The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-08-21
The Old Ferryman.


water thirty feet below. l saw an old
ferryman sitting in his boat, with his
chin resting upon his left hand, ap-
parently absorbed in meditation. A
large white crane standing like stat
ue on one leg on the opposite shore,
seemed to be trying to rival him in
lonesomeness and meditation. The
soft earth of the bank gave forth no
sound under my norses feet as | de-
cended, and the old gentleman sat and
contemplated until my horse, stepping
on the boat, startled him. He rose
with Il complaisant oEeisance and his
eyes sparkled with the hope of earn
ing a few cents. 'Sarvant, sir said
he. He was an aged and venerable ne
gro. his head almost as white as wool,
but his stout, straight form and full
face showed that age had dealt kindly
with him. There WAS something about
him that seemed to say that the old
man was of good society ard had
seen better days. As he pulled me
across, | said : Uncle. what do you
think of things!'
He turned to me and looked inqnir-
ingly, and said 'Of what things,
sarvant, sir y
OF your crane sitting on the opposite
shore, on one leg?'
Il think that he will soon fly away
And leave me as other things have
left me! There seems to be amystery
about that solemn creature. He looks
as though he did not have a friend in
the world. He looks like the spirit of
one departed. who has visiteI his form
er haunts and sits melancholy over
what he beholds, with his mind far
| away in the past Uncle, may not that
be the departed spirit of some one of
the rich planters who once dwelt here
about and now stands deploring the
desolation that has befallen his estates
aud children :
The old man looked at me, and then
looked At the crane, aud when he turn
ed again | thought l beheld "a tear in
his eye. If that is the spirit of my
old master, said he. looking at the
crane suspiciously. i know he cant
wish any harm to me. Old master al
ways liked old Ned
And yet he stands with his head
tucked under his wing, as If he loved
you not
No, sir. said he, shaking his head
and eying the crane, that is not my old
master-God rest him
The crane pulled his head from
under his wing, gave stately flap,
and flew down the dark river, his legs
projecting behind him The old man
watched him depart with sigh of re-
lief
Uucle Ned, what do you think of
, times said j.
Ah, young master, they're not what
they was in the old timey days. That
crane did shorely pvt me thinking.
He looked exactly like | feels when |
git to thinking of the old timey days.
There aint no sich days now.
Uncle Ned, does not the sun shine as
brightly; do not the dews deceud and
the rains fall as regularly; do not the
crops grow as well, and do not the
birds sing as sweetly as in the old
timey days
The same God. said he, looks upon us
yet. and il rains the same, but the crops
amt what they was, and things ain
prosperlug. Look at the falling down
houses and the rotting fences. 1t
pears to me there's blight upon the
yeth.
Uncle Ned. what do you think of
freedom and slavery:
Well, sir, I think right straight. |
think its about enc and t'other.
About the only difference see is that
there's more freedom and less 10 eat;
more privilege aud less comfort. We
are all slaves anyhow 10 our backs and
our bellies. Thems worse master than
ever the overseers was. We didn't
have that slavery in slavery times.
And :ell you, young mas, when the
nigger git sick now. the niger gwin
die Es, sir, you hear my racket, the
nigcer gwin TO die. There amt no
old master and Old misis now TO send
for the doctor and come and nuss you.
If YOU send fer the doctor now. ten to
one he won't come. 'cepting he knows
Won mighty well. for he know be amt
goin 20 get his money.
The boat struck the shore and | gave
Uncle Ned silver half dollar lie
was feeling in: his pocket Tor tue
changel | said Never mind. Uncle
Ned, you keep that. -,