {:
o, Thou good Lord o, Thou precious
Saviour bless her, keep her, love her, for the
kind good mssIs that she ever been TO Racnel
and little Dan"
=. there, 90, you foolish good othing ;"
she said, drawing her hand gently away. with
two great tears on 1t. believe you afraid
the Yanke coming this very night to
catch you and eat you up alive T." and then
such a merry laugh rang through the room.
Rachel rose and took up the boy again. Once
more she said, - ., misss, my dear. good, dar-
ling mi-sis, there's not dat dare ting in dc wide
world dat | would no. do for you. DO you be-
iieve me, missis p
Yes, go! You are croaking tonight and
there IS enough of that, Without your begin
ming
Rachel went few steps toward the door, then
turned back. Once more she took the little
hand, kissed 1t over and over, then laid it light
ly the boy = head.
80 Bress him, mlssus.
Again Miss aywasd looked searchingly in
TO k,chel's face. one saw there such terror,
such grief, that, rousng herself for moment,
she said
You poor, frightened thing. You are per-
fectly safe, and shall be, both you and Dan, so
long as | i've
Bress YOU, N ssis " and Rachel, with the
same soft step with which she had entered, ,glid-
ed out of the room. Down those stars she wcnt
through that hail, past the door where the
two men vet sat in the Z" flicker - of The light
wood fire, hugging the sold boy SO closely as
she passed that be moaned in his sleep-out
into the gathering storm. A fierce gust of wind
caught aud dashed her back.
Against such power she can make no pro-
gress. There is neither bone nor sinew 10 the
hight trembling form there is nothing there
capable of bearing her on but q mothers love
aud trust in God, and she stands for moment
bound as by strong hands Behind her sla-
very, ard her boy consigned to doom worse
than death before her freedom. No wonder
this sharp prayer burst from her lips:
40, God, mercyI Pity Help > The
wind took the words and bore them up. Width
err?
All night long the storm increased, nor did
it spend its fury until the late grey dawn came
slowly on. ght to be remembered through
all our Southern land for during it, the war
OF the elements and that other coming war
drove slumoer from many anxious, watching
eyes.
Bewldered and almost stunned, Rachel had
not allowed herself one moments rest. Hold
ing little Dan the more tgetly as the wind and
the rain beat upon them, wrapping him up ID
every article of clothing she could tear from
herself, she moved steadily on toward the town
of Beaufort.
She knew the way we'll, she had 90 often
walked over 1t in the bright sunshine and With
her happy heart, the distance then seeming
very short /; but tonight she had lost every
landmark, she had nothing to which trust,
her prayers, and an uncertain feeling that she
was going IN the right direction.
Many times Dan walked and uttered sharp,
iratated cries, or begged her, in his broken ba-
by talk, to let him "li- down and go by )" but
she could only soothe him With loving words,
sitting the cries with her kisses, and stretching
out her weary, aching arms, to lull him into
quiet, by initiating as well as sire could the mo-
tlon of his cradle.
Drenched and strfened by the storm and tbs
cold, what Rachel suffered that night We can
never know. The mornlng found her on the
outskirts of a wood which sne recognized with
thankfulness, as lying near the shell road,
once upon which her progress would be much
more certain and rapid. But where was she