Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-14
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For the Journal
SOUTHERN REMINISCENCES-FoRfY
TEARS AGONE.

Pete was Georgia born, as black babe
as ever graced a Southern plantation. who
as he increased in years and strength be-
came as jolly darkie as slavedom could
boast OF. Yet in his youngish days was
perpetually in trouble, but most ingen-
iously worked himself out. As time rolled
on his yoke of servitude began to gall,
and the peculiar rites ofa plantation life to
lose their charms. He was often at Darien
hearing more and more of the happy land
of freedom that lay just under the North
star, and at the age of thirty or therea-
bouts he made up his mind, that with the
first half chance of success, he would
leave massa to ''hoe he own corn" One
dark night OF Christmas holidays of 1889
favored his views and with but little sor-
row at leaving his beloved massa and
mississ he concluded to try and find his
way to the buckra men of the north, and
there set up for himself.
BY the aid OF a generous abolition tar
belonging to an outward bound brig he
was successfully hid in the stern sheets of
the long boat, and covered with coils OF
rope, tarpallins, and all sorts of truck
thrown there for the time being--to be
arranged after the vessel gets outside.
when the starboard watch was set, Pete
was released from his pent up quarters
snd stretched himself OH the deck of the
good brig Petrol probable free man.
The second mate raved and swore like
genuine pro-slavery man, when he found
a runaway on board and they outside the
bar-he at once informed the first mate,
who winked at the matter, yet as in duty
bound made known the fact to the Cap
tain who like his second mate was angry
beyond bounds--what to do, he knew not
we must about ship, but that they could
not do, for the pilot had left two hours be-
fore, and they were out sight of land,
with the wind fresh over the qnarter.
D-n him, said the captain, pitch him
overboard-come here you black son of n
b-h-where did you come from What's
your name ? What's your masters name
How came you aboardp Who hid lyouP
Where was you hid? D-n you I've a
great mind 10 make spread eagle of you.
go forward d-n you. and don't let me
see your black hide again. Poor Pete was
so completely confounded and scared by
the Captains rapid questions that he could
not answer-indeed the Captain gave him
no chance to speak. An account of the
affair was entered in the briggs log book,
with the appendage that he was to be put
in jail on the arrival of the brig in port,
and returned with the next voyage, which
determination was to be communicated by
letter 10 the boys owner on first arriving.
Pete meanwhile being clever and full
of negro comcalities and songs, found
favor with all the crew, being always
ready by night or day to do each sailors
bidding, whose servant he was to all in.e
tents. The cook however, being black
man had the strongest attractions for Pete,
who loved to sit near the galley door and
hear of the free North to which they were
rapidly sailing. On nearing land the cap
tain ordered Pete to be tied, and when the
Boston Pilot came ON board. he was wit
ness to the fact, many others also were
witness that when the brig was made fast
to the wharf, and crew piped aft, not u
track of Pete could be found on deck or
below. whether in the hurry and hustle OF
coming to anchor til berth was secured,
or after the brig had been hauled into dock
he had fallen overheard, no one could tell,
he was gone from the brig, as he came
might have gone back to Georgia on his
own hook, save the Captain and bssAiassa
much trouble, the Captain did not much
care though he made big talk in the
presence OF all the bystanders, and said
some pretty nard words.
Pete however turned up safely on Cape
Cod, and after a few weeks he found his
way by the help of the North star, to a
gem of a town on tie Kennebec river,
where he attracted universal attention, BY
the blackness of his skin on which it was
said charcoal would make white mark and
Southern lingo which very much amused
the youngsters of the place. Here Pete
found chance to work, eat, and sleep
which were the height OF his ambition. es-
pecially the two latter. For years Pete
retained many Of the slave virtues, one
was to steal from "ebry body 'cept massa,
and as he had no master in Maine like as
in Georgia, it was TO steal from ''ebry
body" However Pete was not the worst
thief that Maine has ever been troubled
with. nor so hard to learn the rights of
his fellow men as some others. Yet as he
had mortal antipathy to work he liked
to get his chips and gungo cake without
working.
To lie in the sun Tor hours and bask
like the alligator, was his chief delight in
the summer seasons; but the cold days
of winter told fearfully on poor Pete.
Another time of snow and ice was ap-
preaching and Pete bethought himself of
a companion; but he had no money nor
house. to attract bird of the opposite sex,
he had only clean black skin, with a
very obliging, accommodating disposition.
always clever and proverbially lazy; but
among the blacks, as among their lighter
colored brethren, where there's q Jack
there's Gill. and so In natures course he
found his mate, with lips as thick as his
own, though she was Northern-born, yet
she became his bride, his wife, his life. and
having more knowledge than Pete, and
never having been slave, she ruled her
liege lord as many less sable brother
hath done. BY united labor they lived CON-
fortably in summer months. but when au-
tumn grew old, and the sere leaves began
to fly in the polar breezes. poor Peter be-
gan to shiver and shake, and gather up
wood, not always by the honest labor of
his hands. A large pile of we'll seasoned
wood all prepared for the stove lay on .
side hill, and Pete frequently detached
sled load therefrom, and mounting on
IN, ii