St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-12

young laQl6S pre- pared the DffQal
gown, which consisted of a pure
white dress, cut very decollete, which,
when worn by the bride, produces a
jet black Heck and bosom and the
upper edge of the dress. Her head was
adorned with wreath Of blue roses
made from tissue paper, the strange
color no doubt arising from the fact
that paper of no other color was attaina-
BILE nearer than Cincinnati; but the
effect was quite stunning. and the BRIDE,
like all other brides, looked perfectly
lovely" which was the general judg-
ment Of all the critics.
Among the queer population on the
place was free negro, preacher called
Uncle John. He was very old man,
and had married and baptized all the
negroes in the neighborhood for many,
many years. He was the husband of
one of uncle's slave women named Aunt
Rachel. who came nearer to establish
ing Darwin's theory of
OUR COMMON ANCESTRY
than any argument he ever advanced in
support of it. AS she would stand at
her wash tub with her abnormally long
arms reaching below her knees, and her
apish expression of face, one would
swear that her anceStors,if not our own,
were monkeys without any doubt Well,
Uncle John was to perform the mar
riage ceremony,of course, and when the
night arrived. the black people fiocked
to the wedding in large numbers. The
quarters were decorated and illumin-
ated TO the extent of the available
means to those ends. The White house,
hold were all in full dress for the
occasion. The hour arrived. and in
came the bridal party. Alters buzz Of
admiration, the ceremony commenced.
Uncle John placed the hand of
the bride in that of the groom,
and said, addressing Nannette,
will you take the gentleman
you hold by the hand for 20 husband?"
She blushingly responded that she
would. will you take the lady you
hold by the hand for 20 wife?" Jim
answering afflrmativelY. Uncle John
then in the most solemn manner and
impressive voice said: "Then you is
man and wife SO long as you has your
health and strength, so help you God"
and the knot was tied.
He then opened prayer with the APP
peal, ''Oh, most persistent Lord" and
called down upon the young couple
blessings with a fervor which none but
most persistent Lord could have de-
MED. The limitation of
granted by the preacher caused some
merriment at the time, but when con-
slider the ease with which the tie is
sundered at the present day. it would
seem that some such qualification in the
ceremony OF today would be more in ac-
cord with the usual result of marriages
than the language employed.
1t was not long after this joyous event
that another Of an exactly opposite
character occurred on the place. [ was
startled one day with the announce
ment from one Of the blacks: MARS
Charley, yo Uncle John is dead" /
rushed out to the cabin occupied by the
old man, and found him lying on
the floor by the side of his bed in
state Of Inconsistencies and apparently
dead. l had seen good deal of life
and something of death, but the sud-
denness of this call rather put me to my
trumpS for the nom ent. You must
know that ON plantation the mis-
tress is the physician, has her medi-
cine chest, and prescrlbeS for all COM
plants; my first thought was to call
her, but l remembered test, and ap-
piled looking glass TO the old mans
mouth to see if he breathed, and soon
determined that he was dead. l had
him laid ON his bed, and the prepare
family.
In the negro districts of the South
there is medium of communication
among the blacks that quite equals the
circulation of news In the Indian cOun-
try; it circulates, and no one knows
how. Such an important event as the
death of Uncle John was soon known
far and wide. The
BURIAL DAY WAS FIXED,
and all preparations made. The
church was on a hill about
two miles from our place. The grave
was dug. The day arrived. Negroes
arrived in wagons and on horseback
from all the surrounding country until
quite a concourSe was assembled. On
every place in the South there is what
the Yankees would call a "handy man."
He is usually a carpenter and general
tinker, who can do any odd job that
surpasses the intellect of the ordinary
slave. Sometimes he is white man,
and sometimes negro. We had white
man named Odell, who was good at any
| work from putting spoke Ill a dam
aged wagon wheel to making coffin.
He made the coffin. and all was ready
| for the final day. 1t never occurred 10
| me that in the death of Uncle John we
had lost the main actor i'll all our fu-
| nerals, to wit: the parson, and for
| got to find substitute, net being well up
| in the conduct OF such matters. So when
| the procession was ready to move
Odell and mounted, led the column.
THE RAIN POURED
down in steady stream. and the day
and scene were most dreary. Arrived at
the grave, we placed ourselves on one
side fronting it, and awaited events. A
long silence ensned, and saw In mo-
ment that the negroes were waiting for
| me TO open the ceremonies. Ii ever
there was a moment in my life when l
felt at fault that was the most trying. l
was not in the habit of praying in pub
lie, and thought among such devoutly
pious negroes they might mlSun-
derstand any speech l could make on
the virtues of the dead preacher, and
deem it sacrilegious. What would not
have given for an Episcopal prayer
book, from which could have read the
solemn burial service, but it Was not at
hand. ! was SpeechleSS. / waived my
hand to the men with the shovels to fill
the grave. At this point the most touch
ing event occurred, and turned what
would otherwise have been a cold fall
ure into the most impressive. solemn
, and picturesque burial service l ever
| witnessed Old Aunt Rachel, Uncle
Johns widow, stepped to the grave and
looking down into 1t, with tears in her
eyes, said the simple words. 'Far ye
well, john" No other word was
spoken.
Times have changed in that once
primitive and delightful country. f.