The Jasper news., 1921-09-08

Easy " hetN COinf0ftnDte IN tnt lttto
house. In eha worst weather Ham-
son had used to get up at night to
keep the FIRE going. Late in January
a wind from the southeast melted the
snow and warmed the air OF the mid
lands so that, for a week or 80, II
seemed as Il spring were come. One
night OF this week sambo awoke the
family with his barking. A strong
wind was rushing across the plains
and roaring over the cabin and WALL
Ing In Its chimney Suddenly there
was a rap on Its door. When Samson
opened Il he aaw In the moonlight
young colored man and woman stand.
ing near the doorstep.
''Is dis Mlstah Traylorr the young
man asked.
ut Is" said Samson. "what can I
DO for youf"
''Masr, de good Lord done fotched
us here to ask you TO help" said the
negro. I'VE be nigh wone out with cold
an hungah, sub, deed we be-"
Samson asked them In and put wood
on the FIRE, and Sarah got up and made
some hot tea and brought food from
the cupboard and gave 1t to the stran-
gers. who sat shlvering In the fireiight.
They were good-looklng pair, the
young woman being almost white.
They were man and wife. The latter
stopped eating and moaned and shook
with emotion as her husband told
their story. Their master had died
the year before and they had been
brought to st. Louis to be sold in the
slave market. There they had es-
capped by night and gone to the house
Of an old friend of their former owner
who lived north of the city on the
river shore. He had taken pity on
them and brought them across the
Mississippi and started them on the
north road with a letter to Elijah
Lovejoy Of Alton and a supply OF food.
Since then they had been hiding days
In the swamps and thickets and had
Travelled by night. Mr.. Lovejoy had
sent them to Erastus Wright Of
Springfield, and Mr. Wright had given
them the name of Samson Traylor and
the location of his cabin. From there
they were bound for the house OF John
Peasley, In Hopednle, Tazewell county.
Lovejoy had asked them to keep the
letter with which they had begun
their travels. The letter stated that
their late master had often expressed
his purpose of leaving them their free
dom when he should pass away. BE
had left no will and since his death the
two had fallen into the hands Of his
nephew, despotic, violent young
drunkGrd of the name of Biggs.
Samson was SO moved by their story
that he hitched up his horses and put
some hay in the wagon box and made
off with the fugitives up the road t.
the north in the night. When daylight
came he covered them with hay. About
eight o'clock he came to a frame house
and barn, the latter being of unusual
size for that time and country. Above
the door of the barn was a board
which bore the stenciled legend
"John Peasley, Orwell Farm"
As Samson drew near the house hS
observed a man working on the rooi
of woodshed. Something familiar II
his look held the eye OF the New Salem
man. In half moment he recognized
the face OF Henry Brimstead. 1t wal
now q cheerful face. Brlmstead camI
down from the ladder and they shool
hands.
"Good land o. Gosheni How did yot
get hereT Samson asked. Brlmsteat
answered:
Through the help Of q feller tina
looks like you an the grit OF pair O
horses. Come down this road early Il
September on my way TO the land @
plenty. Found Peasley here. Couldn'
help II. Saw his name on the barn
Used to go to school with him In Or
well. He offered to sell me some LAM
with q house on II an trust me for hi
pay. liked the looks o. the countr,
and so ! didn't go no further. wa
goin' to write you letter, but hahn
got around to 1t yet Aln't forgot VIVA
you done for us, l can tell ye that"
swell, this looks better than IN
sand plains-a lot better-and 70
look better than the flea farmer bac
in York state. How are the chi
drenT
"Fat an happy an well dressed
Mrs, Peasley has been a mother {
'em an her sister is goin' to be wifi
to me-" He came close to Samson an
, added In q confidential tone; Say,
I was any happier I'd be scairt. II
like was when / got over the tootl
ache-so scairt for fear It would CON
back was kind O. miserable"