Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-04-22

the place? Maybe they would like to
bny something out of my pack. says
the lad (he is no more), his eye travel
ing about the group of darkies in search
of friendly face.
But not one does he see The group
becomes re-enforced by two or three
more. who come running from the
cabins drawn by the unusual excite
ment. and everywhere he sees hostility.
mo. yuh can stay roun heah no
longah. replies the spokesman. "Yuh
ies make tracks as fas as yuh kin, or
yuh II git intuh trubbil, producing
stout club from somewhere in the rear
and shaking it in front of the unlucky
peddler
Still the latter fingers. n moment too
long
He amt a gwine tuh go. boys. till
We make him. called ont voice in
the group. 1t ..purs the others to action
''At him. now. boys!' And they 20
at him with will
Whack sounds the club over his
shoulders. He winces with pain. but
holds On stoutly to his pack The darkies,
incensed at his resistance surround
him on all sides. They tear off his coat.
They beat him with their fists over
head and shoulders. the club owner
using his weapon freely They buffet
and kick and shout at him until the
peor fellow. outnumhered ten to one.
sinks Ia the ground. with blood stream
ing from an ugly cut on his forehead,
and his precious pack scattered about
him
Now. up with him. boys, an We'll
! throw him out II de gate. Well shcw
tramps what come roun' heah dat dey
better keep cl ar dis heah plantation.
saws the leader Three or four Of the
stnutest fellows raised the peddler and
We're about To carry ont their instruc
tions when suddenly there comes a muir
mur from the rear of the group.
''Heah de missus Heah Mis- Ham
/ ilton Hole on. now boys"
/ They let fall their burden and parted
respectfully rs handsome matron in
white muslin gown. her head held
proudly erect and her brilliant brown
eyes flashing with anger. steps into the
center Of the group.
''Who is this poor fellow? What
have you been doing to him. Sambo?"
she demands How dare you treat
man like that on my plantation, I'll
have you all horsewhipped Growing
/ more and more angry as the darkies
stink back without replying, she stoOps
over the peddler to see the extent of his
injuries
ANSWER me, Sambo. she reiter
ates. What has this man been doing
that You should so misuse him.
The burly Sambo covers before her
scornful, steady gaze.
He war tramp, Mis- Hamilton, an
\ yuh allus tnle us that no tramp war
lowed on dis heah plantation. So We
war ies a-gettin him off'n de place.
an
the mistress Of Reserve. "Brutcs lou
would have killed him if you had had
time | presume Lift him up now,
you two men. Sa:hbo and Jonas. and
carry him carefully to the house. As
for the rest uf you looking about the
group. II II attend Ia you later, and,
picking mp her gown. she leads the way
To the house
The pcddler is put Ia bed in Il small
room III the rear of the mansion. Mrs.
Hamilton herself brings cold water and
soft linen and binds up the ugly cut
in his forehead "a pretty little girl, with
brown eyes. clinging 10 her skirts. Lat
er he Is given food, and that night
slept. for the first time in many weary
weeks, without the open sky above him
or havstack or disused old shed for
his bedchamher.
BY the next day he is able to sill up
and show his wares to his preserver.
who buys literally OF his household
goods linens. laces and few gew
! gaws and also distributes calicoes and
ginghams among the women. Then.
with generous sum i'll his pocket and
Il new pair of shoes on his feet. he bids
farewell 10 Reserve and again starts
forth on his travels with light heart.
II shall never forget you. madam.
and your great kindness To me. he says
in parting. 1T may he that the time
will come when can serve you. And
the lady Cf Reserve graciously bends
her head and wishes him successful
journey.
Five years passed There were many
changes in Reserve Devastating war
had robbed the household of its stalwart
young master. Percy Hamilton. who. at
4 II. led his company to victory one sum
mcr day and fell before the Yankee
bullets The darkies scattered at the
first sound Of war. and. without serv-
ants. the plantation declined and fell.
So did all the other Hamilton fortunes.
and IN $50 Mrs Hamilton. with lines
of care in her face and gray hair about
her temples found herself obliged to
dispose of the land for n mere song to u
shrewd speculator who scented profit
from the rich soil.
She took heI daughter. now Il maiden
bndding into womanhoud. and went Ia
live with some New Orleans friends. a
broken and surrowful wontn. Early in
the seventies Il party of New Orleans
merchants took a trip up the Mississip-
pi for combined purposes of business
anu Itfd~hif HslAi IAiiiN tOl
improving the land and raising cotton.
Incidentally. they had capital enough
To spare
'One of the richest and most produc
tive plantations before the war was
along here somewhere below Natchez,
said one merchant To another as they
stood on the vessels = deck looking off
into the country My agent secured it
for me the other day. and propose that
when we land you and | take car
riagc aud drive out 81 that | can take
Il look al my newly acquired property.
The friend. Il tall. black haired. eagle
eyed merchant of the southern city,
readily agreed. and the two carried out
their plan that afternoon.
They found the deserted plantation
without much difficulty Deserted it
was indeed and rcrlorn in the extreme
No trace left of the neat, white fcnces,
nor semhiance of well kept rCadways.
nu thick foliaged live oaks hing with
strings of mos all gone. swept away
before the relentless scythe of war. \
few tuml lednwn sheds marked the
place where once stood "A group of tidy
servants quarters. bat the mansion.
once pillared and luxurious looking,
had long since gone I" ruin. the win
dows broken. the walls crumbling
where they stood
The tall black haired merchant
looked in silence for few moments ~
they drew rein in front of the house.
DO vuu happen to know what wa:
! the name of this place before the wal