All plantation reminiscences resemble a certain patchwork, made when
we were children, of bright pieces joined with black squares. The
black squares were not pretty, but if left out the character of the
quilt was lost. And so with the black faces--if left out of our home
pictures of the past, the character of the picture is destroyed.
What I have written is a simple record of facts in my experience,
without an imaginary scene or character; intended for the descendants
of those who owned slaves in the South, and who may in future wish to
know something of the lofty character and virtues of their ancestors.
The pictures are strictly true; and should it be thought by any that
the brightest have alone been selected, I can only say I knew no
others.
It would not be possible for any country to be entirely exempt from
crime and wickedness, and in Virginia, too, these existed; for
prisons, penitentiaries, and courts of justice were here, as
elsewhere, necessary; but it is my sincere belief that the majority of
Southern people were true and good. And that they have accomplished
more than any other nation toward civilizing and elevating the negro
race may be shown from the following paragraph in a late magazine:
"From a very early date the French had their establishment on the
western coast of Africa. In 1364 their ships visited that portion of
the world. But with all this long intercourse with the white man the
natives have profited little. Five centuries have not civilized them,
so as to be able to build up institutions of their own. Yet the French
have always succeeded better than the English with the negro and
Indian element."
Civilization and education are slow; for, says a modern writer:
"After the death of Roman intellectual activity, the seventh and
eighth centuries were justly called dark. If Christianity was to be
one of the factors in producing the present splendid enlightenment,
she had no time to lose, and she lost no time. She was the only power
at that day that could begin the work of enlightenment. And, starting
at the very bottom, she wrought for _nine hundred years_ alone. The
materials she had to work upon were stubborn and unmalleable. For one
must be somewhat civilized to have a taste for knowledge at all; and
one must know something to be civilized at all. She had to carry on
the double work of civilizing and educating. Her progress was
necessarily slow at first. But after some centuries it began to
increase in arithmetical progression until the sixteenth century."
Then our ancestors performed a great work--the work allotted them by
God, civilizing and elevating an inferior race in the scale of
intelligence and comfort. That this race may continue to improve, and
finally be the means of carrying the Gospel into their native Africa,
should be the prayer of every earnest Christian.
Never again will the negroes find a people so kind and true to them as
the Southerners have been.
There is much in our lives not intended for us to comprehend or
explain; but, believing that nothing happens by chance, and that our
forefathers have done their duty in the place it had pleased God to
call them, let us cherish their memory, and remember that the Lord God
Omnipotent reigneth.
"For he who rules each wondrous star,
And marks the feeble sparrow's fall,
Controls the destiny of man,
And guides events however small.
"Man's place of birth, his home, his friends,
Are planned and fixed by God alone--
'Life's lot is cast'--e'en death he sends
For some wise purpose of his own."
THE END.