Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-03-05
For the Gallipolis Journal
Incidents In the Old Dominion.

For the GallipolIS journal.
Incidents In the Old Dominion.
1t was my good fortune to have
been born in the Old Dominion. in
a LEGALITY on the eastern side of the
Blue Ridge commonly called "Tuck
ahoe," and not many years after the
American independence had been
acknowledged by Great Britain
Among my first recollectiens in that
locality, there were many large es-
tates. occupied by families of wealth,
and who prided themselves on their
ancestry and consequence; and when
seen out at church, or on other ocea
sions, it was usual to see the parents,
and some half dozen of their chill
dren, in body of a most splendid
coach on springs, with postillion
in front, and female servant sitting
in the rear, making their way to the
place of destination.
While at the same time, there were
in the same locality many farmers
whose lands amounted to but few
acres, in comparison to those large
estates.
With population composed of
very rich and very poor, it was nat
ural that there should be some who
would pride themselves on their
wealth and consequence; would look
down on those in a more humble
sphere of life, and make those invid-
ious distinctions that always have
baneful influence. in society.
In that day my father owned a
small farm, on which he resided, and
reared some half a dozen sons, as
hardy as pine knots, and who could
whip their weight in wild cats. But
it was his misfortune that it was To-
Gated on one side of gentleman's
estate, who owned some three thou
sand acres, improved with most
stately and superb mansion, with his
out houses, negro houses, merchant
Touring mill, distlllery, saw-mill, and
some thousand acres cultivated in
the products of the country, includ
ing at least an hundred acres in to-
bacco. To carry on the operations
in the various departments of the
estate, he owned and employed some
one hundred and fifty slaves. This
nabob had family ef children, also;
one son and the Others daughters
4 permanent stream of water ran
through his estate, and through my
fathers little farm.
On many an occasion have my
brothers and myself been sent off,
by the lady of the estate, if we acci
IDENTIFY went to the rich mans house
without having been sent on an er-
rand, but occasionally did we meet
the rich mans son, fishing in the
creek on his fathers or our land.
In this way we ventured to scrape
up an acquaintance. He was always
dressed out in the hest cloth and roll
ling collar, and perhaps a couple OF
servants to take care of, and obey
his commands. While we were
bare foot, and perhaps bareheaded,
and often with only shirt and panta
looms; and, l will admit, were rather
a dirty looking set of boys; notwith-
standing, we would not brook insult.
One day, when all the little fisher
men, both white and black, were met
together to compare their strings of
minnows. occupied a position near
the son of the gentleman of the es-
tate, when he reproached me with
wearing dirty, filthy clothing, such
as all poor people wore. maintain
ed that they were good enough, that
l had put them on but the day be-
fore, and that they smelt as good as
his clothes did.
He saw that my ire was about be-
ing raised, and hushed up. We then
separated.
1t was not long until we met him
again with his servants. While en-
gsged in some exercises common to
little boys, 1 accidentally put my
hand on him, when he instantly step.
ped back, as if he had been bitten
by a serpent, saying at the same
time, that his mother had told him
not to let any of US touch him; il we
did we would give him the itch, as
all poor people had she Itch. l re-
peated that we had not the itch, nor
never had it, and If he ever told me
that again I would whip him, al
though two years older than myself.