Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-08-24
opyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1871.

Inc year lSbO uldTkeu the acme OF
plantation life in the south. life
which only persons now quite old have
lived. There were two sides to slavery
the one as represented by the kind
master, the other by the man who
considered his slave rs a mere piece of
property. Naturally the families of
ed society of their own, and it was
among these especially that instances
of fidelity and attachment occurred.
Born to be ruled and taken care Of by
their masters as child is brought
up by its parents. many Of these ne
groes, after the war had set them free.
chung to their former owners and the
old plantation homes. 1t was there that
the negro worked by day in the cotton
field and in the evening sang those
melodies, a product of the period. ex-
pressing condition that died with
the advent of emancipation. The rela-
tons between master and slave have
passed away with the system. and the
following incident, told me few years
after the close Of the war which abol-
ished that system. could not possibly
occur today:
After the surrender at Appomattox
| had occasion to travel through a por-
ton of the south. In Tennessee | found
a plantation to which a large number
Of the negroes who had lived on it as
slaves adhered as freed men Their
master, quite an old man now, paid
them wages which they had not as
yet learned 20 handle for themselves
Interested TO know how they liked the
change. approached a darby about
thirty years old who was saving
wood. and questioned him
DO YOU darkIeS ike the way yon
live better than when yon were
slaves|
some oh en- 'pr1r, To- ike b.. II they
like to wo'k rurm tna don't uke To
wok don't ike 70 81 wen - npt0
cause # dey don [ WON dpy don git
nottin 60 eat
How do YOU tpel JhrHt it,
Ma case air quar-. nain't got no
feeins about IL Dere'S p1nt what
goes around with me--uO; a real hant
rolled up III IA sheet. but hant Oh dc
feelins. / don't take no interest IN
anything. I'm Il Kind ob Il dead mig
ger
he had stopped in his wood saving
and looked out over the landscape with
a sorrowful gaze. ! waited feeling
thar ne mad story to tell and he
would tell it without urging. | was
not disappointed
Il was bon 90 ne continued. ION de
same day as Missy Della, an her
nanny was my mOthe'. Conscience
was dat when we two chillen was lit
tie we was tocedder all de time.
hear'n people SAY when we was three
or fou' yea old. goin roun' with on
AIMS roun each udder. how quar- my
black face looked alongside her white
one. TO her skin war white an pink.
an her mar war like yaller silk.
when Missy Della growed older
she couldn't do nuft 70 me. an | war
jist ready TO give up de ghOs' 70 her
any time Fl she wanted anything
done all she had TO do war to say,
Julius. you do dat TO me, won't yo'
please" Lawd what de use oh speak
In d>k way 70 Il niger: done it
mighty quick. an wanted TO keep on
dom things lax dat TO her all de time
/ couldn't git nun OF 'em 10 do
"Dpn Cunnel 81 Glars son. Harry.
come along, an / saw might quick
DAT he an Missy Della war lubbers.
He war a dne loobln young man
Mars Harry war-tall an straight.
with black curly ha r. an might diff
fe'nt from Missy Della. who looked
TAX a peach When his fathe gwine
die be nab a big Plantation an q thou
sand niggrrs. II was all settled dat
Missy Dcna gwine 10 marry him when
de wah broke out
"Co'Se Mars Harry he gwine to de
wah TAX de udder young gentlemen.
He go with de cavalry as cap'n. Do
yo' see dat gallery up dab front oh de
plantation house? Well. il war right
dar dat Missy Della says TO me. Ju-
Illus. will 20 do somep'n TO me| An
SdNSs MISE. lftlid. w W EO iiEhN
down TO de- ribber an drown maself.
An she says ! don't want yo' TO
drown yoself want yo' TO lib
VIVA TO. Missy nclia?' 'Fo' TO talk
car my Harry. want yo' TO go TO
de wah with him as his servant, TO
to TAX car o. his hose an all dat
an want 20 to keep him from
ham ms much as yo' kin An if he
gets sick or wounded want yo' TO
TAX car q him nm send or bring me
wo'd as soon as possible viii yo' do
dat 70 me. JuliusT
Her eyes war wet when she said
dis. an Ink 10 cried maself. seein
her cry An ! said. Missy Della. !
go with Mars Harry. an | bring him
back safe an SCUM to you. ma
honey
I'VE was standin' right on de top
step up dar between de two pillars in
de middle. She TAX ma hand in bofe
oh hern an look at me out oh her
n a.