The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-03-29

/ humane man, was nevertheless followed
| by ignorant, often brutal. overseers.
! These talks with Uncle Ben, not very
frequent, noryet of many words, caused
many 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 sponsibility, only to
be recalled by the questions of manner
1 and means. If we sold ont our interest.
it would be only to 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 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 our neighbors and friends
were sitting in the rear verandah when
I obeylng a summons the negroes came
from the quarter, the youngest to the
Oldest, and grouped themselves under
this trees standing near the door Look
ing out of the dining-room window [
watched this point of law, new and not
understood by me. | remember now,
as though twas yesterday, how shocked
| | felt when those to whom it was duty,
began to look at, question and APP
praise Elsie, Emma, etc, all my early
i playnrsSstt es 4 remember how{ashamed
they dropped their heads, and how in
sympathy with them my cheeks and
brow were atlame. ] 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:
Cant praisement me. I'm man.
No, I'm not gwine to stop. | won't
have 'praisement. | shan't be told
) what I'm worth. I'm 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
5 by E E. and no one shall attempt to
moved forward a chair, and Uncle
, Ben sinking his face in his hands, his
, hands upon the end of his stick, sat
mutteging unintelligible words, amidst
which often heard the sentence, I'm
J man; de ole man said so onst."
When the hubbub was over and the
| life on the plantation had settled in It's
accustomed groove, recalled his words
and asked an explanation.
Didn't never tell yer?"
''Ne7er, Uncle Ben"
Twas long time ago, fore yer was
: born. / was young man, and like
! ~ niger as yer ever seed. De ole
man was gittin' ready to leave Callina
to cone out hyer-a wild'ness den
7 We used to hear a mighty heap Germ
ing discountry den, and not everything
l dat was good. | 'fess didn't want to
come, but when de ole man told me to
: hunt up somebody to buy me, 'fess /
didn't try bit. Fact was dis: Ioidn' t
; want to leave Callina and didn't want
toswap marsters But de ole man had
| his wagons packed. Mistis and de
childun were tellin' fren's good bye and
crying. A man. three oh EN-, come up
i to lie ole man and said: ''Cunnel, you'd
better put dat boy, Ben, in irons. We
don't b'leye he'll 90 wild yer" De ole
man. he wore spectacles den. looked over
his specs in,Squar Harper's face fur a
mint, it seemed to me, for | was
rite close to dem, but dey didn't see
me, and said dese same words; If |
have to take nah with me in irons,
he does not 90 INwill member dem
words long as | live. A little while
arter dat, de ole man called me and
give me his gun and shot end powder,
and said | could 90 cross the fields to
tell my folks goodbye, and he, stem on
ahead to have de camp fires ready when
de wagons got dar. When de wagons
got dar, l was dar and I'm here.
have stood by de ole man and he mt
! long as he was permitted.
But poor Uncle Ben died Just two
weeks before the surrender OF the
Southern army. We have talked il
over among us, and regretted that he
died before knowing that his freedom
was assured He had saved and put
together very nearly five hundred dol
lars in silver, which he left with my
mother for his children, and which
served as a nucleus, to which, by hon.
, esty and economy, his two sons have
, added quite an independent little for.
tune.--O. j. Dunn, IN Continent.