The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-08-19
PICTUREs OF THE oLDEN TIMES.

The Massach useIts papers report the strikers
rs expressing themselves in this wise: You
fought four yesrs to liherate the Southern
slsvee, but they had food, and clothes and
shelter. We are trying now to free ourselves,
for We are starving and naked and homeless."
Now that the South, in its peculiar ipstifu-
ton, is being tbus vindicated by the stern Sc
quepce of events, and Northern serfdom II
proolaimiDg its condition to be far worse than
Southern slavery, it may not be unirteresting
to take glimpse at the olden time when
Southern masters cared for their slaves, and
slaves gave, in return, labor and affection.
An incident occurred the other day which
afforded us o glimpse of scenes once familiar
| to the eye, and of feelings creditable to the
humsn heart.
| At the close of the war, one of Lousiana's
representative families found itself too re-
duced in circumstances to keep together the
| old slaves W ho had olung to them through the
changes of those four years. Among these
servants was q woman who had grown old in
| faithful service, and who had 9 large family
| Of her own.
| Four of her sons and three daughters bad
been born on the old home place; and as the
years rolled on, each had taken the place as
| signed him. Nurse, coacbman, blacksmith,
| cook there was work for all; ; and as the
white children grew into man hood and woman
hood. the happy negroes seemed to glory in
their beauty and Development
When the war broke ont, the only son of the
family went in to the ranks; but one faithful ne
gro boy begged to accompany him. and during
four years, the soldier and his slave shared all
tolls and dangers equally. At almost any time
the boy might havo stepped over to the Federal
camp and found food to eat and clothes to
| wear but he preferred to be hungry and
ragged with his master, than to be comfort
| able ut the cost Of separation.
He knew that his mother, sisters and brothers
| we're we'll cared for, and if be lived, he, too,
would go back to the old life which he remem'
bsred with SO mnoh pleasure. Bat the close OF
the war found the family poorer even than their
| slaves, for these were free from debts and anx-
tiles. 1t was hard to part but necessity
knows 10 law, and so the families scattered fal
and wide. But whenever, in the old house
hold, there was sickness or sorrow, the servants
heard the news and altered about with offer.
of help and sympathy. Add when wedding 6
came off, they were on hand. proud to assis,
IN any way that brought them together in theil
former relations. To dress The bride, to wAit
|
in order to comfort her for the loss of married
son or daughter; these were some of the man!
ways in which they showed their interest and
sfecticn.
AS yet no death had occurred on either side
and although mistress was growing feeble
and nanny" was quite gray, the two families
although separated, had remained unbroken
But few days sgo, there came the news of !
terrible sccident. Old Msmmy's dress bat
taken FIRE from lamp, and she was tefribl!
burned. In her agony, she called repeated.
for Ter mistress, and her son wrote to his for
mer owners, telling them of her condition AM
| her desire.
To the aristocratic household, whose mem
bers had held some of the highest positions II
, the State, this announcement brought poi &
naut sorrow. The old faithful servant wa
sufferipg and dying. and there WAS not one G
= them beside her in the hour of death Sh
, who had mirastered to them 30 often in heSlt
and in Sickness who had soothed her nistros
10 many an hour Of pain, and comforted he
master in moments of dependency, asked no.
= for them but who could go to herr
Mistress" was too feeble to bear the fatigu
!, OF lor railway trip, and the other member
= were bound down to their daily tolls for brea[
d There Was one, however, who could go in be
d mothers place, the youngest daughter OF tt
# house, the happy bride who had but lately le
70 the homestead, the baby" whom old Mamm
had cradeied on her breast, and whom she sa
10 welded at the altar. She would 60 to this ol
b friend of her childhood, this faithful depenC
ls ent of her family and with loving words fro
u all the household, she started on her way.
E. Upon reaching the little country town fro
b, which the summons came. she found the o
ie servant dead. Nanny" siren thened
4 the rites of the Church had gone to Him who
the Lord and Master of the rich as well ss
ST the poor.
,e The bcreaved family. were oveTjoyed TO 6
g their unexpected visitor. They had not eve
- hoped for old mistress visit; but that IN
er bright yourS darling of their mothers hea
e, should hasten to her side, vas more than III,
of had ever dreamed Of.