The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-02-06
OLD MOSES.

Mr.. B. was a merchant in Baltimore, an
did very heavy business, especially in grain
One morning as he was passing over the vessel
that lay at the wharf with their various com
modities for sale, he stepped upon the deck 0
lone, at the stern Of which he saw negro mai
lsitting, whose detected countenance gave sur
indication Of distress and he accosteo hin
with
'Hey! my man, what is the matter with yol
this mOrningi"
The negro lifted his eyes, and looking at Mr.
B. replied
iAh, massa, Use in great trouble"
what aboutf"
"Kase Use fotch up here to be Sold"
"What forq What have you been dOing2-
Have you been stealing, or did You run awayi
orwhati''
"No. no, massa, none O. that; it's bekase
didn't mind de audes.
'What kind Of orders9"
| Well, massa stranger, l tell you. Massa
Wllnm very strick man, and very nice man
too aud ebry body on the place got to mine
him; and break trew de rule; but didn't
tend to break de rule; forget mysef, and got
too high"
dts for getting drunk then, is its"
ooh, sab, not dat MOTHER"
"You are the strangest nigger have seen for
a week. can get no satisfaction from you
If you would not like to be pitched overheard
you had better tell me what you did,"
please, massa, don't frow de poor 'flcted
nigga in de watta."
Then tell me directly what you are to be
sold for"
"For prayin, sab. "
"For praying? That is very stran &c tale
indeed. viii your master not permit you tc
prayq"
30, yes, sab, he let me pray easy; but hol.
lers too loud"
"And why did you hallOO so in your prayers
"kase de Spirit comes on me, and gets hap
lpy fore knows it den; den goner; can't tro
mysef den; den l know nothin bout massa'
lruie; den heller if ole Satin hissef come, wi
all derules Of de QUESTION"
.And do you suppose your master will reall
sell you for thati"
'fOh yes; no help for me now all de mel
in De world couldn't help me now; kase whel
Masaa Willum say one ting, he nebber do an!
oder"
''What is your namei"
'fMoses, sab.
"What is your masters namti"
"Massa name Colonel Willum c.
''Where does he liVeq"
"Down on de Easin ShOah."
Z" Is be a good master2 Does he treat you
wells"
"Oh, yes; Massa Willum good--nO better
massa in De world"
eStand up and let me look at you"
And Moses stood up, and presented a robust
frame; and as Mr.. B. stripped up his sleeves,
his arm gave evidence Of unusual muscular
strength.
"Where is your mastery
"Yanner he is, iis comm to de warf."
AS Nj. B. started for the shore, he heard
Moses give heavy sigh followed by deep
groan. Moses was not at all pleased with the
present phase Of affairs. He was strongly i'm
pressed with the idea that B. was a trader, and
intended to buy him; and it was this that made
him 60 unwilling to communicate to Mr.. B. the
desired information. Mr.. B. reached the wharf
Just as Colonel c. did. He introduced himself
and said
81 understand you wish to sell that negro
man on board the schooner"
Col. G. replied that he did.
"What do yon ask for himi'
81 expect to get seven hundred dollars"
Glow old is he's"
"About thirty"
els be healthyG'
Very; he never had any sickness in his life,
except one or two spells Of the ague."
"Is he heartyf"
''Yes, sir; he will eat as much as any man
ought, and it will do him as much good"
lis he good hand2"
eyes, sir, he is the best hand on my place.
He is steady, honest and industrious. He has
been my foreman for the last ten years, and a
more trusty negro never knew"
"Why do you wish 10 sell himi"
Because he disobeyed my orders. As said
he is my foreman; and that he might be avail
able at any moment want him, built his
quarter within a hundred yards of my own
house; and have never rung the bell at any
| time in the night or morning, that his horn did
not answer in five minutes after. But, two
years ago, egOt religion, and commenced what
be terms family prayer-thst is, prayer in his
quarter every night and morning, and when he
began bis prayer, it was impossible to tell when
he would stop, especially If Us he termed it) he
got happy. Then he would sing and pray and
hallOO for an hour OF two together, so that you
might hear him mile off And he would pray
for me, and my wife and children, and our
whole family connection to the third genera
ton; and sometimes, when we would have vis-
tiers, Moses prayers would interrupt the con
versation and destroy the enjoyment of the
whole company. The women would cry, and
it would set me almost frantic; and even after
retired, Il would sometimes be nearly daylight
before could 20 to Sleep for it appeared to me
that could hear Moses pray for three hours af-
ter he had finished. bore it as long as !
could, and then forbid his praying 50 loud any
more. Moses promise obedience, but he soon
transgressed and my rule is never to whip
but whenever g negro proves ineorrigibls, sell
him. This keeps them in better subiection, and
is less trouble than whipping. pardoned Mo
ses twice for disObedience in praying 50 loud
but the third time knew must sell him, o.
every negro on the farm would soon be perfect
ly regardless Of ell my orders"
"YOu spoke Of Moses quarters / suppos
from that, he has familya"
"Yss, be has woman, and three children