New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-09-05
bureau, which was In corner, and you can
imagine there was no room to spare.

imagine there was no room to spare.
At this point the door swung open and a
stout colored woman, with kind, child-like
face, appeared on the threshold. "That is
my sister Louisa" said Moses, introducing
me in due form. made way for her, but
! she declined, saying she must be bout" her
work. She had stopped work to 60 to flu
neral. She would do that, let what would
come. She expected to die some day herself,
and how could she promise herself any atten-
ton if she never went to funeral?
As she talked she distracted fur trimmed
hood from some mysterious depth, tied it on
her head, and a gay piece of Brussels carpet
around her waist for an apron, flirted chair
over, placed tub on it. dashed in the board
and began to wash.
Moses McGruder was dressed in much
worn suit of black. According to his state
nent he was born on tho I'd Of October,
l77l, l0l years ago. He seemed intelligent
and spoke more than ordinary good English.
II was man grown" he said, "when we
whipped Great Britain. was in the South
when Gen. Jackson sent all the colored peo-
pie home before he fought the battle of New
Orleans. In the last battle the colored folks
were in the front, Dress the Lord-the last
battle for freedom and liberty"
''How old was your father, Uncle Tom,
when he died ?" asked.
My father was ll6 years old. He died
II years ago last February, an he hadn't a
gray hair in his head. Nor amt many"
he added, lifting his hat and showing a heavy
shock Of hair. The action also exposed to
view round and tolerably well shaped head
the forehead being broad and high. The
nose and face generally had depressed
look. as if fiattened with age. His complex
a curiosity. The nails had hardened and
grown to great length, resembling the
claws of an animal.
care you like your father 2" continued.
"EdZactly," replied Louisa from the soap
suds. "Jus' as like as two peas. I took
care of father-that Uncle Tom-until he
died-jus' as take care of him now-but he
was an ole man"-laughing to herself. "We
had chair fixed on rollers for him, so that a
chile could move him out doors-in the sun
JUS like Nose there"
H Here Moses lose, resumed his story. I He was
1 paid 81 200 for my own body" speaking in
a tone of exultation. "When fls' come
here the children would all cry and run away
when they saw me. 1t made me feel bad.
They had heard bout the devil, and when
they saw me they thought he had come. l
was sold over and over again seventeen
times, and hired out to every devilish man
beside, but never had lick from white
man in my life. When I parted from my
father he said to me, Now, Moses, my son
always mind your own business, and let
other people tend to their own business, and
you will never get into trouble / found
that was so; but had plenty of tribulation.
You see, when my old master died was left
to the girls, and they disputed about who
should have me. told them to cut me up
in four quarters, that would settle which one
1 belonged to, each one could take piece.
No, you fool, you'll they said, then you
wouldn't do anybody any good Now it was
different with my father. He was freed b,
our master; then my masters son freed my
mother and brought them to this State. NJ
father was kindly treated by Col. Noble, anu
now his son takes care of us he pays our
rent"
How many were you in family-Uncle
Toms family mean?'
:" My father was married more than once.
BY my mother he had "A children" The as
sertiOn was so startling that asked him to
enunerate' the children, which he proceeded
to do. assisted by Louisa, who suspended
operations at the wash-tub, Don't speak
too FAST" she said, seeing that was noting
it down.
He began: "There's Moses CHATS one,
Aaron's two, Isaac is three, Edmund is four,
Wesley five, Jerry six. Them's the boys.
Now for the glrls. Lucy was one, Mnty
two. Pamela three, Maria four, Mary five,
Lavina six, Louisa seven"
:. six boys and sevan girls" I remarked.
" That is not "a. That is only 49,"
.'Rest born dead" he answered senten-
tiously.
4" How many Of your family are left ?" 1
resumed.
g There's me, old Moses-I had wife and
children, but they're all gone-there's me,
and there's Louise, the oldest and the Young
est of the McGruder stock. The rest are
dead.' .
"We have a sister in Canada" bethought
Moses; she's many years younger than me,
but she looks older, don't she, Louise ?"
Louise nodded assent and he settled back
in his chair.
did Mrs. Stowe ever talk with Uncle
Tom?'' asked
"Yes, good deal. She visited her bro
Their, Henry Ward Beecher; her mind. 1
use' to wash for Mrs. Beecher. As for that
story book she wrote, she did not tell half
the truth, only she might have said the bad
hearts amt all on t'other side the river.
They are JUS as bad here"
Don't talk to this chile" said an old
woman who had slipped in during our CONVEX
sation. II was slave in Kentucky. Twas
nlred out 10 preacher VINO hired women to
work because he got them for less wages than
men. He hired seven of US, and every Sum
day morning he would strip and fog us, if he
did not abuse US worse. Every one of US
had chile by him, and then he would mako
us 60 to church and take love feast with us,
the old sinner. He's gone to torment long
ago."
Aunt Louisa shut her mouth with "Tut,
tut; We don't want any of your slave block
yarns" 1t seems that in the slave market
the unhappy wretches would interchange ex-
periences.] "That slave block an hammer
amt no more, thank God"
Uncle Moses caught the tenor of their con-
versation and shouted, ''Thank G cd ," "BIess
the Lerd," several times. Above his shouts
was heard the cry of the child, to whom
louisa stooned down and asked NWhat,s