The Old DominionJames, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
General
The Old Dominion
James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
Southampton Insurrection, 1831 -- Fiction
"The most extraordinary thing of all, perhaps," added she, "is, that
he has not the slightest touch of the negro pronunciation. I dare say,
you must have remarked, cousin Richard, that none of them can ever
learn to speak English properly; that there is always a sort of
thickness, a difficulty, about their utterance; and some sounds they
cannot form at all. But this old man speaks as good English as you
do."
"That is, indeed, extraordinary," I answered; "for so universal is
that difficulty of utterance which you mention in the African race,
whatever language they are speaking, that I imagined it to proceed
from a natural defect. I have heard they talk both French and Spanish
in the same peculiar manner that they talk English."
"Hear this man talk in a dark room, and you would not know him from an
American," said Bessy.
But I had soon an opportunity of judging for myself, for, shortly
after, we came in sight of two or three cabins, with a larger house
peeping over the trees at some little distance. Approaching the hut,
farthest from us, I knocked at the door, on my fair companion's
suggestion. We had heard voices speaking within, and, on entering, we
found the cabin tenanted by two negroes, who were seated at a small
table, with a bowl of milk, and some bread made of Indian corn between
them. The first was my friend, Nat Turner, and a powerful, though
spare man he was. The other was fully as dark in complexion, and had
probably once been as strong in form; but he was now an old man, with
the wool upon his head as white as snow, and a good many wrinkles in
his dingy skin. He was well dressed in black, with very white linen,
and a white neck-cloth tied in what I may call clerical style. I
should have judged him to have been a man of about seventy, and stout
and hale for his age; but, nevertheless, this was Bessy Davenport's
negro, Jack, and, I must say, there was something very reverent and
prepossessing in his appearance as he rose and made us a respectful,
but not servile, bow.
"Well, Mr. Turner," I said, "I promised to pay you a visit, and Miss
Davenport has been kind enough to guide me; otherwise, as a stranger
in the land, I might have missed my way."
"You are very welcome, sir," answered Nat. "Pray, Miss Bessy, take dis
stool. Here is good uncle Jack, whom you know."
Bessy held out her hand to uncle Jack, who shook it kindly; but he did
not miss an opportunity of reproof, and looking sadly at Nat Turner,
he shook his head, saying,
"Whom callest thou good? There is none good but one--that is God."
"Well, I meant good as this world goes," answered Nat Turner.
"There is so little difference between any two of us," replied the old
man, "that no one has a right to claim or receive the title of good;
far less to arrogate superiority over other brethren."
"That is an admirable text you have quoted, my friend," I said; "but
do you know, I one time heard a man make it an argument against the
divinity of our Saviour?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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