The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-04-07
A RoMANcn OF rHn SOUTH.


Atlanta (G.'.l CYAsfiisiioM.
''ln ante-war times there lived in
Meriwether county a don't care sort of
a 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 sort
OF director.general to famous horses in
his neighborhood. Jack became attach
ed to a servant girl who was owned by a
man named Gates, one ofthe wealthiest
men IN Georgia, who owned thousands
OF acres of land, and with his family
lived in lordly style. The servant girl
was bright mulatto and lack was a
shade darker. They made a match Of
Il, and were married under the order Of
things that existed in war times. At
the same time lack had slave time
wife in Virginia, but she was as black
as coal. When the war closed and the
slaves were declared free Jack took his
Georgia wife to be his partner for life,
and by living with her for stated period
she became his wife according to law
As soon rs he was married Jack showed
sudden spirit ofindustry that astonish-
ed everybody. His careless habits were
thrown aside and he went to work with
a will. The wealthy Gates, his master,
died, and the broad acres fell to the
possession of the heirs Jack still
worked on the place, and was saving
and careful. The Gates family had lost
everything except their land. Hundreds
of slaves were freed by the new order of
things, and the vast and princely fortune
was gone. The heirs could not adapt
themselves to the situation. Finally
pressed, they sold so acres to Jack;
then they wanted more money. and Jack
stood their security at the LaGrance
bank, and when they were unable to
pay he would take up the notes at bank
and trade for piece Of the Gates, PLAN
tation. He worked with a vengeance
and all his family worked. Old man
Jack became noted and honoied citi-
zen of the county. He was industrious
and prospered. In the meantime his
old masters children $ continued to sell
him parts of the old homestead Final
ly he owned it all and was rich. Three
years ago he decided that il was his
duty to provide for his old Virginia
wife, so he sent for her, and she, with
her children, came TO him. She was
given a house on the plantation, and
she is well provided for. Jack owns
now the magnificent place ofabout 500
acres within three miles of White Sui
phur Springs, in Meriwether county,
He is 90 years old, and his children are
settled around him, and all are content
cd and happy and industrious. He
owns Is or 10 mules, and is noted for
keeping the best stock in the county,
His credit At the la Grance Bank is
good, and he can borrow all the money
he wants on his simple note of hand"
elbow much is he worth?"
81 should say about 5000 and
every cent of it has been made since the
war. II is a remarkable story of how a
slave succeeds his master in the owner
ship Of vast landed estate. | passed
the place few months ago, and the
Georgia wife came TO the door to give
me drink of water. Everything was
neat 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. 1t
is model plantation. Why, | have
seen on .lacks's place $50 acres of corn
under one fence"
as he educating his children ?''
eyes, although he cannot read and
write he sees the advantage of an educa-
ton, and is giving his children the
benefit of schooling. The story is
true one, and shows what can be done
right here in Georgia by pluck and in
dustry. The old adage is true There
is more in the man than there is in the
land.