Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-05-28
UNCLE TOM.

ciol y SesA " Liz ILL A1ChoOh
had lived during the latter part of his
life on farm, of which he was the
owner. In his old age he was
large, sinewy, compactly built man,
but still bore the marks of hard
usage to which he was subjected DUR
ing his slave life. Both arms and a
shoulder blade were so badly broken
by the overseer, Bryce Litton, who
corresponds in character to Mrs.
Stoves Legree, that he was unable
from that time to lift his hands to
his head. His masters sister effici-
ated as surgeon and splintered up
the broken bones as best she could,
and nature did the rest. His escape
from slavery was remarkable one.
He carried on his broken shoulders
his two youngest children, while his
wife and two other little children
trudged YEARLY by his side through
swamps and by-ways in the long
night marches toward freedom.
When he had made progress as far
as Cincinnati they were weary and
foot-sore and out of food, and Mr..
Henson's back was chafed and bis
tered.
He hid his wife and children IN
the bushes and boldly marched into
town. He had been there before by
permission of his master, and had
many acquaintance among the free
colored population and he was cor
daily welcomed by them; and dur
ing the day they managed to bring
in his family. They tarried in Gin
cinnati some days till they were
rested and procured a better outfit.
They were advised to strike for Gen
eral Hull's military road at the Scioto,
which led through wilderdess,
where they could travel during the
day. Nearly all that part of Ohio
was wilderness 80 years ago, when
Mr.. Henson made this journey. The
trip through that section was any
thing but a pleasant jaunt. There
were terrors of Indians by day, and
the horror of bowling wolves by
night, and the road was so obstruct-
ed by fallen trees that the journey
was slow and painful. However, if
they had known it, they had much
less to fear from the few conquered
Indians that still fingered in that
wilderness, or even the wolves, than
from white men. 1t took them more
than four weeks to make the journey
from Davis County, KY, to the lake,
which they reached near Sandusky,
Ohio.
Mr.. Henson hid his family for the
last time in the bushes, and, seeing
vessel at some distance, walked ont
boldly toward it. AS he approached,
the captain hailed him. "Ha, man
Do you want to hire?" EYes," was
the prompt reply. There was col
ored man in the gang, and Mr.. Hen
son managed, as they carried in the
sacks of grain, 10 get near him and
whisper: ''How far is it to Canada %
The colored man understood at once
that his interrogation was ''runa-
way" and, with a significant look
and gesture, answered: ''You had
better go with us to Buffalo" ''How
far is Canada from Buffalo?'' "Just
across the river" .'But i have a
family hid out in the bushes. -
swell, our captain is good fellow :
you can trust him. I'll speak to him
about you" All this was whispered
under their breath as they passed and
repassed with their sacks of grain.
The captain was duly informed of the
matter, and, calling Mr.. Henson
aside, promised to take him and his
family to Buffalo. 1t was according
ly arranged that he should work on
till the vessel was loaded, which
would be about dark then he was
to walk down to the point where his
family were concealed, and the cap
tain would drop anchor and send 8
small boat for them.
The captain was true to his word
and dropped anchor opposite the
point where Josiah Henson stood on
the shore, sent yawl to him ii
| which were the colored man and two
sailors. The colored man and ont
sailor accompanied Henson to hell
bring on his family. But when ht
reached the place where he had hit
them they were not to be found. HI
called loudly but there was no re
sponse. However, hunting arounC
in the darkness among the bushes h
stumbled over one of his children
and as he embraced him and tolC
him that deliverance was at hant
they all came rushing in upon hin
over-joyed. In the awful suspens
of his long absence, the wife concluded
he had been captured, and when sh
heard the voices of others with him he
worst fears were confirmed, and sh
bade the children to run and hid
and make no answer if called. The
were soon on board the ship and o.
the way to Buffalo. The captain fe'
them well, and in the morning afte
breakfast, as the ship dropped an
+ chor at Buffalo, said to Mr.. Henson
"That is Canada just across the riy
er. I am going to see this thin
II