New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-24
BEFO' THE WAH.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE EASTERN SHORE.
COLONEL xYARrAH's STRANGE ExpERiENcE-sro-
RIrs OF SLAVERY.

COLONEL KYARTAH's STRANGE yxPERiENCh-Sio-
RIrs OF SLAVERY.
On Tho Pocomoke, Md, Juno o3.-To man VINO
has been rasedn the Eastern Shore, as tna' reh'
rolling Southern country is called locked III w 'no
Delaware and tho Chesapeake, no spot on THIS Droaa
earth seems half so fair sun so brght anu warn,
as the sun that shines upon ITS peach orcharus anu
lts pine thickets no atmosphere so sweet ana ispir
ing as that perfumed by its groves OF sassaras anu
magnolia in no other cline, among nv o'
people can he ever feel all at home hho'uo' VI
accident may lead him elsewhere 10 i've pu' "o'o
where the corn tassels soonest where INC piano"
runs dearest where the holly rlpens reaiost-nero
Is where he wants to die. The cypress win hoeu no
bidding to mourn above his grave. All ABOUT MN
are tho emblems of life and resurrection All apou.
him Is NatuIc harmonious, peaceful, suggestive Vi
repose The pine tree tops, perpetuahy sieo"' go
Straight into u coudless shy The river runs Slowly
as IL It were in no hurry to leave the WI Sauy
bed the pebby shore, the messy rochs' 'no W.
arcbtng shade II laurel and willow and beech' aihs
which lies IFS cool and placid course. Robin and
bobolink thrush and orioe sing chccriy but soi'ly
IN the natblcss woods. No sound is loid "r harsh'
No movement Is restless or disturbing The leaves
rustle dreamy 1t is land Of tranquility ana con-
tentmen.. 49, ,.
have been wandering up and down the Eas'crii
Shore renewing friendships and reviewing scenes oil
too long neglected. Time has wrought us uisap
pointing changes here and there and things are not
inst as they were in slavery days. But the pohe
bread still preserves its old-time flavor anu INC
honey IS as golden as Of yore. The rail- FENCES sun
measure the miles along the country ROADS irom 'o"n
to town and The dusty blackberry vines, whence
procnred bushels of luscious berries and far moro
than INV neck Of dirt s.ill ovorrun them on either
side Of the sandy roads. still at twilight on inc
drowsy afr rises the melody OF darkey voices singing
the Same old strains:
Yves a marchn' away to Cany-ann's ian''
o, come an jne dc army;
hyGrs do moosc OBJ de ange-eila Dah'
o, conc an jine do army.
They are coming in from the helds whero 'hcy
have been planting ploughing grubblng or gam
erinr frult. and presently they will cluster In tho
darkey kitchen around the great huge fireplace
where they and their fathers before them for moro
than n hundred years have eaten corn cakes ana
spare ribs and where they have made merry 10 inc
music Of Jews harp and banjo night after nght ever
since they were born. 1t is the same ola h'ehcn'
darhoned with the smoke Of pine-knots ana hgh'-
woodn adorned with tins that shine Ike looh'ng-
glasses wherein the darkeys used to gather at Christ
mas Eve singing and dancing and telling quaint,
cbostly Stories the plckanninies all huddled togeher
almost on top Of another I'm corners the young
bucks dlsporting themselves CALAMITY III inc most
mysterious dances and tho old folks sittine around
on benches with their black faces extended In ono
glorious grin Of benignancy. This old kitchen Is
in the same old spot during the lives of five genera
lions. 1t is a low, spreadout house, easy 10 lose
yourself I'm, for each son Of each father, SINCE inc
first OF his race began life there in log cabin has
added a wing or two. 1t IS a type Of many other
old farm mansions the Eastern Shore, though Few
of them yot remain in the possession OF the families
that built them. The was even more cruel III
IFS effects upon the border States than upon those
further south. within a quarter Of a milo OF each
other upon the banks of the Pocomoke In Worcester
County, stand seven Of these huge, noble old farm
houses Only one OF them remains to-day IN Tho
hands OF the family that owned 1t before tho
war Old Uncle Nose, whose knky hair was turn
ing gray when was born told me about Them
"Dat were Colonel Glover's place, sab, dar whar
de hck'rIes grows. Dogs family name o Hayne
a-libin dab now, sah'
"Hayne What 1Iayne"
40, dey was ony jis foresters, sab, In slabery
days"
Foresersi Why, forestcrs were thought TO DO
the very scum OF the EARTH They were class OF
dead and alive people living in log huts back In the
woods squatters the Wild lands of rich planters
How in the world they got enough to Keep body
and soul together nobody ever knew. a forester
In Colonel Glover's house!