Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1897-09-15
KNEW HIS OWN VALUE.
A Slaves Reason For Not Purchasing HM
Own Freedom.

Own Freedom.
Before the war, in the days o,
slavery, a New York jeweler of {
prominent family, who can be called
] Mr.. x. had owing to him a bill o.
$1,000 from reputedly wealthy
| family in the south. Time after
time the bill was rendered, but there
was no response, and finally MT. K,
as he CHANGED to have other bust.
ness taking him beyond the Mason
and Dixon line, decided to call at
the house of his debtor in New Or
leans and see if he could get some
satisfaction for his claim.
On his arrival there he found that
his debtor was in a bad way fnan-
cially and had but little money, al
though running an expensive estab-
lishment. A proposition was made
that Mr.. x. take in payment of his
bill a negro named Jim, a very
bright fellow and considered to be
worth fully 81, 500. Jim was an ex-
pert horseman, and through all his
life had been working in the stables
of his master.
Mr.. K. was in a quandary. His
abolitionist ideas prevented him
from being Q slave owner, but his
natural anxiety to receive something
for the bill due him almost demand
ed that he should accept the slave
as payment. Finally bright idea
suggested itself, and he called the
negro to him.
"Now, Jim, said he, II am going
to be your new master. I do not
want to live here in the south and
look after you, nor do wish to take
you to the north with me. Now I've
been thinking of this plan: Will
you be honest, sober and attentive
to business if set you up in the cab
trade in this city2 Will you turn
over every cent to me and not steal
from me2 If you promise, will set
you up in business, and when you
send me the money that you earn /
will credit half of it to you. When
your half of the money above all
the expenses amounts to 81, 200, you
can buy your freedom, and then we
can continue partners in the bust
ness, or you can buy me out. If you
do not want to make any promises
or if you will not keep the promises
that you may make, will sell you,
and then you may get hard mas
ter.
Jim, of course, promised, and
what is more remarkable, he kept
his word Mr.. x bought for him
three cabs and as many teams, and
allowed him full management of
the business.
So well did Jim take care of the
enterprise that within year he had
charge of nine cabs and several
teams of horses for each cab. He
sent his money regularly to New
York, and within two years his
share of the profits amounted to
over So, 800. But still he made no
suggestion that any of his money
be turned over to Mr.. x. for his
freedom.
Mr.. <, did not wish to speak about
the matter to Jim, but he was anx-
ious to get some cash value for the
slave. He accordingly sent friend
to see Jim and find out what was
the matter The friend went to Jim
and said to him:
Jim, you have sent to Mr.. x.
nearly $1,000, haven't you9"
"Yassir," said Jim.
And 50, 800 Of that money will
be yours if you buy your freedom,
won't it?''
"Yassir, " said Jim again.
''Well, it will only cost your 81, 200
to buy your freedom, and when you
do you will have 81, 900 left, and
can still continue in partnership
with Mr.. x. Why don't you buy
your freedom2"
Look yere, boss, said Jim sol
emily; look yere. Yo' doan' ketch
dis chicken yere a-buyin a niggah
dat has consumption. "-Harper's