Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-09-23
A MONUMENT TO SLAVES.
Tribute to Their Fidelity by MISS
SaIa-i m Southern Woman.

SOlari, n Southern Wom""'
In the hearts of the mighty fallen Is
deep rooted the feeling OF meXtin-
guishable gratitude to the loyal slaves
To whose care the women and children
were intrusted during the entire period
of the war between the states. 1t is
sentiment that still remains smolderlng
I'm the souls Of those who owned them.
TO those slaves who watched the fire
side. titled the soil, helped spin, weave
and make raiment for the master ana
his son on the battlefield to those
slaves who protected and provided Tor
the families at home-is due monu-
ment that will tell the story TO coming
generations that cannot be taught the
lesson of self sacrifice and devotion
of the slave In any other way II
time is ever ripe for noble deed, now
is that time, for the grand, courteous
southern slave owner is fast passing
AWAY. and to erect the monument
would be to hand down to poSterity an
omen book in which our southern chill
dren can learn that every negro is no
"black fiend." The north would not
understand the sentiment. or course
not.
Erecting this monument would inhu-
ence for good the present and coming
generations and prove that the people
of the south who owned slaves valued
and respected their good qualities as
no one else ever did or will do II
would bespeak the real conception OF
the affection of the owner toward the
slave and refute the ISLANDERS ana
falsehoods published in Uncle Tom
Cabin"
There did exist in the days of trlai
and hardship not only perfect under
standing. but the kindest sympathy,
and in thousands of plantations ana
homes where every white male on the
place able to bear arms would go 10
the battlefield the helpless families OF
women and children were left entirely
TO the care and protection of the trust
ed slaves.
No one who was rocked to sleep by
the sweet lullaby of the faithful blacR
"mammy." listened to her weird ghost
stories. nursed at her breast or played
about her cabin door would ever DC
willing to have these tender me- cries
die out. There is the side of sentiment
the side of gratitude, that those VINO
have felt the touch can never give VI
nor can they forget the debt due Inc
faithful 40 per cent Of slaves that re
manned with their masters after free
DOM"
Erect the monument. 1t will result
in much good. as it will tell future
generations that the white men of TIT
south were the negrO's best FRIENDS
then and that the men Of the soutl
are the negro's best friends today.
Instances portraying the fidelity o
the slaves might be told to fill endleS
volumes and would recite the sweetes
stories of heartfelt devotion, the mos
unselfish acts, prompted by pure love
self forgetting, they would sacriic
comfort-yea, even go hungry-an
with a smile serve those to whom the
felt an undying fealty. They could nc
express all they felt, but for nanny
'girl" or "boy" they could work an
suffer and teach q blessed lesson Q
endurance and glorifed fOrtitude 70
as Miss Dromgoole so sweetly eA
presses it:
Her face Is as black as ebon,
Wrinkled and scanned and old,
But her heart 1 know. is as white
snow
And true as the rarest gold.
Her brown hands, old and feeble
With the touch Of passing years,
Would Danish each trace OF care from IT
face
And brush from my heart the tears.
Nanny and friend, 1 loved her,
Humble and all unframed.
Rut love to trace in her love the face
That robber years have claimed.
Her face is as black as ebon,
Her soul as fair as the day,
And her prayers, know wherever go
VIII follow me all the way.
Confederate Veteran.