UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

24 KEY TO UNCLE TOM'S CABIN.
he had made up
religion -was
his mind that the man's during a part of two days, as sumptuously as
the root of his though the owner had been present.
extraordinary
excellences.
Some time since țhere was sent to the
writer from the South,throughthe mail,a
"
littlebook,entitled, Sketches of Old Vir-
FamilyServants,"with a prefaceby
ginia
BishopMeade. The book contains an
account
servants : African
of the which has come
following
Bella,Old Milly,Blind Lucy, Aunt
under
Betty, my
own observation. The late JudgeUpshur,
Springfield Bob, Mammy Chris, Diana of Virginia, had a faithful house-servant
Washington, Aunt (by
Margaret,Rachel Parker,
his will now set free),with whom he used to
correspond on matters of business,when he was
NellyJackson,My Own Mammy, Aunt
Beck.
The following extract from BishopMeade's
preface may not be uninteresting.
following sketches were placed in my hands
Many will doubtless be surprisedto find that affirm that there is far more of kindlyand Christian
there was so much intelligence, as well as piety, in intercourse than many at a distance are apt
some of the old servants of Virginia, and that they
to believe. That there is a great and sad want of
had learned to read the Sacred Scriptures, so as to Christian instruction, notwithstanding the more
be useful in this way among their fellow-servants. recent efforts put forth to impartit,we most
It is,and alwayshas been true, in regardto the sorrowfully acknowledge.
servants of the Southern States țhat although
publicschools may have been prohibited, yet BishopMeade adds that these sketches
no
interference has been attempted,where the owners
are published with the hope that theymight
have chosen to teach their servants, or permithave
the effectof turningthe attention of
them to learn in a private way, how to read
God's word. Accordingly țhere always have ministers and heads of families more seriously
to the duty of caringfor the soulsof
been some who were thus taught. In the more
southern states the number of these has most
abounded. Of this fact I became well assured,
the Atlantic
states,with a view to the formation of auxiliary
colonization societies, and the selectionof
the first colonists for Africa. In the city of
Charleston,South Carolina,I found more intelligence
and character among the free colored population
else. The same was true
about thirtyears since,when visiting
than anywhere
of some of those in bondage. A respectable number
might be seen in certain parts of the Episcopal
owners.
When
since with a sick
travelling many years
wife,and two female relatives, from Charleston
to Virginia, at a period of the year when many of
the families from the countryresort to the town for
health,we were kindlyurgedto call at the seat
of one of the firstfamilies in South Carolina,and
that it was no uncommon thing
We understood
in South
Carolina for travellers to be thus entertained by
the servants in the absence of the owners, on receiving
letters from the same.
Instances of confidentialand affectionate relationship
between servants and their masters and
mistresses, such as are set forth in the following
Sketches,are stillto be found in all the slaveholding
states. I mention one,
absent on his circuit. I was dining at his house,
some
years since,with a number of persons,
himself
beingabsent,when the conversation turned on
the subjectof the presidential electionțhen
going on through the United States,and about
which there was an intense interest ; when his
servant informed us that he had that day received
The
with a requestthat I would examine them with a a letter from his master, then on the western
view to publication.
shore,in which he stated that the friends.of General
After readingthem I could not but think that Harrison might be relievedfrom all uneasiness,
theywould be both pleasing and
as
edifying.
the returns alreadyreceived made his
Verymany such examplesof fidelity and pietyelectionquitecertain.
might be added from the old Virginia families. Of course it is not to be supposedthat we design
These will sufficeas specimens, and will serve to to convey the 'impression that such instances
show how interesting the relationbetween master are numerous, the nature of the relationship forbidding
and servant often is.
their servants.
it ; but we do mean emphatically to
With regardto the servant of JudgeUpshur,
spokenof in this communication of
BishopMeade,his master has left,in his
lastwillțhe following remarkable trihuteto
his worth and excellenceof character :
I emancipate and set free my servant,David
Rice,and direct my executors to givehim one hundred
dollars. I recommend him in the strongest
churches which I attended using their prayerbooks,and
joining the responses of the church. any community in which he may happento live.
manner to the respect, esteem and confidence, of
Many purposes of convenience and hospitality He has been my slave for twenty-four years, during
were subserved by this encouragementof cultivation
all which time he has been trusted to every
in some of the servants,on the part of the extent, and in every respect; my confidence in
him has been unbounded ; his relationto myself
and family has alwaysbeen such as to afford him
dailyopportunities to deceive and injureus, yet
he has never been detected in any serious fault,
nor even in an unintentional breach of the decorum
of his station. His intelligence is of a high
order,his integrity above all suspicion, and his
a letter from the mistressțhen in the city,was sense of rightand propriety correct, and even
givenus, to her servant,who had chargeof the refined. I feel that he isjustly entitled to carry
house in the absence of the family. On reachingthis certificatefrom me in the new relationswhich
there and delivering the letter to a most respectable-looking
he must now form ; it is due to his longand most
female servant,who immediately read faithful services, and to the sincere and steady
it, we were kindlywelcomed,and entertained, friendship which I bear to him In the uninter-