Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-10-18
Whole No. 2S72.
ROmanee of q Colored Naifer,s Lie.

the proudest Virginian blood. Robert
is small, well-made quadroon, fash
ioned, perhaps, in about the same
mould as Stephen A. Douglas, for his
4 head closely resembles that of the
1 Little Giant. His grandfather was
/ General Harry Lee, Of revolutionary
| light horse fame, and his mother was
a slave woman named Jenny, a maid
of Mrs. Lee. Soon after the birth Of
/ William Jackson, the head walters
/ father, Jenny was sold to Col Stewart,
Of Frederick county, Maryland. The
/ boy William showed extraordinary
intelligence and became a pet of his
master, and on the death of Col. Stew
art found himself free, by a clause in
the will. William wentimmediately
to Washington, where he had been
many times with his master. There
he met John Mclean, Postmaster
General. under Martin Van Buren,,
and friend of his old master. Judge
Mclean appointed him amessenger in
the Post office Department, at a salary
of $500 PEI annum.
WILLIAM JACKSON WINS A WIFE
Whilea messenger in the Post Office
Department William Jackson met a
beautiful long haired OctaroOn, the
sLdUe of Judge John Stewart, of Bal
timOre. The slave girls name was
Rachel, and she came to attend Miss
Stewart, one of the fashionable Balti-
more bells, at one of President Van
Buren's receptions. William lost his
heart with the dusky maid, and soon
went to Baltimore to get Judge Stew
art, who owned her, to consent to
their marriage.
mo sir," said the Judge indignant
ly; "Raehel is a slave, and she must
marry q sldUe. If she marries free
nigger she will be running away her
self, and, besides I don't know when
I may want to sell her to the New Or
leans traders.n
'Then can never marry herm
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 consulta-
ton with her. But there was no
chance of success. The Fugitive Slave
Law was in effect {; passes were requs-
red 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 dO?r sobbed Rachel.
''I know" replied William; 81 will
buy you myself"
but you have no money,
81 can work and earn it" replied
the determined lover. .....-.....
'How much will you take for
Rachel ?'' he asked Judge Stewart the
next day. -..-..-
''WelI thousand dollars will buy
her." replied 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 con-
sultations and hoped only for the time
when he could buy her and own h
and make her his wife.
Think of that, mercenary beGLr,
heartless fortune hunters Of Congress
HalI-think of tOiling night and day,
and then think of paying your last
cent for the love of woman.
Two years rolled around, and nine
hundred dollars gladdened the sight
of William Jackson. Christmas cane.
'fWhat shall give you for Christ
mas this year, William pr asked the
good Postmaster General of his trusty
messenger.
Anything, Mr.. Secretary"
"But what would you like most >"
Then William told the story of his
and Rachael's troubles-hOw he was
afraid she would be sold, how elOved
her dearly, and how he lacked still
hundred dollars to buy her.
The old Postmaster General took OF
his specs, wiped his eyes; and then
put them on again, Then he fumbled
in his pockets. Five-ten-twenty
thirty he counted, and then he
handed William hundred dollars.
Too happy to live, William started
for Judge Stewards.
Here, master John" +" said he, with
his eyes all aglow with joy, there is a
thousand dOllars-nOw want Raeh-
ell"
''My God! William; you don't tell
me so, exclaimed the Judge. "Wny
I sold Rachel yesterday for 81 ,25O, to
90 to Mobile"
"When is she going?" asked Will
liam nervously.
''She's gone already-went yester-
day. She will be in Lynehburg in
three days, by the boat"
Broken-hearted and crushed in
spirit William hurried back to Judge
Mclean, in Washington. The Judge
heard his story. Daniel Webster and
John c. Calhoun were in the Judges
room, and they both took deep in
terest.
Lets raise the money and send
William after her." said the gener-
Gus Webster.
''He would be seized a dozen times
as a fugitive" said the Judge, land
they'd sell him too"
"I'll send my private secretary"
said Mr.. Webster, and he did So
There was no telegraph then, nor
cars, but the Secretary took the POtO-
mac river boat. and with 81, 200, con-
tributed by William JacksOn's in the
Department. overlook Rachel, show
ed Mr.. Calhoun's letter, endorsed by
several Virginians, bought her and
brought her back. Calhoun, Webster,
and Judge Mclean saw them married
the next week.
Our head waiter, Robert Jackson,
afterward waited on Webster and CAL
houn in their old age at the old ''Indi-
an Queen Hotel" in Washington, now
called the Metropolitan, where in '54
he met Mrs Joseph G. Luther, a pres
ent hdbitlte of Congress Hail. On
her wedding tour Mrs. Luther took
Robert to Swansey, Massachusetts,, in
strueted him, and.a few years after
wards he made an engagement at the
Union Hotel. During the winter he
catered for those eccentric bachelors
in New York, Mr.. T. H. Faile, Mr.
Edward PenfOrd, and Mr.. Robert Me
Closky. Only the former survives
In 1865 Robert became head waiter aU
Congress Hall. He caters for New
Workers in the winter at 206 Waverly
place. Robert has, perhaps, the larg-
est acquaintance of any one in Sara
toga. He knows old savans, poets,
statesmen and historians. He lives
in a beautiful vine-clad cottage on
Washington Street, in Saratoga, where
the guests of Congress Hall frequently
call upon his wife, who is one OF the
neatest house keepers in Saratoga
@-0Os
A YOUNG and newly-dedged Juetiee
= TT1fDofs moe rono1fFr~