Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-05-25
written for the wheeling 1ntellIgeneer.l
SLAVERY.

.'when Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly be wise;''
So sings the Poet; but so did not think Uncle
Bi!ly,-an old times, old school negro, when
asked him TO tell ,-canGidly-I Who, for up
wards of fifty years, have been familiar with the
habits, dispositions. and nGniere detre of his
race; whether they were not happier i'll the early
half of that period, than they have been since or
are at present;
question of tive was great deal happier;'-
but them, he added, Il does Mt like that there sort
of happiness
And why not Billy?' saidI.
cit was,' he replied, because we know'd noth-
ing;'-and so Uncle Billy parted with his birth
right. and lett his old home, and went to free
State, that he might boast of liberty, and educate
his children, and purchase knowledge at the ex-
pense of happiness; for he tells me, whenever
fall IN with him, that she don't feel natural where
he is, and his heart yearns for old Virgnny,' to
say nothing of the kind words, and tempting fps
which in the Old Dominion seem expressly coin
ed for the sable functionary, and which, he &C
knowledges, come, like angels visits, few and far
between, in his adopted domicil. sAnd them
continues Billy, for he makes me his confidant,
and affects not TO conceal his grievances from one
who he admits is no stranger to the requirements
of his kind, sit seems TO me, maSsa, that these peo-
pie in free State will never lean how poor
colored body is to be treated. They amt been
used, all their lives, TO be waited on; and when
they get hold OF old servant, that has been well
brought up, and taught 10 be civil and obliging
they think he ought TO do everything, and yet
neither thanks, nor fps for his pains. Why, Lor
bless your soul, massa, when l goes visiting to
your house, OF TO any Who like you has been used
10 coloIed folks, and knows their ways, and YOU
comes out of the door, and says, What! Uncle Bill
ly, is that you2 Come in old fellow, and get
drink, and, by and bye, some hog and homminy;
and tell me, and the children, where you have
been this long time, and what you have leen
about; feels, all over, young again, and my old
heart, which las stood still so long, i thought ii
was dead, beats as If it would bust. Then my old
maSsa and miSSuS, and, the children, for you know
maSsa, we .uarkies think the world of children,
and claim all, in the parlor as well as in the
kitchen, as ourn, come to life again, and am
ptowlng about the farm, 10 make sure all is right;
or, if feels lazy, gets the rheumatic, and sits by
the cabin FIRE, while my old woman gets something
nice for and lets the white hands, who can't
afford TO be idle, OF sick, for you know massa,
they would lose their wages and have the Doctors
bill to pay besides, turn out TO work, from day
light Till dark, and then go home to hear, per-
hapS, the Sheriff has called again for taxes, and
won't wait any longer, and means TO seize the COW
tomorrow. Bless oour heart maSsa, we never
heard OF taxes, except when the Sheriff called on
old maSsa, who paid for us all; and right glad was
TO see him, for he always gave me ftp for bring
ing out his horse, and then, when misSus, God
bless her, would come hound, after breakfast to
ask how the old man was, and she and old aunt
Dinah would be telling how sorry they were he
happene1to be allng, just att that particular time
as they were going TO kill tie hogs, in the morn
inn, and really dI' MT know how they could gel on
without him; and, besides, wouldn't know what
10 do with all the spare-nbS. as they would never
be able 10 eat them themselves,-the old man
would declare he believed the sight of missus and
the children. she had brought with her, and who
had been whispering something about bladders,
and roasted pig tails, had made his rheumatic ca
Sier, and he really hoped he would be able TO help
a leetle to-morroW, for he knew his hogs would
never like 10 De killed by any but himself; them
white folks were always 50 awkward and unfeel-
ing And so, Billy goes on, weaving his web of