The Bessemer indicator., 1893-12-02
A DAUGHTERS BURIAL.
ARoMANcE OF POST SLAVERY
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Old Servants Follow the Dying Behests
Of Their Former Master and Rsmsin
on the Plantation to be tho PAIL Bear
srs Of His daughter.

1DoTo ID IN lntcTcstiHS "hu "
pretty story that comes hero from
the South. says the Washington Post.
and is being told by Southern people;
q story OF scene In South Carolina,
which will possibly never be wit
messed again In the South; tale OF
slave devotion and Shareholders ap-
probation, which sounds almost like
fiction:
At Edgewood, the ancestral homo
Of Governor Pickens OF South Caro-
lima, there lately died his daughter.
Douschka, who was as well known
in the South at her death as was her
illustrious father at the close OF his
career.
Before the close OF the war Gen.
Pickens died. Learning his ap-
proaching fate, he summoned all his
slaves ut midnight from their cot
tages, and. being lifted from his bed
to the window around which they
were gathered. the dying governor
called upon them TO stand by their
mistress and their "little missy
Douschka," no matter what the war
might bring about, or what tempta-
tions might cross their path to tempt
them away. He died as the moon
rose and the Oldest OF his slaves were
his pail bearers Since then not
one of the men whom he addressed
that night has left the service OF his
widow, and Mt the close OF the civil
strife. when negroes were Fastening
to seek work in towns and cities. the
Pickens plantation almost alone re-
mained intact.
1t is almost the only plantation
where tho lnborer is paid bonus In
addition to his wages, according to
the season or success OF tho crop.
This plan OF giving to the tiller his
percentage OF the fruit OF his toll
was instituted by Douschka at tho
age Of 18.
She was buried from Edgewood.
and her funeral services were with
out parallel in Southern history.
AS related by prominent South
Carolina lady. who was an eye wit
ness OF the services, it was memora-
BILE scene. Her pail bearers wore
the ex-slaves OF her father. some OF
whom had borne him to his grave
over n score Of years ago. The
spectacle was striking in its antithe
sis. The coffin WAS white velvet.
profusely covered with white flowers,
and around 1t In the palatial ball
room Of tho homestead were grouped
the white haired negroes. The scene
was impressive enough in itself. but
was almost startling in its solemnity.
when Mrs. Pickens, the courtly,
beautiful mother stepped to the head
OF the casket, and facing her faithful
servants, addressed them.
II have sent for you to do you this
honor, because" and here there was
q break in the voice. "I wish to
make public acknowledgment OF
your faithfulncss and devotion,
through all he. sweet life. to this,
your young mistress. When your
master died, you will remember, lie
sent for you and contided to your
faithful care and protection his wife
and his little child You have been
faithful to that trust
"In all the dreadful times OF riot
and thieving You have stood by us
and protected us, and thank you
now in tho presence OF all these
friends for your loyalty and devotion.
That sweet young life is over, and
you will carry from this room her
precious body. Her spirit Is with
God, she is an angel in heaven, and
now l ask you to continue your fifth
full devotion and protection to your
desolate mistress and to these little
children OF your young mistress.
whom she loved better than her life. +"
1t was strange sight this little
speech and appeal Of mistress to
i her ex-slaves at the casket OF hor
daughter. The slavos. weeping and
awed, bore their young mistress to
the family burial ground and ibid he,
by the sido OF her father. whom they
had buried thirty years before. The
tombstone will bear tho name by
which she was known. "Douschka '
She was tho vice regent OF Noun,
Vernon from South Carolina. und en-
thusiastic over tho cid homo o
Washington always at the meetings
and upon all Of her visits to this city
had been received with marked socia
attention.
| A Drop In EExs.
He wou cr1 ~, ~.