The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-13

Tho strains OF Jim's improvised song
were followed by the music Of old familiar
plantation fongs, IN which mother and son
and hall dozen other slaves on the place
Joined with zcst. When the three fat
'pOssuns were dressed they were hung out
in the frost to freeze, and round after
rOuni OF negro melody filled the little
cabin, and each black man and woman Oh
the place followed the time honored Gus
tom Of singing the old year out and the
new year in.
The sands OF new day and new year
had struck, with silver wand, the old
year, when the black people on the kilmer
estate ceased their irolics and the old plan
tation went to sleep.
The gray Of new morning lifted its
tIeccy veil TO show mankind perfect New
Years. The sun arose beautifully and tem'
perCd slightly the keen, fresh, bracing air
Of midwinter. With the earliest rays OF
liVht the leader and favorite nrgro OF the
Tnscaroru WIS ustiT greeting the other
slaves with "llHppy New Year" and
waking the white people with the tones Of
his CHEEKY voice. lleRttGnded carefully TO
his duties abOut the place, and neither by
look, word, or net gave any evidence oil his
intention to quit the old place forever after
he had spent the last day Of the holiday
time among those he loved. II he saw
further than his simple desire for free
dom he doubtless concluded that 1t
ww best 10 follow his inspiration
before tho masters rules were
70 established and he would have 10 have
his permission to leave the plantation At
night. His secret had been contided only
TO his mother and Fauny-the iavOrite
woman slave on the plantation. They were
10 prepare what few things he could take
with him in his flight. They did 1t in the
morning 50 that the pleasures Of the day
might not be marred by thoughts Of his
leaving. After the duties Of the morning
were over both the whites and the blacks
entered into the iroiCs OF the day. Mr.
Eilper was good liver and good master,
md there vas no lack Of choice things for
nil hands. The iun and the frOlic OF that
day On the KiInrr estate we're attn
finale 10 tho week Of pleasure that had
nude the old place ring with its noisy pas
times.
While the family was enjoying their New
| Years turkey in the beautiful dining room
OF tho spacious house, the negroes had
THAR nos sum repast In the largest outbuild'
| ipV on the place that could DO warmed.
All the delicacies so indispensable 10 holt
day time were added to their ample dish
Of fposun, and when the twenty little and
biz negroes sSt down to their dinner a grin
Of delight spread oyer every lace at the
bounteSus dishes OF everything 10 make q
slaves heart glad that greeted their eyes.
The huge pile OF 'pnGsum appealed to each
OF their hearts, and % they sat down they
ali Joined ia rollicEiDg song
See dat dish Of 'pOSum meat,
HmOkln' hot! smOkin' hot
DS only thing nlEgeT ougnleftAI,
Bmoiin hO,l smOkln' hpt
| Oars sWrel tAtcts with u TOO,
hmOkIn' hotl Sm0kIn hol
And apple AaN and tImmop Sew
smokln' hot EnOEln' hot
When No ri. dinner on New Years Day,
Smokin' hot IN kin, hot
with 'b1lsum meat aud iAtenHSett,
Smnkin' hot hInoEin' hot
II ucklrS . nlGgUG clear 10 his toef,
sTnEin' hot smOkIn' hot
USTSEei him forget all mis- Wots,
snOfIn' hOI! 1HioEin' hot.
The dinner over, nimble hands cleartt
, away The table, and Jim took bis old banjo
; rom the wall, and i9E a tine played Wilt