Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-04-28
From the y. Y Homo Journal.


mansion Of the proprietor through whose estate
for the last halt hour Of my journey had pur,
sued my way. My tired companion prcked his
ears, and with low whisper, indicated bis plea.
sure, as turned up the broad avenue leading to
the house. Calling black boy in view, babe
him enquire Of his owner il could be accom-,
modated with lodgings tor the night.
My request brought the. proprletor himself to
tie door, and from thence 10 the gate, when after
4 scrulinizng glance al my person and equip,
'ment, he enqulred my name, business, aud desti.
nation. promptly responded 10 his questions,
and he invited me to ailghl and enter the house,
in the tue spirit OF Southern hospitality.
lie was apparently thirty years Of age, and
evidently man Of education and reGuement.-l
soon observed an air Of gloomy abstraction
about him, he said but little, aud even that little
seemed the result OF an effort to obyiate the
seeming want OF ciylHty to a stranger. At sup.
per The mistress Of the mansion appeared, aad
did the hon'rs OF the table in her particular de.
partmenii she was exceedingly lady.like aud
beau u, Only as Southern women are, that Is,
bcy,n comparison with those OF any ether por.
ton Of the republic have ever seen. She re-
tired Immediately after supper and servant
handing some splendid llayanas on silver tray,
we had just seated ourselves comfortably before
the enormous fire Of oak wood when a servant
appeared at the end door near my host bat in
hand, and uttered in subdued but distinct tones,
the-to me, startling words
Master, de coffin hab come
"Nery we'll was the reply, and the servant
disappeared.
My host remarked my nquisiliyc wonder, and
replied TO it,
81 have been sad, sad, said he, 10 day. |
have had a greater misfortune that | have cSpe.
ricnced since my fathers death. lost this
morning the lruest and most reliable friend had
in the world---one whom have been accustomed
TO honor and respect since my earliest recollec.
ton he was the playmate Of my fathers youth
and the mentor OF mine--a faithful servant an
honest man, and a sincere christian. stood by
his bedside today, aud with his hands casped in
mine, | heard the last words he uttered they
were "Alaster meet me in heaven.
His voice iallcred a moment and he continued
after pause, with increased excitement
His loss is a melancholy one to me. II
lett my home, said to him, "John, see that all
things are taken care of; and | knew that my
and child, property all, were as safe as though
they were guarded by an hundred soldiers.
never spoke harsh word 10 him in all my life,
for be never merited it. have a hundred others
many Of them faithful and true, but his loss is ire
parable -.
! | came from o section Of the United titsis =
where slavery does not exist; and | brought with
me all the preludces which so generally prevail
ia the free States IN regard TO this institution
had already seen much to soften these, but the
observation OF years would have failed TO give
mo so clear an insight into the relation between
master and servant as this simple incident. |
was not the naughty planter, the lordIy tygan
talking Of his dead slave az othis dead horse bu
the kind hearted gentleman, amentng the loss
euogising the virtues OF bis good Old friend.
; After an interval of silence, my host resumed
. There are said he, many of the old mans re
/ laiiyes and friends who would wish to attend hi
funeral. ! o afford them an opportunity, severa
, plantations have been notified that he will be bu
! ried tonight some, presume, have already ar
rived; and desiring to see that all things are prop
a ery prepared, Tor bis internent, trust you wi
. excuse my absence fora few moments
\ Most certainly, sir, but, lthere is no impGo
priety, wood be pleased to accompany YOU
t There is none he replied, aud followed bin
E to one Of Il long row ot cabins, situated at III
, distance Of some three hundred yards from I'll
e mansion.
The house was crowded with negroes, who a
d arose on our entrance, and many Of them el
changed greetings with my host in tones III,
/. convinced me that ttey felt that he was an ob,e
/. Of sympathy from them. The corpse was depo
tied in the coffin, atlired in shroud of the fine
cotton materials, and the coffin itself paint,
black.
The master stopped at his head, and laying h
hand upo the cold brow olhs faithful bondsma
gazed long and inteuty upon features with viii,
n he had been so long familiar aud which he no
N looked upon for the last time on earth; raisil
IS his eyes, at length, and gIanciug at the scro
N eountenances now bent upon his, he said, soleal
<. ly and with much feeling
n. ale was faithful servant and a true chri
t. tau; if you follow his example and live as
S. lived, none OF you need fear when the time com
for You to lay here.
or A patriarch with the snow Of eighty winte
Ii, on his head answered.
ed "Naster it is true, and we will try 10 live III
"a. him"
as There was murmur OF general assent Il
i'd after giving some instruction relative to the bu
on al, we returned 10 the dwelling.
to About 0 o'clock a servant appeared with
IS, notice that they were ready to move, and to KIN
N. if further instructions were necessary. My h
ur remarked to me, that by stepping into the piaz
m would probably witness, to me- novel scel
ng The procession had moved and its route
within few yards of the mansion.
,ur There were one hundred and fifty negro
IN. arranged four deep, and following a wagon
ne, which was placed the coffin; down the ent
in length of the line, at intervals of a few feet,
each side, were carried torches OF the resin,
ng, pine, and here called light.wood. About
pa. centre was stationed the black preacher, n
Ike of gigantic frame aud sentoran lungs. y
OF gave out from memory the words Of a hymn, s.
wn able to the occasion. The southern negroes
proverbial for the melody and compass of II