All plantation reminiscences resemble a certain patch-work, 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 high-toned 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 here, too, these existed; for prisons,
penitentiaries and courts of justice were, as elsewhere, important; but
it is a sincere belief that the majority of Southern people were true
and good. And that they have accomplished more than any other nation
towards 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 negro race find a people so kind and true to them
as the Southerners have been. For, said a gentleman the other day, who
lives in New York, "In the Northern cities white labor is preferred,
and the negroes are to be found on the outskirts, poor, wretched and
friendless."
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.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Rev. G. W. Leyburn.
[2] John Randolph, of Roanoke.
[3] John Preston, afterwards Governor of Virginia.
[4] On the route to "Rustic" was a small village called "Liberty,"
approaching which, and hearing the name, "English Louis" swore he would
not pass through any such "---- little Republican town," and turning
his horses travelled many miles out of his way to avoid it.
[5] From this vicinity went nine ministers, who were eminent in their
several churches; two Episcopal Bishops, one Methodist Bishop, three
distinguished Presbyterian and three Baptist divines of talent and fame.
[6] General Scott.
[7] Harpers Ferry.
[8] Here was seen the Mount Vernon silver, which had descended to Mrs.
General Washington's great-grandson, General Custis Lee, and which
was miraculously preserved during the war, having been concealed in
different places--and once was buried near Lexington in a barn, which
was occupied by the enemy several days.
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as
possible, including inconsistent hyphenation.
The following is a list of changes made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.
Page 12:
small servants, who speedily gat them into their clean aprons,
small servants, who speedily got them into their clean aprons,
Page 16:
Every inch of mahogony was waxed and rubbed to the highest state
Every inch of mahogany was waxed and rubbed to the highest state
Page 20:
and which always looked so pretty on the mahogony.
and which always looked so pretty on the mahogany.
Page 29:
"Oh!" replied another, the idea of us poor Virginia girls taking
"Oh!" replied another, "the idea of us poor Virginia girls taking
Page 30:
or by the gardener to direct the plauting of certain seeds or roots
or by the gardener to direct the planting of certain seeds or roots
Page 34:
not only to furnish their masters table with the choicest meats,
not only to furnish their master's table with the choicest meats,
Page 39:
four horses, with footman, postilion and driver in English livery.
four horses, with footman, postillion and driver in English livery.
Page 42:
of much smaller means than Virginia and South Corolina belles!
of much smaller means than Virginia and South Carolina belles!
Page 43:
who dwell in the desert are always pusilanimous and groveling!"
who dwell in the desert are always pusillanimous and groveling!"
Page 45:
At last, when the latter was seized with a contageous fever
At last, when the latter was seized with a contagious fever
Page 46:
Mr. Thackaray was once entertained at one of them.
Mr. Thackeray was once entertained at one of them.
Page 48:
At Magdalene College, Frances was left for a moment in a parlor,
At Magdalen College, Frances was left for a moment in a parlor,
Page 49:
A scene almost horrible ensued."
A scene almost horrible ensued.
Page 53:
the house at which he was stopping was beseiged by reporters
the house at which he was stopping was besieged by reporters
Page 54:
by the passage of a canon ball through the upper story,
by the passage of a cannon ball through the upper story,
Page 55:
paying all the bills, this genteman had no "rights" there whatever;
paying all the bills, this gentleman had no "rights" there whatever;
Her furniture was polished mahogony, and she kept most delicious
Her furniture was polished mahogany, and she kept most delicious
Page 62:
of Southern eloquence--real, soul-inspiring eloquence?
of Southern eloquence--real, soul-inspiring eloquence!
Page 63
Soon after this was the surrender at Appomatox, and negro slavery
Soon after this was the surrender at Appomattox, and negro slavery
Page 65:
To-day an incident occurred which gratified me more than anything
"To-day an incident occurred which gratified me more than anything
Page 67:
that athough I have long been afflicted, only one of those
that although I have long been afflicted, only one of those