Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-05-16
TENNESSEE TOM.
BY NM. J. FLORENCE.


"How did you lose youl finger, Tom"
This was the question | put TO an aged
negro. as he made his mark" ON the
wages sheet one Saturday, when was
paying off the men in our principal dock
ward at Quebec. Tom had been at the
works for many years, ard become sort
off foreman TO a gang. He was sober
and faithful old fellow, and although he
had signed the book Saturday after Sat
urday for long time, | had never before
noticed that the forefinger of his righ
hand was missing.
"Wen, massa, will tell you all about
it some day. 1t is long and cruel story
sab. | didn't kno' We noticed it, sab. |
kinder try to hide it; for it Almost kills
me when anyone alludes to ii, sah.' And
as the poor old fellow took his weeks
wages, and shuffled of, great tears rolled
down his cheeks,
A few days later, found Tom on the
wharf, sitting in the shade OF some bales
of cotton. The men had finished their
dinner, and Tom was taking his custom
ary half hour rest.
"How are you to-day, Tom?" l inquir-
ed. as the old fellow rose to his feet TO sa-
lutte Inc.
"Pooty well, massa, .thankee, but |
can't stand the work used to, sah."
Remember, Tom," said [, you prom
ised to tell me how you lost your finger.
Come away from the cotton, and we'll
have a pipe under the shed yondcr,
where we wont be disturbed"
led the way, and Tom followed, load
ing his pipe. Oncefn the shed he said:
"You see, messa, | was born slave in
Tennessee. OATS why dey call Inc Ten
nessee Tom.' But how desc ere Canucks
(Canadians) eber knew | was from Ten
nessee is mo- dan | can tell. | was born
on plantation. My fader was black
smith, and when was little piccaniHy,
| used to blow de bellus for him, so dat
when grew up was put to de forge.
When de ole man died, was promoted
to his place, and | was a mighty good
smith, too, sab. You see, de blacksmith
on the plantation has lois OBJ work to do.
mending plOws, wagons, farm tools, and
all dat. Besides, sab, Gey allus hab a
cabin near de big house. and get from de
massa a good many faTors dat de COM
mon niggas don't get, sab. Well, was
great favorite wild ebery one on de
plantation, and most OBJ all wild de ole
massa; and was a handsome, strong boy
too, san. Well. dere was pooty bright
mulatto gal at ae big house. She was a
servant and waited on Miss Flo, de
massa's favOrite daughter, and somehow
We used to NEE ebery time | went up to
de big house. We soon grew fond of
each oder. and one day l asked old
EIassa to glib Ida to me for my wife.
"Wel,. sab, we was married plantation
fashion by a negro pa'son-a fellow slave
can tell you | was happy man den,
sab. De next year and half was de
sunshine oh my life, sab. Ida was de
best wife in de world, and we had do
poO,iest little twins dat you eber saw,
called Joe and Tom. Dey was de cutest
little tings on de old plantation, and dey
used to crawl round de cabin door. while
watched dem from de forge opposite
You see. sab. my wife's duties took bel
to de Zig house. so dat myself and an ole
NANNY had TO watch dem babies mos
ob de time.
"Tings went on all right. sab, till on,
day Ida told me dat Miss Flo was goin
to be married to agentlemap from Cuba
We had seen dis gentleman from time L
time visiting massas family. He was {
cross proud fellow and none of us like
him. so dat when Ida told me OBJ d,
marriage, felt as if something was goin
wrong And, sure enough, it did g
wrong, sab.
a short time after Miss Flo's mar
riage ole massa died. and den all wa
crying and sorrowing on de plantation
De property passed over to Miss Flo, ant
her Cuban husband commenced 10 tax,
hold OBJ de management. He made u
work twice as hard as We had cher don,
before. He put new oberseers on d.
place, and built large calaboose (iail
for de wicked niggas,' as he called us
Dis calaboose was a large stone hous
w1d four cells, lighted from de top, an
II had large iron door. Our new mass
was de most wicked man ever dId see
Ee hated US all. and used 70 kick, bea
and prison de slaves on de smallest ey
cnse.
SDen nv dsrlinA Joe grew sick. and d
Door little fellow began 10 fail. Ida ha
her work TO attend TO at de big house, s
l I'D TO run ober from de Jorge 70 ten
lie bapv. In dat way lot deal ,
time. bat III love my babies 50 mUc
dat nay heart was Almost bruke to Sc
one ob den droopin- day by day Liltl
Ton seemed to know Ills brpder va
sick, tor he wyuld crawl over t, Ie he
on tne tlooT, Law his inv baud on Jo,
iacp. ID IN bls BABY wav say, Poor htI
Joe / tell you, cat was mighty bard
beIc, massa.