three minutes, when a gentleman behind the cart climbed upon the outside wheel and fired the pistol at him, and shot poor Reuben through the head.  He fell dead about six yards from where the dead body of his beloved Sally lay, and where his children were screaming terribly.  An indescribable thrill of horror crept through my whole soul, as I gazed from the cart wheel to which I was ironed, upon the dead bodies first of Reuben and then his wife, who but a few moments before I had seen kneeling in solemn prayer, before what they considered the Throne of Grace—­and their master, whom I heard that very morning calling on God not only to damn his negroes, but to damn himself, now, in less than thirty minutes, all three standing before the awful Judgment Seat.  After witnessing this dreadful scene I was led into Hagerstown jail, where I remained until my new master was ready, when I went with him to Memphis, Tennessee; but the remembrance of this awful tragedy haunted my mind, and even my dreams, for many months.

Reuben was the son of old Uncle Reuben and Aunt Dinah, and had been swopped away when about twelve years old to William Steele, for a pair of horses and a splendid carriage.  Like his father and mother he was very religious, and I had often been to his prayer meetings, where poor Reuben would exhort and preach.  Mr. Cobb had made him a class-leader long before he died; and, in fact, we all reverenced Reuben after the death of his father as the most moderate and gifted man amongst us.  I had always loved Reuben, but never knew how much until that fatal day.  After I went to Memphis I composed some verses on the life and death of Reuben, which run as follows:—­

    Poor Reuben he fell at his post,
          He’s gone;
    Like Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost,
          Poor Reuben’s gone away. 
    He’s gone where pleasure never dies,
          He’s gone,
    In the golden chariot to the skies,
          Poor Reuben’s gone away.

    For many years he faced the storm,
          He’s gone;
    And the cruel lash he suffered long;
          Poor Reuben’s gone away. 
    But now he’s left the land of death,
          He’s gone;
    And entered heaven’s happiness;
          Poor Reuben’s gone away.

    His friends he bid a long adieu,
          He’s gone;
    When heaven opened to his view,
          Poor Reuben’s gone away;
    His pain and sorrow of heart are passed,
          He’s gone;
    He arrived in heaven just safe at last;
          Poor Reuben’s gone away.

    Poor Sally, his wife, lays by his side,
          He’s gone;
    For whom poor Reuben so nobly died;
          Poor Reuben’s gone away;
    A mournful look on her he cast,
          He’s gone,
    Five minutes before he breathed his last,
          Poor Reuben’s gone away.