The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-06-19
UNCLE NOAH'S
FREEDOM
a Lincoln Day
Story
BY CLARIsSA MAcKIE

"Huceome yoh amt said muffin to ole
marse about itY' demanded Aunt
Hessa as she tossed a smoking section
OF hoecake on TO her husbands plate.
Uncle Noah sighed and shook bis
white, woolly head. 81 dunno. Hessa.
Somehow ! cain't git de right inspira.
ton TO 'proaeh de kunnel on dat sub
jec'."
Den l specs rs got to go alone.
DE norf is a col place in winter, I've
been hearin', an It'll be mighty lone
some for dis niger woman widout her
husband erlong. but mebbe I'll cotch
de brownkitts er somethin' er ruther
an die! Do yoh reckon dey buries Do
ded niger folkses up dere. NoahY
Hessa's voice ended in a plaintiye
moan.
Noah shivered "of co'se dey buries
eberybody, old woman. only what's de
use of goin' II yoh's so suah yoh'll dief
What's de matter wild virginny for
! awbileT
The old man almost ducked under the
table at the flaming wrath in Hessa's
eyes. She pointed a scornful finger at
/ him.
Il knowed It'll knowed I'll Yoh'd
ruther stay heah In slavery den to 20
norf an be free an earn sights of
munney an some day be ridin' in yoh
own kerridge. Dey's big wages fob
black folkses up dere, an I'm goin'
alone tomorrer ef yoh's too chicken liy.
cred to come erlong toop
I'D like to go nightly, Hess, only
dunno whut de kunnel an ole miss
will do widout u.s." protested Noah
weakly. Nov, de kunnel has only one
arm left'-
"ShucksT exploded Aunt Hessa i'm.
patiently, and forthwith she proceeded
to convince her wavering husband that,
although they had both been born and
raised on Colonel Partidges plantation
and had lived happily all through the
years of a kind masters supervision.
now that President Lincoln had pro-
claimed that all slaves should be eman-
cipated on and after the 1st day Of
January, 1868, 1t was their bounden
duty to take advantage of the liberty |
that had come to them and hasten !
northward to the land Of plenty of |
money.
All the other slaves on the Partridge
plantation had run away during the
colonePs absence on the battlefield.
Only Uncle Noah, the family butler,
and Hessa, the cook, had remained
faithful But relatives who were pre-
pairing to take advantage of their new.
ly acquired freedom were working upon
Hessa's feelings.
Colonel Partridge and his wife sat in
the small study adjoining the sitting
room. 1t was warmer room and more
easily heated by the pine logs in the
wide fireplace. Outside it was crisp
and cold. with light fall of snow on
the ground. Within the study it was
warm and cozy and comfortable.
There was crimson glow over the
polished mahogany tables and chairs
and over the rows of books on the
shelves. The heavy damask curtains
and table covers had vanished. They
were serving as blankets for soldiers in
the Confederate army.
What are you thinking about, Rich.
ardT' asked Mrs. Partridge after awhile.
She was knitting woolen socks for the
soldiers. and her delicate white fingers
worked as willingly as they had ever
lone on dainty embroidery. She was
woman past middle age, and the
strenuous time she was passing u
through was leaving its blighting i'm
print upon her. She had sent three
IONS to the war and had received them
back again-to be buried in the family
omb. Her husband had gone forth
'trong and hale and vigorous, and he
lad come back minus one arm and U
Iuite broken In health, with old age >
'ressing heavily upon his grief smitten y
leart With the desertion of his slaves
he revenue from his plantation dwin- 9
lied to mere plttance. I
II Uncle Noah and his wife had not
emained faithful 1t would have gone
ard with the Partidges. The old but $
er had not scorned to become man Of
II work about the place, and in addi- a
lon to the little vegetable garden he y
1aintained there had been one COW
alvaged from the large herd that once "
razed on the pastures j.
What are you thinking of. dear?" 81
sked Mrs. Partridge after awhile. "a
The colonel looked up from his sad II
Of the kissing fire.
Il was wondering what we would N
II Noah and Hessa should decide to G;
D away" he answered quietly. sc
"Oh. Richard, have they spoken to nj
pup Mrs. Partidge's gray eyes filed bl
18th tears. m
He shook his head mo, but Blythe |
lys that nine Of his negroes are going al
morrow. and one OF them told him -bt
lat our Hessa and Noah were going
o. 10
Without word to us? Richard. / al
ardly think they. would do IT," falter- "a
his wife.
ut Is their right. Catherine. Perhaps fe
ley are afraid to speak to me. / fu
ish they would go openly. | want M
give them something for a new
art In life They are old. Catherine. er
st as we are. but they are as inno- be
mt children In the face OF the world du
ey will meet Butt The colonel de