The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
CHARACTER MILUM.
No dates, no epitaph.
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No dates, no epitaph.
Even the name is not his own.
Somehow or other that rude grave tells its
own story. Character was n slave, and died
slave simple humble and honest. Then, too,
there is a something about the grave that tells
more than this The neglected marble,
brownstained and crumbling, the wind mourn
ing through tho pine trees, tho gurging OF tho
wator-there is something that tells you TOO
late FOO latel'
How mournful and desolate it isl
No; Characters real name was Ephraim
Mium. Nobody knew that, though, and even
II they had they would have marked his grave
iust as they did They had known him as
Character since the Oldest OF them could re-
member.
Character belonged to the Miller Milum,
and before that he had belonged to the millers
father. That was years and years ago, though,
for the miller himself was getting old. The
negro had grown old In sight OF the little house
on the hill lie had known two masters but
the two were father and son. and, as the coun-
try people phrased II, alike as two peas.
Both had been dwarfs in stature and both had
been iaisers. Both had been petulant and
Grabbed Ia disposition, and both had been
millers.
His first masters wife was dead before Char
actor could remember. He remembered his
second masters wife very distinctly, but she
bad died young People say she died broken
hearted and Character remembered how she
used TO cry softly TO herself whom the miller
was down nj tho mill and she was left alone.
After she died the millers sister came, and
since that time she had been mistress Of that
childless, cherries home.
So they had all grown old together. Charac-
ter never complained. Why should hop Ho
knew no other life, and he toied as content
edly as he breathed. lilo never heard q kind
Word but IL had been that way as long rs he
Gould remember, and he was never disappointed
Of kindness or praise, for he expected none.
The mill was two miles from Shiloh, and
lonely place 10 was Few people came, and
those who did come stopped only SO long as
was necessary. Old Character very rarely saw
any 81 these only on rainy days when no
could do no good working in the fields. To
Shiloh the old negro had been but twice in his
life. He was content to be at homo.
One morning In 1857 tho miller started to
Shiloh with n suspicious looking bag, n heavy
bag, securely held under one arm. There was
an excited look on his face that was seldom
seen there, aud Character knew very well that
something unusual was being done. Miss
Katherine, the mllcr's sister, stood Mt the gate
and watched the little old miller as he trudged
down the path from tho house to tho road.
When Character came homo that evening
there was strange negro Mt the house. He
could scarcely believe his eyes, but then
there was Miss Katherine, aud tho miller. He
stared very hard, indeed, and while he was
still staring the miller called him.
"Nes. mGrster."
new niger ame blJan, SAID tho miller,
In his quick, jerky fashion. "Two niggers
now. Go fix supper"
Character moved off dumbfounded. 1t was
the first change that his life had known In
forty years, and changes like that are hard to
realize.
It was hard for the miller to realize, too
He had paid the savings and scrapings of
years for the negro He had been dreaming
about 1t for long time, and now the dream was
realized
katherine" he would say, 1.-TWO niggers
now"
ayes" his sister would reply
lots Of folks got only two niggors."
"Nes."
'Nico folks-'spectablo folks-koep two
niggers''
Eyes"
So some how or other they thought more Of
Biiah than they did Of Character. Biiah was
younger and Showed off better" rs the miller
said and then Bijah really had more sense,
Too, The older negro was quick to appreciate
this, hut in his humble fashion he reasoned
that IL couldn't be helped, and no went on just
rs usual.
a week or two after Bijah was bought a
customer came 90 the mill. The miller had
been waiting for this,
"Mornm'." he nodded,
"Good morning"
"Got two nicgers now" said the miller.
$50 heard, " laughed the farmer. "What
on earth do you want with another niggor?"
The question her nettled the old man.
"Me?" he said sharply "'nothor nicgcrP
bout the house"
The farmer glanced up at the Eve little
Bhantios on the hill, and his eyes fairly
twinkled with amusement,
$50 ole Character goes to the house oh 2"
Not other niger
look here said the other. becoming in
terestod, 'you don't mean 70 say that after
chat old Niger has been toilng for you for fifty
years, you are going TO keep him in the field
and keep that other niger at the house?"
The miller was becoming embarrassed-he
was embarrassed. He only shook his head
as II 10 intimate that Character was a very
bad negro. and then throw his farmers sack
across his shoulder and carried il into tho
mill.
lie was disappointed. He had two negroes
there was no disoounting that, aud There were
lots OF respectable people that didn't have hut
two negroes. All that was truo enough, but
the miller felt that in the eyes Of other neonle
he WAS Just what no used TO be. He was dis
Character worked harder than ever. uo
was getting old to-
Wonderful rulnors came from shiloh. Grcnt
speeches were made, and the shiloh GRAY
Rifles drilled every day now Then tho war
came, aud Tie Gray Rifles went 10 Virginia
All OF that made little difference AZ the mill.
except that customers became scarccr than
ever, ana ihe cd miller moro peeyish and pet
Then later ON ,hc hattie Of Atlanta was
fought, and thcn ,le battle 81 JonesNoro-o
10 the sea and shiloh ia ihcr path. The
news came that nNuiuc that the Yankees
were IN sight Of Shiloh. The old m,llof's face
Rrow " hite with tenor as le heard H.
my gold, my gola 10 ho moaned pitronsly.
Quickly the precious store was collected
Miss Katherine wrapped il in AZ old quilt and
called the negroes.
Take il away from the house." she said
"saisA' ioI the yankees aFs pel two milss 9Hfi