Henry Boyd

The followiog is taken frorn the lips of a friend who resided in Cinciunati, in 1834, aad bad good opportunity to know the fact. Henry Boyd was bom a slave in Kentucky. Of imposing stature, wel!-knit muscíes, and the countenance of one of nature's noblemen, at ihe age of eighteen he had so far won the confidence of his master, thathe not only consented to sell him the right and titlc to his freedom, but gave him his own time to earn the money. - VVith a general pass from his master, Henry made his way to the Kanawha sait works, celebrated as the place where Sen ator Ewing of Ohio, chopped out his education witu his axe! And there too with his axe, did Henry Boyd chop out hls libert3r. By performing doublé labor, he got doublé wages. In the day-time he swung his axe upon the wood, and for half the night he tended the boiling sait keltles, sleeping the other half by their side. After having accumulated a suflicient sum, he returned to bis master and paid it over for his freedom. He next applied himself to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. Such was his readiness to acquire the use of tools, that he soon qualified himself o receive the wages of a journeyman. - [n Kentucky, prejudice does not forbid master mechanics to teach colored men their trades.He now resolved to quit the dominions of slavery and try his fortunes in a freo state, and accordingly directed his steps to the city of Cincinnati. Thejourney reduced his purse to the last quarter of a dol lar, but with histools on his back and a eet of muscles that well knew how to use them, he enleied the city with a light heart. Littledid he dream of the reception he was to meet. There was work enough to be done in his line, but no master-workman would employ "a nigger.nDay after day did Henry Boyd offer his services from shop to shop, but as often was he repelled,generaliy with insult, and once w ilh a. kick. At last he fouud the shop of an Englishman, too recently arrived to understand the grand peculiarily of American feeling. This man put a plañe into his hand atldasked him to make proof of hiaskill. "This is in bad order," said Boyd, and with that he gave the instrument certain nice proiessionable knocks with the hammer til! he brought it to snit his practiced eye. "Enough," said the Englishman, "I sceyou can use tools." Boyd, however, proceeded todress a board in a very able and workmanlike manner while thojourneyman from a long line of benches galhered round with looks that bespoke a deep personal interest in the matter. "You may go to work," said the master of the shop, rightgfad to employ so good a workman. The words had no sooner left his mouth, than his American journeyman, unbuttoning iheir aprons, called, s one man, for the settlement of tlieir waes. "What, what," said the amazed inglishman, "what does this mean?" - t means that we will not work with a igger" replied the journeyman. "But ie is a first-rate workman." "But we von't stay in the aanie shop with a nigger. We are not in the habit of working wilh iggers." "Then I will build a shanty utside, and ho shall work in that." "No o; we won't work for aboss who employs iggers. Pay us up and we'il be off." - 'he poor master of the shop turned with dcsparing look to Boyd - "You see how itis, my friend,my workman will all leave me. I atn sorry for it, but I can't hire you." Even at this repulse our adventurer did not despair. There might still be mechanics in the outskiris of the city who had too few journeyman to be bound by their prejudices. His quarter of a dollar had long since disappeared, but by carrying a travellor's trunkor turning his hand to any chance job he contrived to exist till he had made application to every carpenter and joiner in the city and its suburbs. Not one would employ him. By this time the iron of prejudice, more galling than any thinghe had ever knovvn of slavery, had entercd his soul. He walked down on the river's bank below the city, and throwing himself upon the ground, gave way to an agony of despair. He hadlbund himself the object of universal contemptjliis plans were ail frustratedj his hopes dashed, and hisdear-bought free dom made of no effect! By such trials weak minds arp prostrated in abject and slavish servility, stronger ones are made the enemies and depredators of society and it is only the highest class of mora héroes that come off like gold from the furnace.. Of this class, however, was Henry Boyd. Recovering from his dejection, he surveyed his brawny rauscles that strung his heraculeanlimbs. A new design rushed into his mind, and new resolution filled his heart. He sprang upon Jiis feet and walked firmly and rapidly towards the city, doubiless with ásperations that might have fitted the words of the poet, "Thy spirit Independence let mo.share, Lord of the lion heart and eagle eye." Tne first object which attracted his 'eagle eye,' on reaching the city, was one of the hoge river boats laden with pig iron, drawn up to the landing. The captain of the craft was just enquiring of the merchant who owned its contents for a hand toassistin unloading it. "lam the very fellow for you," said lioyd, stripping off liis coat, rolling up hissleeves and laying lold of the work, "Yes, sure enough, that is the very fellow for you," said thè merchant. The resolution and alacrity of Boyd interested him exceedingly,and during the four or five days whilst a flotilla of boats were discharging their cargoes of )ig-iron with unaccustomed despatch, he ecame familiar with his history, with the exception of all that pertained to his trade, which Boyd thought proper to keep to him self. In consequence, our adventurernext found himself promoted to the porter8hip of the mcrchan i's store, a postwhich he filled with great satisfaction. He had a hand and a head for every thing, and an occasion was not long wanting to prove it. A joiner was engagedto erecta counter, but failing by a drunken frolic, the merchant was disappointed and vexed . Rather in passion than in earnest, he turned to his faithful porter - "Here, Henry you can do nlmost any thing, why can1t you do thisjub?" "Perhaps I could, sir, if I had my toolsand the stuif," was the reply. "Your toolo !" exClamed the merchant in surprise, for till nov he knew nothirtg of his trade. Coyd cxpluined that he had learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner and had no objeclion to try the job. The merchant handed biai the moncy and lold him to mnke as good a counter as he could. Tlie woríi vas done with so much' promptitude, judgment and finish, that his employer broke off a conlract for the erection of a large frame warehouse which he was about closiug with the same mechan- ie that disuppoin'ed him in the matter of the counter, and gave the job to Ilenry.The money was turnUhed and Bod was left to procure the matei ials and boss the jobat liis own discretion. This he found no düTioulty in doing, and what is remarkable, anïcng the numerous journeymen whom he employed,verc some of the vcry men who took ofF their aprons at lus appearance in the Englialiman's shop! The mcrchant was so much pleased with his tmw warehcuse, ihat heproceeded to set u'p the intelligent builde in the exereise of his trade in ihe city. Thus Henry Boyd found himself raised at once al most beyond the reach of the prejudice which liad well nigh crushed him. He built bouses and accumulated property. White iourneymca and apprentices were glad to je in his employment and to sit at his ta')le. He is now a wealthy mechanic, iving in his own house in Óincinuati,and lis encmies who have tried to supplant ïim have a good reason as his í'riends lo ;now that he is a man of sound judgement and most vigerous intellect. Without hnving received u days schooling in his life, Henry Buyd is well read in history, has an extensiVe and acuraie ■inowledge of geography, is an excellent arilhmetician, is well mformed io politics iaving been for several years a regular subscriber to several of the bë:'tnevspaiapers publisheJ at the west. He is trily )ublic spirited and is remarkable for his morality, generosity and all Ihose traits which mark a noble character.