diff options
Diffstat (limited to '33594.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 33594.txt | 1084 |
1 files changed, 1084 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/33594.txt b/33594.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f54dfd6 --- /dev/null +++ b/33594.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1084 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Eneas Africanus, by Harry Stillwell Edwards + +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: Eneas Africanus + +Author: Harry Stillwell Edwards + +Release Date: August 31, 2010 [EBook #33594] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENEAS AFRICANUS *** + + + + +Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + _Eneas Africanus_ + + + + + _ENEAS_ + AFRICANUS + + _By Harry Stillwell Edwards_ + + [Illustration] + + PUBLISHED AT MACON, GEORGIA + BY THE J. W. BURKE COMPANY + NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY + + + Copyright, 1920 + The J. W. Burke Company + + + + + _Author's Preface_ + + +Dear to the hearts of the Southerners, young and old, is the vanishing +type conspicuous in Eneas of this record; and as in a sidelight herein +are seen the Southerners themselves, kind of heart, tolerant and +appreciative of the humor and pathos of the negro's life. Eneas would +have been arrested in any country other than the South. In the South he +could have traveled his life out as the guest of his "white folks." Is +the story true? Everybody says it is. + + [Illustration] + + + + + [Illustration] + + _Eneas Africanus_ + + Extract from the _Atlanta Constitution_ of October 12, 1872 + + WHO HAS THIS CUP? + + MAJOR GEORGE E. TOMMEY ADVERTISES FOR HIS SILVER CUP. + + +Editor _Constitution_, Atlanta, Ga. + +Dear Sir: I am writing to invoke your kind assistance in tracing an old +family negro of mine who disappeared in 1864, between my stock farm in +Floyd County and my home place, locally known as Tommeysville, in +Jefferson County. The negro's name was Eneas, a small, grey-haired old +fellow and very talkative. The unexpected movement of our army after the +battle of Resaca, placed my stock farm in line of the Federal advance +and exposed my family to capture. My command, Tommey's Legion, passing +within five miles of the place, I was enabled to give them warning, and +they hurriedly boarded the last south-bound train. They reached +Jefferson County safely but without any baggage, as they did not have +time to move a trunk. An effort was made to save the family silver, much +of it very old and highly prized, especially a silver cup known in the +family as the "Bride's Cup" for some six or eight generations and +bearing the inscription: + + "Ye bryde whose lippes kysse myne + And taste ye water an no wyne + Shall happy live an hersel see + A happy grandchile on each knee." + +These lines were surrounded with a wreath and surmounted by a knight's +head, visor down, and the motto: "Semper Fidelis." + +This cup was hurriedly packed with other silver in a hair trunk and +intrusted to Eneas with verbal instructions as to travel. He drove an +old-fashioned, flea-bitten blooded mare to a one-horse wagon full of +forage and carried all the Confederate money the family left, to pay his +expenses. He was last seen, as I ascertained soon after the war from a +wounded member of my command, about eight miles southeast of Atlanta, +asleep in the wagon, the mare turning to the right instead of keeping +the straight road to Macon. Eneas was a faithful negro, born and raised +in the Tommey family and our belief is he was murdered by army +stragglers and robbed of the trunk. He had never been over the road he +was traveling, as we always traveled to North Georgia by rail, shipping +the horses likewise. His geographical knowledge consisted of a few +names--places to which I had at different times taken him, and in the +neighborhood of my home, such as Macon, Sparta, Louisville, and the +counties of Washington and Jefferson. If given a chance to talk he would +probably confine himself to "Lady Chain," the mare he was driving; +"Lightning," the noted four-mile stallion temporarily in my possession; +the Tommey family and our settlement, "Tommeysville." On these topics he +could talk eighteen hours a day. + +I have no hope of ever seeing Eneas again, for if living he would have +gotten back if he had to travel all over the South to do it, but there +is a bare chance that the cup may be found, and I am writing to gratify +my daughter, whose wedding day is approaching. All brides in the family, +since 1670, have used this cup on their wedding days. If the cup was +stolen, doubtless the thieves sold it, and if so, the holder may read +these lines if they are given publicity. I am willing to waive any +question of ownership and purchase the cup at the holder's valuation, if +within my power; or, if unwilling to sell, he may loan the cup for a few +days. + +I shall be greatly obliged if you will publish this letter with a +request that all Southern papers, daily and weekly, copy the same. +Thanking you in advance and with all good wishes for your happiness and +prosperity, I am, most respectfully, + + Your obed't servant, + George E. Tommey, + +Late Major, Tommey's Legion, C. S. A. P. O., Louisville, Ga. + + * * * * * + + Althea Lodge, Fayette Co., Ga. + October 15, 1872. + +Maj. Geo. E. Tommey, + Louisville, Ga. + +Dear Major Tommey: I read with deep interest and sympathy your letter +in the _Atlanta Constitution_ inquiring of a negro named Eneas. This +man, I am sure, came to my house about twenty miles south of Atlanta in +1864. I remember the occasion perfectly, because he mentioned your name +and one of my boys was serving in your command. I gave him shelter for +the night and food for himself and horse. He insisted on sleeping in his +wagon. He told me that the mare was famous on the race track and very +valuable and he was afraid to leave her. This struck me as singular, at +the time, because she seemed old and broken down. I did not see any +trunk, but his wagon was full of hay and fodder and he may have had one +hidden under it. Eneas asked me to put him on the road to +Thomasville--or so I understood him--and I gave him explicit directions +as far as Newnan, advising him to get more at that point. He was gone +when I arose next morning. I do hope you will find the old man, as well +as the cup. I took quite a fancy to him. He gave me a very vivid +description of yourself--whom I had long wished to meet--and of your +home, the twelve-room house, lawn with its three fountains, beautiful +lake and your hundred negroes in their painted cottages, etc. + +Excuse this rambling letter. Your name has stirred an old woman's +memories. + + Sincerely your friend, + Martha Horton. + +P. S.--My son William, who served in your command, married a +Connecticut girl. Think of it, Major! But she proved to be a +noble-hearted woman and has influenced him to give up tobacco and +stimulants in every form. He travels this territory for a New York +house. His wife is well connected, and one of her ancestors came over in +the Mayflower. She is with me now and sends you her regards. Billy has +convinced her that next to General Joseph Johnston, you were the bravest +man in the Georgia armies. + + M. H. + + * * * * * + + Talbotton, Ga., Oct. 18, 1872. + +Major George Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +Sir: Read your letter in the _Columbus Enquirer_. I kept a livery +stable here in '64 and saw the man you are huntin about that time. He +drove a broken down old speckled grey mare he called Lady Chain, now +that you mention it, and claimed she was in foal to "Lightning," the +great four-mile horse. I took this for a joke along with some of the +fairy stories he gave me about the Tommeys, but he was so polite and +humble that I let him stay over night in the stable. Offered to pay me +next morning, an seemed like he had about a bushel of Confedrit money; +but I was long on Confed myself and didn't let him put any more on me. +Don't remember seein any trunk. He was on his way to Thomasville, so he +said, and I giv him as much directions as he could carry. + Very truly, + William Peters. + + * * * * * + + Thomas County, Oct. 19, 1872. + +Major George Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +Dear Sir: My wife remembered your old nigger as soon as she read your +letter in the paper, and so did I when she called it to my mind. He was +a big talker all right, and sat on our back steps half the night talking +about the Tommeys, their race horse, twenty-room house, yard with six +fountains, and a whole tribe of niggers. We fed him and he slept in his +wagon. Next day he wanted to pay me in Confederate money; was using a +corn sack for a pocketbook, and it was most full. He moved on to +Thomasville, about six miles from here, but I don't think it was the +place he was looking for. I reckon it must have been "Tommeysville" he +was looking for. Major, I took a good look at Lady Chain and you ain't +lost much if you never get her back, but if you don't find the nigger, +you've lost the champion liar of Georgia. I hope you get him back, but +it's hardly possible a man talking like he did could last seven years on +the public road. + + Respectfully, + Abner Cummings. + + * * * * * + + Thomasville, Ga., Oct. 19, 1872. + +Hon. Sir and Major: + +Your man Eneas came to my home in Thomasville in the winter of '65 or +the fall of '64, in great distress. He said he had traveled a thousand +miles to get to Thomasville, but it wasn't the right Thomasville. He had +no idea of States, geography or direction. Claimed he lived in Jefferson +County, next to Washington County, and as this describes two counties +across the line in Florida, several people at different times had sent +him over there. I gave him a letter to a friend over in Jefferson County +near Tallahassee. He had an old grey mare he said was a famous race +horse, but she didn't look it. Claimed she was in foal to the celebrated +"Lightning," whose four-mile race in the mud at New Orleans I witnessed. +I thought the old nigger was loose in the upper story. He had no trunk +when here. + + Very truly, + Andrew Loomis. + + * * * * * + + Tallahassee, Fla., Oct. 20, 1872. + +Major Geo. E. Tommey, Tommeysville, via Louisville, Ga. + +My Dear Sir: Eneas, your old negro, whose name I had forgotten until I +read your letter in a local paper, was on my plantation near here in +'65. He came here very blue and utterly discouraged from Thomasville, +Ga. Said he was looking for a little Thomasville owned by Major George +E. Tommey. He brought a letter from a friend of mine. There are no +Tommeys in this county, and no Thomasville, and not knowing what to do +with him, I passed him along to Colonel Chairs, a friend in Washington +County, which is on the gulf coast. Chairs wrote me that he had had a +great deal of fun out of Eneas. The gulf astonished him. He declared +solemnly that he knew he was in the wrong Washington, because there were +no oranges, or scrub palmettoes, or big green spiders (crabs) in his, +and the water had no salt in it. Eneas talked a good deal of Macon and +Louisville, and there being a county and town so named, besides another +Thomasville, to the north in Alabama, Chairs started him up that way. I +am truly sorry the old man came to grief. He was a harmless old fellow, +though a picturesque liar, as are many old negroes when they talk of +their white folks. + +It is possible that Eneas had a trunk, but I have no recollection of +seeing one in his possession. + + Yours very truly, + Randolph Thomas. + + * * * * * + + Louisville, Ala., Oct. 28, 1872. + +Major Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +Sir: A ole nigger name of enus come by hyar in the firs yer atter the +war with er old mare an er colt he claim was by the lightnin. He was +lokin for a tomusville, an I tried to show him the way back to +tomusville, in Georgia, but he got mad and wanted to fight me, an ef he +hadnt ben er ole man I would have busted him open. Mr. tommy, you wont +never see yo nigger no more less he mends his way of acktin when you are +tryin to help him. + + Respectfull, sir, yours, + Pompey Wiley (Colored). + +He lef hyar for Macon County. + + * * * * * + + Barton, Washington County, Ala. + +Major G. E. Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +Dear Sir: Your negro, Eneas, came to my place in this county in 1865, I +think, from a little village named Thomasville to the northeast. He was +very poor and his pathetic story appealed to my sympathies. I let him +have some rations and a piece of land and he planted a cotton crop. He +married a young mulatto woman on my place that year, and when he left +here about Christmas, 1866, carried with him a young baby besides the +old mare and her colt. The colt, by the way, was a beauty. + +Eneas was a puzzle to me, though I have lived among negroes all my life. +His stories of you and your place were marvels. But for the fact that he +held the mare and colt in your name, refusing dozens of offers for the +latter when in dire need, I should have put him down a reckless +romancer. He began preaching here among the negroes and proved to be a +most eloquent spiritual advocate. He claimed to be the pastor of a big +congregation at home. I heard him on one occasion when he baptized forty +converts and was thrilled by his imagery and power. + +Eneas knew nothing of geography beyond the names of a few towns and +counties. Hearing of a Macon and Louisville over in Mississippi, he +gathered his household goods into his wagon in December, '66. I do hope +you will yet find him. Suppose you make inquiries through the African +Methodist Church? He ought to be a bishop by this time. + + Very respectfully, + James Tally, + Attorney at Law. + + * * * * * + + Sunshine Parsonage, + Washington County, Mississippi. + +Major Geo. E. Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +My Dear Sir: I was greatly interested in your letter copied into our +county paper from the _Atlanta Constitution_, concerning Eneas Tommey. +He was here in 1868 or 1869 with a wife and several children. They came +in a one-horse wagon drawn by an old grey mare he called Lady Chain, and +followed by a splendid young colt he declared was from celebrated racing +stock. An almost worn out pass from his mistress, Mrs. Tommey, though it +bore no date or address, saved the old man from arrest. His story, that +he was lost and on his way home, though remarkable, was possible, and he +was not molested. The narrative of his wanderings interested me greatly. +He came up the river--the Mississippi--from Jefferson County, trying to +find a ford. He had heard of a Washington parish and a Thomasville in +Louisiana, and was trying to reach them. He rented a piece of land near +here and raised a crop, leaving in 1869 for Jefferson County, Alabama. I +gave him a letter to a minister in that county. + + Very truly, + (Rev.) John Simms. + +P. S.--I regret to say that after leaving here, Eneas, though an active +minister of the Gospel, suffered the young horse to be entered in a +county race. I understand that he won about $75. Allowance, however, +must be made for the old man's necessities and distress. + +J. S. + + * * * * * + + Idlewilde, Jefferson County, Ala. + October 26, 1872. + +Major Geo. E. Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +My Dear Sir: A Birmingham paper to-day gave me the explanation of a +mystery that has puzzled my family for several years, when it reproduced +your letter to the _Atlanta Constitution_. Eneas--or the Rev. Eneas +Tommey, as he called himself--came here in 1869 with a grey mare, and a +splendid young horse, which he claimed was of marvelous speed, and a +letter from a friend of mine in Mississippi. He also brought a wife and +two children. To the latter he added a third before leaving. My daughter +was greatly interested in the old man's remarkable story, and made an +effort to help him. She took down a letter to you, which he dictated, +made seven copies of it and sent one to every Thomasville in the South. +They all came back to her. By good luck she retained one for her +scrapbook, and I enclose it that you may see how the faithful old fellow +was trying to reach you. He stayed around here farming and preaching +until 1870 when, hearing from a horse trader of a Macon and a Sparta in +Tennessee, he moved on. He had no trunk with him, and I am afraid your +cup is gone. + + Very truly, + (Rev.) Amos Wells. + +P. S.--I am informed that Eneas participated in a horse race in +Birmingham after leaving here, and won a great deal of money. + + A. W. + + +Letter of Eneas inclosed in that of Rev. Mr. Wells: + +Marse George: I am loss in er distric called Yellerhama, by a town name +o'Burningham. Ef you knows whar Burningham is, fer God's sake come ter +me fer I can't git ter you! Me an' Lady Chain is plum wore out. + +Marse George, I been ter firs one an' den ernuther Thomasville, year in +an' year out, tell thar ain't no sense in hit. An' I ain't hit de right +one yit. Evy yuther place is name Thomasville er Macon er Washington er +Jefferson. Evybody knows whar I wanter go but me, an' shows me de road; +but all I kin do is ter keep er movin'. De firs Thomasville I got ter I +got back fo' times. Hit was harder ter lose it than hit was ter find it! + +Marse George, I come ter one pond I couldn't see ercross an' de water +warn't no count. The last Thomasville was out most ter sundown an' I was +headin' fer ernuther when I struck er creek er mile wide an' Lady Chain +couldn't wade hit, so we turn back. + +Marse George, Lady Chain's colt come, back in the secon' Jefferson, an' +he sholy is ole Lightnin's colt; long-legged, big-footed an' iron grey. +I been tryin' him out hyar an' thar an' thar ain't nothin' kin tech him. + +Marse George, I got ernuther wife down in de third Washington an' am +bringin' her erlong. She weighs one hundred and sixty, an' picks fo' +hundred pounds er cotton er day. She b'longs ter you, same as me an' +Lady Chain an' de colt. + +Marse George, er horse trader goin' by told me erbout some more Macons +an' Spartas an' Jeffersons an' Washingtons up de country fum hyar an' ef +I don't git word fum you by nex' month, I'm gointer move erlong. + +Marse George, ef you knows whar I is fum dis hyar letter an' can't come +yo'self, sen' fer me. I'm sick o' de road an' wanter git home. Do somp'n +an' do it quick! + + Yo' ole nigger, + Eneas. + + * * * * * + + Macon, Tenn., Oct. 30, 1872. + +Maj. George E. Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +My Dear Sir: Eneas was here in 1869 or 1870 and remained about a year +preaching at Mt. Zion and other places in the county. I do not know when +I ever met a more original and entertaining talker. His description of +your colonial house with its forty rooms, white columns and splendid +parks has aroused in me a strong desire to visit the place if I am ever +able to come to Georgia. I know it must have suffered from the ravages +of the war, but doubtless enough remains to show its former +magnificence. I am especially anxious to see the great lake with its +flock of swans, and the twelve fountains on your lawn. My mother is a +Georgian and have often heard her describe the natural beauties of the +State. There is a feeling with us all that at last it is "home" and that +some day we shall all assemble in dear old Monroe county where grandpa +was born. + +Eneas brought with him to this place a grey mare that was, he said, a +famous race horse, and that the father of her colt was the greatest +horse in the world. I had forgotten their names until I read your +letter. Eneas insisted that you lived at Thomasville next to Washington +and Jefferson Counties, and near a town named Louisville. There are +towns and counties of the same names in this State and he left to visit +them. He seemed to have plenty of money. I hope you will hear from him +yet, but I am afraid the trunk is gone. He had none when here. + + Sincerely yours, + Mary Adkins. + + * * * * * + + Louisville, Tenn., Oct. 27, 1872. + +Sir: Don't you worry about old Eneas. He came here in or about '70 +with a grey mare, a long-legged race horse, a young wife and three +children, and give out that he was a minister of the Gospel. They stayed +on my place and there were four children when they left. He was a +preacher all right, cause I heard him time and again, but all the same +he was the biggest liar in Tennessee at that time, and that's a great +record for any man. Major, if half he said about you and your place is +true, you ought to be President. You must have owned all the niggers in +Georgia, and your home must be spread over all three of them counties he +has been looking for ever since freedom. About that Lightning colt--he +certainly looks it. Eneas slipped him into a free-for-all up here and +him and a strange white man about busted the county. I offered him $500 +for the colt, but he said your price was $20,000. Considering you had +never seen him, I thought that a little high and him and me didn't +trade. Next day he was gone. Oh, you Eneas! Say, Major, if he ever gets +back, and he will, for you can't lose that kind of man for good, better +nail down everything movable--including them twelve fountains. + + Yours, + Tom Johnson. + +P. S.--I say; twelve fountains! + +P. S. S.--Forty-four rooms! Gosh! is the Legion still with you? + + * * * * * + + Washington County, N. C., Oct. 20, 1872. + +Maj. George E. Tommey, Louisville, Ga. + +My Dear Major: Your old negro has been on my plantation for about a +year farming and preaching and romancing. He came straight through +Tennessee and North Carolina, touching Sparta, Louisville, Washington +and Jefferson Counties in the former, and the towns of Jefferson, Sparta +and Macon in this State before he found me. I am affectionately known +all over this section of the State as "Major Tommy," and as the old +negro was looking for "Major Tommey," somebody put him on my trail. He +soon had me treed, but was greatly disappointed when he saw me. However, +that did not keep him from paying me a year's visit. Eneas is a queer +character--wisdom of the serpent and simplicity of a child. His story, +probably growing with age like the stories of some of our veterans, has +beguiled many a lonely hour for me, but not until I read your letter in +the _Richmond Dispatch_ did I give him credit for many facts in it. The +young race horse is certainly a fine animal and should you decide to +sell him I trust you will give me the refusal. Eneas won several purses +up here in local races. It seems he has a new name for his horse +everywhere he goes. He says it keeps him from getting "too common." When +Eneas was not plowing or racing, his favorite occupation was preaching, +his subject usually being the wandering of the Hebrews in the desert. He +left here for Jefferson, S. C. I am sorry to say, I heard no mention of +your lost cup, and if he had any trunk I was not informed of it. + +With regards for yourself and all good wishes for the young bride, I am, + + Very sincerely yours, + Thomas Bailey, + (Late) Major 13th N. C. Volunteers, C.S.A. + + * * * * * + +Extract from _Columbia_ (S. C.) _Register_, October 27, 1872: + +One of the surprises of yesterday's races came in the free-for-all +two-mile dash, which was won by "Chainlightning," entered by an old +negro man calling himself Eneas Tommey, who claims the horse was sired +by the celebrated stallion Lightning, and that the dam, which he drives +to a one-horse wagon on his way to Georgia, is "Lady Chain." She was +certainly a tired looking old lady. Eneas arrived late and at once +attracted attention by his unique appearance and his limitless faith in +Chainlightning. His story and the splendid horse interested some +stablemen and after a private demonstration they succeeded in getting +him entered and a rider engaged. In the get-off Chainlightning took the +lead and gave a marvelous exhibition of speed. He led the bunch by a +hundred yards at the end of the first mile and by nearly three hundred +at the end of the second. He was then going strong and the efforts of +the rider to stop him resulted in a runaway. When he came around the +third time the crowd blocked the track and brought him to a standstill, +but his rider was thrown. Eneas won $200. It is not known how his +backers fared, but it is supposed that they cleaned up a good pile on +the side. Eneas left on yesterday, going toward Augusta, Ga. It was +suggested afterwards that this may have been the man advertised for in +the _Atlanta Constitution_ by a Major Tommey, of Louisville, Ga., a few +weeks ago. The matter will be brought to his attention. One reason for +the sudden departure of the old negro, who had become quite a hero among +members of his race, is said to be a movement to elect him to the State +Senate. + + * * * * * + +Louisville, Ga.--(Correspondence _Macon Telegraph and Messenger_, Oct. +31, '72.)--Your correspondent on Thursday last was the favored guest of +Major George E. Tommey, the famous commander of the Tommey Legion, which +rendered conspicuous service to the Confederacy as part of +Johnston's--afterwards Hood's--army, in the Tennessee and North Georgia +campaigns. The Major lives about twelve miles from this place at +Tommeysville, as his plantation is called. His delightful residence is +one of the old-fashioned two-story houses with broad hall and verandahs +and two large wings, and is situated in a beautiful grove of oak and +hickory. The broad lawn in front abounds with roses and among them is a +tiny fountain with a spray. Beyond the house lie the barns and the negro +quarters and a small artificial lake where ducks abound. Sherman's +army missed the charming spot and the only suggestion of the late +unpleasantness is the Major's sword crossed with the colors of the +Legion over the broad fireplace at the end of the hall. + +The occasion of your correspondent's visit was the marriage of the +Major's only daughter, Beauregarde Forrest, to Mirabeau Lamar Temple, of +Dallas, Texas. The bride, a petite brunette of great beauty, entered +life eighteen years ago, inheriting her mother's name, but by the act of +the Georgia Legislature this was changed in honor of the two heroes of +the Confederacy dear to the heart of her illustrious father. The groom +bears the name of two Georgia families long ago transplated to the Lone +Star State and is an attorney of great promise. + +The wedding supper was charming in its simplicity and homeliness, using +the word in its original sense. The broad back porch between the two +wings was closed in with smilax and the feast was spread on a great +home-made table twenty feet in diameter. Seats were placed for forty. +Such a display of delicacies and substantials has not been seen in this +section since the good old days before the war. The low growing ferns +and cut-flowers of the decorations--there by the hundreds--did not hide +the guests' smiling faces. Wine, the famous scuppernong of the Major's +own vintage, was the only stimulant visible, for the Major and his good +lady are almost total abstainers. When the guests were seated a grace +was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Thigpen, and fun and merriment broke +loose. Toast after toast was given and sentiment and the poets were +interspersed with songs from the family negroes assembled in the +backyard by a gigantic bonfire. Some of the songs were of exquisite +harmony and pathos. Freedom, so far, had brought but little of +brightness into the lives of these humble people. + +A dramatic situation that will one day enter into a story, came during +the supper festivities. A sudden excitement among the negroes was +followed by cries, some of merriment and some of fear, and by a stampede +of the juniors. In the red light of the bonfire an old negro suddenly +appeared, reining up a splendid grey horse. The old man was seated in a +red-wheeled road cart, enveloped in a flopping linen duster, and wore a +silk hat. His "Whoa, Chainlightning!" resounded all over the place. Then +he stood up and began to shout about Moses and the Hebrew children being +led out of Egypt into the promised land. Major Tommey listened for a +brief instant and rushed out. The newcomer met him with an equal rush +and their loud greetings floated back to us clear as the notes of a +plantation bell: "Eneas, you black rascal, where have you been?" + +"O! Lord, Marse George! Glory be ter God! Out o' de wilderness! De +projeckin' son am back ergin!" + +"It's Eneas!" screamed the little bride, gathering up her skirts and +rushing out. In the strong light, as the wedding party hurriedly +followed, we could see the old negro hanging to his master as he filled +the night with his weird cries. Catching the excitement, the negroes +around began to moan and chant, taking their text from the old man's +words. + +"Where have you been, sir?" The Major was trying to free himself and +choking with tears and laughter. + +"All over de blessed worl', Marse George! But I'm home ergin!--You hyar +me, niggers?--home ergin!" + +"Stop, sir!"--But suddenly the old man grew rigid in the grasp of a +momentous thought. His voice sank to a whisper audible to only a few of +us: + +"Marse George, wha's Nancy?" + +"Nancy is dead, Eneas," said the Major, sadly. + +"Thank God!" said the old man fervently. + +"Where is my trunk, Eneas?" The old negro was making a horn of his hands +and giving the plantation halloo. With his eyes set on the banking +shadows beyond the fire, he waited, an inscrutable smile on his wrinkled +face. Presently, into the circle of light came an old grey mare, drawing +a wagon in which sat a yellow woman, hovering a small colony of +children. + +"I done brought you a whole bunch o' new Yellerhama, Burningham niggers, +Marse George! Some folks tell me dey is free, but I know dey b'long ter +Marse George Tommey des like Lady Chain and her colt! Marse George, you +oughter see dat horse--" + +"Where is the trunk?" repeated the Major, laughing and wiping his eyes. +"Where did you leave it, Eneas?" + +"I ain't left hit," said Eneas, indignantly. "Git out o' dat wagon, +niggers, fo' I bus somer you wide open!" The little colony fell over the +wheels like cooters from a log, and drawing aside the hay that had held +them, Eneas brought forth a time and weather defying hair trunk. He +heaved a mighty sigh of relief as he dropped it on the ground: + +"Dar 'tis, Marse George, an' I sho is glad to git shut o' dat ol' bunch +o' hide an' hair!" The bride danced and clapped her tiny hands: "My cup! +My cup! Get it! Quick! O, please somebody open the trunk!" + +Major Tommey picked up an axe and with one blow sliced off the ancient +lock. From its snug nest in cotton batting, the bride lifted a shining +cup, the cup, Mr. Editor, advertised in your columns a few weeks ago. A +bucket rattled down in the nearby well and the bride-groom came with a +great gourd to fill it. Then he read aloud the quaint inscription: + + "Ye bryde whose lippes kysse myne + An taste ye water an no wyne + Shall happy live and hersel see + A happy grandchile on each knee." + +The little woman accepted the challenge with the cup, and smiling up to +the face of her husband sipped of the crystal draught and handed him the +cup. He, too, drank, but the slight flush on the bride's face was as +nothing to the fiery scarlet of his own when a storm of applause greeted +the act. + +Eneas had drawn the Major aside and produced an old strap pocketbook +stuffed with bills. + +"Marse George," he began, "de bag o' yaller war money what dey gimme +warn't no good over yonner whar I been. Countin' de c'llections I tuck +up in the church an' what I winned on de track wid Chainlightnin' an' +ain't spent--" + +"Keep it, Eneas," said the Major, almost exploding with laughter, and +patting the old man on the shoulder, "that bunch of Burningham +Yellerhama niggers more than squares us!" + + + + +Transcriber's Note: On page 21 there is a possible missing space after +"o'" in "o'Burningham". On page 33 there is a typo in the original of +"transplated" for "transplanted". + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Eneas Africanus, by Harry Stillwell Edwards + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENEAS AFRICANUS *** + +***** This file should be named 33594.txt or 33594.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/9/33594/ + +Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |