Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-03-01

mot require much to tempt me. Wha
was death to me slave? A momen
tary dream from which I should wax
to an endless and glorious liberty
a little darkness and then eterna
light. But if | stopped there-ah
shuddered to think. No, I'd go
the prison bars were all that interven
ed between me and liberty, and they
should fall before my strength.
Old Father White prayed for me
and as he knelt down on the wooder
floor of our prison, and offered uE
his petition to the great Creator to
aid me in my enterprise, and to pro
tect me on my way, a holy something
seemed to creep over me-a still, quiet
feeling, which made me think that
there was a great power above who
would even condescend to guard over
and protect the poor slave.
1t was not a very difficult thing for
me to remove two of the iron bars,
and when that was done my old friend
prayed again. The tears showered
down his checks. "Ramember," lie
said. when | had at length got through
the opening in the window, "that it is
now hundreds of years since the star
appeared to the shepherds. Look at
them tonight, Jim. The North star
it was made for the slave"
creot along very softly over the
fields Of the plantation and then took
the main road to the great river; but
| dared not travel far on it, as or
ders had been given to capture any
colored man found off his owners
property. So | kept along as near as
| could to the roadside, in the hope of
escaping observation. The night was
yet young, and the air was fresh and
frosty, so | made good way.
But when | first began to feel wea-
ry | suddenly thought of my poor
old friend. Would they punish him,
beat him, perhaps kill him for be-
inc party Of my escape? | could
not bear the idea. For some time |
stood irresOlute whether to return or
not. 1t would be better, | thought.
to 60 back-to give myself up and
confess all-rather than one hair of
his head should be injured. Just then
| looked up and saw the North Star.
1t was the Slaves star that pointed to
freedom. Must give it up? Must
| return now that my dream was al
most realized-now that the longing
of my soul was almost fulfilled p
Poor Father White! good old man
friend of my boyhood-my kind in
structor! Yes, | would abandon all
and back, back to slavery.
But bark! what was that? A noise
behind All! horses feet. Yes, and
the baying of the bloodhounds. No
stopping now. On, on; my pursuers
are behind-the hounds are on my
track. Oh, star! star shine-shine
in thy brilliant glory, light the haunt,
ed slave on his path-lead me where
LincOln's soldiers stand beneath the
banner of liberty or death! On
| sprang through the bush. The
branches cracked and bent as | flew
through them; the prickly bushes tore
and lacerated my flesh, but | did not
feel the wounds.
Closer they came behind, the bay
ing of the savage brutes grew more
distinct, and the certainty of being
torn to death by them gradually crepr
over me. | felt faint and sick, my
limbs grew weak, and dizziness wa:
stealing over my brain. Then | saw
before me a creek; it gave me hope
and courage. Into it | plunged, break
ing in doing so coating of ice, will
which | ha9 to contend all the wa,
across. 1t cut my legs painfully, bu
it was no time to mind that.
| gained the other side and raj
down the water side for mile O
more, just keeping my feet in tn
stream on purpose to fling the dogs Of
the scent; and then took to the wood
again. My pursuers [ could hear
and also the yelping Of the dogs, nov
at fault on the riverside. Faint an,
weary though | was, as the day brok
[ remembered, as the North star fa
ded from my sight, that one thousan
eight hundred and sixty-two years b(
fore the good Saviour was born, an
| felt calm, for He who loved man s
much that he died for him was, pei
haps, at that very moment gain
down from Heaven with pity, an
shielding with EIi- tH.Hipotent arr
the poor hunted slave.
The sun shone out very warm an
light as | continued my onward wa.
, The hounds | had not heard for som
; hours. and | was thinking that prob;
. bly, the pursuit had been given u
when a fresh difficulty presented
e self-ahead were the tents of Il
4 confederate army. 1t would requil
/ all my judgment to escape observ
e tion from any of the soldiers th
t might be rambling about. SO | toe
t a wide circuit, and at length made n
e way on my right, but | had hard
S done so ere heard the dogs again.
Il The Potomac could not be far ol
d and once on the other side and W
it free.
4 | pushed on and in an hours til
IL saw the great stream, but the do
were close on my track. 1t was
t. race for life. Nearer they came
| Then heard the horses again, al
d the shouts of my pursuers. They Sc
( me, and wild with excitement, on th
ID rode. A hundred yards, and tn
| the river. | looked round, and the
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