The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-07-01
7
NO.. H.:

lilS man. ne glass door opening upon the
Everantksh, Where the servants had assembled,
was thrown back and as they entered each in
turn made irrespective obeiSance to the MASTER,
alike feared ard loved by all. He called each
oy name and designated the position he desired
Them to occupy by another motion OF the hand.
The first who approached his master was old
uncle Cudjo, anative A rican, who had been
purchased by Mr.. RandaA's father from a sla-
YER With the strange tenaciay Of life often
shown by negroes, he had nearly reached his
hundredth year, and, long disabled from work,
was well cared for in his cabin by yetrnger SER
wants, and frequently visited by the white fam
lily. His white head, and bent form supported
by q stout oalen staff made his appearance
only less impressive thar that of his dying mas-i
ter. After Uncle Guido, trooped negroes Of
every age and condition. 1t was Mr. RAM
dall's boast that his servants were better fed
and clothed than any in the county, and their
cheerful faces and well kept air proved his as;
sertion. The field hands, y body of powerful
men and women, with many half-arown boys
and girls, fingered in the rear, and did not en-
| ter until the house servants who were much
more polished in manner and neater in dress,
had taken their places. ~, a "a
| Near the foot of the bed stood a buXom
young woman, whose shining black face was
in strcking contrast with the fair delicate fea-.
lures and silken locks of the infant in her arms
whose refined and beautiful appearance seemed
to mock his mothers dnsky skin and woolly
head. A grave tgSgnified mtllatto woman
stood near this girl and said to her in a low,
stein tone, 'sPears to me it, is somewhat for
ward in a young pusson like you to lay her,
| hand OH the foot of masters bed The girl
hastily drew back, for "Aunt Nary was emily.
second to master in authority in the household!
/ Sir. Randall's eagle eye, unbalanced by. age
or disease, wandered over each face rs his
| children and servants drew near. ''Where is
my little Lucy?'' he asked, Lucy wasthe child
of his old age and the darling of his heart.
/ ''Here | am father,'' promptly responded the
child, rising from a little stool on which she
sat behind the rows OF servants, place which
she persisted in keeping in spite OF Whispererd,
commands of her eldest brother to come to his
side. An irresistible smile appeared OH the
faces Of all present even on that OF the dying
father, as little Lucy approached the bed. :. The
rosy checked child had come when called by
her NANNY, just as she was about to preside
over banget in The Jasmine arber.l She still
Wore the caown Of flowers presented to her as
queen of the feast, ant! seemed all unconscious.
Of the solumn scene in which she was an actor.
In her arms she carried merry looking black
baby whose lefty face was half concealed u,.4-
Ger the ornaments with which his little play
fellow had adorned his happy head. In one
hand he held slice of fat bacon, and in the
other q stick Of red candy, which he sucked oc-
casioaally. Somewtla5 embarrassed by the gem
and the sternness with which Nanny Mary
rebuked her. Lucy hastily resumed her seat,
still holding little jim tight in her arms. "My
friends'' said Mr. Randall, striving to raise
himself ON his pillow, you all know that
have long determined to set Susannah ana
Mary free at my death; Slsannah has been the
most. faithful OF nurses, and Mary, has been
like q mother to my, chilren. They are both'
advanced in.years, and while they will be free.
and have pensions. I am sNre they will lIaye-
homes among my chidren.a Us long as they de7
sire them. Guido is toe old for his condition
to be changed; he will remain i'll his cAbi4
and be cared for. no matter what disposition
is made CT my property. 4 have determined
that the rest OF You shall decide for yourselves
whether you will belong to my children or be
free at my DEATH None of you will be sold il
you remain slaves; yon eau choose your own
masters among my heirs. nBut II you so de-
sire every one of you can be free from this
hour Remember, however, that u law lately
passed requires that all slaves now en,ancipated
shall leave the State; and if you chose freedom
instead Of slavery, | shall set aside II portion
of my estate to BE used in conveying You all
a6 once to Liberia. The question is for you to
decide now and forever-I iberia Or slavery.
Those who desire freedom must come to the
foot of my bed and stand in u row there
A solemn silence reigned in the room. Many
hearts beat high at the thought OF possessing
that boon Of which they had hardly dared to
hope, even to dream, No one spoke or moved;
only the girl who held the white looking child.
in her armies advanced u step; her mother
caught her dress. :.Oh, sarah.'' she whisper.
ed, s'think of the stormy ocean, and the
dreadful fever, the savage beasts and people
most as Ead" Sarah heSitated My child
is almost whte,n she said in low tone, and
if | 90, he will be free; if stay, he too will be
Il slave.'' And pushing her mother aside, she
advanced with firm step to the; foot OF her mas
,,.,l 7 ,.,l RI hor hna
looked pleadingly back to the dusty ranks she
had left. Little Lucey had listened worder-
ingsy to her fathers words, but she now sprang
from her seat, and holding little Jim tight in
herarm approached the bed. ''Fathe.,'' she
exclaimed ilnpetuously, while her eyes flashed
and her cleeks gloweG. with excitement, you
shan't send all our people over the sea to die of
feyers, or for lions and tigers to eat! You know
they won't 90. LII keep jim in the house all
night before they shall take him-won't Jim!
Come. Nanny she said, seizing her old
nurses hand and drawing her towards the
door. Many little blackamoors who had chung
| to their mothers skirts or peeped fearfully i'll,
| at the door. now trooped around Lucy. who
| soon triumphsntly collected her guests at the.
table in the summer-house. Lucy's departure,
was the signal for all to break the ranks. Some,
Of the older servants fingered TO say, 'Thankee,.
mas'r, we d rather stay with the chlllun thAn 90
way off 'nong de wild BEASTS and soon all h;l,t
| left the room. Even Sarah 5 iesolutioli h''t:
Eglven way and with looping head and Tears
falling fast upon the face Of her unconscious
child, she too turned her back upon the lana OF,
liberty: but in later years her child, grown to;
manhood, entered the armies OF the Union: and,
Joined in the struggle for the freedom OF his
| race.
i A. REMARKABLE CASE DEc1DED-In the
| case of the widely known DR. Paul Schn@ppa.
the ophan's Court of Baltimore has 'ecl'led,
adversely to his claims to the property OF the
life Miss Stnuiecle. 'Fhe estate is. valued at
! abo.lt $50, 900, and the virtuons PAIL claiI:el
if on the ground OF his alleged marriage to the,
lady The evidence offered rs tothe marriage,
was written contract, but the court thinks.
that the indications of forgery of the paper arc,
sufficient to raise great doubt of its genuneness.
| The marriage was alleged to have been con-
summated in Pennsylvania, where the lady
died, and the marriage law in Maryland, where
a mere verbal contract is not sufficient requires