Year: 1859

WRITTEN NJ mMsEIF--No. 5.


| The hilarity before spoken Of as having taken
possession Of my friends, was the only draw.
back to the soureesof enjoyment that surround.
ed me. II attracted considerable attention to
The part Of the boat allotted to us, and was
fearful lest my disgaise might be detected. How.
ever, the project was crowned with the utmost
success, for the present, at least. At late hour
that night l got back to my room, threw off my
disguise, felt for my lesthern wallet, and found
all safe. l then retired 10 my hammock, and
although It did not swing loose TO the sport Of
the wind, yet the ecstasy that possessed the
Sailor Boy in his dresm found fair counterpart
in the feelings that had taken possession of my.
self For an hour or more that lay awake,
various conflicting Ideas revolved themselves in
my mind. aud for The frst time in my life, be.
gan to doubt the political dogmas Of the Rspub
lican party. Indeed, there was no party in ex.
istence now, that knew Of, that fully met my
altered opinions on the subject Of slavery.
was almost = convert to the ironical expression,
once made by an eminent statesman, that " The
inevitable lava of population would finally
eradicate the ovil."


| did not repeatTfny visit to my friends on the
succeeding night, thinking It prudent to let their
hilsrity subside little. But on the night fol,
lowing donued ply wig and made my descent
into their quaftere What was my surprise,
when on my appearance they raised an almost
universal guifaw ! Tho noise attracted the at.
tention Of the overeeer, who no doubt thought
that one of his charge had Slipped overheard.
A rapid count Of noses satisfied him, however,
that he bad his full complement, if not more.
The clerk ofthe boat who must have been close
at hand, came hastily up and enquired il all
was safe, an he had heard sound like some.
thing falling in the water The overseer assured
him that he hsd his full complement. HoweY..
er, to satisfy himself, he made count. and
found the number to be forty one rHow is
this ?" he asked "yOur bill os siading calls for
but forty, aud here are forts one niggers. This
matter must be Investigated; the boat shall no;
be defrauded in this way while ] remain her
clerk shall acquniht the captain"


A few momepss brought that officer to the
scene Of confusion. aud few well-rounded sen.
tences, considerably mixed with expletives, told
the fism resolve. of the Kentucky commander,
which was to the effect that the extra niger
should be sold, on the first favorable opporu.
nifty, for the benefit of the boat


cannot well describe my feelings at this un
exnected turn of affairs iuwardly cursed the
nature of the nigger, and wondered why they
had not sense enough to control their emotions
when meant to benefit them 30 much by the
announcement o. ny principles. "well,"
thought l, this life Is but game Of chess
One unlucky move. and al is over. Here have
been playing the knight Tor the accomplish-
| ment Of my grand design, al ten to one that
shall be the unlucky victim of the captain q
firm resolve, and a martyr to the introduction
Of my principles" / was compelled, much
against my inclinstion, (for the perfume at
times was not thatof new blown roses, to spend
the whole night and the day following with ny
friends, as the captain had set strict watch on
what he considered his part of the cargo. !
was also quite uneasy, for found by glance
at small pocket mirror that happened to
have by me, that the constant friction among
my friends was beginning to wear off the burnt
cork, and was actually getting spotted. The
boat was now below Natchez, and a few hours
more would land us In New Orleans. almost
longed for some catastrophe or other 10 happen
that would relieve me from my present perilous
position, for was well aware that crisis in
my affairs was close at hand. For should be
detected, The contents of my leathern wallet, To-,
gether with my in vestment in the Mound, would
hardly save me from the application of coat
that would adhere more closely than the burnt
cork.