The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-07-01
Liberia or Slavery.
BY ORA LANGHORNE.

adjoined the tract of land purchased by my ia
ther in my childhood, in one of the southern
counties Of the State, and we were greatly i'm
! pressed, even as children, with the difference
in the manners and customs of Western Vir
ginia, where we had come from, and The habits
of the people of ''Old Virginia, ''as all that por
ton Of the State lying east of the Blue Ridge
is called. MI. Randall was fine specimen Of
his class, man born to command, of iron will
and indomitable energy stern in manner, but
ever courteous. and concealing wonderful ten
| derness of heart beneath somewhat reserved
exterior. Tie natural violence Of his temper
was increased by a cruel and wasting disease.
which would have prostcated a man of feebler
nerve, but with him was only evincel BY great
irritabllity at times, and the black silk head
band which concealed the dreadful ravages OF
his malady. He was very exacting, and per-
mitted no disobedience to his orders. Woe to
the child or servant who should r2shly venture
in such a path But he delighted in the COM
fort and well being of all around him; was
considerable and INDUCED to the last degree to
feeble old age, or helpless childhood, and ten
derby careful Of the sick, daily visiting the cabin
of a servant who might be i'll, often administer
ing medicines with his own hands, Or taking
turns with the watchers at night. Recognized
las the most successful planter in that portion
of the State, in busy seasons, he threw him
the work before him, and frequently for weeks
at time only entered the house for hasty
meal or a change of clothes; and even beside
his servants, ,Who were inspired by his presence
to their utmost efforts, he sought no rest, but
few hours hasty sleep, taken in the nearest
barn. when worn out by his exertions. AL
though he did not hesitate to punish severely
negligence CT disobedience, he seldom found
need to resort to such measures, but showing
f,f
stimulated them, by precept and example, and
promised to all an easy and comfortable life,
when he should have secured what lie deemed
tine necessary provision for his large family
A promise which he faithfully redeemed
When the crop was secured, and Q period OF
comparative relaxation ensued, Mt Randall
gave himself up to domestic and social enjoy
ments; read and talked much with bis family,
visited his neghboys. and frequently invited
them to assemble at ms mouse, Which was the
abode of hospitality. My father delighted in
his society, and often said he had the finest
mind he had ever met with in private life.
On occasions of social gatherings, slavery and
its probable effects in the country were often
discussed in an their varied aspects. Like all
the far-seeing men Of his time, Mr.. Randall an
tcipated evil to the whole land from the owner
ship and traffic in negroes, and predicted civil
war, as inevitable, if some peaceful plan for the
on. He argued that the Africans, who We're
brought to our shores as savages, were fast
learning, the arts of civilization, and increasing
SO rapidly3in numbers that it would i'll time be
come impossible to hold them in bondage; aud
he declared that he readed the repetition in
the Southern States of the scenes enacted i'll st.
Domingo. Thus viewing the subject, he ca
gery advocated the colonization the negroes,
by degrees, in Africa or some distant land suit
,J tbai q
the day opposed amy. scheme of emancipation,
and some were doubtful of the advantage, i'll q
moral point of view. OF sending a people just
emerging from barbarism and learning the arts
Of cvilizedlife back to a savage COUNTRY. The
reports of sach discussion, carried by the house
servants to the negro quarters, inspired hor-
ror Of the Colonization Society in the minds OF
the slaves, whose only associations with q sea
voyage were the recollections handed down to
them OF slave ships and who had been told
that Africa was a land Of 'savages and wild
beasts, with Il climate deadly i'll its effects to
people OF either race born i'll America. while
such discussions were going on among elders,
we, who We're about the same age as NJ. Kan
dall's younger children, roaIned at will over
the large aud beautiful estate. 1t was the duty
and pleasure OF every servant on the place to
watch over s'Master's children" and their
young visitors, and with retinue OF little dar-
kies, our party was too large to run any great
er risks than being scratched. by brlers, or tum-
bled into the numerous 'sbranchesn 4 which
intersected every field anu';a few miles Oil
enptieel into the noble Roanoke. The fayorite
resort OF girls, however, waste the cabin OF
the old farm-nurse, who, being disabled by
'.rheumatizH from active work, devoted her de
cining years tolthe Gaze OF llumberiess fowls,
and kent watchful eye over the negro babies,
each of whom had also q little nurse to care for
it, Here. while the parents OF the children
were in the house, in attendance OH the''White
folks" or at work in the distant fields. OLD
Aunt Judy regned supreme, and with long
switch within reach OF her hand, and abundant
supplies of corn-breaa or sweet potatoes in an
adjacent cupboard she maintained order III the
household and cared for the wants OF her little
charges. Dolls were contemptuously dlscalu-
ed bV us, where such fine assortment OF live
babies could be had. and as neither the sold
granny: nor the mothers when present We're
| 1T all nervous about the Way we handled cur
! pets we built houses, gave parties. and were
| extremely happy with the pckaninnies, and
! nobody tainted or screamed when an unlucky
4 baby GOT its head bumped, or some one sat
4 down on it by mistake. Several years passed
4 away in the happy, careless life we led. Our
/ ljolit tasks were soon learned, too often soon
| forgotten. The young Randalls had u tutor,
and our mother taught Us; but we We're con-
stantly together. and often, in visit OF a week,
l'eXchanged teachers. .. a.
i Mr.. Randall's health had visible declined
Emeantine, and at last his strong constitution
| had given way, and he lay upon bis deathbed,
nursed with tenderest cure by the faithful ser
want who had attended him in all stages: of his
| fatal disease. He had taken her with him to
| New York when it was necessary to have an
operation performed, and though she had urg-
ed to leave him by ahoitionists, who lad offer
ed to aid her in doing so, she had indignantly
refused a., o.. s..io
Who shall tell what spirits came to influence
the dying man, us he lay awaiting the sum
mons to the Dread Tribunal? Was it the aw-
full sense OF Responsibility for holding human
beings in bondage. o. the fear of the conse-
quences to his beloved children should he
| beoueath to them such an Inheritance
which induced his final determination? Mr.
Randall was i man Of such integrity, OF such
tirmness OF purpose, that, having once maze
up lis mind to the course to be piirsucd' nc
would have gore forward had Il lion stood IN
the way or had he belleld the wreck OF ms loi-
tune rs the result Of his action. Among ms
twelve children and his hundred slaves none
dared dispute his will, and 1t was III solemn 81
lence that all obeyed ms cQmlll}ili' 10 assemble
in hi=a room when the lawyer came to write his
will and my fa.her ana otlef 1fleilos appeared
as witnesses
.Si1ch a scene as that presented i'll that cham
Der Of death can he, er again be enacted upon
! the American continent, and none who beheld
can ever forget it. Like the patriarch. of old,
he who had been in his day q mighty man.
great in the possession Of tocks and herds WITH
I many slaves at his command. NOW cared
around him his twelve children, to bestow up
Oh them his blessing and tell. them his last
wishes. The bed upon which the stern old
chieftain lay was drawn in front ofa window,
and he desired the curtains to be thrown back,