The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-02-22

His Master.
Over three decades have passed away
,;,oo the sections were engaged in
hloodv strife, and time has wrought
many changes in the annals of the ma
tio,'s history. The civil war was at one
fine the chief topic of the day, and for
,sveral years everything eventful was
sooken of as transpiring since "the
rarm But for the last few years it has
ceased to be referred to except on me-
mortal occasions and few times when
the old soldiers meet each other after
perhaps a lapse of twenty or thirty
wears. Of course their meeting natural
" carries them back to the days of 80
and '65, when they stood side by side at
the bayonet's end and lannon's mouth
for common cause. But with these
few exceptions the great event has sunk
into the sea of oblivion, for it has
been supplanted by other events of
seeming more importance owing to the
lateness of their occurrence.
Aud on the retreatlng shadows of the
disappearing past we catch glimpse of
svisiOn which causes the heart to throb
with regretful pulsations and the mems
Ory to revert to scenes of childhood. AS
we stand on the verge of a new century
and gaze down the dim vista of the past
We behold the decrepit and trembling
figure of the old antebellum darkey as
he slowly marches to the grave.
To those who passed through those
days and are acquainted with the eccen-
triCitieS of these old negroes, and who
have been rocked to sleep by the hand
Of the old black NANNY" this is in.
deed asorrowful thought.
What pleasure it would be could
they who we've children during those
days recall for few short hours
the times when they sat and listened to
stories from the lips of an old white
haired darkey whose originality and di-.
aectic speech could add a charm which
can never be equaled
When once this negro formed an att
tachment for his master he would lay
down his life for him. No stronger love
ever existed than that of old "Uncle
Ned" for his master. No sweeter songs
We're ever sung than those which came
IRON the lips of old black " nanny"
W "n'ch We were lulled to sleep, and we
Vlo'ed our weary eyes in sweet slumber
WIN confidence which she alone could
inspire, never fearing for moment the
Intrusion OF some nocturnal marauder as
"ug as old "mammy's'' watchful eve
''' over US, and the faithful old darkey
A'eplng sleepless vigil over his ''chil-
luA' whom he loved and for whom he
would consider death small sacrifice.
nose of you who were fortunate
'uough to win the friendship of one of
'aVSe old darkies, take a retrospect int
'ue year 1850. Imagine yourself having
Oeen away from the old homestead for
p''lSpS fifteen years and returning TO
'I' aOme of your boyhood. The old ia
u'' gteets you with kiss and loving
suO'aPe' The negroes who we're grow
,uS OLD rapidly when you went away
lave now become too aged to do work
aD' are Kept around home to wait on old
IaS'"' In a few moments old ''Uncle
. Nsu, who worshiped you when a boy
'YuleS Id His hair and beard are SO
,D''e' MS form SO bent and speech SO in
1'"nct you fail to recognize him, and
'!Ou' But finally there is mutual rec.
'4,'on' and such happy meeting cam
srOe described. That night all the old
"D@oon darkies gather around the
',''O' and look with admiration upon
~" young master. They all have some
e., 1,''' Tale in stole for you which you lis
n, u with puerile interest and fancy.
'%o you conceive of any happier timer
H. DuO We can do this only in dreams or
M "sInatlon. The past is Irrevocable.
bs 1O's Gays are forever gone. The old
homestead is fast decavino and 1ooIs
n.y. NV ana lonely on the brow of the hill.
Wants O'u li rather, perhaps, and the old ser.
Onv a 81 have gone to their reward
and tp a lew OF these old darkles are left
life e lucy are fast descending the hin Of
and r ~L are nearing the last mile most
Of tba u zen they pass the familiar figures
sweo. olaen days" have vanished like
thew win 9lream. In a few more wears
down to nave nave disappeared and will lie
S ssssea graves over which the d. J
bird .I tGeir blossoms and the mocLin@