The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-27
"A TYPE FAST FADING
The Story of Barney's Life is an ldYI
and His Tender Nursing Through
Her Last Illness OF The Sole Surviv-
ing Daughter of the Proud Family
of His Ante. BeIum ''Missus" Forms
Perhaps Its Most SacredIy Beautiful
Chapter.
BY THE LATE II. A. LATHAM.

There is one distinct type of the
Southern negro which is fast disappear
ing-that class of eX-slaVes who were
devoted to the master and his family,
remained loyal through the four years
of civil war wrought daily during that
period on the farm, guarded jealously
the safety of the women and children
while the master was on the field Of
battle, and was ever ready to resent
any unkind reflection upon the house
hold of which he coscientously belier-
ed himself an integral part.
With characteristics so different
from the Afro-American of today the
contrast commands attention-the few
"old time" negroes still living have the
confidence, esteem-yes, affection
and the highest consideration of all
who know them.
One of the most pronounced repre-
sentatives of this type is Uncle Barney
Green, 81 years old, restaufanteur in
the white cosmopolitan city of Ashe-
Vile, N. c. His position is pictures
que-a unique black setting i'm a great
white picture-he is one of the most
striking illustrations of unswervering
| loyalty and devition to the old family
that can be found in the South, and
his life story is of touching interest.
Barney Green, reStauranteur, nurse,
and minister of the gospel was born
in New Bern, N. c., July 4, 1913, ami
| was 80 years old last Independence
! Day. He belonged" as we say in the
! South, to the Pollock family; and to
! this day he never tires of reCounting
the wonderful accomplishments ana
many virtues of his dear old "missus,
| Mrs. Polly Pollock.
From earliest childhood Barney eX-
!
| position, and could always de depend
| ed upon implicitly to execute his mas
! ter's orders, and especially to care for
and protect the younger Poliocks,
whom he looked upon as his proteges.
almost his own property.
For four years the health. comfort
! and safety of the older son was in the
care of the faithful slave at Johns
! Hopkins. During Il seige of almost
! fatal illness, Barney kept the night
| vigils, administering to the sick man
| as skilIfully as a professional and as
devotedly as a mother.
! During the fratricidal war of 61-65
! no white man was more loyal to the
! Southern cause than this negro. sBy
| his industry and sturdy good judg-
| ment he kept the family in comfort
! able circumstances; and often by his
native cunning managed to smuggle
! boxes of good things through the lines
! to his master. He knew that the sue
cess of the Federal arms meant free
dom for him but he was often heard
! to say that "if Marse Abe cleans up
Marse Bob half of these niggers Will
| surely starve."
But Barney is a philosopher, and
when the end came he quietly ad
! justed himself to the changed con-
! ditions. He started a little restau-
rant for white people in his natlve
! town which prospered, and enabled
him to do much good to his fellow
men-always a pleasure to this big
! hearted darkey. No hungry or suf-
| fering suppliant ever left him empty
! handed Many a time has he rescued
| a human wreck, victim of drink or of
! ill fortune. furnished him bed board
and attention until able to work and
| to find something to do.
At his home this resourceful old
man was renowned for his fidelity in
the sick room, his skill as a cook, AMI
! his wierd and fascinating eloquence
as an eXhorter. Did any member of the
old masters family or any close friend
! fall sick, Barney nursed the patient 20
! health On all festival occasions Bar
| ney prepared the banquet; was there a.
"bad" Niger in the community, Bar
ney told him OF the tortures prepar-
| ed for the wicked in hell. If at first tie
! failed to convert he waxed eloquent,
| and after the manner of Mohammed
| in describing the hot winds and burn
/ ing sands of Gchenna. his arguments
were lurid, and so warm and fierce
! that the offending black saw the
! binding flame. felt the heat and snuff
! ed the fumes sulphuric.
Twice after the cival war he cared
1 for a grandson of his aged 'miSsus'
during their college years at Wake
| Forest North Cardinals leading Bap
/ tst collcge, and at the State Universi-
! ty 1t was at the latter place | first
saw Barney. For three years, until
young Pollock graduated, he saw to it
! that "Marse Stonewall" lacked for no
attention. in sickness or in health;
meanwhile he piled his trade. he cook
ed for a dub of twenty bows, an |
/ such cooking! How recall those ap-
petizing repasts! The grand old five
o'clock dinners, and midnight possum
suppers served up quite as tempt
/ \