Year: 1863

substantiatc his asscrtions.-that Ellen Neale
was in reality quadroon slave, Helen by
name. who had been bought by the said Iii.
ram Cross from gentleman of Virginia, on
whose estate she was born. The affidavit
stated this with great and positive minute.
ness, giving dates aud details; and this pre-.
cious document was bolstcrcd up with re.
ceipts, letters, and memoranda, all Of which
had been carefully docketcd by Lawyer
Williams. Moreover, the affidavit declared
that tho said Helen, being lawful slave,
had fed under cover of night from her mas.
ters house, being melted to the said escape
by wandering family Of Irish, who, ms Hi
ram Cross learned by report had given
shelter and protection TO the girl, and had
actually passed her of as white woman,
their relative. Twelve months had clapscd 4
since the said Hiram Cross had been thus
deprived of his lawful property; and hav.
ing learned that she, the said Helen, was
harbored in the house of a certain Quaker,
a citizen of Massachusetts, Boaz Binglcy by
name. the said Hiram prayed the Judge and
sheriff that he might be put again in pos
session of the said llelcn--othcrwis Ellen
Neale--his slave aud chattel, etc Formal
warrants had been granted at the request of
the Alabama man, who had been permitted
to "resumc" possession of his pretended
slave; nor did Joel Mathewson appear at
all rs mover in this atrocious affair, and
yet we all knew instinctively that it was his
vile hand that had set these puppets in ac-
tion.


Poor lamb, what could she do cx-
claimed Miss Ruth. "Shc called on Heaven
to witness that they lied she pleaded and
prayed, showing letters and other proofs of
her parentagc and the land of her birth, and
these they called forgcrics and flung aside.
When she saw that il was but mockcry to
look for justice, and that they were pre-
pared to bear her away violently, she went
meckly along with them, rather than bring
more grief on our house, where she had
dwclt lovingly; for these bad men sworc
with cruel oaths that if any resistance were
mado--sccing that our colorcd servants
were angry, and disposed to prevent their
purpose, and that even Brother Boaz al
most forgot that he had been IMAM of peace
from his youth up, aud would have striven
to check that grievous wrong-sworc that
they would bring the mob upon us to spoil
and burn our goods, seeing we sheltered
slaves against their masters. Then the
good maiden went forth captive with those
hard men, the rather that tue dog


"Ah. the dog" said !, looking quickly
round for Ellen's four-footcd friend her
constant companion" poor old Toby .
hope they did not hurt him. am sure he
would not have seen rude hand laid on
his mistress without doing what he could
TO pin the aggresSor hy the throat


" Thee judges rightly. friend said Boaz
grimly; land the poor, faithful brute did
essay to do such battle as he could nay
but | believe his teeth, old as they were
made lawyer Williams TO smart and iii
deed, to save that dumb friends life was
one reason wherefore the maiden submitted
to be led away


" How ?"


lone of the slave-catchcrs had the dog
crushed under his foot. and would have
slain him for his fidelity, but that Ellen
begged his life so sorely, and promised to
go quietly if they would spare the creature
and in truth, she took Toby along with
her for the dog is hurt, though not much.


There was little more to tell. From the
moment Ellen had yielded, the men had
treated her with sort of sullcn civility
quite unlike their usual conduct toward
reCaptured slaves, and which was proba-
bly, enioipcd upon them by their unseen
employer. They had consented that she
should spend a few moments in collecting
her sCanty wardrobe, had allowed her to
take her dog with her, and had permitted
her to take leave of the family. A sad and
distressing parting it had been, FOR Ellen
was going through danger, not of death,
but what was worse than death to her.
Finally, they had removed tho girl to n car
riagc, guarded hy the savc-catchcrs on
horseback, and in which Hiram Cross, his
partner and the lawyer were seated. This
caraiage had driven direct to the railway
and it was the avowed intention of the
party to place Ellen in the Jail at Savannah
until her master should find convenient
opportunity for her removal or sale.


Long and painful was the consultation
that ensued between my Quaker friends and
myself. They and | were of one mind in
fixing on Joel Matliewson, of Savannah, as
the primary cause of this aggression. The
hoary villain had been for some time at hih
villa in Augusta; indeed, it was the uE-
healthy season, in which no rich man
stopped in the seaboard city who could get
away from it. lie had lurked round the
Quaker's dwelling; he had sent messengers
with gifts and billets; he had been seen to
confabulate with Hiram Cross, his brother
rascal, and the unscrupulous attorney, close
to the garden-wall itself. There could be
little doubt that the wicked old man had
devised this artful plan of representing FL
len as fugitive slave, in order to put her
without the pale of law, and have her at his
mercy. But to save the lamb from the Jaws
of the wolf was no easy matter My first
idea-one which naturally suggests itself 70
a young and active man-was to resist force
by force and to attempt arescue. liurriedly
| ran over the names of the half dozen
young gentlemen of Savannah with whom
| was connected by some slight bond of
and who were, knew, never
averse to brOil or any thing savoring of
excitement; but Brother Boaz, cooler and
more experienced, dampened my ardor by
mo that slavery was the Shibho-
leth of the chivalry; and that the hot-blooded
who would back friend in
any personal quarrel, would never stir fin.
ger III behalf OF woman with black blood
in her veins. The craft of Elder Mathew
son had cut us off from all Southern SYM
pathy. next proposed to make personal
appeal TO Mathewson himself; but this was
pegatived most decidedly. His heart is
hard, and his will is an iron one, said Boaz;
: thee might as well argue with the north
wind as with that ptiless Phariscc. All,
friend, | see thy eye sparkle, and doubt
not thou wouldst threaten him with earthly
vengeance but this Joel is a fox, subtle
and bold. Be sure thou wilt not alright
him, and be as sure that he will dcnounce
thee to the Regulators as a British abolition
str to get rid OF thee without risk. Seek
thee another plan, pray thee"


Next bethought me OF the British Con-
T.