The evening world., 1921-02-09
CHAPTER w..
CHAPTER ".
tCoDL1IrdD
I'm AAS'R, dc good Lord done
MH fotched Us here TO ask
j" you TO help" said the
rasrro UNEo no rioh

\" you 70 help" said the
negro. I'VE be nigh
wohn out with cold and 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 II
to the strangers, who sat shivering
in ,As hrelight They were a good
looking pair. the young woman being
almost white. They were man and
wife. The latter stopped eating aud
rnoaned and shook with emotion us
her husband told their story. Their
master, had died the year before and
they had been brought 10 ST. Louis
to be sold in the slave market. There
they had escaped 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. lie had
| taken pity on thom and, brought
them across the Mississippi and
started them on the north road with
letter to Elijah LoveiOy OF Alton
end supply OF food. Since then they
had been hiding days in the swamps
and thiCkets and had travelled by
night Mr.. IIovcjpv 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 HOpedalc, TaZewell County.
Lovejoy had asked them to keep
/ the letter with which they had begun
their travels. Under It's signature he
had written: Il know the writer and
| know that the above was written
with his own hand. His word can be
relied upon. To all who follow or
respect the example OF Jesus Christ
l commend this man and woman"
The letter stated that their late
master had often expressed his pur
nose OF leaving them their freedom
when he should pass away. He had
| eft no will and since his death the
two had fallen into the hands OF his
nephew, a dcspotic, violent young
drunkard OF the name of Biggs, VIII
had ruled his servants with club and
/ bull whip and who in temper had
| Eille1 young negro a few months
! before. The fugitives said that they
! would rather die than go back 10 him.
Samson was so moved by their
| story that he hitched up his horses
/ and put some hay in the wagon box
]
/ tn, md 70 the north in the night.
| When daylight came he covered them
/ with the hay. About S o'clock he
| came 10 a frame house and barn, the
| after being of unusual size for tha-
! time and country. Above the door OF
! .he barn was a board which bore tho
stenc.led legend: John Peasley, Or
! well Farm"
NJ. Peasley came out Of the door.
! Ho was big, full bearded joViaI
man.
"Tvc got a small load O hay for
YOU" said Samson.
II was expecting it, though ] sup
! posed 'twould be walkin--in the dark
! o. the night" Peasiey answered
| Drive in on the paru fiUUC'
When samson had driven into the
barn its doors were closed and the
| negroes were called from their place
| Of hiding.
For details Of the remainder OF tho
| historic visit Of Samson Traylor to
the home OF John Peasley we are in
debted to ~ letter from John 10 mis-
brother Charles. dated Feb. Il, 1889.
In this he Slys'
1--WE had gone out to the barn ana
Brimstead and l were helping Mr..
rraylIr hitch up his horses. All OF
sudden two men came riding up the
lOdu tbI "a 'N's - w ''' ~ - -,
come straight toward us ana pulled
up the wagon. one OF tnem was a
slim. rel-cheeNed young IeIIer ABOUT
twCnty-threc years old. he wore TOP
boots ana spurs and oroad-orimmed
black hat and gloves ana fur waist
coat and purity linen. He looked at
the tires OF the wagon and said:
That's the one We've followed
(which o you is Samson 'Iraylor|
he asked.
"l am said Traylor.
"Tho young feller jumped on his
horse and tied him TO the fence. Then
: he went up TO TraylJr and said:
What did YOU do with my niggers,
You dirty sucker?
"Men from Missouri hated the
Illinois folks them days and called EN-
. Suckers We always call a Missouri
man name too dirty 20 be put in a
. letter He acted like one o. the Ro-
man empcrurs yc read off,.
"'Hain't you a little reckless,
Young fclIer?' Traylor says, as cool as
cucumber.
II didn't know Traylor them days.
II / had, I'd a been prepared for
]