Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-05-26
Volume 4.
From the Weekly Universe.
The Night Funeral Of a Slave.

he style, language, or composition Of this
hriuing incident; its far beyound the bump
of nv comprehension, but as | witnessed, on
noro than one occasion, a scene most similar
4 will neither add nor take auGlt from the
beautiful narrative in giving the description
/ was sojourning in the interior Of South
Carolina in 1s40; there first saw it in Nor
yis a,,d Walls HoRe Journal, while l
carried for night in the mansion Of an opu-
lent planter a good man though STAKEHOLDER
he prayed with and instructed his slaves.
Father Garretson and Madam FOLSOM never
bend the knee, except when they pray to the
devil
Travelling lately on business in the interior
Of Georgia, | reached, just at sunset the man
sion Of the proprietor, through whose estate,
for the last half hour Of my Journey had
pursued my way, and with low whisper he
Indicated his pleasure, as turned up the
broad avenue leading to the house. Calling
10 black boy in view bade him inquire Of
his master if could be accommodated with
lodgings for the night. Ny request brought
the proprictor himself to the door, when, az
ter a scrutinizing glance at my person and
enuipment. he enquirod my name, business
and destination. promptly responded to his
ouestions when he invited me to alight and
enter the house, in true spirit Of Southern
hospitality.
lie was apparently thirty years Of age, and
evidently man Of education and refinement.
| soon observed an air Of gloomy abstraction
about him. lie said but little, and even that
little seemed the result Of an effort to obyiate
the seeming want of ciyility to a stranger.
At supper, the mistress Of the mansion ap-
pearcd, and Jill the honors Of the table. In
her peculiar department she was exceedingly
lady-like and beautiful-as only Southern
women are that is, beyond comparison with
those Of any other portion Of this Republic
that have seen. She retired Immediately
after supper, and servant handing some
splendid IIavannas, We had just seated our
selves comfortably, when a servant appeared
at the end door and uttered, in subdued but
distinct tones the, to me- startling words:
Master! dc coffin hab come"
"Very we'll was the only reply, and the
servant disappeared.
Ny host remarked my gaze Of inquisiiye
wonder and replied
q have been sad-sad, to-day. have had
greater misfortune than have experienced
since my fathers death. lost, this morning
the truest and most reliable friend that had
in the world one whom / have been accus-
toned to honor and respect since my earliest
recollection He was the playmate Of my
fathers youth, and the mentor Of mine;
faithful servant, an honest man. and sincere
christian. stood by his bedside to-day and
with his hands clasped in mine, l heard his
last words They were - Master! meet
me in heaven.
Ills voice faltered a moment, and he con-
tinuod after pause
His loss is a melancholy one to me. If
I left home l said to him, John, see that all
things are taken care Of and 1 knew that my
wife, child, property and all, were as safe as
IF guarded by hundred soldiers. / never
spoke a harsh word to him in all my life, for
be never deserved IT, have a hundred 9TH
ers, many of them faithful and true but his
oss is irreparable"
l came from a section Of the Union where
Slavery does not exist, bringing with me all the
prejudices which generally prevail in the Free
States, in regard to this institution. had al
feady seen much to soften these prejudices,
put the observation Of years would have failed
" give me 50 clear an insight into the con-
noction between master and servant as this
simple incident
It was not the naughty Planter, the lordly
tyrant talking Of his dead slave as Of dead
horse; but the kind-hearted gentleman. la
menting the loss, and eulogizing the virtues Of
his good old friend
4AlAlA al AAtNANAA "a oAANuNSi NY NOsL re-
sumed "There are, said he, many Of the old
mans relatives and friends who would wish to
attend his funeral To afford them an oppor-
tunity, several plantations have been notified.
Some, presume, have already arrived; and
desiring to see that all things are properly
prepared for his interment, trust you will
excuse my absence for few moments.
"AIost certainly, sir; but, added, "if
there is no impropriety, would be pleased to
accompany you"
There is none," he replied and l fol-
lowed him to one Of a longrow Of cabins sit
uated some three hundred yards from the
mansion. The house was crowded with ne
groes who all rose on our enterance, and many