THE SLAE AUCTION.

BY << FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS>> .

The sale began young girls were there,
Defenseless in their wretchedness,
Whose stifled sobs of deep despair
Revealed their anguish and distress.

And mothers stood, with streaming eyes,
And saw their dearest children sold;
Unheeded rose their bitter cries,
While tyrants barter'd them for gold.

And woman, with her love and truth
For these in sable forms may dwell
Gaz'd on the husband of her youth,
With anguish none may paint or tell.

And men, whose sole crime was their hue,
The impress of their Maker's hand,
And frail and shrinking children too,
Were gathered in that mournful band.

Ye who have laid your lov'd to rest,
And wept above their lifeless clay,
Know not the anguish of that breast,
Whose lov'd are rudely torn away.

Ye may not know how desolate
Are bosoms rudely forced to part,
And how a dull and heavy weight
Will press the life drops from the heart.

July 28, 1866
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

NOTICE.

The First Grand Picnic of the Equal Rights League will take place at Reading, on August 1st, 1866. Mr. Wm. Nesbit, President of the State League, and several other speakers, will be in attendance. Excursion tickets will be issued by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, and all its branches, at half fare. The "Delany Guards," of Harrisburg will be in attendance. All the well wishers and friends of the League are invited to attend.

Mrs. << Frances Ellen Watkins>> Harper will give a lecture in the evening.

March 7, 1857
PROVINCIAL FREEMAN
Chatham, Canada West

Correspondence.

For the Provincial Freeman.
Miss << Frances Ellen Watkins>> , &c.

DEAR FRIEND: - As you are aware Miss << Frances Ellen Watkins>> , the poetess, has been lecturing on Slavery for the last few months in this region. You will therefore, I doubt, not, be pleased to hear, as I am to state how she has succeeded, and the impression she has produced in an atmosphere so notoriously Pro-slavery, as has generally been ascribed to this part of the country, by "all the world and the rest of mankind."
Almost entirely a stranger in Philadelphia, her first lecture (in this city) was delivered before a highly intelligent audience, at the Assembly Buildings on Chestnut St., where she acquitted herself handsomely and made a deep and favorable impression, doubtless on all present.
Here it must be remembered, she was before an audience who had been accustomed to hear good speaking, who would not be likely to endure or excuse an ordinary effort from any one.
Being invited she spoke effectively and eloquently on several other occasions to deeply interested audiences in different parts of the city.
The Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-slavery society, feeling that she was highly capable of aiding the Anti-slavery cause in Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, solicited her to remain and accept an agency under their auspices which she has consented to do, and has been thus actively engaged ever since. And rarely has she ever failed in the many places she has lectured, even in the most Pro-slavery neighborhoods or on the coldest nights, to get out full houses and respectful attention.
In New Jersey, especially, has she done great good. As you are aware from having lived in that state, prejudice and Pro-slavery rarely under any circumstances treat the blackman or the Anti-slavery cause with the slightest respect or a particle of justice. The stoical indifference manifested by the masses, the decided Pro-slavery proclivities of politicians with the marked timerity of those professing to be friendly for a long time, with but few places excepted, have proved invulnerable to even the appearance of the cause of the oppressed. Neither the Lecturer or the Anti-slavery publication could be tolerated. Hence I record the fact with no ordinary pleasure that our gentle, earnest, eloquent and talented heroine, with admirable tact has entered the enemies camps, and utterly confounded them on the oppression and wrongs of the slave, whether connected with those of her own sex, in infancy or old age; with the most cruel or the mildest form of the system; whether on the auction block or in the rice swamps; whether as seen in the hypocrisy of the nominal church or the heinous enactments of the Government: whether in the wicked prejudices of the North, or the unblushing licentiousness of the South; whether on the Underground Railroad, suffering almost unto death or by being captured, shot and wounded by slave hunters; whether connected with the mercantile, historical, political or literary interest of the country, she is admirably posted. And perhaps but few speakers surpass her in using language and arguments more potently, in impressing and charming her audiences.
Many are moved to tears by her pathos, and almost without a single exception on hearing her first lecture, by a unanimous vote she has been requested to lecture a second time if no more.
An extract or two from papers published in the largest towns in New Jersey, will give you an idea of what the press thinks of her as a speaker.
The New Jersey Mirror, published at Mount Holly, speaks as follows:
"A PLEASANT SPEAKER. - Miss Watkins the colored woman who delivered lectures in the Lyceum in this Town, on Friday and Saturday evenings last, on the subject of Slavery, is without any exception, the best female speaker we ever heard. She has a fine voice, uses the choicest language, and is very fluent. We are not willing to adopt her views, yet we will accord to her an unusual amount of ability in the discussion of her favorite topic."

From the Daily Republican of Trenton.

"A large and respectable audience assembled last night at Temperance Hall to hear the lecture on American Slavery by Miss Frances Watkins, the colored lady of Baltimore. The lecture throughout was replete with pathos; besides it evinced a highly cultivated mind, and a memory well stored with historical knowledge upon this interesting subject. It was listened to with the most profound attention, and elicited frequent bursts of applause."
Also in Burlington, Moorestown, Medford, Crosswicks, Allentown, Highstown, &c., &c., &c., though new fields and thoroughly Pro-slavery, her receptions were equally as flattering as in the towns referred to in the above extracts.
In speaking thus freely, you may think that I have indulged extravagantly, in my remarks relative to the labors of our esteemed friend Miss W., if I have, I am not aware of it. Indeed, I have not done justice to her merits. Simply, however, as a cheering sign of the times, I felt it to be my duty to venture this tribute.
Her little book of poems, an enlarged and new edition of which has just been published making ten thousand copies, sells rapidly, and serves admirably no doubt to keep a live in the minds of many, the interest awakened by her lectures, proving her to be decidedly original.
In conclusion, allow me to congratulate the Provincial Freeman. I observed with much pleasure in a late number, in the report of the Town Council of Chatham, that it has the honor of doing the printing of that Board. This fact is a very significant indication of the impartiality of your laws, and of the encouragement afforded to enterprising colored men.
Yours truly,
W.S.
Philadelphia, Feb. 21, 1857.

September 2, 1854
PROVINCIAL FREEMAN
Toronto, Canada West

To the Editor of the Provincial Freeman:
DEAR MADAM, - I know of no way at the present, whereby I can do more to interest yourself, and, I trust, your readers, than by calling your attention to a book of poems which is about to be issued from the pen of the gifted Miss Frances E. Watkins, late of Baltimore, but now of this State.
In order that you may have some idea of the ability of the young authoress, as well as the quality and nature of her productions, I now take this occasion to forward you a piece of her prose, and also a piece of her poetry, hoping that you will give them a place in the columns of your paper, as specimens of her style, &c. In making this demand upon your liberality, I feel quite sure that every unbiased and liberal-minded reader of your paper, who may carefully peruse the articles referred to, will accord to the authoress high intellectual culture, and much merit in the adaptation of her thoughts and faculties to subjects of vital importance; especially will the reader feel proud of the gems of the authoress, when he shall have taken into account the fact that she is herself of the down-trodden class - in complexion and proscription - and for the obtainment of their rights she is devoting her time and improving her talents.
The various subjects of which the book will be composed will treat on Christianity, Anti-Slavery, Temperance, and other kindred reforms; and most admirably, I think, has she proved herself capable of judging of what kind of material is best suited to reach the heart.
It may not be amiss to state, here, that Miss. W. has been constantly engaged as School Teacher and Seamstress during the time of writing the book, and consequently has only had the privilege for study of such leisure hours as fall to the lot of those in her calling. But according to the judgment of several able critics who have examined the manuscript, I think I may take the liberty to predict that it will rank as high, if not higher, than any production of the kind ever published in this country by a colored person. It will not be large, but what there will be of it will be all heart: and it is to hoped that sufficient encouragement will be shown to the writer, to induce her to make still further progress in the cultivation of her own mind, whereby she will be enabled to accomplish great good in the advocacy of the rights of her fellow creatures.
But I have said enough, and will now introduce Miss W.'s articles, as referred to.
Yours truly,
W.S.
Philadelphia, July, 1854.

---
Christianity.
---

BY MISS << FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS>> .

Christianity is a system claiming God for its author, and the welfare of man for its object. It is a system so uniform, exalted and pure, that the loftiest intellects have acknowledged its influence, and acquiesced in the justness of its claims. Genius has bent from its erratic course to gather fire from her altars, and pathos from the agony of Gethsemane, and the sufferings of Calvary. Learning has brought her richest pearls, and rarest gems to lay at her feet, while she bent from her lofty heights to bow at the lowly cross. Poetry has culled her fairest flowers, and wreathed her softest leaves to bind her Author's "bleeding brow." Philosophy and science have paused amid their speculative researches and wondrous revelations, to gain knowledge from her teachings, and wisdom from her precepts. Christianity has changed the moral aspect of countries. Idolatrous temples have crumbled at her touch, and guilt owned its deformity at her presence.
At her presence fetters have been broken and men have risen, redeemed from dust and freed from chains. She has nerved up woman's frail and sinking heart for high and holy deeds. She has cheered the prisoner in his cell, and strengthened the martyr at the stake. She has stood by the bed of the dying, and unveiled the glories of eternal life, while she gilded the darkness of the tomb with the glory of the resurrection. Envy has been rebuked by her contented look, and fretful impatience by her gentle and resigned manner. She has bent over the form of lovely childhood, and suffered it to have a place in the Redeemer's arms. She has been the staff of decrepit age, and the joy of manhood in its strength. The worn and weary have rested their fainting heads upon her bosom, and gathered strength from her words, and courage from her counsels. To man, guilty, fallen and degraded man, she shows a "fountain drawn from Emanuel's veins," there she bids him wash and be clean. She points him to "Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to an innumerable company of angels, to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant," and bids us rise from the degradation of sin, renew our nature and join with them. She draws a pattern so excellent and pure, that we might shrink from it discouraged did she not bring with her a promise from the lips of Jehovah that He would give power to the faint and might to those who have no strength."
History may bring her pondrous records, Philosophy her abstruce speculations; literature her elegance with the toils of the pen, and the labours of the pencil, but they are idle tales compared to the truths of Christianity. They may enlighten the understanding, cultivate the intellect, give scope to the imagination, and refine the sensibilities, but they open-not to our dim eyes and longing vision, the land of crystal founts and deathless flowers. Philosophy searches earth; religion opens heaven. Pilosophy strives to reconcile us to death; but our pure religion triumphs over it. Philosophy doubts and trembles at the portals of eternity, religion lifts the veil and shows us pearly gates and golden streets lit by the Redeemer's smile, and irradiated by his countenance. Philosophy treads mid the pathway of stars, and stands a delighted listener to the music of the spheres, but religion gazes on the glorious palaces of God, while the songs of the redeemed, and the harpings of the blood-washed fall on her ravished ear. Philosophy has her place, religion her exalted sphere, one of importance here, the other of infinite, and vital importance here and hereafter.

---
Died of Starvation.
---

They forc'd him into prison,
Because he begged for bread: -
"My wife is starving, dying!"
In vain the poor man plead.

They forc'd him into prison -
Strong bars enclosed the walls;
While the rich and proud were feasting
Within their sumpt'ous halls!

He'd striven long with anguish, -
He had wrestled with despair,
But his weary heart was breaking,
'Neath its crushing load of care.

And he prayed then, in that prison, -
"Oh, let me seek my wife!"
For he knew that want was feeding
On the remnant of her life.

That night his wife lay moaning,
Upon her bed in pain;
Hunger gnawing at her vitals, -
Fever scorching through her brain.

She wondered at his tarrying,
He was not wont to stay:
'Mid hunger pain and watching,
The moments wan'd away.

Sadly crouching by the embers,
Her famished children lay,
And she long'd to gaze upon them
As her spirit passed away.

But the embers were too feeble,
She could not see each face.
So she threw her arms around them; -
'Twas their mother's last embrace.

They loosed him from the prison,
Like a felon from his chain,
Though his strength was hunger bitten,
He sought his home again.

Just as her spirit linger'd,
On Time's receding shore, -
She heard his welcome footsteps
Reach the threshold of the door.

He was faint and spirit-broken,
But rousing from despair,
He clasp'd her icy fingers,
As she breath'd her dying prayer.

With a gentle smile and blessing,
Her spirit wing'd its flight -
As the morn in all its glory,
Bath'd the world in dazzling light.

There was weeping, butter weeping,
In the chamber of the dead,
For the stricken husband knew,
She had died for want of bread.
<< FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS>> .

February 17, 1866
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.

MR. BENJAMIN BOXNER writes us a very interesting letter from Atchison, Kansas, stating that John M. Langston, Esq., the able colored lawyer of Ohio, delivered a lecture in that place not long since, in which he urged the colored people to get education and wealth, and to aim at social purity. This is Mr. Bonner's first letter from Kansas to our paper. We welcome news from the far-off State, and hope to hear from Mr. B. again.
BRO. W. MORRIS writes from New Haven, regretting that the Church does not enjoy greater prosperity, and speaking highly of Rev. W.W. Grimes, the former pastor. Have patience, my brother; be faithful, and “God will be with you, and victory with God.”
REV. W.H. WINDER, pastor of the A.M.E. church, Morristown, N.J., informs us that the Ladies' Union Sewing Circle of that church, of which Mrs. Harriet E. Saddler is President, and Mrs. Julia Thompson, Vice-President, Mrs. C. Freeman, Treasurer, and Mrs. Harriet Salters, Secretary, held a Fair in Washington Hall for the benefit of the church, from which they realized the sum of $104.23,- making a profit of $89.73.
PARTHENIA DEPP writes from West Jefferson, Ohio, stating that the colored people of that place have established a school, and rented the basement of a church used by a white congregation, and that they have a finely educated colored teachers, who has passed the School Board Examination.
We have received a copy of a very able and eloquent speech delivered by Mr. J.T. Mahoney at Indianapolis, Ind., on the occasion of the celebration of Freedom's Birthday in America. It contains many highly impressive passages and valuable suggestions, which might be profitably published, did our crowded columns of this week allow.
BRO. PERRY L. STANFORD, of the A.M.E. Church, Boston, writes that Rev. W.H. Johnson, the pastor in charge, has been holding a series of meetings with great success, and that the charge wears an encouraging aspect.
At Montgomery, Alabama, the small-pox is making terrific ravages among the freedmen.
The colored people of Columbia, S.C., have bought a lot of ground for $700. It is proposed to build a school-house on it. Rev. Henry M. Turner, Chaplain U.S. Army, gave a course of lectures there recently. The receipts from his first lecture were $101, which was appropriated to paying for the lot.
MRS. << FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS>> HARPER is expected to lecture in Philadelphia shortly. She has a national reputation for superior power as a speaker. This lady comes from a talented family. Her uncle, the late Rev. Wm. Watkins, was, until 1850, the best educated colored man in the State of Maryland, and kept one of the largest schools in the State for over twenty years. His son, Wm. Watkins, Jr., who died at Hayti, was distinguished as a first-class orator, and a bold advocate of colored men's rights. George Watkins, another son, has rendered great service as a teacher of youth in Baltimore, and is now one of the best educated ministers of the Baltimore Conference. John Watkins, another son, is known to fame as a poet, musician and artist.
Six of the Southern States have passed labor laws, for the freed people, which the military authorities have been compelled to set aside.
GEN. SAXTON estimates the number of children now being educated in South Carolina at six thousand.
REV. T.W. LEWIS, the faithful missionary of the M.E. Church, has been appointed a Presiding Elder for the District, of South Carolina and Florida.
REV. R.H. CAIN is building a very large church in the city of Charleston, and is superintending a mission that numbers its thousands.
MAJOR MARTIN R. DELANEY and Captain O.B. Wall are still in commission as United States officers, and are on duty in South Carolina.
REV. JOHN M. BROWN, one of the most prominent ministers of the A.M.E. Church, was a member of the delegates which recently called on the President, being a representative of Virginia.
We have the following very accurate description of the late hon. Edward Everett, in the Revue des Deux Mondes, which is translated for “Every Saturday:” “Mr. Everett is not popular. His eloquence, though grand, is not of a kind to attract the people. His speeches, composed and written beforehand, are filed, and polished, and ornamented excessively,- not a word, not an intonation, not a gesture, which is not studied. They give the impression that we get from certain celebrated preachers: 'How admirable! but he has not converted me!”
MR. WM. A. DEITZ is the wealthiest colored man in Albany, N.Y. He is said to be worth fifty thousand dollars. His private establishment shows all the signs of the refined gentleman.
MR. BLAKE, an enterprising colored man, is the proprietor of Congress Hall, the principal Hotel in Albany, N.Y. It is situated near the Capitol, and most of the members of the Legislature board there.
REV. W.D. HARRIS, Pastor of the A.M.E. church at Richmond, has only recently become connected with our denomination. He is said to be a man of finished education, and is quite an acquisition to the Baltimore Annual Conference.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS- Frederick Douglass lectured to an immense audience at Rev. Dr. Sunderland's church, Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening last. He was introduced to the audience by Chief Justice Chase, and spoke for two hours, amid frequent outbursts of vociferous applause. Hon. W.D. Kelley was called for, after Mr. Douglass had finished, and he nobly vindicated the rights of all men.
REV. R.H. CAIN.- As we go to press, we receive a communication of great importance from Rev. R.H. Cain, the Superintendent of South Carolina Missions. it contains information of a thrilling character. It is regretted that it is too late for this issue. It will appear in our next.