Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-04-09

Twenty Years Ago.
Mr.. B. was great merchant in Bal.
timore. One morning as he WAS pass
iug over the vessels that lay at the
wharf, he stepped upon the deck of one,
at the stern Of which he saw a negro.
whose detected countenance gave SUR
Indications OF distress. He accosted
him with:
Hey! my man, what is the matter2
The negro lifted up his eyes and, look
ing at Mr.. b., replied:
'Ah massa. Ise in great trouble
What about?
'Kase Use fotched up here to be
sold.'
What for? What baveiysu been do
ing! Have you been stealing' or did
YOU run away or wbat?'
No. no, massa, none o'dat. It's be-
kase don't mind de audcs"
What kind OF Orde,sf'
We'll. massa s,ranger,I will tell you.
Massa WIllum VERY strict man. and q
very nice man.too. and ebrybody on
de place got Ia mind hlm. and brak, d
frew de rule, hut didn't tend to brake
frew de rule. doe; forgot myself and
got too high
tits for getting drunk, then. is tY
oh. no. sab. not dat nother.'
Then tell me what you are 10 be sold
for?'
For praying, sah.'
For praying! That's strange tale.
Will not your master permit you to
pray"
oh. yes, sab, he let ME pray easy;
but l hollcrs too Loud
And why do youl hollow in your
prayers?'
'Kase the spirit comes on me and J
gets happy lore knowns it; den
gone, kant 'trel myself; den / know
nuttin' bout massa's rule
And do you suppose your master will
really sell you for that?'
Oh, yes; no help for me now, All
de men in de world couldn't help me
now-kase when Ma>sa willium says
one thing he no do anoder.'
What IS your masters name"
'Massa's name is Colonel William
c.
Nv here does he live?
Down on the Easin Shoah.'
Is he a good master and does be
treat you well?'
oh. yes; no better man in de wuld.'
Stand up aud let me look at you.'
And Moses stood up and presented a
robust frame; and as Mr. B. stripped
I'D his sleeve, his arm gave evidence OF
unusual muscular strength.
Where is your master?'
'Yanderhe is, jes' comm 9 to de
warf.'
As Mr. B. started for the shore he
heard Moses give heavy sigh, follow
ed by deep groan. Moses was not at
all pleased with the present phase oi
affairs. He was strongly impressed
with the idea that Mr.. B. was trader
aud intended to buy him. aud 1t was
this that made him SO unwilling to COM
municate to Mr.. B. the desired iniorma'
ton. Mr.. B. reached the wharf just as
Colonel c. did. lie introduced himself
aud sald
1 understand that you want to sell
that negro man yonder, on board the
schooner.
Col. C. replied that he did.
What do you ask Tor hlmT
L expect to get a7OO.'
How old do you reckon him to be"
Some W here absut thirty
Is he he althy"
Very; he never had any sickness IN
his life, except two spells OF the ague''
Is he hearty?
Yes, sir; he ~lll eat as much as any
man ought, and it will do him as much
good
is he a good hand?'
Yes, sir; he is the best hand on my
place. He 10 steady, honest aud indus
triou,. be has been my foreman Tor
the last ten years, aud a more lrusly
negro 1 never knew
why do you wish to sell him"
Because he disobeys my orders. as
T said. he is my foreman and that he
might be available at any moment l
might want him, l built his hut within
a hundred yards OF my own house. aud
T have never rung the bell at any time
N the night or msrning that his horn
did not answer in five minutes AFTER
But two years ago he got religion and
commenced what he terms family pray
er-that IA, praying in his hut every
n,oht and m,ruiug, and when he began
bis nrayer it was impossible to tell
when he would stop, especially II las be
termed iD he got happy. Then he
would sing and. pray and halloo Tor M
hour or two together, that you might
hear him nearly a mile of. And he
would pray for me and my wife and my
children, aud our wkole family connec'
lions to the third generation, and some
times. Moscs's prayers wonldiinterrupt
the conversation and destroy the enjoy
mept of the whole company.The women
would cry and the children would cry
and il would get me almost frantic c'snt