The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-08-18
CHAPTER XIII.

Samson and Harry Spend Night
In the Home Of Henry BrImstead
and Hear Surprising Revelations,
confidentIaIly Disclosed. t1
Early In the autumn Of that year
: the Reverend Elijah Lovejoy Of AL
ton had spent night with the Tray.
lors on his way to the North. Sitting
by the fireside he had told many a
vivid tale of the cruelties Of slavery.
II would not have you think that
all Shareholders are wicked and heart
less" he said. "They are like other
men the world over.. Some are kind
and indulgent. II all men were like
them slavery could be tolerated. But
they are not. Some men are brutal
in the North as well as in the South.
II not made SO by nature they are
made 30 by drink. To give them the
power of life and death over human
beings, which they seem to have In
parts Of the South, is a crime against
God and civilization"
II agree with you," said Samson.
II knew that you would" the min
lister went on. I'VE have already had
some help from you but we need more.
I take 1t as a duty which God has
laid upon me 70 help every fugitive
that reaches my door. You can help
the good work Of mercy and grace
If you hear three taps upon your win.
dow after dark Or the hoot Of an owl
In your dooryard you will know what
II means. Fix some place on yohr
farm where these poor people who are
seeking the freedom which God wills
for all His children, may find rest and
refreshment and security until they
have strength to 60 on"
Within week after the visit Of
Mr.. Lovejoy, Samson and Harry built
hollow haystack about halfway from
the house to the barn. The stack had
a comfortable room inside Of it about
eight feet by seven and some six feet
In height. Its entrance was an open
ing near the bottom Of the stack well
screened by the pendant hay. But no
fugitive came to occupy it that winter.
Soon after the new year Of 1885
Samson and Harry moved the Kelsos
to TazeweN county. Mr.. Kelso had
received an appointment as land agent
and was to be stationed at the little
settlement Of Hopedale near the home
Of John Peasley.
Late, in the afternoon Harry and
Samson left the Kelsos and their ef-
fects at small frame house in the
little village Of Hopedale. The men
had no sooner begun to unload than
its inhabitants came to welcome the
newcomers and help them In the work
Of getting settled. When the goods
were deposited In the dooryard Sam
son and Harry drove to. John Peas
ley's farm. Mr.. Peasley recognized
the big, broad-shouldered Vermonter
at the first look,
do I remember you?" he said.
"Well, I guess ! do. So does my barn
door. Let me take hold Of that right
hand of yours again. Yes, sir. It's the
same old iron hand. Marry Annw he
called as his wife came out Of the
door. Here's the big man from YER
gennes who tossed the purity slaver'
II see it is," she answered. "Ain't
ye comm in2
IF you try to pass this place I'll
have ye took up" said Peasley.
"There's plenty Of food in the house
an stable"
"Look here-that's downright self
ish," said his wife. If we tried to
keep you here Henry Brimstead would
never forgive us. He talks about you
morning, noon and night. Any one
would think that you was the Samson
that slew the Philistines.n
"How is Henry" Samson asked.
"He married my sister and they're
about as happy as they can be this
side the river Jordan" she went on.
They've got one O. the best farms
in Tazewell county and they're goin'
to be rich"
"Yes, sir; I didn't think O. that"
said Peasley. Henry and his wife
would holler If we didn't take We over
there. It's only quarter Of mile.
I'll show We the way and we'll all
come over this evening and have a
talkin' bee."
Samson was pleased and astonished
by the look Of Brimstead and his
home and his family and the account
Of his success. The man from the
sand fats was cleanly shaved, save
for a black mustache, and neatly
dressed and his face glowed with
health and high spirits. A handsome
brown-eyed miss Of seventeen came
galloplng up the road on her pony
and stopped near them.
"Annahel, do you remember this
mani" Brimstead asked. M
The girl looked at Samson.
HE Il the man who helned us out