Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-02-07
Uncle Tom.

think it was in the year SO, seated
/ behind my old roadster friend, Major. that
! started out TO visit another friend, Uncle
| Tom
The fall day was Heaven-like in its
/ purity. The beating kline in the pasture
I field could have been heard a mile. Who
has not rejoiced in such weather? The
birds seemed to enter into an entertain
ment for my special benefit before their
I departure TO their Southern home. Even the
| crows voice seemed musical that day.
and the fiickers tenor was grand.
But started out to say a word in favor
Of Uncle Tom. He was my fathers black
smith. Worked for him twenty-five years.
He was a Democrat, but am not sure
that he voted for Horace Greeley think
his voting was confined TO the primaries,
and am certain that he was the only
negro in Montgomery county that ever
voted with the Democrats.
He was my fathers "right-hand man"
He managed TO leave the shop in every
time Of harvesting. butchering and thresh-
ing, and he led in them all. By working at
night after close Of my fathers shop, he
accumulated enough to buy nice little
farm OF course, this took great deal Of
my fathers work from him, and he told
Tom that that kind Of money making must
be stopped, and il was.
Toms inordinate love Of the filthy lucre"
caused him to do some things that were
not just right. morally speaking. He kept
a "speak-easy" in his shop for the benefit
Of the soldiers that were encamped on my
fathers farm
General Willis P. German. the command
eT Of the brigade, was located in my faith
ers orchard. but ! am not certain that he
pstronized Toms bar. He was a powerful
man in statue. if not in morals, and got
most Of his bringing up in the State Of
Kentucky and the government Of Mime
sofa Tom was not the only dealer in
spurious beverages, and the temptation to
90 into that business was hard to resist.
White men were just about as guilty of the
crime as the blacks. A gallon of poor
whiskey for two dollars and retailed for
ten dollars was pretty profitable business. |
They were arresting soldiers every day
for drunkenness, and they sent out detec- |
uves to discover the business places and |
break up the establishment. Finally when |
Toms business had continued for six I
months, guard was sent to our shop and |
Tom. his striker, Isaac, and Sol, a field |
hand, were marched off to camp, and the |
three were treated to a repast of knotted |
the head Of the firm and therefore should |
have an extra dose. The beating put Tom !
in bed for week It broke up Toms bu- |
siness, for a week after the thrashine the |
shop burnt down.
Many years after that Tom worked steadi- |
y at his trade and made good living, too.
He lived to reach ninety-four years. Three
months before his death paid my visit to
him and received his parting blessing.
1t was the first time that gave Tom my
most honorable greeting, Uncle" and it
vas the first and last time that ever re-
'eived Toms grateful "Marse"
Totally blind. he could only recognize me
~ the sound Of my voice. and grasping his
land ! said, Good bye, Uncle Tom," and he
esponded, Good bye, Marse Amos, God
)less you.
Three months after that Tom was laid
n the cold ground, and doubt if even a
andstone marks his grave. Y.