Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-17
MISCELL A N Y.
OLD MOSES.

MIR. B. was. a merchant in Baltimore, and
did very heavy business, especially. in
grain. One morning as he was passing
over the vessels that lay at the wharf with
their various commodities for sale, he step
ped upon the deck of one at the stern OF
which he saw negro man sitting, whose
detected countenance gave sure indication
of distress; and he accosted him with
Hey my man, what is the matter with
you this morlling"
The negro lifted up his eyes, and looking
at Mr.. B., replied
'Ah, massa, rs in great trouble
B. What about'
Negro. 'Kase Pse fotched up here to be
sold.'
B. what fors what have you been do
ing : have you been stealing or did yourun
away ! or what'
Negro. No, no, massa, none o dat Its
bekase | didn' mind audes.
B. what kind of orders?
Negro. well massa stranger, | tell you.
Mass Willum very strick man, and very
nice man too, and ebry body on de place
got to mine him, and break trew de rule,
but | didn't tend to break de rule doe; |
forgot myself, an got too high.
B. 1T is for getting drunk, then, is it,
Negro. % no. sab, not dat mother.
B. You are the strangest negro that |
have seen for week. can get no salts
faction from you. If you would not like to
be pitched overheard you had better tell me
what you did
Negro. Please massa, don't frow de poor
ficted nigga in de wata.'
B. Then tell me what YOU are to be sold
for
Negro, For prayin, sah.
B. For praying that is strange tale
indeed. VIII your master not permit you
TO pray.
Negro. o yes sab he let me pray easy,
but hollers too loud
B. and why did you holloo so in your
prayer"
Negro. 'Kase de Spirit comes on me, an
gifts happy fore knows it; den, den gone;
kant troll myself den den knows nuthin
about massa's rule den holler if old Sat-
tan hlsset come wild all de rules of de'quisi-
ton
B. and do you suppose your sterwill
really sell you for that?'
Negro. % yes; no help for me now; all
de men in de world couldn't help me now !:
kase when mass Willum say one thing he
no do anoder,'
B. What is your name"
Negro. Moses, sah.'
B. What is your masters name''
Mnco- gMoeeo'e II W,llo,,,
B. Where does he live ?
M. Down on de Easin Shoah.
B. Is he a good master, does he treat you
well?'
NJ. o yes, mass Willum good no better
massa in de world
B. Stand up and let me look at you
And Moses stood up and presented robust
frame, and as Mr.. B. stript up his sleeve
his arm gave evidence of unusual muscular
strength.
B. Where is your master ?
M. 'Yander he is, jis comm to de warf.'
As Mr. B. started for the shore he heard
Hoses give heavy sigh, followed by deep
qroan, Moses was not at all pleased with
the present phrase of affairs. He was
strongly impressed with the idea that B.
was trader and intended to buy him. and
it was this that made him SO unwilling to
communicate to Mr.. B. the desired infor-
nation. Mr.. b. reached the wharf just as
Col. c. did. He intoduccd himself and
said
Il understand you wish to sell that ne
gro man yonder on board the schooner
Col. c. replied that he did.
b. what do you ask for him ?
C. Il expect to get $700.'
How old is he
C. About thirty
B. is he healthy'
c. Very he never had any sickness in