"Read it!" "Read it!" said the meeting.
"I will," said he, flinging himself almost round once, in his
excitement, reminding me of a war-dance, and then taking his sublime
attitude again; when he read,--
"Resolved, Mr. Cheerman, fact is, that Abolition is everything, and
nuthin' else is nuthin'."
Some of the younger portion of the audience wished to raise a laugh, but
the reddening, angry faces of the prominent friends of the slave were
turned upon them instantly, and overawed them.
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.
Pages:
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79