The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-01-21
"BLACK JOE"

''Sell that niggar! Sell Joe! Well,
no, stranger; not for all the money
you've got" The speaker, big Jarvis
county planter named Holbrook, was
standing by the front gate, and had
just sent Joe, the negro alluded to, to
the postoffice. A trader had met him
few yards from the gate, and, being
on the lookout for negroes to ship south
on levee work, stopped at the gate and
asked the question.
"Well, may have more money than
you imagined" said the trader.
mo matter how much you've got,
you can't buy Joe," said Holbrook.
This was in the spring of 1856.
was on my way to Meadville, and rode
up just as Holbrook made the last re-
mark.
''Well," said the trader, shave you
got any niggers you do want to sellp"
mo, not at present." replied Hol-
brook.
The trader rode on, and bidding the
planter good evening 1 inquired the
distance to Meadville.
''Its ten miles from here" said Hol-
brook; Il suppose you're going up to
ccurt?'
L dSS6HGSu, duu IL
too far to ride tonight. Ride in, and
will go on with you in the morning.
After supper I'll tell you why that
trader didn't have money enough to
buy Black joe"
l had ridden many miles that day,
and was both tired and hungry, so L
gladly accepted his invitation. We
took stroll through the servants
quarters before supper. The negroes
had just come in from the fields. A
more happy and contented lot ]
have never seen. They were COM
fortably clad, and their cabins were
neat and clean, great contrast to the
slave quarters of many plantations I
had passed that day. l noticed an
aged negress sitting in front of a cabin.
''How are you tonight, Aunt MINI
ba?" asked Holbrook.
''Bless your soul, honey-dat you,
Mars Edward? rse bout de same.
How Missus Anice and de Lilly oh de
valleyP"
They're pretty well, Aunt Mimba. -
At the supper table he introduced
me to his wife, a lady of perhaps 40
years, and to charming daughter of
15, to whom l could see he was greatly
attached.
After supper we adjourned to the
library, where Joe soon appeared
with the mail. He was coal-black
negro of perhaps 35, though it was
hard to tell much as to his age. One
side of his neck and face was withered
and drawn aside evidently by contact
with fire, and, as he held out some
letters to his master, could see that
the hand and wrist were in the same
condition.
Joe" said Holbrook, ''here's a
package of tobacco for Aunt Mimba. I
am going to town tomorrow. Tell
your mistress if there's anything need
| ed for the house to make out a list"
Joe left the room, and we lighted
cigars. Between the puffs the planter
told me why the trader couldn't buy
the negro.
This house." said he, was built six
years ago this spring. The old one,
equally large. stood on the same site.
One day in the latter part of October,
1949. my wife got a message from
Meadville that her sister was very low,
and asking her to come at once. So
we went with the family carriage and
an old driver named Adam. We left
Lilly, who was then years of age, and
not very we'll, in care of Aunt Mimba.
| When we arrived in Meadville we found
the invalid much improved aud out of
danger. During the day, as | was
passing the court house square, l saw
the sheriff just putting up for sale,
under an execution to satisfy judg-
ment, solitary negro. He was bare
footed, ragged, and forlorn-looking
enough. l stopped through curiosity,
for had no idea of making purchase.
There were two or three traders there
ready to buy. The sheriff said: ''Hol-
brook, here's niger that can't be
over % or so, strong, and likely look
ing. He belonged to the Holidays,
but I've got to sell him to satisfy a
Judgment. They own his wife and
child. Of course, he hates nightly tC
be sold to trader. If you'll buy him
I believe he'll make you a faithful
hand
"'Oh,' said I, I've got more negroes
now than 1 ought to have That negro
fell at my feet on his knees, graspet
me round the legs. and begged me-
for the Lords sake. to buy him.
Please, MASTER said he, do buy me
I'll be faithful. master. I'll be true
! Use got wife here in Jasper county
and if dey sells me way off south I'll
never see her ag'in; an, oh, God! Use
got a little boy. Oh. master, you loves
your wife an your chillen. Please buy
mel
1.-The appearance of the forlorn face
and his words somehow affected me Sc
that when one of the traders started
him at $500 l raised the bid to $3.50
Another trader bid 5000; trader No.
$3.50; trader No. 2 500, and he wa
finally knocked down to me at $3.50
and the poor fellow danced and crieC
for joy. The negro was black Joe.
Between time lost in attending th'
sale and other delays it was long pas
dark when l was ready for the roa(
home I had carried Joe around II
the barn, and left him with Adam, anC
when Adam drove around to the fro II
of the house Joe was seated besid
him. When my wife came to get int
the, carriage she asked me who wa
that with Adam, and when l told he
she said.
."Well, Edward, I think you hav'
enough to do to take care of wha
negroes you've got now without buy
ing more
I'VE rolled along pretty fast owe
the road when we did get started, an
had just turned the last bend in tn
road, which left us only straigh
stretch of about mile, when Adam
said:
"'Mars Edward, whar's that fire?'
'Rising up, could see the horizo
brightly Illuminated, on the right-han