Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-11-13
/" PRAYING NOSES"

One morning, as he was passing over the
vessels at the wharf, he stepped upon the
deck of one, at the stern of which sat a
negro man whose countenance gave sure
Indication of distress, and he accosted him
with, "Hey, my man what's the matter
with you, this morning?" The man lifted
his eyes, and replied, "Ah! massa, Pse in
great trouble" "What about ?" "Kase
Use fotch up here to be sold" "What
for? what have you been doing? have
you been stealing? or did you run away /?
or what ?" "No, no, massa, none O dat /;
it's because l didn't mind the auders."
"What kind Of orders ?" "Well, massa,
tell you. Massa Willum very strick
man, and VERY nice man too, aud ebry'
body on de place got to mine him; and l
break trcw de rule bu. l didn't tend to
break de rule; forgot mesef, an l got
too high" at is for getting drunk, then,
is ii" go no, sab, not dat, mother"
81 can get no satisfaction from you-tell
me what you are to be sold for" "For
prayin, sah." "For praying! that is a
strange tale, indeed. Will your master
not permit you to pray?" 80 yes, sab,
he let me pray easy but hollers too
loud.' "And why did you halloo SO in
your prayer?" "Kase de Spcrit comes
on me, and l gifts happy fore I knows it;
den gone; can't 'trol mesef, den; den
knows nushin bout massa's rule; den l
holler if ole Satin hissef come, wid all de
rules of de QUESTION" "Aud do you
suppose your master will really sell you
for that!" 80, yes; no help for me now;
all de men in de world couldn't help me
now kase when Massa Willum say one
ting, be NO do anoder." "What is your
name ?" "Moses, sah." "What is your
masters name ?" "Massa name Colonel
Willum c." "Where does he live ?"
"Down on de Easin Shoah." ais he a
good master? does he treat you we'll ?"
go yes; Mass Willum good no better
massa in de world" "Where is he?"
"Yander he is, jis comm to de warf."
As Mr. B. started for the shore, he
heard Moses give heavy sigh, followed
BY deep groan. Moses was not at all
pleased with the phase of affairs he was
strongly impressed with the idea that b.
was q trader, and intended to buy him.
Mr.. B. introduced himself to Col. C., and
said, 81 understand you wish to sell that
negro man yonder on board the schooner"
Col. C. replied that he did. "What do
you ask for him :" II expect to get sew
en- hundred dollars" "How old is he ?"
"About thirty" "Is he good hand ?"
ayes, sir, he is the best hand on my
place. He is steady, honest, and indus.
trious. He has been my foreman for the
last ten years, and more trusty negro l
never knew" "Why do you wish to sell
him."
"Because he disobeyed my orders. l
built his quarter within hundred yards
of my own house; and have never rung
a bell, night or morning, that his horn
did not answer in five minutes. But,
two years ago, he got religion, and COM
menced what he termed family prayer; /;
that is: prayer in his quarter every night,
and morning and when he began his
prayer, it was impossible to tell when be
would stop, especially if, as he termed it,
he got happy. Then he would sing and
pray and halloo for an hour or two to-
gether, SO that you might hear him a
mile off, And be would pray for me and
my wife and children, and all my broth
ers and sisters and their children and
sometimes, when we would have visitors,
Moses prayers would interrupt the con-
versation, and destroy the enjoyment Of
the whole company. Even after 1 had re-
tired, l could not sleep. bore it as long
as could, and then forbade his praying
SO loud any more. Moses promised obed-
fence, bu: he soon transgressed; and my
rule is never to whip, but when negro
proves incorrigible, sell him. IpardOn.
ed Moses twice for disobedience in pray
ing SO loud, but the third time l knew l
must sell him, or every negro on the farm
would disregard my orders"
"You spoke Of Moses quarter; sup.
pose from that be has family" "Yes,
he has q woman aud three children-or
~ie. I suppose he calls her now, for soon
after he got religion, he asked me if they
might be married, and I presume they
we're" "What will you take for her and
the children" off you want them for
your own use, l will take seven hundred
dollars but I shall not sell Moses nor
them to 60 out of the State" al wish
them all for my own use, and will give you
fourteen hundred dollars."
"Mr. b. and Col. C. then went to BIS
store, drew up the writings, and closed
the sale, after which they returned to the