The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-17

=, "Yander he is, Just comm TO de warf."
| As Mr.. b. started for the shore, he heard
Moses give heavy sigh, followed by q
deep groan. Moses was not at all pleased
with the present phase 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 10 Mr.. B. the desired in.
formation. Mr.. B. reached the wharf just
as Colonel c. did. He introduced himself
and said: .a s.aH aom"71
81 understand you wish to sell that ne
gro man yonder on board the schooner
| Col. G. replied that he did. ..,...........
! "What do you ask for him?"
"lexpectt to get seven hundred dollars "
"How old is he!' a1lsa' saa.a.
"About thirty" 81 a..H.as s0. 81.
sis he healthy?" ..s..t
"Very; he never had any sickness in
his life except one or two spells Of the
ague." r s'''.ala
"Is he hearty?" -a5 N
"Yes, sir, he will eat as much as any
man ought, and it will do him as much
good"
ais he good hand?"
"Yes, sir, he is the best hand on my
place. He is steady, honest and indus.
trous. He has been my foreman for the
last ten years, and more trusty negro
never knew"
"Why do you wish to sell him?"
"Because he disobeyed my orders. As
said, he is my foreman; and that he might
be available at any time might want him,
built his quarters within hundred yards
of my own house, and never rung the
bell at any time in the night or morning,
that his horn did not answer in five minu.
tes after. But two years ago he got rel-
gion, and commenced what he terms fam
lily prayer-,hat is, prayer in his quarter
ever night and morning; and when he be-
gan his prayer it was impossible to tell
when he would stop, especially if (as he
termed it) he got happy. Then he would
sing and pray and halloo for an hour or
two together, that you might hear him a
mile off. And he would pray for me and
my wife and my children, and all my bro
theirs and sisters and their children, and
our whole family connexion to the third
generation; and sometimes when we would
have visitors, Moses prayers would inter-
rupt the conversation and destroy the en-
joyment of the whole company. The wo-
men would cry. and the children would
cry, and it would set me almost frantic;
and even alter had retired, it would some
times be nearly daylight before | could 20
to sleep; for it appeared to me that could
hear Moses pray for three hours after he
had finished. lbore il as long as could.
and then forbid his praying SO loud any
more. Moses promised obedience, but he
soon transgressed: and my rule is never
to whip, but whenever negro proves in
corrigible. | sell him. This keeps them in
better subjection. and is less trouble than
whipping. pardoned Moses twice for
praying 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. a' '.
"You spoke of Moses quarter; sup.
pose from that he has family" O., .6
"Yes, he has woman and three chill
dren-or wife, | suppose he calls her now,
for soon after he got religion he asked me
it they might be married, and | presume
they were." aasal sa,u.wM, .es a-a
"What will you take for her and the
three chidren?" ...... ...., ......,
"lf you want them for your own use, |
will take seven hundred dollars; but | shall
not sell Moses nor them 10 90 out of the
State"
IL wish them all for my own use, and
will give you the fourteen hundred dol
lars"
Mr.. B. and Col. C. then went to B. 8
store, drew up the writings and closed the
sale, after which they returned TO the ves-
sci; and Mr.. B., approaching the negro,
who sat with his eyes fixed upon the deck,
seemingly wrapt in meditation Of the most
awful forebodings. said ta s... "
swell, Moses, have bought you" 40
Moses made very low bow, and every
muscle OF his face worked with emotion as
he replied '. "
"Is you, massa? Where is gwine,
NASSAU u Is | gwine to Georgyl" g0aI
"No," said B., 81 am merchant in the
city here, and yonder is my store. wan,
you to attend on my store, and have pur-
chased your wife and children, too, that
you may not be separated" ~ '''"'"' e1-'
"Bress God for dat! And massa, kin
60 to meetin sometimes?'a sstG,9al
"Yes, Moses, you can 60 to church three
times on the 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 you
pray, whether at home or at church, want
you to pray for me, my wife, and my chill
dren, and single.handed too; for If you
are good man, your prayers will do us
no harm, and we need them very much;
and you wish to, you may pray for eve
l Z