The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-04-28
THE DEVOTION OF
CALHOUN NEGROES

1O1lO w
delity of the slaves belonging to the
Calhouns of Abbeville:
"We all know some one or two old
time darkies with lovable characters
whose truth and honesty could be de-
pended on and who almost seemed a
part of the family. Such a one was
the h~ousekeeper, old Aunt Caroline,
in the Calhoun family. When the ne
groes were declared free she went on
the even tenor of her way, attending
to her duties as faithfully as ever,
never betraying by word or look that
she knew she was free, asking no
questions, demanding no wages, as
Stunning no free negro airs until the
subject was breathed to her by her
former owners, and she was asked
what she expected for her services.
Her answer was to do as they
thought right and she knew it would
be right So, with the modest wages
she was offered, she kept on at her
daily duties, with the same humble
devotion as before she was free.
When she began to feel the weight
of years her 'Ole Marster' built her
a two room frame house not far
from his home, where she could have
her garden and chickens, and could
come every day to the big house to
comb sOle Miss hair and do other
things that didn't tax her strength,
and for this she was cared for until
she died. When she passed away
the family felt as if they had lost a
friend and the tears shed over her
were those of genuine sorrow. Her
only child, Harriet, took her place
and served faithfully until her death.
"Aunt Caroline's character de-
mands more than a passing tribute,
as she was a type that is seldom seen
nowadays and commanded not only
affection but respect from both white
and black. She had gentle, digni-
fed, tactful ways and her morals
were above %reproach. She was a
close observer and generally formed
her own opinion of visitors at the
house. Of n she said she didn't
think she had come from high quail
ity' folks, and being asked her rea-
son for thinking so, she said, She
don't hold her fork the right way
Of another she formed a similar
opinion because she didn't use as
many towels as the real quality
When will we ever see her like
again? If there is seat higher
than another in heaven it may
chance that some who hold themsel-
yes far above this humble, unedu-
Gated darkey will have to look up to
see her in the next life.
Henry Hid the Silver.
"When the Yankee army came
through Abbeville county they ap-
propriated silver, jewels, horses or
anything that happened to take their
fancy, as was their habit, and there
was much discussion as to what to
do with the valuables. Henry, known
as the Black Prince stepped for
ward and said, 'Ole Miss, don't you
worry, just give me your silver and
I'll put it where the Yankees cans
get it. So it was all put in his care
and he took it., no enc knows where.
'Ole Miss didn't know but that Her.
ry had gone to meet the Yankees
and sold it to them, as an ordinary
darkey would have been tempted 20
do. No questions were asked ard
after all the stragglers had passed
on several weeks afterwards he was
told to bring the silver back. Again
he disappeared in the woods and
when he came back every piece was
there. He buried it in the swamps
and some of it showed marks of
where the spade, maybe, struck it
when it was being dug up.
"Henry was one of the many loyal
and faithful slaves in the Calhoun
family and remained in it until his
death. Although quite old and
with now white hair, he served as
butler at my wedding reception"
UTs4I LID xl-~z --4-1