The Portland daily press., 1871-07-27

The Saratoga correspondent of the Co,o-
mercial Aduertiser gives an entertaining ae-
count of the head waiter of Congress Hall.
Robert Jackson, aud how pereveringly his ia
ther (WiIiam Jackson), toiled.to win por-
tenless wife:
Mrs. Stowe made her reputation from the
great mire of romantic truth which surrounds
SO many of the colored race. The future nov
ellst Will draw upon the simple annals OF this
once down-troden, but now emancipated peo-
pie as the historians of the Penteteuch have
drawn upon the exodus from bondage OF tho
Children OF Israel. Year after year Robert
jackson has been the second waiter at the
Union and the head waiter at Congress Hall,
but the careless crowds have not known that
through his veins courses the proudest Vir-
glnlan blood. Robert is small vell-made
quadroon, fashioned, perhaps, in about tho
same mOnld as Stephen A Douglass. for his
bead closely resembles that of the Little
Giant. His grandfather was General Harry
Lee, OF Revolutionary light horse. cavalry
fame; and his mother was a slave woman
named Jenney, maid of Mrs. Lee. Soon af-
ter the birth of William Jackson, the head
walters father, Jenney was sold to Colonel
Stewart, of Frederick Couney, Maryland.
The boy William showed extrodinary intelli-
gence, and became pet of his master and on
the death of Col Stewart found himself free,
by clause in the will. William went i'm
mediately to Washington, where he had been
many times with his master. There he met
John Mclean, Postmaster General under
John Quincy Adams and friend of hisold
master. Judge Mclean appointed him a
messenger in the Post Office Department, at
salary of 5000 per AMMAN.
wM. JACKSON WINS A WIFE.
While a messenger in the Post Office De-
partment, William Jackson met a beautiful
lOng-haird Octoroon, the slGue of old Judge
John Stewart, of Baltimore. The slave girls
name was Rachel, and she came to attend
Miss Stewart, one OF the fashionable Balti-
more bellee,at one of President Van Buren's
receptions. William lost his heart with the
dusky maid, and soon wentto Baltimore to
get Judge Stewart, whS owned her, to con-
sent to their marriage.
mo sir" said the Judge Indignantly, Sra
chel is a slave, and she must marry slaue.
Ii she marries free Niger she will be run
ming away herself, and, besides don't know
when may want to sell her to the New Or.
leans traders"
Then can never marry her?"
never, until somebody buys her from me-"
replied the Judge.
Rachel was sent to the Frederick County
farm, and thither William went in the night
to hold consultation with her. First it wa,
resolved to run away. But there was no
chance OF success. The Fugitive Slave Law
was In effect; passes were required by the
slaves on the plantation and to run away was
surely to be caught, returned, and then a
dreadful whipping followed.
"What can we p" sobbed Rachel
Il know" replied William, II will buy you
myself"
"But you have no money"
Il can work and earn it," replied the deter
mined lover.
'How much will you take for Rachel ?" he
asked of Judge Stewart the next day.
swell, thousand dollars will buy her." re-
Piled the hard-hearted Judge.
William went to work-every cent was
saved, he even going on foot into Frederick
county by night, to see Rachel, where they
held solemn consultations and hoped only for
the time when he could buy her and own her
and make her his wife.
Think of that, mercenary beaux, heartless
fortune-hunters of Congress Hall-think of
tOiling night and day, and then think of pay-
ing your last cent for the love OF a woman.
Two years rolled around, and nine hundred
dollars Gaddened the sight Of William jack
son. Christmas came.
"What shall give you for Christmas this
year, William?" asked the good old Postmas-
ItT UcucIdl VI tTttSJy IueSS6uR6T.
Anything, Mr. Secretary"
"But what would you like most?"
Then William told the story of his and Rl-
chefs troubles-how he was afraid she would
be sold, how he loved her dearly, and how he
still lacked hundred dollars to buy her.
The old Postmaster General took off his
specs, wiped his eyes, then put them on again.
Then he fumbled in his pockets. "Five-ten
-twenty-thirty," he counted, and then he
hapdad William ham 1oII
Too happy to live, Williams started for
Judge Stewards.
"Here, Master John" said he, with his yes
all aslow with joy, "here is the thousand dol
lars-now want Rachel"
"My God! William, you don't tell me sop
exclaimed the Judge. "Why, sold Rachel
yesterday for 1900 to go to Mobile"
"When is she going" asked William, ner-
vously.
0si,o,s como alrsady-went yesterday. She'd
be in Lynchburg in three days, by the boat"
Broken hearted and crushed in spirit VIII
liam hurried back te Judge Mclean in Wash
ington. The Judge heard his story. Daniel
Webster and John G. Calhoun were in the
Judges room, and they both took deep in
terest.
"Let's raise the money and send William
after her." said the generous Webster.
ale would be seized dozen times as fu-
gutve," said the Judge, "and they'd sell him,
too"
an send my private secretary" said Mr..
Webster, and so he did.
There was no telegraph then, nor cars, but
the secretary took the Potomac River boat,
and with 81 200 contributed by William jack
sons friends in the Department, overlook
Rachel, showed Mr. Calhoun's letter, endors-
ed by several Virginians, bought her and
brought her back. Calhoun, Webster, and
Judge Mclean saw them married the next
week.