The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-03-09
SAVED BY A SLAVE.

October of the year L lived with them
In Burns Hollow.
There were two servants In the
kitchen, Hannah Oaks and the lad An
thony. l heard them laughing merrily
together, for though Hannah was an
old woman, she was full Of fun, and
In FIVE minutes the door opened and
Hannah came In with the tray.
please. miss" said she as she set 1t
down, may 1 run over to Mapleton
tonight? My sisters married daugh-
ter had boy last night, they tell me,
and 1 want to see Ii naturally-its the
first I've ever had OF grandniece or
nephew" -.
You may CO." 1 said, "but don't
stay late. Grandma and grandpa may
be away all night. and l feel nervous.
To be sure, there is Anthony, but l
never rely on him. Be certain not to
stay late"
Hannah promised, and after doing
all 1 required went away, and heard
her heavy shoes ten minutes after on
the garden walk outside.
Early as 1t was / dropped the cur
tains and lit the wax candle on the
mantle, and 1 sat long over my tea.
hnding u certain companionship In 1t,
as women of all ages will.
l sat thus long while, and was
startled from my reverie by rap ut
the door-a umid sort Of rap-so
that knew at once that II was neither
member of the house nor an init
mate friend. 1 waited, expecting An
thony to answer the door, but, finding
he did not, went to 1t myself
1t had grown quite dark and the
moon rose late that night. At first
could only make out n crouching figure
at the bottom Of the porch. But when
spoke 1t advanced. anu by the light
from the hall lamp saw black man.
had always had a sort Of fear of a
negro, and instinctively shrunk away,
but as l did so he spoke In a husky
whisper:
This is Massa Morton's, isn't II,
miss?'
YES" 1 replied; but grandfather is
out"
rstreated. He advanced.
please, miss" he said, Judge B.
sent me here. He said Massa Morton
nd help me on. Let me stay here a
night, miss. rs trabelled Ave days
since l left him. Hidin' like. rs aw-
ful hungry-pears like I'd drop, and
old marsa Is arter me. For de lub Of
heaben, miss, let me hide somewheres,
uAl 6iD luC JUS u huTsa
promise Marsa Morton 'ud help me-
an It's KEEP me up. Missus will,
know"
/ knew that grandfather had given
succor to some Of these poor wretches
before; but I felt that l might be do
ing wrong In admitting stranger In
his absence.
Caution and pity struggled within
me. At last I said:
"You have note from the Judge,
suppose?'
II had some writin' on paper"
said the man, "but rs loss II. De
night 1t rained 50. All, miss, rs tellin'
truff-Judge sent me, sure as rs Il
sinner. rs been help along so far, an
pears like 1 mus git to Canady. Can't
60 back noways. Got clear year ago.
Miss, I'll pray for you ebery day of
my life IL you'll jes' be good to me.
Thank ye, miss"
For somehow l had stepped back
and let him In.
1t was the back hall door at which
the rap had come, and the kitchen was
close at hand. led him thither. When
! saw how worn he was how wretch
ed, how his eyes glistened and how.
under his rough blue shirt, his heart
pulses, forgot my caution.
The negro ate voraciously, as only n
starving man could eat, and / left him
to find Anthony, TO whom / intended
to give directions for his lodging
through the night.
TO my surprise Anthony was no.
where In the house nor about the gar
den.
/ longed for Hannah's return, and
listened very anxiously until the clock
struck o. Then, instead of her foot
steps, l heard the pattering of rain
drops and the rumbling of thunder,
and looking out saw that heavy
storm had suddenly come on.
Now certainly grandpa and grandma
would not return, and perhaps Han
nah, waiting for the storm to pass,
would not be there for hours. How
ever. my fear Of the negro was quite
gone and felt certain pride in con-
Quoting myself bravely under these
trying circumstances.
Accordingly I went upstairs, found
in the attic sundry pillows and holsters
= and carried them kitchenward.
Here" l said, make yourself a bed
on the settee yonder and be easy for
the night. No one will follow you In
this storm. and no doubt grandpa will
assist you when he returns. Good
night"
Goodnight, and God bless you,
miss" said the negro, speaking still in
the same husky whisper. And so j
left him.
But not to so upstairs to my bed
room. / intended for that night TO re-
main dressed and to sit up In grand
pas armchair with candles and book
to keep me company. Therefore ]
locked myself In. took the most com.
Portable position possible, and opening
volume composed myself TO read.
Reading foil asleep. How long |
slumbered | cannot tell. l was awak-
encd by a low sound like the prying OF
chisel.
At first 1t was mixed with my dream