The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-07-15

reader will perceive that this gentleman
is spoken of as " one Of the most humane
of masters" He was an exception. The
general rule is total disregard Of the feel
iags as well as the rights of the chattel.
Such stories are just the right kind of
"nuts for Aboltionists." They find in
them meat which strengthens them for
their battle with oppression and wrong
ED. jour.
An incident recently happened in q
neighboring Slave State between master
and slave, which ought to go far to check
the mischievous intermeddling of Adolf
tionists with our slave population, the de-
tails of which we here give, without any
any attempt at extra display or fiction.
The story, simply as we relate it, will prove
quite amusing, we fancy.
A gentleman of ample fortune, and ex
tensively known as one of the most hui
name masters, q kind neighbor, high
minded, honorable and influential. owned
favorite servant man, named Jerry,
Jerry was beloved by his "Massa George"
for his sobriety, honesty and fidelity. He
was trustworthy, and quite intelligent.
Jerry prided himself on his honor much
more than many "white folks do, as our
story will show. He was petted by the
family, and generally permitted to do
pretty much as he pleased. His master
allowed him to work at home or not, as
suited him, and for the most part Jerry
shin ii his time" and was always strictly
punctual in bis payments. He had per-
manent ''pass," and went when and where
he wanted.
The other day Jerry called on the FAM
lily, after an absence of q few weeks, and
when he had eaten plentifully of good
dinner, he stepped into his masters library
to settle up" and talk of matters gener-
ally, but of one thing particularly.
"Well, Massa, George" said Jerry,
after few preliminaries, g l wants to be
free"
What, Jerry 2" answered the master
in astonishment.
{" wants to be free, Massa; how much
you ak for me 2"
" Free why, you are crazy boy!
What do you want to be free for Don't
you do just as you please, already @
Z" Yes, Massa George; but | just got q
notion that I'd ike to be free. How
much do you think I'm worth ? How
much you ak for meg
ooh, l don't know. If you want to
be free why don't you run away?"
"Me run away, Massa George !" ans
wered Jerry, rather Indignantly land put
| ting his hand on his breast, he continued !:
To much honor Of the faneilyi Jerry
never will run away. But say how much
l got to pay--how much you think I'm
worth, Massa George?"
"Well, Jerry, don't know. Never
tho't of how much you are worth. | sup
pose about fifteen hundred dollars"
"Why, Massa George, I can't give you
that much. [ amt got it. Can't you
take nothing less for me ?" said Jerry.
The earnest manner of the slave, and
his queer proposition, coming so unex-
pectedly to the master, rather amused him,
and he determined to let Jerry have bis
own way in this matter, as he had gener-
ally done in others. So he said /:
Every well, Jerry; you are very fool
ish to want to be any more free than you
are. But if it suits you to buy yourself,
and you can't pay me fifteen hundred dol
lars, what do you say to thousand?'
81 think thousand a little too big,
too, Massa George. Can't you say eight
hundred? Ib'heve I can raise about that
much. I'll go see, if you say you take
it."
"Oh, well, give me your own price
eight hundred. But, Jerry, where did
you get the money g.
Where did l get it you ak, Massa
George. Why, made some of it on the
river, some of it by knocking about and
doing little jobs; and one gentleman hired
me to wait on him to Canada Two OF
three done that before"
| Canada have you been to Canada
You are fool, Why didn't you stay
there if you are SO anxious to be free
Don't you know you were as good as free
when there ?''
Eyes, Massa George, and they told me
so. But the honor Of the family, Massc
George; couldn't stand it. | never for
| got | was born and raised in old Ken
lucky. To much de family pride, Mass
George"
After some further conversation, ii
which the honest and faithful slave ex
pressed bis dislike of Canadian nigger
and abolitionists, he went off to see about
his eight hundred dollars.
Next morning, Jerry again visited hi
master. There was change in his coun
tenance quite perceptible. He seemed t.
be dissatisfied and very uneasy, and hi
master noticing it, said:
"Well, Jerry, what's the matter ? DE-
you begin to feel unhappy at the idea o
being free ?'
"No, Massa George. I wants to b.
free. Dat amt the matter. But / find'
I'm little short of the eight hundred
dollars. What you goin' to do abou
that2'
Chow much have you got, Jerry q
"Only five hundred dollars, Mass
George, won't you take that. and trus
me for the balance Z"