The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-10
SAD DAYS.

IKNEBRuARY and March of 1865 were depresslngly gloomy months with \ us at Eastwood. The weather was bitterly cold, and even after the middle of March there was snow whirling through the sullen air. The poor repre- sentatives of our former sleek herd and teams were but few now, and it was with the utmost difficulty that we could provide provender sufficient for them Comfortable straw-bedding in the stables had long been a thing of the past, and recourse was had to "pine-needles" and leaves, as Joe could rake them together
 In the woods. There was one horse on inc plantation that was looked after with special solicitude, and of him grand mother would often ask, Henry, is old Jerry comfortable tonight?" Jerry was 25 years old and was almost human. He had been grandfathers riding horse, and mad never been mounted since the colo ners death. He was treated with sacred ness Such a thing as hitching him to a sart or buggy never occurred to any one Ut Eastwood He was of the magnifi- rent "Senator'' stock, noted for their kndlness, their intelligence and their sterling qualities. Many a time did yo to the stable in those terrible days to |-alk to Jerry" and many a time did ,hed tears al the thought that he was hungry; and through my sobs, as I kugged him around the neck, I would Jay, Jerry, dear Jerry, we are doing he best we can; don't think we neglect fou, we all love you; and better times Will come" Then l would tell him, that. when spring came he should have nice weet grass and that would take him Town to the Tow grounds where, per ,aps, he would find some clover I think hat my loving vists to Jerry did him Iood, for he understood that he was not 'orsaken. The following fall deaf old Terry died. My heart was broken. I re- member, that, after prayers on the night I If the day that he breathed his last. I lslSed grandmother, "Grandmother, have lorses souls? For, If they have I know
 hat Jerry has gone to Paradise"
 . We, in de big house. as the servants ,alled Eastwood-house, knew that our pantry supplies were constantly vanish . ng; therefore, the closest frugality was ,racticed, our meals being of the sim. slest character. A number of times, how | lyer, when we thought we had reached
 he end of our meat supply Uncle Hen
 " would appear with ham, or a side If smoked bacon. When asked where
 le found it, he would smile and say: ''ecuse me, mistiss; it's hon'ble bacon,
 h. trus old Henry" After the war we
 understood 1t all. Old Nanny, Sarah, Too and Uncle Henry were in the se-
 ret Three years before the end of the
 ,reat struggle house in the quarters
 lad been whitewashed and fitted up as
 |. meat house. and at hog-killng time
 1t least a third Of the meat had been
 ecretly placed therein fur harder times,
 ts Mammy said. This was done each
 rear The secret they kept inviolate, and
 Uncle Henry had fastened the key of the
 neat house to a string which he always
 gore about his neck. Not piece of ba-
 on had they ever taken for themselves,
 hough they must have gone hungry many
 inies. We hear much of the negro
 problem" in these days, but fin ante
 ellunl times we never heard of such a
 problem, except as a few overseers would
 make the colored people discontented To
 Ech people the negroes were triggers !"
 !. term that I never heard applied to one
 f ou.' servants. At Eastwood they were
 ways called "our servants" although They themselves would sometimes char
 cterize an ill-natured member of their
 ace as "a low-down nigger."
 Not only was there much sadness at
 Eastwood at the time of which I am
 rriting, on account of the poverty that
 tas pinching us. but worse still, the
 nuse of the Confectionery was crumbling
 pieces Federal forces occupied much
 southern territory. and while the Con-
 bderacy had only about 10000 men in
 rms, the northern government had over
 million men in the field. The cause
 fas hopeless. The Confederate congress
 ras about to adjourn sine die and did D. very soon after the rumor reached
 fllat 1t would.
 In addition to all these things there