Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-04-11
DIR. POnlp.

own state, gentlemen often trusted tried
bondsmen with their families as well as
with their estates, during long absences.
A rich land owner having heard of slave,
Il reckless and imperious young fellow,
whom his master was to sell because he
had refused obedience to his son, resolved
to run the risk and purchase him, notwith-
standing they said his spirit chad never
been broken
Pomp had, like the most of us, n beset-
ting sin; it was pride of blood and of
honor; or in other words, he was an aris-
tocrat. He could not forget that in boy
hood he was prince; that he was borne
about on the shoulders of strong men,
Graded in skins that were the softest tro-
phies Of the chase, and lulled to elumber
by the sweetest singers of his tribe and
the tinkling of their rude stringed instru-
ments. Was it any wonder that, with all
these memories fresh on his heart, he could
not obey the call Of every pert boy that
wanted his gun or his ball brought to him
Or that he put on n few of the airs of
royalty?
Pomp's maternal ancestors had been
snake charmers and magic healers, and he
always felt that there was healing in his
own touch for those he loved-he would
never try his powers on others. All who
knew him acknowledged his skill with
herbs, whether his patient were human
being or disabled horse or sick dog.
This great, terrific looking fellow was
brodght into thai huge kitchen of his own
er one stormy December night. There
were two women and girl and three
black boys there at the time, and though
they had never seen or heard his name
they were seized with spirit of almost
worship rs well as awe. They We'd will
each other from that hour in serving him
and old Molly, who had been tyrant ovel
the black family before, was hunlhled for
ever, and became as peaceable as Il lamb
OF course the wild stories Pomp told o.
his grand early life, and the airs he put
on, kept up the delusion of his greatness
More than once old Molly, when told to dc
something by one of the ladies, forgot her
self and said, "Yes'm; quick's Is sarved
de doctor, will"
The blacks always called him :" Dr.
Pomp,' the boys called him Pompous,
and The ladies called him Pompey.n
Pomp was born with strong moral prin
ciples, bnt was at this time as utterly de-
void of religion rs were his half-naked
people on the banks of his native river
Indeed, he had n heathenish hatred of God
and all that pertained TO His worship; anC
Molly, who more than half sympathizeC
with him, and who never went to churct
except when she had new bonnet ol
gown to show, said mysteriously: " Folks
might tink de doctor hadn't got no 'ligion
but dey was 'stakcned, for he fotehed his
own 'ligion wild him cross de big sea, and
he dance and howl it out now down in dc
great swamp in de midnight when all Dc
oder 'ligious folks is sleep"
The truth was, Pomp was a heatben Of
the widest ort,although living in Chris
tian land and in Christian home. He
had no family of his own, but he set hi:
heart on one of his masters sons with Il
strange love, and often declared that hC
would lay down his life to please that boy
Pomp cut and sold timber and grain in hi
masters absence, and his shrewdness il
selling became Il proverb-" Sharp ~
Pomp, (which is even now occasionally
heard from some aged man in that region
Pomp was very fond of fine clothes, anC
nothing pleased him so much as cast of
coat or hat of his beloved masters. A
one time the old gentleman laid aside hi'
white wig for new one, and one of tn
family offered it to him, playfully. To the
amazement Of all, he appeared the mex
Sunday with it completely covering hi
tight, black wool. and contrasting strange
" with his sable face.
Pomp never went into the church, bu
always sat on the stone-wall opposite, al
service time, to show his own CRANE
clothes, and to look at other peoples, Il
they went in and out.
College temptations proved too mucI
for the boy Pomp loved 50 dearly, and HI
came home with taste for the wine-cul
and gaming-table Now, although POM
had no fear OF God before his eyes, he hat
high idea of honor, and he felt that tn
whole family was degraded by Mas
Morton'sn being seen in low company Il
!. the tavern and the horse-race. He pleade
with him to stay at home; he followed hin
like n shadow wherever lie went as night
and when he could not prevent, he tried t
conceal his disgrace. He had been know
10 carry that young man mile in hi
arms, to watch his opportunity TO get hin
up stairs quietly, and then sit beside hi
bed weeping, and whispering some magi
words over his " beauty boy" rs he calle
him.
But the boy grew worse and worse, an
his sanity mothers faith had almost failed
and Pomp's hope was nearly gone. Ii
resolved to offer up Il sacrifice to his ow
, god, in hope that he would save the boy
| He was watched and followed 10 til
swamp, which was his temple, and seen I
build fire on Il small altar of stones. o
t this he laid all the foolish trinkets, an
t even the wig, of which he was so GonC
and after that he slew his favorite do
| with one touch of his knife, and cast hin
= into the flames, amid wild howls an
, moans Of distress, he in the meantim
, dancing and whirling about, throwing Il
> his arms, and making terrific gaiuuces.
Another night, IL neighboring farmc
hunting for Il lost lamb, met u tall blac
t man and woman going toward the SWAIN
I'LL ,,ots ond kottlae in fhair handle III