The workingman's advocate., 1871-06-24

for the time, as | was busy with some pa
pers, and had only been attracted BY the
sound Of the oars as they passed under the
stern OF tie vessel On the second trip Of
the lighter | was on deck, and the same in.
dividual was there. | caught again bis
eye, and, as 1 gazed upon him, he uttered
cry Of surprise, stretched forth bis arms
for second, then shook his head sorrow.
fully, and sunk it upon bis bosom, as if in
despondency. That it was Billy, | had
not now the most distant doubt my heart
leaped TO embrace him, slave as be was.
But how be had come into this present stu
alton | could not conceive. | requested
the black who Lad charge Of the Double
Noses (the name Of the craft to send
Billy upon deck and az soon as he reached
it. held out my hand to him. ! believe
my eyes we're dry; his we're pouring q
food Of tears upon my hand, which be
kissed again and again. The crew and
others looked on in amazement. The cap.
tain of brig shaking hands with black
slave Such an occurrence they had never
witnessed; for my crew we're native
Americans, and looked upon negroes as an
inferior race Of men. He was now a stout
young man, but rather thin and detected !;
be was naked, save pair of old trousers,
and bis shoulders and back bore the scars
Of many old and recent stripes. His for
mer vivacity was now nowhere to be traced
in bis melancholy countenance the indie
pendence Of his former manner bad entire
ly forsaken him; be was, in truth, brok-
en- in spirit and crushed slave | resolved
at once to purchase his liberty, if within nv
power, and told him 50, when be fell at INV
feet, wept, and kissed my shoes before /
could lift him up. He bad not, as yet,
opened bis lips; bis heart was too full
emotion shook bis frame; and, to ease the
feeling that seemed likely to choke him, |
went from the cabin to th, state-room.
leaving him alone, while | sought out
jacket and light vest for him. | staid no
longer than was necessary to give him time
to recover. 1t was ever engraven upon nv
heart-that look Of gratitude be gave me.
His attempt to speak was still a vain ef-
fort. He was another mans slave and IL
able to punishment. requested him to
90 away to bis duty, and not tell any one
what | meant TO do, lest bis master should
ask an exorbitant sum, if he thought | was
resolved TO purchase at any price. So
be went into the Moses, and pulled
ashore; but kept bis gaze constantly upon
me.
As soon as nv business would permit, |
went on shore before SUI down, to make
inquiries about his purchase from bis pres
ent master, and was pleased to find that be
was the property Of the merchant to whom
my cargo was consigned. | told him Al
once frankly off hand, that | wished to
purchase a slave OF bis, to whom | had
taken a fancy. He replied that | was vel
come to any Of then at fair valuation, and
then called bis Overseer-for he himself
cared little about bis slaves, hardly know
ing them by sight, and inquired if knew
bis name. told him the one | meant was
called Billy, and described him. The over
seer at once knew whom L meant, and said
| would be welcome to him at cost, for be
was stubborn, sulky dog, and gave him
much trouble, and, besides, was getting ra-
ther sickly; 50 that, if chose, | might
have him for two hundred dollars. | at
once agreed, and, after supper, went on
board, happy that | Ed succeeded so vel I;
for Billy was to be handed over to me ID
the forenoon, as soon as the notary had
made out a transfer. At length be came
on board, joy beaming in every feature
but 50 much had bis noble spirit been
crushed and broken that be still felt bis
inferiority, and stood at an humble dis
tance. lie had been taught the severe les
son Of what it was to be slave. When
met him first, all be knew Of the white man
was the most humble submission to King
Peppel and his fathers humors Their
word was law to them at Bonny. How
great the contrast to him here He was
lnsulted, despised and tortured BY the lash,
by those very whites be had been taught,
when a child, TO look upon as scarcely bis
equals. Had be been even prince in the
interior, bis bondage to the whites would
not have been half so CALLING. | beckoned
him to follow me to the cabin, where got
from him an account Of bis adventures since
bad left him in Bristol.
The captain left him at school on bis
next voyage to the coast, and did not take
him out until the second year, when Billy
could read English well, and had learned
TO cipher and write tolerable hand. On
beng delivered safely to bis father, the
prime minister was proud Of his accomplish
nents. Captain Waugh was must hberally
rewarded; King Peppel was glad to have
one about him who could make " book
speak" Billy had every appearance Of
rising into great favor but, poor fellow,
the accomplishments bis father was 50 proud
Of proved the ruin Of them both, and Of ali
their family. 10 King Peppers court there
was as much ambition, intrigue and rivalry
as in the most civilized in Europe nor
we're the political plotters less scrupulOus IN
the means they used to overturn the intiu-
ence Of rival. They first began to hint,
10 an indirect manner, that Bonnytace had
sent bis son to the white mans land to
learn obi and write " feteche," or charms.
The king for some time only laughed at
them, but their endless inuendos gradually
began to poison his mind and, while he
became cool aud more cool in his manner,
the secret enemies had brlbed the priests,
Or feteche men, who also enyied Billy
his accomplishments, and they openly de-
clared that It was not good to have whI-e
man ''leteche" III the black mans coun-
try
Old Bonnyflce saw the storm gradually
thicken around him, without the means Of
averting u; but this torturIng state Of un-
certainty came To close. The king, who
had been aillng for some time, and apply
lng to the surgeons Of the slave ships with
out much relief, was advised to try the
physicians Of bis own country. These were
tne priests and feteche men and this was
the opportunity SO long desired by the enc
mics Of Billy family. 1t was declared BY
all that thara MAS ,rh;ta roan'S ttrofaaha M