Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-09-14
death Bed Scene.

Sam is a colored "man and brother" lie
came north during the late war lie cot as far
as Connecticut and hired out TO Radical farm
er as a farm hand. Sam was frce-that is he
was free to work carly and late for a Sery little
pay. He eot lis board and clothes, such as
they were. and occasionally, on holiday, he
found himself master of a shinplaster, of a
small denomination. Once, his employer,
aware that Sam was calculating to 90 to Hart
ford to attend colorcd celebration, opened his
heart and rendered the coutraband twenty
five cent shiuplaster Now Sam had an indls-
tinct idea that notwithstanding his masters
protestations Of love for bis unfortunate race;
there were other colorod men working in the
same neighborhood with himself who were IN
fnitely better or than he was, and one cspe-
c;alIy who worked for coprerlcad, had q
small sum laid away in ono Of tie Hartford
savings banks. SO Sam had grown to be sus-
picious that bis master was not treating him so
generously as his scl-laudations might seem to
imply; and when he was proacrcd the twenty
five cent bill. he pluckcd up courage 70 say,
" Golly. massa, / knows is a cullud pusson,
and am not wuff much anyhow; but scen' dis
chile amt had muffin for about six months,
pears to me you might raise it to half a dol
lar"
This stroke or audacity on Sans part sub
ected him to a severe lecture which in his en-
ployer figured as bcncfaetor. and Sam as an
unsrateful creature who could not realize or
appreciate what had been accomplished for his
race. Ailcr this Sam almost thought it his
duty to decline the twenty-five cent piece; but
when he thought Of the dusty city clarmers
whom he might wish to treat to ice cream, he
smothcrcd lis feelings of sympathy, pOclictcd
his money and started FOR town 10 participate
/ in the emancipation celebration.
Some time after this Sans master was taken
sick, and supposing that his end was approach
ing, sent for Sam to come to his bedside. The
negro made his appearance and with joyful
face drew near, expecting something vastly to
his benefit would occur. What it would be he
hal not the remotcst idea, but judging from
his own feelings lie thought that nothing less
than a pretty good fiddle would be at all ap-
propriatc for death bed present.
"You know" said bis employer, " yOh have
been a faithful servant to me, Sam"
"Ycs massa." Sans ebony features tie
vcloped into broad grin. lie now hoped for
a pair Of cowlide boots in addition to the i'd
dle
"You know, Sam, I always treated you
kindly"
"Ycs, massa." Ds this time Sans imagi-
nation had expanded into something Ike ac-
( tiyity, and bis desires now embraced the fiddle,
boots and handful Of plug tobacco and ban
danna handkerchief, and auxiously waited to
hear the ucxt word
/ His master then said in solemn voice,
" Sam, in consideration Of your faithful scrvi-
ces, have directed in my will that when you
die, if you in the meantime live in this neigh
borhood, You shall be buried by my side"
After waiting few moments as if expecting
something else was to be said, Sam asked,
els dat all, lnassa %
"Yes, Sam, all"
Then said tho disgusted African, dis niger
don't like it for maybe some dark night de
DebJlo come to look for massa an make a
stake an take poor Sam. No, massa, if all
de same to you, dis chile fers to be buried by
self'-HTiford Times.