Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1895 — John Thomas. [ARTICLE]

John Thomas.

“He was a perfect servant to a very imperfect master,” wrote an English sportsman of his negro henchman, John Thomas, who had been his righthand man during five years’ wandering in South Africa. When Dr. Livingstone and Mr. Oswell, the hunter, made their journey in search of Lake ’Ngami, they held out the Inducement to their followers that if they were successful they would not attempt to press farther. But success bred in the explorers the wish to do more, and though they were bound to stand to their agreement, they called a meeting of their servants and put the case before them. No one would be asked to accompany the two white men, who had decided to push on farther; but if any one was willing to do so, they would be very glad. Those who wished to return home would be supplied for the journey. For a few minutes there was.sileuce; then out stepped John, and said : “What you eat I can eat, where you go I will go; I will come with you.” The effect was instantaneous. “We will all go!” was the cry. “Do you think, after that,” writes Mr. Oswell in telling the incident, “it was much matter to us whether our brother was black or white?”