The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-01-10

@ WsgEoGmed man man to a. i Memphis
letter in the hotel mail box.
"My name is William J. Whipple,' he con-
tinued Il was born in Middle Tennessee but
Tor years / have travelled out of Louisville for
wholesale house, and of course my family lived
here
This old Uncle Ben spoke about is ne
gro. Before the war he was a slave belonging
to my father. ! suppose he is past 80 now, but
like him, drat his old black hide and right now
II give new $40 bill to see him walking down
his lobby
He used to be in charge OF us boys back on
he big plantation and manr's the time he has
whipped me and scolded my sisters for some
FRANKS we Lad played.
There is a negro who has never forgotten his
cachings He is proud of the Whipple name
md we are proud that he has adopted IT, for II
here is an honest, upright man living, its that
I'D negro
After the war. when Tennessee was practi-
allv devastated by Rosecrans army that camped
IN Stones River following the battle. Ben helped
is get another start Finally my father gave him
4 little farm on the edge OF the Raccoon Noun
tains settlement and Ben moved there with his
family.
81 remer3ber the night my father died. We
were all at home-one sister from the Pacific
Coast. another from New York, and myself for
/ still lived at the old home
1T was a cold, dreary night. The wind howled
through the cedars in the front yard, echong
their mournful sounds in the hallway-and about
the gaping fireplace where big wood IRE
burned.
Hello we heard [ opened the door and
was greeted.
Ills me, Massa Whipplc Abs Ben. Ans
cuu as fas' as An could when All hearn ole
nassa's illness an All hopes All got heah beto
ne dead
II walked toward the front gate to meet him
Crasping his hand helped him along until we
we're in the sitting room.
II offered him a seat by the side oI hIV
Tor ne seemed almost frozen.
~ cad me to niassa he said. All wants TO
ook into his face an heah him call my name
les LAX he done beio us niggahs got free
81 was speechless. Lifting him to his ieet
escorted him to the room where my father lay
cold in death He saw he was too late, and
neeIine bv his side. he prayed for all OF us then
called out: 'Massa Massa! Can't you heah me
Abs done come back to see you agin!
"His grief was pitiful. We allowed him To-
stav there for ten or fifteen minutes, then tooN
him to his room, where he remained Tor inc
night .-..
'rhe funeral was set for the next afternoon
The undertaken came and before we knew IL
Uncle Ben had applied for the privilege OF driv-
ing the hearse
s,T demonstrated with him, but it was OF no
usc sAh's qwine to drive dc hcarsc wild Massa
Winnie ne said Abs done drv him mos all
nah life. an Abs gwine to drive him de las
time tn
~ smoke TO the undertaken, and made 1t all
rigbt Time for the funeral came and looked
ont There was Uncle Ben sitting on the driver
scat. with the same clothes he wore when ne
used TO drive father and mother TO town behind
our good horses s-:....i- .,..-,
after the funeral and when our IrleuuS We'e
leaving the cemetery, I noticed a commouon
down bv the hearsc Walking over that way J
heard Uncle Ben saying
"'Ah's not gvine to drive dat thing back to
town -.,,-.
a'Sb don't car, il YOU haiut Abs done drive
Nr,esa VVhipplc TO- his last ride. an dat all An
o,yire TO do Abs gyinc back IN young massa
I've tried to induce him TO drive the hearse
hack but he refused, and was compelled TO let
him ride i'm our rig, while my driver look care
of the hearse and team . ill.
ar don't know I'm these days what some loiNs
,,,,,id saw If I was 20 admit that never get near
I-,cic pcr that I don't spend day al ms house
Ito NAV be- black but his heart is WHITE ana "e
10 ,,,c entertain for him is stronger because OF
49, lo,,slt, shown al fathers funeral nave
- permitted Thanksgiving To- come that J.
t,r't eerd Uncle Ben a check covering me price
- \ GOOD turkey dinner, and always send Nun
fine Christmas present. t-.t.,,,,
~ am Iate this yea. but he viii be looking
f,r that turkey money, and ] Wouldn disaP-
noint him for the world. viii.
"yVcU I'm glad 90 have met YOU SAID WIiP
mic IL hope YOU have much to be 'n'nNl"' ''''
] have.