The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-07-16

from dream. The servants nat been or
dcred to refill the glasses with wine and the
voice went ON
"Mr. Coulac, have long promised my
family n story of your land forty years ago,
and il You will not thiul, me rude will tell
IT. in your presence"
You can say nothing, sir, to make me
love my country less as | believe you would
say nothing to wound the feelings of your
guest
The banker nodded with an amused smile
as it to say, "We'll see about that" and
proceeded
at is now some forty.odd years since a
peddler could be seen plodding his way
through one of those prairies whose rich land
has given the name of the black bell' to many
counties In the southern part of Alabama.
Not that the appearance of these travellers
was an unusual occurrence, for 1t was in the
good old days when the planter ruled his do
mains like feudal lord, and extended the
hospitality of his home TO the passing
stranger, and the peddler with his pack
served 20 while away the leisure hours ofthc
ladies of the mansion, and to vary the
monotony of the plantation life for the dusky
Dinahs of the quarter. This particular tour
list carried all his worldly gear in his pack,
but he was rich in youth, in health, and in
Yankee pluck. As he trudged along under
the October sun he whistlcd as ioyously as
the hooking birds in the magnolia groves
near the great house he was approaching.
IL was the hour of noon, and, as he was near
the quarter he thought he would rest there,
and perhaps secure some savory additions To
his scanty lunch. AS he opened the gate a
tow headed urchin called out, in drawl
peculiar to poor white trash II you uns
comes in hyar I'll sic my yaller purp on you
Just then n woman whose shining black face
aud portly figure could belong to none other
than the cook sailed round the house car
rying rough unpublished horn. Upon this
she blew blast so loud and long that the
traveller fancied the walls of another Jericho
were to tumble at its hoarse summons. See
ing the stranger at the gate, her native
hospitality prompted her to accost him,
whereupon the boy again called out, You ole
Chloe, if you don't make that 'ar beggar go
way from thar I'll tell my par Now the
| recollection of sundry dimes, tied up in an
| old stocking-leg in her chist, made her very
sensible of the duties the community owed to
this class of pilgrims, so setting her arms
akimbo and muttering, 'You shut up your
CAB, you poor sand digger, she proceeded to
arrange with the peddler for his MONDAY
| repast. The overseer rode by and regarded
them with scowl, which in no wise interfercd
with Chloe's good humor, for she repaid him
with supreme contempt. With a keen eye
to her own interest, she had not failed ia
consider the good of her fellows, and had
arranged for an exhibition of the peddler's
wares, while the overseer enjoyed his even
ing siesta. So merry group gathered in
front of Aunt Chloe's cabin at the appointed
hour, and brisk barter was being carried
| on with much lively chatter, when they were
interrupted by the gruff voice of the over
| seer: Get out of here, You rascally peddler
with your worthless traps. These niggers'
| heads are so full of your nonsense that they
| are no manner of account Then turning
| to Chloe, You black wench, you, when my
| family orders you to do anything you'd bet
| ter do it,
she bounced into her cabin, her frame
| quivering with Indignation as she replied
| Maair didn't send me here to be ordered
round by the likes of that tow headed Billy.
Meanwhile, the peddler was leisurely pack
ing his wares, when the overseer, his wratl
increased by Chloe's impudence, ordered hin
to trot up
walked ON to yonr land, and I'll wall
off, and nothing you can say or do will maxi
make me trot, was the cool reply.
| "'I'll make two of these niggers take 20,
down and beat the life out of you, you i'm
choked with passion.
"'You'll have one negro the less then
for while they are doing it shall certainl.
kill one of them replied the peddler
Strengthening up and taking calm surve.
| of the brawny Samsons around him.
"'Cyrus Major tie that Yankee sneal
down and give him iifty,' came the order.
"The negroes skunk back, affecting NOR
fear than they really felt, for they rejoiced i
the opportunity of paying of old score
against their brutal tyrant. Il das' ent I
touch that white man, said Cyrus trembling
fur he'll kill me Shore
| I'll show you how to come here toachin
these black apes sass said the overseer, a
most beside himself with rage and seizin
the peddler, whereupon ensued scuf1le, i
which his brute strength was no match fC
the youthful agility of his rival, and he 500
cried Justify for quarter. The peddler, seen
ingly we'll satisfied, released his hold, an
with a friendly nod to the negroes went o
his way. He had reached town in the aftel
noon, and was exhibiting his wares, when h
was roughly seized and sheriif's warrar
thrust into his hands. He was arreste
, upon the grave charge of melting the slave
to resist lawful authority and a murderor
assault upon the person of their overseel
In the midst of strangers and almost penn
less he was thrust into Jail to await his trii
before the ensuing court. Rumors of h
dangerous character and incendiary missio
fioated, like thistle down, upon the wings
, every wind, for it was at an sra when til
seeds of sectional distrust, destined, like til
teeth of the labeled dragon, to spring IL
armed warriors, We're being sown broaC
cast. Well was it for him that he had bee
schooled in the primitive simplicity of Ne
/ nnln nd hpt1aa fnr 1,a for
mercy from people led to regard him as
emissary to their slaves, bearing under I'll
peaceful guse of his calling the torch of n
incendiary and the knife of murdere
, He had tried, but in vain, to secure an adv
cate, for none of the lawyers dared to brea
the tide of popular prejudice, stronger in i
! | ebb and flow than the surges of the might
| sea.
a "a few days before the trial he sat in h
, cell thinking sadly of his far-oif home al
, his widowed mother, when he was rous,
: from his reverie by the grating of the rus
q bolt of his door, which swung open and a
mitted the jailer. He was followed by mt
a in the prime of intellectual and physic
a vigor. Aristocrat was stamped upon eve
line of his finely ohiseled face, and he ca
ried himself proudly as one born to rul
> Col. Vining, said the jailer, has come
. | oco What hc bhh uo Dbu. n
n sprang up in the heart of the prisoner as
n looked into the calm dark eyes, and not
- the confident bearing of his visitor. Tn,
n were left alone, and after n conference til
lasted far into the night they parted with
fervent God bless you, sir, from the pc
a dler. If my life is spared said he, W
q repay your Kindness
q "' Understand, young man, don't espor
.e your cause for the sake of fee. have il
% heard that none of these pettifoggers wor
d defend you, and it shall never be said VIII
q Edward Vining lives that helpless stranl
% could find no advocates in the courts of Al
l. ALBANIA. It's not the first time by many Il
D. have done what they don't dare to do.
a "The day for the trial rolled round a
Il public excitement was at fever heat.
ne courtroom was crowded with eager, desp
e ate men, determined to have the blood of
m vile abolition emissary at any CO
le Il reckon Vining win hardly get
10 hfa ltlinu from tbfg ,rnvr