The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-06-26


and all were as safe as if guarded by a
hundred soldiers. Inever spoke harsh
word to him in all my life, for he never
deserved it. I have hundred others,
many of them faithful and true, but
his loss is irreparable."
/ came from section of the Union
where slavery does not exist, bringing
with me all the prejudices which gen.
orally prevail in the free States in re-
gard to this institution | had already
seen much TO soften these preJudices,
but the observation of years would
have failed TO give me so clear an in
sight into the connection between mas
ter and servant as this simple incident
1t was not the naughty planter, the
lordly tyrant, talking of his dead slave
as of dead horse, but the kind-hearted
gentleman lamenting the loss and eulo-
gizing the virtues Of his good old friend.
After an interval of silence, my 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 notified. Some.
! presume, have already arrived; and
desiring that all things are properly
prepared for his interment, ] trust you
will excuse my absence for a few
moments"
"Most certainly, sir. But" added,
"if there is no improperly. / would be
pleased to accompany you"
"There is none," he replied; and I
followed him TO one of long row of
cabins, situated some three hundred
yards from the mansion The house
was crowded with negroes, who all
rose at our entrance, and many of them
exchanged greetings with my host in
tones that convinced me that they felt
he was an object of sympathy from all,
The corpse lay in the coffin. attired in
a shroud of cotton cloth of the finest
texture. with the coffin painted black.
The master stopped al the head. and
laying his hand on the cold brow of
his faithful bondsman, gazed long and
intensely OH the features with which he
had been so long familiar, and which
he now looked upon for the last time on
earth Raising his eyes and glancing
at the serious countenances now bent
upon his. he said solemnly and with
much feeling, Heewas faithful SER
want and true Christian: if you follow
his example, and live as he lived, none
of you need fear when the time comes
for you to lie here"
A patriarch, with the snow of eighty
winters on his head, answered.
"Master, il is true, and We will try
to live like him."
There was murmur of general
assent, and, after giving some instruc-
tions relative to the burial, we return
ed to the dwelling.
About O'Clock a servant appeared
with the notice that they were ready
to move, and to know if further instruc-
tions were necessary My host remark
ed to me that BY stepping into the
piazza would probably witness novel
scene. The procession had moved, and
its route lay within hundred yards of
the mansion. There were one hundred
and fifty negroes, arranged four deep,
coffin, which passed down the entire
length Of the line Atintervals Of few
feet. on each side, were carried torches
of the resinous pine. About the centre
was stationed the black preacher. a
man of gigantic frame and stentorian
lungs, who gave out from memory the
words of hymn suitable 10 the occa-
sion. The southern negroes are pro-
verbal for the melody and compass of
their voices, and thought that hymn,
melIowed by distance, the most solemn
and yet the sweetest music that had
ever fallen on my ears. The stiffness
of the night and strength of their voices
enabled me to distinguish the air at the
distance of half mile. 1t was to me
a strange and solemn scene, and no
incident of my life has impressed me
with more powerful emotions than the
night funeral of the poor negro. For
this have hastily and most imperfectly
sketched its leading features.
| am but a brief sojourner here /
hail from colder cline, where it is
our boast that all men are free and
equal. | shall return to my northern
home deeply impressed with the belief
that, dispensing with the name of free
dom, the negroes of the South are the
haPpiest and most contented people on
the face of the earth.
Z