The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-29

under his changed circumstances, oCl
hearts almost broke. II was hard
enough for the field laborers to 60, but to
give up our maids and house servants
was more than we could think of. It is
difficult for people accustomed to hire
lings to realize the affection in which we
held this class of friends. Why, they
know ali the ''inner workings" of "their
family" and our old mamulies would feel
all q Virginian's pride in telling your
genealogy in all its ramifcations. Many
skeleton has been closeted in their
faithful breasts, and in our deepest
sorrows no distance could separate them
from the children" as they always per.
sisted in calling even the hoary heads
they had watched over in infancy.
Well, the hour arrived, and the heads of
the colored families we're seen coming up
from the Quarters" leading the children
by the hand. After they had all
assembled, father went in and told them
of their liberation.
"You all know" he said, Chat I have
done what I could for you all through
your lives. These last years have taken
much from me, and I cannot afford to
keep you all, nor do / expect all of you
will wish to stay, but cannot drive any
of my old servants from their home, and
those who care to stay with US will meet
with the same treatment they have ever
received at our hands"
SERVANTS LoATH TO LEAVE THEIR OLD
MASTER.
Within "the house" there was the
keenest anxiety about certain servants to
whom we were especially attached.
When father came in, saying, Edwin,
in the name of his family, desired to cast
in his lot with ours," there was universal
rejoicing, for of all our attaches we loved
them best. There were hot tears shed
that day, not in sorrow, but gratitude,
for surely, to a God. fearing master, this
proof of changeless affection, at time
when low, debased "carpet-baggers" were
filling our land and firing the darkey
heart against their old masters, was more
than words could tell. So all of our
best servants staid with US. Those who
left we were better without.
"Uncle George Jones" came in to make
excuses to "Mars Jeems" for his leaving,
saying his wife had been such an invalid
for years, and 80 much expense that she
really would give more trouble than help,
so he was going to Richmond to seek
employment and let "Jane" rest; but
we soon after heard "Mrs. George Wash.
inqton Jones" was cooking at hotel in
Farmville for seventy boarders. Who
will venture to assert that freedom is not
the best medicine in the world-taken
moderately ..x :,
Uncle Ammon said, if "AIars Jeems"
would jes len him a mule, and let him
20 to the Surrender, and pick up some Of
dem lettings of the Yankees, he would
come back and work. So he bestrode a
mule, and was gone two days. When he
returned we ran out to inquire into his
luck, and found no change in his outward
grandeur but pair of enormous brass
spurs, seeing which my brother called
out, "Hello, Uncle Ammon, what are
you going to do with those spurs 2"
Seating himself sideways on the mule,
Uncle AS face assumed most impor-
tant expression, as he replied: "You
see, Mars Lonza, de Yankees is gwine to
give us forty acres of Ian en- mule;
some of dem niggers down dar spent all
der time picking up trash, but you see.
sir, my head want in no wise turned. l
ies got me all dis harness you see hear
behind, an desc hear spurs for Sunday,
and come long home-dcn when Igit my
Ian, an mule, I'll be jes ready to 'sot up"
The other. day saw Uncle Ammon,
old and gray, carrying up coal into
house on Main street in Lynchburg. lie
had no appearance of having 'ridden on
the high places of the earth."
Thus closeth the "Book of the War;"
but the years that come after are more
replete with tragedy, with heart-stirring
sorrows, with "hope deferred that maketh
the heart sick" with battles fought by
women, with hardship, misfortune and
distress, than ever stirred the pages of
any "History of the War;"