Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
"MAIS JEFF. DAVIS"
"REMINISCENCES or AN AGED ARKAN-
SAS NEGRO.
IT.. mad Cbioftaiu's Love for q Good
Horse--A Trying scenc-Thougnts
of Long Ago.

A Waddell (Ark.) special says, During
the nreaeut high stage Of the water IN our
bottom country but little can be done py
the farmer except 20 watch for any snow
of weakness in his leyees and strengthen
tho same. Most of YOucopIn IL now under.
and what is not is thoroughly soaked, with
deep water. The negroes cannot work. SO
they congregate about the store &c pass on
the time as best they can until they can
prepare for "pitchIDg my crop. Io-uay
4 old tinesu were spoken of, and one Old
darkv,s ewes actually glistened with tears
as he told of the time he 0id ms young
" marstern good-by when he was Oh Tor
the war" tt,
"Dey SAINT young marster OF 70 schulz
rite dar in town whar dey drill whole
week 7 card dem dinner, cause dey
wanted 'em hot. an | tell you twas heap OF
fun 10 watch 'em drill. But l.didn't know
Young marster was agwine away. l men,
hers one day when all on us sot out
for town, and fo' we got dar ] heard de
drums abeeten' and de horns allow
IN and twant long fore we seed do flags
iest n haDpin' in do win Den | done
found out marster was Eoin' 70 do war.
Old missus was cryin', and look like every
body was erwin but me. j le5' look ut MN
and something try to choke me IN my
throte. | couldn't stan II no longer wnten
Inc start 10 get on de cars. ] grab HIM by
de coat and beg marster 10 stay, an L cred
Just like q baby. Young marster come
back in about three years shot IN the leg.
Il tells you boys Pse married ana Ioyes
desc folks ont here, hut If ! node whar
Young marster was I'd 20 rite there and
there I'd die. ] made . whole sack iull or
dollars las year, but dcy might 90, Tor den
marster wouldn't let me be hungry. ia
less wait on him till he died. l loved hun
better'n I did NANNY, aud loves him yet.
Boys, il you can live wild some OF dose
old-time folks You better go dar Two
wears ago | stayed down in LOUISIANA on
Mars JEFF. Davis's place. He keeps agents.
but he come hisse,i three times every year,
and every time he come he gwlne
see every one his niggers, and ne give
the las one Of 'em sOmethin', too.
and old Alissis she give de gals
somethin' / tells yo', boys, he was
n rider right. lie kept seven or eight
horses TO ride, and il he didn't come
n prancin' up. he SAY, Turn dat horse,
loose; 20 get me horse got some lile.'
and he wouldn't quit TIL he gotta morse dat
Jess 90 prancin'. Gosh, you couldn't git
me on de slowest Oh his horses. But he
sets up dare, over eighty years old, wid his
hair like ball Of cotton. jess as strait as q
stick. -when--dOn You try TO tell
Mars JEFF what he oughtcr do. Dcy say
he fit 10 keep Us slaves, but be is NIFTY
good gentleman, an he is dead now"
This shows the feeling OF many an old
darby for h.s master: and many OF them
who are far distant from their old homes.
now destroyed, where they used TO dance
TO tho tune of the Old banjo, willing the
hours away. with no cares for the present
or future. often sigh when they recall the
days that have been" and wish 10 lie
with young massern when they think TO
realize some o. the pleasures Of old slave
days"