The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-10

are looking Jolly and contented. they loll
about lndolently, crack merry Jokes, and seem
to be In full possession of a luxurious state ol
mind which has no fears, cares, or vexations
to disturb it; and have heard both Northern
ers and Southerners contend that this was a
proof OF the blessed nature of the institution.
To me 1t was mournful phase of it. God
made human soul to have aspirations for
something beyond the present: and just so
far as it loses that characteristic, 1t falls to-
ward the level Of the lower animals, who eat,
drink and enjoy life, caring for nothing better.
Had my fine looking, gentlemanly Tom sunk
to this level? | did not believe it, for such a
manly front and degraded nature could not
coexist without violating all my preconceived
ideas OF the human face and form. Bnt all
Yankee propensity to investigate was efiectu-
ally snubbed on Southern plantation in those
days, and one learned to look on the most IN
teresting phenomena in silence, and view them
with puzzled wonder as we do the face Of the
moon, certain that no solution OF our ques-
tionings would be vouchsafed.
saw considerable of Tom after TINS; ne
rambled about the yard and grounds--why
he was left so unwatched was another mys-
tery of which I ventared to ask no explana-
tion--and met him as went out to gather
fresh flowers in the early morning the day af.
ter our first interview. He took Off his hat
and bowed gracefully, holding it in his hand
as he stood to let me pass. tried to think
of some thing it would be safe to say-what
host of unsafe and improper questions
rushed to my lips-but as hesitated-he
said, ia llis
"a fine place Col. Mercer has here, very
fine place."
Yes" l said, "was your old masters as fine
a one?' A
.It was an old place, not kept up SO well as
this" aao4 $50 ssi9 n 4
"Were you sorry to come awayp" 1t was a
question of doubtful propriety, but it burst
from my lips unconsciously, so intense was
my longing to get at the inner life of that
young man, or rather to find whether he had
any. M n al X yo
He gave quick glance up to my face--a
glance full OF intense feeling; questioning
glance, as if he would read my very soul and
see whether 1t would be safe to trust me. /
believe that he understood me, and saw that
felt deep sympathy with him, but in an in
slant his face assumed the old careless express
sion what was the use of speaking out?-
and he answered,
'.This is fine country, missus; we find
good massa here, reckon" iaH
The change from as pure and well-executed
English as any gentleman uses, to that conf
cal African dialect, was very striking and lu-
dicrous; however, he did not smile, nor did I,
but passed on, and picked my flowers, while
he went back to the house. f..s ~ y. q
He harnessed the horses after breakfast and
drove Col. Mercer out, both sitting on the
drivers box; and smiled as l heard Celia
say, 9AHAFsL R6sEN
"Ha, Toms whiter,n massa, anyhow"
1t was fact; he was ''lighter complicated"
and doubtless three-f0urths or seyen-eighths
OF the blood in his veins was Angi0-Saxon, so
that 0UIV fnurfh ain Of
could, according to Vice President Stephens
theory of races, be rightfully held in bondage;
"For," as he complacently remarks, "our sys-
TEN commits no such violation of natures
laws as to enslave those of the same race
But it does enslave those who have only an
infnitesimal portion of the blood of any other
race belonging to them, as the blue eyes and
faxen hair of many slaves testify to all obser- \
vers. In the afternoon, Tom drove Mrs.
struck with his graceful, gentlemanly bearing
-chivalrous, we should have called it in q
white man; that quiet consideration and gen.
tie Difference, that intuitive knowledge and
forestallment of lady's wishes. Evidently
he had been accustomed to good society very
likely he had been connected with one of the
F. F. VS., and could rightfully boast of kim
dred blood as well as manners. ia TuA84hs
The next morning Tom was nowhere to be
setH auu nearO COIs mercer say ne mad
sent him back to Mr.. Neill; that he would not
answer his purpose; "and, besides, y he added,
"Mr. Neill asks q monstrousprice for him; /
would give him thousand dollars, and
reckon he won't get much more; he may
go down on the sugar plantations, for negroes
sell well there this year, they say" aifs
he be mighty smart nigger, aRy way was
Celia's comment, to which heartily agreed
S" Tom went his way; what became of him
know not; but / shall always believe he had
as much intelligence and shrewdness as the
majority of white men; better person and
manHers he certainly possessed; and my
blood boils Indignantly in my veins whenever
think of a man SO nobiy made as he in the
image Of his Maker, being bought and sold
like so much brute matter. wonder If he is
living now; and If he is, whether he bears al
legiance to Jefferson Davis, and is willing to
take up. arms in defense Of Southern rights
He and may yet meet, who knows? where
can ask him as many questions as please,
and get candid answers. II so you shall have
asequel to my little sketch of the man who
tried to sell himself II Springfield Republican.