The Grenada sentinel., 1903-01-03
THE OlD.STNED NEGRO.
A Type Which !, Rapidly Passing Away.

A Type Which l, Rapidly Passing Away.
The old-time Southern negro-the
slave OF the ante-bellum days is rapid
ly passing away. He was type of
which the people of the antique would
know nothing, and Of which the fu-
ture shall not see. He was the pro-
duct of peculiar social system which
has passed away. 1t was "a social sys-
tenn feudal in its magnificence and the
negro was the servant-the chattel
slave Of its people. He had been
brought from the wild Africa a savage
and by those people civilized and
christianized. Under these influences
he became docile and Obedient SER
want with a love and devotion for his
master and his masters family that
no power on earth could shake.
What happy days were those on the
old plantation "befo de wah" and
what tender relations existed between
the family of the master and his SER
wants!
''Old massa make de darkeys lub
him
Case he was so kind"
And there was the 'old Missus': ever
thoughtful of the comfort OF the de-
pendent ones, generous in providing
their wants and tender in ministering
to them in sickness and sorrow. How
dearly the darkeys loved her and her
children, ever ready to shield them
from harm, or to render any service
or make any sacrifice for their happi-
ness.
| And the old black nanny, who
does not remember her with her old
| old red bandana and her tender, BEAM
ing face? We almost think we can
see her now lovingly grooming her lul-
! laby or tenderly guiding our first tot
tering steps. How dearly she grew
into our lives as the years passed on,
patiently ministering to our wants
and guarding us from all harm! How
| How she lavished upon us her love,
making every sacrifice in her power to
humor any wayward whim. That old
black face has vanished from our
yearning vision, but there fingers be-
hind it some of the sweetest. tender
est memories of life.
Can we forget the black faces that
used to gather around us at Christmas
time to welcome US home again? In
their friendship there was that pure,
unalloyed devotion that could stand
the test of adversity. Along the rug
ged, dreary way of life we meet many
''friends' who are with us as long as
the sunshine Of prosperity falls around
us, but ever ready to desert as the
shadows come. But the darkest hour
that ever hung over the South could
not shake the devotion of our black
friends on the old plantation, even
when their own freedom was the prize
for being untrue.
Does the history of the world fur
nish parallel for such devotion a.
this? 1t does not. When the men Of
the South were at the front fighting
to keep the negro in bondage he wa!
at home the sole protector OF thei
loved ones. To this sacred duty tn
, negro was entrusted at time whes
not only his own freedom, but tn
r richest spoils Of wealth might hav
, been won by a violation of the conf
dence reposed in him. But he wa
faithful at the post of duty assignee
5 him. To him was given for safe keep
1 ing the most valuable jewels, plate
etc., and there is no recorded instanc
in which he violated single trust re
2 posed in him. And when the darkes
S hour came he was ready to offer hi
1 life in protection of his masters fam
ilv from the ruthless invader who wa
offering him his freedom.
For this the South owes the negr
a debt of gratitude. And sometim
she will raise a monument that wi
reach almost to the skies, and tina
monument will l>e to the negro slaV
whose devotion to duty has never bee
surpassed by that of any people Q
earth.
% The American sees DO objection
lawyers in the legislature, but it is
.o:.,f,,l foot that MiSSiSSinni has her