"Sam Norris, a colored man, has been living in Covington about five years, has married a free colored woman and has had by her several children. He belongs to a Mr. J. N. Patton, of Virginia, who permitted him to come to Covington, and engage in whatever services he saw proper, on condition that Sam would pay him out of his earnings, a stipulated sum per annum, we believe, about $100. The surplus, whatever it might be, was to belong to the slave. Sam was punctual for several years. He was sober and industrious, and in his humble way, very prosperous. About two years ago Mr. Patton came west on a visit and agreed with Sam that if he would pay him the sum of $400 he would give him his freedom. Sam gratefully accepted the proposal, and at once paid down out of his hard earnings $135 and has since given his master some $40 or $50 more. "Patton now comes forward to rescind the contract and claim his slave. The case was yesterday decided by the Hon. Judge Pryor, in favor of Patton. In delivering his decision, his Honor stated the following facts: "1st. That the laws of Kentucky recognize but two modes of liberating slaves, by will and by deeds of emancipation. "2d. That a slave cannot make a contract. "3d. That the contract was executory, and at the time fixed for the negro's freedom, future and contingent. "4th. That so long as Sam was a slave, the master was entitled to his services, and the money he (Patton) had received was in law his own. "The opinion was able and elaborate, and the authorities numerous and decided. His Honor characterized the case as one of great "hardship and cruelty," and every one in the court room seemed to sympathize deeply with the poor negro." A lady at St. Louis, Mo., related to Mrs. F. D. Gage the following circumstance, which transpired in that city a short time ago. "I had, said the lady, an old colored woman washing for me a few years ago, for four or five years--one of the most faithful, truthful, and pious women, I ever knew--black or white. She was once a slave, belonging to Davenport. But he was a kinder man than other men, and gave her the privilege of buying her freedom for one thousand dollars! This sum the old and faithful creature earned and paid herself. Only think of it!--one thousand dollars for the privilege of buying what our wise statesmen call the "inalienable right of men," bestowed by the Creator. When free she stipulated for the freedom of her son, and this, with years of toil, she earned; and when he came to manhood he too was free. "Think of this, fair mothers of our land! Ye who hug to your heart the children of your love, and feel a mother's love and this for them. You work to clothe, to school and make comfortable those dependent upon your care; but which of you can measure the toil that this poor, stricken mother had to bear, ere she filed away the galling chains from the limbs of her child!