The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-04

And sunlight melted into air.
A STORY OF TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Mr.. B. was great merchant in Balti-
more. One morning as he was passing
over the vessels that lay at the wharf, he
stepped on the deck OF one, at the stern
Of which he saw negro, whose detected
countenance gave sure indication OF dis
tress. He accosted him with:
Hey my man, what is the matter"
The negro lifted up his eyes and, look
ing at Mr.. B., replied:
"Ah massa. Use in great trouble. .
"What about?"
''Kase Use fetched up here to be sold.'
s;What for? What have you been do
ing2 Have you been stealing? or did
you runaways or wha.2"
mo, no: massa, none O. dat Its be-
ksse I don't mind de audes." M @,s
"What kind OF orders!"
swell, massa stranger, I will tell you.
Massa Willum VERY strict man, and
VERY nice man, too, and eberybody on
the place got to mind him, and l brake
frew de rule, but didn't tend to brake
de rule doe; forgot myself, and l got
too high" ~
at is for getting drunk, then, is it?'
'sOh, no, sab, not dat mother"
''Then tell me what you are to be sold
for?"
"For praying, sah?'
"For praying! That's strange tale.
Will not your master permit you to
pray2" -
"Oh, yes, sab, he left me pray easy;
but hollers too loud" &c.,. ".- -. .
- sand why do you halloo in your
prayers9" -" t' ."..
"Kase the spirit comes on me and 7
gets happy fore knows it; den / knows
noting bout massa's rule" ,s5.
And do you suppose your master will
really sell you for that's" -.. ...ls..
''Oh, yes; no help for me NOW. All de
men in de world couldn't help me now
kase when Massa Willum says one ting
be no do anoder." fs:
"What is your namc?'
'Mnses."
s'What is your masters name2"
''Massa's name is COL William c.
Where does he liye2'
"Down on the Easin Shoah."
us he a good master and treats yor
well!"
"Oh, yes; no better man in de wuld."
s'Stand p and let me look at YOU"
And Moses stood up and presented s
robust frame; and as Mr.. B. stripped W
his sleeve, his arm gave evidence of I'm
usual muscular strength.
"Where is your master?"
"Yander he is, jes'' comm to d.
warf."
As Mr.. r. started for the shore h
heard Moses give heavy sigh, foilowe'
by deep groan. Moses was not at al
pleased with the present phase Of affairs
He was strongly Impressed with the ide
buy him, and it was this that made hin
so unwilling to communicate to Mr.. F
the desired information Mr.. B. reache
the wharf Just as Col. e. did. He intro
= duced himself and said:
II understand that you want to Sc
that negro man yonder, on board tn
schooner" H.. .- ..-.-
Col. G. replied that he did.
"What do you ask for him2"
Il expect to get $7O0.'' .....e-a
"How old do you reckon him to bel
"Somewhere about thirty ,4@
6 Is he healthy9'' 1E s
every; he never had any sickness
his life, except one or two spells Of II
ague." .s@tzs. $500 -. l...+...s..
us he hearty?' .-'... ... IT,.
IS Yes, sir; he will eat as much as an
man ought and it will do him as mut
good"
SIS he good hand?"
eyes, sir; he is the best hand on n
place. He is steady, honest and indu
trious. He has been my foreman for Il
last ten years, and more trusty negro
never knew"
.sWhy de you wish to sell him9''
.. Because he disobeys my orders. A
said, he is my foreman; and, tina
might want him, built his hut within
hundred yards Of my own house, and
have never rung the bell at any time
the night o. morning that his horn d
= not answer in five minutes after. E
two years ago he got religion, and col
menced what he terms family prayer
H. that is, praying in his hut every mig
and morning, and, when he began
), PRAYER, it was i'm possible to tell when
would stop, especially if Gas he termed
ne got happy. 1nen ne Woulu s1Hs,
pray and halloo for an hour or two
gether, that you might hear him nearl,
r., mile off. And he would pray for
and my wife and my children, and I
whole family connections to the til
generation, and sometimes, when
~ would have visitors, Moses prayers wo
interrupt the conversation, and dest
the enjoyment of the whole cornpa
The women would cry and the child
would cry. and It would get me ain
frantic, and even after had retire
would sometimes be almost daylight
fore could go to sleep. for it appea
o me that I could hear Moses pray
hree hours after he had finished. t
yel as long as could, and then forbid
praying any more-and Moses prom1
obedience, but he soon trangressed,
my rule is never to whip, but, When'
~ T coll h