Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-07-19

BY URIE TODD,

Travelling recently on business in the int c.
rior of Georgia. just at sunset, the mansion of
the proprietor though whose estate for the last
half hour Of my journey had pursued my way.
My tired companion prcked his cars and, with
a low neigh, indicated his pleasure, as turned
up the broad avenue leading TO the house. Call
ing to a black boy in view, bade him inquire
Of his owner if could be accommodated with
lodgings for the night
My request brought the proprietor himself
TO the door, and from thence to the gate, when,
after scrutinzng glance at my person and
equipments, he inquired my name, business and
destination. ! promptly responded to his ques
lions, and he invited me TO alight and enter the
house, in the true spirit of southern hospitality
lie was apparently thirty years of age, and
evidently man Of education and refinement. |
soon observed an air of gloomy abstraction about
him. lie said but liltle aud even that little
seemed the result of an effort TO obviate the
seeming want of ci,ilty TO a stranger. At
supper, the mistress of the mansion appeared
and did the honors of the table in her particu-
lar department. She was exceedingly lady
like and beautiful, as southern women gcner-
ally are. She retired Immediately after supper,
and Il servant, handing some splendid Havanas
on a silver tray, we had Just seated ourselves
comfortably before a blazing fire of oak wood
when servant appeared at the door of the par
or, and uttered in subdned, but distinct tones,
The, TO me- startling words:
" Master, de coffin hab come
Every WELL was the reply, and the servant
disappeared.
My host remarked my look OF surprise, and
replied to it as follows:
81 have been sad, said he, to-day have
I.xl Al. \
rienced since lost my father lost this morn
ing the truest and the most reliable friend had
in the word-one whom l have been accus-
toned te honor and respect since my earliest
recollection. He was the playmate of INV
fathers youth, and the Mentor of mne
"A faithful servant, an honest man, and
sincere christian, stood by his bedside to-day,
with his hand clasped in mine. heard the
last words he uttered-they were: master,
meet me in heaven
Ills voice taltered moment, and he CONT
nued, after pause, with increased excitement :
Ills loss is a melancholy one to me. If left
my home, said to him.
John, see that all things are taken care of !;
and know that my wife and child property and
all, were as safe, as though guarded by hun
dred soldiers. ] never spoke a harsh word to
him in my life, for he never mcrted one.
have hundred others, many of them faithful
and true, but his loss is irreparable.
come from a section Of the Union where
slavery does not exist; and brought with me
many of the prejudces which so generally pre-.
vail in the free states in regard TO this nsttu-
ton. | had already seen much to soften these !;
but the observation of years, would have failed
to give me so clear an insight into the relation
between master and servant, as this simple in
cident. 1t was not the naughty planter the
lordly tyrant, talking ofhs dead slave, as OF his
dead horse; but the kindrhearted gentleman,
amenting the loss and eulogizing the virtues
of his good old friend.
After an inter an interval of silence, mine
host resumed-' there are said he, many of
the old mans relatives and friends, who would
wish to attend his funeral. To afford them an
opportunity, several plantations have been noti-
he'd that he will be buried tonight; some, pre-
sumo, have already arrived, and desiring to see
that all things are properly prepared for his in
terment, trust you will excuse my absence
for few moments
Most certainly, sir ; | added but if there is
no improperly, would be please to accompa-
ny YOU
"There is none,' he replied; and followed
him to one OF long row of cabins, situated at
the distance Of some three hundred yards from
the mansion, the house was crowded with ne
groes, who all arose on our entrance, and many
of them exchanged greetings with mine host,
in tones that convinced me they felt that he
was an object of sympathy from them-the
corpse was deposited in the coffin, attired in
shroud of the finest cotton materials, and the
coffin itself painted black.
The master stopped at his head, and laying
his hand upon the cold brow OF his faithful
0ondsman, gazed long and intenty upon the
features with which he had been so lopg famil-
lar, and which he now looked upon for the last
time on earth ;-raising his eyes at length, and
glancing at the serious countenances now bent
upon his, he said solemnly and with much fee l.
ing;
'iie was faithful servant and true chris.