A moment and the funeral light Flashed on the jeweled weapon bright; Another, and his young heart's blood Leaped to the floor, a crimson flood. Quick to his mother's side he sprang, And on the air his clear voice rang: "Up, mother, up! I'm free! I'm free! The choice was death or slavery. Up, mother, up! Look on thy son! His freedom is forever won; And now he waits one holy kiss To bear his father home in bliss-- One last embrace, one blessing--one! To prove thou knowest, approvest thy son. What! silent yet? Canst thou not feel My warm blood o'er my heart congeal? Speak, mother, speak! lift up thy head! What! silent still? Then art thou dead? ----Great God, I thank Thee! Mother, I Rejoice with thee--and thus--to die!" One long, deep breath, and his pale head Lay on his mother's bosom--dead.
When she came to work for the family on Congress street, the lady of the house sat down and told her that agents, book-peddlers, hat-rack men, picture sellers, ash-buyers, rag-men, and all that class of people, must be met at the front door and coldly repulsed, and Sarah said she'd repulse them if she had to break every broomstick in Detroit.
And she did. She threw the door open wide, bluffed right up at 'em, and when she got through talking, the cheekiest agent was only too glad to leave. It got so after awhile that peddlers marked that house, and the door-bell never rang except for company.
The other day, as the girl of the house was wiping off the spoons, the bell rang. She hastened to the door, expecting to see a lady, but her eyes encountered a slim man, dressed in black and wearing a white necktie. He was the new minister, and was going around to get acquainted with the members of his flock, but Sarah wasn't expected to know this.
"Git!" exclaimed Sarah, pointing to the gate.
"Beg pardon, but I would like to see--see--"
"Meander!" she shouted, looking around for a weapon; "we don't want any flour-sifters here!"
"You're mistaken," he replied, smiling blandly. "I called to--"
"Don't want anything to keep moths away--fly!" she exclaimed, getting red in the face.
"Is the lady in?" he inquired, trying to look over Sarah's head.
"Yes, the lady is in, and I'm in, and you are out!" she snapped; "and now I don't want to stand here talking to a fly-trap agent any longer! Come lift your boots!"