Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1907-03-07
NO. 81
"OLD UNCLE BOB" +"
AffeCtiOndte Tribute Of His "YOunq
Master" to an Old Slaves
Memory.
Editor ARGUS:

Editor ARGUS:
No one who has ever experienced the
relationship ofmaster and sIavecan hav
a true idea of the affection, mutual
dependenceIupon each other and love,
similar in many respects to parent and
child, that existed between them.
Those who have experienced such a
condition will soon have passed away
from the affairs of this world. Who
has ever known a slave, man or
woman, who was grown when the war
was ended, that was not polite, indus
trious and ever respectful? Search the
records Of our courts and the search
will be in vain to find any of them
charged with criminal offence; and
while slavery was an institution that
few will now advocate, yet it, indeed,
| was blessing to the negro. 1t lifted
him from his low estate in his native
land, brought him in contact with
civilization and placed him on higher
plane than any negroes have experience
ed in the annals of history in their ma
tive land. I will not write of the negro
and slavery. 1t is subject too preg-
nant with facts for this article, but
these thoughts are suggested by the
death, last Sunday, of an old slave of
my late father.
Last Sunday, Feb. 24th., old ''Uncle
Bob' Lane bid adieu to this world.
Quietly and peacefully his spirit wing
ed its flight from the prison home of
the body. For nearly century he had
dwelt among us. Many are the Incl
dents,h could relate of events that none
now know of by personal experience.
Honest, faithful and true. May he rest
from his labors under the shade of the
trees.
have thought if there be recognition
beyond this life, what ecstacy of
joy there would be when "Uncle
Bob' should greet his old master in
the realms ef~light. How they would
talk of what has been. How each
would have many questions to ask. I
! know that "Uncle Bob' would be glad
to meet his old master, for he has told
l me that he wished that he and his
old master were back in the old home,
that freedom to him was the worst
slavery he had ever experienced.
Born in 1916: died in 1907. How few
have lived SO long. Witness the changes
that have taken place. Then this Sec
ton was a comparative wilderness:
Then the stage coach had not come: now
steam cars and electricity. But in all
the changes, man remains the same.
Human nature never changes. The
= same ambitions and aspirations ever
hold control of the human heart, and
y sad, indeed, is it when one with whom
we have been thrown in affectionate
Q association of a lifetime, is wrested
. from our sight.
IL Old "Uncle Bob'' is gone, but his
IS memory will never be obliterated: nor
of the times when he and his faithful
% wife, who yet lives, were faithful, con-
) tented slaves at the old home when the
u writer was boy, and how "Uncle
Z Bob came to me when I was in the
l. army.
!" ALI the proclamations of freedom
would never have caused him to waver
'o in his loyalty, for when the war ended,
10 he with the rest of my fathers slaves,
III except two, remained with us. They
) loved him as a master and they were
true and loyal when the bonds were
severed.
My earnest wish from the bottom OF
my heart is that old "Uncle Bob' may
rest in peace.
III Poor and once a slave,
With a heart ever brave.
True and honest while dwelling here,
D. May happiness be his lot in the un-
re- unknown sphere.
t. w. P. LANE.
70 Gold bOro N q March l 1907