The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-05-30
READS LIKE 4 NOVEL.
The story "Promincni Citizen" Told an
itluDtu Reporter.
Iron Ne Atlanta lGa. Constltutlon.l

From Tie Atlanta tGa.J Consttutioh.l
"In ante-war times there lived in
Merlwethcr County don't-carc sort Of Il
negro named Jack Wilson, who could
neither read nor write. He had gained
his freedom in some way or other, and
gained his livelihood by acting as a sort
of Encouragement to famous horses in
his neighborhood. Jack became attached
10 servant girl who WI, owned by n
man named Gates, one Of the wealthicst
men in Georgia, who owned thousands Of
acres Of land, and with his family lived
IN lordly style.
"'I'hc servant girl was q bright nulat-
20, and jack was a shade darker They
made n match of il, and were married
under the order Of things that existed in
war times. At the same time Jack had
a slayc-wfc in Virginia, bat she was as
black as coal. WIu the war closed
and the slaves were declared free Jack
took his Georgia wife tU be- his partner
for life, aud 10y living with her for n
. stated period she became his wiicaccorl.
ing 10 law
''As soon 81, he Was married jack
showed n sudden spirit oi industry that
astonishod everybody His careless hah.
its were thrown aside and 1t" went 10
work with q viii. The wealthy Gates,
his master died, aud the broad acres fill
10 the possession OF the heirs. jack
still worked on the place, ald was saving
aud careful.
"l.ho Gates family had Lost everything
except their land. Hundreds Of slaves
were freed hy the new order Of things,
and the vast and princcly fortune WIS
gone. The bcls could not adapt them.
selves 10 the situation. Finally pressed.
they sold 80 acres Of land ~ jack; then
they wanted moro money, aud Jnck
stood their security ut the La Grange
Bank, aud when thcywclc unable 10 pay
he would take up the notes at bank and
trade for piece Of the Gates plantation.
He worked with % vengeance and all hi,
family worked. Oid man Jack became
Il noted and honorod citizen Of the com.
~. H. WIS iuduirjou. and pDsporcd.
In the meantime his Old masters chill.
drcn continued to sell him parts Of the
old homestead. Finally he owned If nll
and was rich.
"Tlr,c yeas ago be- decided that il
was his duty ~ provide Tor bis old
virginia wilr, -p hu scm tor hey, aud
size, with !u children, cane io him.
She wu gwen house ou thcplmtatiun.
Dnl is wei provided for. jack own.
no% the magnificent place Of about
800 acre. IN three mills H White Sui
phur Spiups, IN M~iwrihrr County
He Is 60 years Oh, and his children are
settled around him. and all are cpnirntcd
and mri4 and industrious. lIcuVns l.
en- IL mules, aud j., noted for k,,ping the
nest stocl, ia the county. HIS credit nj
the la Grange Bank j, good. and he can
borrow all the money he wants oil his
simple note Of hand. 10
GLOW much is hc worth -
81 should say about SBU.OUO. and
every cent OF II has been mnlc since the
war. 1t - a rmmhahlr story Of how
slave succeeds hi, master in The owner
ship Of II vast landed estate. pissed
the place icw months ago aud the
Gcorgia wife came to the door to give nc
~ drink Of water. Everything was n,a,
and clean about the place, the yard was
newly swept, The barns appeared filled,
and in the lots saw piles upon piles Of
manure carefully sheltered. II is model
plantation. Why have seen ON Jacks
place $50 acres OF corn under one fence.
"ls lac educating his children =
Eyes, although he cannot read and
write, he sees the advantage Of mn cdura.
ton, and IL giving his children the bquc.
fit Of schooling, The story j. true one,
and shows whoi can be- done right here
III Gcorgn by pluck and industry. The
old adagcis true: There IL morc in the
man than there is in the land ,"