The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-08-24

Faithfulness of Former Slave
Who Now Lives in Lumber
ton-Thriving Rowland-A
Description of Aunt Becky
Other Matters.
Correspondence of The Robesonian.
The intense heat of these latter
days is very trying on dilapidat-
ed old folks such as I, and it
requires a great deal of will pow
er to get started on any task,
however light and trivial; but it
will not do to give up; we must
keep moving and doing our little
share in the great field of life.
| have just returned from a
flying trip across the big branch,
which in wet weather is often
so deep as to come over the aXles
of vehicles, but is now only a
tiny stream, which I easily
stepped across. l met in the
cool shady ford bright-faced
neighbor boy, happy in the pos
session of a pretty little hound
puppy, procured from a neigh
Dor, which he was proudly car
rying home in his arms with
bright anticipations, no doubt, Of
future joys in the chase.
! On Saturday of last week,
Wash. Mcqueen, colored, Of
your town, but formerly of this
section, paid us a visit. Wash.
was a slave owned by my par
ents and was born and reared en-
the old Queensdale plantation,
also the home of my own nativi-
| ty, from which l have never de-
parted. | was glad to see this
relic of ante-bellum days, whose
fidelity and devotion to our fami-
ly was as firm and unmovable as
; the rocks of Gibralta, and will be
gratefully remembered by me so
long as life and reason remain.
During the war my father and
only brother were called into the
service, leaving my mother and
three young daughters unpro-
tected. Wash. was left in charge
= of the plantation, and all the bus
mess pertaining thereto, with
: the last solemn charge from my
father to take care of his help
less family; and nobly he per
formed every duty, made excel.
e lent crops, treated the stock hu.
namely, and looked after our in
terests with unfagging energy
. and care. l learned through
some of his influential white
d friends in your town before he
:, came that he was seeking the
- Office of janitor for the new cour
y house, and l wish through YOU
columns to recommend hin
for the position, and hope tha
- Aunt Becky's friends Throughout
the county will give him theil
: support, as a partial recompenst
!, for what he did for me and my
- family in the stormy days of tn
COS. l am confident that he will
discharge his duties satisfactori
ly,a he is intelligent, efficient, ant
- honest. He is getting old, is un
able longer to practice his life
r time profession (that Of barber
and this new position would b
suitable to him. regretted tolear
m that one gentleman of your tow
IN refused to sign his petition upo
of the plea that he was not sure O
Wash's honesty. If that gentle
man could have known tina
more times than one my fathe
sent him to the town of Fayette
ou vile with a 4-horse wagon loa
en- of cotton to market; how he sol
ire the cotton and brought home e0
EN- cry penny of the proceeds; hoy
ell he carried the keys of barns an
on cribs and enjoyed the implic
confidence of his owners, as we
as the entire community, perhar
/. he would not have wounded tn
old fellows pride and feelings b
- Withholding his signature.
The farmers are busy row-s
days in the fodder fields in tn
= sweltering heat, but they say it
fine weather to save the forage
? l spent last Wednesday nigh
\ in the thriving little town {
Rowland, among some of m
many kindred, and noted man
improvements since my last Wis
there. The new academy
nearing completion and will be
very handsome building, Will
on all sides I saw beautiful pr
G vate residences, recently bull
and some in course Of construt
k. ton. I carried my granddangl
ter, May Belle McLaurin, down
take the train for Latta, S. C
and brought back with me Mi:
Blanche Wiggins, who is at pre-
ent in our home a WELDON
guest.
The young people of the neigl
= borhood had a pleasant time la
! week at an ice cream supper
the home of Mr.. C. C. York ar
sister.
The trustees of Oak Gro7
: academy are having that bull
l, ing nicely painted, which will
quite an improvement to bo
looks and durability.
Well, Sarah Jane" l pror