Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-09-19
A Romance of Fort George Island.

Romance of Fort George Island.
The young owner of the island, cult,
waited hundreds of acres and raising
enormous crops of cotton and sugar
used to build schooners in a ship-yard
of his own, and imported slaves directly
| from the African coast, selling 10 his
neighbOrs such as he did not want. He
was unmarried. Perhaps no one of the
daughters of the neighboring planters
could be persuaded to share the lonely
life which could hardly have appeared
attractive in any woman's eyes: per-
haps he preferred life of freedom and
independence. However that may have
been, he was in the habit of going oc-
casionally TO Africa himself, and of
buying his slaves from the native chiefs,
who disposed in this way of their
prisoners of war.
During one of these visits, willie en-
gagged in bargaining, he was struck
with the grace and beauty of the chiefs
young daughter, child of ten years
old. lie proposed to buy her, but she
was a favorite child and her father
could not part with her. Persuasions
were for a time unavailing, but at
last the savage father, unable to resist
the glitter of the white mans gold.
agreed to part with his child on condi-
ton that she should be treated with
consideration and brought up as be-
comes "A kings daughter. The planter
promised, and, strange to say, he kept
his word. She was kindly cared for
and well educated, and in course of
time became the planters lawful wife.
She had, according to tradition, with
the exception of a dark skin, none of
the usual negro characteristics. Her
handsome features were regular, her
hair smooth, her preseaee dignified and
commanding. Her husband seems
never TO have regretted his unusual
course, and her influence over her cap
tive countrymen was UnbOunded. In
addition TO her position and superior
intelligence was the consideration of
her native rank, which TO them at least
was source of unquestioned right.
The establishment was kept in almost
princely style. The sons were sent to
England to be educated; for the daugh-
tiers French and English governesses
were procured, and established in sepa-
rate houses near the mansion; white
artisans of various kinds were con-
stantly employed, making quite large
community aside from the hundreds of
slaves upon the island. And over all
this, in her husbands long and frequent
absences, reigned our dusky princess, as
absolute in her insular domain as her
savage father in his native wilds. She
had strong and powerful mind, and
womanly kindness and sympathy as
well. One old gegro, who died some
time since. so old that no one could re-
member him as other than old, used 10
tell how he was brought over wher
young to this island. where he bad
lived ever since, and how he and others,
sick and exhausted, were ministered to
bv the ''missis'' own hands. and how
they all loved her and always prayed,
Lord bless Ma'am Hannah - Every
morning a. she stood upon this very
spot, the field hands passed in review
before her, each gang with its driver,
going to their daily work. she in
spected them all, picking out such as
were unfit for labor and sending them
to the hospital or to lighter tasks; and
every night in the same spot she heard
a report Of the day, examined into all
complaints, and with strict justice ad-
judged each offenders punishment; and
without her order not lash could be