The National tribune., 1885-03-26

settled by the general voice. The religious iu-
fiuence that had grown up in eur midst also
tended powerfully to prevent any interference
of the stronger with the rights of the weaker.
Indeed, the completeness of our voluntary
discipline and the systematic manner in which
we employed our time W. - tie less than mar
velOus To sleep was always in order, when pos
sible but the disposal of waking hours was not
left TO the will of each person. The only game
permitted was that of checkers, or drafts and
over the rude board carved on the floor eager
players bent during all the hours allotted to
amusement Then we had couple ofhours daily
for debating, and discussed questions of every
kind. No little ingenuity and skill were thus
exercised. Often great political questions oc-
cupied our attention, aud evoked real and
strong differences of opinion. Strange as it may
seem, there were but two ofns-Buffum and my
self-who avowed ourselves out-and-out aboli-
tionists. The name had not yet lost all its re-
proach, but We held our own in argument,
especially when we pointed out the natural re-
suit of slavery in making men barbarous and
inhuman even to whites as illustrated in our
condition. That argument never failed to give
Us the advantage!
We also set aside two hours in the forenoon
and two in the afternoon for reading During
this time not SO much as q whisper was permit
ted, and few schools have kept better discipline.
Any one not wishing to read was permitted to
sleep or occupy himself in any quiet manner.
Frequently some one was selected to read aloud
for time, but this only took place by general
consent, that those who wished to read silently
might be undsturbed. The extraordinary
character of these exercises win be better ap-
preciated when it is remembered that we had
no Light reading but mainly theological
works with few volumes of travels, bogra-
ply and poetry ust what the good minister's
library could furnish, for we read everything
we could get. The Bible was not forgotten.
When the supply of books ran short, we re-
sorted to our memories. All the promi-
nent incidents of our lives had been told
in our terribly close association, and we next
began to repeat for the common benefit the
books we had read so far as we could remem-
Der them. One night about dark | began to
tell something about weird book l had read
a few months previously. A few questions
elected fuller detail, and it was after midnight
before the story was finished. Buifum, espe-
cially, was so deeply impressed that when re-
leased he took the earliest opportunity OF get
ting and reading the volume, but he gave me
great compliment by saying that the original
was not half SO good as the copy. The changed
circumstances, perhaps, made more natural,
if less tlattering, explanation of his diminished
interest. We also had our regular hours for
gymnastic exercise,-wrestling boxing aero
Gatic feats, etc. One of our party, Hawkins
having once been connected with circus, now
trained us in all the exercises that our enfee-
bled condition and close quarters permitted
Much OF the health and vigor that we retained
during so long an imprisonment was due to
our systematic and diversified employments.
This careful division OF time, and endeavOr
after constant employment, was, doubtless, of
great advantage but il could not change the
fact that we wero close prisoners in sitting
room, and far from our home. Those Summer
days as month after month glided away, were
terribly long and oppressive. The tediousness
and vain longing for action pressed upon us
more and more closely. We fought the dread
ful weight with all the strength of our wills,
but even will-power grew feebler The Eugi-
neer, Brown, who was one of the most restless
of mortals all nerve and fire in action, capable
of enduring tremendous hardship if it were
only of an active character, would pace the
floor back and forth like q caged tiger; when
this, too. grew uncomfortable he would stop at
the door, shake its woven iron bars till they
rang again, and say in the most piteous tones
(of course, meaut only for as to hear, "Oh,
kind sir, please let me out! L want to go
home!" The feeling he expressed was shared
by all. Never before could l realize the full
value of liberty and the horror OF confinement.
In previous prisons the novelty of our situa-
ton, the frequent removals, the painful excite
ment of trials prevented the blank monotony
of Imprisonment from settling down upon us
as it did here, after the first few weeks OF our
stay in Atlanta rolled by, and no whisper re-
garding our probable fate reached rs. 1t was
like the stiffness and death that brood over
the Dead Sea- -..-.
We would sit at the windows in the sultry
noon and look out through the bars at the free
birds as they flew past, seemingly so full of JOY
Gus life and foolishiy wish that We were birds,
that we, too, might fly far away and be free.
At long intervals, two of us at a time would
be permitted 10 go down into the jail-yard to
do some UaSbiup fnr ourselves o-,u tho aFtv
This great privilege came round to me IL. last.
1t was then three months since | had stepped
out of that priSonrO0ln, and the unObscurcd !
vision of open air and sky made<it seem like
another world. l remember looking up at the
snowy clouds, my eyes dazZled by the unusual
light. and wondering, rs gazed in admiration
upon their beautiful and changing forms,
whether beyond them lay world of rest in
which there were neither wars nor prisons.
Oh, how longed for freedom to be where |
could look up at the sky every day and go
where | wshed Yet with the thought came
a great fear. If ] was ever removed from the
pressure of immediate danger. and allowed to
mingle i'll the interests and cares of the thrOng
ing world might | not forget my prison made
vows and lose my claim to the world beyond
the clouds and starS2 Such a sense of weak
ness and helpleSsucss came over me that | felt
greatly relieved when, my task being done,
was conducted back to the dark and narrow
prl5Onr room, where the contrast between free
dom and bondage was less palpable!
All this time we hardly permitted ourselves
to indulge hope of getting home again. The
friends we had known in happier days were
from us by an impossible gulf; and
when fancy called round US the loved scenes
and friends at home, it was like treading upon
forbidden ground. But when the long day had
dragged its hours away. when we were weary
with fighting against WEAKNESS, the night re-
moved every restraint, and for a few golden
hours love and freedom were ours again.
Often in dreams have ! seen the streets and
buildings of my own town rise before me, and
have felt thrilling pleasure in contemplating |
each feature of the landscape around as | |
weuded my way in fancy towards tho old log |
cabin forever Consecrated by affection But the |
waking from such dreams of earthly paradise |
was sad beyond measure. The evening hour, |
when the burning heat had abated, and when |
we were settling to rest,-thOugh it was on the |
bare floor. and without even stone like that |
upon which Jacob piIloWcd his head, was our |
happiest time. Then prayer and song and more |
cheerful conversation prepared us for rest, and |
often for happy dreams But the morning |
hours, when we wakened, hungry, sore, unre-
freshcd, with no food but cur miserable hit of |
vile bread and spoiled meat, and long day 10 |
Look forward to,-thcse were always dreary. |
After prayers, and our apology for q breakfast, |
we grew more cheerful and again took up the |
task of living.
An anecdOte here will fitly illustrate the af-
fection and exaggerated reverence felt for what |
we, to the great annoyance of the guards aud |
cd ErAfc