Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-07
ONE OF THE OLD MASTERS.

OF a slow disease, and lay in the middle
ground, between the here and the here
after. awaiting his summons.
He had once been Sea Island nabob,
h.. was now pauper: all he and his wife
had To depend on was the.meager salary
of grandson, lad of Is. But, reduced
as he was, Mr.. Conner was never too
poor to lend a helping hand to any OF his
former slaves, who were old and feeble
like himself.
And now in his last illness three OF
them came to assist his wife in nursing
him. They were old Daddy lack. the
former coachman (whose carriage and
horses had long since vanished); lobe,
the chief butler, whose pantry had be-
come thing of the past. and old Maum
Dinah, the former cook, whose turtle
soup had once had coast wide reputa-
ton.
Maum Dinah, now Mrs Ragsdil. made
a precarious living at securing: and
Daddy lack, now Mr.. Zackery Rake
straw. vet more uncertain one, as a
vender of scrubbing brushes. lobe, now
Tobias Conner. was well to do citizen
and chief cook at the hotel. Neverthe-
nurse his old master. and between him
and the two old darkies deadly rivalry
ragged as to who should be nurse.
Worn out with watching, old Mrs. Con-
ner had gone to lie down, leaving the
patient in charge Of lobe. He was a tall,
very black man of 40. and some red
marks on his face made him look tattooed
and gave him fierce appearance.
The sick man was in mild delirium,
his mind wandering back quarter of a
century to the days Of his prosperity. He
talked necessarily. but received only
monosylable answers from lobe, who
was naturally taciturn. With some diff
Guilty he succeeded in lulling his patient
to sleep, when the door slowly creaked
open and old lack taking advantage of
his mistress absence, crept in in crying
shoes.
Who is that? asked the old man,
rousing up.
Me, sub, Sacir riah, subj said Mr..
Zachery Rakestraw. going back to his
piuIitullO!l name.
We'll. Zack. what is it: Have you at
tended to the horsesf'
Old Zack was speeches., till fierce
nod FROM lobe, who was his nephew,
made him mutter, Yes. sub
Where are the horses" asked Mr.
Conner. noticing the pantomime.
''Dey done gone. stammered old lack.
Tell 'em dey in the ya'd, you ole
fool" muttered the respectful nephew.
''Dey in de ya'd. suh,' repeated lack;
de stable ya'd, mean"
Saddle Mazeppa and bring him round
for me to ride, and lobe. help me on
with my clothes" He struggled to rise.
but lobe gently laid him back upon the
pillow.
Not today, niausser; you ent well
nutf VIVA you come in yer AN start
him fer:" he added turning tercely OH
old lack
Il wanier see EN-. l sho e my maus-
ser well as yourn," said the old man in
an aggrieved tone.
Oats SO, said Maum Dinah. joining
Daddy lack at the door
Mr.. Conner ceased to struggle with
Tobe to inquire: Who's there
"Dnah. sur said the old woman,
dunno you know me, mausscr!'
''Of course. Dinah; | have IN, tied Col.
Tyler and Governor Gates to dine with
me today; give us a good dinner, Dinah."
At this old Dinah grew as ashy pale as
she could, for both the gentlemen had
been in their graves for thirty years.
Good Laud. she muttered, who gwine
cook fer sperits:' and She hastily re-
treated.
Eyes, said Mr.. Conner, whose thoughts
now ran in a new channel; they'll both
come in their sail boats, Flyaway and
Waterwitch; you know them, Tobe?"
Yes, mausser." said the imperturba-
BILE negro.
And my boat. the Seagull. | want
you to get her out
"Ies. mausser.
We'll have race this evening; zee
that everything is ready"
Yes, mausser.
''I'll take Zach with me to steer"
At this Daddy lack shuddered. III
60 in no sperit boat" he muttered, and
shutfled out.
Save you right fer comm yer way
you had no business muttered lobe.
DE Idly oh miEdin a delirious pussonv'
She is the fastest sailer on the sound,'
continued the Old man.
Yes. mausser,' repeated the impass
i've Tobe
Shes built for speed, forty feet long
and foot wide"
GOOD Laud. calculated lobe. thrown
off his guard, what lie. Dat amt
nuthin but er boss trough" After mo-
ment he recovered from his surprise, and
said in beguiling accents, "S'posen YOU
tex er nap, sub, befo the gentlemans
come, so you'll feel fresh en- lbeIy."
de gently turned the sick man over,
smoothed the pillow under his head, and
soothed him to sleep.
Summer had passed and autumn had
come, and nature was preparing herself
70 meet the death that winter brings.
With the waning season the old planters
lie had ebbed away. very slowly but
surely, as if in sympathy with the ap-
preaching death Of nature, he was going
70 his own painlessly, calmly. surround
ed by his family and his old servants.
Seeing these, quarter of a century
lapsed out Of his life. and he still fancied
himself back in his island home. sur
rounded by the slaves he had been raised
with, and his Old neighbors. dead this
many year. His servants viewed this
phase Of his sickness with superstitious
sorrow.
"'E gwine berry fas'." said Maum Di-
nah, wiping her eyes in the corner OF
her apron. IS E talk constant ob de dead.
er sho sign ell soon be wild EN-"
As the sun was setting Mr.. Conner fell
asleep, and his wife left the sick room to
see friend, who had called, leaving
lobe alone with the sick man. All at
once he reused up, and his eyes fell on
the faithful nurse standing motionless at
the foot Of the bed.
Il am not so well, lobe. feel weak
II any one calls, I'll see them in here"
Nobody gwine CALL" said lobe. $50
don't worry, suh."
"Good evening, Doctor said the sick
man, looking over Tobe's shoulder and
towards the door, walk in
lobe turned and looked hut saw M
one.
Place chair for Or. McAllister.
lobe, here close to me-"
lobe hesitated, but obeyed q his unas- |
ter said: