Page:Narrative of Henry Box Brown.pdf/28

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26
NARRATIVE OF

Southerners would be the kindest people in the land. Slavery possesses the power attributed to one of old, of changing the nature of all who drink of its vicious cup.

"———— Which, as they taste,
Soon as the potion works, their human countenance,
The express resemblance of the gods, is changed
Into some brutish form of wolf, or bear,
Or ounce, or tiger, hog, or bearded goat;
And they, so perfect is their misery,
Not once perceive their foul disfigurement,
But boast themselves more comely than before."

Under the influence of slavery's polluting power, the most gentle women become the fiercest viragos, and the most benevolent men are changed into imhuman monsters. [t is true of the northern man who goes South also.

"Whoever tastes, loses his upright shape,
And downward falls, into a grovelling swine."

This non-slaveholder also allowed us to eatch as many fish as we pleased, and even furnished us with fishing implements. While at this mill, we became acquainted with a colored man from another part of the country; and as our desire was strong to learn how our brethren fared in other places, we questioned him respecting his treatment, He complained much of his hard fate, — said he had a wife and one child, and begged for some of our fish to carry to his wife; which my brother gladly gave him. He said he was expecting to have some money in a few days, which would be "the first he ever had in his life!" He had sent a thousand hickory-nuts to market, for which he afterwards informed us he had received thirty-six