Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-12-07
CHAPTER II.
S NJ Beasley's Story.

wish 10 correct q mistake made in
my first chapter. The mention made
of forty rods was meant to read forty
yards
My first chapter closed while my
thoughts were dwelling on the ninth
year of my life. Many impressions
had been made upon my mind and les
sons learned that have aided me through
life morally, industrially and religious
ly, the cultivation of which has been a
comfort to me all through life. had
learned very little of politics or church
economy up to this time but as the
Polk aud Clay Campaign was now on
hand and the question of slave holding
in the Methodist Episcopal Church was
being agitated l began to learn some
thing Of public affairs. Father was a
great talker and a strong whig, so he
did his yelling for the big mouthed
Clay, and when that worthy was de.
feated father said the best man was
beaten. | believed he was right, |
think so still
Well when one Of tie Chief Magis-
trates Of the Methodist Church had
married gang of negroes, contrary TO
church laws. The offender was brought
to law and his offence strongly discussed
for aud against. Charges We're prepared
but that pretended servant of God re-
fused to divorce his negroes and went
TO work to break the bonds of Method
ism. Having a strong alliance of the
same mind the effort proved a success.
Men married negroes in those days as
they marry money in these days. 1t
was a big thing in those days to set a
negro free, but it is little thing in
these days to set (should be lifetime
companion free. In those days four
year old negro boy counted for four
hundred dollars. A twenty year old
negro man for twelve hundred dollars.
a stout, healthy, black negro woman
was worth one thousand dollars, and a
bright mulattO girl, with a beautiful
form and pleasant countenance, would
sell for eighteen hundred dollars, OF
course, it was only negro lovers that
would buy them. But during the
wear aud tear of the Sixties the value
mark was rubbed off so completely that
the entire lot would not sell for one
hundred cents.
Well the Clay defeat and the Church
divide so completely upset my father
that he resolved to quit the public roaC
and get out of hearing of the tantalizing
hog drivers.
He went over a mountain, pitched {
tent, bullded cabin, cleared a field,
rented ten acres of good land two mile
from home, raised fine crop of corr
on the new ground and fine crop o
corn and pumpkins on the land rented
But still he was not satisfied. So bf
looked out another place, ten mne
away, still deeper into the unbrokel
forest. So he settled the question o
moving to t, at place before Christmas
building a cabin and being ready t.
commence clearing land for the mex
crop on the first day of the year.
was his custom to begin clearing uev
ground on the first day of the year
seemingly to give himself good time t.
clear, cultivate and gather in time t
move to another place and begin an
other clearing on the first day of tn
next year ! suppose that most peopi
remember their hardest. meanest an
darkest duties done in life. So thin
the hardest job of my life was done i
September and October Of the elevent
year of my life. The fact was settle
that we should move ten miles ava
aud that it was too far to move pump
kins, so mother insisted that she mu,
dry enough through those Fall month
10 furnish our table through the winte
Plenty of pumpkins were ripening j
the standing corn two miles away 3
father appointed my brother next oldt
than /, and myself, to the work of cal