The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-02-07
Written Specially for THE SENTINEL
PROF. j. H- MARsHALL-

moment the Colonel Was staggered
but recovering himself Immediately he
vindicated his high title as an author
ity on things spiritual.
swell you see Marster," he began,
as he attempted to smooth down one ol
the ten standard ruffled spots upon
the crown of his old wrinkled and
dilapidated beaver, "you see wifi you
hits diffrunt What's 'ligion fur mig
gers amt 'bleeged to be 'ligion fur
white folks, an what's 'ligion fur white
folks aint always 'ligion, fur niggers.
sides dat de good book lows as how
de pra'rs NV er rigntious man walls
much, an you is 'membered constant
in my pra'rs Boss, membered con-
stant." did not say that objected
to my chance of heaven depending so
largely upon the continuance of the
Colonei's good will, so the subject was
dropped. When the interview was at
an end he signifed to me that in con-
sideration of the old and friendly rela-
tions existing between our families he
would deem it his duty to accept with
gratitude and humility any small
change my pockets might chance to
contain. Diligent search developing
perfectly satisfactory results to the
Colonel, he made me an obeisance of
which a dancing master might justly
have been proud, assured me he would
continue to pray for the eternal wei
fare of my soul, and marched of
down the road with martial stride
which would not have disgraced the
most dandified scion of West Point
culture.
Such is a faithful report of my last
interview with David Lane, self COM
missioned Colonel in Rosser's brigade
and detailed as body servant to myself
throughout the late war. This title is
David's pet vanity he is exceedingly
vain of it, and any one who will bestow
1t upon him in conversation is immedi-
ately admitted to the inner precincts
Of his friendship, and is further honor
ed by the promise of special mention
in the potent supplications which he is
supposed to offer up nightly to the
Most High God Of the Old Thumb
Run Baptist Church.
David and myself had, grown up to-
gether. NV senior by half dozen
years or so, to him had been delegated
the thankless duty of becoming my
sponsor when, to my great joy, l was
fist emancipated from the tyranical
rule of my old black nanny. This
difference in age had not prevented
David from entering heartily into all
the joys of my more childish pursuits.
Before it was deemed expedient to
trust me entirely to his charge, we did
some fancy farming together in the
narrow compass of the sanded walk
before the cabin-door, dividing of
our farms with lilac-w witch fences and
cultivating our fields with rusty nails
or sharpened sticks. If our agricul.
turaf ventures were not so extensive
as those of some fancy farmers of the
present day, they were quite as sue
cessful, for they afforded us great
amusement. Afterwards David ini
tiated me into all of the thousand and
one sports which make up boys life
in the country 1t was he who taught
me how to set snares for the willy rab-
bit, and later when / myself had be-
come an adept in that occult art he
pointed out to me the. choice haunts of
the game. was ALWAYS very grateful
for his advice, Notwithstanding the
fact that whenever hares were
shared it was in David's traps and not
in mine. In the first blush of my
anger on these occasions / remember
that / sometimes limited that this lack
of success on my part was due more to
the fact that David had always been
to his. .snares and back before was up
in the morning than to any want Of
skill on my part. But there, I don'l
wish to say anything against the Col
onel, and am willing for by-gones te
be by cones. guess there are fan
worse men who hold much higher off
ces in life, end much more dishones
ones, who never took the rabbits caught
in other folks suares.
So when we had grown up to man.
hood, and the war came on, I Joined
Rosser's cavalry and David went with
me to the army, following me to tht
end. His good nature and ready wi
soon gained him great popularity with
the c,mpany, DAvid,s sayings AM
David's prank's forming q frequent
topic of conversation around the camp
| fire with men and officers. I had en-
tered the ranks as private, so a
long as was private David wa
content to be private too; but wher
/ rose by successive stages to be Col
ouel, David rose with me. Captain
Major, Colonel, he called himself a
the titles were conferred upon me, ant
such was his popularity that this whin
of his was humored by every .,ne, b.
finally being known throughout til,
whole brigade as Colonel David Lane
I have even heard Gen. Rosser himsel
greet him in the morning with s.well
Colonel, how is the weather outside,
or s.what news do you bring us to-d day
Colonel" the Colonel replying in hi
most stately manner.
But David's reputation as q wi
reached its height On that famous re
trest from Getty ysbdrg.
Gcn. Hampton Was bringing III
Less rear, and Roneer Wns loGistinI
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