The Sierra citizen., 1855-01-06
sa1- Written Tor the Sierra Citizen.
How Dembo cured Himself OF Stealing
There was an old negro.

''There was an old negro.
And his name was Uncle Ned,
And he died long ago-long ago."
Whilst hearing this requiem to the Ia
mented demise Of the famous old hero
"Uncle Ned sung in TIE streets the other
day, my thoughts reverted to "old Uncle
Dembo,' the subject of ills sketch-and
while contrasting their positions / deter
mined to commit to paper the fate of one.
who though grown gray in service was in
a very inferior state OF morality. from that
in which we are led to suppose Uncle Ned
made his exit from this terrestrial sphere.
The occurrence Of which I write, took
place while l was undergoing the agrea-
bic duty Of having my young ideas taught
the shooting system under the supervis-
ion Of Two most rigid discplinarians, viz:
ferocious schoolfnaster and his rod. He
was one to whom the value of acquisition
consisted in vigorous application Of the
rod. ] was had boy, and when I had
the misfortune to do wrong the cause
was depicted in stern look on my tutors
visage, and the effect in red tinte.i lines on
my unfortunate back; but as don't intend
writing my life, and considering that !
have said more about myself than occa-
sion calls for, will to my story.
A few years ago there resided in Mont
gomery county, Maryland, an elderly negro
man, who was known by the simple title
of "Dembo," from whence the name was
derived / am unable to say, never having
had the pleasure of meeting person with
similar title; and what was my hero's
surname is also mystery, inasmuch as
have never been able to fall in with any
records pertaining to his family-and as
his name is only important as q matter OF
recognition, we will simply call him
'Dembo" and proceed. Dembo was a
slave, anil had grown gray in tie service
Of his master, but he was still hale and
hearty, and often have heard him repeat
the assertion to his fellow laborers that cit
he was Old he was as good as any on en-
lie was the particular favorite of his
master, inasmuch as his long exper ence
of all the manipulations of farm affairs and
management, rendered him u subject of re-
sponsibility, and the direction Of the work
was generally entrusted to his care, and
seldom if ever did his master have to
countermand his proceedings.
But with all his virtues, Denbo had
one bad propensity, to conquer which was
his only failing-he uouid Aeal-he was
conscious that stealing was wrong, but it
was his prevailing vice, and held the sway
ofall his better feelings. To rid himself
If this defect in his nature, he had recourse
to religion, and prayer after prayer did he
offer up to the Dispenser Of all good, but to
no purpose, for in the hour Of temptation.
selfdelial came not to his aid.
notwithstanding Dembo's aptitude for
taking things that were not his own, he
displayed such shrewdness and cunning,
that he never had the bad luck to be
caught in any OF his many acts of stealth,
previous to that which l will relate. One
night after returning from meeting"
Dembo found that his supply Of tobacco
was exhausted and he was denied the
pleasure Of taking his accustomed pipe be-
fore retiring for the night; so after quei-
ling partially, the virtuous promptings OF
his conscience he proceeded to the barn
and filed his sack with the nicely twisted
weed which lay III piles ready for packing
for the market. and as he was proceeding
t the place where he usually hid his little
pilferings, be suddenly came face to face
with his master, who had just returned
from the village. An explanation was
demanded, and Dembo for the first time was
'caught stealing" His master was re-
ligious man, and instead of resorting to
the lash, which is customary in the south
under such circumstances, he reasoned.
with him on the evil Of the way which he
was pursuing. and cautioned him against
the recurrence Of such acts. Bet. thus
easily escaping the punishment for his
greatest sin was not received by Dembo,
as it would hare been by many Of his fel-
low slaves; he pondered deeply over it, and
from that night he became moody and
reserved. Days and weeks passed on, and
one nigt found Dembo at "class meet
ing" in the little village church. One by
one his fellow members arose and recount