The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-03

\ STAKEHOLDER in the County. The old mau had
I died. and his property descended TO this son.
i The son had became involved in debt and the
/ Sheriff had levied on Pompcy and his wife and
/ they were 10 be sold that day for debt of
/ 5000 The owner was greatly attached to these
slaves, and was anxious they should fall into
/ the hands Of kind master.
Knowing Mr. Easily. lie approached him on
/ the subject. Mr.. Easily had never owned
slave. and was ayerse to such ownership; but
between the plcadiugs OF the master aud POM
pey, he was induced to make the purchase.
\ Mr. Easily said it proved the best investment
he ever made. Pompey and his wife proved
excellent servants as did their two daughters.
| who were born after Mr. Easily purchased
| them. Pompoy was a good farmer, and some-
I thing Of q carpenter and blacksmith, and had
/ also established successful little taunery.
/ During his life rs n slave he had accumulated
and deposited with his master for safe keeping
/ a considerable sum OF money, which with his
larger Accommodations since his freedom, Dir.
/ Easily still held for him.
After President I4incOln's Emancipation
/ Proclamation Mr.. Etsby sent for POmpey and
| Hannah aud announced 10 them that they were
now free; that they had no master could go
where they choose aud work for themselves.
/ Instead Of receiving the information as Mr..
1 Easily expected, both OF them wept bitterly.
Pompcy said that il Mr.. Easily was going to
turn him off, what would become Of him and
1 his wife aud children
Mr.. Easily explained that he did not intend
TO throw him OF, but that he was now free
man and could choose what he would do, and
where he would 20, and besides, he was entitled
| 10 all the privileges of the white man. lie
cOuld 20 10 the elections and vote. To this
| PompCy replied that he didn't know anything
about voting and didn't want to vote. but
wanted 70 stay right where he was. IL ended
/ in Mr.. Easily giving him deed for his little
home and employing him as his general farmer,
and his wife as cook
As illustrative Of Pompey's faithfulnes5. Mr..
| Easily related TO me the following incident:
One day Mr. Veal the clerk in the store, was
| called OF on some business, and asked POmpey,
| as he was in the habit of doing, to remain at
the store during his absence. A vagabond OF
the neighborhood rode up and dismOunted, and
walking into the store, demanded that Pompey
| should give him some tobacco. Pompey told
him that Mr. Veal was absent, aud hc must wait
until his return. The man then threatened
POmpcy's life il he did not grant his request.
POmpey walked behind the counter as if IN
/ quest Of the tobacco, and opening draw drew
out an old horse pistol, which no cooked and
aimed at the man aud ordered him out. He
begged not 10 be shot, and mounted his horse
and galloped of. The joke Of the thing was
concluded Mr. Easily, that the pistol had not
been loaded for 10 years; but it frightened tho
rascal away, all the same"
Mr.. SimontOn made their appearance with their
guns aud fine pack Of hounds. was struck
with Mr.. Moore's appearance. He was man
OF about 20 years, some five feet, eight inches
IN hight, and weighed. / should think. about
80 pounds. lie had light brown hair which
he wore long, and which fell on his shoulders
in Tiuglets He had a mustachel but no othor
beard gray eyes aud mouth which denoted
firmncss of character. His physique was as
lne as that Of any man ! ever SAW. lie was
dressed in that style OF coat common among
the mountainous, and known "a a hunting
shirt The body was plated and buttOned up
to the collar, which was large aud reached
nearly 10 the shoulders. The skirt was loose
and fell to the knees. Tho entire suit was Of
domestic wool cloth. He wore top boots over
his trousers and a black sloueh hat, and had
hs hunting horn swinging from his shoulders.
We were soon of for the hunting grounds, and
! was placed 10 q stand where Mr.. Moore told
me ! WAS almost sure to get sight Of a deer, il
| one was started. IL was not long before |
heard the hounds on the chase, aud pretty soon
a magnificent buck came in sight, but rather
out Of range of ny gun. / fired, but the buck
kept on. Pretty soon l heard the crack of a
rifle, followed by signal from the horn ioT me
10 follow the sound. / found on arriving Mt
the spot that Mr.. Moore had killed the deer,
aud that he and Mr.. SimOntOn were engaged IN
placing him on his horse.
We had a number Of hunts after this. and
. brought in altogether eight deer, OF which
killed two. Each time the deer was brought
( to Mr. Easby's house aud divided, like Cesar d.
vided all Gau into three parts, Pompey always
coming in for the hide.
j had passed a month in the mountain with
great pleasure aud with great benefit TO my
health. and had notified Mr. Easily Of my inten-
D tiOa 10 start for home. / had promised Mr.
|. Moore TO spend day and night with him be-
{ fore leaving. Mr.. Moore had a very pretty
farm in the valley, about half way between Mr
Easbys aud the railroad station.
{ Before leaving ] callel 10 say goodbye ia
4 tho two widows aud Budget. On taking my
r leave Budget said she would walk home with
o me a portion Of tho way toward Mr. Easily 3
s After we had gone a little distance Budget
{ stopped, looked me full in the face, and said
I Now, Mr. Washington, / want 10 ask yOJ
{ one question, and ! want you To tell me the
70 truth" assured her that II answered a
4 all, my answer would be q truthful one.
d Now. Mr. Washington" she said, " tell me
are you a revenue cutteTE"
q could not help laughing az the absuTdity o.
Q the question. / replied "Why, Budget d,
n you know what a revenue cutter isl"
I do | know" she said. Ha! IIa, Ha
2, Don't know? Don't everybody in this section
c know Know, inieedy. la! la!
IS &" Badgett," said ], "a revenue cutter is
3 ship"
Z. - ship" said sine, a ship is it? Well
I've heard OF ships that had pirates on then
+" aud sailed over the seas cutting peoples throat
d and ro5bing them
% well. Budget, / know what you mean
q You want 10 know il / am revenue officer
hunting up distilcrs. No. / am not. cam
Q here to get good, quiet place, and to hunt ant
=. have no other business"
&c ala ha :" said Budget, @ thought so. bu
10 ] wanted to hear il from your own lips. Now
IA Mr.. Washington, don't you, if you ever com
e. back here, ask me 10 tell you what | held bacl
% Ina your fortune il is too funny, aud l never
fl never will tell it. Good-by, Mr. Washington,
10 and she shuiIled back toward Mrs. Young's
ir occasionally turning aud waving her stubb
Dr. hand toward me.
e. On the Sunday morning previous to my de
G. parlure for home, Mr.. Easily as ell mo if
would like 10 go with the family to their meet
lr ing house. as their local minister would preac
T. that day. told him ] would he glad TO z,
re The entire family went, excepting Mr. Yea
~ who was left in care Of the house. POmpe
Or aud Hannah followed the other members
IN the house. each carrying baskets Of provision
ID for our luncheon.
or The meetng-hOuse was an ordinary wOode
ne structure, provided with rough benches, with
OF out hacks, aud at one end was platform wit
- a board resting on the rough wooden pillar
r. which answered FOR pulpit. We arrive
a quite early, though some Of the neighbOrs LA
re preceded u.s. They came ia family groups, a
an bringing their luncheon aud depo5iting thei
ch in one corner OF the building. After n viii
T. the preacher rode up and dismOunted from Ia
] horse, and was created warmly by the men