Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-03
THE HOUSEHOLD.


Mrs stowe made her reputation from the great
mine of romantic truth which surrounds 80 many
Of the ooIored race. The future novelist will
draw upon the simple annals OF the once down
trodden, but now emancipated people, a. the
historians of the Pentateuch have drawn upon
the exodus from bondage of the Children OF
Israel. A..
second waiter at the Grand Union of Saratoga
Int the careless crowds that frequent that mann
moth hoetery have not known that through his
veins courses the proudest Virginia blood.
His grandfather was General harry Lee, OF
Revolutionary light-horse cavalry fame. and MS
mother a slave woman named Jenny, maid OF
Mrs. Lee. Soon after tire birth OF William Jack
sou, the head walters father, Jenny was sold to
Colonel Stewart, of Frederick county, Maryland
The boy William showed extraordinary inteli-
oenoe, and became a pet OF his master, and on
the death OF Dol. Stewart found himself Tree by
clause in the will. William went Immediately to
Washington where he had been many times with
hin master There he met John Mclean. Post
master General under Andrew jackson. and
friend of his old master. Judge Mclean ap-
pointed him a messenger in the Post Office De-
pArtment, at q salary OF 5000 per annum.
While messenger in the Post Office Depart
ment, William Jackson met q beautiful, Long
haired octoroon, the slave Of old Judge John
Stewart, of Baltimore. The slavs girls's name
WAS Rachel, and she came to attend Miss Stew
ard, one of tho fashionable bellies, at President
Van Buren's reception William lost his heart
with the dusky maid and soon went to Bati-
more to get Judge Stewart, who owned her, 10
consent to their marriage.
mo sir" said the judge Indignantly. "Rac-
he'll is a slave, and she mus. marry a slave. II
she marries free niger she will be running
away herself and besides, don't know traders
when may want to sell her to New Orleans"
''rhen can never marry herr
Never, until somebody buys her from me"
replied the Judge.
rachel was sent to the Frederick county farm.
and tbither William went in the night to hold a
consultation with her. First It was 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 plantation,
and to run away was surely to be caught retur-
ned, and then q dreadful whipping followed.
What can we do?" sobbed Rachel.
II know" replied William: Il will buy you
myself"
''But you have no money
II 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.
well. a Thousand dollars will buy her, re-
piled tho hard hearted Judge.
William went to work-every cent was saved,
he even going on foot into Frederick county by
night to see Rach el, where they held solemn
consultations and hoped only for the time when
he could buy her and own her aud make her his
wife.
Two years rolled around, and nine hundred
dollars gladdened the sight of William jackson.
''What shall 1 give you for Christmas this
year, William" asked the good old Postmaster
General of his trusty messenger.
Anything, Mr.. Secretary"
''But what would you like most ~
Then William told the pitiful story OF hls and
Rachel's troubles-how he was afraid she would
be sold how he loved her dearly, aHd how lie
lacked still hundred dollars to buy her.
The old Postmaster General took OF his specs
wiped hls eyes, then put them on again. Then
he fumblad i'm liB pockets, ''HIyo-ten-tWen-
ty-thlrty." he counted, and then he handed
William a 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 the thousand dollars
now | want Rachel"
my God William, you don't tell me 80 y ex-
claimed the Judge. "Why sold Rachel yester-
day for twelve hundred do liars, to go to Mo-
bile"
when is she going ?" asked William, ner-
vousy. e.,
she's gone alread y-went yesterday. She'll
be i'll Lynchburg 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 u. Calhoun were in the Judges room,
and they both took deep interest.
Lets raise the money and send William az
ter her" said the generous Webster.
he would 30 seized dozen times as fugl-
tive" said the Judge, land they'd sell him
too"
IN send my private secretary" SAID Mr.. Web
Hter and 30 he did.
There was no telegraph then. nor cars, but
the score tary took the Potomac river boat, and
with twelve hundred dollars, contributed by Will
liam Jackson's friends in the Department, over
took Rachel, showed Mr.. Calhouns letter, in
dorsed by several Vrginians, bought her and
brought her back. Calhoun, Webster and Judge
Mclean saw them married the next week.