Monthly Archives: January 2014

Ex-Slave’s letter to former master

Share-worthy:

This was posted on The Associated Press July 14, 2012 12:29 PM

The famed letter written by an ex-slave in response to his former master’s request that he return to the plantation, soon after the end of the Civil War. Different versions of the letter bear various spellings of the writer’s name.

Dayton, Ohio, August 7, 1865

To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee

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. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy – the folks call her Mrs. Anderson – and the children – Milly, Jane, and Grundy – go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, “Them colored people were slaves” down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams’s Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay here and starve – and die, if it come to that – than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits.

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

From your old servant,
Jourdon Anderson.

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/text-ex-slaves-letter-former-master-162955420.html?soc_src=copy

Blogged on my iPad with LOVE!

BKS Iyengar 2 days ago

This picture of 95 year old BKS Iyengar (aka Guruji) taken two days ago in Pune.

20140128-095811.jpg
It’s my understanding he can still hold a 30 minute Sirsasana (headstand). Impressive!

Blogged on my iPad with LOVE!

A Farewell …

It’s with sadness that I have to report that Animal was put to rest yesterday. She had been sick a couple days as a result of kidney failure. After many tests it was determined she would have to be put down. Beverley became quite attached to her in the short year and a half, and this hasn’t been easy for her. Thanks to Beverley for giving Animal a good home.

On another note, I paid a visit to Maya yesterday, and kept an eye on her for a short time in the back yard while her mom got a couple things done in the house.

First we checked to see how the office is coming along.

20140127-074945.jpg

20140127-074952.jpg

20140127-074959.jpg
Then we played in the dirt.

20140127-075059.jpg

20140127-075106.jpg

20140127-075113.jpg

20140127-075121.jpg
And dumped dirt on Buster.

20140127-075141.jpg
Buster didn’t seem to mind.

Then we played in the princess tent.

20140127-075223.jpg

And took a break to sit and drink Amma’s water.

20140127-075311.jpg
I really liked it when she dropped my water bottle nozzle down into the dirt … Yuck.

Blogged on my iPad with LOVE!

Lunch with Alo yesterday & a couple throwbacks.

(Akuch, Bill, Monette & Bruce, too)

Alo was all smiles when he showed up to Nati’s and was good the whole time we were there. That is, until Akuch put him back in his stroller …

20140126-093518.jpg

20140126-093534.jpg
He’s got the puffy lip action going on 🙂

Yesterday I was looking at some old photos on my computer and came across some pictures of my cousin, Matt, from Klamath Falls. So I called him. We had a really nice talk, and talked for over an hour. Damn that guy’s smart, and he has a memory! I suppose I should be sharing a picture of him, but I didn’t send any of the pictures to my photo stream. If I have time today, I’ll do that so I can share them.

But here are a couple pictures that might bring smiles …

20140126-094026.jpg
Pretty hilarious!

After Ron sees this next picture on my blog, I may never live to post again. This may be the last picture I have of Ron with (not just hair, but…) dreadlocks!

20140126-094157.jpg
I’m going to guess he was 17 when the picture was taken. If you look closely past the dreads, you can still see that cute face and dimple. I’m going to run and hide now …

Blogged on my iPad with LOVE!

No walk for me!!

Alo didn’t feel like going for a walk yesterday …

20140125-080832.jpg
He wanted to sit on his Amma’s lap and sing & play instead.

20140125-080910.jpg
Maya stopped by after swim to visit her cousin, but he was taking a nap.

20140125-080950.jpg
She was kinda tired, too …

Back at home last night, Alo kicks back with a little playtime with his daddy before bedtime.

20140125-081025.jpg
I especially like the bite mark at the top of the “E.”

Nati’s – 11:30 today. Be there or be square.

Blogged on my iPad with LOVE.

Alo – at 19 weeks old

Weighs in at …

20140123-080348.jpg
17 pounds!!

I saw this recipe on FB yesterday & had to take a picture. This is a must try recipe. It looks so good!!

20140123-080450.jpg
The picture’s a little dark, but it’s the recipe that’s important.

Sorry, Bill. It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to have lunch with you today. Can you do Nati’s on Saturday at 11:30 instead?? Any other takers?? Let me know.

Blogged on my iPad with LOVE!!

Bloomers

I’ve been saving these pictures I took a couple weeks ago of orchid blooms in the yard.

20140122-074304.jpg

20140122-074340.jpg
These blooms are long lasting, so we’ll be enjoying them for quite a while. There are many other buds either waiting to bloom or that are just now blooming. I’ll capture those over the weekend to share.

Blogged on my iPad with LOVE!