Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Emancipated slave...

...turns out to have developed into a master of ironic expression. From a letter written by ex-slave Jourdon Anderson to his former master, the latter having invited Anderson to return and work for him. A sample:
Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living.

5 comments:

JeffS said...

"Show me the money!" is as true today as it was in 1865.

I bet the letter, infuriated the good Colonel, no doubt for the irony, but also because Democrats hate spending their own money. And there was no Porkulus for him suck from.

richard mcenroe said...

Actually many slave owners used to rent their slaves out and live off their wages. So Democrats invented the welfare check way before LBJ...

RebeccaH said...

I am descended from slave owners, so I have nothing to add to this, other than Mr. Anderson's letter made me nod and smile and feel some gratitude for being born in the 20th century, and not the 19th.

Anonymous said...

Deborah Leigh said... I'll bet Mr. Anderson wished he could have delivered those sentiments in person. Thankfully, there was only the Colonel's dog (poor puppy) to take his wrath out on. It is an equally sure bet that Mr. Anderson and his lady went to their graves knowing the Colonel's reaction. God bless them.

rinardman said...

Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.

An action that would deserve a hardy thanks in anyone's book, I'm sure.