The Sable Cloud eBook

Nehemiah Adams
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 300 pages of information about The Sable Cloud.

The Sable Cloud eBook

Nehemiah Adams
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 300 pages of information about The Sable Cloud.

All were silent for a moment, when the Chairman rose to speak.  He was a short man, with reddish hair, and his teeth were almost constantly visible, his lips not seeming to be an adequate covering for them.  He had, moreover, a habit of snuffing up with his nose,—­in doing which his upper lip, what there was of it, played its part, and made him show his teeth by frequent spasms.  Being a little bow-legged, he made an awkward effort in coming to the front of the stage; but we all love him, because he is such a vigorous friend of freedom, looking as though he would willingly be executioner of all the oppressors in the land.  He said that he “utterly concurred” with the mover in the spirit of his resolution; it was not, to be sure, in the usual form of resolutions, but that could easily be fixed; and he would suggest that it be referred to the Standing Committee of the Freedom League.  “I agree to that,” said the pro-slavery Senior who gave me that entertainment in his room, (but who, by the way, being a friend of oppression, had no right to speak in a meeting in behalf of freedom;) “I agree to that,” said he, “Mr. Chairman, and I move that the School-master be added to the Committee.”  What a cruel laugh went through the meeting! while the most distinguished friends of the slave had hard work to control their faces.

I could not help going to the mover of the resolution after the meeting; and, laying two fingers of my right hand on his arm, I said, “Don’t be put down; he tried to reproach you for not being college-bred; he had better get the slaves well educated before he laughs at a Massachusetts freeman for not being a scholar.”—­He tossed his black fur-skin cap half-way to his head, and he wheeled round as he caught it, saying, “Don’t care, liberty’s better’n larnin’, ’nuff sight.”—­“Both are good,” said I, “my friend, and we must give them both to the slave.”—­“Give ’em the larnin’ after y’u’ve sot ’em free!” said he; “I’ll fight for ’em; don’t want to hear nuthin’ ‘bout nuthin’ else but liberty to them that’s bound.”  He stooped and pulled a long whip and a tin pail from under the seat of the pew where he had been sitting, making considerable noise, so that the people, as they passed out, turned, and the sight of him and his accoutrements made great sport for some whose opinions and feelings were the least to be regarded.  I saw in him, dear Aunty, a fair specimen of native, inbred love of liberty and hatred of oppression, unsophisticated, to be relied on in our great contest with the slave-power.  I have been told, since the meeting, that his Christian name is Isaiah.

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Project Gutenberg
The Sable Cloud from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.