|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 31
A wealthy gentleman being informed that a poor Irish widow in his
neighborhood was likely to suffer for provisions; went immediately to
her cabin in order to ascertain her condition. When about taking his
leave, he remarked to the widow, "if she would send over, she could
have some Irish potatoes, and any other articles of food that her
family needed."
"Bless your dear soul," replied the widow, "when you undertake to do a
good and charitable deed, and sarve the Lord Jasus, if you expect a
blessing on your soul, don't half do the thing, and leave a poor widow
to do the other half. Go home and send the potatoes, and send some
meat to cook with the potatoes, and send meal to make bread, to eat
with the meat; and then may ye expect a blessing on yer soul." The
gentleman returned home and complied with her request.
Whatever the faults of Southern slaveholders may be, and they are
many, these are redeeming traits in their characters; nor are they so
devoid of sympathy for their slaves, as is generally supposed in the
North. I know that they are represented by a certain class in the
North, as a set of tyrants, ruling their slaves with a rod of iron.
All such representations are untrue, for a majority of them seldom
correct an adult slave with the rod, except as a punishment for some
flagitious crime, for which a white man would be fined or imprisoned,
or else, confined in the State penitentiary.
Go to the field, and there you will find the aged slave and his
master, busily engaged in the same employment; listen to their kind
and familiar converse. Direct your steps from thence to the parlor,
and there behold the aged house-woman and her mistress, seated side by
side. Listen to the soothing and affectionate tones of this amiable
lady, and behold the happy, joyful countenance, of this aged African.
Cast your eyes around the splendid mansion, and behold the
indiscriminate groups of white and black children, chattering,
skipping, jumping, wrestling or rolling over the fine Turkey carpet.
If freedom was tendered to these aged slaves, what think you, would
they accept it? No, they would spurn the offer with indignation. They
are happier than their masters or mistresses, and they well know it.
They are provided for; partake of the same food, while they are exempt
from the cares which perplex and embarrass, and too often embitter the
lives of those who have charge of families. A large majority of the
slaves in the Southern States are contented and happy. This will
appear to many, no doubt, improbable. Nevertheless, it is true. If
African character was generally better understood, it would silence
much of that clamor and agitation of the subject, which is so annoying
to all patriotic, peaceable and good citizens. The African desires but
little, and aspires to but little; consequently it requires but little
to render, him happy. Happiness consists in the gratification of our
appetites, passions and propensities. Those of the African, occupy but
a small space; therefore but little is necessary to satisfy him. On
the contrary; the appetites, passions and propensities of the
Anglo-Saxon are boundless; therefore, much is requisite for their
happiness, or otherwise to satisfy them. For this reason, an
individual may be miserable, though he possess all the comforts and
luxuries that the world can afford; and he may be happy with a bare
sufficiency of coarse food and coarse clothing. He that is satisfied
with what he has, is happy; be it little or much. Slaves, as a general
rule, are happy in a state of servitude, because in a state of
servitude they have all that they desire--all to which they aspire.
Hence the evils of slavery, so far as the slave is concerned, are more
in appearance than reality, because the African is happy under
circumstances, in which an Anglo-Saxon would be miserable.
In the present condition of the African race they are happier as
slaves, than they would be as free men, because they are incapable of
providing for themselves, and are therefore incompetent to enjoy the
rights and privileges of free men.
I could fill a volume with anecdotes, which ought to make those who
vilify and traduce slaveholders blush for shame; but I have neither
time nor space at present. I will, however, relate one and pass on. I
visited professionally, many years ago, an aged infidel. A more
benevolent man I have seldom seen. Humanity appeared to be a
constituent element in his composition, and kindness an innate
principle of his heart. In one corner of the yard, in a log cabin,
lived a pious old slave with his family. It was the custom of the old
slave to pray in his family every night before retiring to bed. Old
massa was never forgotten in his prayers. He never failed to present
him before a throne of grace. The old infidel never doubted the
sincerity of his slave, nor yet the purity of his motives, though he
sincerely believed that it was all delusion. He had listened for many
years to the prayers of this slave, and could distinctly hear the
slave pray for "old massa." Some years after my first visit to this
worthy old gentleman, he was suddenly taken very ill. I was again
summoned to his aid. All my efforts availed nothing; he must die. All
hopes of his recovery were abandoned. Then did the prayers of the poor
old slave become long and loud. "Massa must die, and must he die
unprepared? O Lord, spare him--O Lord, convert him--O Lord, save him,"
was the prayer of the slave. While the slave was praying an arrow
pierced the infidels heart, and he cried aloud for mercy. The slave
was invited into the house, and he knelt at the bed-side of his dying
master, and there petitioned a throne of grace in his behalf. The old
infidel made a profession of religion, and shortly afterwards died
happy.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|