Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/93

 during which the good old man prayed to the God of thunder, while all the family surrounded its domestic altar. This gentleman (Mr. Mickle, sen.) appears to me to be a rare example of pure and undefiled religion; {68} kind and gentle in manners, and much resembling good old Ingle, the patriarch of Somersham.

Seeing such a swarm, or rather herd, of young negroes, creeping and dancing about the door and yard of his mansion, all appearing healthy, happy, and frolicsome, and withal fat and decently clothed, both young and old, I felt induced to praise the economy under which they lived. "Aye," said he, "I have many black people, but I never bought nor sold any in my life. All that you see came to me with my estate by virtue of my father's will. They are all, old and young, true and faithful to my interests; they need no task-master, no overseer; they will do all, and more than I expect them to do; and I can trust them with untold gold. All the adults are well instructed, and all are members of Christian churches in the neighbourhood; and their conduct is becoming their professions. I respect them as my children, and they look on me as their friend and father. Were they to be taken from me, it would be the most unhappy event of their lives." This conversation induced me to view more attentively the faces of the adult slaves; and I was astonished at the free, easy, sober, intelligent, and thoughtful impression, which such an economy as Mr. Mickle's had indelibly made on their countenances. Blush, ye black whites of America, when ye behold these white blacks!

{69} 29th.—At nine o'clock, after receiving the blessing of this family and its venerable head, I moved towards Columbia, greatly regretting that I could stay no longer. I shall, perhaps, see him no more; but wheresoever this