Year: 1859




whom you soy are so well treated, in the main,
ofteniimes meet with great cruelty and wrongp


oh yes,' answered my fair-hared friend of
course they do. and so do your poor laborng clas-
ses in the North. have known some very cruel
things in my day.


Very likely; bnt suppose you tax your memory
a little, AMI see if you find in all your exper
ience in New England, which you say lasted twen-
ty-ive years, anything that will match TIE frst
scene of outrage that you remember as having
happened during the last four years in which you
have sojourned at the South


The pleasant lady hesiated cloud passed
over her fair smooth brow. Evidently, painful
thought was tugging at ber heart. She bit her
beautiful lip and twirled the crimson tassel of her
double gown round her fore finger.


Come, said 1, tell me what it is. You have
asserted that do not understand the people Of
the South that they are m:srepresented and be-
lied; that the slaves fare we'll and are happy
Now, there is powerful memory asking for utter
ance. and


Your question has put me to thinking she ex-
claimed as she drew her delicateIy slippered feet
up on the sofa, and her arms about her knees, in
an attitude of easy confidence, 1 was born and
brought up in Vermont. At fifteen years Of age,
grew dissatisfied with what seemed the dull rou.
tine of housework, and went to Lowell, and enter
ed factory. Being a quick, ingenious hand, l
made good wages, and at eighteen had laid up
enough on interest to help me to go to Mount Hol-
yoke to school. Father was not rich but he did
what he could for me, and at twenty-five left the
Institution with good name and pretty good
education. soon got situation as teacher in my
native State, taught two years, and then went to
Brattleboro' to spend vacation. There 1 met
MIR. Warder, who was, as you may guess, captiva-
ted. became his wife. and have spent four years
in the South, enjoying every luxury that wealth
can procure, and the highest degree of happiness
thas the most devoted affection can bestow.


MY husband lie kind to bis slaves to fault; bot
he says he cannot bear to Deprive them Of any
thing that thoy wish because he feels that all they
demand is not equivalent for their labor St,t be
does not see how he can better their condition,
and try to think they better off than if free.
You see how it is; we don't see how we can help
ourselves. But all this is irrelevan. to the ques-
tion under discussion.


Your question sent mo back into the past, and
do not remember any thing worse that ever ha D.
pened in the neighborhood where lived than the
severe whipping of hired girl. Ny father was
Justice of the Peace, and the woman who commit
ted this offence against the peace and majesty off
the good State of Vermont was brought before
him, and was present at the examination. The
little sufferers dress was removed, and, though
but one night had passed. only few red marks
were found upon the little body. The child was
taken from the inhunsau wretch, and fine impos-
ed which was heavy to bear, for the woman was
poor. do not recollect that single person in
the town took sides with the woman; even her own
brothers censured her severely, and said no chla
ought to be bound to her; for It was sure to come
out bad.


Now said she, let me tell you tale of horror
HaHnah, pit down those curtains. and shut out
this beautiful spring sunlight. feel as though
could not talk With the glare Of light in my face
when such black deeds are to be told.


Just after came South-(you may 20 to the
kitchen, Hannahl l-one Of the daughters of COL
Stross. who lived in splendid mansion Just ous-
side of our city, aud was counted the richest man
in town. lost diamond ring. The ring was of
great value, and Of course it's loss created great
excitement in the household, Miss Julia remem-
bered distinctly having laid is in her casket on
certain evening, after bal, and no one knew
where she kept such things but her mother and
sisters, and her maid Myra, pretty mullatto girl
of about sixteen. Myra was very fond of dress,
and had often spoken her praises, in mos. lavish
terms, Of the sparkling gem on Miss Julia's finger.


After all due search had been made, she was
called up and questioned, but denied any knowl-i
edge Of the affair. Col. Stross, who was called a
hard master, told her. in the most peremptory
manner, that II she did not ind it, she should be
punished for her carelessness in allowing her mis-
tress's things to be stolen, al she hac nothing
else to do but take care Of them. This SO fright
ened the poor girl, and her language was so inco-
hsreat, sat the conviction at once settled their
minds that she was the culprit. and she was imme-
diately ordered to The yard, 70 be whipped ill she