New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-27

was down In virginny and he used to treat ts
slaves mighty kind. We were powerful fond OF him
and used TO do anything he wanted ps 10; w
CIneral Lee, and was mighty proud man. he
usedn't to like to see Massa Brown comm round
among the darkies and once he ordered pm on me
place. lie taught me TO read and write, hassa
Brown did. and gin me this YER Bible and the old
woman showed little Bible with plain leather
co,ers and leaves that showed constant nsins.
lie kind of took likin' TO me al inst and told
me more than once he would see 81 at wuz feed.
| used to tell him that he had to be mighty kee,fu'.
fur eff he was ever ketched it I'd be mighty dark
day fur him. But, Lordy he warn't a skeered OF
nobody. that man warD't," and tho old auntys eyes
grew bright lie war regular saint QUO OK
"When he cane back there 70 the ferry just afore
the wal and proclaimed freedom t0Ill the niggers,
/ WIZ one OF the fust to 20 to hm. Jim, thar
lalluding to her stawart son who sat on the bed
drinking IN every word his mOther said. jim, thar,
was Jest a babv-a mighty good Ookin' boy he
was-and when left Massa Lees took him IN my
arms mad a hard time gcttln' away. We was
watched clOsern settln' hens, and the old massa
had two big blOodhUunds TO track runaway Digeers.
tried 10 gIt nv old man to run away wid me, but
he was skeerd and wouldn't. wasn't gone two
hours when they found It out heerd the dogs
howln' AFTER me away over the nils, ana kh""ea
that my only chance was TO get down IN the water.
| got down TO the river, and as could SWIM Ike
duck | put my buds into little bundle and swan
across. We lived about five miles from the ferry
knOwed | belonged TO Mas,a Lee. Still had 20 90
thar fur wanted to see Massa Brown. Next day
when | got thar they had hlin penned up in that
arsenal. | skIilked around town till night, aud
then came out tryin' 10 get suthn tor me add Jim
thai But the hrst man / asked grabbed me aud
sent for Massa Lee. who in town l0OkiR for
me- | was sent home the next day and wbpt.
never heard tell what had become OF Massa
Brown till the day they told me he was 70 hang.
Missus said she wanted to see the ira tor hung
vent in with her You est 0ughter seen the way
rs pore uiegers cred when he came out ali bound
up | stood right in the way sand was blubbcIin'
and tahn on and he Jest looked at me IN the kind
way he had with Us niggers and tried 10 lay bis
hand on my head but couldn't on account Of tho
ropes and he muftered suthin IN low tone. Then
held up Jim there ana he put his lace right down
aud kissed that little Niger thar on the forehead:
And then he lest walked right up 10 the scaiold aud
made a little speech. lou oughter seen bow tho
crowd cried Missus Jest wept ike 1t was some
kinfOlks. The niggers hOllered right out 10
knowed most of em and had been kind TO all.
some of em SAID he was the best friend they had,
and now he was gone" Here the recollection OF
the great emancpator oycrcame the OLD woman and
she Wept quietly.
When She stopped the reporter asked her what
kind of a l0Ukiug nan Brown was
" lie was q big with a white face and
powerful: looking eyes. He could jest look right
through you. lie had "a funny kind OF voice l
never heard any who could talk 80 soft aud
talk 80 bard when he wanted To. | never saw hIn
laugh"