, 1874-01-11
COL. TOM EWING.
0osv IN Abolitionist Came Eenr Pur-
chasing Slave.

E1osv IN Abolitionist Camo Ecar Pur.
chasing u Slave.
Correspondence Lo'tssrilLe {hp.} Courier-1ourn1L
During the troubles OF bleeding Kansas, in the
year 1853, moved TO Le8venworth, taking with
me negro boy and girl, the latter spriehtly
nurse sbout Is years of age. There formed
the acquaintance Of Col. Tom Ewing, then d
young lawyer like myself, and firod with patri-
otic ardor to make Kansas free Stato, az I was
bent on accomplishing contrary result The
line between tho pEo.slavery men aud the aboI-
tionlsts Was closely drawn as respected both our
social and political relations. Tom at that time
took lively aud active interest in behalf Of the
Free State cause lie has changed since then,
aud maybe it is wrong to visit the sins OF his
younger manhood on his maturer years, but the
snocdote id too good to keap. Col. Ewing had
two or three littlo children, one IN infant
at the breast his wife was in very delicate
health, and the servantgir1 question drove
him almost to despair. He approached me ono
morning with wo.;p-out, voc-begone look: Mr..
y" he began II am in deal OF trouble.
My wife is confined to her bed, the baby has
lungs like young jackasa. md can't find
nurne worth cent. I've tried the Yankee, tho
Dutch, and the I1ish girls. and wouldn't give
10 cents for every devil OF EN- put together. I
was up all last night, the night before and the
night before that, walking that baby OF mine
over tho house, giving it paregoric and putting
cold cloths to its head, aud I can't stand it aur
longer. NY dear fellow. tell mo where can get
. nurse that will do to trust, and III remember
you to Tho day OF my death" '' have tha very
Visit to kentucky tor month or two. aud mean
while will lend you my negro gll. You will fed
her the best you ever saw aud have no need
OF her At present" He accepted the proposition
gratefully, and went home and ordered Lefty
to 20 at once as nurse for ueishbor Tom. Next
daY he seemed different man entirely, and his
gratitude was bouudless. - l wouldn't give tins
nlgger," lo remarked, :. for all the white trash
iu the world as nurse. Last night was tho
first nights sleep l have had fur month. "
During this time I scarcely met him without
hearing him repeat his psaiscs' Of his negro
nurse. 1 LINK lie fatteaed ~ pounds under tho
sound sleep her watchfu1noss guaranteed him;
aud even the baby grew strong. both IN its at
tachment to the nurse and in its physical pro-
PORTIONS At the appointed time Mrs. y re-
was suspended, 10 We returned to housekeeping.
Ewing was changed man He swore by nll
that was good aud bad lie would go completely
mad unless I would let him have my girl again.
Ho kept her just long enough to epol him, he
said and was relapsiLs into hypocnondria and
despair. Ho thought it most baroarous treat
mont to takeshef from him, aud proposed to
pay any sum might asa as hire He wouldn't
be put OIL, but time and again pleaded aud be-
seecbed me to let him have her for . few weeks
louger on any terms. Finally oeckoned him to
one sido mud laid down my ulimatum: ''Tom,"
said !, :. l un sorry not to lie able to accom1no-
date you but you can have my girl only on ona
and that Is. will soil her to yoa as your
slave for 1.te." TIC idea OF prominent Free
soller *'dcalipg in human llesa!" But the tempta-
ton was severe oae. Ho dropped his eyes
quickly to the ground and blushed to tho roots
of his hair. ''rhat il too bad" he at length re-
piled; 'syou know as well as do that can't
buy slave: why do you wish to annoy me? Fur
Gods sake let me have l1er for three months
longer aod III ''rll be f1abbergasted il /
do put ill., you c.n get her by purchase;
not otherwise if you have to keep awake tho
balsnce of the year. You are willing enough,
no doubt for me to own her, aud you get the
in me. l don't propose to lit the burden OF
tile pro-slaycry crlue OF your shoulders and put
it on mine. II you Share her services you must !
also bear tho stigma, aud un:ll sou get ready TO
make the purchase you m1ght as well sag nottl-
tug more on the subject. For $500 will give
you clean bill Of sale 20 more, no Less"
But TINT tailed to satisfy him. We never met
but he came at mo again imploring that should
either lend or hire. tut buy-he couldn't think
Of such thing. Tho pro-slavery mon and FREQ
soilers were at- da;gers points. and for tho
leader OF the latter party to surrender their ]
glorious principles thus carly in the fight. and
20 furnish the horrible institution this sort Of
udorsement-why, it was simply treason to en-
.ertaln tho thought for moment. !" All light"
would say, ''you moy ..uss; 60 ahead then,
however, he came into my Office looking. If
possible. more limp aud haSSard than ever be-
fore. ''It's dev1hsh mean Ill you. y. but l
san't sacrifice my own and my wlfe's health any
longer. Here It is," he aeded, extending his
hand, in which was firmly clutched 8 small pieco
rY,f Il | "
ing back in well-feisued ignorance OF lis neau- |
pc Il Why" he went on, III suppressed wins |
per- and nanlfestius the deepest embarrassment, |
:. here's check for that S50o, ,--sond the ulgger
wlucb, by the way, the Colonel was very far
rom enioying) almost too6 his breath by my |
-aply ). Tom Ewing, coofouad your Abolition
1i-e, you shouldn't have my girl at my price. |
FIVE huodrcd dollars, indeed! Anybody elso |
night have ler for that sum: but you shouldn't
;ou suppose l would sell Likely girl
ike that to a cusscd Abolitlonist? Get out.
ION, get out, and 60 home to your baby!'
had before tllat timo often enough seen mou
sho were plagued" but until then never
suew the full meaning OF the term. He WAS
he Norst confouuded man I ever saw in my
lie. lie felt from thd bottom Of his heart, no
loubt. that had treated him F" devilish mcan,"
md in Wow OF that fact agreed not to tell the |
oke on him. md have to thus daV kept it out OF !
,rlut. LIVING moun2o MS views cous1uelap4y
N the slavery question after that time, but !
whether no was influenced by his experience
gith tho negro nurse am unable to state posi-
lively. He is now as good Democrat IS Ohio
au boast, and hope one day to see him Gov
rnor OF tho State. ! am willing to venture,
Ioweyer, that ho has never forgotten how near
e came to being the owner OF '.hunan f1esh"
u tue free State OF bleeding Kansas. l am
ometirnes almost sorry I didn't let him have
er, but couldn't resist the temptation to
aako him feel as badly over it rs possible.
Social Institutions In Ashantee.
The social institutions Of Aslantee bear