Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-12-12
u BUEFALO PUTNAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY DECEMB

sight into the relation between mas.
ter and servant as this simple Incl.
dent. II was not the naughty planter.
the lordly tyrant, talking Of his dead
slave as Of his dead horse, but the
kind-hearted gentleman lamenting the
loss and eulogising the virtues Of his
good old friend. II
After an interval Of silence my host
resumed: a b. 4S
There are, ''said he, s'many of the
old mans relatives and friends who
wish to attend his funeral. To afford
them an opportunity. several planta-
tons have been notified that he will
be buried tonight; some. ] presume,
have already arrived; and desiring to
see that oil things are properly pre-
pared for his interment, ], trust you
will excuse my absence for q few mo-
ments.p +..-.t ~. H
"Most certainly, sir; but" added,
"if there is no impropriety, ! would
be pleased to accompany You"
"There Is none" he replied; and ]
followed him to one Of a long row Of
cabins, situated ct the distance of some
three hundred yards from the man
sion. The house was crowded with
negroes, who all arose on our entrance
and many Of them exchanged gree.
tings with myIhost, in tones that con.
>yinced me that they felt that he was
an<object Of sympathy from them -
The corpse was deposited in the coffin,
attired ina shroud Of the finest cotton
materials, and the coffin itself paint.
cd black. - s.! III .
The master stopped at his head, and
laying his hand upon the cold brow
of his faithful bondsman, gazed long
and intently upon features with which
he had been 30 long familiar, and
which he now looked upon for the last
time on earth; raising his g yes at
length, and CHANGING at the serious
countenances now bent. upon his, he
said solemnly and with much feeling:
Tile was a faithful servant and d
true Christian; If yon follow his ex-
ample, and live as he lived, none Of
YOU need fear. when the time comes
for you to lay here.' ,,, j.
A patriarch, with the snow Of eigh-
ty winters on his head. answered.,
"Master, tits true, and we will try
to live like him." sIH<"as a:H.l
There was q murmur Of gen ral as
sent, and after giving. some instruc-
tons relative to the burial, we re-
turned to the dwelling. r. !.
About 9 o'clock a servant appeared
with the notice that they were ready
to move, and to know if further in
structions were necessary. My host
remarked to me, that by stepping into
the piazza l would probably witness,
to me, novel scene. The process
sion had moved and its route led with
in few yards Of the mansion. There
were at least one hundred and fifty
negroes, arraSned four deep, and fol-
lowing a wagon in which was placed
the coffin; down the entire length Of
the line, at intervals of d few feet. on
each side, we re carried torches ofre-
sinous pine, and here called light
wood. About the centre was sta
toned the black preacher, a man Of
gigantic frame and Stentorian lungs,
who gave ont from memory the words
Of a HYMN suitable to the occasion.
Tho Southern negroes are proverbial
for the melody and compass Of their
voices. and Thought that hymn, mel
lowed by distance, the most solemn.
and yet the sweetest music that had
ever fallen upon my ear. The still
ness of the night and strength of their
voices enabled me to distinguish the
air at the distance Of half a mile. \
II 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 reason I have
hastily and most imperfectly sketched
its leading features. Previous to re-
firing to my room, ] saw, in the hands
Of Q daughter Of the lady at whose
house ] stopped for the night, num-
Der Of The Home Journal, and 1t oc-
Cured to me to send this to your pa
per, perfectly Indifferent whether II
be published Or not. ! am but d briet
sojourner here. Ihail from d colder
cline, where il is our prond boast tina.
all men are free and equal. ] shall
return to my Northern home, deeply
impressed with the belief, that, dis
pensing with the name Of freedom,
the negroes Of the South are the hap.
piest and most contented people Oh
the face oftle earth. a3 ao
alia ssn bf Yours, VIAToR. |