FuneralSermonforMammyCarolineBarr
Carolinehasknowntomeallmylife.Itwasmyprivilegetoseeheroutofhers.Aftermyfather’sdeath,toMammyIcametorepresenttheheadofthatfamilytowhichshehadgivenahalfcenturyoffidelityanddevotion.Buttherelationshipbetweenusneverbecamethatofmasterandservant.Shestillremainedoneofmyearliestrecollections,notonlyasaperson,butasafountainofauthorityovermyconductandofsecurityformyphysicalwelfare,andofactiveandconstantaffectionandlove.
Shewasanactiveandconstantperceptfordecentbehaviour.FromherIlearnedtotellthetruth,torefrainfromwaste,tobeconsiderateoftheweakandrespectfultoage,Isawfidelitytoafamilywhichwasnothers,devotionandloveforpeopleshehadnotborne.Shewasborninbondageandwithadarkskinandmostofherearlymaturityshewaspassedinadarkandtragictimeforthelandofherbirth.Shewentthroughvicissitudeswhichshehadnotcaused;sheassumedcaresandgrieveswhichwerenotevenhercaresandgrieves.
Shewaspaidwagesforthis,butpayisstilljustmoney.Andsheneverreceivedverymuchofthat,sothatsheneverlaidupanythingofthisworld’sgoods.Yetsheacceptedthattoo,withoutcavilorcalculationorcomplaint,sothatbythatveryfailuresheearnedthegratitudeandaffectionofthefamilyshehadgiventhefidelityanddevotionupon,andgainedthegriefandregretofthealienswholovedandlosther.Shewasbornandlivedandserved,anddiedandnowismourned;ifthereisaheaven,shehasgonethere.