IN WHICH ARE PLEASURES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS.
IN a former chapter of this narrative, have we described our fair
fugitive, Annette, as possessing charms of no ordinary kind; indeed,
she was fair and beautiful, and even in the slave world was by many
called the lovely blonde. In a word, to have been deeply enamoured
of her would have reflected the highest credit on the taste and
sentiment of any gallant gentleman. Seeming strange would it be,
then, if the stranger to whose care we confided her (and hereafter
to be called Montague, that being his Christian name) should render
himself liable to the charge of stupidity did these attractions not
make a deep impression on his heart. And here we would not have the
reader lay so grave a charge at his door; for, be it known, ye who
are not insensible to love's electric force, that scarce had they
reached New York, ere Montague began to look upon Annette with that
species of compassion which so often, in the workings of nature's
mystery, turns the sympathies of the heart into purest love. The
misery or happiness of this poor girl he viewed as dependent on
himself: this, forsooth, was strengthened by the sad recital of her
struggles, which caused his sympathies to flow in mutual fellowship
with her sorrows. As he esteemed her gentleness, so was he enamoured
of her charms; but her sorrows carried the captive arrow into his
bosom, where she fastened it with holding forth that wrist broken in
defence of her virtue: nay, more, he could not refrain a caress, as
in the simplicity of her heart she looked in his face smilingly, and
said she would he were the father of her future in this life. But,
when did not slavery interpose its barbarous obstacles?-when did it
not claim for itself the interests of federal power, and the
nation's indulgence?-when did it not regard with coldest
indifference the good or ill of all beyond its own limits? The slave
world loves itself; but, though self-love may now and then give out
a degree of virtue, slavery has none to lead those beyond its own
atmosphere. To avoid, then, the terrors to which, even on the free
soil of the north, a fugitive slave is constantly liable, as also
that serpent-like prejudice--for into the puritanic regions of New
England, forsooth, does slavery spread its more refined objections
to colour--which makes the manners of one class cold and icy, while
acting like a dagger in the hearts of the other, was it necessary to
change her name. How many of my fair readers, then, will recur to
and recognise in the lovely Sylvia De Lacy--whose vivacity made them
joyous in their school days, and whose charms all envied-the person
of Annette Mazatlin. Nothing could be more true than that the pretty
blonde, Sylvia De Lacy, who passed at school as the daughter of a
rich Bahamian, was but the humble slave of our worthy wag, Mr.
Pringle Blowers. But we beg the reader to remember that, as Sylvia
De Lacy, with her many gallant admirers, she is a far different
person from Annette the slave.
Clotilda is made acquainted with the steps Montague has taken in
behalf of his charge, as also of a further intention he will carry
out at the expiration of two years; which said intention is neither
more nor less than the making Sylvia De Lacy his bride ere her
school days have ended. In the earnestness of a heart teeming of
joy, does Clotilda respond to the disclosures she is pleased to term
glad tidings. Oft and fervently has she invoked the All-protecting
hand to save her child from the licentious snares of slavery; and
now that she is rescued, her soul can rest satisfied. How her heart
rejoices to learn that her slave child will hereafter be happy in
this life! ever will she pray that peace and prosperity reward their
virtues. Her own prospects brighten with the thought that she may,
ere long, see them under her own comfortable roof, and bestow a
mother's love on the head of her long-lost child.
And now my reader will please to suppose these two years of
school-days passed-that nuptial ceremony in which so many mingled
their congratulations, and showered blandest smiles upon the fair
bride, celebrated in a princely mansion not far from the
aristocratic Union Square of New York-and our happy couple launched
upon that path of matrimony some facetious old gentlemen have been
pleased to describe as so crooked that others fear to journey upon
it. They were indeed a happy couple, with each future prospect
golden of fortune's sunshine. Did we describe in detail the reign of
happiness portended on the bright day of that nuptial ceremony, how
many would recognise the gay figures of those who enlivened the
scene-how deceptive would seem the fair face of events-how obscured
would be presented the life of a slave in this our world of
freedom-how false that democracy so boastful of its even-handed
rule!
Two years have rolled into the past, since Montague led the fair
Sylvia to the altar. Pringle Blowers has pocketed the loss of his
beauty, the happy couple have lost all thought of slavery, and a
little responsibility coming in due time adds to make their
happiness complete. Now the house to which Montague was connected in
New York had an agent in New Orleans; which agent was his brother.
In the course of time, then, and as the avenues of business
expanded, was it deemed necessary to establish a branch house at
Memphis, the affairs of which it was agreed should be conducted by
Montague. To this new scene of life my reader will please suppose
our happy couple, having journeyed by railroad to Cincinnatti, and
with hearts gladdened of hope for the future, now gliding down that
river of gorgeous banks, on board the good steamer bearing its name.
As our young mother again enters the atmosphere of slavery,
misgivings force themselves irresistibly upon her feelings. The very
face of nature wears a sluggish air; the fresh, bright offspring of
northern energy, so forcibly illustrated in the many cheerful
looking villages here and there dotting its free soil, is nowhere to
be seen,--society again puts forth its blighting distinctions: there
is the man-owner's iron deportment contrasting with the abjectness
of his slave: forcibly does the change recall scenes of the past.
But, with the certain satisfaction that no one will recognize the
slave in her, do those misgivings give way to the happier
contemplation of her new home affording the means of extending a
succouring hand to some poor mortal, suffering in that condition of
life through which she herself has passed.
After a pleasant passage, then, do we find them comfortably settled
in Memphis, that city of notorious character, where the venerable
Lynch presides judge over all state cases, and administers summary
justice according to the most independent of bar rules. Montague
pursues the ordinary routine of a flourishing business, and moves
among the very best society of the little fashionable world; with
which his Sylvia, being the fair belle of the place, is not only a
great favourite, but much sought after and caressed. Gentle as a
slave, so was she an affectionate mother and dutiful wife. Some
twelve months passed pleasantly at their new home, when there came
to the city a Jew of the name of Salamons Finch. This Finch, who was
"runner" to a commercial firm in the city of Charleston (he was lank
of person, with sallow, craven features), knew Annette when but a
child. Indeed, he was a clerk of Graspum when that gentleman sold
the fair slave to Gurdoin Choicewest; in addition to which he had
apartments at Lady Tuttlewell's most fashionable house, where the
little doll-like thing used to be so sprightly in waiting at table.
The quick eye of this harpy, as may readily be supposed, was not
long in detecting the person of Annette the slave in our fair
mother; which grand discovery he as soon communicated to Montague,
pluming himself a generous fellow for being first to disclose what
he supposed a valuable secret. Indeed, such was the force of
association on this fellow, that he could not bring his mind to
believe such a match possible, unless the fair fugitive (of the
circumstances of whose escape he was well posted) had, by the
exercise of strategy, imposed herself on the gentleman. The reader
may easily picture to himself the contempt in which Montague held
the fellow's generous expos; but he as readily became sensible of
the nature of the recognition, and of its placing him in a dangerous
position. At first he thought of sending his wife and child
immediately to her mother, in Nassau; but having intimations from
the fellow that the matter might be reconciled with golden eagles,
he chose rather to adopt that plan of procuring peace and quietness.
With a goodly number of these gold eagles, then, did he from time to
time purchase the knave's secrecy; but, with that singular
propensity so characteristic of the race, was he soon found making
improper advances to the wife of the man whose money he received for
keeping secret her early history. This so exasperated Montague, that
in addition to sealing the fellow's lips with the gold coin, he
threatened his back with stripes of the raw hide, in payment of his
insolence. Albeit, nothing but the fear of exposure, the
consequences of which must prove fatal, caused him to bear with pain
the insult while withholding payment of this well-merited debt. With
keen instincts, and a somewhat cultivated taste for the beautiful,
Finch might with becoming modesty have pleaded them in extenuation
of his conduct; but the truth was, he almost unconsciously found
himself deeply enamoured of the fair woman, without being able to
look upon her as a being elevated above that menial sphere his
vulgar mind conditioned for her when in slavery. Here, then, the
reader will more readily conceive than we can describe the grievous
annoyances our otherwise happy couple were subjected to; nor, if a
freeman's blood course in his veins, can he fail to picture the
punishment it so dearly merited. However, it came to pass that in
the course of a few months this fellow disappeared suddenly, and
nearly at the same time was Montague summoned to New Orleans to
direct some complicated affairs of his brother, who lay a victim to
that fearful scourge which so often devastates that city of balmy
breezes. After due preparations for an absence of some two months,
Montague set out on his journey; but had not been forty-eight hours
gone, when Finch again made his appearance, and taking advantage of
a husband's absence, pressed his advances with grossest insult,
threatening at the same time to convey information of the discovery
to Pringle Blowers. Successively did these importunities fail to
effect Mr. Finch's purpose; but he was of an indomitable temper, and
had strong faith in that maxim of his race, which may be transcribed
thus:--"If one effort fail you, try another." To carry out this
principle, then, did Finch draw from the cunning inventive of his
brain a plan which he could not doubt for a moment would be
successful. The reader may blush while we record the fact, of Finch,
deeming a partner necessary to the gaining his purpose, finding a
willing accomplice in one of Montague's clerks, to whom he disclosed
the secret of the fair woman being nothing more than a fugitive
slave, whose shame they would share if the plan proved successful.
This ingenious plan, so old that none but a fellow of this stamp
would have adopted it, was nothing more than the intercepting by the
aid of the clerk all Montague's letters to his wife. By this they
came in possession of the nature of his family affairs; and after
permitting the receipt of two letters by Sylvia, possessed
themselves of her answers that they might be the better able to
carry out the evil of their scheme. After sufficient time had
passed, did Sylvia receive a letter, duly posted at New Orleans,
purporting to have been written by a clerk in the employ of the
firm, and informing her, having acknowledged becomingly the receipt
of her letter, that Montague had been seized with the epidemic, and
now lay in a precarious state. Much concerned was she at the painful
intelligence; but she almost as soon found consolation in the
assurances of the clerk who brought her the letter, and, to
strengthen his own cause, told her he had seen a captain just
arrived up, who had met her husband a day after the date of the
letter, quite well. Indeed, this was necessary to that functionary's
next move, for he was the conspirator of Finch, and the author of
the letter which had caused so much sadness to the woman who now
sought his advice. In suspense did the anxious woman wait the coming
tidings of her affectionate husband: alas! in a few days was the sad
news of his death by the fatal scourge brought to her in an envelope
with broad black border and appropriate seal. Overwhelmed with
grief, the good woman read the letter, describing her Montague to
have died happy, as the conspirator looked on with indifference. The
confidential clerk of the firm had again performed a painful and
unexpected duty. The good man died, said he, invoking a blessing on
the head of his child, and asking heaven to protect his wife; to
which he would add, that the affairs of the house were in the worst
possible condition, there not being assets to pay a fraction of the
debts. And here we would beg the reader to use his imagination, and
save us the description of much that followed. Not all their threats
nor persuasions, however, could induce her to yield to their
designs; defiantly did she repulse the advances of the crawling
Finch; nobly did she spurn his persuasions; firmly did she, heedless
of his threat to acquaint Pringle Blowers of her whereabouts, bid
him be gone from her door. The fellow did go, grievously
disappointed; and, whether from malice or mercenary motives we will
not charge, sought and obtained from Pringle Blowers, in exchange
for his valuable discovery, a promise of the original reward.
Shudder not, reader, while we tell it! It was not many days ere the
notorious Blowers set out for Memphis, recovered his lost property,
who, like a lamb panting in the grasp of a pursuing wolf, was, with
her young child, dragged back, a wretch, into the melancholy waste
of slavery. Long and loudly was the grand discovery resounded
through the little world of Memphis; not in sympathy for the slave,
for many hearts were made glad with joy over what the fashionable
were pleased to term a fortunate disclosure and a happy removal.
Many very grave gentlemen said the miscreant who dared impose a
slave on society, well merited punishment at the hands of the
venerable Lynch,--a judge of that city whose celebrity is almost
world wide.