Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1845-02-22
From the Louisville Morning Courier.
CAPT COBBS AND BILLY BOSHER

CAPT. COBBS AND BILLY BOSHER.
C,ptan Thomas Cobbs, an eccentric
M gentleman, lived in Bedford County,
Virginia. He was born TO considerable
patrImony, aud reared in the lap Of luxu.
Iy.-Ile owned an excellent farm on
&Flat Creek, and negroes sufficient to cul-
tiyate il, but he paid but li,le attention 10
the plantation, suffering his negroes to
4 work or not as best suited their feelings.
His wife was an excellent woman, but
possessed as little energy as himself The
consequence was, that Captain Cobbs'
\ crops always fell short of his expenses,
until at length he began to feel the pinch
4 ofhdrd tines. He became in debt, and
was daily annoyed with dunS, and not IN
frequently, the sheriff paid him visit.
When the time to pay his taxes came
round he had no money, and his wife had
frequently to beg the money other father
in order TO prevent the sale of negro,
The smoke house was destitute of meat,
and the corn crib of corn. The negroes
of course were half starved, and horses
miserabIy poor. His children were kept
at home, growing up in ignorance aud
vice Not being able TO ssend his chill
dren TO school, distressed the Captain more
than any thing else.
Fortunately for the Captain, man by
the name of William Bosher, called on him
early in the spring Of 1888, to get a stu
alton as overseer.-The Captain prompt.
Nv told him that he could not employ him
unless he could feed himself and family,
and assist in gett irg something for the ne
groes and horses to eat until a crop could
be made and if he could do this, he might
have half of what he could make, deduc-
hing supplies for the family. Mr. Bosher,
after examining the farm and negroes &C
ceded 10 the Captains proposition. and set
Immediately to work, The first year
Bosher raised nearly meat enough for the
family, aud had some corn for sale-made
Tobacco sufficient not only TO pay taxes
but to send the children to school. The
second year every, thing was plenty
even money enough TO send his sons tc
college.
81 During the third year Of Bosher's ad.
ministratioa, Cobbs got into considera-
be frolic, and was absent from home near
ly two weeks, (lor he never would come
hone intoxicated on account OF the dis.
fress which his appearance in that conGi.
zion occasioned his wiley When he had
got pretty sober, he returned home, aud
as he alighted from his horse, his wife
met him at the gate.-Looking over at
.Bosher's house which was not far of. and
seeing several horses tied near it, the
SCsptain exclaimed, "Nancy, my dear,
what are all them horses doing there al
Billy Bosher's house at this moment
The Captain continued, "whut Nancy i.
all this re,inue and concourse Of people
doing at Billy Bosher's?" why, lIr
Cobbs', replied his wife, f" didn't you know
that Billy Bosher was about to die?'
!" What, Nancy Billy Bosher about to die
you know my dear we can't spare Bill
ly Bosher!-you know madam, the situa
ton we were in when Bill y Bosher came
here--we couldn't give our negroes any
meath lact, could no; give them breac
enough-we couldn't send our children
TO school, nor even pay taxes! But now
we can feed our negroes well, we hav,
lat horses, plenty of meat and bread
make tobacco enough to pay our taxeI
and send our sons to college, and som,
money besides. III be id madam i
we can spare Billy Bosher!"--'Lord, Cap
tam Cobbs, what makes you talk so9 |
God wants bin, he will have him By
I'D madam, will 90 and see to he mat
Ter mysell'' and he went immediately
over to Bosher's house. Several neigh
bors were standing around the bedside
expecting every moment to see Boshe
breathe his last breath, when the Captain
entered the house. lie accosted Boshe
M mus: "BiiIy, my boy, what is the matter
y, Capt, Cobbs, am nearly gone" VIII,
Billy! we can't spare you've can
#Spare you. Billy! Billy! God, you can
go yet--you can't go you,can't go!
-" wish | could stay with you longer
Captain Cobbs-You'ye been mighty goo