Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-05-28

"F0r thought .,, an angel sang, Let the child
With tender sigh the singer took the child upon
her knee:
'1sapg the words for the dear Lord Christ my
And SO f., the dear Lord Christ take thee home
1t was an angel sang !" sob. little Margery.
A SOUTHERN RIP VAN WINKLE,
On my way from Florida to Selma.
Ala, Whites correspondent of the New
York Tribune, determined to make q
part of my journey on horseback for the
benefit OF my health. Twas unacquainted
with the country, and so Was the clergy
man with whom I spent night soon
after started. However, he produced
an ancient map, and by its aid chose
the BOTTOMS road" from Andalusia to
Greenville, q distance of SO miles, &C.
cording to the same well-meaning guide.
1 had no idea that the stBottoms road"
was unused, until I had ridden per-
maps 70 miles and left the last cabin be-
bind me. But the weather was fine, and
L would not turn back. When the first
night came without the sight of habi.
tation, I tethered my horse, rolled N.Y.
self in blanket, and slept on the ground.
All the next day rode and saw not a
house nor human being. At 6 o'clock,
when / had already made up my mind
to spend another night in solitude, I
came upon roadside camp. fire, beside
which negro sat. Of all colored men
that have met, this one was the fat.
test. greasiest and happiest. He gave
me bow as stopped. "Good ebenin'
to you massa, he saluted. "Good evne-
ing" returned. 'Can you tell me
how far am from the nearest house?"
''It's pow'ful distance to waikiki the
fellow grinned. "And who lives there
when you get there?' I questioned, af-
ter vainly try ing to get the distance in
miles, or at least in length of time.
sole mars, he lib dar!" was the answer:
and further questioning elected the in
formation that cole mars" was another
name for Mars George Wiltsie, that I
was then on the border of his planta-
ton; that his residence was several
miles distant; that the negro was yclept
"Sam;" that he resided with ssole mars"
and that he "was down dis way 'splorin'
to see if dar couldn't be timber cut in
dis seckun." I was soon camping bv
his fire, with my horse feeding near by
on the grass.
In 10 minutes I made up my mind
that "Sam" was the most ignorant of
Africans. Could he tell me how far I
had travelled since the yesterday morn.
ing? He had no idea. How far to the
next turn Didn't know never heard of
a next turn. How far to the nearest
neighbor? Didn't 'spect that there was
any nearest neighbor now. Mars Pelton
used to be nearest, but his house was
burned these dozen years. After many
other questions, the answer to each
leaving me more and more convinced of
the creatures ignorance, he began to
praise Mr.. Wiltsie, concluding with:
''De bes' mas'r in Alabam'! Nebber
SEIZED any of US nigs for some while !"
"And you all continue living with him
the same as you did before you were
freed?" 'We amt freedw declared the
paragon OF Ignorance; and now came
to the conclusion that he was q fool
Out of all patience, fixed my bunk for
the night and placed my pistol at my
pillow. In the morning the negro was
not to be found, and I was more and
more convinced of his insanity, and had
him in mind as rode onward.
My third days journey-at least the
forenoon's part of twas not unlike the
first and second day. At 2 o'clock I
suddenly came upon field of corn by
the roadside. A little further on five or
SIX negroes were standing, among them
"Sam of the previous night. "Dats
himp I heard s'Sam" say as I an.
preached, and like the COWS and mules.
the negroes scampered. I went on to
the house. 1t was an old-fashioned
typical Southern house, that had evil
IDENTIFY seen better days. The main door
was of heavy carved oak, battered and
/ weather beaten, the knocker that I took
up was much worn.. It was 10 minutes
or more before my twice-repeated knock
had an answer. Then the door was
opened slowly by colored woman. A
nod OF the head answered my question as
to whether the master was at home. and
scarcely invited I went in. The woman
vanished, to appear again after q minute
with scared face. "Walk up. mas'rr'
she said, leading the way up the stairs
and through halls. 7 was ushered into
a large room fitted as a library. A gen.
tleman occupied an arm chair beside an
oriel window. His face was yellow, his
hair was long and white, and a heavy
grizzled beard hung over his breast. He
was man OF more than 20 years. with
remarkable blue eyes that flashed in q
defiant way as introduced myself. 81
cannot arise, SIR" he said, in lofty
tone. "Be seated, and tell me what YOU
have come here for" II would like To
remain with you all night" eyes, but
travellers never ONE through here. You
are the first traveler-the first whiteper.
son that has been here-that I have
seen-in more than 20 years. Why did
you Gomez" gave my reasons as we'll az
Icould, ''You must have lost your wayN'
the gentleman said, II never have visit
ore. The Bottom road is never used. y
''Then there is better road by which
you get out?" REMARKED. II never get
out" he answered. ''For 26 years ]
have been helpless paralytici' s.But
your servants / began. s'Never 20
from home" he finished. Then he went
on to say that lie needed no communities.
ton with the world and followed with
some particulars of himself and family.
The plantation of the Wiltsie family
had originally comprised section Of
5000 acres. It had been in the family
since the state was settled. The father
of the present owner had been politi-
clan of some eminence, and also q man
of wealth. He had left this one son.
who had married and inherited the e..
tate. After q few years Of happy life
the wife had died and two sons gladdened
the fathers heart. They were educated
as the sons Of Southern gentlemen are,
and came home from their graduation
twenty-three years ago. One John had
gone to New Orleans to purchase slaves.
and had been murdered there. The
other, James, bad in the following year
Unlisted in the Confederate army and
been stricken with malignant fever,
when in camp at Selma, and there had