Milford chronicle., 1930-10-17
OLD DSLAVEFARM
"SILVER HILL"
Alice Breme

1t is sunset. A golden glow
bathes the earth in its soft light
The sun, shedding rosy rays over
all the sky, is fast sinking behind
the hill. 1t fingers, gazing long al
Milford tOwn-then it disappears.
In the fields of farm just outside
of Milford number of men should
er their hoes and other implements
and start back to the farmhouse.
They are slaves returning from the
days hard labor in the fields. All
day they have been working under
the eye and hand of a "po' white
trash" overseer whose heart is in
his pocket with the money-bag he
will fill by driving the negroes. One
OF their number, an old man whom
we shall call Sam, is so exhausted
that he is helped along by some of
the younger men.
Now they have reached the barns.
The oVerseer goes on up to the
mansion where the Master will pay
him off and send him on into town
where his home is; but the slaves
singing now because their work is
almost over, feed the livestock,
while their women prepare the eve
ming meal. While they are thus en-
gagged let us look about us to see
what manner of place we are in.
1t is easy to see that the mansion
is the center of the farm, for in it
the Master and Mistress live. It is
large brick house set on a hill. |
A minister by the name of Thorne
built it in 1879 and brought the
bricks from England. Today this
house stands on the hill on West |
Front street and is known as "Sil-
yer HILL" This home is built in the
style of most houses of that time.
1t has an imposing front entrance
which opens into a reception hall.
Beyond this are two large rooms
parlor and dining room. The
rest of the rooms seem to be built
around these two rooms. In the
middle part it is three stories high.
but the east and west wings are
only one and half stories. If we
ook in the kitchen now we see old
chloe, the cook, busily cooking the
supper and singing all the while.
She must be very careful tonight,
or there is a guest from the North,
md she must show him that color
I'd people can cook.
Up in her bedroom the Mistress of
he mansion is dressing for supper
While her husband and the guest
re looking at the farm. At last,
7hen she hears them returning, she
the steps and leads the
ray into the dining room. During
upper the conversation turns to I
he farm and the slaves.
You say there are no large plan Z
atoms around here" asks the man !
rom the north. I'VE have large 1
arms around here that we call I
Limitations but they can't be COM a
ared to the ones farther SOUTH" q
eplies the Master. "Yet you have &
Imost as many slaves here as they II
farther SOUTH" persists the other. u,
Sir" says the Master leaning for
ard, "A man is considered poor II
hite trash in this part of the cOun- d
y if he doesn't own slaves" u
The northern guest turns his eyes S'
the window and looks out. He
es the large barns, store-houses, 81
i'd stables of the Master. His eyes lo
st longer, however, on the line of e!
bins that extends down the lane oi
en- into the glade of trees beyond. III
; knows these are the slave quar- eA
rs for he can see through the open OF
ors and windows that the negroes Dr
e eating their meal also. He is III
ought back to earth by the voice III
the Mistress. Wont you have hs
IRE of Chloe's mashed potatoes,
=? They are delicious" So the
nversation picks up again.
You do not waste much time or nj
'ney on homes for your help at WI
y rate" the northerner remarks. 19
e reply, although it is the COM al.
IN belief of all southerners, In
rites the guest. "Why should I, tn,
.? These niggers are the same as tu
cattle and horses. Some of 'em ye
mt even as inteIlieent as q bOrsa Io,