Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-11-15

years ago. One, John, had gone to New
Orleans to purchase slaves, and had been
murdered there. The other, James, had in
| the following year enlisted in the confeder-
ate army and been stricken with malignant
fever when in camp at Selma, and there had
died. The deaths Of the two sons had been
heavy blows to the planter, in both cases
had been occasions of prejudice to him.
"John's death determined me that would
never buy or sell another slave, and | never
have" he said. Before James death was
| an advocate of the freedom of the south.
But after the death of James did not care
what became of the south do not care
to see the world" he said. "No one comes,
if by chance they do, they shall have my
welcome. | am content as | am. The
world gets on, | suppose, but how, or in
what way, do not care. take no papers,
have no mail, communicate with no one.
We make our own sugar, -four and meal ;
raise our meat, grain and fruit. take no
interest in our government, and neither
know nor care who is governor Of Alabama
or president of the confederate States of
America. do no trading my goods and
slaves that have satisfy me. In more than
twenty years | have not bought nor sold
NuiiSs hcHi u ioA vi pms w u SidNt
81 beg Your pardon, Mr.. Wlltsie," said,
"hut do you not know the history of the last
twenty years ?" IL know not and care less ="
was the answer. Il hope you do not pro-
pose to enlighten me. If you do, as mat
ter of pity to me, will excuse YOU. do
not care to know. The histories Of times
past that read are just the same as that IF
times recent-namcs, dates and places being
changed
"But surely YOU know the result of the re-
belion ?" lie struck the table with his
clenched fist, exclaiming excitedly, II tell
you once more that do not know what has
been done. and do not care -
Il see that you suppose that the secession
was successful ?" 'Suppcse it have
never thought" he replied. "A well-made
scheme is always successful. Though little
! care for citizenship, | am proud to be a
citizen Of the Confederate States
Why | said, "do you not know that the
civil war resulted in suppression Of the re-
bellion? The secession was a failure" The
man glared at me and said nothing.
"lou spoke of slaves | continued
You do not pretend TO own slaves now, do
you?" He glared more tiercely. and did not
answer.
There are no slaves in America | con
;inued. Every slave in the South is free
person !" Still he glared, and then he
hssed
Are you from New York ?" Il am from
Massachusetts, answered.
"Iou are a fool" he said "When Sam
came home at midnight saving tha; crazy
man had met him in the bottom lands,
l,,... ~. -
you last night because he saw YOU were era
zy. But thought then and know now that
you are a northern sorehead. You have
come here TO amuse me with lies
Keeping my temper as well as | could.
looked him squarely in the face. Mr.
Wiltsie," | said, "let me ask YOU question.
Will you answer directly? ?' "WeI." he
said sharply. ado YOU not know that Ala
bama is still member Of the Union. as it
was before it seeded? And do YOU not know
that slavery is abolished ?" After abusing
and cursing me. he gave me most emphat-
ic NO"
There were four or FIVE hours from the
time OF my arrival until was shown to INV
room and in that time | tried as well as
could to convince my host that | had told
that which was true. But in vain were mv
efforts. The old man was positive that he
was right, and confident that | was a liar
We had supper, and at o'clock he called
his "slaves" into the house and read PRAYERS
There were nine negroes. three men and
four women who were gray headed. and
girl in her teens and little boy. They sat
with bowed heads, and after the reading
went out. Then Mr. WiItsie signifed that
had better retire, and one OF the women
took tallow candle and conducted me to a
chamber. When my sable escort withdrew
she bolted the chamber door. The two win
dows had already been nailed up.
Al o'clock the next morning | was let
out of my prison, and sat at the masters
frugal breakfast Immediately after He was
very uncommuncativc and when the meal
was over, before he had luns for sam"
to wheel out his chair, he said to me
''Good-by You can be off as soon as YOU
may please :" said ''Good-hy !" and oEe
Of the servants showed me out. Ny horse
was at the door. and when rode OFT il was
in the opposite direction from which had
come the night previous After two DAYS of
hard riding arrived at Delhi plantation,
near Greenvile, not having seen person
since leaving Mr.. Wiltsle's Not at all to
my surprise, found that the hermit plan
ters nearest neishbors forty miles from HIM
did not know Of his existence, or that there
vas plantation on the Bottoms road
"Old Tecumseh."