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diff --git a/41709-8.txt b/41709-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b675721..0000000 --- a/41709-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4719 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Girl's Life in Virginia before the War, by -Letitia M. Burwell - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: A Girl's Life in Virginia before the War - -Author: Letitia M. Burwell - -Illustrator: William A. McCullough - Jules Turcas - -Release Date: December 26, 2012 [EBook #41709] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S LIFE IN VIRGINIA BEFORE WAR *** - - - - -Produced by Mark C. Orton, Mary Akers and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - -Transcriber's note: - Minor spelling inconsistencies, including hyphenated words, have been - harmonized. Italic text has been marked with _underscores_. - - - - - A GIRL'S LIFE - - IN VIRGINIA - - BEFORE THE WAR - - -[Illustration: "AN EVENING PARTY"--_Page 115._] - - - - - A GIRL'S LIFE - - IN VIRGINIA - - BEFORE THE WAR - - BY - - Letitia M. Burwell - - _WITH SIXTEEN FULL-PAGE - ILLUSTRATIONS BY_ - - William A. McCullough AND Jules Turcas - - _Second Edition_ - - New York - - FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY - - PUBLISHERS - - - - - Copyright, 1895, by - Frederick A. Stokes Company. - - - - -DEDICATION. - - -_Dedicated to my nieces, who will find in English and American -publications such expressions applied to their ancestors as: "cruel -slave-owners"; "inhuman wretches"; "southern taskmasters"; "dealers in -human souls," etc. From these they will naturally recoil with horror. -My own life would have been embittered had I believed myself to be -descended from such monsters; and that those who come after us may -know the truth, I wish to leave a record of plantation life as it was. -The truth may thus be preserved among a few, and merited praise may be -awarded to noble men and virtuous women who have passed away._ - - _L. M. B._ - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE - - "AN EVENING PARTY" _Frontispiece_ - - "CARPENTERS ALWAYS AT WORK FOR THE COMFORT - OF THE PLANTATION" 2 - - "ACCOMPANIED BY ONE OF THESE SMILING - 'INDISPENSABLES'" 4 - - "I USE TO WATCH FOR DE CARRIAGE" 10 - - "I DON'T WANT TO BE FREE NO MO'" 12 - - "SHE ALWAYS RETURNED IN A CART" 18 - - "READING AND REPEATING VERSES TO HIM" 26 - - "MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD SHOW US THE STEP OF - THE MINUET" 32 - - "THERE WERE OLD GENTLEMEN VISITORS" 34 - - "NOW, MARSTER, YOU DONE FORGOT ALL 'BOUT - DAT" 36 - - "THREE WOMEN WOULD CLEAN UP ONE CHAMBER" 42 - - "LUNCH BY SOME COOL, SHADY SPRING" 66 - - "HIS MISSION ON EARTH SEEMED TO BE KEEPING - THE BRIGHTEST SILVER URNS" 78 - - "HOW DEY DOES GROW!" 86 - - "WHERE IS MY MUTTON?" 98 - - "AUNT FANNY 'SPERSED DAT CROWD'" 160 - - - - -A GIRL'S LIFE IN VIRGINIA BEFORE THE WAR - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -That my birthplace should have been a Virginia plantation, my lot in -life cast on a Virginia plantation, my ancestors, for nine -generations, owners of Virginia plantations, remain facts mysterious -and inexplicable but to Him who determined the bounds of our -habitations, and said: "Be still, and know that I am God." - -Confined exclusively to a Virginia plantation during my earliest -childhood, I believed the world one vast plantation bounded by negro -quarters. Rows of white cabins with gardens attached; negro men in the -fields; negro women sewing, knitting, spinning, weaving, housekeeping -in the cabins; with negro children dancing, romping, singing, jumping, -playing around the doors,--these formed the only pictures familiar to -my childhood. - -The master's residence--as the negroes called it, "the great -house"--occupied a central position and was handsome and attractive, -the overseer's being a plainer house about a mile from this. - -Each cabin had as much pine furniture as the occupants desired, pine -and oak being abundant, and carpenters always at work for the comfort -of the plantation. - -Bread, meat, milk, vegetables, fruit, and fuel were as plentiful as -water in the springs near the cabin doors. - -Among the negroes--one hundred--on our plantation, many had been -taught different trades; and there were blacksmiths, carpenters, -masons, millers, shoemakers, weavers, spinners, all working for -themselves. No article of their handicraft ever being sold from the -place, their industry resulted in nothing beyond feeding and clothing -themselves. - -[Illustration: "CARPENTERS ALWAYS AT WORK FOR THE COMFORT OF THE -PLANTATION"--_Page 2._] - -My sister and myself, when very small children, were often carried to -visit these cabins, on which occasions no young princesses could have -received from admiring subjects more adulation. Presents were laid -at our feet--not glittering gems, but eggs, chestnuts, popcorn, -walnuts, melons, apples, sweet potatoes,--all their "cupboards" -afforded,--with a generosity unbounded. This made us as happy as -queens, and filled our hearts with kindness and gratitude to our dusky -admirers. - -Around the cabin doors the young negroes would quarrel as to who -should be his or her mistress, some claiming me, and others my sister. - -All were merry-hearted, and among them I never saw a discontented -face. Their amusements were dancing to the music of the banjo, -quilting-parties, opossum-hunting, and sometimes weddings and parties. - -Many could read, and in almost every cabin was a Bible. In one was a -prayer-book, kept by one of the men, a preacher, from which he read -the marriage ceremony at the weddings. This man opened a night -school--charging twenty-five cents a week--hoping to create some -literary thirst in the rising generation, whose members, however, -preferred their nightly frolics to the school, so it had few patrons. - -Our house servants were numerous, polite, and well trained. My mother -selected those most obliging in disposition and quickest at learning, -who were brought to the house at ten or twelve years of age, and -instructed in the branches of household employment. - -These small servants were always dressed in the cleanest, whitest, -long-sleeved aprons, with white or red turbans on their heads. No -establishment being considered complete without a multiplicity of -these, they might be seen constantly darting about on errands from the -house to the kitchen and the cabins, upstairs and downstairs, being, -indeed, omnipresent and indispensable. - -It was the custom for a lady visitor to be accompanied to her room at -night by one of these black, smiling "indispensables," who insisted so -good-naturedly on performing all offices--combing her hair, pulling -off her slippers, etc.--that one had not the heart to refuse, although -it would have been sometimes more agreeable to be left alone. - -[Illustration: "ACCOMPANIED BY ONE OF THESE SMILING -'INDISPENSABLES'"--_Page 4._] - -The negroes were generally pleased at the appearance of visitors, from -whom they were accustomed to receive some present on arriving or -departing; the neglect of this rite being regarded as a breach of -politeness. - -The old negroes were quite patriarchal, loved to talk about "old -times," and exacted great respect from the young negroes, and also -from the younger members of the white family. We called the old men -"Uncle," and the old women "Aunt,"--these being terms of respect. - -The atmosphere of our own home was one of consideration and kindness. -The mere recital of a tale of suffering would make my sister and -myself weep with sorrow. And I believe the maltreatment of one of our -servants--we had never heard the word "slave"--would have distressed -us beyond endurance. We early learned that happiness consisted in -dispensing it, and found no pleasure greater than saving our old -dolls, toys, beads, bits of cake or candy, for the cabin children, -whose delight at receiving them richly repaid us. If any of the older -servants became displeased with us, we were miserable until we had -restored the old smile by presenting some choice bit of sweetmeat to -the offended one. - -I remember that once, when my grandmother scolded nurse Kitty, -saying: "Kitty, the butler tells me you disturb the breakfast cream -every morning by dipping out milk to wash your face," I burst into -tears, and thought it hard that, when there were so many cows, poor -Kitty could not wash her face in milk. Kitty had been told that her -dark skin would be improved by a milk bath, which she had not -hesitated to dip every morning from the breakfast buckets. - -At such establishments one easily acquired a habit of being waited -upon, there being so many servants with so little to do. It was -natural to ask for a drink of water when the water was right at hand, -and to have things brought which you might easily have gotten -yourself. But these domestics were so pleased at such errands, one -felt no hesitation in requiring them. A young lady would ask black -Nancy or Dolly to fan her, whereupon Nancy or Dolly would laugh -good-naturedly, produce a large palm-leaf, and fall to fanning her -young mistress vigorously, after which she would be rewarded with a -bow of ribbon, some candy, or sweet cakes. - -The negroes made pocket-money by selling their own vegetables, -poultry, eggs, etc.,--produced at the master's expense, of course. I -often saw my mother take out her purse and pay them liberally for -fowls, eggs, melons, sweet potatoes, brooms, shuck mats, and split -baskets. The men made small crops of tobacco or potatoes for -themselves on any piece of ground they chose to select. - -My mother and grandmother were almost always talking over the wants of -the negroes,--what medicine should be sent, whom they should visit, -who needed new shoes, clothes, or blankets,--the principal object of -their lives seeming to be in providing these comforts. The carriage -was often ordered for them to ride around to the cabins to distribute -light-bread, tea, and other necessaries among the sick. And besides -employing the best doctor, my grandmother always saw that they -received the best nursing and attention. - -In this little plantation world of ours was one being--and only -one--who inspired awe in every heart, being a special terror to small -children. This was the queen of the kitchen, Aunt Christian, who -reigned supreme. She wore the whitest cotton cap with the broadest of -ruffles; she was very black and very portly; and her scepter was a -good-sized stick, kept to chastise small dogs and children who invaded -her territory. Her character, however, having been long established, -she had not often occasion to use this weapon, as these enemies kept -out of her way. - -Her pride was great, "for," said she, "aint I bin--long fo' dis yer -little marster whar is was born--bakin' de bes' loaf bread, an' bes' -beat biscuit and rice waffles, all de time in my ole marster time? An' -I bin manage my own affa'rs, an' I gwine manage my own affa'rs long is -I got breff. Kase I 'members 'way back yonder in my mammy time fo' de -folks come fum de King's Mill plantation nigh Williamsbu'g. All our -black folks done belonks to de Burl fambly uver sence dey come fum -Afiky. My granmammy 'member dem times when black folks lan' here stark -naked, an' white folks hab to show 'em how to war close. But we all -done come fum all dat now, an' I gwine manage my own affa'rs." - -She was generally left to manage her "own affa'rs," and, being a -pattern of neatness and industry, her fame went abroad from Botetourt -even unto the remotest ends of Mecklenburg County. - -That this marvelous cooking was all the work of her own hands I am, in -later years, inclined to doubt; as she kept several assistants--a boy -to chop wood, beat biscuit, scour tables, lift off pots and ovens; one -woman to make the pastry, and another to compound cakes and jellies. -But her fame was great, her pride lofty, and I would not now pluck one -laurel from her wreath. - -This honest woman was appreciated by my mother, but we had no affinity -for her in consequence of certain traditions on the plantation about -her severity to children. Having no children of her own, a favorite -orphan house-girl, whenever my mother went from home, was left to her -care. This girl--now an elderly woman, and still our faithful and -loved servant--says she remembers to this day her joy at my mother's -return home, and her release from Aunt Christian. "I nuver will -forgit," to use her own words, "how I use to watch for de carriage to -bring miss home, an' how I watch up de road an' run clappin' my han's -an' hollerin': 'Miss done come! an' I aint gwine stay wid Aunt -Chrishun no longer!'" - -[Illustration: "I USED TO WATCH FOR DE CARRIAGE"--_Page 9._] - -Smiling faces always welcomed us home, as the carriage passed through -the plantation, and on reaching the house we were received by the -negroes about the yard with the liveliest demonstrations of -pleasure. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -It was a long time before it dawned upon my mind that there were -places and people different from these. The plantations we visited -seemed exactly like ours. The same hospitality was everywhere; the -same kindliness existed between the white family and the blacks. - -Confined exclusively to plantation scenes, the most trifling incidents -impressed themselves indelibly upon me. - -One day, while my mother was in the yard attending to the planting of -some shrubbery, we saw approaching an old, feeble negro man, leaning -upon his stick. His clothes were nearly worn out, and he was haggard -and thin. - -"Good-day, mistess," said he. - -"Who are you?" asked my mother. - -"Mistess, you don't know John whar use to belonks to Mars Edwin -Burl--Mars Edwin, yo' husban' uncle, whar die on de ocean crossin' to -Europe for he health. An' 'fo' he start he make he will an' sot me -free, an' gie me money an' lan' near Petersbu'g, an' good house, too. -But, mistess, I marry one free mulatto 'oman, an' she ruin me; she one -widow 'oman, an' she was'e all my money tell I aint got nothin', an' I -don't want be free no mo'. Please, mistess, take me on yo' plantation, -an' don't let me be free. I done walk hund'ed mile to git yer. You -know Mars Edwin think Miss Betsy gwine marry him, so he lef' her his -lan' an' black folks. But we niggers knowed she done promis' twelve -mo' gen'men to marry 'em. But she take de propity an' put on long -black veil make like she grievin', an' dat's how de folks all git -scattered, an' I aint got nowhar to go 'ceptin' hit's yer." - -[Illustration: "I DON'T WANT BE FREE NO MO."--_Page 12._] - -I wondered what was meant by being "free," and supposed from his -appearance it must be some very dreadful and unfortunate condition of -humanity. My mother heard him very kindly, and directed him to the -kitchen, where "Aunt Christian" would give him plenty to eat. - -Although there were already many old negroes to be supported, who -no longer considered themselves young enough to work, this old man was -added to the number, and a cabin built for him. To the day of his -death he expressed gratitude to my mother for taking care of him, and -often entertained us with accounts of _his_ "old marster times," which -he said were the "grandes' of all." - -By way of apology for certain knotty excrescences on his feet he used -to say: "You see dese yer knots. Well, dey come fum my bein' a monsus -proud young nigger, an' squeezin' my feet in de tightes' boots to -drive my marster carriage 'bout Petersbu'g. I nuver was so happy as -when I was drivin' my coach an' four, and crackin' de postilion over -de head wid my whip." - -These pleasant reminiscences were generally concluded with: "Ah! young -misses, _you'll_, nuver see sich times. No more postilions! No more -coach an' four! And niggers drives _now_ widout white gloves. Ah! no, -young misses, _you'll_ nuver see nothin'! _Nuver_ in _your_ time." - -With these melancholy predictions would he shake his head, and sigh -that the days of glory had departed. - -Each generation of blacks vied with the other in extolling the virtues -of their particular mistress and master and "_their times_"; but, -notwithstanding this mournful contrast between the past and present, -their reminiscences had a certain charm. Often by their cabin -firesides would we listen to the tales of the olden days about our -forefathers, of whom they could tell much, having belonged to our -family since the landing of the African fathers on the English slave -ships, from which their ancestors had been bought by ours. Among these -traditions none pleased us so much as that an unkind mistress or -master had never been known among our ancestors, which we have always -considered a cause for greater pride than the armorial bearings left -on their tombstones. - -We often listened with pleasure to the recollections of an old blind -man--the former faithful attendant of our grandfather--whose mind was -filled with vivid pictures of the past. He repeated verbatim -conversations and speeches heard sixty years before--from Mr. Madison, -Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Clay, and other statesmen, his master's special -friends. - -"Yes," he used to say, "I stay wid your grandpa ten years in Congress, -an' all de time he was secretary for President Jefferson. He nuver -give me a cross word, an' I nuver saw your grandma de leas' out of -temper nuther but once, an' dat was at a dinner party we give in -Washington, when de French Minister said something disrespectful 'bout -de United States." - -Often did he tell us: "De greates' pleasure I 'spect in heaven is -seein' my old marster." And sometimes: "I dreams 'bout my marster an' -mistess when I'se asleep, an' talks wid 'em an' sees 'em so plain it -makes me so happy I laughs out right loud." - -This man was true and honest,--a good Christian. Important trusts had -been confided to him. He frequently drove the carriage and horses to -Washington and Baltimore,--a journey of two weeks,--and was sometimes -sent to carry large sums of money to a distant county. - -His wife, who had accompanied him in her youth to Washington, also -entertained us with gossip about the people of that day, and could -tell exactly the size and color of Mrs. Madison's slippers, how she -was dressed on certain occasions, "what beautiful manners she had," -how Mr. Jefferson received master and mistress when "we" drove up to -Monticello, what room they occupied, etc. - -Although my grandfather's death occurred thirty years before, the -negroes still remembered it with sorrow; and one of them, speaking of -it, said to me: "Ah, little mistess, 'twas a sorrowful day when de -news come from Washington dat our good, kind marster was dead. A -mighty wail went up from dis plantation, for we know'd we had los' our -bes' friend." - -The only negro on the place who did not evince an interest in the -white family was a man ninety years old, who, forty years before, -announced his intention of not working any longer,--although still -strong and athletic,--because, he said, "the estate had done come down -so he hadn't no heart to work no longer." He remembered, he said, -"when thar was three an' four hund'ed black folks, but sence de -British debt had to be paid over by his old marster, an' de -Macklenbu'g estate had to be sold, he hadn't had no heart to do -nothin' sence." And "he hadn't seen no _real_ fine white folks--what -_he_ called real fine white folks--sence he come from Macklenbu'g." -All his interest in life having expired with an anterior generation, -we were in his eyes but a poor set, and he refused to have anything to -do with us. Not being compelled to work, he passed his life -principally in the woods, and wore a rabbit-skin cap and a leather -apron. Having lost interest in and connection with the white family, -he gradually relapsed into a state of barbarism, refusing toward the -end of his life to sleep in his bed, preferring a hard bench in his -cabin, upon which he died. - -Another very old man remembered something of his father, who had come -from Africa; and when we asked him to tell us what he remembered of -his father's narrations, would say: - -"My daddy tell we chillun how he mammy liv' in hole in de groun' in -Afiky, an' when a Englishmun come to buy him, she sell him fur a -string o' beads. An' 'twas monsus hard when he fus' come here to war -close; ev'y chance he git he pull off he close an' go naked, kase -folks don't war no close in he country. When daddy git mad wid we -chillun, mammy hide us, kase he kill us. Sometime he say he gwine sing -he country, an' den he dance an' jump an' howl tell he skeer we -chillun to deaf." - -They spoke always of their forefathers as the "outlandish people." - -On some plantations it was a custom to buy the wife when a negro -preferred to marry on another estate. And in this way we became -possessed of a famous termagant, who had married our grandfather's -gardener, quarreled him to death in one year, and survived to quarrel -forty years longer with the other negroes. She allowed no children -about her cabin--not even a cat or dog could live with her. She had -been offered her freedom, but refused to accept it. Several times she -had been given away--once to her son, a free man, and to others with -whom she fancied she might live--but, like the bad penny, was always -returned to us. She always returned in a cart, seated on top of her -wooden chest and surrounded by her goods and chattels. She was dressed -in a high hat with a long black plume standing straight up, gay -cloth spencer, and short petticoat,--the costume of a hundred years -ago. Although her return was a sore affliction to the plantation, my -sister and myself found much amusement in witnessing it. The cold -welcome she received seemed not to affect her spirits, but, -re-establishing herself in her cabin, she quickly resumed the -turbulent course of her career. - -[Illustration: "SHE ALWAYS RETURNED IN A CART."--_Page 18._] - -Finally one morning the news came that this woman, old Clara, was -dead. Two women went to sweep her cabin and perform the last sad -offices. They waited all day for the body to get cold. While sitting -over the fire in the evening, one of them, happening to glance at a -small mirror inserted in the wall near the bed, exclaimed: "Old -Clara's laughing!" They went nearer, and there was a horrible grin on -the face of the corpse! Old Clara sprang out of bed, exclaiming: "Git -me some meat and bread. I'm most perish'd!" - -"Ole 'oman, what you mean by foolin' us so?" asked the nurses. - -"I jes' want see what you all gwine do wid my _things_ when I _was_ -dade!" replied the old woman, whose "things" consisted of all sorts -of old and curious spencers, hats, plumes, necklaces, caps, and -dresses, collected during her various wanderings, and worn by a -generation long past. - -Among these old cabin legends we sometimes collected bits of romance, -and were often told how, by the coquetry of a certain Richmond belle, -we had lost a handsome fortune, which impressed me even then with the -fatal consequences of coquetry. - -This belle engaged herself to our great-uncle, a handsome and -accomplished gentleman, who, to improve his health, went to Europe, -but before embarking made his will, leaving her his estate and -negroes. He died abroad, and the lady accepted his property, although -she was known to have been engaged to twelve others at the same time! -The story in Richmond ran that these twelve gentlemen--my grandfather -among them--had a wine party, and toward the close of the evening some -of them, becoming communicative, began taking each other out to tell a -secret, when it was discovered they all had the same secret--each was -engaged to Miss Betsy McC.... This lady's name is still seen on fly -leaves of old books in our library,--books used during her reign by -students at William and Mary College,--showing that the young -gentlemen, even at that venerable institution, sometimes allowed their -classic thoughts to wander. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -As soon as my sister and myself had learned to read and cipher, we -were inspired with a desire to teach the negroes who were about the -house and kitchen; and my father promised to reward my sister with a -handsome guitar if she would teach two boys--designed for -mechanics--arithmetic. - -Our regular system was every night to place chairs around the -dining-table, ring a bell, and open school, she presiding at one end -of the table and I at the other, each propped up on books to give us -the necessary height and dignity for teachers. - -Our school proved successful. The boys learned arithmetic, and the -guitar was awarded. All who tried learned to read, and from that day -we have never ceased to teach all who desired to learn. - -Thus my early life was passed amid scenes cheerful and agreeable, nor -did anyone seem to have any care except my mother. Her cares and -responsibilities were great, with one hundred people continually upon -her mind, who were constantly appealing to her in every strait, real -or imaginary. But it had pleased God to place her here, and nobly did -she perform the duties of her station. She often told us of her -distress on realizing for the first time the responsibilities -devolving upon the mistress of a large plantation, and the nights of -sorrow and tears these thoughts had given her. - -On her arrival at the plantation after her marriage, the negroes -received her with lively demonstrations of joy, clapping their hands -and shouting: "Thank God, we got a mistess!" some of them throwing -themselves on the ground at her feet in their enthusiasm. - -The plantation had been without a master or mistress for twelve years, -my father, the sole heir, having been away at school and college. -During this time the silver had been left in the house, and the -servants had kept and used it, but _nothing had been stolen_. - -The books, too, had been undisturbed in the library, except a few -volumes of the poets, which had been carried to adorn some of the -cabin shelves. - -It was known by the negroes that their old master's will set them free -and gave them a large body of land in the event of my father's death; -and some of his college friends suggested that he might be killed -while passing his vacations on his estate. But this only amused him, -for he knew too well in what affection he was held by his negroes, and -how each vied with the other in showing him attention, often spreading -a dinner for him at their cabins when he returned from hunting or -fishing. - -I think I have written enough to show the mutual affection existing -between the white and black races, and the abundant provision -generally made for the wants of those whom God had mysteriously placed -under our care. - -The existence of extreme want and poverty had never entered my mind -until one day my mother showed us some pictures entitled "London Labor -and London Poor," when we asked her if she believed there were such -poor people in the world, and she replied: "Yes, children, there are -many in this world who have nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat." - -Still we could not realize what she said, for we had never seen a -beggar. But from that time it began to dawn upon us that all the world -was not a plantation, with more than enough on it for people to eat. -And when we were old enough to read and to compare our surroundings -with what we learned about other countries, we found that our laboring -population was more bountifully supplied than that of any other land. -We read about "myriads of poor, starving creatures, with pinched faces -and tattered garments," in far-off cities and countries. We read of -hundreds who, from destitution and wretchedness, committed suicide. We -read these things, but could not fully sympathize with such want and -suffering; for it is necessary to witness these in order to feel the -fullest sympathy, and we had never seen anything of the kind on our -own or our neighbors' plantations. - -Our negroes' religious instruction, I found, had not been more -neglected than among the lower classes in England, Ireland, France, -and elsewhere. Every church--there was one of some denomination near -every plantation--had special seats reserved for the negroes. The -minister always addressed a portion of his sermon particularly to -them, and held service for them exclusively on Sabbath afternoons. -Besides, they had their own ministers among themselves, and held night -prayer-meetings in their cabins whenever they chose. - -Many prayers ascended from earnest hearts for their conversion, and I -knew no home at which some effort was not made for their religious -instruction. - -One of our friends--a Presbyterian minister and earnest -Christian--devoted the greater part of his time to teaching and -preaching to them, and many pious ministers throughout the State -bestowed upon them time and labor. - -I once attended a gay party where the young lady of the house, the -center of attraction, hearing that one of the negroes was suddenly -very ill, excused herself from the company, carried her prayer-book to -the cabin, and passed the night by the bedside of the sick man, -reading and repeating verses to him. I have also had young lady -friends who declined attending a wedding or party when a favorite -servant was ill. - -[Illustration: "READING AND REPEATING VERSES TO HIM."--_Page 26._] - -On one occasion an English gentleman--a surgeon in the Royal -Artillery--visiting at our house, accompanied us to a wedding, and, -hearing that two young ladies had not attended on account of the -illness of a negro servant, said to me: "This would not have occurred -in England, and will scarcely be believed when I tell it on my -return." - -The same gentleman expressed astonishment at one of our neighbors -sitting up all night to nurse one of his negroes who was ill. He was -amused at the manner of our servants' identifying themselves with the -master and his possessions, always speaking of "our horses," "our -cows," "our crop," "our mill," "our blacksmith's shop," "our -carriage," "our black folks," etc. He told us that he also observed a -difference between our menials and those of his own country, in that, -while here they were individualized, there they were known by the -names of "Boots," "'Ostler," "Driver," "Footman," "Cook," "Waiter," -"Scullion," etc. On our plantations the most insignificant stable-boy -felt himself of some importance. - -When I heard Mr. Dickens read scenes from "Nicholas Nickleby," the -tone of voice in which he personated Smike sent a chill through me, -for I had never before heard the human voice express such hopeless -despair. Can there be in England, thought I, human beings afraid of -the sound of their own voices? - -There was a class of men in our State who made a business of buying -negroes to sell again farther south. These we never met, and held in -horror. But even they, when we reflect, could not have treated them -with inhumanity; for what man would pay a thousand dollars for a piece -of property, and fail to take the best possible care of it? The -"traders" usually bought their negroes when an estate became involved, -for the owners could not be induced to part with their negroes until -the last extremity--when everything else had been seized by their -creditors. Houses, lands,--everything went first before giving up the -negroes; the owner preferring to impoverish himself in the effort to -keep and provide for these,--which was unwise financially, and would -not have been thought of by a mercenary people. - -But it was hard to part with one's "own people," and to see them -scattered. Still our debts had to be paid,--often security debts after -the death of the owner, when all had to be sold. And who of us but can -remember the tears of anguish caused by this, and scenes of sorrow to -which we can never revert without the keenest grief? Yet, like all -events in this checkered human life, even these sometimes turned out -best for the negroes, when by this means they exchanged unpleasant for -agreeable homes. Still it appeared to me a great evil, and often did I -pray that God would make us a way of escape from it. But His ways are -past finding out, and why He had been pleased to order it thus we -shall never know. - -Instances of harsh or cruel treatment were rare. I never heard of more -than two or three individuals who were "hard" or unkind to their -negroes, and these were ostracized from respectable society, their -very names bringing reproach and blight upon their descendants. - -We knew of but one instance of cruelty on our plantation, and that was -when "Uncle Joe," the blacksmith, burned his nephew's face with a hot -iron. The man carries the scar to this day, and in speaking of it -always says: "Soon as my marster fin' out how Uncle Joe treated me, he -wouldn't let me work no mo' in his shop." - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -The extent of these estates precluding the possibility of near -neighbors, their isolation would have been intolerable but for the -custom of visiting which prevailed among us. Many houses were filled -with visitors the greater part of the year, and these usually remained -two or three weeks. Visiting tours were made in our private carriages, -each family making at least one such tour a year. Nor was it necessary -to announce these visits by message or letter, each house being -considered always ready, and "entertaining company" being the -occupation of the people. Sometimes two or three carriages might be -descried in the evening coming up to the door through the Lombardy -poplar avenue,--the usual approach to many old houses; whereupon -ensued a lively flutter among small servants, who, becoming generally -excited, speedily got them into their clean aprons, and ran to open -gates and to remove parcels from carriages. Lady visitors were always -accompanied by colored maids, although sure of finding a superfluity -of these at each establishment. The mistress of the house always -received her guests in the front porch, with a sincere and cordial -greeting. - -These visiting friends at my own home made an impression upon me that -no time can efface. I almost see them now, those dear, gentle faces, -my mother's early friends, and those delightful old ladies, in close -bordered tarlatan caps, who used to come to see my grandmother. These -last would sit round the fire, knitting and talking over their early -memories: how they remembered the red coats of the British; how they -had seen the Richmond theater burn down, with some of their family -burned in it; how they used to wear such beautiful turbans of _crêpe -lisse_ to the Cartersville balls, and how they used to dance the -minuet. At mention of this my grandmother would lay off her -spectacles, put aside her knitting, rise with dignity,--she was very -tall,--and show us the step of the minuet, gliding slowly and -majestically around the room. Then she would say: "Ah, children, you -will never see anything as graceful as the minuet. Such jumping -around as _you_ see would not have been regarded as dignified in _my_ -day!" - -[Illustration: "MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD SHOW US THE STEP OF THE -MINUET."--_Page 32._] - -My mother's friends belonged to a later generation, and were types of -women whom to have known I shall ever regard as a blessing and -privilege. They combined intelligence with exquisite refinement; and -their annual visits gave my mother the greatest happiness, which we -soon learned to share and appreciate. - -As I look upon these ladies as models for our sex through all time, I -enumerate some of their charms: - -Entire absence of pretense made them always attractive. Having no -"parlor" or "company" manners to assume, they preserved at all times a -gentle, natural, easy demeanor and conversation. They had not dipped -into the sciences, attempted by some of our sex at the present day; -but the study of Latin and French, with general reading in their -mother tongue, rendered them intelligent companions for cultivated -men. They also possessed the rare gift of reading well aloud, and -wrote letters unsurpassed in penmanship and style. - -Italian and German professors being rare in that day, their musical -acquirements did not extend beyond the simplest piano accompaniments -to old English and Scotch airs, which they sang in a sweet, natural -voice, and which so enchanted the beaux of their time that the latter -never afterward became reconciled to any higher order of music. - -These model women also managed their household affairs admirably, and -were uniformly kind to, but never familiar with, their servants. They -kept ever before them the Bible as their constant guide and rule in -life, and were surely, as nearly as possible, holy in thought, word, -and deed. I have looked in vain for such women in other lands, but -have failed to find them. - -Then there were old gentlemen visitors, beaux of my grandmother's day, -still wearing queues, wide-ruffled bosoms, short breeches, and knee -buckles. These pronounced the _a_ very broad, sat a long time over -their wine at dinner, and carried in their pockets gold or silver -snuffboxes presented by some distinguished individual at some remote -period. - -[Illustration: "THERE WERE OLD GENTLEMEN VISITORS."--_Page 34._] - -Our visiting acquaintance extended from Botetourt County to Richmond, -and among them were jolly old Virginia gentlemen and precise old -Virginia gentlemen; eccentric old Virginia gentlemen and prosy old -Virginia gentlemen; courtly old Virginia gentlemen and plain-mannered -old Virginia gentlemen; charming old Virginia gentlemen and -uninteresting old Virginia gentlemen. Many of them had graduated years -and years ago at William and Mary College. - -Then we had another set, of a later day,--those who graduated in the -first graduating class at the University of Virginia when that -institution was first established. These happened--all that we -knew--to have belonged to the same class, and often amused us, without -intending it, by reverting to that fact in these words: - -"_That_ was a remarkable class! Every man in that class made his mark -in law, letters, or politics! Let me see: There was Toombs. There was -Charles Mosby. There was Alexander Stuart. There was Burwell. There -was R. M. T. Hunter,"--and so on, calling each by name except himself, -knowing that the others never failed to do that! - -Edgar Poe and Alexander Stephens of Georgia were also at the -university with these gentlemen. - -Although presenting an infinite variety of mind, manner, and -temperament, all the gentlemen who visited us, young and old, -possessed in common certain characteristics, one of which was a -deference to ladies which made us feel that we had been put in the -world especially to be waited upon by them. Their standard for woman -was high. They seemed to regard her as some rare and costly statue set -in a niche to be admired and never taken down. - -Another peculiarity they had in common was a habit--which seemed -irresistible--of tracing people back to the remotest generation, and -appearing inconsolable if ever they failed to find out the pedigree of -any given individual for at least four generations. This, however, was -an innocent pastime, from which they seemed to derive much pleasure -and satisfaction, and which should not be regarded, even in this -advanced age, as a serious fault. - -Among our various visitors was a kinsman--of whom I often heard, but -whom I do not recollect--a bachelor of eighty years, always -accompanied by his negro servant as old as himself. Both had the same -name, Louis, pronounced like the French, and this aged pair had been -so long together they could not exist apart. Black Louis rarely left -his master's side, assisting in the conversation if his master became -perplexed or forgetful. When his master talked in the parlor, black -Louis always planted his chair in the middle of the doorsill, every -now and then correcting or reminding with: "Now, marster, dat warn't -Colonel Taylor's horse dat won dat race dat day. You and me was dar." -Or: "Now, marster, you done forgot all 'bout dat. Dat was in de year -1779, an' _dis_ is de way it happened," etc., much to the amusement of -the company assembled. All this was said, I am told, most -respectfully, although the old negro in a manner _possessed_ his -master, having entire charge and command of him. - -[Illustration: "NOW, MARSTER, YOU DONE FORGOT ALL 'BOUT DAT."--_Page -37._] - -The negroes often felt great pride in "_our_ white people," as they -called their owners, and loved to brag about what "_our_ white people" -did and what "_our_ white people" had. - -On one occasion it became necessary for my sister and myself to ride a -short distance in a public conveyance. A small colored boy, who helped -in our dining room, had to get in the same stage. Two old gentlemen, -strangers to us, sitting opposite, supposing we had fallen asleep when -we closed our eyes to keep out the dust, commenced talking about us. -Said one to the other: "Now, those children will spoil their Sunday -bonnets." Whereupon our colored boy spoke up quickly: "Umph! _you_ -think _dems my_ mistesses' Sunday bonnets? Umph! you _jes' ought_ to -see what dey got up dar on top de stage in dar bandbox!" At this we -both laughed, for the boy had never seen our "Sunday bonnets," nor did -he know that we possessed any. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -English books never fail to make honorable mention of a "roast of -beef," "a leg of mutton," "a dish of potatoes," "a dish of tea," etc., -while with us the abundance of such things gave them, we thought, not -enough importance to be particularized. Still my reminiscences extend -to these. - -Every Virginia housewife knew how to compound all the various dishes -in Mrs. Randolph's cookery book, and our tables were filled with every -species of meat and vegetable to be found on a plantation, with every -kind of cakes, jellies, and blanc-mange to be concocted out of eggs, -butter, and cream, besides an endless catalogue of preserves, -sweetmeats, pickles, and condiments. So that in the matter of good -living, both as to abundance and the manner of serving, a Virginia -plantation could not be excelled. - -The first specialty being good loaf bread, there was always a hot -loaf for breakfast, hot corn bread for dinner, and a hot loaf for -supper. Every house was famed for its loaf bread, and said a gentleman -once to me: "Although at each place it is superb, yet each loaf -differs from another loaf, preserving distinct characteristics which -would enable me to distinguish, instantly, should there be a -convention of loaves, the Oaklands loaf from the Greenfield loaf, and -the Avenel loaf from the Rustic Lodge loaf." - -And apropos of this gentleman, who, it is needless to add, was a -celebrated connoisseur in this matter of loaf bread, it was a -noticeable fact with our cook that whenever he came to our house, the -bread in trying to do its best always did its worst! - -Speaking of bread, another gentleman expressed his belief that at the -last great day it will be found that more housewives will be punished -on account of light-bread than anything else; for he knew some who -were never out of temper except when the light-bread failed! - -Time would fail me to dwell, as I should, upon the incomparable rice -waffles, and beat biscuit, and muffins, and laplands, and -marguerites, and flannel cakes, and French rolls, and velvet rolls, -and lady's fingers constantly brought by relays of small servants, -during breakfast, hot and hotter from the kitchen. Then the -tea-waiters handed at night, with the beef tongue, the sliced ham, the -grated cheese, the cold turkey, the dried venison, the loaf bread -buttered hot, the batter-cakes, the crackers, the quince marmalade, -the wafers,--all pass in review before me. - -The first time I ever heard of a manner of living different from this -was when it became important for my mother to make a visit to a -great-aunt in Baltimore, and she went for the first time out of her -native State; as neither she nor her mother had ever been out of -Virginia. My mother was accompanied by her maid, Kitty, on this -expedition, and when they returned both had many astounding things to -relate. My grandmother threw up her hands in amazement on hearing that -some of the first ladies in the city, who visited old aunt, confined -the conversation of a morning call to the subject of the faults of -their hired servants. "Is it possible?" exclaimed the old lady. "I -never considered it well bred to mention servants or their faults in -company." - -Indeed, in our part of the world, a mistress became offended if the -faults of her servants were alluded to, just as persons become -displeased when the faults of their children are discussed. - -Maid Kitty's account of this visit I will give, as well as I can -remember, in her own words, as she described it to her fellow-servants: -"You nuver see sich a way fur people to live! Folks goes to bed -in Baltimore 'thout a single moufful in de house to eat. An' dey -can't get nothin' neither 'thout dey gits up soon in de mornin' an' -goes to market after it deyselves. Rain, hail, or shine, dey got to -go. 'Twouldn't suit _our_ white folks to live dat way! An' I wouldn't -live dar not for nothin' in dis worl'. In dat fine three-story -house dar aint but bar' two servants, an' dey has to do all de work. -'Twouldn't suit _me_, an' I wouldn't live dar not for nothin' in -dis whole creation. I would git _dat_ lonesome I couldn't stan' -it. Bar' two servants! an' dey calls deyselves rich, too! An' dey -cooks in de cellar. I know mistess couldn't stan' dat--smellin' -everyt'ing out de kitchen all over de house. Umph! _dem_ folks don't -know nothin' _'tall_ 'bout good livin', wid dar cold bread an' dar -rusks!" - -Maid Kitty spoke truly when she said she had never seen two women do -all the housework. For at home often three women would clean up one -chamber. One made the bed, while another swept the floor, and a third -dusted and put the chairs straight. Labor was divided and subdivided; -and I remember one woman whose sole employment seemed to be throwing -open the blinds in the morning and rubbing the posts of my -grandmother's high bedstead. This rubbing business was carried quite -to excess. Every inch of mahogany was waxed and rubbed to the highest -state of polish, as were also the floors, the brass fenders, irons, -and candlesticks. - -[Illustration: "THREE WOMEN WOULD CLEAN UP ONE CHAMBER."--_Page 43._] - -When I reflect upon the degree of comfort arrived at in our homes, I -think we should have felt grateful to our ancestors; for, as Quincy -has written: "In whatever mode of existence man finds himself, be it -savage or civilized, he perceives that he is indebted for the greater -part of his possessions to events over which he had no control; to -individuals whose names, perhaps, never reached his ear; to sacrifices -which he never shared. How few of all these blessings do we owe to our -own power or prudence! How few on which we cannot discern the impress -of a long past generation!" So we were indebted for our agreeable -surroundings to the heroism and sacrifices of past generations, which -not to venerate and eulogize betrays the want of a truly noble soul. -For what courage, what patience, what perseverance, what long -suffering, what Christian forbearance, must it have cost our -great-grandmothers to civilize, Christianize, and elevate the naked, -savage Africans to the condition of good cooks and respectable maids! -They--our great-grandmothers--did not enjoy the blessed privilege even -of turning their servants off when inefficient or disagreeable, but -had to keep them through life. The only thing was to bear and forbear, -and - - Be to their virtues very kind, - Be to their faults a little blind. - -If in heaven there be one seat higher than another, it must be -reserved for those true Southern matrons, who performed -conscientiously their part assigned them by God--civilizing and -instructing this race. - -I have searched missionary records of all ages, but find no results in -Africa or elsewhere at all comparing with the grand work accomplished -for the African race in our Southern homes. - -Closing the last chapter of "Explorations in the Dark Continent," the -thought came to me that it would be well if our African friends in -America would set apart another anniversary to celebrate "the landing -of their fathers on the shores of America," when they were bought and -domiciled in American homes. This must have been God's own plan for -helping them, although a severe ordeal for our ancestors. - -In God's own time and way the shackles have been removed from this -people, who are now sufficiently civilized to take an independent -position in the great family of man. - -However we may differ in the opinion, there is no greater compliment -to Southern slave-owners than the idea prevailing in many places that -the negro is already sufficiently elevated to hold the highest -positions in the gift of our government. - -I once met in traveling an English gentleman who asked me: "How can -you bear those miserable black negroes about your houses and about -your persons? To me they are horribly repulsive, and I would not -endure one about me." - -"Neither would they have been my choice," I replied. "But God sent -them to us. I was born to this inheritance and could not avert it. -What would you English have done," I asked, "if God had sent them to -you?" - -"Thrown them to the bottom of the sea!" he replied. - -Fortunately for the poor negro this sentiment did not prevail among -us. I believe God endowed our people with qualities peculiarly adapted -to taking charge of this race, and that no other nation could have -kept them. Our people did not demand as much work as in other -countries is required of servants, and I think had more affection for -them than is elsewhere felt for menials. - -In this connection I remember an incident during the war which -deserves to be recorded as showing the affection entertained for negro -dependents. - -When our soldiers were nearly starved, and only allowed daily a small -handful of parched corn, the colonel of a Virginia regiment[1] by -accident got some coffee, a small portion of which was daily -distributed to each soldier. In the regiment was a cousin of mine,--a -young man endowed with the noblest attributes God can give,--who, -although famishing and needing it, denied himself his portion every -day that he might bring it to his black mammy. He made a small bag in -which he deposited and carefully saved it. - - [1] Robert Logan, of Roanoke, Va. - -When he arrived at home on furlough, his mother wept to see his -tattered clothes, his shoeless feet, and his starved appearance. - -Soon producing the little bag of coffee, with a cheerful smile, he -said: "See what I've saved to bring black mammy!" - -"Oh! my son," said his mother, "you have needed it yourself. Why did -you not use it?" - -"Well," he replied, "it has been so long since you all had any coffee, -and I made out very well on water, when I thought how black mammy -missed her coffee, and how glad she would be to get it." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -The antiquity of the furniture in our homes can scarcely be described, -every article appearing to have been purchased during the reign of -George III., since which period no new fixtures or household utensils -seemed to have been bought. - -The books in our libraries had been brought from England almost two -hundred years before. In our own library there were Hogarth's -pictures, in old worm-eaten frames; and among the literary -curiosities, one of the earliest editions of Shakespeare (1685) -containing under the author's picture the lines by Ben Jonson: - - "This Figure, that thou here seest put, - It was for gentle Shakespeare cut; - Wherein the Graver had a strife - With Nature to outdo the Life: - O, could he but have drawn his Wit - As well in Brass, as he has hit - His Face; the Print would then surpass - All that was ever writ in Brass. - But since he cannot, Reader, look - Not on his Picture, but his Book." - -This was a reprint of the first edition of Shakespeare's works, -collected by John Heminge and Henry Condell, two of his friends in the -company of comedians. - -When a small child, the perusal of the "Arabian Nights" possessed me -with the idea that their dazzling pictures were to be realized when we -emerged from plantation life into the outside world, and the -disappointment at not finding Richmond paved with gems and gold like -those cities in Eastern story is remembered to the present time. - -Brought up amid antiquities, the Virginia girl disturbed herself not -about modern fashions, appearing happy in her mother's old silks and -satins made over. She rejoiced in her grandmother's laces and in her -brooch of untold dimensions, with a weeping willow and tombstone on -it,--a constant reminder of the past,--which had descended from some -remote ancestor. - -She slept in a high bedstead--the bed of her ancestors; washed her -face on an old-fashioned, spindle-legged washstand; mounted a high -chair to arrange her hair before the old-fashioned mirror on the high -bureau; climbed to the top of a high mantelpiece to take down the -old-fashioned high candlesticks; climbed a pair of steps to get into -the high-swung, old-fashioned carriage; perched her feet upon the top -of a high brass fender if she wanted to get them warm; and, in short, -had to perform so many gymnastics that she felt convinced her -ancestors must have been a race of giants, or they could not have -required such tall and inaccessible furniture. - -An occasional visit to Richmond or Petersburg sometimes animated her -with a desire for some style of dress less antique than her own, -although she had as much admiration and attention as if she had just -received her wardrobe from Paris. - -Her social outlook might have been regarded as limited and -circumscribed, her parents being unwilling that her acquaintance -should extend beyond the descendants of their own old friends. - -She had never any occasion to make what the world calls her "_début_," -the constant flow of company at her father's house having rendered her -assistance necessary in entertaining guests as soon as she could -converse and be companionable, so that her manners were early formed, -and she remembered not the time when it was anything but very easy and -agreeable to be in the society of ladies and gentlemen. - - -In due time we were provided--my sister and myself--with the best -instructors--a lady all the way from Bordeaux to teach French, and a -German professor for German and music. The latter opened to us a new -world of music. He was a fine linguist, a thorough musician, and a -gentleman. He lived with us for five years, and remained our sincere -and truly valued friend through life. - -After some years we were thought to have arrived at "sufficient age of -discretion" for a trip to New York City. - -Fancy our feelings on arriving in that world of modern people and -modern things! Fancy two young girls suddenly transported from the -time of George III. to the largest hotel on Broadway in 1855! - -All was as strange to us then as we are now to the Chinese. Never had -we seen white servants before, and on being attended by them at first -we felt a sort of embarrassment, but soon found they were accustomed -to less consideration and more hard work than were our negro servants -at home. - -Everything and everybody seemed in a mad whirl--the "march of material -progress," they told us. It seemed to us more the "perpetual motion of -progress." Everybody said that if old-fogy Virginia did not make haste -to join this march, she would be left "a wreck behind." - -We found ourselves in the "advanced age": in the land of water-pipes -and dumb-waiters; the land of enterprise and money, and, at the same -time, of an economy amounting to parsimony. - -The manners of the people were strange to us, and different from ours. -The ladies seemed to have gone ahead of the men in the "march of -progress," their manner being more pronounced. They did not hesitate -to push about through crowds and public places. - -Still we were young; and, dazzled with the gloss and glitter, we -wondered why old Virginia couldn't join this march of progress, and -have dumb-waiters, and elevators, and water-pipes, and gas-fixtures, -and baby-jumpers, and washing-machines. - -We asked a gentleman who was with us why old Virginia had not all -these, and he replied: "Because, while the people here have been busy -working for themselves, old-fogy Virginia has been working for -negroes. All the money Virginia makes is spent in feeding and clothing -negroes. And," he continued, "these people in the North were shrewd -enough years ago to sell all theirs to the South." - -All was strange to us,--even the tablecloths on the tea and breakfast -tables, instead of napkins under the plates, such as we had at home, -and which always looked so pretty on the mahogany. - -But the novelty having worn off after a while, we found out there was -a good deal of imitation, after all, mixed up in everything. Things -did not seem to have been "fixed up" to last as long as our old things -at home, and we began to wonder if the "advanced age" really made the -people any better, or more agreeable, or more hospitable, or more -generous, or more brave, or more self-reliant, or more charitable, or -more true, or more pious, than in "old-fogy Virginia." - -There was one thing most curious to us in New York. No one seemed to -do anything by himself or herself. No one had an individuality; all -existed in "clubs" or "societies." They had many "isms" also, of which -we had never heard, some of the people sitting up all night and going -around all day talking about "manifestations," and "spirits," and -"affinities," which they told us was "spiritualism." - -All this impressed us slow, old-fashioned Virginians as a strangely -upside-down, wrong-side-out condition of things. - -Much of the conversation we heard was confined to asking questions of -strangers, and discussing the best means of making money. - -We were surprised, too, to hear of "plantation customs," said to exist -among us, which were entirely new to us; and one of the magazines -published in the city informed us that "dipping" was one of the -characteristics of Southern women. What could the word "dipping" mean? -we wondered, for we had never heard it before. Upon inquiry we found -that it meant "rubbing the teeth with snuff on a small stick"--a truly -disgusting habit which could not have prevailed in Virginia, or we -would have had some tradition of it at least, our acquaintance -extending over the State, and our ancestors having settled there two -hundred years ago. - -A young gentleman from Virginia, bright and overflowing with -fun,--also visiting New York,--coming into the parlor one day, threw -himself on a sofa in a violent fit of laughter. - -"What is the matter?" we asked. - -"I am laughing," he replied, "at the absurd questions these people can -ask. What do you think? A man asked me just now if we didn't keep -bloodhounds in Virginia to chase negroes! I told him: Oh, yes, every -plantation keeps several dozen! And we often have a tender boiled -negro infant for breakfast!" - -"Oh, how could you have told such a story?" we said. - -"Well," said he, "you know we never saw a bloodhound in Virginia, and -I do not expect there is one in the State; but these people delight -in believing everything horrible about us, and I thought I might as -well gratify them with something marvelous. So the next book published -up here will have, I've no doubt, a chapter headed: 'Bloodhounds in -Virginia and boiled negroes for breakfast!'" - -While we were purchasing some trifles to bring home to some of our -servants, a lady who had entertained us most kindly at her house on -Fifth Avenue, expressing surprise, said: "_We_ never think of bringing -home presents to our help." - -This was the first time we had ever heard, instead of "servant," the -word "help," which seemed then, and still seems, misapplied. The -dictionaries define "help" to mean aid, assistance, remedy, while -"servant" means one who attends another and acts at his command. When -a man pays another to "help" him, it implies he is to do part of the -work himself, and is dishonest if he leaves the whole to be performed -by his "help." - -Among other discoveries during this visit we found how much more -talent it requires to entertain company in the country than in the -city. In the latter the guests and family form no "social circle round -the blazing hearth" at night, but disperse far and wide, to be -entertained at the concert, the opera, the theatre, or club; while in -the country one depends entirely upon native intellect and -conversational talent. - -And, oh! the memory of our own fireside circles! The exquisite women, -the men of giant intellect, eloquence, and wit, at sundry times -assembled there! Could our andirons but utter speech, what would they -not tell of mirth and song, eloquence and wit, whose flow made many an -evening bright! - - -As all delights must have an end, the time came for us to leave these -metropolitan scenes, and, bidding adieu forever to the land of "modern -appliances" and stale bread, we returned to the land of "old ham and -corn cakes," and were soon surrounded by friends who came to hear the -marvels we had to relate. - -How monotonous, how dull, prosy, inconvenient, everything seemed after -our plunge into modern life! - -We told old Virginia about all the enterprise we had seen, and how -she was left far behind everybody and everything, urging her to join -at once the "march of material progress." - -But the Mother of States persisted in sitting contentedly over her -old-fashioned wood fire with brass andirons, and, while thus musing, -these words fell slowly and distinctly from her lips: - -"They call me 'old fogy,' and tell me I must get out of my old ruts -and come into the 'advanced age.' But I don't care about their -'advanced age,' their water-pipes and elevators. Give me the right -sort of men and women--God-loving, God-serving men and women. Men -brave, courteous, true; women sensible, gentle, and retiring. - -"Have not my plantation homes furnished warriors, statesmen, and -orators, acknowledged great by the world? I make it a rule to 'keep on -hand' men equal to emergencies. Had I not Washington, Patrick Henry, -Light-Horse Harry Lee, and others, ready for the first Revolution? and -if there comes another,--which God forbid!--have I not plenty more -just like them?" - -Here she laughed with delight as she called over their names: "Robert -Lee, Jackson, Joe Johnstone, Stuart, Early, Floyd, Preston, the -Breckinridges, Scott, and others like them, brave and true as steel. -Ha! ha! I know of what stuff to make men! And if my old 'ruts and -grooves' produce men like these, should they be abandoned? Can any -'advanced age' produce better? - -"Then there are my soldiers of the Cross. Do I not yearly send out a -faithful band to be a 'shining light,' and spread the Gospel North, -South, East, West, even into foreign lands? Is not the only Christian -paper in Athens, Greece, the result of the love and labor of one of my -soldiers?[2] - - [2] Rev. G. W. Leyburn. - -"And can I not send out men of science, as well as warriors, -statesmen, and orators? There is Maury on the seas, showing the world -what a man of science can do. If my 'old-fogy' system has produced men -like these, must it be abandoned?" - -Here the old Mother of States settled herself back in her chair, a -smile of satisfaction resting on her face, and she ceased to think of -_change_. - - -Telling our mother of all the wonders and pleasures of New York, she -said: - -"You were so delighted I judge that you would like to sell out -everything here and move there!" - -"It would be delightful!" we exclaimed. - -"But you would miss many pleasures you have in our present home." - -"We would have no time to miss anything," said my sister, "in that -whirl of excitement! But," she continued, "I believe one might as well -try to move the Rocky Mountains to Fifth Avenue as an old Virginian! -They have such a horror of selling out and moving." - -"It is not so easy to sell out and move," replied our mother, "when -you remember all the negroes we have to take care of and support." - -"Yes, the negroes," we said, "are the weight continually pulling us -down! Will the time _ever_ come for us to be free of them?" - -"They were placed here," replied our mother, "by God, for us to take -care of, and it does not seem that we can change it. When we -emancipate them, it does not better their condition. Those left free -and with good farms given them by their masters soon sink into poverty -and wretchedness, and become a nuisance to the community. We see how -miserable are Mr. Randolph's[3] negroes, who with their freedom -received from their master a large section of the best land in Prince -Edward County. My own grandfather also emancipated a large number, -having first had them taught lucrative trades that they might support -themselves, and giving them money and land. But they were not -prosperous or happy. We have also tried sending them to Liberia. You -know my old friend Mrs. L. emancipated all hers and sent them to -Liberia; but she told me the other day that she was convinced it had -been no kindness to them, for she continually receives letters begging -assistance, and yearly supplies them with clothes and money." - - [3] John Randolph of Roanoke. - -So it seemed our way was surrounded by walls of circumstances too -thick and solid to be pulled down, and we said no more. - -Some weeks after this conversation we had a visit from a friend--Dr. -Bagby--who, having lived in New York, and hearing us express a wish to -live there, said: - -"What! exchange a home in old Virginia for one on Fifth Avenue? You -don't know what you are talking about! It is not even called 'home' -there, but '_house_,' where they turn into bed at midnight, eat -stale-bread breakfasts, have brilliant parties--where several hundred -people meet who don't care anything about each other. They have no -soul life, but shut themselves up in themselves, live for themselves, -and never have any social enjoyment like ours." - -"But," we said, "could not our friends come to see us there as well as -anywhere else?" - -"No, indeed!" he answered. "Your hearts would soon be as cold and dead -as a marble door-front. You wouldn't want to see anybody, and nobody -would want to see you." - -"You are complimentary, certainly!" - -"I know all about it; and"--he continued--"I know you could not find -on Fifth Avenue such women as your mother and grandmother, who never -think of themselves, but are constantly planning and providing for -others, making their homes comfortable and pleasant, and attending to -the wants and welfare of so many negroes. And that is what the women -all over the South are doing, and what the New York women cannot -comprehend. How can anybody know, except ourselves, the personal -sacrifices of our women?" - -"Well," said my sister, "you need not be so severe and eloquent -because we thought we should like to live in New York! If we should -sell all we possess, we could never afford to live there. Besides, you -know our mother would as soon think of selling her children as her -servants." - -"But," he replied, "I can't help talking, for I hear our people -abused, and called indolent and self-indulgent, when I know they have -valor and endurance enough. And I believe so much 'material progress' -leaves no leisure for the highest development of heart and mind. Where -the whole energy of a people is applied to making money, the souls of -men become dwarfed." - -"We do not feel," we said, "like abusing Northern people, in whose -thrift and enterprise we found much to admire; and especially the -self-reliance of their women, enabling them to take care of themselves -and to travel from Maine to the Gulf without escort, while we find it -impossible to travel a day's journey without a special protector." - -"That is just what I don't like," said he, "to see a woman in a crowd -of strangers and needing no 'special protector.'" - -"This dependence upon your sex," we replied, "keeps you so vain." - -"We should lose our gallantry altogether," said he, "if we found you -could get along without us." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -After some months--ceasing to think and speak of New York--our lives -glided back into the old channel, where the placid stream of life had -many isles of simple pleasures. - -In those days we were not whirled over the iron track in a crowded -car, with dirty, shrieking children and repulsive-looking people. We -were not jammed against rough people, eating ill-smelling things out -of ill-looking baskets and satchels, and throwing the remains of pies -and sausages over the cushioned seats. - -Oh, no! our journeys were performed in venerable carriages, and our -lunch was enjoyed by some cool, shady spring where we stopped in a -shady forest at mid-day. - -[Illustration: "LUNCH BY SOME COOL, SHADY SPRING."--_Page 66._] - -Our own ancient carriage my sister styled "the old ship of Zion," -saying it had carried many thousands, and was likely to carry many -more. And our driver we called the "Ancient Mariner." He presided on -his seat--a lofty perch--in a very high hat and with great dignity. -Having been driving the same carriage for nearly forty years--no -driver being thought safe who had not been on the carriage box at -least twenty years,--he regarded himself as an oracle, and, in -consequence of his years and experience, kept us in much awe,--my -sister and myself never daring to ask him to quicken or retard his -pace or change the direction of his course, however much we desired -it. We will ever remember this thraldom, and how we often wished one -of the younger negroes could be allowed to take his place; but my -grandmother said "it would wound his feelings, and, besides, be very -unsafe" for us. - -At every steep hill or bad place in the road it was an established -custom to stop the carriage, unfold the high steps, and "let us -out,"--as in pictures of the animals coming down out of the ark! This -custom had always prevailed in my mother's family, and there was a -tradition that my great-grandfather's horses, being habituated to stop -for this purpose, refused to pull up certain hills, even when the -carriage was empty, until the driver had dismounted and slammed the -door, after which they moved off without further hesitation. - -This custom of walking at intervals made a pleasant variety, and gave -us an opportunity to enjoy fully the beautiful and picturesque scenery -through which we were passing. - -Those were the days of leisure and pleasure for travelers; and when we -remember the charming summer jaunts annually made in this way, we -almost regret the steam horse, which takes us now to the same places -in a few hours. - -We had two dear friends, Mary and Alice, who with their old carriages -and drivers--the facsimiles of our own--frequently accompanied us in -these expeditions; and no generals ever exercised more entire command -over their armies than did these three black coachmen over us. I smile -now to think of their ever being called our "slaves." - -Yet, although they had this domineering spirit, they felt at the same -time a certain pride in us, too. - -On one occasion, when we were traveling together, our friend Alice -concluded to dismount from her carriage and ride a few miles with a -gentleman of the party in a buggy. She had not gone far before the -alarm was given that the buggy horse was running away, whereupon our -black generalissimos instantly stopped the three carriages and -anxiously watched the result. Old Uncle Edmund, Alice's coachman, -stood up in his seat highly excited, and when his young mistress, with -admirable presence of mind, seized the reins and stopped the horse, -turning him into a by-road, he shouted at the top of his voice: "Dar, -now! I always knowed Miss Alice was a young 'oman of de mos' amiable -courage!"--and over this feat he continued to chuckle for the rest of -the day. - -The end of these pleasant journeys always brought us to some old -plantation home, where we met a warm welcome not only from the white -family, but from the servants who constituted part of the -establishment. - -One of the most charming places to which we made a yearly visit was -Oaklands, a lovely spot embowered in vines and shade-trees. - -The attractions of this home and family brought so many visitors -every summer, it was necessary to erect cottages about the grounds, -although the house itself was quite large. And as the yard was usually -filled with persons strolling about, or reading, or playing chess -under the trees, it had every appearance, on first approach, of a -small watering-place. The mistress of this establishment was a woman -of rare attraction, possessing all the gentleness of her sex, with -attributes of greatness enough for a hero. Tall and handsome, she -looked a queen as she stood on the portico receiving her guests, and, -by the first words of greeting, from her warm, true heart, charmed -even strangers. - -Without the least "variableness or shadow of turning," her excellences -were a perfect continuity, and her deeds of charity a blessing to all -in need within her reach. No undertaking seemed too great for her, and -no details--affecting the comfort of her home, family, friends, or -servants--too small for her supervision. - -The church, a few miles distant, the object of her care and love, -received at her hands constant and valuable aid, and its minister -generally formed one of her family circle. - -No wonder, then, that the home of such a woman should have been a -favorite resort for all who had the privilege of knowing her. And no -wonder that all who enjoyed her charming hospitality were spellbound, -and loath to leave the spot where it was extended. - -In addition to the qualities I have attempted to describe, this lady -inherited from her father, General Breckinridge, an executive talent -which enabled her to order and arrange her domestic affairs perfectly; -so that from the delicious viands upon her table to the highly -polished oak of the floors, all gave evidence of her superior -management and the admirable training of her servants. - -Nor were the hospitalities of this establishment dispensed to the gay -and great alone: they were shared alike by the homeless and the -friendless, and many a weary heart found sympathy and shelter there. - -Oaklands was famous for many things: its fine light-bread, its -cinnamon cakes, its beat biscuit, its fricasseed chicken, its butter -and cream, its wine-sauces, its plum-puddings, its fine horses, its -beautiful meadows, its sloping green hills, and last, but not least, -its refined and agreeable society collected from every part of our own -State, and often from others. - -For an epicure no better place could have been desired. And this -reminds me of a retired army officer, a _gourmet_ of the first water, -whom we often met there. His sole occupation was visiting his friends, -and his only subjects of conversation were the best viands and the -best manner of cooking them! When asked whether he remembered certain -people at a certain place, he would reply: "Yes, I dined there ten -years ago, and the turkey was very badly cooked--not quite done -enough!" the turkey evidently having made a more lasting impression -than the people. - -This gentleman lost an eye at the battle of Chapultepec, having been -among the first of our gallant men who scaled the walls. But a young -girl of his acquaintance always said she knew it was not bravery so -much as "curiosity, which led him to go peeping over the walls, first -man!" This was a heartless speech, but everybody repeated it and -laughed, for the colonel _was_ a man of considerable "curiosity." - -Like all old homes, Oaklands had its bright as well as its sorrowful -days, its weddings and its funerals. Many yet remember the gay wedding -of one there whose charms brought suitors by the score and won hearts -by the dozen. The brilliant career of this young lady, her conquests -and wonderful fascinations, behold! are they not all written upon the -hearts and memories of divers rejected suitors who still survive? - -And, apropos of weddings, an old-fashioned Virginia wedding was an -event to be remembered. The preparations usually commenced some time -before, with saving eggs, butter, chickens, etc.; after which ensued -the liveliest egg-beating, butter-creaming, raisin-stoning, -sugar-pounding, cake-icing, salad-chopping, cocoanut-grating, -lemon-squeezing, egg-frothing, wafer-making, pastry-baking, -jelly-straining, paper-cutting, silver-cleaning, floor-rubbing, -dress-making, hair-curling, lace-washing, ruffle-crimping, -tarlatan-smoothing, trunk-moving,--guests arriving, servants running, -girls laughing! - -Imagine all this going on simultaneously for several successive days -and nights, and you have an idea of "preparations" for an -old-fashioned Virginia wedding. - -The guests generally arrived in private carriages a day or two before, -and stayed often for a week after the affair, being accompanied by -quite an army of negro servants, who enjoyed the festivities as much -as their masters and mistresses. - -A great many years ago, after such a wedding as I describe, a dark -shadow fell upon Oaklands. - -The eldest daughter, young and beautiful, soon to marry a gentleman[4] -of high character, charming manners, and large estate, one night, -while the preparations were in progress for her nuptials, saw in a -vision vivid pictures of what would befall her if she married. The -vision showed her: a gay wedding, herself the bride; the marriage -jaunt to her husband's home in a distant county; the incidents of the -journey; her arrival at her new home; her sickness and death; the -funeral procession back to Oaklands; the open grave; the bearers of -her bier--those who a few weeks before had danced at the wedding; -herself a corpse in her bridal dress; her newly turfed grave with a -bird singing in the tree above. - - [4] Colonel Tom Preston. - -This vision produced such an impression that she awakened her sister -and told her of it. - -For three successive nights the vision appeared, which so affected her -spirits that she determined not to marry. But after some months, -persuaded by her family to think no more of the dream which -continually haunted her, she allowed the marriage to take place. - -All was a realization of the vision: the wedding, the journey to her -new home,--every incident, however small, had been presented before -her in the dream. - -As the bridal party approached the house of an old lady near Abingdon, -who had made preparations for their entertainment, servants were -hurrying to and fro in great excitement, and one was galloping off for -a doctor, as the old lady had been suddenly seized with a violent -illness. Even this was another picture in the ill-omened vision of -the bride, who every day found something occurring to remind her of -it, until in six months her own death made the last sad scene of her -dream. And the funeral procession back to Oaklands, the persons -officiating, the grave,--all proved a realization of her vision. - -After this her husband, a man of true Christian character, sought in -foreign lands to disperse the gloom overshadowing his life. But -whether on the summit of Mount Blanc or the lava-crusted Vesuvius; -among the classic hills of Rome or the palaces of France; in the -art-galleries of Italy or the regions of the Holy Land,--he carries -ever in his heart the image of his fair bride and the quiet grave at -Oaklands. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -Another charming residence, not far from Oaklands,[5] which attracted -visitors from various quarters, was Buena Vista, where we passed many -happy hours of childhood. - - [5] General Watts's place, Roanoke. - -This residence--large and handsome--was situated on an eminence -overlooking pastures and sunny slopes, with forests and mountain views -in the distance. - -The interior of the house accorded with the outside, every article -being elegant and substantial. - -The owner,[6] a gentleman of polished manners, kind and generous -disposition, a sincere Christian and zealous churchman, was honored -and beloved by all who knew him. - - [6] George P. Tayloe, Esq. - -His daughters, a band of lovely young girls, presided over his house, -dispensing its hospitality with grace and dignity. Their mother's -death, which occurred when they were very young, had given them -household cares which would have been considerable but for the -assistance of Uncle Billy, the butler,--an all-important character -presiding with imposing dignity over domestic affairs. - -His jet-black face was relieved by a head of gray hair with a small, -round, bald centerpiece; and the expression of his face was calm and -serene as he presided over the pantry, the table, and the tea-waiters. - -His mission on earth seemed to be keeping the brightest silver urns, -sugar-dishes, cream-jugs, and spoons; flavoring the best ice-creams; -buttering the hottest rolls, muffins, and waffles; chopping the best -salads; folding the whitest napkins; handing the best tea and cakes in -the parlor in the evenings; and cooling the best wine for dinner. -Indeed, he was so essentially a part of the establishment that in -recalling those old days at Buena Vista the form of Uncle Billy comes -silently back from the past and takes its old place about the parlors, -the halls, and the dining-room, making the picture complete. - -[Illustration: "HIS MISSION ON EARTH SEEMED TO BE KEEPING THE -BRIGHTEST SILVER URNS."--_Page 78._] - -And thus upon the canvas of every old home picture come to their -accustomed places the forms of dusky friends, who once shared our -homes, our firesides, our affections,--and who will share them, as in -the past, never more. - - -Of all the plantation homes we loved and visited, the brightest, -sweetest memories cluster around Grove Hill,[7] a grand old place in -the midst of scenery lovely and picturesque, to reach which we made a -journey across the Blue Ridge--those giant mountains from whose -winding roads and lofty heights we had glimpses of exquisite scenery -in the valleys below. - - [7] The old seat of the Breckinridges, Botetourt County. - -Thus winding slowly around these mountain heights and peeping down -from our old carriage windows, we beheld nature in its wildest -luxuriance. The deep solitude; the glowing sunlight over rock, forest, -and glen; the green valleys deep down beneath, diversified by -alternate light and shadow,--all together photographed on our hearts -pictures never to fade. - -Not all the towers, minarets, obelisks, palaces, gem-studded domes of -"art and man's device," can reach the soul like one of these -sun-tinted pictures in their convex frames of rock and vines! - -Arrived at Grove Hill, how enthusiastic the welcome from each member -of the family assembled in the front porch to meet us! How joyous the -laugh! How deliciously cool the wide halls, the spacious parlor, the -dark polished walnut floors! How bright the flowers! How gay the -spirits of all assembled! - -One was sure of meeting here pleasant people from Virginia, Baltimore, -Florida, South Carolina, and Kentucky, with whom the house was filled -from May till November. - -How delightfully passed the days, the weeks! What merry excursions, -fishing-parties, riding-parties to the Indian Spring, the Cave, the -Natural Bridge! What pleasant music, and tableaux, and dancing, in the -evenings! - -For the tableaux we had only to open an old chest in the garret and -help ourselves to rich embroidered white and scarlet dresses, with -other costumes worn by the grandmother of the family nearly a hundred -years before, when her husband was in public life and she one of the -queens of society. - -What sprightly _conversazioni_ in our rooms at night!--young girls -_will_ become confidential and eloquent with each other at night, -however reserved and quiet during the day. - -Late in the night these talks continued, with puns and laughter, until -checked by a certain young gentleman, now a minister, who was wont to -bring out his flute in the flower-garden under our windows, and give -himself up for an hour or more to the most sentimental and touching -strains, thus breaking in upon sprightly remarks and repartees, some -of which are remembered to this day. A characteristic conversation ran -thus: - -"Girls!" said one, "would it not be charming if we could all take a -trip together to Niagara?" - -"Well, why could we not?" was the response. - -"Oh!" replied another, "the idea of us poor Virginia girls taking a -trip!" - -"Indeed," said one of the Grove Hill girls, "it would be impossible. -For here are we on this immense estate,--four thousand acres, two -large, handsome residences, and three hundred negroes,--regarded as -wealthy, and yet, to save our lives, we could not raise money enough -for a trip to New York!" - -"Nor get a silk-velvet cloak!" said her sister, laughing. - -"Yes," replied the other. "Girls! I have been longing and longing for -a silk-velvet cloak, but never could get the money to buy one. But -last Sunday, at the village church, what should I see but one of the -Joneses sweeping in with a long velvet cloak almost touching the -floor! And you could set her father's house in our back hall! But, -then, she is so fortunate as to own no negroes." - -"What a happy girl she must be!" cried a chorus of voices. "No negroes -to support! We could go to New York and Niagara, and have velvet -cloaks, too, if we only had no negroes to support! But all _our_ money -goes to provide for them as soon as the crops are sold!" - -"Yes," said one of the Grove Hill girls; "here is our large house -without an article of modern furniture. The parlor curtains are one -hundred years old, the old-fashioned mirrors and recess tables one -hundred years old, and we long in vain for money to buy something -new." - -"Well!" said one of the sprightliest girls, "we can get up some of our -old diamond rings or breastpins which some of us have inherited, and -travel on appearances! We have no modern clothes, but the old rings -will make us look rich! And a party of _poor, rich Virginians_ will -attract the commiseration and consideration of the world when it is -known that for generations we have not been able to leave our -plantations!" - -After these conversations we would fall asleep, and sleep profoundly, -until aroused next morning by an army of servants polishing the hall -floors, waxing and rubbing them with a long-handled brush weighted by -an oven lid. This made the floor like a "sea of glass," and dangerous -to walk upon immediately after the polishing process, being especially -disastrous to small children, who were continually slipping and -falling before breakfast. - -The lady[8] presiding over this establishment possessed a cultivated -mind, bright conversational powers, and gentle temper, with a force of -character which enabled her judiciously to direct the affairs of her -household, as well as the training and education of her children. - - [8] Mrs. Cary Breckinridge. - -She always employed an accomplished tutor, who added to the -attractiveness of her home circle. - -She helped the boys with their Latin, and the girls with their -compositions. In her quiet way she governed, controlled, suggested -everything; so that her presence was required everywhere at once. - -While in the parlor entertaining her guests with bright, agreeable -conversation, she was sure to be wanted by the cooks (there were six!) -to "taste or flavor" something in the kitchen; or by the gardener, to -direct the planting of certain seeds or roots,--and so with every -department. Even the minister--there was always one living in her -house--would call her out to consult over his text and sermon for the -next Sunday, saying he could rely upon her judgment and -discrimination. - -Never thinking of herself, her heart overflowing with sympathy and -interest for others, she entered into the pleasures of the young as -well as the sorrows of the old. - -If the boys came in from a fox or deer chase, their pleasure was -incomplete until it had been described to her and enjoyed with her -again. - -The flower-vases were never entirely beautiful until her hand had -helped to arrange the flowers. - -The girls' laces were never perfect until she had gathered and crimped -them. - -Her sons were never so happy as when holding her hand and caressing -her. And the summer twilight found her always in the vine-covered -porch, seated by her husband,--a dear, kind old gentleman,--her hand -resting in his, while he quietly and happily smoked his pipe after the -day's riding over his plantation, interviewing overseers, millers, and -blacksmiths, and settling up accounts. - -One more reminiscence, and the Grove Hill picture will be done. No -Virginia home being complete without some prominent negro character, -the picture lacking this would be untrue to nature, and without the -finishing touch. And not to have "stepped in" to pay our respects to -old Aunt Betsy during a visit to Grove Hill would have been looked -upon--as it should be to omit it here--a great breach of civility; for -the old woman always received us at her door with a cordial welcome -and a hearty shake of the hand. - -"Lor' bless de child'en!" she would say. "How dey does grow! Done -grown up young ladies! Set down, honey. I mighty glad to see you. An' -why didn't your ma[9] come? I would love to see Miss Fanny. She always -was so good an' so pretty. Seems to me it aint been no time sence she -and Miss Emma"--her own mistress--"use' to play dolls togedder, an' I -use' to bake sweet cakes for dem, an' cut dem out wid de pepper-box -top for dar doll parties; an' dey loved each other like sisters." - - [9] "Miss Fanny." - -[Illustration: "HOW DEY DOES GROW!"--_Page 86._] - -"Well, Aunt Betsy," we would ask, "how is your rheumatism now?" - -"Lor', honey, I nuver spec's to git over dat. But some days I can -hobble out an' feed de chickens; an' I can set at my window an' make -the black child'en feed 'em, an' I love to think I'm some 'count to -Miss Emma. An' Miss Emma's child'en can't do 'thout old 'Mammy -Betsy,' for I takes care of all dar pet chickens. Me an' my ole man -gittin' mighty ole now; but Miss Emma an' all her child'en so good to -us we has pleasure in livin' yet." - -At last the shadows began to fall dark and chill upon this once bright -and happy home. - -Old Aunt Betsy lived to see the four boys--her mistress's brave and -noble sons--buckle their armor on and go forth to battle for the home -they loved so well,--the youngest still so young that he loved his pet -chickens, which were left to "Mammy Betsy's" special care; and when -the sad news at length came that this favorite young master was -killed, amid all the agony of grief no heart felt the great sorrow -more sincerely than hers. - -Another and still another of these noble youths fell after deeds of -heroic valor, their graves the battlefield, a place of burial fit for -men so brave. Only one--the youngest--was brought home to find a -resting-place beside the graves of his ancestors. - -The old man, their father, his mind shattered by grief, continued day -after day, for several years, to sit in the vine-covered porch, gazing -wistfully out, imagining sometimes that he saw in the distance the -manly forms of his sons, returning home, mounted on their favorite -horses, in the gray uniforms worn the day they went off. - -Then he, too, followed, where the "din of war, the clash of arms," is -heard no more. - -To recall these scenes so blinds my eyes with tears that I cannot -write of them. Some griefs leave the heart dumb. They have no language -and are given no language, because no other heart could understand, -nor could they be alleviated if shared. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -It will have been observed from these reminiscences that the mistress -of a Virginia plantation was more conspicuous, although not more -important, than the master. In the house she was the mainspring, and -to her came all the hundred or three hundred negroes with their -various wants and constant applications for medicine and every -conceivable requirement. - -Attending to these, with directing her household affairs and -entertaining company, occupied busily every moment of her life. While -all these devolved upon her, it sometimes seemed to me that the master -had nothing to do but ride around his estate on the most delightful -horse, receive reports from overseers, see that his pack of hounds was -fed, and order "repairs about the mill"--the mill seemed always -needing repairs! - -This view of the subject, however, being entirely from a feminine -standpoint, may have been wholly erroneous; for doubtless his mind -was burdened with financial matters too weighty to be grasped and -comprehended by our sex. - -Nevertheless, the mistress held complete sway in her own domain; and -that this fact was recognized will be shown by the following incident: - -A gentleman, a clever and successful lawyer, one day discovering a -negro boy in some mischief about his house, and determining forthwith -to chastise him, took him into the yard for that purpose. Breaking a -small switch, and in the act of coming down with it upon the boy, he -asked: "Do you know, sir, who is master on my place?" - -"Yas, sah!" quickly replied the boy. "Miss Charlotte, sah!" - -Throwing aside the switch, the gentleman ran into the house, laughed a -half hour, and thus ended his only experiment at interfering in his -wife's domain. - -His wife, "Miss Charlotte," as the negroes called her, was gentle and -indulgent to a fault, which made the incident more amusing. - -It may appear singular, yet it is true, that our women, although -having sufficient self-possession at home, and accustomed there to -command on a large scale, became painfully timid if ever they found -themselves in a promiscuous or public assemblage, shrinking from -everything like publicity. - -Still, these women, to whom a whole plantation looked up for guidance -and instruction, could not fail to feel a certain consciousness of -superiority, which, although never displayed or asserted in manner, -became a part of themselves. They were distinguishable everywhere--for -what reason, exactly, I have never been able to find out, for their -manners were too quiet to attract attention. Yet a captain on a -Mississippi steamboat said to me: "I always know a Virginia lady as -soon as she steps on my boat." - -"How do you know?" I asked, supposing he would say: "By their plain -style of dress and antiquated breastpins." - -Said he: "I've been running a boat from Cincinnati to New Orleans for -twenty-five years, and often have three hundred passengers from -various parts of the world. But if there is a Virginia lady among -them, I find it out in half an hour. They take things quietly, and -don't complain. Do you see that English lady over there? Well, she has -been complaining all the way up the Mississippi River. Nobody can -please her. The cabin-maid and steward are worn out with trying to -please her. She says it is because the mosquitoes bit her so badly -coming through Louisiana. But we are almost at Cincinnati now, haven't -seen a mosquito for a week, and she is still complaining! - -"Then," he continued, "the Virginia ladies look as if they could not -push about for themselves, and for this reason I always feel like -giving them more attention than the other passengers." - -"We are inexperienced travelers," I replied. - -And these remarks of the captain convinced me--I had thought it -before--that Virginia women should never undertake to travel, but -content themselves with staying at home. However, such restriction -would have been unfair unless they had felt like the Parisian who, -when asked why the Parisians never traveled, replied: "Because all the -world comes to Paris!" - -Indeed, a Virginian had an opportunity for seeing much choice society -at home; for our watering-places attracted the best people from other -States, who often visited us at our houses. - -On the Mississippi boat to which I have alluded it was remarked that -the negro servants paid the Southerners more constant and deferential -attention than the passengers from the non-slaveholding States, -although some of the latter were very agreeable and intelligent, and -conversed with the negroes on terms of easy familiarity,--showing, -what I had often observed, that the negro respects and admires those -who make a "social distinction" more than those who make none. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -We were surprised to find in an "Ode to the South," by Mr. M. F. -Tupper, the following stanza: - - "Yes, it is slander to say you oppressed them: - Does a man squander the prize of his pelf? - Was it not often that he who possessed them - Rather was owned by his servants himself?" - -This was true, but that it was known in the outside world we thought -impossible, when all the newspaper and book accounts represented us as -miserable sinners for whom there was no hope here or hereafter, and -called upon all nations, Christian and civilized, to revile, -persecute, and exterminate us. Such representations, however, differed -so widely from the facts around us that when we heard them they failed -to produce a very serious impression, occasioning often only a smile, -with the exclamation: "How little those people know about us!" - -We had not the vanity to think that the European nations cared or -thought about us, and if the Americans believed these accounts, they -defamed the memory of one held up by them as a model of Christian -virtue--George Washington, a Virginia slave-owner, whose kindness to -his "people," as he called his slaves, entitled him to as much honor -as did his deeds of prowess. - -But to return to the two last lines of the stanza: - - "Was it not often that he who possessed them - Rather was owned by his servants himself?" - -I am reminded of some who were actually held in such bondage; -especially an old gentleman who, together with his whole plantation, -was literally possessed by his slaves. - -This gentleman[10] was a widower, and no lady presided over his house. - - [10] William M. Radford, of Greenfield, Botetourt County. - -His figure was of medium height and very corpulent. His features were -regular and handsome, his eyes were soft brown, almost black, and his -hair was slightly gray. The expression of his countenance was so full -of goodness and sympathy that a stranger meeting him in the road might -have been convinced at a glance of his kindness and generosity. - -He was never very particular about his dress, yet never appeared -shabby. - -Although a graduate in law at the university, an ample fortune made it -unnecessary for him to practice his profession. Still his taste for -literature made him a constant reader, and his conversation was -instructive and agreeable. - -His house was old and rambling, and--I was going to say his servants -kept the keys, but I remember there were _no keys_ about the -establishment. Even the front door had no lock upon it. Everybody -retired at night in perfect confidence, however, that everything was -secure enough, and it seemed not important to lock the doors. - -The negro servants who managed the house were very efficient, -excelling especially in the culinary department, and serving up -dinners which were marvels. - -The superabundance on the place enabled them not only to furnish -their master's table with the choicest meats, vegetables, cakes, -pastries, etc., but also to supply themselves bountifully, and to -spread in their own cabins sumptuous feasts, and wedding and party -suppers rich enough for a queen. - -To this their master did not object, for he told them "if they would -supply his table always with an abundance of the best bread, meats, -cream, and butter, he cared not what became of the rest." - -Upon this principle the plantation was conducted. The well-filled -barns, the stores of bacon, lard, flour, etc., literally belonged to -the negroes, who allowed their master a certain share! - -Doubtless they entertained the sentiment of a negro boy who, on being -reproved by his master for having stolen and eaten a turkey, replied: -"Well, massa, you see, you got less turkey, but you got dat much more -niggah!" - -While we were once visiting at this plantation, the master of the -house described to us a dairy just completed on a new plan, which for -some weeks had been such a hobby with him that he had actually -purchased a lock for it, saying he would keep the key himself--which -he never did--and have the fresh mutton always put there. - -"Come," said he, as he finished describing it, "let us go down and -look at it. Bring me the key," he said to a small African, who soon -brought it, and we proceeded to the dairy. - -Turning the key in the door, the old gentleman said: "Now see what a -fine piece of mutton I have here!" - -But on entering and looking around, no mutton was to be seen, and -instead thereof were buckets of custard, cream, and blanc-mange. The -old gentleman, greatly disconcerted, called to one of the servants: -"Florinda! Where is my mutton that I had put here this morning?" - -[Illustration: "WHERE IS MY MUTTON?"--_Page 98._] - -Florinda replied: "Nancy took it out, sah, an' put it in de ole spring -house. She say dat was cool enough place for mutton. An' she gwine -have a big party to-night, an' want her jelly an' custards to keep -cool!" - -At this the old gentleman was rapidly becoming provoked, when we -laughed so much at Nancy's "cool" proceeding that his usual good -nature was restored. - -On another occasion we were one evening sitting with this gentleman in -his front porch when a poor woman from the neighboring village came in -the yard, and, stopping before the door, said to him: - -"Mr. Radford, I came to tell you that my cow you gave me has died." - -"What did you say, my good woman?" asked Mr. Radford, who was quite -deaf. - -The woman repeated in a louder voice: "The cow you gave me has died. -And she died because I didn't have anything to feed her with." - -Turning to us, his countenance full of compassion, he said: "I ought -to have thought about that, and should have sent the food for her -cow." Then, speaking to the woman: "Well, my good woman, I will give -you another cow to-morrow, and send you plenty of provision for her." -And the following day he fulfilled his promise. - -Another incident occurs to me, showing the generous heart of this -truly good man. One day on the Virginia and Tennessee train, observing -a gentleman and lady in much trouble, he ventured to inquire of them -the cause, and was informed that they had lost all their money and -their railroad tickets at the last station. - -He asked the gentleman where he lived, and on what side he was during -the war. - -"I am from Georgia," replied the gentleman, "and was, of course, with -the South." - -"Well," said Mr. Radford, pulling from his capacious pocket a large -purse, which he handed the gentleman, "help yourself, sir, and take as -much as will be necessary to carry you home." - -The astonished stranger thanked him sincerely, and handed him his -card, saying: "I will return the money as soon as I reach home." - -Returned to his own home, and relating the incidents of his trip, Mr. -Radford mentioned this, when one of his nephews laughed and said: -"Well, uncle, we Virginia people are so easily imposed upon! You don't -think that man will ever return your money, do you?" - -"My dear," replied his uncle, looking at him reproachfully and sinking -his voice, "I was fully repaid by the change which came over the man's -countenance." - -It is due to the Georgian to add that on reaching home he returned the -money with a letter of thanks. - - -In sight of the hospitable home of Mr. Radford was another, equally -attractive, owned by his brother-in-law, Mr. Bowyer. These places had -the same name, Greenfield, the property having descended to two -sisters, the wives of these gentlemen. They might have been called -twin establishments, as one was almost a facsimile of the other. At -both were found the same hospitality, the same polished floors, the -same style of loaf-bread and velvet rolls, the only difference between -the two being that Mr. Bowyer kept his doors locked at night, observed -more system, and kept his buggies and carriages in better repair. - -These gentlemen were also perfectly congenial. Both had graduated in -law, read the same books, were members of the same church, knew the -same people, liked and disliked the same people, held the same -political opinions, enjoyed the same old Scotch songs, repeated the -same old English poetry, smoked the same kind of tobacco, in the same -kind of pipes, abhorred alike intoxicating drinks, and deplored the -increase of bar-rooms and drunkenness in our land. - -For forty years they passed together a part of every day or evening, -smoking and talking over the same events and people. It was a picture -to see them at night over a blazing wood fire, their faces bright with -good nature; and a treat to hear all their reminiscences of people and -events long past. With what circumstantiality could they recall old -law cases, and describe old duels, old political animosities and -excitements! What merry laughs they sometimes had! - -Everything on one of these plantations seemed to belong equally to the -other. If the ice gave out at one place, the servants went to the -other for it as a matter of course; or if the buggies or carriage were -out of order at Mr. Radford's, which was often the case, the driver -would go over for Mr. Bowyer's without even mentioning the -circumstance, and so with everything. The families lived thus -harmoniously with never the least interruption for forty years. - -Now and then the old gentlemen enjoyed a practical joke on each other, -and on one occasion Mr. Radford succeeded so effectually in quizzing -Mr. Bowyer that whenever he thought of it afterward he fell into a -dangerous fit of laughter. - -It happened that a man who had married a distant connection of the -Greenfield family concluded to take his wife, children, and servants -to pass the summer there, dividing the time between the two houses. -The manners, character, and political proclivities of this visitor -became so disagreeable to the old gentlemen that they determined he -should not repeat his visit, although they liked his wife. One day Mr. -Bowyer received a letter signed by this objectionable individual--it -had really been written by Mr. Radford--informing Mr. Bowyer that, as -one of the children was sick, and the physician advised country air, -he would be there the following Thursday with his whole family, to -stay some months. - -"The impudent fellow!" exclaimed Mr. Bowyer as soon as he read the -letter. "He knows how Radford and myself detest him! Still I am sorry -for his wife. But I will not be dragooned and outgeneraled by that -contemptible fellow. No! I will leave home to-day!" - -Going to the back door, he called in a loud voice for his coachman, -and ordered his carriage. "I am going" said he, "to Grove Hill for a -week, and from there to Lexington, with my whole family, and don't -know when I shall be at home again. It is very inconvenient," said he -to his wife, "but I must leave home." - -Hurrying up the carriage and the family, they were soon off on their -unexpected trip. - -They stayed at Grove Hill, seven miles off, a week, during which time -Mr. Bowyer every morning mounted his horse and rode timidly around the -outskirts of his own plantation, peeping over the hills at his house, -but afraid to venture nearer, feeling assured it was occupied by the -obnoxious visitor. He would not even make inquiries of his negroes -whom he met, as to the state and condition of things in his house. - -Concluding to pursue his journey to Lexington, and halfway there, he -met a young nephew of Mr. Radford's who happened to know all about -the quiz, and, immediately suspecting the reason of Mr. Bowyer's exile -from home, inquired where he was going, how long he had been from -home, etc. Soon guessing the truth, and thinking the joke had been -carried far enough, he told the old gentleman he need not travel any -further, for it was all a quiz of his uncle's, and there was no one at -his house. Thereupon Mr. Bowyer, greatly relieved, turned back and -went his way home rejoicing, but "determined to pay Radford," he said, -for such a practical joke, which had exiled him from home and given -him such trouble. This caused many a good laugh whenever it was told -throughout the neighborhood. - -The two estates of which I am writing were well named--Greenfield; for -the fields and meadows were of the freshest green, and, with majestic -hills around, the fine cattle and horses grazing upon them, formed a -noble landscape. - -This land had descended in the same family since the Indian camp-fires -ceased to burn there, and the same forests were still untouched where -once stood the Indians' wigwams. - -In this connection I am reminded of a tradition in the Greenfield -family which showed the heroism of a Virginia boy: - -The first white proprietor of this place, the great-grandfather of the -present owners, had also a large estate in Montgomery County, called -Smithfield, where his family lived, and where was a fort for the -protection of the whites when attacked by the Indians. - -Once, while the owner was at his Greenfield place, the Indians -surrounded Smithfield, and the white women and children took refuge in -the fort, while the men prepared for battle. They wanted the -proprietor of Smithfield to help them fight and to take command, for -he was a brave man; but they could not spare a man to carry him the -news. So they concluded to send one of his young sons, a lad thirteen -years old, who did not hesitate, but, mounting a fleet horse, set off -after dark and rode all night through dense forests filled with -hostile Indians, reaching Greenfield, a distance of forty miles, next -morning. He soon returned with his father, and the Indians were -repulsed. And I always thought that boy was courageous enough for his -name to live in history.[11] - - [11] John Preston, afterward Governor of Virginia. - -The Indians afterward told how, the whole day before the fight, -several of their chiefs had been concealed near the Smithfield house -under a large haystack, upon which the white children had been sliding -and playing all day, little suspecting the gleaming tomahawks and -savage men beneath. - -From the Greenfield estate in Botetourt and the one adjacent went the -ancestors of the Prestons and Breckinridges, who made these names -distinguished in South Carolina and Kentucky. And on this place are -the graves of the first Breckinridges who arrived in this country. - -All who visited at the homesteads just described retained ever after a -recollection of the perfectly cooked meats, bread, etc., seen upon the -tables at both houses, there being at each place five or six negro -cooks who had been taught by their mistresses the highest style of the -culinary art. - -During the summer season several of these cooks were hired at the -different watering-places, where they acquired great fame and made -for themselves a considerable sum of money by selling recipes. - -A lady of the Greenfield family, who married and went to Georgia, told -me she had often tried to make velvet rolls like those she had been -accustomed to see at her own home, but never succeeded. Her mother and -aunt, who had taught these cooks, having died many years before, she -had to apply to the negroes for information on such subjects, and -they, she said, would never show her the right way to make them. -Finally, while visiting at a house in Georgia, this lady was surprised -to see velvet rolls exactly like those at her home. - -"Where did you get the recipe?" she soon asked the lady of the house, -who replied: "I bought it from old Aunt Rose, a colored cook, at the -Virginia Springs, and paid her five dollars." - -"One of our own cooks, and my mother's recipe," exclaimed the other, -"and I had to come all the way to Georgia to get it, for Aunt Rose -never would show me exactly how to make them!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -Not far from Greenfield was a place called Rustic Lodge.[12] - - [12] Colonel Burwell's. - -This house, surrounded by a forest of grand old oaks, was not large or -handsome. But its inmates were ladies and gentlemen of the old English -style. - -The grandmother, Mrs. Burwell, about ninety years of age, had in her -youth been one of the belles at the Williamsburg court in old colonial -days. A daughter of Sir Dudley Digges, and descended from English -nobility, she had been accustomed to the best society. Her manners and -conversation were dignified and attractive. - -Among reminiscences of colonial times she remembered Lord Botetourt, -of whom she related interesting incidents. - -The son of this old lady, about sixty years of age, and the proprietor -of the estate, was a true picture of the old English gentleman. His -manners, conversation, thread-cambric shirt-frills, cuffs, and long -queue tied with a black ribbon, made the picture complete. His two -daughters, young ladies of refinement, had been brought up by their -aunt and grandmother to observe strictly all the proprieties of life. - -This establishment was proverbial for its order and method, the most -systematic rules being in force everywhere. The meals were served -punctually at the same instant every day. Old Aunt Nelly always -dressed and undressed her mistress at the same hour. The cook's gentle -"tapping at the chamber door" called the mistress to an interview with -that functionary at the same moment every morning,--an interview -which, lasting half an hour, and never being repeated during the day, -resulted in the choicest dinners, breakfasts, and suppers. - -Exactly at the same hour every morning the old gentleman's horse was -saddled, and he entered the neighboring village so promptly as to -enable some of the inhabitants to set their clocks by him. - -This family had possessed great wealth in eastern Virginia during the -colonial government, under which many of its members held high -offices. - -But impoverished by high living, entertaining company, and a heavy -British debt, they had been reduced in their possessions to about -fifty negroes, with only money enough to purchase this plantation, -upon which they had retired from the gay and charming society of -Williamsburg. They carried with them, however, some remains of their -former grandeur: old silver, old jewelry, old books, old and -well-trained servants, and an old English coach which was the -curiosity of all other vehicular curiosities. How the family ever -climbed into it, or got out of it, and how the driver ever reached the -dizzy height upon which he sat, was the mystery of my childhood. - -But, although egg-shaped and suspended in mid-air, this coach had -doubtless, in its day, been one of considerable renown, drawn by four -horses, with footman, postilion, and driver in English livery. - -How sad must have been its reflections on finding itself shorn of -these respectable surroundings, and, after the Revolution, drawn by -two republican horses, with footman and driver dressed in republican -jeans! - -A great-uncle of this family, unlike the coach, never would become -republicanized; and his obstinate loyalty to the English crown, with -his devotion to everything English, gained for him the title "English -Louis," by which name he is spoken of in the family to this day. An -old lady told me not long ago that she remembered, when a child, the -arrival of "English Louis" at Rustic one night, and his conversation -as they sat around the fire,--how he deplored a republican form of -government, and the misfortunes which would result from it, saying: -"All may go smoothly for about seventy years, when civil war will set -in. First it will be about these negro slaves we have around us, and -after that it will be something else." And how true "English Louis'" -prediction has proven.[13] - - [13] 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, traveled many miles out of his way to avoid it. - -Doubtless this gentleman was avoided and proscribed on account of his -English proclivities. For at that day the spirit of republicanism and -hatred to England ran high; so that an old gentleman--one of our -relatives whom I well remember--actually took from his parlor walls -his coat-of-arms, which had been brought by his grandfather from -England, and, carrying it out in his yard, built a fire, and, -collecting his children around it to see it burn, said: "Thus let -everything English perish!" - -Should I say what I think of this proceeding I would not be -considered, perhaps, a true republican patriot. - - -I must add a few words to my previous mention of Smithfield, in -Montgomery County, the county which flows with healing waters. - -Smithfield, like Greenfield, is owned by the descendants of the first -white family who settled there after the Indians, and its verdant -pastures, noble forests, and mountain streams and springs, form a -prospect wondrously beautiful. - -This splendid estate descended to three brothers of the Preston -family, who equally divided it, the eldest keeping the homestead, and -the others building attractive homes on their separate plantations. - -The old homestead was quite antique in appearance. Inside, the high -mantelpieces reaching nearly to the ceiling, which was also high, and -the high wainscoting, together with the old furniture, made a picture -of the olden time. - -When I first visited this place, the old grandmother, then eighty -years of age, was living. She, like the old lady at Rustic, had been a -belle in eastern Virginia in her youth. When she married the owner of -Smithfield sixty years before, she made the bridal jaunt from Norfolk -to this place on horseback, two hundred miles. Still exceedingly -intelligent and interesting, she entertained us with various incidents -of her early life, and wished to hear all the old songs which she had -then heard and sung herself. - -"When I was married," said she, "and first came to Smithfield, my -husband's sisters met me in the porch, and were shocked at my pale and -delicate appearance. One of them, whispering to her brother, asked: -'Why did you bring that ghost up here?' And now," continued the old -lady, "I have outlived all who were in the house that day, and all my -own and my husband's family." - -This was certainly an evidence of the health-restoring properties of -the water and climate in this region. - -The houses of these three brothers were filled with company winter and -summer, making within themselves a delightful society. The visitors at -one house were equally visitors at the others, and the succession of -dinner and evening parties from one to the other made it difficult for -a visitor to decide at whose particular house he was staying. - -One of these brothers, Colonel Robert Preston, had married a lovely -lady from South Carolina, whose perfection of character and -disposition endeared her to everyone who knew her. Everybody loved her -at sight, and the better she was known the more she was beloved. Her -warm heart was ever full of other people's troubles or joys, never -thinking of herself. In her house many an invalid was cheered by her -tender care, and many a drooping heart revived by her bright Christian -spirit. She never omitted an opportunity of pointing the way to -heaven; and although surrounded by all the allurements which gay -society and wealth could bring, she did not swerve an instant from the -quiet path along which she directed others. In the midst of bright and -happy surroundings her thoughts and hopes were constantly centered -upon the life above; and her conversation--which was the reflex of her -heart--reverted ever to this theme, which she made attractive to old -and young. - -The eldest of the three brothers was William Ballard Preston, once -Secretary of the Navy in the cabinet of President Taylor. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -In the region of country just described and in the counties beyond -abound the finest mineral springs, one or more being found on every -plantation. At one place there were seven different springs, and the -servants had a habit of asking the guests and family whether they -would have--before breakfast--a glass of White Sulphur, Yellow -Sulphur, Black Sulphur, Alleghany, Alum, or Limestone water! - -The old Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs was a favorite place of -resort for eastern Virginians and South Carolinians at a very early -date, when it was accessible only by private conveyances, and all who -passed the summer there went in private carriages. In this way certain -old Virginia and South Carolina families met every season, and these -old people told us that society there was never so good after the -railroads and stages brought "all sorts of people, from all sorts of -places." This, of course, we knew nothing about from experience, and -it sounded rather egotistical in the old people to say so, but that is -what they said. - -Indeed, these "old folks" talked so much about what "used to be in -their day" at the old White Sulphur, that I found it hard to convince -myself that I had not been bodily present, seeing with my own eyes -certain knee-buckled old gentlemen, with long queues, and certain -Virginia and South Carolina belles attired in short-waisted, simple, -white cambrics, who passed the summers there. These white cambrics, we -were told, had been carried in minute trunks behind the carriages; and -were considered, with a few jewels, and a long black or white lace -veil thrown over the head and shoulders, a complete outfit for the -reigning belles! Another curiosity was that these white cambric -dresses--our grandmothers told us--required very little "doing up:" -one such having been worn by Mrs. General Washington--so her -granddaughter told me--a whole week without requiring washing! It must -have been an age of remarkable women and remarkable cambrics! How -little they dreamed then of an era when Saratoga trunks would be -indispensable to ladies of much smaller means than Virginia and South -Carolina belles! - -To reach these counties flowing with mineral waters, the families from -eastern Virginia and from South Carolina passed through a beautiful -region of Virginia known as Piedmont, and those who had kinsfolk or -acquaintances there usually stopped to pay them a visit. Consequently -the Piedmont Virginians were generally too busy entertaining summer -guests to visit the Springs themselves. Indeed, why should they? No -more salubrious climate could be found than their own, and no scenery -more grand and beautiful. But it was necessary for the tide-water -Virginians to leave their homes every summer on account of chills and -fevers. - -In the lovely Piedmont region, over which the "Peaks of Otter" rear -their giant heads, and chains of blue mountains extend as far as eye -can reach, were scattered many pleasant and picturesque homes. And in -this section my grandfather bought a plantation, when the ancestral -estates in the eastern part of the State had been sold to repay the -British debt, which estates, homesteads, and tombstones with their -quaint inscriptions, are described in Bishop Meade's "Old Churches and -Families of Virginia." - -While the tide-water Virginians were already practicing all the arts -and wiles known to the highest English civilization; sending their -sons to be educated in England, and receiving therefrom brocaded silks -and powdered wigs; and dancing the minuet at the Williamsburg balls -with the families of the noblemen sent over to govern the -colony,--Piedmont was still a dense forest, the abode of Indians and -wild animals. - -It was not strange, then, that the Piedmont Virginians never arrived -at the opulent manner of living adopted by those on the James and York -rivers, who, tradition tells us, went to such excess in high living as -to have "hams boiled in champagne," and of whom other amusing and -interesting tales have been handed down to us. Although the latter -were in advance of the Piedmont Virginians in wealth and social -advantages, they were not superior to them in honor, virtue, kindness, -or hospitality. - -It has been remarked that, "when natural scenery is picturesque, -there is in the human character something to correspond; impressions -made on the retina are really made on the soul, and the mind becomes -what it contemplates." - -The same author continues: "A man is not only _like_ what he sees, but -he _is_ what he sees. The noble old Highlander has mountains in his -soul, whose towering peaks point heavenward; and lakes in his bosom, -whose glassy surfaces reflect the skies; and foaming cataracts in his -heart to beautify the mountain side and irrigate the vale; and -evergreen firs and mountain pines that show life and verdure even -under winter skies!" - -"On the other hand," he writes, "the wandering nomad has a desert in -his heart; its dead level reflects heat and hate; a sullen, barren -plain,--no goodness, no beauty, no dancing wave of joy, no gushing -rivulet of love, no verdant hope. And it is an interesting fact that -those who live in countries where natural scenery inspires the soul, -and where the necessities of life bind to a permanent home, are always -patriotic and high-minded; and those who dwell in the desert are -always pusillanimous and groveling!" - -If what this author writes be true, and the character of the Piedmont -Virginians accords with the scenery around them, how their hearts must -be filled with gentleness and charity inspired by the landscape which -stretches far and fades in softness against the sky! How must their -minds be filled with noble aspirations suggested by the everlasting -mountains! How their souls must be filled with thoughts of heaven as -they look upon the glorious sunsets bathing the mountains in -rose-colored light, with the towering peaks ever pointing heavenward -and seeming to say: "Behold the glory of a world beyond!"[14] - - [14] 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. - -Beneath the shadow of the "Peaks" were many happy homes and true -hearts, and, among these, memory recalls none more vividly than -Otterburn and its inmates. - -Otterburn was the residence of a gentleman and his wife who, having no -children, devoted themselves to making their home attractive to -visitors, in which they succeeded so well that they were rarely -without company, for all who went once to see them went again and -again. - -This gentleman, Benjamin Donald, was a man of high character,--his -accomplishments, manner and appearance marking him "rare,"--"one in a -century." Above his fellow-men in greatness of soul, he could -comprehend nothing mean. His stature was tall and erect; his features -bold; his countenance open and impressive; his mind vigorous and -cultivated; his bearing dignified, but not haughty; his manners simple -and attractive; his conversation so agreeable and enlivening that the -dullest company became animated as soon as he came into the room. -Truth and lofty character were so unmistakably stamped upon him that a -day's acquaintance convinced one he could be trusted forever. Brought -up in Scotland, the home of his ancestors, in him were blended the -best points of Scotch and Virginia character,--strict integrity and -whole-souled generosity and hospitality. - -How many days and nights we passed at his house, and in childhood and -youth how many hours were we entertained by his bright and instructive -conversation! Especially delightful was it to hear his stories of -Scotland, which brought vividly before us pictures of its lakes and -mountains and castles. How often did we listen to his account of the -wedding-tour to Scotland, when he carried his Virginia bride to the -old home at Greenock! And how often we laughed about the Scotch -children, his nieces and nephews, who, on first seeing his wife, -clapped their hands and shouted: "Oh, mother! are you not glad uncle -did not marry a black woman?" Hearing he was to marry a Virginian, -they expected to see a savage Indian or negro! And some of the family -who went to Liverpool to meet them, and were looking through -spy-glasses when the vessel arrived, said they were "sure the Virginia -lady had not come, because they saw no one among the passengers -dressed in a red shawl and gaudy bonnet like an Indian"! - -From this we thought that Europeans must be very ignorant of our -country and its inhabitants, and we have since learned that their -children are purposely kept ignorant of facts in regard to America and -its people. - -Among many other recollections of this dear old friend of Otterburn I -shall never forget a dream he told us one night, which so impressed us -that, before his death, we asked him to write it out, which he did; -and, as the copy is before me in his own handwriting, I will insert it -here: - - "About the time I became of age I returned to Virginia for the - purpose of looking after and settling my father's estate. Three - years thereafter I received a letter from my only sister, informing - me that she was going to be married, and pressing me in the most - urgent manner to return to Scotland to be present at her marriage, - and to attend to the drawing of the marriage contract. The letter - gave me a good deal of trouble, as it did not suit me to leave - Virginia at that time. I went to bed one night, thinking much on - this subject, but soon fell asleep, and dreamed that I landed in - Greenock in the night-time, and pushed for home, thinking I would - take my aunt and sister by surprise. - - "When I arrived at the door, I found all still and quiet, and the - out-door locked. I thought, however, that I had in my pocket my - check-key, with which I quietly opened the door and groped my way - into the sitting-room, but, finding no one there, I concluded they - had gone to bed. I then went upstairs to their bedroom, and found - that unoccupied. I then concluded they had taken possession of my - bedroom in my absence, but, not finding them there, became very - uneasy about them. Then it struck me they might be in the guest's - chamber, a room downstairs kept exclusively for company. Upon - going there I found the door partially open; I saw my aunt - removing the burning coals from the top of the grate preparatory - to going to bed. My sister was sitting up in bed, and as I entered - the room she fixed her eyes upon me, but did not seem to recognize - me. I approached toward her, and, in the effort to make myself - known, awoke and found it all a dream. At breakfast next morning I - felt wearied and sick, and could not eat, and told the family of - my (dream) journey overnight. - - "I immediately commenced preparing, and in a very short time - returned to Scotland. I saw my sister married, and she and her - husband set off on their 'marriage jaunt.' About a month - thereafter they returned, and at dinner I commenced telling them - of my dream; but, observing they had quit eating and were staring - at me, I laughed, and asked what was the matter, whereupon my - brother-in-law very seriously asked me to go on. When I finished, - they asked me if I remembered the exact time of my dream. I told - them it distressed and impressed me so strongly that I noted it - down at the time. I pulled out my pocketbook and showed them the - date, '14th day of May,' written in pencil. They all rose from the - table and took me into the bedroom and showed me, written with - pencil on the white mantelpiece, '14th of May.' - - "I asked them what that meant, and was informed that on that very - night--and _the only night_ they ever occupied that room during my - absence--my aunt was taking the coals off of the fire, when my - sister screamed out: 'Brother has come!' - - "My aunt scolded her, and said she was dreaming; but she said she - had not been to sleep, was sitting up in bed, and _saw me_ enter - the room, and run out when she screamed. So confident was she that - she had seen me, and that I had gone off and hidden, that the - whole house was thoroughly searched for me, and as soon as day - dawned a messenger was sent to inquire if any vessel had arrived - from America, or if I had been seen by any of my friends." - -No one who visited Otterburn can forget the smiling faces of the negro -servants about the house, who received the guests with as true -cordiality as did their mistress, expressing their pleasure by -widespread mouths showing white teeth (very white by contrast with -their jet-black skin), and when the guests were going away always -insisted on their remaining longer. - -One of these negro women was not only an efficient servant, but a -valuable friend to her mistress. - -In the absence of her master and mistress she kept the keys, often -entertaining their friends, who, in passing from distant plantations, -were accustomed to stop, and who received from her a cordial welcome, -finding on the table as many delicacies as if the family had been at -home. - -No more sincere attachment could have existed than that between this -lady and her servant. At last, when the latter was seized with a -contagious fever which ended her life, she could not have had a more -faithful friend and nurse than was her mistress. - -The same fever attacked all the negroes on the plantation, and none -can describe the anxiety, care, and distress of their owners, who -watched by their beds day and night, administering medicine and -relieving the sick and dying. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -Among other early recollections is a visit with my mother to the -plantation of a favorite cousin, not far from Richmond, and one of the -handsomest seats on the James River. This residence--Howard's -Neck[15]--was a favorite resort for people from Richmond and the -adjacent counties, and, like many others on the river, always full of -guests; a round of visiting and dinner parties being kept up from one -house to another, so that the ladies presiding over these -establishments had no time to attend to domestic duties, which were -left to their housekeepers while they were employed entertaining -visitors. - - [15] Dr. Cunningham's. - -The negroes on these estates appeared lively and happy--that is, if -singing and laughing indicate happiness; for they went to their work -in the fields singing, and returned in the evening singing, after -which they often spent the whole night visiting from one plantation -to another, or dancing until day to the music of the banjo or -"fiddle." These dances were wild and boisterous, their evolutions -being like those of the savage dances described by travelers in -Africa. Although the most perfect timists, their music, with its wild, -melancholy cadence, half savage, half civilized, cannot be imitated or -described. Many a midnight were we wakened by their wild choruses, -sung as they returned from a frolic or "corn-shucking," sounding at -first like some hideous, savage yell, but dying away on the air, -echoing a cadence melancholy and indescribable, with a peculiar -pathos, and yet without melody or sweetness. - -Corn-shuckings were occasions of great hilarity and good eating. The -negroes from various plantations assembled at night around a huge pile -of corn. Selecting one of their number--usually the most original and -amusing, and possessed of the loudest voice--they called him -"captain." The captain seated himself on top of the pile--a large -lightwood torch burning in front of him, and, while he shucked, -improvised words and music to a wild "recitative," the chorus of -which was caught up by the army of shuckers around. The glare of the -torches on the black faces, with the wild music and impromptu words, -made a scene curious even to us who were so accustomed to it. - -After the corn was shucked they assembled around a table laden with -roasted pigs, mutton, beef, hams, cakes, pies, coffee, and other -substantials--many participating in the supper who had not in the -work. The laughing and merriment continued until one or two o'clock in -the morning. - - -On these James River plantations distinguished foreigners were often -entertained, who, visiting Richmond, desired to see something of -Virginia country life. Mr. Thackeray was once a guest at one of these -places, but Dickens never visited them. Could he have passed a month -at any one of the homes I have described, he would, I am sure, have -written something more flattering of Americans and American life than -is found in "Martin Chuzzlewit" and "American Notes." However, with -these we should not quarrel, as some of the sketches, especially the -one on "tobacco-chewers," we can recognize. - -Every nation has a right to its prejudices--certainly the English -people have such a right as regards America, this country appearing to -the English eye like a huge mushroom, the growth of a night, and -unsubstantial. But it is surely wrong to censure a whole nation--as -some have done the Southern people--for the faults of a few. Although -the right of a nation to its prejudices be admitted, no one has a -right, without thorough examination and acquaintance with the subject, -to publish as facts the exaggerated accounts of another nation, put -forth by its enemies. The world in this way receives very erroneous -impressions. - -For instance, we have no right to suppose the Germans a cruel race -because of the following paragraph clipped from a recent newspaper: - - "The cruelty of German officers is a matter of notoriety, but an - officer in an artillery regiment has lately gone beyond precedent - in ingenuity of cruelty. Some of his men being insubordinate, he - punished them by means of a 'spurring process,' which consisted in - jabbing spurs persistently and brutally into their legs. By this - process his men were so severely injured that they had to go to the - hospital." - -Neither have we a right to pronounce all Pennsylvanians cruel to their -"helps," as they call them, because a Pennsylvania lady told me "the -only way she could manage her help"--a white girl fourteen years -old--"was by holding her head under the pump and pumping water upon it -until she lost her breath,"--a process I could not have conceived, and -which filled me with horror. - -But sorrow and oppression, we suppose, may be found in some form in -every clime, and in every phase of existence some hearts are "weary -and heavy laden." Even Dickens, whose mind naturally sought and fed -upon the comic, saw wrong and oppression in the "humane institutions" -of his own land! - -And Macaulay gives a painful picture of Mme. D'Arblay's life as -waiting-maid to Queen Charlotte--from which we are not to infer, -however, that all queens are cruel to their waiting-maids. - -Mme. D'Arblay--whose maiden name was Frances Burney--was the first -female novelist in England who deserved and received the applause of -her countrymen. The most eminent men of London paid homage to her -genius. Johnson, Burke, Windham, Gibbon, Reynolds, Sheridan, were her -friends and ardent eulogists. In the midst of her literary fame, -surrounded by congenial friends, herself a star in this select and -brilliant coterie, she was offered the place of waiting-maid in the -palace. She accepted the position, and bade farewell to all congenial -friends and pursuits. "And now began," says Macaulay, "a slavery of -five years--of five years taken from the best part of her life, and -wasted in menial drudgery. The history of an ordinary day was this: -Miss Burney had to rise and dress herself early, that she might be -ready to answer the royal bell, which rang at half after seven. Till -about eight she attended in the queen's dressing-room, and had the -honor of lacing her august mistress's stays, and of putting on the -hoop, gown, and neck-handkerchief. The morning was chiefly spent in -rummaging drawers and laying fine clothes in their proper places. Then -the queen was to be powdered and dressed for the day. Twice a week her -Majesty's hair had to be curled and craped; and this operation added a -full hour to the business of the toilet. It was generally three before -Miss Burney was at liberty. At five she had to attend her colleague, -Mme. Schwellenberg, a hateful old toadeater, as illiterate as a -chambermaid, proud, rude, peevish, unable to bear solitude, unable to -conduct herself with common decency in society. With this delightful -associate Frances Burney had to dine and pass the evening. The pair -generally remained together from five to eleven, and often had no -other company the whole time. Between eleven and twelve the bell rang -again. Miss Burney had to pass a half hour undressing the queen, and -was then at liberty to retire. - -"Now and then, indeed, events occurred which disturbed the wretched -monotony of Frances Burney's life. The court moved from Kew to -Windsor, and from Windsor back to Kew. - -"A more important occurrence was the king's visit to Oxford. Then Miss -Burney had the honor of entering Oxford in the last of a long string -of carriages, which formed the royal procession, of walking after the -queen all day through refectories and chapels, and of standing half -dead with fatigue and hunger, while her august mistress was seated at -an excellent cold collation. At Magdalen College Frances was left for -a moment in a parlor, where she sank down on a chair. A good-natured -equerry saw that she was exhausted, and shared with her some apricots -and bread, which he had wisely put in his pockets. At that moment the -door opened, the queen entered, the wearied attendants sprang up, the -bread and fruit were hastily concealed. - -"After this the king became very ill, and during more than two years -after his recovery Frances dragged on a miserable existence at the -palace. Mme. Schwellenberg became more and more insolent and -intolerable, and now the health of poor Frances began to give way: and -all who saw her pale face, her emaciated figure, and her feeble walk -predicted that her sufferings would soon be over. - -"The queen seems to have been utterly regardless of the _comfort_, the -_health_, the _life_, of her attendants. Weak, feverish, hardly able -to stand, Frances had still to rise before seven, in order to dress -the sweet queen, and sit up till midnight, in order to undress the -sweet queen. The indisposition of the handmaid could not and _did not -escape the notice of_ her royal mistress. But the _established -doctrine of the court was that all sickness_ was to be _considered as -a pretense until it proved fatal_. The only way in which the invalid -could clear herself from the suspicion of malingering, as it is called -in the army, was to go on lacing and unlacing, _till she fell down -dead at the royal feet_." - -Finally Miss Burney's father pays her a visit in this palace prison, -when "she told him that she was miserable; that she was worn with -attendance and want of sleep; that she had no comfort in -life,--nothing to love, nothing to hope; that her family and friends -were to her as though they were not, and were remembered by her as men -remember the dead. From daybreak to midnight the same killing labor, -the same recreation, more hateful than labor itself, followed each -other without variety, without any interval of liberty or repose." - -Her father's veneration for royalty amounting to idolatry, he could -not bear to remove her from the court--"and, between the dear father -and the sweet queen, there seemed to be little doubt that some day or -other Frances _would drop down a corpse_. Six months had elapsed since -the interview between the parent and the daughter. The resignation was -not sent in. The sufferer grew worse and worse. She took bark, but it -failed to produce a beneficial effect. She was stimulated with wine; -she was soothed with opium, but in vain. Her breath began to fail. The -whisper that she was in a decline spread through the court. The pains -in her side became so severe that she was forced to crawl from the -card-table of the old fury, Mme. Schwellenberg, to whom she was -tethered, three or four times in an evening, for the purpose of taking -hartshorn. Had she been a negro slave, a humane planter would have -excused her from work. But her Majesty showed no mercy. Thrice a day -the accursed bell still rang; the queen was still to be dressed for -the morning at seven, and to be dressed for the day at noon, and to be -undressed at midnight." - -At last Miss Burney's father was moved to compassion and allowed her -to write a letter of resignation. "Still I could not," writes Miss -Burney in her diary, "summon courage to present my memorial from -seeing the queen's entire freedom from such an expectation. For though -I was frequently so ill in her presence that I could hardly stand, I -saw she concluded me, while life remained, inevitably hers. - -"At last, with a trembling hand, the paper was delivered. Then came -the storm. Mme. Schwellenberg raved like a maniac. The resignation was -not accepted. The father's fears were aroused, and he declared, in a -letter meant to be shown to the queen, that his daughter must retire. -The Schwellenberg raged like a wildcat. A scene almost horrible -ensued. - -"The queen then promised that, after the next birthday, Miss Burney -should be set at liberty. But the promise was ill kept; and her -Majesty showed displeasure at being reminded of it." - -At length, however, the prison door was opened, and Frances was free -once more. Her health was restored by traveling, and she returned to -London in health and spirits. Macaulay tells us that she went to visit -the palace, "her _old dungeon, and found her successor already far on -the way to the grave, and kept to strict duty, from morning till -midnight, with a sprained ankle and a nervous fever_." - -An ignorant and unlettered woman would doubtless not have found this -life in the palace tedious, and our sympathy would not have been -aroused for her; for as long as the earth lasts there must be human -beings fitted for every station, and it is supposed, till the end of -all things, there must be cooks, housemaids, and dining-room servants, -which will make it never possible for the whole human family to stand -entirely upon the same platform socially and intellectually. And Miss -Burney's wretchedness, which calls forth our sympathy, was not because -she had to perform the duties of waiting-maid, but because to a gifted -and educated woman these duties were uncongenial; and congeniality -means _happiness_; uncongeniality, _unhappiness_. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -From the sorrows of Miss Burney in the palace--a striking contrast -with the menials described in our own country homes--I will turn to -another charming place on the James River--Powhatan Seat, a mile below -Richmond, which had descended in the Mayo family two hundred years. - -Here, it was said, the Indian chief Powhatan had lived, and here was -shown the veritable stone supposed to have been the one upon which -Captain Smith's head was laid, when the Indian princess Pocahontas -rescued him. - -This historic stone, near the parlor window, was only an ugly, dark, -broad, flat stone, but imagination pictured ever around it the Indian -group, Smith's head upon it, the infuriated chief with uplifted club -in the act of dealing the death-blow, the grief and shriek of -Pocahontas as she threw herself upon Smith, imploring her father to -spare him,--a piercing cry to have penetrated the heart of the savage -chief! - -Looking out from the parlor window and imagining this savage scene, -how strange a contrast met the eye within! Around the fireside -assembled the loveliest family group, where kindness and affection -beamed in every eye, and father, mother, brothers, and sisters were -linked together by tenderest devotion and sympathy. - -If natural scenery reflects itself upon the heart, no wonder a "holy -calm" rested upon this family, for far down the river the prospect was -peace and tranquillity; and many an evening in the summer-house on the -river bank we drank in the beauty of soft blue skies, green isles, and -white sails floating in the distance. - -Many in Richmond remember the delightful weddings and parties at -Powhatan Seat, where assembled the _élite_ from Richmond, with an -innumerable throng of cousins, aunts, and uncles from Orange and -Culpeper counties. - -On these occasions the house was illuminated by wax lights issuing -from bouquets of magnolia leaves placed around the walls near the -ceiling, and looking prettier than any glass chandelier. - -We, from a distance, generally stayed a week after the wedding, -becoming, as it were, a part of the family circle; and the bride did -not rush off on a tour as is the fashion nowadays, but remained -quietly at home, enjoying the society of her family and friends. - -One feature I have omitted in describing our weddings and -parties--invariably a part of the picture--was the sea of black faces -surrounding the doors and windows to look on the dancing, hear the -music, and afterward get a good share of the supper. - -Tourists often went to walk around the beautiful grounds at -Powhatan--so neatly kept with sea-shells around the flowers, and -pleasant seats under the lindens and magnolias--and to see the -historic stone; but I often thought they knew not what was missed in -not knowing, as we did, the lovely family within. - -But, for us, those rare, beautiful days at Powhatan are gone forever; -for since the war the property has passed into strange hands, and the -family who once owned it will own it no more. - -During the late war heavy guns were placed in the family -burying-ground on this plantation--a point commanding the river; and -here was interred the child of a distinguished general[16] in the -Northern army--a Virginian, formerly in the United States army--who -had married a member of the Powhatan family. He was expected to make -an attack upon Richmond, and over his child's grave was placed a gun -to fire upon him. Such are the unnatural incidents of civil war. - - [16] General Scott. - -About two miles from Powhatan Seat was another beautiful old -place--Mount Erin--the plantation formerly of a family all of whom, -except two sisters, had died. The estate, becoming involved, had to be -sold, which so grieved and distressed these sisters that they passed -hours weeping if accidentally the name of their old home was mentioned -in their presence. - -Once when we were at Powhatan, and these ladies were among the guests, -a member of the Powhatan family ordered the carriage, and took my -sister and myself to Mount Erin, telling us to keep it a secret when -we returned, for "the sisters," said she, "would neither eat nor sleep -if reminded of their old home." - -A pleasant drive brought us to Mount Erin, and when we saw the box -hedges, gravel walks, and linden trees we were no longer surprised at -the grief of the sisters whose hearts entwined around their old home. -The house was in charge of an old negro woman--the purchaser not -having moved in--who showed us over the grounds; and every shrub and -flower seemed to speak of days gone by. Even the ivy on the old bricks -looked gloomy, as if mourning the light, mirth, and song departed from -the house forever; and the walks gave back a deadened echo, as if they -wished not to be disturbed by stranger tread. All seemed in a reverie, -dreaming a long sweet dream of the past, and entering into the grief -of the sisters, who lived afterward for many years in a pleasant home -on a pleasant street in Richmond, with warm friends to serve them, yet -their tears never ceased to flow at the mention of Mount Erin. - - -One more plantation picture, and enough will have been described to -show the character of the homes and people on our plantations. - -The last place visited by my sister and myself before the war of 1861 -was Elkwood, a fine estate in Culpeper County, four miles from the -railroad station, the residence of Richard Cunningham. - -It was the last of June. The country was a scene of enchantment as the -carriage rolled us through dark, cool forests, green meadows, fields -of waving grain; out of the forests into acres of broad-leaved corn; -across pebble-bottomed streams, and along the margin of the Rapidan, -which flowed at the base of the hill leading up to the house. - -The house was square and white, and the blinds green as the grass lawn -and trees in the yard. Inside the house the polished "dry-rubbed" -floors, clean and cool, refreshed one on entering like a glass of iced -lemonade on a midsummer's day. The old-fashioned furniture against the -walls looked as if it thought too much of itself to be set about -promiscuously over the floor, like modern fauteuils and divans. - -About everything was an air of dignity and repose corresponding with -the manners and appearance of the proprietors, who were called "Uncle -Dick" and "Aunt Jenny"--the _a_ in "Aunt" pronounced very broad. - -Aunt Jenny and Uncle Dick had no children, but took care of numerous -nieces and nephews, kept their house filled to overflowing with -friends, relatives, and strangers, and were revered and beloved by -all. They had no pleasure so great as taking care of other people. -They lived for other people, and made everybody comfortable and happy -around them. From the time Uncle Dick had prayers in the morning until -family prayers at bedtime they were busy bestowing some kindness. - -Uncle Dick's character and manners were of a type so high that one -felt elevated in his presence; and a desire to reach his standard -animated those who knew him. His precept and example were such that -all who followed them might arrive at the highest perfection of -Christian character. - -Uncle Dick had requested Aunt Jenny, when they were married, forty -years before, to have on his table every day dinner enough for six -more persons than were already in the house, "in case," he said, "he -should meet friends or acquaintances, while riding over his plantation -or in the neighborhood, whom he wished to ask home with him to -dinner." This having been always a rule, Aunt Jenny never sat at her -table without dinner enough for six more,--and hers were no -commonplace dinners; no hasty-puddings, no saleratus bread, no soda -cakes, no frozen-starch ice-cream, no modern shorthand recipes, but -genuine old Virginia cooking. And all who want to know what that was -can find out all about it in Aunt Jenny's book of copied recipes--if -it is extant--or in that of Mrs. Harrison, of Brandon. But as neither -of these books may ever be known to the public, their "sum and -substance" may be given in a few words: - -"Have no shams. Procure an abundance of the freshest, richest _real_ -cream, milk, eggs, butter, lard, best old Madeira wine, all the way -from Madeira, and never use a particle of soda or saleratus about -anything or under any pressure." - -These were the ingredients Aunt Jenny used, for Uncle Dick had rare -old wine in his cellar which he had brought from Europe thirty years -before, and every day was a feast-day at Elkwood. And the wedding -breakfasts Aunt Jenny used to get up when one of her nieces married at -her house--as they sometimes did--were beyond description. - -While at Elkwood, observing every day that the carriage went to the -depot empty and returned empty, we inquired the reason, and were -informed that Uncle Dick, ever since the cars had been passing near -his plantation, ordered his coachman to have the carriage every day at -the station, "in case some of his friends might be on the train, and -might like to stop and see him"! - -Another hospitable rule in Uncle Dick's house was that company must -never be kept waiting in his parlor, and so anxious was his young -niece to meet his approbation in this as in every particular that she -had a habit of dressing herself carefully, arranging her hair -beautifully--it was in the days, too, when smooth hair was -fashionable--before lying down for the afternoon siesta, "in case," -she said, "someone might call, and Uncle Dick had a horror of visitors -waiting." This process of reposing in a fresh muslin dress and -fashionably arranged hair required a particular and uncomfortable -position, which she seemed not to mind, but dozed in the most precise -manner without rumpling her hair or her dress. - -Elkwood was a favorite place of resort for Episcopal ministers, whom -Aunt Jenny and Uncle Dick loved to entertain. And here we met the Rev. -Philip Slaughter, the learned divine, eloquent preacher, and charming -companion. He had just returned from a visit to England, where he had -been entertained in palaces. Telling us the incidents of his visit, "I -was much embarrassed at first," said he, "at the thought of attending -a dinner-party given in a palace to me, a simple Virginian, but, on -being announced at the drawing-room door and entering the company, I -felt at once at ease, for they were all ladies and gentlemen, such as -I had known at home--polite, pleasant, and without pretense." - -This gentleman's conversational powers were not only bright and -delightful, but also the means of turning many to righteousness--for -religion was one of his chief themes. - -A proof of his genius and eloquence was given in the beautiful poem -recited--without ever having been written--at the centennial -anniversary of old Christ Church in Alexandria. This was the church in -which General Washington and his family had worshiped, and around it -clustered many memories. Mr. Slaughter, with several others, had been -invited to make an address on the occasion, and one night, while -thinking about it, an exquisite poem passed through his mind, -picturing scene after scene in the old church--General Washington, -with his head bowed in silent prayer; infants at the baptismal font; -young men and maidens in bridal array at the altar; and funeral trains -passing through the open gate. - -On the night of the celebration, when his turn came, finding the hour -too late and the audience too sleepy for his prose address, he -suddenly determined to "dash off" the poem, every word of which came -back to him, although he had never written it. The audience roused up -electrified, and, as the recitation proceeded, their enthusiasm -reached the highest pitch. Never had there been such a sensation in -the old church before. And, next morning, the house at which he was -stopping was besieged by reporters begging "copies" and offering good -prices, but the poem remains unwritten to this day. - -Elkwood, like many other old homes, was burned by the Northern army in -1862, and not a tree or flower remains to mark the spot that for so -many years was the abode of hospitality and good cheer. - -In connection with Culpeper County, it is due here to state that it -excelled all others in ancient and dilapidated buggies and carriages, -seeming to be a regular infirmary for all the disabled vehicles of the -Old Dominion. Here their age and infirmities received every care and -consideration, being propped up, tied up, and bandaged up in every -conceivable manner; and, strangest of all, rarely depositing their -occupants in the road, which was prevented by cautious old gentlemen -riding alongside, who, watching for and discovering the weakest -points, stopped and securely tied up fractured parts with bits of -twine, rope, or chain always carried in buggy-or carriage-boxes for -that purpose. These surgical operations, although not ornamental, -strengthened and sustained these venerable vehicles, and produced a -miraculous longevity. - -Many more sketches might be given of pleasant country homes--themes -worthy a better pen than mine; for Brandon, Westover, Shirley, Carter -Hall, Lauderdale, Vaucluse, and others, linger in the memory of -hundreds who once knew and loved them--especially Vaucluse, which, -although far removed from railroads, stage-coaches, and public -conveyances, was overflowing with company throughout the year. For the -Vaucluse girls were so bright, so fascinating, and so bewitchingly -pretty, that they attracted a concourse of visitors, and were sure to -be belles wherever they went. - -And many remember the owner of Vaucluse, Mr. Blair Dabney, that -pure-hearted Christian and cultivated gentleman who, late in life, -devoted himself to the Episcopal ministry, and labored faithfully in -the Master's cause, preaching in country churches, "without money and -without price." Surely his reward is in heaven. - - -Besides these well-ordered establishments, there were some others -owned by inactive men, who smoked their pipes, read their books, left -everything very much to the management of their negroes, and seemed -content to let things tumble down around them. - -One of these places we used to call "Topsy-Turvy Castle," and another -"Haphazard." - -At such places the negro quarters--instead of being neat rows of white -cabins in the rear of the house, as on other plantations--occupied a -conspicuous place near the front, and consisted of a solid, long, ugly -brick structure, with swarms of negroes around the windows and doors, -appearing to have nothing in the world to do and never to have done -anything. - -Everything had a "shackling," lazy appearance. The master was always, -it appeared to us, reading a newspaper in the front porch, and never -observing anything that was going on. The house was so full of idle -negroes standing about the halls and stairways that one could scarcely -make one's way up or down stairs. Everything needed repair, from the -bed upon which you slept to the family coach which took you to church. - -Few of the chairs had all their rounds and legs, and, when completely -disabled, were sent to the garret, where they accumulated in great -numbers, and remained until pressing necessity induced the master to -raise his eyes from his paper long enough to order "Dick" to "take the -four-horse wagon and carry the chairs to be mended." - -A multitude of kinsfolk and acquaintance usually congregated here. And -at one place, in order to accommodate so many, there were four beds in -a chamber. These high bedsteads presented a remarkable appearance,--the -head of one going into the side of another, the foot of one into -the head of another, and so on, looking as if they had never been -"placed," but as if their curious juxtaposition had been the result -of an earthquake. - -One of these houses is said to have been greatly improved in -appearance during the war by the passage of a cannon-ball through the -upper story, where a window had been needed for many years. - -But the owners of these places were so genuinely good, one could not -complain of them, even for such carelessness. For everybody was -welcome to everything. You might stop the plows if you wanted a horse, -or take the carriage and drive for a week's journey, and, in short, -impose upon these good people in every conceivable way. - -Yet, in spite of this topsy-turvy management--a strange fact connected -with such places--they invariably had good light-bread, good mutton, -and the usual abundance on their tables. - -We suppose it must have been a recollection of such plantations which -induced the negro to exclaim, on hearing another sing "Ole Virginny -Nubber Tire": "Umph! ole Virginny nubber tire, kase she nubber done -nuthin' fur to furtigue herself!" - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -Confining these reminiscences strictly to plantation life, no mention -has been made of the families we knew and visited in some of our -cities, whose kindness to their slaves was unmistakable, and who, -owning only a small number, could better afford to indulge them. - -At one of these houses this indulgence was such that the white family -were very much under the control of their servants. - -The owner of this house, Charles Mosby, an eminent lawyer, was a man -of taste and learning, whose legal ability attracted many admirers, -and whose refinement, culture, and generous nature won enthusiastic -friends. - -Although considered the owner of his house, it was a mistake, if -ownership means the right to govern one's own property; for beyond his -law-papers, library, and the privilege of paying all the bills, this -gentleman had no "rights" there whatever, his house, kitchen, and -premises being under the entire command of "Aunt Fanny," the cook, a -huge mulatto woman, whose word was law, and whose voice thundered -abuse if any dared to disobey her. - -The master, mistress, family, and visitors all stood in awe of Aunt -Fanny, and yet could not do without her, for she made unapproachable -light-bread and conducted the affairs of the place with distinguished -ability. - -Her own house was in the yard, and had been built especially for her -convenience. Her furniture was polished mahogany, and she kept most -delicious preserves, pickles, and sweetmeats of her own manufacture, -with which to regale her friends and favorites. As we came under that -head, we were often treated when we went in to see her after her day's -work was over, or on Sundays. - -Although she "raved and stormed" considerably--which she told us she -was "obliged to do, honey, to keep things straight"--she had the -tenderest regard for her master and mistress, and often said: "If it -warn't for _me_, they'd have nuthin' in the world, and things here -would go to destruction." - -So Aunt Fanny "kept up this family," as she said, for many years, and -many amusing incidents might be related of her. - -On one occasion her master, after a long and exciting political -contest, was elected to the legislature. Before all the precincts had -been heard from, believing himself defeated, he retired to rest, and, -being naturally feeble, was quite worn out. But at midnight a great -cry arose at his gate, where a multitude assembled, screaming and -hurrahing. At first he was uncertain whether they were friends to -congratulate him on his victory or the opposite party to hang him, as -they had threatened, for voting an appropriation to the Danville -Railroad. It soon appeared they had come to congratulate him, when -great excitement prevailed, loud cheers, and cries for a speech. The -doors were opened and the crowd rushed in. The hero soon appeared and -delivered one of his graceful and satisfactory speeches. - -Still the crowd remained cheering and storming about the house, until -Aunt Fanny, who had made her appearance in full dress, considering -the excitement had been kept up long enough, and that the master's -health was too delicate for any further demonstration, determined to -disperse them. Rising to her full height, waving her hand, and -speaking majestically, she said: "Gentlemen, Mars' Charles is a feeble -pusson, an' it's time for him to take his res'. He's been kep' 'wake -long enough now, an' it's time for me to close up dese doors!" - -With this the crowd dispersed, and Aunt Fanny remained mistress of the -situation, declaring that if she "hadn't come forward an' 'spersed dat -crowd, Mars' Charles would have been a dead man befo' mornin'." - -[Illustration: "AUNT FANNY 'SPERSED DAT CROWD'."--_Page 161._] - -Aunt Fanny kept herself liberally supplied with pocket-money, one of -her chief sources of revenue being soap, which she made in large -quantities and sold at high prices; especially what she called her -"butter soap," which was in great demand, and which was made from all -the butter which she did not consider fresh enough for the delicate -appetites of her mistress and master. She appropriated one of the -largest basement rooms, had it shelved, and filled it with soap. In -order to carry on business so extensively, huge logs were kept blazing -on the kitchen hearth under the soap-pot day and night. During the -war, wood becoming scarce and expensive, "Mars' Charles" found that it -drained his purse to keep the kitchen fire supplied. - -Thinking the matter over one day in his library, and concluding it -would greatly lessen his expenses if Aunt Fanny could be prevailed -upon to discontinue her soap trade, he sent for her, and said very -mildly: - -"Fanny, I have a proposition to make you." - -"What is it, Mars' Charles?" - -"Well, Fanny, as my expenses are very heavy now, if you will give up -your soap-boiling for this year, I will agree to pay you fifty -dollars." - -With arms akimbo, and looking at him with astonishment but with -firmness in her eye, she replied: "Couldn't possibly do it, Mars' -Charles; because _soap_, sir, _soap's my main-tain-ance_!" - -With this she strode majestically out of the room. "Mars' Charles" -said no more, but continued paying fabulous sums for wood, while Aunt -Fanny continued boiling her soap. - -This woman not only ordered but kept all the family supplies, her -mistress having no disposition to keep the keys or in any way -interfere with her. - -But at last her giant strength gave way, and she sickened and died. -Having no children, she left her property to one of her -fellow-servants. - -Several days before her death we were sitting with her mistress and -master in a room overlooking her house. Her room was crowded with -negroes who had come to perform their religious rites around the -deathbed. Joining hands, they performed a savage dance, shouting -wildly around her bed. This was horrible to hear and see, especially -as in this family every effort had been made to instruct their negro -dependents in the truths of religion; and one member of the family, -who spent the greater part of her life in prayer, had for years prayed -for Aunt Fanny and tried to instruct her in the true faith. But -although an intelligent woman, she seemed to cling to the -superstitions of her race. - -After the savage dance and rites were over, and while we sat talking -about it, a gentleman--the friend and minister of the family--came in. -We described to him what we had just witnessed, and he deplored it -bitterly with us, saying he had read and prayed with Aunt Fanny and -tried to make her see the truth in Jesus. He then marked some passages -in the Bible, and asked me to go and read them to her. I went, and -said to her: "Aunt Fanny, here are some verses Mr. Mitchell has marked -for me to read to you, and he hopes you will pray to the Saviour as he -taught you." Then said I: "We are afraid the noise and dancing have -made you worse." - -Speaking feebly, she replied: "Honey, dat kind o' 'ligion suit us -black folks better 'en yo' kind. What suit Mars' Charles' mind karn't -suit mine." - -And thus died the most intelligent of her race--one who had been -surrounded by pious persons who had been praying for her and -endeavoring to instruct her. She had also enjoyed through life not -only the comforts but many of the luxuries of earth, and when she died -her mistress and master lost a sincere friend. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - -This chapter will show how "Virginia beat biscuit" procured for a man -a home and friends in Paris. - -One morning in the spring of 185--, a singular-looking man presented -himself at our house. He was short of stature, and enveloped in furs, -although the weather was not cold. Everything about him which could be -gold, was gold, and so we called him "the gold-tipped man." He called -for my mother, and when she went into the parlor, he said to her: - -"Madam, I have been stopping several weeks at the hotel in the town of -L., where I met a boy--Robert--who tells me he belongs to you. As I -want such a servant, and he is anxious to travel, I come, at his -request, to ask if you will let me buy him and take him to Europe. I -will pay any price." - -"I could not think of it," she replied. "I have determined never to -sell one of my servants." - -"But," continued the man, "he is anxious to go, and has sent me to beg -you." - -"It is impossible," said she, "for he is a great favorite with us, and -the only child his mother has." - -Finding her determined, the man took his leave, and went back to the -town, twenty-five miles off; but returned next day accompanied by -Robert, who entreated his mother and mistress to let him go. - -Said my mother to him: "Would you leave your mother and go with a -stranger to a foreign land?" - -"Yes, madam. I love my mother, an' you an' all de fambly--you always -been so good to me--but I want travel, an' dis gent'man say he give me -plenty o' money an' treat me good, too." - -Still she refused. But the boy's mother, finally yielding to his -entreaty, consented, and persuaded her mistress, saying: "If he is -willing to leave me, and so anxious to go, I will give him up." - -Knowing how distressed we all would be at parting with him, he went -off without coming to say "good-by," and wrote his mother from New -York what day he would sail with his new master for Europe. - -At first his mother received from him presents and letters, telling -her he was very much delighted, and "had as much money as he knew what -to do with." But after a few months he ceased to write, and we could -hear nothing from him. - -At length, when eighteen months had elapsed, we were one day -astonished to see him return home, dressed in the best Parisian style. -We were rejoiced to see him again, and his own joy at getting back -cannot be described. He ran over the yard and house, examining -everything, and said: "Mistess, I aint see no place pretty as yours, -an' no lady look to me like you in all de finest places I bin see in -Europ', an' no water tas'e good like de water in our ole well. An' I -dream 'bout you all, an' 'bout ev'y ole chur an' table in dis house, -an' wonder ef uvver I'd see 'um ag'in." - -He then gave us a sketch of his life since the "gold-tipped man" had -become his master. Arrived in Paris, his master and himself took -lodgings, and a teacher was employed to come every day and instruct -Robert in French. His master kept him well supplied with money, never -giving him less than fifty dollars at a time. His duties were light, -and he had ample time to study and amuse himself. - -After enjoying such elegant ease for eight or nine months he awoke one -morning and found himself deserted and penniless! His master had -absconded in the night, leaving no vestige of himself except a gold -dressing-case and a few toilet articles of gold, which were seized by -the proprietor of the hotel in payment of his bill. - -Poor Robert, without money and without a friend in this great city, -knew not where to turn. In vain he wished himself back in his old -home. - -"If I could only find some Virginian to whom I could appeal," said he -to himself. And suddenly it occurred to him that the American -Minister, Mr. Mason, was a Virginian. When he remembered this, his -heart was cheered, and he lost no time in finding Mr. Mason's house. - -Presenting himself before the American Minister, he related his story, -which was not at first believed. "For," said Mr. Mason, "there are so -many impostors in Paris it is impossible to believe you." - -Robert protested he had been a slave in Virginia, had been deserted by -his owner in Paris, and begged Mr. Mason to keep him at his house, and -take care of him. - -Then Mr. M. asked many questions about people and places in Virginia, -all of which were accurately answered. Finally he said: "I knew well -the Virginia gentleman who was, you say, your master. What was the -color of his hair?" This was also satisfactorily answered, and Robert -began to hope he was believed, when Mr. Mason continued: - -"Now, there is one thing which, if you can do, will convince me you -came from Virginia. Go in my kitchen and make me some old Virginia -beat biscuit, and I will believe everything you have said!" - -"I think I kin, sir," said Robert, and, going into the kitchen, rolled -up his sleeves, and set to work. - -This was a desperate moment, for he had never made a biscuit in his -life, although he had often watched the proceeding as "Black Mammy," -the cook at home, used to beat, roll, and manipulate the dough on her -biscuit-box. - -"If I only could make them look like hers!" thought he, as he beat, -and rolled, and worked, and finally stuck the dough all over with a -fork. Then, cutting them out and putting them to bake, he watched them -with nervous anxiety until they resembled those he had often placed on -the table at home. - -Astonished and delighted with his success, he carried them to the -American Minister, who exclaimed: "Now I _know_ you came from old -Virginia!" - -Robert was immediately installed in Mr. John Y. Mason's house, where -he remained a faithful attendant until Mr. Mason's death, when he -returned with the family to America. - -Arriving at New York, he thought it impossible to get along by -himself, and determined to find his master. For this purpose he -employed a policeman, and together they succeeded in recovering "the -lost master,"--this being a singular instance of a "slave in pursuit -of his fugitive master." - -The "gold-tipped man" expressed much pleasure at his servant's -fidelity, and, handing him a large sum of money, desired him to return -to Paris, pay his bill, bring back his gold dressing-box and toilet -articles, and, as a reward for his fidelity, take as much money as he -wished and travel over the Continent. - -Robert obeyed these commands, returned to Paris, paid the bills, -traveled over the chief places in Europe, and then came again to New -York. Here he was appalled to learn that his master had been arrested -for forgery, and imprisoned in Philadelphia. It was ascertained that -the forger was an Englishman and connected with an underground forging -establishment in Paris. Finding himself about to be detected in Paris, -he fled to New York, and, other forgeries having been discovered in -Philadelphia, he had been arrested. - -Robert lost no time in reporting himself at the prison, and was -grieved to find his master in such a place. - -Determined to do what he could to relieve the man who had been a good -friend to him, he went to a Philadelphia lawyer, and said to him: -"Sir, the man who is in prison bought me in Virginia, and has been a -kind master to me; I have no money, but if you will do your best to -have him acquitted, I will return to the South, sell myself, and send -you the money." - -"It is a bargain," replied the lawyer. "Send me the money, and I will -save your master from the penitentiary." - -Robert returned to Baltimore, sold himself to a Jew in that city, and -sent the money to the lawyer in Philadelphia. After this he was bought -by a distinguished Southern Senator--afterward a general in the -Southern army[17]--with whom he remained, and to whom he rendered -valuable services during the war. - - [17] General Robert Toombs. - - -Other instances were known of negroes who preferred being sold into -slavery rather than take care of themselves. There were some in our -immediate neighborhood who, finding themselves emancipated by their -master's will, begged the owners of neighboring plantations to buy -them, saying they preferred having "white people to take care of -them." On the Wheatly plantation, not far from us, there is still -living an old negro who sold himself in this way, and cannot be -persuaded _now_ to accept his freedom. After the war, when all the -negroes were freed by the Federal government, and our people were too -much impoverished longer to clothe and feed them, this old man refused -to leave the plantation, but clung to his cabin, although his wife and -family moved off and begged him to accompany them. - -"No," said he, "I nuvver will leave dis plantation, an' go off to -starve wid free niggers." - -Not even when his wife was very sick and dying could he be persuaded -to go off and stay one night with her. He had long been too old to -work, but his former owners indulged him by giving him his cabin, and -taking care of him through all the poverty which has fallen upon our -land since the war. - -Many of us remember this old man, Harrison Mitchell, who was an -unusual character, high-toned and reliable. His father was an Indian -and his mother a negress. He resembled the Indian, with straight -black hair, brown skin, and high cheek-bones. His great pride was that -he had "cum out de Patrick Henry estate an use to run a freight boat -wid flour down de Jeemes Ruver fum Lynchbu'g to Richmon' long fo' dar -was a sign o' town at Lynch's Ferry." But his great and consuming -theme, especially after the war, was the impossibility of the negroes -taking care of themselves "bedout no white man," and nothing ever -reconciled him to his own freedom. Taking his seat in our back porch, -where my mother usually entertained him, we would assemble to hear him -talk. I would ask: "Well, Uncle Harrison, what do you think of freedom -now after ten years?" - -"Lord, mistess, what I t'ink o' freedom? Why, mistess, dese niggers is -no mo' kakalate to take kur o' deyselves dan 'possum. An' I tells 'em -so. Kase what is a nigger bedout white man? He aint nuthin', an' he -aint gwine be nuthin' no ways dey fix it. An' dey aint gwine stay -free, kase de Lord nuvver 'tends 'um to be nuthin' bedout white folks. -Kase ev'ybody know nigger aint got no hade. I nuvver want no nigger be -takin' kur o' me. I looks to my white folks to take kur o' me. I -'lonks to Mars' Robert an' aint gwine lef his plantation tell I die. -What right Yankees got settin' me free, an' den karn't take kur o' me? -No! niggers is niggers, an' gwine be niggers, an' white folks got to -take kur on 'em tell end o' screeation. An' der Lord gwine put ev'y -single one on 'em back in slavery jes' as sure as you born." - -True to his word, old Harrison refused to wear an article of clothing -"ef de white folks didn't give it to him." And his daughter, wishing -to give him a blanket, asked her former young mistress to let him -think it was from _her_, or he would not take it. - -At last "Mars' Robert" was on his deathbed. Old Harrison went in to -see him for the last time. - -"Mars' Robert," said he, "I got one reques' to make fo' you die." - -"What is it?" asked his master. - -"Mars' Robert, I want to be buried right outside de gate o' de garden -lot where you an' Miss Lucy is buried, so I kin see you fus' on de -mornin' o' de resurrection." - -"Harrison, you shall be buried _inside_ the lot with us," replied -"Mars' Robert" distinctly, and a lady who heard it told me she never -saw such radiant happiness as the old man's face expressed when these -words fell on his ear. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - -O bright-winged peace! long didst thou rest o'er the homes of old -Virginia; while cheerful wood fires blazed on hearth-stones in parlor -and cabin, reflecting contented faces with hearts full of peace and -good will toward men! No thought entered there of harm to others; no -fear of evil to ourselves. Whatsoever things were honest, whatsoever -things were pure, whatsoever things were gentle, whatsoever things -were of good report, we were accustomed to hear around these parlor -firesides; and often would our grandmothers say: - -"Children, ours is a blessed country! There never will be another war! -The Indians have long ago been driven out, and it has been nearly a -hundred years since the English yoke was broken!" - -The history of our country, to our minds, was contained in two -pictures on the walls of our house: "The Last Battle with the -Indians," and "The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown." - -No enemies within or without our borders, and peace established among -us forever! Such was our belief. And we wondered that men should get -together and talk their dry politics, seeing that General Washington -and Thomas Jefferson--two of our Virginia plantation men--had -established a government to last as long as the earth, and which could -not be improved. Yet they _would_ talk, these politicians, around our -parlor fire, where often our patience was exhausted hearing -discussions, in which we could not take interest, about the Protective -Tariff, the Bankrupt Law, the Distribution of Public Lands, the -Resolutions of '98, the Missouri Compromise, and the Monroe Doctrine. -These topics seemed to afford them intense pleasure and satisfaction, -for, as the "sparks fly upward," the thoughts of men turn to politics. - -In 1859 we had a visit from two old friends of our family--a -distinguished Southern Senator and the Secretary of War[18]--both -accustomed to swaying multitudes by the power of their eloquence--which -lost none of its force and charm in our little home circle. We listened -with admiration as they discussed the political issues of the day--no -longer a subject uninteresting or unintelligible to us, for every -word was of vital importance. Their theme was, _The best means of -protecting our plantation homes and firesides_. Even the smallest -children now comprehended the greatest politicians. - - [18] General Toombs and General Floyd. - -Now came the full flow and tide of Southern eloquence--real -soul-inspiring eloquence. - -Many possessing this gift were in the habit of visiting us at that -time; and all dwelt upon one theme--the secession of Virginia--with -glowing words from hearts full of enthusiasm; all agreeing it was -better for States, as well as individuals, to separate rather than -quarrel or fight. - -But there was one[19]--our oldest and best friend--who differed from -these gentlemen; and his eloquence was gentle and effective. Unlike -his friends, whose words, earnest and electric, overwhelmed all -around, this gentleman's power was in his composure of manner without -vehemence. His words were well selected without seeming to have been -studied; each sentence was short, but contained a gem, like a -solitaire diamond. - - [19] Charles Mosby. - -For several months this gentleman remained untouched by the fiery -eloquence of his friends, like the Hebrew children in the burning -furnace. Nothing affected him until one day the President of the -United States demanded by telegraph fifty thousand Virginians to join -an army against South Carolina. And then this gentleman felt convinced -it was not the duty of Virginians to join an army against their -friends. - -About this time we had some very interesting letters from the Hon. -Edward Everett--who had been for several years a friend and agreeable -correspondent--giving us his views on the subject, and very soon after -this all communication between the North and South ceased, except -through the blockade, for four long years. - -And then came the long dark days--the days when the sun seemed to -shine no more; when the eyes of wives, mothers, and sisters were -heavy with weeping; when men sat up late in the night studying -military tactics; when grief-burdened hearts turned to God in prayer. - -The intellectual gladiators who had discoursed eloquently of war -around our fireside buckled their armor on and went forth to battle. - -Band after band of brave-hearted, bright-faced youths from Southern -plantation homes came to bleed and die on Virginia soil; and for four -long years old Virginia was one great camping-ground, hospital, and -battlefield. The roar of cannon and the clash of arms resounded over -the land. The groans of the wounded and dying went up from hillside -and valley. The hearts of women and children were sad and careworn. -But God, to whom we prayed, protected us in our plantation homes, -where no white men or even boys remained, all having gone into the -army. Only the negro slaves stayed with us, and these were encouraged -by our enemies to rise and slay us; but God in his mercy willed -otherwise. Although advised to burn our property and incited by the -enemy to destroy their former owners, these negro slaves remained -faithful, manifesting kindness, and in many instances protecting the -white families and plantations during their masters' absence. - -Oh! the long terrible nights passed by these helpless women and -children, the enemy encamped around them, the clash of swords heard -against the doors and windows, the report of guns on the air which -might be sending death to their loved ones! - -But why try to describe the horrors of such nights? Who that has not -experienced them can know how we felt? Who can imagine the -heartsickness when, stealing to an upper window at midnight, we -watched the fierce flames rising from some neighboring home, expecting -our own to be destroyed by the enemy before daylight in the same way? - -Such pictures, dark and fearful, were the only ones familiar to us in -old Virginia those four dreadful years. - -At last the end came--the end which seemed to us saddest of all. But -God knoweth best. Though "through fiery trials" he had caused us to -pass, he had not forsaken us. For was not his mercy signally shown in -the failure of the enemy to incite our negro slaves to insurrection -during the war? Through his mercy those who were expected to become -our enemies remained our friends. And in our own home, surrounded by -the enemy those terrible nights, our only guard was a faithful negro -servant who slept in the house, and went out every hour to see if we -were in immediate danger; while his mother--the kind old nurse--sat -all night in a rocking-chair in our room, ready to help us. Had we -not, then, amid all our sorrows, much to be thankful for? - -Among such scenes one of the last pictures photographed on my memory -was that of a negro boy who was very ill with typhoid fever in a cabin -not far off, and who became greatly alarmed when a brisk firing, -across our house, commenced between the contending armies. His first -impulse--as it always had been in trouble--was to fly to his mistress -for protection, and, jumping from his bed, his head bandaged with a -white cloth, and looking like one just from the grave, he passed -through the firing as fast as he could, screaming: "O mistess, take -kur o' me! Put me in yo' closet, and hide me from de Yankees!" He -fell at the door exhausted. My mother had him brought in, and a bed -was made for him in the library. She nursed him carefully, but he died -in a day or two from fright and exhaustion. - -Soon after this came the surrender at Appomattox, and negro slavery -ended forever. - -All was ruin around us,--tobacco factories burned down, sugar and -cotton plantations destroyed. The negroes fled from these desolated -places, crowded together in wretched shanties on the outskirts of -towns and villages, and found themselves, for the first time in their -lives, without enough to eat, and with no class of people particularly -interested about their food, health, or comfort. Rations were -furnished them a short time by the United States government, with -promises of money and land which were never fulfilled. Impoverished by -the war, it was a relief to us no longer to have the responsibility of -supporting them. This would, indeed, have been impossible in our -starving condition. - - -Years have passed, and the old homes have been long deserted where the -scenes I have attempted to describe were enacted. The heads of the -families lie buried in the old graveyards, while their descendants are -scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, always holding sacred in -memory the dear old homes in Virginia. - -The descendants of the negroes here portrayed,--where are they? It -would take a long chapter, indeed, to tell of them. Many are crowded -on the outskirts of the towns and villages North and South, in -wretched thriftlessness and squalor, yet content and without ambition -to alter their condition. - -On the other hand, a good proportion of the race seek to improve their -opportunities in schools and colleges, provided partly by the aid of -Northern friends, but principally from taxes paid by their former -owners in spite of the impoverished condition of the South. - -Many have acquired independent homes, with the laudable purpose of -becoming useful and respected citizens. The majority, however, are -best pleased with itineracy. - -It is needless to say that those of the latter class can never become -desirable domestics in a well-ordered, cleanly house. And those whose -youth has been passed in schoolrooms, with no training in the habits -of refined life, have not acquired sufficient education to avail much -in the line of letters. Thus the problem of their race remains -unsolved, even by those who know it most intimately. - -In the matter of classical education the question occurs: Will the -literature of the one race meet the requirements of the other, or the -heroes and heroines of one be acceptable to the other? Has not God -given each country its distinct race and literature? The history of -every country occupied by antagonistic races has been that the -stronger has dominated or exterminated the other. - -Thinking of the superficial education at some of our schools, I am -reminded of a colored boy's subject for a composition. - -Not long since a "colored scholar," seventeen years old, with very -fair intelligence, who had never missed a day at the public school, -was asked by a white gentleman who was much interested in the boy, and -who often took the trouble to explain to him words in common use, the -meaning of which the boy was wholly ignorant,-- - -"Peter, what lessons have you to-night?" - -"Well, sir, I got a composition to write to-night." - -"A composition? What's your subject?" - -"Dey tell me, sir, to write a composition on de administration o' Mr. -Pierce." - -"Administration of Mr. Pierce!" exclaimed the gentleman, himself an -eminent journalist and statesman. "And what could you know about the -administration of Mr. Pierce? Did you ever hear of Mr. Pierce?" - -"No, sir, I nuvver has." - - -The tie which once bound the two races together is broken forever, and -entire separation in churches and schools prevents mutual interest or -intercourse. - -Our church schools are doing much to elevate and improve the negroes, -and we have to thank many kind, warm friends in the North for timely -aid in missionary boxes, books, and Bibles to carry on the colored -Sunday-school work in which many Southern people are deeply -interested, without the means of conducting them as they wish. - -The negroes still have a strange belief in what they call "tricking," -and often the most intelligent, when sick, will say they have been -"tricked," for which they have a regular treatment and "trick doctors" -among themselves. This "tricking" we cannot explain, and only know -that when one negro became angry with another he would bury in front -of his enemy's cabin door a bottle filled with pieces of snakes, -spiders, bits of tadpole, and other curious substances; and the party -expecting to be "tricked" would hang up an old horseshoe outside of -his door to ward off the "evil spirits." - -Since alienated from their former owners they are, as a general thing, -more idle and improvident; and, unfortunately, the tendency of their -political teaching has been to make them antagonistic to the better -class of white people, which renders it difficult for them to be -properly instructed. That such animosity should exist toward those who -could best understand and help them is to be deplored. For the true -negro character cannot be fully comprehended or described but by those -who, like ourselves, have always lived with them. - -At present their lives are devoted to a religious excitement which -demoralizes them, there seeming to be no connection between their -religion and morals. In one of their Sabbath schools is a teacher who, -although often arrested for stealing, continues to hold a high -position in the church. - -Their improvidence has passed into a proverb, many being truly objects -of charity; and whoever would now write a true tale of poverty and -wretchedness may take for the hero "Old Uncle Tom without a cabin." -For "Uncle Tom" of the olden time, in his cabin, with a blazing log -fire and plenty of corn bread, and the Uncle Tom of to-day, are -pictures of very different individuals. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - -Reviewing these sketches of our early days, I feel that they are -incomplete without a tribute to some of the teachers employed to -instruct us. Even in colonial days our great-grandfathers had been -sent to England to be educated, so that education was considered -all-important in our family, especially with my father, who exerted -his influence for public schools and advocated teaching the negroes to -read and write, contending that this would increase their value as -well as their intelligence. - -Determining that my sister and myself should have proper educational -advantages, he engaged, while we were young children, a most -extraordinary woman to teach us--a Danish lady, better versed in many -other languages than in our own. Her name was Henriquez, and her -masculine appearance, mind, and manners were such as to strike terror -into the hearts of youthful pupils. Having attended lectures at a -college in Copenhagen with several female friends alike ambitious to -receive a scientific education, Mme. Henriquez scorned feminine -acquirements and acquaintances, never possessing, to my knowledge, a -needle or thimble. Her conversation was largely confined to scientific -subjects, and was with men whenever possible, rarely descending to -anything in common with her own sex. Sometimes in school our -recitations would be interrupted by recollections of her early days in -Copenhagen, and, instead of pursuing a lesson in geography or grammar, -we would be entertained with some marvelous story about her father's -palace, the marble stable for his cows, etc. In the midst of -correcting a French or German exercise she would sometimes order a -waiter of refreshments to be brought into the schoolroom and placed -before her on a small table which had a history, being made, as she -often related, from a tree in her father's palace grounds, around -which the serfs danced on the day of their emancipation. She had a -favorite dog named Odin which was allowed the privilege of the -schoolroom, and any girl guilty of disrespect to Odin was in serious -disgrace. - -This Danish lady was succeeded by one of a wholly different type, all -grace and accomplishments, a Virginian, and the widow of Major Lomax of -the United States Army. - -Mrs. Lomax had several accomplished daughters who assisted in her -school, and the harp, piano, and guitar were household instruments. -The eldest daughter contributed stories and verses, which were greatly -admired, to periodicals of that day. One of these stories, published -in a Northern journal, won for her a prize of one hundred dollars, and -the school-girls were thrilled to hear that she spent it all for a -royal purple velvet gown to wear to Miss Preston's wedding in -Montgomery County. - -In this school Mrs. Lomax introduced a charming corps of teachers from -Boston, most cultivated and refined women, whom it will always be a -pleasure to remember. Among these were Mrs. Dana, with her -accomplished daughter, Miss Matilda Dana, well known in the literary -world then as a writer of finished verses. - -We had also a bright, sweet-natured little Frenchwoman, Mlle. Roget, -who taught her native language. - -Besides these teachers we had a German gentleman, a finished pianist -and linguist; and the recollections of those days are like the delicious -music that floated around us then from those master-musicians. - -After such pleasant school-days at home we were sent away to a -fashionable boarding-school in the city of Richmond, presided over by -a lady of great dignity and gentleness of manner, combined with high -attainments. She was first Mrs. Otis of Boston, and afterward Mrs. -Meade of Virginia. - -At her school were collected many interesting teachers and pupils. -Among the former were Miss Prescott of Boston and Miss Willis, sister -of N. P. Willis, both lovable and attractive. - -Among the noted girls at Mrs. Meade's school was Amélie Rives[20] of -Albemarle County, Va. She spoke French fluently, and seemed to know -much about Paris and the French court, her father having been Minister -to France. - - [20] This interesting girl married Mr. Sigourney of Massachusetts, and - after the war, as she was crossing the ocean to Europe with her - husband and all her children (except one son) the ill-fated ship sank - with nearly all on board. We have heard that, as the ship was going - down, Amélie, her husband, and her children formed a circle, hand in - hand, and were thus buried in the deep. - -We looked upon Amélie with great admiration, and, as she wrote very -pretty poetry, every girl in the school set her heart upon having some -original verses in her album, a favor which Amélie never refused. - -Closing this chapter on schools suggests the great difference in the -objects and methods of a Virginia girl's education then and now. At -that period a girl was expected not only to be an ornament to the -drawing-room, but to be also equipped for taking charge of an -establishment and superintending every detail of domestic employment -on a plantation--the weaving, knitting, sewing, etc.--for the comfort -of the negro servants to be some day under her care. I have thus seen -girls laboriously draw the threads of finest linen, and backstitch -miles of stitching on their brothers' collars and shirt-bosoms. Having -no brothers to sew for, I looked on in amazement at this dreary task, -and I have since often wished that those persevering and devoted women -could come back and live their lives over again in the days of -sewing-machines. - -At that day the parents of a girl would have shuddered at the thought -of her venturing for a day's journey without an escort on a railway -car, being jostled in a public crowd, or exposed in any way to -indiscriminate contact with the outside world, while the proposition -of a collegiate course for a woman would have shocked every -sensibility of the opposite sex. - -How the men of that time would stand aghast to see the girl of the -present day elbowing her way through a crowd, buying her ticket at the -railway station, interviewing baggage-agents, checking trunks, and -seating herself in the train to make a long journey alone, perhaps to -enter some strange community and make her living by the practice of -law or medicine, lecturing, teaching, telegraphing, newspaper-reporting, -typewriting, bookkeeping, or in some other of the various avenues -now open to women! - -Whether the new system be any improvement upon the old remains open -for discussion. It is certain that these widely opposed methods must -result in wholly different types of feminine character. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - -The scenes connected with the late war will recall to the mind of -every Southern man and woman the name of Robert E. Lee--a name which -will be loved and revered as long as home or fireside remains in old -Virginia, and which sets the crowning glory on the list of illustrious -men from plantation homes. Admiration and enthusiasm naturally belong -to victory, but the man must be rare indeed who in defeat, like -General Lee, receives the applause of his countrymen. - -It was not alone his valor, his handsome appearance, his commanding -presence, his perfect manner, which won the admiration of his -fellow-men. There was something above and beyond all these--his true -Christian character. Trust in God ennobled his every word and action. -Among the grandest of human conquerors was he, for, early enlisting as -a soldier of the Cross, to fight against the world, the flesh, and the -devil, he fought the "good fight," and the victor's crown awaited him -in the "kingdom not made with hands." - -Trust in God kept him calm in victory as in defeat. When I remember -General Lee during the war, in his family circle at Richmond, then at -the height of his renown, his manner, voice, and conversation were the -same as when, a year after the surrender, he came to pay my mother a -visit from his Lexington home. - -His circumstances and surroundings were now changed: no longer the -stars and epaulets adorned his manly form; but, dressed in a simple -suit of pure white linen, he looked a king, and adversity had wrought -no change in his character, manner, or conversation. - -To reach our house he made a journey, on his old war horse "Traveler," -forty miles across the mountains, describing which, on the night of -his arrival, he said: - -"To-day an incident occurred which gratified me more than anything -that has happened for a long time. As I was riding over the most -desolate mountain region, where not even a cabin could be seen, I was -surprised to find, on a sudden turn in the road, two little girls -playing on a large rock. They were very poorly clad, and after looking -a moment at me began to run away. 'Children,' said I, 'don't run away. -If you could know _who_ I am, you would know that I am the last man in -the world for anybody to run from now.' - -"'But we do know you,' they replied. - -"'You never saw me before,' I said, 'for I never passed along here.' - -"'But we do know you,' they said. 'And we've got your picture up -yonder in the house, and you are General Lee! And we aint dressed -clean enough to see you.' - -"With this they scampered off to a poor low hut on the mountain side." - -It was gratifying to him to find that even in this lonely mountain hut -the children had been taught to know and revere him. - -He told us, too, of a man he met the same day in a dense forest, who -recognized him, and, throwing up his hat in the air, said: "General, -_please_ let me cheer you," and fell to cheering with all his lungs! - - -My last recollections of General Lee, when making a visit of several -weeks at his house the year before his death, although not coming -properly under the head of "plantation reminiscences," may not be -inappropriate here. - -It has been said that a man is never a hero to his valet; but this -could not have been said of General Lee, for those most intimately -connected with him could not fail to see continually in his bearing -and character something above the ordinary level, something of the -hero. - -At the time of my visit the Commencement exercises of the college of -which he was president were going on. His duties were necessarily -onerous. Sitting up late at night with the board of visitors, and -attending to every detail with his conscientious particularity, there -was little time for him to rest. Yet every morning of that busy week -he was ready, with his prayer-book under his arm, when the church bell -called its members to sunrise service. - -It is pleasant to recall all that he said at the breakfast, dinner, -and tea table, where in his hospitality he always insisted upon -bringing all who chanced to be at his house at those hours--on -business or on social call.[21] This habit kept his table filled with -guests, who received from him the most graceful courtesy. - - [21] Here was seen the Mount Vernon silver, which had descended to - Mrs. General Washington's great-grandson, General Custis Lee, and - which was marvelously 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. - -Only once did I hear him speak regretfully of the past. It was one -night when, sitting by him on the porch in the moonlight, he said to -me, his thoughts turning to his early childhood: - -"It was not my mother's wish that I should receive a military -education, and I ought to have taken her advice; for," he continued -very sadly, "my education did not fit me for this civil life." - -In this no one could agree with him, for it seemed to all that he -adorned and satisfactorily filled every position in life, civil or -military. - -There was something in his manner which naturally pleased everyone -without his making an effort; at the same time a dignity and reserve -which commanded respect and precluded anything like undue -familiarity. All desirable qualities seemed united in him to render -him popular. - -It was wonderful to observe--in the evenings when his parlors were -overflowing with people, young and old, from every conceivable -place--how by a word, a smile, a shake of the hand, he managed to give -_all_ pleasure and satisfaction, each going away charmed with him. - -The applause of men excited in him no vanity; for those around soon -learned that the slightest allusion or compliment, in his presence, to -his valor or renown, instead of pleasing, rather offended him. Without -vanity, he was equally without selfishness. - -One day, observing several quaint articles of furniture about his -house, and asking Mrs. Lee where they came from, she told me that an -old lady in New York city--of whom neither herself nor the general had -ever before heard--concluded to break up housekeeping. Having no -family, and not wishing to sell or remove her furniture to a -boarding-house, she determined to give it to "the _greatest living -man_" and that man was General Lee. - -She wrote a letter asking his acceptance of the present, requesting -that, if his house was already furnished and he had no room, he would -use the articles about his college. - -The boxes arrived. But--such was his reluctance at receiving -gifts--weeks passed and he neither had them opened nor brought to his -house from the express office. - -Finally, as their house was quite bare of furniture, Mrs. Lee begged -him to allow her to have them opened, and he consented. - -First there was among the contents a beautiful carpet large enough for -two rooms, at which she was delighted, as they had none. But the -general, seeing it, quickly said: "That is the very thing for the -floor of the new chapel! It must be put there." - -Next were two sofas and a set of chairs. "The very things we want," -again exclaimed the general, "for the platform of the new chapel!" - -Then they unpacked a sideboard. "This will do _very well_," said the -general, "to be placed in the basement of the chapel to hold the -college papers!" - -And so with everything the lady had sent, only keeping for his own -house the articles which could not possibly be used for the college -or chapel,--a quaint work-table, an ornamental clock, and some -old-fashioned preserve-dishes--although his own house was then bare -enough, and the donor had particularly requested that only those -articles which they did not need at their home should go to the -college. - -The recollection of this visit, although reviving many pleasant hours, -is very sad, for it was the last time I saw the dear, kind face of -Mrs. Lee, of whom the general once said, when one of us, alluding to -him, used the word "hero": "My dear, _Mrs._ Lee is the hero. For -although deprived of the use of her limbs by suffering, and unable for -ten years to walk, I have never heard her murmur or utter one -complaint." - -And the general spoke truly,--Mrs. Lee was a heroine. With gentleness, -kindness, and true feminine delicacy, she had strength of mind and -character a man might have envied. Her mind, well stored and -cultivated, made her interesting in conversation; and a simple -cordiality of manner made her beloved by all who met her. - -During this last visit she loved to tell about her early days at -Arlington--her own and her ancestors' plantation home--and in one of -these conversations gave me such a beautiful sketch of her -mother--Mrs. Custis--that I wish her every word could be remembered -that I might write it here. - -Mrs. Custis was a woman of saintly piety, her devotion to good works -having long been a theme with all in that part of Virginia. She had -only one child--Mrs. Lee--and possessed a very large fortune. In early -life she felt that God had given her a special mission, which was to -take care of and teach the three hundred negroes she had inherited. - -"Believing this," said Mrs. Lee to me, "my mother devoted the best -years of her life to teaching these negroes, for which purpose she had -a school-house built in the yard, and gave her life up to this work; -and I think it an evidence of the ingratitude of their race that, -although I have long been afflicted, only one of those negroes has -written to inquire after me, or offered to nurse me." - -These last years of Mrs. Lee's life were passed in much suffering, she -being unable to move any part of her body except her hands and head. -Yet her time was devoted to working for her church. Her fingers were -always busy with fancy-work, painting, or drawing,--she was quite an -accomplished artist,--the results of which were sold for the purpose -of repairing and beautifying the church in sight of her window, and as -much an object of zeal and affection with her as the chapel was with -the general. - -Indeed, the whole family entered into the general's enthusiasm about -this chapel, just then completed, especially his daughter Agnes, with -whom I often went there, little thinking it was so soon to be her -place of burial. - -In a few short years all three--General Lee, his wife and -daughter--were laid here to rest, and this chapel they had loved so -well became their tomb. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - -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. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Girl's Life in Virginia before the -War, by Letitia M. 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