The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-08-21
A REMINISCENCE.
STEPHEN GIRARD'S OLD SERVANT

STEPHEN GIRARD'S OLD SERVANT.
Pegging away at a pair of shoes in a lit
tie basement shop on Tenth street, above
Girard Avenue, a reporter of the Phila-
delphia Record recently found an aged
shoemaker. A little tin sign at the head
of his steps bore the name of sc. Simp-
son. Mr.. Simpson is a mulatto, whose
age corresponds with that of this cen
| tury-eighty years.
''When was just past twenty-seven
and working on a plantation down i'll
Maryland he said, d" the place where
was born, an acquaintance told me he
could get me place with a wealthy
gentleman in Philadelphy, who was a
lookin' around for first-class colored
servant. That just suited me then, and
| got my freedom with some money had
laid up for that purpose, and came on
here. He engaged me for three months,
at the expiration of which time l left
him, because he didn't offer to raise my
wages, which thought should be more
than what he was tenderin' to me.
Well, it just SO happened that soon
after le' Mr. Stephen got bruised very
bad by an accident in the street. Every
| body knows how stubborn the ole man
was. In 1888, as he was going along
Market street from his house to the bank
wagon came along just as he was goin'
to cross. He wouldn't give way for the
wagon and the wagon wouldn't give way
for him. The driver drove right along,
just as though he didn't see Girard, who
! slung out his right arm as quick as
though he was a heavin' a boot at one
of his help, and slapped the off horse a
whack i'll the face. The animals veered
around in consequence, and the pole of
| the wagon caught him over the head,
knocking him down. He didn't say
word, but just laid there while the team
ran over him, cutting him up horribly.
They took him home and laid him up in
bed, but there was nobody could attend
to him to suit him; so he sent for me
again, and We got along first-rate. When
he got well he raised my wages to s14
month, which was the best of pay for
servants"
With tinge of pride in his tone, and
emphasizing the statement with vigor-
GUS whack at heel peg, Charlie contin-
ued: II was the only one that ever left
him, he told me himself, except in anger
and the only one that ever came back.
About three months before he died my
time with him was up. l saw he didn't
want Inc to leave him, and made up my
mind was worth more money. l was
always within seein', OF at least hearin'
distance of Mr.. Stephen, and one day l
recollect conversation overheard when
they didn't know 1 was about and at
tendin' to my duty. Dr. Clark says to
Girard:
"Stephen, do you know that Charles
is going to leave you? ~
Mr.. Stephen said in his quick, sharp
way: "Oh, my good God-Charles going
to leave me? What have | done to
Charles 80
I" He is going to work at his trade with
Enoch Middleton, where he can earn
more money than you give him.
"Oh, my good God" Mr.. Girard re-
peated, in his curious way, 81 guess l
have got as much money as Middleton
has
And the next day saw him told him
l wanted more money.
Glow much did you want ?" he asked
l told him $500 IL year was about pro-
per.
sob, my good God" he said, "do you
know how much that is month -
He thought l didn't know, but did
and | told him it was $50 month.
That's too much, he said. "What
is the least you will take %
thought $40 year was as low as |
could go.
''All right he says; "you shall have
it. But don't tell any of the other ser
wants, or they will all want their pay
raised"
Mr.. Stephen was more fond of me after
that than ever. would tell him some
times that had been saving up and
wanted to go buy II suit of clothes. He
would always say, Save your money,
Charles; save your money. Your clothes
are good enough And the next day
would find an old suit of his in my room
They We're generally very good ones and
| had the honor Of being the only ser
want he ever gave his clothes to.
About the kindest thing he ever did
for me was to transact some business for
Inc when | wanted to buy my wife free.
Another time he cured the rheumatics
first time was tackled he had doctor
for ME, but the second time, when l
wasn't able to walk around he doctored
me himself i'll 4 way of his own. He
filled a tub with rock salt and cold water
and made me hold my leg in it. Does
that take the pain out p he would say.
1t was SO tearfully cold that in a little
while it took all the feeling out of my
leg altogether, but of course | would tell
him that it was much better. When |
had stood it as long as l could he called
for three yards of flannel, which he
stripped and wrapped my leg in. Then
| he told me to walk. l said | couldn't.
| He then told me to try it and 60 down
into the kitchen. l got up, and sure
enough, l could walk. 1t hurt me at
| first, but when got down stairs my leg
was well. when he was sick myself and
his grand niece were the only ones he
| would allow in his room. | was at his
| bedside when he died.
THE LOST COLLAR BUTTON.