The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-05-29
Old Hickory

A reporter of the Amerscan yester-
day visited Hannah Jackson, color
ed, relict Of the Rev. Aaron Jackson,
who recently died at the age of nine
ty-two years. He found her at No.
l6l South Summer street, where she
resides with her daughter. The re-
porter told Aunt Hannah that be de-
sired to obtain from her "reminiscences
of her early life in connection with
The Hermitage. She said she was
growing old and could not tell it all
as straight as Aaron cher late hus-
band could. Aaron knew it all, and
it was often they sat by the fire and
talked over old times, when they
were with Marse Jackson. They
were always treated like white folks.
/ Said she. as the tears trickled down
her cheeks: Marse Jackson was a
father to us servants, be was so good
and kind TO US. The morning be
died the house was crowded, aud the
whole yard, two hundred and four
teen darkies were living on bis place.
It was very distressing. They tried
to carry me out when old Marse was
diving. and he told them TO let me
alone. You see, | had always wait
ed on him and he wasn't going to-
drive me out. No, be said, let Han
nah remain, if she wants to, and /
did. | wasn't going to surrender
nv place TO any one, though was
50 full of grief all the time that /
could hardly stay in the room. Ev'
cry morning DR.. Esselman told me
to ge: a fresh egg, and mix it with
milk aud brown sugar, and let old
Marse eat it. | did it regularly.
When | came 10 Friday morning
with the egg and brown SD
gar and milk, / saws TO George Har-
ris, is old Marse asleep! He say,
no. George looked me ia the face
aud said. Hannah, you will soon be
done totin' this into old marster
And then, Saturday morning ! car
ried it 10 again. Old Marse didn't
take it for some time, and when be
did il was u long swill, like it went
down so heavy. | can't tell you
what | felt..then, and here the aged
woman wept like a child. | knew
death was mighty nigh, when h'
couldn't take mat little bit of a NOR
sci. Sunday morniog j didn't SCI
any change in him. Marse vas ask
ed if he knew them all. Yes, b.
said, | know you al, though | can
see YOU. And they brought him hi
specs, and be said that be recognized
them all. The first thing | knev
George Harris cried, Oh aud il wa
repeated back to the kitchen. Oh
, Msrse was not dead, but his brea.l
had stopped. All crowded into th'
: room, when DR.. Esselman said the,
> must 20 out. The doctor gave hiu
something and it revived him up, ant
he lived until eight O'Clock in To
evening. White and black were al
/ standing 10 the room together jus
+. before be died. No distinction wa
f, shown in the eyes of old marster
f Turning his eyes to where me an
= George were standing, be said: An
here's poor George and Hannah
t they've been faithful servants to me
= | have left it SO you will be well ia
E ken care of as long as there is a bi
- of property left. He then called Mrs
/ Adams up and told her that be haI
: fully provided for her and that sh
7 would not suffer for anything. Jus
before he died be preached his grea
t sermon. He said: NV friends, Chris
e is no respecter of persons, an.
what | say TO u | say to all, and
] have a right to the Tree Of Life; pre-
pare to meet me in heaven, where
! am going. And now all cried ou'
Look look and old Marse wa
dead. His soul went right straigh
D up to heaven; | know it did; and m
/ husband has gone TO meet lin, an
J, | wont be long here. Ny husbah
!, always said old marster preached hi
own funeral. And he did too
a George Harris and me were hea
4 walters, and we could not help cry
! ing bitterly when the last spark wen
out and old masters spirit was tt
e ken up into heaven by the angels {
i God-NdshUiIle american.