New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-27


For the space of four or five years a resident
of northeastern Georgia, during and subse-
quent to the war, events transporting in those
troublous times are wildly impressed upon my
mind. Some of these events and the thoughts
and impressions to which they led, have
thought worthy of description and ventilation,
even at this distance of time, especially as they
relate, some of them at least, to the status Of
people of color known as leaders among their
brethren. do not mean leaders in the dance, in
fun, in frolic or in mischief, (many of these
there were; j but men (boys, as they were
always designated in their days and years of
servitude) who essayed to lead their ignorant
and superstitious companions ont of the Egypt
ian darkness, in which their minds were
shrouded into the light and life and liberty Of
the Gospel of Christ. Blind leaders of the
blind in some cases they proved to be in
others, examples of fidelity, perseverance, and
success, which their more favored but more
indolent white brethren rarely attained to.
The individual Of whom am about to speak
was considering his opportunities, n remark
able man. Tie Was a slave. Like all others
of his race in that country, he was in bondage
to the white man He was coachman, field
hand, hody-servant at command. He was
property and as such descended from sire to
son. His master, at the time | knew him, was
a reverend gentleman by the name Of Harris
kind, good man, preacher as well as teacher.
Aaron, for that was his name-Aaron Harris
taking his masters name mark of owner
ship, l suppose, as the custom was-nursed his
young master in his infancy, attended him in
ais boyhood, and served him in his manhood
making money for him, paying certain amount
of money for his time, and then hiring himself
out to work, putting all that he made over
the sum necessary to pay his master for his
time into his own pocket, to be used for his
own and family's subsistence and comfort for
he had wife and two, if not three, children.
| have said that Aaron was a remarkable man.
He was. He was honest, sincere, without de-
ceit, conscientious, pure-minded, true-hearted.
He was Christian in heart and hfe-preach-
| ing the Gospel TO his brothers in bondage in
simple, child like way, which enabled them to
| comprehend and embrace the truth thus lead
ing them to Christ, and making them free in
| Him. There was one thing about Aaron which
was Oery remarkable, and that thing was the
| fact that, though he could not read any other
| book, he could and did read the Bible and
hymn-book My attention was drawn to this
matter in the following way 1t was the GUS
| tom of Aaron to preach to his people once
month at place called Stinchcomb. at that
time was experimenting Sabbath school at
that place. After the dismissal of the school,
just as | was leaving the church, | noticed
Aaron in the pulpit preparing to give out a
hymn. waited a few minutes and heard him
read 1T through, thinking, "Old fellow, you
knew that hymn by heart" The next evening
| said to him-for he was in my employ:
Aaron, that first hymn that you gave out
yesterday, you repeated it from memory, didn't
you ?"
"No, sir"
81 thought you could not read You read
that hymn very correctly"
swell, sir cannot read"
Cannot read Why. / heard You read
that hymn, and read it WELL too. don't un.
derstand you when you say You cannot read,
after such evidence Of your ability to read
What do you mean?"
"Well, | don't quite understand it myself;
but the fact is cannot read in any books but
the Bible and hymn book. and these have
been enabled to read for years sufficiently well
to make myself understood"
Aaron, can't you read hiS, picking up a
Patent Office Report and pointing TO "a para,
graph
81 will try, SIR"
And he did try without avail i made him
try and try again until was satisfied that he
could not read it,
81 cannot read it, he said. "If Won wish
to hear me read, hand me the Bibler'
1T was given to him and chapter in one OF
the Gospels pointed out, which he read very
we'll and very slowly, but distinctly. 1 was
astonished-so much 50 that / called a friend
to me to witness the interesting scene and
wonder with me at the inspiration (for it was
nothing 'ess) which enabled this poor, unlet
'ereo and untutored slave to read and expound
.he +" ord Of God, while the wisdom of man was
'u uhiathomable. VERIrAs.