.MzI5MA.MzcwMg

A ROMANCE OF SLAVERY.

The Husband and Wife Torn Apart Forty Years Ago Happily United.

Rome, Ga. Special to Courier-Journal.

That there are romances as touching in negro life as were ever told is proven by the story of a colored couple named Uncle Levi and Aunt Aggie, who lived in Cedartown Valley. In 1840 Levi belonged to Mr. Sparks, who then resided in Morgan county. In the same county lived Dr. E. E. Jones. Among Dr. Jones’ slaves was a fine looking mulatto girl, whoes smiles was courted by every young male slave in the community. She was named Aggie. Levi and Aggie met often at corn-shucking frolics. They were partners in the dance and play, and every Saturday night he would obtain a pass to visit her. Thus Levi wooed and Aggie was won. They married in 1843.

“And I was so happy when I met every Saturday night to see my young wife,” said Uncle Levi. They had only been married a year when Mr. Sparks moved from Morgan to Polk county, carrying the broken hearted husband with him. After five or six years separation, believing they would never again see each other, Levi married one of his master’s women.

“But, Boss, I never loved her like Aggie,” was the old man’s explanation.

Aggie, too, married, and both raised a large family; but their thoughts often drifted to the past. Neither knew whether the other was living. At last came the down fall of the Confederacy and the freedom of slaves. Upon enquiry Uncle Levi found that his old love was still living and married. He went nobly to work for his second wife. Ten years ago Aunt Aggie’s husband died and left her without providers. News reached Uncle Levi, and he sent word to his old love to come and live with him and his wife. This Aunt Aggie refused to do. Years flew fast, and the boy and girl who sang and danced at the corn-shucking, who loved, married and were parted grew old with an aching void in their lives as its evening drew near. Two years ago Uncle Levi’s wife died, and after a few months mourning he went for Aunt Aggie. She went to her old love, and after a separation of forty years they were united. They return in part to days of their youth, and their love is young again. Everybody in the neighborhood has heard the sad story and they are recipients of many kindnesses. Aunt Aggie is now 60 and Uncle Levi is 70.