The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-27


called out my mothers ringing tones.
''He goes not with you out Of my pres
ence."
"tGit up, nigger," he said, raising the
heavy handle of his whip as if to strike
our Ben over the head, for he was pull
ing back with all his mighty strength.
1.Strike him, if you dare!h' again my
mother cried. .'Your gum, my son!'
Her eyes were blazing, for her Southern
blood "a on the alert to-resent any in
dignity toward herself, or wrong to her
faithful servant.
81 have my gun, mother, and it is
loaded with buckshot."
"Then protect that negro's back with
your life, if need be, and 1, your mother,
will stand at your side"
While my eldest brother, a youth of
sixteen, took deadly aim with his gun,
the younger brother cut the rope from
Ben's hands.
Muttering profane menaces, the over
seers rode out of the yard. Our Ben
looked terthem, a broad smile stretch
ing his lips, and a humorous twinkle in
his eyes.
"You must be careful, Ben, or your
night wanderings will cost you dear.
Were you not afraidp"
"Not much, arter 1 gets in our field.
Dey knowed dey better not hurt me.
Spec dey's afeared of marster."
He walked with a~swinging gait away
through the moonlight, and our mother
stood looking after him with serious
thoughtfulness in her face.
always be kind and considerate of
him, boys" she said, s.for during all
those earlier and most toilsome years
on this plantation-now grown to so
goodly a home-his strong arms and
willing hands never failed us. Age and
toll will tell upon his vigorous consti-
tuition; then take care of him."
Uncle Ben was more careful IN his
stolen visits to Dulcy, and though he
continued to court throughout the
summer, was apprehended. My
father sympathized with him in his love
affair, and offered to purchase her, but
her owner refused to sell her. Chance,
however, and his wonderful strength,
at last o from Mr.. - a ready con-
sent that he should marry her. To-
getner with his other accomplishments,
Ben could swim remarkably well, and
he happened n day to be crossing the
4OAAJ q N4S I'LL LII L July 3
master, his wagondrawn by a fine team
of mules, and with a negro driver.
The team became unmanageable, and
into the water. Through the endeavor
of Ben, almost unaided, both team and
driver were rescued. Then and there
Mr.. - showed his gratitude by ex-
pressing regret for hisformer ill-usage,
and giving him leave to marry Duley.
Thus Ben, after a long bachelor life,
became a Benedict. So the years
passed, and his vigorous frame began
to show marks of giving way. He
walked with a stick, and his hip
was drawn out of shape by rheu-
matism. He hated, to stand aside for the
younger hands of the plantation, and
would still often offer to test them with
some feat of strength. But he now
came and went as he chose, having no
particular occupation except calling
up and feeding hogs once a day. To
perform this duty, he rode upon a gentle
old mule, for his pig-pen was at the
edge of the low grounds, mor than a
mile from home. Still poor Uncle Ben
was accustomed to lament his slave
condition and long for freedom, which
he always believed would come at last.
In vain we told him that he was more
free than my father, who was oppressed
with cares for all. He would shake his
head lugubriously, and remind us of the
fact that, life being uncertain, my ia
theirs death might occur at any time,
when all was doubtful in regard to his
next owner. Sometimes he would
point across the fields to the home of
his wife and children, thus reminding
us that they, though owned by a most
humane man, was nevertheless followed
by ignorant, often brutal, overseers.
These talks with Uncle Ben, not yery
frequent, nor yet of many words, caused
many a discussion among us, who were
born to the ownership of slaves, and
bred upon the plantation amid the
working of the system. We would
sometimes declare ourselves ready to
throw up our own responsibility, only to
be recalled by the questions of manner
and means five sold ont Dur interest,
it would be onlyto place these slaves,
for whom we had attachments, under
new owners. who could have none of
the attachments of long associations.
We did not feel rich enough in this
worlds goods to furnish them means to
reach a free State, and lose, without
indemnity, their moneys worth; and
we used to have our doubts whether or
not the many philanthropists, in our
situation, would not have ceased
preaching long enough to ask them
selves these questions.
After my fathers death there came a.
day when his property was appraised.
Several of u neighbors and friends
were sitting in the rea verandah, when
obeying a summons the negroes came
from the quarter, the youngest to the
oldest, and grouped themselves under
the trees standing near the door. Look
ing out of the dining-room window I
watched this point of law, new and not
understood by me. L remember now;
as though it W yesterday, how shocked
l felt when those, to whom it was duty,
began to look at, question and APP
praise Elsie, Emma, etc., all my early
playmates. remember how ashamed
they dropped their heads, and how in
sympathy with them my cheeks and
brow were aiame. I was glad that
Uncle Ben hobbled by just then, lean
ing heavily upon his stick, creating a
diversion by calling attention to HIM
self. He did not put, himself in group
with any others, but came Immediately
to the steps muttering as he walked:
'Can't 'praisement me. I'm a man.
No, I'm not gwine to stop. I won't
have 'praisement. L shan't be told
what I'm worth. I'm a man"
My mother was standing in the door,
and hearing him called out: THAT is
right, Ben; come into the dining
room. Your worth cannot be measured
by gold, and no one shall attempt to
do it."
l moved forward a chair, and Uncle
Ben sinking his face in his hands, his
hands upon the end of his stick, sat
muttering unintelligible words, amidst
which l often heard the sentence, s.I'm
a man; de ole man said so onst."
When the hubbub was over and the
life. on the plantation had settled in It's