Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-01-06
A DAUGHTERS BURIAL.
A ROMANc OF POST SLAVERY
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Ola Servants Follow the Dying BehcSts
Of Then Former Master aud Remain
on the Plantation 10 Be tho rail- Bear
ers OF His naush'er.

NJ
There is an interesting and a
I pretty story that comes here from
the South, says the Washington Post.
aud is being told BY Southern people;
a story of scene in South Carolina,
which viii possibly never ba Wit
4 messed again in the South; tale of
\ slave devotion and Shareholders APP
I probation, which sounds almost like
tiction:
7 At Edgewood, the ancestral home
o. 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
Industrious father at the close OF his
career
Before the close Of the war Gen.
Pickens died. Learning his ap-
preaching fate. he summoned all his
slaves at 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 "littlc missy
Douschka," no matter what the war
might bring about, or what tempta.
tions might cross their rath 20 tempt
them away. He died as the moon
rose ana tho Oldest of his slaves were
his pall-bearers. Since then not
one Of the men whom he addressed
that night has lett the service Of his
widow, and at the close Of the civil
strife, when negroes were Fastening
to seek work in towns and cities. the
Pickens plantation almost alone re-
manned Intact.
II is almost the only plantation
where the laborer i paid bonus in
addition to his wages, according to
the season or success OF the crop.
This plan OF giving 70 the tillcr his
percentage of the fruit OF his toll
was instituted hy Douschka al the
age Of rs.
She was buried from Edgewood
and her funeral services we're with
out parallel il Southern history
AS related by a prominent South
Carolina lady, who was an eye Wit
ness Of the services, III was mcmora.
bic scene Her pail bearers were
the ex-slayes Of her father. some 81
whom had borne him TO his grave
over a score Of years ago. The
spectacle was striking in its antithc
sis. The coffin was white velvet.
prOiusely covered with white flowers,
and around il in the palatial bal
room OF the homestead were grouped
the ftf -Luf
WAS impressive enough 10 itself, bus
was almost startling IN It's so!cmnity.
when Mrs Pickans, the c0urtly.
beautiful mother stepped 70 the head
81 the casket. and facing her faithful
servants, addressed them.
II have sent for you to do you this I
honor, because. and here there was
a break in the voice. II wish 10
make a public acknowledgment OF
your faithfulness and devotion.
through all her sweet life. 70 this,
your young mistress. When your
master died, you win remember. he
sent for You and conlided 20 your
faithful care and protection his wife
and his little child You have been
faithful to that trust.
In all the dreadful times az riot
and thieying YOU have stood BY lis
and protected as, and | thank you
now In the presence OF all those
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 ! ask you to continue your faith
full devotion and protection TO your
desolate mistress and TO these little (
children Of your young mistress.
whom she loved better than her life. " !
II was strange sight this little /
speech and appeal Of o mistress to
her ex-slayes at the caskct OF her
daughter. The slaves, weeping and
awed. bore their young mistress TO I
the family burial ground and Laid her
by the side Of her father. whom they
had buried thirty years before. Tho
tombstone will bear the name by
which she was known. "DOuschka !" |
She was the vice regent 81 Mount
Vernon from South Carolina. and on
thusiastic over the old home OF
Washington, always at tho meetings,
and upon all Of her visits to this city
had been received with marked social
attention