The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-10-03

The young owner OF the Island,
cultivated hundreds of acres and rais-
ed enormous crops OF cotton aud SUI
gar, used ID build schooBers in ship
yard of bis own, and imported elaves
directly from the AfrieaH coast, sell
ling to his neighbors such as he did
not want. lie was unmarried Per-
haps no one OF the daughters Of the
neighboring planters could be per-
suaded to share the lonely life which
could hardly have appeared attract
i've in any woman's eyes; perhaps be
preferred life of freedom and inde-
pendence However that may have
been, he was in the habit of going
occasionally 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, while en-
gagged in bargening, be was struck
with the grace and beauty Of the
chiefs young daughter, a child of
ten years old He proposed to buy
her, but she was fayo:ite child and
her father could not part with her.
Persuasions for time were unavail-
ing, but at last the savage father,
unable to resist the glitter of the
white mans gold, agreed to part
with his child on conditions that she
should be treated with consideration
aud brought up as becomes 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 Ee-
came the planters lawful wife. Size
had, according to tradition, with the
exception of dark skin, none OF the
usual negro characteristics. Her
handsome features were regular, her
hair smooth, her presence dignifed
and commanding. Her husband
seems never to have regretted his uu-
usual course, and her influence over
her captive countrymen was unboan-
ded. In addition to her position and
superior intelligence was the eonsid-
Grafton of her native rank, which to
them at least was source OF unques-
toned right.
The establishment was kept in al
most princely style. The sons were
sent to England to be educated; for
the daughters French and English
governesses were procured, and es-
tablished in separate houses near the
mansion; white artisans of various
kinds were constantly employed, ma
king quite large community aside
from the hundreds of slaves upon the
island. And over all this, in her hus-
bands long and frequent absences,
reigned our dusky princes, as a5so-
lutte in her insular domain as her saw
age father in his native wiIds. She
bad a strong and powerful mind, and
womanly kindness and sympathy as
we'll. One old negro, who died some
time since, 80 old that no one could
remember him as other that old, used
to tell how he was brought over
when young to this island, where be
had lived ever since, and how he and
others, sick and exhausted, were min
istered to by the "missis" own hands,
and how they all loved her and al
ways prayed, Lord bless Ma'am
Hannah Z" Every morning as she
stood upon this very spot, the field
hands passed in review before her,
ea,h gang with its driver, going to
their daily work. She inspected
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 report of the day, examined
into all complaints, and with strict
justice adjudged eacs offenders pun
ishment; and without her order not
lash could be given.-Scribner.