A Man Ruined

Mr. Henson, a colored preaclier of the Gos pel, of Upper Canadn, was present at the late State Convention. He gave an account of his former siluation as a slave whicli was listenec to with much interest. He was frequently employed to carry letters from h3 mnster to different persons; and was much nstonished at the wonderful art he possessed of talking on paper; and he resolved to understand it. His master had a son who wasstudyingat home whotn they called Bill Henson agreed to pay hita fivo dollars to tencl him to read. This snni of five ilollars he ob tainnd by selling apples and vegetables. He commenced his studies uncler Bill's tuition nm repeated the alphabet, A, B, C, D, Sec., as he daily follovved tho plough. Uut Bill informec him tliat he must have a spelling book; anc he procured one the next time he went to the store. He ke;t this in his hat, thal h might look at it, at his intervals of leisure. - One rnorning as he was taking his horses from the yard, when his master was pr.'sent, thej became refractory, and his feil off, and the spelling book feil on to the ground. Hi master approached it, and pointmg at it witl as much apparent horror as though it hac been a serpent, demanded what ihat was. A book, Sir." What book?" " A Speüing book, sir.'' "What are yoa going do with it?r' :I am going to learn lo spel!, eir." What do yon want to learn to spell for?' demanded he. Henson dared not answer this, ho knew it would be almost death to him to say he wished to learn to read. He was therefore silent. "Where did you get the book?" ïesumed his interrogator. "At the Store." "How much did you pay for itr"A bit eir." This was a York shilling. ' "Wheré did you get the inoney?1' "I sold appicsfor it.'' "WHere did yon gctyonr apples?" "Out of óur orc'iiard, sir." Our orchard, eli? Our orchard! Well, ■Sir, come here nnd take np this book.1' Heuson saw that liis rriaster, who was a arge, powerful man was grnsping his cano n that peculiar mnnner n which it might de ",eud over his hend and shoulders necordiriír the mostapproved s!yle ofthe South : and hr iad expcrionccd it. efficncy too often to volmtarily wish for a renewal of his lessons iñ hat t-xíence. "Tiike np tliis book!" Sternly repeated his mnster, intending to npply his Cañe ás the Hlave stooped over to execute the command. But Hcnson hesitatöd. He was not quite sure that Jiecould act his part in this dodgingnatch between mastef and servnnt, eo as to escape thodirefn] consequencpsheanticipated: nnd he accordingly concluded to make the best íse of hib locomotive powers, nnd loavin? horses, book, and müsler, he docaniped as ast as possible. Tiiis sketch had considorably escited the risibility of tlití andience; and Henson assnred hem that Indicrous ns thc scene tniprlit appear to theni, if wasto him a poriod of inde?cribable annfnish. The recollection of th? miseries he had endnrod, nnd ofthe dis'ressin sittiatiors in which he had boon phced while a slavp, sometimes. filled him with sadnesss and horror. While he lived with his master, one of his arms was broken, and having become a cripplc for life, he wos allowed the privi'oíre of purchasing- himself for $350. But afiorhe liad poid this amoun!,his mnster intendedto seM him apain; an] bis friend?, whö had conipassion on his pituntion. heJped him to encape. Here then, said Henson, you see a man ruinnlfor Ufe - ruined in bocyj nnd ruined in inind - not tlirotih any fanlt of his - but tbronorh tlie injnstice nnd tyrarmy of others. Yet there were multitudes who were rp;uly to reproach him with his gnorance, his poverty and mental infrriority, wii.hout over considering that hisconditioii had been shaped, not by his own wishes, but by circumsíances which he could not control. He was but one - a single specimen ofthe vast multitudes that were thus mined in body,in intellect, fe in their moral feelings, and the white people of our country were ready to poiut to this vflry degradaron, which their own laws and institutions harl produced, as conclusive evidence tliíU 'che victims of their cruelty were really stupid by nature, and scarcely within ihe palé of hurnanity.