The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-10-03
written for the POST.
The Negro in the South.

The negro in the domestic econ
omy of the South has always been
recognized as occupying an impor-
tant place.
In ante-bellum days he was so in
terwoven into the life of the family
rs to be almost inseperable from it.
1t was Aunt Lucy who hushed the
cry of the first-born in the old man
sion, nursed and often nourished
him at her own breast. soothed his
COLES and aches, taught him his first
steps, his baby talk, and was even
more interested in it than his
mother in his childhood pranks
she was his constant companion
from baby-hood to master-hood :;
she loved the fair haired boy far
more than her own dusky offspring
and was it strange that ''mammy's"
Jolly black face received many child
caress Like a faithful spaniel, she
lived in the pleasure of her little
master, and received the tribute of
the masters affection
Again, the negro, initiative by
nature, and trained with care, alb
sorbed the helpful, courteous in
stincts of the plantation home, and
they, us servants, were models of
Chesterfield politeness. They al
ways bowed recognition to strang-
cr, who never failed to return the
courtesy. The need of master and
guest was answered without the
asking, and n soiourn at an old fami-
ly mansion, i'll slavery times, was n
continued surprise and pleasure
In intercourse among themselves,
the same manners were strictly OBJ
served, and rudeness among their
children was promptly and severely
punished by the parents.
Many are the stories told by the
old planters, with moist eyes, of the
faithfulness and affecting disinter-
estedncss of their servants, when
war and ruin stood at their doors,
and food for the morrow was ques-
tion of uncertainty.
Twenty-Five years have passed
away, but many of the old house
holds remain although the girls
and boys have scattered, the old
planter still sits with his silver-hair-
ed companion on the broad veranda,
or walks its length with uncertain
steps, broken, spiritless, waiting.
The painted columns by his side are
cracked and rusty, the holdings at
the capitals are half fallen, the bases
are worm-eaten and rotten the
walks and lawns are weed-grown,
the woodbine and creepers climb in
wayward luXuriance. while here and
there n rose bush struggles through
the unkept shrubbery. The old
oaks gnarled and storm broken look
down i'll sympathy upon master and
mansion.
The old servants are gone no
porter touches his hat Mt your ap-
proach or takes your horse as you
put foot to ground no dusky sibyl
interprets the masters hospitality
with smiling ease ere the porch il
reached no gardner hurries tc
place on your toilet table the fresh
fragrant bouquet. 1t is true, imam
my and uncle Joe may still sit il
the dool on the little cabin, crippled
with age, but the old times hav,
gone never to return, to master o.
servant. l doubt whether there i
to-day an old planter, howeve
broken III fortune by his loss, o
suddened by contrasting the presen
with the past, who would wish 70
one moment slavery restored. Lik
Il true patriot he now sees a futur
for his children and his dear South
land of the lost cause that coul
never have been realized under til
bhghting influence of human serv
tude.
The freedman, born and traine
in slavery, are still the servants {
old, faithful, Industrious, patieI
and helpful, On these old laborel
the farmers and painters are d,
pendent for the cultivation of the
land. They are hired by the yet
and can be depended on, general
receiving monthly stipend fro
so to Sl5 per month and rations,
Many of these laborers remain G
the same plantation six or eigl
ration IN Virginia, for each laborer. co
-lsts VI house rent, cOw-keep and garden pate
LLs lbs OF hnCnn ~ hnshels OF nnrn menl n