Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-01
GRs 9ap Spy: adlurest GbusOap auimg august 1879.

DEATH OF FORMER SLAvE.-The Albany
Argus tells the following story of colored
man who died in that city few days since and
was buried by the hand Of charity:
"Old Uncle Jake" died in back room over a
stable in one OF tile alleys on the hill. Some
friends bought him plain coffin, and had him
buried quietly. No paper announced bis death,
and the b1eellrg iieighbors say they "wete
glad the odd Niger was gone" Beneath the
dark exterior and repulsive form of that old
mai was heart as true in its sympathy and
a consclehce as ptre in Its motives as ever
graced the human form. A DIAMOND Of the
purest water, passing unnoticed through earth
to fash respondent in the Masters crown
hereafter, One dreary night in Sentember,
1865, company Of the fourteenth Vermont
infantry was on picket duty IN pine swamp
near Newberu, North Carolina, when Uncle
Jake came into the lines at the risk of his life
TO tell that large force of rebels would gobbe
them up that night. On this information the
company were depi0yed as skirmishers, and
about midnight Game in contact with the enemy
and drove them back IN great establishment to
find the Yankees ready to meet them. A few
weeks later the captain and two sergeants of the
Vermont company were taken prisoners and put
in boat TO cross the bay. Uncle Jake, Rh0
was rowing, cut the cords that bound them, and
they With 2 desperate struggle succeeded in
overpowerng their captors aid fndkiug them
prisoners. Later still Uncle Jake went out to
get his wife and children and bring them within
the lines, Wheii lie tYas seized bv the rebels aud
tortured TO get some information Of the Union
forces. News was carried to the Union pickets,
and a squad of cavalry went out just in time
to find the rebels in the act of strnging old Jake
up TO tree having failed to get any satisfaction
from HIM A short fight, and Jake was free
again. These are only some of the incidents
which would form a volume if written.
The war closed and Uncle Jake was
brought north. His wife died DIT Boston
and his children scattered Two years
ago he came to Albany, and, with a'small boy
went around gathering ashes from day to day
Uncle Jack was d Christian If ever there was
one in the world. Three times a day he was
seen to kneel down in the camp among the SOL
diers and pray ieryently for the blessings of
heaven OH "Massa Linkum and his boys" A
little testament, worn aud black with age, was
his constant companion. This he could read
with little difficulty. A rich foundrvman of
Troy said that the prayers of Uuce Jake made
more impression OH HE mind than all the SER
mons together he ever heard. He was All officer
at that time at Newbern. We cannot write an
obituary of Uncle jake because we do not
know his last name or history. We only know
that he was true friend of the Union, wiliHg
at anv time TO lay down his life for the cause,
and that, through his exertions, many poor
soldiers were saved from death and southern
prisons. One man in this city owes his life to
him, and others, when they see this brief men,
not in vain. Although his acts as spy and
scout may pass unnoticed in history, yet his
humble efforts helped to promote the revolution
which liberated and enfranchised his race.
A. T. STEWART AND HIS DRY Goops--What
scene attracts your eye as you turn the corner
from the Congress Spring into Broadway. The
long stretch Of piazza on either side the road
is crowded with ladies, arrayed in the most ele-
CANT OF morning toilets. Fresh, bright and
ali a.. =. 1.
their occupation Ia life to be sO Why, there is
not one in the whole throng who believes in
Susan Anthony, or who has any ambition to
work for her own living. To them dress
parade is as great necessity 10 existence as
food. They are the slaves of fashion, and they
glory in the golden badge of their servitude.
Mr.. A. /. Stewart is the owner of the Grand
Union hotel. He bought it last spring. To a
man OF his acquisitive disposition | should saw
that he purchased real luxury when he laid
out that S550,OO0. In addition to receiving a
very handsome interest on his invested capital
in the shape of rent, he has the luxury of travers-
ing the pazzas, the halls and corridors of his own
hotel, and seeing the hundreds of thousands of
dollars worth of his own dry goods which hang
from the fair shoulders of Mr.. Brestlin's guests.
Could any sight be more enjoyable-more
pquant to true lover of dollars and cents
Mephistopheles could scarcely have known more
exquisite enjoyment while watching Faust, than
would the arch-dealer in silks and satins in see
ing cup of coffee or a sherry cobbler thrown
over one thousand dollar costume. The SEN
satiOn would be delicious. In the dull hours of
the day, too, he could amuse himself by estimat-
ing the value of the contents of all the trunks
in Saratoga, and what portion of them was
likely TO have come from his own store: and
then he could make a rough guess at his proba-
BILE profits, and chuckle to his hearts delight
until dinner time. On Sunday he might pious-
ly chant to some old Gregorian measure: "Solo-
mon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of
these" 1t would be an admirable substitute
for going to church on hot day.-Letter from,
Saratoga.