The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-05
A RELIC OF SLAVERY.
Faithful Servants and Ghosts Of the
Past About the Dying
Masters Bier.

The old planter lay dying. He had
been a long time ailing, worn down by
anxiety and trouble, borne uncomplain-
ingly and in silence, he was now going
of a slow disease, and lay in the middle
ground, between the here and the here
after, awaiting his summons.
He had once been a Sea Island nabob,
he was 0 a pauper; all he and his wife
had to depend on was the meager salary
Of a grandson, a lad of 19. 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); Tobe,
the chief butler, whose pantry had be-
come a thing of the past, and old Maum
Dinah, the former cook, whose turtle
sour had once had a coast wide reputa-
ton.
Maum Dinah. now Mrs. Ragsdil, made
a ~precarious living at securing; and
Daddy lack, now Mr.. Zackery Rake
straw, a yet more uncertain one, as a
vender Of scrubbing brushes. Tobe, now
Tobias Conner, was a we'll to do citizen
and chief cook at the hotel. Neverthe-
less he threw up his place and came to
nurse his old master. and between him
and the two old darkies a deadly rivalry
ragged as to who should be nurse.
~ 49,
Worn out with watching, old Mrs. Con-
ner had gone to lie down, leaving the
patient ncharge of Tobe. He was a tall,
very black mar of 40, and some red
marks on his face made him look tattooed
and gave him a fierce appearance.
The sick man was in d mild delirium,
his mind wandering back q quarter of a
century to the days of bis prosperity. lie
talked necessarily, but received only
monosyllable answers from lobe, who
was naturally taciturn. With some diff
Guilty he succeeded in lulling his patient
to sleep, when the door slowly oreassd
open and old lack, taking advantage of
his mistress absence, crept in in crying
shoes.
s.Who is that?" asked the old man,
rousing up.
me, sub, Sach'riah, suh," said Mr..
Zachery Rakestraw, going back to his
plantation name.
well, lack, what is it? Have you at
tended to the horses?'
Old lack was speeches., till a fierce
nod from lobe, who was his nephew,
made him mutter, Eyes, subj"
L =. -.
Where are the horses?' asked Mr..
Conner. noticing che p~antofnime.
"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, subj repeated lack;
'sde 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, mausser; you ent well
huff. VIVA you come in yer an start
him fer?" he added. turning fiercely on
old lack.
II wanter see 'em. / sho e my nlaus-
ser well as yourn.' said the old man in
an aggrleved
s.Dats so,'' said Manm Dinah, joining
Daddy Zack at the door.
Mr.. Conner ceased TO struggle with
lobe to inquire: .sWho's there?'
s'Dinah, sur," said the old woman;
''dunno you know me, mausser?7
ssOf course, Dinall; l have invited 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; stthey'n both
come in their sail boats, Flyaway and
Waterwitch; you know them, Tobe.7
Eyes, mausser,s said the imperturba-
BILE negro.
And my boat, the Seagull, I want
you to get her out.
Eyes, mausser.'
"Wel HAYES race this evening; see
that everything is ready"
"IeS, mausSer.
sIll take lack with me to steer"
AT this Daddy lack s~huddcred. "Ill
go in no sperit boat" he muttered, and
shuified oEt.
"Sa've you right fer comm yer way
you had no business muttered lobe,
"De Idly OBJ mindin' a d~elirious pussoni'
'sShe is the fastest sailer on the sound
continued the old man.
Yes, mausser,'' repeated the impass.
i've Tobc.
'.She's built for speed, forty feet long
and q foot wide"
Good Laud!' calculated Tobe, thrown
off his guard, "wliat a liel Dat aim
nuthin' but er boss trough" After a mo
ment he recovered from his surprise, ant
said in beguiling accents, .'S'posen yot
tex er nap, sub, befo' the gentleman
come, so you'll feel fresh en- libely."
He gently turned the gick man over