New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-18
communicated
OLD UNCLE JERRY.
BY UNCLE LCCIUS.

"Good morning, Elder" said Uncle Jerry,
% Use come to pack you over to de home.
You must not walk SO fur desc warm days,
and Use here early" Sure enough there he
was, with mule that cost him sixteen dol
lars, as he told me, and wagon worth
less than ten dollars. "Dey makes fun OF
my team; but it is enough better than so
ing afoot, I reckon"
"Thank you, Jerry, I'm glad you come for
me. We shall have nice ride before the
sun is very high And myself and satchei
were soon beside him, and on the road
through the beautiful country lying along
the Bayou Teche, in Louisiana.
al has many things to be glad in de Lord
for" he said, in reply to my words, more
Especially freedom to serve Him, and to have
Christian brothers society. Why, when one
Jacob and 1 were both new converts we
loved one another much-and both slaves
So one day said brother Jacob to him.
And ole master heard it, and said. very mad
-"brOther, Ell ? I'll brother you. Here over
seer, you give this ''brother' one hundred
lashes :" Den he walked away, an prayed
de Lord all the time. For he come i'll atween
me and dc lashes. And de overseer didn't
hit very hard-orde Lord helped me power
full strong, for don't member it hurt me
bit, in all of hundred"
"And den again de Lord provide me dis
wagon. A bad hurt from a mule, broke my
knee, and let out sixteen pieces OF bone, an
I was three years and never walked. 1t
amt much of wagon, Elder, sure enough
but YOU see youself it's better dan walking
desc four miles,"
To all which could testify, for although
the wagon had not an entire piece, without
q break or fracture, as the roads were
smooth the wheels kept on going round-and
round, until we reached the "Home for
Orphans" where was to preach that night.
And all the way learned precious les
sons of Christian faith and pious resigna-
ton from this old decrepit freedman.
ave haves," said he, '"good times
6ften when alone in our cabin, de ole wo-
man and l, talkin' of de goodness of de
Lord. For He is good company to dem
what trust Him, when nobody is nigh
"And we have nice home too. A little
house and two acres of ground for ten dol
lars month. You ought to see de corn de
Lord makes grow there. And elegant pota-
tors too, and plenty, of 'em. Polly works
de garden and l make mattress beds.
learned that trade many years ago. Many
n dollcr laid away in an old box, in silver
and gold, when slave. l tried to bay
freedom; but no, my master wouldn't sell
me to myself
"And so you were made free by law, and
saved your money too, Uncle jerry
Not exactly. Freedom come, thank God
widout money or price. But the thieves
stole my money one day, after freedom
come to me.
90. that was too bad ! How much money
was stolen ~
"WelI not so bad-for l would have given
it all for freedom, and now l had freedom
all the same. And | never counted 1t, SO
don't know how much the loss was. But the
bag was so long"-measuring from his elbow
to his little finger.
Happy old Uncle Jerry and parted, he
bearing away small amount of green cur
rency l thought he needed more than the
"-siding elder" as he called me-
The New York Herald remarks, the Ger
man soldiery, who unconsciously have
borne liberty into France in their KNAPP
sacks, and have commingled their best
!. hearts blood with that of the French
chiyalry, TO plant her glorious standard on
the fallen ramparts Of the military empire,
will feel the thrill of cOngenial sentiments
when, as admitted friends, they tread the
pavements of the old city of the revolution.
and in those same knapsacks they will
carry back an augmented treasure OF en-
1;ohfened and fraternal memories to their
own land of toll and taxation. but of sturdy
love Of truth and freedom beyond the
Rhine.