Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1888-02-18
BOWED DOWN BY YEARS.
The Honest Life and Pathetic Death
of Good Old Uncle Jake.
From the Detroit Free Press.l

and true son of Africa, yet q grand
and knightly soul animated that dusky
breasts soul that many scion of the
blood royal might envy.
The children loved him, the neigh
bors respected him, his OWL color looked
up to him as to n superior being, and they,
whose goods and chattels he had former
ly been, were sure to need his cOunsels
in all important family matters. Aye,
he had an honorable record. II his skin
was black, his soul was white as the
whitest, and from lusty boyhood to the
present there had been 10 need OF
"stripes" for Uncle Jake.
He had been the playmate of "young
marstcr," the boon companion in all
'possum hunts and fishing frolics, and
when each had arrived Mt mans estate
the good fellowship contracted in youth
| knew no surceaSe.
When the tocsin of war resounded
through the South and the call for vol
unteers was made, "marster" was one
of the first to buckle on his armOr and
hasten to the front-doing SO with great
er heart as Uncle Jake was left in charge
of those dearer than life to him.
And royalty did the poor unlettered
African fulfil the trust committed to his
keeping. He took upon himself the
burden of all plantation matters. and
I sooner than one hair on the heads Of
''missus or chillun' should be injured.
| he would have sacrificed his life freely
any day. And when the war was over
positively refused to join in the hegira
of his brethren, preferring rather to live
Oh the same ola place that had wit
messed his birth and the strength of his
manhood's prime.
In grateful recognition of his long ser
yitude comfortable cottage was built
for him in secluded nook of the plan
tation, in which, with his faithful old
wife, he lived a peaceful and content
ed life, tilling the few acres which had
been granted him, and doing all sorts
of odd jobs out of the pure love he bore
old marse.
But Uncle Jake was getting old now
more and more heavily the weight of
years fell upon him-thc winter grew
his locks, until at last the time came
when he could no longer pursue his &C
customed duties, and all reluctant and
unwilling he took to his bed never to
rise again.
For weeks and months he fingered on
the Border Land" attended by loving
hands, and his slightest wish was graft
fed; indeed, so long he lowered between
life and death that those who loved him
best began to cherish faint hope that
he would be spared to them.
But the fiat had gone forth-Uncle
Jake must die.
One evening, just as the setting sun
was flooding the fair landscape with his
golden beams, "A fearful group were assem-
bled at his bedside, who had been hastily
summoned thither to bid farewell to one
who had been so true a friend to them
all.
No sound was heard save q half-sup
pressed sob now and then-the tick tick
Of the clock on the rude mantel and the
labored breathing of the dying man.
For hours he had lain in sort of stu
pOr, broken only at intervals by deliriods
mutterings, when suddenly his ewes, in
which was a preternatural brightness.
opened and fixed themselves long and
earnestly in turn upon each one of the
faces bent SO sorrowfully over him.
Then in a feeble, fiuttering voice, like
the last effort of an expiring taper, he
addressed his master, who was tenderly
wiping the moisture from his brow:
"Ole marse, Use been good and faith
full servant to yer all desc years, has 1
not"
"Yes, Jake
"Ebber since we was boys togedder
Use lubed yer and stuck to yer through
thick and thin, and now dat Jake is
goln' home yer doan treasure up nothin'
agin me, do yer, marsel'
''No, no, Jake"
"Ole missus, come nearer, honey.
Jake's eyes is gittin' mighty dim now,
and he kant see yer. Yer'll never forgit |
how Jake TUX keer of yer an de chilluns
when ole marster gone to de war? An
yerll be kind 20 my wife ond chilluns for
my sake, won't yer?"
eyes, yes, Jake, I'll be kind to them.
and will never forget your fidelity, old
friend"
"T'ank de Lawd! kin die happy now.
when Use know dat yer an marster will |
member me an he kind to dem Use |
leaving behind. An de chillun-whar's
de chillun! Use wants ter tell 'em all |
goodby an say las few words to dem,
too"
And in his eagerness, with strength
born of death, the old man half arose
upon his elbow and laid trembling
hand upon the head of each of the awe
struck children.
''God bless yer, clillun, one an all.
1 lubs my own little picaninnies, but I
lubs ole marster's jes' as well. | doan'
want none o yer to forgit how Uncle
Jake has trotted yer on his knee an
toted yer on his back an KEEP watchful
eye on yer, les yer git into mischief bv
yer pranks. Promise me. chillun. dat
you II nebber forgit desc tings. 1t pleas
es Uncle Jake to think yer'll member
HIM arter he's gone from yer sight for
eber."
As well as they were able for their
tears the little ones gave the required
promise, and, greatly pleased, the old
man sank back exhausted upon his
pillow.
After lying few moments with closed
Eyes, as If in sleep, he suddenly whis-
Dered:
"Dinah, whar' is your l wants yer ter
'um closer ter me, honey, an put yer
rms around my neck an Law yer cheek
er mine like yer used ter do when we
vas courtin' down in de huckleberry
'atch. l wants ter die in yer arms, ole
wife. Yer is black, an de white folks
nought not be able ter see any booty in
'er, but Jake knows what true an low
n wife you Sc bin ter him an he kin see
lie booty dat's hidden out O. sight. Use