Prattsburgh Central High School - Franklinite Yearbook (Prattsburgh, NY)

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 13 and Sambo, to whom the Colonel had entrusted the care and safety of the plantation. Sambo recalled clearly how proud he felt as the Colonel gave the plantation over to him, and how he could scarcely say, Thank you, massa, Missy Aileen will be safe with me, and how, with tears in his eyes, the Colonel had grasped his hand and told him that he trusted him beyond measure, and that Aileen's mother in heaven would protect them. Sambo had faithfully lived up to his trust, he watched Aileen when she was unaware of it, he took every precaution he could to insure her safety. Aileen would frequently laugh at him for being such an old fussy, but he could not be laughed out of his determination. Frequently he remembered the threat of Robert Carter and wondered what would happen if he and Finley should ever meet on the field of battle. The skirmishes around the plantation soon became more numerous and Sambo's mind was not a little disturbed when he discovered that Finley and Carter were the opposing leaders. Aileen, of course, knew nothing of Carter's threat against Finley, but nevertheless was greatly alarmed whenever any new skirmish took place, for although she loved Finley, she also felt a warm feeling of friendship toward Carter, with whom she had spent all her girlhood days. Her heart, too, was divided, for her desires and hopes were all with the South, but her love was- with Finley. How could she help both and be loyal to both? She knew that the slaves left on the plantation were carrying food to the Southcrners and were helping them in any way they could while everything was being done to hinder the Northerners. One day an unusually severe skirmish took place on the Harding plantation. Sanibo recalled how he had summoned all the slaves into the house, had barricaded the doors, and had stood ready to defend the house against the enemy. After a few hours of anxious waiting a loud knock was heard at the door, and entrance was demanded. Pushing Aileen behind the draperies, Sambo cautiously opened the door, but before he had a chance to open it very far, it was forcibly pushed open, and Carter and another man strode in, knocking Sambo to one side as they did so. After again securing the door, Carter faced Sambo. Now, you, tell me where she is,'l he demanded. Who? answered Sambo, fencing for time. She, Aileen. She is going to marry me now. Where have you hidden her ? My massa left me to protect lil' Missy Aileen, and I will. You'll have to kill me before you touch her. I will, if necessary, you nigger, and at that he sprang at Sambo

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12 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL parlor in which the guests Were assembled. He saw the quick glance of admiration given her by the stranger from Boston, he also saw that young Carter noticed the glance, and that for a second a very unpleasant expression came over his face. Massa Carter doan' like Missy Aileen to have no more beaus but him, Ah reckon, Sanibo had said to Miranda and Miranda had answered with a squeeze of his hand, being entirely too much engrossed with admiring the costumes of the ladies to put her answer into words. Oh! if Miranda were only here to talk to him now! How well Aileen and the young Northerner had looked as they danced together ! And how often they did dance ! The darkies talked about the dance for months afterward and they always seemed to dwell most, in their conversation, upon Aileen and the Northerner. It was not a very long time after the dance before Mr. Finley came to visit the home of Aileen's parents. Although this first visit was short, the succeeding ones grew longer and the intervening time shorter. He soon became a general favorite with the entire household and with everyone else except young Carter, whose intense jealousy and hatred of Finley knew no bounds. At last came the day when the engagement of Aileen to Mr. Finley was announced. Sambo had taken the announcement to the home of General Carter, and having been in the service of Colonel Harding for so many years, was accorded the privilege of remaining in the room while the message was read. They shall never be married while Iam alive, Carter cried out in his anger. She was mine until he came and took her away from me. Oh, Robert, renionstrated Mrs. Carter, If Aileen had really loved you, she would never have cared for Mr. Finley. It was simply true friendship that she felt toward you, and it is wrong for you to say that. Aileen would have loved me if he hadn't come. They shall never be married while I am alive, he answered doggedly. Sambo heard the threat with fear and trembling and tried to dissuade him, but to no avail. Robert would not be persuaded, but before he could carry out his threat, war was declared between the North and South and both men were called away to fight---the one for the North and the other for the South. During the first year of the war, the plantation of Colonel Harding was not molested by soldiers from either side, but during the second year skirmishes took place frequently in the near neighborhood, terrifying all the negroes and whites who could not be assured of their safety in any way. Aileen's father and the majority ofthe negroes on his plantation were, of course, in the army fighting for their cause, and so the management of the home fell upon Aileen

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14 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL as if to choke him, but Sarnbo was too quick for him, and with an agile leap he sprang aside, and Carter, entirely overbalanced by the force with which he had rushed forward, fell prone upon the floor. You nigger! he exclaimed, picking himself up, You'll suffer for this. Take that---and that ! He pulled out his revolver and was shooting directly at Sambo's head, or where he thought Sambo's head ought to beg but Sambo was jumping around in front of him in so many different ways and the smoke was so very thick that every aim went amiss. Then Carter, almost beside himself with rage, turned toward his companion. Can't you help me rid the earth of this infernal rascal? No, I cannot, Robert. I cannot help you kill one of the race that we are fighting for. You're just about as bad as he is. If you weren't white I'd be tempted to put a bullet through you, too. Take a care there, Robert, or you might get the bullet first. No danger, I guess, and at that Carter tired a shot at him. Both Sambo and the minister now sprang toward him. Revolvers were fired otf and in the noise and confusion no one noticed that the door had been broken open and that Harold Finley had entered---that is, none except Aileen who had spied him coming toward the house and had signaled for him to hurry. What is the trouble here, anyway ?' he demanded. This house is in our possession for the time being. Explain this. Sambo and the minister, thrown off their guard by his sudden appearance, temporarily loosened their hold on their captive. Carter, taking advantage of it, sprang up and grappled with Finley. Either you or I must die, and I prefer it to be you, he jerked out as they struggled together. Carter, already worn out from struggling with Sambo and the minister, was soon thrown to the floor by his opponent, but still had strength enough left to pull Finley down with him. As they fell, Carter reached over for his revolver, put his finger on the trigger and turned it toward Finley's head. Finley, realizing Carter's purpose, made a sudden move and the shot, intended for his own head, went through Carter's instead. Sambo could still feel the tenseness of the situation and the awful anxiety lest some harm should befall Aileen. He remembered, even now with a sigh of relief, how relieved he had been to know that Carter was dead, shot by himself in an effort to kill someone else, and that his threat had turned out to be his own undoing. In order to avoid any complications of any kind, a brief funeral sermon was preached over the dead man, and Sambo, together with the minister, carried out the body