The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-05

l
come, and nature was preparing herself
With the waning season the old planters
life had ebbed away, very slowly but
surely, as if in sympathy with the APP
preaching death Of nature, he was going
to his own ~painlessly, calmly. surround
ed by his family and his old servants.
Seeing these, a 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 a 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. ",E talk constant OBJ de dead,
er sho sign ell soon be wild 'em."
As the sun was setting Mr.. Conner fell
asleep, and his wife left the sick room to
see a 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.
81 am not SO wen, lobe, I feel weak.
If any one calls, I'll see them in here"
Nobody gwine CALL" said lobe, $50
don't worry, sub
Good evening, doctor, said the sick
man, looking over Tobe's shoulder and
towards the door. "Walk in"
lobe turned and looked, but saw nc
one.
place a chair for DR.. McAllister,
lobe, here close to me-"
lobe hesitated, but obeyed as his mas
ter said:
'sSit down, doctor. l don't feel SC
well today. Why here comes Mr.. Nor.
rison and Judge Derry and Mr.. Lasalles
IT'S most kind, gentlemen. to call. 1t il
quite a while since I've seen you. CAS-
they had been dead many years it was
very likely.) lobe, place chairs for the
| gentlemen"
In spite of his Wanted courage, Tobe's
face began to tarn asliy, and the white;
of his.eyes to show, but he strung the
chairs along the bedside and listened
aghast, while Mr.. Conner affably con
versed with them. The evening shade,
were creeping into the room and gave &
weird look I O things. Presently the ole
mans eyes were again riyeted upon tit
door.
Here comes Col. Tyler and Governor
Gates. Chairs, lobe. Come in, gentle
men. I'm so glad to see you. lobe
what are you about? Why don't you
place chairs for thein?'
"Dey'snone, stammered lobe. "Wai
er minute. sub, tell kin git some" ant
he hurried to the door.
s.Missisi' he whispered.
Mrs. Conner fastened in.
ode room is full obsperits," he gasped
81 can't stay in yere alone. De sperits
and gosses is jis' a-swarmin' roun' d.
bed" And lobe set his teeth fast Il
keep them from chattering as he list
ened to his master talking with thu
dead.
Mrs. Conner seated herself on tho sid,
of the bed, and at last succeeded il
lalling the old nan back to sleep, ant
from that sleep he never woke.
Night came and settled on them, blu
still he slept on; and when the sun ros'
the next morning the old planter hat
Joined the friends whom his servants be
lieved had come for him, and gone upol
his journey to the hereafter.
The old negroes wept when they fount
he had left them.
t'De bes' maasser niger cher had.
walled Maum Dinah, wringing her hand
in the kitchen.
Jetty, the cook, a girl Of the new
regime, viewed her with contempt
MASTER cried Jetty in scorn. master
Why you's free"
eyes," walled the old woman, ssfre,
ter sta've! Use too ole ter wuck mucl
longer, an who gwinter TEX care OBJ IN,
den? Freedom mout do fer young Mig
ger, but ole, done tas' niGger's better Of
in slabery, wild muffin to do en- plent,
ter eat and she wept bitterly.
"'E so fer true! e so fer true!' sobbe,
old Zack. "Oh! dem was fine days! tie
lib alonger de quality folks, en- eat scrap
from de buckra table! But all dat is pas
now, EN- we los our hes frien'.. All! b
was a mausser fer true" and he dashed
the tears from his cheeks.
While Maum Dinah wept and walled
sDc bes' mausser! De bes' u da
niger eber habl'