58 " OLD RICHARD." 



of any more impressive than one in which Richard, the 

 old negro violin-player, figured as hero. 



Richard was neither more nor less than a fine old good- 

 for-nothing darkle. The whole district acknowledged 

 that his only merit was his skilful scraping ; and this 

 merit which is not one in our eyes was highly esti- 

 mated by all " the gentlemen of colour," and even by 

 those whites who lived within a circuit of forty miles. 

 What is certain is, that no fete ever took place to which 

 Dick the fiddler was not invited. 



Marriage feasts, christening feasts, those soirees pro- 

 longed to dawn which are called " breaks-down " in the 

 United States, none could be carried on without the 

 assistance of his violin ; and old as was the negro fiddler, 

 bald as was his head, and black as was his skin, Richard 

 was not the less welcome wherever he presented himself, 

 with his fiddle wrapped up in a striped handkerchief 

 under his arm, and a knotty stick in his hand. 



Old Richard was " the property " of one of the Hen- 

 dersons, a member of the family who have given their 

 name to a county and a village in Kentucky. His 

 master was very partial to him on account of his obedient 

 disposition, and the slave, instead of toiling at field 

 labour, was left entirely free to do whatever he pleased. 

 ]STo one objected to this tolerance, for Richard, whom his 

 master called " a necessary evil," had the valuable talent of 

 keeping in good humour the negroes of the plantation by 

 means of his wonder-working fiddle. 



Richard, who fully comprehended the importance of 

 his high functions, was most attentive to his duty, and 

 his punctuality was admirable when those who honoured 

 him with their confidence made known their need of his 



