Huntsville gazette., 1882-03-18
RELLlM.
For the Huntsville Advocate. |
DR.. Ross and His Ex-SIaye.

Mr.. EDIroR-One of the many pleasing
providences of my long life was granted to
me yesterday. My sick bedroom was open
ed by the servant, and tall. fine-looking
colored man came in. His manner was in
the highest degree respectful rever-
entail, and full of the greatest joy. Sir
Just to see you. am one of the slaves you
emancipated many years before the war.
My father Was known among your servants
as little lsham." l rose up and took him
by the hand with pleasure equal to his
own. He was the first one had seen since
l sent all the slaves then owned from my
home at Rotherwood, East Tennessee, to
Quincy, Illinois, to the care of my friend
years ago. What is your name'' 1 said,
tell me everything about yourself and the
Others" "My name is Oliver Perry Ross,
from two of your church members at Kings
port, near our old home, sir. am Meth
odist preacher in Louisville, Kentucky"
''Where were you educated" | enquired ,
for [ felt was speaking to cultivated
gentleman. ''At Xenia, in Ohio, si-. There
are ten children of US all living and doing
remarkably we'll. Three are preaching the
gospel-the others in good bust siness. 0,
sir, everybody helped us when it was
known we We're of the number of your
emancipated slaves, particularly Presbyte
rian and ether ministers of the Gospel. :"
is your church doing well in Louisville?"
Yes, sir; there are nearly four hundred
members: our house cost thirty thousand
dollals; my salary is thousand. ?" Thank
God, Oliver" replied And, Mr.. Editor,
do you not think l had good reason to
thank our Heavenly Father! Rememb Der
this was one orly Of the many families Of
my emanclpated slaves-all OF whom Oliver
told me have been enabled to take fine care
of themselves. My space in your paper is
too limited for further notice of these other
families, or my extended interview with
this interesting man.
l must tell, however, one thing more.
wanted to know whether Oliver recollected
or had ever heard, what did to reclaim b is
father from his habit of drinking. 1 limited
at il, only, for l had put his father through
a terrible experiment. 20, yes, sir; know
all about it. My father Was at the upper
big gate on the hill at Rotherwood, with
some or the boys. You rode up, sir, COM
ing home after dark. Father didn't know
you. he was so much intoxicated. But, he
said to us, as be opened the gate, "Get out
of the gentlemans' way, you -. Next
morning, sir, after breakfast, you put
bag over his head, and an old red jacket,
with small stone jug of whiskey round
his neck, and made him stand until sun
down on that high point of the falling gar
den at Rotherwood, where he could be seen
for quarter of a mile from the public road
NV father was grateful to you, sir. He
never drank from that day, and was ever
ready to tell how you cured him. MI.
Editor what do you think might be the re-
suit, if Mayor White had the power, and
would put one Of our Huntsville gentlemen
on the buttress of the courthouse steps,
fronting our Bfoa lway, with Gag over his
head, rea jacket, and a stone jug of whis-
key suspended from his neck-Just for one
day, from breakfast time until the going
down of the sun?
I parf I'd with Mr.. Oliver Perry, the son
of Isham, more touched through many emo
tions than ever before in my thoughts OF
the dealings of God with me.
F. A. ROSS.