Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-18
Mistellonrous.
The Night Funeral Of a Slave.

TRAVELLING recendy on business in The nteri.
or of Georgia. reached. just al sunSel the man.
SION OF the proprietor through whose estate for
the last halt hour ot my journey. ! had purSu.
ed my way. My lirrd companion pr1ckcd up
| his ears. aud with low whine indicated his
pleasure aS | turned up the broad avenu, lead
ing 10 lhe house. CaIIingroa black boy in view
| made him inquire of his owner it | could b.
accommodated with lodgings for the night.
! My request brought the proprietor hnnseIf 10
The door. and thence to the gate. when aier a
scrutinizing glance al my person and equpm hnls
he inquired NV name, business aud destination
| promptly respEnded to his questions. and he
nvtekme To ente.~ The house IN the true spirit
OF Southern hospitality.
He was apparently about thirty years of age.
aud evidently man Of reharmenl and rduca-
ton. soon observed an air OF gHomy ao''rac-
uon about him; he said bUi Iiule. and even that
ttIe seemed to be- The result of an eilor 20 o0VI'
ate the apparent want of cvlIy to stranger.
Al supper the mistress of the mansion appeared
and did the h0norS of the table in her parlcG-
lar department. She was exceedingly lady-lke
and beautiful. She retired Immediately after
supper, aud servant handing some splendid
ourselves comfortably before the enormous fire
OF oak wood. when servant appeared ut The
end of the door near my host, hat in hand, and
uttered in subdued bul distinct tones the, 10 me,
startling words:
'MaSsa de coffin hab come
very WE'LL was the only reply, and the SER
want disappeared.
My hosl remarked my gaze Of inquisitive won
der, and replied to it,
Il have been sad, sad today he said. Il
have had greater misfortune Than have ever
experienced since my fathers death. lost this
murnng the iruesl and most reliable friend
had IN This world-one whom have been ac-
cusomed 10 honor and respect since my earli'
eSl recullectionS; he was the playmate of my
fathers YOUTH aud the mentor of mine; laiI5-
ful servant, an honest man and a sincere Chris
lian. | stood by his bedside 10 day and with his
hands cIasped in mine, heard the last words
he uttered; they were; "Masler meet me in hea-
ven."
His voice falered moment, and then he
continued with increased emotion:
His loss is melancholy one TO me. If
left my home, said TO him, John, see that all
things are taken care Of and | knew that my
wife and child, properly and all, were us safe as
though guarded by hundred soldiers. ! new
er said harsh word to him in all my life for he
never mer,ed it. have a hundred other SER
wants, many of them lpilhlul and true, but his
loss is irreparable.
came from section Of the country where
slavery does not exist; and brought with me
all the prejudices which so generally prevail in
the free States in regard 10 this 'institu'on.' /
had already seen much 10 soften these, but the
observation of years would have faed 10 give
me so clear an nsigh, into the relation of mas
ter and slave as this simple incident. llwas not
the naughty planter, the lordIy lyrHnI, talking
Of his dead slave as Of his deud horse, but the
kind-hearled gentleman lamenIing The loss and
euoglZng the virtues of his good old friend.
Alter an interval of silence my host resum-
cd
There are,' said he, many of the old man IS
relatives and friends who wish TO attend his lu'
neral. To afford them an opportunity, several
plantations have been notified that he will be
buried tonight; some, presume, have already
arrived; and desiring 10 see that all things are
properly prepared for his interment, trust you
will excuse my absence few moments
Most certainly, sir; but,', added, If there
is no impropriety, should be pleased to accom-
pany you.
There is none,' he replied; and followed
him to long row Of cabins situated at dis
tance of some two or three hundred yards from
The mansion. The house was crowded with ne
gross; all arose on our entrance, and many o