Amusing Trial in which a Yankee Lawyer Renders a Just Verdict

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Title: Amusing Trial in which a Yankee Lawyer Renders a Just Verdict
Author: Anonymous
Release Date: January 25, 2006 [EBook #17604]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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Amusing Trial, in Which a Yankee Lawyer Rendered a Just Verdict.
Published at the Office of the Youth's Cabinet, 126 Fulton Street.
NEW YORK.
1841.
[Illustration: A Slave sold at Auction.]
A time there was, when no one thought
It sin, to hold a slave he'd

bought,
And of his strength have the command,
As much as of his
house and land.
A Yankee Lawyer long had kept
A negro-man with
whom he slept.
[Illustration]
And ate, and Sabbath day,
He half the time from church would stay;

When Cuff his master's garments wore.--
'Twas strange you say,
but he was poor;
And though he cared not for Cuff's soul,
Yet such
the times, that on the whole,
[Illustration: CAGE.]
"_Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, slavery, thou art a bitter
draught._"--STERNE.
His slave must to the meeting go,
If 'twas for nothing but a show.

They lived on thus for several years--
One would not think, that many
tears
Would fall from off that shining face,
So sleek and smooth, or
he would trace
[Illustration: NOTE.--_In some parts of the country, slaves are scantily
fed, while their masters live in luxury_.]
The chain which bound, or wish to break,
But choose to stay for his
own sake,
Where he so well was clothed and fed,
And shared the
lawyer's food and bed,
So well contented he might be,
He'd hardly
know but he was free,
[Illustration: _Fetters formerly used by the slave traders, to confine the
ankles of their victims. The editor has seen some that were actually
used by Rhode Island traders._]
But make the fetters of pure gold.
They're hateful still, they gall, they
hold,
And if the pill is sugared o'er,
'Tis still as bitter as before.

Cuff ponder'd much, but did not know,
If he his master left to go,

[Illustration: A Cruel Master.]
And seek his fortune, he could find
Another master half so kind,

And who would give so large a share
Of the small pittance he could
spare,
And every privilege could grant,
Which he could need or
ever want;
[Illustration: _Emblem of Freedom.--A moth just changed from its
chrysalis state, deserting its shell._]
But then of freedom he had heard,
And ere the dawning light
appeared.
Early one morning Cuff arose,
And quickly putting on his
clothes,
Stole softly out; lest he should wake
His master, who
would rouse and shake
[Illustration: NOTE.--The Lawyer owned a Blacksmith's shop.]
The slumbers from his drowsy eyes,
And think that it was time to rise.

So Cuff went off. His master woke,
And Cuff was gone! It was no
joke.
The Lawyer's work must now be done,
All by himself; and till
the sun
[Illustration: A man escaping from slavery.]
Is slowly sinking in the west,
He'll scarcely have a minute's rest.
He
felt his temper quickly rise,
Thinking his slave too rich a prize,
To
be allowed to slip away,
Without a trial for "fair play;"
[Illustration: A slave-catcher is worse than a beast of prey.]
Said he, "My course is plain enough,
I'll take my horse and go for
Cuff,
For he's my slave, and he shall give
To me, his service if he
live."
Saddling his horse he mounts him quick,
Drives after Cuff
with spur and stick:
[Illustration: "Angel of Mercy."]

But soon he paused his cause to try,
And thus he said, Why should
not I
Be slave instead of Cuff, and he
As well be running after me

As I for him?--I'll let him go,
Whether he's free by law or no.
[Illustration: Justice freeing the slave.]
For God who fashioned him and me,
No doubt MADE ALL HIS
CHILDREN FREE.
So justice o'er his mind held sway,
And Cuff in
freedom, went his way.
[Illustration: Emancipation.]
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Yankee Lawyer Renders a Just Verdict, by Anonymous
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