Page:William Wells Brown - The Escape Or, A Leap for Freedom; a Drama in Five Acts.pdf/53

 Barkeeper. We don't care for Constitutions nor nothin' else. We made the Constitution, and we'll break it. But you had better hide away; they are coming, and they'll lynch you, that they will. Come with me; I'll hide you in the cellar. Foller me. [Exit and ,

Enter the ,

Dr. Gaines. If I can once lay my hands on that scoundrel, I'll blow a hole through his head.

Jennings. Yes, I say so too; for no one knows whose niggers are safe, now-a-days. I must look after my niggers. Who is that I see in the distance? I believe it's that cussed Massachusetts feller. Come, let's go after him.

[Exit the ,

Scene 2.—

Enter and ,

Melinda. I am so tired and hungry, that I cannot go further. It is so cloudy that we cannot see the North Star, and therefore cannot tell whether we are going to Canada, or further South. Let's sit down here.

Glen. I know that we cannot see the North Star, Melinda, and I fear we've lost our way. But, see! the clouds are passing away, and it'll soon be clear. See! yonder is a star; yonder is another and another. Ah! yonder is the North Star, and we are safe!

"Star of the North! though night winds drift The fleecy drapery of the sky Between thy lamp and me, I lift,  Yea, lift with hope my sleepless eye, To the blue heights wherein thou dwellest, And of a land of freedom tellest.

"Star of the North! while blazing day Pours round me its full tide of light, And hides thy pale but faithful ray,  I, too, lie hid, and long for night: For night: I dare not walk at noon, Nor dare I trust the faithless moon—

"Nor faithless man, whose burning lust For gold hath riveted my chain,— Nor other leader can I trust  But thee, of even the starry train;