Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-10-02
OLD MOSES,

morning as he was passing over the vessels tha
lay at the wharf with their several commodite
for sale, he stepped upon the deck Of one at tn
stern OF which he saw negro man sitting
whose de)ec'ed countenance gave sure indicatio
OF distress; and he acco.ted him with
"Hey! my man what is the matter with vo
| this morning 20
The Old negro lifted up his eyes, and !ookin
at Mr. B. replied
.Ah, massa, pse in great trouble"
B. ''What about?'' ..s..
Negro. "kase Fse focht up here to be sold. :,
b. "What for? wha: have YOU been doing
have you been stealing? or did you run away
OR what?
Negro. s'No, no, massa, none o,dat. it's be
kase didn't mine de audes"
b. "What kind Of ORDERS"
Negro: "Well Massa stranger, tell you.-
Massa William VERY strict man, and VERY nic
man too, and ebry man on dc place got to min
him, and break trew de rule, but I didn't tent
to break de rule doe; forges myself and I4ro
too high"
3, 81. is for getting drunk, then is it9"
Negro. "Oh, no, sab, moi that nother.''
b. "You are the strangest negro that hay,
seen for week. can get no satisfaction from
you. II You would not like to be pitched over
board, you had better tell me what you did,
Negro. 'Pease massa don't frow de poor flic.
ted nigga in de wata."
B. "Then tell me what you are 10 be sold for ,
Negro. "For praying, sah."
b. "For praying that's a strange tale in
deed. Will your master not permit you TO pray?,
Negro. 20 yes, sab, he let me pray easy. bu,
hollers too loud.''
B. "And why did you halo so in you,
prayer?"
Negro. ''Kase de Sperit comes on me, an
gifts happy for knows it den, den gone: kan,
troll myself den; den ! knows nuthing about
Massa's rule; den holler if old Satin hissel,
come wild all dc rules of de 'qestion."
B. And do you suppose your master will
really sell you for that?
Negro. sob yes no help for me now all de
men in de world couldn't help me now kast
when massa William say one thing he no dc
anoder.'' =
B. "What is your name % .l
Negro. ''Moses, sah.'
b. "What is your masters name?''
Moses. "Massa's name Col William C y
B. "Where does he live:n
nj. "Down on the Esin Shoah.-
well?"
NJ. go yes, massa William good; no better
master in de world"
B. "Ssand up and let Inc look at you. And
Moses stood up and presented robust frame,
and as Mr. B. stripped up his sleeve bis arm gave
evidence OF unusual muscular strength
B. "Where is your master:,'
M. "Yander he is, jis coming to the warf."
As Mr. b. started for the shore he heard Mo-
ses give heavy sigh. followed by deep eroan,
Moses was not pleased with the present phase of
affairs. He was strongly impressed with the
idea that Mr. B. was trader, and intended to buy
him, and it was this that made him so unwilling
TO communicate to Mr. B. the desired informa-
ton. Mr. B. reached the wharf just as Col. c.
did. He introduced himself and said
81 uuu -rstanH voD " iSh Ia spN that papr, N, j,
yonder on board the schooner,
Col. c. replied that he did,
B. ''What do you ask for him9,
c. ''I expect to get 500"
B. "How old is hc?'
{. "Ahout thirty"
B. ''Is he healthy?"
C. "Very; he never had any sickness in his
B. as he hearty?''
c. eyes. sir; he will eat as much as any man
ought, and it will do him as much good''
b. ''Is he good hand?"
G. "Yes. sir, he is the best man on my place
He is honest and industrious. He has been my
foreman for the last ten years, and more trustv
negro | never knew
B. "Why do you wish to sell him 2''
c. "Because he disobeyed my orders As
said he is my foreman. and that he might be
available at any moment might want him built
his quarters within hundred yards of my house
and have never rung the bell at any time at
night or in the morning that his horn did not an
swer IN FIVE minutes after. Bat two years ago he
got religion and commenced what he terms family
prayers-that is prayer in his quarter every night
and morning when he begun his prayer it was
impossible to tell when he would stop, especially
if Gas he terms it) he got happy. Then he would
sing, and pray, and halloa for an hour or two to-
gether. that you might hear him a mile off, And
he would pray for me and my wife and children
and all my brotheas and sisters and their children
and our whole family connection to the third and
fourth generation and sometimes when we would
have visitors. Moses prayers would interrupt
the conversation ahd destroy the enjoyment of
the whole company. The women would cry, and
the children would cry and it would get me al
most frantic, and even after had RETIRED it would
sometimes be nearly daylight before l could get
to sleep, for it appeared to me that | could hear
Moses pray for two hours after he had finished
bore it as long as could, and then forbid his
praying so loud any more, and Moses promised
obedience, but he soon transgressed and my rule
is never to whip, but when a negro proves incor-
rigible sell him. This keeps them in better sub
lection, and is less trouble than whipping. And
/ pardoned Moses twice for disobedience in pray
ing so loud, but the third time knew must sell
him or every negro on the farm would soon be
perfectly regardless of all my orders.
B. ''You spoke of Moses quarter; suppose
from that he mas family.''
G. eyes, he has woman and three children.
or rife l suppose he calls her now, for soon af-
ter be got religion he asked Inc if they might be
married and presume they were.''
B. "What will you take for her and her chill
dren 20
'.If you want them for your own use will
take 500 but shall not sell Moses nor them to
90 out of of the State"
B. Il wish them all for my own use, and will
give you the S1400.''
Mr. B. and Col. C. then went to BIS store,
drew up the writing and closed the sale; after
which they returned to the vessel, and Mr. B. ap-
preaching the negro, who sat with his eyes fix
ed upon the deck, seemingly wrapped in medta-
ton of the most awful forbodngs said
swell Moses, have bought you.''
Moses made very low bow, and every mus
Gle Of his face worked with emotion as he replied.
SIS you massa? where is gwine, massa Is
gwine to Georgy?"
''No," said Mr. B., IL am a merchat here in
city; and yonder is my store; and want you
to attend on the store and | have purchased
your wife and children, too, that you may not be
separated.'
M. "Bress God for dat and massa kin l 90
meeting sometimes?"
B. :Yes, Moses you can 20 to church three
times on Sabbath and every night in the week,
and you can pray as often as you choose, and as
loud as you choose, and as long as you choose,
and get as happy as You choose; and every time
Won pray. whether it be at home or in church,
want you to pray for me, my wife, and all my
children, and single handed too; for if you are a
good man your prayers will do us no harm, and
il you wish you may pray for everybody of the