The Meeker herald., 1913-08-30
UNCLE NOAH'S
FREEDOM
"A Lincoln Day
Story
~ cLARlssA r1Ackls

~ CLAklSoA 11AGAA6
-Huccoms yoh amt said nuGhn to ole
uparss about itr' demanded Aunt
Hessa ~ shs tossed . smoking sectioI
Of hoecaks on to Der husbands plate
Uncle Noah sighed and shook bis
white. woolly head II dunno. Hessa.
Somehow I CANT 1T de right lnspira-
ton to 'proach de kunnel on dat sub
&c."
Den I specs rs got to 20 alone.
Do Dorf il col place in winter. I've
been hearin', an it'll be mighty lone
some for dis niger woman widout her
husband eflons. but mebbs I'll eotch
de- brownkitts er somethin' q ruther
an die! Do yoh reckon dey buries po'
ded Niger foikses up der4 NcahT
Hessa's voice ended in . plaintive
moan.
Noah shIvered -Of co'ss dey buries
eberybody. old woman. only what's De
use Of goin' II yoh's 70 suah yoh'll DIET
what's de matter wid virginny for
awhiler'
The old man almost ducksd under the
table At the flaming wrath in Hessa's
syes- She pointed . scoenful finger at
him.
II knowed It'll knowed III Yoh'd
ruther stay Asah in slavery den to 90
noef an b. free an earn sights Of
mummy an some day b ridin' in yoh
own kerridgs. Dsy's big wages fob
black folkses mp dere, an I'm goin'
alone tomorrer IF yoh's too chicken liv-
cred to come eriong toor'
I'D like to % nightly. Hes. only l
dunno whut Do kunnel an ole miss
will do widout u.s." protested Noah
weakly. .Now. Dc kunnsl has only one
arm left
.shucksr' explodsd 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 Parttdgs's plantation
and had lived happily all through tbs
years Of q kind matters supervision.
now that President Lincoln had pro-
claimed that all slaves should Be eman-
cipated ON and after the LIT day Of
January. 1853, It 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.
An the cthse slavss - tAs Partidss
plantation kad run away durins tbs
(hgeslsfs eseeeasg- - >mU- ua0tossE
Oniy UncIs Noah, ths family butler.
and Hsasa, the cook. had remained
fAithful. But relatives who wers pre-
pairing to take advantaes Of their nav.
" acquired freedom were working upon
Hsssa's feelings.
Colonel Partridge and his wife sat In
the small study adjoining tho sitting
room It was a warmer room and more
easily heated BY the pine logs in the
wide fireplace. Outside 1t was crisp
and cold. with light fall Of snow on
the ground. Within the study It was
warm and coy and comfortable.
There was a crimson glow over the
polished mahogany tables and chairs
and over the ro0s Of books on the
shelves. The heavy damask curtains
and table covers had vanished. They
>Sere serving al blankets for soldiers In
the Confederate army.
what are you thinking about Rich
ardY' asked Mrs. Partridge after awhile.
She was knitting wooden socks for the
soldiers. and her delicate white fingers
worked as willingly AZ they had ever
done ON dainty embroidery. She was
= woman past middle age. and the
strenuous time she was passing
through was leaving its blighting i'm,
print upon her. She had sent three
sons to the war and had received them
hack agaiu-to be buried in the family
tomb. Her husband had gone forth
strong and hale and vigorous. and be
had come back minus one arm and
quite broken in health, with old age
pressing heavily upon his grief smittsn
heart. With the desertion Of hh slaves
the revenue from his plantation dwin-
died to mere pittance.
II Uncle Noah and his wife had not
remained faithful It would have gone
hard with the Partidges. The old but
Ter had not scorned to become man of
all work about the place. and In add
ton to the little vegetable garden be
maintained there had been one COW
salvaGed from the large herd that once
graxed on the pastures.
What are you thinking Of. dearT'
asked Mrs. Partridge after awhile.
The colonel looked up from his sad
contemplation Of the kissing Ore.
Il was wondering what We would
10 II Noah and Hessa should decide to
60 away" he answered quietly.
.Oh. Richard. have they spoken to
your Mrs. Partidge's gray eyes nlled
with tears.
He shook bis head. mo. but Blythe
says that nine Of his negroes are going
tomorrow. and one Of them told him
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