Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-01-17


lost this morning the truest and most reii-
able friend had in the woild-one whom
have been accustomed to honor and respect
since my earliest recollection; he was the
playmate of my fathers, and the mentor OF
mine; faithful servant, an honest man.
and sincere christian. stood by his bed
side to day, and with his hands claspedin
mine, heard the last words he uttered
they were, 'Master meet me in heaven" !;
His voice taltered moment, and ts con-
tinued, after pause, with Increased excite
ment-
"His loss is melancholy one to me.
If left my home, said to him, ''John see
that all things are takeu care off," and |
knew that my wife and child, property and
all, were as safe as though they were
guarded by an hundred soldiers. never
spoke harsh word to him in all my life.
for he never merited H. have a hundred
others, many of them faithful and true, but
his loss is irreparable."
| l come from section of the Union
where slavery does not exist, and | brought
with me all the prejudices which so gener.
ally prevail in the free States in regard to
this institution. ! had already seen
much to soften these, but the observation
OF yeors would have failed to give me so
clear an insig ht into the relation between
master and servant as this simple incident.
1t was not the naughty planter, the lordly
tyrant, talking of his dead slave as of his
dead horse, but the kind-hearted gentleman
lamentng the loss, and eulogizins the yir.
tues OF his good old FRIEND
Alter an interval Of silence, my host re-
! sumed-
.! here are" said he, "many of the old
mans relatives and friends who would wish
to attend his funeral. To afford them an
opportunity, several plantations have been
notined that he will be buried to night;
some presume have already arrived; and
desiring to see that all things are properly
prepared tor his interment, trust you will
excuse my absence for a few Moments
"Most certainly sir: but" | added, eff
mere Is no improperly, l would be pleased
to accompany you"
"1here IS none," he replied; and I fol-
lowed him through long row of cabins,
situated at the distance of some three hun
dred yards from the mansion. The house
was crowded with negroes, who all arose
on our entrance, and many of them ex.
changed greetings with mine host, in tones
tnat convinced me that they felt that he
was W, an object of sympathy from them
ne corpse was deposited in the coffin at
t,red IN shroud ofthe finest cotton mate
r'a,s, and the coffin itself painted black.
|. me master stopped at its head. ard !ay-
ing his hand upon the coldbrow of his faith
lul oondsman, gazed long and intenty up.
on features with which he had been so
long familiar. and which he now looked
upon for the last time on earth; -aising his
eyes at length, and glancing at the seri-
Gus cOuntenances now bent upon his, he
said solemnly and with much feeling
HE was faithful servant and true
christian; you fellow his example and live
as ne lived, none of you need fear, when
the time comes for you to lay here"
A patriarch with the snow of eighty win
tiers on his head. answered.
"lNaster, it is true, and we will try to
live like him."
There was murmer Of genera, assent
and after giving some instruction relative
to the burial, we returned to the dwelling.
! About uine o'clock a servant appeared
with the notice tibet they were ready to
move and to know if further instruction
were necessary. My host remarked to me
that my stepping into the plaza, probably
witness, to me novel scene. The pro
cession had moved, and its route led with
in few yards of the mansion. There
were at least one hundred and fifty negroes
arranged four deep, and following wagon
in which was placed the coffin !; down in
the enterc length of the line, at intervals
Of few feet, on each side, were carried
torches of the resinous pine, and here
called Liz hit wood. About the center wac
stationed the black preachrs, man of gi.
gantic frame and stentorian lungs who
gave out from memory the words ola hymn
suitable for the occasion, The Southern
negroes are prcye:5iai for the melody and
compass of their voices and thought that
hymn, mellowed by distance, the most
solemn and yet the sweetest music that had
ever fallen upon my ear. The stiffness
of the night aud strength of heir voices
| enabled me to distinguish the air at tho