The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-13
TWICE FREE.

ing 10 Philadel phIa when the war broke
out, and though prevented by his color
from enlistng as soldier, managed to
get to the front as servant of captain in
the 9th New York. The progress of the
war brought him again to the neigh5or-
hood Of his old master, who was not above
turning a penny by selling indigestible
trash to the Yankee soldiers:
The planter got out the old market
wagon, fled it with stale hams, unripe
friut,and pastry heavy enough to sit hard
on even his conscience; and then, with old
David as driver, set out for Charlestown.
Entering the village not far from sunset,
be directed his steps at once to the spot
where the largest number Of people were
gathered. This happened to be street
corner, where a Union soldier, mounted
on a barrel, was holding forth ta motley
collection IF whites aud negroes on the
ineStimaDle blessings of freedom-now it
was good thing for the white man, and
would not do any sort of harm to the
black one At the close Of one of his
first periods the wagon came to halt,
and old David sung out: "Dat am SO,
gemman ard ladies out ye're am your
6ue fresh pie, yer nice, juicy han, ,and yer
bOl!in, hot coffee So walk up, gemman
and ladies. Only s,e-v-e,n-t-y-f,i.v-e
cents for slice OBJ ham, cup oh cotfee,a
piece Oh pie what want mad O shoe leath-
er."
The orator was at the beginning of an
other glowing sentence; but he turned
abruptly on the old negro, and called out
"Shut up, you cid fool take your apple,
cart somewhere else"
And dat am de sort oh freedom YOU Sc
come down yere ter talk boutw responded
old David, grinniOg very widely. Il reck-
Ons | hadn't iID d yere fur sebenty years,
without hndin' out dat dat hain't 40 free
dom ter preach in desc diggns."
go it, old man = "Give it to him,
! Yaukee!' "Hustle him out p aud a score
of similar exclamatlops arose from the
crowd, which uvW swarmed round the
wagon, like an army OF flies round Il mo
ia.ses hOgshcad, threatening to devouF it>
sweets wlthv9t paying the revenue officer,
Ihe keen eye vi the old darkey saw the
Gauger and mounting upon the top OF
the pile, he laid about with his whip ~ d
way that kept both friends aud enemle,
at q distance. At last his lash, un.uckIIy
came in coutact With a soldiers profile. -
This was more thar the freedman could
bear, aud with blow on the old uan'
breast,>ent him splawllng into the middle
Of the street.
The planter, meanwhile, had skunk
away into the crowd, leaving his load OF
eatlbles aud bis faithful old servant to
their fate ; and there is 30 telling what
that fate might nave been, had not u new
acior appeared on the scene. It was 10
scph SeizIng the soldier by the collar,
aud tossing him over the wheels Of the
wagon as If he had been bag of feathers
be planted himseIf above the PROSTATE old
man, ,and cried out to the DOW half riotous
crowd, Come on you towards, dat tackle
ole man Ioike dis. Come on aud In
guV you e lesson in freedom dat's wurth
larnln'."
No one seeming disposed to come on,
the old darkey rising to his feet, added to
his invitation "Yas, come on y be cried.
"One suddern man kin whip five Yankees,
and two can whip twenty. We are sud-
dern men, so come on y
THIS ridiculous challenge restored the
good nature Of the assembage; and, after
old David had sufficiently Rugged his rn-
expected deliverer, they ''oome on" and
emptied the planters wagon, leaving in
the hands of Joseph, who acted as sub
treasurer and mouey-changer, a larger
quantity of current coin than could then
be found in the vault of any bank in the
"Oid Dominion"
In this altered condition of affairs. the
planter emerged from the mass OF people,
and came toward Joseph, with face as
smiling as an April day after a shower.
"Ah, JOsephT' he said, 81 atn glad to
see you back-glad to see you again serv-
ing your old master y
Joseph drew himself up with all the dig
nifty of an exalted fuuctlonary receiving
somo cringing supplicant for office, and,
answered And who am you, sab 7"
"Why | am your old master!" replied
the planter, with look Of blank amaze.
ment.
"My massa, sab p exclaimed the prop
erty,' i hain't no massa cept Uncle Sam
as yo1 can see by my clo'es-and you
No" member you, you'se one o dem
ole secesh what hung John Brown, and
we'se come out yere to hang yeu-'spressly
ter do dat, sab !"
The planter was now half-petrifed with
astonlohment; but he faltered out 10 a
conclIlatory tone: "Old friends shouldn't
quarrel, Joseph. | make no claim to you
0u have earned YOUR freedom"