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


she 90 dearly loved but for Dan. no chains, no
slavery. Sold Rachel laughed many
times that nigbt-an angry, scorniul laugh-as
she hugged the baby closer, and thought Of
the bargain closed by the aickerlng light.
:. Sold /" Wss he not Gods child we'll as
hers, and had lot God at last reused Himself
to care for His poor suffering children Ra.
chefs whole walk under that stormy night sky
was prayer, the outpouring from her one moth
er's heart Of oil the sufferings and sorrows. and
agoniss of persecuted race
No one was as yet as,ir upon the road and
though she staggered and bent under Dams
constantly increasing weight she never thought
Of resting. On, now. for those surging waters,
the low murmur Of which. as they broke upon
the shore, she could catch during the lull Of the
d, lng storm. To get az near to it as she could
before Dan walked and cried for the food which
she could not give him to put the sand over
which the water rushed between her and the
following bloodhounds-O, anywhere, only 80
Dan should be saved.
Rachel was accustomed to the shores Of this
bay; o e knew all its little inlets, and with =
clearpsss of memory sent to often in
great emergency, she could now recall many .
boat which lay moored along the banks. If she
could reach one Of these, hide herself and Dan
in its bottom, and wait there the coming Of that
feet, how fsrvently she would thank and bless
her Father who WAS not only in heaven, but
here with her.
But when the shore was reached she found
to her dismay, that the water too rough
for an inex perinced hand like hers to handle an
oar nor ss,she strained her eyes to look through
the distance, could she discern . single ship,
among the many lying at anchor, from which
hoated the stars and stri pes. Afraid OF being
seen, che hurried back into the woods she had
left, and here choosing spot where the low
spreading branches OF q live oak seemed to
promise safety, for the fret time sincs leaving
Myrtle Busn she laid her baby down. The
little fellow walked for a moment, then gave a
tired sigh, and sounoly asleep again.
We cannot follow them closely through the
four days during which they were secreted, Ra-
chel, improving such times as the baby slept to
steal away and provide something for his food.
Now it was a few ground nuts which she risk
ed what WAS dearer than her life to gather !;
now some raw potatoes which she dug, after
dark, from some vsl-remembered field and
once she came bringing an apron full of golden
oranges which she had ventured within a yard
to pick.
To say that she herself did without food all
this time would be TO state what not liter
ally true. But she was 80 misery in order TO
ave for D.n that the desh seemed almost to
drop off from her bones, and her face grew
ghasty.
AT length there came a sound which shook
the very earth upon which she stood. She
knew it at once. " At lastI At last . Thank
God they are not too late!' The Yankee fleet
are standing fair for Beaufort Bay. God is
their PILOT. Right in between the wall. of the
frowning forts guides them. Up to the
very mouth of the bristlihg cannons, which are
pouring down upon thsm red-hot death. Be
fore them, smlingly, wooingly a. If summer
oreeIss were kissing Is 10 rest, the stlll waters
of the bay beckon them on. Thither He will
take them by he strength Of His own right
arm.
Gayly and sauntingly. with their aag. aun1
to the breess and their many coiored streamers
waving for victory, ride the eight steamers OF
the Southern feet. Proud and scornful eyes
have come TO look upon the end of all their
fears. Noble forts, do your duty leave not
plank to tell the tale"
But no. Rachel and Dan are waiting for
Wabash and Dupont, with God leading MIN
on, is coming With his thirteen ships TO her res
cue. Not shot fred that day ; not
death grosn went up from earth to heaven, but
that covering, crouching negro girl and the
the trembling boy were brought nearer TO their
freedom. Patience only . little longer yet TO
wait
Soon the noble ships rode proudly at their
anchor in Beaufort Bay and not long after
their moorIng a sailor saw little boat coming
,owly toward them. Such wavering, uncer-
tain strokes from tns girl's hand who held the
oar, To her rescue " And they manned
a boat, and rowing 10 it, found Rachel and it-
tic Dan.
tew words of muttered, incohersnt prayer,
one long. Wild look OF Joy a. they tenderly lift
ed the boy, these words ssammered out from =
paIsying tongue:
Free Free Not sold y"
And Rachel l,on that glad birthday Of the free
dom Of osr race, With sll her young life
spent in giving the boon to her child. closed
her weary eyes mere TO open them not again
until they shall gaze upon the great white
Il rome.