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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38479-8.txt b/38479-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..753678f --- /dev/null +++ b/38479-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8759 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Freedmen's Book, by Lydia Maria Child + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Freedmen's Book + +Author: Lydia Maria Child + +Release Date: January 3, 2012 [EBook #38479] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Henry Flower and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + THE + + FREEDMEN'S BOOK. + + By L. MARIA CHILD. + + + O dark, sad millions,--patiently and dumb + Waiting for God,--your hour, at last, has come, + And Freedom's song + Breaks the long silence of your night of wrong. + + JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + [Illustration] + + BOSTON: + TICKNOR AND FIELDS. + 1865. + + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by + L. MARIA CHILD, + in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District + of Massachusetts. + + + UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & CO., + CAMBRIDGE. + + + + + _TO_ + + THE LOYAL AND BRAVE + + CAPTAIN ROBERT SMALL, + + _Hero of the Steamboat Planter_, + + THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY + + L. MARIA CHILD. + + + + +TO THE FREEDMEN. + + +I have prepared this book expressly for you, with the hope that those of +you who can read will read it aloud to others, and that all of you will +derive fresh strength and courage from this true record of what colored +men have accomplished, under great disadvantages. + +I have written all the biographies over again, in order to give you as +much information as possible in the fewest words. I take nothing for my +services; and the book is sold to you at the cost of paper, printing, +and binding. Whatever money you pay for any of the volumes will be +immediately invested in other volumes to be sent to freedmen in various +parts of the country, on the same terms; and whatever money remains in +my hands, when the book ceases to sell, will be given to the Freedmen's +Aid Association, to be expended in schools for you and your children. + + Your old friend, + L. MARIA CHILD. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + AUTHOR. PAGE + + IGNATIUS SANCHO _L. Maria Child_ 1 + + EXTRACT FROM THE TENTH PSALM 12 + + PREJUDICE REPROVED _Lydia H. Sigourney_ 13 + + BENJAMIN BANNEKER _L. Maria Child_ 14 + + ETHIOPIA _Frances E. W. Harper_* 24 + + THE HOUR OF FREEDOM _William Lloyd Garrison_ 25 + + WILLIAM BOEN _L. Maria Child_ 26 + + ANECDOTE OF GENERAL WASHINGTON 31 + + PRAYER OF THE SLAVE _Bernard Barton_ 32 + + TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE _L. Maria Child_ 33 + + THE ASPIRATIONS OF MINGO _Mingo, a Slave_* 84 + + BURY ME IN A FREE LAND _Frances E. W. Harper_* 85 + + PHILLIS WHEATLEY _L. Maria Child_ 86 + + A PERTINENT QUESTION _Frederick Douglass_* 93 + + THE WORKS OF PROVIDENCE _Phillis Wheatley_* 94 + + THE DYING CHRISTIAN _Frances E. W. Harper_* 96 + + KINDNESS TO ANIMALS _L. Maria Child_ 97 + + JAMES FORTEN _L. Maria Child_ 101 + + THE MEETING IN THE SWAMP _L. Maria Child_ 104 + + A REASONABLE REQUEST _Peter Williams_* 110 + + THE SLAVE POET _George Horton, a Slave_* 111 + + RATIE _Mattie Griffith_ 114 + + THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST _James Montgomery_ 123 + + PROGRESS OF EMANCIPATION IN THE + BRITISH WEST INDIES _L. Maria Child_ 124 + + THE LAST NIGHT OF SLAVERY _James Montgomery_ 146 + + MADISON WASHINGTON _L. Maria Child_ 147 + + EXTRACT FROM THE VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS 154 + + PRAISE OF CREATION _George Horton_* 155 + + FREDERICK DOUGLASS _L. Maria Child_ 156 + + HOW THE GOOD WORK GOES ON 176 + + DEDICATION HYMN _J. M. Whitefield_* 177 + + A PRAYER _John G. Whittier_ 178 + + WILLIAM AND ELLEN CRAFTS _L. Maria Child_ 179 + + SPRING _George Horton_* 205 + + THE GOOD GRANDMOTHER _Harriet Jacobs_* 206 + + THE COLORED MOTHER'S PRAYER 219 + + WILLIAM COSTIN 220 + + EDUCATION OF CHILDREN _L. Maria Child_ 221 + + THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN _Frances E. W. Harper_* 226 + + SAM AND ANDY _Harriet Beecher Stowe_ 227 + + JOHN BROWN _L. Maria Child_ 241 + + THE AIR OF FREEDOM _Frances E. W. Harper_* 243 + + EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT + OF COLUMBIA _James Madison Bell_* 244 + + THE LAWS OF HEALTH _L. Maria Child_ 246 + + PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION + OF EMANCIPATION _Frances E. W. Harper_* 250 + + NEW-YEAR'S DAY ON THE ISLANDS + OF SOUTH CAROLINA _Charlotte L. Forten_* 251 + + SONG OF THE NEGRO BOATMEN AT + PORT ROYAL, S. C. _John G. Whittier_ 257 + + EXTRACT FROM SPEECH TO COLORED + PEOPLE IN CHARLESTON _Hon. Henry Wilson_ 259 + + EXTRACT FROM SPEECH TO COLORED + PEOPLE IN CHARLESTON _Hon. Judge Kelly_ 261 + + BLACK TOM _A Yankee Soldier_ 263 + + LETTER FROM A FREEDMAN _Jourdon Anderson_* 265 + + COLONEL ROBERT G. SHAW _Eliza B. Sedgwick_ 268 + + ADVICE FROM AN OLD FRIEND _L. Maria Child_ 269 + + DAY OF JUBILEE _A. G. Duncan_ 277 + +* The names of the colored authors are marked with an asterisk. + + + + +THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK. + + + + +IGNATIUS SANCHO. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +This was the name of a remarkable African, who excited a good deal of +interest in his day. His father and mother were stolen from Africa and +put on board a slave-ship in 1729, which was one hundred and thirty-six +years ago. He was born during the passage, and when the vessel arrived +at Carthagena, in South America, he was baptized by the name of +Ignatius. His mother died soon after, and his father, seeing no means of +escape from slavery, killed himself in a fit of despair. The man who +took possession of the little orphan, and claimed to be his master, +carried him to England, and gave him to three unmarried sisters who +lived at Greenwich. He was then about two years old, a bright, lively, +funny little creature. As he grew older, he showed such an inquisitive +mind, said so many droll things, and was so full of mischief, that the +ladies named him Sancho, after a very comical character in a famous old +Spanish novel. He was very eager in the pursuit of knowledge; but this +commendable disposition was not approved by the ladies. They thought +that all a black servant had occasion to know was how to obey orders, +and that it was not necessary or proper for him to learn to read and +write. But nature had given Ignatius a very lively mind, and a very +susceptible heart, and neither of them could be kept quiet. He early +plunged into love affairs, and was always overrunning with fun and +frolic. Doubtless he was a great trial to the respectable maiden ladies, +who were training him for a servant; and he, on his part, thought them +very sour, severe, and disagreeable. Sometimes, when they were angry +with him, they reminded him that he had been a slave, and threatened to +send him into slavery again. This excited uneasiness in his mind, and +kindled resentment. + +The Duke of Montagu lived in the neighborhood, and his attention was +attracted by the bright, frank countenance of the black boy. He entered +into conversation with him occasionally, and was so much struck by his +intelligence and wit, that he told the ladies their servant was a +remarkable lad, and that his earnest desire to improve his mind ought to +be gratified. They persisted in their opinion that knowledge was a very +improper and dangerous thing for a black servant. But the Duke +introduced him to the Duchess, and they both encouraged him to learn to +read and write. They lent him books, and were greatly entertained by his +bright remarks concerning what he read. + +It was a great grief to Ignatius when the friendly Duke died. He +besought the Duchess to receive him into her service, and she consented. +He remained in her household as long as she lived. At her death, she +left him an annuity of about one hundred and fifty dollars a year; and +he had three hundred and fifty dollars, which he had laid up from his +wages. He might have made this sum the foundation of a comfortable +little property. But nature had made him very full of fun and frolic. He +had such lively manners, and uttered so many pleasant jokes, that his +company was much sought for. This proved a temptation too strong for +him. He accepted invitations to go to taverns, where he gambled away his +earnings. He had a great passion for going to the theatre; and his +conduct with regard to women was far from being correct. + +But he soon saw the error of his ways, and resolved to reform. He went +to the Chaplain of Montagu House, and begged to be taken into his +service, where he remained several months. The descendants of his old +friend, the Duke, encouraged him to persevere in his good resolutions; +and when the young Duke saw that he continued sober and industrious, he +took him into his employ. By the blessing of the Heavenly Father, +another saving influence came to help him into the paths of virtue. He +formed a serious attachment for a very worthy young woman from the West +Indies, to whom he was soon after married. He remained in the employ of +the Duke of Montagu until he was about forty-four years old. Frequent +attacks of the gout, and clumsiness resulting from an hereditary +tendency to corpulence, rendered him unfit to continue in the service to +which he had so long been accustomed. His good friend and patron the +Duke assisted him to establish a small shop for groceries. By economy +and industry, he and his good wife managed to rear and educate well a +numerous family of children. + +He always retained his love of learning, and was such a diligent reader, +that he was well acquainted with the current literature of that time. He +was treated with respect and attention by many intelligent and educated +people. Though not so full of fun as he was in his younger days, his +conversation was entertaining. The letters he wrote to various persons +abound with good sense, and show that he was very affectionate and +devoted as a husband and father. He evidently regarded his wife as the +best blessing of his life. In one of his letters to a friend he says: +"The hot weather does not befriend Mrs. Sancho, but time will, I hope. +If true worth could plead exemption from pain and sickness, she would, +by right divine, enjoy the best of health." On another occasion he +writes: "I can compare her to nothing so properly as a diamond in the +dirt. But, my friend, that is Fortune's fault, not mine; for had I the +power, I would case her in gold." Years later, he writes: "Dame Sancho +would be better in health, if she cared less. I am her barometer. If a +sigh escapes me, it is answered by a tear in her eye. I often assume +gayety to illume her dear sensibility with a smile, which twenty years +ago almost bewitched me, and which still constitutes my highest +pleasure. May such be your lot, my friend. What more can friendship wish +you than to glide down the stream of time with a partner of congenial +principles and fine feelings, whose very looks speak tenderness and +sentiment." + +After a severe illness he wrote to a friend: "I had excruciating pains +and great lack of patience. Mrs. Sancho had a week of it. Gout did not +sweeten my temper. It was washing week, and she had to attend the shop. +God bless her, and reward her. She is good; good in heart, good in +principle, good by habit." + +The children appear to have been the delight of his heart. He called +them "Sanchonettas," which would be the Italian way of saying Little +Sanchos. He was never tired of describing their little winning ways. At +the end of a letter to one of his friends he wrote: "Lydia trots about +amazingly; and Kitty imitates her, with this addition, that she is as +mischievous as a monkey." But little William, his youngest, was +evidently his pet. To another of his friends he wrote: "You cannot +imagine what hold little Billy gets of me. He grows, he prattles, every +day he learns something new. The rogue is fond of me to excess. By his +good-will he would be always in the shop with me. The little monkey! He +clings round my legs; and if I chide him, or look sour, he holds up his +little mouth to kiss me." + +Ignatius Sancho had a very kind heart. It hurt his feelings very much to +see any animal tormented. He tried to get some laws passed to prevent +cruel market-men from abusing their donkeys; and he always tried to be a +friend to everybody that was in distress. In one of his letters he says: +"The joy of giving and of making happy is almost the attribute of a god. +There is as much sweetness conveyed to the senses by doing a right +good-natured deed as our frame can consistently bear." + +Such a disposition is better than a remarkable intellect. But he had a +quick intellect also, and generally took sensible views of things. +Writing to a young colored friend, who had been somewhat wild, he +says:-- + +"Look round upon the miserable fate of almost all of our unfortunate +color. See slavery added to ignorance. See the contempt of the very +wretches who roll in affluence from our labors. Hear the ill-bred, +heart-racking abuse of the ignorant vulgar. If you tread as cautiously +as the strictest rectitude can guide you, you must suffer from this. But +if you are armed with truth and conscious integrity, you will be sure of +the plaudits and countenance of the good. + +"You are a happy lad. You have kind benefactors, to whom you ought to +look up with reverence, and humbly beg the Almighty to give you strength +to imitate them in doing good. Your parts are as quick as most men's. If +you urge your speed in the race of virtue with the same zeal you have +exhibited in error, you will recover, to the satisfaction of your noble +patrons, and to the glory of yourself. + +"Some philosopher, whose name I forget, wished for a window in his +breast, that the world might see his heart. I recommend him to your +imitation. Vice is a coward. To be truly brave, a man must be truly +good. You hate the name of cowardice; then detest a lie and shun liars. +Be above revenge. If others have taken advantage either of your guilt or +your distress, punish them only with forgiveness; and if you can serve +them at any future time, do it. + +"I sincerely congratulate thee upon thy repentance. It is thy birthday +to real happiness." + +To one of the white gentlemen who liked to correspond with him, he +wrote:-- + +"There is something so amazingly grand and affecting in contemplating +the works of the Divine Architect, either in the moral or the +intellectual world, that I think one may rightly call it the cordial of +the soul, the best antidote against pride and discontent. The friendly +warmth of that glorious planet the sun, the leniency of the air, the +cheerful glow of the atmosphere, make me involuntarily cry, 'Lord, what +is man, that thou, in thy mercy, art so mindful of him? or what is the +son of man, that thou so parentally carest for him?' + +"Sometimes, when I endeavor to turn my thoughts inward, to review the +powers or properties the indulgent all-wise Father has endowed me with, +I am struck with wonder and with awe; poor, insignificant worm as I am, +in comparison with superior beings, mortal like myself. At the head of +our riches I reckon the power of reflection. Where doth it lie? Search +every member, from the toe to the nose,--they are all ready for action, +but they are all dead to thought. It is that breath of life which the +Sacred Architect breathed into the nostrils of the first man. We feel +and acknowledge it, but it is quite past the power of definition. Then +to think of the promise of never-ending existence! To rise, perhaps, by +regular progression from planet to planet, to behold the wonders of +immensity, to pass from good to better, increasing in goodness, in +knowledge, in love. To glory in our Redeemer, to joy in ourselves, to be +acquainted with prophets, sages, heroes, and poets of old times, and to +join in the symphony with angels." + +To a white young friend, who had obtained a situation in India, he +wrote:-- + +"It is with sincere pleasure I hear you have a lucrative establishment. +Your good sense will naturally lead you to a proper economy, as distant +from frigid parsimony as from heedless extravagance. As you may have +some time for recreation, give me leave to obtrude my poor advice. I +have heard it more than once observed of fortunate adventurers, that +they come home rich in purse, but wretchedly barren in intellect. My +dear Jack, the mind wants food as well as the stomach. Why, then, should +not one wish to increase in knowledge as well as in money? The poet +Young says,-- + + 'Books are fair Virtue's advocates and friends.' + +My advice to you is, to lay by something every year to buy a little +library. You have to thank God for strong natural parts; you have a +feeling, humane heart; you write with sense and discernment. Improve +yourself, my dear Jack. Then if it should please God to return you to +your friends with a fortune, the embellishments of your mind may be ever +considered as greatly superior to your riches, and only inferior to the +goodness of your heart. This is a good old adage: 'A few books and a few +friends, and those well chosen.'" + +The same young friend wrote a letter to his father, from Bombay, in +India, in which he wrote: "The inhabitants here, who are chiefly blacks, +are a set of canting, deceitful people, of whom one must have great +caution." + +Ignatius Sancho was always ready to defend the despised and the +oppressed, and his sympathy was all the more lively if they were of his +own color. He at once wrote to his young friend:-- + +"In one of your letters to your father, you speak with honest +indignation of the treachery and chicanery of the natives of India. My +good friend, you should remember from whom they learned those vices. The +first visitors from Christian countries found them a simple, harmless +people. But the cursed avidity for wealth urged those first visitors, +and all the succeeding ones, to such acts of deception and wanton +cruelty, that the poor, ignorant natives soon learned their knavish +arts, and turned them upon their teachers. As a resident of your +country, Old England, I love it. I love it for its freedom. For the many +blessings I enjoy in it England shall ever have my warmest wishes, +prayers, and blessings. But I must observe, and I say it with +reluctance, that the conduct of your country has been uniformly wicked +in the East Indies, in the West Indies, and on the coast of Guinea. The +grand object of English navigators, and indeed of all the navigators of +Christian nations, has been money, money, money. Commerce was meant by +the goodness of Deity to diffuse the various goods of the earth into +every part; to unite mankind with the blessed bonds of brotherly love +and mutual dependence. Enlightened Christians should diffuse the riches +of the Gospel of Peace together with the commodities of their respective +lands. If commerce were attended with strict honesty and religion for +companions, it would be a blessing to every shore it touched at. + +"The poor wretched Africans are blessed with a most fertile and +luxuriant soil; but they are rendered miserable by what Providence meant +for a blessing. The abominable traffic in slaves, and the horrid cruelty +and treachery of the petty kings, is encouraged by their Christian +customers. They carry them strong liquors, powder, and bad fire-arms to +inflame them to madness, and to furnish them with the hellish means of +killing and kidnapping. It is a subject that sours my blood. I mention +these things to guard my friend from being too hasty in condemning a +people who have been made much worse by their Christian visitors. + +"Wherever thou residest, make human nature thy study. Whatever may be +the religion or the complexion of men, study their hearts. Let +simplicity, kindness, and charity be thy guides; and with these, even +savages will respect you, while God will bless you." + +The writings of the Rev. Laurence Sterne, who was living in England at +that time, were well calculated to inspire humanity toward animals and +kindly feelings toward the poor. These writings were very popular, and +two of the characters conspicuous in them, called Uncle Toby and +Corporal Trim, were great favorites with the public. Ignatius Sancho +especially delighted in the writings of Sterne; and in 1776, when he was +about forty-seven years old, he addressed a letter to him as follows:-- + + "REVEREND SIR,--It would perhaps look like an insult upon your + humanity to apologize for the liberty I am taking. I am one of + those people whom the vulgar and illiberal call 'Negurs.' The first + part of my life was rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family who + judged ignorance to be the best and only security for obedience. By + unwearied application I got a little reading and writing. Through + God's blessing, the latter part of my life has been truly + fortunate, for I have spent it in the service of one of the best + families in the kingdom. My chief pleasure has been books. How very + much, good sir, am I, among millions, indebted to you for the + character of your amiable Uncle Toby! I declare I would walk ten + miles, in dog-days, to shake hands with the honest Corporal. Your + sermons have touched me to the heart, and I hope have amended it. + In your tenth discourse I find this very affecting passage: + 'Consider how great a part of our species, in all ages, down to + this, have been trodden under the feet of cruel and capricious + tyrants, who would neither hear their cries nor pity their + distresses. Consider Slavery, what a bitter draught it is, and how + many millions are made to drink of it.' + + "I am sure you will forgive me if I beseech you to give some + attention to Slavery, as it is practised at this day in the West + Indies. That subject, handled in your striking manner, would + perhaps ease the yoke of many; but if only of one, what a feast for + a benevolent heart! and sure I am, you are an Epicurean[1] in acts + of charity. You, who are universally read and as universally + admired, could not fail. Dear sir, think that in me you behold the + uplifted hands of thousands of my brother Moors. You pathetically + observe that grief is eloquent. Figure to yourself their attitudes, + hear their supplications, and you cannot refuse." + +Mr. Sterne wrote the following reply:-- + + "July 27th, 1766. + + "There is a strange coincidence, Sancho, in the little events of + this world, as well as the great ones. I had been writing a tender + tale of the sorrows of a poor, friendless negro girl, and my eyes + had scarce done smarting with it, when your letter, in behalf of so + many of her brethren and sisters, came to me. But why _her_ + brethren or _your_ brethren, Sancho, any more than _mine_? It is by + the finest tints, and the most insensible gradations, that nature + descends from the fairest face to the sootiest complexion. At which + of these tints are the ties of blood to cease? and how many shades + lower in the scale must we descend, ere mercy is to vanish with + them? + + "It is no uncommon thing, my good Sancho, for one half of the world + to _use_ the other half like brutes, and then endeavor to _make_ + them so. For my part, I never look Westward, when I am in a pensive + mood, without thinking of the burdens our brothers and sisters are + there carrying. If I could ease their shoulders from one ounce of + them, I declare I would this hour set out upon a pilgrimage to + Mecca for their sakes. It casts a sad shade upon the world, that so + great a part of it are, and have so long been, bound in chains of + darkness and chains of misery. I cannot but respect you and + felicitate you, that by so much laudable diligence you have broken + the chains of darkness, and that by falling into the hands of so + good and merciful a family, you have been rescued by Providence + from the chains of misery. + + "And so, good-hearted Sancho, adieu. Believe me, I will not forget + your letter. + + "Yours, + "LAURENCE STERNE." + +The last sickness of Ignatius Sancho was very painful, but he was +tenderly cared for by his good wife. He was fifty-two years old when he +died. After his death, a small volume was published, containing a number +of his letters, some articles he had written for newspapers, and an +engraved likeness of him, which looks very bright and good-natured. The +book was published by subscription, in which a large number of the +English nobility and some distinguished literary men joined. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Epicureans were the followers of a philosopher in ancient Greece who +taught that pleasure was the great object in life,--an excellent +doctrine, if confined to the highest kind of pleasure, which consists in +doing good. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE TENTH PSALM. + +"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor. He hath said in his +heart, God hath forgotten; He hideth his face; He will never see it. +Thou _hast_ seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite +it with thy hand. The poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the +helper of the fatherless. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the +humble. Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear; thou wilt prepare their heart +to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may +no more oppress." + + + + +PREJUDICE REPROVED. + +BY LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY. + + + God gave to Afric's sons + A brow of sable dye; + And spread the country of their birth + Beneath a burning sky. + + With a cheek of olive He made + The little Hindoo child; + And darkly stained the forest tribes, + That roam our Western wild. + + To me He gave a form + Of fairer, whiter clay; + But am I, therefore, in his sight, + Respected more than they? + + No;--'tis the hue of _deeds_ and _thoughts_ + He traces in his book; + 'Tis the complexion of the _heart_ + On which He deigns to look. + + Not by the tinted cheek, + That fades away so fast, + But by the color of the _soul_, + We shall be judged at last. + + + + +BENJAMIN BANNEKER. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +This remarkable man was born near the village of Ellicott's Mills, +Baltimore County, Maryland, in 1732. That was one hundred and +thirty-three years ago, when there were very few schools and very few +books in this country, and when it was not as easy as it now is for even +white people to obtain a tolerably good education. His parents were both +black, and though they were free, they were too poor to do much for +their bright boy. They sent him to a school in the neighborhood, where +he learned reading and writing and a little of arithmetic. + +His father was a slave at the time of his marriage, but his wife was a +free woman; and she was so energetic and industrious, that she soon +earned money enough to buy his freedom. Then they worked together, and +earned enough to buy a few acres of land, and build a small cabin. + +Benjamin was obliged to labor diligently when he was at home from +school, but every spare moment he could catch he was ciphering, and +planning how to make things. As his parents grew old, he had to work +early and late, to support himself and help them. His mother always +continued active enough to do the in-door work. When she was seventy +years old, if she wanted to catch a chicken she would run it down +without appearing to be tired. The place was thinly peopled, and the few +neighbors they had took no particular notice of Benjamin, though he had +the name of being a bright, industrious lad. His hands worked hard, but +his brain was always busy. He was particularly fond of arithmetic, and +was always working out sums in his head. He took notice of everything +around him, observed how everything was made, and never forgot one word +of what he had learned at school. In this way, he came to have more +knowledge than most of his white neighbors; and they began to say to one +another, "That black Ben is a smart fellow. He can make anything he sets +out to; and how much he knows! I wonder where he picked it all up." + +At thirty years old, he made a clock, which proved an excellent +timepiece. He had never seen a clock, for nobody in that region had such +an article; but he had seen a watch, and it occupied his thoughts very +much. It seemed to him such a curious little machine, that he was very +desirous to make something like it. The watch was made of gold and +silver and steel; but Benjamin Banneker had only wood for material, and +the rudest kind of tools to work with. It was a long while before he +could make the hand that marked the hours, and the hand that marked the +minutes, and the hand that marked the seconds, correspond exactly in +their motions; but by perseverance he succeeded at last. He was then +about thirty years old. This was the first clock ever made in this +country. It kept time exactly, and people began to talk about it as a +wonderful thing for a man to do without instruction. After a while, the +Ellicott family, who owned the Mills, heard of it, and went to see it. +Mr. Elias Ellicott, a merchant in Baltimore, became very much interested +in the self-taught machinist. He lent him a number of books, among which +were some on astronomy,--a science which treats of the sun, moon, and +stars. Banneker was so interested in this new knowledge that he could +think of nothing else. He sat up all night to watch the planets, and to +make calculations about their motions. Mr. Ellicott went to see him to +explain to him how to use some of the tables for calculations contained +in the books he had lent him; but he found, to his great surprise, that +the earnest student had studied them all out himself, and had no need of +help. It was not long before he could calculate when the sun or the moon +would be eclipsed, and at what time every star would rise and set. He +was never known to make a mistake in any of his astronomical +calculations; and he became so exact, that he pointed out two mistakes +made by celebrated astronomers in Europe. + +In order to pursue his favorite studies without interruption, he sold +the land which his parents had left him, and bought an annuity with the +money, on which he lived in the little cabin where he was born. He was +so temperate and frugal, that he needed very little to support him; and +when it was necessary to have more than his annuity, he could always +earn something by going out to work. But, as he was no longer seen in +the fields late and early, his ignorant white neighbors began to talk +against him. They peeped into his cabin and saw him asleep in the +daytime. They did not know that he had been awake all night watching the +stars, and ciphering out his calculations. In fact, they did not know +that the planets moved at all; and if he had told them that he could +calculate their movements exactly, they would only have laughed at him. +I suppose they felt some ill-will toward him because he was black, and +yet knew so much more than they did; and perhaps it excited their envy +that the Ellicott family and other educated gentlemen liked to go to +his cabin and talk with him about his studies and observations. + +But Banneker was wise enough not to enter into any quarrels because they +called him a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow. He endeavored to live in +such a way that they could not help respecting him. He was always kind +and generous, ready to oblige everybody, and not at all inclined to +boast of his superiority. + +When he was fifty-nine years old, he made an Almanac. It is a very +difficult job to calculate all about the changes of the moon, and the +rising and ebbing of the tides, and at what time the sun will rise and +set every day, all the year round; and it was a much more difficult task +then than it is now; because now there is a great improvement in +astronomical books and instruments. But notwithstanding Banneker's +limited means and scanty education, he made an excellent Almanac. It was +published by Goddard and Angell of Baltimore. In a Preface, they say: +"We feel gratified to have an opportunity of presenting to the public, +through our press, what must be considered an extraordinary effort of +genius,--a complete and accurate Ephemeris[2] for the year 1792, +calculated by a sable son of Africa. It has met the approbation of +several of the most distinguished astronomers of America; and we hope a +philanthropic public will give their support to the work, not only on +account of its intrinsic merit, but from a desire to controvert the +long-established illiberal prejudice against the blacks." + +This was the first Almanac ever made in this country. It contained much +useful information of a general nature, and interesting selections in +prose and verse. Before it was printed, Banneker sent a manuscript +copy, in his own handwriting, to Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of +State, and afterward President of the United States. After apologizing +for the liberty he took in addressing a person whose station was so far +above his own, he says:-- + + "Those of my complexion have long been considered rather brutish + than human,--scarcely capable of mental endowments. But, in + consequence of the reports that have reached me, I hope I may + safely admit that you are measurably friendly and well-disposed + toward us. I trust that you agree with me in thinking that one + Universal Father hath given being to us all; that He has not only + made us all of one flesh, but has also, without partiality, + afforded us all the same sensations, and endowed us all with the + same faculties; and that, however various we may be in society or + religion, however diversified in situation or color, we are all of + the same family, and all stand in the same relation to Him. Now, + sir, if this is founded in truth, I apprehend you will readily + embrace every opportunity to eradicate the absurd and false ideas + and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us. + + "Suffer me, sir, to recall to your mind, that when the tyranny of + the British crown was exerted to reduce you to servitude, your + abhorrence thereof was so excited, that you publicly held forth + this true and invaluable doctrine, worthy to be recorded and + remembered in all succeeding ages: 'We hold these truths to be + self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are + endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that + among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' + + "Your tender feelings for yourselves engaged you thus to declare. + You were then impressed with proper ideas of the great value of + Liberty, and the free possession of those blessings to which you + were entitled by nature. But, sir, how pitiable it is to reflect + that, although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of + the Father of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution + of those rights and privileges which He had conferred upon them, + that you should at the same time counteract his mercies in + detaining, by fraud and violence, so numerous a part of my brethren + under groaning captivity and cruel oppression; that you should at + the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act which you + detested in others with respect to yourselves. + + "Sir, I freely and most cheerfully acknowledge that I am of the + African race; and in that color which is natural to them I am of + the deepest dye. But, with a sense of most profound gratitude to + the Supreme Ruler of the universe, I confess that I am not under + that state of tyrannical thraldom and inhuman captivity to which so + many of my brethren are doomed. I have abundantly tasted of those + blessings which proceed from that free and unequalled liberty with + which you are favored. + + "Sir, I suppose your knowledge of the situation of my brethren is + too extensive for it to need a recital here. Neither shall I + presume to prescribe methods by which they may be relieved, + otherwise than by recommending to you and others to wean yourselves + from those narrow prejudices you have imbibed with respect to them, + and to do as Job proposed to his friends,--'Put _your_ souls in + _their_ souls' stead.' Thus shall your hearts be enlarged with + kindness and benevolence toward them, and you will need neither the + direction of myself nor others in what manner to proceed. + + "I took up my pen to direct to you, as a present, a copy of an + Almanac I have calculated for the succeeding year. I ardently hope + that your candor and generosity will plead with you in my behalf. + Sympathy and affection for my brethren has caused my enlargement + thus far; it was not originally my design. + + "The Almanac is the production of my arduous study. I have long had + unbounded desires to become acquainted with the secrets of Nature, + and I have had to gratify my curiosity herein through my own + assiduous application to astronomical study; in which I need not + recount to you the many difficulties and disadvantages I have had + to encounter. I conclude by subscribing myself, with the most + profound respect, your most humble servant, + + "B. BANNEKER." + +To this letter Jefferson made the following reply:-- + + "SIR,--I thank you sincerely for your letter, and for the Almanac + it contained. Nobody wishes more than I do to see such proofs as + you exhibit that Nature has given to our black brethren talents + equal to those of the other colors of men, and that the appearance + of a want of them is owing only to the degraded condition of their + existence, both in Africa and America. I can add, with truth, that + no one wishes more ardently to see a good system commenced for + raising the condition, both of their body and mind, to what it + ought to be, as fast as the imbecility of their present existence, + and other circumstances which cannot be neglected, will admit. I + have taken the liberty of sending your Almanac to Monsieur + Condorcet, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and to + members of the Philanthropic Society, because I considered it a + document to which your whole color had a right, for their + justification against the doubts which have been entertained of + them. I am, with great esteem, sir, your most obedient servant, + + "THOMAS JEFFERSON." + +In 1803, Mr. Jefferson invited the astronomer to visit him at +Monticello, but the increasing infirmities of age made it imprudent to +undertake the journey. His Almanacs sold well for ten years, and the +income, added to his annuity, gave him a very comfortable support; and +what was a still greater satisfaction to him was the consciousness of +doing something to help the cause of his oppressed people, by proving to +the world that Nature had endowed them with good capacities. + +After 1802 he found himself too old to calculate any more Almanacs, but +as long as he lived he continued to be deeply interested in his various +studies. + +He was well informed on many other subjects besides arithmetic and +astronomy. He was a great reader of history; and he kept a Journal, +which shows that he was a close observer of the vegetable world, of the +habits of insects, and of the operations of Nature in general. That his +busy mind drew inferences from what he observed is evident from the +following entry in his Journal:-- + +"Standing at my door to-day, I heard the discharge of a gun, and in four +or five seconds of time the small shots came rattling about me, which +plainly demonstrates that the velocity of sound is greater than that of +a common bullet." + +After the Constitution of the United States was adopted, in 1789, +commissioners were appointed to determine the boundaries of the District +of Columbia. They invited Banneker to be present and assist them in +running the lines; and he was treated by them with as much respect as +if he had been of their own color. His Almanacs were much praised by +scientific men, and they often visited him in his humble little cabin. +But these attentions never made him pert and vain. He rejoiced in his +abilities and acquisitions, because he thought they might help to raise +the condition of his oppressed brethren; but he always remained modest +and unobtrusive in his manners. + +He died in 1804, in the seventy-second year of his age. His friend, Mr. +Benjamin H. Ellicott, collected various facts concerning him, which have +been published. In a letter on this subject, Mr. Ellicott says: "During +the whole of his long life he lived respectably, and was much esteemed +by all who became acquainted with him; more especially by those who +could fully appreciate his genius and the extent of his acquirements. +His mode of life was extremely regular and retired. Having never +married, he lived alone, cooking his own victuals and washing his own +clothes. He was scarcely ever absent from home, yet there was nothing +misanthropic in his character. A gentleman who knew him speaks of him +thus: 'I recollect him well. He was a brave-looking, pleasant man, with +something very noble in his appearance. His mind was evidently much +engrossed in his calculations, but he was glad to receive the visits we +often paid him.' Another writes: 'When I was a boy, I became very much +interested in him. His manners were those of a perfect gentleman. He was +kind, generous, hospitable, humane, dignified, and pleasing. He abounded +in information on all the various subjects and incidents of the day, was +very modest and unassuming, and delighted in society at his own house. +Go there when you would, by day or night, there was constantly in the +middle of the floor a large table covered with books and papers. As he +was an eminent mathematician, he was constantly in correspondence with +other mathematicians in this country, with whom there was an interchange +of questions of difficult solution. His head was covered with thick +white hair, which gave him a venerable appearance. His dress was +uniformly of superfine drab broadcloth, made in the old style of a plain +coat with strait collar, a long waistcoat, and a broad-brimmed hat. His +color was not jet black, but decidedly negro. In size and personal +appearance he bore a strong resemblance to the statue of Benjamin +Franklin, at the Library in Philadelphia.'" + +The good which Banneker did to the cause of his colored brethren did not +cease with his life. When the Abbe Gregoire pleaded for emancipation in +France, and when Wilberforce afterward labored for the same cause in +England, the abilities and character of the black astronomer were +brought forward as an argument against the enslavement of his race; and, +from that day to this, the friends of freedom have quoted him everywhere +as a proof of the mental capacity of Africans. + + * * * * * + + "They _found_ them slaves! but who that title _gave_? + The God of Nature never formed a slave! + Though fraud or force acquire a master's name, + Nature and justice must remain the same;-- + Nature imprints upon whate'er we see, + That has a heart and life in it, BE FREE!" + + COWPER. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] A daily journal of the state of the planets. + + + + +ETHIOPIA. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + Yes, Ethiopia yet shall stretch + Her bleeding hands abroad; + Her cry of agony shall reach + Up to the throne of God. + + The tyrant's yoke from off her neck, + His fetters from her soul, + The mighty hand of God shall break, + And spurn the base control. + + Redeemed from dust and freed from chains, + Her sons shall lift their eyes; + From cloud-capt hills and verdant plains + Shall shouts of triumph rise. + + Upon her dark, despairing brow + Shall play a smile of peace; + For God shall bend unto her woe, + And bid her sorrows cease. + + 'Neath sheltering vines and stately palms + Shall laughing children play, + And aged sires with joyous psalms + Shall gladden every day. + + Secure by night, and blest by day, + Shall pass her happy hours; + Nor human tigers hunt for prey + Within her peaceful bowers. + + Then, Ethiopia, stretch, O stretch + Thy bleeding hands abroad! + Thy cry of agony shall reach + And find redress from God. + + + + +THE HOUR OF FREEDOM.[3] + +BY WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. + + + The hour of freedom! come it must. + O hasten it, in mercy, Heaven! + When all who grovel in the dust + Shall stand erect, their fetters riven; + + When glorious freedom shall be won + By every caste, complexion, clime; + When tyranny shall be o'erthrown, + And _color_ cease to be a _crime_. + + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[3] Written in 1832. + + + + +WILLIAM BOEN. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +William Boen was born in 1735, one hundred and thirty years ago. He was +the slave of a man who lived near Mount Holly, in New Jersey. His master +and most of the neighbors belonged to the Society of Friends, commonly +called Quakers. That Society made it a rule that none of their members +should hold a slave, long before the people of any other sect were +convinced that slavery was wrong. But at the time William Boen was born +some of the Quakers did hold slaves, though many of their members were +preaching against it. + +They were a very friendly and conscientious people, and as William grew +up among them he naturally imbibed many of their ideas. However, like +most boys, he did not think very seriously about religion, until the +importance of it was impressed upon his mind by the following +circumstance. In the time of the old French war, when he was a mere lad, +his master sent him into the woods to cut down trees. The Indians were +fighting on the side of the French, and they often killed the Americans. +Some of them came into the neighborhood of Mount Holly; and when he went +home at night, after his day's work in the woods, he would often hear +that Indians had been lurking about in the neighborhood, and that +somebody had been shot by their sharp arrows. This made him very much +afraid to work alone in the woods. He was always thinking that Indians +might be hidden among the bushes; and if a bird flew off her nest it +sounded to him like the whizzing of an arrow. It was very still in the +forest, and it seemed very solemn to look up at the sky through the tall +trees. William thought to himself, "What if the Indians should kill me +before I have any time to think about it? Am I fit to die?" He thought +he was not fit to die, and he longed earnestly to know what he ought to +do to become fit to die. He had heard the Quakers talk about a light +which God had placed in the soul, to show men what was wrong. And he +said it went through his mind "like a flaming sword," that if he would +be fit to die he must follow this inward light in every particular, even +in the most trifling things. So he began to be very thoughtful about +every action of his life; and if he felt uneasy about anything he was +tempted to do, he said to himself, "This is the inward light, showing me +that the thing is wrong. I will not do it." Pursuing this course, he +became careful not to do anything which did not bring peace to his soul; +and as the soul can never be peaceful when it disobeys God, he was +continually travelling toward Zion while he strove to follow this inward +light in his soul; and the more humbly he tried to follow it, the +clearer the light became. He did not always keep in the straight path. +Sometimes he did or said something wrong; then peace went away from his +mind. But he confessed his sin before God, and prayed for strength not +to do wrong any more. By humility and obedience he again found the path +of peace. Religion comes in many different ways to human souls. This was +the way it came to William Boen. + +All who knew him saw that his religious feeling was deep and sincere, +for it brought forth fruit in his daily life. He never made others +unhappy by indulging freaks of temper. He was extremely temperate, +scrupulously honest, and very careful never to say anything but the +exact truth. His character was so excellent that all the neighbors +respected and trusted him. Many said it was a shame to keep him in +slavery, and his master became uneasy about it. People said to him, from +time to time, "William, thy master talks of letting thee be free." He +heard it so often, that it became an old story, and he thought nothing +would ever come of it. But one day his master was walking with him as he +went to his work in the fields, and suddenly he inquired whether he +would like to be free. William was silent for a while, and then began to +talk about the work he was to do. But the question dwelt on his mind and +excited his hopes. He told one of his friends about it, and when he was +asked, "What didst thou say, William?" he replied, "I did not say +anything; for I thought he might _know_ I would like to be free." + +When he was nearly twenty-eight years old his master offered to make a +contract with him by which he could obtain his freedom. He was soon +after married to a worthy young woman, and by industry and strict +economy they were able in a few years to buy a few acres of land, and +build a comfortable house. He led a peaceful and diligent life, doing +good to others whenever he could, and harming no one. His conscience was +extremely tender. He would never eat anything made of sugar manufactured +by slaves, and he never would wear any garments made of cotton raised by +slave labor. He thought Slavery was so wrong, that he did not feel easy +to connect himself with it, even in the remotest degree. + +He was equally scrupulous about telling the truth. One of his +neighbors, a rich white man, was very much in the habit of borrowing his +tools. One day, when he had been using his grindstone, he thanked him +for it, and William answered, in the customary way, "Thou art welcome." +But soon he began to ask himself, "Was that the exact truth?" His mind +was troubled by doubts about it, and finally he went to his neighbor, +and said, "When I told thee thou wert welcome, I spoke mere +complimentary words, according to custom; for the truth is, I do +honestly think thou art better able to have a grindstone of thy own, +than I am." + +He had also a very nice sense of justice with regard to the rights of +property. Nothing would induce him to use what belonged to another +person without first obtaining leave. One day, when he was mowing in the +meadows, he accidentally killed a fat partridge with his scythe. The +other workmen advised him to take it home for his wife to roast. But he +replied, "Nay, the partridge does not belong to me, it belongs to the +owner of the meadow." Accordingly he carried it to his employer. Another +time, when he was working with others in the woods, they found an empty +cabin, wherein they stowed their provisions, and lodged for a fortnight, +till they had finished cutting the timber. After William returned home +he took an early opportunity to tell the owner of the cabin what he had +done, and to offer payment for the accommodation. + +He constantly attended Quaker meetings, and followed their peculiar +customs in dress and language; but he was not admitted into full +membership with that religious society till he was nearly eighty years +old, though he had made application to join it thirty years before. + +He was scrupulously neat in his person. His linen was always very +white, and his light drab-colored clothes showed no speck of dirt. He +wore his beard long, and as he grew old it became very white; his curly +hair also was white as snow. His dark face was very conspicuous in the +midst of all this whiteness, and gave him an odd appearance. But he had +such a friendly, pleasant expression of countenance, and there was so +much modest dignity in his manners, that he inspired respect. A stranger +once said to one of his wealthy neighbors, "I wonder that boys and giddy +young folks don't ridicule that old black man, his dress and appearance +are so very peculiar." The neighbor replied, "William Boen is a +religious man, and everybody respects him. The light-minded are so much +impressed by his well-known character, that they are restrained from +making fun of his singular appearance." + +He died in his ninetieth year; not from any disease, but the mere +weakness of old age. His faculties were clear, and his mind serene and +cheerful to the last. He spoke of his approaching death with the +greatest composure; saying that he had no wish about the manner of his +exit from this life, that he was resigned to the Divine will in all +things. + +One of the last things he said was, "I am glad to see that the feeling +against slavery is growing among the Society of Friends. Once I felt as +if I was alone in my testimony against that wicked system." + +After his death, the Society of Friends at Mount Holly wrote a Memorial +concerning his character, which was read in their Yearly Meeting. It +concluded thus: "In early life, he was concerned 'to do justly, love +mercy, and walk humbly with his God.' By close attention to the light of +Christ within, he was enabled, not only to bear many precious +testimonies faithfully to the end of his days, but also to bring forth +those fruits of the spirit which redound to the glory of God and the +salvation of the soul. As he lived, so he died,--a rare pattern of a +self-denying follower of Christ. 'Mark the perfect man, and behold the +upright; for the end of that man is peace.'" + + + + +ANECDOTE OF GENERAL WASHINGTON. + + +During the war of the Revolution, Primus Hall was the colored servant of +Colonel Pickering, with whom General Washington often held long +consultations. One night, finding they must be engaged till late, he +proposed to sleep in the Colonel's tent, provided there was a spare +blanket and straw. Primus, who was always eager to oblige the +Commander-in-Chief, said, "Plenty of straw and blankets." + +When the long conference was ended, the two officers lay down to rest on +the beds he had prepared. When he saw they were asleep, he seated +himself on a box, and, leaning his head on his hand, tried to take as +comfortable a nap as he could. General Washington woke in the night, and +seeing him nodding there, called out, "Primus!" The servant started to +his feet, and exclaimed, "What do you wish for, General?" + +"You told me you had plenty of straw and blankets," replied Washington; +"but I see you are sitting up all night for the sake of giving me your +bed." + +"It is no matter about me," rejoined Primus. + +"Yes, it is," replied General Washington. "If one of us must sit up, I +will take my turn. But there is no need of that. The blanket is wide +enough for two. Come and lie down with me." + +Primus, who reverenced the Commander-in-Chief as he did no other mortal, +protested against it. But Washington threw open the blanket, and said, +"Come and lie down, I tell you! There is room enough for both, and I +insist upon it." + +The tone was too resolute to admit of further parley, and the General +and his colored friend slept comfortably under the same blanket till +morning. + + + + +PRAYER OF THE SLAVE. + +BY BERNARD BARTON. + + + O Father of the human race! + The white, the black, the bond, the free, + Thanks for thy gift of heavenly grace, + Vouchsafed through Jesus Christ to me. + + This, 'mid oppression's every wrong, + Has borne my sinking spirits up; + Made sorrow joyful, weakness strong, + And sweetened Slavery's bitter cup. + + Hath not a Saviour's dying hour + Made e'en the yoke of thraldom light? + Hath not thy Holy Spirit's power + Made bondage freedom? darkness bright? + + Thanks then, O Father! for the gift + Which through thy Gospel thou hast given, + Which thus from bonds and earth can lift + The soul to liberty and heaven. + + But not the less I mourn their shame, + Who, mindless of thy gracious will, + Call on the holy Father's name, + Yet keep their brethren bondmen still. + + Forgive them, Lord! for Jesus' sake; + And when the slave thou hast unbound, + The chains which bind the oppressor break! + Thus be thy love's last triumph crowned. + + + + +TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE. + + "Everywhere thy name shall be + Redeemed from color's infamy; + And men shall learn to speak of thee + As one of earth's great spirits, born + In servitude and nursed in scorn, + Casting aside the weary weight + And fetters of its low estate, + In that strong majesty of soul + Which knows no color, tongue, or clime, + Which still hath spurned the base control + Of tyrants, through all time." + + JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + +On the western coast of Africa, a tribe called the Arradas are said to +be superior to most of the other tribes in intelligence and strength of +will. The son of their chief, named Gaou-Guinou, was seized by a +prowling band of slave-traders, one day when he was out hunting. He was +packed in the hold of a European ship, with a multitude of other +unfortunate victims, and carried to the island of Hayti to be sold. This +is one of the largest of the West India Islands, and lies between Cuba +and Porto Rico. It was first discovered by Spaniards, who found it +inhabited by mild-tempered Indians, leading a very simple and happy +life. These natives called their island Hayti, which in their language +signified a Land of Mountains. A lofty ridge of mountains runs across +it, and gives it a solemn, dreary appearance, when seen in the distance. +But it is a very beautiful and fertile island. The high, rocky +precipices, piled one above another, look down on broad flowery plains, +flowing with water, and loaded with tropical fruits. When the Spaniards +established a colony there, they introduced the cultivation of sugar, +cotton, and coffee, to supply the markets of Europe. They compelled the +native Indians to work so hard, and treated them so badly, that the poor +creatures died off very fast. Then they sent men in ships to Africa to +steal negroes to work for them. They founded a city in the eastern part +of the island, and named it St. Domingo; and the whole island came to be +called by that name by European nations. + +The French afterward took possession of the western part of the island. +Their principal city was named Cap François, which means French Cape. +The African prince Gaou-Guinou was sold in the market of that city. He +was more fortunate than slaves generally are. He was bought by the +manager of a sugar plantation belonging to a French nobleman, named the +Count de Breda. He was kind-hearted, and was very careful to employ none +but humane men to take charge of his laborers. The condition of the +young African was also less desolate than it would have been, by reason +of his finding on the Breda estate several members of the Arradas tribe, +who, like him, had been stolen from their homes. They at once recognized +him as the son of their king, and treated him with the utmost respect. +In process of time he married a black slave, who is said to have been +handsome and virtuous. They joined the Roman Catholic Church, which was +the established religion of France and the French islands. Of their +eight children, the oldest, born in 1743, one hundred and twenty-two +years ago, was named Toussaint. The day of his birth is not certainly +known. It has been said to have been on the 20th of May. But, from his +name, it seems more likely that it was on the 1st of November. In +Catholic countries, almost every day of the year is set apart to the +worship of some saint; and a child born on the day of any particular +saint is very apt to receive his name from that day. The first of +November is a festival of the church, called All Saints' Day; and +Toussaint, in the French language, means All Saints. + +In the neighborhood of Gaou-Guinou lived a very honest, religious old +black man, named Pierre Baptiste. He had been in the service of Jesuit +missionaries, and had there learned to read and write, also a little of +geometry. By help of the Catholic Prayer-Book he learned some prayers in +Latin, and found out their meaning in French. This man stood godfather +for Toussaint at his baptism, and as the boy grew older it was his +pleasure to teach him what little he himself knew. The language of the +Arradas tribe was always spoken in the family of Gaou-Guinou, but from +his godfather Toussaint learned to speak tolerably good French, which +was the language of the whites in the western part of St. Domingo. It is +said that Gaou-Guinou was allowed to cultivate a little patch of ground +for his family, and that some of his fellow-slaves were permitted to +assist him occasionally. This indulgence indicates that he stood well in +his master's opinion. But, in common with other slaves, it is probable +that he and his wife toiled early and late in the fields or the +sugar-house, and that their family were huddled together in a hut too +small to allow of their observing the laws of cleanliness or modesty. + +For several years Toussaint was so feeble and slender that his parents +called him by a name which signified "The Little Lath." But he gained +strength as he grew older; and by the time he was twelve years old he +could beat all the boys in running, jumping, and leaping. + +It was the business of young slaves to tend the flocks and herds. They +generally neglected and abused the creatures under their care, because +they themselves were accustomed to hard treatment. But Toussaint was of +a kindly disposition, and there was less violence on his master's +plantation than elsewhere. It was remarked in the neighborhood that he +differed from other boys in his careful and gentle treatment of the +animals under his care. He was naturally a silent and thoughtful child, +and probably this tendency was increased by being much alone, watching +the browsing cattle in the stillness of the great valleys. Perhaps also +the presence of the mountains and the sky made him feel serious and +solemn. His pious godfather told him legends of Catholic saints, which +he had heard among the missionaries. All these things combined to give +him a religious turn of mind, even in his boyhood. From his own father +he learned a great deal about Africa and the customs that prevailed in +the tribe of his grandfather, King of the Arradas; also the medicinal +qualities of many plants, which afterward proved very useful to him. +Nothing is recorded of the moral and intellectual character of his +father; but Toussaint always respected him highly, and when he was +himself an old man he spoke of him as a good parent, who had trained him +well by lessons of honor and virtue. + +Toussaint Breda, as he was called, from the name of the estate on which +he worked, early acquired a reputation for intelligence, sobriety, and +industry. The Manager of the estate, M. Bayou de Libertas, was so much +pleased with his conduct and manners that he made him his coachman, a +situation much coveted by the slaves, as being more easy and pleasant +than most of their tasks. His kindness to animals fitted him for the +care of horses, and he was found as faithful in this new business as he +had been while he was herds-boy. He was afterward promoted to an office +of greater trust, being made steward of the sugar-house. + +Having arrived at manhood, he began to want a home of his own. Most of +the slaves took up together without any form of marriage, that being one +of the bad customs which grows out of Slavery. But Toussaint was +religious, and it would have troubled his conscience to live in that bad +way. He had become attached to a widow named Suzan, who had one little +son called Placide. She was not handsome, but he loved her for her good +sense, good temper, and modest manners. They were married according to +the ceremonies of the Catholic Church. He adopted her little boy, and +brought him up as tenderly as he did his own children. The Manager +allowed him a small patch of ground for vegetables, and all the hours +they could snatch from plantation labors he and his wife devoted to the +cultivation of their little garden. M. Bayou de Libertas was such a +humane and considerate man that life in his service seems to have been +as happy as the condition of slaves can be. Long afterward, Toussaint, +speaking of this period of his life, said: "My wife and I went hand in +hand to labor in the fields. We were scarcely conscious of the fatigues +of the day. Heaven always blessed our toil. We had abundance for +ourselves, and the pleasure of giving to other blacks who needed it. On +Sundays and festival days my wife, my parents, and myself went to +church. Returning to our cottage we had a pleasant meal, passed the +remainder of the day in family intercourse, and closed it by prayer, in +which all took part." + +Thus contented in his humble station, and faithfully performing its +duties, he gained the respect and confidence of both blacks and whites. +Many of the slaves in the French colonies were cruelly treated, as is +always the case wherever Slavery exists. Toussaint could not avoid +seeing a great deal of wrong and suffering inflicted on people of his +color, and he was doubtless grateful to God that his lot was so much +better than theirs. But he was too intelligent and thoughtful not to +question in his own mind why either he or they should be held in bondage +merely on account of the complexion which it had pleased God to give +them. He was fond of reading, and M. Bayou de Libertas, contrary to the +usual custom, allowed him the use of his books. He read one volume at a +time, and tried to understand it thoroughly. He devoted every spare +moment to it, and while he was at work he was busily thinking over what +he had read. It took complete possession of his soul for the time, and +he would repeat extracts from it to his companions for weeks after. In +this earnest way he read several books of ancient history, biography, +and morals, and a number of military books. There was a French author, +called the Abbé Raynal, who was much opposed to Slavery. In some way or +other, one of his books fell into the hands of Toussaint Breda, and made +a deep impression on him. It contained the following sentence: "What +shall be done to overthrow Slavery? Self-interest alone governs kings +and nations. We must look elsewhere. A courageous chief is all the +negroes need. Where is he? Where is that great man whom Nature owes to +her vexed, oppressed, and tormented children? He will doubtless appear. +He will come forth and raise the sacred standard of Liberty. This +venerable signal will gather round him his companions in misfortune. +More impetuous than the torrents, they will everywhere leave the +indelible traces of their just resentment. Everywhere people will bless +the name of the hero who shall have re-established the rights of the +human race." + +When the Abbé Raynal wrote those prophetic words, he did not foresee +that they would meet the eye of the very man he called for; and the +humble slave, when he read them, did not hear in them the voice of his +own destiny. + +While he was diligently toiling for his humane masters, and seizing +every opportunity to increase his small stock of knowledge, the island +of St. Domingo was growing very rich by agriculture and commerce. The +planters acquired enormous wealth, built splendid houses, and lived in +luxury, laziness, and dissipation, upon the toil of the poor unpaid +negroes. Twenty thousand slaves were imported from Africa every year, to +make up the deficiency of those who were killed by excessive toil and +cruel treatment. These new victims, men and women, had the name of their +purchaser branded on their breast-bones with red-hot iron. + +But men never violate the laws of God without suffering the +consequences, sooner or later. Slavery was producing its natural fruits +of tyranny and hatred, cruelty and despair. The reports of barbarity on +one side and suffering on the other attracted attention in Europe; and +benevolent and just men began to speak and write against Slavery as a +wicked and dangerous institution. The Abbé Gregoire, a humane Bishop of +the Catholic Church, introduced the agitating question into the French +Assembly, a body similar to our Congress. He also formed a society +called _Les Amis de Noirs_, which means "The Friends of the Blacks." Of +course, this was very vexatious to slaveholders in the French colonies. +They knew very well that if the facts of Slavery were made known, every +good man would cry out against it. Political parties were formed in St. +Domingo. Some of the planters wanted to secede from France, and set up +an independent government. Others wanted to increase their political +power by having a Colonial Assembly established in the island, by means +of which they could mainly manage their own concerns as they chose. For +this purpose they sent deputies to France. But their request gave rise +to the question who should have the right to be members of such an +Assembly; and, for the following reasons, that question was very +annoying to the haughty slaveholders of St. Domingo. + +In the United States of America, slaveholders made a law that "the child +shall follow the condition of the _mother_"; consequently, every child +of a slave-woman was born a slave, however light its complexion might +be. This was a very convenient arrangement for white fathers, who wanted +to sell their own children. In the French colonies, the law was, "the +child shall follow the condition of its _father_." The consequence was, +that all the children the planters of St. Domingo had by their slaves +were born free. This was, of course, a numerous class. In fact, their +numbers were two thirds as great as those of the whites. There were at +that time in St. Domingo thirty thousand whites, twenty thousand free +mulattoes, and five hundred thousand black slaves. Not unfrequently the +white planters sent their mulatto children to France to be educated like +gentlemen. Many of them acquired great wealth and held numerous slaves. +But they were a class by themselves. However rich and educated they +might be, they were kept trampled down in a degraded and irritating +position, merely on account of their color. They despised the negro +slaves, from whom they had descended on the mother's side; and they in +their turn were despised by the whites, whose children they were, +because their color connected them with the enslaved race. They were not +allowed to be doctors, lawyers, or priests; they could hold no public +office; they could not inherit the name or the property of their +fathers; they could not attend school with white boys, or sit at a white +man's table, or occupy the same portion of a church with him, or be +buried in the same graveyard. They were continually insulted by whites, +but if they dared to give a blow in return, the penalty was to have the +right hand cut off. This class of free mulattoes claimed that, being +numerous and wealthy, and the payers of taxes, they had a right to send +representatives to the Colonial Assembly to look after their interests. +They had the more hopes of gaining this point, because a great +Revolution was then going on in France, and the friends of liberty and +equality were daily growing stronger there. When the white planters sent +deputies to France, the mulattoes sent deputies also, with a present of +more than a million of dollars, and an offer to mortgage a fifth part of +all their property toward the payment of the French national debt. All +they asked in return was that the law should put them on an equality +with white men. Being slaveholders, they manifested the same selfishness +that white slaveholders did. They declared that they asked redress of +grievances only for oppressed _freemen_; that they had no wish to change +the condition of the negroes, who were slaves. + +This petition was drawn up in 1790, and sent to Paris by a wealthy +colored man named Ogé. It excited lively discussion in the National +Assembly of France. One of the members, named Lamoth, who owned large +estates in St. Domingo, said: "I am one of the largest proprietors in +that island; but I would lose all that I possess there rather than +disown principles which justice and humanity have consecrated. I am not +only in favor of admitting men of color into the Colonial Assemblies, +but I also go for the emancipation of the negro slaves." After animated +discussion, the reply received by the mulatto deputies from the +President of the Assembly was: "No portion of the French nation shall in +vain claim its rights from the representatives of the French people." + +When the white planters of St. Domingo heard of this, they were filled +with wrath. In one place, a mulatto named Lacombe, whose only crime was +that he had signed the petition, was seized and hung. In another place, +the mob seized a highly respected old white magistrate and cut off his +head, because he had drafted for the mulattoes a very moderate petition, +begging to be released from some of the hardships under which they had +so long suffered. When the colored deputy Ogé returned from France and +demanded that mulattoes should have the rights of citizenship, which had +been decreed to them by the French Assembly, soldiers were sent to seize +him, and he was sentenced to have all his limbs broken on a wheel, and +then to have his head cut off. + +Besides the classes of which I have spoken there was another class in +St. Domingo called _petit blancs_, which means small whites. They were +so called to distinguish them from the large landed proprietors. They +occupied a position not unlike that of the class known as "poor whites" +in the slaveholding portion of the United States. They were ready +instruments to carry out the vengeance of the infuriated planters. They +seized every opportunity to insult the free mulattoes, and to inflict +cruelty and outrage on the negro slaves. They went about as patrols, +traversing the plantations, and bursting into negro huts at all times of +night, under the pretence that they were plotting insurrection. The poor +ignorant slaves did not understand what all this mobbing and murdering +was for; but finding themselves so much suspected and abused without +cause, they became weary of their lives. Many committed suicide, others +tried to poison their tormentors. At Port au Prince an attempt was made +to get up an insurrection. Fifty slaves, suspected of being connected +with it, were beheaded, and their heads, stuck on poles, were set up by +the hedges in a row. + +While the fire was thus kindling under their feet the white planters +came out in open defiance of the French government, and refused to take +the oath of allegiance. They called on the English for aid, and offered +to make the island over to Great Britain. The mulattoes were filled with +dismay, for the French government was their only hope. They had hitherto +kept aloof from the negroes; but now, seeing the necessity of curbing +the power of the white planters, at all hazards, they instigated the +already exasperated slaves to seize this favorable moment of commotion +and rise against their masters. They did rise, on the 22d of August, +1791. All at once the sky was red with the reflection of burning houses +and cane-fields. The cruelties which they had witnessed or suffered, +they now, in their turn, inflicted on white men, women, and children. It +was a horrible scene. + +Toussaint was working as usual on the Breda estate, when he heard that +the planters had called in the aid of the English, and that four +thousand negroes had risen in insurrection. He exerted his great +influence with his fellow-slaves to prevent the destruction of houses +and cane-fields on the Breda estate. For a month, he kept the insurgents +at bay, while he helped M. Bayou de Libertas to convey a cargo of sugar +on board a Baltimore ship, for the support of his family, and aided his +mistress to collect such articles of value as could conveniently be +carried away. Then he secretly conveyed them to the same ship; and it +was an inexpressible relief to his heart when he saw them sailing away, +bound for the shores of the United States. + +The armed negroes increased in numbers, and marshalled themselves under +an intelligent leader named Jean François. When the French governor in +St. Domingo called upon them to lay down their arms, their leaders +replied for them: "We have never thought of failing in the respect and +duty we owe to the representatives of the King of France. The king has +bewailed our lot and broken our chains. But those who should have proved +fathers to us have been tyrants, monsters, unworthy the fruits of our +labors. Do you ask the sheep to throw themselves into the jaws of the +wolf? To prove to you, excellent sir, that we are not so cruel as you +may think, we assure you that we wish for peace with all our souls; but +on condition that all the whites, without a single exception, leave the +Cape. Let them carry with them their gold and their jewels. All we seek +is our liberty. God grant that we may obtain it without shedding of +blood. Believe us, it has cost our feelings very much to have taken this +course. But victory, or death for freedom, is our profession of faith; +and we will maintain it to the last drop of our blood." + +The negroes were mistaken in supposing that Louis XVI., king of France, +had broken their chains, or that the king's party, called Royalists, +were trying to do anything for their freedom. It was the revolutionary +party in France, called Republicans, who had declared themselves in +favor of emancipating the negro slaves, and giving the free mulattoes +their civil rights. The main body of the negroes had been kept in the +lowest ignorance, and of course could not understand the state of +political parties. The world was ringing with French doctrines of +liberty and equality, to be applied to men of all colors; and they could +not help hearing something of what was so universally talked of. The +Spaniards in the eastern part of St. Domingo were allies of the French +king, and they wanted the negroes to help them fight the French +planters, who were in rebellion against the king. In order to give them +a strong motive for doing so, they told them that Louis XVI. had been +cast into prison in France, and that they were going to kill him, +because he wanted to emancipate the slaves in his colonies. They readily +believed that it was so, because they saw their masters in arms against +the king. Therefore they called their regiments "The King's Own," and +carried flags on which were inscribed, "Long live the King," "The +Ancient System of Government." + +The slaveholders mounted the English cockade, and entered into alliance +with Great Britain, while their revolted slaves joined the Spanish. The +war raged horribly on both sides. Jean François was of a gentle +disposition, and disposed to be merciful; but the two other leaders of +the negroes, named Jeannot and Biassou, were monsters of revenge and +cruelty. The bleeding heads of white men surrounded their camps, and the +bodies of black men hung on trees round the camps of the planters. + +This state of things shocked the soul of Toussaint Breda. Much as he +desired the freedom of his own race, he was reluctant to join an +enterprise marked by so many cruelties. Conscience forbade him to enlist +on the side of the slaveholders, and he would gladly have remained +neutral; but he found that men of his own color were suspicious of him, +because he had adhered so faithfully to M. Bayou de Libertas. He joined +the black insurgents; but, resolved not to take part in their +barbarities, he occupied himself with healing the wounded,--an office +for which he was well qualified by his tender disposition and knowledge +of medicinal plants. + +After a while, however, the negroes were compelled to retreat before the +superior discipline of the white troops; and feeling greatly the need of +intelligent officers, they insisted upon making Toussaint aide-de-camp +to Biassou, under the title of Brigadier. He desired, above all things, +that hostilities should cease, that the negroes should return to their +work, and that the planters should consent to cease from oppressing +them. A very little justice and kindness would have pacified the +revolted slaves; but the slaveholders were so full of rage and pride, +that if a slave attempted to return to his master, however sincere he +might be, he was instantly put to death. Three commissioners came from +France to try to negotiate a peace between the contending parties. The +blacks sent deputies to the Colonial Assembly to help the French +commissioners in this good work; but the planters treated their +overtures with haughtiness and contempt. + +It is said that Toussaint wept when he saw the hopes of peace vanish. +It was plain that his people must resist their tyrants, or be forever +hopelessly crushed. He was then fifty years old, in the prime of his +bodily and mental strength. By becoming a leader he felt that he might +protect the ignorant masses, and restrain those who were disposed to +cruelty. Perhaps he remembered the prediction of the Abbé Raynal, and +thought that he was the appointed deliverer,--a second Moses, sent by +God to bring his people out of bondage. From that time henceforth he +made it the business of his life to conquer freedom for his race; but +never in a bloodthirsty spirit. + +Biassou was so enraged by the contemptuous manner in which their +deputies had been treated, that he gave orders to put to death all the +white prisoners in their camps. But Toussaint remonstrated, and +succeeded in saving their lives. His superior intelligence gave him +great influence, and he always exerted it on the side of humanity. He +also manifested extraordinary courage and sagacity in the very difficult +position in which he was placed. He was surrounded by conflicting +parties, fighting against each other, agreeing only in one thing, and +that was hostility to the negroes; all of them ready to make the fairest +promises, and to break them as soon as they had gained their object. +France was in a state of revolutionary confusion, and rumors were very +contradictory. One thing was certain,--their former masters were +fighting against the king of France; and instinct led them to take the +other side. Toussaint deemed it wisest to keep under the protection of +their Spanish allies, and fight with them for the king's party. By a +succession of battles, he gained possession of several districts in the +mountains, where he entrenched his forces strongly, and tried to bring +them under regular military discipline. He was very strict, and allowed +no disobedience of orders. He forbade his soldiers to go about +plundering, or revenging past injuries. His motto was, "No +Retaliation,"--a noble, Christian motto, totally disregarded by men +whose opportunities for enlightened education were a thousand times +greater than his. When he felt himself secure in the mountain districts, +he invited the white planters of that region to return and cultivate the +estates which they had abandoned in their terror. He promised them that +their persons and property should be protected; and he faithfully kept +his word. In his language and in his actions he was always saying to the +whites, "Why will you force us to fight? I cherish no revenge against +you. All I want is the freedom of my race." His energy and ingenuity in +availing himself of every resource and supplying every deficiency were +truly wonderful. On one occasion a map was greatly needed, in order to +plan some important campaign, and no map could be procured. Toussaint, +having made diligent inquiries of various persons well acquainted with +the portion of country to be traversed, employed himself in making a +map. By help of the little geometry taught him by his godfather, he +projected a map, and marked down the important towns, mountains, and +rivers, with the distances between them. + +No trait in the character of Toussaint Breda was stronger than his +domestic affections. He was devotedly attached to his wife and children, +and he had not seen them for seven months. At last an interval of quiet +enabled him to visit the Spanish part of the island, whither he had sent +them for security. The Spanish authorities, in acknowledgment of his +services, received him with the greatest distinction. Toussaint thanked +them, but humbly ascribed his successes to a superintending Providence. +Always strict in religious observances, he went to the church to offer +prayers. His general, the Spanish Marquis Hermona, seeing him kneel to +partake of the communion, said: "In this lower world God visits no purer +soul than his." + +But the Spaniards had no regard for the rights and welfare of the +negroes. They used them while they had need of their help, and were +ready to oppress them when it served their own interests. News came from +France that the Republican party were triumphant, and that the king had +been beheaded. The Spanish had nothing further to gain by adhering to +the defeated Royalist party. Accordingly, Spain and Great Britain +entered into a league to divide the island of St. Domingo between them, +and restore Slavery. On the contrary, the Republican party in France, +assembled in convention at Paris, February, 1794, proclaimed freedom to +the slaves in all the French colonies; and as the government was now in +their hands, there was no doubt of their having power to protect those +they had emancipated. Under these circumstances, there was but one +course for Toussaint to take. He left the Spanish and joined the French +forces, by whom he was received with acclamation. His rude bands of +untaught negroes had now become a well-disciplined army. They were proud +of their commander, and almost worshipped him. Under his guidance, they +performed wonders, proving themselves equal to any troops in the world. +Toussaint was on horseback night and day. It seemed as if he never +slept. Wherever he was needed, he suddenly appeared; and as he seemed to +be wanted in twenty places at once, his followers thought he had some +powers of witchcraft to help him. But the witchcraft consisted in his +superior intelligence, his remarkable activity, his iron constitution, +and his iron will. His heart was never of iron. In the midst of constant +warfare he paid careful attention to the raising of crops; and if women +and children, black or white, were suffering with hunger, he caused them +to be supplied with food. He and his brave officers and troops +everywhere drove the English before them. The French general Laveaux +appointed him second to himself in command; and, in his proclamation to +that effect, he declared: "This is the man whom the Abbé Raynal foretold +would rise to be the liberator of his oppressed race." + +One day, when he had gained some important advantage, a white officer +exclaimed, "General Toussaint makes an opening everywhere." His black +troops heard the words, and feeling that he had made an opening for +_them_, from the dungeon of Slavery to the sunlight of Freedom, they +shouted, "_L'Ouverture_," "_L'Ouverture_"; which, being translated into +English, means The Opening. From that day henceforth he was called +Toussaint l'Ouverture. + +The English general Maitland, finding him so formidable, wished to have +a conference with him to negotiate terms of accommodation. The request +was granted; and such was his confidence in the black chieftain that he +went to his camp with only three attendants, through miles of country +full of armed negroes. One of the French officers wrote to General +Toussaint that it would be an excellent opportunity to take the English +commander prisoner. General Maitland was informed of this while he was +on his way; but he said, "I will trust General Toussaint. He never +breaks his promise." When he arrived, General Toussaint handed him two +letters, saying, "There is a letter I have received, advising me to +detain you as prisoner; and there is my reply. I wish you to read them +before we proceed to business, that you may know I am incapable of such +a base action." The answer he had written was, "I have promised this +Englishman my protection, and he shall have it." + +The English, seeing little prospect of conquering him by force, or +outwitting him by stratagem, tried to bribe him to their interest. They +offered to make him king of St. Domingo, to establish him with a +sufficient naval force, and give freedom to the blacks, if he would come +over to their side. But the English still held slaves in the neighboring +islands, while the French had proclaimed emancipation in all their +colonies. He felt grateful to the Republican government of France, and +he resolved to stand by it. The only crown he coveted was the freedom of +his race. He pursued the English vigorously, till he drove them from the +island. Yet he had no desire to harm them, any further than was +inevitable for the protection of his people. An English naval officer, +named Rainsford, being driven on the coast of St. Domingo by a violent +storm, was arrested as a spy. A court-martial was held, at which General +Christophe presided, in the absence of General Toussaint. Rainsford was +convicted, and sentenced to die. He was put into a dungeon to wait till +the sentence was signed by General Toussaint. The women of the island +pitied the stranger, and often sent him fruit and sweetmeats. When +Toussaint returned, he examined into the case, and said: "The trial +appears to have been fair, and the sentence just, according to the rules +of war. But why should we execute this stranger? He is alone, and can do +us no harm. His death would break his mother's heart. Let us have +compassion on her. Let us send him home, that he may tell the English +what sort of people we are, and advise them not to attempt to reduce us +to Slavery." + +Having cleared the island of foreign enemies, Toussaint exerted all his +abilities to restore prosperity. He discharged the greater part of the +regular troops, and sent them to till the soil. At that time, men were +afraid to trust to immediate, unconditional emancipation; they had not +then learned by experiment that it is the wisest policy, as well as the +truest justice. Toussaint feared that when the former slaves were +disbanded from the army they would sink into laziness and vice, and thus +cause the name of freedom to be evil spoken of. Therefore, with the view +of guarding public morals, he instituted a kind of apprenticeship. He +ordained that they should work five years for their masters, on +condition of receiving one fourth of the produce, out of which the cost +of their subsistence was to be defrayed. Regulations were made by which +the laborers became a sort of proprietors of the soil; but I do not know +what were the terms. He did everything to encourage agriculture, and +tried to impress on the minds of the blacks that the permanence of their +freedom depended in a great measure upon their becoming owners and +cultivators of land. He proclaimed a general amnesty to men of all +colors and all parties, even to those who had fought with the English +against their own country. He invited the return of all fugitives who +were willing to become good citizens, and by public discourses and +proclamations promised them pardon for the past and protection for the +future. Before any important measure was carried into execution, he +summoned all the people to church, where, after prayers were offered, +he discoursed to them upon the prospects of the republic, and what he +considered essential to its future peace and prosperity. He ordered +prayers to be said night and morning at the head of the regiments. The +discipline of the army was so strict, that some accused him of severity. +But the soldiers almost idolized him, which I think they would not have +done, if he had not proved to them that he was just as well as strict. +After such a long period of foreign and civil war, it required a very +firm and judicious hand to restore order and security. His troops, once +lawless and savage, had become perfectly orderly under his regulations. +They committed no thefts on the plantations and no pillage in the +cities. He opened to all nations an unrestricted commerce with St. +Domingo; and he has the honor of being the first ruler in the world who +introduced a system of free trade. In the distribution of offices, he +sought out the men that were best fitted, without regard to complexion. +In many things he seemed to favor the whites more than the blacks; +probably from his extreme fear of not being impartial; perhaps also +because he knew the whites distrusted him and needed to be conciliated, +while people of his own color had entire confidence in him. But the most +obstinate prejudices gradually gave way before the wisdom and +uprightness of his government. White planters, who had been accustomed +to talk of him as a revolted slave and a lawless brigand, began to +acknowledge that he was a conscientious man and a wise legislator. A +general feeling of security prevailed, activity in business was +restored, and wealth began to flow in through its former channels. + +But, with all his prudence and efforts at universal conciliation, he +could not at once heal the old animosities that had so long rankled in +the breasts of men. Some of the returned French planters resumed their +old habits of haughtiness and contempt toward the negroes. Some of the +proprietors, both white and black, in their haste to grow rich, +overworked their laborers; and, in addition to these causes of +irritation, it was whispered round that the whites were influencing the +French government to restore Slavery. In one of the northern districts a +proposition was made to disband the black troops. This excited +suspicion, and they rose in rebellion. Buildings were fired, and three +hundred whites slaughtered. Toussaint hastened to the scene of action, +and by assurances and threats quelled the tumult. The command of that +district was in the hands of General Moyse, the son of Toussaint's +brother Paul. He disliked the system of conciliation pursued toward the +whites, and had expressed his opinions in terms less respectful than was +proper toward a man of his uncle's age and character. The agricultural +returns from his district had been smaller than from other portions of +the island; and when Toussaint remonstrated with him for neglecting that +department, he replied: "Whatever my old uncle may see fit to do, I +cannot consent to be the executioner of my race, by causing them to be +worked to death. All your orders are given in the name of France. But to +serve France is to serve the interests of the whites; and I shall never +love the whites till they give me back the eye I lost in battle." When +the insurrection broke out in his district, the relatives of the +slaughtered whites complained to General Toussaint that his nephew had +not taken any efficient measures to put down the riot; and the black +insurgents excused themselves by saying General Moyse approved of their +rising. A court-martial was held, and General Moyse and several of the +ringleaders were condemned to be shot. The execution of this sentence +excited a good deal of ill-feeling toward Toussaint. He was loudly +accused of favoring the whites more than he did his own color; and to +this day it is remembered against him in the island. It certainly is the +harshest action recorded of Toussaint l'Ouverture. But it must be +remembered that he had invited the whites to come back, and had given +them promises of protection, because he thought the peace and prosperity +of the island could best be promoted in that way; and having done so, it +was his duty to see that their lives and property were protected. +Moreover, he knew that the freedom of his race depended upon their good +behavior after they were emancipated, and that insurrections would +furnish the French government with a pretext for reducing them to +Slavery again. If he punished any of the ringleaders with death, he +could not, without partiality, pardon his own nephew, who had been +condemned by the same court-martial. In this matter it is fair to judge +Toussaint by his general character, and that leaves no room to doubt +that severity was painful to him, and that when he resorted to it he was +actuated by motives for the public good. + +That he could forgive offences against himself was shown by his +treatment of the mulattoes, who made trouble in the island about the +same time. They had never been pleased to see one of the black slaves, +whom they had always despised, placed in a situation which made him so +much superior to any of themselves. They manifested their +dissatisfaction in a variety of ways. They did their utmost to increase +the feeling that he showed partiality to the whites. In several +instances attempts were made to take his life. At one time, the plume +in his military cap was shot away. On another occasion, balls passed +through his carriage, and his coachman was killed; but he happened to be +riding off on horseback in another direction. This hostile feeling led +the mulattoes into an extensive conspiracy to excite rebellion against +his government. Toussaint was forewarned of it, and the attempt was put +down. Eleven of the leaders were carried to the Cape and imprisoned. +Toussaint called a meeting of the civil and military authorities, and +ordered the building to be surrounded by black troops while the mulatto +prisoners were brought in under guard. They looked extremely dejected, +expecting nothing but death. But he announced to them that, deeming the +forgiveness of injuries a Christian duty, he pardoned what they had +attempted to do against him. He gave them money to defray their +travelling expenses, told them they were at liberty to return to their +homes, and gave orders that they should be protected on the way. As he +passed out of the building, they showered blessings on his head, and the +air was filled with shouts of "Long live Toussaint l'Ouverture." + +These outbreakings of old hatreds were local and short-lived. The +confidence in Toussaint's goodness and ability was almost universal; and +his popularity was so great with all classes, that he might have made +himself emperor, if he would. But through all the changes in France he +had been faithful to the French government; and now to the habit of +loyalty was added gratitude to that government for having proclaimed +freedom to his race. Next to the emancipation of his people, he sought +to serve the interests of France. Personal ambition never tempted him +from the path of duty. When the affairs of the colony seemed to be +arranged on a secure basis, he manifested willingness to resign the +authority which he had used with so much wisdom and impartiality. He +published a proclamation, in which he said:-- + +"Penetrated with that which is set forth in our Lord's Prayer, 'forgive +us our transgressions, as we forgive those who transgress against us,' I +have granted a general amnesty. Fellow-citizens, not less generous than +myself, endeavor to have the past forgotten. Receive misled brethren +with open arms, and let them in the future be on their guard against the +snares of bad men. Civil and military authorities, my task is +accomplished. It now belongs to you to take care that harmony is no more +disturbed. Allow no one to reproach those who went astray, but have now +returned to their duty. But, notwithstanding my proclamation of amnesty, +watch bad men closely, and do not spare them if they excite disturbance. +A sense of honor should guide you all. A true, confiding peace is +necessary to the prosperity of the country. It must be your work to +establish such a peace. Take no rest until you have accomplished it." + +The people refused to accept the resignation of their "friend and +benefactor," as they styled him. He replied: "If I undertake the +administration of civil affairs, I must have a solid rock to stand on; +and that rock must be a constitutional government." Feeling the +necessity of laws and regulations suited to the altered state of the +country, he called a meeting of deputies from all the districts to draft +a constitution. Of these nine deputies eight were white and one a +mulatto. They were selected for their learning and ability. Very likely +Toussaint's habitual caution led him to choose men from the two classes +that had been hostile to him, that there might be no pretext for saying +he used his popularity with the blacks to carry any measure he wished. + +Among other things, this constitution provided that Slavery should never +more exist in St. Domingo; that all who were born there were free +citizens of the French republic. It also provided that offices were to +be distributed according to virtue and ability, without regard to color. +The island was to be ruled by one governor, appointed for five years, +with a proviso that the term might be prolonged as a reward for good +conduct. But "in consideration of the important services rendered to the +country by General Toussaint l'Ouverture," he was named governor for +life, with power to appoint his successor. This was early in the summer +of 1800. The constitution, approved by Toussaint and published, was +accepted by the people with solemn formalities and demonstrations of +joy. This new colonial government was to go into operation +provisionally, until it should receive the sanction of the authorities +in France. + +General Napoleon Bonaparte was then at the head of the French +government, under the title of First Consul. Governor Toussaint wrote to +him, that, in the absence of laws, after the revolution in St. Domingo, +it had been deemed best to draft a constitution. He added: "I hasten to +lay it before you for your approbation, and for the sanction of the +government which I serve. All classes of citizens here have welcomed it +with joy, which will be renewed when it is sent back with the sanction +of the French government." + +Some writers have accused Toussaint of personal ambition because he +consented to be governor for life. He himself said it was because +circumstances had given him influence, which he could exert to unite a +divided people; and that he deemed changes of administration might be +injurious until the new order of things had become more settled. + +He assumed all the outward style that had been considered befitting the +rank of governor and commander-in-chief. He had an elegant carriage and +a number of handsome horses. When he rode out, he was followed by +attendants in brilliant military dress, and he himself wore a rich +uniform. On stated days, he gave reception-parties, to which +magistrates, military officers, distinguished strangers, and influential +citizens were invited. There was a good deal of splendor in the dresses +on such occasions; but he always appeared in the simple undress uniform +of a general officer. At these parties, whites, blacks, and mulattoes +mingled together with mutual politeness, and it is said that the style +of manners was easy and elegant. All rose when the Governor entered, and +none seated themselves until he was seated. This was a strange +experience for a black man, who was formerly a slave; and it had been +brought about, under the blessing of God, solely by the strength and +excellence of his own character. All prejudices gave way before his +uncommon intelligence, well-tried virtues, and courteous dignity of +manner. + +Every evening he gave free audience to all the people who chose to call. +His dress was such as the landed proprietors usually wore. However weary +he might be, he made the circuit of the rooms, and said something to +each one on the subjects most likely to interest them. He talked with +mothers about their children, and urged upon them the great importance +of giving them religious instruction. Not unfrequently he examined the +children in their catechisms, and gave a few words of fatherly advice to +the young folks. + +He has been accused of vanity for assuming so much pomp in his equipage +and gentility in his dress. Doubtless he had some vanity. No human being +is free from it. But I believe very few men, of any color, could have +passed through such extraordinary changes as he did, and preserved their +balance so well. In the style he assumed he was probably somewhat +influenced by motives of policy. He was obliged to receive many +distinguished French gentlemen, and he knew they attached great +importance to dress and equipage. The blacks also were fond of splendor, +and it gratified them to see their great chieftain appear in princely +style. The free mulattoes, who despised his mean birth, would have +spared no ridicule if he had been neglectful of outward appearances; and +in his peculiar situation it was important to command respect in every +way. His person also needed every borrowed advantage that it could +obtain. His figure was short and slim, and his features were homely, +though his bright, penetrating eyes gave his face an expression of +animation and intelligence. With these disadvantages, and a deficiency +of education, betrayed by imperfect grammar, it is wonderful how he +swayed assemblies of men whenever he addressed them. The secret lay in +his great earnestness. Whatever he said, he said it with his whole soul, +and therefore it took possession of the souls of others. + +Though he paid so much attention to external show in public, his own +personal habits were extremely simple and frugal. There was a large +public house at the Cape, called The Hotel of the Republic, frequented +by whites and blacks, officers and privates. Toussaint l'Ouverture often +took a seat at the table in any chair that happened to be vacant. If any +one rose to offer him a higher seat, he would bow courteously, and +reply, "Distinctions are to be observed only on public occasions." His +food consisted of vegetable preparations, and he drank water only. He +had a wonderful capacity of doing without sleep. During the years that +so many public cares devolved upon him, it is said he rarely slept more +than two hours out of the twenty-four. He thought more than he spoke, +and what he said was uttered in few words. Surrounded as he was by +inquisitive and treacherous people, this habit of reserve was of great +use to him. Enemies accused him of being deceitful. The charge was +probably grounded on the fact that he knew how to keep his own secrets; +for there are many proofs that he was in reality honest and sincere. It +is singular how he escaped the contagion of impurity which always +pollutes society where Slavery exists. But his respect and affection for +his wife was very constant, and he was always clean in his manners and +his language. A colored lady appeared at one of his reception-parties +dressed very low at the neck, according to the prevailing Parisian +fashion. When he had greeted her, he placed a handkerchief on her +shoulders, and said in a low voice, "Modesty is the greatest ornament of +woman." + +His ability and energy as a statesman were even more remarkable than his +courage and skill as a military leader. He was getting old, and he was +covered with the scars of wounds received in many battles; but he +travelled about with wonderful rapidity, inspecting everything with his +own eyes, and personally examining into the conduct of magistrates and +officers. Often, after riding some distance in a carriage, he would +mount a swift horse and ride off in another direction, while the coach +went on. In this way, he would make his appearance suddenly at places +where he was not expected, and ascertain how things went on in his +absence. It was a common practice with him to traverse from one hundred +to one hundred and fifty miles a day. After giving his evening audience +to the people, he sat up late into the night answering letters, of which +he received not less than a hundred daily. He dictated to five +secretaries at once, so long that he tired them all; and he examined +every letter when finished, that he might be sure his dictation had not +been misunderstood. + +The eastern part of the island had been ceded to the French by treaty, +but had never been given up by the Spanish, who still held slaves there. +Complaints were brought to General Toussaint that the Spaniards +kidnapped both blacks and mulattoes from the western part of the island, +where all were free, and carried them off to sell them to slave-traders. +Resolved to destroy Slavery, root and branch, throughout the island, in +January, 1801, he marched into the Spanish territory at the head of ten +thousand soldiers. The Spanish blacks were desirous to come under French +dominion, in order to secure their freedom, and the whites offered but +slight resistance. Having taken possession of the territory in the name +of the French republic, he issued a proclamation, in which he declared +that all past offences should be forgotten, and that the welfare and +happiness of Spaniards and Frenchmen should be equally protected. He +then assembled his troops in the churches and caused prayers of +thanksgiving to be offered for the success of their enterprise, almost +without bloodshed. Most of the wealthy Spanish slaveholders made +arrangements to depart to Cuba and other neighboring islands. But the +main body of the people received General Toussaint with the greatest +distinction. As he passed through the principal towns, he was everywhere +greeted with thunder of artillery, ringing of bells, and loud +acclamations of the populace. + +Under his wise and watchful administration all classes were protected, +and all parts of the country became prosperous. The desolations +occasioned by so many years of warfare were rapidly repaired. Churches +were rebuilt, schools established, waste lands brought under +cultivation, and distances shortened by new and excellent roads. The +French commissioner Roume was struck with admiration of his plans, and +pronounced him to be "a philosopher, a legislator, a general, and a good +citizen." The Frenchman, Lavoque, who was well acquainted with him and +the condition of the people, said to Bonaparte, "Sire, let things remain +as they are in St. Domingo. It is the happiest spot in your dominions." +The historian Lacroix, though prejudiced against blacks, wrote, "That +the island was preserved to the French government was solely owing to an +old negro, who seemed to bear a commission from Heaven." Strangers who +visited St. Domingo expressed their surprise to see cities rising from +their ashes, fields waving with harvests, and the harbors filled with +ships. Planters, who had fled with their families to various parts of +the world heard such good accounts of the activity of business, and the +security of property, that many of them so far overcame their repugnance +to be governed by a negro as to ask permission to return. This was +easily obtained, and they were received by the Governor without anything +on his part which they might deem offensive familiarity, but with a +dignified courtesy which prevented familiarity, or airs of +condescension, on their side. He had annually sent some token of +remembrance to M. Bayou de Libertas, then residing in the United +States. He now wrote to invite him to return to St. Domingo. The +invitation was gladly accepted. When he arrived, he was received with +marked kindness, but with dignified reserve. Governor Toussaint +evidently did not wish bystanders to be reminded of the former relation +that existed between them as overseer and slave. "Return to the +plantation," said he, "and take care of the interests of the good old +master. See that the blacks do their duty. Be firm, but just. You will +thus advance your own prosperity, and at the same time increase the +prosperity of the colony." + +This return of the old slaveholders excited some uneasiness among the +black laborers. But Toussaint, who often spoke to them in simple +parables, sprinkled a few grains of rice into a vessel of shot, and +shook it. "See," said he, "how few grains of white there are among the +black." + +At that time General Napoleon Bonaparte had become very famous by his +victories, and had recently been made ruler of France. There were many +points of resemblance between his career and that of the hero of St. +Domingo; and it was a common thing for people to say, "Napoleon is the +First of the Whites, and Toussaint l'Ouverture is the First of the +Blacks." If General Toussaint had known the real character of Napoleon, +he would not have felt flattered by being compared with such a selfish, +tyrannical, and treacherous man. But, like the rest of the world, he was +dazzled by his brilliant reputation, and felt that it was a great honor +to him to be called the "The Black Napoleon." The vainest thing that is +recorded of him is that on one of his official letters to Bonaparte he +wrote, "To the First of the Whites, from the First of the Blacks." It +was a departure from his usual habits of dignity, and was also poor +policy; for Bonaparte had been rendered vain by his great success, and +he was under the influence of aristocratic planters from St. Domingo, +who would have regarded it as a great insult to couple their names with +a negro. General Toussaint soon had reason to suspect he had been +mistaken in the character of the famous man, whom he had so much +admired. He wrote several deferential letters to Bonaparte, on official +business; but the First Consul never condescended to make any reply. It +was soon rumored abroad that proprietors of estates in St. Domingo, +residing in France, were urging him to send an army to St. Domingo to +reduce the blacks again to Slavery. Governor Toussaint could not believe +that the French government would be persuaded to break the solemn +promises it had made to the colony. But when he sent General Vincent to +Paris to obtain Bonaparte's sanction to the new constitution, the wicked +scheme was found to be making rapid progress. In vain General Vincent +remonstrated against it as a measure cruel and dangerous. In vain he +represented the contented, happy, and prosperous state of the island. In +vain did many wise and good men in Paris urge that such a step would be +unjust in itself and very disgraceful to France. The First Consul turned +a deaf ear to all but the haughty old planters from St. Domingo. The +Legislative Assembly in France, though still talking loudly about +liberty and the rights of man, were not ashamed to propose the +restoration of Slavery and the slave-trade in the colonies; and the +wicked measure was carried by a vote of two hundred and twelve against +sixty-five. In May, 1801, Bonaparte issued a decree to that effect. But +he afterwards considered it prudent to announce that the islands of St. +Domingo and Guadaloupe were to be excepted. + +When this news reached St. Domingo, the people were excited and alarmed. +They asked each other anxiously, "How long shall we be excepted?" On +that point no assurances were given, and all suspected that the French +government was dealing with them hypocritically and treacherously. The +soul of Toussaint was on fire. If the names of the men who voted for the +restoration of Slavery were mentioned in his presence, his eyes flashed +and his whole frame shook with indignation. He published a proclamation, +in which he counselled obedience to the mother country, unless +circumstances should make it evident that resistance was unavoidable. In +private, he said to his friends: "I took up arms for the freedom of my +color. France proclaimed it, and she has no right to nullify it. Our +liberty is no longer in her hands; it is in our own. We will defend it, +or perish." + +General Toussaint had sent his two eldest sons to Paris to be educated. +As a part of the plan of deception, General Bonaparte invited the young +men to visit him. He spoke of their father as a great man, who had +rendered very important services to France. He told them he was going to +send his brother-in-law, General Le Clerc, with troops to St. Domingo; +but he assured them it was not for any hostile purpose; it was merely to +add to the defence of the island. He wished them to go with General Le +Clerc and tell their father that he intended him all protection, glory, +and honor. The next day Bonaparte's Minister of Marine invited the young +men to a sumptuous dinner, and at parting presented each with a splendid +military uniform. The inexperienced youths were completely dazzled and +deceived. + +In January, 1802, General Le Clerc sailed with sixty ships and thirty +thousand of Bonaparte's experienced troops. When Governor Toussaint +received tidings that a French fleet was in sight, he galloped to the +coast they were approaching, to take a view of them. He was dismayed, +and for a moment discouraged. He exclaimed, "All France has come to +enslave St. Domingo. We must perish." He had no vessels, and not more +than sixteen thousand men under arms. But his native energy soon +returned. The people manifested a determination to die rather than be +enslaved again. He resolved to attempt no attack on the French, but to +act wholly on the defensive. Le Clerc's army attacked Fort Liberty, +killed half the garrison, and forced a landing on the island. Toussaint +entrenched himself in a position where he could harass the invaders; and +the peaceful, prosperous island again smoked with fire and blood. Le +Clerc, still aiming to accomplish Bonaparte's designs by hypocrisy, +scattered proclamations among the blacks of St. Domingo, representing +that Toussaint kept them in a kind of Slavery on the plantations, but +that the French had come to set them wholly free. This did not excite +the rebellion which he intended to provoke, but it sowed the seeds of +doubt and discontent in the minds of some. At the same time that he was +playing this treacherous game, he sent Toussaint's two sons to their +father, accompanied by their French tutor, to deliver a letter from the +First Consul, which ought to have been sent three months before. The +letter was very complimentary to General Toussaint; but it objected to +the constitution that had been formed, and spoke in a very general way +about the liberty which France granted to all nations under her control. +It counselled submission to General Le Clerc, and threatened punishment +for disobedience. The tone of the letter, though apparently peaceful and +friendly, excited distrust in the mind of General Toussaint, which was +increased by the fact that the letter had been so long kept from him. +Knowing the strength of his domestic affections, orders had been given +that if he surrendered, his sons should remain with him, but if he +refused they were to return to the French camp as hostages. Though his +heart yearned toward his children, from whom he had been so long +separated, he said to their tutor: "Three months after date you bring me +a letter which promises peace, while the action of General Le Clerc is +war. I had established order and justice here; now all is confusion and +misery. Take back my sons. I cannot receive them as the price of my +surrender. Tell General Le Clerc hostilities will cease on our part when +he stops the progress of his invading army." His sons told him how +kindly they had been treated by Bonaparte, and what promises he had made +concerning St. Domingo,--promises which had been repeated in the +proclamation brought by General Le Clerc. Toussaint had had too severe +an experience to be easily deceived by fair words. He replied: "My sons, +you are no longer children. You are old enough to decide for yourselves. +If you wish to be on the side of France, you are free to do so. Stay +with me, or return to General Le Clerc, whichever you choose. Either +way, I shall love you always." Isaac, his oldest son, had been so +deceived by flattery and promises, that he declared his wish to return +to the French camp, feeling very sure that his father would be convinced +that Bonaparte was their best friend. But Placide, his step-son, said: +"My father, I will remain with you. I dread the restoration of Slavery, +and I am fearful about the future of St. Domingo." Who can tell what a +pang went through the father's heart when he embraced Isaac and bade him +farewell? + +General Le Clerc was very angry when he found that his overtures were +distrusted. He swore that he would seize Toussaint before he took his +boots off. He forthwith issued a proclamation declaring him to be an +outlaw. When General Toussaint read it to his soldiers, they cried out +with one accord, "We will die with you." He said to his officers: "When +the rainy season comes, sickness will rid us of our enemies. Till then +there is nothing before us but flame and slaughter." Orders were given +to fire the towns as the French army approached, and to deal destruction +upon them in every way. He gathered his army together at the entrance of +the mountains, and, aided by his brave generals Christophe and +Dessalines, kept up active skirmishing with the enemy. Horrible things +were done on both sides. The Bay of Mancenille was red with the blood of +negro prisoners slaughtered by the French. The blacks, infuriated by +revenge and dread of Slavery, killed white men, women, and children +without mercy. General Dessalines was of a savage temper, and incited +his troops to the most ferocious deeds. + +But the natural kindliness of the negro character was manifested on many +occasions, even in the midst of this horrible excitement. In many cases +they guided their old masters to hiding-places in the mountains or +forests, and secretly conveyed them food. + +Toussaint, with only a plank to sleep on and a cloak to cover him, was +constantly occupied with planning attacks and ambuscades, and preaching +on Sundays, exhorting the people, with fiery eloquence, to remember +that the cause of Liberty was the cause of God. General Le Clerc, +meanwhile, was disappointed to find so many difficulties in the way of +his wicked project. His troops wilted under the increasing heat of the +climate, and began to murmur. He issued proclamations, promising, in the +most solemn manner, that the freedom of all classes in St. Domingo +should be respected. These assurances induced several black regiments to +go over to the French. Toussaint's brother Paul, and two of his ablest +generals, Bellair and Maurepas, did the same. Still the +Commander-in-Chief, aided by Christophe and Dessalines, kept up a stout +resistance. But news came that fresh troops were coming from France, and +Christophe and Dessalines had an interview with General Le Clerc, in +which, by fair promises, he succeeded in gaining them over to the French +side. A messenger was then sent to ask for a conference with General +Toussaint. Solemn assurances were repeated that the freedom of the +blacks should be protected; and a proposition was made that he should be +colleague with General Le Clerc in the government of the island, and +that his officers should retain their rank in the army. With +reinforcements coming from France, and with his best generals gained +over, Toussaint had no longer hopes of defeating the invaders, though he +might send out skirmishers to annoy them. He had too little faith in the +promises of General Le Clerc to consent to take an oath of office under +him. He therefore replied: "I might remain a brigand in the mountains, +and harass you with perpetual warfare, so far as your power to prevent +it is concerned. But I disdain fighting for mere bloodshed; and, in +obedience to the orders of the First Consul, I yield to you. For myself, +I wish to live in retirement; but I accept your favorable terms for the +people and the army." + +With four hundred armed horsemen he set out for the Cape, to hold the +proposed conference with General Le Clerc. On the way, the people, +thinking peace was secured without the sacrifice of their freedom, +hailed him as their benefactor. Girls strewed flowers in his path, and +mothers held up their children to bless him. General Le Clerc received +him with a salute of artillery, and made a speech in which he highly +complimented his bravery, magnanimity, and good faith, and expressed a +hope that, though he chose to live in retirement, he would continue to +assist the government of the island by his wise counsels. In the +presence of the troops on both sides, he took an oath on the cross to +protect the freedom of St. Domingo. With the same solemn formalities, +General Toussaint promised that the treaty of peace should be faithfully +observed. + +The next day, he explained fully to his officers and soldiers what were +the terms of the treaty, and impressed upon their minds that such a +promise could not be violated without committing the sin of perjury. He +thanked them all for the courage and devotedness they had shown under +his command, embraced his officers, and bade them an affectionate +farewell. They shed tears, and expressed the greatest reluctance to part +with him; but he told them that such a course would best conduce to +public tranquillity. The soldiers were inconsolable. They followed him, +calling out in the saddest tones, "Have you deserted us?" He replied: +"No, my children. Do not be uneasy. Your officers are all under arms, +and at their posts." + +Twelve years had passed since he was working on the Breda estate, and +seeing houses and cane-fields on fire in every direction, had said to +his wife, "The slaves have risen." Since that time, his life had been +one scene of excitement, danger, ceaseless exertion, and overwhelming +responsibility. He had been commander-in-chief of the armies of St. +Domingo during five years, and governor of the island about one year. +Now, with a heart full of anxiety for his people, but cheered by hopes +of domestic happiness, he retired, far from the scene of his official +splendor, to Ennery, a beautiful valley among the mountains. Surrounded +by his family, he busied himself with clearing up the land and +cultivating oranges, bananas, and coffee. The people round about often +came to him for advice, and he freely assisted his neighbors in making +repairs and improvements. Strangers often visited him, and when he rode +abroad he was greeted with every demonstration of respect. + +General Le Clerc, meanwhile, was attacked by a new and terrible enemy. +His troops, unused to the climate, were cut down by yellow fever, as a +mower cuts grass. In this situation, had Toussaint excited the blacks +against them, they might have been exterminated; but he had sworn to +observe the treaty, and he was never known to break his word. The +kind-hearted negroes, in many cases, took pity on the suffering French +soldiers; they carried them many little comforts, and even took them +into their houses, and nursed them tenderly. + +Meanwhile, General Le Clerc's difficulties increased. His troops were +dying fast under the influence of the hot season; provisions were +getting scarce; he wanted to disband the negro troops that had joined +him, but they were wide awake and suspicious on the subject of Slavery, +and he dared not propose to disarm them. He was so treacherous himself +that he could not believe in the sincerity of others. He was always +suspecting that Toussaint would again take command of the blacks and +attack the remnant of his army while it was enfeebled by disease. +Bonaparte also felt that the popularity of Toussaint stood much in the +way of his accomplishing the design of restoring Slavery. It was +desirable to get him out of the way upon some pretext. The French +officers made him the object of a series of petty insults, and wantonly +destroyed the fruit on his grounds. By these means they hoped to provoke +him to excite an insurrection, that they might have an excuse for +arresting him. His friends warned him that these continual insults and +depredations foreboded mischief, and that he ought not to submit to +them. He replied, "It is a sacred duty to expose life when the freedom +of one's country is in peril; but to rouse the people to save one's own +life is inglorious." + +Finding private remonstrances of no use, he reported to the French +head-quarters that he and his neighbors were much annoyed by the conduct +of the French troops, and that the people in the valley were made very +uneasy by their rude manners and their depredations on property. He +received a very polite answer from General Brunet, inviting him to come +to his house to confer with him on that and other matters connected with +the public tranquillity. The letter closed with these words: "You will +not find all the pleasures I would wish to welcome you with, but you +will find the frankness of an honorable man, who desires nothing but the +happiness of the colony, and your own happiness. If Madame Toussaint, +with whom it would give me the greatest pleasure to become acquainted, +could accompany you, I should be gratified. If she has occasion for +horses, I will send her mine. Never, General, will you find a more +sincere friend than myself." + +Toussaint, who was sincerely desirous to preserve the public peace, and +who was too honest to suspect treachery under such a friendly form, went +to General Brunet's head-quarters, with a few attendants, on the 10th of +June, 1802. He was received with the greatest respect and cordiality. +His host consulted with him concerning the interests of the colony; and +they examined maps together till toward evening, when General Brunet +left the room. An officer with twenty armed men entered, saying: "The +Captain-General has ordered me to arrest you. Your attendants are +overpowered. If you resist, you are a dead man." Toussaint's first +impulse was to defend himself; but seeing it would be useless against +such numbers, he resigned himself to his hard fate, saying, "Heaven will +avenge my cause." + +His papers were seized, his house rifled and burned, his wife and +children captured, and at midnight they were all carried on board the +French ship Hero, without being allowed to take even a change of +clothing. His wrists were chained, he was locked in a cabin guarded by +soldiers with fixed bayonets, and not permitted to hold any +communication with his family. As the vessel sailed away from St. +Domingo, Toussaint, gazing on the outline of its mountains for the last +time, said, "They have cut down the tree of Liberty; but the roots are +many and deep, and it will sprout again." + +Toussaint l'Ouverture was even then incapable of imagining the base +designs against him. He supposed that he had been accused of something, +and was to be carried to France for trial. Conscious of uniform fidelity +to the French government, he felt no uneasiness as to the result, though +the treachery and violence with which he had been treated in return for +his great services made him very sad. Arrived on the shores of France, +he was removed to another vessel, and allowed only a few moments to say +farewell to his wife and children. They embraced him with tears, and +begged him to remember them, who had always loved him so dearly. + +From the vessel, instead of being carried to Paris for trial, as he +expected, he was hurried into a carriage, and, followed by a strong +guard, was carried to the dismal Castle of Joux, near the borders of +Switzerland. That ancient castle stands among the mountains of Jura, on +the summit of a solid rock five hundred feet high. He was placed in a +deep, dark dungeon, from the walls of which the water dripped +continually. This was in August, 1802. But though it was summer +elsewhere, it was damp and cold in Toussaint's dreary cell. The keeper +was allowed about four shillings a day to provide food for him; and one +faithful servant, who had accompanied the family from St. Domingo, was +allowed to remain with him. + +His spirits were kept up for some time with the daily expectation of +being summoned to attend his trial. But time passed on, and he could +obtain no tidings from the French government, or from his family. In a +letter to General Bonaparte, beseeching him to let him know of what he +was accused, and to grant him a trial, he wrote:-- + +"I have served my country with honor, fidelity, and integrity. All who +know me will do me the justice to acknowledge this. At the time of the +revolution, I spent all I had in the service of my country. I purchased +but one small estate, on which to establish my wife and family. I +neglected nothing for the welfare of St. Domingo. I made it my duty and +pleasure to develop all the resources of that beautiful colony. Since I +entered the service of the republic I have not claimed a penny of my +salary. I have taken money from the treasury only for public use. If I +was wrong in forming a constitution, it was through my great desire to +do good, and thinking it would please the government under which I +served. I have had the misfortune to incur your displeasure; but I am +strong in the consciousness of integrity and fidelity; and I dare affirm +that among all the servants of the state no one is more honest than +myself." + +This letter is still in existence, and some of the words are blotted out +by tears that fell while the noble captive was writing it. Bonaparte +paid no attention to this manly appeal. After weary waiting, Toussaint +wrote again:-- + +"First Consul, it is a misfortune to me that I am not known to you. If +you had thoroughly known me while I was in St. Domingo, you would have +done me more justice. I am not learned; I am ignorant: but my heart is +good. My father showed me the road to virtue and honor, and I am very +strong in my conscience in that matter. If I had not been so devoted to +the French government I should not be here. All my life I have been in +active service, and now I am a miserable prisoner, without power to do +anything, sunk in grief, and with health impaired. I ask you for my +freedom, that I may labor for the support of my family. For my venerable +father, now a hundred and five years old, who is blind, and needs my +assistance; for my dearly loved wife, who, separated from me, cannot, I +fear, endure the afflictions that overwhelm her; and for my cherished +family, who have made the happiness of my life. I call on your +greatness. Let your heart be softened by my misfortunes." + +This touching appeal met with the same fate as the first. Bonaparte even +had the meanness to forbid the prisoner's wearing an officer's uniform. +When he asked for a change of clothing, the cast-off suit of a soldier +and a pair of old boots were sent him. There seemed to be a deliberate +system of heaping contempt upon him. The daily sum allowed for his food +was diminished, and the cold winds of autumn began to howl round his +dungeon. They doubtless thought that so old a man, accustomed to +tropical warmth, and the devotion of a loving family, would die under +the combined influence of solitude, cold, and scanty food. But his iron +constitution withstood the severe test. The next step was to deprive him +of his faithful servant, Mars Plaisir. Seeing him weep bitterly, +Toussaint said to him: "Would I could console thee under this cruel +separation. Be assured I shall never forget thy faithful services. Carry +my last farewell to my wife and family." + +The farewell never reached them. Mars Plaisir was lodged in another +prison, lest he should tell of the slow murder that was going on in the +Castle of Joux. Toussaint's supply of food was gradually diminished, +till he had barely enough to keep him alive,--merely a little meal +daily, which he had to prepare for himself in an earthen jug. The walls +sparkled with frost, and the floor was slippery with ice, except +immediately around his little fire. Thus he passed through a most +miserable winter. He was thin as a skeleton; but still he did not die. +As a last resort, the governor of the castle went away and took the keys +of the dungeon with him. He was gone three days; and when he returned, +Toussaint was lying stiff and cold on his heap of straw. Doctors were +called in to examine him, and they certified that he died of apoplexy. +This was in April, 1803, after he had been more than eight months in +that horrid dungeon, and when he was a little more than sixty years old. +The body was buried in the chapel under the castle. It was given out to +the world that the deceased prisoner was a revolted slave, who had been +guilty of every species of robbery and cruelty; and that he had been +thrown into prison for plotting to deliver the island of St. Domingo +into the hands of the English. + +When the family of Toussaint l'Ouverture were informed of his death, +they were overwhelmed with grief, though they had no idea of the horrid +circumstances connected with it. The two oldest sons tried to escape +from France, but were seized and imprisoned. The French government +feared the consequences of their returning to St. Domingo. The youngest +son soon after died of consumption. Madame Toussaint sank under the +weight of her great afflictions. Her health became very feeble, and at +times her mind wandered. When the power of Bonaparte was overthrown, and +a new government introduced into France, a pension was granted for her +support, and her two sons were released from prison. She died in their +arms in 1816. + + * * * * * + +There was great consternation in St. Domingo when it was known that +Toussaint l'Ouverture had been kidnapped and carried off. There was an +attempt at mutiny among the black soldiers; but the leaders were shot by +the French, and the spirit of insurrection was put down for a time. No +tidings could be obtained from Toussaint, and after a while he was +generally believed to be dead. But his prediction was fulfilled. The +tree of Liberty, that had been cut down, did sprout again. Bonaparte +sent new troops to St. Domingo to supply the place of those cut off by +yellow fever. The French officers frequently subjected black soldiers to +the lash, a punishment which had never been inflicted upon them since +the days of Slavery. An active slave-trade was carried on with the other +French colonies, where Slavery had been restored, and people were +frequently smuggled away from St. Domingo and sold. The mulattoes found +out that people of their color were sold, as well as blacks. They had +formerly acted against their mothers' race, not because they were worse +than other men, but because they had the same human nature that other +men have. Being free born, and many of them educated and wealthy, and +slaveholders also, they despised the blacks, who had always been slaves; +but when Slavery touched people of their own color, they were ready to +act with the negroes against the whites. Toussaint's generals, though +they still held their old rank in the army, grew more and more +distrustful of the French. When General Christophe accepted an +invitation to dine with General Le Clerc, he ordered his troops to be in +readiness for a sudden blow. The French officer who sat next him at +table urged him to drink a great deal of wine; but Christophe was on his +guard, and kept his wits about him. At last he repulsed the offer of +wine with great rudeness, whereupon Le Clerc summoned his guard to be in +readiness, and began to accuse Toussaint of treachery to the whites. +"Treachery!" exclaimed the indignant Christophe. "Have you not broken +oaths and treaties, and violated the sacred rights of hospitality? Those +whose blood flows for our liberty are rewarded with prison, banishment, +death. Friends, soldiers, heroes of our mountains, are no longer around +me. Toussaint, the pride of our race, the terror of our enemies, whose +genius led us from Slavery to Liberty, who adorned peace with lovely +virtues, whose glory fills the world, was put in irons, like the vilest +criminal!" + +General Le Clerc deemed it prudent to preserve outward composure, for +General Christophe had informed him that troops were in readiness to +protect him. But notwithstanding many ominous symptoms of discontent +among the blacks and mulattoes, he blindly persevered in carrying out +the cruel policy of Bonaparte. Shiploads of slaves were brought into St. +Domingo and openly sold. Then came a decree authorizing slaveholders to +resume their old authority over the blacks. Bitterly did Toussaint's +officers regret having trusted to the promises of the French +authorities. The consciousness of having been deceived made the fire of +freedom burn all the more fiercely in their souls. The blacks were +everywhere ready to die rather than be slaves again. In November, 1803, +General Christophe published a document in which he said:-- + +"The independence of St. Domingo is proclaimed. Toward men who do us +justice we will act as brothers. But we have sworn not to listen with +clemency to any one who speaks to us of Slavery. We will be inexorable, +perhaps even cruel, toward those who come from Europe to bring among us +death and servitude. No sacrifice is too costly, and all means are +lawful, when men find that freedom, the greatest of all blessings, is to +be wrested from them." + +The closing scenes of the revolution were too horrible to be described. +General Rochambeau, who commanded the French army after the death of +General Le Clerc, was a tyrannical and cruel tool of the slaveholders. +Everywhere colored men were seized and executed without forms of law. +Maurepas, who had been one of Toussaint's most distinguished generals, +was seized on suspicion of favoring insurrection. His epaulets were +nailed to his shoulders with spikes, he was suspended from the yard-arm +of a vessel, while his wife and children, and four hundred of his black +soldiers, were thrown over to the sharks before his eyes. The trees were +hung with the corpses of negroes. Some were torn to pieces by +bloodhounds trained for the purpose; some were burnt alive. Sixteen of +Toussaint's bravest generals were chained by the neck to the rocks of an +uninhabited island, and left there to perish. Most of these victims were +firm in the midst of their tortures, and died with the precious word +Freedom on their lips. A mother, whose daughters were going to be +executed, said to them: "Be thankful. You will not live to be the +mothers of slaves." + +I am happy to record that all the whites were not destitute of feeling. +Some sea-captains, who were ordered to take negroes out to sea and drown +them, contrived to aid their escape to the mountains, or landed them on +other shores. + +The blacks, driven to desperation, became as cruel as their oppressors. +They visited upon white men, women, and children all the barbarities +they had seen and suffered. The wife of General Paul, brother of +Toussaint, was dragged from her peaceful home, and drowned by French +soldiers. This murder made him perfectly crazy with revenge. Though +naturally of a mild disposition, he thenceforth had no mercy on anybody +of white complexion. His old father, Gaou-Guinou, who survived Toussaint +about a year, was filled with the same spirit, and the last words he +uttered were a malediction on the whites. The spirit of the infernal +regions raged throughout all classes, and it was all owing to the +wickedness of Slavery. + +On the last day of November, 1803, little more than a year after the +abduction of Toussaint, the French were driven from the island, never +more to return. The colony, which might have been a source of wealth to +them, if Toussaint had been allowed to carry out his plans, was lost to +France forever. St. Domingo became independent, under its old name of +Hayti; and General Christophe, who was as able as Toussaint, but more +ambitious, was proclaimed emperor. A law was passed, and still remains +in force, that no white man should own a foot of soil on the island. But +white Americans and Europeans reside there, and transact various kinds +of business under the protection of equal laws. + +Perhaps it sometimes seemed to Toussaint, in the loneliness of his +dungeon, as if all his great sacrifices and efforts for his oppressed +race had been in vain. But they were not in vain. God raised him up to +do a great work, which he faithfully performed; and his spirit is still +"marching on." Slavery becomes more and more odious in the civilized +world, and nation after nation abolishes it. Fifty years after the death +of Toussaint all the slaves in the French colonies were emancipated. How +his spirit must rejoice to look on the West Indies now! + +In 1850 the grave of Toussaint l'Ouverture was discovered by some +engineers at work on the Castle of Joux. His skull was placed on a shelf +in the dungeon where he died, and is shown to travellers who visit the +place. + +For a long while great injustice was done to the memory of Toussaint +l'Ouverture, and also to the blacks who fought so fiercely in resistance +of Slavery; for the histories of St. Domingo were written by prejudiced +French writers, or by equally prejudiced mulattoes. But at last the +truth is made known. Candid, well-informed persons now acknowledge that +the blacks of St. Domingo sinned cruelly because they were cruelly +sinned against; and Toussaint l'Ouverture, seen in the light of his own +actions, is acknowledged to be one of the greatest and best men the +world has ever produced. A very distinguished English poet, named +Wordsworth, has written an admirable sonnet to his memory. The +celebrated Harriet Martineau, of England, has made him the hero of a +beautiful novel. Wendell Phillips, one of the most eloquent speakers in +the United States, has eulogized his memory in a noble lecture, +delivered in various parts of the country, before thousands and +thousands of hearers. And James Redpath has recently published in Boston +a biography of Toussaint l'Ouverture, truthfully portraying the pure and +great soul of that martyred hero. + +Well may the Freedmen of the United States take pride in Toussaint +l'Ouverture, as the man who made an opening of freedom for their +oppressed race, and by the greatness of his character and achievements +proved the capabilities of Black Men. + + * * * * * + +It is better to be a lean freeman than a fat slave.--_A Proverb in +Hayti._ + + + + +THE ASPIRATIONS OF MINGO. + + +A slave in one of our Southern States, named Mingo, was endowed with +uncommon abilities. If he had been a white man, his talents would have +secured him an honorable position; but being colored, his great +intelligence only served to make him an object of suspicion. He was +thrown into prison, to be sold. He wrote the following lines on the +walls, which were afterward found and copied. A Southern gentleman sent +them to a friend in Boston, as a curiosity, and they were published in +the Boston Journal, many years ago. The night after Mingo wrote them, he +escaped from the slave-prison; but he was tracked and caught by +bloodhounds, who tore him in such a shocking manner that he died. By +that dreadful process his great soul was released from his enslaved +body. His wife lived to be an aged woman, and was said to have many of +his poems in her possession. Here are the lines he wrote in his agony +while in prison:-- + + "Good God! and must I leave them now, + My wife, my children, in their woe? + 'Tis mockery to say I'm sold! + But I forget these chains so cold, + Which goad my bleeding limbs; though high + My reason mounts above the sky. + Dear wife, they cannot sell the rose + Of love that in my bosom glows. + Remember, as your tears may start, + They cannot sell the immortal part. + Thou Sun, which lightest bond and free, + Tell me, I pray, is liberty + The lot of those who noblest feel, + And oftest to Jehovah kneel? + Then I may say, but not with pride, + I feel the rushings of the tide + Of reason and of eloquence, + Which strive and yearn for eminence. + I feel high manhood on me now, + A spirit-glory on my brow; + I feel a thrill of music roll, + Like angel-harpings, through my soul; + While poesy, with rustling wings, + Upon my spirit rests and sings. + _He_ sweeps my heart's deep throbbing lyre, + Who touched Isaiah's lips with fire." + +May God forgive his oppressors. + + + + +BURY ME IN A FREE LAND. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + Make me a grave where'er you will, + In a lowly plain or a lofty hill; + Make it among earth's humblest graves, + But not in a land where men are slaves. + + I ask no monument proud and high, + To arrest the gaze of the passers by; + All that my yearning spirit craves + Is, Bury me not in a Land of Slaves. + + + + +PHILLIS WHEATLEY. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa, and brought to Boston, +Massachusetts, in the year 1761,--a little more than a hundred years +ago. At that time the people in Massachusetts held slaves. The wife of +Mr. John Wheatley of Boston had several slaves; but they were getting +too old to be very active, and she wanted to purchase a young girl, whom +she could train up in such a manner as to make her a good domestic. She +went to the slave-market for that purpose, and there she saw a little +girl with no other clothing than a piece of dirty, ragged carpeting tied +round her. She looked as if her health was feeble,--probably owing to +her sufferings in the slave-ship, and to the fact of her having no one +to care for her after she landed. Mrs. Wheatley was a kind, religious +woman; and though she considered the sickly look of the child an +objection, there was something so gentle and modest in the expression of +her dark countenance, that her heart was drawn toward her, and she +bought her in preference to several others who looked more robust. She +took her home in her chaise, put her in a bath, and dressed her in clean +clothes. They could not at first understand her; for she spoke an +African dialect, sprinkled with a few words of broken English; and when +she could not make herself understood, she resorted to a variety of +gestures and signs. She did not know her own age, but, from her shedding +her front teeth at that time, she was supposed to be about seven years +old. She could not tell how long it was since the slave-traders tore her +from her parents, nor where she had been since that time. The poor +little orphan had probably gone through so much suffering and terror, +and been so unable to make herself understood by anybody, that her mind +had become bewildered concerning the past. She soon learned to speak +English; but she could remember nothing about Africa, except that she +used to see her mother pour out water before the rising sun. Almost all +the ancient nations of the world supposed that a Great Spirit had his +dwelling in the sun, and they worshipped that Spirit in various forms. +One of the most common modes of worship was to pour out water, or wine, +at the rising of the sun, and to utter a brief prayer to the Spirit of +that glorious luminary. Probably this ancient custom had been handed +down, age after age, in Africa, and in that fashion the untaught mother +of little Phillis continued to worship the god of her ancestors. The +sight of the great splendid orb, coming she knew not whence, rising +apparently out of the hills to make the whole world glorious with light, +and the devout reverence with which her mother hailed its return every +morning, might naturally impress the child's imagination so deeply, that +she remembered it after she had forgotten everything else about her +native land. + +A wonderful change took place in the little forlorn stranger in the +course of a year and a half. She not only learned to speak English +correctly, but she was able to read fluently in any part of the Bible. +She evidently possessed uncommon intelligence and a great desire for +knowledge. She was often found trying to make letters with charcoal on +the walls and fences. Mrs. Wheatley's daughter, perceiving her +eagerness to learn, undertook to teach her to read and write. She found +this an easy task, for her pupil learned with astonishing quickness. At +the same time she showed such an amiable, affectionate disposition, that +all members of the family became much attached to her. Her gratitude to +her kind, motherly mistress was unbounded, and her greatest delight was +to do anything to please her. + +When she was about fourteen years old, she began to write poetry; and it +was pretty good poetry, too. Owing to these uncommon manifestations of +intelligence, and to the delicacy of her health, she was never put to +hard household work, as was intended at the time of her purchase. She +was kept constantly with Mrs. Wheatley and her daughter, employed in +light and easy services for them. Her poetry attracted attention, and +Mrs. Wheatley's friends lent her books, which she read with great +eagerness. She soon acquired a good knowledge of geography, history, and +English poetry; of the last she was particularly fond. After a while, +they found she was trying to learn Latin, which she so far mastered as +to be able to read it understandingly. There was no law in Massachusetts +against slaves learning to read and write, as there have been in many of +the States; and her mistress, so far from trying to hinder her, did +everything to encourage her love of learning. She always called her +affectionately, "My Phillis," and seemed to be as proud of her +attainments as if she had been her own daughter. She even allowed her to +have a fire and light in her own chamber in the evening, that she might +study and write down her thoughts whenever they came to her. + +Phillis was of a very religious turn of mind, and when she was about +sixteen she joined the Orthodox Church, that worshipped in the +Old-South Meeting-house in Boston. Her character and deportment were +such that she was considered an ornament to the church. Clergymen and +other literary persons who visited at Mrs. Wheatley's took a good deal +of notice of her. Her poems were brought forward to be read to the +company, and were often much praised. She was not unfrequently invited +to the houses of wealthy and distinguished people, who liked to show her +off as a kind of wonder. Most young girls would have had their heads +completely turned by so much flattery and attention; but seriousness and +humility seemed to be natural to Phillis. She always retained the same +gentle, modest deportment that had won Mrs. Wheatley's heart when she +first saw her in the slave-market. Sometimes, when she went abroad, she +was invited to sit at table with other guests; but she always modestly +declined, and requested that a plate might be placed for her on a +side-table. Being well aware of the common prejudice against her +complexion, she feared that some one might be offended by her company at +their meals. By pursuing this course she manifested a natural +politeness, which proved her to be more truly refined than any person +could be who objected to sit beside her on account of her color. + +Although she was tenderly cared for, and not required to do any +fatiguing work, her constitution never recovered from the shock it had +received in early childhood. When she was about nineteen years old, her +health failed so rapidly that physicians said it was necessary for her +to take a sea-voyage. A son of Mr. Wheatley's was going to England on +commercial business, and his mother proposed that Phillis should go with +him. + +In England she received even more attention than had been bestowed upon +her at home. Several of the nobility invited her to their houses; and +her poems were published in a volume, with an engraved likeness of the +author. In this picture she looks gentle and thoughtful, and the shape +of her head denotes intellect. One of the engravings was sent to Mrs. +Wheatley, who was delighted with it. When one of her relatives called, +she pointed it out to her, and said, "Look at my Phillis! Does she not +seem as if she would speak to me?" + +Still the young poetess was not spoiled by flattery. One of the +relatives of Mrs. Wheatley informs us, that "not all the attention she +received, nor all the honors that were heaped upon her, had the +slightest influence upon her temper and deportment. She was still the +same single-hearted, unsophisticated being." + +She addressed a poem to the Earl of Dartmouth, who was very kind to her +during her visit to England. Having expressed a hope for the overthrow +of tyranny, she says:-- + + "Should you, my Lord, while you peruse my song, + Wonder from whence my love of Freedom sprung,-- + Whence flow these wishes for the common good, + By feeling hearts alone best understood,-- + I, young in life, by seeming cruel fate, + Was snatched from Afric's fancied happy state. + What pangs excruciating must molest, + What sorrows labor in my parent's breast! + Steeled was that soul, and by no misery moved, + That from a father seized his babe beloved. + Such was my case; and can I then but pray + Others may never feel tyrannic sway." + +The English friends of Phillis wished to present her to their king, +George the Third, who was soon expected in London. But letters from +America informed her that her beloved benefactress, Mrs. Wheatley, was +in declining health, and greatly desired to see her. No honors could +divert her mind from the friend of her childhood. She returned to Boston +immediately. The good lady died soon after; Mr. Wheatley soon followed; +and the daughter, the kind instructress of her youth, did not long +survive. The son married and settled in England. For a short time +Phillis stayed with a friend of her deceased benefactress; then she +hired a room and lived by herself. It was a sad change for her. + +The war of the American Revolution broke out. In the autumn of 1776 +General Washington had his head-quarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts; +and the spirit moved Phillis to address some complimentary verses to +him. In reply, he sent her the following courteous note:-- + + "I thank you most sincerely for your polite notice of me in the + elegant lines you enclosed. However undeserving I may be of such + encomium, the style and manner exhibit a striking proof of your + poetical talents. In honor of which, and as a tribute justly due to + you, I would have published the poem, had I not been apprehensive + that, while I only meant to give the world this new instance of + your genius, I might have incurred the imputation of vanity. This, + and nothing else, determined me not to give it a place in the + public prints. + + "If you should ever come to Cambridge, or near head-quarters, I + shall be happy to see a person so favored by the Muses,[4] and to + whom Nature had been so liberal and beneficent in her + dispensations. + + "I am, with great respect, + "Your obedient, humble servant, + "GEORGE WASHINGTON." + +The early friends of Phillis were dead, or scattered abroad, and she +felt alone in the world. She formed an acquaintance with a colored man +by the name of Peters, who kept a grocery shop. He was more than +commonly intelligent, spoke fluently, wrote easily, dressed well, and +was handsome in his person. He offered marriage, and in an evil hour she +accepted him. He proved to be lazy, proud, and harsh-tempered. He +neglected his business, failed, and became very poor. Though unwilling +to do hard work himself, he wanted to make a drudge of his wife. Her +constitution was frail, she had been unaccustomed to hardship, and she +was the mother of three little children, with no one to help her in her +household labors and cares. He had no pity on her, and instead of trying +to lighten her load, he made it heavier by his bad temper. The little +ones sickened and died, and their gentle mother was completely broken +down by toil and sorrow. Some of the descendants of her lamented +mistress at last heard of her illness and went to see her. They found +her in a forlorn situation, suffering for the common comforts of life. +The Revolutionary war was still raging. Everybody was mourning for sons +and husbands slain in battle. The country was very poor. The currency +was so deranged that a goose cost forty dollars, and other articles in +proportion. In such a state of things, people were too anxious and +troubled to think about the African poetess, whom they had once +delighted to honor; or if they transiently remembered her, they took it +for granted that her husband provided for her. And so it happened that +the gifted woman who had been patronized by wealthy Bostonians, and who +had rolled through London in the splendid carriages of the English +nobility, lay dying alone, in a cold, dirty, comfortless room. It was a +mournful reverse of fortune; but she was patient and resigned. She made +no complaint of her unfeeling husband; but the neighbors said that when +a load of wood was sent to her, he felt himself too much of a gentleman +to saw it, though his wife was shivering with cold. The descendants of +Mrs. Wheatley did what they could to relieve her wants, after they +discovered her extremely destitute condition; but, fortunately for her, +she soon went "where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the +weary are at rest." + +Her husband was so generally disliked, that people never called her Mrs. +Peters. She was always called Phillis Wheatley, the name bestowed upon +her when she first entered the service of her benefactress, and by which +she had become known as a poetess. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[4] The ancient Greeks supposed that nine goddesses, whom they named +Muses, inspired people to write various kinds of poetry. + + + + +A PERTINENT QUESTION. + +BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS. + + +"Is it not astonishing, that while we are ploughing, planting, and +reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses and +constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, +and copper, silver and gold; that while we are reading, writing, and +ciphering, acting as clerks, merchants, and secretaries, having among us +lawyers, doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators, and +teachers; that while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common +to other men, digging gold in California, capturing the whale in the +Pacific, breeding sheep and cattle on the hillside; living, moving, +acting, thinking, planning; living in families as husbands, wives, and +children; and, above all, confessing and worshipping the Christian's +God, and looking hopefully for immortal life beyond the grave;--is it +not astonishing, I say, that we are called upon to prove that we are +_men_?" + + + + +THE WORKS OF PROVIDENCE. + +BY PHILLIS WHEATLEY. + + [Written at sixteen years of age.] + + + Arise, my soul! on wings enraptured rise, + To praise the Monarch of the earth and skies, + Whose goodness and beneficence appear, + As round its centre moves the rolling year; + Or when the morning glows with rosy charms, + Or the sun slumbers in the ocean's arms. + Of light divine be a rich portion lent, + To guide my soul and favor my intent. + Celestial Muse, my arduous flight sustain, + And raise my mind to a seraphic strain! + + Adored forever be the God unseen, + Who round the sun revolves this vast machine; + Though to his eye its mass a point appears: + Adored the God that whirls surrounding spheres, + Who first ordained that mighty Sol[5] should reign, + The peerless monarch of th' ethereal train. + Of miles twice forty millions is his height, + And yet his radiance dazzles mortal sight, + So far beneath,--from him th' extended earth + Vigor derives, and every flowery birth. + Vast through her orb she moves, with easy grace, + Around her Phoebus[6] in unbounded space; + True to her course, the impetuous storm derides, + Triumphant o'er the winds and surging tides. + + Almighty! in these wondrous works of thine, + What power, what wisdom, and what goodness shine! + And are thy wonders, Lord, by men explored, + And yet creating glory unadored? + + Creation smiles in various beauty gay, + While day to night, and night succeeds to day. + That wisdom which attends Jehovah's ways, + Shines most conspicuous in the solar rays. + Without them, destitute of heat and light, + This world would be the reign of endless night. + In their excess, how would our race complain, + Abhorring life! how hate its lengthened chain! + From air, or dust, what numerous ills would rise! + What dire contagion taint the burning skies! + What pestilential vapor, fraught with death, + Would rise, and overspread the lands beneath! + + Hail, smiling Morn, that, from the orient main + Ascending, dost adorn the heavenly plain! + So rich, so various are thy beauteous dyes, + That spread through all the circuit of the skies, + That, full of thee, my soul in rapture soars, + And thy great God, the cause of all, adores! + O'er beings infinite his love extends, + His wisdom rules them, and his power defends. + When tasks diurnal tire the human frame, + The spirits faint, and dim the vital flame, + Then, too, that ever-active bounty shines, + Which not infinity of space confines. + The sable veil, that Night in silence draws, + Conceals effects, but shows th' Almighty Cause. + Night seals in sleep the wide creation fair, + And all is peaceful, but the brow of care. + Again gay Phoebus, as the day before, + Wakes every eye but what shall wake no more; + Again the face of Nature is renewed, + Which still appears harmonious, fair, and good. + May grateful strains salute the smiling morn, + Before its beams the eastern hills adorn! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] _Sol_ is the word for sun in Latin, the language spoken by the +ancient Romans. + +[6] Phoebus was the name for the sun, in the language of the ancient +Greeks. + + + + +THE DYING CHRISTIAN. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + The silver cord was loosened, + We knew that she must die; + We read the mournful token + In the dimness of her eye. + + Like a child oppressed with slumber, + She calmly sank to rest, + With her trust in her Redeemer, + And her head upon his breast. + + She faded from our vision, + Like a thing of love and light; + But we feel she lives forever, + A spirit pure and bright. + + + + +KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +There are not many people who are conscientious about being kind in +their relations with human beings; and therefore it is not surprising +that still fewer should be considerate about humanity to animals. But +the Father of all created beings made dumb creatures to enjoy existence +in their way, as he made human beings to enjoy life in their way. We do +wrong in his sight if we abuse them, or keep them without comfortable +food and shelter. The fact that they cannot speak to tell of what they +suffer makes the sad expression of their great patient eyes the more +touching to any compassionate heart. Fugitive slaves, looking out +mournfully and wearily upon a cold, unsympathizing world, have often +reminded me of overworked and abused oxen; for though slaves were +endowed by their Creator with the gift of speech, their oppressors have +made them afraid to use it to complain of their wrongs. In fact, they +have been in a more trying situation than abused oxen, for they have +been induced by fear to use their gift of speech in professions of +contentment with their bondage. Therefore, those who have been slaves +know how to sympathize with the dumb creatures of God; and they, more +than others, ought to have compassion on them. The great and good +Toussaint l'Ouverture was always kind to the animals under his care, and +I consider it by no means the smallest of his merits. + +It is selfish and cruel thoughtlessness to stand laughing and talking, +or to be resting at ease, while horses or oxen are tied where they will +be tormented by flies or mosquitos. Last summer I read of a horse that +was left fastened in a swamp, where he could not get away from the swarm +of venomous insects, which stung him to death, while his careless, +hard-hearted driver was going about forgetful of him. It would trouble +my conscience ever afterward if I had the death of that poor helpless +animal to answer for. + +There is a difference in the natural disposition of animals, as there is +in the dispositions of men and women; but, generally speaking, if +animals are bad-tempered and stubborn, it is owing to their having been +badly treated when they were young. When a horse has his mouth hurt by +jerking his bridle, it irritates him, as it irritates a man to be +violently knocked about; and in both cases such treatment produces an +unwillingness to oblige the tormentor. Lashing a horse with a whip, to +compel him to draw loads too heavy for his strength, makes him angry and +discouraged; and at last, in despair of getting any help for his wrongs, +he stands stock still when he finds himself fastened to a heavy load, +and no amount of kicking or beating will make him stir. He has +apparently come to the conclusion that it is better to be killed at once +than to die daily. Slaves, who are under cruel taskmasters, also +sometimes sink down in utter discouragement, and do not seem to care for +being whipped to death. The best way to cure the disheartened and +obstinate laborer is to give him just wages and kind treatment; and the +best way to deal with the discouraged and stubborn horse is to give him +light loads and humane usage. + +It is a very bad custom to whip a horse when he is frightened. It only +frightens the poor creature all the more. Habits of running when +frightened, or of sheering at the sight of things to which they are not +accustomed, is generally produced in horses by mismanagement when they +are colts. By gentle and rational treatment better characters are +formed, both in animals and human beings. There was a gentleman in the +neighborhood of Boston who managed colts so wisely, that all who were +acquainted with him wanted a horse of his training. He was very firm +with the young animals; he never allowed them to get the better of him; +but he was never in a passion with them. He cured them of bad tricks by +patient teaching and gentle words; holding them tight all the while, +till they did what he wanted them to do. When they became docile, he +rubbed their heads, and patted their necks, and talked affectionately to +them, and gave them a handful of oats. In that way, he obtained complete +control over them. He never kicked them, or jerked their mouths with the +bridle; he never whipped them, or allowed a whip to be used; and the +result was that they learned to love him, and were always ready to do as +he bade them. + +I have read of a horse that was so terrified by the sound of a drum, +that if he heard it, even from a distance, he would run furiously and +smash to pieces any carriage to which he was harnessed. In consequence +of this, he was sold very cheap, though he was a strong, handsome +animal. The man who sold him said he had whipped and whipped him, to +cure him of the trick, but it did no good. People laughed at the man who +bought him, and said he had thrown money away upon a useless and +dangerous creature; but he replied, "I have some experience in horses, +and I think I can cure him." + +He resolved to use no violence, but to deal rationally and humanely with +the animal, as he would like to be dealt with if he were a horse. + +He kept him without food till he had become very hungry, and then he +placed a pan of oats before him on the top of a drum. As soon as he +began to eat, the man beat upon the drum. The horse reared and plunged +and ran furiously round the enclosure. He was led back to the stable +without any provender. After a while, oats were again placed before him +on the top of a drum. As soon as the drum was beaten, the horse reared +and ran away. I suppose he remembered the terrible whippings he had had +whenever he heard a drum, and so he thought the thing that made the +noise was an enemy to him. The third time the experiment was tried, he +had become excessively hungry. He pricked up his ears and snorted when +he heard the sound of the drum; but he stood still and looked at the +oats wistfully, while the man played a loud, lively tune. Finding the +noise did him no harm, he at last ventured to taste of the oats, and his +owner continued to play all the while he was eating. When the breakfast +was finished, he patted him on the neck and talked gently to him. For +several days his food was given to him in the same way. He was never +afraid of the sound of a drum afterward. On the contrary, he learned to +like it, because it made him think of sweet oats. + +The fact is, reasonable and kind treatment will generally produce a +great and beneficial change in vicious animals as well as in vicious +men. + + + + +JAMES FORTEN. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +James Forten was born in 1766, nearly a hundred years ago. His ancestors +had lived in Pennsylvania for several generations, and, so far as he +could trace them, they had never been slaves. In his boyhood the war of +the American Revolution began. The States of this Union were then +colonies of Great Britain. Being taxed without being represented in the +British Parliament, they remonstrated against it as an act of injustice. +The king, George the Third, was a dull, obstinate man, disposed to be +despotic. The loyal, respectful petitions of the Colonies were treated +with indifference or contempt; and at last they resolved to become +independent of England. When James Forten was about fourteen years old +he entered into the service of the Colonial navy, in the ship Royal +Louis, commanded by Captain Decatur, father of the celebrated commodore. +It was captured by the British ship Amphion, commanded by Sir John +Beezly. Sir John's son was on board, as midshipman. He was about the +same age as James Forten; and when they played games together on the +deck, the agility and skill of the brown lad attracted his attention. +They became much attached to each other; and the young Englishman +offered to provide for the education of his colored companion, and to +help him on in the world, if he would go to London with him. But James +preferred to remain in the service of his native country. The lads shed +tears at parting, and Sir John's son obtained a promise from his father +that his friend should not be enlisted in the British army. This was a +great relief to the mind of James; for his sympathies were on the side +of the American Colonies, and he knew that colored men in his +circumstances were often carried to the West Indies and sold into +Slavery. He was transferred to the prison-ship Old Jersey, then lying +near New York. He remained there, through a raging pestilence on board, +until prisoners were exchanged. + +After the war was over, he obtained employment in a sail-loft in +Philadelphia, where he soon established a good character by his +intelligence, honesty, and industry. He invented an improvement in the +management of sails, for which he obtained a patent. As it came into +general use, it brought him a good deal of money. In process of time, he +became owner of the sail-loft, and also of a good house in the city. He +married a worthy woman, and they brought up a family of eight children. +But though he had served his country faithfully in his youth, though he +had earned a hundred thousand dollars by his ingenuity and diligence, +and though his character rendered him an ornament to the Episcopal +Church, to which he belonged, yet so strong was the mean and cruel +prejudice against his color, that his family were excluded from schools +where the most ignorant and vicious whites could place their children. +He overcame this obstacle, at great expense, by hiring private teachers +in various branches of education. + +By the unrivalled neatness and durability of his work, and by the +uprightness of his character, he obtained extensive business, and for +more than fifty years employed many people in his sail-loft. Being near +the water, he had opportunities, at twelve different times, to save +people from drowning, which he sometimes did at the risk of his own +life. The Humane Society of Philadelphia presented him with an +engraving, to which was appended a certificate of the number of people +he had saved, and the thanks of the Society for his services. He had it +framed and hung in his parlor; and when I visited him, in 1835, he +pointed it out to me, and told me he would not take a thousand dollars +for it. He likewise told me of a vessel engaged in the slave-trade, the +owners of which applied to him for rigging. He indignantly refused; +declaring that he considered such a request an insult to any honest or +humane man. He always had the cause of the oppressed colored people +warmly at heart, and was desirous to do everything in his power for +their improvement and elevation. He early saw that colonizing free +blacks to Africa would never abolish Slavery; but that, on the contrary, +it tended to prolong its detestable existence. He presided at the first +meeting of colored people in Philadelphia, to remonstrate against the +Colonization Society. He was an earnest and liberal friend of the +Anti-Slavery Society; and almost the last words he was heard to utter +were expressions of love and gratitude to William Lloyd Garrison for his +exertions in behalf of his oppressed race. He never drank any +intoxicating liquor, and was a steadfast supporter of the Temperance +Society. Being of a kindly and humane disposition, he espoused the +principles of the Peace Society. His influence and pure example were +also given to those who were striving against licentiousness. Indeed, he +was always ready to assist in every good word and work. + +He died in 1842, at the age of seventy-six years. His funeral procession +was one of the largest ever seen in Philadelphia; thousands of people, +of all classes and all complexions, having united in this tribute of +respect to his character. + + + + +THE MEETING IN THE SWAMP. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +In 1812 there was war between the United States and Great Britain; and +many people thought it likely that a portion of the British army would +land in some part of the Southern States and proclaim freedom to the +slaves. The more intelligent portion of the slaves were aware of this, +and narrowly watched the signs of the times. + +Mr. Duncan, of South Carolina, was an easy sort of master, generally +thought by his neighbors to be too indulgent to his slaves. One evening, +during the year I have mentioned, he received many requests for passes +to go to a great Methodist meeting, and in every instance complied with +the request. After a while, he rang the bell for a glass of water, but +no servant appeared. He rang a second time, but waited in vain for the +sound of coming footsteps. Thinking over the passes he had given, he +remembered that all the house-servants had gone to Methodist meeting. +Then it occurred to him that Methodist meetings had lately been more +frequent than usual. He was in the habit of saying that his slaves were +perfectly contented, and would not take their freedom if he offered it +to them; nevertheless the frequency of Methodist meetings made him a +little uneasy, and brought to mind a report he had heard, that the +British were somewhere off the coast and about to land. + +The next morning, he took a ride on horseback, and in a careless way +asked the slaves on several plantations where was the Methodist meeting +last night. Some said it was in one place, and some in another,--a +circumstance which made him think still more about the report that the +British were going to land. He bought a black mask for his face, and a +suit of negro clothes, and waited for another Methodist meeting. In a +few days his servants again asked for passes, and he gave them. When the +last one had gone, he put on his disguise and followed them over field +and meadow, through woods and swamps. The number of dark figures +steering toward the same point continually increased. If any spoke to +him as they passed, he made a very short answer, in the words and tones +common among slaves. At last they arrived at an island in the swamp, +surrounded by a belt of deep water, and hidden by forest-trees matted +together by a luxuriant entanglement of vines. A large tree had been +felled for a bridge, and over this dusky forms were swarming as thickly +as ants into a new-made nest. After passing through a rough and +difficult path, they came out into a large level space, surrounded by +majestic trees, whose boughs interlaced, and formed a roof high +overhead, from which hung down long streamers of Spanish moss. Under +this canopy were assembled hundreds of black men and women. Some were +sitting silent and thoughtful, some eagerly talking together, and some +singing and shouting. The blaze of pine torches threw a strong light on +some, and made others look like great black shadows. + +Mr. Duncan felt a little disturbed by the strange, impressive scene, and +was more than half disposed to wish himself at home. For some time he +could make nothing out of the confused buzz of voices and chanting of +hymns. But after a while a tall man mounted a stump and requested +silence. "I suppose most all of ye know," said he, "that at our last +meeting we concluded to go to the British, if we could get a chance; but +we didn't all agree what to do about our masters. Some said we couldn't +keep our freedom without we killed the whites, but others didn't like +the thoughts of that. We've met again to-night to talk about it. An' +now, boys, if the British land here in Caroliny, what shall we do about +our masters?" + +As he sat down, a tall, fierce-looking mulatto sprang upon the stump, at +one leap, and exclaimed: "Scourge _them_, as they have scourged _us_. +Shoot _them_, as they have shot _us_. Who talks of mercy to our +masters?" + +"I do," said an aged black man, who rose up tottering, as he leaned both +hands on a wooden staff,--"I do; because the blessed Jesus always talked +of mercy. They shot my bright boy Joe, an' sold my pretty little Sally; +but, thanks to the blessed Jesus! I feel it in my poor old heart to +forgive 'em. I've been member of a Methodist church these thirty years, +an' I've heard many preachers, white and black; an' they all tell me +Jesus said, Do good to them that do evil to you, an' pray for them that +spite you. Now I say, Let us love our enemies; let us pray for 'em; an' +when our masters flog us, let us sing,-- + + 'You may beat upon my body, + But you cannot harm my soul. + I shall join the forty thousand by and by.'" + +When the tremulous chant ceased, a loud altercation arose. Some cried +out for the blood of the whites, while others maintained that the old +man's doctrine was right. Louder and louder grew the sound of their +excited voices, and the disguised slaveholder hid himself away deeper +among the shadows. In the midst of the confusion, a young man of +graceful figure sprang on the stump, and, throwing off a coarse cotton +frock, showed his back and shoulders deeply gashed by a whip and oozing +with blood. He made no speech, but turned round and round slowly, while +his comrades held up their torches to show his wounds. He stopped +suddenly, and said, with stern brevity, "Blood for blood." + +"Would you murder 'em all?" inquired a timid voice. "Dey don't _all_ +cruelize us." + +"Dar's Massa Campbell," pleaded another. "He neber hab his boys flogged. +You wouldn't murder _him_, would you?" + +"No, no," shouted several voices; "we wouldn't murder _him_." + +"I wouldn't murder _my_ master," said one of Mr. Duncan's slaves. "I +don't want to work for him for nothin'; I'se done got tired o' that; but +he sha'n't be killed, if I can help it; for he's a good master." + +"Call him a good master if ye like," said the youth with the bleeding +shoulders. "If the white men don't cut up the backs that bear their +burdens, if they don't shoot the limbs that make 'em rich, some are +fools enough to call 'em good masters. What right have they to sleep in +soft beds, while we, who do all the work, lie on the hard floor? Why +should I go in coarse rags, to clothe my master in broadcloth and fine +linen, when he knows, and I know, that we are sons of the same father? +Ye may get on your knees to be flogged, if ye like; but I'm not the boy +to do it." His high, bold forehead and flashing eye indicated an +intellect too active, and a spirit too fiery, for Slavery. The listeners +were spell-bound by his superior bearing, and for a while he seemed +likely to carry the whole meeting in favor of revenge. But the aged +black, leaning on his wooden staff, made use of every pause to repeat +the words, "Jesus told us to return good for evil"; and his gentle +counsel found response in many hearts. + +A short man, with roguish eyes and a laughing mouth, rose up and looked +round him with an expression of drollery that made everybody begin to +feel good-natured. After rubbing his head a little, he said: "I don't +know how to talk like Bob, 'cause I neber had no chance. But I'se +_thought_ a heap. Many a time I'se axed myself how de white man always +git he foot on de black man. Sometimes I tink one ting, and sometimes I +tink anoder ting; and dey all git jumbled up in my head, jest like seed +in de cotton. At last I finds out how de white man always git he foot on +de black man." He took from his old torn hat a bit of crumpled +newspaper, and smoothing it out, pointed at it, while he exclaimed: +"_Dat's_ de way dey do it! Dey got de _knowledge_; and dey don't let +poor nigger hab de knowledge. May be de British lan', and may be de +British no lan'. But I tell ye, boys, de white man can't keep he foot on +de black man, ef de black man git de knowledge. I'se gwine to tell ye +how I got de knowledge. I sot my mind on larning to read; but my ole +boss he's de most begrudgfullest massa, an' I knows he wouldn't let me +larn. So when I sees leetle massa wid he book, I ax him, 'What you call +dat?' He tell me dat's A. So I take ole newspaper, an' ax missis, 'May I +hab dis to rub de boots?' She say yes. Den, when I find A, I looks at +him till I knows him bery well. Den I ax leetle massa, 'What you call +dat?' He say dat's B. I looks at him till I knows him bery well. Den I +find C A T, an' I ax leetle massa what dat spell; an' he tell me _cat_. +Den, after a great long time, I read de newspaper. An' dar I find out +dat de British gwine to lan'. I tells all de boys; and dey say mus' hab +Methodist meetin'. An' what you tink dis nigger did todder day? You know +Jim, Massa Gubernor's boy? Wal, I wants mighty bad to tell Jim dat de +British gwine to lan'; but he lib ten mile off, and ole boss nebber let +me go. Wal, Massa Gubernor come to massa's, an' I bring he hoss to de +gate. I makes bow, and says, 'How Jim do, Massa Gubernor?' He tells me +Jim bery well. Den I tells him Jim and I was leetle boy togeder, an' I +wants to sen' Jim someting. He tells me Jim hab 'nuff ob eberyting. I +says, 'O yes, Massa Gubernor, I knows you good massa, and Jim hab +eberyting he want. But Jim an' I was leetle boy togeder, and I wants to +sen' Jim some backy.' Massa Gubernor laugh an' say, 'Bery well, Jack.' +So I gibs him de backy in de bery bit ob newspaper dat tell de British +gwine to lan'. I marks it wid brack coal, so Jim be sure to see it. An' +Massa Gubernor hisself carry it! Massa Gubernor hisself carry it! I has +to laugh ebery time I tinks on't." + +He clapped his hands, shuffled with his feet, and ended by rolling heels +over head, with peals of laughter. The multitude joined loudly in his +merriment, and it took some time to restore order. There was a good deal +of speaking afterward, and some of it was violent. A large majority were +in favor of being merciful to the masters; but all, without exception, +agreed to join the British if they landed. + +With thankfulness to Heaven, Mr. Duncan again found himself in the open +field, alone with the stars. Their glorious beauty seemed to him clothed +in new and awful power. Groups of shrubbery took startling forms, and +the sound of the wind among the trees was like the unsheathing of +swords. He never forgot the lesson of that night. In his heart he could +not blame his bondmen for seeking their liberty, and he felt grateful +for the merciful disposition they had manifested toward their +oppressors; for alone that night, in the solemn presence of the stars, +his conscience told him that Slavery _was_ oppression, however mild the +humanity of the master might make it. He did not emancipate his slaves; +for he had not sufficient courage to come out against the community in +which he lived. He felt it a duty to warn his neighbors of impending +danger; but he could not bring himself to reveal the secret of the +meeting in the swamp, which he knew would cause the death of many +helpless creatures, whose only crime was that of wishing to be free. +After a painful conflict in his mind, he contented himself with advising +the magistrates not to allow any meetings of the colored people for +religious purposes until the war was over. + +I have called him Mr. Duncan, but I have in fact forgotten his name. +Years after he witnessed the meeting in the swamp, he gave an account of +it to a gentleman in Boston, and I have stated the substance of it as it +was told to me. + + + + +A REASONABLE REQUEST. + + +We are natives of this country; we ask only to be treated _as well_ as +foreigners. Not a few of our fathers suffered and bled to purchase its +independence; we ask only to be treated _as well_ as those who fought +against it. We have toiled to cultivate it, and to raise it to its +present prosperous condition; we ask only to share _equal_ privileges +with those who come from distant lands to enjoy the fruits of our +labor.--REV. PETER WILLIAMS, _colored Rector of St. Philip's Church, New +York_, 1835. + + + + +THE SLAVE POET. + + +Mr. James Horton, of Chatham County, North Carolina, had a slave named +George, who early manifested remarkable intelligence. He labored with a +few other slaves on his master's farm, and was always honest, faithful, +and industrious. He contrived to learn to read, and every moment that +was allowed him for his own he devoted to reading. He was especially +fond of poetry, which he read and learned by heart, wherever he could +find it. After a time, he began to compose verses of his own. He did not +know how to write; so when he had arranged his thoughts in rhyme, he +spoke them aloud to others, who wrote them down for him. + +He was not contented in Slavery, as you will see by the following verses +which he wrote:-- + + "Alas! and am I born for this, + To wear this slavish chain? + Deprived of all created bliss, + Through hardship, toil, and pain? + + "How long have I in bondage lain, + And languished to be free! + Alas! and must I still complain, + Deprived of liberty? + + "O Heaven! and is there no relief + This side the silent grave, + To soothe the pain, to quell the grief + And anguish of a slave? + + "Come, Liberty! thou cheerful sound, + Roll through my ravished ears; + Come, let my grief in joys be drowned, + And drive away my fears. + + "Say unto foul oppression, Cease! + Ye tyrants, rage no more; + And let the joyful trump of peace + Now bid the vassal soar. + + "O Liberty! thou golden prize, + So often sought by blood, + We crave thy sacred sun to rise, + The gift of Nature's God. + + "Bid Slavery hide her haggard face, + And barbarism fly; + I scorn to see the sad disgrace, + In which enslaved I lie. + + "Dear Liberty! upon thy breast + I languish to respire; + And, like the swan unto her nest, + I'd to thy smiles retire." + +George's poems attracted attention, and several were published in the +newspaper called "The Raleigh Register." Some of them found their way +into the Boston newspapers, and were thought remarkable productions for +a slave. His master took no interest in any of his poems, and knew +nothing about them, except what he heard others say. Dr. Caldwell, who +was then President of the University of North Carolina, and several +other gentlemen, became interested for him, and tried to help him to +obtain his freedom. In 1829 a little volume of his poems, called "The +Hope of Liberty," was printed in Raleigh, by Gales and Son. The pamphlet +was sold to raise money enough for George to buy himself. He was then +thirty-two years old, in the prime of his strength, both in mind and +body. He was to be sent off to Liberia as soon as he was purchased; but +he had such a passion for Liberty, that he was willing to follow her to +the ends of the earth; though he would doubtless have preferred to have +been a freeman at home, among old friends and familiar scenes. He was +greatly excited about his prospects, and eagerly set about learning to +write. When he first heard the news that influential gentlemen were +exerting themselves in his behalf, he wrote:-- + + "'Twas like the salutation of the dove, + Borne on the zephyr through some lonesome grove, + When spring returns, and winter's chill is past, + And vegetation smiles above the blast. + + "The silent harp, which on the osiers hung, + Again was tuned, and manumission sung; + Away by hope the clouds of fear were driven, + And music breathed my gratitude to Heaven." + +It would have been better for him if his hopes had not been so highly +excited. His poems did not sell for enough to raise the sum his master +demanded for him, and his friends were not sufficiently benevolent to +make up the deficiency. In 1837, when he was forty years old, he was +still working as a slave at Chapel Hill, the seat of the University of +North Carolina. It was said at that time that he had ceased to write +poetry. I suppose the poor fellow was discouraged. If he is still alive, +he is sixty-seven years old; and I hope it will comfort his poor, +bruised heart to know that some of his verses are preserved, and +published for the benefit of those who have been his companions in +Slavery, and who, more fortunate than he was, have become freemen before +their strength has left them. + + + + +RATIE: + +A TRUE STORY OF A LITTLE HUNCHBACK. + +BY MATTIE GRIFFITH. + + +I want to tell you a story of a poor little slave-girl who lived and +died away down South. + +This little girl's name was Rachel, but they used to call her Ratie. She +was a hunchback and a dwarf, with an ugly black face, coarse and +irregular features, but a low, pleasant voice, and nice manners. Nobody +ever scolded Ratie, for she never deserved it. She always did her +work--the little that was assigned her--with a cheerful heart and +willing hand. This work was chiefly to gather up little bits of chips in +baskets, or collect shavings from the carpenters' shops, and take them +to the cabins or the great kitchen, where they were used for kindling +fires. She had a sweet, gentle spirit, and a low, cheery laugh that +charmed everybody. Even the white folks who lived up at the great house +loved her, and somehow felt better when she was near. + +Ratie used to go out into the fields on summer days, or in the early +spring, and pick the first flowers. Later in the season she caught the +butterflies or grasshoppers, but she never hurt them. She would look at +the bright spangled wings of the butterflies, or the green coats of the +pretty, chirping grasshoppers, with an eye full of admiration; and she +always seemed sorry when she gave them up. The lambs used to run to her, +and eat from her hands. If she went into the park, the deer came to her +side lovingly, and the young fawns sported and played around her. No one +harmed Ratie or expected harm from her. + +Poor little hunchback! Many an idle traveller has paused in his slow +wanderings to listen to her song, as she sat on the wayside stump, +knitting stockings for the work-people, and singing old snatches of +songs, and airs that bring back to the heart glimpses of the paradise of +our lost childhood! No broad-throated robin ever poured out a wilder, +fuller gush of melody than the songs of this untaught child! + +Little Ratie's days were passed in the same even routine, without +thought or chance of change. Up at the house they loved her; and her +young mistresses used to supply her with cast-off ribbons and shawls and +fancy trappings from their own wardrobes, which she prized very +much,--delighting to deck out her odd little person with these old +fineries. + +Once, as she sat singing on an old stile, and knitting a stocking, a +rough sort of gentleman, driving by in his neat little tilbury, stopped +and listened to Ratie's song. When he looked at the strange child he +felt a little shocked; but he called out in a loud voice, "Halloo, +Dumpey Blackie! here is a fip for your song"; and he tossed her a small +coin. "Take that, and give me another song." + +The child was pleased with the gift, took it up from where it had rolled +on the ground at her feet, and soon began another of her wild little +ditties. As she sang on, she forgot the exact words, and put in some of +her own, which harmonized just as well with the air. The stranger was so +much pleased, that he gave her another fip, and called for another +song, and still another. At length, he asked the child to whom she +belonged. She told him that she belonged to her old master. + +"And what is your old master's name?" asked the gentleman. + +Ratie, who had never been two miles beyond the borders of the +plantation, laughed, thinking it a fine joke that anybody should not +know the name of her "old master"; for, to her, he was the most +important personage in the world. So she only laughed and shook her head +derisively in answer. + +"Will you not tell me his name?" again asked the stranger. + +But the child smiled still more incredulously; so the gentleman deemed +it best to follow her home, which he accordingly did, and found that +Colonel Williams, a rich old planter, was the owner of this little +melodious blackbird. + +The stranger alighted and asked to see Colonel Williams. After a little +conversation he proposed to buy Ratie from her master. Colonel Williams +had never thought of selling the little deformity. He kept her on the +place more through charity than aught else. The extent of her musical +genius was unappreciated, and even unknown to him; but as she was a +happy little creature, much liked by all the family, and was only a +trifling expense, he had never thought of parting with her. Now, +however, when a handsome price was offered, she assumed something like +importance and interest in his eyes. He called her into the house, and +she obeyed with great alacrity, coming in neatly dressed, with a fresh +white apron, and sundry bits of bright-colored ribbons tied round her +head and neck. + +"Give us one of your best songs, Ratie," said her master. + +The girl broke out in a wild, warbling strain, clear, bird-like, and +musical, filling the long room with gushes of melody, until the lofty +arches echoed and re-echoed with the wild notes. When she had finished, +the enthusiastic stranger exclaimed, "That throat is a mint of gold!" + +And so little hunchback Ratie sang song after song, until she exhausted +herself; when her master sent her off to the slave-quarters, where she +continued her ditties out under the broad, soft light of the low-hanging +southern moon. + +The gentlemen sat up late that night, talking upon different subjects; +but, before they parted, it was arranged that the stranger should buy +Ratie at the high price he offered. + +The next morning, long before the sun rose, little Ratie was up, walking +through the quarter. She stooped down to look at every drop of dew that +glittered and sparkled on the green leaves and shrubs; and when the +great, round, golden sun began to creep up the eastern sky, and set it +all ablaze with red and gold and purple clouds, glorious as the pavilion +of the prophet, Ratie's little spirit danced within her, and broke forth +in hymns of music such as the wise men long ago--eighteen hundred years +past--sang at the foot of a little manger in a stable in Bethlehem of +Judæa. + +The child was too young and ignorant to know the meaning of the emotions +which fluttered and set on fire her own soul, but she was none the less +happy for this ignorance. God is very good! + +As Ratie wandered on, singing to herself, she grew so happy that the +rush of passionate fervor half frightened her. Tears came to her eyes, +and choked the song in her throat. She paused in her walk, and seated +herself on a little rock that lay in one corner of the quarter. As she +sat there alone, she continued to sing and weep; wherefore she could not +tell. By and by the great, rusty bell of the quarter rang out from its +hoarse, iron tongue the morning summons for the slaves to assemble. +Ragged, tattered, unshorn and unshaven, dirty, ill and angry-looking, +the negroes--men, women, and children, in large numbers--collected in +the quarter-yard, where the overseer, an ugly, harsh white man, with a +pistol in his belt, knife at his side, and whip in hand, stood to call +the roll. At the mention of each name, a slave came forward, saying with +a bow, "Here I am, massa." + +Ratie, who had no particular work to do, went limping on past the place +of the roll-call, when she saw her master and the strange gentleman +coming toward her. She did not, however, notice them. They were talking +together quite earnestly, and looking at her. Her master called out, +"Stop, Ratie; come this way." + +She obeyed the order with pleasing readiness. + +"Ratie," said the master, "how do you like this gentleman?" + +The child smiled, but made no answer in words. The master also smiled as +he added: "He thinks that you sing very prettily, and he has bought you. +He will be very kind and good to you; and as soon as you have had +breakfast, you must get your things ready to go off with him. Here is a +present for you"; and he tossed her a bright, shining, silver coin. + +The child seized the money, but did not seem to comprehend her master's +words. To be sold to her implied some sort of disgrace or hardship, +which she did not think she deserved; besides, she had always lived on +the "old plantation." She knew no other home; she did not want to leave +"the people" of the quarter; nor did she feel happy in going away from +the "white folks," particularly the "young mistresses," who had always +been so kind to her. She had also some vague yearning of heart to be +close to her mammy's grave, rough as it was; and near also to Grandpap's +cabin, where she roasted apples and potatoes on winter nights. + +She looked around upon the familiar quarter, the well-known people, the +row of cabins; and strained her gaze far away to the rolling fields in +the distance, where the negroes, like a swarm of crows, were busy at +their morning's work; and as she gazed, the whole landscape flushed with +the bloom and beauty of the risen sun. Then the wild, pealing horn +called the "sons of toil" from their morning hour's work to their frugal +breakfast. + +Ratie's little heart began to beat in its narrow limits as the word +"sold" wrote itself there, and broke through her comprehension with all +its horrors. She started quickly after her master, and, with the freedom +of a petted slave, caught hold of the skirt of his coat. Colonel +Williams turned suddenly round; and there, crouching on the earth at his +feet, was the hunchback child. She held up the money which he had given +her, and, in a sweet, tremulous voice, asked: "Massa, why has you sold +me? I has not behaved bad, as de boys did dat you sold last year. I +doesn't steal nor tell lies. Is it bekase I'se lazy? I do all de work +dey gives me to do. I'll do more. I'll go into de fields. I'll plant and +pick de cotton. Please don't sell me. I doesn't want to leave de ole +place. Mammy is buried here; so I wants to be when I dies. I wants +allers to live here." + +The stranger and Colonel Williams were much moved. They did not venture +to speak to the child, but tried to get away from the sound of her +plaintive cries. + +When the negroes drew around their morning meal, and learned that Ratie +was sold, they were unhappy, and refused to eat anything. They looked +sorrowfully at one another, and turned away from their untasted food. +"Poor Ratie!" exclaimed the old negroes, as they shook their heads in +mournful discontent, "we shall not hear any more her sweet songs in de +evenin' time." + +The young mistresses came to Ratie with kind gifts and kinder words. +They told her, with tears in their eyes, how sorry they were to part +with her, how good they knew she had been, and how much they wished +their papa would allow her to stay. Words and acts like these softened +the blow to the unfortunate child, and strengthened her for the coming +trial. She looked up smilingly through her tears, as she said to her +young mistresses: "Please not to cry for me. God is good, and de +preacher says he is everywhar; so I shall not be fur from de ole +plantation." + +When she was starting away, each of the negroes brought her some little +gift, such as cotton handkerchiefs, old ribbon-ends, bright-colored +glass beads, or autumn berries, dried and strung on threads for neck +ornaments. Each of these humble little tokens possessed an individual +interest which touched some spring in Ratie's little heart. When the +hour of separation came, she had nerved herself to the highest courage +of which she was capable. She took leave of each of the slaves, all of +them calling down the blessings of God upon her life. An old, lame negro +man, whom the slaves addressed as Grandpap, hobbled from his cabin, on a +broken crutch, to utter his farewell. + +"Good by, Ratie," he began, and his voice choked with emotion; "good by, +little Ratie, and may de good Lord be wid you. Him dat keres fur de +poor, de lowly, and de despised, up yonder, way fur and high up dere, is +a God dat loves all of his chillens alike. He doesn't kere fur de color +ob de skin or de quality ob de hair. In his sight, wool is jist as good +as de fair, straight hair. He loves de heart, and looks straight and +deep into dat, and keres fur nothin' else. Never you be afeard, Ratie, +Him'll take kere ob you, an' all sich as you, bekase He loves dem dat He +smites and afflicts. Now, He didn't break your poor little back for +nothin'. Him has Him's eye upon you. You is a lamb ob de fold, dat de +great Shepherd will go fur and long to look arter. Him holds you in the +holler ob Him's hand, an' He'll keep you dar. Mind what I tell you. Good +by, Ratie. God bless you. Allers trust Him. 'Member my last words; dat +is, Allers trust Him. Look to Him, and He'll never forget you." + +As he uttered these words, in a slow, oracular manner, he brushed a tear +from his eye with the back of his old, hard hand, and looking tenderly +toward the child, his lips moved slowly, and the words seemed to melt +unheard in the thin, morning air. He turned from her and hobbled off in +the direction of his cabin. + +The other slaves were more passionately demonstrative in their +farewells; but little Ratie bore up with a beautiful and proud +composure. + + * * * * * + +The new owner proved very kind to the gentle little creature; but her +heart had received a blow from which it could not recover. + +The master took her to New Orleans, intending to have her taught music, +that she might make money for him; but the poor child pined for "de ole +plantation" and "de ole folks at home,"--the kind people--"my people," +as she fondly called them--with whom she had been brought up. + +In the great city of New Orleans she was literally lost. She missed the +free country air, the green trees, the sweet singing-birds, the fields +blooming with early flowers, the meadows and the running brooks. It was +easy to see that the little hunchback was not happy. She grew thinner +and thinner, and her voice lost its flexible sweetness, its clear and +liquid roundness of tone. At last she fell away to a mere skeleton; then +sharp, burning fever set in, and little Ratie was taken down to her bed. +Day and night, in the delirium of fever, she raved for "de ole +plantation" and her own people. + +The new master promised, when she got better, to take her back to her +old home,--at least for a little while. But, alas! she never grew any +better. She faded slowly away, until one evening, just at sundown, in +the gay city of New Orleans, little Ratie breathed her last. + +Just before she died, she lifted her head from the pillow, and, resting +on her hand, she pointed eastward, saying: "Over dar is de ole +plantation. Don't you see? How pretty and nice it looks! Dar is all de +peoples at work. How busy dey is! But I'se not gwine dar. I doesn't want +to, any more. Dere up dar is God's plantation, and it is betterer far. +Dere is no slaves dar, but all is free and happy,--loving friends; and +it is dar dat I wants to go; and I hopes dat all de plantation folks +will come to me." + +And so little Ratie died. + + _From the New York Independent._ + + + + +THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. + +BY JAMES MONTGOMERY. + + + Hail to the Lord's anointed! + Great David's greater Son! + Hail, in the time appointed, + His reign on earth begun! + He comes to break oppression, + To set the captive free, + To take away transgression, + And rule in equity. + + He comes, with succor speedy, + To those who suffer wrong; + To help the poor and needy, + And bid the weak be strong; + To give them songs for sighing, + Their darkness turned to light, + Whose souls, condemned and dying, + Were precious in his sight. + + To him shall prayer unceasing, + And daily vows ascend; + His kingdom still increasing,-- + A kingdom without end. + The tide of time shall never + His covenant remove; + His name shall stand forever,-- + That name to us is Love. + + + + +THE BEGINNING AND PROGRESS OF EMANCIPATION IN THE BRITISH WEST INDIES. + + +Nothing has ever been done in this world more wicked and cruel than the +slave-trade on the coast of Africa. But the temptation to carry it on +was very great; for hundreds of men and women could be bought for a cask +of poor rum or a peck of cheap beads, and could be sold in the markets +of America or the West Indies for thousands of dollars. A hundred years +ago men were not at all ashamed of growing rich in this bad way. They +were respected in society as much as other men. They were often members +of churches and professed to be very pious. Perhaps they deceived +themselves, as well as others, and really thought they were pious, +because they observed all the ritual forms of religion. But, above all +their prayers, God heard the groans and the cries of the poor tortured +Africans. He put it into the heart of a young Englishman, named Thomas +Clarkson, to inquire into the wicked business, that was going on under +the sanction of the government, and unreproved by the Church. In the +course of his investigations, this young man discovered that the most +shocking cruelties were habitually practised. He found that poor +creatures stolen from their homes were packed close, like bales of +goods, in the dark holds of ships, where they were half choked by bad +odors from accumulated filth, and where they could hardly breathe for +want of air. The food allotted them was merely enough to keep them +alive. Many died of grief and despair, and still more of burning fevers +and other diseases. Living and dead often remained huddled together for +hours, and when the corpses were removed they were thrown out to the +sharks. But the sea-captains engaged in this horrid traffic were selfish +as well as cruel. They did not like to have their victims die, because +every one they lost on the passage diminished the dollars they expected +to get by selling them. So at times they brought the poor half-dead +wretches on deck and drove them round with a whip for exercise, and +insulted their misery by compelling them to dance, and sing the songs +they had sung in their native land. + +Thomas Clarkson called public attention to the subject by publishing +these things in a pamphlet. More than thirty years before, the humane +sect called Quakers had forbidden any of its members to be connected +with the slave-trade. But though the abominable traffic had been carried +on more than two hundred and fifty years by various nations calling +themselves Christian, there had been no attempt to excite general +attention to the subject till Clarkson published his pamphlet in 1786, +seventy-nine years ago. He became so much interested in the question +that he gave up all other pursuits in life, and wrote, and lectured, and +talked about it incessantly. The assembled representatives of the people +which we call a Congress, is called a Parliament in Great Britain.[7] He +tried to bring the subject before that body, and succeeded in gaining +the attention of some members, among whom the most conspicuous was the +benevolent William Wilberforce. He soon joined Mr. Clarkson in the +formation of a Society for the Abolition of the Slave-trade. This of +course gave great offence to the sea-captains and merchants engaged in +the profitable traffic. Clarkson met with all manner of insult and +abuse, and his life was sometimes in danger. The British government did +as governments are apt to do,--it sided with the rich and powerful as +long as it was politic to do so. But, though many of the aristocracy +were haughty and selfish, the generality of the common people were ready +to sympathize with the poor and the oppressed. When they became aware of +the outrages committed in the slave-trade, they determined that a stop +should be put to it. They wrote, and talked, and petitioned Parliament, +till the government was compelled to pay some attention to their +demands. When the friends of the infernal traffic found that a +resolution to abolish it was likely to be passed, they contrived to get +the word "gradual" inserted into the resolution, and thus defeated the +will of the people; for the gradual abolition of crime is no abolition +at all. It was as absurd as it would have been for them to say they +would abolish murder gradually. But though the law was insufficient to +accomplish the desired purpose, public opinion against the trade exerted +an increasing influence. The friends of those who were engaged in it +began to apologize for it as a necessary branch of trade, and pleaded +that laborers could not be supplied in the hot climate of the West +Indies in any other way. They were even shameless enough to defend it +and praise it as a benevolent scheme to bring savages away from heathen +Africa and make good Christians of them. Mr. Boswell, a well-known +English writer of that period, went so far as to pronounce it "a trade +which God had sanctioned"; and he declared that "to abolish it would be +to shut the gates of mercy on mankind." Such pretences deceived some. +But the English people have a great deal of good common sense; and it +was not easy to convince them that stealing men, women, and children +from their homes, torturing them on the ocean, and selling them in +strange lands, to be whipped to incessant toil without wages, was a +pious missionary enterprise. + +Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others continued their unremitting labors to +suppress the unrighteous traffic; the kindly sect of Quakers everywhere +assisted them; and benevolent people in other sects became more and more +convinced that it was their duty to do the same. All manner of obstacles +were put in the way of the desired reformation; but at last, after +twenty-two years of violent agitation, the slave-trade was entirely +abolished by Great Britain, at the commencement of the year 1808. +Sixteen years later, it was decreed by law that any British subject +caught in the traffic should be punished as a pirate. + +The king, George the Third, was opposed to the abolition, and so were +all the royal family, except the Duke of Gloucester. The nobility and +wealthy people, with a few honorable exceptions, took the same side. The +measure was carried by the good sense and good feeling of the common +people of Great Britain. + +There were no slaves in Great Britain. It had been decided by law that +any slave who landed in that country became free the moment he touched +the shore. But many of the West India islands, lying between North and +South America, were under the British government, and the laborers there +were held in Slavery. The English people knew very little what was going +on in those distant colonies. When West India planters visited their +relatives and friends in Great Britain, they made out a very fair story +for themselves. They said none but negroes could work in such a hot +climate, that sugar must be made, and negroes would not work unless they +were slaves. They represented themselves as very kind masters, and +described their bondmen as a very contented and merry class of laborers. +These planters were generally dashing men, who spent freely the money +they did not earn; and their fine manners and smooth talk gave the +impression that they must be _gentle_ men. + +People were slow to believe the accounts of cruelties practised in the +West Indies by these polished gentlemen. But more and more facts were +brought to light to prove that there was little to choose between the +slave-trade and the system of Slavery. When the honest masses of the +British people became convinced that the slaves in the West Indies were +entirely subject to the will of their masters, however licentious that +will might be, and that they were kept in such brutal ignorance they +could not read the Bible, they said at once that such a system ought to +be abolished. They sent missionaries to the West Indies to teach the +negroes. The planters considered this an impertinent interference with +their affairs. They said if slaves were instructed they would rise in +rebellion against their masters. The English people replied that it must +be a very bad system which made it dangerous for human beings to read +the Bible. The more closely they inquired into the subject, the more +their indignation was roused. Brown faces and yellow faces among the +slaves told a shameful story of licentious masters, while the chains and +whips and other instruments of torture found on every plantation proved +that severe treatment was universal. Again the honest masses of the +English people rose up in their moral majesty and said that wrong +should be righted. The government was unfavorable to the abolition of +Slavery, and the aristocracy, with a few honorable exceptions, +sympathized with the slaveholders. The West-Indian planters were boiling +over with rage. They pulled down the chapels where the negroes met +together to hear the words of Jesus; they mobbed the missionaries, they +thrust them into dungeons, and two or three of them were killed. Some of +the planters thought Slavery was a bad system, but they had to be very +cautious in expressing such an opinion; for if they were even suspected +of favoring abolition, their neighbors were sure to make them suffer for +it in some way. Even women seemed to be filled with the spirit of +Furies, whenever the subject of Slavery was mentioned. One of them said, +if she could get hold of Mr. Wilberforce she would tear his heart out. +Everywhere one heard mournful predictions of the ruin and desolation +that would follow emancipation. They insisted that negroes would not +work unless they were slaves, and of course no crops could be raised; +and what was still more to be dreaded, they would murder all the whites +and set fire to the towns. Sometimes they would present the subject from +a benevolent point of view, and urge that it would be the greatest +unkindness to the negroes to give them freedom; for when they had no +kind masters to take care of them they would certainly starve. + +The slaves of course found out that something in their favor was going +on in England. They watched eagerly for the arrival of vessels; they +took notice of everything that was said; if they could get hold of a +scrap of newspaper they hid it away, and those who could read would read +it privately to the others. If their masters were unusually cross, or +swore more than common, they would wink at each other and say, "There's +good news for us from England." + +The masters, on their part, watched the slaves closely. If they were +more silent than common, or if they appeared to be in better spirits +than common, they suspected them of plotting insurrections. But the +negroes did more wisely than that. They believed that good people in +England were working for them, and they tried to be patient till they +were emancipated by law. There was but one exception to this. The +planters in Jamaica were more bitter and furious than in the other +islands. They formed societies to uphold Slavery, and made flaming +speeches against the people and Parliament of Great Britain for "setting +the slaves loose upon them," as they called it. They did not reflect +that their colored servants, as they passed in and out, heard this +violent language and had sense enough to draw conclusions from it. But +they did draw from it a conclusion very dangerous to their masters. They +had heard talk of emancipation for several years, and it seemed to them +that the promised freedom was a long time coming. In 1832, the speeches +of the planters were so furious against the doings in Parliament, that +the slaves received the idea that the British government had already +passed laws for their freedom, and that their masters were cheating them +out of the legal rights that had been granted them. It was a sad mistake +for the poor fellows, and brought a great deal of suffering upon +themselves and others. They rose in insurrection, and it is said +destroyed property to the amount of six millions of dollars. But instead +of being protected by the British government, as they had expected, +soldiers were sent over to put down the insurrection, and many of the +negroes were shot and hung. + +Meanwhile their friends in England were working for them zealously. They +published pamphlets and papers and made speeches, and urgently +petitioned Parliament to "let the people go." One petition alone was +signed by eight hundred thousand women. One of the members, pointing to +the enormous roll, said: "There is no use in trying longer to resist the +will of the people. When all the women in Great Britain are knocking at +the doors of Parliament, something must be done." + +The government and the aristocracy were very reluctant to comply with +the demand of the people. But at last, after eleven years of more +violent struggle than it had taken to suppress the African slave-trade, +Slavery itself was abolished in the British West Indies forever. The +decree was to go into effect on the 1st day of August, 1834. Up to the +very last day, the planters persisted in saying that the measure would +ruin the islands. They said the emancipated slaves would do no work, but +would go round in large gangs, robbing, stealing, murdering the whites, +burning the houses, and destroying the fields of sugar-cane. If the +negroes had been revengeful, they might have done a great deal of +mischief; for there were five times as many colored people in the +islands as there were whites. But they were so thankful to get their +freedom at last, that there was no room in their hearts for bad +feelings. The tears were in their eyes as they told each other the good +news, and said, "Bress de Lord and de good English people." + +But many of the masters really believed their own alarming prophesies. +When they found that emancipation could not be prevented, numbers left +the islands. Some of those who remained did not dare to undress and go +to bed on the night of the 31st of July; and those who tried to sleep +were generally restless and easily startled. + +But while masters and mistresses were dreading to hear screams and +alarms of fire, their emancipated slaves were flocking to the churches +to offer up prayers and hymns of thanksgiving. + +In the island of Antigua there were thirty thousand slaves when the +midnight clock began to strive twelve, on the 31st of July, 1834; and +when it had done striking they were all free men and free women. It was +a glorious moment, never to be forgotten by them during the remainder of +their lives. The Wesleyan Methodists kept watch-night in all their +chapels. One of the missionaries who exhorted the emancipated people and +prayed with them thus described the solemn scene:-- + +"The spacious house was filled with the candidates for liberty. All was +animation and eagerness. A mighty chorus of voices swelled the song of +expectation and joy; and as they united in prayer, the voice of the +leader was drowned in the universal acclamations of thanksgiving and +praise and blessing and honor and glory to God, who had come down for +their deliverance. In such exercises the evening was spent, until the +hour of twelve approached. The missionary then proposed that when the +cathedral clock should begin to strike, the whole congregation should +fall on their knees, and receive the boon of freedom in silence. +Accordingly, as the loud bell tolled its first note, the crowded +assembly prostrated themselves. All was silence, save the quivering, +half-stifled breath of the struggling spirit. Slowly the tones of the +clock fell upon the waiting multitude. Peal on peal, peal on peal, +rolled over the prostrate throng, like angels' voices, thrilling their +weary heartstrings. Scarcely had the _last_ tone sounded, when +lightning flashed vividly, and a loud peal of thunder rolled through the +sky. It was God's pillar of fire. His trump of jubilee. It was followed +by a moment of profound silence. Then came the outburst. They shouted +'Glory! Hallelujah!' They clapped their hands, they leaped up, they fell +down, they clasped each other in their free arms, they cried, they +laughed, they went to and fro, throwing upward their unfettered hands. +High above all, a mighty sound ever and anon swelled up. It was the +utterance of gratitude to God. + +"After this gush of excitement had spent itself, the congregation became +calm, and religious exercises were resumed. The remainder of the night +was spent in singing and prayer, in reading the Bible, and in addresses +from the missionaries, explaining the nature of the freedom just +received, and exhorting the people to be industrious, steady, and +obedient to the laws, and to show themselves in all things worthy of the +high boon God had conferred upon them. + +"The 1st of August came on Friday; and a release from all work was +proclaimed until the next Monday. The great mass of the negroes spent +the day chiefly in the churches and chapels. The clergy and missionaries +throughout the island actively seized the opportunity to enlighten the +people on all the duties and responsibilities of their new relation. The +day was like a Sabbath. A Sabbath, indeed, when 'the wicked ceased from +troubling and the weary were at rest.' + +"The most kindly of the planters went to the chapels where their own +people were assembled, and shook hands with them, and exchanged hearty +good wishes. + +"At Grace Hill, a Moravian missionary station, the emancipated negroes +begged to have a sunrise meeting on the 1st of August, as they had been +accustomed to have at Easter; and as it was the Easter morning of their +freedom, the request was granted. The people all dressed in white, and +walked arm in arm to the chapel. There a hymn of thanksgiving was sung +by the whole congregation kneeling. The singing was frequently +interrupted by the tears and sobs of the melted people, until finally +they were overwhelmed by a tumult of emotion. + +"There was not a single dance by night or day; not even so much as a +fiddle played. There were no drunken carousals, no riotous assemblies. +The emancipated were as far from dissipation and debauchery as they were +from violence and carnage. Gratitude was the absorbing emotion. From the +hill-tops and the valleys the cry of a disenthralled people went upward, +like the sound of many waters: 'Glory to God! Glory to God!'" + +Mr. Bleby, one of the Methodist missionaries in Jamaica, thus describes +the same night in that island:-- + +"The church where the emancipated people assembled, at ten o'clock at +night, was very large; but the aisles, the gallery stairs, the +communion-place, the pulpit stairs, were all crowded; and there were +thousands of people round the building, at every open door and window, +looking in. We thought it right and proper that our Christian people +should receive their freedom as a boon from God, in the house of prayer; +and we gathered them together in the church for a midnight service. Our +mouths had been closed about Slavery up to that time. We could not quote +a passage that had reference even to _spiritual_ emancipation, without +endangering our lives. The planters had a law of 'constructive treason,' +that doomed any man to death who made use of language tending to excite +a desire for liberty among the slaves; and they found treason in the +Bible and sedition in the hymns of Watts and Wesley, and we had to be +very careful how we used them. You may imagine with what feelings I saw +myself emancipated from this thraldom, and free to proclaim 'liberty to +the captive, and the opening of prison doors to them that were bound.' I +took for my text, 'Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all +the inhabitants thereof. It shall be a jubilee unto you.' + +"A few minutes before midnight, I requested all the people to kneel down +in silent prayer to God, as befitting the solemnity of the hour. I +looked down upon them as they knelt. The silence was broken only by sobs +of emotion, which it was impossible to repress. The clock began to +strike. It was the knell of Slavery in all the British possessions! It +proclaimed liberty to eight hundred thousand human beings! When I told +them they might rise, what an outburst of joy there was among that mass +of people! The clock had ceased to strike, and they were slaves no +longer! Mothers were hugging their babes to their bosoms, old +white-headed men embracing their children and husbands clasping their +wives in their arms. By and by all was still again, and I gave out a +hymn. You may imagine the feelings with which these people, just +emerging into freedom, shouted + + 'Send the glad tidings o'er the sea! + His chains are broke, the slave is free!'" + +But though the dreaded 1st of August passed away so peacefully and +pleasantly, the planters could not get rid of the idea that their +laborers would not work after they were free. Mr. Daniell, who managed +several estates in Antigua, talking of the subject, two years +afterward, with an American gentleman from Kentucky, said: "I expected +some irregularities would follow such a prodigious change in the +condition of the negroes. I supposed there would be some relaxation from +labor during the week that followed emancipation; but on Monday morning, +I found all my hands in the field, not one missing. The same day I +received a message from another estate, of which I was proprietor, that +the negroes, to a man, had refused to go into the field. I immediately +rode to the estate, and found the laborers, with hoes in their hands, +doing nothing. Accosting them in a friendly manner, I inquired, 'What is +the meaning of this? How is it that you are not at work this morning?' +They immediately replied, 'It's not because we don't want to work, +massa; but we wanted to see you, first and foremost, to know what the +_bargain_ would be.' As soon as that matter was settled, the whole body +of negroes turned out cheerfully." Another manager declared that the +largest gang he had ever seen in the field, on his property, turned out +the week after emancipation. And such in fact was the universal +testimony of the managers throughout Antigua. + +In the days of Slavery, it had always been customary to order out the +militia during the Christmas holidays, when the negroes were in the +habit of congregating in large numbers, to enjoy the festivities of the +season. But the December after emancipation, the Governor issued a +proclamation, that, "_in consequence of the abolition of Slavery_," +there was no further need of taking that precaution. And it is a fact +that there have been no soldiers out at Christmas from that day to this. + +Unfortunately the British government had been so far influenced by the +representations of the planters, that the plan of emancipation they +adopted was a gradual one. All children under six years old were +unconditionally free, the magistrates alone had power to punish, and no +human being could be sold. But the slaves, under the new name of +apprentices, were obliged to work for their masters six years longer +without wages, except one day and a half in the week, which the law +decreed should be their own. The number of hours they were to work each +day was also stipulated by law. This was certainly a great improvement +in their condition; but it was not all they had expected. They were +peaceable, and worked more cheerfully than they had done while they were +slaves; for now a definite date was fixed when they should own all their +time, and they knew that every week brought them nearer to it. Still +they felt that entire justice had not been done to them. Sometimes white +men asked them if they would work when they were entirely free. They +answered, "In Slavery time we work; now we work better; den how you tink +we work when we _free_, when we get _paid_ for work!" Sometimes people +said to them, "I suppose you expect to do just as you please when you +are your own masters?" They replied: "We 'spect to 'bey de law. In oder +countries where dey is all free dey hab de law. We couldn't get along +widout de law. In Slavery time, massa would sometimes slash we when we +do as well as we could; but de law don't do harm to anybody dat behaves +himself. 'Prenticeship is bad enough; but we know de law make it so, and +for peace' sake we will be satisfy. But we murmur in we minds." + +In the island of Antigua, planters rejected the plan of apprenticeship. +They said, "If the negroes _must_ be free, let them be free at once, +without any more fuss and trouble." The result proved that they judged +wisely for their own interest, as well as for the comfort and +encouragement of their laborers. When the negroes found that they were +paid for every day's work, they put their whole hearts into it. So +zealous were they to earn wages, that they sometimes worked by +moonlight, or by the light of fires kindled among the dry cane-stalks. +In all respects, the change from the old order of things to the new went +on more smoothly in Antigua than it did anywhere else. + +In the islands where apprenticeship was tried, the irritability of the +masters made it work worse than it would otherwise have done. All that +most of them seemed to care for was to get as much work out of their +servants as they could, during the six years that they were to work +without wages, and it vexed them that they could not use the lash +whenever they pleased. They took away various little privileges which +they had been accustomed to grant; while during four days and a half of +the week the apprentices received no wages to compensate them for the +loss of those privileges. Being deprived of the power to sell the +children, they refused to supply them with any food. In fact, they +contrived every way to make the colored people think they had better +have remained slaves. But if they called out, "Work faster, you black +rascal, or I'll flog you!" the apprentices would sometimes lose +patience, and answer, "You can't flog we now." That would make the +master very angry, and he would send the apprentice to a magistrate to +be punished for impudence. The magistrates were the associates of the +planters; they ate their good dinners, and rode about in their +carriages. Consequently, they were more inclined to believe them than +they were to believe their servants. The laborers became so well aware +of this, that they were accustomed to say to each other, "It's of no use +for us to apply to the magistrates. They are so poisoned by massa's +turtle-soup." It has been computed by missionaries that, in the course +of two years, sixty thousand apprentices received, among them all, two +hundred and fifty thousand lashes, besides fifty thousand other +legalized punishments, such as the tread-mill and the chain-gang. + +The planters were full of complaints to travellers who visited the West +Indies. If they were asked, "Why don't you emancipate your laborers +entirely, and give them wages, as they do in Antigua,--they have no such +troubles there?" the prejudiced men would shake their heads and answer: +"Negroes will not work without being flogged. We must get what we can +out of them before 1840; for when they are their own masters they will +rob, murder, or starve, rather than labor." + +Planters who manifested a more kind and considerate disposition had +pleasanter relations with their servants, and they never found any +difficulty in procuring as much labor as they wanted. Some made it easy +for their apprentices to buy the remainder of their time; and it was +soon observed that those who owned all their time worked faster and +better than those who were without that stimulus. The idea gained ground +that unconditional emancipation would be better both for masters and +servants. The Marquis of Sligo, the humane Governor of Jamaica, set a +good example by emancipating all his apprentices. People in England +began to petition Parliament to abolish the apprenticeship, on the +ground that it proved unsatisfactory and troublesome to all parties. The +result was that all the apprentices in the British West Indies were +made entirely free on the 1st of August, 1838. Mr. Phillippo, a Baptist +missionary in Jamaica, thus describes the observance of the day in that +island: "On the preceding evening, the missionary stations throughout +the island were crowded with people, filling all the places of worship. +They remained at their devotions till the day of liberty dawned, when +they saluted it with joyous acclamations. Then they dispersed through +the towns and villages, singing 'God save the queen,' and rending the +air with their shouts,--'Freedom's come!' 'We're free! we're free!' 'Our +wives and children are free!' During the day, the places of worship were +crowded to suffocation. The scenes presented exceeded all description. +Joyous excitement pervaded the whole island. At Spanish Town, the +Governor, Sir Lionel Smith, addressed the emancipated people, who formed +a procession of seven thousand, and escorted the children of the +schools, about two thousand in number, to the Government House. They +bore banners and flags with various inscriptions, of which the following +are samples: 'Education, Religion, and Social Order'; 'August First, +1838,--the Day of our Freedom'; 'Truth and Justice have at last +prevailed.' The children sang before the Government House, and his +Excellency made a speech characterized by simplicity and kindness, which +was received with enthusiastic cheers. The procession then escorted +their pastor to his house. In front of the Baptist Chapel were three +triumphal arches, decorated with leaves and flowers, and surmounted by +flags bearing the inscriptions, 'Freedom has come!' 'Slavery is no +more!' 'The chains are broken, Africa is free!' There were many flags +bearing the names of their English benefactors,--Clarkson, Wilberforce, +Sligo, Thompson, etc. When these were unfurled, the enthusiasm of the +multitude rose to the highest pitch. For nearly an hour the air rang +with exulting shouts, in which the shrill voices of two thousand +children joined, singing, 'We're free! we're free!' Several of the +kindly disposed planters gave rural _fêtes_ to the laborers. Long tables +were spread in the lawns, arches of evergreens were festooned with +flowers, and on the trees floated banners bearing the names of those who +had been most conspicuous in bringing about this blessed result. Songs +were sung, speeches made, prayers offered, and a plentiful repast eaten." +Mr. Phillippo says: "The conduct of the newly emancipated peasantry +would have done credit to Christians of the most civilized country in +the world. They were clean in their persons, and neat in their attire. +Their behavior was modest, unassuming, and decorous in a high degree. +There was no crowding, no vulgar familiarity, but all were courteous and +obliging to each other, as members of one harmonious family. There was +no dancing, gambling, or carousing. All seemed to have a sense of the +obligations they owed to their masters, to each other, and to the civil +authorities. The masters who were present at these _fêtes_ congratulated +their former dependents on the boon they had received, and hopes were +mutually expressed that all past differences and wrongs might be +forgiven." + +On some of the estates where these festivals were held the laborers, +with few individual exceptions, went to work as usual on the following +day. _Many of them gave their first week of free labor as an offering of +good-will to their masters._ Thus the period from which many of the +planters had apprehended the worst consequences passed away in peace and +harmony. + +It is now twenty-seven years since the laborers in the British West +Indies have been made entirely free; and the missionaries, the +magistrates, and even the masters agree that the laborers are much more +faithful and industrious under the new system than they were under the +iron rule of Slavery. It is true, some of the old planters growled as +long as they lived. They had always predicted that freedom would bring +ruin on all classes, and it vexed them to see the negroes behaving so +well. They, however, made the most of the fact that there was less sugar +made than in former years. It was their own fault. The emancipated +slaves wanted to stay and work on the plantations where they had always +lived. But the masters could not give up their old habits of meanness +and tyranny. Their laborers could scarcely support life with the very +small wages they received; and yet they took from them the little +patches of provision-ground which they had formerly had, and charged +them enormously high rent for their miserable little huts. It seemed as +if they wanted to drive them to robbery, that they might say, "We told +you it would be so, if you set them free." + +But the freedmen disappointed them. Under all discouragements, they +persisted in behaving well. When they found that they could not get a +living on the old plantations where they wanted to stay, they went to +work on railroads, and wherever they could find employment. They laid up +as much as they could of their wages, and bought bits of land, on which +they built comfortable cabins for themselves, and laid out little +gardens. Their wives and children raised poultry and tended a cow, and +carried vegetables and butter and eggs to market, in baskets poised on +their heads. With the money thus earned they bought more land and added +to their little stock of furniture. Though the men received only from +eighteen to twenty-four cents a day, out of which they boarded +themselves, they were so industrious and saving that in four years the +freedmen in Jamaica alone had bought and paid for one hundred thousand +acres of land, and put up dwellings thereon. Mr. Phillippo states, that +during that time as many as two hundred new villages of freedmen were +formed. These villages generally received the names of benefactors, such +as Clarkson, Wilberforce, Thompson, &c. To their own little homes they +also gave names indicative of their gratitude and contentment. They +called them "Save Rent," "A Little of My Own," "Heart's Love," "Liberty +and Content," "Happy Retreat," "Jane's Delight," "Thank God to see It," +&c. + +Mr. Phillippo says:-- + +"These free villages are regularly laid out. The houses are small, many +of them built of stone or wood, with shingled roofs, green blinds, and +verandahs, to shield them from the sun. Most of them are neatly +thatched, and generally plastered and whitewashed both outside and in. +They now have looking-glasses, chairs, and side-boards decorated with +pretty articles of glass and crockery. Each dwelling has its little plot +of vegetables, generally neatly kept; and many of them have +flower-gardens in front, glowing with all the bright hues of the +tropics. The groups often presented are worthy of the painter's pencil +or the poet's song. Amid the stillness of a Sabbath evening, many +families, after their return from the house of God, may be seen gathered +together in the shadow of the trees, which overhang their cottages, +singing hymns, or listening to the reading of the Scriptures, with none +to molest or make them afraid." + +Mr. Charles Tappan of Boston, who visited Jamaica several years after +emancipation, writes:-- + +"On landing at Kingston, I must confess I was half inclined to believe +the story so industriously circulated, that the emancipated slave is +more idle and vicious than any other of God's intelligent creatures; but +when I rode through the valleys and over the mountains, and found +everywhere an industrious, sober people, I concluded all the vagabonds +of the island had moved to the sea-shore, to pick up a precarious living +by carrying baggage, begging, &c.; and such, upon inquiry, I found to be +the fact. Wherever I went in the rural districts, I found contented men +and women, cultivating sugar-cane, and numerous vegetables and fruits, +on their own account. Their neat, well-furnished cottages compared well +with the dwellings of pioneers in our own country. I found in them +mahogany furniture, crockery and glass ware, and shelves of useful +books. I saw Africans, of unmixed blood, grinding their own sugar-cane +in their own mills, and making their own sugar. + +"I attended a large meeting called to decide the question about inviting +a schoolmaster to settle among them. There was only one man who doubted +the expediency of taking the children from work and sending them to +school. One said, 'My little learning enabled me to see that a note, +given to me in payment for a horse was not written according to +contract.' Another said, 'I should have been wronged out of forty pounds +of coffee I sold in Kingston the other day, if I hadn't known how to +cipher.' Another said, 'I shall not have much property to leave my +children; but if they have learning they can get property.' Another +said, 'Those that can read will be more likely to get religion.' All +these people had been slaves, or were the children of slaves. I saw no +intoxicated person in Jamaica; and when it is considered that every man +there can make rum, it strikes me as very remarkable." + +One of the most striking characteristics of this colored peasantry is +their desire to obtain education for themselves and their children. +After a hard day's work, women would often walk miles, with babies in +their arms, to learn the alphabet. With the first money they can spare +they build school-houses and chapels and hire teachers. They also form +charitable societies and contribute money to help the aged and sick +among them. In the days of Slavery they herded together like animals; +but now it is considered disreputable and wrong to live together without +being married. In the days of Slavery they wore ragged and filthy +garments, but freedom has made them desirous of making a neat +appearance. Their working-clothes are generally well mended and clean, +and they keep a pretty suit to attend meeting and other festival +occasions. They are very careful of their best clothes. When they go to +dances, or social gatherings, they carry them in a basket, nicely folded +and covered up, and put them on when they arrive; and when they are +about to return home they again pack them up carefully. When they have +far to walk to meeting, over rough and dusty roads, they carry their +shoes and stockings till they come in sight of the church. + +This is not at all like what the old planters prophesied, when they said +that if the negroes were freed they would skulk in the woods and steal +yams to keep them from starving. But all that silly talk has passed +away. Everybody in the British West Indies acknowledges that +emancipation has proved a blessing both to the white and the black +population. There is not a planter to be found there who would restore +Slavery again, if his own wish could do it. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[7] The northern part of Great Britain is called Scotland, the southern +part England. The entire people are called British. + + + + +THE LAST NIGHT OF SLAVERY. + +BY JAMES MONTGOMERY. + + + Let the floods clap their hands! + Let the mountains rejoice! + Let all the glad lands + Breathe a jubilant voice! + The sun, that now sets on the waves of the sea, + Shall gild with his rising the land of the free! + + Let the islands be glad! + For their King in his might, + Who his glory hath clad + With a garment of light, + In the waters the beams of his chambers hath laid, + And in the green waters his pathway hath made. + + Dispel the blue haze, + Golden Fountain of Morn! + With meridian blaze + The wide ocean adorn! + The sunlight has touched the glad waves of the sea, + And day now illumines the land of the FREE! + + + + +MADISON WASHINGTON. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +This man was a slave, born in Virginia. His lot was more tolerable than +that of many who are doomed to bondage; but from his early youth he +always longed to be free. Nature had in fact made him too intelligent +and energetic to be contented in Slavery. Perhaps he would have +attempted to escape sooner than he did, had he not become in love with a +beautiful octoroon slave named Susan. She was the daughter of her +master, and the blood of the white race predominated in several of her +ancestors. Her eyes were blue, and her glossy dark hair fell in soft, +silky ringlets. Her lover was an unmixed black, and he also was +handsome. His features were well formed, and his large dark eyes were +very bright and expressive. He had a manly air, his motions were easy +and dignified, and altogether he looked like a being that would never +consent to wear a chain. + +If he had hated Slavery before, he naturally hated it worse after he had +married Susan; for a handsome woman, who is a slave, is constantly +liable to insult and wrong, from which an enslaved husband has no power +to protect her. They laid plans to escape; but unfortunately their +intention was discovered before they could carry it into effect. To +avoid being sold to the far South, where he could have no hopes of ever +rejoining his beloved Susan, he ran to the woods, where he remained +concealed several months, suffering much from privation and anxiety. His +wife knew where he was, and succeeded in conveying some messages to him, +without being detected. She persuaded him not to wait for a chance to +take her with him, but to go to Canada and earn money enough to buy her +freedom, and then she would go to him. + +He travelled only in the night, and by careful management, after a good +deal of hardship, he reached the Northern States, and passed into +Canada. There he let himself out to work on the farm of a man named +Dickson. He was so strong, industrious, intelligent, and well behaved, +that the farmer hoped to keep him a long time in his employ. He never +mentioned that he was born a slave; for the idea was always hateful to +him, and he thought also that circumstances might arise which would +render it prudent to keep his own secret. He showed little inclination +for conversation, and occupied every leisure moment in learning to read +and write. He remained there half a year, without any tidings from his +wife; for there are many difficulties in the way of slaves communicating +with each other at a distance. He became sad and restless. His employer +noticed it, and tried to cheer him up. One day he said to him: "Madison, +you seem to be discontented. What have you to complain of? Do you think +you are not treated well here? Or are you dissatisfied with the wages I +give you?" + +"I have no complaint to make of my treatment, sir," replied Madison. +"You have been just and kind to me; and since you manifest so much +interest in me, I will tell you what it is that makes me so gloomy." + +He then related his story, and told how his heart was homesick for his +dear Susan. He said she was so handsome that they would ask a high price +for her, and he had been calculating that it would take him years to +earn enough to buy her; meanwhile, he knew not what might happen to her. +There was no law to protect a slave, and he feared all sorts of things; +especially, he was afraid they might sell her to the far South, where he +could never trace her. So he said he had made up his mind to go back to +Virginia and try to bring her away. Mr. Dickson urged him not to attempt +it. He reminded him of the dangers he would incur: that he would run a +great risk of getting back into Slavery, and that perhaps he himself +would be sold to the far South, where he never would be able to +communicate with his wife. But Madison replied, "I am well aware of +that, sir; but freedom does me no good unless Susan can share it with +me." + +He accordingly left his safe place of refuge, and started for Virginia. +He had free-papers made out, which he thought would protect him till he +arrived in the neighborhood where he was known. He also purchased +several small files and saws, which he concealed in the lining of his +clothes. With these tools he thought he could effect his escape from +prison, if he should be taken up on the suspicion of being a runaway +slave. Passing through the State of Ohio, he met several who had +previously seen him on his way to Canada. They all tried to persuade him +not to go back to Virginia; telling him there were nine chances out of +ten that he would get caught and carried back into Slavery again. But +his answer always was, "Freedom does me no good while my wife is a +slave." + +When he came to the region where he was known, he hid in woods and +swamps during the day, and travelled only in the night. At last he came +in sight of his master's farm, and hid himself in the woods near by. +There he remained several days, in a dreadful state of suspense and +anxiety. He could not contrive any means to obtain information +concerning his wife. He was afraid they might have sold her, for fear +she would follow him. He prowled about in the night, in hopes of seeing +some old acquaintance, who would tell him whether she was still at the +old place; but he saw no one whom he could venture to trust. At last +fortune favored him. One evening he heard many voices singing, and he +knew by their songs that they were slaves. As they passed up the road, +he came out from the woods and joined them. There were so many of them +that the addition of one more was not noticed. He found that they were +slaves from several plantations, who had permits from their masters to +go to a corn-shucking. They were merry, for they were expecting to have +a lively time and a comfortable supper. Being a moonless evening, they +could not see Madison's face, and he was careful not to let them +discover who he was. He went with them to the corn-shucking; and, +keeping himself in the shadow all the time, he contrived, in the course +of conversation, to find out all he wanted to know. Susan was not sold, +and she was living in the same house where he had left her. He was +hungry, for he had been several days without food, except such as he +could pick up in the woods; but he did not dare to show his face at the +supper, where dozens would be sure to recognize him. So he skulked away +into the woods again, happy in the consciousness that his Susan was not +far off. + +He resolved to attempt to see her the next night. He was afraid to tap +at her window after all the people in the Great House were abed and +asleep; for, as she supposed he was in Canada, he thought she might be +frightened and call somebody. He therefore ventured to approach her room +in the evening. Unfortunately, the overseer saw him, and called a number +of whites, who rushed into the room just as he entered it. He fought +hard, and knocked down three of them in his efforts to escape. But they +struck at him with their bowie-knives till he was so faint with loss of +blood that he could resist no longer. They chained him and carried him +to Richmond, where he was placed in the jail. His prospects were now +dreary enough. His long-cherished hope of being reunited to his dear +wife vanished away in the darkness of despair. + +There was a slave-trader in Richmond buying a gang of slaves for the +market of New Orleans. Madison Washington was sold to him, and carried +on board the brig Creole, owned by Johnson and Eperson, of Richmond, and +commanded by Captain Enson. The brig was lying at the dock waiting for +her cargo, which consisted of tobacco, hemp, flax, and slaves. There +were two separate cabins for the slaves: one for the men and the other +for the women. Some of the poor creatures belonged to Johnson and +Eperson, some to Thomas McCargo, and some to Henry Hewell. Each had a +little private history of separation and sorrow. There was many a +bleeding heart there, beside the noble heart that was throbbing in the +bosom of Madison Washington. His purchasers saw that he was intelligent, +and they knew that he was sold for having escaped to Canada. He was +therefore chained to the floor of the cabin and closely watched. He +seemed quiet and even cheerful, and they concluded that he was +reconciled to his fate. On the contrary, he was never further from such +a state of mind. He closely observed the slaves who were in the cabin +with him. His discriminating eye soon selected those whom he could +trust. To them he whispered that there were more than a hundred slaves +on board, and few whites. He had his saws and files still hidden in the +lining of his clothes. These were busily used to open their chains, +while the captain and crew were asleep. They still continued to wear +their chains, and no one suspected that they could slip their hands and +feet out at their pleasure. + +When the Creole had been nine days out they encountered rough weather. +Most of the slaves were sea-sick, and therefore were not watched so +closely as usual. On the night of November 7, 1841, the wind was blowing +hard. The captain and mate were on deck, and nearly all the crew. Mr. +Henry Hewell, one of the owners of the cargo of slaves, who had formerly +been a slave-driver on a plantation, was seated on the companion, +smoking a cigar. The first watch had just been summoned, when Madison +Washington sprang on deck, followed by eighteen other slaves. They +seized whatever they could find to use as weapons. Hewell drew a pistol +from under his coat, fired at one of the slaves and killed him. Madison +Washington struck at him with a capstan-bar, and he fell dead at his +feet. The first and second mates both attacked Madison at once. His +strong arms threw them upon the deck wounded, but not killed. He fought +for freedom, not for revenge; and as soon as they had disarmed the +whites and secured them safely, he called out to his accomplices not to +shed blood. With his own hands he dressed the wounds of the crew, and +told them they had nothing to fear if they would obey his orders. The +man who had been a chained slave half an hour before was now master of +the vessel, and his grateful companions called him Captain Washington. +Being ignorant of navigation, he told Merritt, the first mate, that he +should have the freedom of the deck, if he would take an oath to carry +the brig faithfully into the nearest port of the British West Indies; +and he was afraid to do otherwise. + +The next morning Captain Washington ordered the cook to prepare the best +breakfast the store-room could furnish, for it was his intention to give +all the freed slaves a good meal. The women, who had been greatly +frightened by the tumult the night before, were glad enough to come out +of their close cabin into the fresh air. And who do you think was among +them? Susan, the beautiful young wife of Madison, was there! She had +been accused of communicating with her husband in Canada, and being +therefore considered a dangerous person, she had been sold to the +slave-trader to be carried to the market of New Orleans. Neither of them +knew that the other was on board. With a cry of surprise and joy they +rushed into each other's arms. The freed slaves threw up their caps and +hurrahed again and again, till the sea-gulls wondered at the noise. O, +it was a joyful, joyful time! Captain Washington was repaid for all he +had suffered. He had gained his own liberty, after having struggled for +it in vain for years; he had freed a hundred and thirty-four of his +oppressed brethren and sisters; and he had his beloved Susan in his +arms, carrying her to a land where the laws would protect their domestic +happiness. He felt richer at that moment than any king with a golden +crown upon his head. + +There had been but two lives lost. One white man was killed in the +affray, and he was the slave-driver who shot down one of the slaves. +Captain Enson and others who were wounded were kindly cared for by +Captain Washington. They proved ungrateful, and tried to regain +possession of the vessel and the slaves. The blacks were so exasperated +by this attempt, that they wanted to kill all the whites on board. But +Captain Washington called out to them: "We have got our liberty, and +that is all we have been fighting for. Let no more blood be shed! I have +promised to protect these men. They have shown that they are not worthy +of it; but let us be magnanimous." + +Next morning the Creole arrived at Nassau, in the island of New +Providence. Captain Washington and his companions sprang out upon free +soil. There he and his beloved Susan are living under the protection of +laws which make no distinctions on account of complexion. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS. + + +"The election of members to serve as representatives of the people in +Assembly ought to be free; and all men having sufficient evidence of +permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community have +the right of suffrage; and they cannot be taxed, or deprived of their +property for public uses, without their own consent, or that of their +representatives so elected; nor can they be bound by any law to which +they have not assented, in like manner, for the public good." + +The Virginia Bill of Rights was unanimously adopted by the people, in +June, 1776; and when they met, in January, 1830, to amend the +constitution of the State, they voted that the Bill of Rights needed no +amendment. + + + + +PRAISE OF CREATION. + +BY GEORGE HORTON. + + + Creation fires my tongue! + Nature, thy anthems raise, + And spread the universal song + Of thy Creator's praise. + + When each revolving wheel + Assumed its sphere sublime, + Submissive Earth then heard the peal, + And struck the march of time. + + The march in heaven begun, + And splendor filled the skies, + When Wisdom bade the morning sun + With joy from chaos rise. + + The angels heard the tune + Throughout creation ring; + They seized their golden harps as soon, + And touched on every string. + + When time and space were young, + And music rolled along, + The morning stars together sung, + And heaven was drowned in song. + + + + +FREDERICK DOUGLASS. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +Captain Anthony owned two or three farms on the eastern shore of +Maryland, and held about thirty slaves. One of them, a black woman named +Betsy, married a free black man named Isaac Baily; and they had a +numerous family of children, all of whom were, of course, slaves to +Captain Anthony. When she became an old widow she lived in a hut +separate from the other slaves, and was principally employed in nursing +troops of babies, which her children brought into the world for the +benefit of their master. Somewhere about the year 1817, Harriet, the +youngest of her five daughters, gave birth to a boy, on whom she +bestowed the high-sounding name of Frederick Augustus Washington Baily. +As she could not be spared from field-work, baby Frederick joined the +band of little slaves that were under his grandmother's care. Her hut +was made of logs, with no windows, a clay floor, and a mud chimney. But +the children were as well satisfied with it as if it had been a palace. +They were too young to know that they were slaves, and they were as +happy as little wild animals. They imitated the noises made by cats, +dogs, pigs, and barn-yard fowls, and rolled over and over on the ground, +laughing at their own fun. If the mud or dust made them uncomfortable, +they walked into the river without undressing; for the short tow shirt, +which was their only garment, was washed by swimming, and soon dried in +the sunshine. There was a wood close by, and it was one of their +greatest pleasures to watch the squirrels as they frisked about, or sat +on the stumps eating nuts. Near the hut was a well, with its beam placed +between the boughs of an old tree, and so well balanced that the +children could easily help themselves to water. Down in a valley, not +far off, was a water-mill, where people went to get their corn ground. +It was capital sport to play at fishing in the mill-pond, with thread +lines, and hooks made of bent pins; and they were never tired of seeing +the big wheel turn round, throwing off great drops of water that +sparkled in the sunshine. They lived mostly on corn mush, which they ate +from a big wooden tray, with oyster-shells for spoons. But they were as +healthy as little pigs, and enjoyed their coarse food as well. + +The greatest of their blessings was their good grandmother, who nursed +them kindly and did all she could to make them happy. They loved her +dearly; and when she was obliged to leave them for a short time, they +greeted her return with merry shouts. She was advanced in years, and the +hair that peeped from under the folds of her turban was very gray. But +she was remarkably strong for her age, straight in her figure, and quick +in her motions. She was very expert at catching fish, and sometimes +spent half the day in the water. She also made excellent nets to catch +shad and herring; and, as these nets sold extremely well, Captain +Anthony still found the old slave profitable. She had the name of being +born to good luck, because whatever business she undertook prospered in +her hands. She raised such excellent sweet potatoes that people often +sent for her to plant for them, saying, "If Gran'ma Betty touches them +they'll be sure to flourish." But the secret of her good luck was her +intelligence and carefulness. When she dug potatoes she took pains not +to cut or bruise them; and in winter she protected them from frost in a +hole under her hearth. + +Freddy's poor mother was not allowed the comfort of being with her +child. She was let out to work in the fields, twelve miles off. Whenever +she went to see her little boy she had to walk over all those miles +twice in the night-time, after a hard day's work; for if she was not +back in the field by sunrise she was severely whipped. Freddy saw her +but four or five times, and never by daylight. Sometimes she would lie +down beside him and talk to him till he fell asleep, but when he woke +she was always gone. He always remembered that she once took him on her +knee and gave him a cake in the shape of a heart. Her rare visits made +such an impression on him that he never forgot her personal appearance. +She was tall and finely proportioned, with regular features and a deep +black glossy complexion. Her manners were very sedate, her countenance +downcast, and her eyes very sad. When he was nearly seven years old she +died; but he knew nothing about it till long afterward. In later years +he heard that she could read, and that she was the only one of all the +slaves in the neighborhood who possessed that advantage. He never +discovered how she had learned. When she died he was too young to have +heard anything from her lips concerning his father. He was always told +that he was the son of a white man, and some whispered the name of his +master. But he never knew who was his father, and could only conjecture +why the eyes of his poor mother had such a sad expression. + +Captain Anthony did not carry on any of his own farms. He employed +overseers for that purpose; and however cruelly the slaves might be +treated by the overseers, they never could obtain any protection by +applying to the "old master," as they called him. All the interest he +took in them was to have as much work as possible forced out of them, +and to sell one every year to add to his income. He himself managed the +affairs of Colonel Lloyd, a wealthy gentleman with numerous plantations +and a thousand slaves. His home-plantation, on the river Miles, where he +resided with his family, was about twelve miles from the hut where +Frederick had been nursed. His manager, Captain Anthony, lived in a +house on the same plantation, and was personally a stranger to his own +little slaves. But the children had seen and heard of things which made +the name of the "old master" a terror to them. Frederick's first great +trouble was when he discovered that he was a slave, and that, as soon as +he was big enough to work, he would have to go to "old master." Nothing +could exceed his dread of leaving the dear old home, and being separated +from the kind friend of his childhood. When he was about eight years +old, Captain Anthony sent for him; but his grandmother kept it a secret, +knowing how it would frighten him. One bright summer morning she told +him she was going to Colonel Lloyd's plantation, and invited him to go +with her. He had a curiosity to see the grand place of which he had +heard so much; so she took him by the hand and led him away from the +happy home of his childhood, to which he never returned. She carefully +concealed from him how her heart was swelling, and her tender ways did +not lead him to suspect it. When the unconscious little boy began to be +overcome with fatigue she "toted" him on her strong shoulders. She +scarcely seemed to feel the burden, and insisted upon carrying him a +long way; but he felt too much of a man to permit it. He was, however, +a little afraid as they walked through the thick, dark woods; for +sometimes the old knotted and gnarled stumps, when seen from a distance, +looked like creatures with eyes and legs; and he kept a tight hold of +her gown till the monstrous things were safely passed. + +It was afternoon before they reached the famous Home Plantation of +Colonel Lloyd. There he found everything very different from the +solitude and poverty to which he had been accustomed. The plantation +seemed like a village, there were so many large houses, and stables, and +out-buildings, and mechanics' shops, and such a long row of huts for the +"slaves' quarters." Children were shouting and singing, and a great many +men and women were hoeing in the fields. The children came crowding +round Frederick, and asked him to go and play with them. He looked in +his grandmother's face, and seeing that she seemed very sad, he begun to +suspect that he was going to live with the "old master." He was +unwilling to lose sight of her for a moment; but she patted him on the +head, and said, "Be a good boy, and go and play with the children. That +one is your brother Perry, that is your sister Sarah, and that is your +sister Eliza." He had heard of these brothers and sisters before, but he +had never seen them, and they seemed like strangers. He kept close to +his grandmother; but at last she persuaded him to follow the children to +the back part of the house. He felt so shy that he stood leaning against +the wall, looking on, while the others played. After a while, a little +boy, who had been left in the kitchen, ran up to him, exclaiming, "Fed! +Fed! Grandmammy's gone!" He rushed after her, and when he found that she +was gone far out of sight, he threw himself on the ground and sobbed. +His brother and sisters brought him peaches and pears, but he flung them +away, and continued sobbing, till, overcome with sorrow and fatigue, he +fell into a deep sleep. + +As Colonel Lloyd's plantation was not near any town, the barrels, +wheels, shoes, and cloth that were needed by the numerous slaves were +manufactured by themselves. Large crops of grain and tobacco were raised +and shipped for Baltimore. All the business of twenty or thirty other +farms was transacted at this plantation, which was distinguished by the +name of "The Great House Farm"; and as Captain Anthony was overseer of +all the overseers, he was kept very busy all the time. He took no notice +of Freddy at first, but when told who the newcomer was, he patted him on +the head and said, "You are my little Indian boy." Occasionally when he +met him he would speak affectionately to him; but he was a +violent-tempered man, and Freddy soon learned to watch him closely when +he saw him coming. If he was shaking his head or muttering to himself, +he hastened to get out of his way, lest he should catch a blow without +knowing what it was for. The slave children had no one to care for them +but cross Katy, the cook, who cuffed them about, and kept all, except +her own children, in such a half-starved condition, that Freddy often +had a tussle with the dogs and cats for the bones that were thrown to +them. Summer and winter, they had no clothing but a coarse tow shirt +that reached to the knees. They were provided with two a year; and if +they wore out before allowance-day came round, they went naked. They +slept anywhere on the floor without covering. Freddy suffered much from +cold. His naked feet were cracked open in great gashes in the winter. +When he could get a chance, he would creep into the meal-bag at night. +So much for the care taken of their bodies; and it fared no better with +their souls. All the instruction they received was from Uncle Isaac, a +crippled slave, who, being unable to work, taught the children to say +the Lord's Prayer after him by rote, and switched them whenever they +made a mistake. + +But Freddy was at an age to bear privations and troubles lightly, and to +enjoy thoughtlessly whatever pleasant things came in his way. He had +never seen anything so grand as The Great House, in which Colonel Lloyd +resided. It was a large white building, with piazza and columns in +front, surrounded by arbors, and grain-houses, and turkey-houses, and +pigeon-houses, interspersed with grand old trees. There was an extensive +lawn, kept as smooth as velvet, and ornamented with flowering shrubs. +The carriage-road to and from the house made a circle round the lawn, +and was paved with white pebbles from the beach. Outside of this +enclosed space were extensive parks, where rabbits, deer, and other wild +animals frisked about. Flocks of red-winged blackbirds made the trees +look gay, and filled the air with melody. Vessels on their way to +Baltimore were continually in sight, and a sloop belonging to Colonel +Lloyd lay in the river, with its pretty little boat bobbing about in the +sparkling water. There was a windmill not far off, and the little slaves +were never tired of watching the great wings go whirling round. There +was a creek to swim in, and crabs and clams and oysters to be got by +wading and digging and raking for them. Freddy was glad enough to catch +them when he had a chance, for he never had half enough to eat. He had +one friend at The Great House. Daniel Lloyd, the Colonel's youngest +son, liked to have him assist in his sports. He protected him when +bigger boys wanted to make war upon him, and sometimes he gave him a +cake. Captain Anthony's family consisted of a son, Andrew, and a +daughter, Lucretia, who had married Captain Thomas Auld. Mrs. Lucretia +took a fancy to bright little Freddy. She liked to hear him sing, and +often spoke a kind word to him. This emboldened him so much, that when +he was very hungry he would go and sing under the window where she sat +at work, and she would generally give him a piece of bread, sometimes +with butter on it. That was a great treat for a boy who was fed all the +time on corn mush, and could not get half enough of that. His business +was to clean the front yard, to keep fowls out of the garden, to drive +the cows home from pasture, and to run of errands. He had a good deal of +time to play with his little relatives, and with the young slaves at +Colonel Lloyd's, who called him "Captain Anthony Fed." He was such a +mere boy, that it is no wonder so many new people and things soon cured +him of homesickness for his grandmother, who could very seldom get time +to trudge twelve miles to see him. + +But though his slave-life was not without gleams of enjoyment, he saw +and heard much that was painful. At one time he would see Colonel Lloyd +compel a faithful old slave get down upon his knees to be flogged for +not keeping the hair of his horses sufficiently smooth. At another time, +the overseer would shoot a slave dead for refusing to come up to be +whipped. Ever and anon some of them were sold to Georgia slave-traders, +and there was weeping and wailing in the families they left behind. On +the premises of his own master, he was not unfrequently wakened in the +night by the screams and groans of slaves who were being lashed. One of +Captain Anthony's slaves, named Esther, was the sister of Freddy's +mother. She had a pretty face and a graceful shape. She and a handsome +young slave of Colonel Lloyd's were much attached, and wished to marry. +But her old master, for reasons of his own, forbade her to see her +lover, and if he suspected them of meeting he would abuse the poor girl +in a most shocking manner. Freddy was too young at the time to +understand the full significance of this cruel treatment; but when he +thought of it in after years, it explained to him why his poor mother +had always looked so downcast and sad. As for himself, he managed to +escape very severe punishment, though Captain Anthony not unfrequently +whipped him for some carelessness or mischief. But when he saw the +plantation-laborers, even of so rich a man as Colonel Lloyd, driven out +to toil from early morning to dusk, shivering in the cold winds, or +dripping with rain, with no covering but a few coarse tow rags, he could +not help thinking that such was likely to be his fate when he was older. +Young as he was, he had a great dread of being a field-hand. Therefore +he was rejoiced when Mrs. Lucretia told him he was to be sent to +Baltimore, to live with her husband's brother, Mr. Hugh Auld. She told +him if he would make himself very clean, she would give him a pair of +new trousers. The prospect of exchanging his little tow shirt for new +trousers delighted him so much that he was ready to scrub his skin off +to obtain them. He was, moreover, very eager to see Baltimore; for +slaves who had been there told fine stories about the grand houses and +the multitude of ships. He had been only two years at Captain Anthony's, +and he had formed no attachment so strong as that he had felt for his +old grandmother. It was with a joyful heart that he went forth to view +the wonders of the city. When he arrived in Baltimore, his new mistress +met him at the door with a pleasant smile. She said to her son, "There's +little Freddy, who has come to take care of you"; and to him she said, +"You must be kind to little Tommy." Mrs. Sophia Auld had earned her own +living before her marriage, and she had not yet acquired the ways of +slaveholders toward servants. While her own little Tommy was on her +knee, Freddy was often seated by her side, and sometimes her soft hand +would rest upon his head in a kind, motherly way. He had never been +treated so since he left his good old grandmother. In a very short time +he loved her with all his heart, and was eager to do anything to please +her. It was his business to go of errands and take care of Tommy. The +boys became as much attached to each other as if they were brothers. +There was nothing to remind Freddy of being a slave. He had plenty of +wholesome food to eat, clean clothes to wear, and a good straw bed with +warm covering. Mrs. Auld was much in the habit of singing hymns and +reading the Bible aloud; and Freddy, who was not at all afraid of "Miss +Sophy," as he called her, said to her one day that he wished she would +teach him to read. She consented; and he was so quick at learning that +he was soon able to spell small words. His kind mistress was so much +pleased with his progress, that she told her husband about it, and +remarked, with much satisfaction, that Freddy would soon be able to read +the Bible. Mr. Auld was displeased, and forbade her giving any more +lessons. "It is contrary to law to teach a nigger to read," said he. "It +is unsafe, and can only lead to mischief. If you teach him to read the +Bible, it will make him discontented, and there will be no keeping him. +Next thing, he will be wanting to learn to write; and then he'll be +running away with himself." This was said in the presence of Freddy, and +it set his active mind to thinking. He had often before wondered why +black children were born to be slaves; and now he heard his master say +that if he learned to read it would spoil him for a slave. He resolved +that he _would_ learn to read. He carried a spelling-book in his pocket +when he went of errands, and persuaded some of the white boys who played +with him to give him a lesson now and then. He was soon able to read. +With some money that he earned for himself, he bought a book called "The +Columbian Orator." It contained many speeches about liberty. The reading +of them made him discontented. He was no longer light-hearted and full +of fun. He became thoughtful and serious. When he played with white +boys, he would ask, "Why haven't I as good a right to be free, and go +where I please, as you have?" And sometimes a generous-hearted boy would +answer, "I believe, Fred, you _have_ just as good a right to be free as +I have." + +He knew that his present situation was uncommonly favorable; but the +idea of being a slave for life became more and more hateful to him. He +had not been in Baltimore quite four years when an event occurred which +proved to him the extreme uncertainty of a slave's condition, even when +circumstances seemed the most favorable. His old master, Captain +Anthony, died; and his slaves were to be divided between his son Andrew +and his daughter Mrs. Lucretia Auld. Frederick was in terror lest it +should be decided that he belonged to Andrew, who was a confirmed +drunkard, and excessively cruel to the slaves. It was a month before the +division of the estate was decided by law; and the anxiety of his mind +was so great that it seemed to him half a year. He felt as if saved from +sentence of death, when he was informed that he belonged to Mrs. +Lucretia, who had been kind to him in his hungry boyhood. As she had no +occasion for his services, it was agreed that he should remain in Mr. +Hugh Auld's family; a circumstance which pleased Master Tom and his +mother about as much as it did Freddy. + +But in a short time he was again painfully reminded of the uncertainty +of his condition. Mrs. Lucretia and her brother Andrew both died, each +of them leaving one child. Neither Captain Anthony nor his children left +any of the slaves free. Even Frederick's old grandmother, who had nursed +her master when he was a baby, waited upon him through his boyhood, +worked faithfully for him during all her life, and reared up a multitude +of children and grandchildren to toil for him,--even she was left in +Slavery, with no provision made for her. The children she had tended so +lovingly were sold, or let out in distant places; all were unable to +write to inform her where they had gone; all were unable to help her, +because they were not allowed to have their own earnings. When her old +master and his children were dead, the owners of the property thought +Gran'ma Betty was too old to be of any further use; so they put up a hut +with a mud chimney in the woods, and left her there to find food for +herself as she could, with no mortal to render her any service in her +dying hour. This brutal proceeding increased the bitterness of +Frederick's feeling against Slavery. + +By the blessing of God the consolations of religion came to him, and +enabled him to look beyond this troubled and transitory world. A pious +colored man, called Uncle Lawson, became interested in him. They +attended prayer-meetings together, and Frederick often went to his house +on Sundays. They had refreshing times together, reading the Bible, +praying, and singing hymns. Uncle Lawson saw that his young friend had +uncommon intelligence, and he often said to him, "The Lord has a great +work for you to do, and you must prepare yourself for it." Frederick +replied that he did not see how a slave could prepare himself for any +great work; but the pious old man always answered, "Trust in the Lord. +He will bring it about in his own good time. You must go on reading and +studying Scripture." This prophecy inspired him with hope, and he seized +every opportunity to improve himself. But he had many obstacles to +contend with. His master, Mr. Hugh Auld, was made irritable by an +increasing love for brandy. When he found out that Frederick read and +spoke at religious meetings, he threatened to flog him if he continued +to do it. His kind mistress, who used to pat him on the head and call +him "Little Freddy," was changed by the habit of having slaves and +talking with slaveholders. The pleasant, motherly expression of her face +had become severe. She watched Frederick very closely, and if she caught +him with a book or newspaper in his hand, she would rush at him in a +great rage and snatch it away. Master Tommy had grown to be a tall lad, +and began to feel that he was born to be a master and Fred to be a +slave. Frederick would probably have tried to run away, had it not been +for the friendships he had formed for Uncle Lawson and the religious +young men he met at the meetings. Notwithstanding his master's threat, +he contrived to find opportunities to read and pray with good Uncle +Lawson; and it had a blessed influence on his spirit, making him feel at +peace with all men. Now that he had a taste of knowledge, it was +impossible to prevent his getting more. His master sent him of errands +to the shipyard almost daily. He noticed that the carpenters marked +their boards with letters. He asked the name of the letters, and copied +them with a bit of chalk. When the family went from home, he diligently +copied from the writing-books Master Tommy had brought from school; and +his zeal was so great that in a short time he could write as well as his +master. He picked up bits of newspapers wherever he could find them, and +he listened attentively when he heard slaveholders talking about the +Northern States and cursing the Abolitionists. He did not at first know +what was the meaning of "abolitionists"; but when he read in a newspaper +that petitions were sent into Congress for the abolition of Slavery, +light dawned upon him. He told trustworthy colored friends about it, and +they were comforted by the thought that there were people at the North +trying to help them out of bondage. + +But a new blow fell upon him. Captain Thomas Auld married again, after +the death of his wife Mrs. Lucretia, and removed to St. Michael's,--an +old village, the principal business of which was oyster fishing. He got +into a quarrel with his brother, Mr. Hugh Auld of Baltimore, and +demanded that Frederick should be sent back to him. So he was put on +board a ship for St. Michael's. When swift steamboats on their way to +Philadelphia passed the sloop that carried him, he bitterly regretted +that he had not escaped to the Free States from Baltimore, where he +could have had so many more opportunities for doing it than he could at +the old fishing-village. Captain Thomas Auld and his new wife were both +great professors of religion. He was an exhorter and class-leader in the +Methodist Church. But their religion was not of a kind that taught them +humanity to their fellow-creatures. They worked their slaves very hard, +and kept them half fed and half clothed. Scolding and flogging were +going on incessantly. Frederick soon discovered that they were violently +opposed to colored people's knowing how to read; but when a pious young +man in the neighborhood asked him to assist in a Sunday school for +colored children, he resolved to seize the opportunity of being useful. +When his master found out what he was doing, he was very angry; and the +next Sunday he and two other Methodist class-leaders went to the school, +armed with clubs and whips, and drove off both teachers and scholars. It +was agreed that Frederick had been spoiled by living in Baltimore, and +that it was necessary to cure him of his dangerous thirst for knowledge. +For that purpose he was sent to a famous "negro-breaker" in the +neighborhood named Covey. He was a great professor of religion, but a +monster of cruelty. Frederick was almost killed by hard labor, and not a +week passed without his being cruelly cut up with the whip. Escape was +impossible, for Covey was on the watch at all times of day and night. +Six months of such treatment wellnigh crushed all manhood out of him. +But cruelty was carried so far that at last he became desperate, and +when his master attempted to beat him, he struggled with him and threw +him down. He expected to be hung for it, according to the laws of +Maryland; but Covey prided himself on his reputation as a +"negro-breaker," and he was ashamed to have it known that he had been +conquered by a lad of seventeen. Frederick's time was not out for six +months longer, but Covey never attempted to whip him again. + +The next two years Frederick was let out to do field-work for Mr. +Freeland, who fed his slaves well, and never worked them beyond their +strength. Some of his slaves were intelligent, and desirous to learn to +read. On Sundays they had meetings in the woods, and twenty or thirty +young men were taught by Frederick. After a while they formed a plan of +escaping in a canoe. But some unknown men excited suspicion against +them, and they were seized and thrust into prison. They kept their +secrets so well, however, that no proof could be obtained against them, +and they were released without even a whipping. But some of the +neighboring slaveholders said Frederick was a dangerous fellow; that he +knew too much,--they would not have him tampering with their slaves; and +if he was not sent out of the neighborhood they would shoot him. Captain +Thomas Auld talked of selling him to Alabama; but he finally concluded +to let him out again to his brother Hugh, with a promise that if he +behaved well he should be free at twenty-five years old. + +When he returned to Baltimore he was let out to work at calking vessels; +and he soon became so expert at the business that he earned from seven +to nine dollars a week. He was trusted to make his own contracts, but +was required to pay Mr. Hugh Auld his earnings every Saturday night. On +such occasions a sixpence or a shilling was sometimes given him, for +which he was expected to be grateful; but it naturally occurred to him +that the whole of the money rightfully belonged to him who earned it. He +was attached to a worthy girl named Anna, but he was reluctant to form +family ties while he was subject to the vicissitudes of Slavery. He +often thought of escaping to the Free States, but the regulations were +so strict that it seemed a hopeless undertaking, unless he had money. +When Captain Thomas Auld visited Baltimore, he tried to make a bargain +with him to buy his time for a specified sum each week, being free to +earn as much more as he could. The reply was, "You are planning to run +away. But, wherever you go, I shall catch you." The master then tried to +coax him with promises of freedom in the future; but Frederick thought +it very uncertain when they would be willing to give up a man who +brought them in nine dollars a week. He concluded to go to the Free +States. How he accomplished it he never told, for he was afraid of +bringing trouble upon those who helped him. + +When he arrived in New York, he says he felt as he should suppose a man +would feel who had escaped from a den of hungry lions. But the joyful +feeling was soon checked. He met an acquaintance who had recently +escaped from Slavery. He told him the city was full of Southerners, who +had agents out in every direction to catch runaway slaves; and then he +hurried away, as if afraid of being betrayed. This made Frederick feel +very desolate. He was afraid to seek employment as a calker, lest spies +from his master should be on the watch for him. He bought a loaf of +bread, and hid away for the night among some barrels on a wharf. In the +morning, he met a sailor, who looked so good-natured and honest that he +ventured to tell him he was a fugitive slave, and to ask him for advice. +He was not deceived in the expression of the man's face. He invited him +to his house, and went in search of Mr. David Ruggles, a worthy colored +man, well known as a zealous friend of his oppressed race. The fugitive +was kept hidden for a few days, during which time Anna was sent for, and +they were married. By help of Mr. Ruggles, employment at calking was +obtained in New Bedford, a large town in Massachusetts, where a great +many ships are constantly employed. There he found many intelligent +colored people, not a few of whom had been slaves. They lived in +convenient houses, took newspapers, bought books, and sent their +children to good schools. They had various societies for improvement; +and when he attended their meetings, he was surprised to hear their +spirited discussions on various subjects. His bright mind was roused +into full activity by the influences around him. He changed his name to +Frederick Douglass. He was called Mr. Douglass now, and felt like it. He +worked hard, but that was a pleasure, now that he could enjoy his own +earnings. He felt safe; for there were so many Abolitionists and so many +intelligent colored people in New Bedford, that slaveholders did not +venture to go there to hunt for fugitives. The cruel treatment he had +received from hypocritical professors of religion had not destroyed his +faith in the excellence of real religion. He joined a church of colored +people, called Zion Methodists, and became a class-leader and preacher +among them. He took a newspaper called "The Liberator," edited by +William Lloyd Garrison, wherein he found the rights of the colored +people vindicated with great zeal and ability. His wife proved a neat +and industrious helpmate, and a little family of children began to +gather round him. Thus furnished with healthy employment for his mind, +his heart, and his hands, he lived over three years in New Bedford. + +At the end of that period, in the year 1841, a great Anti-Slavery +meeting was held in the vicinity, and Mr. Douglass went to hear Mr. +Garrison and others speak. He did not suppose that any one in the +meeting knew him; but a gentleman was present who had heard him preach +in Zion Church, and he went to him and urged him to address the +Anti-Slavery meeting. He was bashful about speaking before such a large +and intelligent audience; and when he was persuaded to mount the +platform he trembled in every limb. But what he said flowed right out +from the depths of his heart; and when people of any intelligence speak +in that way, they are always eloquent. The audience were greatly moved +by what he told them of his experiences. It was the beginning of a great +change in his life. The Anti-Slavery Society employed him to travel in +the Free States to lecture against Slavery; and that you may be sure he +could do with a will. Crowds went to hear him, and his ministration was +greatly blessed. The prophecy of good Uncle Lawson was fulfilled. The +Lord _had_ a great work for him to do; and in His own good time he had +brought it about. + +People who were in favor of Slavery said he was an impostor; that he did +not look like a slave, or speak like a slave; and that they did not +believe he had ever been in the Southern States. To prove that he was +not an impostor he wrote and published an account of his life, with the +names of his masters and the places where they resided. The book was +ably written, and produced almost as great an effect as his lectures. +Slaveholders were very angry that one of their escaped chattels should +produce such an excitement. There was great danger that some of their +agents would kidnap him as he went about the country lecturing. It was +therefore concluded that he had better go to England. In 1845 he took +passage for Liverpool in the English steamship Cambria. He was invited +to deliver a lecture on deck. Some slaveholders from New Orleans and +Georgia, who were a little under the influence of brandy, swore they +would throw him overboard if he did; but the captain of the vessel +threatened to put them in irons if they behaved in a disorderly manner. +When they arrived in England they tried to injure Mr. Douglass by +publishing that he was an insolent, lying negro; but their efforts only +served to make him famous. He delivered a great number of lectures, and +attracted crowds everywhere. In the Free States of his own country he +had been excluded from many places of improvement, and often insulted on +account of his color; but he had no such prejudice to encounter in +England. He behaved like a gentleman, and was treated like a gentleman. +Many distinguished and wealthy people invited him to their houses, as a +mark of respect for his natural abilities and the efforts he had made to +improve himself. But he felt that his labors were needed in America, in +behalf of his oppressed brethren, and he wanted to return. His friends +in England entered into negotiations with Captain Thomas Auld for the +purchase of his freedom, which they succeeded in obtaining for little +more than seven hundred dollars. + +After an absence of two years he returned to the United States a +freeman. He established himself with his family in Rochester, New York. +There he edited a weekly newspaper, called "The North Star," and from +time to time travelled about the country to deliver lectures, which were +always fully attended. After he was free he wrote a spirited letter to +his old master, Captain Thomas Auld, in which he asks: "What has become +of my dear old grandmother, whom you turned out, like an old horse, to +die in the woods? If she is still alive, she must be near eighty years +old,--too old to be of any service to you. O, she was father and mother +to me, so far as hard toil for my comfort could make her so. Send her to +me at Rochester, and it shall be the crowning happiness of my life to +take care of her in her old age." I never heard that any answer was +received to this letter. + +During the Rebellion Mr. Douglass labored zealously to raise colored +regiments, and one of his sons enlisted in the service of the United +States. After the Proclamation of Emancipation he was invited to +Baltimore, where he delivered an address before a large audience of +respectable citizens. How different was free Maryland from the +Slavery-ridden State which he had left, secretly and in terror, nearly +thirty years before! + + + + +HOW THE GOOD WORK GOES ON. + + +In the spring of 1865 an association of colored men was formed in +Baltimore for moral and intellectual improvement. They bought a building +formerly used by the Newton University, for which they paid sixteen +thousand dollars. In honor of their able pioneer, Frederick Douglass, +they named it "The Douglass Institute." On the day of its dedication he +delivered an address before the association in Baltimore, in the course +of which he said: "The mission of this institution is to develop +manhood; to build up manly character among the colored people of this +city and State. It is to teach them the true idea of manly independence +and self-respect. It is to be a dispenser of knowledge, a radiator of +light. In a word, we dedicate this institution to virtue, temperance, +knowledge, truth, liberty, and justice." + + + + +DEDICATION HYMN. + +BY J. M. WHITEFIELD. + + Written for the Vine Street Methodist Episcopal Church of colored + people, in Buffalo, N. Y. + + + God of our sires! before thy throne + Our humble offering now we bring; + Deign to accept it as thine own, + And dwell therein, Almighty King! + Around thy glorious throne above + Angels and flaming seraphs sing; + Archangels own thy boundless love, + And cherubim their tribute bring. + + And every swiftly rolling sphere, + That wends its way through boundless space, + Hymns forth, in chorus loud and clear, + Its mighty Maker's power and grace. + It is not ours to bear the parts + In that celestial song of praise; + But here, O Lord! with grateful hearts, + This earthly fane to Thee we raise. + + O let thy presence fill this house, + And from its portals ne'er depart! + Accept, O Lord! the humble vows + Poured forth by every contrite heart! + No sacrifice of beast or bird, + No clouds of incense here shall rise, + But, in accordance with thy word + We'll bring a holier sacrifice. + + Here shall the hoary-headed sire + Invoke thy grace, on bended knee; + While youth shall catch the sacred fire, + And pour its song of praise to Thee. + Let childhood, too, with stammering tongue, + Here lisp thy name with reverent awe; + And high and low, and old and young, + Learn to obey thy holy law. + + And when our spirits shall return + Back to the God who gave them birth, + And these frail bodies shall be borne + To mingle with their kindred earth,-- + Then, in that house not made with hands, + New anthems to thy praise we'll sing, + To Thee, who burst our slavish bands, + Our Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King. + + + + +A PRAYER. + + + Grant, O Father, that the time + Of earth's deliverance may be near, + When every land and tongue and clime + The message of Thy love shall hear; + When, smitten as with fire from heaven, + The captive's chain shall sink in dust, + And to his fettered soul be given + The glorious freedom of the just. + + JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + + + +WILLIAM AND ELLEN CRAFTS. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +William Crafts is a black man, born in Georgia. His master had the +reputation of being a humane man and a pious Christian. Yet, when some +of his slaves were getting old, he had no scruples about selling them +away from their families, and buying a young lot. Among those sold were +the father and mother of William. They were sold to different purchasers +from different places, and never saw each other again. They were much +attached to each other, and it was a consolation to their son to think +how happy would be their reunion in another world; for he says he never +knew people who more humbly placed their trust in God than his parents +did. William was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, and his brother to a +blacksmith; because slaves who worked well at a trade could be let out +with more profit to their masters, and would also bring a higher price +if sold. Before their time was out, their master became hard pressed for +money. Accordingly, he sold the young blacksmith, and mortgaged William +and his sister, a girl of fourteen. When the time of the mortgage was +up, their master had no money to redeem them, and they were placed on +the auction-block, to be sold to the highest bidder. The girl was sold +first, and bought by a planter who lived some distance in the country. +William was strongly attached to his sister; and when he saw her put +into a cart, to be carried away from him forever, it seemed as if his +heart would burst. He knelt down and begged and entreated to be allowed +to go and speak to her before she was taken away; but they handled him +roughly, and ordered him to stay on the auction-block. As he stood there +awaiting his own fate, he saw the cart moving slowly away. The tears +were rolling down his sister's cheeks, and she stretched her hands +toward him with a movement of despair. The thought that he could do +nothing for her, and that they might never meet more, almost killed him. +His eyes were blinded with tears; and when he could see again, the cart +was gone. + +He was bought by the man to whom he had been mortgaged, and ordered to +return to the cabinet-maker's shop to work. After a while his new master +took him to Macon, where he was let out to work at his trade. There he +became acquainted with a quadroon girl named Ellen, whom he afterward +married. + +Ellen was the daughter of her master, but her mother was a slave. Her +handsome dark eyes were apt to attract attention; her hair was straight, +and her skin was so nearly white that strangers often mistook her for +one of her master's own white family. This was very vexatious to her +mistress, who treated her so harshly that the poor child had no comfort +of her life. When she was eleven years old she was given to a daughter +of her mistress, who was about to be married to a gentleman living in +Macon. It was painful to part from her poor mother, but she was glad to +get away from the incessant cruelty of her old mistress. Her new +mistress proved more humane. In her service Ellen grew up without being +exposed to some of the most degrading influences of Slavery. + +She and the intelligent young cabinet-maker formed an attachment for +each other soon after they were acquainted. But Ellen had seen so much +of the separation of families in Slavery, that she was very reluctant to +marry. Whenever William said anything about it, she reminded him that +they were both slaves; and that if they were married either of their +masters could separate them whenever they chose. William remembered, +with bitterness of heart, how his father and mother and brother had been +sold, and how his sister had been torn from him without his being +allowed to bid her good by. He had not been tortured in his own person, +but he had seen other slaves cruelly whipped and branded with hot iron, +hunted and torn by bloodhounds, and even burned alive, merely for trying +to get their freedom. In view of these things, he had a great horror of +bringing children into the world to be slaves. He and Ellen often talked +together about escaping to the North and being married there. But they +reflected that they would have to travel a thousand miles before they +could reach any Free State. They knew that bloodhounds and slave-hunters +would be put upon their track; that if they were taken, they would be +subjected to terrible tortures; and that, even if they succeeded in +reaching the Free States, they would still be in danger of being +delivered up to their masters. They talked over a variety of plans; but +the prospect of escape seemed so discouraging, that at last they +concluded to ask their owner's consent to their marriage; and they +resolved to be as contented as they could in the situation to which they +were born. But they were too intelligent not to know that a great wrong +was done to them by keeping them in slavery. William shuddered to think +into what cruel and licentious hands his dear wife might fall if she +should be sold by her present owners; and Ellen was filled with great +anguish whenever she thought what might happen to her children, if she +should be a mother. They were always thinking and talking about freedom, +and they often prayed earnestly to God that some way of escape might be +opened for them. + +In December, 1848, a bold plan came into William's mind. He thought that +if his wife were dressed in men's clothes she could easily pass for a +white gentleman, and that he could accompany her on her travels as her +negro slave. Ellen, who was very modest and timid, at first shrank from +the idea. But, after reflecting more upon their hopeless situation, she +said: "It seems too difficult for us to undertake; but I feel that God +is on our side, and with His help we may carry it through. We will try." + +It was contrary to law for white men in the Southern States to sell +anything secretly to slaves; but there were always enough ready to do it +for the sake of getting money,--especially as they knew that no colored +man was allowed to testify against a white man. William was skilful and +diligent at his trade; and though his wages all went to his master, he +had contrived to lay up money by doing jobs for others in extra hours. +He therefore found little difficulty in buying the various articles of a +gentleman's dress, at different times and in different parts of the +town. He had previously made Ellen a chest of drawers, with locks and +key; and as she was a favorite and trusted slave, she was allowed to +keep it for her own use in the little room where she slept. As fast as +the articles were bought they were secretly conveyed to her, and she +locked them up. The next important thing was to obtain leave of absence +for a few days. It was near Christmas-time, when kind slaveholders +sometimes permit favorite slaves to be absent on a visit to friends or +relatives. But Ellen's services were very necessary to her mistress, and +she had to ask many times before she could obtain a written permission +to be gone for a few days. The cabinet-maker for whom William worked was +persuaded to give him a similar paper, but he charged him to be sure and +return as soon as the time was up, because he should need him very much. +There was still another difficulty in the way. Travellers were required +to register their names at the custom-houses and hotels, and to sign a +certificate for the slaves who accompanied them. When Ellen remembered +this, it made her weep bitterly to think that she could not write. But +in a few moments she wiped her eyes and said, with a smile, "I will +poultice my right hand and put it in a sling, and then there will be a +good excuse for asking the officers to write my name for me." When she +was dressed in her disguise, William thought she could easily pass for a +white gentleman, only she looked young enough for a mere boy; he +therefore bought a pair of green spectacles to make her look older. She, +on her part, was afraid that the smoothness of her chin might betray +her; she therefore resolved to tie a bandage round her face, as if she +were troubled with toothache. + +In four days after they first thought of the plan, all was in readiness. +They sat up all night, whispering over to each other the parts they were +to act in case of various supposable difficulties. William cut off +Ellen's glossy black hair, according to the fashion of gentlemen. When +all was carefully arranged, they knelt together and prayed that God +would protect them through their perilous undertaking. They raised the +latch of the door very softly, and looked out and listened. Nobody was +stirring abroad, and all was still. But Ellen trembled and threw herself +on her husband's breast. There she wept for a few moments, while he +tried to comfort her with whispered words of encouragement, though he +also felt that they were going forth into the midst of terrible dangers. +She soon recovered her calmness, and said, "Let us go." They stepped out +on tiptoe, shook hands in silence, and parted to go to the railway +station by different routes. William deemed it prudent to take a short +cut across the fields, to avoid being recognized; but his wife, who was +now to pass for his young master, went by the public road. Under the +name of Mr. William Johnson, she purchased tickets for herself and slave +for Savannah, which was about two hundred miles off. The porter who took +charge of the luggage at the station had formerly wished to marry Ellen; +but her disguise was so complete that he called her "Young massa," and +respectfully obeyed her orders concerning the baggage. She gave him a +bit of money for his trouble, and he made his best bow. + +The moment William arrived at the station, he hid himself in the "negro +car" assigned to servants. It was lucky that he did so; for, just before +the train started, he saw upon the platform the cabinet-maker, who had +given him a pass for quite a different purpose than an excursion to +Savannah. He was looking round, as if searching for some one; and +William afterward heard that he suspected him of attempting to escape. +Luckily, the train started before he had time to examine the "negro +car." + +Ellen had a narrow escape on her part; for a gentleman who took the seat +beside her proved to be Mr. Cray, who frequently visited at her +master's house, and who had known her ever since she was a child. Her +first thought was that he had come to seize her and carry her back; but +it soon became evident that he did not recognize her in a gentleman's +dress, with green spectacles, bandaged face, and her arm in a sling. +After the cars started, he remarked, "It is a very fine morning, sir." +Ellen, being afraid that her voice would betray her, continued to look +out of the window, and made no reply. After a little while, he repeated +the remark in a louder tone. The passengers who heard him began to +smile, and Mr. Cray turned away, saying, "I shall not trouble that deaf +fellow any more." To her great relief, he left the cars at the next +station. + +They arrived at Savannah early in the evening, and William having +brought his master something to eat, they went on board a steamer bound +for Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Johnson, as Ellen was now called, +deemed it most prudent to retire to his berth immediately. William, +fearing this might seem strange to the other passengers, made a great +fuss warming flannels and opodeldoc at the stove, informing them that +his young master was an invalid travelling to Philadelphia in hopes of +getting cured. He did not tell them the disease was Slavery; he called +it inflammatory rheumatism. The next morning, at breakfast, Mr. Johnson +was seated by the captain of the boat, and, as his right hand was tied +in a sling, his servant, William, cut up his food for him. The captain +remarked, "You have a very attentive boy, sir; but I advise you to watch +him like a hawk when you get North. Several gentlemen have lately lost +valuable niggers among them cut-throat Abolitionists." + +A hard-looking slave-trader, with red eyes, and bristly beard, was +sitting opposite. He laid down a piece of chicken he was eating, and +with his thumbs stuck in the arm-holes of his waistcoat, said: "I +wouldn't take a nigger North under no consideration. Now, if you'd like +to sell that 'ere boy, I'll pay you for him in silver dollars, on this +'ere board. What do you say, stranger?" Mr. Johnson replied, "I do not +wish to sell him, sir; I could not get on well without him." "You'll +_have_ to get on without him, if you take him to the North," continued +the slave-trader. "I am an older cove than you are, and I reckon I have +had more dealings with niggers. I tell you, stranger, that boy will +never do you any good if you take him across Mason and Dixon's line. I +can see by the cut of his eye that he is bound to run away as soon as he +can get a chance." Mr. Johnson replied, "I think not, sir. I have great +confidence in his fidelity." Whereupon the slave-trader began to swear +about niggers in general. A military officer, who was also travelling +with a servant, said to Mr. Johnson: "Excuse me, sir, for saying I think +you are likely to spoil that boy of yours by saying 'thank you' to him. +The only way to make a nigger toe the mark, and to keep him in his +place, is to storm at him like thunder. Don't you see that when I speak +to my Ned, he darts like lightning? If he didn't, I'd skin him." + +When the steamboat arrived at Charleston, the hearts of the fugitives +beat almost loud enough to be heard; they were so afraid their flight +had been discovered, and a telegraph sent from Savannah to have them +arrested. But they passed unnoticed among the crowd. They took a +carriage and drove to a fashionable hotel, where the invalid gentleman +received every attention befitting his supposed rank. He was seated at a +luxurious table in a brilliant dining-room, while William received some +fragments of food on a broken plate, and was told to go into the +kitchen. Mr. Johnson gave some pieces of money to the servants who +waited upon him; and they said to William, "Your massa is a big-bug. He +is de greatest gentleman dat has been dis way dis six months." + +Notwithstanding the favorable impression he had made, Mr. Johnson found +some difficulty in obtaining tickets to Philadelphia for himself and his +slave. The master of the ticket-office refused to write the invalid +gentleman's name for him. But the military officer who had breakfasted +with him stepped up and said he knew the gentleman, and all was right. +The captain of the North Carolina steamer hearing this, and not wishing +to lose a passenger, said, "I will register the gentleman's name, and +take the responsibility upon myself." Mr. Johnson thanked him politely, +and the captain remarked: "No disrespect was intended to you, sir; but +they are obliged to be very strict in Charleston. Some Abolitionist +might take a valuable nigger along with him, and try to pass him off as +his slave." + +They arrived safely at Wilmington, North Carolina, and took the cars to +Richmond, Virginia. On the way, an elderly lady in the cars, seeing +William on the platform, cried out, in great excitement, "There goes my +nigger Ned!" Mr. Johnson said, very politely, "No, madam, that is my +boy." But the lady, without paying any attention to what he said, called +out, "Ned, you runaway rascal, come to me, sir." On nearer inspection +she perceived that she was mistaken, and said to Mr. Johnson: "I beg +your pardon, sir. I was sure it was my Ned. I never saw two black pigs +look more alike." + +From Petersburg, a Virginia gentleman with two handsome daughters were +in the same car with Mr. Johnson. Supposing him to be a rich, +fashionable young Southerner, they were very attentive and sympathizing. +The old gentleman told him he knew how to pity him, for he had had +inflammatory rheumatism himself. He advised him to lie down to rest; +which he was very willing to do, as a good means of avoiding +conversation. The ladies took their extra shawls and made a comfortable +pillow for his head, and their father gave him a piece of paper which he +said contained directions for curing the rheumatism. The invalid thanked +him politely; but not knowing how to read, and fearing he might hold the +paper upside down, prudently put it in his pocket. When they supposed +him to be asleep, one of the ladies said, "Papa, he seems to be a very +nice young gentleman"; and the other responded, "I never felt so much +for any gentleman in my life." + +At parting the Virginian gave him his card and said: "I hope you will +call upon me when you return. I should be much pleased to see you, and +so would my daughters." He gave ten cents to William, and charged him to +be attentive to his master. This he promised to do, and he very +faithfully kept his word. + +They arrived at Baltimore with the joyful feeling that they were close +upon the borders of a Free State. William saw that his master was +comfortably placed in one of the best cars, and was getting into the +servants' car when a man tapped him on the shoulder and asked where he +was going. William replied humbly, "I am going to Philadelphia, sir, +with my master, who is in the next car." "Then you had better get him +out, and be mighty quick about it," said the man; "for the train is +going to start, and no man is allowed to take a slave past here till he +has satisfied the folks in the office that he has a right to take him +along." + +William felt as if he should drop down on the spot; but he controlled +himself, and went and asked his master to go back to the office. It was +a terrible fright. As Mr. Johnson stepped out he whispered, in great +agitation, "O William, is it possible we shall have to go back to +Slavery, after all we have gone through?" It was very hard to satisfy +the station-master. He said if a man carried off a slave that did not +belong to him, and the rightful owner could prove that he escaped on +that road, they would be obliged to pay for the slave. Mr. Johnson kept +up a calm appearance, though his heart was in his throat. "I bought +tickets at Charleston to pass us through to Philadelphia," said he; +"therefore you have no right to detain us here." "Right or no right, we +shall not let you go," replied the man. Some of the spectators +sympathized with the rich young Southerner, and said it was a pity to +detain him when he was so unwell. While the man hesitated, the bell rang +for the cars to start, and the fugitives were in an agony. "I don't know +what to do," said the man. "It all seems to be right; and as the +gentleman is so unwell, it is a hard case for him to be stopped on the +way. Clerk, run and tell the conductor to let this gentleman and his +slave pass." + +They had scarcely time to scramble into the cars, before the train +started. It was eight o'clock in the evening, and they expected to +arrive in Philadelphia early the next morning. They did not know that on +the way the passengers would have to leave the cars and cross the river +Susquehanna in a ferry-boat. They had slept very little for several +nights before they left Georgia, and they had been travelling day and +night for four days. William, overcome with fatigue, and feeling that +their greatest dangers were now over, fell sound asleep on a heap of +baggage. When they arrived at the ferry, it was cold, dark, and rainy; +and for the first time during their hazardous journey the invalid found +no faithful servant at hand when the cars stopped. He was in great +distress, fearing that William had been arrested or kidnapped. He +anxiously inquired of the passengers whether they had seen his boy. +There were a good many Northerners on board, and, supposing his slave +had run away, they rather enjoyed his perplexity. One gruffly replied, +"I am no slave-hunter." Another smiled as he said, "I guess he is in +Philadelphia before now." + +When they had crossed the ferry one of the guard found William still +sound asleep on the baggage, which had been rolled into the boat. He +shook him and bawled out: "Wake up, you boy! Your master has been half +scared to death. He thought you had run away." As soon as William was +enough awake to understand what had happened, he said, "I am sure my +good master does not think that of me." He hastened to explain to Mr. +Johnson how he happened to be out of the way. He was received with a +great leap of the heart; but the passengers only thought that the master +was very glad to recover his lost property. Some of them took a +convenient opportunity to advise William to run away when they reached +Philadelphia. He replied, "I shall never run away from such a good +master as I have." They laughed, and said, "You will think differently +when you get into a Free State." They told him how to proceed in case he +wanted to be free, and he thanked them. A colored man also entered into +conversation with him, and told him of a certain boarding-house in +Philadelphia, the keeper of which was very friendly to slaves who +wanted their freedom. + +On Christmas-day, just as morning was about to dawn, they came in sight +of the flickering lights of Philadelphia. William procured a cab as +quick as possible, hurried their baggage into it, and told the driver to +take them to the boarding-house which had been recommended to them. +While Ellen had been obliged to act the part of Mr. Johnson, she had +kept her mind wonderfully calm and collected. But now that she was on +free soil she broke down with the excess of her emotions. "Thank God, +William, we are safe, we are safe!" she exclaimed; and sinking upon her +husband's breast, she burst into a passion of tears. When they arrived +at the boarding-house, she was so faint she had no further occasion to +act being an invalid. As soon as a room was provided, they entered and +fastened the door. Then kneeling down side by side, folded in each +other's arms, with tears flowing freely, they thanked God for having +brought them safely through their dangerous journey, and having +permitted them to live to see this happy Sabbath day, which was +Christmas-day also. + +When they had rested and refreshed themselves with a wash, Ellen put on +her womanly garments and went to the sitting-room. When the landlord +came at their summons, he was very much surprised and perplexed. "Where +is your master?" inquired he; and when William pointed to his wife, he +thought it was a joke; for he could not believe she was the same person +who came into the house in the dress of a gentleman. He listened to +their singular story with great interest and sympathy. He told them he +was afraid it would not be safe for them to remain in Philadelphia, but +he would send for some Abolitionists who knew the laws better than he +did. Friends soon came, and gave them a hearty welcome; but they all +agreed that it would not be safe for them to remain long in +Philadelphia, and advised them to go to Boston. Barclay Ivens, a +kind-hearted Quaker farmer, who lived some distance in the country, +invited them to rest a few weeks at his house. They went accordingly. +But Ellen, who had not been accustomed to receive such attentions from +white people, was a little flurried when they arrived. She had received +the impression that they were going to stay with colored people; and +when she saw a white lady and three daughters come out to the wagon to +meet her, she was much disturbed, and said to William, "I thought they +were colored people." "It is all the same as if they were," replied he. +"They are our good friends." "It is _not_ all the same," said Ellen, +decidedly. "I have no faith in white people. They will be sending us +back into Slavery. I am going right off." She had not then become +acquainted with the Abolitionists. She had heard her master and other +Southerners talk about them as very bad men, who would make slaves +believe they were their friends, and then sell them into distant +countries. The Quaker lady saw that she was afraid, and she went up to +her and took her very kindly by the hand, saying: "How art thou, my +dear? We are very glad to see thee and thy husband. We have heard about +thy marvellous escape from Slavery. Come in and warm thyself. I dare say +thou art cold and hungry after thy journey." Ellen thanked her, and +allowed herself to be led into the house. Still she did not feel quite +safe in that strange place, away from all her people. When Mrs. Ivens +attempted to remove her bonnet, she said, "No, I thank you. I am not +going to stop long." "Poor child!" said the good Quaker mother, "I +don't wonder thou art timid. But don't be afraid. Thou art among friends +who would as soon sell their own daughters into Slavery as betray thee. +We would not harm a hair of thy head for the world." The kindly face and +the motherly tones melted the heart of the poor frightened fugitive, and +the tears began to flow. They stayed several weeks in that hospitable +house, and the son and daughters took so much pains to teach them to +read and write, that before they left they could spell a little, and +write their names quite legibly. They were strongly urged to stay +longer, and would have done so had they not been very desirous to be +earning their own living. When they left this excellent family it seemed +like parting with near and dear relatives. + +In Boston they were introduced to William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell +Phillips, Francis Jackson, Rev. Theodore Parker, and other good men, who +had for years been laboring for the emancipation of the slaves. The +fugitives made a favorable impression on strangers at first sight. They +both looked intelligent and honest. William had a very manly air, and +Ellen was modest and ladylike in her manners. + +Their marriage in Georgia had been, like other slave marriages, without +a certificate; therefore they were desirous to have the ceremony +performed again, with all the forms of law, now that they were in a free +land. They were accordingly married by the Rev. Mr. Parker, at the house +of a respectable colored citizen of Boston, named Lewis Hayden. Mr. +Crafts was employed at his trade, and his wife obtained work as a +seamstress. They lived in Boston two years, during which time they +established an excellent character by their honest industry and correct +deportment. They earned a comfortable living, and might have laid by +some money if circumstances had permitted them to remain in +Massachusetts. + +But in 1850 the Congress of the United States, under the influence of +slaveholders, passed a very wicked act called the Fugitive Slave Bill. +There was in Boston at that time a celebrated lawyer named Daniel +Webster. He wanted to be President of the United States, and for many +years no man had been able to get elected to that office unless he +pleased the slaveholders. He accordingly used his great influence to +help the passage of the bill, and advised the people of Massachusetts to +get over their scruples about hunting slaves. He died without being +President; and I hope God forgave the great sin into which his ambition +led him. By that cruel act of Congress, everybody, all over the country, +was required to send back fugitive slaves to their masters. Whoever +concealed them or helped them in any way became liable to a year's +imprisonment and a fine of a thousand dollars, besides paying the price +of the slave. In all the Northern cities there were many honest, +industrious colored people who had escaped from Slavery years before, +and were now getting a comfortable living. Many of them had married at +the North and reared families. But when slaveholders gained this victory +over the conscience of the North, they were compelled to leave their +business and their homes, and hide themselves wheresoever they could. +Mr. and Mrs. Crafts had many zealous friends in Boston, but the friends +of the slaveholders were more numerous. For some time past, Southerners +had been rather reluctant to hunt slaves in Massachusetts, because the +public opinion of the people was so much opposed to Slavery, that they +found it a difficult and disagreeable job. But after the passage of +that unrighteous bill, they and their pro-slavery accomplices at the +North became more bold. + +One day, while Mr. Crafts was busy in his shop, he received a visit from +a man by the name of Knight, who used to work in the same shop with him +in Georgia. He professed to be much pleased to see William again, and +invited him to walk round the streets and show him the curiosities of +Boston. Mr. Crafts told him he had work to do, and was very busy. The +next day he tried again; but finding Mr. Crafts still too busy to walk +with him, he said: "I wish you would come to see me at the United States +Hotel, and bring your wife with you. She would like to hear from her +mother. If you want to send letters to Georgia, I will take them for +you." This was followed by a badly spelled note to Mr. Crafts, informing +him that he was going to leave Boston early the next morning, and if he +wanted to send a letter to Georgia he must bring it to him at the hotel +after tea. Mr. Crafts smiled that he should think him silly enough to +walk into such an open trap. Mr. Knight had told him that he came to +Boston alone; but when he questioned the hotel-servant who brought the +note, he was told that a Mr. Hughes from Georgia accompanied him. Mr. +Hughes was a notorious slave-catcher, and the jailer of Macon. Mr. +Crafts continued to work at his shop; but he kept the door locked, and a +loaded pistol beside him. + +Finding that his intended victim was too much on his guard to be caught +by trickery, Mr. Hughes applied to the United States Court in Boston and +obtained a warrant to arrest William and Ellen Crafts as fugitive +slaves. This produced tremendous excitement. The Abolitionists were +determined that they should not be carried back into Slavery. They had +people everywhere on the watch, and employed lawyers to throw all manner +of difficulties in the way of the slave-hunters, whose persons and +manners were described in the newspapers in a way by no means agreeable +to them. The colored people held large meetings, and passed various +spirited resolutions, among which was the following: "_Resolved_, Man +wills us slaves, but God wills us free. We will as God wills. God's will +be done." Two hundred of them armed themselves and vowed that they would +defend William and Ellen Crafts to the death. Mr. Crafts said very +calmly, but very resolutely, that they should never take him alive. +Hughes the slave-catcher swore: "I'll have 'em if I stay in Boston to +all eternity. If there a'n't men enough in Massachusetts to take 'em, +I'll bring men from Georgia." Merchants in Boston, thinking only of +their trade with the South, sympathized with those men engaged in such a +base calling; and the United States officials did all they could to help +them. But though they received countenance and aid from many influential +men in Boston, those hirelings of Slavery could not help feeling ashamed +of their business. They complained that the boys in the streets hooted +after them, and that wherever they made their appearance, people called +out, "There go the slave-hunters!" They heard that the Abolitionists +were preparing to arrest them and try them as kidnappers; and the number +of colored people who watched their movements with angry looks made them +wish themselves back in Georgia. During all this commotion, the conduct +of Mr. Crafts excited universal admiration. He was resolute, but very +calm. If there had been any law to protect him, he would have appealed +to the law, rather than have harmed a hair of any man's head; but left +defenceless as he was among a pack of wolves hunting him and his +innocent wife, he was determined to defend his freedom at any cost. + +Ellen was secretly conveyed out of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Gray +Loring of Boston were excellent people, always kind to the poor and true +friends to the oppressed slaves. They spent their summers in the +neighboring town of Brookline. A Boston physician, who was an +Abolitionist, carried Ellen to their house in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. +Loring were both absent from home for a few days, but a lady who was +staying in the house received her with great kindness. She stayed there +two days, assisting the lady very industriously and skilfully with her +needle. Her mind was full of anxiety about her husband, whom she had +left in the city exposed to the most fearful danger. She was very +wakeful through the night, listening to every noise. As soon as she +became drowsy, she would wake with a sudden start from some bad dream. +She dreamed that she and William were running from the Georgia +slave-catcher, and that Daniel Webster was close behind them, pointing a +pistol at them. It was a sad thing that a man of such intellectual +ability as Mr. Webster, and with so much influence in society, should +make such bad use of his great power that he haunted the dreams of the +poor and the oppressed. Ellen rose in the morning with a feeling of +weariness and a great load upon her heart. But she kept back the tears +that were ready to flow, and was so quiet and sweet-tempered that she +completely gained the hearts of her protectors. Early the next evening, +the same friend who carried Ellen from the city brought her husband to +her. He also had been sleepless, and was worn down with fatigue and +anxiety. They were advised to retire to rest immediately, to remain in +their room with the door locked, and be careful not to show themselves +at the window. They followed these directions, and the lady was hoping +they would both have peaceful and refreshing slumber, when Ellen came to +say that her husband wanted to speak with her. She found him standing by +the fireplace looking very sad, but with a dignified calmness that +seemed to her truly noble in the midst of such dreadful danger. As she +entered he said, "Ellen has just told me that Mr. and Mrs. Loring are +absent from home. If we should be found in his house, he would be liable +to imprisonment and a heavy fine. It is wrong for us to expose him to +this danger without his knowledge and consent. We must seek shelter +elsewhere." The lady replied: "Mr. Loring would feel troubled to have +you leave his house under such circumstances. He is the best and kindest +of men, and a great friend of the colored people." "That makes it all +the more wrong for us to bring him into trouble on our account, without +his knowledge," replied Mr. Crafts. Ellen had kept up bravely all day, +but now her courage began to fail. She looked up with tears swimming in +her handsome eyes and said: "O William, it is so dark and rainy +to-night, and it seems so safe here! We may be seen and followed, if we +go out. You said you didn't sleep last night. I started up from a little +nap, dreaming that Daniel Webster was chasing us with a loaded pistol. I +thought of all manner of horrid things that might be happening to you, +and I couldn't sleep any more. Don't you think we might stay here just +this one night?" He looked at her with pity in his eyes, but said, very +firmly, "Ellen, it wouldn't be right." Without another word she +prepared to go, though the tears were falling fast. The lady, finding +his mind too fixed to be changed by her persuasions, sent a guide with +them to the house of Mr. Philbrick, a worthy, kind-hearted gentleman, +who lived about half a mile off. She herself told me the story; and she +said she never felt so much respect and admiration for any human beings +as she did for those two hunted slaves when she saw them walk out into +the darkness and rain because they thought it wrong to endanger, without +his consent, a friend of their persecuted people. She felt anxious lest +the slave-catcher or his agents might seize them on the road, and it was +a great relief to her mind when the guide returned and said Mr. +Philbrick received them gladly. + +After a few more days of peril they were secretly put on board a vessel, +which conveyed them to England. They carried letters which introduced +them to good people, who contributed money to put them to school for a +while. Their intelligence, industry, and good conduct confirmed the +favorable impression made by their first appearance. In 1860, Mr. Crafts +published a little book giving an account of their "Running a Thousand +Miles for Freedom." They have now been living in England fifteen years. +By their united industry and good management they earned a comfortable +living, and laid by a little, year after year, until they had enough to +buy a small house in the village of Hammersmith, not far from the great +city of London. There they keep their children at the best of schools, +and pay taxes which help to support the poor in the country which +protected them in their time of danger and distress. + +The honesty, energy, and good sense of Mr. Crafts inspired so much +respect and confidence in England, that the Quakers and other +benevolent people, who wish to do good to Africa, also merchants, who +want to open trade with that region, sent him out there with a valuable +cargo of goods, in November, 1862. The mission he is performing is very +important to the well-being of the world, as you will see by the +following explanation. + +Africa is four thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean from the United +States. It is inhabited by numerous tribes of black people, each tribe +with a separate government. These tribes vary in degrees of intelligence +and civilization; but they are generally of a peaceable and kindly +disposition, unless greatly provoked by wrongs from others. Where they +are safe from attack they live in little villages of huts, and raise +yams, rice, and other grain for food. They weave coarse cloth from +cotton, merely by means of sticks stuck in the ground, and in some +places they color it with gay patterns. They make very pretty baskets +and mats from grasses, and some of the tribes manufacture rude tools of +iron and ornaments of gold. But a constant state of warfare has hindered +the improvement of the Africans; for men have very little encouragement +to build good houses, and make convenient furniture, and plant grain, if +enemies are likely to come any night and burn and trample it all to the +ground. These continual wars have been largely caused by the +slave-trade. Formerly the African chiefs sold men into Slavery only in +punishment for some crime they had committed, or to work out a debt they +had failed to pay, or because they were prisoners taken in war. These +customs were barbarous enough, but they were not so bad as what they +were afterward taught to do by nations calling themselves Christians. In +various countries of Europe and America there were white people too +proud and lazy to work, but desirous to dress in the best and live on +the fat of the land. They sent ships out to Africa to bring them +negroes, whom they compelled to work without wages, with coarse, scanty +food, and scarcely any clothing. They grew rich on the labor of these +poor creatures, and spent their own time in drinking, gambling, and +horse-racing. Slave-traders, in order to supply them with as many +negroes as they wanted, would steal all the men, women, and children +they could catch on the coast of Africa; and would buy others from the +chiefs, paying them mostly in rum and gunpowder. This made the different +tribes very desirous to go to war with each other, in order to take +prisoners to sell to the slave-traders; and the more rum they drank, the +more full of fight they were. This mean and cruel business has been +carried on by white men four hundred years; and all that while African +villages have been burned in the night, and harvests trampled, and men, +women, and children carried off to hopeless Slavery in distant lands. +This continual violence, and intercourse with such bad white men as the +slave-traders, kept the Africans barbarous; and made them much more +barbarous than they would otherwise have been. Such a state of things +made it impossible for them to improve, as they would have done if the +nations called Christians had sent them spelling-books and Bibles +instead of rum, teachers instead of slave-traders, and tools and +machinery instead of gunpowder. + +Of all the African chiefs the King of Dahomey is the most powerful. He +sends armed men all about the country to carry off people and sell them +to Europeans and Americans. In that bad way he has grown richer than +other chiefs, and more hard-hearted. Benevolent people in England have +long desired to stop the ravages of the slave-trade and to teach the +Africans better things. The dearth of cotton in the United States, +occasioned by the Rebellion of the planters, turned the attention of +English merchants in the same direction. It was accordingly agreed to +send Mr. Crafts to Dahomey to open a trade, and try to convince the king +that it would be more profitable to him to employ men in raising cotton +than to sell them for slaves. He was well received by the King of +Dahomey, who shows a disposition to be influenced by his judicious +counsels. This is a great satisfaction to Mr. Crafts, desirous as he is +of elevating people of his own color. Numbers who were destined to be +sold into foreign Slavery are already employed in raising cotton in +their native land. Wars will become less frequent; and the African +tribes will gradually learn that the arts of peace are more profitable, +as well as more pleasant. This will bring them into communication with a +better class of white men; and I hope that, before another hundred years +have passed away, there will be Christian churches all over Africa, and +school-houses for the children. + +Mr. Crafts sold all the goods he carried out in the first vessel, and +managed the business so well that he was sent out with another cargo. He +is now one of the most enterprising and respected merchants in that part +of the world; and his labors produce better results than mere money, for +they are the means of making men wiser and better. How much would have +been lost to himself and the world if he had remained a slave in +Georgia, not allowed to profit by his own industry, and forbidden to +improve his mind by learning to read! + +Mr. M. D. Conway, the son of a slaveholder in Virginia, but a very able +and zealous friend of the colored people, recently visited England, and +sent the following letter to Boston, where it was read with great +interest by the numerous friends of William and Ellen Crafts:-- + + "LONDON, October 29th, 1864. + + "A walk one pleasant morning across a green common, then through a + quiet street of the village called Hammersmith, brought me to the + house of an American whom I respect as much as any now in Europe; + namely, William Crafts, once a slave in Georgia, then a hunted + fugitive in Massachusetts, but now a respected citizen of England, + and the man who is doing more to redeem Africa from her cruel + superstitions than all other forces put together. He lately came + home from Dahomey, the ship-load of goods that he had taken out to + Africa from Liverpool having been entirely sold. The merchants who + sent him are preparing another cargo for him, and he will probably + leave the country this week. His theory is, that commerce is to + destroy the abominations in the realm of Dahomey. He is very black, + but he finds the color which was so much against him in America a + leading advantage to him in Africa. Ellen, his wife, told us that + she was too white to go with him. He was absent on business in + Liverpool, and thus, to my regret, I missed the opportunity of + seeing him. There was a pretty little girl, and three unusually + handsome boys. They all inherit the light complexion and beauty of + their mother. We found Mrs. Crafts busy packing her husband's trunk + for his next voyage. She showed us a number of interesting things + which he had brought from Africa. Among them were birds of bright + plumage, a belt worn by the Amazons in war, a sword made by the + Africans, breastpins, and other excellent specimens of work in + metals. I remembered that years ago the sight of similar things + inspired Clarkson with his strong faith in the improvability of the + African race. + + "William and Ellen Crafts own the house in which they live. After + that brave flight of a thousand miles for freedom, after the + dangers which surrounded them in Massachusetts, it did my heart + good to see them enjoying their own simple but charming home, to + see them thus living under their own vine and fig-tree, none daring + to molest or make them afraid. + + "M. D. CONWAY." + +Mrs. Crafts has used her needle diligently to make garments for the +colored people of the United States emancipated by President Lincoln's +Proclamation. She has had the pleasure of hearing that her mother is +among them, healthy, and still young looking for her years. As soon as +arrangements can be made she will go to England to rejoin her daughter, +whom she has not seen since her hazardous flight from Georgia. + +I think all who read this romantic but true story will agree with me in +thinking that few white people have shown as much intelligence, moral +worth, and refinement of feeling as the fugitive slaves William and +Ellen Crafts. + + * * * * * + +In February, 1861, the Emperor of Russia proclaimed freedom to +twenty-three millions of serfs. Finding their freedom was not secure in +the hands of their former masters, he afterward completed the good work +by investing the freedmen with civil and political rights; including the +right to testify in court, the right to vote, and the right to hold +office. + + + + +SPRING. + +BY GEORGE HORTON. + + + Hail, thou auspicious vernal dawn! + Ye birds, proclaim that winter's gone! + Ye warbling minstrels, sing! + Pour forth your tribute as ye rise, + And thus salute the fragrant skies, + The pleasing smiles of spring! + + Coo sweetly, O thou harmless dove, + And bid thy mate no longer rove + In cold hybernal vales! + Let music rise from every tongue, + Whilst winter flies before the song + Which floats on gentle gales. + + Ye frozen streams, dissolve and flow + Along the valley sweet and slow! + Divested fields, be gay! + Ye drooping forests, bloom on high, + And raise your branches to the sky; + And thus your charms display! + + Thou world of heat! thou vital source! + The torpid insects feel thy force, + Which all with life supplies. + Gardens and orchards richly bloom, + And send a gale of sweet perfume, + To invite them as they rise. + + Near where the crystal waters glide + The male of birds escorts his bride, + And twitters on the spray; + He mounts upon his active wing, + To hail the bounty of the spring, + The lavish pomp of May. + + + + +THE GOOD GRANDMOTHER. + +BY HARRIET JACOBS. + + +I had a great treasure in my maternal grandmother, who was a remarkable +woman in many respects. She was the daughter of a planter in South +Carolina, who, at his death, left her and her mother free, with money to +go to St. Augustine, where they had relatives. It was during the +Revolutionary War, and they were captured on their passage, carried +back, and sold to different purchasers. Such was the story my +grandmother used to tell me. She was sold to the keeper of a large +hotel, and I have often heard her tell how hard she fared during +childhood. But as she grew older she evinced so much intelligence, and +was so faithful, that her master and mistress could not help seeing it +was for their interest to take care of such a valuable piece of +property. She became an indispensable person in the household, +officiating in all capacities, from cook and wet-nurse to seamstress. +She was much praised for her cooking; and her nice crackers became so +famous in the neighborhood that many people were desirous of obtaining +them. In consequence of numerous requests of this kind, she asked +permission of her mistress to bake crackers at night, after all the +household work was done; and she obtained leave to do it, provided she +would clothe herself and the children from the profits. Upon these +terms, after working hard all day for her mistress, she began her +midnight bakings, assisted by her two oldest children. The business +proved profitable; and each year she laid by a little, to create a fund +for the purchase of her children. Her master died, and his property was +divided among the heirs. My grandmother remained in the service of his +widow, as a slave. Her children were divided among her master's +children; but as she had five, Benjamin, the youngest, was sold, in +order that the heirs might have an equal portion of dollars and cents. +There was so little difference in our ages, that he always seemed to me +more like a brother than an uncle. He was a bright, handsome lad, nearly +white; for he inherited the complexion my grandmother had derived from +Anglo-Saxon ancestors. His sale was a terrible blow to his mother; but +she was naturally hopeful, and she went to work with redoubled energy, +trusting in time to be able to purchase her children. One day, her +mistress begged the loan of three hundred dollars from the little fund +she had laid up from the proceeds of her baking. She promised to pay her +soon; but as no promise or writing given to a slave is legally binding, +she was obliged to trust solely to her honor. + +In my master's house very little attention was paid to the slaves' +meals. If they could catch a bit of food while it was going, well and +good. But I gave myself no trouble on that score; for on my various +errands I passed my grandmother's house, and she always had something +to spare for me. I was frequently threatened with punishment if I +stopped there; and my grandmother, to avoid detaining me, often stood at +the gate with something for my breakfast or dinner. I was indebted to +her for all my comforts, spiritual or temporal. It was _her_ labor that +supplied my scanty wardrobe. I have a vivid recollection of the +linsey-woolsey dress given me every winter by Mrs. Flint. How I hated +it! It was one of the badges of Slavery. While my grandmother was thus +helping to support me from her hard earnings, the three hundred dollars +she lent her mistress was never repaid. When her mistress died, my +master, who was her son-in-law, was appointed executor. When grandmother +applied to him for payment, he said the estate was insolvent, and the +law prohibited payment. It did not, however, prohibit him from retaining +the silver candelabra which had been purchased with that money. I +presume they will be handed down in the family from generation to +generation. + +My grandmother's mistress had always promised that at her death she +should be free; and it was said that in her will she made good the +promise. But when the estate was settled, Dr. Flint told the faithful +old servant that, under existing circumstances, it was necessary she +should be sold. + +On the appointed day the customary advertisement was posted up, +proclaiming that there would be "a public sale of negroes, horses, &c." +Dr. Flint called to tell my grandmother that he was unwilling to wound +her feelings by putting her up at auction, and that he would prefer to +dispose of her at private sale. She saw through his hypocrisy, and +understood very well that he was ashamed of the job. She was a very +spirited woman; and if he was base enough to sell her, after her +mistress had made her free by her will, she was determined the public +should know it. She had, for a long time, supplied many families with +crackers and preserves; consequently "Aunt Marthy," as she was called, +was generally known; and all who knew her respected her intelligence and +good character. It was also well known that her mistress had intended to +leave her free, as a reward for her long and faithful services. When the +day of sale came, she took her place among the chattels, and at the +first call she sprang upon the auction-block. She was then fifty years +old. Many voices called out: "Shame! shame! Who's going to sell _you_, +Aunt Marthy? Don't stand there. That's no place for _you_." She made no +answer, but quietly awaited her fate. No one bid for her. At last a +feeble voice said, "Fifty dollars." It came from a maiden lady, seventy +years old, the sister of my grandmother's deceased mistress. She had +lived forty years under the same roof with my grandmother; she knew how +faithfully she had served her owners, and how cruelly she had been +defrauded of her rights, and she resolved to protect her. The auctioneer +waited for a higher bid; but her wishes were respected; no one bid above +her. The old lady could neither read nor write; and when the bill of +sale was made out, she signed it with a cross. But of what consequence +was that, when she had a big heart overflowing with human kindness? She +gave the faithful old servant her freedom. + +My grandmother had always been a mother to her orphan grandchildren, as +far as that was possible in a condition of Slavery. Her perseverance and +unwearied industry continued unabated after her time was her own, and +she soon became mistress of a snug little home, and surrounded herself +with the necessaries of life. She would have been happy, if her family +could have shared them with her. There remained to her but three +children and two grandchildren; and they were all slaves. Most earnestly +did she strive to make us feel that it was the will of God; that He had +seen fit to place us under such circumstances, and though it seemed +hard, we ought to pray for contentment. It was a beautiful faith, coming +from a mother who could not call her children her own. But I and +Benjamin, her youngest boy, condemned it. It appeared to us that it was +much more according to the will of God that we should be free, and able +to make a home for ourselves, as she had done. There we always found +balsam for our troubles. She was so loving, so sympathizing! She always +met us with a smile, and listened with patience to all our sorrows. She +spoke so hopefully, that unconsciously the clouds gave place to +sunshine. There was a grand big oven there, too, that baked bread and +nice things for the town; and we knew there was always a choice bit in +store for us. But even the charms of that old oven failed to reconcile +us to our hard lot. Benjamin was now a tall, handsome lad, strongly and +gracefully made, and with a spirit too bold and daring for a slave. + +One day his master attempted to flog him for not obeying his summons +quickly enough. Benjamin resisted, and in the struggle threw his master +down. To raise his hand against a white man was a great crime, according +to the laws of the State; and to avoid a cruel, public whipping, +Benjamin hid himself and made his escape. My grandmother was absent, +visiting an old friend in the country, when this happened. When she +returned, and found her youngest child had fled, great was her sorrow. +But, with characteristic piety, she said, "God's will be done." Every +morning she inquired whether any news had been heard from her boy. Alas! +news did come,--sad news. The master received a letter, and was +rejoicing over the capture of his human chattel. + +That day seems to me but as yesterday, so well do I remember it. I saw +him led through the streets in chains to jail. His face was ghastly +pale, but full of determination. He had sent some one to his mother's +house to ask her not to come to meet him. He said the sight of her +distress would take from him all self-control. Her heart yearned to see +him, and she went; but she screened herself in the crowd, that it might +be as her child had said. + +We were not allowed to visit him. But we had known the jailer for years, +and he was a kind-hearted man. At midnight he opened the door for my +grandmother and myself to enter, in disguise. When we entered the cell, +not a sound broke the stillness. "Benjamin," whispered my grandmother. +No answer. "Benjamin!" said she, again, in a faltering tone. There was a +jingling of chains. The moon had just risen, and cast an uncertain light +through the bars. We knelt down and took Benjamin's cold hands in ours. +Sobs alone were heard, while she wept upon his neck. At last Benjamin's +lips were unsealed. Mother and son talked together. He asked her pardon +for the suffering he had caused her. She told him she had nothing to +forgive; that she could not blame him for wanting to be free. He told +her that he broke away from his captors, and was about to throw himself +into the river, but thoughts of her came over him and arrested the +movement. She asked him if he did not also think of God. He replied: +"No, mother, I did not. When a man is hunted like a wild beast, he +forgets that there _is_ a God." + +The pious mother shuddered, as she said: "Don't talk so, Benjamin. Try +to be humble, and put your trust in God." + +"I wish I had some of your goodness," he replied. "You bear everything +patiently, just as though you thought it was all right. I wish I could." + +She told him it had not always been so with her; that once she was like +him; but when sore troubles came upon her, and she had no arm to lean +upon, she learned to call on God, and he lightened her burdens. She +besought him to do so likewise. + +The jailer came to tell us we had overstayed our time, and we were +obliged to hurry away. Grandmother went to the master and tried to +intercede for her son. But he was inexorable. He said Benjamin should be +made an example of. That he should be kept in jail till he was sold. For +three months he remained within the walls of the prison, during which +time grandmother secretly conveyed him changes of clothes, and as often +as possible carried him something warm for supper, accompanied with some +little luxury for her friend the jailer. He was finally sold to a +slave-trader from New Orleans. When they fastened irons upon his wrists +to drive him off with the coffle, it was heart-rending to hear the +groans of that poor mother, as she clung to the Benjamin of her +family,--her youngest, her pet. He was pale and thin now, from hardships +and long confinement; but still his good looks were so observable that +the slave-trader remarked he would give any price for the handsome lad, +if he were a girl. We, who knew so well what Slavery was, were thankful +that he was not. + +Grandmother stifled her grief, and with strong arms and unwavering faith +set to work to purchase freedom for Benjamin. She knew the slave-trader +would charge three times as much as he gave for him; but she was not +discouraged. She employed a lawyer to write to New Orleans, and try to +negotiate the business for her. But word came that Benjamin was missing; +he had run away again. + +Philip, my grandmother's only remaining son, inherited his mother's +intelligence. His mistress sometimes trusted him to go with a cargo to +New York. One of these occasions occurred not long after Benjamin's +second escape. Through God's good providence the brothers met in the +streets of New York. It was a happy meeting, though Benjamin was very +pale and thin; for on his way from bondage he had been taken violently +ill, and brought nigh unto death. Eagerly he embraced his brother, +exclaiming: "O Phil! here I am at last. I came nigh dying when I was +almost in sight of freedom; and O how I prayed that I might live just to +get one breath of free air! And here I am. In the old jail, I used to +wish I was dead. But life is worth something now, and it would be hard +to die." He begged his brother not to go back to the South, but to stay +and work with him till they earned enough to buy their relatives. + +Philip replied: "It would kill mother if I deserted her. She has pledged +her house, and is working harder than ever to buy you. Will you be +bought?" + +"Never!" replied Benjamin, in his resolute tone. "When I have got so far +out of their clutches, do you suppose, Phil, that I would ever let them +be paid one red cent? Do you think I would consent to have mother turned +out of her hard-earned home in her old age? And she never to see me +after she had bought me? For you know, Phil, she would never leave the +South while any of her children or grandchildren remained in Slavery. +What a good mother! Tell her to buy _you_, Phil. You have always been a +comfort to her; and I have always been making her trouble." + +Philip furnished his brother with some clothes, and gave him what money +he had. Benjamin pressed his hand, and said, with moistened eyes, "I +part from all my kindred." And so it proved. We never heard from him +afterwards. + +When Uncle Philip came home, the first words he said, on entering the +house, were: "O mother, Ben is free! I have seen him in New York." For a +moment she seemed bewildered. He laid his hand gently on her shoulder +and repeated what he had said. She raised her hands devoutly, and +exclaimed, "God be praised! Let us thank Him." She dropped on her knees +and poured forth her heart in prayer. When she grew calmer, she begged +Philip to sit down and repeat every word her son had said. He told her +all, except that Benjamin had nearly died on the way and was looking +very pale and thin. + +Still the brave old woman toiled on to accomplish the rescue of her +remaining children. After a while she succeeded in buying Philip, for +whom she paid eight hundred dollars, and came home with the precious +document that secured his freedom. The happy mother and son sat by her +hearthstone that night, telling how proud they were of each other, and +how they would prove to the world that they could take care of +themselves, as they had long taken care of others. We all concluded by +saying, "He that is _willing_ to be a slave, let him be a slave." + +My grandmother had still one daughter remaining in Slavery. She belonged +to the same master that I did; and a hard time she had of it. She was a +good soul, this old Aunt Nancy. She did all she could to supply the +place of my lost mother to us orphans. She was the _factotum_ in our +master's household. She was house-keeper, waiting-maid, and everything +else: nothing went on well without her, by day or by night. She wore +herself out in their service. Grandmother toiled on, hoping to purchase +release for her. But one evening word was brought that she had been +suddenly attacked with paralysis, and grandmother hastened to her +bedside. Mother and daughter had always been devotedly attached to each +other; and now they looked lovingly and earnestly into each other's +eyes, longing to speak of secrets that weighed on the hearts of both. +She lived but two days, and on the last day she was speechless. It was +sad to witness the grief of her bereaved mother. She had always been +strong to bear, and religious faith still supported her; but her dark +life had become still darker, and age and trouble were leaving deep +traces on her withered face. The poor old back was fitted to its burden. +It bent under it, but did not break. + +Uncle Philip asked permission to bury his sister at his own expense; and +slaveholders are always ready to grant _such_ favors to slaves and their +relatives. The arrangements were very plain, but perfectly respectable. +It was talked of by the slaves as a mighty grand funeral. If Northern +travellers had been passing through the place, perhaps they would have +described it as a beautiful tribute to the humble dead, a touching proof +of the attachment between slaveholders and their slaves; and very likely +the mistress would have confirmed this impression, with her handkerchief +at her eyes. _We_ could have told them how the poor old mother had +toiled, year after year, to buy her son Philip's right to his own +earnings; and how that same Philip had paid the expenses of the funeral +which they regarded as doing so much credit to the master. + +There were some redeeming features in our hard destiny. Very pleasant +are my recollections of the good old lady who paid fifty dollars for the +purpose of making my grandmother free, when she stood on the +auction-block. She loved this old lady, whom we all called Miss Fanny. +She often took tea at grandmother's house. On such occasions, the table +was spread with a snow-white cloth, and the china cups and silver spoons +were taken from the old-fashioned buffet. There were hot muffins, +tea-rusks, and delicious sweetmeats. My grandmother always had a supply +of such articles, because she furnished the ladies of the town with such +things for their parties. She kept two cows for that purpose, and the +fresh cream was Miss Fanny's delight. She invariably repeated that it +was the very best in town. The old ladies had cosey times together. They +would work and chat, and sometimes, while talking over old times, their +spectacles would get dim with tears, and would have to be taken off and +wiped. When Miss Fanny bade us "Good by," her bag was always filled with +grandmother's best cakes, and she was urged to come again soon. + +[Here follows a long account of persecutions endured by the +granddaughter, who tells this story. She finally made her escape, after +encountering great dangers and hardships. The faithful old grandmother +concealed her for a long time at great risk to them both, during which +time she tried in vain to buy free papers for her. At last there came a +chance to escape in a vessel Northward bound. She goes on to say:--] + +"All arrangements were made for me to go on board at dusk. Grandmother +came to me with a small bag of money, which she wanted me to take. I +begged her to keep at least part of it; but she insisted, while her +tears fell fast, that I should take the whole. 'You may be sick among +strangers,' said she; 'and they would send you to the poor-house to +die.' Ah, that good grandmother! Though I had the blessed prospect of +freedom before me, I felt dreadfully sad at leaving forever that old +homestead, that had received and sheltered me in so many sorrows. +Grandmother took me by the hand and said, 'My child, let us pray.' We +knelt down together, with my arm clasped round the faithful, loving old +friend I was about to leave forever. On no other occasion has it been my +lot to listen to so fervent a supplication for mercy and protection. It +thrilled through my heart and inspired me with trust in God. I staggered +into the street, faint in body, though strong of purpose. I did not look +back upon the dear old place, though I felt that I should never see it +again." + +[The granddaughter found friends at the North, and, being uncommonly +quick in her perceptions, she soon did much to supply the deficiencies +of early education. While leading a worthy, industrious life in New +York, she twice very narrowly escaped becoming a victim to the infamous +Fugitive Slave Law. A noble-hearted lady purchased her freedom, and +thereby rescued her from further danger. She thus closes the story of +her venerable ancestor:--] + +"My grandmother lived to rejoice in the knowledge of my freedom; but not +long afterward a letter came to me with a black seal. It was from a +friend at the South, who informed me that she had gone 'where the +wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.' Among +the gloomy recollections of my life in bondage come tender memories of +that good grandmother, like a few fleecy clouds floating over a dark and +troubled sea." + + H. J. + +NOTE.--The above account is no fiction. The author, who was thirty years +in Slavery, wrote it in an interesting book entitled "Linda." She is an +esteemed friend of mine; and I introduce this portion of her story here +to illustrate the power of character over circumstances. She has intense +sympathy for those who are still suffering in the bondage from which she +escaped. She has devoted all her energies to the poor refugees in our +camps, comforting the afflicted, nursing the sick, and teaching the +children. On the 1st of January, 1863, she wrote me a letter, which +began as follows: "I have lived to hear the Proclamation of Freedom for +my suffering people. All my wrongs are forgiven. I am more than repaid +for all I have endured. Glory to God in the highest!" + + L. M. CHILD. + + * * * * * + +"THEY CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES." + + Our tobacco they plant, and our cotton they pick, + And our rice they can harvest and thrash; + They feed us in health, and they nurse us when sick, + And they earn--while we pocket--our cash. + They lead us when young, and they help us when old, + And their toil loads our tables and shelves; + But they're "niggers"; and _therefore_ (the truth must be told) + They cannot take care of _themselves_. + + REV. JOHN PIERPONT. + + + + +THE COLORED MOTHER'S PRAYER. + + + Great Father! who created all, + The colored and the fair, + O listen to a mother's call; + Hear Thou the negro's prayer! + + Yet once again thy people teach, + With lessons from above, + That they may _practise_ what they _preach_, + And _all_ their neighbors love. + + Again the Gospel precepts give; + Teach them this rule to know,-- + Such treatment as ye should _receive_, + Be willing to _bestow_. + + Then my poor child, my darling one, + Will never feel the smart + Of their unjust and cruel scorn, + That withers all the heart. + + Great Father! who created all, + The colored and the fair, + O listen to a mother's call; + Hear Thou the negro's prayer! + + + + +WILLIAM COSTIN. + + +Mr. William Costin was for twenty-four years porter of a bank in +Washington, D. C. Many millions of dollars passed through his hands, but +not a cent was ever missing, through fraud or carelessness. In his daily +life he set an example of purity and benevolence. He adopted four orphan +children into his family, and treated them with the kindness of a +father. His character inspired general respect; and when he died, in +1842, the newspapers of the city made honorable mention of him. The +directors of the bank passed a resolution expressive of their high +appreciation of his services, and his coffin was followed to the grave +by a very large procession of citizens of all classes and complexions. +Not long after, when the Honorable John Quincy Adams was speaking in +Congress on the subject of voting, he said: "The late William Costin, +though he was not white, was as much respected as any man in the +District; and the large concourse of citizens that attended his remains +to the grave--as well white as black--was an evidence of the manner in +which he was estimated by the citizens of Washington. Now, why should +such a man as that be excluded from the elective franchise, when you +admit the vilest individuals of the white race to exercise it?" + + * * * * * + +Strain every nerve, wrestle with every power God and nature have put +into your hands, for your place among the races of this Western +world.--WENDELL PHILLIPS. + + + + +EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +People of all colors and conditions love their offspring; but very few +consider sufficiently how much the future character and happiness of +their children depend on their own daily language and habits. It does +very little good to teach children to be honest if the person who +teaches them is not scrupulous about taking other people's property or +using it without leave. It does very little good to tell them they ought +to be modest, if they are accustomed to hear their elders use unclean +words or tell indecent stories. Primers and catechisms may teach them to +reverence God, but the lesson will lose half its effect if they +habitually hear their parents curse and swear. Some two hundred years +ago a very learned astronomer named Sir Isaac Newton lived in England. +He was so devout that he always took off his hat when the name of God +was mentioned. By that act of reverence he taught a religious lesson to +every child who witnessed it. Young souls are fed by what they see and +hear, just as their bodies are fed with daily food. No parents who knew +what they were doing would give their little ones poisonous food, that +would produce fevers, ulcers, and death. It is of far more consequence +not to poison their souls; for the body passes away, but the soul is +immortal. + +When a traveller pointed to a stunted and crooked tree and asked what +made it grow so, a child replied, "I suppose somebody trod on it when +it was little." It is hard for children born in Slavery to grow up +spiritually straight and healthy, because they are trodden on when they +are little. Being constantly treated unjustly, they cannot learn to be +just. Their parents have no power to protect them from evil influences. +They cannot prevent their continually seeing cruel and indecent actions, +and hearing profane and dirty words. Heretofore, you could not educate +your children, either morally or intellectually. But now that you are +freemen, responsibility rests upon you. You will be answerable before +God for the influence you exert over the young souls intrusted to your +care. You may be too ignorant to teach them much of book-learning, and +you may be too poor to spend much money for their education, but you can +set them a pure and good example by your conduct and conversation. This +you should try your utmost to do, and should pray to the Heavenly Father +to help you; for it is a very solemn duty, this rearing of young souls +for eternity. That you yourselves have had a stunted growth, from being +trodden upon when you were little, will doubtless make you more careful +not to tread upon them. + +It is necessary that children should be made obedient to their elders, +because they are not old enough to know what is good for themselves; but +obedience should always be obtained by the gentlest means possible. +Violence excites anger and hatred, without doing any good to +counterbalance the evil. When it is necessary to punish a child, it +should be done in such a calm and reasonable manner as to convince him +that you do it for his good, and not because you are in a rage. + +Slaves, all the world over, are generally much addicted to lying. The +reason is, that if they have done any mischief by carelessness or +accident, they dare not tell the truth about it for fear of a cruel +flogging. Violent and tyrannical treatment always produces that effect. +Wherever children are abused, whether they are white or black, they +become very cunning and deceitful; for when the weak are tortured by the +strong, they have no other way to save themselves from suffering. Such +treatment does not cure faults; it only makes people lie to conceal +their faults. If a child does anything wrong, and confesses it frankly, +his punishment ought to be slight, in order to encourage him in habits +of truthfulness, which is one of the noblest attributes of manhood. If +he commits the same fault a second time, even if he confesses it, he +ought not to be let off so easily, because it is necessary to teach him +that confession, though a very good thing, will not supply the place of +repentance. When children are naughty, it is better to deprive them of +some pleasant thing that they want to eat or drink or do, than it is to +kick and cuff them. It is better to attract them toward what is right +than to drive them from what is wrong. Thus if a boy is lazy, it is +wiser to promise him reward in proportion to his industry, than it is to +cuff and scold him, which will only make him shirk work as soon as you +are out of sight. Whereas, if you tell him, "You shall have six cents if +you dig one bushel of potatoes, and six cents more if you dig two," he +will have a motive that will stimulate him when you are not looking +after him. If he is too lazy to be stimulated by such offers, he must be +told that he who digs no potatoes must have none to eat. + +The moral education which you are all the time giving your children, by +what they hear you say and see you do, is of more consequence to them +than reading and writing and ciphering. But the education they get at +school is also very important; and it will be wise and kind in you to +buy such books as they need, and encourage them in every way to become +good scholars, as well as good men. By so doing you will not only +benefit them, but you will help all your race. Every colored man or +woman who is virtuous and intelligent takes away something of prejudice +against colored men and women in general; and it likewise encourages all +their brethren and sisters, by showing what colored people are capable +of doing. + +The system of Slavery was all penalty and no attraction; in other words, +it punished men if they did _not_ do, but it did not reward them for +_doing_. In the management of your children you should do exactly the +opposite of this. You should appeal to their manhood, not to their +fears. After emancipation in the West Indies, planters who had been +violent slaveholders, if they saw a freedman leaning on his hoe, would +say, "Work, you black rascal, or I'll flog you"; and the freedman would +lean all the longer on his hoe. Planters of a more wise and moderate +character, if they saw the emancipated laborers idling away their time, +would say, "We expect better things of free men"; and that appeal to +their manhood made the hoes fly fast. + +Old men and women have been treated with neglect and contempt in +Slavery, because they were no longer able to work for the profit of +their masters. But respect and tenderness are peculiarly due to the +aged. They have done much and suffered much. They are no longer able to +help themselves; and we should help them, as they helped us in the +feebleness of our infancy, and as we may again need to be helped in the +feebleness of age. Any want of kindness or civility toward the old +ought to be very seriously rebuked in children; and affectionate +attentions should be spoken of as praiseworthy. + +Slavery in every way fosters violence. Slave-children, being in the +habit of seeing a great deal of beating, early form the habit of kicking +and banging each other when they are angry, and of abusing poor helpless +animals intrusted to their care. On all such occasions parents should +say to them: "Those are the ways of Slavery. We expect better things of +free children." + + * * * * * + +AN HONORABLE RECORD. + +In 1837 the colored population in Philadelphia numbered eighteen +thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight. Many of them were poor and +ignorant, and some of them were vicious; as would be the case with any +people under such discouraging influences. But, notwithstanding they +were excluded by prejudice from all the most profitable branches of +industry, they had acquired property valued at one million three hundred +and fifty thousand dollars; five hundred and fifty thousand was in real +estate, and eight hundred thousand was personal property. They had built +sixteen churches, valued at one hundred and fourteen thousand dollars, +for the support of which they annually paid over six thousand dollars. +The pauper tax they paid was more than enough to support all the colored +paupers in the city. They had eighty benevolent societies, and during +that year they had expended fourteen thousand one hundred and +seventy-two dollars for the relief of the sick and the helpless. A +number of them who had been slaves had paid, in the course of that year, +seventy thousand seven hundred and thirty-three dollars to purchase +their own freedom, or that of their relatives. + + + + +THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + Thank God for little children! + Bright flowers by earth's wayside,-- + The dancing, joyous life-boats + Upon life's stormy tide. + + Thank God for little children! + When our skies are cold and gray, + They come as sunshine to our hearts, + And charm our cares away. + + I almost think the angels, + Who tend life's garden fair, + Drop down the sweet wild blossoms + That bloom around us here. + + It seems a breath of heaven + "Round many a cradle lies," + And every little baby + Brings a message from the skies. + + The humblest home, with children, + Is rich in precious gems; + Better than wealth of monarchs, + Or golden diadems. + + Dear mothers, guard these jewels + As sacred offerings meet,-- + A wealth of household treasures, + To lay at Jesus' feet. + + + + +SAM AND ANDY. + +BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE. + + +A beautiful slave in Kentucky, named Eliza, had a very handsome little +boy. One day she overheard her master making a bargain with a +slave-trader by the name of Haley to sell them both. She made her escape +that night, taking her child with her. Her mistress, who was much +attached to her, and did not want to have her sold, was glad when she +heard that Eliza was gone; but her master, who was afraid the trader +would think he had helped her off after he had taken the money for her, +ordered the horses Bill and Jerry to be brought, and two of his slaves, +called Sam and Andy, to go with the slave-trader in pursuit of the +fugitive. The way they contrived how _not_ to overtake Eliza is thus +told in "Uncle Tom's Cabin":-- + +"'Sam! Halloo, Sam!' said Andy. 'Mas'r wants you to cotch Bill and +Jerry.' + +"'High! what's afoot now?' said Sam. + +"'Why I s'pose you don't know that Lizy's cut stick, and clared out, +with her young un?' + +"'You teach your granny!' replied Sam, with infinite contempt; 'knowed +it a heap sooner than _you_ did. This nigger a'n't so green, now.' + +"'Wal, anyhow, Mas'r wants Bill and Jerry geared right up; and you and +I's to go with Mas'r Haley, to look arter her,' said Andy. + +"Sam, who had just been contriving how he could make himself of +importance on the plantation, exclaimed: 'Good, now! dat's de time o' +day! It's Sam dat's called for in dese yere times. _He_'s de nigger. +Mas'r'll see what Sam can do!' + +"'Ah, you'd better think twice,' said Andy; 'for Missis don't want her +cotched, and she'll be in yer wool.' + +"'High! how you know dat?' said Sam, opening his eyes. + +"'Heard her say so, my own self, dis blessed mornin', when I bring in +Mas'r's shaving-water. She sent me to see why Lizy didn't come to dress +her; and when I telled her she was off, she jes ris up, and ses she, +"The Lord be praised!" Mas'r he seemed rael mad; and ses he, "Wife, you +talk like a fool." But, Lor! she'll bring him to. I knows well enough +how that'll be. It's allers best to stand Missis's side the fence, now I +tell yer,' said Andy. + +"Sam scratched his woolly pate, and gave a hitch to his pantaloons, as +he had a habit of doing when his mind was perplexed. 'Der a'n't never no +sayin' 'bout no kind o' thing in dis yere world,' said he at last. 'Now +I'd a said sartin that Missis would a scoured the varsal world after +Lizy.' + +"'So she would,' said Andy; 'but can't ye see through a ladder, ye black +nigger? Missis don't want dis yer Mas'r Haley to get Lizy's boy; dat's +de go. And I 'specs you'd better be making tracks for dem +hosses,--mighty sudden too,--for I hearn Missis 'quirin' arter yer; so +you've stood foolin' long enough.' + +"Sam, upon this, began to bestir himself in earnest, and after a while +appeared, bearing down gloriously towards the house, with Bill and Jerry +in a full canter. Adroitly throwing himself off before they had any +idea of stopping, he brought them up alongside the horse-post like a +tornado. Haley's horse, which was a skittish young colt, winced and +bounced, and pulled hard at his halter. + +"'Ho! ho!' said Sam, 'skeery, ar ye?' and his black face lighted up with +a curious, mischievous gleam. 'I'll fix ye now,' said he. + +"There was a large beech-tree overshadowing the place, and the small, +sharp, triangular beech-nuts lay scattered thickly on the ground. Sam +stroked and patted the colt, and while pretending to adjust the saddle, +he slipped under it a sharp little nut, in such a manner that the least +weight brought upon the saddle would annoy the nervous animal, without +leaving any perceptible wound. + +"'Dar, me fix 'em,' said he, rolling his eyes with an approving grin. + +"At this moment Mrs. Shelby appeared on the balcony and beckoned to him. +'Why have you been loitering so, Sam?' said she. 'I sent Andy to tell +you to hurry.' + +"'Bress you, Missis, hosses won't be cotched all in a minit. They done +clared out down to the south pasture, and everywhar,' said Sam. + +"'Well, Sam,' replied his mistress, 'you are to go with Mr. Haley to +show him the road, and help him. Be careful of the horses, Sam. You know +Jerry was a little lame last week. _Don't ride them too fast._' She +spoke the last words in a low voice, and with strong emphasis. + +"'Let dis chile alone for dat,' said Sam, rolling up his eyes with a +look full of meaning. 'Yes, Missis, I'll look out for de hosses.' + +"Sam returned to his stand under the beech-tree, and said to Andy, 'Now, +Andy, I wouldn't be 't all surprised if dat ar gen'lman's crittur should +gib a fling, by and by, when he comes to be a gettin' up. You know, +Andy, critturs _will_ do such things'; and Sam poked Andy in the side, +in a highly suggestive manner. + +"'High!' exclaimed Andy, with an air that showed he understood +instantly. + +"'Yes, you see, Andy, Missis wants to make time,' said Sam; 'dat ar's +cl'ar to der most or'nary 'bserver. I jis make a little for her. Now, +you see, get all dese yere hosses loose, caperin' permiscus round dis +yere lot, and down to de wood dar, and I 'spec Mas'r won't be off in a +hurry.' + +"Andy grinned. + +"'You see, Andy,' said Sam, 'if any such thing should happen as that +Mas'r Haley's hoss _should_ begin to act contrary, and cut up, you and I +jist lets go of _our'n_ to help him! O yes, we'll _help_ him!' And Sam +and Andy laid their heads back on their shoulders, and broke into a low, +immoderate laugh, snapping their fingers, and flourishing their heels +with exquisite delight. + +"While they were enjoying themselves in this style, Haley appeared on +the verandah. Some cups of very good coffee had somewhat mollified him, +and he came out smiling and talking in tolerably restored humor. Sam and +Andy clawed for their torn hats, and flew to the horse-posts to be ready +to 'help Mas'r.' The brim of Sam's hat was all unbraided, and the +slivers of the palm-leaf started apart in every direction, giving it a +blazing air of freedom and defiance. The brim had gone entirely from +Andy's hat; but he thumped the crown on his head, and looked about well +pleased, as if to ask, 'Who says I haven't got a hat?' + +"'Well, boys,' said Haley, 'be alive now. We must lose no time.' + +"'Not a bit of him, Mas'r,' said Sam, putting Haley's rein into his +hand and holding his stirrup, while Andy was untying the other two +horses. + +"The instant Haley touched the saddle the mettlesome creature bounded +from the earth with a sudden spring, that threw his master sprawling +some feet off, on the dry, soft turf. With frantic ejaculations Sam made +a dive at the reins, but only succeeded in brushing the torn slivers of +his hat into the horse's eyes, which by no means tended to allay the +confusion of his nerves. With two or three contemptuous snorts he upset +Sam, flourished his heels vigorously in the air, and pranced away toward +the lower end of the lawn. He was followed by Bill and Jerry, whom Andy +had not failed to let loose, according to contract, speeding them off +with various direful cries. And now there was a scene of great +confusion. Sam and Andy ran and shouted; dogs ran barking here and +there; Mike, Mose, Mandy, Fanny, and all the smaller specimens on the +place, raced, whooped, shouted, and clapped their hands with outrageous +zeal. Haley's fleet horse entered into the spirit of the scene with +great gusto. He raced round the lawn, which was half a mile in extent, +and seemed to take a mischievous delight in letting his pursuers come +within a hand's breadth of him, and then whisking off again with a start +and a snort. + +"Sam's torn hat was seen everywhere. If there seemed to be the least +chance that a horse could be caught, down he bore upon him full tilt, +shouting, 'Now for it! Cotch him! cotch him!' in a way that set them all +to racing again. + +"Haley ran up and down, stamped, cursed, and swore. The master in vain +tried to give some directions from the balcony, and the mistress looked +from her chamber window and laughed. She had some suspicion that Sam was +the cause of all this confusion. + +"At last, about twelve o'clock, Sam appeared, mounted on Jerry, leading +Haley's horse, reeking with sweat, but with flashing eyes and dilated +nostrils, showing that the spirit of freedom had not yet entirely +subsided. + +"'He's cotched!' exclaimed Sam, triumphantly. 'If it hadn't been for me +they might a bust themselves, all on 'em; but I cotched him.' + +"'_You!_' growled Haley. 'If it hadn't been for _you_, this never would +have happened.' + +"'Bress us, Mas'r!' exclaimed Sam; 'when it's me that's been a racin' +and chasin' till the swet jist pours off me.' + +"'Well, well!' said Haley, 'you've lost me near three hours with your +cursed nonsense. Now let's be off, and have no more fooling.' + +"'Why, Mas'r,' said Sam, in a deprecating tone, 'I do believe you mean +to kill us all clar,--hosses and all. Here we are all jist ready to drop +down, and the critturs all in a reek o' sweat. Sure Mas'r won't think of +startin' now till arter dinner. Mas'r's hoss wants rubben down. See how +he's splashed hisself!--and Jerry limps, too. Don't think Missis would +be willing to have us start dis yere way, no how. Bress you, Mas'r, we +can ketch up, if we stop. Lizy nebber was no great of a walker.' + +"The mistress, who, greatly to her amusement, overheard this +conversation from the verandah, now came forward and courteously urged +Mr. Haley to stay to dinner, saying that the cook should bring it on the +table immediately. All things considered, the slave-trader concluded it +was best to do so. As he moved toward the parlor, Sam rolled his eyes +after him with unutterable meaning, and gravely led the horses to the +stable. + +"When he had fairly got beyond the shelter of the barn, and fastened +the horse to a post, he exclaimed, 'Did you see him, Andy? _Did_ yer see +him? O Lor', if it warn't as good as a meetin', now, to see him a +dancin' and a kickin', and swarin' at us! Didn't I hear him? Swar away, +ole fellow! says I to myself. Will you have yer hoss now, or wait till +you cotch him? says I.' And Sam and Andy leaned up against the barn, and +laughed to their hearts' content. + +"'Yer oughter seen how mad he looked when I brought the hoss up. Lor', +he'd a killed me if he durs' to; and there I was a standin' as innercent +and humble.' + +"'Lor', I seed you,' said Andy. 'A'n't you an old hoss, Sam?' + +"'Rather 'specs I am,' said Sam. 'Did you see Missus up stars at the +winder? I seed her laughin'.' + +"'I'm sure I was racin' so I didn't see nothin,' said Andy. + +"'Wal, yer see, I'se 'quired a habit o' bobservation,' said Sam. 'It's a +very 'portant habit, Andy; and I 'commend yer to be cultivatin' it, now +yer young. Bobservation makes all de difference in niggers. Didn't I see +what Missis wanted, though she never let on? Dat ar's bobservation, +Andy. I 'specs it's what yer may call a faculty. Faculties is different +in different peoples; but cultivation of 'em goes a great way.' + +"'I guess if I hadn't helped your bobservation dis mornin', yer wouldn't +have seen yer way so smart,' said Andy. + +"'You's a promisin' chile, Andy, der a'n't no manner o' doubt,' said +Sam. 'I think lots of yer, Andy; and I don't feel no ways ashamed to +take idees from yer. Let's go up to the house now, Andy. I'll be boun' +Missis'll give us an uncommon good bite dis yere time.'" + +"The mistress had promised that dinner should be brought on the table in +a hurry, and she had given the orders in Haley's hearing. But the +servants all seemed to have an impression that Missis would not be +disobliged by delay. Aunt Chloe, the cook, went on with her operations +in a very leisurely manner. Then it was wonderful what a number of +accidents happened. One upset the butter; another tumbled down with the +water, and had to go to the spring for more; another spilled the gravy; +then Aunt Chloe set about making new gravy, watching it and stirring it +with the greatest precision. If reminded that the orders were to hurry, +she answered shortly that she 'warn't a going to have raw gravy on the +table, to help nobody's catchin's.' + +"From time to time there was giggling in the kitchen, when news was +brought that 'Mas'r Haley was mighty oneasy, and that he couldn't set in +his cheer no ways, but was a walkin' and stalkin' to the winders and +through the porch.' + +"'Sarves him right!' said Aunt Chloe. 'He'll git wus nor oneasy, one of +these days, if he don't mend his ways.' + +"At last the dinner was sent in, and the mistress smiled and chatted, +and did all she could to make the time pass imperceptibly. + +"At two o'clock, Sam and Andy brought the horses up to the posts, +apparently greatly refreshed and invigorated by the scamper of the +morning. As Haley prepared to mount, he said, 'Your master don't keep no +dogs, I s'pose?' + +"'Heaps on 'em,' said Sam, triumphantly. 'Thar's Bruno,--he's a roarer; +and besides that, 'bout every nigger of us keeps a pup o' some natur' or +uther.' + +"'But does your master keep any dogs for tracking out niggers?' said +Haley. + +"Sam knew very well what he meant, but he kept on a look of desperate +simplicity. 'Wal,' said he, 'our dogs all smells round considerable +sharp. I 'spect they's the _kind_, though they ha'n't never had no +_practice_. They's far dogs at most anything though, if you'd get 'em +started.' He whistled to Bruno, a great lumbering Newfoundland dog, who +came pitching tumultuously toward them. + +"'You go hang!' exclaimed Haley, mounting his horse. 'Come, tumble up, +now.' + +"Sam tumbled up accordingly, contriving to tickle Andy as he did so. +This made Andy split out into a laugh, greatly to Haley's indignation, +who made a cut at him with his riding-whip. 'I'se 'stonished at yer, +Andy,' said Sam, with awful gravity. 'This yere's a seris bisness, Andy. +Yer mustn't be a makin' game. This yere a'n't no way to help Mas'r.' + +"When they came to the boundaries of the estate, Haley said: 'I shall +take the road to the river. I know the way of all of 'em. They always +makes tracks for the underground.' + +"'Sartin, dat's de idee,' said Sam. 'Mas'r Haley hits de thing right in +de middle. Now, der's two roads to de river,--de dirt road and der pike. +Which Mas'r mean to take?' + +"Andy looked up innocently at Sam, surprised at hearing this new +geographical fact; but he instantly confirmed what Sam said. + +"'I'd rather be 'clined to 'magine that Lizy'd take der dirt road, bein' +it's the least travelled,' said Sam. Though Haley was an old bird, and +inclined to be suspicious of chaff, he was rather brought up by this +view of the case. He pondered a moment, and said, 'If yer wasn't both on +yer such cussed liars, now!' + +"The pensive tone in which this was spoken amused Andy prodigiously. He +fell a little behind, and shook so with laughter as to run a great risk +of falling from his horse. But Sam's face was immovably composed into +the most doleful gravity. + +"'Course, Mas'r can do as he'd ruther,' said Sam. 'It's all one to us. +When I study 'pon it, I think de straight road is de best.' + +"'She would naturally go a lonesome way,' said Haley. + +"'I should 'magine so,' said Sam; 'but gals is pecular. Dey nebber does +nothin' ye thinks they will; mose gen'lly de contrar; so if yer thinks +they've gone one road, it's sartin you'd better go t'other, and then +you'll be sure to find 'em. So I think we'd better take de straight +road.' + +"Haley announced decidedly that he should go the other, and asked when +they should come to it. + +"'A little piece ahed,' said Sam, giving a wink to Andy. He added +gravely, 'I've studded on de matter, and I'm quite clar we ought not to +go dat ar way. I nebber been over it no way. It's despit lonesome, and +we might lose our way. And now I think on't, I hearn 'em tell dat ar +road was all fenced up down by der creek. A'n't it, Andy?' + +"Andy wasn't certain; he'd only 'hearn tell' about that road, but had +never been over it. + +"Haley thought the first mention of the road was involuntary on Sam's +part, and that, upon second thoughts, he had lied desperately to +dissuade him from taking that direction because he was unwilling to +implicate Eliza. Therefore he struck briskly into the road, and was +followed by Sam and Andy. + +"The road in fact had formerly been an old thoroughfare to the river, +but after the laying of the new pike it had been abandoned. It was open +for about an hour's ride, and after that it was cut across by various +farms and fences. Sam knew this perfectly well; indeed, the road had +been so long closed that Andy had never heard of it. He therefore rode +along with an air of dutiful submission, only groaning occasionally, and +saying it was 'desp't rough, and bad for Jerry's foot.' + +"'Now, I jest give yer warning, I know yer,' said Haley. 'Yer won't get +me to turn off this yere road, with all yer fussin'; so you shet up.' + +"'Mas'r will go his own way,' said Sam, with rueful submission, at the +same time winking portentously to Andy, whose delight now was very near +the explosive point. Sam was in wonderful spirits. He professed to keep +a very brisk lookout. At one time he exclaimed that he saw 'a gal's +bunnet' on the top of some distant eminence; at another time, he called +out to Andy to ask if 'that thar wasn't Lizy down in the holler.' He was +always sure to make these exclamations in some rough or craggy part of +the road, where the sudden quickening of speed was a special +inconvenience to all parties concerned, thus keeping Haley in a state of +constant commotion. + +"After riding about an hour in this way, the whole party made a +precipitate and tumultuous descent into a barn-yard belonging to a large +farming establishment. Not a soul was in sight, all the hands being +employed in the fields; but as the barn stood square across the road, +it was evident that their journey in that direction had reached its end. + +"'You rascal!' said Haley; 'you knew all about this.' + +"'Didn't I _tell_ yer I knowed, and yer wouldn't believe me?' replied +Sam. 'I telled Mas'r 't was all shet up, and fenced up, and I didn't +'spect we could git through. Andy heard me.' + +"This was too true to be disputed, and the unlucky man had to pocket his +wrath as well as he could. All three faced to the right about, and took +up their line of march for the highway." + +[The consequence of all these delays was, that they reached the Ohio +River only in season to see Eliza and her child get safely on the other +side, by jumping from one mass of floating ice to the other.] + +"'The gal's got seven devils in her I believe,' said Haley. 'How like a +wild-cat she jumped!' + +"'Wal, now,' said Sam, scratching his head, 'I hope Mas'r 'scuse us +tryin' dat ar road. Don't think I feel spry enough for dat ar, no way'; +and Sam gave a hoarse chuckle. + +"'_You_ laugh!' exclaimed the slave-trader, with a growl. + +"'I couldn't help it now, Mas'r,' said Sam, giving way to the long +pent-up delight of his soul. 'She looked so curis, a leapin' and +springin'; ice a crackin'--and only to hear her! plump! ker chunk! ker +splash!' and Sam and Andy laughed till the tears rolled down their +cheeks. + +"'I'll make yer laugh t'other side yer mouths!' exclaimed the trader, +laying about their heads with his riding-whip. Both ducked, and ran +shouting up the bank. They were on their horses before he could come up +with them. + +"With much gravity Sam called out: 'Good evening, Mas'r Haley. Won't +want us no longer. I 'spect Missis be anxious 'bout Jerry. Missis +wouldn't hear of our ridin' the critturs over Lizy's bridge to-night.' +With a poke into Andy's ribs, they started off at full speed, their +shouts of laughter coming faintly on the wind. + +"Sam was in the highest possible feather. He expressed his exultation by +all sorts of howls and ejaculations, and by divers odd motions and +contortions of his whole system. Sometimes he would sit backward with +his face to the horse's tail; then, with a whoop and a somerset, he +would come right side up in his place again; and, drawing on a grave +face, he would begin to lecture Andy for laughing and playing the fool. +Anon, slapping his sides with his arms, he would burst forth in peals of +laughter, that made the old woods ring as they passed. With all these +evolutions, he contrived to keep the horses up to the top of their +speed, until, between ten and eleven, their heels resounded on the +gravel at the end of the balcony. + +"His mistress flew to the railings, and called out, 'Is that you, Sam? +Where are they?' + +"'Mas'r Haley's a restin' at the tavern,' said Sam. 'He's drefful +fatigued, Missis.' + +"'And Eliza, where is she, Sam?' + +"'Wal, Missis, de Lord he persarves his own. Lizy's done gone over the +river into 'Hio; as 'markably as if de Lord took her over in a chariot +of fire and two hosses.' + +"His master, who had followed his wife to the verandah, said, 'Come up +here, and tell your mistress what she wants to know.' + +"Sam soon appeared at the parlor-door, hat in hand. In answer to their +questions, he told his story in lively style. 'Dis yere's a providence, +and no mistake,' said Sam, piously rolling up his eyes. 'As Missis has +allers been instructin' on us, thar's allers instruments ris up to do de +Lord's will. Now if it hadn't been for me to-day, Lizy'd been took a +dozen times. Warn't it I started off de hosses, dis yere mornin', and +kept 'em chasin' till dinner time? And didn't I car Mas'r Haley five +miles out of de road dis evening? else he'd a come up with Lizy, as easy +as a dog arter a coon. Dese yere's all providences!' + +"With as much sternness as he could command under the circumstances, his +master said, 'They are a kind of providences that you'll have to be +pretty sparing of, Sam. I allow no such practices with gentlemen on my +place.' + +"Sam stood with the corners of his mouth lowered, in most penitential +style. 'Mas'r's quite right,' said he. 'It was ugly on me; thar's no +disputin' that ar; and of course Mas'r and Missis wouldn't encourage no +such works. I'm sensible ob dat ar. But a poor nigger like me's 'mazin' +tempted to act ugly sometimes, when fellers will cut up such shines as +dat ar Mas'r Haley. He a'n't no gen'l'man no way. Anybody's been raised +as I've been can't help a seein' dat ar.' + +"'Well, Sam,' said his mistress, 'as you seem to have a proper sense of +your errors, you may go now and tell Aunt Chloe she may get you some of +that cold ham that was left of dinner to-day. You and Andy must be +hungry.' + +"'Missis is a heap too good for us,' said Sam, making his bow with +alacrity and departing. + +"Having done up his piety and humility, to the satisfaction of the +parlor, as he trusted, he clapped his palm-leaf on his head with a sort +of free-and-easy air, and proceeded to the dominions of Aunt Chloe, with +the intention of flourishing largely in the kitchen." + + + + +JOHN BROWN AND THE COLORED CHILD. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + [When John Brown went from the jail to the gallows, in Charlestown, + Virginia, December 2, 1859, he stooped to kiss a little colored + child.] + + + A winter sunshine, still and bright, + The Blue Hills bathed with golden light, + And earth was smiling to the sky, + When calmly he went forth to die. + + Infernal passions festered there, + Where peaceful Nature looked so fair; + And fiercely, in the morning sun, + Flashed glitt'ring bayonet and gun. + + The old man met no friendly eye, + When last he looked on earth and sky; + But one small child, with timid air, + Was gazing on his hoary hair. + + As that dark brow to his upturned, + The tender heart within him yearned; + And, fondly stooping o'er her face, + He kissed her for her injured race. + + The little one she knew not why + That kind old man went forth to die; + Nor why, 'mid all that pomp and stir, + He stooped to give a kiss to _her_. + + But Jesus smiled that sight to see, + And said, "He did it unto _me_." + The golden harps then sweetly rung, + And this the song the angels sung: + + "Who loves the poor doth love the Lord; + Earth cannot dim thy bright reward: + We hover o'er yon gallows high, + And wait to bear thee to the sky." + + * * * * * + +John Brown, on his way to the scaffold, stooped to take up a +slave-child. That closing example was the legacy of the dying man to his +country. That benediction we must continue and fulfil. In this new +order, equality, long postponed, shall become the master-principle of +our system, and the very frontispiece of our Constitution.--HON. CHARLES +SUMNER. + + * * * * * + +Christ told me to remember those in bonds as bound with them; to do +toward them as I should wish them to do toward me in similar +circumstances. My conscience bade me to do that. Therefore I have no +regret for the transaction for which I am condemned. I think I feel as +happy as Paul did when he lay in prison. He knew if they killed him it +would greatly advance the cause of Christ. That was the reason he +rejoiced. On that same ground "I do rejoice, yea, and will +rejoice."--JOHN BROWN. + + + + +THE AIR OF FREEDOM. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + [Written at Niagara Falls in 1856.] + + +I have just returned from Canada. I have gazed for the first time upon +free land. Would you believe it? the tears sprang to my eyes, and I +wept. It was a glorious sight to gaze, for the first time, on the land +where a poor slave, flying from our land of boasted liberty, would in a +moment find his fetters broken and his shackles loosed. Whatever he was +in the land of Washington, in the shadow of Bunker Hill Monument, or +even upon Plymouth Rock, _here_ he becomes "a man and a brother." + +I had gazed on Harper's Ferry, or rather the Rock at the Ferry, towering +up in simple grandeur, with the gentle Potomac gliding peacefully at its +feet; and I felt that it was God's masonry. My soul expanded while +gazing on its sublimity. I had heard the ocean singing its wild chorus +of sounding waves, and the living chords of my heart thrilled with +ecstasy. I have since seen the rainbow-crowned Niagara, girdled with +grandeur and robed with glory, chanting the choral hymn of omnipotence; +but none of these sights have melted me, as did the first sight of free +land. + +Towering mountains, lifting their hoary summits to catch the first faint +flush of day, when the sunbeams kiss the shadows from morning's drowsy +face, may expand and exalt your soul; the first view of the ocean may +fill you with strange delight; the great, the glorious Niagara may hush +your spirit with its ceaseless thunder,--it may charm you with its robe +of crested spray, and with its rainbow crown: but the land of freedom +has a lesson of deeper significance than foaming waves and towering +mountains. It carries the heart back to that heroic struggle in Great +Britain for the emancipation of the slaves, in which the great heart of +the people throbbed for liberty, and the mighty pulse of the nation beat +for freedom, till eight hundred thousand men, women, and children in the +West Indies arose redeemed from bondage and freed from chains. + + + + +EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, APRIL 16, 1862. + +BY JAMES MADISON BELL. + + + Unfurl your banners to the breeze! + Let Freedom's tocsin sound amain, + Until the islands of the seas + Re-echo with the glad refrain! + Columbia's free! Columbia's free! + Her teeming streets, her vine-clad groves, + Are sacred now to Liberty, + And God, who every right approves. + + Thank God, the Capital is free! + The slaver's pen, the auction-block, + The gory lash of cruelty, + No more this nation's pride shall mock; + No more, within those ten miles square, + Shall men be bought and women sold; + Nor infants, sable-hued and fair, + Exchanged again for paltry gold. + + To-day the Capital is free! + And free those halls where Adams stood + To plead for man's humanity, + And for a common brotherhood; + Where Sumner stood, with massive frame, + Whose eloquent philosophy + Has clustered round his deathless name + Bright laurels for eternity; + + Where Wilson, Lovejoy, Wade, and Hale, + And other lights of equal power, + Have stood, like warriors clad in mail, + Before the giant of the hour,-- + Co-workers in a common cause, + Laboring for their country's weal, + By just enactments, righteous laws, + And burning, eloquent appeal. + + To them we owe and gladly bring + The grateful tributes of our hearts; + And while we live to muse and sing, + These in our songs shall claim their parts. + To-day Columbia's air doth seem + Much purer than in days agone; + And now her mighty heart, I deem, + Hath lighter grown by marching on. + + + + +THE LAWS OF HEALTH. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +There are three things peculiarly essential to health,--plenty of fresh +water, plenty of pure air, and enough of nourishing food. + +If possible, the human body should be washed all over every day; but if +circumstances render that difficult, the operation should be performed +at least two or three times a week. People in general are not aware how +important frequent bathing is. The cuticle, or skin, with which the +human body is covered, is like fine net-work, or lace. By help of a +magnifying-glass, called a microscope, it can be seen that there are a +thousand holes in every inch of our skin. In the skin of a middle-sized +man there are two millions three hundred and four thousand of these +holes, called pores. Those pores are the mouths of exceedingly small +vessels made to carry off fluids, which are continually formed in the +human body, and need to be continually carried off. This process is +going on all the time, whether we are sleeping or waking, hot or cold. +When we are cool and at rest, that which passes off is invisible; and +because we see no signs of it, and are not sensible of it, it is called +insensible perspiration. But in very hot weather, or when we exercise +violently, a saltish fluid passes through our pores in great drops, +which we call sweat; and because we can see and feel it, it is called +sensible perspiration. If the pores of the body are filled up with dust, +or any kind of dirt, the fluids cannot pass off through them, as Nature +intended; and, being shut up, they become corrupt and produce fevers and +bad humors. This is the reason why physicians always advise people to be +careful and keep their pores open. In order to do this, dust and dirt +should be frequently washed away. Many a fever and many a troublesome +sore might be prevented by frequent bathing. Moreover, the skin looks +smoother and handsomer when it is washed often. If a pond or river is +near by, it is well to swim a few minutes every day or two; if not, the +body should be washed with a pail of water and a rag. But it is not safe +to go into cold water, or to apply it to the skin, when you are very +much heated; nor is it safe to drink much cold water until you get +somewhat cool. The best way is to plunge into water when you first get +up in the morning, and then rub yourself with a cloth till you feel all +of a glow. It takes but a few minutes, and you will feel more vigorous +for it all day. Cool water is more healthy to wash in than warm water. +It makes a person feel stronger, and it is not attended with any danger +of catching cold afterward. But water directly from the well is too +chilly; it is better to use it when it has been standing in the house +some hours. Garments worn next to the skin, and the sheets in which you +sleep, imbibe something of the fluids all the time passing from the +body; therefore they should be washed every week. I am aware that, as +slaves, you had no beds or sheets; but as free men I hope you will +gradually be able to provide yourselves with such comforts. Meanwhile, +sleep in the cleanest way that you can; for that is one way to avoid +sickness. When the skin is hot and feverish, it does a great deal of +good to wipe the face, arms, and legs with a cloth moistened with cool +water, changed occasionally. Headache is often cured by placing the feet +in cool water a minute or two, and then rubbing them smartly with a dry +cloth. Sitting in cool water fifteen or twenty minutes is also a remedy +for headache or dizziness. A cut or bruise heals much quicker if it is +soaked ten or fifteen minutes in cool water, then wrapped in six or +eight folds of wet rag, and covered with a piece of dry cloth. The rag +should be moistened again when it gets dry. This simple process subdues +the heat and fever of a wound. When the throat is sore, it is an +excellent thing to wash the outside freely with cold water the first +thing in the morning, and then wipe it very dry. A wet bandage at night, +covered with a dry cloth, to keep it from the air, often proves very +comforting when the throat is inflamed. Indeed, it is scarcely possible +to say too much in favor of using cool water freely, at suitable times. + +Fresh air is as important as good water. The lungs of the human body are +all the time drawing in air and breathing out air. What we breathe out +carries away with it something from our bodies. Therefore it is +unhealthy to be in a room with many people, without doors or windows +open; for the people draw in all the fresh air, and what they breathe +out is more or less corrupted by having passed through their bodies. It +is very important to health to have plenty of pure fresh air to breathe. +No dirty things, or decaying substances, such as cabbage leaves or +mouldy vegetables, or pools of stagnant water, should be allowed to +remain anywhere near a dwelling. The pools should be filled up, and the +decaying things should be carried away from the house, heaped up and +covered with earth to make manure for the garden. If there is not room +enough to do that, they should be buried in the ground. Whole families +often have fevers from breathing the bad odors that rise from such +things. It is morally wrong to indulge in any habits that injure the +health or well-being of others. The bed, and the coverings of the bed, +should have fresh air let in upon them every day; otherwise, they retain +the fluids which are passing from the body all the time. In England, +children that worked in large manufactories became pale and sickly and +died off fast. When doctors inquired into it, they found that the poor +little creatures crept into the same bedclothes week after week, and +month after month, without having them washed or aired. + +Occasional change in articles of food is healthy, as well as agreeable; +but it is injurious to eat a great variety of things at the same meal. +There are two good rules, so very simple that everybody, rich or poor, +can observe them: First, never indulge yourself in eating what you have +found by experience does not agree with you; secondly, when you have +eaten enough, do not continue to eat merely because the food tastes +good. It is foolish to derange the stomach for a long time to please the +palate for a short time. + +If you have oppressed feelings in the head, or sour and bitter tastes in +the mouth, or a tendency to sickishness, take nothing but bread and +water for two or three days, and you will be very likely to save +yourself from a fever. + +People might spare themselves many a toothache if they would rinse their +mouths after every meal, and every night, before going to bed, remove +every particle of food from between the teeth, and rinse them thoroughly +with water. New toothpicks should be made often, for the sake of +cleanliness. + +Dirt was a necessity of Slavery; and that is one reason, among many +others, why freemen should hate it, and try to put it away from their +minds, their persons, and their habitations. + + + + +PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION OF +EMANCIPATION, JANUARY 1, 1863. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + It shall flash through coming ages, + It shall light the distant years; + And eyes now dim with sorrow + Shall be brighter through their tears. + + It shall flush the mountain ranges, + And the valleys shall grow bright; + It shall bathe the hills in radiance, + And crown their brows with light. + + It shall flood with golden splendor + All the huts of Caroline; + And the sun-kissed brow of labor + With lustre new shall shine. + + It shall gild the gloomy prison, + Darkened by the nation's crime, + Where the dumb and patient millions + Wait the better-coming time. + + By the light that gilds their prison + They shall see its mouldering key; + And the bolts and bars shall vibrate + With the triumphs of the free. + + Though the morning seemed to linger + O'er the hill-tops far away, + Now the shadows bear the promise + Of the quickly coming day. + + Soon the mists and murky shadows + Shall be fringed with crimson light, + And the glorious dawn of freedom + Break refulgent on the sight. + + + + +NEW-YEAR'S DAY ON THE ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1863. + +BY CHARLOTTE L. FORTEN. + + +A few days before Christmas we were delighted at receiving a beautiful +Christmas Hymn from John G. Whittier, written especially for our +children. They learned it very easily, and enjoyed singing it. We showed +them the writer's picture, and told them he was a very good friend of +theirs, who felt the deepest interest in them, and had written this Hymn +expressly for them to sing. This made them very proud and happy. + +Early Christmas morning we were wakened by the people knocking at the +doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" After distributing +some little presents among them, we went to the church, which had been +decorated with holly, pine, cassena, mistletoe, and the hanging moss, +and had a very Christmas-like look. The children of our school assembled +there, and we gave them the nice comfortable clothing and the +picture-books which had been kindly sent by some Philadelphia ladies. +There were at least a hundred and fifty children present. It was very +pleasant to see their happy, expectant little faces. To them it was a +wonderful Christmas-day, such as they had never dreamed of before. There +was cheerful sunshine without, lighting up the beautiful moss drapery of +the oaks, and looking in joyously through the open windows; and there +were bright faces and glad hearts within. + +After the distribution of the gifts, the children were addressed by some +of the gentlemen present. Then they sang the following Hymn, which their +good friend Whittier had written for them:-- + + "O, none in all the world before + Were ever so glad as we! + We're free on Carolina's shore, + We're all at home and free. + + "Thou Friend and Helper of the poor, + Who suffered for our sake, + To open every prison-door, + And every yoke to break,-- + + "Bend low thy pitying face and mild, + And help us sing and pray; + The hand that blest the little child + Upon our foreheads lay. + + "We hear no more the driver's horn, + No more the whip we fear; + This holy day that saw thee born + Was never half so dear. + + "The very oaks are greener clad, + The waters brighter smile; + O, never shone a day so glad + On sweet St. Helen's Isle. + + "We praise Thee in our songs to-day, + To Thee in prayer we call; + Make swift the feet and straight the way + Of freedom unto all. + + "Come once again, O blessed Lord! + Come walking on the sea! + And let the mainlands hear the word + That sets the islands free!" + +Then they sang John Brown's Hallelujah Song, and several of their own +hymns. + +Christmas night, the children came in and had several grand shouts. They +were too happy to keep still. One of them, a cunning, kittenish little +creature, named Amaretta, only six years old, has a remarkably sweet +voice. "O Miss," said she, "all I want to do is to sing and shout!" And +sing and shout she did, to her heart's content. She reads nicely, and is +very fond of books. Many of the children already know their letters. The +parents are eager to have them learn. They sometimes say to me: "Do, +Miss, let de children learn eberyting dey can. We neber hab no chance to +learn nuttin'; but we wants de chillen to learn." They are willing to +make many sacrifices that their children may attend school. One old +woman, who had a large family of children and grandchildren, came +regularly to school in the winter, and took her seat among the little +ones. Another woman, who had one of the best faces I ever saw, came +daily, and brought her baby in her arms. It happened to be one of the +best babies in the world, and allowed its mother to pursue her studies +without interruption. + +New-Year's Day, Emancipation Day, was a glorious one to us. General +Saxton and Colonel Higginson had invited us to visit the camp of the +First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers on that day, "the greatest +day in the nation's history." We enjoyed perfectly the exciting scene on +board the steamboat Flora. There was an eager, wondering crowd of the +freed people, in their holiday attire, with the gayest of headkerchiefs, +the whitest of aprons, and the happiest of faces. The band was playing, +the flags were streaming, and everybody was talking merrily and feeling +happy. The sun shone brightly, and the very waves seemed to partake of +the universal gayety, for they danced and sparkled more joyously than +ever before. Long before we reached Camp Saxton, we could see the +beautiful grove and the ruins of the old fort near it. Some companies of +the First Regiment were drawn up in line under the trees near the +landing, ready to receive us. They were a fine, soldierly looking set of +men, and their brilliant dress made a splendid appearance among the +trees. It was my good fortune to find an old friend among the officers. +He took us over the camp and showed us all the arrangements. Everything +looked clean and comfortable; much neater, we were told, than in most of +the white camps. An officer told us that he had never seen a regiment in +which the men were so honest. "In many other camps," said he, "the +Colonel and the rest of us would find it necessary to place a guard +before our tents. We never do it here. Our tents are left entirely +unguarded, but nothing has ever been touched." We were glad to know +that. It is a remarkable fact, when we consider that the men of this +regiment have all their lives been slaves; for we all know that Slavery +does not tend to make men honest. + +The ceremony in honor of Emancipation took place in the beautiful grove +of live-oaks adjoining the camp. I wish it were possible to describe +fitly the scene which met our eyes, as we sat upon the stand, and looked +down on the crowd before us. There were the black soldiers in their blue +coats and scarlet pantaloons; the officers of the First Regiment, and of +other regiments, in their handsome uniforms; and there were crowds of +lookers-on, men, women, and children, of every complexion, grouped in +various attitudes, under the moss-hung trees. The faces of all wore a +happy, interested look. The exercises commenced with a prayer by the +chaplain of the regiment. An ode, written for the occasion, was then +read and sung. President Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation was then +read, and enthusiastically cheered. The Rev. Mr. French presented +Colonel Higginson with two very elegant flags, a gift to the First +Regiment, from the Church of the Puritans, in New York. He accompanied +them by an appropriate and enthusiastic speech. As Colonel Higginson +took the flags, before he had time to reply to the speech, some of the +colored people, of their own accord, began to sing,-- + + "My country, 'tis of thee, + Sweet land of liberty, + Of thee we sing!" + +It was a touching and beautiful incident, and sent a thrill through all +our hearts. The Colonel was deeply moved by it. He said that reply was +far more effective than any speech he could make. But he did make one of +those stirring speeches which are "half battles." All hearts swelled +with emotion as we listened to his glorious words, "stirring the soul +like the sound of a trumpet." His soldiers are warmly attached to him, +and he evidently feels toward them all as if they were his children. + +General Saxton spoke also, and was received with great enthusiasm. +Throughout the morning, repeated cheers were given for him by the +regiment, and joined in heartily by all the people. They know him to be +one of the best and noblest men in the world. His unfailing kindness and +consideration for them, so different from the treatment they have +sometimes received at the hands of United States officers, have caused +them to have unbounded confidence in him. + +At the close of Colonel Higginson's speech, he presented the flags to +the color-bearers, Sergeant Rivers and Sergeant Sutton, with an earnest +charge, to which they made appropriate replies. + +Mrs. Gage uttered some earnest words, and then the regiment sang John +Brown's Hallelujah Song. + +After the meeting was over, we saw the dress-parade, which was a +brilliant and beautiful sight. An officer told us that the men went +through the drill remarkably well, and learned the movements with +wonderful ease and rapidity. To us it seemed strange as a miracle to see +this regiment of blacks, the first mustered into the service of the +United States, thus doing itself honor in the sight of officers of other +regiments, many of whom doubtless came to scoff. The men afterward had a +great feast; ten oxen having been roasted whole, for their especial +benefit. + +In the evening there was the softest, loveliest moonlight. We were very +unwilling to go home; for, besides the attractive society, we knew that +the soldiers were to have grand shouts and a general jubilee that night. +But the steamboat was coming, and we were obliged to bid a reluctant +farewell to Camp Saxton and the hospitable dwellers therein. We walked +the deck of the steamer singing patriotic songs, and we agreed that +moonlight and water had never looked so beautiful as they did that +night. At Beaufort we took the row-boat for St. Helena. The boatmen as +they rowed sang some of their sweetest, wildest hymns. It was a fitting +close to such a day. Our hearts were filled with an exceeding great +gladness; for although the government had left much undone, we knew that +Freedom was surely born in our land that day. It seemed too glorious a +good to realize, this beginning of the great work we had so longed for +and prayed for. It was a sight never to be forgotten, that crowd of +happy black faces from which the shadow of Slavery had forever passed. +"Forever free! forever free!"--those magical words in the President's +Proclamation were constantly singing themselves in my soul. + + + + +SONG OF THE NEGRO BOATMEN AT PORT ROYAL, S. C. + +BY JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + + O praise and tanks! De Lord he come + To set de people free; + An' massa tink it day ob doom, + An' we ob jubilee. + De Lord dat heap de Red Sea waves, + He jus' as 'trong as den; + He say de word: we las' night slaves; + To-day, de Lord's free men. + De yam will grow, de cotton blow, + We'll hab de rice an' corn: + O nebber you fear, if nebber you hear + De driver blow his horn! + + Ole massa on he trabbels gone; + He leaf de land behind: + De Lord's breff blow him furder on, + Like corn-shuck in de wind. + We own de hoe, we own de plough, + We own de hands dat hold; + We sell de pig, we sell de cow, + But nebber chile be sold. + + We pray de Lord: he gib us signs + Dat some day we be free; + De Norf-wind tell it to de pines, + De wild-duck to de sea; + We tink it when de church-bell ring, + We dream it in de dream; + De rice-bird mean it when he sing, + De eagle when he scream. + + We know de promise nebber fail, + An' nebber lie de Word; + So, like de 'postles in de jail, + We waited for de Lord: + An' now he open ebery door, + An' trow away de key; + He tink we lub him so before, + We lub him better free. + De yam will grow, de cotton blow, + He'll gib de rice an' corn: + O nebber you fear, if nebber you hear + De driver blow his horn! + + + + +EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY HON. HENRY WILSON TO THE COLORED PEOPLE IN +CHARLESTON, S. C., APRIL, 1865. + + +"For twenty-nine years, in private life and in public life, at all times +and on all occasions, I have spoken and voted against Slavery, and in +favor of the freedom of every man that breathes God's air or walks His +earth. And to-day, standing here in South Carolina, I feel that the +slave-power we have fought so long is under my heel; and that the men +and women held in bondage so long are free forevermore. + +"Understanding this to be your position,--that you are forever +free,--remember, O remember, the sacrifices that have been made for your +freedom, and be worthy of the blessing that has come to you! I know you +will be. [Cheers.] Through these four years of bloody war, you have +always been loyal to the old flag of the country. You have never +betrayed the Union soldiers who were fighting the battles of the +country. You have guided them, you have protected them, you have cheered +them. You have proved yourselves worthy the great situation in which you +were placed by the Slaveholders' Rebellion. Four years ago you saw the +flag of your country struck down from Fort Sumter; yesterday you saw the +old flag go up again. Its stars now beam with a brighter lustre. You +know now what the old flag means,--that it means liberty to every man +and woman in the country. [Cheers.] + +"You have been patient, you have endured, you have trusted in God and +your country; and the God of our fathers has blessed our country, and +He has blessed you. The long, dreary, chilly night of Slavery has passed +away forevermore, and the sun of Liberty casts its broad beams upon you +to-day. + +"But your duties commence with your liberties. Remember that you are to +be obedient, faithful, true, and loyal to the country forevermore. +[Cheers, and cries of 'Yes!' 'Yes!' 'Yes!'] Remember that you are to +educate your children; that you are to improve their condition; that you +are to make a brighter future for _them_ than the past has been to +_you_. Remember that you are to be industrious. Freedom does not mean +that you are not to work. It means that when you do work you shall have +pay for it, to carry home to your wives and the children of your love. +Liberty means the liberty to work for yourselves, to have the fruits of +your labor, to better your own condition, and improve the condition of +your children. I want every man and woman to understand that every +neglect of duty, every failure to be industrious, to be economical, to +support yourselves, to take care of your families, to secure the +education of your children, will be put in the faces of your friends as +a reproach. Your old masters will point you out and say to us, 'We told +you so.' For more than thirty years we have said that you were fit for +liberty. We have maintained it amid obloquy and reproach. For +maintaining this doctrine in the halls of Congress our names have been +made a by-word. The great lesson for you in the future is to prove that +we were right; to prove that you were worthy of liberty. We simply ask +you, in the name of your friends, in the name of our country, to show by +your good conduct, and by efforts to improve your condition, that you +were worthy of freedom; to prove to all the world, even to your old +masters and mistresses, that it was a sin against God to hold you in +Slavery, and that you are worthy to have your names enrolled among the +freemen of the United States of America. [Great cheering.] + +"We want you to respect yourselves; to walk erect, with the +consciousness that you are free men. Be humane and kind to each other, +always serving each other when you can. Be courteous and gentlemanly to +everybody on earth, black and white, but cringe to nobody. + +"You have helped us to fight our battles; you have stood by the old +flag; you have given us your prayers; and you have had the desire of +your hearts fulfilled. The cause of freedom has triumphed; and in our +triumph we want all to stand up and rejoice together." + + + + +EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH BY HON. JUDGE KELLY TO THE COLORED PEOPLE IN +CHARLESTON, S. C., APRIL, 1865. + + +"I will not, my colored friends, talk to you of the past. You understand +that all too well. I turn to the hopeful future; not to flatter you for +the deeds you have done during the last four years, but to remind you +that, though you no longer have earthly masters, there is a Ruler in +heaven whom you are bound to obey,--that Great Being who strengthened +and guided your eminent friend William Lloyd Garrison, who trained +Abraham Lincoln for his great work, in honest poverty and +simple-mindedness; that good God whose stars shine the same over the +slaves' huts and the masters' palaces. His laws you must obey. You must +worship Him not only at the altar, but in every act of your daily life. +It will not be enough to observe the Sabbath, to go to Him with your +sorrows, and remember Him in your joys. You must remember that He has +said to man, 'In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat thy bread.' Labor +is the law of all. Your friends in the North appeal to you to help them +in the great work they undertook to do for you. We want you to work +_with_ us. We want you to do it by working here in South Carolina, +earning wages, taking care of your money, and making profit out of that +money. Work on the plantation, if that is all you can do. If you can +work in the workshop, do it, and work well. He who does a day's work not +so well as he might have done it, cheats himself. Strive that your work +on Monday shall be better done than it was on Saturday; and when +Saturday comes round again, you will be able to do a still more skilful +day's work. We at the North sometimes learn three or four trades. If any +one of you feels sure that he can do better for himself and his family +by changing his pursuit, he had better change it." + +"I like to look at the women assembled here. Remember, my friends, that +you are to be mothers and wives in the homes of free men. You must try +to make those homes respectable and happy. You are to be the mothers of +American citizens. You must give them the best education you can. You +must strive to make them intelligent, educated, moral, patriotic, and +religious men. Many of you cannot read, but you are not too old yet to +learn. A mother who knows how to read can half educate her own child by +helping him with his lessons; and the mother who has but little learning +will get a great deal more by trying to hear the child's lessons; and so +it is with the father. + +"You need no longer live in slave huts, now that you are to have your +own earnings. I charge you, men, to make your homes comfortable, and +you, women, to make them happy. Work industriously. Be faithful to each +other; be true and honest with all men. If you respect yourselves, +others will respect you. There are Northerners who are prejudiced +against you; but you can find the way to their hearts and consciences +through their pockets. When they find that there are colored tradesmen +who have money to spend, and colored farmers who want to buy goods of +them, they will no longer call you Jack and Joe; they will begin to +think that you are Mr. John Black and Mr. Joseph Brown." [Great +laughter.] + + + + +BLACK TOM. + +BY A YANKEE SOLDIER. + + + Hunted by his Rebel master + Over many a hill and glade, + Black Tom, with his wife and children, + Found his way to our brigade. + + Tom had sense and truth and courage, + Often tried where danger rose: + Once our flag his strong arm rescued + From the grasp of Rebel foes. + + One day, Tom was marching with us + Through the forest as our guide, + When a ball from traitor's rifle + Broke his arm and pierced his side. + + On a litter white men bore him + Through the forest drear and damp, + Laid him, dying, where our banners + Brightly fluttered o'er our camp. + + Pointing to his wife and children, + While he suffered racking pain, + Said he to our soldiers round him, + "Don't let _them_ be slaves again!" + + "No, by Heaven!" spoke out a soldier,-- + And _that_ oath was not profane,-- + "Our brigade will still protect them; + They shall ne'er be slaves again." + + Over old Tom's dusky features + Came and stayed a joyous ray; + And with saddened friends around him, + His free spirit passed away. + + * * * * * + +At Rodman's Point, in North Carolina, the United States troops were +obliged to retreat before Rebels, who outnumbered them ten to one. The +scow in which they attempted to escape stuck in the mud, and could not +be moved with poles. While the soldiers were lying down they were in +some measure protected from Rebel bullets; but whoever jumped into the +water to push the boat off would certainly be killed. A vigorous black +man who was with them said: "Lie still. I will push off the boat. If +they kill me, it is nothing; but you are soldiers, and are needed to +fight for the country." He leaped overboard, pushed off the boat, and +sprang back, pierced by seven bullets. He died two days after. + +I wish I knew his name; for it deserves to be recorded with the noblest +heroes the world has known. + + + + +LETTER FROM A FREEDMAN TO HIS OLD MASTER. + + [Written just as he dictated it.] + + DAYTON, OHIO, August 7, 1865. + + _To my old Master_, COLONEL P. H. ANDERSON, _Big + Spring, Tennessee_. + +Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten +Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, +promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt +uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before +this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never +heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier +that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me +twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and +am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear +old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, +Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will +meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see +you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the +neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a +chance. + +I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give +me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, +with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,--the +folks call her Mrs. Anderson,--and the children--Milly, Jane, and +Grundy--go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has +a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend +church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others +saying, "Them colored people were slaves" down in Tennessee. The +children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was +no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys +would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you +will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to +decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again. + +As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be +gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the +Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she +would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to +treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity +by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will +make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and +friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, +and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two +dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand +six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time +our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our +clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for +Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. +Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., +Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we +can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good +Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have +done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations +without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in +Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for +the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those +who defraud the laborer of his hire. + +In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for +my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. +You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay +here and starve--and die, if it come to that--than have my girls brought +to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will +also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored +children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to +give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits. + +Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you +when you were shooting at me. + + From your old servant, + JOURDON ANDERSON. + + * * * * * + +SERGEANT W. H. CARNEY, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was very severely +wounded when the famous Fifty-Fourth Regiment attacked Fort Wagner; but +he resolutely held up the Stars and Stripes, as he dragged his wounded +limb along, amid a shower of bullets; and when he reached his comrades +he exclaimed exultingly, "The dear old flag has never touched the +ground, boys!" + + + + +COLONEL ROBERT G. SHAW. + +BY ELIZA B. SEDGWICK. + + + [In the summer of 1863 an attack was made on Fort Wagner, in South + Carolina, by the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, composed of colored + troops. Their leader, COLONEL SHAW, belonging to one of the best + white families in Boston, was killed. When his friends asked for + his body, the reply of the Rebels was, "He is buried with his + niggers."] + + Buried with a band of brothers, + Whom for him would fain have died; + Buried with the gallant fellows + Who fell fighting by his side. + + Buried with the men God gave him,-- + Those whom he was sent to save; + Buried with the martyred heroes, + He has found an honored grave. + + Buried where his dust so precious + Makes the soil a hallowed spot; + Buried where by Christian patriot + He shall never be forgot. + + Buried in the ground accursed, + Which man's fettered feet have trod; + Buried where his voice still speaketh, + Appealing for the slave to God. + + Fare thee well, thou noble warrior! + Who in youthful beauty went + On a high and holy mission, + By the God of battles sent. + + Chosen of Him, "elect and precious," + Well didst thou fulfil thy part; + When thy country "counts her jewels," + She shall wear thee on her heart. + + + + +ADVICE FROM AN OLD FRIEND. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +For many years I have felt great sympathy for you, my brethren and +sisters, and I have tried to do what I could to help you to freedom. And +now that you have at last received the long-desired blessing, I most +earnestly wish that you should make the best possible use of it. I have +made this book to encourage you to exertion by examples of what colored +people are capable of doing. Such men and women as Toussaint +l'Ouverture, Benjamin Banneker, Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, +and William and Ellen Crafts, prove that the power of _character_ can +overcome all external disadvantages, even that most crushing of all +disadvantages, Slavery. Perhaps few of you will be able to stir the +hearts of large assemblies by such eloquent appeals as those of +Frederick Douglass, or be able to describe what you have seen and heard +so gracefully as Charlotte L. Forten does. Probably none of you will be +called to govern a state as Toussaint l'Ouverture did; for such a +remarkable career as his does not happen once in hundreds of years. But +the Bible says, "He that ruleth his own spirit is greater than he that +ruleth a kingdom"; and such a ruler every man and woman can become, by +the help and blessing of God. It is not the _greatness_ of the thing a +man does which makes him worthy of respect; it is the doing _well_ +whatsoever he hath to do. In many respects, your opportunities for +usefulness are more limited than those of others; but you have one great +opportunity peculiar to yourselves. You can do a vast amount of good to +people in various parts of the world, and through successive +generations, by simply being sober, industrious, and honest. There are +still many slaves in Brazil and in the Spanish possessions. If you are +vicious, lazy, and careless, their masters will excuse themselves for +continuing to hold them in bondage, by saying: "Look at the freedmen of +the United States! What idle vagabonds they are! How dirty their cabins +are! How slovenly their dress! That proves that negroes cannot take care +of themselves, that they are not fit to be free." But if your houses +look neat, and your clothes are clean and whole, and your gardens well +weeded, and your work faithfully done, whether for yourselves or others, +then all the world will cry out, "You see that negroes _can_ take care +of themselves; and it is a sin and a shame to keep such men in Slavery." +Thus, while you are serving your own interests, you will be helping on +the emancipation of poor weary slaves in other parts of the world. It is +a great privilege to have a chance to do extensive good by such simple +means, and your Heavenly Father will hold you responsible for the use +you make of your influence. + +Your manners will have a great effect in producing an impression to your +advantage or disadvantage. Be always respectful and polite toward your +associates, and toward those who have been in the habit of considering +you an inferior race. It is one of the best ways to prove that you are +not inferior. Never allow yourselves to say or do anything in the +presence of women of your own color which it would be improper for you +to say or do in the presence of the most refined white ladies. Such a +course will be an education for them as well as for yourselves. When you +appoint committees about your schools and other public affairs, it would +be wise to have both men and women on the committees. The habit of +thinking and talking about serious and important matters makes women +more sensible and discreet. Such consultations together are in fact a +practical school both for you and them; and the more modest and +intelligent women are, the better will children be brought up. + +Personal appearance is another important thing. It is not necessary to +be rich in order to dress in a becoming manner. A pretty dress for +festival occasions will last a long while, if well taken care of; and a +few wild-flowers, or bright berries, will ornament young girls more +tastefully than jewels. Working-clothes that are clean and nicely +patched always look respectable; and they make a very favorable +impression, because they indicate that the wearer is neat and +economical. And here let me say, that it is a very great saving to mend +garments well, and before the rents get large. We thrifty Yankees have a +saying that "a stitch in time saves nine"; and you will find by +experience that neglected mending will require more than nine stitches +instead of one, and will not look so well when it is done. + +The appearance of your villages will do much to produce a favorable +opinion concerning your characters and capabilities. Whitewash is not +expensive; and it takes but little time to transplant a cherokee rose, a +jessamine, or other wild shrubs and vines, that make the poorest cabin +look beautiful; and, once planted, they will be growing while you are +working or sleeping. It is a public benefit to remove everything dirty +or unsightly, and to surround homes with verdure and flowers; for a +succession of pretty cottages makes the whole road pleasant, and cheers +all passers by; while they are at the same time an advertisement, easily +read by all men, that the people who live there are not lazy, slovenly, +or vulgar. The rich pay a great deal of money for pictures to ornament +their walls, but a whitewashed cabin, with flowering-shrubs and vines +clustering round it, is a pretty picture freely exhibited to all men. It +is a public benefaction. + +But even if you are as yet too poor to have a house and garden of your +own, it is still in your power to be a credit and an example to your +race: by working for others as faithfully as you would work for +yourself; by taking as good care of their tools as you would if they +were your own; by always keeping your promises, however inconvenient it +may be; by being strictly honest in all your dealings; by being +temperate in your habits, and never speaking a profane or indecent +word,--by pursuing such a course you will be consoled with an inward +consciousness of doing right in the sight of God, and be a public +benefactor by your example, while at the same time you will secure +respect and prosperity for yourself by establishing a good character. A +man whose conduct inspires confidence is in a fair way to have house and +land of his own, even if he starts in the world without a single cent. + +Be careful of your earnings, and as saving in your expenses as is +consistent with health and comfort; but never allow yourselves to be +stingy. Avarice is a mean vice, which eats all the heart out of a man. +Money is a good thing, and you ought to want to earn it, as a means of +improving the condition of yourselves and families. But it will do good +to your character, and increase your happiness, if you impart a portion +of your earnings to others who are in need. Help as much as you +conveniently can in building churches and school-houses for the good of +all, and in providing for the sick and the aged. If your former masters +and mistresses are in trouble, show them every kindness in your power, +whether they have treated you kindly or not. Remember the words of the +blessed Jesus: "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which +despitefully use you and persecute you." + +There is one subject on which I wish to guard you against +disappointment. Do not be discouraged if freedom brings you more cares +and fewer advantages than you expected. Such a great change as it is +from Slavery to Freedom cannot be completed all at once. By being +brought up as slaves, you have formed some bad habits, which it will +take time to correct. Those who were formerly your masters have acquired +still worse habits by being brought up as slaveholders; and they cannot +be expected to change all at once. Both of you will gradually improve +under the teaching of new circumstances. For a good while it will +provoke many of them to see those who were once their slaves acting like +freemen. They will doubtless do many things to vex and discourage you, +just as the slaveholders in Jamaica did after emancipation there. They +seemed to want to drive their emancipated bondmen to insurrection, that +they might have a pretext for saying: "You see what a bad effect freedom +has on negroes! We told you it would be so!" But the colored people of +Jamaica behaved better than their former masters wished them to do. They +left the plantations where they were badly treated, or poorly paid, but +they worked diligently elsewhere. Their women and children raised +vegetables and fowls and carried them to market; and, by their united +industry and economy, they soon had comfortable little homes of their +own. + +I think it would generally be well for you to work for your former +masters, if they treat you well, and pay you as much as you could earn +elsewhere. But if they show a disposition to oppress you, quit their +service, and work for somebody who will treat you like freemen. If they +use violent language to you, never use impudent language to them. If +they cheat you, scorn to cheat them in return. If they break their +promises, never break yours. If they propose to women such connections +as used to be common under the bad system of Slavery, teach them that +freedwomen not only have the legal power to protect themselves from such +degradation, but also that they have pride of character. If in fits of +passion, they abuse your children as they formerly did, never revenge it +by any injury to them or their property. It is an immense advantage to +any man always to keep the right on his side. If you pursue this course +you will always be superior, however rich or elegant may be the man or +woman who wrongs you. + +I do not mean by this that you ought to submit tamely to insult or +oppression. Stand up for your rights, but do it in a manly way. Quit +working for a man who speaks to you contemptuously, or who tries to take +a mean advantage of you, when you are doing your duty faithfully by him. +If it becomes necessary, apply to magistrates to protect you and redress +your wrongs. If you are so unlucky as to live where the men in +authority, whether civil or military, are still disposed to treat the +colored people as slaves, let the most intelligent among you draw up a +statement of your grievances and send it to some of your firm friends in +Congress, such as the Hon. Charles Sumner, the Hon. Henry Wilson, and +the Hon. George W. Julian. + +A good government seeks to make laws that will equally protect and +restrain all men. Heretofore you had no reason to respect the laws of +this country, because they punished you for crime, in many cases more +severely than white men were punished, while they did nothing to protect +your rights. But now that good President Lincoln has made you free, you +will be legally protected in your rights and restrained from doing +wrong, just as other men are protected and restrained. It is one of the +noblest privileges of freemen to be able to respect the law, and to rely +upon it always for redress of grievances, instead of revenging one wrong +by another wrong. + +You will have much to put up with before the new order of things can +become settled on a permanent foundation. I am grieved to read in the +newspapers how wickedly you are still treated in some places; but I am +not surprised, for I knew that Slavery was a powerful snake, that would +try to do mischief with its tail after its head was crushed. But, +whatever wrongs you may endure, comfort yourselves with two reflections: +first, that there is the beginning of a better state of things, from +which your children will derive much more benefit than you can; +secondly, that a great majority of the American people are sincerely +determined that you shall be protected in your rights as freemen. Year +by year your condition will improve. Year by year, if you respect +yourselves, you will be more and more respected by white men. Wonderful +changes have taken place in your favor during the last thirty years, and +the changes are still going on. The Abolitionists did a great deal for +you, by their continual writing and preaching against Slavery. Then this +war enabled thousands of people to see for themselves what a bad +institution Slavery was; and the uniform kindness with which you treated +the Yankee soldiers raised you up multitudes of friends. There are still +many pro-slavery people in the Northern States, who, from aristocratic +pride or low vulgarity, still call colored people "niggers," and treat +them as such. But the good leaven is now fairly worked into public +sentiment, and these people, let them do what they will, cannot get it +out. + +The providence of God has opened for you an upward path. Walk ye in it, +without being discouraged by the brambles and stones at the outset. +Those who come after you will clear them away, and will place in their +stead strong, smooth rails for the steam-car called Progress of the +Colored Race. + + + + +DAY OF JUBILEE. + +BY A. G. DUNCAN. + + + Roll on, thou joyful day, + When tyranny's proud sway, + Stern as the grave, + Shall to the ground be hurled, + And Freedom's flag unfurled + Shall wave throughout the world, + O'er every slave! + + Trump of glad jubilee, + Echo o'er land and sea, + Freedom for all! + Let the glad tidings fly, + And every tribe reply, + Glory to God on high, + At Slavery's fall! + + + THE END. + + +Cambridge: Stereotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co. + + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation and spelling errors have been repaired. Spelling +and accented letters, as well as inconsistent chapter headings in the +Contents and the body of the text, have otherwise been retained as +they appear in the original publication. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Freedmen's Book, by Lydia Maria Child + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 38479-8.txt or 38479-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/4/7/38479/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Henry Flower and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Freedmen's Book + +Author: Lydia Maria Child + +Release Date: January 3, 2012 [EBook #38479] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Henry Flower and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> + + + +<div class='center'><h1> +THE<br /><br /> + +FREEDMEN'S BOOK.</h1> + +<h2>By L. MARIA CHILD.</h2></div> + +<div class='centered-div'> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O dark, sad millions,—patiently and dumb<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Waiting for God,—your hour, at last, has come,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And Freedom's song<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Breaks the long silence of your night of wrong.<br /></span> +</div> +<p class="cit"><span class="smcap">John G. Whittier.</span></p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 182px;"> +<img class="plain" src="images/logo_scaled.png" width="182" height="200" alt="Publisher's logo" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'>BOSTON:<br /> +TICKNOR AND FIELDS.<br /> +1865. +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='center'> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by<br /> +L. MARIA CHILD,<br /> +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">University Press: Welch, Bigelow, & Co.,<br /> +Cambridge.</span><br /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<i>TO</i><br /> +<br /> +THE LOYAL AND BRAVE<br /> +<br /> +CAPTAIN ROBERT SMALL,<br /> +<br /> +<i>Hero of the Steamboat Planter</i>,<br /> +<br /> +THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY<br /> +<br /> +L. MARIA CHILD.<br /> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="TO_THE_FREEDMEN" id="TO_THE_FREEDMEN"></a>TO THE FREEDMEN.</h2> + + +<p>I have prepared this book expressly for you, with +the hope that those of you who can read will read +it aloud to others, and that all of you will derive fresh +strength and courage from this true record of what colored +men have accomplished, under great disadvantages.</p> + +<p>I have written all the biographies over again, in order +to give you as much information as possible in the fewest +words. I take nothing for my services; and the book is +sold to you at the cost of paper, printing, and binding. +Whatever money you pay for any of the volumes will be +immediately invested in other volumes to be sent to freedmen +in various parts of the country, on the same terms; +and whatever money remains in my hands, when the book +ceases to sell, will be given to the Freedmen's Aid Association, +to be expended in schools for you and your children.</p> + +<p class="quotsig"> +Your old friend,<br /> +L. MARIA CHILD.<br /> +</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td> </td><td><span class="smcap">Author.</span></td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Ignatius Sancho</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Extract from the Tenth Psalm</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Prejudice Reproved</span></td><td><i>Lydia H. Sigourney</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Benjamin Banneker</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Ethiopia</span></td><td><i>Frances E. W. Harper</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Hour of Freedom</span></td><td><i>William Lloyd Garrison</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">William Boen</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Anecdote of General Washington</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Prayer of the Slave</span></td><td><i>Bernard Barton</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Toussaint l'Ouverture</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Aspirations of Mingo</span></td><td><i>Mingo, a Slave</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Bury Me in a Free Land</span></td><td><i>Frances E. W. Harper</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Phillis Wheatley</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Pertinent Question</span></td><td><i>Frederick Douglass</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Works of Providence</span></td><td><i>Phillis Wheatley</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Dying Christian</span></td><td><i>Frances E. W. Harper</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Kindness to Animals</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">James Forten</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Meeting in the Swamp</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Reasonable Request</span></td><td><i>Peter Williams</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Slave Poet</span></td><td><i>George Horton, a Slave</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Ratie</span></td><td><i>Mattie Griffith</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Kingdom of Christ</span></td><td><i>James Montgomery</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Progress of Emancipation in the British West Indies</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Last Night of Slavery</span></td><td><i>James Montgomery</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Madison Washington</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Extract from the Virginia Bill of Rights</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Praise of Creation</span></td><td><i>George Horton</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Frederick Douglass</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">How the Good Work goes on</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Dedication Hymn</span></td><td><i>J. M. Whitefield</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Prayer</span></td><td><i>John G. Whittier</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">William and Ellen Crafts</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Spring</span></td><td><i>George Horton</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Good Grandmother</span></td><td><i>Harriet Jacobs</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Colored Mother's Prayer</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">William Costin</span></td><td> </td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Education of Children</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Thank God for Little Children</span></td><td><i>Frances E. W. Harper</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Sam and Andy</span></td><td><i>Harriet Beecher Stowe</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">John Brown</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Air of Freedom</span></td><td><i>Frances E. W. Harper</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Emancipation in the District of Columbia</span></td><td><i>James Madison Bell</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Laws of Health</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">President Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation</span></td><td><i>Frances E. W. Harper</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">New-Year's Day on the Islands of South Carolina</span></td><td><i>Charlotte L. Forten</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Song of the Negro Boatmen at Port Royal, S. C.</span></td><td><i>John G. Whittier</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Extract from Speech to Colored People in Charleston</span></td><td><i>Hon. Henry Wilson</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Extract from Speech to Colored People in Charleston</span></td><td><i>Hon. Judge Kelly</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Black Tom</span></td><td><i>A Yankee Soldier</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Letter from a Freedman</span></td><td><i>Jourdon Anderson</i>*</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Colonel Robert G. Shaw</span></td><td><i>Eliza B. Sedgwick</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Advice from an Old Friend</span></td><td><i>L. Maria Child</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Day of Jubilee</span></td><td><i>A. G. Duncan</i></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<p>* The names of the colored authors are marked with an asterisk.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_FREEDMENS_BOOK" id="THE_FREEDMENS_BOOK"></a>THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK.</h2> + + + + +<h2><a name="IGNATIUS_SANCHO" id="IGNATIUS_SANCHO"></a>IGNATIUS SANCHO.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>This was the name of a remarkable African, who +excited a good deal of interest in his day. His +father and mother were stolen from Africa and put on +board a slave-ship in 1729, which was one hundred and +thirty-six years ago. He was born during the passage, +and when the vessel arrived at Carthagena, in South +America, he was baptized by the name of Ignatius. His +mother died soon after, and his father, seeing no means +of escape from slavery, killed himself in a fit of despair. +The man who took possession of the little orphan, and +claimed to be his master, carried him to England, and +gave him to three unmarried sisters who lived at Greenwich. +He was then about two years old, a bright, lively, +funny little creature. As he grew older, he showed such +an inquisitive mind, said so many droll things, and was +so full of mischief, that the ladies named him Sancho, +after a very comical character in a famous old Spanish +novel. He was very eager in the pursuit of knowledge; +but this commendable disposition was not approved by +the ladies. They thought that all a black servant had +occasion to know was how to obey orders, and that it +was not necessary or proper for him to learn to read +and write. But nature had given Ignatius a very lively<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +mind, and a very susceptible heart, and neither of them +could be kept quiet. He early plunged into love affairs, +and was always overrunning with fun and frolic. Doubtless +he was a great trial to the respectable maiden ladies, +who were training him for a servant; and he, on his part, +thought them very sour, severe, and disagreeable. Sometimes, +when they were angry with him, they reminded +him that he had been a slave, and threatened to send +him into slavery again. This excited uneasiness in his +mind, and kindled resentment.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Montagu lived in the neighborhood, and +his attention was attracted by the bright, frank countenance +of the black boy. He entered into conversation +with him occasionally, and was so much struck by his +intelligence and wit, that he told the ladies their servant +was a remarkable lad, and that his earnest desire to improve +his mind ought to be gratified. They persisted in +their opinion that knowledge was a very improper and +dangerous thing for a black servant. But the Duke introduced +him to the Duchess, and they both encouraged +him to learn to read and write. They lent him books, +and were greatly entertained by his bright remarks concerning +what he read.</p> + +<p>It was a great grief to Ignatius when the friendly Duke +died. He besought the Duchess to receive him into her +service, and she consented. He remained in her household +as long as she lived. At her death, she left him an +annuity of about one hundred and fifty dollars a year; +and he had three hundred and fifty dollars, which he had +laid up from his wages. He might have made this sum +the foundation of a comfortable little property. But nature +had made him very full of fun and frolic. He had +such lively manners, and uttered so many pleasant jokes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +that his company was much sought for. This proved a +temptation too strong for him. He accepted invitations +to go to taverns, where he gambled away his earnings. +He had a great passion for going to the theatre; and +his conduct with regard to women was far from being +correct.</p> + +<p>But he soon saw the error of his ways, and resolved +to reform. He went to the Chaplain of Montagu House, +and begged to be taken into his service, where he remained +several months. The descendants of his old +friend, the Duke, encouraged him to persevere in his +good resolutions; and when the young Duke saw that +he continued sober and industrious, he took him into his +employ. By the blessing of the Heavenly Father, another +saving influence came to help him into the paths +of virtue. He formed a serious attachment for a very +worthy young woman from the West Indies, to whom he +was soon after married. He remained in the employ of +the Duke of Montagu until he was about forty-four years +old. Frequent attacks of the gout, and clumsiness resulting +from an hereditary tendency to corpulence, rendered +him unfit to continue in the service to which he +had so long been accustomed. His good friend and +patron the Duke assisted him to establish a small shop +for groceries. By economy and industry, he and his +good wife managed to rear and educate well a numerous +family of children.</p> + +<p>He always retained his love of learning, and was such +a diligent reader, that he was well acquainted with the +current literature of that time. He was treated with +respect and attention by many intelligent and educated +people. Though not so full of fun as he was in his +younger days, his conversation was entertaining. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +letters he wrote to various persons abound with good +sense, and show that he was very affectionate and devoted +as a husband and father. He evidently regarded +his wife as the best blessing of his life. In one of his +letters to a friend he says: "The hot weather does not +befriend Mrs. Sancho, but time will, I hope. If true +worth could plead exemption from pain and sickness, she +would, by right divine, enjoy the best of health." On +another occasion he writes: "I can compare her to nothing +so properly as a diamond in the dirt. But, my +friend, that is Fortune's fault, not mine; for had I the +power, I would case her in gold." Years later, he +writes: "Dame Sancho would be better in health, if she +cared less. I am her barometer. If a sigh escapes me, +it is answered by a tear in her eye. I often assume +gayety to illume her dear sensibility with a smile, which +twenty years ago almost bewitched me, and which still +constitutes my highest pleasure. May such be your lot, +my friend. What more can friendship wish you than +to glide down the stream of time with a partner of congenial +principles and fine feelings, whose very looks speak +tenderness and sentiment."</p> + +<p>After a severe illness he wrote to a friend: "I had excruciating +pains and great lack of patience. Mrs. Sancho +had a week of it. Gout did not sweeten my temper. It +was washing week, and she had to attend the shop. God +bless her, and reward her. She is good; good in heart, +good in principle, good by habit."</p> + +<p>The children appear to have been the delight of his +heart. He called them "Sanchonettas," which would +be the Italian way of saying Little Sanchos. He was +never tired of describing their little winning ways. At +the end of a letter to one of his friends he wrote: "Lydia<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +trots about amazingly; and Kitty imitates her, with this +addition, that she is as mischievous as a monkey." But +little William, his youngest, was evidently his pet. To +another of his friends he wrote: "You cannot imagine +what hold little Billy gets of me. He grows, he prattles, +every day he learns something new. The rogue is fond +of me to excess. By his good-will he would be always +in the shop with me. The little monkey! He clings +round my legs; and if I chide him, or look sour, he holds +up his little mouth to kiss me."</p> + +<p>Ignatius Sancho had a very kind heart. It hurt his +feelings very much to see any animal tormented. He +tried to get some laws passed to prevent cruel market-men +from abusing their donkeys; and he always tried to +be a friend to everybody that was in distress. In one +of his letters he says: "The joy of giving and of making +happy is almost the attribute of a god. There is as much +sweetness conveyed to the senses by doing a right good-natured +deed as our frame can consistently bear."</p> + +<p>Such a disposition is better than a remarkable intellect. +But he had a quick intellect also, and generally took +sensible views of things. Writing to a young colored +friend, who had been somewhat wild, he says:—</p> + +<p>"Look round upon the miserable fate of almost all of +our unfortunate color. See slavery added to ignorance. +See the contempt of the very wretches who roll in affluence +from our labors. Hear the ill-bred, heart-racking +abuse of the ignorant vulgar. If you tread as cautiously +as the strictest rectitude can guide you, you must suffer +from this. But if you are armed with truth and conscious +integrity, you will be sure of the plaudits and +countenance of the good.</p> + +<p>"You are a happy lad. You have kind benefactors,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +to whom you ought to look up with reverence, and humbly +beg the Almighty to give you strength to imitate +them in doing good. Your parts are as quick as most +men's. If you urge your speed in the race of virtue +with the same zeal you have exhibited in error, you will +recover, to the satisfaction of your noble patrons, and to +the glory of yourself.</p> + +<p>"Some philosopher, whose name I forget, wished for a +window in his breast, that the world might see his heart. +I recommend him to your imitation. Vice is a coward. +To be truly brave, a man must be truly good. You hate +the name of cowardice; then detest a lie and shun liars. +Be above revenge. If others have taken advantage +either of your guilt or your distress, punish them only +with forgiveness; and if you can serve them at any +future time, do it.</p> + +<p>"I sincerely congratulate thee upon thy repentance. +It is thy birthday to real happiness."</p> + +<p>To one of the white gentlemen who liked to correspond +with him, he wrote:—</p> + +<p>"There is something so amazingly grand and affecting +in contemplating the works of the Divine Architect, +either in the moral or the intellectual world, that I think +one may rightly call it the cordial of the soul, the best +antidote against pride and discontent. The friendly +warmth of that glorious planet the sun, the leniency +of the air, the cheerful glow of the atmosphere, make +me involuntarily cry, 'Lord, what is man, that thou, in +thy mercy, art so mindful of him? or what is the son of +man, that thou so parentally carest for him?'</p> + +<p>"Sometimes, when I endeavor to turn my thoughts +inward, to review the powers or properties the indulgent +all-wise Father has endowed me with, I am struck with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +wonder and with awe; poor, insignificant worm as I am, +in comparison with superior beings, mortal like myself. +At the head of our riches I reckon the power of reflection. +Where doth it lie? Search every member, from +the toe to the nose,—they are all ready for action, but +they are all dead to thought. It is that breath of life +which the Sacred Architect breathed into the nostrils +of the first man. We feel and acknowledge it, but it is +quite past the power of definition. Then to think of the +promise of never-ending existence! To rise, perhaps, by +regular progression from planet to planet, to behold the +wonders of immensity, to pass from good to better, increasing +in goodness, in knowledge, in love. To glory +in our Redeemer, to joy in ourselves, to be acquainted +with prophets, sages, heroes, and poets of old times, and +to join in the symphony with angels."</p> + +<p>To a white young friend, who had obtained a situation +in India, he wrote:—</p> + +<p>"It is with sincere pleasure I hear you have a lucrative +establishment. Your good sense will naturally lead you +to a proper economy, as distant from frigid parsimony +as from heedless extravagance. As you may have some +time for recreation, give me leave to obtrude my poor +advice. I have heard it more than once observed of +fortunate adventurers, that they come home rich in +purse, but wretchedly barren in intellect. My dear +Jack, the mind wants food as well as the stomach. +Why, then, should not one wish to increase in knowledge +as well as in money? The poet Young says,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>'Books are fair Virtue's advocates and friends.'</p></blockquote> + +<p>My advice to you is, to lay by something every year to +buy a little library. You have to thank God for strong +natural parts; you have a feeling, humane heart; you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +write with sense and discernment. Improve yourself, my +dear Jack. Then if it should please God to return you +to your friends with a fortune, the embellishments of +your mind may be ever considered as greatly superior to +your riches, and only inferior to the goodness of your +heart. This is a good old adage: 'A few books and a +few friends, and those well chosen.'"</p> + +<p>The same young friend wrote a letter to his father, +from Bombay, in India, in which he wrote: "The inhabitants +here, who are chiefly blacks, are a set of canting, +deceitful people, of whom one must have great caution."</p> + +<p>Ignatius Sancho was always ready to defend the despised +and the oppressed, and his sympathy was all the +more lively if they were of his own color. He at once +wrote to his young friend:—</p> + +<p>"In one of your letters to your father, you speak with +honest indignation of the treachery and chicanery of the +natives of India. My good friend, you should remember +from whom they learned those vices. The first visitors +from Christian countries found them a simple, harmless +people. But the cursed avidity for wealth urged those +first visitors, and all the succeeding ones, to such acts of +deception and wanton cruelty, that the poor, ignorant +natives soon learned their knavish arts, and turned them +upon their teachers. As a resident of your country, Old +England, I love it. I love it for its freedom. For the +many blessings I enjoy in it England shall ever have +my warmest wishes, prayers, and blessings. But I must +observe, and I say it with reluctance, that the conduct of +your country has been uniformly wicked in the East Indies, +in the West Indies, and on the coast of Guinea. The +grand object of English navigators, and indeed of all the +navigators of Christian nations, has been money, money,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +money. Commerce was meant by the goodness of Deity +to diffuse the various goods of the earth into every part; +to unite mankind with the blessed bonds of brotherly love +and mutual dependence. Enlightened Christians should +diffuse the riches of the Gospel of Peace together with +the commodities of their respective lands. If commerce +were attended with strict honesty and religion for companions, +it would be a blessing to every shore it touched at.</p> + +<p>"The poor wretched Africans are blessed with a most +fertile and luxuriant soil; but they are rendered miserable +by what Providence meant for a blessing. The +abominable traffic in slaves, and the horrid cruelty and +treachery of the petty kings, is encouraged by their Christian +customers. They carry them strong liquors, powder, +and bad fire-arms to inflame them to madness, and to furnish +them with the hellish means of killing and kidnapping. +It is a subject that sours my blood. I mention +these things to guard my friend from being too hasty in +condemning a people who have been made much worse +by their Christian visitors.</p> + +<p>"Wherever thou residest, make human nature thy +study. Whatever may be the religion or the complexion +of men, study their hearts. Let simplicity, kindness, +and charity be thy guides; and with these, even savages +will respect you, while God will bless you."</p> + +<p>The writings of the Rev. Laurence Sterne, who was +living in England at that time, were well calculated to +inspire humanity toward animals and kindly feelings +toward the poor. These writings were very popular, +and two of the characters conspicuous in them, called +Uncle Toby and Corporal Trim, were great favorites +with the public. Ignatius Sancho especially delighted in +the writings of Sterne; and in 1776, when he was about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +forty-seven years old, he addressed a letter to him as +follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Reverend Sir</span>,—It would perhaps look like an insult +upon your humanity to apologize for the liberty I +am taking. I am one of those people whom the vulgar +and illiberal call 'Negurs.' The first part of my life was +rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family who judged +ignorance to be the best and only security for obedience. +By unwearied application I got a little reading and writing. +Through God's blessing, the latter part of my life +has been truly fortunate, for I have spent it in the service +of one of the best families in the kingdom. My chief +pleasure has been books. How very much, good sir, am +I, among millions, indebted to you for the character of +your amiable Uncle Toby! I declare I would walk ten +miles, in dog-days, to shake hands with the honest Corporal. +Your sermons have touched me to the heart, and I +hope have amended it. In your tenth discourse I find +this very affecting passage: 'Consider how great a part +of our species, in all ages, down to this, have been trodden +under the feet of cruel and capricious tyrants, who +would neither hear their cries nor pity their distresses. +Consider Slavery, what a bitter draught it is, and how +many millions are made to drink of it.'</p> + +<p>"I am sure you will forgive me if I beseech you to +give some attention to Slavery, as it is practised at this +day in the West Indies. That subject, handled in your +striking manner, would perhaps ease the yoke of many; +but if only of one, what a feast for a benevolent heart! +and sure I am, you are an Epicurean<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> in acts of charity.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +You, who are universally read and as universally admired, +could not fail. Dear sir, think that in me you +behold the uplifted hands of thousands of my brother +Moors. You pathetically observe that grief is eloquent. +Figure to yourself their attitudes, hear their supplications, +and you cannot refuse."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mr. Sterne wrote the following reply:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="quotdate"> +"July 27th, 1766. +</p> + +<p>"There is a strange coincidence, Sancho, in the little +events of this world, as well as the great ones. I had +been writing a tender tale of the sorrows of a poor, +friendless negro girl, and my eyes had scarce done smarting +with it, when your letter, in behalf of so many of +her brethren and sisters, came to me. But why <i>her</i> +brethren or <i>your</i> brethren, Sancho, any more than <i>mine</i>? +It is by the finest tints, and the most insensible gradations, +that nature descends from the fairest face to the +sootiest complexion. At which of these tints are the ties +of blood to cease? and how many shades lower in the +scale must we descend, ere mercy is to vanish with them?</p> + +<p>"It is no uncommon thing, my good Sancho, for one +half of the world to <i>use</i> the other half like brutes, and +then endeavor to <i>make</i> them so. For my part, I never +look Westward, when I am in a pensive mood, without +thinking of the burdens our brothers and sisters are there +carrying. If I could ease their shoulders from one ounce +of them, I declare I would this hour set out upon a pilgrimage +to Mecca for their sakes. It casts a sad shade +upon the world, that so great a part of it are, and have +so long been, bound in chains of darkness and chains of +misery. I cannot but respect you and felicitate you, +that by so much laudable diligence you have broken the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +chains of darkness, and that by falling into the hands of +so good and merciful a family, you have been rescued by +Providence from the chains of misery.</p> + +<p>"And so, good-hearted Sancho, adieu. Believe me, I +will not forget your letter.</p> + +<p class="quotsig"> +"Yours,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Laurence Sterne</span>."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>The last sickness of Ignatius Sancho was very painful, +but he was tenderly cared for by his good wife. He +was fifty-two years old when he died. After his death, +a small volume was published, containing a number of his +letters, some articles he had written for newspapers, and +an engraved likeness of him, which looks very bright and +good-natured. The book was published by subscription, +in which a large number of the English nobility and +some distinguished literary men joined.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="EXTRACT_FROM_THE_TENTH_PSALM" id="EXTRACT_FROM_THE_TENTH_PSALM"></a>EXTRACT FROM THE TENTH PSALM.</h2> + +<p>"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor. He +hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten; He hideth his +face; He will never see it. Thou <i>hast</i> seen it; for thou +beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand. +The poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the +helper of the fatherless. Lord, thou hast heard the desire +of the humble. Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear; thou +wilt prepare their heart to judge the fatherless and the +oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="PREJUDICE_REPROVED" id="PREJUDICE_REPROVED"></a>PREJUDICE REPROVED.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">God gave to Afric's sons<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A brow of sable dye;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spread the country of their birth<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Beneath a burning sky.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With a cheek of olive He made<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The little Hindoo child;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And darkly stained the forest tribes,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That roam our Western wild.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To me He gave a form<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of fairer, whiter clay;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But am I, therefore, in his sight,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Respected more than they?<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">No;—'tis the hue of <i>deeds</i> and <i>thoughts</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2">He traces in his book;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis the complexion of the <i>heart</i><br /></span> +<span class="i2">On which He deigns to look.<br /></span> +</div><br /><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Not by the tinted cheek,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That fades away so fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But by the color of the <i>soul</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We shall be judged at last.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="BENJAMIN_BANNEKER" id="BENJAMIN_BANNEKER"></a>BENJAMIN BANNEKER.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>This remarkable man was born near the village of +Ellicott's Mills, Baltimore County, Maryland, in +1732. That was one hundred and thirty-three years ago, +when there were very few schools and very few books in +this country, and when it was not as easy as it now is for +even white people to obtain a tolerably good education. +His parents were both black, and though they were free, +they were too poor to do much for their bright boy. +They sent him to a school in the neighborhood, where +he learned reading and writing and a little of arithmetic.</p> + +<p>His father was a slave at the time of his marriage, but +his wife was a free woman; and she was so energetic and +industrious, that she soon earned money enough to buy +his freedom. Then they worked together, and earned +enough to buy a few acres of land, and build a small +cabin.</p> + +<p>Benjamin was obliged to labor diligently when he was +at home from school, but every spare moment he could +catch he was ciphering, and planning how to make +things. As his parents grew old, he had to work early +and late, to support himself and help them. His mother +always continued active enough to do the in-door work. +When she was seventy years old, if she wanted to catch +a chicken she would run it down without appearing to be +tired. The place was thinly peopled, and the few neighbors +they had took no particular notice of Benjamin,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +though he had the name of being a bright, industrious +lad. His hands worked hard, but his brain was always +busy. He was particularly fond of arithmetic, and was +always working out sums in his head. He took notice +of everything around him, observed how everything was +made, and never forgot one word of what he had learned +at school. In this way, he came to have more knowledge +than most of his white neighbors; and they began to say +to one another, "That black Ben is a smart fellow. He +can make anything he sets out to; and how much he +knows! I wonder where he picked it all up."</p> + +<p>At thirty years old, he made a clock, which proved an +excellent timepiece. He had never seen a clock, for +nobody in that region had such an article; but he had +seen a watch, and it occupied his thoughts very much. +It seemed to him such a curious little machine, that he +was very desirous to make something like it. The watch +was made of gold and silver and steel; but Benjamin +Banneker had only wood for material, and the rudest +kind of tools to work with. It was a long while before +he could make the hand that marked the hours, and the +hand that marked the minutes, and the hand that marked +the seconds, correspond exactly in their motions; but by +perseverance he succeeded at last. He was then about +thirty years old. This was the first clock ever made in +this country. It kept time exactly, and people began to +talk about it as a wonderful thing for a man to do without +instruction. After a while, the Ellicott family, who +owned the Mills, heard of it, and went to see it. Mr. +Elias Ellicott, a merchant in Baltimore, became very +much interested in the self-taught machinist. He lent +him a number of books, among which were some on +astronomy,—a science which treats of the sun, moon, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +stars. Banneker was so interested in this new knowledge +that he could think of nothing else. He sat up +all night to watch the planets, and to make calculations +about their motions. Mr. Ellicott went to see him to +explain to him how to use some of the tables for calculations +contained in the books he had lent him; but he +found, to his great surprise, that the earnest student had +studied them all out himself, and had no need of help. +It was not long before he could calculate when the sun +or the moon would be eclipsed, and at what time every +star would rise and set. He was never known to make +a mistake in any of his astronomical calculations; and +he became so exact, that he pointed out two mistakes +made by celebrated astronomers in Europe.</p> + +<p>In order to pursue his favorite studies without interruption, +he sold the land which his parents had left him, +and bought an annuity with the money, on which he lived +in the little cabin where he was born. He was so temperate +and frugal, that he needed very little to support +him; and when it was necessary to have more than his +annuity, he could always earn something by going out to +work. But, as he was no longer seen in the fields late +and early, his ignorant white neighbors began to talk +against him. They peeped into his cabin and saw him +asleep in the daytime. They did not know that he had +been awake all night watching the stars, and ciphering +out his calculations. In fact, they did not know that the +planets moved at all; and if he had told them that he could +calculate their movements exactly, they would only have +laughed at him. I suppose they felt some ill-will toward +him because he was black, and yet knew so much more +than they did; and perhaps it excited their envy that the +Ellicott family and other educated gentlemen liked to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +go to his cabin and talk with him about his studies and +observations.</p> + +<p>But Banneker was wise enough not to enter into any +quarrels because they called him a lazy, good-for-nothing +fellow. He endeavored to live in such a way that they +could not help respecting him. He was always kind and +generous, ready to oblige everybody, and not at all inclined +to boast of his superiority.</p> + +<p>When he was fifty-nine years old, he made an Almanac. +It is a very difficult job to calculate all about the +changes of the moon, and the rising and ebbing of the +tides, and at what time the sun will rise and set every +day, all the year round; and it was a much more difficult +task then than it is now; because now there is a +great improvement in astronomical books and instruments. +But notwithstanding Banneker's limited means +and scanty education, he made an excellent Almanac. +It was published by Goddard and Angell of Baltimore. +In a Preface, they say: "We feel gratified to have an +opportunity of presenting to the public, through our +press, what must be considered an extraordinary effort +of genius,—a complete and accurate Ephemeris<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> for the +year 1792, calculated by a sable son of Africa. It has +met the approbation of several of the most distinguished +astronomers of America; and we hope a philanthropic +public will give their support to the work, not only on +account of its intrinsic merit, but from a desire to controvert +the long-established illiberal prejudice against the +blacks."</p> + +<p>This was the first Almanac ever made in this country. +It contained much useful information of a general nature, +and interesting selections in prose and verse. Before it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>was printed, Banneker sent a manuscript copy, in his +own handwriting, to Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary +of State, and afterward President of the United States. +After apologizing for the liberty he took in addressing a +person whose station was so far above his own, he says:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Those of my complexion have long been considered +rather brutish than human,—scarcely capable of mental +endowments. But, in consequence of the reports that +have reached me, I hope I may safely admit that you +are measurably friendly and well-disposed toward us. +I trust that you agree with me in thinking that one +Universal Father hath given being to us all; that He +has not only made us all of one flesh, but has also, without +partiality, afforded us all the same sensations, and +endowed us all with the same faculties; and that, however +various we may be in society or religion, however +diversified in situation or color, we are all of the same +family, and all stand in the same relation to Him. Now, +sir, if this is founded in truth, I apprehend you will +readily embrace every opportunity to eradicate the absurd +and false ideas and opinions which so generally +prevail with respect to us.</p> + +<p>"Suffer me, sir, to recall to your mind, that when the +tyranny of the British crown was exerted to reduce you +to servitude, your abhorrence thereof was so excited, that +you publicly held forth this true and invaluable doctrine, +worthy to be recorded and remembered in all succeeding +ages: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all +men are created equal, and that they are endowed by +their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among +these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'</p> + +<p>"Your tender feelings for yourselves engaged you thus +to declare. You were then impressed with proper ideas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +of the great value of Liberty, and the free possession of +those blessings to which you were entitled by nature. +But, sir, how pitiable it is to reflect that, although you +were so fully convinced of the benevolence of the Father +of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution +of those rights and privileges which He had conferred +upon them, that you should at the same time counteract +his mercies in detaining, by fraud and violence, so numerous +a part of my brethren under groaning captivity and +cruel oppression; that you should at the same time be +found guilty of that most criminal act which you detested +in others with respect to yourselves.</p> + +<p>"Sir, I freely and most cheerfully acknowledge that I +am of the African race; and in that color which is natural +to them I am of the deepest dye. But, with a sense +of most profound gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the +universe, I confess that I am not under that state of +tyrannical thraldom and inhuman captivity to which so +many of my brethren are doomed. I have abundantly +tasted of those blessings which proceed from that free +and unequalled liberty with which you are favored.</p> + +<p>"Sir, I suppose your knowledge of the situation of my +brethren is too extensive for it to need a recital here. +Neither shall I presume to prescribe methods by which +they may be relieved, otherwise than by recommending +to you and others to wean yourselves from those narrow +prejudices you have imbibed with respect to them, and +to do as Job proposed to his friends,—'Put <i>your</i> souls +in <i>their</i> souls' stead.' Thus shall your hearts be enlarged +with kindness and benevolence toward them, and you +will need neither the direction of myself nor others in +what manner to proceed.</p> + +<p>"I took up my pen to direct to you, as a present, a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>copy of an Almanac I have calculated for the succeeding +year. I ardently hope that your candor and generosity +will plead with you in my behalf. Sympathy and affection +for my brethren has caused my enlargement thus far; +it was not originally my design.</p> + +<p>"The Almanac is the production of my arduous study. +I have long had unbounded desires to become acquainted +with the secrets of Nature, and I have had to gratify my +curiosity herein through my own assiduous application to +astronomical study; in which I need not recount to you +the many difficulties and disadvantages I have had to encounter. +I conclude by subscribing myself, with the most +profound respect, your most humble servant,</p> + +<p class="quotsig"> +<span class="smcap">"B. Banneker</span>."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>To this letter Jefferson made the following reply:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I thank you sincerely for your letter, and for +the Almanac it contained. Nobody wishes more than I +do to see such proofs as you exhibit that Nature has given +to our black brethren talents equal to those of the other +colors of men, and that the appearance of a want of them +is owing only to the degraded condition of their existence, +both in Africa and America. I can add, with truth, that +no one wishes more ardently to see a good system commenced +for raising the condition, both of their body and +mind, to what it ought to be, as fast as the imbecility of +their present existence, and other circumstances which +cannot be neglected, will admit. I have taken the liberty +of sending your Almanac to Monsieur Condorcet, Secretary +of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and to members +of the Philanthropic Society, because I considered +it a document to which your whole color had a right, for +their justification against the doubts which have been +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>entertained of them. I am, with great esteem, sir, your +most obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="quotsig"> +"<span class="smcap">Thomas Jefferson</span>."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>In 1803, Mr. Jefferson invited the astronomer to visit +him at Monticello, but the increasing infirmities of age +made it imprudent to undertake the journey. His Almanacs +sold well for ten years, and the income, added to +his annuity, gave him a very comfortable support; and +what was a still greater satisfaction to him was the consciousness +of doing something to help the cause of his +oppressed people, by proving to the world that Nature +had endowed them with good capacities.</p> + +<p>After 1802 he found himself too old to calculate any +more Almanacs, but as long as he lived he continued to +be deeply interested in his various studies.</p> + +<p>He was well informed on many other subjects besides +arithmetic and astronomy. He was a great reader of +history; and he kept a Journal, which shows that he was +a close observer of the vegetable world, of the habits of +insects, and of the operations of Nature in general. That +his busy mind drew inferences from what he observed is +evident from the following entry in his Journal:—</p> + +<p>"Standing at my door to-day, I heard the discharge of +a gun, and in four or five seconds of time the small shots +came rattling about me, which plainly demonstrates that +the velocity of sound is greater than that of a common +bullet."</p> + +<p>After the Constitution of the United States was +adopted, in 1789, commissioners were appointed to determine +the boundaries of the District of Columbia. +They invited Banneker to be present and assist them +in running the lines; and he was treated by them with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +as much respect as if he had been of their own color. His +Almanacs were much praised by scientific men, and they +often visited him in his humble little cabin. But these +attentions never made him pert and vain. He rejoiced +in his abilities and acquisitions, because he thought they +might help to raise the condition of his oppressed brethren; +but he always remained modest and unobtrusive in +his manners.</p> + +<p>He died in 1804, in the seventy-second year of his +age. His friend, Mr. Benjamin H. Ellicott, collected +various facts concerning him, which have been published. +In a letter on this subject, Mr. Ellicott says: "During +the whole of his long life he lived respectably, and was +much esteemed by all who became acquainted with him; +more especially by those who could fully appreciate his +genius and the extent of his acquirements. His mode +of life was extremely regular and retired. Having never +married, he lived alone, cooking his own victuals and +washing his own clothes. He was scarcely ever absent +from home, yet there was nothing misanthropic in his +character. A gentleman who knew him speaks of him +thus: 'I recollect him well. He was a brave-looking, +pleasant man, with something very noble in his appearance. +His mind was evidently much engrossed in his +calculations, but he was glad to receive the visits we +often paid him.' Another writes: 'When I was a boy, +I became very much interested in him. His manners +were those of a perfect gentleman. He was kind, generous, +hospitable, humane, dignified, and pleasing. He +abounded in information on all the various subjects and +incidents of the day, was very modest and unassuming, +and delighted in society at his own house. Go there +when you would, by day or night, there was constantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +in the middle of the floor a large table covered with +books and papers. As he was an eminent mathematician, +he was constantly in correspondence with other +mathematicians in this country, with whom there was an +interchange of questions of difficult solution. His head +was covered with thick white hair, which gave him a +venerable appearance. His dress was uniformly of superfine +drab broadcloth, made in the old style of a plain +coat with strait collar, a long waistcoat, and a broad-brimmed +hat. His color was not jet black, but decidedly +negro. In size and personal appearance he bore a strong +resemblance to the statue of Benjamin Franklin, at the +Library in Philadelphia.'"</p> + +<p>The good which Banneker did to the cause of his +colored brethren did not cease with his life. When the +Abbe Gregoire pleaded for emancipation in France, and +when Wilberforce afterward labored for the same cause +in England, the abilities and character of the black astronomer +were brought forward as an argument against +the enslavement of his race; and, from that day to this, +the friends of freedom have quoted him everywhere as a +proof of the mental capacity of Africans.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"They <i>found</i> them slaves! but who that title <i>gave</i>?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The God of Nature never formed a slave!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though fraud or force acquire a master's name,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nature and justice must remain the same;—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nature imprints upon whate'er we see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That has a heart and life in it, BE FREE!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p class="cit"><span class="smcap">Cowper.</span><br /> +</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="ETHIOPIA" id="ETHIOPIA"></a>ETHIOPIA.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yes, Ethiopia yet shall stretch<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Her bleeding hands abroad;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her cry of agony shall reach<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Up to the throne of God.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The tyrant's yoke from off her neck,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His fetters from her soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The mighty hand of God shall break,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And spurn the base control.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Redeemed from dust and freed from chains,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Her sons shall lift their eyes;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From cloud-capt hills and verdant plains<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall shouts of triumph rise.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Upon her dark, despairing brow<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall play a smile of peace;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For God shall bend unto her woe,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And bid her sorrows cease.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Neath sheltering vines and stately palms<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall laughing children play,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And aged sires with joyous psalms<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall gladden every day.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i0">Secure by night, and blest by day,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall pass her happy hours;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor human tigers hunt for prey<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Within her peaceful bowers.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then, Ethiopia, stretch, O stretch<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy bleeding hands abroad!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy cry of agony shall reach<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And find redress from God.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_HOUR_OF_FREEDOM3" id="THE_HOUR_OF_FREEDOM3"></a>THE HOUR OF FREEDOM.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The hour of freedom! come it must.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O hasten it, in mercy, Heaven!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When all who grovel in the dust<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall stand erect, their fetters riven;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When glorious freedom shall be won<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By every caste, complexion, clime;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When tyranny shall be o'erthrown,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And <i>color</i> cease to be a <i>crime</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="WILLIAM_BOEN" id="WILLIAM_BOEN"></a>WILLIAM BOEN.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>William Boen was born in 1735, one hundred +and thirty years ago. He was the slave +of a man who lived near Mount Holly, in New Jersey. +His master and most of the neighbors belonged to the +Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers. That +Society made it a rule that none of their members should +hold a slave, long before the people of any other sect +were convinced that slavery was wrong. But at the +time William Boen was born some of the Quakers did +hold slaves, though many of their members were preaching +against it.</p> + +<p>They were a very friendly and conscientious people, +and as William grew up among them he naturally imbibed +many of their ideas. However, like most boys, +he did not think very seriously about religion, until the +importance of it was impressed upon his mind by the following +circumstance. In the time of the old French war, +when he was a mere lad, his master sent him into the +woods to cut down trees. The Indians were fighting on +the side of the French, and they often killed the Americans. +Some of them came into the neighborhood of +Mount Holly; and when he went home at night, after his +day's work in the woods, he would often hear that Indians +had been lurking about in the neighborhood, and that +somebody had been shot by their sharp arrows. This +made him very much afraid to work alone in the woods.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +He was always thinking that Indians might be hidden +among the bushes; and if a bird flew off her nest it +sounded to him like the whizzing of an arrow. It was +very still in the forest, and it seemed very solemn to look +up at the sky through the tall trees. William thought to +himself, "What if the Indians should kill me before I +have any time to think about it? Am I fit to die?" +He thought he was not fit to die, and he longed earnestly +to know what he ought to do to become fit to die. He +had heard the Quakers talk about a light which God had +placed in the soul, to show men what was wrong. And +he said it went through his mind "like a flaming sword," +that if he would be fit to die he must follow this inward +light in every particular, even in the most trifling things. +So he began to be very thoughtful about every action of +his life; and if he felt uneasy about anything he was +tempted to do, he said to himself, "This is the inward +light, showing me that the thing is wrong. I will not do +it." Pursuing this course, he became careful not to do +anything which did not bring peace to his soul; and as +the soul can never be peaceful when it disobeys God, he +was continually travelling toward Zion while he strove +to follow this inward light in his soul; and the more humbly +he tried to follow it, the clearer the light became. +He did not always keep in the straight path. Sometimes +he did or said something wrong; then peace went away +from his mind. But he confessed his sin before God, +and prayed for strength not to do wrong any more. By +humility and obedience he again found the path of peace. +Religion comes in many different ways to human souls. +This was the way it came to William Boen.</p> + +<p>All who knew him saw that his religious feeling was +deep and sincere, for it brought forth fruit in his daily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +life. He never made others unhappy by indulging freaks +of temper. He was extremely temperate, scrupulously +honest, and very careful never to say anything but the +exact truth. His character was so excellent that all the +neighbors respected and trusted him. Many said it was +a shame to keep him in slavery, and his master became +uneasy about it. People said to him, from time to time, +"William, thy master talks of letting thee be free." He +heard it so often, that it became an old story, and he +thought nothing would ever come of it. But one day +his master was walking with him as he went to his work +in the fields, and suddenly he inquired whether he would +like to be free. William was silent for a while, and then +began to talk about the work he was to do. But the +question dwelt on his mind and excited his hopes. He +told one of his friends about it, and when he was asked, +"What didst thou say, William?" he replied, "I did not +say anything; for I thought he might <i>know</i> I would like +to be free."</p> + +<p>When he was nearly twenty-eight years old his master +offered to make a contract with him by which he could +obtain his freedom. He was soon after married to a +worthy young woman, and by industry and strict economy +they were able in a few years to buy a few acres of land, +and build a comfortable house. He led a peaceful and +diligent life, doing good to others whenever he could, and +harming no one. His conscience was extremely tender. +He would never eat anything made of sugar manufactured +by slaves, and he never would wear any garments made +of cotton raised by slave labor. He thought Slavery was +so wrong, that he did not feel easy to connect himself +with it, even in the remotest degree.</p> + +<p>He was equally scrupulous about telling the truth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +One of his neighbors, a rich white man, was very much +in the habit of borrowing his tools. One day, when he +had been using his grindstone, he thanked him for it, and +William answered, in the customary way, "Thou art welcome." +But soon he began to ask himself, "Was that +the exact truth?" His mind was troubled by doubts +about it, and finally he went to his neighbor, and said, +"When I told thee thou wert welcome, I spoke mere +complimentary words, according to custom; for the truth +is, I do honestly think thou art better able to have a +grindstone of thy own, than I am."</p> + +<p>He had also a very nice sense of justice with regard +to the rights of property. Nothing would induce him to +use what belonged to another person without first obtaining +leave. One day, when he was mowing in the +meadows, he accidentally killed a fat partridge with his +scythe. The other workmen advised him to take it home +for his wife to roast. But he replied, "Nay, the partridge +does not belong to me, it belongs to the owner of +the meadow." Accordingly he carried it to his employer. +Another time, when he was working with others in the +woods, they found an empty cabin, wherein they stowed +their provisions, and lodged for a fortnight, till they had +finished cutting the timber. After William returned +home he took an early opportunity to tell the owner of +the cabin what he had done, and to offer payment for the +accommodation.</p> + +<p>He constantly attended Quaker meetings, and followed +their peculiar customs in dress and language; but he was +not admitted into full membership with that religious +society till he was nearly eighty years old, though he +had made application to join it thirty years before.</p> + +<p>He was scrupulously neat in his person. His linen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +was always very white, and his light drab-colored clothes +showed no speck of dirt. He wore his beard long, and +as he grew old it became very white; his curly hair also +was white as snow. His dark face was very conspicuous +in the midst of all this whiteness, and gave him an +odd appearance. But he had such a friendly, pleasant +expression of countenance, and there was so much modest +dignity in his manners, that he inspired respect. A +stranger once said to one of his wealthy neighbors, "I +wonder that boys and giddy young folks don't ridicule +that old black man, his dress and appearance are so very +peculiar." The neighbor replied, "William Boen is a +religious man, and everybody respects him. The light-minded +are so much impressed by his well-known character, +that they are restrained from making fun of his singular +appearance."</p> + +<p>He died in his ninetieth year; not from any disease, +but the mere weakness of old age. His faculties were +clear, and his mind serene and cheerful to the last. He +spoke of his approaching death with the greatest composure; +saying that he had no wish about the manner of +his exit from this life, that he was resigned to the Divine +will in all things.</p> + +<p>One of the last things he said was, "I am glad to see +that the feeling against slavery is growing among the +Society of Friends. Once I felt as if I was alone in my +testimony against that wicked system."</p> + +<p>After his death, the Society of Friends at Mount +Holly wrote a Memorial concerning his character, which +was read in their Yearly Meeting. It concluded thus: +"In early life, he was concerned 'to do justly, love +mercy, and walk humbly with his God.' By close attention +to the light of Christ within, he was enabled, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +only to bear many precious testimonies faithfully to the +end of his days, but also to bring forth those fruits of the +spirit which redound to the glory of God and the salvation +of the soul. As he lived, so he died,—a rare pattern +of a self-denying follower of Christ. 'Mark the +perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that +man is peace.'"</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="ANECDOTE_OF_GENERAL_WASHINGTON" id="ANECDOTE_OF_GENERAL_WASHINGTON"></a>ANECDOTE OF GENERAL WASHINGTON.</h2> + + +<p>During the war of the Revolution, Primus Hall was the +colored servant of Colonel Pickering, with whom General +Washington often held long consultations. One night, finding +they must be engaged till late, he proposed to sleep in the +Colonel's tent, provided there was a spare blanket and straw. +Primus, who was always eager to oblige the Commander-in-Chief, +said, "Plenty of straw and blankets."</p> + +<p>When the long conference was ended, the two officers lay +down to rest on the beds he had prepared. When he saw +they were asleep, he seated himself on a box, and, leaning his +head on his hand, tried to take as comfortable a nap as he +could. General Washington woke in the night, and seeing +him nodding there, called out, "Primus!" The servant +started to his feet, and exclaimed, "What do you wish for, +General?"</p> + +<p>"You told me you had plenty of straw and blankets," replied +Washington; "but I see you are sitting up all night for +the sake of giving me your bed."</p> + +<p>"It is no matter about me," rejoined Primus.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is," replied General Washington. "If one of us +must sit up, I will take my turn. But there is no need of +that. The blanket is wide enough for two. Come and lie +down with me."</p> + +<p>Primus, who reverenced the Commander-in-Chief as he did +no other mortal, protested against it. But Washington threw +open the blanket, and said, "Come and lie down, I tell you! +There is room enough for both, and I insist upon it."</p> + +<p>The tone was too resolute to admit of further parley, and +the General and his colored friend slept comfortably under the +same blanket till morning.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="PRAYER_OF_THE_SLAVE" id="PRAYER_OF_THE_SLAVE"></a>PRAYER OF THE SLAVE.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY BERNARD BARTON.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O Father of the human race!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The white, the black, the bond, the free,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thanks for thy gift of heavenly grace,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Vouchsafed through Jesus Christ to me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">This, 'mid oppression's every wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Has borne my sinking spirits up;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Made sorrow joyful, weakness strong,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And sweetened Slavery's bitter cup.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hath not a Saviour's dying hour<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Made e'en the yoke of thraldom light?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hath not thy Holy Spirit's power<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Made bondage freedom? darkness bright?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thanks then, O Father! for the gift<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which through thy Gospel thou hast given,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which thus from bonds and earth can lift<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The soul to liberty and heaven.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But not the less I mourn their shame,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who, mindless of thy gracious will,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Call on the holy Father's name,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yet keep their brethren bondmen still.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Forgive them, Lord! for Jesus' sake;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And when the slave thou hast unbound,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The chains which bind the oppressor break!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thus be thy love's last triumph crowned.<br /></span> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p></div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="TOUSSAINT_LOUVERTURE" id="TOUSSAINT_LOUVERTURE"></a>TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"Everywhere thy name shall be<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Redeemed from color's infamy;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And men shall learn to speak of thee<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As one of earth's great spirits, born<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In servitude and nursed in scorn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Casting aside the weary weight<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And fetters of its low estate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In that strong majesty of soul<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which knows no color, tongue, or clime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which still hath spurned the base control<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of tyrants, through all time."<br /></span> +</div> +<p class="cit"><span class="smcap">John G. Whittier.</span></p></div> + + + +<p>On the western coast of Africa, a tribe called the Arradas +are said to be superior to most of the other +tribes in intelligence and strength of will. The son of +their chief, named Gaou-Guinou, was seized by a prowling +band of slave-traders, one day when he was out hunting. +He was packed in the hold of a European ship, with +a multitude of other unfortunate victims, and carried to +the island of Hayti to be sold. This is one of the largest +of the West India Islands, and lies between Cuba and +Porto Rico. It was first discovered by Spaniards, who +found it inhabited by mild-tempered Indians, leading a +very simple and happy life. These natives called their +island Hayti, which in their language signified a Land of +Mountains. A lofty ridge of mountains runs across it, +and gives it a solemn, dreary appearance, when seen in +the distance. But it is a very beautiful and fertile island. +The high, rocky precipices, piled one above another, look +down on broad flowery plains, flowing with water, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +loaded with tropical fruits. When the Spaniards established +a colony there, they introduced the cultivation of +sugar, cotton, and coffee, to supply the markets of Europe. +They compelled the native Indians to work so +hard, and treated them so badly, that the poor creatures +died off very fast. Then they sent men in ships to +Africa to steal negroes to work for them. They founded +a city in the eastern part of the island, and named it +St. Domingo; and the whole island came to be called by +that name by European nations.</p> + +<p>The French afterward took possession of the western +part of the island. Their principal city was named +Cap François, which means French Cape. The African +prince Gaou-Guinou was sold in the market of that city. +He was more fortunate than slaves generally are. He +was bought by the manager of a sugar plantation belonging +to a French nobleman, named the Count de Breda. +He was kind-hearted, and was very careful to employ +none but humane men to take charge of his laborers. +The condition of the young African was also less desolate +than it would have been, by reason of his finding on +the Breda estate several members of the Arradas tribe, +who, like him, had been stolen from their homes. They +at once recognized him as the son of their king, and +treated him with the utmost respect. In process of time +he married a black slave, who is said to have been handsome +and virtuous. They joined the Roman Catholic +Church, which was the established religion of France and +the French islands. Of their eight children, the oldest, +born in 1743, one hundred and twenty-two years ago, +was named Toussaint. The day of his birth is not certainly +known. It has been said to have been on the +20th of May. But, from his name, it seems more likely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +that it was on the 1st of November. In Catholic countries, +almost every day of the year is set apart to the +worship of some saint; and a child born on the day of +any particular saint is very apt to receive his name from +that day. The first of November is a festival of the +church, called All Saints' Day; and Toussaint, in the +French language, means All Saints.</p> + +<p>In the neighborhood of Gaou-Guinou lived a very honest, +religious old black man, named Pierre Baptiste. He +had been in the service of Jesuit missionaries, and had +there learned to read and write, also a little of geometry. +By help of the Catholic Prayer-Book he learned some +prayers in Latin, and found out their meaning in French. +This man stood godfather for Toussaint at his baptism, +and as the boy grew older it was his pleasure to teach +him what little he himself knew. The language of the +Arradas tribe was always spoken in the family of Gaou-Guinou, +but from his godfather Toussaint learned to +speak tolerably good French, which was the language of +the whites in the western part of St. Domingo. It is +said that Gaou-Guinou was allowed to cultivate a little +patch of ground for his family, and that some of his +fellow-slaves were permitted to assist him occasionally. +This indulgence indicates that he stood well in his master's +opinion. But, in common with other slaves, it is +probable that he and his wife toiled early and late in the +fields or the sugar-house, and that their family were huddled +together in a hut too small to allow of their observing +the laws of cleanliness or modesty.</p> + +<p>For several years Toussaint was so feeble and slender +that his parents called him by a name which signified +"The Little Lath." But he gained strength as he grew +older; and by the time he was twelve years old he could +beat all the boys in running, jumping, and leaping.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was the business of young slaves to tend the flocks +and herds. They generally neglected and abused the +creatures under their care, because they themselves were +accustomed to hard treatment. But Toussaint was of a +kindly disposition, and there was less violence on his +master's plantation than elsewhere. It was remarked +in the neighborhood that he differed from other boys in +his careful and gentle treatment of the animals under his +care. He was naturally a silent and thoughtful child, +and probably this tendency was increased by being much +alone, watching the browsing cattle in the stillness of the +great valleys. Perhaps also the presence of the mountains +and the sky made him feel serious and solemn. His +pious godfather told him legends of Catholic saints, which +he had heard among the missionaries. All these things +combined to give him a religious turn of mind, even in +his boyhood. From his own father he learned a great +deal about Africa and the customs that prevailed in the +tribe of his grandfather, King of the Arradas; also the +medicinal qualities of many plants, which afterward +proved very useful to him. Nothing is recorded of +the moral and intellectual character of his father; but +Toussaint always respected him highly, and when he was +himself an old man he spoke of him as a good parent, +who had trained him well by lessons of honor and virtue.</p> + +<p>Toussaint Breda, as he was called, from the name of +the estate on which he worked, early acquired a reputation +for intelligence, sobriety, and industry. The Manager +of the estate, M. Bayou de Libertas, was so much +pleased with his conduct and manners that he made him +his coachman, a situation much coveted by the slaves, as +being more easy and pleasant than most of their tasks. +His kindness to animals fitted him for the care of horses,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +and he was found as faithful in this new business as he +had been while he was herds-boy. He was afterward +promoted to an office of greater trust, being made steward +of the sugar-house.</p> + +<p>Having arrived at manhood, he began to want a home +of his own. Most of the slaves took up together without +any form of marriage, that being one of the bad customs +which grows out of Slavery. But Toussaint was religious, +and it would have troubled his conscience to live +in that bad way. He had become attached to a widow +named Suzan, who had one little son called Placide. She +was not handsome, but he loved her for her good sense, +good temper, and modest manners. They were married +according to the ceremonies of the Catholic Church. He +adopted her little boy, and brought him up as tenderly as +he did his own children. The Manager allowed him a +small patch of ground for vegetables, and all the hours +they could snatch from plantation labors he and his wife +devoted to the cultivation of their little garden. M. +Bayou de Libertas was such a humane and considerate +man that life in his service seems to have been as happy +as the condition of slaves can be. Long afterward, Toussaint, +speaking of this period of his life, said: "My wife +and I went hand in hand to labor in the fields. We were +scarcely conscious of the fatigues of the day. Heaven always +blessed our toil. We had abundance for ourselves, +and the pleasure of giving to other blacks who needed it. +On Sundays and festival days my wife, my parents, and +myself went to church. Returning to our cottage we +had a pleasant meal, passed the remainder of the day in +family intercourse, and closed it by prayer, in which all +took part."</p> + +<p>Thus contented in his humble station, and faithfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +performing its duties, he gained the respect and confidence +of both blacks and whites. Many of the slaves in +the French colonies were cruelly treated, as is always the +case wherever Slavery exists. Toussaint could not avoid +seeing a great deal of wrong and suffering inflicted on +people of his color, and he was doubtless grateful to God +that his lot was so much better than theirs. But he was +too intelligent and thoughtful not to question in his own +mind why either he or they should be held in bondage +merely on account of the complexion which it had pleased +God to give them. He was fond of reading, and M. +Bayou de Libertas, contrary to the usual custom, allowed +him the use of his books. He read one volume at a time, +and tried to understand it thoroughly. He devoted every +spare moment to it, and while he was at work he was +busily thinking over what he had read. It took complete +possession of his soul for the time, and he would repeat +extracts from it to his companions for weeks after. In +this earnest way he read several books of ancient history, +biography, and morals, and a number of military books. +There was a French author, called the Abbé Raynal, +who was much opposed to Slavery. In some way or +other, one of his books fell into the hands of Toussaint +Breda, and made a deep impression on him. It contained +the following sentence: "What shall be done to overthrow +Slavery? Self-interest alone governs kings and nations. +We must look elsewhere. A courageous chief is all the +negroes need. Where is he? Where is that great man +whom Nature owes to her vexed, oppressed, and tormented +children? He will doubtless appear. He will +come forth and raise the sacred standard of Liberty. +This venerable signal will gather round him his companions +in misfortune. More impetuous than the torrents,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +they will everywhere leave the indelible traces of their +just resentment. Everywhere people will bless the name +of the hero who shall have re-established the rights of the +human race."</p> + +<p>When the Abbé Raynal wrote those prophetic words, +he did not foresee that they would meet the eye of the +very man he called for; and the humble slave, when he +read them, did not hear in them the voice of his own +destiny.</p> + +<p>While he was diligently toiling for his humane masters, +and seizing every opportunity to increase his small +stock of knowledge, the island of St. Domingo was growing +very rich by agriculture and commerce. The planters +acquired enormous wealth, built splendid houses, and +lived in luxury, laziness, and dissipation, upon the toil of +the poor unpaid negroes. Twenty thousand slaves were +imported from Africa every year, to make up the deficiency +of those who were killed by excessive toil and +cruel treatment. These new victims, men and women, +had the name of their purchaser branded on their breast-bones +with red-hot iron.</p> + +<p>But men never violate the laws of God without suffering +the consequences, sooner or later. Slavery was producing +its natural fruits of tyranny and hatred, cruelty +and despair. The reports of barbarity on one side and +suffering on the other attracted attention in Europe; +and benevolent and just men began to speak and write +against Slavery as a wicked and dangerous institution. +The Abbé Gregoire, a humane Bishop of the Catholic +Church, introduced the agitating question into the French +Assembly, a body similar to our Congress. He also +formed a society called <i>Les Amis de Noirs</i>, which means +"The Friends of the Blacks." Of course, this was very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +vexatious to slaveholders in the French colonies. They +knew very well that if the facts of Slavery were made +known, every good man would cry out against it. Political +parties were formed in St. Domingo. Some of the +planters wanted to secede from France, and set up an +independent government. Others wanted to increase +their political power by having a Colonial Assembly +established in the island, by means of which they could +mainly manage their own concerns as they chose. For +this purpose they sent deputies to France. But their +request gave rise to the question who should have the +right to be members of such an Assembly; and, for the +following reasons, that question was very annoying to the +haughty slaveholders of St. Domingo.</p> + +<p>In the United States of America, slaveholders made +a law that "the child shall follow the condition of the +<i>mother</i>"; consequently, every child of a slave-woman +was born a slave, however light its complexion might +be. This was a very convenient arrangement for white +fathers, who wanted to sell their own children. In the +French colonies, the law was, "the child shall follow the +condition of its <i>father</i>." The consequence was, that all +the children the planters of St. Domingo had by their +slaves were born free. This was, of course, a numerous +class. In fact, their numbers were two thirds as great +as those of the whites. There were at that time in St. +Domingo thirty thousand whites, twenty thousand free +mulattoes, and five hundred thousand black slaves. Not +unfrequently the white planters sent their mulatto children +to France to be educated like gentlemen. Many +of them acquired great wealth and held numerous slaves. +But they were a class by themselves. However rich and +educated they might be, they were kept trampled down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +in a degraded and irritating position, merely on account +of their color. They despised the negro slaves, from +whom they had descended on the mother's side; and +they in their turn were despised by the whites, whose +children they were, because their color connected them +with the enslaved race. They were not allowed to be +doctors, lawyers, or priests; they could hold no public +office; they could not inherit the name or the property +of their fathers; they could not attend school with white +boys, or sit at a white man's table, or occupy the same +portion of a church with him, or be buried in the same +graveyard. They were continually insulted by whites, +but if they dared to give a blow in return, the penalty +was to have the right hand cut off. This class of free +mulattoes claimed that, being numerous and wealthy, and +the payers of taxes, they had a right to send representatives +to the Colonial Assembly to look after their interests. +They had the more hopes of gaining this point, +because a great Revolution was then going on in France, +and the friends of liberty and equality were daily growing +stronger there. When the white planters sent deputies +to France, the mulattoes sent deputies also, with a +present of more than a million of dollars, and an offer to +mortgage a fifth part of all their property toward the +payment of the French national debt. All they asked in +return was that the law should put them on an equality +with white men. Being slaveholders, they manifested +the same selfishness that white slaveholders did. They +declared that they asked redress of grievances only for +oppressed <i>freemen</i>; that they had no wish to change the +condition of the negroes, who were slaves.</p> + +<p>This petition was drawn up in 1790, and sent to Paris +by a wealthy colored man named Ogé. It excited lively<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +discussion in the National Assembly of France. One of +the members, named Lamoth, who owned large estates in +St. Domingo, said: "I am one of the largest proprietors +in that island; but I would lose all that I possess there +rather than disown principles which justice and humanity +have consecrated. I am not only in favor of admitting +men of color into the Colonial Assemblies, but I also go +for the emancipation of the negro slaves." After animated +discussion, the reply received by the mulatto deputies +from the President of the Assembly was: "No portion +of the French nation shall in vain claim its rights +from the representatives of the French people."</p> + +<p>When the white planters of St. Domingo heard of +this, they were filled with wrath. In one place, a mulatto +named Lacombe, whose only crime was that he had +signed the petition, was seized and hung. In another +place, the mob seized a highly respected old white magistrate +and cut off his head, because he had drafted for +the mulattoes a very moderate petition, begging to be +released from some of the hardships under which they +had so long suffered. When the colored deputy Ogé +returned from France and demanded that mulattoes +should have the rights of citizenship, which had been +decreed to them by the French Assembly, soldiers were +sent to seize him, and he was sentenced to have all his +limbs broken on a wheel, and then to have his head +cut off.</p> + +<p>Besides the classes of which I have spoken there was +another class in St. Domingo called <i>petit blancs</i>, which +means small whites. They were so called to distinguish +them from the large landed proprietors. They occupied +a position not unlike that of the class known as "poor +whites" in the slaveholding portion of the United States.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +They were ready instruments to carry out the vengeance +of the infuriated planters. They seized every opportunity +to insult the free mulattoes, and to inflict cruelty and outrage +on the negro slaves. They went about as patrols, +traversing the plantations, and bursting into negro huts +at all times of night, under the pretence that they were +plotting insurrection. The poor ignorant slaves did not +understand what all this mobbing and murdering was +for; but finding themselves so much suspected and abused +without cause, they became weary of their lives. Many +committed suicide, others tried to poison their tormentors. +At Port au Prince an attempt was made to get up an +insurrection. Fifty slaves, suspected of being connected +with it, were beheaded, and their heads, stuck on poles, +were set up by the hedges in a row.</p> + +<p>While the fire was thus kindling under their feet the +white planters came out in open defiance of the French +government, and refused to take the oath of allegiance. +They called on the English for aid, and offered to make +the island over to Great Britain. The mulattoes were +filled with dismay, for the French government was their +only hope. They had hitherto kept aloof from the negroes; +but now, seeing the necessity of curbing the power +of the white planters, at all hazards, they instigated the +already exasperated slaves to seize this favorable moment +of commotion and rise against their masters. They did +rise, on the 22d of August, 1791. All at once the sky +was red with the reflection of burning houses and cane-fields. +The cruelties which they had witnessed or suffered, +they now, in their turn, inflicted on white men, +women, and children. It was a horrible scene.</p> + +<p>Toussaint was working as usual on the Breda estate, +when he heard that the planters had called in the aid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +of the English, and that four thousand negroes had risen +in insurrection. He exerted his great influence with his +fellow-slaves to prevent the destruction of houses and +cane-fields on the Breda estate. For a month, he kept +the insurgents at bay, while he helped M. Bayou de +Libertas to convey a cargo of sugar on board a Baltimore +ship, for the support of his family, and aided his mistress +to collect such articles of value as could conveniently be +carried away. Then he secretly conveyed them to the +same ship; and it was an inexpressible relief to his heart +when he saw them sailing away, bound for the shores of +the United States.</p> + +<p>The armed negroes increased in numbers, and marshalled +themselves under an intelligent leader named +Jean François. When the French governor in St. Domingo +called upon them to lay down their arms, their +leaders replied for them: "We have never thought of +failing in the respect and duty we owe to the representatives +of the King of France. The king has bewailed our +lot and broken our chains. But those who should have +proved fathers to us have been tyrants, monsters, unworthy +the fruits of our labors. Do you ask the sheep to +throw themselves into the jaws of the wolf? To prove +to you, excellent sir, that we are not so cruel as you may +think, we assure you that we wish for peace with all +our souls; but on condition that all the whites, without +a single exception, leave the Cape. Let them carry with +them their gold and their jewels. All we seek is our +liberty. God grant that we may obtain it without shedding +of blood. Believe us, it has cost our feelings very +much to have taken this course. But victory, or death +for freedom, is our profession of faith; and we will maintain +it to the last drop of our blood."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>The negroes were mistaken in supposing that Louis +XVI., king of France, had broken their chains, or that +the king's party, called Royalists, were trying to do anything +for their freedom. It was the revolutionary party +in France, called Republicans, who had declared themselves +in favor of emancipating the negro slaves, and +giving the free mulattoes their civil rights. The main +body of the negroes had been kept in the lowest ignorance, +and of course could not understand the state of +political parties. The world was ringing with French +doctrines of liberty and equality, to be applied to men +of all colors; and they could not help hearing something +of what was so universally talked of. The Spaniards in +the eastern part of St. Domingo were allies of the French +king, and they wanted the negroes to help them fight the +French planters, who were in rebellion against the king. +In order to give them a strong motive for doing so, they +told them that Louis XVI. had been cast into prison in +France, and that they were going to kill him, because he +wanted to emancipate the slaves in his colonies. They +readily believed that it was so, because they saw their +masters in arms against the king. Therefore they called +their regiments "The King's Own," and carried flags on +which were inscribed, "Long live the King," "The +Ancient System of Government."</p> + +<p>The slaveholders mounted the English cockade, and +entered into alliance with Great Britain, while their revolted +slaves joined the Spanish. The war raged horribly +on both sides. Jean François was of a gentle disposition, +and disposed to be merciful; but the two other +leaders of the negroes, named Jeannot and Biassou, were +monsters of revenge and cruelty. The bleeding heads +of white men surrounded their camps, and the bodies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +of black men hung on trees round the camps of the +planters.</p> + +<p>This state of things shocked the soul of Toussaint +Breda. Much as he desired the freedom of his own +race, he was reluctant to join an enterprise marked by +so many cruelties. Conscience forbade him to enlist on +the side of the slaveholders, and he would gladly have +remained neutral; but he found that men of his own color +were suspicious of him, because he had adhered so faithfully +to M. Bayou de Libertas. He joined the black +insurgents; but, resolved not to take part in their barbarities, +he occupied himself with healing the wounded,—an +office for which he was well qualified by his tender +disposition and knowledge of medicinal plants.</p> + +<p>After a while, however, the negroes were compelled +to retreat before the superior discipline of the white +troops; and feeling greatly the need of intelligent officers, +they insisted upon making Toussaint aide-de-camp +to Biassou, under the title of Brigadier. He desired, +above all things, that hostilities should cease, that the +negroes should return to their work, and that the planters +should consent to cease from oppressing them. A very +little justice and kindness would have pacified the revolted +slaves; but the slaveholders were so full of rage +and pride, that if a slave attempted to return to his master, +however sincere he might be, he was instantly put +to death. Three commissioners came from France to +try to negotiate a peace between the contending parties. +The blacks sent deputies to the Colonial Assembly to +help the French commissioners in this good work; but +the planters treated their overtures with haughtiness and +contempt.</p> + +<p>It is said that Toussaint wept when he saw the hopes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +of peace vanish. It was plain that his people must resist +their tyrants, or be forever hopelessly crushed. He +was then fifty years old, in the prime of his bodily and +mental strength. By becoming a leader he felt that he +might protect the ignorant masses, and restrain those who +were disposed to cruelty. Perhaps he remembered the +prediction of the Abbé Raynal, and thought that he was +the appointed deliverer,—a second Moses, sent by God +to bring his people out of bondage. From that time +henceforth he made it the business of his life to conquer +freedom for his race; but never in a bloodthirsty spirit.</p> + +<p>Biassou was so enraged by the contemptuous manner +in which their deputies had been treated, that he gave +orders to put to death all the white prisoners in their +camps. But Toussaint remonstrated, and succeeded in +saving their lives. His superior intelligence gave him +great influence, and he always exerted it on the side of +humanity. He also manifested extraordinary courage +and sagacity in the very difficult position in which he +was placed. He was surrounded by conflicting parties, +fighting against each other, agreeing only in one thing, +and that was hostility to the negroes; all of them ready +to make the fairest promises, and to break them as soon +as they had gained their object. France was in a state +of revolutionary confusion, and rumors were very contradictory. +One thing was certain,—their former masters +were fighting against the king of France; and instinct +led them to take the other side. Toussaint deemed it +wisest to keep under the protection of their Spanish allies, +and fight with them for the king's party. By a succession +of battles, he gained possession of several districts +in the mountains, where he entrenched his forces strongly, +and tried to bring them under regular military discipline.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +He was very strict, and allowed no disobedience of orders. +He forbade his soldiers to go about plundering, or revenging +past injuries. His motto was, "No Retaliation,"—a +noble, Christian motto, totally disregarded by men +whose opportunities for enlightened education were a +thousand times greater than his. When he felt himself +secure in the mountain districts, he invited the white +planters of that region to return and cultivate the estates +which they had abandoned in their terror. He promised +them that their persons and property should be protected; +and he faithfully kept his word. In his language and in +his actions he was always saying to the whites, "Why +will you force us to fight? I cherish no revenge against +you. All I want is the freedom of my race." His energy +and ingenuity in availing himself of every resource and +supplying every deficiency were truly wonderful. On +one occasion a map was greatly needed, in order to plan +some important campaign, and no map could be procured. +Toussaint, having made diligent inquiries of various persons +well acquainted with the portion of country to be +traversed, employed himself in making a map. By help +of the little geometry taught him by his godfather, he +projected a map, and marked down the important towns, +mountains, and rivers, with the distances between them.</p> + +<p>No trait in the character of Toussaint Breda was +stronger than his domestic affections. He was devotedly +attached to his wife and children, and he had not seen +them for seven months. At last an interval of quiet enabled +him to visit the Spanish part of the island, whither +he had sent them for security. The Spanish authorities, +in acknowledgment of his services, received him with the +greatest distinction. Toussaint thanked them, but humbly +ascribed his successes to a superintending Providence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +Always strict in religious observances, he went to the +church to offer prayers. His general, the Spanish Marquis +Hermona, seeing him kneel to partake of the communion, +said: "In this lower world God visits no purer +soul than his."</p> + +<p>But the Spaniards had no regard for the rights and +welfare of the negroes. They used them while they had +need of their help, and were ready to oppress them when +it served their own interests. News came from France +that the Republican party were triumphant, and that the +king had been beheaded. The Spanish had nothing further +to gain by adhering to the defeated Royalist party. +Accordingly, Spain and Great Britain entered into a +league to divide the island of St. Domingo between +them, and restore Slavery. On the contrary, the Republican +party in France, assembled in convention at +Paris, February, 1794, proclaimed freedom to the slaves +in all the French colonies; and as the government was +now in their hands, there was no doubt of their having +power to protect those they had emancipated. Under +these circumstances, there was but one course for Toussaint +to take. He left the Spanish and joined the French +forces, by whom he was received with acclamation. His +rude bands of untaught negroes had now become a well-disciplined +army. They were proud of their commander, +and almost worshipped him. Under his guidance, they +performed wonders, proving themselves equal to any +troops in the world. Toussaint was on horseback night +and day. It seemed as if he never slept. Wherever +he was needed, he suddenly appeared; and as he seemed +to be wanted in twenty places at once, his followers +thought he had some powers of witchcraft to help him. +But the witchcraft consisted in his superior intelligence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +his remarkable activity, his iron constitution, and his iron +will. His heart was never of iron. In the midst of constant +warfare he paid careful attention to the raising of +crops; and if women and children, black or white, were +suffering with hunger, he caused them to be supplied +with food. He and his brave officers and troops everywhere +drove the English before them. The French +general Laveaux appointed him second to himself in +command; and, in his proclamation to that effect, he +declared: "This is the man whom the Abbé Raynal +foretold would rise to be the liberator of his oppressed +race."</p> + +<p>One day, when he had gained some important advantage, +a white officer exclaimed, "General Toussaint +makes an opening everywhere." His black troops heard +the words, and feeling that he had made an opening for +<i>them</i>, from the dungeon of Slavery to the sunlight of +Freedom, they shouted, "<i>L'Ouverture</i>," "<i>L'Ouverture</i>"; +which, being translated into English, means The Opening. +From that day henceforth he was called Toussaint +l'Ouverture.</p> + +<p>The English general Maitland, finding him so formidable, +wished to have a conference with him to negotiate +terms of accommodation. The request was granted; and +such was his confidence in the black chieftain that he +went to his camp with only three attendants, through +miles of country full of armed negroes. One of the +French officers wrote to General Toussaint that it would +be an excellent opportunity to take the English commander +prisoner. General Maitland was informed of +this while he was on his way; but he said, "I will +trust General Toussaint. He never breaks his promise." +When he arrived, General Toussaint handed him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +two letters, saying, "There is a letter I have received, +advising me to detain you as prisoner; and there is my +reply. I wish you to read them before we proceed to +business, that you may know I am incapable of such a +base action." The answer he had written was, "I have +promised this Englishman my protection, and he shall +have it."</p> + +<p>The English, seeing little prospect of conquering him +by force, or outwitting him by stratagem, tried to bribe +him to their interest. They offered to make him king +of St. Domingo, to establish him with a sufficient naval +force, and give freedom to the blacks, if he would come +over to their side. But the English still held slaves in +the neighboring islands, while the French had proclaimed +emancipation in all their colonies. He felt grateful to +the Republican government of France, and he resolved +to stand by it. The only crown he coveted was the freedom +of his race. He pursued the English vigorously, +till he drove them from the island. Yet he had no desire +to harm them, any further than was inevitable for +the protection of his people. An English naval officer, +named Rainsford, being driven on the coast of St. Domingo +by a violent storm, was arrested as a spy. A +court-martial was held, at which General Christophe presided, +in the absence of General Toussaint. Rainsford +was convicted, and sentenced to die. He was put into +a dungeon to wait till the sentence was signed by General +Toussaint. The women of the island pitied the stranger, +and often sent him fruit and sweetmeats. When Toussaint +returned, he examined into the case, and said: +"The trial appears to have been fair, and the sentence +just, according to the rules of war. But why should we +execute this stranger? He is alone, and can do us no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +harm. His death would break his mother's heart. Let +us have compassion on her. Let us send him home, that +he may tell the English what sort of people we are, and +advise them not to attempt to reduce us to Slavery."</p> + +<p>Having cleared the island of foreign enemies, Toussaint +exerted all his abilities to restore prosperity. He discharged +the greater part of the regular troops, and sent +them to till the soil. At that time, men were afraid +to trust to immediate, unconditional emancipation; they +had not then learned by experiment that it is the wisest +policy, as well as the truest justice. Toussaint feared +that when the former slaves were disbanded from the +army they would sink into laziness and vice, and thus +cause the name of freedom to be evil spoken of. Therefore, +with the view of guarding public morals, he instituted +a kind of apprenticeship. He ordained that they +should work five years for their masters, on condition of +receiving one fourth of the produce, out of which the cost +of their subsistence was to be defrayed. Regulations +were made by which the laborers became a sort of proprietors +of the soil; but I do not know what were the +terms. He did everything to encourage agriculture, and +tried to impress on the minds of the blacks that the permanence +of their freedom depended in a great measure +upon their becoming owners and cultivators of land. He +proclaimed a general amnesty to men of all colors and all +parties, even to those who had fought with the English +against their own country. He invited the return of all +fugitives who were willing to become good citizens, and +by public discourses and proclamations promised them +pardon for the past and protection for the future. Before +any important measure was carried into execution, +he summoned all the people to church, where, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +prayers were offered, he discoursed to them upon the +prospects of the republic, and what he considered essential +to its future peace and prosperity. He ordered +prayers to be said night and morning at the head of the +regiments. The discipline of the army was so strict, that +some accused him of severity. But the soldiers almost +idolized him, which I think they would not have done, +if he had not proved to them that he was just as well as +strict. After such a long period of foreign and civil war, +it required a very firm and judicious hand to restore order +and security. His troops, once lawless and savage, had +become perfectly orderly under his regulations. They +committed no thefts on the plantations and no pillage in +the cities. He opened to all nations an unrestricted commerce +with St. Domingo; and he has the honor of being +the first ruler in the world who introduced a system of +free trade. In the distribution of offices, he sought out +the men that were best fitted, without regard to complexion. +In many things he seemed to favor the whites more +than the blacks; probably from his extreme fear of not +being impartial; perhaps also because he knew the whites +distrusted him and needed to be conciliated, while people +of his own color had entire confidence in him. But the +most obstinate prejudices gradually gave way before the +wisdom and uprightness of his government. White +planters, who had been accustomed to talk of him as a +revolted slave and a lawless brigand, began to acknowledge +that he was a conscientious man and a wise legislator. +A general feeling of security prevailed, activity +in business was restored, and wealth began to flow in +through its former channels.</p> + +<p>But, with all his prudence and efforts at universal +conciliation, he could not at once heal the old animosities<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +that had so long rankled in the breasts of men. Some +of the returned French planters resumed their old habits +of haughtiness and contempt toward the negroes. Some +of the proprietors, both white and black, in their haste +to grow rich, overworked their laborers; and, in addition +to these causes of irritation, it was whispered round that +the whites were influencing the French government to restore +Slavery. In one of the northern districts a proposition +was made to disband the black troops. This excited +suspicion, and they rose in rebellion. Buildings +were fired, and three hundred whites slaughtered. Toussaint +hastened to the scene of action, and by assurances +and threats quelled the tumult. The command of that +district was in the hands of General Moyse, the son of +Toussaint's brother Paul. He disliked the system of +conciliation pursued toward the whites, and had expressed +his opinions in terms less respectful than was proper toward +a man of his uncle's age and character. The agricultural +returns from his district had been smaller than +from other portions of the island; and when Toussaint +remonstrated with him for neglecting that department, +he replied: "Whatever my old uncle may see fit to do, +I cannot consent to be the executioner of my race, by +causing them to be worked to death. All your orders +are given in the name of France. But to serve France +is to serve the interests of the whites; and I shall never +love the whites till they give me back the eye I lost in +battle." When the insurrection broke out in his district, +the relatives of the slaughtered whites complained +to General Toussaint that his nephew had not taken any +efficient measures to put down the riot; and the black insurgents +excused themselves by saying General Moyse +approved of their rising. A court-martial was held, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +General Moyse and several of the ringleaders were condemned +to be shot. The execution of this sentence +excited a good deal of ill-feeling toward Toussaint. He +was loudly accused of favoring the whites more than +he did his own color; and to this day it is remembered +against him in the island. It certainly is the harshest +action recorded of Toussaint l'Ouverture. But it must +be remembered that he had invited the whites to come +back, and had given them promises of protection, because +he thought the peace and prosperity of the island could +best be promoted in that way; and having done so, it +was his duty to see that their lives and property were +protected. Moreover, he knew that the freedom of his +race depended upon their good behavior after they were +emancipated, and that insurrections would furnish the +French government with a pretext for reducing them +to Slavery again. If he punished any of the ringleaders +with death, he could not, without partiality, pardon his +own nephew, who had been condemned by the same +court-martial. In this matter it is fair to judge Toussaint +by his general character, and that leaves no room +to doubt that severity was painful to him, and that when +he resorted to it he was actuated by motives for the public +good.</p> + +<p>That he could forgive offences against himself was +shown by his treatment of the mulattoes, who made +trouble in the island about the same time. They had +never been pleased to see one of the black slaves, whom +they had always despised, placed in a situation which +made him so much superior to any of themselves. They +manifested their dissatisfaction in a variety of ways. +They did their utmost to increase the feeling that he +showed partiality to the whites. In several instances<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +attempts were made to take his life. At one time, the +plume in his military cap was shot away. On another +occasion, balls passed through his carriage, and his coachman +was killed; but he happened to be riding off on +horseback in another direction. This hostile feeling led +the mulattoes into an extensive conspiracy to excite rebellion +against his government. Toussaint was forewarned +of it, and the attempt was put down. Eleven of the +leaders were carried to the Cape and imprisoned. Toussaint +called a meeting of the civil and military authorities, +and ordered the building to be surrounded by black +troops while the mulatto prisoners were brought in under +guard. They looked extremely dejected, expecting nothing +but death. But he announced to them that, deeming +the forgiveness of injuries a Christian duty, he pardoned +what they had attempted to do against him. He gave +them money to defray their travelling expenses, told +them they were at liberty to return to their homes, and +gave orders that they should be protected on the way. +As he passed out of the building, they showered blessings +on his head, and the air was filled with shouts of "Long +live Toussaint l'Ouverture."</p> + +<p>These outbreakings of old hatreds were local and short-lived. +The confidence in Toussaint's goodness and ability +was almost universal; and his popularity was so great with +all classes, that he might have made himself emperor, if +he would. But through all the changes in France he +had been faithful to the French government; and now to +the habit of loyalty was added gratitude to that government +for having proclaimed freedom to his race. Next +to the emancipation of his people, he sought to serve the +interests of France. Personal ambition never tempted +him from the path of duty. When the affairs of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +colony seemed to be arranged on a secure basis, he manifested +willingness to resign the authority which he had +used with so much wisdom and impartiality. He published +a proclamation, in which he said:—</p> + +<p>"Penetrated with that which is set forth in our Lord's +Prayer, 'forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive +those who transgress against us,' I have granted a general +amnesty. Fellow-citizens, not less generous than +myself, endeavor to have the past forgotten. Receive +misled brethren with open arms, and let them in the +future be on their guard against the snares of bad men. +Civil and military authorities, my task is accomplished. +It now belongs to you to take care that harmony is no +more disturbed. Allow no one to reproach those who +went astray, but have now returned to their duty. But, +notwithstanding my proclamation of amnesty, watch bad +men closely, and do not spare them if they excite disturbance. +A sense of honor should guide you all. A true, +confiding peace is necessary to the prosperity of the country. +It must be your work to establish such a peace. +Take no rest until you have accomplished it."</p> + +<p>The people refused to accept the resignation of their +"friend and benefactor," as they styled him. He replied: +"If I undertake the administration of civil affairs, I must +have a solid rock to stand on; and that rock must be a +constitutional government." Feeling the necessity of +laws and regulations suited to the altered state of the +country, he called a meeting of deputies from all the +districts to draft a constitution. Of these nine deputies +eight were white and one a mulatto. They were selected +for their learning and ability. Very likely Toussaint's +habitual caution led him to choose men from the +two classes that had been hostile to him, that there might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +be no pretext for saying he used his popularity with the +blacks to carry any measure he wished.</p> + +<p>Among other things, this constitution provided that +Slavery should never more exist in St. Domingo; that +all who were born there were free citizens of the French +republic. It also provided that offices were to be distributed +according to virtue and ability, without regard +to color. The island was to be ruled by one governor, +appointed for five years, with a proviso that the term +might be prolonged as a reward for good conduct. But +"in consideration of the important services rendered to +the country by General Toussaint l'Ouverture," he was +named governor for life, with power to appoint his successor. +This was early in the summer of 1800. The +constitution, approved by Toussaint and published, was +accepted by the people with solemn formalities and +demonstrations of joy. This new colonial government +was to go into operation provisionally, until it should +receive the sanction of the authorities in France.</p> + +<p>General Napoleon Bonaparte was then at the head of +the French government, under the title of First Consul. +Governor Toussaint wrote to him, that, in the absence of +laws, after the revolution in St. Domingo, it had been +deemed best to draft a constitution. He added: "I +hasten to lay it before you for your approbation, and +for the sanction of the government which I serve. All +classes of citizens here have welcomed it with joy, which +will be renewed when it is sent back with the sanction +of the French government."</p> + +<p>Some writers have accused Toussaint of personal ambition +because he consented to be governor for life. He +himself said it was because circumstances had given him +influence, which he could exert to unite a divided people;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +and that he deemed changes of administration might be +injurious until the new order of things had become more +settled.</p> + +<p>He assumed all the outward style that had been considered +befitting the rank of governor and commander-in-chief. +He had an elegant carriage and a number of +handsome horses. When he rode out, he was followed +by attendants in brilliant military dress, and he himself +wore a rich uniform. On stated days, he gave reception-parties, +to which magistrates, military officers, distinguished +strangers, and influential citizens were invited. +There was a good deal of splendor in the dresses on +such occasions; but he always appeared in the simple +undress uniform of a general officer. At these parties, +whites, blacks, and mulattoes mingled together with mutual +politeness, and it is said that the style of manners +was easy and elegant. All rose when the Governor +entered, and none seated themselves until he was seated. +This was a strange experience for a black man, who was +formerly a slave; and it had been brought about, under +the blessing of God, solely by the strength and excellence +of his own character. All prejudices gave way before +his uncommon intelligence, well-tried virtues, and courteous +dignity of manner.</p> + +<p>Every evening he gave free audience to all the people +who chose to call. His dress was such as the landed proprietors +usually wore. However weary he might be, he +made the circuit of the rooms, and said something to each +one on the subjects most likely to interest them. He +talked with mothers about their children, and urged upon +them the great importance of giving them religious instruction. +Not unfrequently he examined the children +in their catechisms, and gave a few words of fatherly +advice to the young folks.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>He has been accused of vanity for assuming so much +pomp in his equipage and gentility in his dress. Doubtless +he had some vanity. No human being is free from +it. But I believe very few men, of any color, could +have passed through such extraordinary changes as he +did, and preserved their balance so well. In the style +he assumed he was probably somewhat influenced by motives +of policy. He was obliged to receive many distinguished +French gentlemen, and he knew they attached +great importance to dress and equipage. The blacks also +were fond of splendor, and it gratified them to see their +great chieftain appear in princely style. The free mulattoes, +who despised his mean birth, would have spared +no ridicule if he had been neglectful of outward appearances; +and in his peculiar situation it was important to +command respect in every way. His person also needed +every borrowed advantage that it could obtain. His figure +was short and slim, and his features were homely, +though his bright, penetrating eyes gave his face an +expression of animation and intelligence. With these +disadvantages, and a deficiency of education, betrayed +by imperfect grammar, it is wonderful how he swayed +assemblies of men whenever he addressed them. The +secret lay in his great earnestness. Whatever he said, +he said it with his whole soul, and therefore it took possession +of the souls of others.</p> + +<p>Though he paid so much attention to external show +in public, his own personal habits were extremely simple +and frugal. There was a large public house at the Cape, +called The Hotel of the Republic, frequented by whites +and blacks, officers and privates. Toussaint l'Ouverture +often took a seat at the table in any chair that happened +to be vacant. If any one rose to offer him a higher seat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +he would bow courteously, and reply, "Distinctions are +to be observed only on public occasions." His food +consisted of vegetable preparations, and he drank water +only. He had a wonderful capacity of doing without +sleep. During the years that so many public cares devolved +upon him, it is said he rarely slept more than two +hours out of the twenty-four. He thought more than he +spoke, and what he said was uttered in few words. Surrounded +as he was by inquisitive and treacherous people, +this habit of reserve was of great use to him. Enemies +accused him of being deceitful. The charge was probably +grounded on the fact that he knew how to keep his own +secrets; for there are many proofs that he was in reality +honest and sincere. It is singular how he escaped +the contagion of impurity which always pollutes society +where Slavery exists. But his respect and affection for +his wife was very constant, and he was always clean in +his manners and his language. A colored lady appeared +at one of his reception-parties dressed very low at the +neck, according to the prevailing Parisian fashion. When +he had greeted her, he placed a handkerchief on her +shoulders, and said in a low voice, "Modesty is the +greatest ornament of woman."</p> + +<p>His ability and energy as a statesman were even more +remarkable than his courage and skill as a military leader. +He was getting old, and he was covered with the scars of +wounds received in many battles; but he travelled about +with wonderful rapidity, inspecting everything with his +own eyes, and personally examining into the conduct +of magistrates and officers. Often, after riding some +distance in a carriage, he would mount a swift horse +and ride off in another direction, while the coach went +on. In this way, he would make his appearance suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +at places where he was not expected, and ascertain +how things went on in his absence. It was a common +practice with him to traverse from one hundred to one +hundred and fifty miles a day. After giving his evening +audience to the people, he sat up late into the night +answering letters, of which he received not less than a +hundred daily. He dictated to five secretaries at once, +so long that he tired them all; and he examined every +letter when finished, that he might be sure his dictation +had not been misunderstood.</p> + +<p>The eastern part of the island had been ceded to the +French by treaty, but had never been given up by the +Spanish, who still held slaves there. Complaints were +brought to General Toussaint that the Spaniards kidnapped +both blacks and mulattoes from the western +part of the island, where all were free, and carried +them off to sell them to slave-traders. Resolved to +destroy Slavery, root and branch, throughout the island, +in January, 1801, he marched into the Spanish territory +at the head of ten thousand soldiers. The Spanish blacks +were desirous to come under French dominion, in order +to secure their freedom, and the whites offered but slight +resistance. Having taken possession of the territory in +the name of the French republic, he issued a proclamation, +in which he declared that all past offences should +be forgotten, and that the welfare and happiness of Spaniards +and Frenchmen should be equally protected. He +then assembled his troops in the churches and caused +prayers of thanksgiving to be offered for the success of +their enterprise, almost without bloodshed. Most of the +wealthy Spanish slaveholders made arrangements to depart +to Cuba and other neighboring islands. But the +main body of the people received General Toussaint<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +with the greatest distinction. As he passed through the +principal towns, he was everywhere greeted with thunder +of artillery, ringing of bells, and loud acclamations of the +populace.</p> + +<p>Under his wise and watchful administration all classes +were protected, and all parts of the country became prosperous. +The desolations occasioned by so many years of +warfare were rapidly repaired. Churches were rebuilt, +schools established, waste lands brought under cultivation, +and distances shortened by new and excellent roads. +The French commissioner Roume was struck with admiration +of his plans, and pronounced him to be "a philosopher, +a legislator, a general, and a good citizen." The +Frenchman, Lavoque, who was well acquainted with him +and the condition of the people, said to Bonaparte, "Sire, +let things remain as they are in St. Domingo. It is the +happiest spot in your dominions." The historian Lacroix, +though prejudiced against blacks, wrote, "That the island +was preserved to the French government was solely owing +to an old negro, who seemed to bear a commission +from Heaven." Strangers who visited St. Domingo expressed +their surprise to see cities rising from their ashes, +fields waving with harvests, and the harbors filled with +ships. Planters, who had fled with their families to various +parts of the world heard such good accounts of the +activity of business, and the security of property, that +many of them so far overcame their repugnance to be +governed by a negro as to ask permission to return. +This was easily obtained, and they were received by the +Governor without anything on his part which they might +deem offensive familiarity, but with a dignified courtesy +which prevented familiarity, or airs of condescension, on +their side. He had annually sent some token of remembrance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +to M. Bayou de Libertas, then residing in the +United States. He now wrote to invite him to return +to St. Domingo. The invitation was gladly accepted. +When he arrived, he was received with marked kindness, +but with dignified reserve. Governor Toussaint +evidently did not wish bystanders to be reminded of the +former relation that existed between them as overseer +and slave. "Return to the plantation," said he, "and +take care of the interests of the good old master. See +that the blacks do their duty. Be firm, but just. You +will thus advance your own prosperity, and at the same +time increase the prosperity of the colony."</p> + +<p>This return of the old slaveholders excited some uneasiness +among the black laborers. But Toussaint, who +often spoke to them in simple parables, sprinkled a few +grains of rice into a vessel of shot, and shook it. "See," +said he, "how few grains of white there are among the +black."</p> + +<p>At that time General Napoleon Bonaparte had become +very famous by his victories, and had recently been made +ruler of France. There were many points of resemblance +between his career and that of the hero of St. Domingo; +and it was a common thing for people to say, "Napoleon +is the First of the Whites, and Toussaint l'Ouverture +is the First of the Blacks." If General Toussaint had +known the real character of Napoleon, he would not have +felt flattered by being compared with such a selfish, tyrannical, +and treacherous man. But, like the rest of the +world, he was dazzled by his brilliant reputation, and felt +that it was a great honor to him to be called the "The +Black Napoleon." The vainest thing that is recorded +of him is that on one of his official letters to Bonaparte +he wrote, "To the First of the Whites, from the First<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +of the Blacks." It was a departure from his usual habits +of dignity, and was also poor policy; for Bonaparte had +been rendered vain by his great success, and he was under +the influence of aristocratic planters from St. Domingo, +who would have regarded it as a great insult to +couple their names with a negro. General Toussaint +soon had reason to suspect he had been mistaken in the +character of the famous man, whom he had so much admired. +He wrote several deferential letters to Bonaparte, +on official business; but the First Consul never condescended +to make any reply. It was soon rumored abroad +that proprietors of estates in St. Domingo, residing in +France, were urging him to send an army to St. Domingo +to reduce the blacks again to Slavery. Governor Toussaint +could not believe that the French government would +be persuaded to break the solemn promises it had made +to the colony. But when he sent General Vincent to +Paris to obtain Bonaparte's sanction to the new constitution, +the wicked scheme was found to be making rapid +progress. In vain General Vincent remonstrated against +it as a measure cruel and dangerous. In vain he represented +the contented, happy, and prosperous state of the +island. In vain did many wise and good men in Paris +urge that such a step would be unjust in itself and very +disgraceful to France. The First Consul turned a deaf +ear to all but the haughty old planters from St. Domingo. +The Legislative Assembly in France, though still talking +loudly about liberty and the rights of man, were not +ashamed to propose the restoration of Slavery and the +slave-trade in the colonies; and the wicked measure was +carried by a vote of two hundred and twelve against +sixty-five. In May, 1801, Bonaparte issued a decree to +that effect. But he afterwards considered it prudent to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +announce that the islands of St. Domingo and Guadaloupe +were to be excepted.</p> + +<p>When this news reached St. Domingo, the people were +excited and alarmed. They asked each other anxiously, +"How long shall we be excepted?" On that point no +assurances were given, and all suspected that the French +government was dealing with them hypocritically and +treacherously. The soul of Toussaint was on fire. If +the names of the men who voted for the restoration of +Slavery were mentioned in his presence, his eyes flashed +and his whole frame shook with indignation. He published +a proclamation, in which he counselled obedience to +the mother country, unless circumstances should make it +evident that resistance was unavoidable. In private, he +said to his friends: "I took up arms for the freedom of +my color. France proclaimed it, and she has no right +to nullify it. Our liberty is no longer in her hands; it +is in our own. We will defend it, or perish."</p> + +<p>General Toussaint had sent his two eldest sons to Paris +to be educated. As a part of the plan of deception, General +Bonaparte invited the young men to visit him. He +spoke of their father as a great man, who had rendered +very important services to France. He told them he +was going to send his brother-in-law, General Le Clerc, +with troops to St. Domingo; but he assured them it was +not for any hostile purpose; it was merely to add to the +defence of the island. He wished them to go with General +Le Clerc and tell their father that he intended him +all protection, glory, and honor. The next day Bonaparte's +Minister of Marine invited the young men to a +sumptuous dinner, and at parting presented each with +a splendid military uniform. The inexperienced youths +were completely dazzled and deceived.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>In January, 1802, General Le Clerc sailed with sixty +ships and thirty thousand of Bonaparte's experienced +troops. When Governor Toussaint received tidings that +a French fleet was in sight, he galloped to the coast they +were approaching, to take a view of them. He was dismayed, +and for a moment discouraged. He exclaimed, +"All France has come to enslave St. Domingo. We +must perish." He had no vessels, and not more than +sixteen thousand men under arms. But his native energy +soon returned. The people manifested a determination +to die rather than be enslaved again. He resolved to +attempt no attack on the French, but to act wholly on +the defensive. Le Clerc's army attacked Fort Liberty, +killed half the garrison, and forced a landing on the island. +Toussaint entrenched himself in a position where +he could harass the invaders; and the peaceful, prosperous +island again smoked with fire and blood. Le Clerc, +still aiming to accomplish Bonaparte's designs by hypocrisy, +scattered proclamations among the blacks of St. Domingo, +representing that Toussaint kept them in a kind +of Slavery on the plantations, but that the French had +come to set them wholly free. This did not excite the +rebellion which he intended to provoke, but it sowed the +seeds of doubt and discontent in the minds of some. At +the same time that he was playing this treacherous game, +he sent Toussaint's two sons to their father, accompanied +by their French tutor, to deliver a letter from the First +Consul, which ought to have been sent three months before. +The letter was very complimentary to General +Toussaint; but it objected to the constitution that had +been formed, and spoke in a very general way about the +liberty which France granted to all nations under her +control. It counselled submission to General Le Clerc,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +and threatened punishment for disobedience. The tone +of the letter, though apparently peaceful and friendly, +excited distrust in the mind of General Toussaint, which +was increased by the fact that the letter had been so long +kept from him. Knowing the strength of his domestic +affections, orders had been given that if he surrendered, +his sons should remain with him, but if he refused they +were to return to the French camp as hostages. Though +his heart yearned toward his children, from whom he had +been so long separated, he said to their tutor: "Three +months after date you bring me a letter which promises +peace, while the action of General Le Clerc is war. I +had established order and justice here; now all is confusion +and misery. Take back my sons. I cannot receive +them as the price of my surrender. Tell General Le +Clerc hostilities will cease on our part when he stops the +progress of his invading army." His sons told him how +kindly they had been treated by Bonaparte, and what +promises he had made concerning St. Domingo,—promises +which had been repeated in the proclamation brought +by General Le Clerc. Toussaint had had too severe an +experience to be easily deceived by fair words. He replied: +"My sons, you are no longer children. You are +old enough to decide for yourselves. If you wish to be +on the side of France, you are free to do so. Stay with +me, or return to General Le Clerc, whichever you choose. +Either way, I shall love you always." Isaac, his oldest +son, had been so deceived by flattery and promises, that +he declared his wish to return to the French camp, feeling +very sure that his father would be convinced that +Bonaparte was their best friend. But Placide, his step-son, +said: "My father, I will remain with you. I dread +the restoration of Slavery, and I am fearful about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +future of St. Domingo." Who can tell what a pang went +through the father's heart when he embraced Isaac and +bade him farewell?</p> + +<p>General Le Clerc was very angry when he found that +his overtures were distrusted. He swore that he would +seize Toussaint before he took his boots off. He forthwith +issued a proclamation declaring him to be an outlaw. +When General Toussaint read it to his soldiers, they cried +out with one accord, "We will die with you." He said +to his officers: "When the rainy season comes, sickness +will rid us of our enemies. Till then there is nothing +before us but flame and slaughter." Orders were given +to fire the towns as the French army approached, and to +deal destruction upon them in every way. He gathered +his army together at the entrance of the mountains, and, +aided by his brave generals Christophe and Dessalines, +kept up active skirmishing with the enemy. Horrible +things were done on both sides. The Bay of Mancenille +was red with the blood of negro prisoners slaughtered +by the French. The blacks, infuriated by revenge and +dread of Slavery, killed white men, women, and children +without mercy. General Dessalines was of a savage +temper, and incited his troops to the most ferocious +deeds.</p> + +<p>But the natural kindliness of the negro character was +manifested on many occasions, even in the midst of this +horrible excitement. In many cases they guided their +old masters to hiding-places in the mountains or forests, +and secretly conveyed them food.</p> + +<p>Toussaint, with only a plank to sleep on and a cloak +to cover him, was constantly occupied with planning attacks +and ambuscades, and preaching on Sundays, exhorting +the people, with fiery eloquence, to remember that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +the cause of Liberty was the cause of God. General +Le Clerc, meanwhile, was disappointed to find so many +difficulties in the way of his wicked project. His troops +wilted under the increasing heat of the climate, and began +to murmur. He issued proclamations, promising, in the +most solemn manner, that the freedom of all classes in +St. Domingo should be respected. These assurances induced +several black regiments to go over to the French. +Toussaint's brother Paul, and two of his ablest generals, +Bellair and Maurepas, did the same. Still the Commander-in-Chief, +aided by Christophe and Dessalines, +kept up a stout resistance. But news came that fresh +troops were coming from France, and Christophe and +Dessalines had an interview with General Le Clerc, in +which, by fair promises, he succeeded in gaining them +over to the French side. A messenger was then sent to +ask for a conference with General Toussaint. Solemn +assurances were repeated that the freedom of the blacks +should be protected; and a proposition was made that he +should be colleague with General Le Clerc in the government +of the island, and that his officers should retain +their rank in the army. With reinforcements coming +from France, and with his best generals gained over, +Toussaint had no longer hopes of defeating the invaders, +though he might send out skirmishers to annoy +them. He had too little faith in the promises of General +Le Clerc to consent to take an oath of office under +him. He therefore replied: "I might remain a brigand +in the mountains, and harass you with perpetual warfare, +so far as your power to prevent it is concerned. But I +disdain fighting for mere bloodshed; and, in obedience +to the orders of the First Consul, I yield to you. For +myself, I wish to live in retirement; but I accept your +favorable terms for the people and the army."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>With four hundred armed horsemen he set out for the +Cape, to hold the proposed conference with General Le +Clerc. On the way, the people, thinking peace was secured +without the sacrifice of their freedom, hailed him +as their benefactor. Girls strewed flowers in his path, +and mothers held up their children to bless him. General +Le Clerc received him with a salute of artillery, +and made a speech in which he highly complimented +his bravery, magnanimity, and good faith, and expressed +a hope that, though he chose to live in retirement, he +would continue to assist the government of the island +by his wise counsels. In the presence of the troops on +both sides, he took an oath on the cross to protect the +freedom of St. Domingo. With the same solemn formalities, +General Toussaint promised that the treaty of peace +should be faithfully observed.</p> + +<p>The next day, he explained fully to his officers and +soldiers what were the terms of the treaty, and impressed +upon their minds that such a promise could not +be violated without committing the sin of perjury. He +thanked them all for the courage and devotedness they had +shown under his command, embraced his officers, and bade +them an affectionate farewell. They shed tears, and expressed +the greatest reluctance to part with him; but he +told them that such a course would best conduce to public +tranquillity. The soldiers were inconsolable. They followed +him, calling out in the saddest tones, "Have you +deserted us?" He replied: "No, my children. Do not +be uneasy. Your officers are all under arms, and at their +posts."</p> + +<p>Twelve years had passed since he was working on the +Breda estate, and seeing houses and cane-fields on fire in +every direction, had said to his wife, "The slaves have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +risen." Since that time, his life had been one scene of +excitement, danger, ceaseless exertion, and overwhelming +responsibility. He had been commander-in-chief of the +armies of St. Domingo during five years, and governor +of the island about one year. Now, with a heart full +of anxiety for his people, but cheered by hopes of domestic +happiness, he retired, far from the scene of his official +splendor, to Ennery, a beautiful valley among the mountains. +Surrounded by his family, he busied himself with +clearing up the land and cultivating oranges, bananas, +and coffee. The people round about often came to him +for advice, and he freely assisted his neighbors in making +repairs and improvements. Strangers often visited him, +and when he rode abroad he was greeted with every +demonstration of respect.</p> + +<p>General Le Clerc, meanwhile, was attacked by a new +and terrible enemy. His troops, unused to the climate, +were cut down by yellow fever, as a mower cuts grass. +In this situation, had Toussaint excited the blacks against +them, they might have been exterminated; but he had +sworn to observe the treaty, and he was never known +to break his word. The kind-hearted negroes, in many +cases, took pity on the suffering French soldiers; they +carried them many little comforts, and even took them +into their houses, and nursed them tenderly.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, General Le Clerc's difficulties increased. +His troops were dying fast under the influence of the +hot season; provisions were getting scarce; he wanted +to disband the negro troops that had joined him, but they +were wide awake and suspicious on the subject of Slavery, +and he dared not propose to disarm them. He was so +treacherous himself that he could not believe in the sincerity +of others. He was always suspecting that Tous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>saint +would again take command of the blacks and attack +the remnant of his army while it was enfeebled by disease. +Bonaparte also felt that the popularity of Toussaint +stood much in the way of his accomplishing the +design of restoring Slavery. It was desirable to get him +out of the way upon some pretext. The French officers +made him the object of a series of petty insults, and +wantonly destroyed the fruit on his grounds. By these +means they hoped to provoke him to excite an insurrection, +that they might have an excuse for arresting him. +His friends warned him that these continual insults and +depredations foreboded mischief, and that he ought not +to submit to them. He replied, "It is a sacred duty to +expose life when the freedom of one's country is in peril; +but to rouse the people to save one's own life is inglorious."</p> + +<p>Finding private remonstrances of no use, he reported +to the French head-quarters that he and his neighbors +were much annoyed by the conduct of the French troops, +and that the people in the valley were made very uneasy +by their rude manners and their depredations on property. +He received a very polite answer from General Brunet, +inviting him to come to his house to confer with him on +that and other matters connected with the public tranquillity. +The letter closed with these words: "You will +not find all the pleasures I would wish to welcome you +with, but you will find the frankness of an honorable +man, who desires nothing but the happiness of the colony, +and your own happiness. If Madame Toussaint, with +whom it would give me the greatest pleasure to become +acquainted, could accompany you, I should be gratified. +If she has occasion for horses, I will send her mine. +Never, General, will you find a more sincere friend than +myself."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> + +<p>Toussaint, who was sincerely desirous to preserve the +public peace, and who was too honest to suspect treachery +under such a friendly form, went to General Brunet's +head-quarters, with a few attendants, on the 10th of June, +1802. He was received with the greatest respect and +cordiality. His host consulted with him concerning the +interests of the colony; and they examined maps together +till toward evening, when General Brunet left the room. +An officer with twenty armed men entered, saying: +"The Captain-General has ordered me to arrest you. +Your attendants are overpowered. If you resist, you +are a dead man." Toussaint's first impulse was to defend +himself; but seeing it would be useless against such +numbers, he resigned himself to his hard fate, saying, +"Heaven will avenge my cause."</p> + +<p>His papers were seized, his house rifled and burned, +his wife and children captured, and at midnight they +were all carried on board the French ship Hero, without +being allowed to take even a change of clothing. +His wrists were chained, he was locked in a cabin +guarded by soldiers with fixed bayonets, and not permitted +to hold any communication with his family. As +the vessel sailed away from St. Domingo, Toussaint, +gazing on the outline of its mountains for the last time, +said, "They have cut down the tree of Liberty; but the +roots are many and deep, and it will sprout again."</p> + +<p>Toussaint l'Ouverture was even then incapable of imagining +the base designs against him. He supposed that +he had been accused of something, and was to be carried +to France for trial. Conscious of uniform fidelity to the +French government, he felt no uneasiness as to the result, +though the treachery and violence with which he +had been treated in return for his great services made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +him very sad. Arrived on the shores of France, he was +removed to another vessel, and allowed only a few moments +to say farewell to his wife and children. They +embraced him with tears, and begged him to remember +them, who had always loved him so dearly.</p> + +<p>From the vessel, instead of being carried to Paris for +trial, as he expected, he was hurried into a carriage, and, +followed by a strong guard, was carried to the dismal +Castle of Joux, near the borders of Switzerland. That +ancient castle stands among the mountains of Jura, on +the summit of a solid rock five hundred feet high. He +was placed in a deep, dark dungeon, from the walls of +which the water dripped continually. This was in August, +1802. But though it was summer elsewhere, it +was damp and cold in Toussaint's dreary cell. The +keeper was allowed about four shillings a day to provide +food for him; and one faithful servant, who had +accompanied the family from St. Domingo, was allowed +to remain with him.</p> + +<p>His spirits were kept up for some time with the daily +expectation of being summoned to attend his trial. But +time passed on, and he could obtain no tidings from the +French government, or from his family. In a letter +to General Bonaparte, beseeching him to let him know +of what he was accused, and to grant him a trial, he +wrote:—</p> + +<p>"I have served my country with honor, fidelity, and +integrity. All who know me will do me the justice to +acknowledge this. At the time of the revolution, I spent +all I had in the service of my country. I purchased but +one small estate, on which to establish my wife and family. +I neglected nothing for the welfare of St. Domingo. I +made it my duty and pleasure to develop all the resources<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +of that beautiful colony. Since I entered the service of +the republic I have not claimed a penny of my salary. +I have taken money from the treasury only for public +use. If I was wrong in forming a constitution, it was +through my great desire to do good, and thinking it +would please the government under which I served. I +have had the misfortune to incur your displeasure; but +I am strong in the consciousness of integrity and fidelity; +and I dare affirm that among all the servants of the state +no one is more honest than myself."</p> + +<p>This letter is still in existence, and some of the words +are blotted out by tears that fell while the noble captive +was writing it. Bonaparte paid no attention to this manly +appeal. After weary waiting, Toussaint wrote again:—</p> + +<p>"First Consul, it is a misfortune to me that I am not +known to you. If you had thoroughly known me while +I was in St. Domingo, you would have done me more +justice. I am not learned; I am ignorant: but my heart +is good. My father showed me the road to virtue and +honor, and I am very strong in my conscience in that +matter. If I had not been so devoted to the French +government I should not be here. All my life I have +been in active service, and now I am a miserable prisoner, +without power to do anything, sunk in grief, and with +health impaired. I ask you for my freedom, that I may +labor for the support of my family. For my venerable +father, now a hundred and five years old, who is blind, +and needs my assistance; for my dearly loved wife, who, +separated from me, cannot, I fear, endure the afflictions +that overwhelm her; and for my cherished family, +who have made the happiness of my life. I call on +your greatness. Let your heart be softened by my misfortunes."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>This touching appeal met with the same fate as the +first. Bonaparte even had the meanness to forbid the +prisoner's wearing an officer's uniform. When he asked +for a change of clothing, the cast-off suit of a soldier and +a pair of old boots were sent him. There seemed to be +a deliberate system of heaping contempt upon him. The +daily sum allowed for his food was diminished, and the +cold winds of autumn began to howl round his dungeon. +They doubtless thought that so old a man, accustomed to +tropical warmth, and the devotion of a loving family, +would die under the combined influence of solitude, cold, +and scanty food. But his iron constitution withstood the +severe test. The next step was to deprive him of his +faithful servant, Mars Plaisir. Seeing him weep bitterly, +Toussaint said to him: "Would I could console thee under +this cruel separation. Be assured I shall never forget +thy faithful services. Carry my last farewell to my wife +and family."</p> + +<p>The farewell never reached them. Mars Plaisir was +lodged in another prison, lest he should tell of the slow +murder that was going on in the Castle of Joux. Toussaint's +supply of food was gradually diminished, till he +had barely enough to keep him alive,—merely a little +meal daily, which he had to prepare for himself in an +earthen jug. The walls sparkled with frost, and the +floor was slippery with ice, except immediately around +his little fire. Thus he passed through a most miserable +winter. He was thin as a skeleton; but still he did not +die. As a last resort, the governor of the castle went +away and took the keys of the dungeon with him. He +was gone three days; and when he returned, Toussaint +was lying stiff and cold on his heap of straw. Doctors +were called in to examine him, and they certified that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +died of apoplexy. This was in April, 1803, after he +had been more than eight months in that horrid dungeon, +and when he was a little more than sixty years old. The +body was buried in the chapel under the castle. It was +given out to the world that the deceased prisoner was +a revolted slave, who had been guilty of every species +of robbery and cruelty; and that he had been thrown into +prison for plotting to deliver the island of St. Domingo +into the hands of the English.</p> + +<p>When the family of Toussaint l'Ouverture were informed +of his death, they were overwhelmed with grief, +though they had no idea of the horrid circumstances connected +with it. The two oldest sons tried to escape from +France, but were seized and imprisoned. The French +government feared the consequences of their returning +to St. Domingo. The youngest son soon after died of +consumption. Madame Toussaint sank under the weight +of her great afflictions. Her health became very feeble, +and at times her mind wandered. When the power of +Bonaparte was overthrown, and a new government introduced +into France, a pension was granted for her support, +and her two sons were released from prison. She died +in their arms in 1816.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>There was great consternation in St. Domingo when +it was known that Toussaint l'Ouverture had been kidnapped +and carried off. There was an attempt at mutiny +among the black soldiers; but the leaders were shot by +the French, and the spirit of insurrection was put down +for a time. No tidings could be obtained from Toussaint, +and after a while he was generally believed to be dead. +But his prediction was fulfilled. The tree of Liberty, +that had been cut down, did sprout again. Bonaparte<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +sent new troops to St. Domingo to supply the place of +those cut off by yellow fever. The French officers frequently +subjected black soldiers to the lash, a punishment +which had never been inflicted upon them since the days +of Slavery. An active slave-trade was carried on with +the other French colonies, where Slavery had been restored, +and people were frequently smuggled away from +St. Domingo and sold. The mulattoes found out that +people of their color were sold, as well as blacks. They +had formerly acted against their mothers' race, not because +they were worse than other men, but because they +had the same human nature that other men have. Being +free born, and many of them educated and wealthy, and +slaveholders also, they despised the blacks, who had always +been slaves; but when Slavery touched people of +their own color, they were ready to act with the negroes +against the whites. Toussaint's generals, though they +still held their old rank in the army, grew more and +more distrustful of the French. When General Christophe +accepted an invitation to dine with General Le +Clerc, he ordered his troops to be in readiness for a sudden +blow. The French officer who sat next him at table +urged him to drink a great deal of wine; but Christophe +was on his guard, and kept his wits about him. At last +he repulsed the offer of wine with great rudeness, whereupon +Le Clerc summoned his guard to be in readiness, +and began to accuse Toussaint of treachery to the +whites. "Treachery!" exclaimed the indignant Christophe. +"Have you not broken oaths and treaties, and +violated the sacred rights of hospitality? Those whose +blood flows for our liberty are rewarded with prison, +banishment, death. Friends, soldiers, heroes of our +mountains, are no longer around me. Toussaint, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +pride of our race, the terror of our enemies, whose genius +led us from Slavery to Liberty, who adorned peace with +lovely virtues, whose glory fills the world, was put in +irons, like the vilest criminal!"</p> + +<p>General Le Clerc deemed it prudent to preserve outward +composure, for General Christophe had informed +him that troops were in readiness to protect him. But +notwithstanding many ominous symptoms of discontent +among the blacks and mulattoes, he blindly persevered +in carrying out the cruel policy of Bonaparte. Shiploads +of slaves were brought into St. Domingo and +openly sold. Then came a decree authorizing slaveholders +to resume their old authority over the blacks. +Bitterly did Toussaint's officers regret having trusted +to the promises of the French authorities. The consciousness +of having been deceived made the fire of +freedom burn all the more fiercely in their souls. The +blacks were everywhere ready to die rather than be +slaves again. In November, 1803, General Christophe +published a document in which he said:—</p> + +<p>"The independence of St. Domingo is proclaimed. +Toward men who do us justice we will act as brothers. +But we have sworn not to listen with clemency to any +one who speaks to us of Slavery. We will be inexorable, +perhaps even cruel, toward those who come from +Europe to bring among us death and servitude. No +sacrifice is too costly, and all means are lawful, when +men find that freedom, the greatest of all blessings, is +to be wrested from them."</p> + +<p>The closing scenes of the revolution were too horrible +to be described. General Rochambeau, who commanded +the French army after the death of General Le Clerc, +was a tyrannical and cruel tool of the slaveholders.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +Everywhere colored men were seized and executed +without forms of law. Maurepas, who had been one +of Toussaint's most distinguished generals, was seized on +suspicion of favoring insurrection. His epaulets were +nailed to his shoulders with spikes, he was suspended +from the yard-arm of a vessel, while his wife and children, +and four hundred of his black soldiers, were thrown +over to the sharks before his eyes. The trees were hung +with the corpses of negroes. Some were torn to pieces +by bloodhounds trained for the purpose; some were +burnt alive. Sixteen of Toussaint's bravest generals +were chained by the neck to the rocks of an uninhabited +island, and left there to perish. Most of these victims +were firm in the midst of their tortures, and died +with the precious word Freedom on their lips. A +mother, whose daughters were going to be executed, +said to them: "Be thankful. You will not live to be +the mothers of slaves."</p> + +<p>I am happy to record that all the whites were not +destitute of feeling. Some sea-captains, who were ordered +to take negroes out to sea and drown them, contrived +to aid their escape to the mountains, or landed +them on other shores.</p> + +<p>The blacks, driven to desperation, became as cruel as +their oppressors. They visited upon white men, women, +and children all the barbarities they had seen and suffered. +The wife of General Paul, brother of Toussaint, +was dragged from her peaceful home, and drowned by +French soldiers. This murder made him perfectly crazy +with revenge. Though naturally of a mild disposition, +he thenceforth had no mercy on anybody of white complexion. +His old father, Gaou-Guinou, who survived +Toussaint about a year, was filled with the same spirit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +and the last words he uttered were a malediction on the +whites. The spirit of the infernal regions raged throughout +all classes, and it was all owing to the wickedness of +Slavery.</p> + +<p>On the last day of November, 1803, little more than +a year after the abduction of Toussaint, the French were +driven from the island, never more to return. The colony, +which might have been a source of wealth to them, if +Toussaint had been allowed to carry out his plans, was +lost to France forever. St. Domingo became independent, +under its old name of Hayti; and General Christophe, +who was as able as Toussaint, but more ambitious, +was proclaimed emperor. A law was passed, and still remains +in force, that no white man should own a foot of +soil on the island. But white Americans and Europeans +reside there, and transact various kinds of business under +the protection of equal laws.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it sometimes seemed to Toussaint, in the +loneliness of his dungeon, as if all his great sacrifices +and efforts for his oppressed race had been in vain. But +they were not in vain. God raised him up to do a great +work, which he faithfully performed; and his spirit is still +"marching on." Slavery becomes more and more odious +in the civilized world, and nation after nation abolishes it. +Fifty years after the death of Toussaint all the slaves in +the French colonies were emancipated. How his spirit +must rejoice to look on the West Indies now!</p> + +<p>In 1850 the grave of Toussaint l'Ouverture was discovered +by some engineers at work on the Castle of +Joux. His skull was placed on a shelf in the dungeon +where he died, and is shown to travellers who visit the +place.</p> + +<p>For a long while great injustice was done to the mem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>ory +of Toussaint l'Ouverture, and also to the blacks who +fought so fiercely in resistance of Slavery; for the histories +of St. Domingo were written by prejudiced French +writers, or by equally prejudiced mulattoes. But at last +the truth is made known. Candid, well-informed persons +now acknowledge that the blacks of St. Domingo sinned +cruelly because they were cruelly sinned against; and +Toussaint l'Ouverture, seen in the light of his own actions, +is acknowledged to be one of the greatest and best +men the world has ever produced. A very distinguished +English poet, named Wordsworth, has written an admirable +sonnet to his memory. The celebrated Harriet +Martineau, of England, has made him the hero of a beautiful +novel. Wendell Phillips, one of the most eloquent +speakers in the United States, has eulogized his memory +in a noble lecture, delivered in various parts of the country, +before thousands and thousands of hearers. And +James Redpath has recently published in Boston a biography +of Toussaint l'Ouverture, truthfully portraying the +pure and great soul of that martyred hero.</p> + +<p>Well may the Freedmen of the United States take +pride in Toussaint l'Ouverture, as the man who made an +opening of freedom for their oppressed race, and by the +greatness of his character and achievements proved the +capabilities of Black Men.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>It is better to be a lean freeman than a fat slave.—<i>A +Proverb in Hayti.</i></p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_ASPIRATIONS_OF_MINGO" id="THE_ASPIRATIONS_OF_MINGO"></a>THE ASPIRATIONS OF MINGO.</h2> + + +<p>A slave in one of our Southern States, named +Mingo, was endowed with uncommon abilities. If +he had been a white man, his talents would have secured +him an honorable position; but being colored, his great +intelligence only served to make him an object of suspicion. +He was thrown into prison, to be sold. He wrote +the following lines on the walls, which were afterward +found and copied. A Southern gentleman sent them to +a friend in Boston, as a curiosity, and they were published +in the Boston Journal, many years ago. The night after +Mingo wrote them, he escaped from the slave-prison; but +he was tracked and caught by bloodhounds, who tore +him in such a shocking manner that he died. By that +dreadful process his great soul was released from his +enslaved body. His wife lived to be an aged woman, +and was said to have many of his poems in her possession. +Here are the lines he wrote in his agony while +in prison:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Good God! and must I leave them now,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My wife, my children, in their woe?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis mockery to say I'm sold!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But I forget these chains so cold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which goad my bleeding limbs; though high<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My reason mounts above the sky.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dear wife, they cannot sell the rose<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of love that in my bosom glows.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Remember, as your tears may start,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They cannot sell the immortal part.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Thou Sun, which lightest bond and free,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tell me, I pray, is liberty<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lot of those who noblest feel,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And oftest to Jehovah kneel?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then I may say, but not with pride,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I feel the rushings of the tide<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of reason and of eloquence,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which strive and yearn for eminence.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I feel high manhood on me now,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A spirit-glory on my brow;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I feel a thrill of music roll,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like angel-harpings, through my soul;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While poesy, with rustling wings,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon my spirit rests and sings.<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>He</i> sweeps my heart's deep throbbing lyre,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who touched Isaiah's lips with fire."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>May God forgive his oppressors.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="BURY_ME_IN_A_FREE_LAND" id="BURY_ME_IN_A_FREE_LAND"></a>BURY ME IN A FREE LAND.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Make me a grave where'er you will,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In a lowly plain or a lofty hill;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Make it among earth's humblest graves,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But not in a land where men are slaves.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I ask no monument proud and high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To arrest the gaze of the passers by;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All that my yearning spirit craves<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is, Bury me not in a Land of Slaves.<br /></span> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p></div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="PHILLIS_WHEATLEY" id="PHILLIS_WHEATLEY"></a>PHILLIS WHEATLEY.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa, and +brought to Boston, Massachusetts, in the year +1761,—a little more than a hundred years ago. At +that time the people in Massachusetts held slaves. The +wife of Mr. John Wheatley of Boston had several slaves; +but they were getting too old to be very active, and she +wanted to purchase a young girl, whom she could train +up in such a manner as to make her a good domestic. +She went to the slave-market for that purpose, and there +she saw a little girl with no other clothing than a piece +of dirty, ragged carpeting tied round her. She looked +as if her health was feeble,—probably owing to her sufferings +in the slave-ship, and to the fact of her having +no one to care for her after she landed. Mrs. Wheatley +was a kind, religious woman; and though she considered +the sickly look of the child an objection, there was something +so gentle and modest in the expression of her dark +countenance, that her heart was drawn toward her, and +she bought her in preference to several others who looked +more robust. She took her home in her chaise, put her +in a bath, and dressed her in clean clothes. They could +not at first understand her; for she spoke an African dialect, +sprinkled with a few words of broken English; and +when she could not make herself understood, she resorted +to a variety of gestures and signs. She did not know her +own age, but, from her shedding her front teeth at that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +time, she was supposed to be about seven years old. She +could not tell how long it was since the slave-traders tore +her from her parents, nor where she had been since that +time. The poor little orphan had probably gone through +so much suffering and terror, and been so unable to make +herself understood by anybody, that her mind had become +bewildered concerning the past. She soon learned to +speak English; but she could remember nothing about +Africa, except that she used to see her mother pour out +water before the rising sun. Almost all the ancient +nations of the world supposed that a Great Spirit had +his dwelling in the sun, and they worshipped that Spirit +in various forms. One of the most common modes of +worship was to pour out water, or wine, at the rising +of the sun, and to utter a brief prayer to the Spirit of +that glorious luminary. Probably this ancient custom +had been handed down, age after age, in Africa, and in +that fashion the untaught mother of little Phillis continued +to worship the god of her ancestors. The sight +of the great splendid orb, coming she knew not whence, +rising apparently out of the hills to make the whole world +glorious with light, and the devout reverence with which +her mother hailed its return every morning, might naturally +impress the child's imagination so deeply, that she +remembered it after she had forgotten everything else +about her native land.</p> + +<p>A wonderful change took place in the little forlorn +stranger in the course of a year and a half. She not +only learned to speak English correctly, but she was able +to read fluently in any part of the Bible. She evidently +possessed uncommon intelligence and a great desire for +knowledge. She was often found trying to make letters +with charcoal on the walls and fences. Mrs. Wheatley's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +daughter, perceiving her eagerness to learn, undertook +to teach her to read and write. She found this an easy +task, for her pupil learned with astonishing quickness. +At the same time she showed such an amiable, affectionate +disposition, that all members of the family became +much attached to her. Her gratitude to her kind, motherly +mistress was unbounded, and her greatest delight +was to do anything to please her.</p> + +<p>When she was about fourteen years old, she began to +write poetry; and it was pretty good poetry, too. Owing +to these uncommon manifestations of intelligence, and +to the delicacy of her health, she was never put to hard +household work, as was intended at the time of her purchase. +She was kept constantly with Mrs. Wheatley +and her daughter, employed in light and easy services +for them. Her poetry attracted attention, and Mrs. +Wheatley's friends lent her books, which she read with +great eagerness. She soon acquired a good knowledge +of geography, history, and English poetry; of the last +she was particularly fond. After a while, they found +she was trying to learn Latin, which she so far mastered +as to be able to read it understandingly. There was no +law in Massachusetts against slaves learning to read and +write, as there have been in many of the States; and her +mistress, so far from trying to hinder her, did everything +to encourage her love of learning. She always called +her affectionately, "My Phillis," and seemed to be as +proud of her attainments as if she had been her own +daughter. She even allowed her to have a fire and light +in her own chamber in the evening, that she might study +and write down her thoughts whenever they came to her.</p> + +<p>Phillis was of a very religious turn of mind, and when +she was about sixteen she joined the Orthodox Church,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +that worshipped in the Old-South Meeting-house in Boston. +Her character and deportment were such that she +was considered an ornament to the church. Clergymen +and other literary persons who visited at Mrs. Wheatley's +took a good deal of notice of her. Her poems were +brought forward to be read to the company, and were often +much praised. She was not unfrequently invited to +the houses of wealthy and distinguished people, who liked +to show her off as a kind of wonder. Most young girls +would have had their heads completely turned by so +much flattery and attention; but seriousness and humility +seemed to be natural to Phillis. She always retained +the same gentle, modest deportment that had won Mrs. +Wheatley's heart when she first saw her in the slave-market. +Sometimes, when she went abroad, she was invited +to sit at table with other guests; but she always +modestly declined, and requested that a plate might be +placed for her on a side-table. Being well aware of the +common prejudice against her complexion, she feared +that some one might be offended by her company at +their meals. By pursuing this course she manifested +a natural politeness, which proved her to be more truly +refined than any person could be who objected to sit +beside her on account of her color.</p> + +<p>Although she was tenderly cared for, and not required +to do any fatiguing work, her constitution never recovered +from the shock it had received in early childhood. +When she was about nineteen years old, her health failed +so rapidly that physicians said it was necessary for her +to take a sea-voyage. A son of Mr. Wheatley's was going +to England on commercial business, and his mother +proposed that Phillis should go with him.</p> + +<p>In England she received even more attention than had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +been bestowed upon her at home. Several of the nobility +invited her to their houses; and her poems were +published in a volume, with an engraved likeness of the +author. In this picture she looks gentle and thoughtful, +and the shape of her head denotes intellect. One of the +engravings was sent to Mrs. Wheatley, who was delighted +with it. When one of her relatives called, she pointed it +out to her, and said, "Look at my Phillis! Does she +not seem as if she would speak to me?"</p> + +<p>Still the young poetess was not spoiled by flattery. +One of the relatives of Mrs. Wheatley informs us, that +"not all the attention she received, nor all the honors +that were heaped upon her, had the slightest influence +upon her temper and deportment. She was still the +same single-hearted, unsophisticated being."</p> + +<p>She addressed a poem to the Earl of Dartmouth, who +was very kind to her during her visit to England. Having +expressed a hope for the overthrow of tyranny, she +says:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Should you, my Lord, while you peruse my song,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wonder from whence my love of Freedom sprung,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whence flow these wishes for the common good,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By feeling hearts alone best understood,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I, young in life, by seeming cruel fate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was snatched from Afric's fancied happy state.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What pangs excruciating must molest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What sorrows labor in my parent's breast!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Steeled was that soul, and by no misery moved,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That from a father seized his babe beloved.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Such was my case; and can I then but pray<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Others may never feel tyrannic sway."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The English friends of Phillis wished to present her +to their king, George the Third, who was soon expected +in London. But letters from America informed her that +her beloved benefactress, Mrs. Wheatley, was in declining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +health, and greatly desired to see her. No honors +could divert her mind from the friend of her childhood. +She returned to Boston immediately. The good lady +died soon after; Mr. Wheatley soon followed; and the +daughter, the kind instructress of her youth, did not long +survive. The son married and settled in England. For +a short time Phillis stayed with a friend of her deceased +benefactress; then she hired a room and lived by herself. +It was a sad change for her.</p> + +<p>The war of the American Revolution broke out. In +the autumn of 1776 General Washington had his head-quarters +at Cambridge, Massachusetts; and the spirit +moved Phillis to address some complimentary verses +to him. In reply, he sent her the following courteous +note:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I thank you most sincerely for your polite notice of +me in the elegant lines you enclosed. However undeserving +I may be of such encomium, the style and manner +exhibit a striking proof of your poetical talents. In +honor of which, and as a tribute justly due to you, I +would have published the poem, had I not been apprehensive +that, while I only meant to give the world this +new instance of your genius, I might have incurred the +imputation of vanity. This, and nothing else, determined +me not to give it a place in the public prints.</p> + +<p>"If you should ever come to Cambridge, or near head-quarters, +I shall be happy to see a person so favored by +the Muses,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> and to whom Nature had been so liberal +and beneficent in her dispensations.</p> + +<p class="quotsig"> +"I am, with great respect,<br /> +<br /> +"Your obedient, humble servant,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">George Washington</span>."<br /> +</p></blockquote> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<p>The early friends of Phillis were dead, or scattered +abroad, and she felt alone in the world. She formed an +acquaintance with a colored man by the name of Peters, +who kept a grocery shop. He was more than commonly +intelligent, spoke fluently, wrote easily, dressed well, and +was handsome in his person. He offered marriage, and +in an evil hour she accepted him. He proved to be +lazy, proud, and harsh-tempered. He neglected his business, +failed, and became very poor. Though unwilling +to do hard work himself, he wanted to make a drudge +of his wife. Her constitution was frail, she had been +unaccustomed to hardship, and she was the mother of +three little children, with no one to help her in her household +labors and cares. He had no pity on her, and instead +of trying to lighten her load, he made it heavier +by his bad temper. The little ones sickened and died, +and their gentle mother was completely broken down +by toil and sorrow. Some of the descendants of her +lamented mistress at last heard of her illness and went +to see her. They found her in a forlorn situation, suffering +for the common comforts of life. The Revolutionary +war was still raging. Everybody was mourning for sons +and husbands slain in battle. The country was very poor. +The currency was so deranged that a goose cost forty dollars, +and other articles in proportion. In such a state of +things, people were too anxious and troubled to think +about the African poetess, whom they had once delighted +to honor; or if they transiently remembered her, they +took it for granted that her husband provided for her. +And so it happened that the gifted woman who had been +patronized by wealthy Bostonians, and who had rolled +through London in the splendid carriages of the English +nobility, lay dying alone, in a cold, dirty, comfortless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +room. It was a mournful reverse of fortune; but she +was patient and resigned. She made no complaint of +her unfeeling husband; but the neighbors said that when +a load of wood was sent to her, he felt himself too much +of a gentleman to saw it, though his wife was shivering +with cold. The descendants of Mrs. Wheatley did what +they could to relieve her wants, after they discovered her +extremely destitute condition; but, fortunately for her, +she soon went "where the wicked cease from troubling, +and where the weary are at rest."</p> + +<p>Her husband was so generally disliked, that people +never called her Mrs. Peters. She was always called +Phillis Wheatley, the name bestowed upon her when she +first entered the service of her benefactress, and by which +she had become known as a poetess.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="A_PERTINENT_QUESTION" id="A_PERTINENT_QUESTION"></a>A PERTINENT QUESTION.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS.</p> + + +<p>"Is it not astonishing, that while we are ploughing, planting, +and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting +houses and constructing bridges, building ships, working +in metals of brass, iron, and copper, silver and gold; that +while we are reading, writing, and ciphering, acting as clerks, +merchants, and secretaries, having among us lawyers, doctors, +ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators, and teachers; that +while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common to +other men, digging gold in California, capturing the whale in +the Pacific, breeding sheep and cattle on the hillside; living, +moving, acting, thinking, planning; living in families as husbands, +wives, and children; and, above all, confessing and +worshipping the Christian's God, and looking hopefully for +immortal life beyond the grave;—is it not astonishing, I say, +that we are called upon to prove that we are <i>men</i>?"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_WORKS_OF_PROVIDENCE" id="THE_WORKS_OF_PROVIDENCE"></a>THE WORKS OF PROVIDENCE.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY PHILLIS WHEATLEY.</p> + +<p class="edcomment">[Written at sixteen years of age.]</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Arise, my soul! on wings enraptured rise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To praise the Monarch of the earth and skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whose goodness and beneficence appear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As round its centre moves the rolling year;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or when the morning glows with rosy charms,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or the sun slumbers in the ocean's arms.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of light divine be a rich portion lent,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To guide my soul and favor my intent.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Celestial Muse, my arduous flight sustain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And raise my mind to a seraphic strain!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Adored forever be the God unseen,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who round the sun revolves this vast machine;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though to his eye its mass a point appears:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Adored the God that whirls surrounding spheres,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who first ordained that mighty Sol<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> should reign,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The peerless monarch of th' ethereal train.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of miles twice forty millions is his height,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And yet his radiance dazzles mortal sight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So far beneath,—from him th' extended earth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vigor derives, and every flowery birth.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Vast through her orb she moves, with easy grace,</span> +<span class="i0">Around her Phœbus<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> in unbounded space;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">True to her course, the impetuous storm derides,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Triumphant o'er the winds and surging tides.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Almighty! in these wondrous works of thine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What power, what wisdom, and what goodness shine!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And are thy wonders, Lord, by men explored,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And yet creating glory unadored?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Creation smiles in various beauty gay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While day to night, and night succeeds to day.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That wisdom which attends Jehovah's ways,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shines most conspicuous in the solar rays.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Without them, destitute of heat and light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This world would be the reign of endless night.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In their excess, how would our race complain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Abhorring life! how hate its lengthened chain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From air, or dust, what numerous ills would rise!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What dire contagion taint the burning skies!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What pestilential vapor, fraught with death,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Would rise, and overspread the lands beneath!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Hail, smiling Morn, that, from the orient main<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ascending, dost adorn the heavenly plain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So rich, so various are thy beauteous dyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That spread through all the circuit of the skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That, full of thee, my soul in rapture soars,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thy great God, the cause of all, adores!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O'er beings infinite his love extends,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His wisdom rules them, and his power defends.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When tasks diurnal tire the human frame,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +<span class="i0">The spirits faint, and dim the vital flame,</span> +<span class="i0">Then, too, that ever-active bounty shines,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which not infinity of space confines.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sable veil, that Night in silence draws,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Conceals effects, but shows th' Almighty Cause.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Night seals in sleep the wide creation fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all is peaceful, but the brow of care.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Again gay Phoebus, as the day before,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wakes every eye but what shall wake no more;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Again the face of Nature is renewed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which still appears harmonious, fair, and good.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May grateful strains salute the smiling morn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Before its beams the eastern hills adorn!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_DYING_CHRISTIAN" id="THE_DYING_CHRISTIAN"></a>THE DYING CHRISTIAN.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The silver cord was loosened,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We knew that she must die;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We read the mournful token<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the dimness of her eye.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Like a child oppressed with slumber,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She calmly sank to rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With her trust in her Redeemer,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And her head upon his breast.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She faded from our vision,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Like a thing of love and light;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But we feel she lives forever,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A spirit pure and bright.<br /></span> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +</div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="KINDNESS_TO_ANIMALS" id="KINDNESS_TO_ANIMALS"></a>KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>There are not many people who are conscientious +about being kind in their relations with human beings; +and therefore it is not surprising that still fewer +should be considerate about humanity to animals. But +the Father of all created beings made dumb creatures +to enjoy existence in their way, as he made human beings +to enjoy life in their way. We do wrong in his sight if +we abuse them, or keep them without comfortable food +and shelter. The fact that they cannot speak to tell +of what they suffer makes the sad expression of their +great patient eyes the more touching to any compassionate +heart. Fugitive slaves, looking out mournfully and +wearily upon a cold, unsympathizing world, have often +reminded me of overworked and abused oxen; for though +slaves were endowed by their Creator with the gift of +speech, their oppressors have made them afraid to use +it to complain of their wrongs. In fact, they have been +in a more trying situation than abused oxen, for they +have been induced by fear to use their gift of speech in +professions of contentment with their bondage. Therefore, +those who have been slaves know how to sympathize +with the dumb creatures of God; and they, more than +others, ought to have compassion on them. The great +and good Toussaint l'Ouverture was always kind to the +animals under his care, and I consider it by no means the +smallest of his merits.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is selfish and cruel thoughtlessness to stand laughing +and talking, or to be resting at ease, while horses or oxen +are tied where they will be tormented by flies or mosquitos. +Last summer I read of a horse that was left +fastened in a swamp, where he could not get away from +the swarm of venomous insects, which stung him to death, +while his careless, hard-hearted driver was going about +forgetful of him. It would trouble my conscience ever +afterward if I had the death of that poor helpless animal +to answer for.</p> + +<p>There is a difference in the natural disposition of animals, +as there is in the dispositions of men and women; +but, generally speaking, if animals are bad-tempered and +stubborn, it is owing to their having been badly treated +when they were young. When a horse has his mouth +hurt by jerking his bridle, it irritates him, as it irritates +a man to be violently knocked about; and in both cases +such treatment produces an unwillingness to oblige the +tormentor. Lashing a horse with a whip, to compel him +to draw loads too heavy for his strength, makes him +angry and discouraged; and at last, in despair of getting +any help for his wrongs, he stands stock still when he +finds himself fastened to a heavy load, and no amount +of kicking or beating will make him stir. He has apparently +come to the conclusion that it is better to be +killed at once than to die daily. Slaves, who are under +cruel taskmasters, also sometimes sink down in utter discouragement, +and do not seem to care for being whipped +to death. The best way to cure the disheartened and +obstinate laborer is to give him just wages and kind treatment; +and the best way to deal with the discouraged and +stubborn horse is to give him light loads and humane +usage.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is a very bad custom to whip a horse when he is +frightened. It only frightens the poor creature all the +more. Habits of running when frightened, or of sheering +at the sight of things to which they are not accustomed, +is generally produced in horses by mismanagement +when they are colts. By gentle and rational treatment +better characters are formed, both in animals and human +beings. There was a gentleman in the neighborhood of +Boston who managed colts so wisely, that all who were +acquainted with him wanted a horse of his training. He +was very firm with the young animals; he never allowed +them to get the better of him; but he was never in a passion +with them. He cured them of bad tricks by patient +teaching and gentle words; holding them tight all the +while, till they did what he wanted them to do. When +they became docile, he rubbed their heads, and patted +their necks, and talked affectionately to them, and gave +them a handful of oats. In that way, he obtained complete +control over them. He never kicked them, or jerked +their mouths with the bridle; he never whipped them, or +allowed a whip to be used; and the result was that they +learned to love him, and were always ready to do as he +bade them.</p> + +<p>I have read of a horse that was so terrified by the +sound of a drum, that if he heard it, even from a distance, +he would run furiously and smash to pieces any +carriage to which he was harnessed. In consequence +of this, he was sold very cheap, though he was a strong, +handsome animal. The man who sold him said he had +whipped and whipped him, to cure him of the trick, but +it did no good. People laughed at the man who bought +him, and said he had thrown money away upon a useless +and dangerous creature; but he replied, "I have some +experience in horses, and I think I can cure him."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>He resolved to use no violence, but to deal rationally +and humanely with the animal, as he would like to be +dealt with if he were a horse.</p> + +<p>He kept him without food till he had become very +hungry, and then he placed a pan of oats before him on +the top of a drum. As soon as he began to eat, the man +beat upon the drum. The horse reared and plunged and +ran furiously round the enclosure. He was led back to +the stable without any provender. After a while, oats +were again placed before him on the top of a drum. As +soon as the drum was beaten, the horse reared and ran +away. I suppose he remembered the terrible whippings +he had had whenever he heard a drum, and so he thought +the thing that made the noise was an enemy to him. The +third time the experiment was tried, he had become excessively +hungry. He pricked up his ears and snorted +when he heard the sound of the drum; but he stood still +and looked at the oats wistfully, while the man played +a loud, lively tune. Finding the noise did him no harm, +he at last ventured to taste of the oats, and his owner continued +to play all the while he was eating. When the +breakfast was finished, he patted him on the neck and +talked gently to him. For several days his food was +given to him in the same way. He was never afraid +of the sound of a drum afterward. On the contrary, he +learned to like it, because it made him think of sweet +oats.</p> + +<p>The fact is, reasonable and kind treatment will generally +produce a great and beneficial change in vicious animals +as well as in vicious men.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="JAMES_FORTEN" id="JAMES_FORTEN"></a>JAMES FORTEN.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>James Forten was born in 1766, nearly a hundred +years ago. His ancestors had lived in Pennsylvania +for several generations, and, so far as he could trace +them, they had never been slaves. In his boyhood the +war of the American Revolution began. The States of +this Union were then colonies of Great Britain. Being +taxed without being represented in the British Parliament, +they remonstrated against it as an act of injustice. +The king, George the Third, was a dull, obstinate man, +disposed to be despotic. The loyal, respectful petitions +of the Colonies were treated with indifference or contempt; +and at last they resolved to become independent +of England. When James Forten was about fourteen +years old he entered into the service of the Colonial +navy, in the ship Royal Louis, commanded by Captain +Decatur, father of the celebrated commodore. It was +captured by the British ship Amphion, commanded by +Sir John Beezly. Sir John's son was on board, as +midshipman. He was about the same age as James +Forten; and when they played games together on the +deck, the agility and skill of the brown lad attracted his +attention. They became much attached to each other; +and the young Englishman offered to provide for the +education of his colored companion, and to help him on +in the world, if he would go to London with him. But +James preferred to remain in the service of his native +country. The lads shed tears at parting, and Sir John's +son obtained a promise from his father that his friend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +should not be enlisted in the British army. This was +a great relief to the mind of James; for his sympathies +were on the side of the American Colonies, and he knew +that colored men in his circumstances were often carried +to the West Indies and sold into Slavery. He was transferred +to the prison-ship Old Jersey, then lying near New +York. He remained there, through a raging pestilence +on board, until prisoners were exchanged.</p> + +<p>After the war was over, he obtained employment in +a sail-loft in Philadelphia, where he soon established a +good character by his intelligence, honesty, and industry. +He invented an improvement in the management of sails, +for which he obtained a patent. As it came into general +use, it brought him a good deal of money. In process of +time, he became owner of the sail-loft, and also of a good +house in the city. He married a worthy woman, and +they brought up a family of eight children. But though +he had served his country faithfully in his youth, though +he had earned a hundred thousand dollars by his ingenuity +and diligence, and though his character rendered him +an ornament to the Episcopal Church, to which he belonged, +yet so strong was the mean and cruel prejudice +against his color, that his family were excluded from +schools where the most ignorant and vicious whites could +place their children. He overcame this obstacle, at great +expense, by hiring private teachers in various branches +of education.</p> + +<p>By the unrivalled neatness and durability of his work, +and by the uprightness of his character, he obtained extensive +business, and for more than fifty years employed +many people in his sail-loft. Being near the water, he +had opportunities, at twelve different times, to save people +from drowning, which he sometimes did at the risk of +his own life. The Humane Society of Philadelphia presented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +him with an engraving, to which was appended a +certificate of the number of people he had saved, and the +thanks of the Society for his services. He had it framed +and hung in his parlor; and when I visited him, in 1835, +he pointed it out to me, and told me he would not take +a thousand dollars for it. He likewise told me of a +vessel engaged in the slave-trade, the owners of which +applied to him for rigging. He indignantly refused; declaring +that he considered such a request an insult to any +honest or humane man. He always had the cause of +the oppressed colored people warmly at heart, and was +desirous to do everything in his power for their improvement +and elevation. He early saw that colonizing free +blacks to Africa would never abolish Slavery; but that, +on the contrary, it tended to prolong its detestable existence. +He presided at the first meeting of colored +people in Philadelphia, to remonstrate against the Colonization +Society. He was an earnest and liberal friend of +the Anti-Slavery Society; and almost the last words +he was heard to utter were expressions of love and +gratitude to William Lloyd Garrison for his exertions +in behalf of his oppressed race. He never drank any +intoxicating liquor, and was a steadfast supporter of the +Temperance Society. Being of a kindly and humane +disposition, he espoused the principles of the Peace Society. +His influence and pure example were also given +to those who were striving against licentiousness. Indeed, +he was always ready to assist in every good word +and work.</p> + +<p>He died in 1842, at the age of seventy-six years. His +funeral procession was one of the largest ever seen in +Philadelphia; thousands of people, of all classes and all +complexions, having united in this tribute of respect to +his character.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_MEETING_IN_THE_SWAMP" id="THE_MEETING_IN_THE_SWAMP"></a>THE MEETING IN THE SWAMP.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>In 1812 there was war between the United States and +Great Britain; and many people thought it likely +that a portion of the British army would land in some +part of the Southern States and proclaim freedom to the +slaves. The more intelligent portion of the slaves were +aware of this, and narrowly watched the signs of the +times.</p> + +<p>Mr. Duncan, of South Carolina, was an easy sort of +master, generally thought by his neighbors to be too indulgent +to his slaves. One evening, during the year I +have mentioned, he received many requests for passes to +go to a great Methodist meeting, and in every instance complied +with the request. After a while, he rang the bell +for a glass of water, but no servant appeared. He rang +a second time, but waited in vain for the sound of coming +footsteps. Thinking over the passes he had given, +he remembered that all the house-servants had gone to +Methodist meeting. Then it occurred to him that Methodist +meetings had lately been more frequent than usual. +He was in the habit of saying that his slaves were perfectly +contented, and would not take their freedom if he +offered it to them; nevertheless the frequency of Methodist +meetings made him a little uneasy, and brought to +mind a report he had heard, that the British were somewhere +off the coast and about to land.</p> + +<p>The next morning, he took a ride on horseback, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +in a careless way asked the slaves on several plantations +where was the Methodist meeting last night. Some said +it was in one place, and some in another,—a circumstance +which made him think still more about the report +that the British were going to land. He bought a black +mask for his face, and a suit of negro clothes, and waited +for another Methodist meeting. In a few days his servants +again asked for passes, and he gave them. When +the last one had gone, he put on his disguise and followed +them over field and meadow, through woods and swamps. +The number of dark figures steering toward the same +point continually increased. If any spoke to him as +they passed, he made a very short answer, in the words +and tones common among slaves. At last they arrived +at an island in the swamp, surrounded by a belt of deep +water, and hidden by forest-trees matted together by a +luxuriant entanglement of vines. A large tree had been +felled for a bridge, and over this dusky forms were +swarming as thickly as ants into a new-made nest. After +passing through a rough and difficult path, they came +out into a large level space, surrounded by majestic trees, +whose boughs interlaced, and formed a roof high overhead, +from which hung down long streamers of Spanish +moss. Under this canopy were assembled hundreds of +black men and women. Some were sitting silent and +thoughtful, some eagerly talking together, and some singing +and shouting. The blaze of pine torches threw a +strong light on some, and made others look like great +black shadows.</p> + +<p>Mr. Duncan felt a little disturbed by the strange, impressive +scene, and was more than half disposed to wish +himself at home. For some time he could make nothing +out of the confused buzz of voices and chanting of hymns.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +But after a while a tall man mounted a stump and requested +silence. "I suppose most all of ye know," said +he, "that at our last meeting we concluded to go to the +British, if we could get a chance; but we didn't all agree +what to do about our masters. Some said we couldn't +keep our freedom without we killed the whites, but others +didn't like the thoughts of that. We've met again to-night +to talk about it. An' now, boys, if the British land +here in Caroliny, what shall we do about our masters?"</p> + +<p>As he sat down, a tall, fierce-looking mulatto sprang +upon the stump, at one leap, and exclaimed: "Scourge +<i>them</i>, as they have scourged <i>us</i>. Shoot <i>them</i>, as they +have shot <i>us</i>. Who talks of mercy to our masters?"</p> + +<p>"I do," said an aged black man, who rose up tottering, +as he leaned both hands on a wooden staff,—"I do; because +the blessed Jesus always talked of mercy. They +shot my bright boy Joe, an' sold my pretty little Sally; +but, thanks to the blessed Jesus! I feel it in my poor old +heart to forgive 'em. I've been member of a Methodist +church these thirty years, an' I've heard many preachers, +white and black; an' they all tell me Jesus said, Do good +to them that do evil to you, an' pray for them that spite +you. Now I say, Let us love our enemies; let us pray for +'em; an' when our masters flog us, let us sing,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">'You may beat upon my body,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But you cannot harm my soul.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I shall join the forty thousand by and by.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>When the tremulous chant ceased, a loud altercation +arose. Some cried out for the blood of the whites, while +others maintained that the old man's doctrine was right. +Louder and louder grew the sound of their excited voices, +and the disguised slaveholder hid himself away deeper +among the shadows. In the midst of the confusion, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +young man of graceful figure sprang on the stump, and, +throwing off a coarse cotton frock, showed his back and +shoulders deeply gashed by a whip and oozing with blood. +He made no speech, but turned round and round slowly, +while his comrades held up their torches to show his +wounds. He stopped suddenly, and said, with stern +brevity, "Blood for blood."</p> + +<p>"Would you murder 'em all?" inquired a timid voice. +"Dey don't <i>all</i> cruelize us."</p> + +<p>"Dar's Massa Campbell," pleaded another. "He +neber hab his boys flogged. You wouldn't murder <i>him</i>, +would you?"</p> + +<p>"No, no," shouted several voices; "we wouldn't murder +<i>him</i>."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't murder <i>my</i> master," said one of Mr. Duncan's +slaves. "I don't want to work for him for nothin'; +I'se done got tired o' that; but he sha'n't be killed, if I +can help it; for he's a good master."</p> + +<p>"Call him a good master if ye like," said the youth +with the bleeding shoulders. "If the white men don't +cut up the backs that bear their burdens, if they don't +shoot the limbs that make 'em rich, some are fools enough +to call 'em good masters. What right have they to sleep +in soft beds, while we, who do all the work, lie on the +hard floor? Why should I go in coarse rags, to clothe +my master in broadcloth and fine linen, when he knows, +and I know, that we are sons of the same father? Ye +may get on your knees to be flogged, if ye like; but I'm +not the boy to do it." His high, bold forehead and flashing +eye indicated an intellect too active, and a spirit too +fiery, for Slavery. The listeners were spell-bound by his +superior bearing, and for a while he seemed likely to carry +the whole meeting in favor of revenge. But the aged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +black, leaning on his wooden staff, made use of every +pause to repeat the words, "Jesus told us to return good +for evil"; and his gentle counsel found response in many +hearts.</p> + +<p>A short man, with roguish eyes and a laughing mouth, +rose up and looked round him with an expression of +drollery that made everybody begin to feel good-natured. +After rubbing his head a little, he said: "I don't know +how to talk like Bob, 'cause I neber had no chance. But +I'se <i>thought</i> a heap. Many a time I'se axed myself how +de white man always git he foot on de black man. Sometimes +I tink one ting, and sometimes I tink anoder ting; +and dey all git jumbled up in my head, jest like seed in +de cotton. At last I finds out how de white man always +git he foot on de black man." He took from his old torn +hat a bit of crumpled newspaper, and smoothing it out, +pointed at it, while he exclaimed: "<i>Dat's</i> de way dey do +it! Dey got de <i>knowledge</i>; and dey don't let poor nigger +hab de knowledge. May be de British lan', and may +be de British no lan'. But I tell ye, boys, de white man +can't keep he foot on de black man, ef de black man git +de knowledge. I'se gwine to tell ye how I got de knowledge. +I sot my mind on larning to read; but my ole +boss he's de most begrudgfullest massa, an' I knows he +wouldn't let me larn. So when I sees leetle massa wid +he book, I ax him, 'What you call dat?' He tell me +dat's A. So I take ole newspaper, an' ax missis, 'May +I hab dis to rub de boots?' She say yes. Den, when +I find A, I looks at him till I knows him bery well. Den +I ax leetle massa, 'What you call dat?' He say dat's +B. I looks at him till I knows him bery well. Den I +find C A T, an' I ax leetle massa what dat spell; an' he +tell me <i>cat</i>. Den, after a great long time, I read de newspaper.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +An' dar I find out dat de British gwine to lan'. +I tells all de boys; and dey say mus' hab Methodist +meetin'. An' what you tink dis nigger did todder day? +You know Jim, Massa Gubernor's boy? Wal, I wants +mighty bad to tell Jim dat de British gwine to lan'; but +he lib ten mile off, and ole boss nebber let me go. Wal, +Massa Gubernor come to massa's, an' I bring he hoss to +de gate. I makes bow, and says, 'How Jim do, Massa +Gubernor?' He tells me Jim bery well. Den I tells +him Jim and I was leetle boy togeder, an' I wants to sen' +Jim someting. He tells me Jim hab 'nuff ob eberyting. +I says, 'O yes, Massa Gubernor, I knows you good massa, +and Jim hab eberyting he want. But Jim an' I was leetle +boy togeder, and I wants to sen' Jim some backy.' +Massa Gubernor laugh an' say, 'Bery well, Jack.' So +I gibs him de backy in de bery bit ob newspaper dat tell +de British gwine to lan'. I marks it wid brack coal, so +Jim be sure to see it. An' Massa Gubernor hisself carry +it! Massa Gubernor hisself carry it! I has to laugh +ebery time I tinks on't."</p> + +<p>He clapped his hands, shuffled with his feet, and ended +by rolling heels over head, with peals of laughter. The +multitude joined loudly in his merriment, and it took +some time to restore order. There was a good deal of +speaking afterward, and some of it was violent. A large +majority were in favor of being merciful to the masters; +but all, without exception, agreed to join the British if +they landed.</p> + +<p>With thankfulness to Heaven, Mr. Duncan again found +himself in the open field, alone with the stars. Their +glorious beauty seemed to him clothed in new and awful +power. Groups of shrubbery took startling forms, and +the sound of the wind among the trees was like the unsheathing +of swords. He never forgot the lesson of that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +night. In his heart he could not blame his bondmen for +seeking their liberty, and he felt grateful for the merciful +disposition they had manifested toward their oppressors; +for alone that night, in the solemn presence of the stars, +his conscience told him that Slavery <i>was</i> oppression, however +mild the humanity of the master might make it. He +did not emancipate his slaves; for he had not sufficient +courage to come out against the community in which he +lived. He felt it a duty to warn his neighbors of impending +danger; but he could not bring himself to reveal the +secret of the meeting in the swamp, which he knew would +cause the death of many helpless creatures, whose only +crime was that of wishing to be free. After a painful +conflict in his mind, he contented himself with advising +the magistrates not to allow any meetings of the colored +people for religious purposes until the war was over.</p> + +<p>I have called him Mr. Duncan, but I have in fact forgotten +his name. Years after he witnessed the meeting +in the swamp, he gave an account of it to a gentleman +in Boston, and I have stated the substance of it as it was +told to me.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="A_REASONABLE_REQUEST" id="A_REASONABLE_REQUEST"></a>A REASONABLE REQUEST.</h2> + + +<p>We are natives of this country; we ask only to be +treated <i>as well</i> as foreigners. Not a few of our fathers +suffered and bled to purchase its independence; we ask +only to be treated <i>as well</i> as those who fought against it. +We have toiled to cultivate it, and to raise it to its present +prosperous condition; we ask only to share <i>equal</i> +privileges with those who come from distant lands to enjoy +the fruits of our labor.—<span class="smcap">Rev. Peter Williams</span>, +<i>colored Rector of St. Philip's Church, New York</i>, 1835.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_SLAVE_POET" id="THE_SLAVE_POET"></a>THE SLAVE POET.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. James Horton, of Chatham County, +North Carolina, had a slave named George, +who early manifested remarkable intelligence. He labored +with a few other slaves on his master's farm, and +was always honest, faithful, and industrious. He contrived +to learn to read, and every moment that was allowed +him for his own he devoted to reading. He was +especially fond of poetry, which he read and learned by +heart, wherever he could find it. After a time, he began +to compose verses of his own. He did not know how to +write; so when he had arranged his thoughts in rhyme, +he spoke them aloud to others, who wrote them down for +him.</p> + +<p>He was not contented in Slavery, as you will see by +the following verses which he wrote:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Alas! and am I born for this,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To wear this slavish chain?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Deprived of all created bliss,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through hardship, toil, and pain?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"How long have I in bondage lain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And languished to be free!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Alas! and must I still complain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Deprived of liberty?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"O Heaven! and is there no relief<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This side the silent grave,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To soothe the pain, to quell the grief<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And anguish of a slave?<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span><br /> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come, Liberty! thou cheerful sound,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Roll through my ravished ears;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come, let my grief in joys be drowned,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And drive away my fears.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Say unto foul oppression, Cease!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ye tyrants, rage no more;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let the joyful trump of peace<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Now bid the vassal soar.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"O Liberty! thou golden prize,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So often sought by blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We crave thy sacred sun to rise,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The gift of Nature's God.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Bid Slavery hide her haggard face,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And barbarism fly;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I scorn to see the sad disgrace,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In which enslaved I lie.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Dear Liberty! upon thy breast<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I languish to respire;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, like the swan unto her nest,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I'd to thy smiles retire."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>George's poems attracted attention, and several were +published in the newspaper called "The Raleigh Register." +Some of them found their way into the Boston +newspapers, and were thought remarkable productions +for a slave. His master took no interest in any of his +poems, and knew nothing about them, except what he +heard others say. Dr. Caldwell, who was then President +of the University of North Carolina, and several +other gentlemen, became interested for him, and tried to +help him to obtain his freedom. In 1829 a little volume +of his poems, called "The Hope of Liberty," was printed +in Raleigh, by Gales and Son. The pamphlet was sold +to raise money enough for George to buy himself. He +was then thirty-two years old, in the prime of his strength,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +both in mind and body. He was to be sent off to Liberia +as soon as he was purchased; but he had such a passion +for Liberty, that he was willing to follow her to the ends +of the earth; though he would doubtless have preferred +to have been a freeman at home, among old friends and +familiar scenes. He was greatly excited about his prospects, +and eagerly set about learning to write. When he +first heard the news that influential gentlemen were exerting +themselves in his behalf, he wrote:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Twas like the salutation of the dove,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Borne on the zephyr through some lonesome grove,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When spring returns, and winter's chill is past,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And vegetation smiles above the blast.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The silent harp, which on the osiers hung,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Again was tuned, and manumission sung;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Away by hope the clouds of fear were driven,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And music breathed my gratitude to Heaven."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It would have been better for him if his hopes had +not been so highly excited. His poems did not sell for +enough to raise the sum his master demanded for him, +and his friends were not sufficiently benevolent to make +up the deficiency. In 1837, when he was forty years old, +he was still working as a slave at Chapel Hill, the seat +of the University of North Carolina. It was said at that +time that he had ceased to write poetry. I suppose the +poor fellow was discouraged. If he is still alive, he is +sixty-seven years old; and I hope it will comfort his poor, +bruised heart to know that some of his verses are preserved, +and published for the benefit of those who have +been his companions in Slavery, and who, more fortunate +than he was, have become freemen before their strength +has left them.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="RATIE" id="RATIE"></a>RATIE:<br /> + +<small>A TRUE STORY OF A LITTLE HUNCHBACK.</small></h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY MATTIE GRIFFITH.</p> + + +<p>I want to tell you a story of a poor little slave-girl +who lived and died away down South.</p> + +<p>This little girl's name was Rachel, but they used to +call her Ratie. She was a hunchback and a dwarf, with +an ugly black face, coarse and irregular features, but a +low, pleasant voice, and nice manners. Nobody ever +scolded Ratie, for she never deserved it. She always +did her work—the little that was assigned her—with +a cheerful heart and willing hand. This work was +chiefly to gather up little bits of chips in baskets, or collect +shavings from the carpenters' shops, and take them +to the cabins or the great kitchen, where they were used +for kindling fires. She had a sweet, gentle spirit, and a +low, cheery laugh that charmed everybody. Even the +white folks who lived up at the great house loved her, +and somehow felt better when she was near.</p> + +<p>Ratie used to go out into the fields on summer days, +or in the early spring, and pick the first flowers. Later +in the season she caught the butterflies or grasshoppers, +but she never hurt them. She would look at the bright +spangled wings of the butterflies, or the green coats of +the pretty, chirping grasshoppers, with an eye full of admiration; +and she always seemed sorry when she gave +them up. The lambs used to run to her, and eat from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +her hands. If she went into the park, the deer came +to her side lovingly, and the young fawns sported and +played around her. No one harmed Ratie or expected +harm from her.</p> + +<p>Poor little hunchback! Many an idle traveller has +paused in his slow wanderings to listen to her song, as +she sat on the wayside stump, knitting stockings for the +work-people, and singing old snatches of songs, and airs +that bring back to the heart glimpses of the paradise of +our lost childhood! No broad-throated robin ever poured +out a wilder, fuller gush of melody than the songs of this +untaught child!</p> + +<p>Little Ratie's days were passed in the same even routine, +without thought or chance of change. Up at the +house they loved her; and her young mistresses used to +supply her with cast-off ribbons and shawls and fancy +trappings from their own wardrobes, which she prized +very much,—delighting to deck out her odd little person +with these old fineries.</p> + +<p>Once, as she sat singing on an old stile, and knitting +a stocking, a rough sort of gentleman, driving by in his +neat little tilbury, stopped and listened to Ratie's song. +When he looked at the strange child he felt a little +shocked; but he called out in a loud voice, "Halloo, +Dumpey Blackie! here is a fip for your song"; and he +tossed her a small coin. "Take that, and give me +another song."</p> + +<p>The child was pleased with the gift, took it up from +where it had rolled on the ground at her feet, and soon +began another of her wild little ditties. As she sang on, +she forgot the exact words, and put in some of her own, +which harmonized just as well with the air. The stranger +was so much pleased, that he gave her another fip,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +and called for another song, and still another. At length, +he asked the child to whom she belonged. She told him +that she belonged to her old master.</p> + +<p>"And what is your old master's name?" asked the +gentleman.</p> + +<p>Ratie, who had never been two miles beyond the borders +of the plantation, laughed, thinking it a fine joke that +anybody should not know the name of her "old master"; +for, to her, he was the most important personage in the +world. So she only laughed and shook her head derisively +in answer.</p> + +<p>"Will you not tell me his name?" again asked the +stranger.</p> + +<p>But the child smiled still more incredulously; so the +gentleman deemed it best to follow her home, which he +accordingly did, and found that Colonel Williams, a rich +old planter, was the owner of this little melodious blackbird.</p> + +<p>The stranger alighted and asked to see Colonel Williams. +After a little conversation he proposed to buy +Ratie from her master. Colonel Williams had never +thought of selling the little deformity. He kept her on +the place more through charity than aught else. The +extent of her musical genius was unappreciated, and even +unknown to him; but as she was a happy little creature, +much liked by all the family, and was only a trifling expense, +he had never thought of parting with her. Now, +however, when a handsome price was offered, she assumed +something like importance and interest in his eyes. He +called her into the house, and she obeyed with great alacrity, +coming in neatly dressed, with a fresh white apron, +and sundry bits of bright-colored ribbons tied round her +head and neck.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give us one of your best songs, Ratie," said her +master.</p> + +<p>The girl broke out in a wild, warbling strain, clear, +bird-like, and musical, filling the long room with gushes +of melody, until the lofty arches echoed and re-echoed +with the wild notes. When she had finished, the enthusiastic +stranger exclaimed, "That throat is a mint of gold!"</p> + +<p>And so little hunchback Ratie sang song after song, +until she exhausted herself; when her master sent her +off to the slave-quarters, where she continued her ditties +out under the broad, soft light of the low-hanging southern +moon.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen sat up late that night, talking upon different +subjects; but, before they parted, it was arranged +that the stranger should buy Ratie at the high price he +offered.</p> + +<p>The next morning, long before the sun rose, little Ratie +was up, walking through the quarter. She stooped down +to look at every drop of dew that glittered and sparkled +on the green leaves and shrubs; and when the great, +round, golden sun began to creep up the eastern sky, +and set it all ablaze with red and gold and purple clouds, +glorious as the pavilion of the prophet, Ratie's little spirit +danced within her, and broke forth in hymns of music +such as the wise men long ago—eighteen hundred years +past—sang at the foot of a little manger in a stable in +Bethlehem of Judæa.</p> + +<p>The child was too young and ignorant to know the +meaning of the emotions which fluttered and set on fire +her own soul, but she was none the less happy for this +ignorance. God is very good!</p> + +<p>As Ratie wandered on, singing to herself, she grew so +happy that the rush of passionate fervor half frightened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +her. Tears came to her eyes, and choked the song in +her throat. She paused in her walk, and seated herself +on a little rock that lay in one corner of the quarter. As +she sat there alone, she continued to sing and weep; +wherefore she could not tell. By and by the great, rusty +bell of the quarter rang out from its hoarse, iron tongue +the morning summons for the slaves to assemble. Ragged, +tattered, unshorn and unshaven, dirty, ill and angry-looking, +the negroes—men, women, and children, in large +numbers—collected in the quarter-yard, where the overseer, +an ugly, harsh white man, with a pistol in his belt, +knife at his side, and whip in hand, stood to call the roll. +At the mention of each name, a slave came forward, saying +with a bow, "Here I am, massa."</p> + +<p>Ratie, who had no particular work to do, went limping +on past the place of the roll-call, when she saw her master +and the strange gentleman coming toward her. She did +not, however, notice them. They were talking together +quite earnestly, and looking at her. Her master called +out, "Stop, Ratie; come this way."</p> + +<p>She obeyed the order with pleasing readiness.</p> + +<p>"Ratie," said the master, "how do you like this gentleman?"</p> + +<p>The child smiled, but made no answer in words. The +master also smiled as he added: "He thinks that you +sing very prettily, and he has bought you. He will be +very kind and good to you; and as soon as you have had +breakfast, you must get your things ready to go off with +him. Here is a present for you"; and he tossed her a +bright, shining, silver coin.</p> + +<p>The child seized the money, but did not seem to comprehend +her master's words. To be sold to her implied some +sort of disgrace or hardship, which she did not think she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +deserved; besides, she had always lived on the "old plantation." +She knew no other home; she did not want +to leave "the people" of the quarter; nor did she feel +happy in going away from the "white folks," particularly +the "young mistresses," who had always been so kind to +her. She had also some vague yearning of heart to be +close to her mammy's grave, rough as it was; and near +also to Grandpap's cabin, where she roasted apples and +potatoes on winter nights.</p> + +<p>She looked around upon the familiar quarter, the well-known +people, the row of cabins; and strained her gaze +far away to the rolling fields in the distance, where the +negroes, like a swarm of crows, were busy at their morning's +work; and as she gazed, the whole landscape flushed +with the bloom and beauty of the risen sun. Then the +wild, pealing horn called the "sons of toil" from their +morning hour's work to their frugal breakfast.</p> + +<p>Ratie's little heart began to beat in its narrow limits +as the word "sold" wrote itself there, and broke through +her comprehension with all its horrors. She started +quickly after her master, and, with the freedom of +a petted slave, caught hold of the skirt of his coat. +Colonel Williams turned suddenly round; and there, +crouching on the earth at his feet, was the hunchback +child. She held up the money which he had given her, +and, in a sweet, tremulous voice, asked: "Massa, why has +you sold me? I has not behaved bad, as de boys did +dat you sold last year. I doesn't steal nor tell lies. Is +it bekase I'se lazy? I do all de work dey gives me to do. +I'll do more. I'll go into de fields. I'll plant and pick +de cotton. Please don't sell me. I doesn't want to leave +de ole place. Mammy is buried here; so I wants to be +when I dies. I wants allers to live here."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>The stranger and Colonel Williams were much moved. +They did not venture to speak to the child, but tried to +get away from the sound of her plaintive cries.</p> + +<p>When the negroes drew around their morning meal, +and learned that Ratie was sold, they were unhappy, +and refused to eat anything. They looked sorrowfully +at one another, and turned away from their untasted food. +"Poor Ratie!" exclaimed the old negroes, as they shook +their heads in mournful discontent, "we shall not hear +any more her sweet songs in de evenin' time."</p> + +<p>The young mistresses came to Ratie with kind gifts +and kinder words. They told her, with tears in their +eyes, how sorry they were to part with her, how good +they knew she had been, and how much they wished +their papa would allow her to stay. Words and acts +like these softened the blow to the unfortunate child, and +strengthened her for the coming trial. She looked up +smilingly through her tears, as she said to her young +mistresses: "Please not to cry for me. God is good, +and de preacher says he is everywhar; so I shall not +be fur from de ole plantation."</p> + +<p>When she was starting away, each of the negroes +brought her some little gift, such as cotton handkerchiefs, +old ribbon-ends, bright-colored glass beads, or +autumn berries, dried and strung on threads for neck +ornaments. Each of these humble little tokens possessed +an individual interest which touched some spring in Ratie's +little heart. When the hour of separation came, she +had nerved herself to the highest courage of which she +was capable. She took leave of each of the slaves, all +of them calling down the blessings of God upon her life. +An old, lame negro man, whom the slaves addressed as +Grandpap, hobbled from his cabin, on a broken crutch, +to utter his farewell.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good by, Ratie," he began, and his voice choked +with emotion; "good by, little Ratie, and may de good +Lord be wid you. Him dat keres fur de poor, de lowly, +and de despised, up yonder, way fur and high up dere, +is a God dat loves all of his chillens alike. He doesn't +kere fur de color ob de skin or de quality ob de hair. In +his sight, wool is jist as good as de fair, straight hair. +He loves de heart, and looks straight and deep into dat, +and keres fur nothin' else. Never you be afeard, Ratie, +Him'll take kere ob you, an' all sich as you, bekase He +loves dem dat He smites and afflicts. Now, He didn't +break your poor little back for nothin'. Him has Him's +eye upon you. You is a lamb ob de fold, dat de great +Shepherd will go fur and long to look arter. Him holds +you in the holler ob Him's hand, an' He'll keep you dar. +Mind what I tell you. Good by, Ratie. God bless you. +Allers trust Him. 'Member my last words; dat is, Allers +trust Him. Look to Him, and He'll never forget you."</p> + +<p>As he uttered these words, in a slow, oracular manner, +he brushed a tear from his eye with the back of his old, +hard hand, and looking tenderly toward the child, his lips +moved slowly, and the words seemed to melt unheard in +the thin, morning air. He turned from her and hobbled +off in the direction of his cabin.</p> + +<p>The other slaves were more passionately demonstrative +in their farewells; but little Ratie bore up with a +beautiful and proud composure.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The new owner proved very kind to the gentle little +creature; but her heart had received a blow from which +it could not recover.</p> + +<p>The master took her to New Orleans, intending to have +her taught music, that she might make money for him;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +but the poor child pined for "de ole plantation" and +"de ole folks at home,"—the kind people—"my people," +as she fondly called them—with whom she had +been brought up.</p> + +<p>In the great city of New Orleans she was literally +lost. She missed the free country air, the green trees, +the sweet singing-birds, the fields blooming with early +flowers, the meadows and the running brooks. It was +easy to see that the little hunchback was not happy. She +grew thinner and thinner, and her voice lost its flexible +sweetness, its clear and liquid roundness of tone. At +last she fell away to a mere skeleton; then sharp, burning +fever set in, and little Ratie was taken down to her bed. +Day and night, in the delirium of fever, she raved for +"de ole plantation" and her own people.</p> + +<p>The new master promised, when she got better, to take +her back to her old home,—at least for a little while. +But, alas! she never grew any better. She faded slowly +away, until one evening, just at sundown, in the gay city +of New Orleans, little Ratie breathed her last.</p> + +<p>Just before she died, she lifted her head from the pillow, +and, resting on her hand, she pointed eastward, saying: +"Over dar is de ole plantation. Don't you see? +How pretty and nice it looks! Dar is all de peoples +at work. How busy dey is! But I'se not gwine dar. +I doesn't want to, any more. Dere up dar is God's plantation, +and it is betterer far. Dere is no slaves dar, but +all is free and happy,—loving friends; and it is dar dat +I wants to go; and I hopes dat all de plantation folks +will come to me."</p> + +<p>And so little Ratie died.</p> + +<p class="cit"> +<i>From the New York Independent.</i><br /> +</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_KINGDOM_OF_CHRIST" id="THE_KINGDOM_OF_CHRIST"></a>THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY JAMES MONTGOMERY.</p> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hail to the Lord's anointed!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Great David's greater Son!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hail, in the time appointed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His reign on earth begun!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He comes to break oppression,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To set the captive free,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To take away transgression,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And rule in equity.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He comes, with succor speedy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To those who suffer wrong;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To help the poor and needy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And bid the weak be strong;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To give them songs for sighing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Their darkness turned to light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whose souls, condemned and dying,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Were precious in his sight.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To him shall prayer unceasing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And daily vows ascend;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His kingdom still increasing,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A kingdom without end.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tide of time shall never<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His covenant remove;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His name shall stand forever,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That name to us is Love.<br /></span> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p></div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_BEGINNING_AND_PROGRESS_OF_EMANCIPATION" id="THE_BEGINNING_AND_PROGRESS_OF_EMANCIPATION"></a>THE BEGINNING AND PROGRESS OF EMANCIPATION +IN THE BRITISH WEST INDIES.</h2> + + +<p>Nothing has ever been done in this world more +wicked and cruel than the slave-trade on the +coast of Africa. But the temptation to carry it on was +very great; for hundreds of men and women could be +bought for a cask of poor rum or a peck of cheap beads, +and could be sold in the markets of America or the West +Indies for thousands of dollars. A hundred years ago +men were not at all ashamed of growing rich in this bad +way. They were respected in society as much as other +men. They were often members of churches and professed +to be very pious. Perhaps they deceived themselves, +as well as others, and really thought they were +pious, because they observed all the ritual forms of religion. +But, above all their prayers, God heard the +groans and the cries of the poor tortured Africans. He +put it into the heart of a young Englishman, named +Thomas Clarkson, to inquire into the wicked business, +that was going on under the sanction of the government, +and unreproved by the Church. In the course of his +investigations, this young man discovered that the most +shocking cruelties were habitually practised. He found +that poor creatures stolen from their homes were packed +close, like bales of goods, in the dark holds of ships, +where they were half choked by bad odors from accumulated +filth, and where they could hardly breathe for +want of air. The food allotted them was merely enough +to keep them alive. Many died of grief and despair,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +and still more of burning fevers and other diseases. Living +and dead often remained huddled together for hours, +and when the corpses were removed they were thrown +out to the sharks. But the sea-captains engaged in this +horrid traffic were selfish as well as cruel. They did not +like to have their victims die, because every one they +lost on the passage diminished the dollars they expected +to get by selling them. So at times they brought the +poor half-dead wretches on deck and drove them round +with a whip for exercise, and insulted their misery by +compelling them to dance, and sing the songs they had +sung in their native land.</p> + +<p>Thomas Clarkson called public attention to the subject +by publishing these things in a pamphlet. More than +thirty years before, the humane sect called Quakers had +forbidden any of its members to be connected with the +slave-trade. But though the abominable traffic had +been carried on more than two hundred and fifty years +by various nations calling themselves Christian, there +had been no attempt to excite general attention to the +subject till Clarkson published his pamphlet in 1786, +seventy-nine years ago. He became so much interested +in the question that he gave up all other pursuits in life, +and wrote, and lectured, and talked about it incessantly. +The assembled representatives of the people which we +call a Congress, is called a Parliament in Great Britain.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> +He tried to bring the subject before that body, and succeeded +in gaining the attention of some members, among +whom the most conspicuous was the benevolent William +Wilberforce. He soon joined Mr. Clarkson in the formation +of a Society for the Abolition of the Slave-trade. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>This of course gave great offence to the sea-captains and +merchants engaged in the profitable traffic. Clarkson +met with all manner of insult and abuse, and his life was +sometimes in danger. The British government did as +governments are apt to do,—it sided with the rich and +powerful as long as it was politic to do so. But, though +many of the aristocracy were haughty and selfish, the +generality of the common people were ready to sympathize +with the poor and the oppressed. When they +became aware of the outrages committed in the slave-trade, +they determined that a stop should be put to it. +They wrote, and talked, and petitioned Parliament, till +the government was compelled to pay some attention to +their demands. When the friends of the infernal traffic +found that a resolution to abolish it was likely to be +passed, they contrived to get the word "gradual" inserted +into the resolution, and thus defeated the will of the people; +for the gradual abolition of crime is no abolition at +all. It was as absurd as it would have been for them to +say they would abolish murder gradually. But though +the law was insufficient to accomplish the desired purpose, +public opinion against the trade exerted an increasing +influence. The friends of those who were engaged +in it began to apologize for it as a necessary branch of +trade, and pleaded that laborers could not be supplied in +the hot climate of the West Indies in any other way. +They were even shameless enough to defend it and praise +it as a benevolent scheme to bring savages away from +heathen Africa and make good Christians of them. Mr. +Boswell, a well-known English writer of that period, +went so far as to pronounce it "a trade which God had +sanctioned"; and he declared that "to abolish it would +be to shut the gates of mercy on mankind." Such pretences<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +deceived some. But the English people have a +great deal of good common sense; and it was not easy +to convince them that stealing men, women, and children +from their homes, torturing them on the ocean, and selling +them in strange lands, to be whipped to incessant toil +without wages, was a pious missionary enterprise.</p> + +<p>Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others continued their unremitting +labors to suppress the unrighteous traffic; the +kindly sect of Quakers everywhere assisted them; and +benevolent people in other sects became more and more +convinced that it was their duty to do the same. All +manner of obstacles were put in the way of the desired +reformation; but at last, after twenty-two years of violent +agitation, the slave-trade was entirely abolished by Great +Britain, at the commencement of the year 1808. Sixteen +years later, it was decreed by law that any British +subject caught in the traffic should be punished as a +pirate.</p> + +<p>The king, George the Third, was opposed to the abolition, +and so were all the royal family, except the Duke +of Gloucester. The nobility and wealthy people, with +a few honorable exceptions, took the same side. The +measure was carried by the good sense and good feeling +of the common people of Great Britain.</p> + +<p>There were no slaves in Great Britain. It had been +decided by law that any slave who landed in that country +became free the moment he touched the shore. But +many of the West India islands, lying between North +and South America, were under the British government, +and the laborers there were held in Slavery. The English +people knew very little what was going on in those +distant colonies. When West India planters visited their +relatives and friends in Great Britain, they made out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +a very fair story for themselves. They said none but +negroes could work in such a hot climate, that sugar +must be made, and negroes would not work unless they +were slaves. They represented themselves as very kind +masters, and described their bondmen as a very contented +and merry class of laborers. These planters were generally +dashing men, who spent freely the money they did +not earn; and their fine manners and smooth talk gave +the impression that they must be <i>gentle</i> men.</p> + +<p>People were slow to believe the accounts of cruelties +practised in the West Indies by these polished gentlemen. +But more and more facts were brought to light to +prove that there was little to choose between the slave-trade +and the system of Slavery. When the honest +masses of the British people became convinced that the +slaves in the West Indies were entirely subject to the +will of their masters, however licentious that will might +be, and that they were kept in such brutal ignorance they +could not read the Bible, they said at once that such a +system ought to be abolished. They sent missionaries to +the West Indies to teach the negroes. The planters considered +this an impertinent interference with their affairs. +They said if slaves were instructed they would rise in +rebellion against their masters. The English people replied +that it must be a very bad system which made it +dangerous for human beings to read the Bible. The +more closely they inquired into the subject, the more their +indignation was roused. Brown faces and yellow faces +among the slaves told a shameful story of licentious masters, +while the chains and whips and other instruments +of torture found on every plantation proved that severe +treatment was universal. Again the honest masses of +the English people rose up in their moral majesty and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +said that wrong should be righted. The government +was unfavorable to the abolition of Slavery, and the aristocracy, +with a few honorable exceptions, sympathized +with the slaveholders. The West-Indian planters were +boiling over with rage. They pulled down the chapels +where the negroes met together to hear the words of +Jesus; they mobbed the missionaries, they thrust them +into dungeons, and two or three of them were killed. +Some of the planters thought Slavery was a bad system, +but they had to be very cautious in expressing such an +opinion; for if they were even suspected of favoring +abolition, their neighbors were sure to make them suffer +for it in some way. Even women seemed to be filled +with the spirit of Furies, whenever the subject of Slavery +was mentioned. One of them said, if she could get hold +of Mr. Wilberforce she would tear his heart out. Everywhere +one heard mournful predictions of the ruin and +desolation that would follow emancipation. They insisted +that negroes would not work unless they were slaves, and +of course no crops could be raised; and what was still +more to be dreaded, they would murder all the whites +and set fire to the towns. Sometimes they would present +the subject from a benevolent point of view, and +urge that it would be the greatest unkindness to the negroes +to give them freedom; for when they had no kind +masters to take care of them they would certainly starve.</p> + +<p>The slaves of course found out that something in their +favor was going on in England. They watched eagerly +for the arrival of vessels; they took notice of everything +that was said; if they could get hold of a scrap of newspaper +they hid it away, and those who could read would +read it privately to the others. If their masters were +unusually cross, or swore more than common, they would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +wink at each other and say, "There's good news for us +from England."</p> + +<p>The masters, on their part, watched the slaves closely. +If they were more silent than common, or if they appeared +to be in better spirits than common, they suspected +them of plotting insurrections. But the negroes +did more wisely than that. They believed that good +people in England were working for them, and they tried +to be patient till they were emancipated by law. There +was but one exception to this. The planters in Jamaica +were more bitter and furious than in the other islands. +They formed societies to uphold Slavery, and made flaming +speeches against the people and Parliament of Great +Britain for "setting the slaves loose upon them," as they +called it. They did not reflect that their colored servants, +as they passed in and out, heard this violent language +and had sense enough to draw conclusions from it. +But they did draw from it a conclusion very dangerous +to their masters. They had heard talk of emancipation +for several years, and it seemed to them that the promised +freedom was a long time coming. In 1832, the +speeches of the planters were so furious against the +doings in Parliament, that the slaves received the idea +that the British government had already passed laws for +their freedom, and that their masters were cheating them +out of the legal rights that had been granted them. It +was a sad mistake for the poor fellows, and brought a +great deal of suffering upon themselves and others. +They rose in insurrection, and it is said destroyed property +to the amount of six millions of dollars. But instead +of being protected by the British government, as +they had expected, soldiers were sent over to put down +the insurrection, and many of the negroes were shot and +hung.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile their friends in England were working for +them zealously. They published pamphlets and papers +and made speeches, and urgently petitioned Parliament +to "let the people go." One petition alone was signed +by eight hundred thousand women. One of the members, +pointing to the enormous roll, said: "There is no use in +trying longer to resist the will of the people. When all +the women in Great Britain are knocking at the doors +of Parliament, something must be done."</p> + +<p>The government and the aristocracy were very reluctant +to comply with the demand of the people. But at +last, after eleven years of more violent struggle than it +had taken to suppress the African slave-trade, Slavery +itself was abolished in the British West Indies forever. +The decree was to go into effect on the 1st day of August, +1834. Up to the very last day, the planters persisted +in saying that the measure would ruin the islands. +They said the emancipated slaves would do no work, +but would go round in large gangs, robbing, stealing, +murdering the whites, burning the houses, and destroying +the fields of sugar-cane. If the negroes had been revengeful, +they might have done a great deal of mischief; for +there were five times as many colored people in the islands +as there were whites. But they were so thankful to get +their freedom at last, that there was no room in their +hearts for bad feelings. The tears were in their eyes +as they told each other the good news, and said, "Bress +de Lord and de good English people."</p> + +<p>But many of the masters really believed their own +alarming prophesies. When they found that emancipation +could not be prevented, numbers left the islands. +Some of those who remained did not dare to undress +and go to bed on the night of the 31st of July; and those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +who tried to sleep were generally restless and easily +startled.</p> + +<p>But while masters and mistresses were dreading to +hear screams and alarms of fire, their emancipated slaves +were flocking to the churches to offer up prayers and +hymns of thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>In the island of Antigua there were thirty thousand +slaves when the midnight clock began to strive twelve, +on the 31st of July, 1834; and when it had done striking +they were all free men and free women. It was a +glorious moment, never to be forgotten by them during +the remainder of their lives. The Wesleyan Methodists +kept watch-night in all their chapels. One of the +missionaries who exhorted the emancipated people and +prayed with them thus described the solemn scene:—</p> + +<p>"The spacious house was filled with the candidates for +liberty. All was animation and eagerness. A mighty +chorus of voices swelled the song of expectation and joy; +and as they united in prayer, the voice of the leader was +drowned in the universal acclamations of thanksgiving +and praise and blessing and honor and glory to God, +who had come down for their deliverance. In such exercises +the evening was spent, until the hour of twelve +approached. The missionary then proposed that when +the cathedral clock should begin to strike, the whole +congregation should fall on their knees, and receive the +boon of freedom in silence. Accordingly, as the loud +bell tolled its first note, the crowded assembly prostrated +themselves. All was silence, save the quivering, half-stifled +breath of the struggling spirit. Slowly the tones +of the clock fell upon the waiting multitude. Peal on +peal, peal on peal, rolled over the prostrate throng, +like angels' voices, thrilling their weary heartstrings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +Scarcely had the <i>last</i> tone sounded, when lightning +flashed vividly, and a loud peal of thunder rolled +through the sky. It was God's pillar of fire. His +trump of jubilee. It was followed by a moment of profound +silence. Then came the outburst. They shouted +'Glory! Hallelujah!' They clapped their hands, they +leaped up, they fell down, they clasped each other in +their free arms, they cried, they laughed, they went to +and fro, throwing upward their unfettered hands. High +above all, a mighty sound ever and anon swelled up. It +was the utterance of gratitude to God.</p> + +<p>"After this gush of excitement had spent itself, the +congregation became calm, and religious exercises were +resumed. The remainder of the night was spent in singing +and prayer, in reading the Bible, and in addresses +from the missionaries, explaining the nature of the freedom +just received, and exhorting the people to be industrious, +steady, and obedient to the laws, and to show themselves +in all things worthy of the high boon God had conferred +upon them.</p> + +<p>"The 1st of August came on Friday; and a release +from all work was proclaimed until the next Monday. +The great mass of the negroes spent the day chiefly in +the churches and chapels. The clergy and missionaries +throughout the island actively seized the opportunity to +enlighten the people on all the duties and responsibilities +of their new relation. The day was like a Sabbath. A +Sabbath, indeed, when 'the wicked ceased from troubling +and the weary were at rest.'</p> + +<p>"The most kindly of the planters went to the chapels +where their own people were assembled, and shook hands +with them, and exchanged hearty good wishes.</p> + +<p>"At Grace Hill, a Moravian missionary station, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +emancipated negroes begged to have a sunrise meeting +on the 1st of August, as they had been accustomed to +have at Easter; and as it was the Easter morning of their +freedom, the request was granted. The people all dressed +in white, and walked arm in arm to the chapel. There a +hymn of thanksgiving was sung by the whole congregation +kneeling. The singing was frequently interrupted by the +tears and sobs of the melted people, until finally they +were overwhelmed by a tumult of emotion.</p> + +<p>"There was not a single dance by night or day; not +even so much as a fiddle played. There were no drunken +carousals, no riotous assemblies. The emancipated were +as far from dissipation and debauchery as they were from +violence and carnage. Gratitude was the absorbing emotion. +From the hill-tops and the valleys the cry of a +disenthralled people went upward, like the sound of many +waters: 'Glory to God! Glory to God!'"</p> + +<p>Mr. Bleby, one of the Methodist missionaries in Jamaica, +thus describes the same night in that island:—</p> + +<p>"The church where the emancipated people assembled, +at ten o'clock at night, was very large; but the aisles, the +gallery stairs, the communion-place, the pulpit stairs, were +all crowded; and there were thousands of people round +the building, at every open door and window, looking in. +We thought it right and proper that our Christian people +should receive their freedom as a boon from God, in +the house of prayer; and we gathered them together in +the church for a midnight service. Our mouths had +been closed about Slavery up to that time. We could +not quote a passage that had reference even to <i>spiritual</i> +emancipation, without endangering our lives. The +planters had a law of 'constructive treason,' that doomed +any man to death who made use of language tending to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +excite a desire for liberty among the slaves; and they +found treason in the Bible and sedition in the hymns of +Watts and Wesley, and we had to be very careful how +we used them. You may imagine with what feelings I +saw myself emancipated from this thraldom, and free to +proclaim 'liberty to the captive, and the opening of prison +doors to them that were bound.' I took for my text, +'Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the +inhabitants thereof. It shall be a jubilee unto you.'</p> + +<p>"A few minutes before midnight, I requested all the +people to kneel down in silent prayer to God, as befitting +the solemnity of the hour. I looked down upon them as +they knelt. The silence was broken only by sobs of +emotion, which it was impossible to repress. The clock +began to strike. It was the knell of Slavery in all the +British possessions! It proclaimed liberty to eight hundred +thousand human beings! When I told them they +might rise, what an outburst of joy there was among that +mass of people! The clock had ceased to strike, and +they were slaves no longer! Mothers were hugging +their babes to their bosoms, old white-headed men embracing +their children and husbands clasping their wives +in their arms. By and by all was still again, and I gave +out a hymn. You may imagine the feelings with which +these people, just emerging into freedom, shouted</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Send the glad tidings o'er the sea!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His chains are broke, the slave is free!'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But though the dreaded 1st of August passed away +so peacefully and pleasantly, the planters could not get +rid of the idea that their laborers would not work after +they were free. Mr. Daniell, who managed several +estates in Antigua, talking of the subject, two years after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>ward, +with an American gentleman from Kentucky, said: +"I expected some irregularities would follow such a prodigious +change in the condition of the negroes. I supposed +there would be some relaxation from labor during +the week that followed emancipation; but on Monday +morning, I found all my hands in the field, not one missing. +The same day I received a message from another +estate, of which I was proprietor, that the negroes, to a +man, had refused to go into the field. I immediately +rode to the estate, and found the laborers, with hoes in +their hands, doing nothing. Accosting them in a friendly +manner, I inquired, 'What is the meaning of this? How +is it that you are not at work this morning?' They +immediately replied, 'It's not because we don't want to +work, massa; but we wanted to see you, first and foremost, +to know what the <i>bargain</i> would be.' As soon as +that matter was settled, the whole body of negroes turned +out cheerfully." Another manager declared that the +largest gang he had ever seen in the field, on his property, +turned out the week after emancipation. And +such in fact was the universal testimony of the managers +throughout Antigua.</p> + +<p>In the days of Slavery, it had always been customary +to order out the militia during the Christmas holidays, +when the negroes were in the habit of congregating in +large numbers, to enjoy the festivities of the season. But +the December after emancipation, the Governor issued +a proclamation, that, "<i>in consequence of the abolition of +Slavery</i>," there was no further need of taking that precaution. +And it is a fact that there have been no soldiers +out at Christmas from that day to this.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately the British government had been so far +influenced by the representations of the planters, that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +plan of emancipation they adopted was a gradual one. +All children under six years old were unconditionally +free, the magistrates alone had power to punish, and no +human being could be sold. But the slaves, under the +new name of apprentices, were obliged to work for their +masters six years longer without wages, except one day +and a half in the week, which the law decreed should be +their own. The number of hours they were to work +each day was also stipulated by law. This was certainly +a great improvement in their condition; but it was not +all they had expected. They were peaceable, and worked +more cheerfully than they had done while they were +slaves; for now a definite date was fixed when they +should own all their time, and they knew that every +week brought them nearer to it. Still they felt that +entire justice had not been done to them. Sometimes +white men asked them if they would work when they +were entirely free. They answered, "In Slavery time +we work; now we work better; den how you tink we +work when we <i>free</i>, when we get <i>paid</i> for work!" Sometimes +people said to them, "I suppose you expect to do +just as you please when you are your own masters?" +They replied: "We 'spect to 'bey de law. In oder +countries where dey is all free dey hab de law. We +couldn't get along widout de law. In Slavery time, +massa would sometimes slash we when we do as well as +we could; but de law don't do harm to anybody dat +behaves himself. 'Prenticeship is bad enough; but we +know de law make it so, and for peace' sake we will be +satisfy. But we murmur in we minds."</p> + +<p>In the island of Antigua, planters rejected the plan of +apprenticeship. They said, "If the negroes <i>must</i> be free, +let them be free at once, without any more fuss and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +trouble." The result proved that they judged wisely for +their own interest, as well as for the comfort and encouragement +of their laborers. When the negroes found +that they were paid for every day's work, they put their +whole hearts into it. So zealous were they to earn +wages, that they sometimes worked by moonlight, or by +the light of fires kindled among the dry cane-stalks. In +all respects, the change from the old order of things to +the new went on more smoothly in Antigua than it did +anywhere else.</p> + +<p>In the islands where apprenticeship was tried, the +irritability of the masters made it work worse than it +would otherwise have done. All that most of them +seemed to care for was to get as much work out of their +servants as they could, during the six years that they +were to work without wages, and it vexed them that they +could not use the lash whenever they pleased. They +took away various little privileges which they had been +accustomed to grant; while during four days and a half +of the week the apprentices received no wages to compensate +them for the loss of those privileges. Being +deprived of the power to sell the children, they refused +to supply them with any food. In fact, they contrived +every way to make the colored people think they had +better have remained slaves. But if they called out, +"Work faster, you black rascal, or I'll flog you!" the +apprentices would sometimes lose patience, and answer, +"You can't flog we now." That would make the master +very angry, and he would send the apprentice to a magistrate +to be punished for impudence. The magistrates +were the associates of the planters; they ate their good +dinners, and rode about in their carriages. Consequently, +they were more inclined to believe them than they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +to believe their servants. The laborers became so well +aware of this, that they were accustomed to say to each +other, "It's of no use for us to apply to the magistrates. +They are so poisoned by massa's turtle-soup." It has +been computed by missionaries that, in the course of two +years, sixty thousand apprentices received, among them +all, two hundred and fifty thousand lashes, besides fifty +thousand other legalized punishments, such as the tread-mill +and the chain-gang.</p> + +<p>The planters were full of complaints to travellers who +visited the West Indies. If they were asked, "Why +don't you emancipate your laborers entirely, and give +them wages, as they do in Antigua,—they have no such +troubles there?" the prejudiced men would shake their +heads and answer: "Negroes will not work without being +flogged. We must get what we can out of them before +1840; for when they are their own masters they will +rob, murder, or starve, rather than labor."</p> + +<p>Planters who manifested a more kind and considerate +disposition had pleasanter relations with their servants, +and they never found any difficulty in procuring as much +labor as they wanted. Some made it easy for their +apprentices to buy the remainder of their time; and it +was soon observed that those who owned all their time +worked faster and better than those who were without +that stimulus. The idea gained ground that unconditional +emancipation would be better both for masters and +servants. The Marquis of Sligo, the humane Governor +of Jamaica, set a good example by emancipating all his +apprentices. People in England began to petition Parliament +to abolish the apprenticeship, on the ground that +it proved unsatisfactory and troublesome to all parties. +The result was that all the apprentices in the British<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +West Indies were made entirely free on the 1st of August, +1838. Mr. Phillippo, a Baptist missionary in Jamaica, +thus describes the observance of the day in that +island: "On the preceding evening, the missionary stations +throughout the island were crowded with people, +filling all the places of worship. They remained at their +devotions till the day of liberty dawned, when they +saluted it with joyous acclamations. Then they dispersed +through the towns and villages, singing 'God save +the queen,' and rending the air with their shouts,—'Freedom's +come!' 'We're free! we're free!' 'Our +wives and children are free!' During the day, the +places of worship were crowded to suffocation. The +scenes presented exceeded all description. Joyous excitement +pervaded the whole island. At Spanish Town, +the Governor, Sir Lionel Smith, addressed the emancipated +people, who formed a procession of seven thousand, +and escorted the children of the schools, about two thousand +in number, to the Government House. They bore +banners and flags with various inscriptions, of which the +following are samples: 'Education, Religion, and Social +Order'; 'August First, 1838,—the Day of our Freedom'; +'Truth and Justice have at last prevailed.' The +children sang before the Government House, and his +Excellency made a speech characterized by simplicity +and kindness, which was received with enthusiastic cheers. +The procession then escorted their pastor to his house. +In front of the Baptist Chapel were three triumphal +arches, decorated with leaves and flowers, and surmounted +by flags bearing the inscriptions, 'Freedom has come!' +'Slavery is no more!' 'The chains are broken, Africa +is free!' There were many flags bearing the names of +their English benefactors,—Clarkson, Wilberforce, Sligo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +Thompson, etc. When these were unfurled, the enthusiasm +of the multitude rose to the highest pitch. For +nearly an hour the air rang with exulting shouts, in +which the shrill voices of two thousand children joined, +singing, 'We're free! we're free!' Several of the +kindly disposed planters gave rural <i>fêtes</i> to the laborers. +Long tables were spread in the lawns, arches of evergreens +were festooned with flowers, and on the trees +floated banners bearing the names of those who had been +most conspicuous in bringing about this blessed result. +Songs were sung, speeches made, prayers offered, and a +plentiful repast eaten." Mr. Phillippo says: "The conduct +of the newly emancipated peasantry would have +done credit to Christians of the most civilized country in +the world. They were clean in their persons, and neat +in their attire. Their behavior was modest, unassuming, +and decorous in a high degree. There was no crowding, +no vulgar familiarity, but all were courteous and obliging +to each other, as members of one harmonious family. +There was no dancing, gambling, or carousing. All +seemed to have a sense of the obligations they owed +to their masters, to each other, and to the civil authorities. +The masters who were present at these <i>fêtes</i> congratulated +their former dependents on the boon they had +received, and hopes were mutually expressed that all past +differences and wrongs might be forgiven."</p> + +<p>On some of the estates where these festivals were held +the laborers, with few individual exceptions, went to work +as usual on the following day. <i>Many of them gave their +first week of free labor as an offering of good-will to +their masters.</i> Thus the period from which many of the +planters had apprehended the worst consequences passed +away in peace and harmony.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is now twenty-seven years since the laborers in the +British West Indies have been made entirely free; and +the missionaries, the magistrates, and even the masters +agree that the laborers are much more faithful and industrious +under the new system than they were under the +iron rule of Slavery. It is true, some of the old planters +growled as long as they lived. They had always +predicted that freedom would bring ruin on all classes, +and it vexed them to see the negroes behaving so well. +They, however, made the most of the fact that there was +less sugar made than in former years. It was their own +fault. The emancipated slaves wanted to stay and work +on the plantations where they had always lived. But the +masters could not give up their old habits of meanness +and tyranny. Their laborers could scarcely support life +with the very small wages they received; and yet they +took from them the little patches of provision-ground +which they had formerly had, and charged them enormously +high rent for their miserable little huts. It +seemed as if they wanted to drive them to robbery, that +they might say, "We told you it would be so, if you set +them free."</p> + +<p>But the freedmen disappointed them. Under all discouragements, +they persisted in behaving well. When +they found that they could not get a living on the old +plantations where they wanted to stay, they went to work +on railroads, and wherever they could find employment. +They laid up as much as they could of their wages, and +bought bits of land, on which they built comfortable cabins +for themselves, and laid out little gardens. Their wives +and children raised poultry and tended a cow, and carried +vegetables and butter and eggs to market, in baskets +poised on their heads. With the money thus earned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +they bought more land and added to their little stock +of furniture. Though the men received only from eighteen +to twenty-four cents a day, out of which they boarded +themselves, they were so industrious and saving that in +four years the freedmen in Jamaica alone had bought and +paid for one hundred thousand acres of land, and put up +dwellings thereon. Mr. Phillippo states, that during that +time as many as two hundred new villages of freedmen +were formed. These villages generally received the +names of benefactors, such as Clarkson, Wilberforce, +Thompson, &c. To their own little homes they also +gave names indicative of their gratitude and contentment. +They called them "Save Rent," "A Little of +My Own," "Heart's Love," "Liberty and Content," +"Happy Retreat," "Jane's Delight," "Thank God to +see It," &c.</p> + +<p>Mr. Phillippo says:—</p> + +<p>"These free villages are regularly laid out. The +houses are small, many of them built of stone or wood, +with shingled roofs, green blinds, and verandahs, to shield +them from the sun. Most of them are neatly thatched, +and generally plastered and whitewashed both outside +and in. They now have looking-glasses, chairs, and side-boards +decorated with pretty articles of glass and crockery. +Each dwelling has its little plot of vegetables, +generally neatly kept; and many of them have flower-gardens +in front, glowing with all the bright hues of the +tropics. The groups often presented are worthy of the +painter's pencil or the poet's song. Amid the stillness +of a Sabbath evening, many families, after their return +from the house of God, may be seen gathered together in +the shadow of the trees, which overhang their cottages, +singing hymns, or listening to the reading of the Scriptures, +with none to molest or make them afraid."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Charles Tappan of Boston, who visited Jamaica +several years after emancipation, writes:—</p> + +<p>"On landing at Kingston, I must confess I was half +inclined to believe the story so industriously circulated, +that the emancipated slave is more idle and vicious than +any other of God's intelligent creatures; but when I rode +through the valleys and over the mountains, and found +everywhere an industrious, sober people, I concluded all +the vagabonds of the island had moved to the sea-shore, +to pick up a precarious living by carrying baggage, begging, +&c.; and such, upon inquiry, I found to be the fact. +Wherever I went in the rural districts, I found contented +men and women, cultivating sugar-cane, and numerous +vegetables and fruits, on their own account. Their neat, +well-furnished cottages compared well with the dwellings +of pioneers in our own country. I found in them mahogany +furniture, crockery and glass ware, and shelves +of useful books. I saw Africans, of unmixed blood, +grinding their own sugar-cane in their own mills, and +making their own sugar.</p> + +<p>"I attended a large meeting called to decide the question +about inviting a schoolmaster to settle among them. +There was only one man who doubted the expediency of +taking the children from work and sending them to school. +One said, 'My little learning enabled me to see that a +note, given to me in payment for a horse was not written +according to contract.' Another said, 'I should have +been wronged out of forty pounds of coffee I sold in +Kingston the other day, if I hadn't known how to cipher.' +Another said, 'I shall not have much property +to leave my children; but if they have learning they can +get property.' Another said, 'Those that can read will +be more likely to get religion.' All these people had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +been slaves, or were the children of slaves. I saw no +intoxicated person in Jamaica; and when it is considered +that every man there can make rum, it strikes me as very +remarkable."</p> + +<p>One of the most striking characteristics of this colored +peasantry is their desire to obtain education for themselves +and their children. After a hard day's work, +women would often walk miles, with babies in their +arms, to learn the alphabet. With the first money they +can spare they build school-houses and chapels and hire +teachers. They also form charitable societies and contribute +money to help the aged and sick among them. +In the days of Slavery they herded together like animals; +but now it is considered disreputable and wrong +to live together without being married. In the days of +Slavery they wore ragged and filthy garments, but freedom +has made them desirous of making a neat appearance. +Their working-clothes are generally well mended +and clean, and they keep a pretty suit to attend meeting +and other festival occasions. They are very careful of +their best clothes. When they go to dances, or social +gatherings, they carry them in a basket, nicely folded +and covered up, and put them on when they arrive; and +when they are about to return home they again pack +them up carefully. When they have far to walk to +meeting, over rough and dusty roads, they carry their +shoes and stockings till they come in sight of the +church.</p> + +<p>This is not at all like what the old planters prophesied, +when they said that if the negroes were freed they would +skulk in the woods and steal yams to keep them from +starving. But all that silly talk has passed away. Everybody +in the British West Indies acknowledges that emancipation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +has proved a blessing both to the white and the +black population. There is not a planter to be found +there who would restore Slavery again, if his own wish +could do it.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_LAST_NIGHT_OF_SLAVERY" id="THE_LAST_NIGHT_OF_SLAVERY"></a>THE LAST NIGHT OF SLAVERY.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY JAMES MONTGOMERY.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Let the floods clap their hands!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Let the mountains rejoice!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Let all the glad lands<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Breathe a jubilant voice!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sun, that now sets on the waves of the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall gild with his rising the land of the free!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Let the islands be glad!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For their King in his might,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who his glory hath clad<br /></span> +<span class="i4">With a garment of light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the waters the beams of his chambers hath laid,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in the green waters his pathway hath made.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Dispel the blue haze,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Golden Fountain of Morn!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With meridian blaze<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The wide ocean adorn!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sunlight has touched the glad waves of the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And day now illumines the land of the <span class="smcap">Free!</span></span> +</div></div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="MADISON_WASHINGTON" id="MADISON_WASHINGTON"></a>MADISON WASHINGTON.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>This man was a slave, born in Virginia. His lot +was more tolerable than that of many who are +doomed to bondage; but from his early youth he always +longed to be free. Nature had in fact made him too +intelligent and energetic to be contented in Slavery. +Perhaps he would have attempted to escape sooner +than he did, had he not become in love with a beautiful +octoroon slave named Susan. She was the daughter of +her master, and the blood of the white race predominated +in several of her ancestors. Her eyes were blue, +and her glossy dark hair fell in soft, silky ringlets. Her +lover was an unmixed black, and he also was handsome. +His features were well formed, and his large dark eyes +were very bright and expressive. He had a manly air, +his motions were easy and dignified, and altogether he +looked like a being that would never consent to wear a +chain.</p> + +<p>If he had hated Slavery before, he naturally hated it +worse after he had married Susan; for a handsome +woman, who is a slave, is constantly liable to insult and +wrong, from which an enslaved husband has no power to +protect her. They laid plans to escape; but unfortunately +their intention was discovered before they could +carry it into effect. To avoid being sold to the far +South, where he could have no hopes of ever rejoining +his beloved Susan, he ran to the woods, where he remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +concealed several months, suffering much from +privation and anxiety. His wife knew where he was, +and succeeded in conveying some messages to him, without +being detected. She persuaded him not to wait for a +chance to take her with him, but to go to Canada and +earn money enough to buy her freedom, and then she +would go to him.</p> + +<p>He travelled only in the night, and by careful management, +after a good deal of hardship, he reached the +Northern States, and passed into Canada. There he +let himself out to work on the farm of a man named +Dickson. He was so strong, industrious, intelligent, and +well behaved, that the farmer hoped to keep him a long +time in his employ. He never mentioned that he was +born a slave; for the idea was always hateful to him, +and he thought also that circumstances might arise +which would render it prudent to keep his own secret. +He showed little inclination for conversation, and occupied +every leisure moment in learning to read and +write. He remained there half a year, without any +tidings from his wife; for there are many difficulties in +the way of slaves communicating with each other at a +distance. He became sad and restless. His employer +noticed it, and tried to cheer him up. One day he said +to him: "Madison, you seem to be discontented. What +have you to complain of? Do you think you are not +treated well here? Or are you dissatisfied with the +wages I give you?"</p> + +<p>"I have no complaint to make of my treatment, sir," +replied Madison. "You have been just and kind to me; +and since you manifest so much interest in me, I will tell +you what it is that makes me so gloomy."</p> + +<p>He then related his story, and told how his heart was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +homesick for his dear Susan. He said she was so handsome +that they would ask a high price for her, and he +had been calculating that it would take him years to +earn enough to buy her; meanwhile, he knew not what +might happen to her. There was no law to protect a +slave, and he feared all sorts of things; especially, he +was afraid they might sell her to the far South, where +he could never trace her. So he said he had made +up his mind to go back to Virginia and try to bring +her away. Mr. Dickson urged him not to attempt it. +He reminded him of the dangers he would incur: that he +would run a great risk of getting back into Slavery, +and that perhaps he himself would be sold to the far +South, where he never would be able to communicate +with his wife. But Madison replied, "I am well aware +of that, sir; but freedom does me no good unless Susan +can share it with me."</p> + +<p>He accordingly left his safe place of refuge, and started +for Virginia. He had free-papers made out, which he +thought would protect him till he arrived in the neighborhood +where he was known. He also purchased several +small files and saws, which he concealed in the lining +of his clothes. With these tools he thought he could +effect his escape from prison, if he should be taken up on +the suspicion of being a runaway slave. Passing through +the State of Ohio, he met several who had previously +seen him on his way to Canada. They all tried to persuade +him not to go back to Virginia; telling him there +were nine chances out of ten that he would get caught +and carried back into Slavery again. But his answer +always was, "Freedom does me no good while my wife +is a slave."</p> + +<p>When he came to the region where he was known, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +hid in woods and swamps during the day, and travelled +only in the night. At last he came in sight of his master's +farm, and hid himself in the woods near by. There +he remained several days, in a dreadful state of suspense +and anxiety. He could not contrive any means to obtain +information concerning his wife. He was afraid they +might have sold her, for fear she would follow him. He +prowled about in the night, in hopes of seeing some old +acquaintance, who would tell him whether she was still +at the old place; but he saw no one whom he could venture +to trust. At last fortune favored him. One evening +he heard many voices singing, and he knew by their +songs that they were slaves. As they passed up the +road, he came out from the woods and joined them. +There were so many of them that the addition of one +more was not noticed. He found that they were slaves +from several plantations, who had permits from their +masters to go to a corn-shucking. They were merry, for +they were expecting to have a lively time and a comfortable +supper. Being a moonless evening, they could not +see Madison's face, and he was careful not to let them +discover who he was. He went with them to the corn-shucking; +and, keeping himself in the shadow all the +time, he contrived, in the course of conversation, to find +out all he wanted to know. Susan was not sold, and she +was living in the same house where he had left her. He +was hungry, for he had been several days without food, +except such as he could pick up in the woods; but he +did not dare to show his face at the supper, where dozens +would be sure to recognize him. So he skulked away +into the woods again, happy in the consciousness that his +Susan was not far off.</p> + +<p>He resolved to attempt to see her the next night. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +was afraid to tap at her window after all the people in +the Great House were abed and asleep; for, as she supposed +he was in Canada, he thought she might be frightened +and call somebody. He therefore ventured to +approach her room in the evening. Unfortunately, the +overseer saw him, and called a number of whites, who +rushed into the room just as he entered it. He fought +hard, and knocked down three of them in his efforts to +escape. But they struck at him with their bowie-knives +till he was so faint with loss of blood that he could resist +no longer. They chained him and carried him to Richmond, +where he was placed in the jail. His prospects +were now dreary enough. His long-cherished hope of +being reunited to his dear wife vanished away in the +darkness of despair.</p> + +<p>There was a slave-trader in Richmond buying a gang +of slaves for the market of New Orleans. Madison +Washington was sold to him, and carried on board the +brig Creole, owned by Johnson and Eperson, of Richmond, +and commanded by Captain Enson. The brig was +lying at the dock waiting for her cargo, which consisted +of tobacco, hemp, flax, and slaves. There were two +separate cabins for the slaves: one for the men and the +other for the women. Some of the poor creatures belonged +to Johnson and Eperson, some to Thomas McCargo, +and some to Henry Hewell. Each had a little +private history of separation and sorrow. There was +many a bleeding heart there, beside the noble heart that +was throbbing in the bosom of Madison Washington. +His purchasers saw that he was intelligent, and they +knew that he was sold for having escaped to Canada. +He was therefore chained to the floor of the cabin and +closely watched. He seemed quiet and even cheerful,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +and they concluded that he was reconciled to his fate. +On the contrary, he was never further from such a state +of mind. He closely observed the slaves who were in +the cabin with him. His discriminating eye soon selected +those whom he could trust. To them he whispered that +there were more than a hundred slaves on board, and +few whites. He had his saws and files still hidden in +the lining of his clothes. These were busily used to +open their chains, while the captain and crew were asleep. +They still continued to wear their chains, and no one +suspected that they could slip their hands and feet out at +their pleasure.</p> + +<p>When the Creole had been nine days out they encountered +rough weather. Most of the slaves were sea-sick, +and therefore were not watched so closely as usual. On +the night of November 7, 1841, the wind was blowing +hard. The captain and mate were on deck, and nearly +all the crew. Mr. Henry Hewell, one of the owners of +the cargo of slaves, who had formerly been a slave-driver +on a plantation, was seated on the companion, smoking a +cigar. The first watch had just been summoned, when +Madison Washington sprang on deck, followed by eighteen +other slaves. They seized whatever they could find +to use as weapons. Hewell drew a pistol from under his +coat, fired at one of the slaves and killed him. Madison +Washington struck at him with a capstan-bar, and he fell +dead at his feet. The first and second mates both attacked +Madison at once. His strong arms threw them +upon the deck wounded, but not killed. He fought for +freedom, not for revenge; and as soon as they had disarmed +the whites and secured them safely, he called out +to his accomplices not to shed blood. With his own +hands he dressed the wounds of the crew, and told them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +they had nothing to fear if they would obey his orders. +The man who had been a chained slave half an hour +before was now master of the vessel, and his grateful +companions called him Captain Washington. Being ignorant +of navigation, he told Merritt, the first mate, that +he should have the freedom of the deck, if he would take +an oath to carry the brig faithfully into the nearest port +of the British West Indies; and he was afraid to do +otherwise.</p> + +<p>The next morning Captain Washington ordered the +cook to prepare the best breakfast the store-room could +furnish, for it was his intention to give all the freed slaves +a good meal. The women, who had been greatly frightened +by the tumult the night before, were glad enough to +come out of their close cabin into the fresh air. And +who do you think was among them? Susan, the beautiful +young wife of Madison, was there! She had been +accused of communicating with her husband in Canada, +and being therefore considered a dangerous person, she +had been sold to the slave-trader to be carried to the +market of New Orleans. Neither of them knew that +the other was on board. With a cry of surprise and joy +they rushed into each other's arms. The freed slaves +threw up their caps and hurrahed again and again, till the +sea-gulls wondered at the noise. O, it was a joyful, joyful +time! Captain Washington was repaid for all he had +suffered. He had gained his own liberty, after having +struggled for it in vain for years; he had freed a hundred +and thirty-four of his oppressed brethren and sisters; +and he had his beloved Susan in his arms, carrying her +to a land where the laws would protect their domestic +happiness. He felt richer at that moment than any king +with a golden crown upon his head.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>There had been but two lives lost. One white man +was killed in the affray, and he was the slave-driver who +shot down one of the slaves. Captain Enson and others +who were wounded were kindly cared for by Captain +Washington. They proved ungrateful, and tried to regain +possession of the vessel and the slaves. The blacks +were so exasperated by this attempt, that they wanted to +kill all the whites on board. But Captain Washington +called out to them: "We have got our liberty, and that +is all we have been fighting for. Let no more blood be +shed! I have promised to protect these men. They +have shown that they are not worthy of it; but let us be +magnanimous."</p> + +<p>Next morning the Creole arrived at Nassau, in the +island of New Providence. Captain Washington and +his companions sprang out upon free soil. There he and +his beloved Susan are living under the protection of laws +which make no distinctions on account of complexion.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="EXTRACT_FROM_THE_VIRGINIA_BILL_OF_RIGHTS" id="EXTRACT_FROM_THE_VIRGINIA_BILL_OF_RIGHTS"></a>EXTRACT FROM THE VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS.</h2> + + +<p>"The election of members to serve as representatives of the +people in Assembly ought to be free; and all men having sufficient +evidence of permanent common interest with, and attachment +to, the community have the right of suffrage; and +they cannot be taxed, or deprived of their property for public +uses, without their own consent, or that of their representatives +so elected; nor can they be bound by any law to which +they have not assented, in like manner, for the public good."</p> + +<p>The Virginia Bill of Rights was unanimously adopted by +the people, in June, 1776; and when they met, in January, +1830, to amend the constitution of the State, they voted that +the Bill of Rights needed no amendment.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="PRAISE_OF_CREATION" id="PRAISE_OF_CREATION"></a>PRAISE OF CREATION.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY GEORGE HORTON.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Creation fires my tongue!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nature, thy anthems raise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spread the universal song<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of thy Creator's praise.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When each revolving wheel<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Assumed its sphere sublime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Submissive Earth then heard the peal,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And struck the march of time.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The march in heaven begun,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And splendor filled the skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When Wisdom bade the morning sun<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With joy from chaos rise.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The angels heard the tune<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Throughout creation ring;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They seized their golden harps as soon,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And touched on every string.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When time and space were young,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And music rolled along,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The morning stars together sung,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And heaven was drowned in song.<br /></span> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p></div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="FREDERICK_DOUGLASS" id="FREDERICK_DOUGLASS"></a>FREDERICK DOUGLASS.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>Captain Anthony owned two or three farms +on the eastern shore of Maryland, and held about +thirty slaves. One of them, a black woman named Betsy, +married a free black man named Isaac Baily; and they +had a numerous family of children, all of whom were, of +course, slaves to Captain Anthony. When she became +an old widow she lived in a hut separate from the other +slaves, and was principally employed in nursing troops +of babies, which her children brought into the world for +the benefit of their master. Somewhere about the year +1817, Harriet, the youngest of her five daughters, gave +birth to a boy, on whom she bestowed the high-sounding +name of Frederick Augustus Washington Baily. As +she could not be spared from field-work, baby Frederick +joined the band of little slaves that were under his grandmother's +care. Her hut was made of logs, with no windows, +a clay floor, and a mud chimney. But the children +were as well satisfied with it as if it had been a palace. +They were too young to know that they were slaves, and +they were as happy as little wild animals. They imitated +the noises made by cats, dogs, pigs, and barn-yard fowls, +and rolled over and over on the ground, laughing at their +own fun. If the mud or dust made them uncomfortable, +they walked into the river without undressing; for the +short tow shirt, which was their only garment, was washed +by swimming, and soon dried in the sunshine. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +was a wood close by, and it was one of their greatest +pleasures to watch the squirrels as they frisked about, or +sat on the stumps eating nuts. Near the hut was a well, +with its beam placed between the boughs of an old tree, +and so well balanced that the children could easily help +themselves to water. Down in a valley, not far off, was +a water-mill, where people went to get their corn ground. +It was capital sport to play at fishing in the mill-pond, +with thread lines, and hooks made of bent pins; and they +were never tired of seeing the big wheel turn round, +throwing off great drops of water that sparkled in the +sunshine. They lived mostly on corn mush, which they +ate from a big wooden tray, with oyster-shells for spoons. +But they were as healthy as little pigs, and enjoyed their +coarse food as well.</p> + +<p>The greatest of their blessings was their good grandmother, +who nursed them kindly and did all she could +to make them happy. They loved her dearly; and when +she was obliged to leave them for a short time, they +greeted her return with merry shouts. She was advanced +in years, and the hair that peeped from under +the folds of her turban was very gray. But she was +remarkably strong for her age, straight in her figure, +and quick in her motions. She was very expert at catching +fish, and sometimes spent half the day in the water. +She also made excellent nets to catch shad and herring; +and, as these nets sold extremely well, Captain Anthony +still found the old slave profitable. She had the name +of being born to good luck, because whatever business +she undertook prospered in her hands. She raised such +excellent sweet potatoes that people often sent for her +to plant for them, saying, "If Gran'ma Betty touches +them they'll be sure to flourish." But the secret of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +good luck was her intelligence and carefulness. When +she dug potatoes she took pains not to cut or bruise them; +and in winter she protected them from frost in a hole +under her hearth.</p> + +<p>Freddy's poor mother was not allowed the comfort of +being with her child. She was let out to work in the +fields, twelve miles off. Whenever she went to see her +little boy she had to walk over all those miles twice in +the night-time, after a hard day's work; for if she was not +back in the field by sunrise she was severely whipped. +Freddy saw her but four or five times, and never by daylight. +Sometimes she would lie down beside him and +talk to him till he fell asleep, but when he woke she was +always gone. He always remembered that she once took +him on her knee and gave him a cake in the shape of a +heart. Her rare visits made such an impression on him +that he never forgot her personal appearance. She was +tall and finely proportioned, with regular features and a +deep black glossy complexion. Her manners were very +sedate, her countenance downcast, and her eyes very sad. +When he was nearly seven years old she died; but he +knew nothing about it till long afterward. In later years +he heard that she could read, and that she was the only one +of all the slaves in the neighborhood who possessed that +advantage. He never discovered how she had learned. +When she died he was too young to have heard anything +from her lips concerning his father. He was always told +that he was the son of a white man, and some whispered +the name of his master. But he never knew who was his +father, and could only conjecture why the eyes of his poor +mother had such a sad expression.</p> + +<p>Captain Anthony did not carry on any of his own +farms. He employed overseers for that purpose; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +however cruelly the slaves might be treated by the overseers, +they never could obtain any protection by applying +to the "old master," as they called him. All the interest +he took in them was to have as much work as possible +forced out of them, and to sell one every year to add to +his income. He himself managed the affairs of Colonel +Lloyd, a wealthy gentleman with numerous plantations +and a thousand slaves. His home-plantation, on the river +Miles, where he resided with his family, was about twelve +miles from the hut where Frederick had been nursed. +His manager, Captain Anthony, lived in a house on the +same plantation, and was personally a stranger to his own +little slaves. But the children had seen and heard of +things which made the name of the "old master" a terror +to them. Frederick's first great trouble was when he +discovered that he was a slave, and that, as soon as he +was big enough to work, he would have to go to "old +master." Nothing could exceed his dread of leaving the +dear old home, and being separated from the kind friend +of his childhood. When he was about eight years old, +Captain Anthony sent for him; but his grandmother kept +it a secret, knowing how it would frighten him. One +bright summer morning she told him she was going to +Colonel Lloyd's plantation, and invited him to go with +her. He had a curiosity to see the grand place of which +he had heard so much; so she took him by the hand and +led him away from the happy home of his childhood, to +which he never returned. She carefully concealed from +him how her heart was swelling, and her tender ways did +not lead him to suspect it. When the unconscious little +boy began to be overcome with fatigue she "toted" him +on her strong shoulders. She scarcely seemed to feel the +burden, and insisted upon carrying him a long way; but he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +felt too much of a man to permit it. He was, however, +a little afraid as they walked through the thick, dark +woods; for sometimes the old knotted and gnarled stumps, +when seen from a distance, looked like creatures with eyes +and legs; and he kept a tight hold of her gown till the +monstrous things were safely passed.</p> + +<p>It was afternoon before they reached the famous Home +Plantation of Colonel Lloyd. There he found everything +very different from the solitude and poverty to +which he had been accustomed. The plantation seemed +like a village, there were so many large houses, and stables, +and out-buildings, and mechanics' shops, and such +a long row of huts for the "slaves' quarters." Children +were shouting and singing, and a great many men and +women were hoeing in the fields. The children came +crowding round Frederick, and asked him to go and play +with them. He looked in his grandmother's face, and +seeing that she seemed very sad, he begun to suspect that +he was going to live with the "old master." He was +unwilling to lose sight of her for a moment; but she +patted him on the head, and said, "Be a good boy, and +go and play with the children. That one is your brother +Perry, that is your sister Sarah, and that is your sister +Eliza." He had heard of these brothers and sisters before, +but he had never seen them, and they seemed like +strangers. He kept close to his grandmother; but at +last she persuaded him to follow the children to the back +part of the house. He felt so shy that he stood leaning +against the wall, looking on, while the others played. +After a while, a little boy, who had been left in the +kitchen, ran up to him, exclaiming, "Fed! Fed! Grandmammy's gone!" +He rushed after her, and when he +found that she was gone far out of sight, he threw himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +on the ground and sobbed. His brother and sisters +brought him peaches and pears, but he flung them away, +and continued sobbing, till, overcome with sorrow and +fatigue, he fell into a deep sleep.</p> + +<p>As Colonel Lloyd's plantation was not near any town, +the barrels, wheels, shoes, and cloth that were needed by +the numerous slaves were manufactured by themselves. +Large crops of grain and tobacco were raised and shipped +for Baltimore. All the business of twenty or thirty other +farms was transacted at this plantation, which was distinguished +by the name of "The Great House Farm"; +and as Captain Anthony was overseer of all the overseers, +he was kept very busy all the time. He took no +notice of Freddy at first, but when told who the newcomer +was, he patted him on the head and said, "You +are my little Indian boy." Occasionally when he met +him he would speak affectionately to him; but he was a +violent-tempered man, and Freddy soon learned to watch +him closely when he saw him coming. If he was shaking +his head or muttering to himself, he hastened to get +out of his way, lest he should catch a blow without +knowing what it was for. The slave children had no +one to care for them but cross Katy, the cook, who cuffed +them about, and kept all, except her own children, in +such a half-starved condition, that Freddy often had a +tussle with the dogs and cats for the bones that were +thrown to them. Summer and winter, they had no clothing +but a coarse tow shirt that reached to the knees. +They were provided with two a year; and if they wore +out before allowance-day came round, they went naked. +They slept anywhere on the floor without covering. +Freddy suffered much from cold. His naked feet were +cracked open in great gashes in the winter. When he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +could get a chance, he would creep into the meal-bag at +night. So much for the care taken of their bodies; and +it fared no better with their souls. All the instruction +they received was from Uncle Isaac, a crippled slave, +who, being unable to work, taught the children to say +the Lord's Prayer after him by rote, and switched them +whenever they made a mistake.</p> + +<p>But Freddy was at an age to bear privations and +troubles lightly, and to enjoy thoughtlessly whatever +pleasant things came in his way. He had never seen +anything so grand as The Great House, in which Colonel +Lloyd resided. It was a large white building, with +piazza and columns in front, surrounded by arbors, and +grain-houses, and turkey-houses, and pigeon-houses, interspersed +with grand old trees. There was an extensive +lawn, kept as smooth as velvet, and ornamented with +flowering shrubs. The carriage-road to and from the +house made a circle round the lawn, and was paved with +white pebbles from the beach. Outside of this enclosed +space were extensive parks, where rabbits, deer, and +other wild animals frisked about. Flocks of red-winged +blackbirds made the trees look gay, and filled the air +with melody. Vessels on their way to Baltimore were +continually in sight, and a sloop belonging to Colonel +Lloyd lay in the river, with its pretty little boat bobbing +about in the sparkling water. There was a windmill not +far off, and the little slaves were never tired of watching +the great wings go whirling round. There was a creek +to swim in, and crabs and clams and oysters to be got +by wading and digging and raking for them. Freddy +was glad enough to catch them when he had a chance, +for he never had half enough to eat. He had one +friend at The Great House. Daniel Lloyd, the Colonel's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +youngest son, liked to have him assist in his sports. +He protected him when bigger boys wanted to make war +upon him, and sometimes he gave him a cake. Captain +Anthony's family consisted of a son, Andrew, and +a daughter, Lucretia, who had married Captain Thomas +Auld. Mrs. Lucretia took a fancy to bright little Freddy. +She liked to hear him sing, and often spoke a kind word +to him. This emboldened him so much, that when he +was very hungry he would go and sing under the window +where she sat at work, and she would generally give him +a piece of bread, sometimes with butter on it. That was +a great treat for a boy who was fed all the time on corn +mush, and could not get half enough of that. His business +was to clean the front yard, to keep fowls out of the +garden, to drive the cows home from pasture, and to run +of errands. He had a good deal of time to play with +his little relatives, and with the young slaves at Colonel +Lloyd's, who called him "Captain Anthony Fed." He +was such a mere boy, that it is no wonder so many new +people and things soon cured him of homesickness for his +grandmother, who could very seldom get time to trudge +twelve miles to see him.</p> + +<p>But though his slave-life was not without gleams of +enjoyment, he saw and heard much that was painful. +At one time he would see Colonel Lloyd compel a faithful +old slave get down upon his knees to be flogged for +not keeping the hair of his horses sufficiently smooth. +At another time, the overseer would shoot a slave dead +for refusing to come up to be whipped. Ever and anon +some of them were sold to Georgia slave-traders, and +there was weeping and wailing in the families they left +behind. On the premises of his own master, he was not +unfrequently wakened in the night by the screams and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +groans of slaves who were being lashed. One of Captain +Anthony's slaves, named Esther, was the sister of +Freddy's mother. She had a pretty face and a graceful +shape. She and a handsome young slave of Colonel +Lloyd's were much attached, and wished to marry. But +her old master, for reasons of his own, forbade her to +see her lover, and if he suspected them of meeting he +would abuse the poor girl in a most shocking manner. +Freddy was too young at the time to understand the full +significance of this cruel treatment; but when he thought +of it in after years, it explained to him why his poor +mother had always looked so downcast and sad. As for +himself, he managed to escape very severe punishment, +though Captain Anthony not unfrequently whipped him +for some carelessness or mischief. But when he saw the +plantation-laborers, even of so rich a man as Colonel +Lloyd, driven out to toil from early morning to dusk, +shivering in the cold winds, or dripping with rain, with +no covering but a few coarse tow rags, he could not help +thinking that such was likely to be his fate when he was +older. Young as he was, he had a great dread of being +a field-hand. Therefore he was rejoiced when Mrs. +Lucretia told him he was to be sent to Baltimore, to live +with her husband's brother, Mr. Hugh Auld. She told +him if he would make himself very clean, she would give +him a pair of new trousers. The prospect of exchanging +his little tow shirt for new trousers delighted him so +much that he was ready to scrub his skin off to obtain +them. He was, moreover, very eager to see Baltimore; +for slaves who had been there told fine stories about the +grand houses and the multitude of ships. He had been +only two years at Captain Anthony's, and he had formed +no attachment so strong as that he had felt for his old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +grandmother. It was with a joyful heart that he went +forth to view the wonders of the city. When he arrived +in Baltimore, his new mistress met him at the door with +a pleasant smile. She said to her son, "There's little +Freddy, who has come to take care of you"; and to him +she said, "You must be kind to little Tommy." Mrs. +Sophia Auld had earned her own living before her marriage, +and she had not yet acquired the ways of slaveholders +toward servants. While her own little Tommy +was on her knee, Freddy was often seated by her side, +and sometimes her soft hand would rest upon his head in +a kind, motherly way. He had never been treated so +since he left his good old grandmother. In a very short +time he loved her with all his heart, and was eager to do +anything to please her. It was his business to go of +errands and take care of Tommy. The boys became as +much attached to each other as if they were brothers. +There was nothing to remind Freddy of being a slave. +He had plenty of wholesome food to eat, clean clothes to +wear, and a good straw bed with warm covering. Mrs. +Auld was much in the habit of singing hymns and reading +the Bible aloud; and Freddy, who was not at all +afraid of "Miss Sophy," as he called her, said to her one +day that he wished she would teach him to read. She +consented; and he was so quick at learning that he was +soon able to spell small words. His kind mistress was +so much pleased with his progress, that she told her husband +about it, and remarked, with much satisfaction, that +Freddy would soon be able to read the Bible. Mr. Auld +was displeased, and forbade her giving any more lessons. +"It is contrary to law to teach a nigger to read," said he. +"It is unsafe, and can only lead to mischief. If you +teach him to read the Bible, it will make him discontented,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +and there will be no keeping him. Next thing, +he will be wanting to learn to write; and then he'll be +running away with himself." This was said in the presence +of Freddy, and it set his active mind to thinking. +He had often before wondered why black children were +born to be slaves; and now he heard his master say that +if he learned to read it would spoil him for a slave. He +resolved that he <i>would</i> learn to read. He carried a +spelling-book in his pocket when he went of errands, and +persuaded some of the white boys who played with him +to give him a lesson now and then. He was soon able to +read. With some money that he earned for himself, he +bought a book called "The Columbian Orator." It contained +many speeches about liberty. The reading of +them made him discontented. He was no longer light-hearted +and full of fun. He became thoughtful and +serious. When he played with white boys, he would +ask, "Why haven't I as good a right to be free, and go +where I please, as you have?" And sometimes a +generous-hearted boy would answer, "I believe, Fred, you +<i>have</i> just as good a right to be free as I have."</p> + +<p>He knew that his present situation was uncommonly +favorable; but the idea of being a slave for life became +more and more hateful to him. He had not been in +Baltimore quite four years when an event occurred +which proved to him the extreme uncertainty of a slave's +condition, even when circumstances seemed the most +favorable. His old master, Captain Anthony, died; and +his slaves were to be divided between his son Andrew +and his daughter Mrs. Lucretia Auld. Frederick was in +terror lest it should be decided that he belonged to Andrew, +who was a confirmed drunkard, and excessively +cruel to the slaves. It was a month before the division<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +of the estate was decided by law; and the anxiety of his +mind was so great that it seemed to him half a year. +He felt as if saved from sentence of death, when he was +informed that he belonged to Mrs. Lucretia, who had +been kind to him in his hungry boyhood. As she had no +occasion for his services, it was agreed that he should +remain in Mr. Hugh Auld's family; a circumstance which +pleased Master Tom and his mother about as much as it +did Freddy.</p> + +<p>But in a short time he was again painfully reminded +of the uncertainty of his condition. Mrs. Lucretia and +her brother Andrew both died, each of them leaving +one child. Neither Captain Anthony nor his children +left any of the slaves free. Even Frederick's old grandmother, +who had nursed her master when he was a baby, +waited upon him through his boyhood, worked faithfully +for him during all her life, and reared up a multitude of +children and grandchildren to toil for him,—even she +was left in Slavery, with no provision made for her. The +children she had tended so lovingly were sold, or let out +in distant places; all were unable to write to inform her +where they had gone; all were unable to help her, because +they were not allowed to have their own earnings. When +her old master and his children were dead, the owners of +the property thought Gran'ma Betty was too old to be +of any further use; so they put up a hut with a mud +chimney in the woods, and left her there to find food +for herself as she could, with no mortal to render her +any service in her dying hour. This brutal proceeding +increased the bitterness of Frederick's feeling against +Slavery.</p> + +<p>By the blessing of God the consolations of religion +came to him, and enabled him to look beyond this troubled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +and transitory world. A pious colored man, called +Uncle Lawson, became interested in him. They attended +prayer-meetings together, and Frederick often +went to his house on Sundays. They had refreshing +times together, reading the Bible, praying, and singing +hymns. Uncle Lawson saw that his young friend had +uncommon intelligence, and he often said to him, "The +Lord has a great work for you to do, and you must prepare +yourself for it." Frederick replied that he did not +see how a slave could prepare himself for any great +work; but the pious old man always answered, "Trust +in the Lord. He will bring it about in his own good +time. You must go on reading and studying Scripture." +This prophecy inspired him with hope, and he seized +every opportunity to improve himself. But he had many +obstacles to contend with. His master, Mr. Hugh Auld, +was made irritable by an increasing love for brandy. +When he found out that Frederick read and spoke at +religious meetings, he threatened to flog him if he continued +to do it. His kind mistress, who used to pat him +on the head and call him "Little Freddy," was changed +by the habit of having slaves and talking with slaveholders. +The pleasant, motherly expression of her face +had become severe. She watched Frederick very closely, +and if she caught him with a book or newspaper in his +hand, she would rush at him in a great rage and snatch +it away. Master Tommy had grown to be a tall lad, and +began to feel that he was born to be a master and Fred +to be a slave. Frederick would probably have tried to +run away, had it not been for the friendships he had +formed for Uncle Lawson and the religious young men +he met at the meetings. Notwithstanding his master's +threat, he contrived to find opportunities to read and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +pray with good Uncle Lawson; and it had a blessed influence +on his spirit, making him feel at peace with all men. +Now that he had a taste of knowledge, it was impossible +to prevent his getting more. His master sent him of +errands to the shipyard almost daily. He noticed that +the carpenters marked their boards with letters. He +asked the name of the letters, and copied them with a +bit of chalk. When the family went from home, he +diligently copied from the writing-books Master Tommy +had brought from school; and his zeal was so great that +in a short time he could write as well as his master. He +picked up bits of newspapers wherever he could find +them, and he listened attentively when he heard slaveholders +talking about the Northern States and cursing +the Abolitionists. He did not at first know what was the +meaning of "abolitionists"; but when he read in a newspaper +that petitions were sent into Congress for the abolition +of Slavery, light dawned upon him. He told trustworthy +colored friends about it, and they were comforted by the +thought that there were people at the North trying to +help them out of bondage.</p> + +<p>But a new blow fell upon him. Captain Thomas Auld +married again, after the death of his wife Mrs. Lucretia, +and removed to St. Michael's,—an old village, the principal +business of which was oyster fishing. He got into +a quarrel with his brother, Mr. Hugh Auld of Baltimore, +and demanded that Frederick should be sent back +to him. So he was put on board a ship for St. Michael's. +When swift steamboats on their way to Philadelphia +passed the sloop that carried him, he bitterly regretted +that he had not escaped to the Free States from Baltimore, +where he could have had so many more opportunities +for doing it than he could at the old fishing-village.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +Captain Thomas Auld and his new wife were both great +professors of religion. He was an exhorter and class-leader +in the Methodist Church. But their religion was +not of a kind that taught them humanity to their fellow-creatures. +They worked their slaves very hard, and +kept them half fed and half clothed. Scolding and flogging +were going on incessantly. Frederick soon discovered +that they were violently opposed to colored people's +knowing how to read; but when a pious young man in +the neighborhood asked him to assist in a Sunday school +for colored children, he resolved to seize the opportunity +of being useful. When his master found out what he +was doing, he was very angry; and the next Sunday he +and two other Methodist class-leaders went to the school, +armed with clubs and whips, and drove off both teachers +and scholars. It was agreed that Frederick had been +spoiled by living in Baltimore, and that it was necessary +to cure him of his dangerous thirst for knowledge. For +that purpose he was sent to a famous "negro-breaker" in +the neighborhood named Covey. He was a great professor +of religion, but a monster of cruelty. Frederick was +almost killed by hard labor, and not a week passed without +his being cruelly cut up with the whip. Escape was +impossible, for Covey was on the watch at all times of +day and night. Six months of such treatment wellnigh +crushed all manhood out of him. But cruelty was carried +so far that at last he became desperate, and when +his master attempted to beat him, he struggled with him +and threw him down. He expected to be hung for it, +according to the laws of Maryland; but Covey prided +himself on his reputation as a "negro-breaker," and he +was ashamed to have it known that he had been conquered +by a lad of seventeen. Frederick's time was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +out for six months longer, but Covey never attempted to +whip him again.</p> + +<p>The next two years Frederick was let out to do field-work +for Mr. Freeland, who fed his slaves well, and +never worked them beyond their strength. Some of his +slaves were intelligent, and desirous to learn to read. +On Sundays they had meetings in the woods, and twenty +or thirty young men were taught by Frederick. After +a while they formed a plan of escaping in a canoe. But +some unknown men excited suspicion against them, and +they were seized and thrust into prison. They kept +their secrets so well, however, that no proof could be +obtained against them, and they were released without +even a whipping. But some of the neighboring slaveholders +said Frederick was a dangerous fellow; that he +knew too much,—they would not have him tampering +with their slaves; and if he was not sent out of the +neighborhood they would shoot him. Captain Thomas +Auld talked of selling him to Alabama; but he finally +concluded to let him out again to his brother Hugh, with +a promise that if he behaved well he should be free at +twenty-five years old.</p> + +<p>When he returned to Baltimore he was let out to work +at calking vessels; and he soon became so expert at the +business that he earned from seven to nine dollars a +week. He was trusted to make his own contracts, but +was required to pay Mr. Hugh Auld his earnings every +Saturday night. On such occasions a sixpence or a shilling +was sometimes given him, for which he was expected +to be grateful; but it naturally occurred to him that the +whole of the money rightfully belonged to him who +earned it. He was attached to a worthy girl named +Anna, but he was reluctant to form family ties while he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +was subject to the vicissitudes of Slavery. He often +thought of escaping to the Free States, but the regulations +were so strict that it seemed a hopeless undertaking, +unless he had money. When Captain Thomas Auld visited +Baltimore, he tried to make a bargain with him to +buy his time for a specified sum each week, being free to +earn as much more as he could. The reply was, "You +are planning to run away. But, wherever you go, I shall +catch you." The master then tried to coax him with +promises of freedom in the future; but Frederick thought +it very uncertain when they would be willing to give up +a man who brought them in nine dollars a week. He +concluded to go to the Free States. How he accomplished +it he never told, for he was afraid of bringing +trouble upon those who helped him.</p> + +<p>When he arrived in New York, he says he felt as he +should suppose a man would feel who had escaped from +a den of hungry lions. But the joyful feeling was soon +checked. He met an acquaintance who had recently +escaped from Slavery. He told him the city was full +of Southerners, who had agents out in every direction +to catch runaway slaves; and then he hurried away, as if +afraid of being betrayed. This made Frederick feel very +desolate. He was afraid to seek employment as a calker, +lest spies from his master should be on the watch for him. +He bought a loaf of bread, and hid away for the night +among some barrels on a wharf. In the morning, he met +a sailor, who looked so good-natured and honest that he +ventured to tell him he was a fugitive slave, and to ask +him for advice. He was not deceived in the expression +of the man's face. He invited him to his house, and went +in search of Mr. David Ruggles, a worthy colored man, +well known as a zealous friend of his oppressed race.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +The fugitive was kept hidden for a few days, during +which time Anna was sent for, and they were married. +By help of Mr. Ruggles, employment at calking was obtained +in New Bedford, a large town in Massachusetts, +where a great many ships are constantly employed. There +he found many intelligent colored people, not a few of +whom had been slaves. They lived in convenient houses, +took newspapers, bought books, and sent their children +to good schools. They had various societies for improvement; +and when he attended their meetings, he +was surprised to hear their spirited discussions on various +subjects. His bright mind was roused into full activity +by the influences around him. He changed his +name to Frederick Douglass. He was called Mr. Douglass +now, and felt like it. He worked hard, but that was +a pleasure, now that he could enjoy his own earnings. +He felt safe; for there were so many Abolitionists and +so many intelligent colored people in New Bedford, that +slaveholders did not venture to go there to hunt for fugitives. +The cruel treatment he had received from hypocritical +professors of religion had not destroyed his faith +in the excellence of real religion. He joined a church +of colored people, called Zion Methodists, and became a +class-leader and preacher among them. He took a newspaper +called "The Liberator," edited by William Lloyd +Garrison, wherein he found the rights of the colored +people vindicated with great zeal and ability. His wife +proved a neat and industrious helpmate, and a little +family of children began to gather round him. Thus +furnished with healthy employment for his mind, his +heart, and his hands, he lived over three years in New +Bedford.</p> + +<p>At the end of that period, in the year 1841, a great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +Anti-Slavery meeting was held in the vicinity, and Mr. +Douglass went to hear Mr. Garrison and others speak. +He did not suppose that any one in the meeting knew +him; but a gentleman was present who had heard him +preach in Zion Church, and he went to him and urged +him to address the Anti-Slavery meeting. He was bashful +about speaking before such a large and intelligent +audience; and when he was persuaded to mount the +platform he trembled in every limb. But what he said +flowed right out from the depths of his heart; and when +people of any intelligence speak in that way, they are always +eloquent. The audience were greatly moved by +what he told them of his experiences. It was the beginning +of a great change in his life. The Anti-Slavery +Society employed him to travel in the Free States to +lecture against Slavery; and that you may be sure he +could do with a will. Crowds went to hear him, and his +ministration was greatly blessed. The prophecy of good +Uncle Lawson was fulfilled. The Lord <i>had</i> a great work +for him to do; and in His own good time he had brought +it about.</p> + +<p>People who were in favor of Slavery said he was an +impostor; that he did not look like a slave, or speak like +a slave; and that they did not believe he had ever been +in the Southern States. To prove that he was not an +impostor he wrote and published an account of his life, +with the names of his masters and the places where they +resided. The book was ably written, and produced almost +as great an effect as his lectures. Slaveholders were +very angry that one of their escaped chattels should produce +such an excitement. There was great danger that +some of their agents would kidnap him as he went about +the country lecturing. It was therefore concluded that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +he had better go to England. In 1845 he took passage +for Liverpool in the English steamship Cambria. He +was invited to deliver a lecture on deck. Some slaveholders +from New Orleans and Georgia, who were a little +under the influence of brandy, swore they would throw +him overboard if he did; but the captain of the vessel +threatened to put them in irons if they behaved in a disorderly +manner. When they arrived in England they +tried to injure Mr. Douglass by publishing that he was +an insolent, lying negro; but their efforts only served to +make him famous. He delivered a great number of lectures, +and attracted crowds everywhere. In the Free +States of his own country he had been excluded from +many places of improvement, and often insulted on account +of his color; but he had no such prejudice to encounter +in England. He behaved like a gentleman, and +was treated like a gentleman. Many distinguished and +wealthy people invited him to their houses, as a mark +of respect for his natural abilities and the efforts he had +made to improve himself. But he felt that his labors +were needed in America, in behalf of his oppressed brethren, +and he wanted to return. His friends in England +entered into negotiations with Captain Thomas Auld for +the purchase of his freedom, which they succeeded in obtaining +for little more than seven hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>After an absence of two years he returned to the United +States a freeman. He established himself with his family +in Rochester, New York. There he edited a weekly +newspaper, called "The North Star," and from time to +time travelled about the country to deliver lectures, which +were always fully attended. After he was free he wrote +a spirited letter to his old master, Captain Thomas Auld, +in which he asks: "What has become of my dear old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +grandmother, whom you turned out, like an old horse, +to die in the woods? If she is still alive, she must be +near eighty years old,—too old to be of any service to +you. O, she was father and mother to me, so far as hard +toil for my comfort could make her so. Send her to me +at Rochester, and it shall be the crowning happiness of +my life to take care of her in her old age." I never +heard that any answer was received to this letter.</p> + +<p>During the Rebellion Mr. Douglass labored zealously +to raise colored regiments, and one of his sons enlisted +in the service of the United States. After the Proclamation +of Emancipation he was invited to Baltimore, +where he delivered an address before a large audience +of respectable citizens. How different was free Maryland +from the Slavery-ridden State which he had left, +secretly and in terror, nearly thirty years before!</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_GOOD_WORK_GOES_ON" id="HOW_THE_GOOD_WORK_GOES_ON"></a>HOW THE GOOD WORK GOES ON.</h2> + + +<p>In the spring of 1865 an association of colored men was +formed in Baltimore for moral and intellectual improvement. +They bought a building formerly used by the Newton University, +for which they paid sixteen thousand dollars. In +honor of their able pioneer, Frederick Douglass, they named +it "The Douglass Institute." On the day of its dedication he +delivered an address before the association in Baltimore, in +the course of which he said: "The mission of this institution +is to develop manhood; to build up manly character among +the colored people of this city and State. It is to teach them +the true idea of manly independence and self-respect. It is +to be a dispenser of knowledge, a radiator of light. In a +word, we dedicate this institution to virtue, temperance, +knowledge, truth, liberty, and justice."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="DEDICATION_HYMN" id="DEDICATION_HYMN"></a>DEDICATION HYMN.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY J. M. WHITEFIELD.</p> + +<p class="edcomment">Written for the Vine Street Methodist Episcopal Church of colored +people, in Buffalo, N. Y.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">God of our sires! before thy throne<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Our humble offering now we bring;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Deign to accept it as thine own,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And dwell therein, Almighty King!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Around thy glorious throne above<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Angels and flaming seraphs sing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Archangels own thy boundless love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And cherubim their tribute bring.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And every swiftly rolling sphere,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That wends its way through boundless space,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hymns forth, in chorus loud and clear,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Its mighty Maker's power and grace.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It is not ours to bear the parts<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In that celestial song of praise;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But here, O Lord! with grateful hearts,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This earthly fane to Thee we raise.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O let thy presence fill this house,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And from its portals ne'er depart!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Accept, O Lord! the humble vows<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Poured forth by every contrite heart!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No sacrifice of beast or bird,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +<span class="i2">No clouds of incense here shall rise,</span> +<span class="i0">But, in accordance with thy word<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We'll bring a holier sacrifice.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Here shall the hoary-headed sire<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Invoke thy grace, on bended knee;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While youth shall catch the sacred fire,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And pour its song of praise to Thee.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let childhood, too, with stammering tongue,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Here lisp thy name with reverent awe;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And high and low, and old and young,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Learn to obey thy holy law.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And when our spirits shall return<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Back to the God who gave them birth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And these frail bodies shall be borne<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To mingle with their kindred earth,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then, in that house not made with hands,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">New anthems to thy praise we'll sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Thee, who burst our slavish bands,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Our Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="A_PRAYER" id="A_PRAYER"></a>A PRAYER.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Grant, O Father, that the time<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of earth's deliverance may be near,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When every land and tongue and clime<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The message of Thy love shall hear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When, smitten as with fire from heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The captive's chain shall sink in dust,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And to his fettered soul be given<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The glorious freedom of the just.<br /></span> +</div><p class="cit"><span class="smcap">John G. Whittier.</span></p></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="WILLIAM_AND_ELLEN_CRAFTS" id="WILLIAM_AND_ELLEN_CRAFTS"></a>WILLIAM AND ELLEN CRAFTS.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>William Crafts is a black man, born in +Georgia. His master had the reputation of +being a humane man and a pious Christian. Yet, when +some of his slaves were getting old, he had no scruples +about selling them away from their families, and buying +a young lot. Among those sold were the father and +mother of William. They were sold to different purchasers +from different places, and never saw each other +again. They were much attached to each other, and it +was a consolation to their son to think how happy would +be their reunion in another world; for he says he never +knew people who more humbly placed their trust in God +than his parents did. William was apprenticed to a +cabinet-maker, and his brother to a blacksmith; because +slaves who worked well at a trade could be let out with +more profit to their masters, and would also bring a +higher price if sold. Before their time was out, their +master became hard pressed for money. Accordingly, +he sold the young blacksmith, and mortgaged William +and his sister, a girl of fourteen. When the time of the +mortgage was up, their master had no money to redeem +them, and they were placed on the auction-block, to be +sold to the highest bidder. The girl was sold first, and +bought by a planter who lived some distance in the country. +William was strongly attached to his sister; and +when he saw her put into a cart, to be carried away from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +him forever, it seemed as if his heart would burst. He +knelt down and begged and entreated to be allowed to go +and speak to her before she was taken away; but they +handled him roughly, and ordered him to stay on the +auction-block. As he stood there awaiting his own fate, +he saw the cart moving slowly away. The tears were +rolling down his sister's cheeks, and she stretched her +hands toward him with a movement of despair. The +thought that he could do nothing for her, and that they +might never meet more, almost killed him. His eyes +were blinded with tears; and when he could see again, +the cart was gone.</p> + +<p>He was bought by the man to whom he had been +mortgaged, and ordered to return to the cabinet-maker's +shop to work. After a while his new master took him +to Macon, where he was let out to work at his trade. +There he became acquainted with a quadroon girl named +Ellen, whom he afterward married.</p> + +<p>Ellen was the daughter of her master, but her mother +was a slave. Her handsome dark eyes were apt to attract +attention; her hair was straight, and her skin was so +nearly white that strangers often mistook her for one of +her master's own white family. This was very vexatious +to her mistress, who treated her so harshly that the poor +child had no comfort of her life. When she was eleven +years old she was given to a daughter of her mistress, +who was about to be married to a gentleman living in +Macon. It was painful to part from her poor mother, +but she was glad to get away from the incessant cruelty +of her old mistress. Her new mistress proved more +humane. In her service Ellen grew up without being +exposed to some of the most degrading influences of +Slavery.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>She and the intelligent young cabinet-maker formed +an attachment for each other soon after they were acquainted. +But Ellen had seen so much of the separation +of families in Slavery, that she was very reluctant +to marry. Whenever William said anything about it, +she reminded him that they were both slaves; and that if +they were married either of their masters could separate +them whenever they chose. William remembered, with +bitterness of heart, how his father and mother and brother +had been sold, and how his sister had been torn from +him without his being allowed to bid her good by. He +had not been tortured in his own person, but he had seen +other slaves cruelly whipped and branded with hot iron, +hunted and torn by bloodhounds, and even burned alive, +merely for trying to get their freedom. In view of these +things, he had a great horror of bringing children into +the world to be slaves. He and Ellen often talked together +about escaping to the North and being married +there. But they reflected that they would have to travel +a thousand miles before they could reach any Free State. +They knew that bloodhounds and slave-hunters would +be put upon their track; that if they were taken, they +would be subjected to terrible tortures; and that, even if +they succeeded in reaching the Free States, they would +still be in danger of being delivered up to their masters. +They talked over a variety of plans; but the prospect of +escape seemed so discouraging, that at last they concluded +to ask their owner's consent to their marriage; and they +resolved to be as contented as they could in the situation +to which they were born. But they were too intelligent +not to know that a great wrong was done to them by +keeping them in slavery. William shuddered to think +into what cruel and licentious hands his dear wife might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +fall if she should be sold by her present owners; and +Ellen was filled with great anguish whenever she thought +what might happen to her children, if she should be a +mother. They were always thinking and talking about +freedom, and they often prayed earnestly to God that +some way of escape might be opened for them.</p> + +<p>In December, 1848, a bold plan came into William's +mind. He thought that if his wife were dressed in men's +clothes she could easily pass for a white gentleman, and +that he could accompany her on her travels as her negro +slave. Ellen, who was very modest and timid, at first +shrank from the idea. But, after reflecting more upon +their hopeless situation, she said: "It seems too difficult +for us to undertake; but I feel that God is on our side, +and with His help we may carry it through. We will +try."</p> + +<p>It was contrary to law for white men in the Southern +States to sell anything secretly to slaves; but there were +always enough ready to do it for the sake of getting +money,—especially as they knew that no colored man +was allowed to testify against a white man. William +was skilful and diligent at his trade; and though his +wages all went to his master, he had contrived to lay up +money by doing jobs for others in extra hours. He +therefore found little difficulty in buying the various articles +of a gentleman's dress, at different times and in different +parts of the town. He had previously made Ellen +a chest of drawers, with locks and key; and as she was +a favorite and trusted slave, she was allowed to keep it +for her own use in the little room where she slept. As +fast as the articles were bought they were secretly conveyed +to her, and she locked them up. The next important +thing was to obtain leave of absence for a few days.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +It was near Christmas-time, when kind slaveholders sometimes +permit favorite slaves to be absent on a visit to +friends or relatives. But Ellen's services were very +necessary to her mistress, and she had to ask many times +before she could obtain a written permission to be gone +for a few days. The cabinet-maker for whom William +worked was persuaded to give him a similar paper, but +he charged him to be sure and return as soon as the time +was up, because he should need him very much. There +was still another difficulty in the way. Travellers were +required to register their names at the custom-houses +and hotels, and to sign a certificate for the slaves who +accompanied them. When Ellen remembered this, it +made her weep bitterly to think that she could not write. +But in a few moments she wiped her eyes and said, with +a smile, "I will poultice my right hand and put it in a +sling, and then there will be a good excuse for asking +the officers to write my name for me." When she was +dressed in her disguise, William thought she could easily +pass for a white gentleman, only she looked young enough +for a mere boy; he therefore bought a pair of green +spectacles to make her look older. She, on her part, +was afraid that the smoothness of her chin might betray +her; she therefore resolved to tie a bandage round her +face, as if she were troubled with toothache.</p> + +<p>In four days after they first thought of the plan, all +was in readiness. They sat up all night, whispering over +to each other the parts they were to act in case of various +supposable difficulties. William cut off Ellen's glossy +black hair, according to the fashion of gentlemen. When +all was carefully arranged, they knelt together and +prayed that God would protect them through their perilous +undertaking. They raised the latch of the door very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +softly, and looked out and listened. Nobody was stirring +abroad, and all was still. But Ellen trembled and threw +herself on her husband's breast. There she wept for a +few moments, while he tried to comfort her with whispered +words of encouragement, though he also felt that +they were going forth into the midst of terrible dangers. +She soon recovered her calmness, and said, "Let us go." +They stepped out on tiptoe, shook hands in silence, and +parted to go to the railway station by different routes. +William deemed it prudent to take a short cut across the +fields, to avoid being recognized; but his wife, who was +now to pass for his young master, went by the public +road. Under the name of Mr. William Johnson, she +purchased tickets for herself and slave for Savannah, +which was about two hundred miles off. The porter who +took charge of the luggage at the station had formerly +wished to marry Ellen; but her disguise was so complete +that he called her "Young massa," and respectfully +obeyed her orders concerning the baggage. She gave +him a bit of money for his trouble, and he made his best +bow.</p> + +<p>The moment William arrived at the station, he hid +himself in the "negro car" assigned to servants. It +was lucky that he did so; for, just before the train started, +he saw upon the platform the cabinet-maker, who had +given him a pass for quite a different purpose than an +excursion to Savannah. He was looking round, as if +searching for some one; and William afterward heard +that he suspected him of attempting to escape. Luckily, +the train started before he had time to examine the +"negro car."</p> + +<p>Ellen had a narrow escape on her part; for a gentleman +who took the seat beside her proved to be Mr. Cray,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +who frequently visited at her master's house, and who +had known her ever since she was a child. Her first +thought was that he had come to seize her and carry her +back; but it soon became evident that he did not recognize +her in a gentleman's dress, with green spectacles, bandaged +face, and her arm in a sling. After the cars started, +he remarked, "It is a very fine morning, sir." Ellen, +being afraid that her voice would betray her, continued +to look out of the window, and made no reply. After +a little while, he repeated the remark in a louder tone. +The passengers who heard him began to smile, and Mr. +Cray turned away, saying, "I shall not trouble that deaf +fellow any more." To her great relief, he left the cars at +the next station.</p> + +<p>They arrived at Savannah early in the evening, and +William having brought his master something to eat, +they went on board a steamer bound for Charleston, +South Carolina. Mr. Johnson, as Ellen was now called, +deemed it most prudent to retire to his berth immediately. +William, fearing this might seem strange to the +other passengers, made a great fuss warming flannels and +opodeldoc at the stove, informing them that his young +master was an invalid travelling to Philadelphia in hopes +of getting cured. He did not tell them the disease was +Slavery; he called it inflammatory rheumatism. The +next morning, at breakfast, Mr. Johnson was seated by +the captain of the boat, and, as his right hand was tied in +a sling, his servant, William, cut up his food for him. +The captain remarked, "You have a very attentive boy, +sir; but I advise you to watch him like a hawk when +you get North. Several gentlemen have lately lost +valuable niggers among them cut-throat Abolitionists."</p> + +<p>A hard-looking slave-trader, with red eyes, and bristly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +beard, was sitting opposite. He laid down a piece of +chicken he was eating, and with his thumbs stuck in the +arm-holes of his waistcoat, said: "I wouldn't take a nigger +North under no consideration. Now, if you'd like +to sell that 'ere boy, I'll pay you for him in silver dollars, +on this 'ere board. What do you say, stranger?" +Mr. Johnson replied, "I do not wish to sell him, sir; +I could not get on well without him." "You'll <i>have</i> to +get on without him, if you take him to the North," continued +the slave-trader. "I am an older cove than you +are, and I reckon I have had more dealings with niggers. +I tell you, stranger, that boy will never do you any good +if you take him across Mason and Dixon's line. I can +see by the cut of his eye that he is bound to run away as +soon as he can get a chance." Mr. Johnson replied, "I +think not, sir. I have great confidence in his fidelity." +Whereupon the slave-trader began to swear about niggers +in general. A military officer, who was also travelling +with a servant, said to Mr. Johnson: "Excuse me, +sir, for saying I think you are likely to spoil that boy of +yours by saying 'thank you' to him. The only way to +make a nigger toe the mark, and to keep him in his +place, is to storm at him like thunder. Don't you see +that when I speak to my Ned, he darts like lightning? +If he didn't, I'd skin him."</p> + +<p>When the steamboat arrived at Charleston, the hearts +of the fugitives beat almost loud enough to be heard; +they were so afraid their flight had been discovered, and +a telegraph sent from Savannah to have them arrested. +But they passed unnoticed among the crowd. They took +a carriage and drove to a fashionable hotel, where the +invalid gentleman received every attention befitting his +supposed rank. He was seated at a luxurious table in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +brilliant dining-room, while William received some fragments +of food on a broken plate, and was told to go into +the kitchen. Mr. Johnson gave some pieces of money to +the servants who waited upon him; and they said to +William, "Your massa is a big-bug. He is de greatest +gentleman dat has been dis way dis six months."</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the favorable impression he had made, +Mr. Johnson found some difficulty in obtaining tickets to +Philadelphia for himself and his slave. The master of +the ticket-office refused to write the invalid gentleman's +name for him. But the military officer who had breakfasted +with him stepped up and said he knew the gentleman, +and all was right. The captain of the North +Carolina steamer hearing this, and not wishing to lose +a passenger, said, "I will register the gentleman's name, +and take the responsibility upon myself." Mr. Johnson +thanked him politely, and the captain remarked: "No disrespect +was intended to you, sir; but they are obliged to +be very strict in Charleston. Some Abolitionist might +take a valuable nigger along with him, and try to pass +him off as his slave."</p> + +<p>They arrived safely at Wilmington, North Carolina, +and took the cars to Richmond, Virginia. On the way, +an elderly lady in the cars, seeing William on the platform, +cried out, in great excitement, "There goes my +nigger Ned!" Mr. Johnson said, very politely, "No, +madam, that is my boy." But the lady, without paying +any attention to what he said, called out, "Ned, you runaway +rascal, come to me, sir." On nearer inspection she +perceived that she was mistaken, and said to Mr. Johnson: +"I beg your pardon, sir. I was sure it was my Ned. I +never saw two black pigs look more alike."</p> + +<p>From Petersburg, a Virginia gentleman with two handsome<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +daughters were in the same car with Mr. Johnson. +Supposing him to be a rich, fashionable young Southerner, +they were very attentive and sympathizing. The +old gentleman told him he knew how to pity him, for he +had had inflammatory rheumatism himself. He advised +him to lie down to rest; which he was very willing to do, +as a good means of avoiding conversation. The ladies +took their extra shawls and made a comfortable pillow +for his head, and their father gave him a piece of paper +which he said contained directions for curing the rheumatism. +The invalid thanked him politely; but not knowing +how to read, and fearing he might hold the paper +upside down, prudently put it in his pocket. When they +supposed him to be asleep, one of the ladies said, "Papa, +he seems to be a very nice young gentleman"; and the +other responded, "I never felt so much for any gentleman +in my life."</p> + +<p>At parting the Virginian gave him his card and said: +"I hope you will call upon me when you return. I should +be much pleased to see you, and so would my daughters." +He gave ten cents to William, and charged him to be attentive +to his master. This he promised to do, and he +very faithfully kept his word.</p> + +<p>They arrived at Baltimore with the joyful feeling that +they were close upon the borders of a Free State. William +saw that his master was comfortably placed in one +of the best cars, and was getting into the servants' car +when a man tapped him on the shoulder and asked where +he was going. William replied humbly, "I am going to +Philadelphia, sir, with my master, who is in the next +car." "Then you had better get him out, and be mighty +quick about it," said the man; "for the train is going to +start, and no man is allowed to take a slave past here till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +he has satisfied the folks in the office that he has a right +to take him along."</p> + +<p>William felt as if he should drop down on the spot; +but he controlled himself, and went and asked his master +to go back to the office. It was a terrible fright. As +Mr. Johnson stepped out he whispered, in great agitation, +"O William, is it possible we shall have to go back to +Slavery, after all we have gone through?" It was very +hard to satisfy the station-master. He said if a man carried +off a slave that did not belong to him, and the rightful +owner could prove that he escaped on that road, they +would be obliged to pay for the slave. Mr. Johnson kept +up a calm appearance, though his heart was in his throat. +"I bought tickets at Charleston to pass us through to +Philadelphia," said he; "therefore you have no right to +detain us here." "Right or no right, we shall not let +you go," replied the man. Some of the spectators sympathized +with the rich young Southerner, and said it was a +pity to detain him when he was so unwell. While the +man hesitated, the bell rang for the cars to start, and the +fugitives were in an agony. "I don't know what to do," +said the man. "It all seems to be right; and as the +gentleman is so unwell, it is a hard case for him to be +stopped on the way. Clerk, run and tell the conductor +to let this gentleman and his slave pass."</p> + +<p>They had scarcely time to scramble into the cars, before +the train started. It was eight o'clock in the evening, +and they expected to arrive in Philadelphia early +the next morning. They did not know that on the +way the passengers would have to leave the cars and +cross the river Susquehanna in a ferry-boat. They had +slept very little for several nights before they left Georgia, +and they had been travelling day and night for four days.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +William, overcome with fatigue, and feeling that their +greatest dangers were now over, fell sound asleep on a +heap of baggage. When they arrived at the ferry, it was +cold, dark, and rainy; and for the first time during their +hazardous journey the invalid found no faithful servant +at hand when the cars stopped. He was in great distress, +fearing that William had been arrested or kidnapped. +He anxiously inquired of the passengers whether they +had seen his boy. There were a good many Northerners +on board, and, supposing his slave had run away, they +rather enjoyed his perplexity. One gruffly replied, "I +am no slave-hunter." Another smiled as he said, "I guess +he is in Philadelphia before now."</p> + +<p>When they had crossed the ferry one of the guard +found William still sound asleep on the baggage, which +had been rolled into the boat. He shook him and bawled +out: "Wake up, you boy! Your master has been half +scared to death. He thought you had run away." As +soon as William was enough awake to understand what +had happened, he said, "I am sure my good master does +not think that of me." He hastened to explain to Mr. +Johnson how he happened to be out of the way. He +was received with a great leap of the heart; but the +passengers only thought that the master was very glad +to recover his lost property. Some of them took a convenient +opportunity to advise William to run away when +they reached Philadelphia. He replied, "I shall never +run away from such a good master as I have." They +laughed, and said, "You will think differently when you +get into a Free State." They told him how to proceed in +case he wanted to be free, and he thanked them. A colored +man also entered into conversation with him, and +told him of a certain boarding-house in Philadelphia, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +keeper of which was very friendly to slaves who wanted +their freedom.</p> + +<p>On Christmas-day, just as morning was about to dawn, +they came in sight of the flickering lights of Philadelphia. +William procured a cab as quick as possible, hurried +their baggage into it, and told the driver to take +them to the boarding-house which had been recommended +to them. While Ellen had been obliged to act the part +of Mr. Johnson, she had kept her mind wonderfully calm +and collected. But now that she was on free soil she +broke down with the excess of her emotions. "Thank +God, William, we are safe, we are safe!" she exclaimed; +and sinking upon her husband's breast, she burst into a +passion of tears. When they arrived at the boarding-house, +she was so faint she had no further occasion to act +being an invalid. As soon as a room was provided, they +entered and fastened the door. Then kneeling down side +by side, folded in each other's arms, with tears flowing +freely, they thanked God for having brought them safely +through their dangerous journey, and having permitted +them to live to see this happy Sabbath day, which was +Christmas-day also.</p> + +<p>When they had rested and refreshed themselves with +a wash, Ellen put on her womanly garments and went +to the sitting-room. When the landlord came at their +summons, he was very much surprised and perplexed. +"Where is your master?" inquired he; and when William +pointed to his wife, he thought it was a joke; for he +could not believe she was the same person who came +into the house in the dress of a gentleman. He listened +to their singular story with great interest and sympathy. +He told them he was afraid it would not be safe for them +to remain in Philadelphia, but he would send for some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +Abolitionists who knew the laws better than he did. +Friends soon came, and gave them a hearty welcome; +but they all agreed that it would not be safe for them to +remain long in Philadelphia, and advised them to go to +Boston. Barclay Ivens, a kind-hearted Quaker farmer, +who lived some distance in the country, invited them to +rest a few weeks at his house. They went accordingly. +But Ellen, who had not been accustomed to receive such +attentions from white people, was a little flurried when +they arrived. She had received the impression that they +were going to stay with colored people; and when she +saw a white lady and three daughters come out to the +wagon to meet her, she was much disturbed, and said to +William, "I thought they were colored people." "It is +all the same as if they were," replied he. "They are +our good friends." "It is <i>not</i> all the same," said Ellen, +decidedly. "I have no faith in white people. They will +be sending us back into Slavery. I am going right off." +She had not then become acquainted with the Abolitionists. +She had heard her master and other Southerners +talk about them as very bad men, who would make slaves +believe they were their friends, and then sell them into +distant countries. The Quaker lady saw that she was +afraid, and she went up to her and took her very kindly +by the hand, saying: "How art thou, my dear? We are +very glad to see thee and thy husband. We have heard +about thy marvellous escape from Slavery. Come in and +warm thyself. I dare say thou art cold and hungry after +thy journey." Ellen thanked her, and allowed herself +to be led into the house. Still she did not feel quite safe +in that strange place, away from all her people. When +Mrs. Ivens attempted to remove her bonnet, she said, +"No, I thank you. I am not going to stop long." "Poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +child!" said the good Quaker mother, "I don't wonder +thou art timid. But don't be afraid. Thou art among +friends who would as soon sell their own daughters into +Slavery as betray thee. We would not harm a hair of +thy head for the world." The kindly face and the motherly +tones melted the heart of the poor frightened fugitive, +and the tears began to flow. They stayed several +weeks in that hospitable house, and the son and daughters +took so much pains to teach them to read and write, +that before they left they could spell a little, and write +their names quite legibly. They were strongly urged to +stay longer, and would have done so had they not been +very desirous to be earning their own living. When +they left this excellent family it seemed like parting with +near and dear relatives.</p> + +<p>In Boston they were introduced to William Lloyd +Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Francis Jackson, Rev. Theodore +Parker, and other good men, who had for years +been laboring for the emancipation of the slaves. The +fugitives made a favorable impression on strangers at first +sight. They both looked intelligent and honest. William +had a very manly air, and Ellen was modest and +ladylike in her manners.</p> + +<p>Their marriage in Georgia had been, like other slave +marriages, without a certificate; therefore they were desirous +to have the ceremony performed again, with all +the forms of law, now that they were in a free land. +They were accordingly married by the Rev. Mr. Parker, +at the house of a respectable colored citizen of Boston, +named Lewis Hayden. Mr. Crafts was employed at his +trade, and his wife obtained work as a seamstress. They +lived in Boston two years, during which time they established +an excellent character by their honest industry and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +correct deportment. They earned a comfortable living, +and might have laid by some money if circumstances +had permitted them to remain in Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>But in 1850 the Congress of the United States, under +the influence of slaveholders, passed a very wicked act +called the Fugitive Slave Bill. There was in Boston at +that time a celebrated lawyer named Daniel Webster. +He wanted to be President of the United States, and for +many years no man had been able to get elected to that +office unless he pleased the slaveholders. He accordingly +used his great influence to help the passage of the +bill, and advised the people of Massachusetts to get over +their scruples about hunting slaves. He died without being +President; and I hope God forgave the great sin into +which his ambition led him. By that cruel act of Congress, +everybody, all over the country, was required to +send back fugitive slaves to their masters. Whoever +concealed them or helped them in any way became +liable to a year's imprisonment and a fine of a thousand +dollars, besides paying the price of the slave. In all the +Northern cities there were many honest, industrious colored +people who had escaped from Slavery years before, +and were now getting a comfortable living. Many of +them had married at the North and reared families. +But when slaveholders gained this victory over the conscience +of the North, they were compelled to leave their +business and their homes, and hide themselves wheresoever +they could. Mr. and Mrs. Crafts had many zealous +friends in Boston, but the friends of the slaveholders +were more numerous. For some time past, Southerners +had been rather reluctant to hunt slaves in Massachusetts, +because the public opinion of the people was +so much opposed to Slavery, that they found it a difficult<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +and disagreeable job. But after the passage of that unrighteous +bill, they and their pro-slavery accomplices at +the North became more bold.</p> + +<p>One day, while Mr. Crafts was busy in his shop, he +received a visit from a man by the name of Knight, who +used to work in the same shop with him in Georgia. +He professed to be much pleased to see William again, +and invited him to walk round the streets and show him +the curiosities of Boston. Mr. Crafts told him he had +work to do, and was very busy. The next day he tried +again; but finding Mr. Crafts still too busy to walk +with him, he said: "I wish you would come to see me +at the United States Hotel, and bring your wife with +you. She would like to hear from her mother. If you +want to send letters to Georgia, I will take them for +you." This was followed by a badly spelled note to +Mr. Crafts, informing him that he was going to leave +Boston early the next morning, and if he wanted to send +a letter to Georgia he must bring it to him at the hotel +after tea. Mr. Crafts smiled that he should think him +silly enough to walk into such an open trap. Mr. Knight +had told him that he came to Boston alone; but when he +questioned the hotel-servant who brought the note, he +was told that a Mr. Hughes from Georgia accompanied +him. Mr. Hughes was a notorious slave-catcher, and the +jailer of Macon. Mr. Crafts continued to work at his +shop; but he kept the door locked, and a loaded pistol +beside him.</p> + +<p>Finding that his intended victim was too much on his +guard to be caught by trickery, Mr. Hughes applied to +the United States Court in Boston and obtained a warrant +to arrest William and Ellen Crafts as fugitive +slaves. This produced tremendous excitement. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +Abolitionists were determined that they should not be +carried back into Slavery. They had people everywhere +on the watch, and employed lawyers to throw all manner +of difficulties in the way of the slave-hunters, whose persons +and manners were described in the newspapers in a +way by no means agreeable to them. The colored people +held large meetings, and passed various spirited resolutions, +among which was the following: "<i>Resolved</i>, Man +wills us slaves, but God wills us free. We will as God +wills. God's will be done." Two hundred of them +armed themselves and vowed that they would defend +William and Ellen Crafts to the death. Mr. Crafts +said very calmly, but very resolutely, that they should +never take him alive. Hughes the slave-catcher swore: +"I'll have 'em if I stay in Boston to all eternity. If +there a'n't men enough in Massachusetts to take 'em, I'll +bring men from Georgia." Merchants in Boston, thinking +only of their trade with the South, sympathized with +those men engaged in such a base calling; and the +United States officials did all they could to help them. +But though they received countenance and aid from +many influential men in Boston, those hirelings of +Slavery could not help feeling ashamed of their business. +They complained that the boys in the streets hooted after +them, and that wherever they made their appearance, +people called out, "There go the slave-hunters!" They +heard that the Abolitionists were preparing to arrest them +and try them as kidnappers; and the number of colored +people who watched their movements with angry looks +made them wish themselves back in Georgia. During +all this commotion, the conduct of Mr. Crafts excited +universal admiration. He was resolute, but very calm. +If there had been any law to protect him, he would have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +appealed to the law, rather than have harmed a hair of +any man's head; but left defenceless as he was among a +pack of wolves hunting him and his innocent wife, he +was determined to defend his freedom at any cost.</p> + +<p>Ellen was secretly conveyed out of the city. Mr. and +Mrs. Ellis Gray Loring of Boston were excellent people, +always kind to the poor and true friends to the oppressed +slaves. They spent their summers in the neighboring +town of Brookline. A Boston physician, who +was an Abolitionist, carried Ellen to their house in the +evening. Mr. and Mrs. Loring were both absent from +home for a few days, but a lady who was staying in the +house received her with great kindness. She stayed +there two days, assisting the lady very industriously and +skilfully with her needle. Her mind was full of anxiety +about her husband, whom she had left in the city exposed +to the most fearful danger. She was very wakeful +through the night, listening to every noise. As soon as +she became drowsy, she would wake with a sudden start +from some bad dream. She dreamed that she and William +were running from the Georgia slave-catcher, and +that Daniel Webster was close behind them, pointing a +pistol at them. It was a sad thing that a man of such +intellectual ability as Mr. Webster, and with so much +influence in society, should make such bad use of his +great power that he haunted the dreams of the poor and +the oppressed. Ellen rose in the morning with a feeling +of weariness and a great load upon her heart. But she +kept back the tears that were ready to flow, and was so +quiet and sweet-tempered that she completely gained the +hearts of her protectors. Early the next evening, the +same friend who carried Ellen from the city brought her +husband to her. He also had been sleepless, and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +worn down with fatigue and anxiety. They were advised +to retire to rest immediately, to remain in their +room with the door locked, and be careful not to show +themselves at the window. They followed these directions, +and the lady was hoping they would both have +peaceful and refreshing slumber, when Ellen came to say +that her husband wanted to speak with her. She found +him standing by the fireplace looking very sad, but with +a dignified calmness that seemed to her truly noble in the +midst of such dreadful danger. As she entered he said, +"Ellen has just told me that Mr. and Mrs. Loring are +absent from home. If we should be found in his house, +he would be liable to imprisonment and a heavy fine. It +is wrong for us to expose him to this danger without his +knowledge and consent. We must seek shelter elsewhere." +The lady replied: "Mr. Loring would feel +troubled to have you leave his house under such circumstances. +He is the best and kindest of men, and +a great friend of the colored people." "That makes it +all the more wrong for us to bring him into trouble on +our account, without his knowledge," replied Mr. Crafts. +Ellen had kept up bravely all day, but now her courage +began to fail. She looked up with tears swimming in +her handsome eyes and said: "O William, it is so dark +and rainy to-night, and it seems so safe here! We may +be seen and followed, if we go out. You said you didn't +sleep last night. I started up from a little nap, dreaming +that Daniel Webster was chasing us with a loaded pistol. +I thought of all manner of horrid things that might be +happening to you, and I couldn't sleep any more. Don't +you think we might stay here just this one night?" He +looked at her with pity in his eyes, but said, very firmly, +"Ellen, it wouldn't be right." Without another word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +she prepared to go, though the tears were falling fast. +The lady, finding his mind too fixed to be changed by her +persuasions, sent a guide with them to the house of Mr. +Philbrick, a worthy, kind-hearted gentleman, who lived +about half a mile off. She herself told me the story; +and she said she never felt so much respect and admiration +for any human beings as she did for those two +hunted slaves when she saw them walk out into the +darkness and rain because they thought it wrong to endanger, +without his consent, a friend of their persecuted +people. She felt anxious lest the slave-catcher or his +agents might seize them on the road, and it was a great +relief to her mind when the guide returned and said Mr. +Philbrick received them gladly.</p> + +<p>After a few more days of peril they were secretly put +on board a vessel, which conveyed them to England. +They carried letters which introduced them to good people, +who contributed money to put them to school for a +while. Their intelligence, industry, and good conduct +confirmed the favorable impression made by their first +appearance. In 1860, Mr. Crafts published a little book +giving an account of their "Running a Thousand Miles +for Freedom." They have now been living in England +fifteen years. By their united industry and good management +they earned a comfortable living, and laid by +a little, year after year, until they had enough to buy a +small house in the village of Hammersmith, not far from +the great city of London. There they keep their children +at the best of schools, and pay taxes which help to +support the poor in the country which protected them in +their time of danger and distress.</p> + +<p>The honesty, energy, and good sense of Mr. Crafts inspired +so much respect and confidence in England, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +the Quakers and other benevolent people, who wish to do +good to Africa, also merchants, who want to open trade +with that region, sent him out there with a valuable cargo +of goods, in November, 1862. The mission he is performing +is very important to the well-being of the world, +as you will see by the following explanation.</p> + +<p>Africa is four thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean +from the United States. It is inhabited by numerous +tribes of black people, each tribe with a separate government. +These tribes vary in degrees of intelligence and +civilization; but they are generally of a peaceable and +kindly disposition, unless greatly provoked by wrongs +from others. Where they are safe from attack they live +in little villages of huts, and raise yams, rice, and other +grain for food. They weave coarse cloth from cotton, +merely by means of sticks stuck in the ground, and in +some places they color it with gay patterns. They make +very pretty baskets and mats from grasses, and some of +the tribes manufacture rude tools of iron and ornaments +of gold. But a constant state of warfare has hindered +the improvement of the Africans; for men have very little +encouragement to build good houses, and make convenient +furniture, and plant grain, if enemies are likely to +come any night and burn and trample it all to the ground. +These continual wars have been largely caused by the +slave-trade. Formerly the African chiefs sold men into +Slavery only in punishment for some crime they had +committed, or to work out a debt they had failed to pay, +or because they were prisoners taken in war. These +customs were barbarous enough, but they were not so +bad as what they were afterward taught to do by nations +calling themselves Christians. In various countries of +Europe and America there were white people too proud<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +and lazy to work, but desirous to dress in the best and +live on the fat of the land. They sent ships out to Africa +to bring them negroes, whom they compelled to work +without wages, with coarse, scanty food, and scarcely +any clothing. They grew rich on the labor of these +poor creatures, and spent their own time in drinking, +gambling, and horse-racing. Slave-traders, in order to +supply them with as many negroes as they wanted, would +steal all the men, women, and children they could catch +on the coast of Africa; and would buy others from the +chiefs, paying them mostly in rum and gunpowder. This +made the different tribes very desirous to go to war with +each other, in order to take prisoners to sell to the slave-traders; +and the more rum they drank, the more full of +fight they were. This mean and cruel business has been +carried on by white men four hundred years; and all that +while African villages have been burned in the night, +and harvests trampled, and men, women, and children +carried off to hopeless Slavery in distant lands. This +continual violence, and intercourse with such bad white +men as the slave-traders, kept the Africans barbarous; +and made them much more barbarous than they would +otherwise have been. Such a state of things made it +impossible for them to improve, as they would have done +if the nations called Christians had sent them spelling-books +and Bibles instead of rum, teachers instead of +slave-traders, and tools and machinery instead of gunpowder.</p> + +<p>Of all the African chiefs the King of Dahomey is the +most powerful. He sends armed men all about the country +to carry off people and sell them to Europeans and +Americans. In that bad way he has grown richer than +other chiefs, and more hard-hearted. Benevolent people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +in England have long desired to stop the ravages of the +slave-trade and to teach the Africans better things. The +dearth of cotton in the United States, occasioned by the +Rebellion of the planters, turned the attention of English +merchants in the same direction. It was accordingly +agreed to send Mr. Crafts to Dahomey to open a trade, +and try to convince the king that it would be more profitable +to him to employ men in raising cotton than to sell +them for slaves. He was well received by the King of +Dahomey, who shows a disposition to be influenced by +his judicious counsels. This is a great satisfaction to Mr. +Crafts, desirous as he is of elevating people of his own +color. Numbers who were destined to be sold into foreign +Slavery are already employed in raising cotton in their +native land. Wars will become less frequent; and the +African tribes will gradually learn that the arts of peace +are more profitable, as well as more pleasant. This will +bring them into communication with a better class of +white men; and I hope that, before another hundred +years have passed away, there will be Christian churches +all over Africa, and school-houses for the children.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crafts sold all the goods he carried out in the first +vessel, and managed the business so well that he was sent +out with another cargo. He is now one of the most enterprising +and respected merchants in that part of the world; +and his labors produce better results than mere money, +for they are the means of making men wiser and better. +How much would have been lost to himself and the world +if he had remained a slave in Georgia, not allowed to +profit by his own industry, and forbidden to improve his +mind by learning to read!</p> + +<p>Mr. M. D. Conway, the son of a slaveholder in Virginia, +but a very able and zealous friend of the colored<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +people, recently visited England, and sent the following +letter to Boston, where it was read with great interest by +the numerous friends of William and Ellen Crafts:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="quotdate"> + +"<span class="smcap">London</span>, October 29th, 1864.<br /> +</p> + +<p>"A walk one pleasant morning across a green common, +then through a quiet street of the village called +Hammersmith, brought me to the house of an American +whom I respect as much as any now in Europe; namely, +William Crafts, once a slave in Georgia, then a hunted +fugitive in Massachusetts, but now a respected citizen +of England, and the man who is doing more to redeem +Africa from her cruel superstitions than all other forces +put together. He lately came home from Dahomey, the +ship-load of goods that he had taken out to Africa from +Liverpool having been entirely sold. The merchants +who sent him are preparing another cargo for him, and +he will probably leave the country this week. His +theory is, that commerce is to destroy the abominations +in the realm of Dahomey. He is very black, but he +finds the color which was so much against him in +America a leading advantage to him in Africa. Ellen, +his wife, told us that she was too white to go with him. +He was absent on business in Liverpool, and thus, to my +regret, I missed the opportunity of seeing him. There +was a pretty little girl, and three unusually handsome +boys. They all inherit the light complexion and beauty +of their mother. We found Mrs. Crafts busy packing +her husband's trunk for his next voyage. She showed +us a number of interesting things which he had brought +from Africa. Among them were birds of bright plumage, +a belt worn by the Amazons in war, a sword made by +the Africans, breastpins, and other excellent specimens<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +of work in metals. I remembered that years ago the +sight of similar things inspired Clarkson with his strong +faith in the improvability of the African race.</p> + +<p>"William and Ellen Crafts own the house in which +they live. After that brave flight of a thousand miles for +freedom, after the dangers which surrounded them in +Massachusetts, it did my heart good to see them enjoying +their own simple but charming home, to see them thus +living under their own vine and fig-tree, none daring to +molest or make them afraid.</p> + +<p class="quotsig">"<span class="smcap">M. D. Conway.</span>" +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Crafts has used her needle diligently to make +garments for the colored people of the United States +emancipated by President Lincoln's Proclamation. She +has had the pleasure of hearing that her mother is among +them, healthy, and still young looking for her years. As +soon as arrangements can be made she will go to England +to rejoin her daughter, whom she has not seen since +her hazardous flight from Georgia.</p> + +<p>I think all who read this romantic but true story +will agree with me in thinking that few white people +have shown as much intelligence, moral worth, and +refinement of feeling as the fugitive slaves William and +Ellen Crafts.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>In February, 1861, the Emperor of Russia proclaimed freedom +to twenty-three millions of serfs. Finding their freedom +was not secure in the hands of their former masters, he afterward +completed the good work by investing the freedmen with +civil and political rights; including the right to testify in court, +the right to vote, and the right to hold office.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="SPRING" id="SPRING"></a>SPRING.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY GEORGE HORTON.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hail, thou auspicious vernal dawn!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye birds, proclaim that winter's gone!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ye warbling minstrels, sing!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pour forth your tribute as ye rise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thus salute the fragrant skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The pleasing smiles of spring!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Coo sweetly, O thou harmless dove,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And bid thy mate no longer rove<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In cold hybernal vales!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let music rise from every tongue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whilst winter flies before the song<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which floats on gentle gales.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ye frozen streams, dissolve and flow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Along the valley sweet and slow!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Divested fields, be gay!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ye drooping forests, bloom on high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And raise your branches to the sky;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And thus your charms display!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thou world of heat! thou vital source!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The torpid insects feel thy force,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which all with life supplies.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gardens and orchards richly bloom,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And send a gale of sweet perfume,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To invite them as they rise.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i0">Near where the crystal waters glide<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The male of birds escorts his bride,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And twitters on the spray;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He mounts upon his active wing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To hail the bounty of the spring,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The lavish pomp of May.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_GOOD_GRANDMOTHER" id="THE_GOOD_GRANDMOTHER"></a>THE GOOD GRANDMOTHER.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY HARRIET JACOBS.</p> + + +<p>I had a great treasure in my maternal grandmother, +who was a remarkable woman in many respects. +She was the daughter of a planter in South Carolina, +who, at his death, left her and her mother free, with +money to go to St. Augustine, where they had relatives. +It was during the Revolutionary War, and they were +captured on their passage, carried back, and sold to different +purchasers. Such was the story my grandmother +used to tell me. She was sold to the keeper of a large +hotel, and I have often heard her tell how hard she fared +during childhood. But as she grew older she evinced +so much intelligence, and was so faithful, that her master +and mistress could not help seeing it was for their interest +to take care of such a valuable piece of property. +She became an indispensable person in the household, +officiating in all capacities, from cook and wet-nurse to +seamstress. She was much praised for her cooking; and +her nice crackers became so famous in the neighborhood +that many people were desirous of obtaining them. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +consequence of numerous requests of this kind, she asked +permission of her mistress to bake crackers at night, after +all the household work was done; and she obtained leave +to do it, provided she would clothe herself and the children +from the profits. Upon these terms, after working +hard all day for her mistress, she began her midnight +bakings, assisted by her two oldest children. The business +proved profitable; and each year she laid by a little, +to create a fund for the purchase of her children. Her +master died, and his property was divided among the +heirs. My grandmother remained in the service of his +widow, as a slave. Her children were divided among +her master's children; but as she had five, Benjamin, the +youngest, was sold, in order that the heirs might have an +equal portion of dollars and cents. There was so little +difference in our ages, that he always seemed to me more +like a brother than an uncle. He was a bright, handsome +lad, nearly white; for he inherited the complexion +my grandmother had derived from Anglo-Saxon ancestors. +His sale was a terrible blow to his mother; but +she was naturally hopeful, and she went to work with +redoubled energy, trusting in time to be able to purchase +her children. One day, her mistress begged the loan of +three hundred dollars from the little fund she had laid +up from the proceeds of her baking. She promised to +pay her soon; but as no promise or writing given to a +slave is legally binding, she was obliged to trust solely to +her honor.</p> + +<p>In my master's house very little attention was paid +to the slaves' meals. If they could catch a bit of food +while it was going, well and good. But I gave myself +no trouble on that score; for on my various errands I +passed my grandmother's house, and she always had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +something to spare for me. I was frequently threatened +with punishment if I stopped there; and my grandmother, +to avoid detaining me, often stood at the gate with something +for my breakfast or dinner. I was indebted to her +for all my comforts, spiritual or temporal. It was <i>her</i> +labor that supplied my scanty wardrobe. I have a vivid +recollection of the linsey-woolsey dress given me every +winter by Mrs. Flint. How I hated it! It was one of +the badges of Slavery. While my grandmother was thus +helping to support me from her hard earnings, the three +hundred dollars she lent her mistress was never repaid. +When her mistress died, my master, who was her son-in-law, +was appointed executor. When grandmother applied +to him for payment, he said the estate was insolvent, and +the law prohibited payment. It did not, however, prohibit +him from retaining the silver candelabra which +had been purchased with that money. I presume they +will be handed down in the family from generation +to generation.</p> + +<p>My grandmother's mistress had always promised that +at her death she should be free; and it was said that in +her will she made good the promise. But when the estate +was settled, Dr. Flint told the faithful old servant that, +under existing circumstances, it was necessary she should +be sold.</p> + +<p>On the appointed day the customary advertisement +was posted up, proclaiming that there would be "a public +sale of negroes, horses, &c." Dr. Flint called to tell my +grandmother that he was unwilling to wound her feelings +by putting her up at auction, and that he would prefer +to dispose of her at private sale. She saw through his +hypocrisy, and understood very well that he was ashamed +of the job. She was a very spirited woman; and if he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +was base enough to sell her, after her mistress had made +her free by her will, she was determined the public should +know it. She had, for a long time, supplied many families +with crackers and preserves; consequently "Aunt +Marthy," as she was called, was generally known; and +all who knew her respected her intelligence and good +character. It was also well known that her mistress had +intended to leave her free, as a reward for her long and +faithful services. When the day of sale came, she took +her place among the chattels, and at the first call she +sprang upon the auction-block. She was then fifty years +old. Many voices called out: "Shame! shame! Who's +going to sell <i>you</i>, Aunt Marthy? Don't stand there. +That's no place for <i>you</i>." She made no answer, but +quietly awaited her fate. No one bid for her. At last +a feeble voice said, "Fifty dollars." It came from a +maiden lady, seventy years old, the sister of my grandmother's +deceased mistress. She had lived forty years +under the same roof with my grandmother; she knew +how faithfully she had served her owners, and how cruelly +she had been defrauded of her rights, and she resolved to +protect her. The auctioneer waited for a higher bid; but +her wishes were respected; no one bid above her. The +old lady could neither read nor write; and when the bill +of sale was made out, she signed it with a cross. But of +what consequence was that, when she had a big heart +overflowing with human kindness? She gave the faithful +old servant her freedom.</p> + +<p>My grandmother had always been a mother to her +orphan grandchildren, as far as that was possible in a +condition of Slavery. Her perseverance and unwearied +industry continued unabated after her time was her own, +and she soon became mistress of a snug little home, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +surrounded herself with the necessaries of life. She would +have been happy, if her family could have shared them +with her. There remained to her but three children and +two grandchildren; and they were all slaves. Most earnestly +did she strive to make us feel that it was the will of +God; that He had seen fit to place us under such circumstances, +and though it seemed hard, we ought to pray +for contentment. It was a beautiful faith, coming from +a mother who could not call her children her own. But +I and Benjamin, her youngest boy, condemned it. It +appeared to us that it was much more according to the +will of God that we should be free, and able to make a +home for ourselves, as she had done. There we always +found balsam for our troubles. She was so loving, so +sympathizing! She always met us with a smile, and listened +with patience to all our sorrows. She spoke so +hopefully, that unconsciously the clouds gave place to +sunshine. There was a grand big oven there, too, that +baked bread and nice things for the town; and we knew +there was always a choice bit in store for us. But even +the charms of that old oven failed to reconcile us to our +hard lot. Benjamin was now a tall, handsome lad, +strongly and gracefully made, and with a spirit too bold +and daring for a slave.</p> + +<p>One day his master attempted to flog him for not obeying +his summons quickly enough. Benjamin resisted, and +in the struggle threw his master down. To raise his hand +against a white man was a great crime, according to the +laws of the State; and to avoid a cruel, public whipping, +Benjamin hid himself and made his escape. My +grandmother was absent, visiting an old friend in the +country, when this happened. When she returned, and +found her youngest child had fled, great was her sorrow.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +But, with characteristic piety, she said, "God's will be +done." Every morning she inquired whether any news +had been heard from her boy. Alas! news did come,—sad +news. The master received a letter, and was rejoicing +over the capture of his human chattel.</p> + +<p>That day seems to me but as yesterday, so well do I +remember it. I saw him led through the streets in chains +to jail. His face was ghastly pale, but full of determination. +He had sent some one to his mother's house to ask +her not to come to meet him. He said the sight of her +distress would take from him all self-control. Her heart +yearned to see him, and she went; but she screened herself +in the crowd, that it might be as her child had said.</p> + +<p>We were not allowed to visit him. But we had known +the jailer for years, and he was a kind-hearted man. At +midnight he opened the door for my grandmother and +myself to enter, in disguise. When we entered the cell, +not a sound broke the stillness. "Benjamin," whispered +my grandmother. No answer. "Benjamin!" said she, +again, in a faltering tone. There was a jingling of chains. +The moon had just risen, and cast an uncertain light +through the bars. We knelt down and took Benjamin's +cold hands in ours. Sobs alone were heard, while she +wept upon his neck. At last Benjamin's lips were unsealed. +Mother and son talked together. He asked her +pardon for the suffering he had caused her. She told +him she had nothing to forgive; that she could not blame +him for wanting to be free. He told her that he broke +away from his captors, and was about to throw himself +into the river, but thoughts of her came over him and +arrested the movement. She asked him if he did not +also think of God. He replied: "No, mother, I did not. +When a man is hunted like a wild beast, he forgets that +there <i>is</i> a God."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>The pious mother shuddered, as she said: "Don't talk +so, Benjamin. Try to be humble, and put your trust in +God."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had some of your goodness," he replied. +"You bear everything patiently, just as though you +thought it was all right. I wish I could."</p> + +<p>She told him it had not always been so with her; that +once she was like him; but when sore troubles came upon +her, and she had no arm to lean upon, she learned to +call on God, and he lightened her burdens. She besought +him to do so likewise.</p> + +<p>The jailer came to tell us we had overstayed our time, +and we were obliged to hurry away. Grandmother went +to the master and tried to intercede for her son. But he +was inexorable. He said Benjamin should be made an +example of. That he should be kept in jail till he was +sold. For three months he remained within the walls of +the prison, during which time grandmother secretly conveyed +him changes of clothes, and as often as possible +carried him something warm for supper, accompanied +with some little luxury for her friend the jailer. He +was finally sold to a slave-trader from New Orleans. +When they fastened irons upon his wrists to drive him +off with the coffle, it was heart-rending to hear the groans +of that poor mother, as she clung to the Benjamin of her +family,—her youngest, her pet. He was pale and thin +now, from hardships and long confinement; but still his +good looks were so observable that the slave-trader remarked +he would give any price for the handsome lad, +if he were a girl. We, who knew so well what Slavery +was, were thankful that he was not.</p> + +<p>Grandmother stifled her grief, and with strong arms +and unwavering faith set to work to purchase freedom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +for Benjamin. She knew the slave-trader would charge +three times as much as he gave for him; but she was not +discouraged. She employed a lawyer to write to New +Orleans, and try to negotiate the business for her. But +word came that Benjamin was missing; he had run away +again.</p> + +<p>Philip, my grandmother's only remaining son, inherited +his mother's intelligence. His mistress sometimes trusted +him to go with a cargo to New York. One of these occasions +occurred not long after Benjamin's second escape. +Through God's good providence the brothers met in the +streets of New York. It was a happy meeting, though +Benjamin was very pale and thin; for on his way from +bondage he had been taken violently ill, and brought nigh +unto death. Eagerly he embraced his brother, exclaiming: +"O Phil! here I am at last. I came nigh dying +when I was almost in sight of freedom; and O how I +prayed that I might live just to get one breath of free +air! And here I am. In the old jail, I used to wish I +was dead. But life is worth something now, and it would +be hard to die." He begged his brother not to go back +to the South, but to stay and work with him till they +earned enough to buy their relatives.</p> + +<p>Philip replied: "It would kill mother if I deserted her. +She has pledged her house, and is working harder than +ever to buy you. Will you be bought?"</p> + +<p>"Never!" replied Benjamin, in his resolute tone. +"When I have got so far out of their clutches, do you +suppose, Phil, that I would ever let them be paid one +red cent? Do you think I would consent to have mother +turned out of her hard-earned home in her old age? And +she never to see me after she had bought me? For you +know, Phil, she would never leave the South while any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +of her children or grandchildren remained in Slavery. +What a good mother! Tell her to buy <i>you</i>, Phil. You +have always been a comfort to her; and I have always +been making her trouble."</p> + +<p>Philip furnished his brother with some clothes, and +gave him what money he had. Benjamin pressed his +hand, and said, with moistened eyes, "I part from all my +kindred." And so it proved. We never heard from him +afterwards.</p> + +<p>When Uncle Philip came home, the first words he said, +on entering the house, were: "O mother, Ben is free! +I have seen him in New York." For a moment she +seemed bewildered. He laid his hand gently on her +shoulder and repeated what he had said. She raised +her hands devoutly, and exclaimed, "God be praised! +Let us thank Him." She dropped on her knees and +poured forth her heart in prayer. When she grew calmer, +she begged Philip to sit down and repeat every word her +son had said. He told her all, except that Benjamin had +nearly died on the way and was looking very pale and +thin.</p> + +<p>Still the brave old woman toiled on to accomplish the +rescue of her remaining children. After a while she +succeeded in buying Philip, for whom she paid eight +hundred dollars, and came home with the precious document +that secured his freedom. The happy mother and +son sat by her hearthstone that night, telling how proud +they were of each other, and how they would prove to +the world that they could take care of themselves, as they +had long taken care of others. We all concluded by saying, +"He that is <i>willing</i> to be a slave, let him be a slave."</p> + +<p>My grandmother had still one daughter remaining in +Slavery. She belonged to the same master that I did;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +and a hard time she had of it. She was a good soul, this +old Aunt Nancy. She did all she could to supply the +place of my lost mother to us orphans. She was the +<i>factotum</i> in our master's household. She was house-keeper, +waiting-maid, and everything else: nothing went +on well without her, by day or by night. She wore herself +out in their service. Grandmother toiled on, hoping +to purchase release for her. But one evening word was +brought that she had been suddenly attacked with paralysis, +and grandmother hastened to her bedside. Mother +and daughter had always been devotedly attached to +each other; and now they looked lovingly and earnestly +into each other's eyes, longing to speak of secrets that +weighed on the hearts of both. She lived but two days, +and on the last day she was speechless. It was sad to +witness the grief of her bereaved mother. She had +always been strong to bear, and religious faith still supported +her; but her dark life had become still darker, +and age and trouble were leaving deep traces on her +withered face. The poor old back was fitted to its burden. +It bent under it, but did not break.</p> + +<p>Uncle Philip asked permission to bury his sister at his +own expense; and slaveholders are always ready to +grant <i>such</i> favors to slaves and their relatives. The +arrangements were very plain, but perfectly respectable. +It was talked of by the slaves as a mighty grand funeral. +If Northern travellers had been passing through the +place, perhaps they would have described it as a beautiful +tribute to the humble dead, a touching proof of the +attachment between slaveholders and their slaves; and +very likely the mistress would have confirmed this impression, +with her handkerchief at her eyes. <i>We</i> could +have told them how the poor old mother had toiled, year<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +after year, to buy her son Philip's right to his own earnings; +and how that same Philip had paid the expenses +of the funeral which they regarded as doing so much +credit to the master.</p> + +<p>There were some redeeming features in our hard destiny. +Very pleasant are my recollections of the good +old lady who paid fifty dollars for the purpose of making +my grandmother free, when she stood on the auction-block. +She loved this old lady, whom we all called +Miss Fanny. She often took tea at grandmother's +house. On such occasions, the table was spread with a +snow-white cloth, and the china cups and silver spoons +were taken from the old-fashioned buffet. There were +hot muffins, tea-rusks, and delicious sweetmeats. My +grandmother always had a supply of such articles, because +she furnished the ladies of the town with such +things for their parties. She kept two cows for that +purpose, and the fresh cream was Miss Fanny's delight. +She invariably repeated that it was the very best in +town. The old ladies had cosey times together. They +would work and chat, and sometimes, while talking over +old times, their spectacles would get dim with tears, and +would have to be taken off and wiped. When Miss +Fanny bade us "Good by," her bag was always filled +with grandmother's best cakes, and she was urged to +come again soon.</p> + +<p>[Here follows a long account of persecutions endured +by the granddaughter, who tells this story. She finally +made her escape, after encountering great dangers and +hardships. The faithful old grandmother concealed her +for a long time at great risk to them both, during which +time she tried in vain to buy free papers for her. At +last there came a chance to escape in a vessel Northward +bound. She goes on to say:—]</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All arrangements were made for me to go on board at +dusk. Grandmother came to me with a small bag of +money, which she wanted me to take. I begged her to +keep at least part of it; but she insisted, while her tears +fell fast, that I should take the whole. 'You may be +sick among strangers,' said she; 'and they would send +you to the poor-house to die.' Ah, that good grandmother! +Though I had the blessed prospect of freedom +before me, I felt dreadfully sad at leaving forever that +old homestead, that had received and sheltered me in so +many sorrows. Grandmother took me by the hand and +said, 'My child, let us pray.' We knelt down together, +with my arm clasped round the faithful, loving old +friend I was about to leave forever. On no other occasion +has it been my lot to listen to so fervent a supplication +for mercy and protection. It thrilled through my +heart and inspired me with trust in God. I staggered +into the street, faint in body, though strong of purpose. +I did not look back upon the dear old place, though I +felt that I should never see it again."</p> + +<p>[The granddaughter found friends at the North, and, +being uncommonly quick in her perceptions, she soon did +much to supply the deficiencies of early education. +While leading a worthy, industrious life in New York, +she twice very narrowly escaped becoming a victim to +the infamous Fugitive Slave Law. A noble-hearted +lady purchased her freedom, and thereby rescued her +from further danger. She thus closes the story of her +venerable ancestor:—]</p> + +<p>"My grandmother lived to rejoice in the knowledge of +my freedom; but not long afterward a letter came to me +with a black seal. It was from a friend at the South, +who informed me that she had gone 'where the wicked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.' +Among the gloomy recollections of my life in bondage +come tender memories of that good grandmother, like a +few fleecy clouds floating over a dark and troubled sea."</p> + +<p class="cit">H. J.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—The above account is no fiction. The author, +who was thirty years in Slavery, wrote it in an interesting +book entitled "Linda." She is an esteemed friend +of mine; and I introduce this portion of her story here +to illustrate the power of character over circumstances. +She has intense sympathy for those who are still suffering +in the bondage from which she escaped. She has +devoted all her energies to the poor refugees in our +camps, comforting the afflicted, nursing the sick, and +teaching the children. On the 1st of January, 1863, +she wrote me a letter, which began as follows: "I have +lived to hear the Proclamation of Freedom for my suffering +people. All my wrongs are forgiven. I am more +than repaid for all I have endured. Glory to God in +the highest!"</p> + +<p class="cit"><span class="smcap">L. M. Child.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="center">"THEY CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Our tobacco they plant, and our cotton they pick,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And our rice they can harvest and thrash;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They feed us in health, and they nurse us when sick,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And they earn—while we pocket—our cash.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They lead us when young, and they help us when old,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And their toil loads our tables and shelves;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But they're "niggers"; and <i>therefore</i> (the truth must be told)<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They cannot take care of <i>themselves</i>.</span> +</div> +<p class="cit"><span class="smcap">Rev. John Pierpont.</span><br /> +</p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_COLORED_MOTHERS_PRAYER" id="THE_COLORED_MOTHERS_PRAYER"></a>THE COLORED MOTHER'S PRAYER.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Great Father! who created all,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The colored and the fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O listen to a mother's call;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hear Thou the negro's prayer!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet once again thy people teach,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With lessons from above,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That they may <i>practise</i> what they <i>preach</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And <i>all</i> their neighbors love.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Again the Gospel precepts give;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Teach them this rule to know,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Such treatment as ye should <i>receive</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Be willing to <i>bestow</i>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then my poor child, my darling one,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Will never feel the smart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of their unjust and cruel scorn,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That withers all the heart.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Great Father! who created all,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The colored and the fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O listen to a mother's call;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hear Thou the negro's prayer!<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="WILLIAM_COSTIN" id="WILLIAM_COSTIN"></a>WILLIAM COSTIN.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. William Costin was for twenty-four +years porter of a bank in Washington, D. C. +Many millions of dollars passed through his hands, but not +a cent was ever missing, through fraud or carelessness. In +his daily life he set an example of purity and benevolence. +He adopted four orphan children into his family, and +treated them with the kindness of a father. His character +inspired general respect; and when he died, in 1842, the +newspapers of the city made honorable mention of him. +The directors of the bank passed a resolution expressive +of their high appreciation of his services, and his coffin +was followed to the grave by a very large procession of +citizens of all classes and complexions. Not long after, +when the Honorable John Quincy Adams was speaking +in Congress on the subject of voting, he said: "The +late William Costin, though he was not white, was as +much respected as any man in the District; and the large +concourse of citizens that attended his remains to the +grave—as well white as black—was an evidence of the +manner in which he was estimated by the citizens of +Washington. Now, why should such a man as that be +excluded from the elective franchise, when you admit the +vilest individuals of the white race to exercise it?"</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Strain every nerve, wrestle with every power God and +nature have put into your hands, for your place among the +races of this Western world.—<span class="smcap">Wendell Phillips</span>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="EDUCATION_OF_CHILDREN" id="EDUCATION_OF_CHILDREN"></a>EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>People of all colors and conditions love their offspring; +but very few consider sufficiently how +much the future character and happiness of their children +depend on their own daily language and habits. It +does very little good to teach children to be honest if the +person who teaches them is not scrupulous about taking +other people's property or using it without leave. It +does very little good to tell them they ought to be +modest, if they are accustomed to hear their elders use +unclean words or tell indecent stories. Primers and +catechisms may teach them to reverence God, but the +lesson will lose half its effect if they habitually hear their +parents curse and swear. Some two hundred years ago +a very learned astronomer named Sir Isaac Newton +lived in England. He was so devout that he always +took off his hat when the name of God was mentioned. +By that act of reverence he taught a religious lesson to +every child who witnessed it. Young souls are fed by +what they see and hear, just as their bodies are fed with +daily food. No parents who knew what they were doing +would give their little ones poisonous food, that would +produce fevers, ulcers, and death. It is of far more +consequence not to poison their souls; for the body +passes away, but the soul is immortal.</p> + +<p>When a traveller pointed to a stunted and crooked +tree and asked what made it grow so, a child replied,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +"I suppose somebody trod on it when it was little." It +is hard for children born in Slavery to grow up spiritually +straight and healthy, because they are trodden on +when they are little. Being constantly treated unjustly, +they cannot learn to be just. Their parents have no +power to protect them from evil influences. They cannot +prevent their continually seeing cruel and indecent +actions, and hearing profane and dirty words. Heretofore, +you could not educate your children, either morally +or intellectually. But now that you are freemen, responsibility +rests upon you. You will be answerable +before God for the influence you exert over the young +souls intrusted to your care. You may be too ignorant +to teach them much of book-learning, and you may be too +poor to spend much money for their education, but you +can set them a pure and good example by your conduct +and conversation. This you should try your utmost to +do, and should pray to the Heavenly Father to help you; +for it is a very solemn duty, this rearing of young souls +for eternity. That you yourselves have had a stunted +growth, from being trodden upon when you were little, +will doubtless make you more careful not to tread upon +them.</p> + +<p>It is necessary that children should be made obedient +to their elders, because they are not old enough to know +what is good for themselves; but obedience should always +be obtained by the gentlest means possible. Violence +excites anger and hatred, without doing any good to +counterbalance the evil. When it is necessary to punish +a child, it should be done in such a calm and reasonable +manner as to convince him that you do it for his good, +and not because you are in a rage.</p> + +<p>Slaves, all the world over, are generally much addicted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +to lying. The reason is, that if they have done any mischief +by carelessness or accident, they dare not tell the +truth about it for fear of a cruel flogging. Violent and +tyrannical treatment always produces that effect. Wherever +children are abused, whether they are white or +black, they become very cunning and deceitful; for when +the weak are tortured by the strong, they have no other +way to save themselves from suffering. Such treatment +does not cure faults; it only makes people lie to conceal +their faults. If a child does anything wrong, and confesses +it frankly, his punishment ought to be slight, in order to +encourage him in habits of truthfulness, which is one of +the noblest attributes of manhood. If he commits the +same fault a second time, even if he confesses it, he +ought not to be let off so easily, because it is necessary +to teach him that confession, though a very good thing, +will not supply the place of repentance. When children +are naughty, it is better to deprive them of some pleasant +thing that they want to eat or drink or do, than it is +to kick and cuff them. It is better to attract them +toward what is right than to drive them from what is +wrong. Thus if a boy is lazy, it is wiser to promise him +reward in proportion to his industry, than it is to cuff +and scold him, which will only make him shirk work as +soon as you are out of sight. Whereas, if you tell him, +"You shall have six cents if you dig one bushel of +potatoes, and six cents more if you dig two," he will +have a motive that will stimulate him when you are not +looking after him. If he is too lazy to be stimulated by +such offers, he must be told that he who digs no potatoes +must have none to eat.</p> + +<p>The moral education which you are all the time giving +your children, by what they hear you say and see you do,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +is of more consequence to them than reading and writing +and ciphering. But the education they get at school is +also very important; and it will be wise and kind in you +to buy such books as they need, and encourage them in +every way to become good scholars, as well as good men. +By so doing you will not only benefit them, but you will +help all your race. Every colored man or woman who +is virtuous and intelligent takes away something of prejudice +against colored men and women in general; and +it likewise encourages all their brethren and sisters, by +showing what colored people are capable of doing.</p> + +<p>The system of Slavery was all penalty and no attraction; +in other words, it punished men if they did <i>not</i> do, +but it did not reward them for <i>doing</i>. In the management +of your children you should do exactly the opposite +of this. You should appeal to their manhood, not to their +fears. After emancipation in the West Indies, planters +who had been violent slaveholders, if they saw a freedman +leaning on his hoe, would say, "Work, you black +rascal, or I'll flog you"; and the freedman would lean +all the longer on his hoe. Planters of a more wise and +moderate character, if they saw the emancipated laborers +idling away their time, would say, "We expect better +things of free men"; and that appeal to their manhood +made the hoes fly fast.</p> + +<p>Old men and women have been treated with neglect +and contempt in Slavery, because they were no longer +able to work for the profit of their masters. But respect +and tenderness are peculiarly due to the aged. They +have done much and suffered much. They are no longer +able to help themselves; and we should help them, as +they helped us in the feebleness of our infancy, and as +we may again need to be helped in the feebleness of age.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +Any want of kindness or civility toward the old ought +to be very seriously rebuked in children; and affectionate +attentions should be spoken of as praiseworthy.</p> + +<p>Slavery in every way fosters violence. Slave-children, +being in the habit of seeing a great deal of beating, early +form the habit of kicking and banging each other when +they are angry, and of abusing poor helpless animals +intrusted to their care. On all such occasions parents +should say to them: "Those are the ways of Slavery. +We expect better things of free children."</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p class="center">AN HONORABLE RECORD.</p> + +<p>In 1837 the colored population in Philadelphia numbered +eighteen thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight. Many of +them were poor and ignorant, and some of them were vicious; +as would be the case with any people under such discouraging +influences. But, notwithstanding they were excluded by +prejudice from all the most profitable branches of industry, +they had acquired property valued at one million three hundred +and fifty thousand dollars; five hundred and fifty thousand +was in real estate, and eight hundred thousand was +personal property. They had built sixteen churches, valued +at one hundred and fourteen thousand dollars, for the support +of which they annually paid over six thousand dollars. The +pauper tax they paid was more than enough to support all the +colored paupers in the city. They had eighty benevolent +societies, and during that year they had expended fourteen +thousand one hundred and seventy-two dollars for the relief +of the sick and the helpless. A number of them who had +been slaves had paid, in the course of that year, seventy thousand +seven hundred and thirty-three dollars to purchase their +own freedom, or that of their relatives.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THANK_GOD_FOR_LITTLE_CHILDREN" id="THANK_GOD_FOR_LITTLE_CHILDREN"></a>THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thank God for little children!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bright flowers by earth's wayside,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The dancing, joyous life-boats<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Upon life's stormy tide.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thank God for little children!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When our skies are cold and gray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They come as sunshine to our hearts,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And charm our cares away.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I almost think the angels,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who tend life's garden fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Drop down the sweet wild blossoms<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That bloom around us here.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It seems a breath of heaven<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Round many a cradle lies,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And every little baby<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Brings a message from the skies.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The humblest home, with children,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is rich in precious gems;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Better than wealth of monarchs,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or golden diadems.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dear mothers, guard these jewels<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As sacred offerings meet,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A wealth of household treasures,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To lay at Jesus' feet.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="SAM_AND_ANDY" id="SAM_AND_ANDY"></a>SAM AND ANDY.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.</p> + + +<p>A beautiful slave in Kentucky, named Eliza, +had a very handsome little boy. One day she overheard +her master making a bargain with a slave-trader +by the name of Haley to sell them both. She made her +escape that night, taking her child with her. Her mistress, +who was much attached to her, and did not want +to have her sold, was glad when she heard that Eliza +was gone; but her master, who was afraid the trader +would think he had helped her off after he had taken +the money for her, ordered the horses Bill and Jerry to +be brought, and two of his slaves, called Sam and Andy, +to go with the slave-trader in pursuit of the fugitive. The +way they contrived how <i>not</i> to overtake Eliza is thus told +in "Uncle Tom's Cabin":—</p> + +<p>"'Sam! Halloo, Sam!' said Andy. 'Mas'r wants you +to cotch Bill and Jerry.'</p> + +<p>"'High! what's afoot now?' said Sam.</p> + +<p>"'Why I s'pose you don't know that Lizy's cut stick, +and clared out, with her young un?'</p> + +<p>"'You teach your granny!' replied Sam, with infinite +contempt; 'knowed it a heap sooner than <i>you</i> did. This +nigger a'n't so green, now.'</p> + +<p>"'Wal, anyhow, Mas'r wants Bill and Jerry geared +right up; and you and I's to go with Mas'r Haley, to look +arter her,' said Andy.</p> + +<p>"Sam, who had just been contriving how he could make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +himself of importance on the plantation, exclaimed: 'Good, +now! dat's de time o' day! It's Sam dat's called for in +dese yere times. <i>He</i>'s de nigger. Mas'r'll see what +Sam can do!'</p> + +<p>"'Ah, you'd better think twice,' said Andy; 'for Missis +don't want her cotched, and she'll be in yer wool.'</p> + +<p>"'High! how you know dat?' said Sam, opening his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"'Heard her say so, my own self, dis blessed mornin', +when I bring in Mas'r's shaving-water. She sent me to +see why Lizy didn't come to dress her; and when I +telled her she was off, she jes ris up, and ses she, "The +Lord be praised!" Mas'r he seemed rael mad; and ses +he, "Wife, you talk like a fool." But, Lor! she'll bring +him to. I knows well enough how that'll be. It's allers +best to stand Missis's side the fence, now I tell yer,' said +Andy.</p> + +<p>"Sam scratched his woolly pate, and gave a hitch to +his pantaloons, as he had a habit of doing when his mind +was perplexed. 'Der a'n't never no sayin' 'bout no kind +o' thing in dis yere world,' said he at last. 'Now I'd a +said sartin that Missis would a scoured the varsal world +after Lizy.'</p> + +<p>"'So she would,' said Andy; 'but can't ye see through +a ladder, ye black nigger? Missis don't want dis yer +Mas'r Haley to get Lizy's boy; dat's de go. And I +'specs you'd better be making tracks for dem hosses,—mighty +sudden too,—for I hearn Missis 'quirin' arter +yer; so you've stood foolin' long enough.'</p> + +<p>"Sam, upon this, began to bestir himself in earnest, +and after a while appeared, bearing down gloriously towards +the house, with Bill and Jerry in a full canter. +Adroitly throwing himself off before they had any idea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +of stopping, he brought them up alongside the horse-post +like a tornado. Haley's horse, which was a skittish young +colt, winced and bounced, and pulled hard at his halter.</p> + +<p>"'Ho! ho!' said Sam, 'skeery, ar ye?' and his black +face lighted up with a curious, mischievous gleam. 'I'll +fix ye now,' said he.</p> + +<p>"There was a large beech-tree overshadowing the +place, and the small, sharp, triangular beech-nuts lay +scattered thickly on the ground. Sam stroked and patted +the colt, and while pretending to adjust the saddle, he +slipped under it a sharp little nut, in such a manner that +the least weight brought upon the saddle would annoy the +nervous animal, without leaving any perceptible wound.</p> + +<p>"'Dar, me fix 'em,' said he, rolling his eyes with an +approving grin.</p> + +<p>"At this moment Mrs. Shelby appeared on the balcony +and beckoned to him. 'Why have you been loitering so, +Sam?' said she. 'I sent Andy to tell you to hurry.'</p> + +<p>"'Bress you, Missis, hosses won't be cotched all in a +minit. They done clared out down to the south pasture, +and everywhar,' said Sam.</p> + +<p>"'Well, Sam,' replied his mistress, 'you are to go with +Mr. Haley to show him the road, and help him. Be careful +of the horses, Sam. You know Jerry was a little lame +last week. <i>Don't ride them too fast.</i>' She spoke the last +words in a low voice, and with strong emphasis.</p> + +<p>"'Let dis chile alone for dat,' said Sam, rolling up his +eyes with a look full of meaning. 'Yes, Missis, I'll look +out for de hosses.'</p> + +<p>"Sam returned to his stand under the beech-tree, and +said to Andy, 'Now, Andy, I wouldn't be 't all surprised +if dat ar gen'lman's crittur should gib a fling, by and by, +when he comes to be a gettin' up. You know, Andy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +critturs <i>will</i> do such things'; and Sam poked Andy in +the side, in a highly suggestive manner.</p> + +<p>"'High!' exclaimed Andy, with an air that showed he +understood instantly.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, you see, Andy, Missis wants to make time,' +said Sam; 'dat ar's cl'ar to der most or'nary 'bserver. +I jis make a little for her. Now, you see, get all dese +yere hosses loose, caperin' permiscus round dis yere lot, +and down to de wood dar, and I 'spec Mas'r won't be off +in a hurry.'</p> + +<p>"Andy grinned.</p> + +<p>"'You see, Andy,' said Sam, 'if any such thing should +happen as that Mas'r Haley's hoss <i>should</i> begin to act +contrary, and cut up, you and I jist lets go of <i>our'n</i> to +help him! O yes, we'll <i>help</i> him!' And Sam and Andy +laid their heads back on their shoulders, and broke into +a low, immoderate laugh, snapping their fingers, and +flourishing their heels with exquisite delight.</p> + +<p>"While they were enjoying themselves in this style, +Haley appeared on the verandah. Some cups of very +good coffee had somewhat mollified him, and he came out +smiling and talking in tolerably restored humor. Sam +and Andy clawed for their torn hats, and flew to the +horse-posts to be ready to 'help Mas'r.' The brim of +Sam's hat was all unbraided, and the slivers of the palm-leaf +started apart in every direction, giving it a blazing +air of freedom and defiance. The brim had gone entirely +from Andy's hat; but he thumped the crown on his head, +and looked about well pleased, as if to ask, 'Who says I +haven't got a hat?'</p> + +<p>"'Well, boys,' said Haley, 'be alive now. We must +lose no time.'</p> + +<p>"'Not a bit of him, Mas'r,' said Sam, putting Haley's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +rein into his hand and holding his stirrup, while Andy +was untying the other two horses.</p> + +<p>"The instant Haley touched the saddle the mettlesome +creature bounded from the earth with a sudden spring, +that threw his master sprawling some feet off, on the dry, +soft turf. With frantic ejaculations Sam made a dive at +the reins, but only succeeded in brushing the torn slivers +of his hat into the horse's eyes, which by no means tended +to allay the confusion of his nerves. With two or three +contemptuous snorts he upset Sam, flourished his heels +vigorously in the air, and pranced away toward the lower +end of the lawn. He was followed by Bill and Jerry, +whom Andy had not failed to let loose, according to contract, +speeding them off with various direful cries. And +now there was a scene of great confusion. Sam and +Andy ran and shouted; dogs ran barking here and there; +Mike, Mose, Mandy, Fanny, and all the smaller specimens +on the place, raced, whooped, shouted, and clapped +their hands with outrageous zeal. Haley's fleet horse +entered into the spirit of the scene with great gusto. He +raced round the lawn, which was half a mile in extent, +and seemed to take a mischievous delight in letting his +pursuers come within a hand's breadth of him, and then +whisking off again with a start and a snort.</p> + +<p>"Sam's torn hat was seen everywhere. If there seemed +to be the least chance that a horse could be caught, down +he bore upon him full tilt, shouting, 'Now for it! Cotch +him! cotch him!' in a way that set them all to racing +again.</p> + +<p>"Haley ran up and down, stamped, cursed, and swore. +The master in vain tried to give some directions from the +balcony, and the mistress looked from her chamber window +and laughed. She had some suspicion that Sam +was the cause of all this confusion.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span></p> + +<p>"At last, about twelve o'clock, Sam appeared, mounted +on Jerry, leading Haley's horse, reeking with sweat, but +with flashing eyes and dilated nostrils, showing that the +spirit of freedom had not yet entirely subsided.</p> + +<p>"'He's cotched!' exclaimed Sam, triumphantly. 'If +it hadn't been for me they might a bust themselves, all +on 'em; but I cotched him.'</p> + +<p>"'<i>You!</i>' growled Haley. 'If it hadn't been for <i>you</i>, +this never would have happened.'</p> + +<p>"'Bress us, Mas'r!' exclaimed Sam; 'when it's me +that's been a racin' and chasin' till the swet jist pours off +me.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, well!' said Haley, 'you've lost me near three +hours with your cursed nonsense. Now let's be off, and +have no more fooling.'</p> + +<p>"'Why, Mas'r,' said Sam, in a deprecating tone, 'I do +believe you mean to kill us all clar,—hosses and all. +Here we are all jist ready to drop down, and the critturs +all in a reek o' sweat. Sure Mas'r won't think of startin' +now till arter dinner. Mas'r's hoss wants rubben down. +See how he's splashed hisself!—and Jerry limps, too. +Don't think Missis would be willing to have us start dis +yere way, no how. Bress you, Mas'r, we can ketch up, +if we stop. Lizy nebber was no great of a walker.'</p> + +<p>"The mistress, who, greatly to her amusement, overheard +this conversation from the verandah, now came +forward and courteously urged Mr. Haley to stay to dinner, +saying that the cook should bring it on the table +immediately. All things considered, the slave-trader concluded +it was best to do so. As he moved toward the +parlor, Sam rolled his eyes after him with unutterable +meaning, and gravely led the horses to the stable.</p> + +<p>"When he had fairly got beyond the shelter of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +barn, and fastened the horse to a post, he exclaimed, +'Did you see him, Andy? <i>Did</i> yer see him? O Lor', +if it warn't as good as a meetin', now, to see him a dancin' +and a kickin', and swarin' at us! Didn't I hear him? +Swar away, ole fellow! says I to myself. Will you have +yer hoss now, or wait till you cotch him? says I.' And +Sam and Andy leaned up against the barn, and laughed +to their hearts' content.</p> + +<p>"'Yer oughter seen how mad he looked when I brought +the hoss up. Lor', he'd a killed me if he durs' to; and +there I was a standin' as innercent and humble.'</p> + +<p>"'Lor', I seed you,' said Andy. 'A'n't you an old +hoss, Sam?'</p> + +<p>"'Rather 'specs I am,' said Sam. 'Did you see Missus +up stars at the winder? I seed her laughin'.'</p> + +<p>"'I'm sure I was racin' so I didn't see nothin,' said +Andy.</p> + +<p>"'Wal, yer see, I'se 'quired a habit o' bobservation,' +said Sam. 'It's a very 'portant habit, Andy; and I +'commend yer to be cultivatin' it, now yer young. Bobservation +makes all de difference in niggers. Didn't I +see what Missis wanted, though she never let on? Dat +ar's bobservation, Andy. I 'specs it's what yer may +call a faculty. Faculties is different in different peoples; +but cultivation of 'em goes a great way.'</p> + +<p>"'I guess if I hadn't helped your bobservation dis +mornin', yer wouldn't have seen yer way so smart,' said +Andy.</p> + +<p>"'You's a promisin' chile, Andy, der a'n't no manner +o' doubt,' said Sam. 'I think lots of yer, Andy; and I +don't feel no ways ashamed to take idees from yer. +Let's go up to the house now, Andy. I'll be boun' +Missis'll give us an uncommon good bite dis yere +time.'"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The mistress had promised that dinner should be +brought on the table in a hurry, and she had given the +orders in Haley's hearing. But the servants all seemed +to have an impression that Missis would not be disobliged +by delay. Aunt Chloe, the cook, went on with +her operations in a very leisurely manner. Then it was +wonderful what a number of accidents happened. One +upset the butter; another tumbled down with the water, +and had to go to the spring for more; another spilled the +gravy; then Aunt Chloe set about making new gravy, +watching it and stirring it with the greatest precision. +If reminded that the orders were to hurry, she answered +shortly that she 'warn't a going to have raw gravy on +the table, to help nobody's catchin's.'</p> + +<p>"From time to time there was giggling in the kitchen, +when news was brought that 'Mas'r Haley was mighty +oneasy, and that he couldn't set in his cheer no ways, but +was a walkin' and stalkin' to the winders and through +the porch.'</p> + +<p>"'Sarves him right!' said Aunt Chloe. 'He'll git +wus nor oneasy, one of these days, if he don't mend his +ways.'</p> + +<p>"At last the dinner was sent in, and the mistress +smiled and chatted, and did all she could to make the +time pass imperceptibly.</p> + +<p>"At two o'clock, Sam and Andy brought the horses +up to the posts, apparently greatly refreshed and invigorated +by the scamper of the morning. As Haley prepared +to mount, he said, 'Your master don't keep no +dogs, I s'pose?'</p> + +<p>"'Heaps on 'em,' said Sam, triumphantly. 'Thar's +Bruno,—he's a roarer; and besides that, 'bout every +nigger of us keeps a pup o' some natur' or uther.'</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'But does your master keep any dogs for tracking +out niggers?' said Haley.</p> + +<p>"Sam knew very well what he meant, but he kept on +a look of desperate simplicity. 'Wal,' said he, 'our +dogs all smells round considerable sharp. I 'spect they's +the <i>kind</i>, though they ha'n't never had no <i>practice</i>. +They's far dogs at most anything though, if you'd +get 'em started.' He whistled to Bruno, a great lumbering +Newfoundland dog, who came pitching tumultuously +toward them.</p> + +<p>"'You go hang!' exclaimed Haley, mounting his +horse. 'Come, tumble up, now.'</p> + +<p>"Sam tumbled up accordingly, contriving to tickle +Andy as he did so. This made Andy split out into a +laugh, greatly to Haley's indignation, who made a cut at +him with his riding-whip. 'I'se 'stonished at yer, Andy,' +said Sam, with awful gravity. 'This yere's a seris +bisness, Andy. Yer mustn't be a makin' game. This +yere a'n't no way to help Mas'r.'</p> + +<p>"When they came to the boundaries of the estate, +Haley said: 'I shall take the road to the river. I know +the way of all of 'em. They always makes tracks for +the underground.'</p> + +<p>"'Sartin, dat's de idee,' said Sam. 'Mas'r Haley hits +de thing right in de middle. Now, der's two roads to +de river,—de dirt road and der pike. Which Mas'r +mean to take?'</p> + +<p>"Andy looked up innocently at Sam, surprised at hearing +this new geographical fact; but he instantly confirmed +what Sam said.</p> + +<p>"'I'd rather be 'clined to 'magine that Lizy'd take +der dirt road, bein' it's the least travelled,' said Sam. +Though Haley was an old bird, and inclined to be suspicious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +of chaff, he was rather brought up by this view +of the case. He pondered a moment, and said, 'If yer +wasn't both on yer such cussed liars, now!'</p> + +<p>"The pensive tone in which this was spoken amused +Andy prodigiously. He fell a little behind, and shook so +with laughter as to run a great risk of falling from his +horse. But Sam's face was immovably composed into +the most doleful gravity.</p> + +<p>"'Course, Mas'r can do as he'd ruther,' said Sam. +'It's all one to us. When I study 'pon it, I think de +straight road is de best.'</p> + +<p>"'She would naturally go a lonesome way,' said +Haley.</p> + +<p>"'I should 'magine so,' said Sam; 'but gals is pecular. +Dey nebber does nothin' ye thinks they will; mose +gen'lly de contrar; so if yer thinks they've gone one +road, it's sartin you'd better go t'other, and then you'll +be sure to find 'em. So I think we'd better take de +straight road.'</p> + +<p>"Haley announced decidedly that he should go the +other, and asked when they should come to it.</p> + +<p>"'A little piece ahed,' said Sam, giving a wink to +Andy. He added gravely, 'I've studded on de matter, +and I'm quite clar we ought not to go dat ar way. I +nebber been over it no way. It's despit lonesome, and +we might lose our way. And now I think on't, I hearn +'em tell dat ar road was all fenced up down by der creek. +A'n't it, Andy?'</p> + +<p>"Andy wasn't certain; he'd only 'hearn tell' about +that road, but had never been over it.</p> + +<p>"Haley thought the first mention of the road was involuntary +on Sam's part, and that, upon second thoughts, +he had lied desperately to dissuade him from taking that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +direction because he was unwilling to implicate Eliza. +Therefore he struck briskly into the road, and was followed +by Sam and Andy.</p> + +<p>"The road in fact had formerly been an old thoroughfare +to the river, but after the laying of the new pike it +had been abandoned. It was open for about an hour's +ride, and after that it was cut across by various farms +and fences. Sam knew this perfectly well; indeed, the +road had been so long closed that Andy had never heard +of it. He therefore rode along with an air of dutiful submission, +only groaning occasionally, and saying it was +'desp't rough, and bad for Jerry's foot.'</p> + +<p>"'Now, I jest give yer warning, I know yer,' said +Haley. 'Yer won't get me to turn off this yere road, +with all yer fussin'; so you shet up.'</p> + +<p>"'Mas'r will go his own way,' said Sam, with rueful +submission, at the same time winking portentously to +Andy, whose delight now was very near the explosive +point. Sam was in wonderful spirits. He professed to +keep a very brisk lookout. At one time he exclaimed +that he saw 'a gal's bunnet' on the top of some distant +eminence; at another time, he called out to Andy to ask +if 'that thar wasn't Lizy down in the holler.' He was +always sure to make these exclamations in some rough +or craggy part of the road, where the sudden quickening +of speed was a special inconvenience to all parties concerned, +thus keeping Haley in a state of constant commotion.</p> + +<p>"After riding about an hour in this way, the whole +party made a precipitate and tumultuous descent into a +barn-yard belonging to a large farming establishment. +Not a soul was in sight, all the hands being employed +in the fields; but as the barn stood square across the road,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +it was evident that their journey in that direction had +reached its end.</p> + +<p>"'You rascal!' said Haley; 'you knew all about this.'</p> + +<p>"'Didn't I <i>tell</i> yer I knowed, and yer wouldn't believe +me?' replied Sam. 'I telled Mas'r 't was all shet up, and +fenced up, and I didn't 'spect we could git through. Andy +heard me.'</p> + +<p>"This was too true to be disputed, and the unlucky +man had to pocket his wrath as well as he could. All +three faced to the right about, and took up their line of +march for the highway."</p> + +<p>[The consequence of all these delays was, that they +reached the Ohio River only in season to see Eliza and +her child get safely on the other side, by jumping from +one mass of floating ice to the other.]</p> + +<p>"'The gal's got seven devils in her I believe,' said +Haley. 'How like a wild-cat she jumped!'</p> + +<p>"'Wal, now,' said Sam, scratching his head, 'I hope +Mas'r 'scuse us tryin' dat ar road. Don't think I feel +spry enough for dat ar, no way'; and Sam gave a hoarse +chuckle.</p> + +<p>"'<i>You</i> laugh!' exclaimed the slave-trader, with a +growl.</p> + +<p>"'I couldn't help it now, Mas'r,' said Sam, giving way +to the long pent-up delight of his soul. 'She looked so +curis, a leapin' and springin'; ice a crackin'—and only +to hear her! plump! ker chunk! ker splash!' and Sam +and Andy laughed till the tears rolled down their cheeks.</p> + +<p>"'I'll make yer laugh t'other side yer mouths!' exclaimed +the trader, laying about their heads with his +riding-whip. Both ducked, and ran shouting up the +bank. They were on their horses before he could come +up with them.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + +<p>"With much gravity Sam called out: 'Good evening, +Mas'r Haley. Won't want us no longer. I 'spect Missis +be anxious 'bout Jerry. Missis wouldn't hear of our +ridin' the critturs over Lizy's bridge to-night.' With a +poke into Andy's ribs, they started off at full speed, their +shouts of laughter coming faintly on the wind.</p> + +<p>"Sam was in the highest possible feather. He expressed +his exultation by all sorts of howls and ejaculations, +and by divers odd motions and contortions of his +whole system. Sometimes he would sit backward with +his face to the horse's tail; then, with a whoop and a +somerset, he would come right side up in his place again; +and, drawing on a grave face, he would begin to lecture +Andy for laughing and playing the fool. Anon, slapping +his sides with his arms, he would burst forth in peals of +laughter, that made the old woods ring as they passed. +With all these evolutions, he contrived to keep the horses +up to the top of their speed, until, between ten and eleven, +their heels resounded on the gravel at the end of the +balcony.</p> + +<p>"His mistress flew to the railings, and called out, 'Is +that you, Sam? Where are they?'</p> + +<p>"'Mas'r Haley's a restin' at the tavern,' said Sam. +'He's drefful fatigued, Missis.'</p> + +<p>"'And Eliza, where is she, Sam?'</p> + +<p>"'Wal, Missis, de Lord he persarves his own. Lizy's +done gone over the river into 'Hio; as 'markably as if de +Lord took her over in a chariot of fire and two hosses.'</p> + +<p>"His master, who had followed his wife to the verandah, +said, 'Come up here, and tell your mistress what she +wants to know.'</p> + +<p>"Sam soon appeared at the parlor-door, hat in hand. +In answer to their questions, he told his story in lively<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +style. 'Dis yere's a providence, and no mistake,' said +Sam, piously rolling up his eyes. 'As Missis has allers +been instructin' on us, thar's allers instruments ris up to +do de Lord's will. Now if it hadn't been for me to-day, +Lizy'd been took a dozen times. Warn't it I started +off de hosses, dis yere mornin', and kept 'em chasin' till +dinner time? And didn't I car Mas'r Haley five miles +out of de road dis evening? else he'd a come up with +Lizy, as easy as a dog arter a coon. Dese yere's all +providences!'</p> + +<p>"With as much sternness as he could command under +the circumstances, his master said, 'They are a kind of +providences that you'll have to be pretty sparing of, +Sam. I allow no such practices with gentlemen on my +place.'</p> + +<p>"Sam stood with the corners of his mouth lowered, in +most penitential style. 'Mas'r's quite right,' said he. +'It was ugly on me; thar's no disputin' that ar; and +of course Mas'r and Missis wouldn't encourage no such +works. I'm sensible ob dat ar. But a poor nigger like +me's 'mazin' tempted to act ugly sometimes, when fellers +will cut up such shines as dat ar Mas'r Haley. He a'n't +no gen'l'man no way. Anybody's been raised as I've +been can't help a seein' dat ar.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, Sam,' said his mistress, 'as you seem to have +a proper sense of your errors, you may go now and tell +Aunt Chloe she may get you some of that cold ham that +was left of dinner to-day. You and Andy must be +hungry.'</p> + +<p>"'Missis is a heap too good for us,' said Sam, making +his bow with alacrity and departing.</p> + +<p>"Having done up his piety and humility, to the satisfaction +of the parlor, as he trusted, he clapped his palm-leaf<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +on his head with a sort of free-and-easy air, and +proceeded to the dominions of Aunt Chloe, with the intention +of flourishing largely in the kitchen."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="JOHN_BROWN_AND_THE_COLORED_CHILD" id="JOHN_BROWN_AND_THE_COLORED_CHILD"></a>JOHN BROWN AND THE COLORED CHILD.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + +<p class="edcomment">[When John Brown went from the jail to the gallows, in Charlestown, +Virginia, December 2, 1859, he stooped to kiss a little colored +child.]</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A winter sunshine, still and bright,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Blue Hills bathed with golden light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And earth was smiling to the sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When calmly he went forth to die.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Infernal passions festered there,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where peaceful Nature looked so fair;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And fiercely, in the morning sun,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flashed glitt'ring bayonet and gun.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The old man met no friendly eye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When last he looked on earth and sky;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But one small child, with timid air,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was gazing on his hoary hair.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">As that dark brow to his upturned,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tender heart within him yearned;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, fondly stooping o'er her face,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He kissed her for her injured race.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +<span class="i0">The little one she knew not why<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That kind old man went forth to die;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor why, 'mid all that pomp and stir,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He stooped to give a kiss to <i>her</i>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But Jesus smiled that sight to see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And said, "He did it unto <i>me</i>."<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The golden harps then sweetly rung,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And this the song the angels sung:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Who loves the poor doth love the Lord;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Earth cannot dim thy bright reward:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We hover o'er yon gallows high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And wait to bear thee to the sky."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>John Brown, on his way to the scaffold, stooped to take +up a slave-child. That closing example was the legacy of the +dying man to his country. That benediction we must continue +and fulfil. In this new order, equality, long postponed, +shall become the master-principle of our system, and the very +frontispiece of our Constitution.—<span class="smcap">Hon. Charles Sumner.</span></p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Christ told me to remember those in bonds as bound +with them; to do toward them as I should wish them to do +toward me in similar circumstances. My conscience bade me +to do that. Therefore I have no regret for the transaction for +which I am condemned. I think I feel as happy as Paul did +when he lay in prison. He knew if they killed him it would +greatly advance the cause of Christ. That was the reason he +rejoiced. On that same ground "I do rejoice, yea, and will +rejoice."—<span class="smcap">John Brown</span>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="THE_AIR_OF_FREEDOM" id="THE_AIR_OF_FREEDOM"></a>THE AIR OF FREEDOM.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER.</p> + +<p class="edcomment">[Written at Niagara Falls in 1856.]</p> + + +<p>I have just returned from Canada. I have gazed for +the first time upon free land. Would you believe it? +the tears sprang to my eyes, and I wept. It was a glorious +sight to gaze, for the first time, on the land where a +poor slave, flying from our land of boasted liberty, would +in a moment find his fetters broken and his shackles +loosed. Whatever he was in the land of Washington, +in the shadow of Bunker Hill Monument, or even +upon Plymouth Rock, <i>here</i> he becomes "a man and a +brother."</p> + +<p>I had gazed on Harper's Ferry, or rather the Rock at +the Ferry, towering up in simple grandeur, with the +gentle Potomac gliding peacefully at its feet; and I felt +that it was God's masonry. My soul expanded while +gazing on its sublimity. I had heard the ocean singing +its wild chorus of sounding waves, and the living chords +of my heart thrilled with ecstasy. I have since seen the +rainbow-crowned Niagara, girdled with grandeur and +robed with glory, chanting the choral hymn of omnipotence; +but none of these sights have melted me, as did +the first sight of free land.</p> + +<p>Towering mountains, lifting their hoary summits to +catch the first faint flush of day, when the sunbeams kiss +the shadows from morning's drowsy face, may expand +and exalt your soul; the first view of the ocean may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +fill you with strange delight; the great, the glorious +Niagara may hush your spirit with its ceaseless thunder,—it +may charm you with its robe of crested spray, and +with its rainbow crown: but the land of freedom has +a lesson of deeper significance than foaming waves and +towering mountains. It carries the heart back to that +heroic struggle in Great Britain for the emancipation of +the slaves, in which the great heart of the people throbbed +for liberty, and the mighty pulse of the nation beat +for freedom, till eight hundred thousand men, women, +and children in the West Indies arose redeemed from +bondage and freed from chains.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="EMANCIPATION_IN_THE_DISTRICT_OF" id="EMANCIPATION_IN_THE_DISTRICT_OF"></a>EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT OF +COLUMBIA, APRIL 16, 1862.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY JAMES MADISON BELL.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Unfurl your banners to the breeze!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Let Freedom's tocsin sound amain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Until the islands of the seas<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Re-echo with the glad refrain!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Columbia's free! Columbia's free!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Her teeming streets, her vine-clad groves,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are sacred now to Liberty,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And God, who every right approves.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thank God, the Capital is free!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The slaver's pen, the auction-block,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The gory lash of cruelty,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +<span class="i2">No more this nation's pride shall mock;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No more, within those ten miles square,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall men be bought and women sold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor infants, sable-hued and fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Exchanged again for paltry gold.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To-day the Capital is free!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And free those halls where Adams stood<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To plead for man's humanity,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And for a common brotherhood;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where Sumner stood, with massive frame,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whose eloquent philosophy<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Has clustered round his deathless name<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bright laurels for eternity;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Where Wilson, Lovejoy, Wade, and Hale,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And other lights of equal power,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have stood, like warriors clad in mail,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Before the giant of the hour,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Co-workers in a common cause,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Laboring for their country's weal,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By just enactments, righteous laws,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And burning, eloquent appeal.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To them we owe and gladly bring<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The grateful tributes of our hearts;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And while we live to muse and sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">These in our songs shall claim their parts.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To-day Columbia's air doth seem<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Much purer than in days agone;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And now her mighty heart, I deem,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hath lighter grown by marching on.<br /></span> +</div> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></div> + + + +<h2><a name="THE_LAWS_OF_HEALTH" id="THE_LAWS_OF_HEALTH"></a>THE LAWS OF HEALTH.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>There are three things peculiarly essential to health,—plenty of fresh +water, plenty of pure air, and enough of nourishing food.</p> + +<p>If possible, the human body should be washed all over every day; but if +circumstances render that difficult, the operation should be performed +at least two or three times a week. People in general are not aware how +important frequent bathing is. The cuticle, or skin, with which the +human body is covered, is like fine net-work, or lace. By help of a +magnifying-glass, called a microscope, it can be seen that there are a +thousand holes in every inch of our skin. In the skin of a middle-sized +man there are two millions three hundred and four thousand of these +holes, called pores. Those pores are the mouths of exceedingly small +vessels made to carry off fluids, which are continually formed in the +human body, and need to be continually carried off. This process is +going on all the time, whether we are sleeping or waking, hot or cold. +When we are cool and at rest, that which passes off is invisible; and +because we see no signs of it, and are not sensible of it, it is called +insensible perspiration. But in very hot weather, or when we exercise +violently, a saltish fluid passes through our pores in great drops, +which we call sweat; and because we can see and feel it, it is called +sensible perspiration. If the pores of the body are filled up with dust, +or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> any kind of dirt, the fluids cannot pass off through them, as Nature +intended; and, being shut up, they become corrupt and produce fevers and +bad humors. This is the reason why physicians always advise people to be +careful and keep their pores open. In order to do this, dust and dirt +should be frequently washed away. Many a fever and many a troublesome +sore might be prevented by frequent bathing. Moreover, the skin looks +smoother and handsomer when it is washed often. If a pond or river is +near by, it is well to swim a few minutes every day or two; if not, the +body should be washed with a pail of water and a rag. But it is not safe +to go into cold water, or to apply it to the skin, when you are very +much heated; nor is it safe to drink much cold water until you get +somewhat cool. The best way is to plunge into water when you first get +up in the morning, and then rub yourself with a cloth till you feel all +of a glow. It takes but a few minutes, and you will feel more vigorous +for it all day. Cool water is more healthy to wash in than warm water. +It makes a person feel stronger, and it is not attended with any danger +of catching cold afterward. But water directly from the well is too +chilly; it is better to use it when it has been standing in the house +some hours. Garments worn next to the skin, and the sheets in which you +sleep, imbibe something of the fluids all the time passing from the +body; therefore they should be washed every week. I am aware that, as +slaves, you had no beds or sheets; but as free men I hope you will +gradually be able to provide yourselves with such comforts. Meanwhile, +sleep in the cleanest way that you can; for that is one way to avoid +sickness. When the skin is hot and feverish, it does a great deal of +good to wipe the face, arms, and legs with a cloth moistened with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> cool +water, changed occasionally. Headache is often cured by placing the feet +in cool water a minute or two, and then rubbing them smartly with a dry +cloth. Sitting in cool water fifteen or twenty minutes is also a remedy +for headache or dizziness. A cut or bruise heals much quicker if it is +soaked ten or fifteen minutes in cool water, then wrapped in six or +eight folds of wet rag, and covered with a piece of dry cloth. The rag +should be moistened again when it gets dry. This simple process subdues +the heat and fever of a wound. When the throat is sore, it is an +excellent thing to wash the outside freely with cold water the first +thing in the morning, and then wipe it very dry. A wet bandage at night, +covered with a dry cloth, to keep it from the air, often proves very +comforting when the throat is inflamed. Indeed, it is scarcely possible +to say too much in favor of using cool water freely, at suitable times.</p> + +<p>Fresh air is as important as good water. The lungs of the human body are +all the time drawing in air and breathing out air. What we breathe out +carries away with it something from our bodies. Therefore it is +unhealthy to be in a room with many people, without doors or windows +open; for the people draw in all the fresh air, and what they breathe +out is more or less corrupted by having passed through their bodies. It +is very important to health to have plenty of pure fresh air to breathe. +No dirty things, or decaying substances, such as cabbage leaves or +mouldy vegetables, or pools of stagnant water, should be allowed to +remain anywhere near a dwelling. The pools should be filled up, and the +decaying things should be carried away from the house, heaped up and +covered with earth to make manure for the garden. If there is not room +enough to do that, they should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> be buried in the ground. Whole families +often have fevers from breathing the bad odors that rise from such +things. It is morally wrong to indulge in any habits that injure the +health or well-being of others. The bed, and the coverings of the bed, +should have fresh air let in upon them every day; otherwise, they retain +the fluids which are passing from the body all the time. In England, +children that worked in large manufactories became pale and sickly and +died off fast. When doctors inquired into it, they found that the poor +little creatures crept into the same bedclothes week after week, and +month after month, without having them washed or aired.</p> + +<p>Occasional change in articles of food is healthy, as well as agreeable; +but it is injurious to eat a great variety of things at the same meal. +There are two good rules, so very simple that everybody, rich or poor, +can observe them: First, never indulge yourself in eating what you have +found by experience does not agree with you; secondly, when you have +eaten enough, do not continue to eat merely because the food tastes +good. It is foolish to derange the stomach for a long time to please the +palate for a short time.</p> + +<p>If you have oppressed feelings in the head, or sour and bitter tastes in +the mouth, or a tendency to sickishness, take nothing but bread and +water for two or three days, and you will be very likely to save +yourself from a fever.</p> + +<p>People might spare themselves many a toothache if they would rinse their +mouths after every meal, and every night, before going to bed, remove +every particle of food from between the teeth, and rinse them thoroughly +with water. New toothpicks should be made often, for the sake of +cleanliness.</p> + +<p>Dirt was a necessity of Slavery; and that is one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> reason, among many +others, why freemen should hate it, and try to put it away from their +minds, their persons, and their habitations.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="PRESIDENT_LINCOLNS_PROCLAMATION_OF" id="PRESIDENT_LINCOLNS_PROCLAMATION_OF"></a>PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION OF +EMANCIPATION, JANUARY 1, 1863.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It shall flash through coming ages,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It shall light the distant years;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And eyes now dim with sorrow<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall be brighter through their tears.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It shall flush the mountain ranges,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And the valleys shall grow bright;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It shall bathe the hills in radiance,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And crown their brows with light.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It shall flood with golden splendor<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All the huts of Caroline;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sun-kissed brow of labor<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With lustre new shall shine.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It shall gild the gloomy prison,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Darkened by the nation's crime,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where the dumb and patient millions<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Wait the better-coming time.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By the light that gilds their prison<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span><span class="i2">They shall see its mouldering key;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the bolts and bars shall vibrate<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With the triumphs of the free.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Though the morning seemed to linger<br /></span> +<span class="i2">O'er the hill-tops far away,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now the shadows bear the promise<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of the quickly coming day.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Soon the mists and murky shadows<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall be fringed with crimson light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the glorious dawn of freedom<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Break refulgent on the sight.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<h2><a name="NEW-YEARS_DAY_ON_THE_ISLANDS_OF" id="NEW-YEARS_DAY_ON_THE_ISLANDS_OF"></a>NEW-YEAR'S DAY ON THE ISLANDS OF +SOUTH CAROLINA, 1863.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY CHARLOTTE L. FORTEN.</p> + + +<p>A few days before Christmas we were delighted at +receiving a beautiful Christmas Hymn from John +G. Whittier, written especially for our children. They +learned it very easily, and enjoyed singing it. We showed +them the writer's picture, and told them he was a very +good friend of theirs, who felt the deepest interest in +them, and had written this Hymn expressly for them to +sing. This made them very proud and happy.</p> + +<p>Early Christmas morning we were wakened by the +people knocking at the doors and windows, and shouting +"Merry Christmas!" After distributing some little presents +among them, we went to the church, which had been +decorated with holly, pine, cassena, mistletoe, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +hanging moss, and had a very Christmas-like look. The +children of our school assembled there, and we gave them +the nice comfortable clothing and the picture-books which +had been kindly sent by some Philadelphia ladies. There +were at least a hundred and fifty children present. It +was very pleasant to see their happy, expectant little +faces. To them it was a wonderful Christmas-day, such +as they had never dreamed of before. There was cheerful +sunshine without, lighting up the beautiful moss drapery +of the oaks, and looking in joyously through the +open windows; and there were bright faces and glad +hearts within.</p> + +<p>After the distribution of the gifts, the children were +addressed by some of the gentlemen present. Then they +sang the following Hymn, which their good friend Whittier +had written for them:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"O, none in all the world before<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Were ever so glad as we!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We're free on Carolina's shore,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We're all at home and free.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thou Friend and Helper of the poor,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who suffered for our sake,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To open every prison-door,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And every yoke to break,—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Bend low thy pitying face and mild,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And help us sing and pray;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The hand that blest the little child<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Upon our foreheads lay.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"We hear no more the driver's horn,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No more the whip we fear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This holy day that saw thee born<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Was never half so dear.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The very oaks are greener clad,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +<span class="i2">The waters brighter smile;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O, never shone a day so glad<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On sweet St. Helen's Isle.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"We praise Thee in our songs to-day,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To Thee in prayer we call;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Make swift the feet and straight the way<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of freedom unto all.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come once again, O blessed Lord!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come walking on the sea!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let the mainlands hear the word<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That sets the islands free!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Then they sang John Brown's Hallelujah Song, and several +of their own hymns.</p> + +<p>Christmas night, the children came in and had several +grand shouts. They were too happy to keep still. One +of them, a cunning, kittenish little creature, named Amaretta, +only six years old, has a remarkably sweet voice. +"O Miss," said she, "all I want to do is to sing and +shout!" And sing and shout she did, to her heart's content. +She reads nicely, and is very fond of books. Many +of the children already know their letters. The parents +are eager to have them learn. They sometimes say to +me: "Do, Miss, let de children learn eberyting dey can. +We neber hab no chance to learn nuttin'; but we wants +de chillen to learn." They are willing to make many +sacrifices that their children may attend school. One old +woman, who had a large family of children and grandchildren, +came regularly to school in the winter, and took +her seat among the little ones. Another woman, who +had one of the best faces I ever saw, came daily, and +brought her baby in her arms. It happened to be one +of the best babies in the world, and allowed its mother to +pursue her studies without interruption.</p> + +<p>New-Year's Day, Emancipation Day, was a glorious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +one to us. General Saxton and Colonel Higginson had +invited us to visit the camp of the First Regiment of +South Carolina Volunteers on that day, "the greatest +day in the nation's history." We enjoyed perfectly the +exciting scene on board the steamboat Flora. There was +an eager, wondering crowd of the freed people, in their +holiday attire, with the gayest of headkerchiefs, the +whitest of aprons, and the happiest of faces. The +band was playing, the flags were streaming, and everybody +was talking merrily and feeling happy. The sun +shone brightly, and the very waves seemed to partake of +the universal gayety, for they danced and sparkled more +joyously than ever before. Long before we reached +Camp Saxton, we could see the beautiful grove and the +ruins of the old fort near it. Some companies of the +First Regiment were drawn up in line under the trees +near the landing, ready to receive us. They were a fine, +soldierly looking set of men, and their brilliant dress made +a splendid appearance among the trees. It was my good +fortune to find an old friend among the officers. He took +us over the camp and showed us all the arrangements. +Everything looked clean and comfortable; much neater, +we were told, than in most of the white camps. An officer +told us that he had never seen a regiment in which +the men were so honest. "In many other camps," said +he, "the Colonel and the rest of us would find it necessary +to place a guard before our tents. We never do it +here. Our tents are left entirely unguarded, but nothing +has ever been touched." We were glad to know that. +It is a remarkable fact, when we consider that the men +of this regiment have all their lives been slaves; for we +all know that Slavery does not tend to make men honest.</p> + +<p>The ceremony in honor of Emancipation took place in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +the beautiful grove of live-oaks adjoining the camp. I +wish it were possible to describe fitly the scene which +met our eyes, as we sat upon the stand, and looked down +on the crowd before us. There were the black soldiers +in their blue coats and scarlet pantaloons; the officers of +the First Regiment, and of other regiments, in their handsome +uniforms; and there were crowds of lookers-on, men, +women, and children, of every complexion, grouped in +various attitudes, under the moss-hung trees. The faces +of all wore a happy, interested look. The exercises commenced +with a prayer by the chaplain of the regiment. +An ode, written for the occasion, was then read and sung. +President Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation was +then read, and enthusiastically cheered. The Rev. Mr. +French presented Colonel Higginson with two very elegant +flags, a gift to the First Regiment, from the Church +of the Puritans, in New York. He accompanied them +by an appropriate and enthusiastic speech. As Colonel +Higginson took the flags, before he had time to reply to +the speech, some of the colored people, of their own accord, +began to sing,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My country, 'tis of thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sweet land of liberty,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of thee we sing!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It was a touching and beautiful incident, and sent a thrill +through all our hearts. The Colonel was deeply moved +by it. He said that reply was far more effective than +any speech he could make. But he did make one of +those stirring speeches which are "half battles." All +hearts swelled with emotion as we listened to his glorious +words, "stirring the soul like the sound of a trumpet." +His soldiers are warmly attached to him, and he evidently +feels toward them all as if they were his children.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + +<p>General Saxton spoke also, and was received with +great enthusiasm. Throughout the morning, repeated +cheers were given for him by the regiment, and joined +in heartily by all the people. They know him to be one +of the best and noblest men in the world. His unfailing +kindness and consideration for them, so different from the +treatment they have sometimes received at the hands +of United States officers, have caused them to have unbounded +confidence in him.</p> + +<p>At the close of Colonel Higginson's speech, he presented +the flags to the color-bearers, Sergeant Rivers and +Sergeant Sutton, with an earnest charge, to which they +made appropriate replies.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gage uttered some earnest words, and then the +regiment sang John Brown's Hallelujah Song.</p> + +<p>After the meeting was over, we saw the dress-parade, +which was a brilliant and beautiful sight. An officer told +us that the men went through the drill remarkably well, +and learned the movements with wonderful ease and rapidity. +To us it seemed strange as a miracle to see this +regiment of blacks, the first mustered into the service of +the United States, thus doing itself honor in the sight +of officers of other regiments, many of whom doubtless +came to scoff. The men afterward had a great feast; ten +oxen having been roasted whole, for their especial benefit.</p> + +<p>In the evening there was the softest, loveliest moonlight. +We were very unwilling to go home; for, besides +the attractive society, we knew that the soldiers were to +have grand shouts and a general jubilee that night. But +the steamboat was coming, and we were obliged to bid a +reluctant farewell to Camp Saxton and the hospitable +dwellers therein. We walked the deck of the steamer +singing patriotic songs, and we agreed that moonlight and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +water had never looked so beautiful as they did that +night. At Beaufort we took the row-boat for St. Helena. +The boatmen as they rowed sang some of their sweetest, +wildest hymns. It was a fitting close to such a day. +Our hearts were filled with an exceeding great gladness; +for although the government had left much undone, we +knew that Freedom was surely born in our land that day. +It seemed too glorious a good to realize, this beginning +of the great work we had so longed for and prayed for. +It was a sight never to be forgotten, that crowd of happy +black faces from which the shadow of Slavery had forever +passed. "Forever free! forever free!"—those +magical words in the President's Proclamation were constantly +singing themselves in my soul.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="SONG_OF_THE_NEGRO_BOATMEN_AT_PORT" id="SONG_OF_THE_NEGRO_BOATMEN_AT_PORT"></a>SONG OF THE NEGRO BOATMEN AT PORT +ROYAL, S. C.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY JOHN G. WHITTIER.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O praise and tanks! De Lord he come<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To set de people free;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An' massa tink it day ob doom,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">An' we ob jubilee.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">De Lord dat heap de Red Sea waves,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He jus' as 'trong as den;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He say de word: we las' night slaves;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To-day, de Lord's free men.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">De yam will grow, de cotton blow,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">We'll hab de rice an' corn:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O nebber you fear, if nebber you hear<br /></span> +<span class="i6">De driver blow his horn!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i0">Ole massa on he trabbels gone;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He leaf de land behind:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">De Lord's breff blow him furder on,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Like corn-shuck in de wind.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We own de hoe, we own de plough,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We own de hands dat hold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We sell de pig, we sell de cow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But nebber chile be sold.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We pray de Lord: he gib us signs<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dat some day we be free;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">De Norf-wind tell it to de pines,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">De wild-duck to de sea;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We tink it when de church-bell ring,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We dream it in de dream;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">De rice-bird mean it when he sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">De eagle when he scream.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We know de promise nebber fail,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">An' nebber lie de Word;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So, like de 'postles in de jail,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We waited for de Lord:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An' now he open ebery door,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">An' trow away de key;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He tink we lub him so before,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We lub him better free.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">De yam will grow, de cotton blow,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">He'll gib de rice an' corn:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O nebber you fear, if nebber you hear<br /></span> +<span class="i6">De driver blow his horn!<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="EXTRACT_FROM_SPEECH_BY_HON_HENRY" id="EXTRACT_FROM_SPEECH_BY_HON_HENRY"></a>EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY HON. HENRY +WILSON TO THE COLORED PEOPLE IN +CHARLESTON, S. C., APRIL, 1865.</h2> + + +<p>"For twenty-nine years, in private life and in public +life, at all times and on all occasions, I have +spoken and voted against Slavery, and in favor of the +freedom of every man that breathes God's air or walks +His earth. And to-day, standing here in South Carolina, +I feel that the slave-power we have fought so long is +under my heel; and that the men and women held in +bondage so long are free forevermore.</p> + +<p>"Understanding this to be your position,—that you are +forever free,—remember, O remember, the sacrifices that +have been made for your freedom, and be worthy of the +blessing that has come to you! I know you will be. +[Cheers.] Through these four years of bloody war, you +have always been loyal to the old flag of the country. +You have never betrayed the Union soldiers who were +fighting the battles of the country. You have guided +them, you have protected them, you have cheered them. +You have proved yourselves worthy the great situation +in which you were placed by the Slaveholders' Rebellion. +Four years ago you saw the flag of your country struck +down from Fort Sumter; yesterday you saw the old flag go +up again. Its stars now beam with a brighter lustre. You +know now what the old flag means,—that it means liberty +to every man and woman in the country. [Cheers.]</p> + +<p>"You have been patient, you have endured, you have +trusted in God and your country; and the God of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +fathers has blessed our country, and He has blessed you. +The long, dreary, chilly night of Slavery has passed away +forevermore, and the sun of Liberty casts its broad beams +upon you to-day.</p> + +<p>"But your duties commence with your liberties. Remember +that you are to be obedient, faithful, true, and +loyal to the country forevermore. [Cheers, and cries +of 'Yes!' 'Yes!' 'Yes!'] Remember that you are to +educate your children; that you are to improve their condition; +that you are to make a brighter future for <i>them</i> +than the past has been to <i>you</i>. Remember that you are +to be industrious. Freedom does not mean that you are +not to work. It means that when you do work you shall +have pay for it, to carry home to your wives and the children +of your love. Liberty means the liberty to work for +yourselves, to have the fruits of your labor, to better your +own condition, and improve the condition of your children. +I want every man and woman to understand that every +neglect of duty, every failure to be industrious, to be +economical, to support yourselves, to take care of your +families, to secure the education of your children, will be +put in the faces of your friends as a reproach. Your old +masters will point you out and say to us, 'We told you +so.' For more than thirty years we have said that you +were fit for liberty. We have maintained it amid obloquy +and reproach. For maintaining this doctrine in the halls +of Congress our names have been made a by-word. The +great lesson for you in the future is to prove that we were +right; to prove that you were worthy of liberty. We +simply ask you, in the name of your friends, in the name +of our country, to show by your good conduct, and by +efforts to improve your condition, that you were worthy +of freedom; to prove to all the world, even to your old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +masters and mistresses, that it was a sin against God to +hold you in Slavery, and that you are worthy to have +your names enrolled among the freemen of the United +States of America. [Great cheering.]</p> + +<p>"We want you to respect yourselves; to walk erect, +with the consciousness that you are free men. Be humane +and kind to each other, always serving each other +when you can. Be courteous and gentlemanly to everybody +on earth, black and white, but cringe to nobody.</p> + +<p>"You have helped us to fight our battles; you have +stood by the old flag; you have given us your prayers; +and you have had the desire of your hearts fulfilled. The +cause of freedom has triumphed; and in our triumph we +want all to stand up and rejoice together."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="EXTRACT_FROM_A_SPEECH_BY_HON_JUDGE" id="EXTRACT_FROM_A_SPEECH_BY_HON_JUDGE"></a>EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH BY HON. JUDGE +KELLY TO THE COLORED PEOPLE IN +CHARLESTON, S. C., APRIL, 1865.</h2> + + +<p>"I will not, my colored friends, talk to you of the +past. You understand that all too well. I turn to +the hopeful future; not to flatter you for the deeds you +have done during the last four years, but to remind you +that, though you no longer have earthly masters, there is +a Ruler in heaven whom you are bound to obey,—that +Great Being who strengthened and guided your eminent +friend William Lloyd Garrison, who trained Abraham +Lincoln for his great work, in honest poverty and simple-mindedness; +that good God whose stars shine the same +over the slaves' huts and the masters' palaces. His laws<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +you must obey. You must worship Him not only at the +altar, but in every act of your daily life. It will not be +enough to observe the Sabbath, to go to Him with your +sorrows, and remember Him in your joys. You must remember +that He has said to man, 'In the sweat of thy +brow shalt thou eat thy bread.' Labor is the law of all. +Your friends in the North appeal to you to help them +in the great work they undertook to do for you. We +want you to work <i>with</i> us. We want you to do it by +working here in South Carolina, earning wages, taking +care of your money, and making profit out of that money. +Work on the plantation, if that is all you can do. If you +can work in the workshop, do it, and work well. He who +does a day's work not so well as he might have done it, +cheats himself. Strive that your work on Monday shall +be better done than it was on Saturday; and when Saturday +comes round again, you will be able to do a still more +skilful day's work. We at the North sometimes learn +three or four trades. If any one of you feels sure that +he can do better for himself and his family by changing +his pursuit, he had better change it."</p> + +<p>"I like to look at the women assembled here. Remember, +my friends, that you are to be mothers and +wives in the homes of free men. You must try to make +those homes respectable and happy. You are to be the +mothers of American citizens. You must give them the +best education you can. You must strive to make them +intelligent, educated, moral, patriotic, and religious men. +Many of you cannot read, but you are not too old yet to +learn. A mother who knows how to read can half educate +her own child by helping him with his lessons; and +the mother who has but little learning will get a great +deal more by trying to hear the child's lessons; and so it +is with the father.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You need no longer live in slave huts, now that you +are to have your own earnings. I charge you, men, to +make your homes comfortable, and you, women, to make +them happy. Work industriously. Be faithful to each +other; be true and honest with all men. If you respect +yourselves, others will respect you. There are Northerners +who are prejudiced against you; but you can find the +way to their hearts and consciences through their pockets. +When they find that there are colored tradesmen +who have money to spend, and colored farmers who want +to buy goods of them, they will no longer call you Jack +and Joe; they will begin to think that you are Mr. John +Black and Mr. Joseph Brown." [Great laughter.]</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="BLACK_TOM" id="BLACK_TOM"></a>BLACK TOM.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY A YANKEE SOLDIER.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hunted by his Rebel master<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Over many a hill and glade,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Black Tom, with his wife and children,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Found his way to our brigade.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Tom had sense and truth and courage,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Often tried where danger rose:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Once our flag his strong arm rescued<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From the grasp of Rebel foes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">One day, Tom was marching with us<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through the forest as our guide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When a ball from traitor's rifle<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Broke his arm and pierced his side.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span><br /> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">On a litter white men bore him<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through the forest drear and damp,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Laid him, dying, where our banners<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Brightly fluttered o'er our camp.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Pointing to his wife and children,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">While he suffered racking pain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Said he to our soldiers round him,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Don't let <i>them</i> be slaves again!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"No, by Heaven!" spoke out a soldier,—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And <i>that</i> oath was not profane,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Our brigade will still protect them;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They shall ne'er be slaves again."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Over old Tom's dusky features<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Came and stayed a joyous ray;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And with saddened friends around him,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His free spirit passed away.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>At Rodman's Point, in North Carolina, the United States +troops were obliged to retreat before Rebels, who outnumbered +them ten to one. The scow in which they attempted to escape +stuck in the mud, and could not be moved with poles. +While the soldiers were lying down they were in some measure +protected from Rebel bullets; but whoever jumped into +the water to push the boat off would certainly be killed. A +vigorous black man who was with them said: "Lie still. I +will push off the boat. If they kill me, it is nothing; but you +are soldiers, and are needed to fight for the country." He +leaped overboard, pushed off the boat, and sprang back, +pierced by seven bullets. He died two days after.</p> + +<p>I wish I knew his name; for it deserves to be recorded with +the noblest heroes the world has known.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="LETTER_FROM_A_FREEDMAN_TO_HIS_OLD" id="LETTER_FROM_A_FREEDMAN_TO_HIS_OLD"></a>LETTER FROM A FREEDMAN TO HIS OLD +MASTER.</h2> + +<p class="edcomment">[Written just as he dictated it.]</p> + +<p class="quotdate"> +<span class="smcap">Dayton, Ohio</span>, August 7, 1865.<br /> +<br /></p> +<p><i>To my old Master</i>, <span class="smcap">Colonel P. H. Anderson</span>, <i>Big +Spring, Tennessee</i>.<br /> +</p> + +<p>Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that +you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you +wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising +to do better for me than anybody else can. I have +often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees +would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs +they found at your house. I suppose they never heard +about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union +soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although +you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not +want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are +still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear +old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and +Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them +all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, +if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all +when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one +of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot +me if he ever got a chance.</p> + +<p>I want to know particularly what the good chance +is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well +here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals +and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,—the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +folks call her Mrs. Anderson,—and the children—Milly, +Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning +well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a +preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and +me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. +Sometimes we overhear others saying, "Them colored +people were slaves" down in Tennessee. The children +feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them +it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. +Many darkeys would have been proud, as I +used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write +and say what wages you will give me, I will be better +able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to +move back again.</p> + +<p>As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is +nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers +in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department +of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid +to go back without some proof that you were disposed +to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to +test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages +for the time we served you. This will make us forget +and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship +in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two +years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars +a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our +earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred +and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time +our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you +paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and +pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show +what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the +money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq.,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors +in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in +the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your +eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done +to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations +without recompense. Here I draw my wages +every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never +any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses +and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for +those who defraud the laborer of his hire.</p> + +<p>In answering this letter, please state if there would +be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown +up, and both good-looking girls. You know how it was +with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay +here and starve—and die, if it come to that—than +have my girls brought to shame by the violence and +wickedness of their young masters. You will also please +state if there has been any schools opened for the colored +children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my +life now is to give my children an education, and have +them form virtuous habits.</p> + +<p>Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking +the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.</p> + +<p class="quotsig"> +From your old servant,<br /> +<span class="smcap">Jourdon Anderson</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sergeant W. H. Carney</span>, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, +was very severely wounded when the famous Fifty-Fourth +Regiment attacked Fort Wagner; but he resolutely +held up the Stars and Stripes, as he dragged his wounded +limb along, amid a shower of bullets; and when he reached +his comrades he exclaimed exultingly, "The dear old flag has +never touched the ground, boys!"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="COLONEL_ROBERT_G_SHAW" id="COLONEL_ROBERT_G_SHAW"></a>COLONEL ROBERT G. SHAW.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY ELIZA B. SEDGWICK.</p> + + +<p class="edcomment">[In the summer of 1863 an attack was made on Fort Wagner, in +South Carolina, by the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, composed of +colored troops. Their leader, <span class="smcap">Colonel Shaw</span>, belonging to one of +the best white families in Boston, was killed. When his friends asked +for his body, the reply of the Rebels was, "He is buried with his +niggers."]</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Buried with a band of brothers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whom for him would fain have died;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Buried with the gallant fellows<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who fell fighting by his side.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Buried with the men God gave him,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Those whom he was sent to save;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Buried with the martyred heroes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He has found an honored grave.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Buried where his dust so precious<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Makes the soil a hallowed spot;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Buried where by Christian patriot<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He shall never be forgot.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Buried in the ground accursed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which man's fettered feet have trod;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Buried where his voice still speaketh,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Appealing for the slave to God.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Fare thee well, thou noble warrior!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who in youthful beauty went<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On a high and holy mission,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By the God of battles sent.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i0">Chosen of Him, "elect and precious,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Well didst thou fulfil thy part;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When thy country "counts her jewels,"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She shall wear thee on her heart.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + +<h2><a name="ADVICE_FROM_AN_OLD_FRIEND" id="ADVICE_FROM_AN_OLD_FRIEND"></a>ADVICE FROM AN OLD FRIEND.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY L. MARIA CHILD.</p> + + +<p>For many years I have felt great sympathy for you, +my brethren and sisters, and I have tried to do +what I could to help you to freedom. And now that you +have at last received the long-desired blessing, I most +earnestly wish that you should make the best possible +use of it. I have made this book to encourage you to +exertion by examples of what colored people are capable +of doing. Such men and women as Toussaint l'Ouverture, +Benjamin Banneker, Phillis Wheatley, Frederick +Douglass, and William and Ellen Crafts, prove that the +power of <i>character</i> can overcome all external disadvantages, +even that most crushing of all disadvantages, Slavery. +Perhaps few of you will be able to stir the hearts of large +assemblies by such eloquent appeals as those of Frederick +Douglass, or be able to describe what you have seen and +heard so gracefully as Charlotte L. Forten does. Probably +none of you will be called to govern a state as Toussaint +l'Ouverture did; for such a remarkable career as +his does not happen once in hundreds of years. But the +Bible says, "He that ruleth his own spirit is greater than +he that ruleth a kingdom"; and such a ruler every man +and woman can become, by the help and blessing of God.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +It is not the <i>greatness</i> of the thing a man does which +makes him worthy of respect; it is the doing <i>well</i> whatsoever +he hath to do. In many respects, your opportunities +for usefulness are more limited than those of others; +but you have one great opportunity peculiar to yourselves. +You can do a vast amount of good to people in +various parts of the world, and through successive generations, +by simply being sober, industrious, and honest. +There are still many slaves in Brazil and in the Spanish +possessions. If you are vicious, lazy, and careless, +their masters will excuse themselves for continuing to +hold them in bondage, by saying: "Look at the freedmen +of the United States! What idle vagabonds they are! +How dirty their cabins are! How slovenly their dress! +That proves that negroes cannot take care of themselves, +that they are not fit to be free." But if your houses +look neat, and your clothes are clean and whole, and +your gardens well weeded, and your work faithfully done, +whether for yourselves or others, then all the world will +cry out, "You see that negroes <i>can</i> take care of themselves; +and it is a sin and a shame to keep such men in +Slavery." Thus, while you are serving your own interests, +you will be helping on the emancipation of poor +weary slaves in other parts of the world. It is a great +privilege to have a chance to do extensive good by such +simple means, and your Heavenly Father will hold you +responsible for the use you make of your influence.</p> + +<p>Your manners will have a great effect in producing an +impression to your advantage or disadvantage. Be always +respectful and polite toward your associates, and +toward those who have been in the habit of considering +you an inferior race. It is one of the best ways to prove +that you are not inferior. Never allow yourselves to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +or do anything in the presence of women of your own +color which it would be improper for you to say or do +in the presence of the most refined white ladies. Such +a course will be an education for them as well as for +yourselves. When you appoint committees about your +schools and other public affairs, it would be wise to have +both men and women on the committees. The habit of +thinking and talking about serious and important matters +makes women more sensible and discreet. Such consultations +together are in fact a practical school both for you +and them; and the more modest and intelligent women +are, the better will children be brought up.</p> + +<p>Personal appearance is another important thing. It is +not necessary to be rich in order to dress in a becoming +manner. A pretty dress for festival occasions will last a +long while, if well taken care of; and a few wild-flowers, +or bright berries, will ornament young girls more tastefully +than jewels. Working-clothes that are clean and +nicely patched always look respectable; and they make +a very favorable impression, because they indicate that +the wearer is neat and economical. And here let me say, +that it is a very great saving to mend garments well, and +before the rents get large. We thrifty Yankees have a +saying that "a stitch in time saves nine"; and you will +find by experience that neglected mending will require +more than nine stitches instead of one, and will not look +so well when it is done.</p> + +<p>The appearance of your villages will do much to produce +a favorable opinion concerning your characters and +capabilities. Whitewash is not expensive; and it takes +but little time to transplant a cherokee rose, a jessamine, +or other wild shrubs and vines, that make the poorest +cabin look beautiful; and, once planted, they will be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +growing while you are working or sleeping. It is a +public benefit to remove everything dirty or unsightly, +and to surround homes with verdure and flowers; for a +succession of pretty cottages makes the whole road pleasant, +and cheers all passers by; while they are at the same +time an advertisement, easily read by all men, that the +people who live there are not lazy, slovenly, or vulgar. +The rich pay a great deal of money for pictures to ornament +their walls, but a whitewashed cabin, with flowering-shrubs +and vines clustering round it, is a pretty +picture freely exhibited to all men. It is a public benefaction.</p> + +<p>But even if you are as yet too poor to have a house +and garden of your own, it is still in your power to be a +credit and an example to your race: by working for others +as faithfully as you would work for yourself; by taking as +good care of their tools as you would if they were your +own; by always keeping your promises, however inconvenient +it may be; by being strictly honest in all your +dealings; by being temperate in your habits, and never +speaking a profane or indecent word,—by pursuing such +a course you will be consoled with an inward consciousness +of doing right in the sight of God, and be a public +benefactor by your example, while at the same time you +will secure respect and prosperity for yourself by establishing +a good character. A man whose conduct inspires +confidence is in a fair way to have house and land of his +own, even if he starts in the world without a single cent.</p> + +<p>Be careful of your earnings, and as saving in your +expenses as is consistent with health and comfort; but +never allow yourselves to be stingy. Avarice is a mean +vice, which eats all the heart out of a man. Money is a +good thing, and you ought to want to earn it, as a means<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +of improving the condition of yourselves and families. +But it will do good to your character, and increase your +happiness, if you impart a portion of your earnings to +others who are in need. Help as much as you conveniently +can in building churches and school-houses for +the good of all, and in providing for the sick and the +aged. If your former masters and mistresses are in +trouble, show them every kindness in your power, +whether they have treated you kindly or not. Remember +the words of the blessed Jesus: "Do good to +them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully +use you and persecute you."</p> + +<p>There is one subject on which I wish to guard you +against disappointment. Do not be discouraged if freedom +brings you more cares and fewer advantages than you expected. +Such a great change as it is from Slavery to Freedom +cannot be completed all at once. By being brought +up as slaves, you have formed some bad habits, which it +will take time to correct. Those who were formerly +your masters have acquired still worse habits by being +brought up as slaveholders; and they cannot be expected +to change all at once. Both of you will gradually +improve under the teaching of new circumstances. +For a good while it will provoke many of them to see +those who were once their slaves acting like freemen. +They will doubtless do many things to vex and discourage +you, just as the slaveholders in Jamaica did after +emancipation there. They seemed to want to drive +their emancipated bondmen to insurrection, that they +might have a pretext for saying: "You see what a bad +effect freedom has on negroes! We told you it would be +so!" But the colored people of Jamaica behaved better +than their former masters wished them to do. They left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +the plantations where they were badly treated, or poorly +paid, but they worked diligently elsewhere. Their women +and children raised vegetables and fowls and carried them +to market; and, by their united industry and economy, +they soon had comfortable little homes of their own.</p> + +<p>I think it would generally be well for you to work for +your former masters, if they treat you well, and pay you +as much as you could earn elsewhere. But if they show +a disposition to oppress you, quit their service, and work +for somebody who will treat you like freemen. If they +use violent language to you, never use impudent language +to them. If they cheat you, scorn to cheat them +in return. If they break their promises, never break +yours. If they propose to women such connections as +used to be common under the bad system of Slavery, +teach them that freedwomen not only have the legal +power to protect themselves from such degradation, but +also that they have pride of character. If in fits of +passion, they abuse your children as they formerly did, +never revenge it by any injury to them or their property. +It is an immense advantage to any man always to keep +the right on his side. If you pursue this course you will +always be superior, however rich or elegant may be the +man or woman who wrongs you.</p> + +<p>I do not mean by this that you ought to submit tamely +to insult or oppression. Stand up for your rights, but do +it in a manly way. Quit working for a man who speaks +to you contemptuously, or who tries to take a mean advantage +of you, when you are doing your duty faithfully +by him. If it becomes necessary, apply to magistrates to +protect you and redress your wrongs. If you are so unlucky +as to live where the men in authority, whether +civil or military, are still disposed to treat the colored<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +people as slaves, let the most intelligent among you draw +up a statement of your grievances and send it to some of +your firm friends in Congress, such as the Hon. Charles +Sumner, the Hon. Henry Wilson, and the Hon. George +W. Julian.</p> + +<p>A good government seeks to make laws that will +equally protect and restrain all men. Heretofore you +had no reason to respect the laws of this country, because +they punished you for crime, in many cases more +severely than white men were punished, while they did +nothing to protect your rights. But now that good President +Lincoln has made you free, you will be legally protected +in your rights and restrained from doing wrong, +just as other men are protected and restrained. It is +one of the noblest privileges of freemen to be able to +respect the law, and to rely upon it always for redress of +grievances, instead of revenging one wrong by another +wrong.</p> + +<p>You will have much to put up with before the new +order of things can become settled on a permanent foundation. +I am grieved to read in the newspapers how +wickedly you are still treated in some places; but I am +not surprised, for I knew that Slavery was a powerful +snake, that would try to do mischief with its tail after its +head was crushed. But, whatever wrongs you may endure, +comfort yourselves with two reflections: first, that +there is the beginning of a better state of things, from +which your children will derive much more benefit than +you can; secondly, that a great majority of the American +people are sincerely determined that you shall be +protected in your rights as freemen. Year by year your +condition will improve. Year by year, if you respect +yourselves, you will be more and more respected by white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +men. Wonderful changes have taken place in your favor +during the last thirty years, and the changes are still +going on. The Abolitionists did a great deal for you, by +their continual writing and preaching against Slavery. +Then this war enabled thousands of people to see for +themselves what a bad institution Slavery was; and the +uniform kindness with which you treated the Yankee soldiers +raised you up multitudes of friends. There are +still many pro-slavery people in the Northern States, +who, from aristocratic pride or low vulgarity, still call +colored people "niggers," and treat them as such. But +the good leaven is now fairly worked into public sentiment, +and these people, let them do what they will, cannot +get it out.</p> + +<p>The providence of God has opened for you an upward +path. Walk ye in it, without being discouraged by the +brambles and stones at the outset. Those who come +after you will clear them away, and will place in their +stead strong, smooth rails for the steam-car called Progress +of the Colored Race.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2><a name="DAY_OF_JUBILEE" id="DAY_OF_JUBILEE"></a>DAY OF JUBILEE.</h2> + +<p class="chapauth">BY A. G. DUNCAN.</p> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Roll on, thou joyful day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When tyranny's proud sway,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Stern as the grave,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall to the ground be hurled,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Freedom's flag unfurled<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall wave throughout the world,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">O'er every slave!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Trump of glad jubilee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Echo o'er land and sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Freedom for all!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let the glad tidings fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And every tribe reply,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glory to God on high,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">At Slavery's fall!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<div class='center'> +THE END.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'>Cambridge: Stereotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co. +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +</div> + + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Epicureans were the followers of a philosopher in ancient Greece +who taught that pleasure was the great object in life,—an excellent +doctrine, if confined to the highest kind of pleasure, which consists in +doing good.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> A daily journal of the state of the planets.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Written in 1832.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> The ancient Greeks supposed that nine goddesses, whom they +named Muses, inspired people to write various kinds of poetry.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <i>Sol</i> is the word for sun in Latin, the language spoken by the +ancient Romans.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Phœbus was the name for the sun, in the language of the ancient +Greeks.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> The northern part of Great Britain is called Scotland, the southern +part England. The entire people are called British.</p></div> + +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='transnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> <p>Obvious punctuation and spelling errors +have been repaired. Spelling and accented letters, as well as inconsistent chapter headings in the +Contents and the body of the text, have otherwise been retained as they appear in the original publication.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Freedmen's Book, by Lydia Maria Child + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 38479-h.htm or 38479-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/4/7/38479/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Henry Flower and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/38479-h/images/logo_scaled.png b/38479-h/images/logo_scaled.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7c9d0d --- /dev/null +++ b/38479-h/images/logo_scaled.png diff --git a/38479.txt b/38479.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b24fad --- /dev/null +++ b/38479.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8759 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Freedmen's Book, by Lydia Maria Child + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Freedmen's Book + +Author: Lydia Maria Child + +Release Date: January 3, 2012 [EBook #38479] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Henry Flower and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + THE + + FREEDMEN'S BOOK. + + By L. MARIA CHILD. + + + O dark, sad millions,--patiently and dumb + Waiting for God,--your hour, at last, has come, + And Freedom's song + Breaks the long silence of your night of wrong. + + JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + [Illustration] + + BOSTON: + TICKNOR AND FIELDS. + 1865. + + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by + L. MARIA CHILD, + in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District + of Massachusetts. + + + UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & CO., + CAMBRIDGE. + + + + + _TO_ + + THE LOYAL AND BRAVE + + CAPTAIN ROBERT SMALL, + + _Hero of the Steamboat Planter_, + + THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY + + L. MARIA CHILD. + + + + +TO THE FREEDMEN. + + +I have prepared this book expressly for you, with the hope that those of +you who can read will read it aloud to others, and that all of you will +derive fresh strength and courage from this true record of what colored +men have accomplished, under great disadvantages. + +I have written all the biographies over again, in order to give you as +much information as possible in the fewest words. I take nothing for my +services; and the book is sold to you at the cost of paper, printing, +and binding. Whatever money you pay for any of the volumes will be +immediately invested in other volumes to be sent to freedmen in various +parts of the country, on the same terms; and whatever money remains in +my hands, when the book ceases to sell, will be given to the Freedmen's +Aid Association, to be expended in schools for you and your children. + + Your old friend, + L. MARIA CHILD. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + AUTHOR. PAGE + + IGNATIUS SANCHO _L. Maria Child_ 1 + + EXTRACT FROM THE TENTH PSALM 12 + + PREJUDICE REPROVED _Lydia H. Sigourney_ 13 + + BENJAMIN BANNEKER _L. Maria Child_ 14 + + ETHIOPIA _Frances E. W. Harper_* 24 + + THE HOUR OF FREEDOM _William Lloyd Garrison_ 25 + + WILLIAM BOEN _L. Maria Child_ 26 + + ANECDOTE OF GENERAL WASHINGTON 31 + + PRAYER OF THE SLAVE _Bernard Barton_ 32 + + TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE _L. Maria Child_ 33 + + THE ASPIRATIONS OF MINGO _Mingo, a Slave_* 84 + + BURY ME IN A FREE LAND _Frances E. W. Harper_* 85 + + PHILLIS WHEATLEY _L. Maria Child_ 86 + + A PERTINENT QUESTION _Frederick Douglass_* 93 + + THE WORKS OF PROVIDENCE _Phillis Wheatley_* 94 + + THE DYING CHRISTIAN _Frances E. W. Harper_* 96 + + KINDNESS TO ANIMALS _L. Maria Child_ 97 + + JAMES FORTEN _L. Maria Child_ 101 + + THE MEETING IN THE SWAMP _L. Maria Child_ 104 + + A REASONABLE REQUEST _Peter Williams_* 110 + + THE SLAVE POET _George Horton, a Slave_* 111 + + RATIE _Mattie Griffith_ 114 + + THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST _James Montgomery_ 123 + + PROGRESS OF EMANCIPATION IN THE + BRITISH WEST INDIES _L. Maria Child_ 124 + + THE LAST NIGHT OF SLAVERY _James Montgomery_ 146 + + MADISON WASHINGTON _L. Maria Child_ 147 + + EXTRACT FROM THE VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS 154 + + PRAISE OF CREATION _George Horton_* 155 + + FREDERICK DOUGLASS _L. Maria Child_ 156 + + HOW THE GOOD WORK GOES ON 176 + + DEDICATION HYMN _J. M. Whitefield_* 177 + + A PRAYER _John G. Whittier_ 178 + + WILLIAM AND ELLEN CRAFTS _L. Maria Child_ 179 + + SPRING _George Horton_* 205 + + THE GOOD GRANDMOTHER _Harriet Jacobs_* 206 + + THE COLORED MOTHER'S PRAYER 219 + + WILLIAM COSTIN 220 + + EDUCATION OF CHILDREN _L. Maria Child_ 221 + + THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN _Frances E. W. Harper_* 226 + + SAM AND ANDY _Harriet Beecher Stowe_ 227 + + JOHN BROWN _L. Maria Child_ 241 + + THE AIR OF FREEDOM _Frances E. W. Harper_* 243 + + EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT + OF COLUMBIA _James Madison Bell_* 244 + + THE LAWS OF HEALTH _L. Maria Child_ 246 + + PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION + OF EMANCIPATION _Frances E. W. Harper_* 250 + + NEW-YEAR'S DAY ON THE ISLANDS + OF SOUTH CAROLINA _Charlotte L. Forten_* 251 + + SONG OF THE NEGRO BOATMEN AT + PORT ROYAL, S. C. _John G. Whittier_ 257 + + EXTRACT FROM SPEECH TO COLORED + PEOPLE IN CHARLESTON _Hon. Henry Wilson_ 259 + + EXTRACT FROM SPEECH TO COLORED + PEOPLE IN CHARLESTON _Hon. Judge Kelly_ 261 + + BLACK TOM _A Yankee Soldier_ 263 + + LETTER FROM A FREEDMAN _Jourdon Anderson_* 265 + + COLONEL ROBERT G. SHAW _Eliza B. Sedgwick_ 268 + + ADVICE FROM AN OLD FRIEND _L. Maria Child_ 269 + + DAY OF JUBILEE _A. G. Duncan_ 277 + +* The names of the colored authors are marked with an asterisk. + + + + +THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK. + + + + +IGNATIUS SANCHO. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +This was the name of a remarkable African, who excited a good deal of +interest in his day. His father and mother were stolen from Africa and +put on board a slave-ship in 1729, which was one hundred and thirty-six +years ago. He was born during the passage, and when the vessel arrived +at Carthagena, in South America, he was baptized by the name of +Ignatius. His mother died soon after, and his father, seeing no means of +escape from slavery, killed himself in a fit of despair. The man who +took possession of the little orphan, and claimed to be his master, +carried him to England, and gave him to three unmarried sisters who +lived at Greenwich. He was then about two years old, a bright, lively, +funny little creature. As he grew older, he showed such an inquisitive +mind, said so many droll things, and was so full of mischief, that the +ladies named him Sancho, after a very comical character in a famous old +Spanish novel. He was very eager in the pursuit of knowledge; but this +commendable disposition was not approved by the ladies. They thought +that all a black servant had occasion to know was how to obey orders, +and that it was not necessary or proper for him to learn to read and +write. But nature had given Ignatius a very lively mind, and a very +susceptible heart, and neither of them could be kept quiet. He early +plunged into love affairs, and was always overrunning with fun and +frolic. Doubtless he was a great trial to the respectable maiden ladies, +who were training him for a servant; and he, on his part, thought them +very sour, severe, and disagreeable. Sometimes, when they were angry +with him, they reminded him that he had been a slave, and threatened to +send him into slavery again. This excited uneasiness in his mind, and +kindled resentment. + +The Duke of Montagu lived in the neighborhood, and his attention was +attracted by the bright, frank countenance of the black boy. He entered +into conversation with him occasionally, and was so much struck by his +intelligence and wit, that he told the ladies their servant was a +remarkable lad, and that his earnest desire to improve his mind ought to +be gratified. They persisted in their opinion that knowledge was a very +improper and dangerous thing for a black servant. But the Duke +introduced him to the Duchess, and they both encouraged him to learn to +read and write. They lent him books, and were greatly entertained by his +bright remarks concerning what he read. + +It was a great grief to Ignatius when the friendly Duke died. He +besought the Duchess to receive him into her service, and she consented. +He remained in her household as long as she lived. At her death, she +left him an annuity of about one hundred and fifty dollars a year; and +he had three hundred and fifty dollars, which he had laid up from his +wages. He might have made this sum the foundation of a comfortable +little property. But nature had made him very full of fun and frolic. He +had such lively manners, and uttered so many pleasant jokes, that his +company was much sought for. This proved a temptation too strong for +him. He accepted invitations to go to taverns, where he gambled away his +earnings. He had a great passion for going to the theatre; and his +conduct with regard to women was far from being correct. + +But he soon saw the error of his ways, and resolved to reform. He went +to the Chaplain of Montagu House, and begged to be taken into his +service, where he remained several months. The descendants of his old +friend, the Duke, encouraged him to persevere in his good resolutions; +and when the young Duke saw that he continued sober and industrious, he +took him into his employ. By the blessing of the Heavenly Father, +another saving influence came to help him into the paths of virtue. He +formed a serious attachment for a very worthy young woman from the West +Indies, to whom he was soon after married. He remained in the employ of +the Duke of Montagu until he was about forty-four years old. Frequent +attacks of the gout, and clumsiness resulting from an hereditary +tendency to corpulence, rendered him unfit to continue in the service to +which he had so long been accustomed. His good friend and patron the +Duke assisted him to establish a small shop for groceries. By economy +and industry, he and his good wife managed to rear and educate well a +numerous family of children. + +He always retained his love of learning, and was such a diligent reader, +that he was well acquainted with the current literature of that time. He +was treated with respect and attention by many intelligent and educated +people. Though not so full of fun as he was in his younger days, his +conversation was entertaining. The letters he wrote to various persons +abound with good sense, and show that he was very affectionate and +devoted as a husband and father. He evidently regarded his wife as the +best blessing of his life. In one of his letters to a friend he says: +"The hot weather does not befriend Mrs. Sancho, but time will, I hope. +If true worth could plead exemption from pain and sickness, she would, +by right divine, enjoy the best of health." On another occasion he +writes: "I can compare her to nothing so properly as a diamond in the +dirt. But, my friend, that is Fortune's fault, not mine; for had I the +power, I would case her in gold." Years later, he writes: "Dame Sancho +would be better in health, if she cared less. I am her barometer. If a +sigh escapes me, it is answered by a tear in her eye. I often assume +gayety to illume her dear sensibility with a smile, which twenty years +ago almost bewitched me, and which still constitutes my highest +pleasure. May such be your lot, my friend. What more can friendship wish +you than to glide down the stream of time with a partner of congenial +principles and fine feelings, whose very looks speak tenderness and +sentiment." + +After a severe illness he wrote to a friend: "I had excruciating pains +and great lack of patience. Mrs. Sancho had a week of it. Gout did not +sweeten my temper. It was washing week, and she had to attend the shop. +God bless her, and reward her. She is good; good in heart, good in +principle, good by habit." + +The children appear to have been the delight of his heart. He called +them "Sanchonettas," which would be the Italian way of saying Little +Sanchos. He was never tired of describing their little winning ways. At +the end of a letter to one of his friends he wrote: "Lydia trots about +amazingly; and Kitty imitates her, with this addition, that she is as +mischievous as a monkey." But little William, his youngest, was +evidently his pet. To another of his friends he wrote: "You cannot +imagine what hold little Billy gets of me. He grows, he prattles, every +day he learns something new. The rogue is fond of me to excess. By his +good-will he would be always in the shop with me. The little monkey! He +clings round my legs; and if I chide him, or look sour, he holds up his +little mouth to kiss me." + +Ignatius Sancho had a very kind heart. It hurt his feelings very much to +see any animal tormented. He tried to get some laws passed to prevent +cruel market-men from abusing their donkeys; and he always tried to be a +friend to everybody that was in distress. In one of his letters he says: +"The joy of giving and of making happy is almost the attribute of a god. +There is as much sweetness conveyed to the senses by doing a right +good-natured deed as our frame can consistently bear." + +Such a disposition is better than a remarkable intellect. But he had a +quick intellect also, and generally took sensible views of things. +Writing to a young colored friend, who had been somewhat wild, he +says:-- + +"Look round upon the miserable fate of almost all of our unfortunate +color. See slavery added to ignorance. See the contempt of the very +wretches who roll in affluence from our labors. Hear the ill-bred, +heart-racking abuse of the ignorant vulgar. If you tread as cautiously +as the strictest rectitude can guide you, you must suffer from this. But +if you are armed with truth and conscious integrity, you will be sure of +the plaudits and countenance of the good. + +"You are a happy lad. You have kind benefactors, to whom you ought to +look up with reverence, and humbly beg the Almighty to give you strength +to imitate them in doing good. Your parts are as quick as most men's. If +you urge your speed in the race of virtue with the same zeal you have +exhibited in error, you will recover, to the satisfaction of your noble +patrons, and to the glory of yourself. + +"Some philosopher, whose name I forget, wished for a window in his +breast, that the world might see his heart. I recommend him to your +imitation. Vice is a coward. To be truly brave, a man must be truly +good. You hate the name of cowardice; then detest a lie and shun liars. +Be above revenge. If others have taken advantage either of your guilt or +your distress, punish them only with forgiveness; and if you can serve +them at any future time, do it. + +"I sincerely congratulate thee upon thy repentance. It is thy birthday +to real happiness." + +To one of the white gentlemen who liked to correspond with him, he +wrote:-- + +"There is something so amazingly grand and affecting in contemplating +the works of the Divine Architect, either in the moral or the +intellectual world, that I think one may rightly call it the cordial of +the soul, the best antidote against pride and discontent. The friendly +warmth of that glorious planet the sun, the leniency of the air, the +cheerful glow of the atmosphere, make me involuntarily cry, 'Lord, what +is man, that thou, in thy mercy, art so mindful of him? or what is the +son of man, that thou so parentally carest for him?' + +"Sometimes, when I endeavor to turn my thoughts inward, to review the +powers or properties the indulgent all-wise Father has endowed me with, +I am struck with wonder and with awe; poor, insignificant worm as I am, +in comparison with superior beings, mortal like myself. At the head of +our riches I reckon the power of reflection. Where doth it lie? Search +every member, from the toe to the nose,--they are all ready for action, +but they are all dead to thought. It is that breath of life which the +Sacred Architect breathed into the nostrils of the first man. We feel +and acknowledge it, but it is quite past the power of definition. Then +to think of the promise of never-ending existence! To rise, perhaps, by +regular progression from planet to planet, to behold the wonders of +immensity, to pass from good to better, increasing in goodness, in +knowledge, in love. To glory in our Redeemer, to joy in ourselves, to be +acquainted with prophets, sages, heroes, and poets of old times, and to +join in the symphony with angels." + +To a white young friend, who had obtained a situation in India, he +wrote:-- + +"It is with sincere pleasure I hear you have a lucrative establishment. +Your good sense will naturally lead you to a proper economy, as distant +from frigid parsimony as from heedless extravagance. As you may have +some time for recreation, give me leave to obtrude my poor advice. I +have heard it more than once observed of fortunate adventurers, that +they come home rich in purse, but wretchedly barren in intellect. My +dear Jack, the mind wants food as well as the stomach. Why, then, should +not one wish to increase in knowledge as well as in money? The poet +Young says,-- + + 'Books are fair Virtue's advocates and friends.' + +My advice to you is, to lay by something every year to buy a little +library. You have to thank God for strong natural parts; you have a +feeling, humane heart; you write with sense and discernment. Improve +yourself, my dear Jack. Then if it should please God to return you to +your friends with a fortune, the embellishments of your mind may be ever +considered as greatly superior to your riches, and only inferior to the +goodness of your heart. This is a good old adage: 'A few books and a few +friends, and those well chosen.'" + +The same young friend wrote a letter to his father, from Bombay, in +India, in which he wrote: "The inhabitants here, who are chiefly blacks, +are a set of canting, deceitful people, of whom one must have great +caution." + +Ignatius Sancho was always ready to defend the despised and the +oppressed, and his sympathy was all the more lively if they were of his +own color. He at once wrote to his young friend:-- + +"In one of your letters to your father, you speak with honest +indignation of the treachery and chicanery of the natives of India. My +good friend, you should remember from whom they learned those vices. The +first visitors from Christian countries found them a simple, harmless +people. But the cursed avidity for wealth urged those first visitors, +and all the succeeding ones, to such acts of deception and wanton +cruelty, that the poor, ignorant natives soon learned their knavish +arts, and turned them upon their teachers. As a resident of your +country, Old England, I love it. I love it for its freedom. For the many +blessings I enjoy in it England shall ever have my warmest wishes, +prayers, and blessings. But I must observe, and I say it with +reluctance, that the conduct of your country has been uniformly wicked +in the East Indies, in the West Indies, and on the coast of Guinea. The +grand object of English navigators, and indeed of all the navigators of +Christian nations, has been money, money, money. Commerce was meant by +the goodness of Deity to diffuse the various goods of the earth into +every part; to unite mankind with the blessed bonds of brotherly love +and mutual dependence. Enlightened Christians should diffuse the riches +of the Gospel of Peace together with the commodities of their respective +lands. If commerce were attended with strict honesty and religion for +companions, it would be a blessing to every shore it touched at. + +"The poor wretched Africans are blessed with a most fertile and +luxuriant soil; but they are rendered miserable by what Providence meant +for a blessing. The abominable traffic in slaves, and the horrid cruelty +and treachery of the petty kings, is encouraged by their Christian +customers. They carry them strong liquors, powder, and bad fire-arms to +inflame them to madness, and to furnish them with the hellish means of +killing and kidnapping. It is a subject that sours my blood. I mention +these things to guard my friend from being too hasty in condemning a +people who have been made much worse by their Christian visitors. + +"Wherever thou residest, make human nature thy study. Whatever may be +the religion or the complexion of men, study their hearts. Let +simplicity, kindness, and charity be thy guides; and with these, even +savages will respect you, while God will bless you." + +The writings of the Rev. Laurence Sterne, who was living in England at +that time, were well calculated to inspire humanity toward animals and +kindly feelings toward the poor. These writings were very popular, and +two of the characters conspicuous in them, called Uncle Toby and +Corporal Trim, were great favorites with the public. Ignatius Sancho +especially delighted in the writings of Sterne; and in 1776, when he was +about forty-seven years old, he addressed a letter to him as follows:-- + + "REVEREND SIR,--It would perhaps look like an insult upon your + humanity to apologize for the liberty I am taking. I am one of + those people whom the vulgar and illiberal call 'Negurs.' The first + part of my life was rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family who + judged ignorance to be the best and only security for obedience. By + unwearied application I got a little reading and writing. Through + God's blessing, the latter part of my life has been truly + fortunate, for I have spent it in the service of one of the best + families in the kingdom. My chief pleasure has been books. How very + much, good sir, am I, among millions, indebted to you for the + character of your amiable Uncle Toby! I declare I would walk ten + miles, in dog-days, to shake hands with the honest Corporal. Your + sermons have touched me to the heart, and I hope have amended it. + In your tenth discourse I find this very affecting passage: + 'Consider how great a part of our species, in all ages, down to + this, have been trodden under the feet of cruel and capricious + tyrants, who would neither hear their cries nor pity their + distresses. Consider Slavery, what a bitter draught it is, and how + many millions are made to drink of it.' + + "I am sure you will forgive me if I beseech you to give some + attention to Slavery, as it is practised at this day in the West + Indies. That subject, handled in your striking manner, would + perhaps ease the yoke of many; but if only of one, what a feast for + a benevolent heart! and sure I am, you are an Epicurean[1] in acts + of charity. You, who are universally read and as universally + admired, could not fail. Dear sir, think that in me you behold the + uplifted hands of thousands of my brother Moors. You pathetically + observe that grief is eloquent. Figure to yourself their attitudes, + hear their supplications, and you cannot refuse." + +Mr. Sterne wrote the following reply:-- + + "July 27th, 1766. + + "There is a strange coincidence, Sancho, in the little events of + this world, as well as the great ones. I had been writing a tender + tale of the sorrows of a poor, friendless negro girl, and my eyes + had scarce done smarting with it, when your letter, in behalf of so + many of her brethren and sisters, came to me. But why _her_ + brethren or _your_ brethren, Sancho, any more than _mine_? It is by + the finest tints, and the most insensible gradations, that nature + descends from the fairest face to the sootiest complexion. At which + of these tints are the ties of blood to cease? and how many shades + lower in the scale must we descend, ere mercy is to vanish with + them? + + "It is no uncommon thing, my good Sancho, for one half of the world + to _use_ the other half like brutes, and then endeavor to _make_ + them so. For my part, I never look Westward, when I am in a pensive + mood, without thinking of the burdens our brothers and sisters are + there carrying. If I could ease their shoulders from one ounce of + them, I declare I would this hour set out upon a pilgrimage to + Mecca for their sakes. It casts a sad shade upon the world, that so + great a part of it are, and have so long been, bound in chains of + darkness and chains of misery. I cannot but respect you and + felicitate you, that by so much laudable diligence you have broken + the chains of darkness, and that by falling into the hands of so + good and merciful a family, you have been rescued by Providence + from the chains of misery. + + "And so, good-hearted Sancho, adieu. Believe me, I will not forget + your letter. + + "Yours, + "LAURENCE STERNE." + +The last sickness of Ignatius Sancho was very painful, but he was +tenderly cared for by his good wife. He was fifty-two years old when he +died. After his death, a small volume was published, containing a number +of his letters, some articles he had written for newspapers, and an +engraved likeness of him, which looks very bright and good-natured. The +book was published by subscription, in which a large number of the +English nobility and some distinguished literary men joined. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] Epicureans were the followers of a philosopher in ancient Greece who +taught that pleasure was the great object in life,--an excellent +doctrine, if confined to the highest kind of pleasure, which consists in +doing good. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE TENTH PSALM. + +"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor. He hath said in his +heart, God hath forgotten; He hideth his face; He will never see it. +Thou _hast_ seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite +it with thy hand. The poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the +helper of the fatherless. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the +humble. Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear; thou wilt prepare their heart +to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may +no more oppress." + + + + +PREJUDICE REPROVED. + +BY LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY. + + + God gave to Afric's sons + A brow of sable dye; + And spread the country of their birth + Beneath a burning sky. + + With a cheek of olive He made + The little Hindoo child; + And darkly stained the forest tribes, + That roam our Western wild. + + To me He gave a form + Of fairer, whiter clay; + But am I, therefore, in his sight, + Respected more than they? + + No;--'tis the hue of _deeds_ and _thoughts_ + He traces in his book; + 'Tis the complexion of the _heart_ + On which He deigns to look. + + Not by the tinted cheek, + That fades away so fast, + But by the color of the _soul_, + We shall be judged at last. + + + + +BENJAMIN BANNEKER. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +This remarkable man was born near the village of Ellicott's Mills, +Baltimore County, Maryland, in 1732. That was one hundred and +thirty-three years ago, when there were very few schools and very few +books in this country, and when it was not as easy as it now is for even +white people to obtain a tolerably good education. His parents were both +black, and though they were free, they were too poor to do much for +their bright boy. They sent him to a school in the neighborhood, where +he learned reading and writing and a little of arithmetic. + +His father was a slave at the time of his marriage, but his wife was a +free woman; and she was so energetic and industrious, that she soon +earned money enough to buy his freedom. Then they worked together, and +earned enough to buy a few acres of land, and build a small cabin. + +Benjamin was obliged to labor diligently when he was at home from +school, but every spare moment he could catch he was ciphering, and +planning how to make things. As his parents grew old, he had to work +early and late, to support himself and help them. His mother always +continued active enough to do the in-door work. When she was seventy +years old, if she wanted to catch a chicken she would run it down +without appearing to be tired. The place was thinly peopled, and the few +neighbors they had took no particular notice of Benjamin, though he had +the name of being a bright, industrious lad. His hands worked hard, but +his brain was always busy. He was particularly fond of arithmetic, and +was always working out sums in his head. He took notice of everything +around him, observed how everything was made, and never forgot one word +of what he had learned at school. In this way, he came to have more +knowledge than most of his white neighbors; and they began to say to one +another, "That black Ben is a smart fellow. He can make anything he sets +out to; and how much he knows! I wonder where he picked it all up." + +At thirty years old, he made a clock, which proved an excellent +timepiece. He had never seen a clock, for nobody in that region had such +an article; but he had seen a watch, and it occupied his thoughts very +much. It seemed to him such a curious little machine, that he was very +desirous to make something like it. The watch was made of gold and +silver and steel; but Benjamin Banneker had only wood for material, and +the rudest kind of tools to work with. It was a long while before he +could make the hand that marked the hours, and the hand that marked the +minutes, and the hand that marked the seconds, correspond exactly in +their motions; but by perseverance he succeeded at last. He was then +about thirty years old. This was the first clock ever made in this +country. It kept time exactly, and people began to talk about it as a +wonderful thing for a man to do without instruction. After a while, the +Ellicott family, who owned the Mills, heard of it, and went to see it. +Mr. Elias Ellicott, a merchant in Baltimore, became very much interested +in the self-taught machinist. He lent him a number of books, among which +were some on astronomy,--a science which treats of the sun, moon, and +stars. Banneker was so interested in this new knowledge that he could +think of nothing else. He sat up all night to watch the planets, and to +make calculations about their motions. Mr. Ellicott went to see him to +explain to him how to use some of the tables for calculations contained +in the books he had lent him; but he found, to his great surprise, that +the earnest student had studied them all out himself, and had no need of +help. It was not long before he could calculate when the sun or the moon +would be eclipsed, and at what time every star would rise and set. He +was never known to make a mistake in any of his astronomical +calculations; and he became so exact, that he pointed out two mistakes +made by celebrated astronomers in Europe. + +In order to pursue his favorite studies without interruption, he sold +the land which his parents had left him, and bought an annuity with the +money, on which he lived in the little cabin where he was born. He was +so temperate and frugal, that he needed very little to support him; and +when it was necessary to have more than his annuity, he could always +earn something by going out to work. But, as he was no longer seen in +the fields late and early, his ignorant white neighbors began to talk +against him. They peeped into his cabin and saw him asleep in the +daytime. They did not know that he had been awake all night watching the +stars, and ciphering out his calculations. In fact, they did not know +that the planets moved at all; and if he had told them that he could +calculate their movements exactly, they would only have laughed at him. +I suppose they felt some ill-will toward him because he was black, and +yet knew so much more than they did; and perhaps it excited their envy +that the Ellicott family and other educated gentlemen liked to go to +his cabin and talk with him about his studies and observations. + +But Banneker was wise enough not to enter into any quarrels because they +called him a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow. He endeavored to live in +such a way that they could not help respecting him. He was always kind +and generous, ready to oblige everybody, and not at all inclined to +boast of his superiority. + +When he was fifty-nine years old, he made an Almanac. It is a very +difficult job to calculate all about the changes of the moon, and the +rising and ebbing of the tides, and at what time the sun will rise and +set every day, all the year round; and it was a much more difficult task +then than it is now; because now there is a great improvement in +astronomical books and instruments. But notwithstanding Banneker's +limited means and scanty education, he made an excellent Almanac. It was +published by Goddard and Angell of Baltimore. In a Preface, they say: +"We feel gratified to have an opportunity of presenting to the public, +through our press, what must be considered an extraordinary effort of +genius,--a complete and accurate Ephemeris[2] for the year 1792, +calculated by a sable son of Africa. It has met the approbation of +several of the most distinguished astronomers of America; and we hope a +philanthropic public will give their support to the work, not only on +account of its intrinsic merit, but from a desire to controvert the +long-established illiberal prejudice against the blacks." + +This was the first Almanac ever made in this country. It contained much +useful information of a general nature, and interesting selections in +prose and verse. Before it was printed, Banneker sent a manuscript +copy, in his own handwriting, to Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of +State, and afterward President of the United States. After apologizing +for the liberty he took in addressing a person whose station was so far +above his own, he says:-- + + "Those of my complexion have long been considered rather brutish + than human,--scarcely capable of mental endowments. But, in + consequence of the reports that have reached me, I hope I may + safely admit that you are measurably friendly and well-disposed + toward us. I trust that you agree with me in thinking that one + Universal Father hath given being to us all; that He has not only + made us all of one flesh, but has also, without partiality, + afforded us all the same sensations, and endowed us all with the + same faculties; and that, however various we may be in society or + religion, however diversified in situation or color, we are all of + the same family, and all stand in the same relation to Him. Now, + sir, if this is founded in truth, I apprehend you will readily + embrace every opportunity to eradicate the absurd and false ideas + and opinions which so generally prevail with respect to us. + + "Suffer me, sir, to recall to your mind, that when the tyranny of + the British crown was exerted to reduce you to servitude, your + abhorrence thereof was so excited, that you publicly held forth + this true and invaluable doctrine, worthy to be recorded and + remembered in all succeeding ages: 'We hold these truths to be + self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that they are + endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that + among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' + + "Your tender feelings for yourselves engaged you thus to declare. + You were then impressed with proper ideas of the great value of + Liberty, and the free possession of those blessings to which you + were entitled by nature. But, sir, how pitiable it is to reflect + that, although you were so fully convinced of the benevolence of + the Father of mankind, and of his equal and impartial distribution + of those rights and privileges which He had conferred upon them, + that you should at the same time counteract his mercies in + detaining, by fraud and violence, so numerous a part of my brethren + under groaning captivity and cruel oppression; that you should at + the same time be found guilty of that most criminal act which you + detested in others with respect to yourselves. + + "Sir, I freely and most cheerfully acknowledge that I am of the + African race; and in that color which is natural to them I am of + the deepest dye. But, with a sense of most profound gratitude to + the Supreme Ruler of the universe, I confess that I am not under + that state of tyrannical thraldom and inhuman captivity to which so + many of my brethren are doomed. I have abundantly tasted of those + blessings which proceed from that free and unequalled liberty with + which you are favored. + + "Sir, I suppose your knowledge of the situation of my brethren is + too extensive for it to need a recital here. Neither shall I + presume to prescribe methods by which they may be relieved, + otherwise than by recommending to you and others to wean yourselves + from those narrow prejudices you have imbibed with respect to them, + and to do as Job proposed to his friends,--'Put _your_ souls in + _their_ souls' stead.' Thus shall your hearts be enlarged with + kindness and benevolence toward them, and you will need neither the + direction of myself nor others in what manner to proceed. + + "I took up my pen to direct to you, as a present, a copy of an + Almanac I have calculated for the succeeding year. I ardently hope + that your candor and generosity will plead with you in my behalf. + Sympathy and affection for my brethren has caused my enlargement + thus far; it was not originally my design. + + "The Almanac is the production of my arduous study. I have long had + unbounded desires to become acquainted with the secrets of Nature, + and I have had to gratify my curiosity herein through my own + assiduous application to astronomical study; in which I need not + recount to you the many difficulties and disadvantages I have had + to encounter. I conclude by subscribing myself, with the most + profound respect, your most humble servant, + + "B. BANNEKER." + +To this letter Jefferson made the following reply:-- + + "SIR,--I thank you sincerely for your letter, and for the Almanac + it contained. Nobody wishes more than I do to see such proofs as + you exhibit that Nature has given to our black brethren talents + equal to those of the other colors of men, and that the appearance + of a want of them is owing only to the degraded condition of their + existence, both in Africa and America. I can add, with truth, that + no one wishes more ardently to see a good system commenced for + raising the condition, both of their body and mind, to what it + ought to be, as fast as the imbecility of their present existence, + and other circumstances which cannot be neglected, will admit. I + have taken the liberty of sending your Almanac to Monsieur + Condorcet, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and to + members of the Philanthropic Society, because I considered it a + document to which your whole color had a right, for their + justification against the doubts which have been entertained of + them. I am, with great esteem, sir, your most obedient servant, + + "THOMAS JEFFERSON." + +In 1803, Mr. Jefferson invited the astronomer to visit him at +Monticello, but the increasing infirmities of age made it imprudent to +undertake the journey. His Almanacs sold well for ten years, and the +income, added to his annuity, gave him a very comfortable support; and +what was a still greater satisfaction to him was the consciousness of +doing something to help the cause of his oppressed people, by proving to +the world that Nature had endowed them with good capacities. + +After 1802 he found himself too old to calculate any more Almanacs, but +as long as he lived he continued to be deeply interested in his various +studies. + +He was well informed on many other subjects besides arithmetic and +astronomy. He was a great reader of history; and he kept a Journal, +which shows that he was a close observer of the vegetable world, of the +habits of insects, and of the operations of Nature in general. That his +busy mind drew inferences from what he observed is evident from the +following entry in his Journal:-- + +"Standing at my door to-day, I heard the discharge of a gun, and in four +or five seconds of time the small shots came rattling about me, which +plainly demonstrates that the velocity of sound is greater than that of +a common bullet." + +After the Constitution of the United States was adopted, in 1789, +commissioners were appointed to determine the boundaries of the District +of Columbia. They invited Banneker to be present and assist them in +running the lines; and he was treated by them with as much respect as +if he had been of their own color. His Almanacs were much praised by +scientific men, and they often visited him in his humble little cabin. +But these attentions never made him pert and vain. He rejoiced in his +abilities and acquisitions, because he thought they might help to raise +the condition of his oppressed brethren; but he always remained modest +and unobtrusive in his manners. + +He died in 1804, in the seventy-second year of his age. His friend, Mr. +Benjamin H. Ellicott, collected various facts concerning him, which have +been published. In a letter on this subject, Mr. Ellicott says: "During +the whole of his long life he lived respectably, and was much esteemed +by all who became acquainted with him; more especially by those who +could fully appreciate his genius and the extent of his acquirements. +His mode of life was extremely regular and retired. Having never +married, he lived alone, cooking his own victuals and washing his own +clothes. He was scarcely ever absent from home, yet there was nothing +misanthropic in his character. A gentleman who knew him speaks of him +thus: 'I recollect him well. He was a brave-looking, pleasant man, with +something very noble in his appearance. His mind was evidently much +engrossed in his calculations, but he was glad to receive the visits we +often paid him.' Another writes: 'When I was a boy, I became very much +interested in him. His manners were those of a perfect gentleman. He was +kind, generous, hospitable, humane, dignified, and pleasing. He abounded +in information on all the various subjects and incidents of the day, was +very modest and unassuming, and delighted in society at his own house. +Go there when you would, by day or night, there was constantly in the +middle of the floor a large table covered with books and papers. As he +was an eminent mathematician, he was constantly in correspondence with +other mathematicians in this country, with whom there was an interchange +of questions of difficult solution. His head was covered with thick +white hair, which gave him a venerable appearance. His dress was +uniformly of superfine drab broadcloth, made in the old style of a plain +coat with strait collar, a long waistcoat, and a broad-brimmed hat. His +color was not jet black, but decidedly negro. In size and personal +appearance he bore a strong resemblance to the statue of Benjamin +Franklin, at the Library in Philadelphia.'" + +The good which Banneker did to the cause of his colored brethren did not +cease with his life. When the Abbe Gregoire pleaded for emancipation in +France, and when Wilberforce afterward labored for the same cause in +England, the abilities and character of the black astronomer were +brought forward as an argument against the enslavement of his race; and, +from that day to this, the friends of freedom have quoted him everywhere +as a proof of the mental capacity of Africans. + + * * * * * + + "They _found_ them slaves! but who that title _gave_? + The God of Nature never formed a slave! + Though fraud or force acquire a master's name, + Nature and justice must remain the same;-- + Nature imprints upon whate'er we see, + That has a heart and life in it, BE FREE!" + + COWPER. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] A daily journal of the state of the planets. + + + + +ETHIOPIA. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + Yes, Ethiopia yet shall stretch + Her bleeding hands abroad; + Her cry of agony shall reach + Up to the throne of God. + + The tyrant's yoke from off her neck, + His fetters from her soul, + The mighty hand of God shall break, + And spurn the base control. + + Redeemed from dust and freed from chains, + Her sons shall lift their eyes; + From cloud-capt hills and verdant plains + Shall shouts of triumph rise. + + Upon her dark, despairing brow + Shall play a smile of peace; + For God shall bend unto her woe, + And bid her sorrows cease. + + 'Neath sheltering vines and stately palms + Shall laughing children play, + And aged sires with joyous psalms + Shall gladden every day. + + Secure by night, and blest by day, + Shall pass her happy hours; + Nor human tigers hunt for prey + Within her peaceful bowers. + + Then, Ethiopia, stretch, O stretch + Thy bleeding hands abroad! + Thy cry of agony shall reach + And find redress from God. + + + + +THE HOUR OF FREEDOM.[3] + +BY WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. + + + The hour of freedom! come it must. + O hasten it, in mercy, Heaven! + When all who grovel in the dust + Shall stand erect, their fetters riven; + + When glorious freedom shall be won + By every caste, complexion, clime; + When tyranny shall be o'erthrown, + And _color_ cease to be a _crime_. + + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[3] Written in 1832. + + + + +WILLIAM BOEN. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +William Boen was born in 1735, one hundred and thirty years ago. He was +the slave of a man who lived near Mount Holly, in New Jersey. His master +and most of the neighbors belonged to the Society of Friends, commonly +called Quakers. That Society made it a rule that none of their members +should hold a slave, long before the people of any other sect were +convinced that slavery was wrong. But at the time William Boen was born +some of the Quakers did hold slaves, though many of their members were +preaching against it. + +They were a very friendly and conscientious people, and as William grew +up among them he naturally imbibed many of their ideas. However, like +most boys, he did not think very seriously about religion, until the +importance of it was impressed upon his mind by the following +circumstance. In the time of the old French war, when he was a mere lad, +his master sent him into the woods to cut down trees. The Indians were +fighting on the side of the French, and they often killed the Americans. +Some of them came into the neighborhood of Mount Holly; and when he went +home at night, after his day's work in the woods, he would often hear +that Indians had been lurking about in the neighborhood, and that +somebody had been shot by their sharp arrows. This made him very much +afraid to work alone in the woods. He was always thinking that Indians +might be hidden among the bushes; and if a bird flew off her nest it +sounded to him like the whizzing of an arrow. It was very still in the +forest, and it seemed very solemn to look up at the sky through the tall +trees. William thought to himself, "What if the Indians should kill me +before I have any time to think about it? Am I fit to die?" He thought +he was not fit to die, and he longed earnestly to know what he ought to +do to become fit to die. He had heard the Quakers talk about a light +which God had placed in the soul, to show men what was wrong. And he +said it went through his mind "like a flaming sword," that if he would +be fit to die he must follow this inward light in every particular, even +in the most trifling things. So he began to be very thoughtful about +every action of his life; and if he felt uneasy about anything he was +tempted to do, he said to himself, "This is the inward light, showing me +that the thing is wrong. I will not do it." Pursuing this course, he +became careful not to do anything which did not bring peace to his soul; +and as the soul can never be peaceful when it disobeys God, he was +continually travelling toward Zion while he strove to follow this inward +light in his soul; and the more humbly he tried to follow it, the +clearer the light became. He did not always keep in the straight path. +Sometimes he did or said something wrong; then peace went away from his +mind. But he confessed his sin before God, and prayed for strength not +to do wrong any more. By humility and obedience he again found the path +of peace. Religion comes in many different ways to human souls. This was +the way it came to William Boen. + +All who knew him saw that his religious feeling was deep and sincere, +for it brought forth fruit in his daily life. He never made others +unhappy by indulging freaks of temper. He was extremely temperate, +scrupulously honest, and very careful never to say anything but the +exact truth. His character was so excellent that all the neighbors +respected and trusted him. Many said it was a shame to keep him in +slavery, and his master became uneasy about it. People said to him, from +time to time, "William, thy master talks of letting thee be free." He +heard it so often, that it became an old story, and he thought nothing +would ever come of it. But one day his master was walking with him as he +went to his work in the fields, and suddenly he inquired whether he +would like to be free. William was silent for a while, and then began to +talk about the work he was to do. But the question dwelt on his mind and +excited his hopes. He told one of his friends about it, and when he was +asked, "What didst thou say, William?" he replied, "I did not say +anything; for I thought he might _know_ I would like to be free." + +When he was nearly twenty-eight years old his master offered to make a +contract with him by which he could obtain his freedom. He was soon +after married to a worthy young woman, and by industry and strict +economy they were able in a few years to buy a few acres of land, and +build a comfortable house. He led a peaceful and diligent life, doing +good to others whenever he could, and harming no one. His conscience was +extremely tender. He would never eat anything made of sugar manufactured +by slaves, and he never would wear any garments made of cotton raised by +slave labor. He thought Slavery was so wrong, that he did not feel easy +to connect himself with it, even in the remotest degree. + +He was equally scrupulous about telling the truth. One of his +neighbors, a rich white man, was very much in the habit of borrowing his +tools. One day, when he had been using his grindstone, he thanked him +for it, and William answered, in the customary way, "Thou art welcome." +But soon he began to ask himself, "Was that the exact truth?" His mind +was troubled by doubts about it, and finally he went to his neighbor, +and said, "When I told thee thou wert welcome, I spoke mere +complimentary words, according to custom; for the truth is, I do +honestly think thou art better able to have a grindstone of thy own, +than I am." + +He had also a very nice sense of justice with regard to the rights of +property. Nothing would induce him to use what belonged to another +person without first obtaining leave. One day, when he was mowing in the +meadows, he accidentally killed a fat partridge with his scythe. The +other workmen advised him to take it home for his wife to roast. But he +replied, "Nay, the partridge does not belong to me, it belongs to the +owner of the meadow." Accordingly he carried it to his employer. Another +time, when he was working with others in the woods, they found an empty +cabin, wherein they stowed their provisions, and lodged for a fortnight, +till they had finished cutting the timber. After William returned home +he took an early opportunity to tell the owner of the cabin what he had +done, and to offer payment for the accommodation. + +He constantly attended Quaker meetings, and followed their peculiar +customs in dress and language; but he was not admitted into full +membership with that religious society till he was nearly eighty years +old, though he had made application to join it thirty years before. + +He was scrupulously neat in his person. His linen was always very +white, and his light drab-colored clothes showed no speck of dirt. He +wore his beard long, and as he grew old it became very white; his curly +hair also was white as snow. His dark face was very conspicuous in the +midst of all this whiteness, and gave him an odd appearance. But he had +such a friendly, pleasant expression of countenance, and there was so +much modest dignity in his manners, that he inspired respect. A stranger +once said to one of his wealthy neighbors, "I wonder that boys and giddy +young folks don't ridicule that old black man, his dress and appearance +are so very peculiar." The neighbor replied, "William Boen is a +religious man, and everybody respects him. The light-minded are so much +impressed by his well-known character, that they are restrained from +making fun of his singular appearance." + +He died in his ninetieth year; not from any disease, but the mere +weakness of old age. His faculties were clear, and his mind serene and +cheerful to the last. He spoke of his approaching death with the +greatest composure; saying that he had no wish about the manner of his +exit from this life, that he was resigned to the Divine will in all +things. + +One of the last things he said was, "I am glad to see that the feeling +against slavery is growing among the Society of Friends. Once I felt as +if I was alone in my testimony against that wicked system." + +After his death, the Society of Friends at Mount Holly wrote a Memorial +concerning his character, which was read in their Yearly Meeting. It +concluded thus: "In early life, he was concerned 'to do justly, love +mercy, and walk humbly with his God.' By close attention to the light of +Christ within, he was enabled, not only to bear many precious +testimonies faithfully to the end of his days, but also to bring forth +those fruits of the spirit which redound to the glory of God and the +salvation of the soul. As he lived, so he died,--a rare pattern of a +self-denying follower of Christ. 'Mark the perfect man, and behold the +upright; for the end of that man is peace.'" + + + + +ANECDOTE OF GENERAL WASHINGTON. + + +During the war of the Revolution, Primus Hall was the colored servant of +Colonel Pickering, with whom General Washington often held long +consultations. One night, finding they must be engaged till late, he +proposed to sleep in the Colonel's tent, provided there was a spare +blanket and straw. Primus, who was always eager to oblige the +Commander-in-Chief, said, "Plenty of straw and blankets." + +When the long conference was ended, the two officers lay down to rest on +the beds he had prepared. When he saw they were asleep, he seated +himself on a box, and, leaning his head on his hand, tried to take as +comfortable a nap as he could. General Washington woke in the night, and +seeing him nodding there, called out, "Primus!" The servant started to +his feet, and exclaimed, "What do you wish for, General?" + +"You told me you had plenty of straw and blankets," replied Washington; +"but I see you are sitting up all night for the sake of giving me your +bed." + +"It is no matter about me," rejoined Primus. + +"Yes, it is," replied General Washington. "If one of us must sit up, I +will take my turn. But there is no need of that. The blanket is wide +enough for two. Come and lie down with me." + +Primus, who reverenced the Commander-in-Chief as he did no other mortal, +protested against it. But Washington threw open the blanket, and said, +"Come and lie down, I tell you! There is room enough for both, and I +insist upon it." + +The tone was too resolute to admit of further parley, and the General +and his colored friend slept comfortably under the same blanket till +morning. + + + + +PRAYER OF THE SLAVE. + +BY BERNARD BARTON. + + + O Father of the human race! + The white, the black, the bond, the free, + Thanks for thy gift of heavenly grace, + Vouchsafed through Jesus Christ to me. + + This, 'mid oppression's every wrong, + Has borne my sinking spirits up; + Made sorrow joyful, weakness strong, + And sweetened Slavery's bitter cup. + + Hath not a Saviour's dying hour + Made e'en the yoke of thraldom light? + Hath not thy Holy Spirit's power + Made bondage freedom? darkness bright? + + Thanks then, O Father! for the gift + Which through thy Gospel thou hast given, + Which thus from bonds and earth can lift + The soul to liberty and heaven. + + But not the less I mourn their shame, + Who, mindless of thy gracious will, + Call on the holy Father's name, + Yet keep their brethren bondmen still. + + Forgive them, Lord! for Jesus' sake; + And when the slave thou hast unbound, + The chains which bind the oppressor break! + Thus be thy love's last triumph crowned. + + + + +TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE. + + "Everywhere thy name shall be + Redeemed from color's infamy; + And men shall learn to speak of thee + As one of earth's great spirits, born + In servitude and nursed in scorn, + Casting aside the weary weight + And fetters of its low estate, + In that strong majesty of soul + Which knows no color, tongue, or clime, + Which still hath spurned the base control + Of tyrants, through all time." + + JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + +On the western coast of Africa, a tribe called the Arradas are said to +be superior to most of the other tribes in intelligence and strength of +will. The son of their chief, named Gaou-Guinou, was seized by a +prowling band of slave-traders, one day when he was out hunting. He was +packed in the hold of a European ship, with a multitude of other +unfortunate victims, and carried to the island of Hayti to be sold. This +is one of the largest of the West India Islands, and lies between Cuba +and Porto Rico. It was first discovered by Spaniards, who found it +inhabited by mild-tempered Indians, leading a very simple and happy +life. These natives called their island Hayti, which in their language +signified a Land of Mountains. A lofty ridge of mountains runs across +it, and gives it a solemn, dreary appearance, when seen in the distance. +But it is a very beautiful and fertile island. The high, rocky +precipices, piled one above another, look down on broad flowery plains, +flowing with water, and loaded with tropical fruits. When the Spaniards +established a colony there, they introduced the cultivation of sugar, +cotton, and coffee, to supply the markets of Europe. They compelled the +native Indians to work so hard, and treated them so badly, that the poor +creatures died off very fast. Then they sent men in ships to Africa to +steal negroes to work for them. They founded a city in the eastern part +of the island, and named it St. Domingo; and the whole island came to be +called by that name by European nations. + +The French afterward took possession of the western part of the island. +Their principal city was named Cap Francois, which means French Cape. +The African prince Gaou-Guinou was sold in the market of that city. He +was more fortunate than slaves generally are. He was bought by the +manager of a sugar plantation belonging to a French nobleman, named the +Count de Breda. He was kind-hearted, and was very careful to employ none +but humane men to take charge of his laborers. The condition of the +young African was also less desolate than it would have been, by reason +of his finding on the Breda estate several members of the Arradas tribe, +who, like him, had been stolen from their homes. They at once recognized +him as the son of their king, and treated him with the utmost respect. +In process of time he married a black slave, who is said to have been +handsome and virtuous. They joined the Roman Catholic Church, which was +the established religion of France and the French islands. Of their +eight children, the oldest, born in 1743, one hundred and twenty-two +years ago, was named Toussaint. The day of his birth is not certainly +known. It has been said to have been on the 20th of May. But, from his +name, it seems more likely that it was on the 1st of November. In +Catholic countries, almost every day of the year is set apart to the +worship of some saint; and a child born on the day of any particular +saint is very apt to receive his name from that day. The first of +November is a festival of the church, called All Saints' Day; and +Toussaint, in the French language, means All Saints. + +In the neighborhood of Gaou-Guinou lived a very honest, religious old +black man, named Pierre Baptiste. He had been in the service of Jesuit +missionaries, and had there learned to read and write, also a little of +geometry. By help of the Catholic Prayer-Book he learned some prayers in +Latin, and found out their meaning in French. This man stood godfather +for Toussaint at his baptism, and as the boy grew older it was his +pleasure to teach him what little he himself knew. The language of the +Arradas tribe was always spoken in the family of Gaou-Guinou, but from +his godfather Toussaint learned to speak tolerably good French, which +was the language of the whites in the western part of St. Domingo. It is +said that Gaou-Guinou was allowed to cultivate a little patch of ground +for his family, and that some of his fellow-slaves were permitted to +assist him occasionally. This indulgence indicates that he stood well in +his master's opinion. But, in common with other slaves, it is probable +that he and his wife toiled early and late in the fields or the +sugar-house, and that their family were huddled together in a hut too +small to allow of their observing the laws of cleanliness or modesty. + +For several years Toussaint was so feeble and slender that his parents +called him by a name which signified "The Little Lath." But he gained +strength as he grew older; and by the time he was twelve years old he +could beat all the boys in running, jumping, and leaping. + +It was the business of young slaves to tend the flocks and herds. They +generally neglected and abused the creatures under their care, because +they themselves were accustomed to hard treatment. But Toussaint was of +a kindly disposition, and there was less violence on his master's +plantation than elsewhere. It was remarked in the neighborhood that he +differed from other boys in his careful and gentle treatment of the +animals under his care. He was naturally a silent and thoughtful child, +and probably this tendency was increased by being much alone, watching +the browsing cattle in the stillness of the great valleys. Perhaps also +the presence of the mountains and the sky made him feel serious and +solemn. His pious godfather told him legends of Catholic saints, which +he had heard among the missionaries. All these things combined to give +him a religious turn of mind, even in his boyhood. From his own father +he learned a great deal about Africa and the customs that prevailed in +the tribe of his grandfather, King of the Arradas; also the medicinal +qualities of many plants, which afterward proved very useful to him. +Nothing is recorded of the moral and intellectual character of his +father; but Toussaint always respected him highly, and when he was +himself an old man he spoke of him as a good parent, who had trained him +well by lessons of honor and virtue. + +Toussaint Breda, as he was called, from the name of the estate on which +he worked, early acquired a reputation for intelligence, sobriety, and +industry. The Manager of the estate, M. Bayou de Libertas, was so much +pleased with his conduct and manners that he made him his coachman, a +situation much coveted by the slaves, as being more easy and pleasant +than most of their tasks. His kindness to animals fitted him for the +care of horses, and he was found as faithful in this new business as he +had been while he was herds-boy. He was afterward promoted to an office +of greater trust, being made steward of the sugar-house. + +Having arrived at manhood, he began to want a home of his own. Most of +the slaves took up together without any form of marriage, that being one +of the bad customs which grows out of Slavery. But Toussaint was +religious, and it would have troubled his conscience to live in that bad +way. He had become attached to a widow named Suzan, who had one little +son called Placide. She was not handsome, but he loved her for her good +sense, good temper, and modest manners. They were married according to +the ceremonies of the Catholic Church. He adopted her little boy, and +brought him up as tenderly as he did his own children. The Manager +allowed him a small patch of ground for vegetables, and all the hours +they could snatch from plantation labors he and his wife devoted to the +cultivation of their little garden. M. Bayou de Libertas was such a +humane and considerate man that life in his service seems to have been +as happy as the condition of slaves can be. Long afterward, Toussaint, +speaking of this period of his life, said: "My wife and I went hand in +hand to labor in the fields. We were scarcely conscious of the fatigues +of the day. Heaven always blessed our toil. We had abundance for +ourselves, and the pleasure of giving to other blacks who needed it. On +Sundays and festival days my wife, my parents, and myself went to +church. Returning to our cottage we had a pleasant meal, passed the +remainder of the day in family intercourse, and closed it by prayer, in +which all took part." + +Thus contented in his humble station, and faithfully performing its +duties, he gained the respect and confidence of both blacks and whites. +Many of the slaves in the French colonies were cruelly treated, as is +always the case wherever Slavery exists. Toussaint could not avoid +seeing a great deal of wrong and suffering inflicted on people of his +color, and he was doubtless grateful to God that his lot was so much +better than theirs. But he was too intelligent and thoughtful not to +question in his own mind why either he or they should be held in bondage +merely on account of the complexion which it had pleased God to give +them. He was fond of reading, and M. Bayou de Libertas, contrary to the +usual custom, allowed him the use of his books. He read one volume at a +time, and tried to understand it thoroughly. He devoted every spare +moment to it, and while he was at work he was busily thinking over what +he had read. It took complete possession of his soul for the time, and +he would repeat extracts from it to his companions for weeks after. In +this earnest way he read several books of ancient history, biography, +and morals, and a number of military books. There was a French author, +called the Abbe Raynal, who was much opposed to Slavery. In some way or +other, one of his books fell into the hands of Toussaint Breda, and made +a deep impression on him. It contained the following sentence: "What +shall be done to overthrow Slavery? Self-interest alone governs kings +and nations. We must look elsewhere. A courageous chief is all the +negroes need. Where is he? Where is that great man whom Nature owes to +her vexed, oppressed, and tormented children? He will doubtless appear. +He will come forth and raise the sacred standard of Liberty. This +venerable signal will gather round him his companions in misfortune. +More impetuous than the torrents, they will everywhere leave the +indelible traces of their just resentment. Everywhere people will bless +the name of the hero who shall have re-established the rights of the +human race." + +When the Abbe Raynal wrote those prophetic words, he did not foresee +that they would meet the eye of the very man he called for; and the +humble slave, when he read them, did not hear in them the voice of his +own destiny. + +While he was diligently toiling for his humane masters, and seizing +every opportunity to increase his small stock of knowledge, the island +of St. Domingo was growing very rich by agriculture and commerce. The +planters acquired enormous wealth, built splendid houses, and lived in +luxury, laziness, and dissipation, upon the toil of the poor unpaid +negroes. Twenty thousand slaves were imported from Africa every year, to +make up the deficiency of those who were killed by excessive toil and +cruel treatment. These new victims, men and women, had the name of their +purchaser branded on their breast-bones with red-hot iron. + +But men never violate the laws of God without suffering the +consequences, sooner or later. Slavery was producing its natural fruits +of tyranny and hatred, cruelty and despair. The reports of barbarity on +one side and suffering on the other attracted attention in Europe; and +benevolent and just men began to speak and write against Slavery as a +wicked and dangerous institution. The Abbe Gregoire, a humane Bishop of +the Catholic Church, introduced the agitating question into the French +Assembly, a body similar to our Congress. He also formed a society +called _Les Amis de Noirs_, which means "The Friends of the Blacks." Of +course, this was very vexatious to slaveholders in the French colonies. +They knew very well that if the facts of Slavery were made known, every +good man would cry out against it. Political parties were formed in St. +Domingo. Some of the planters wanted to secede from France, and set up +an independent government. Others wanted to increase their political +power by having a Colonial Assembly established in the island, by means +of which they could mainly manage their own concerns as they chose. For +this purpose they sent deputies to France. But their request gave rise +to the question who should have the right to be members of such an +Assembly; and, for the following reasons, that question was very +annoying to the haughty slaveholders of St. Domingo. + +In the United States of America, slaveholders made a law that "the child +shall follow the condition of the _mother_"; consequently, every child +of a slave-woman was born a slave, however light its complexion might +be. This was a very convenient arrangement for white fathers, who wanted +to sell their own children. In the French colonies, the law was, "the +child shall follow the condition of its _father_." The consequence was, +that all the children the planters of St. Domingo had by their slaves +were born free. This was, of course, a numerous class. In fact, their +numbers were two thirds as great as those of the whites. There were at +that time in St. Domingo thirty thousand whites, twenty thousand free +mulattoes, and five hundred thousand black slaves. Not unfrequently the +white planters sent their mulatto children to France to be educated like +gentlemen. Many of them acquired great wealth and held numerous slaves. +But they were a class by themselves. However rich and educated they +might be, they were kept trampled down in a degraded and irritating +position, merely on account of their color. They despised the negro +slaves, from whom they had descended on the mother's side; and they in +their turn were despised by the whites, whose children they were, +because their color connected them with the enslaved race. They were not +allowed to be doctors, lawyers, or priests; they could hold no public +office; they could not inherit the name or the property of their +fathers; they could not attend school with white boys, or sit at a white +man's table, or occupy the same portion of a church with him, or be +buried in the same graveyard. They were continually insulted by whites, +but if they dared to give a blow in return, the penalty was to have the +right hand cut off. This class of free mulattoes claimed that, being +numerous and wealthy, and the payers of taxes, they had a right to send +representatives to the Colonial Assembly to look after their interests. +They had the more hopes of gaining this point, because a great +Revolution was then going on in France, and the friends of liberty and +equality were daily growing stronger there. When the white planters sent +deputies to France, the mulattoes sent deputies also, with a present of +more than a million of dollars, and an offer to mortgage a fifth part of +all their property toward the payment of the French national debt. All +they asked in return was that the law should put them on an equality +with white men. Being slaveholders, they manifested the same selfishness +that white slaveholders did. They declared that they asked redress of +grievances only for oppressed _freemen_; that they had no wish to change +the condition of the negroes, who were slaves. + +This petition was drawn up in 1790, and sent to Paris by a wealthy +colored man named Oge. It excited lively discussion in the National +Assembly of France. One of the members, named Lamoth, who owned large +estates in St. Domingo, said: "I am one of the largest proprietors in +that island; but I would lose all that I possess there rather than +disown principles which justice and humanity have consecrated. I am not +only in favor of admitting men of color into the Colonial Assemblies, +but I also go for the emancipation of the negro slaves." After animated +discussion, the reply received by the mulatto deputies from the +President of the Assembly was: "No portion of the French nation shall in +vain claim its rights from the representatives of the French people." + +When the white planters of St. Domingo heard of this, they were filled +with wrath. In one place, a mulatto named Lacombe, whose only crime was +that he had signed the petition, was seized and hung. In another place, +the mob seized a highly respected old white magistrate and cut off his +head, because he had drafted for the mulattoes a very moderate petition, +begging to be released from some of the hardships under which they had +so long suffered. When the colored deputy Oge returned from France and +demanded that mulattoes should have the rights of citizenship, which had +been decreed to them by the French Assembly, soldiers were sent to seize +him, and he was sentenced to have all his limbs broken on a wheel, and +then to have his head cut off. + +Besides the classes of which I have spoken there was another class in +St. Domingo called _petit blancs_, which means small whites. They were +so called to distinguish them from the large landed proprietors. They +occupied a position not unlike that of the class known as "poor whites" +in the slaveholding portion of the United States. They were ready +instruments to carry out the vengeance of the infuriated planters. They +seized every opportunity to insult the free mulattoes, and to inflict +cruelty and outrage on the negro slaves. They went about as patrols, +traversing the plantations, and bursting into negro huts at all times of +night, under the pretence that they were plotting insurrection. The poor +ignorant slaves did not understand what all this mobbing and murdering +was for; but finding themselves so much suspected and abused without +cause, they became weary of their lives. Many committed suicide, others +tried to poison their tormentors. At Port au Prince an attempt was made +to get up an insurrection. Fifty slaves, suspected of being connected +with it, were beheaded, and their heads, stuck on poles, were set up by +the hedges in a row. + +While the fire was thus kindling under their feet the white planters +came out in open defiance of the French government, and refused to take +the oath of allegiance. They called on the English for aid, and offered +to make the island over to Great Britain. The mulattoes were filled with +dismay, for the French government was their only hope. They had hitherto +kept aloof from the negroes; but now, seeing the necessity of curbing +the power of the white planters, at all hazards, they instigated the +already exasperated slaves to seize this favorable moment of commotion +and rise against their masters. They did rise, on the 22d of August, +1791. All at once the sky was red with the reflection of burning houses +and cane-fields. The cruelties which they had witnessed or suffered, +they now, in their turn, inflicted on white men, women, and children. It +was a horrible scene. + +Toussaint was working as usual on the Breda estate, when he heard that +the planters had called in the aid of the English, and that four +thousand negroes had risen in insurrection. He exerted his great +influence with his fellow-slaves to prevent the destruction of houses +and cane-fields on the Breda estate. For a month, he kept the insurgents +at bay, while he helped M. Bayou de Libertas to convey a cargo of sugar +on board a Baltimore ship, for the support of his family, and aided his +mistress to collect such articles of value as could conveniently be +carried away. Then he secretly conveyed them to the same ship; and it +was an inexpressible relief to his heart when he saw them sailing away, +bound for the shores of the United States. + +The armed negroes increased in numbers, and marshalled themselves under +an intelligent leader named Jean Francois. When the French governor in +St. Domingo called upon them to lay down their arms, their leaders +replied for them: "We have never thought of failing in the respect and +duty we owe to the representatives of the King of France. The king has +bewailed our lot and broken our chains. But those who should have proved +fathers to us have been tyrants, monsters, unworthy the fruits of our +labors. Do you ask the sheep to throw themselves into the jaws of the +wolf? To prove to you, excellent sir, that we are not so cruel as you +may think, we assure you that we wish for peace with all our souls; but +on condition that all the whites, without a single exception, leave the +Cape. Let them carry with them their gold and their jewels. All we seek +is our liberty. God grant that we may obtain it without shedding of +blood. Believe us, it has cost our feelings very much to have taken this +course. But victory, or death for freedom, is our profession of faith; +and we will maintain it to the last drop of our blood." + +The negroes were mistaken in supposing that Louis XVI., king of France, +had broken their chains, or that the king's party, called Royalists, +were trying to do anything for their freedom. It was the revolutionary +party in France, called Republicans, who had declared themselves in +favor of emancipating the negro slaves, and giving the free mulattoes +their civil rights. The main body of the negroes had been kept in the +lowest ignorance, and of course could not understand the state of +political parties. The world was ringing with French doctrines of +liberty and equality, to be applied to men of all colors; and they could +not help hearing something of what was so universally talked of. The +Spaniards in the eastern part of St. Domingo were allies of the French +king, and they wanted the negroes to help them fight the French +planters, who were in rebellion against the king. In order to give them +a strong motive for doing so, they told them that Louis XVI. had been +cast into prison in France, and that they were going to kill him, +because he wanted to emancipate the slaves in his colonies. They readily +believed that it was so, because they saw their masters in arms against +the king. Therefore they called their regiments "The King's Own," and +carried flags on which were inscribed, "Long live the King," "The +Ancient System of Government." + +The slaveholders mounted the English cockade, and entered into alliance +with Great Britain, while their revolted slaves joined the Spanish. The +war raged horribly on both sides. Jean Francois was of a gentle +disposition, and disposed to be merciful; but the two other leaders of +the negroes, named Jeannot and Biassou, were monsters of revenge and +cruelty. The bleeding heads of white men surrounded their camps, and the +bodies of black men hung on trees round the camps of the planters. + +This state of things shocked the soul of Toussaint Breda. Much as he +desired the freedom of his own race, he was reluctant to join an +enterprise marked by so many cruelties. Conscience forbade him to enlist +on the side of the slaveholders, and he would gladly have remained +neutral; but he found that men of his own color were suspicious of him, +because he had adhered so faithfully to M. Bayou de Libertas. He joined +the black insurgents; but, resolved not to take part in their +barbarities, he occupied himself with healing the wounded,--an office +for which he was well qualified by his tender disposition and knowledge +of medicinal plants. + +After a while, however, the negroes were compelled to retreat before the +superior discipline of the white troops; and feeling greatly the need of +intelligent officers, they insisted upon making Toussaint aide-de-camp +to Biassou, under the title of Brigadier. He desired, above all things, +that hostilities should cease, that the negroes should return to their +work, and that the planters should consent to cease from oppressing +them. A very little justice and kindness would have pacified the +revolted slaves; but the slaveholders were so full of rage and pride, +that if a slave attempted to return to his master, however sincere he +might be, he was instantly put to death. Three commissioners came from +France to try to negotiate a peace between the contending parties. The +blacks sent deputies to the Colonial Assembly to help the French +commissioners in this good work; but the planters treated their +overtures with haughtiness and contempt. + +It is said that Toussaint wept when he saw the hopes of peace vanish. +It was plain that his people must resist their tyrants, or be forever +hopelessly crushed. He was then fifty years old, in the prime of his +bodily and mental strength. By becoming a leader he felt that he might +protect the ignorant masses, and restrain those who were disposed to +cruelty. Perhaps he remembered the prediction of the Abbe Raynal, and +thought that he was the appointed deliverer,--a second Moses, sent by +God to bring his people out of bondage. From that time henceforth he +made it the business of his life to conquer freedom for his race; but +never in a bloodthirsty spirit. + +Biassou was so enraged by the contemptuous manner in which their +deputies had been treated, that he gave orders to put to death all the +white prisoners in their camps. But Toussaint remonstrated, and +succeeded in saving their lives. His superior intelligence gave him +great influence, and he always exerted it on the side of humanity. He +also manifested extraordinary courage and sagacity in the very difficult +position in which he was placed. He was surrounded by conflicting +parties, fighting against each other, agreeing only in one thing, and +that was hostility to the negroes; all of them ready to make the fairest +promises, and to break them as soon as they had gained their object. +France was in a state of revolutionary confusion, and rumors were very +contradictory. One thing was certain,--their former masters were +fighting against the king of France; and instinct led them to take the +other side. Toussaint deemed it wisest to keep under the protection of +their Spanish allies, and fight with them for the king's party. By a +succession of battles, he gained possession of several districts in the +mountains, where he entrenched his forces strongly, and tried to bring +them under regular military discipline. He was very strict, and allowed +no disobedience of orders. He forbade his soldiers to go about +plundering, or revenging past injuries. His motto was, "No +Retaliation,"--a noble, Christian motto, totally disregarded by men +whose opportunities for enlightened education were a thousand times +greater than his. When he felt himself secure in the mountain districts, +he invited the white planters of that region to return and cultivate the +estates which they had abandoned in their terror. He promised them that +their persons and property should be protected; and he faithfully kept +his word. In his language and in his actions he was always saying to the +whites, "Why will you force us to fight? I cherish no revenge against +you. All I want is the freedom of my race." His energy and ingenuity in +availing himself of every resource and supplying every deficiency were +truly wonderful. On one occasion a map was greatly needed, in order to +plan some important campaign, and no map could be procured. Toussaint, +having made diligent inquiries of various persons well acquainted with +the portion of country to be traversed, employed himself in making a +map. By help of the little geometry taught him by his godfather, he +projected a map, and marked down the important towns, mountains, and +rivers, with the distances between them. + +No trait in the character of Toussaint Breda was stronger than his +domestic affections. He was devotedly attached to his wife and children, +and he had not seen them for seven months. At last an interval of quiet +enabled him to visit the Spanish part of the island, whither he had sent +them for security. The Spanish authorities, in acknowledgment of his +services, received him with the greatest distinction. Toussaint thanked +them, but humbly ascribed his successes to a superintending Providence. +Always strict in religious observances, he went to the church to offer +prayers. His general, the Spanish Marquis Hermona, seeing him kneel to +partake of the communion, said: "In this lower world God visits no purer +soul than his." + +But the Spaniards had no regard for the rights and welfare of the +negroes. They used them while they had need of their help, and were +ready to oppress them when it served their own interests. News came from +France that the Republican party were triumphant, and that the king had +been beheaded. The Spanish had nothing further to gain by adhering to +the defeated Royalist party. Accordingly, Spain and Great Britain +entered into a league to divide the island of St. Domingo between them, +and restore Slavery. On the contrary, the Republican party in France, +assembled in convention at Paris, February, 1794, proclaimed freedom to +the slaves in all the French colonies; and as the government was now in +their hands, there was no doubt of their having power to protect those +they had emancipated. Under these circumstances, there was but one +course for Toussaint to take. He left the Spanish and joined the French +forces, by whom he was received with acclamation. His rude bands of +untaught negroes had now become a well-disciplined army. They were proud +of their commander, and almost worshipped him. Under his guidance, they +performed wonders, proving themselves equal to any troops in the world. +Toussaint was on horseback night and day. It seemed as if he never +slept. Wherever he was needed, he suddenly appeared; and as he seemed to +be wanted in twenty places at once, his followers thought he had some +powers of witchcraft to help him. But the witchcraft consisted in his +superior intelligence, his remarkable activity, his iron constitution, +and his iron will. His heart was never of iron. In the midst of constant +warfare he paid careful attention to the raising of crops; and if women +and children, black or white, were suffering with hunger, he caused them +to be supplied with food. He and his brave officers and troops +everywhere drove the English before them. The French general Laveaux +appointed him second to himself in command; and, in his proclamation to +that effect, he declared: "This is the man whom the Abbe Raynal foretold +would rise to be the liberator of his oppressed race." + +One day, when he had gained some important advantage, a white officer +exclaimed, "General Toussaint makes an opening everywhere." His black +troops heard the words, and feeling that he had made an opening for +_them_, from the dungeon of Slavery to the sunlight of Freedom, they +shouted, "_L'Ouverture_," "_L'Ouverture_"; which, being translated into +English, means The Opening. From that day henceforth he was called +Toussaint l'Ouverture. + +The English general Maitland, finding him so formidable, wished to have +a conference with him to negotiate terms of accommodation. The request +was granted; and such was his confidence in the black chieftain that he +went to his camp with only three attendants, through miles of country +full of armed negroes. One of the French officers wrote to General +Toussaint that it would be an excellent opportunity to take the English +commander prisoner. General Maitland was informed of this while he was +on his way; but he said, "I will trust General Toussaint. He never +breaks his promise." When he arrived, General Toussaint handed him two +letters, saying, "There is a letter I have received, advising me to +detain you as prisoner; and there is my reply. I wish you to read them +before we proceed to business, that you may know I am incapable of such +a base action." The answer he had written was, "I have promised this +Englishman my protection, and he shall have it." + +The English, seeing little prospect of conquering him by force, or +outwitting him by stratagem, tried to bribe him to their interest. They +offered to make him king of St. Domingo, to establish him with a +sufficient naval force, and give freedom to the blacks, if he would come +over to their side. But the English still held slaves in the neighboring +islands, while the French had proclaimed emancipation in all their +colonies. He felt grateful to the Republican government of France, and +he resolved to stand by it. The only crown he coveted was the freedom of +his race. He pursued the English vigorously, till he drove them from the +island. Yet he had no desire to harm them, any further than was +inevitable for the protection of his people. An English naval officer, +named Rainsford, being driven on the coast of St. Domingo by a violent +storm, was arrested as a spy. A court-martial was held, at which General +Christophe presided, in the absence of General Toussaint. Rainsford was +convicted, and sentenced to die. He was put into a dungeon to wait till +the sentence was signed by General Toussaint. The women of the island +pitied the stranger, and often sent him fruit and sweetmeats. When +Toussaint returned, he examined into the case, and said: "The trial +appears to have been fair, and the sentence just, according to the rules +of war. But why should we execute this stranger? He is alone, and can do +us no harm. His death would break his mother's heart. Let us have +compassion on her. Let us send him home, that he may tell the English +what sort of people we are, and advise them not to attempt to reduce us +to Slavery." + +Having cleared the island of foreign enemies, Toussaint exerted all his +abilities to restore prosperity. He discharged the greater part of the +regular troops, and sent them to till the soil. At that time, men were +afraid to trust to immediate, unconditional emancipation; they had not +then learned by experiment that it is the wisest policy, as well as the +truest justice. Toussaint feared that when the former slaves were +disbanded from the army they would sink into laziness and vice, and thus +cause the name of freedom to be evil spoken of. Therefore, with the view +of guarding public morals, he instituted a kind of apprenticeship. He +ordained that they should work five years for their masters, on +condition of receiving one fourth of the produce, out of which the cost +of their subsistence was to be defrayed. Regulations were made by which +the laborers became a sort of proprietors of the soil; but I do not know +what were the terms. He did everything to encourage agriculture, and +tried to impress on the minds of the blacks that the permanence of their +freedom depended in a great measure upon their becoming owners and +cultivators of land. He proclaimed a general amnesty to men of all +colors and all parties, even to those who had fought with the English +against their own country. He invited the return of all fugitives who +were willing to become good citizens, and by public discourses and +proclamations promised them pardon for the past and protection for the +future. Before any important measure was carried into execution, he +summoned all the people to church, where, after prayers were offered, +he discoursed to them upon the prospects of the republic, and what he +considered essential to its future peace and prosperity. He ordered +prayers to be said night and morning at the head of the regiments. The +discipline of the army was so strict, that some accused him of severity. +But the soldiers almost idolized him, which I think they would not have +done, if he had not proved to them that he was just as well as strict. +After such a long period of foreign and civil war, it required a very +firm and judicious hand to restore order and security. His troops, once +lawless and savage, had become perfectly orderly under his regulations. +They committed no thefts on the plantations and no pillage in the +cities. He opened to all nations an unrestricted commerce with St. +Domingo; and he has the honor of being the first ruler in the world who +introduced a system of free trade. In the distribution of offices, he +sought out the men that were best fitted, without regard to complexion. +In many things he seemed to favor the whites more than the blacks; +probably from his extreme fear of not being impartial; perhaps also +because he knew the whites distrusted him and needed to be conciliated, +while people of his own color had entire confidence in him. But the most +obstinate prejudices gradually gave way before the wisdom and +uprightness of his government. White planters, who had been accustomed +to talk of him as a revolted slave and a lawless brigand, began to +acknowledge that he was a conscientious man and a wise legislator. A +general feeling of security prevailed, activity in business was +restored, and wealth began to flow in through its former channels. + +But, with all his prudence and efforts at universal conciliation, he +could not at once heal the old animosities that had so long rankled in +the breasts of men. Some of the returned French planters resumed their +old habits of haughtiness and contempt toward the negroes. Some of the +proprietors, both white and black, in their haste to grow rich, +overworked their laborers; and, in addition to these causes of +irritation, it was whispered round that the whites were influencing the +French government to restore Slavery. In one of the northern districts a +proposition was made to disband the black troops. This excited +suspicion, and they rose in rebellion. Buildings were fired, and three +hundred whites slaughtered. Toussaint hastened to the scene of action, +and by assurances and threats quelled the tumult. The command of that +district was in the hands of General Moyse, the son of Toussaint's +brother Paul. He disliked the system of conciliation pursued toward the +whites, and had expressed his opinions in terms less respectful than was +proper toward a man of his uncle's age and character. The agricultural +returns from his district had been smaller than from other portions of +the island; and when Toussaint remonstrated with him for neglecting that +department, he replied: "Whatever my old uncle may see fit to do, I +cannot consent to be the executioner of my race, by causing them to be +worked to death. All your orders are given in the name of France. But to +serve France is to serve the interests of the whites; and I shall never +love the whites till they give me back the eye I lost in battle." When +the insurrection broke out in his district, the relatives of the +slaughtered whites complained to General Toussaint that his nephew had +not taken any efficient measures to put down the riot; and the black +insurgents excused themselves by saying General Moyse approved of their +rising. A court-martial was held, and General Moyse and several of the +ringleaders were condemned to be shot. The execution of this sentence +excited a good deal of ill-feeling toward Toussaint. He was loudly +accused of favoring the whites more than he did his own color; and to +this day it is remembered against him in the island. It certainly is the +harshest action recorded of Toussaint l'Ouverture. But it must be +remembered that he had invited the whites to come back, and had given +them promises of protection, because he thought the peace and prosperity +of the island could best be promoted in that way; and having done so, it +was his duty to see that their lives and property were protected. +Moreover, he knew that the freedom of his race depended upon their good +behavior after they were emancipated, and that insurrections would +furnish the French government with a pretext for reducing them to +Slavery again. If he punished any of the ringleaders with death, he +could not, without partiality, pardon his own nephew, who had been +condemned by the same court-martial. In this matter it is fair to judge +Toussaint by his general character, and that leaves no room to doubt +that severity was painful to him, and that when he resorted to it he was +actuated by motives for the public good. + +That he could forgive offences against himself was shown by his +treatment of the mulattoes, who made trouble in the island about the +same time. They had never been pleased to see one of the black slaves, +whom they had always despised, placed in a situation which made him so +much superior to any of themselves. They manifested their +dissatisfaction in a variety of ways. They did their utmost to increase +the feeling that he showed partiality to the whites. In several +instances attempts were made to take his life. At one time, the plume +in his military cap was shot away. On another occasion, balls passed +through his carriage, and his coachman was killed; but he happened to be +riding off on horseback in another direction. This hostile feeling led +the mulattoes into an extensive conspiracy to excite rebellion against +his government. Toussaint was forewarned of it, and the attempt was put +down. Eleven of the leaders were carried to the Cape and imprisoned. +Toussaint called a meeting of the civil and military authorities, and +ordered the building to be surrounded by black troops while the mulatto +prisoners were brought in under guard. They looked extremely dejected, +expecting nothing but death. But he announced to them that, deeming the +forgiveness of injuries a Christian duty, he pardoned what they had +attempted to do against him. He gave them money to defray their +travelling expenses, told them they were at liberty to return to their +homes, and gave orders that they should be protected on the way. As he +passed out of the building, they showered blessings on his head, and the +air was filled with shouts of "Long live Toussaint l'Ouverture." + +These outbreakings of old hatreds were local and short-lived. The +confidence in Toussaint's goodness and ability was almost universal; and +his popularity was so great with all classes, that he might have made +himself emperor, if he would. But through all the changes in France he +had been faithful to the French government; and now to the habit of +loyalty was added gratitude to that government for having proclaimed +freedom to his race. Next to the emancipation of his people, he sought +to serve the interests of France. Personal ambition never tempted him +from the path of duty. When the affairs of the colony seemed to be +arranged on a secure basis, he manifested willingness to resign the +authority which he had used with so much wisdom and impartiality. He +published a proclamation, in which he said:-- + +"Penetrated with that which is set forth in our Lord's Prayer, 'forgive +us our transgressions, as we forgive those who transgress against us,' I +have granted a general amnesty. Fellow-citizens, not less generous than +myself, endeavor to have the past forgotten. Receive misled brethren +with open arms, and let them in the future be on their guard against the +snares of bad men. Civil and military authorities, my task is +accomplished. It now belongs to you to take care that harmony is no more +disturbed. Allow no one to reproach those who went astray, but have now +returned to their duty. But, notwithstanding my proclamation of amnesty, +watch bad men closely, and do not spare them if they excite disturbance. +A sense of honor should guide you all. A true, confiding peace is +necessary to the prosperity of the country. It must be your work to +establish such a peace. Take no rest until you have accomplished it." + +The people refused to accept the resignation of their "friend and +benefactor," as they styled him. He replied: "If I undertake the +administration of civil affairs, I must have a solid rock to stand on; +and that rock must be a constitutional government." Feeling the +necessity of laws and regulations suited to the altered state of the +country, he called a meeting of deputies from all the districts to draft +a constitution. Of these nine deputies eight were white and one a +mulatto. They were selected for their learning and ability. Very likely +Toussaint's habitual caution led him to choose men from the two classes +that had been hostile to him, that there might be no pretext for saying +he used his popularity with the blacks to carry any measure he wished. + +Among other things, this constitution provided that Slavery should never +more exist in St. Domingo; that all who were born there were free +citizens of the French republic. It also provided that offices were to +be distributed according to virtue and ability, without regard to color. +The island was to be ruled by one governor, appointed for five years, +with a proviso that the term might be prolonged as a reward for good +conduct. But "in consideration of the important services rendered to the +country by General Toussaint l'Ouverture," he was named governor for +life, with power to appoint his successor. This was early in the summer +of 1800. The constitution, approved by Toussaint and published, was +accepted by the people with solemn formalities and demonstrations of +joy. This new colonial government was to go into operation +provisionally, until it should receive the sanction of the authorities +in France. + +General Napoleon Bonaparte was then at the head of the French +government, under the title of First Consul. Governor Toussaint wrote to +him, that, in the absence of laws, after the revolution in St. Domingo, +it had been deemed best to draft a constitution. He added: "I hasten to +lay it before you for your approbation, and for the sanction of the +government which I serve. All classes of citizens here have welcomed it +with joy, which will be renewed when it is sent back with the sanction +of the French government." + +Some writers have accused Toussaint of personal ambition because he +consented to be governor for life. He himself said it was because +circumstances had given him influence, which he could exert to unite a +divided people; and that he deemed changes of administration might be +injurious until the new order of things had become more settled. + +He assumed all the outward style that had been considered befitting the +rank of governor and commander-in-chief. He had an elegant carriage and +a number of handsome horses. When he rode out, he was followed by +attendants in brilliant military dress, and he himself wore a rich +uniform. On stated days, he gave reception-parties, to which +magistrates, military officers, distinguished strangers, and influential +citizens were invited. There was a good deal of splendor in the dresses +on such occasions; but he always appeared in the simple undress uniform +of a general officer. At these parties, whites, blacks, and mulattoes +mingled together with mutual politeness, and it is said that the style +of manners was easy and elegant. All rose when the Governor entered, and +none seated themselves until he was seated. This was a strange +experience for a black man, who was formerly a slave; and it had been +brought about, under the blessing of God, solely by the strength and +excellence of his own character. All prejudices gave way before his +uncommon intelligence, well-tried virtues, and courteous dignity of +manner. + +Every evening he gave free audience to all the people who chose to call. +His dress was such as the landed proprietors usually wore. However weary +he might be, he made the circuit of the rooms, and said something to +each one on the subjects most likely to interest them. He talked with +mothers about their children, and urged upon them the great importance +of giving them religious instruction. Not unfrequently he examined the +children in their catechisms, and gave a few words of fatherly advice to +the young folks. + +He has been accused of vanity for assuming so much pomp in his equipage +and gentility in his dress. Doubtless he had some vanity. No human being +is free from it. But I believe very few men, of any color, could have +passed through such extraordinary changes as he did, and preserved their +balance so well. In the style he assumed he was probably somewhat +influenced by motives of policy. He was obliged to receive many +distinguished French gentlemen, and he knew they attached great +importance to dress and equipage. The blacks also were fond of splendor, +and it gratified them to see their great chieftain appear in princely +style. The free mulattoes, who despised his mean birth, would have +spared no ridicule if he had been neglectful of outward appearances; and +in his peculiar situation it was important to command respect in every +way. His person also needed every borrowed advantage that it could +obtain. His figure was short and slim, and his features were homely, +though his bright, penetrating eyes gave his face an expression of +animation and intelligence. With these disadvantages, and a deficiency +of education, betrayed by imperfect grammar, it is wonderful how he +swayed assemblies of men whenever he addressed them. The secret lay in +his great earnestness. Whatever he said, he said it with his whole soul, +and therefore it took possession of the souls of others. + +Though he paid so much attention to external show in public, his own +personal habits were extremely simple and frugal. There was a large +public house at the Cape, called The Hotel of the Republic, frequented +by whites and blacks, officers and privates. Toussaint l'Ouverture often +took a seat at the table in any chair that happened to be vacant. If any +one rose to offer him a higher seat, he would bow courteously, and +reply, "Distinctions are to be observed only on public occasions." His +food consisted of vegetable preparations, and he drank water only. He +had a wonderful capacity of doing without sleep. During the years that +so many public cares devolved upon him, it is said he rarely slept more +than two hours out of the twenty-four. He thought more than he spoke, +and what he said was uttered in few words. Surrounded as he was by +inquisitive and treacherous people, this habit of reserve was of great +use to him. Enemies accused him of being deceitful. The charge was +probably grounded on the fact that he knew how to keep his own secrets; +for there are many proofs that he was in reality honest and sincere. It +is singular how he escaped the contagion of impurity which always +pollutes society where Slavery exists. But his respect and affection for +his wife was very constant, and he was always clean in his manners and +his language. A colored lady appeared at one of his reception-parties +dressed very low at the neck, according to the prevailing Parisian +fashion. When he had greeted her, he placed a handkerchief on her +shoulders, and said in a low voice, "Modesty is the greatest ornament of +woman." + +His ability and energy as a statesman were even more remarkable than his +courage and skill as a military leader. He was getting old, and he was +covered with the scars of wounds received in many battles; but he +travelled about with wonderful rapidity, inspecting everything with his +own eyes, and personally examining into the conduct of magistrates and +officers. Often, after riding some distance in a carriage, he would +mount a swift horse and ride off in another direction, while the coach +went on. In this way, he would make his appearance suddenly at places +where he was not expected, and ascertain how things went on in his +absence. It was a common practice with him to traverse from one hundred +to one hundred and fifty miles a day. After giving his evening audience +to the people, he sat up late into the night answering letters, of which +he received not less than a hundred daily. He dictated to five +secretaries at once, so long that he tired them all; and he examined +every letter when finished, that he might be sure his dictation had not +been misunderstood. + +The eastern part of the island had been ceded to the French by treaty, +but had never been given up by the Spanish, who still held slaves there. +Complaints were brought to General Toussaint that the Spaniards +kidnapped both blacks and mulattoes from the western part of the island, +where all were free, and carried them off to sell them to slave-traders. +Resolved to destroy Slavery, root and branch, throughout the island, in +January, 1801, he marched into the Spanish territory at the head of ten +thousand soldiers. The Spanish blacks were desirous to come under French +dominion, in order to secure their freedom, and the whites offered but +slight resistance. Having taken possession of the territory in the name +of the French republic, he issued a proclamation, in which he declared +that all past offences should be forgotten, and that the welfare and +happiness of Spaniards and Frenchmen should be equally protected. He +then assembled his troops in the churches and caused prayers of +thanksgiving to be offered for the success of their enterprise, almost +without bloodshed. Most of the wealthy Spanish slaveholders made +arrangements to depart to Cuba and other neighboring islands. But the +main body of the people received General Toussaint with the greatest +distinction. As he passed through the principal towns, he was everywhere +greeted with thunder of artillery, ringing of bells, and loud +acclamations of the populace. + +Under his wise and watchful administration all classes were protected, +and all parts of the country became prosperous. The desolations +occasioned by so many years of warfare were rapidly repaired. Churches +were rebuilt, schools established, waste lands brought under +cultivation, and distances shortened by new and excellent roads. The +French commissioner Roume was struck with admiration of his plans, and +pronounced him to be "a philosopher, a legislator, a general, and a good +citizen." The Frenchman, Lavoque, who was well acquainted with him and +the condition of the people, said to Bonaparte, "Sire, let things remain +as they are in St. Domingo. It is the happiest spot in your dominions." +The historian Lacroix, though prejudiced against blacks, wrote, "That +the island was preserved to the French government was solely owing to an +old negro, who seemed to bear a commission from Heaven." Strangers who +visited St. Domingo expressed their surprise to see cities rising from +their ashes, fields waving with harvests, and the harbors filled with +ships. Planters, who had fled with their families to various parts of +the world heard such good accounts of the activity of business, and the +security of property, that many of them so far overcame their repugnance +to be governed by a negro as to ask permission to return. This was +easily obtained, and they were received by the Governor without anything +on his part which they might deem offensive familiarity, but with a +dignified courtesy which prevented familiarity, or airs of +condescension, on their side. He had annually sent some token of +remembrance to M. Bayou de Libertas, then residing in the United +States. He now wrote to invite him to return to St. Domingo. The +invitation was gladly accepted. When he arrived, he was received with +marked kindness, but with dignified reserve. Governor Toussaint +evidently did not wish bystanders to be reminded of the former relation +that existed between them as overseer and slave. "Return to the +plantation," said he, "and take care of the interests of the good old +master. See that the blacks do their duty. Be firm, but just. You will +thus advance your own prosperity, and at the same time increase the +prosperity of the colony." + +This return of the old slaveholders excited some uneasiness among the +black laborers. But Toussaint, who often spoke to them in simple +parables, sprinkled a few grains of rice into a vessel of shot, and +shook it. "See," said he, "how few grains of white there are among the +black." + +At that time General Napoleon Bonaparte had become very famous by his +victories, and had recently been made ruler of France. There were many +points of resemblance between his career and that of the hero of St. +Domingo; and it was a common thing for people to say, "Napoleon is the +First of the Whites, and Toussaint l'Ouverture is the First of the +Blacks." If General Toussaint had known the real character of Napoleon, +he would not have felt flattered by being compared with such a selfish, +tyrannical, and treacherous man. But, like the rest of the world, he was +dazzled by his brilliant reputation, and felt that it was a great honor +to him to be called the "The Black Napoleon." The vainest thing that is +recorded of him is that on one of his official letters to Bonaparte he +wrote, "To the First of the Whites, from the First of the Blacks." It +was a departure from his usual habits of dignity, and was also poor +policy; for Bonaparte had been rendered vain by his great success, and +he was under the influence of aristocratic planters from St. Domingo, +who would have regarded it as a great insult to couple their names with +a negro. General Toussaint soon had reason to suspect he had been +mistaken in the character of the famous man, whom he had so much +admired. He wrote several deferential letters to Bonaparte, on official +business; but the First Consul never condescended to make any reply. It +was soon rumored abroad that proprietors of estates in St. Domingo, +residing in France, were urging him to send an army to St. Domingo to +reduce the blacks again to Slavery. Governor Toussaint could not believe +that the French government would be persuaded to break the solemn +promises it had made to the colony. But when he sent General Vincent to +Paris to obtain Bonaparte's sanction to the new constitution, the wicked +scheme was found to be making rapid progress. In vain General Vincent +remonstrated against it as a measure cruel and dangerous. In vain he +represented the contented, happy, and prosperous state of the island. In +vain did many wise and good men in Paris urge that such a step would be +unjust in itself and very disgraceful to France. The First Consul turned +a deaf ear to all but the haughty old planters from St. Domingo. The +Legislative Assembly in France, though still talking loudly about +liberty and the rights of man, were not ashamed to propose the +restoration of Slavery and the slave-trade in the colonies; and the +wicked measure was carried by a vote of two hundred and twelve against +sixty-five. In May, 1801, Bonaparte issued a decree to that effect. But +he afterwards considered it prudent to announce that the islands of St. +Domingo and Guadaloupe were to be excepted. + +When this news reached St. Domingo, the people were excited and alarmed. +They asked each other anxiously, "How long shall we be excepted?" On +that point no assurances were given, and all suspected that the French +government was dealing with them hypocritically and treacherously. The +soul of Toussaint was on fire. If the names of the men who voted for the +restoration of Slavery were mentioned in his presence, his eyes flashed +and his whole frame shook with indignation. He published a proclamation, +in which he counselled obedience to the mother country, unless +circumstances should make it evident that resistance was unavoidable. In +private, he said to his friends: "I took up arms for the freedom of my +color. France proclaimed it, and she has no right to nullify it. Our +liberty is no longer in her hands; it is in our own. We will defend it, +or perish." + +General Toussaint had sent his two eldest sons to Paris to be educated. +As a part of the plan of deception, General Bonaparte invited the young +men to visit him. He spoke of their father as a great man, who had +rendered very important services to France. He told them he was going to +send his brother-in-law, General Le Clerc, with troops to St. Domingo; +but he assured them it was not for any hostile purpose; it was merely to +add to the defence of the island. He wished them to go with General Le +Clerc and tell their father that he intended him all protection, glory, +and honor. The next day Bonaparte's Minister of Marine invited the young +men to a sumptuous dinner, and at parting presented each with a splendid +military uniform. The inexperienced youths were completely dazzled and +deceived. + +In January, 1802, General Le Clerc sailed with sixty ships and thirty +thousand of Bonaparte's experienced troops. When Governor Toussaint +received tidings that a French fleet was in sight, he galloped to the +coast they were approaching, to take a view of them. He was dismayed, +and for a moment discouraged. He exclaimed, "All France has come to +enslave St. Domingo. We must perish." He had no vessels, and not more +than sixteen thousand men under arms. But his native energy soon +returned. The people manifested a determination to die rather than be +enslaved again. He resolved to attempt no attack on the French, but to +act wholly on the defensive. Le Clerc's army attacked Fort Liberty, +killed half the garrison, and forced a landing on the island. Toussaint +entrenched himself in a position where he could harass the invaders; and +the peaceful, prosperous island again smoked with fire and blood. Le +Clerc, still aiming to accomplish Bonaparte's designs by hypocrisy, +scattered proclamations among the blacks of St. Domingo, representing +that Toussaint kept them in a kind of Slavery on the plantations, but +that the French had come to set them wholly free. This did not excite +the rebellion which he intended to provoke, but it sowed the seeds of +doubt and discontent in the minds of some. At the same time that he was +playing this treacherous game, he sent Toussaint's two sons to their +father, accompanied by their French tutor, to deliver a letter from the +First Consul, which ought to have been sent three months before. The +letter was very complimentary to General Toussaint; but it objected to +the constitution that had been formed, and spoke in a very general way +about the liberty which France granted to all nations under her control. +It counselled submission to General Le Clerc, and threatened punishment +for disobedience. The tone of the letter, though apparently peaceful and +friendly, excited distrust in the mind of General Toussaint, which was +increased by the fact that the letter had been so long kept from him. +Knowing the strength of his domestic affections, orders had been given +that if he surrendered, his sons should remain with him, but if he +refused they were to return to the French camp as hostages. Though his +heart yearned toward his children, from whom he had been so long +separated, he said to their tutor: "Three months after date you bring me +a letter which promises peace, while the action of General Le Clerc is +war. I had established order and justice here; now all is confusion and +misery. Take back my sons. I cannot receive them as the price of my +surrender. Tell General Le Clerc hostilities will cease on our part when +he stops the progress of his invading army." His sons told him how +kindly they had been treated by Bonaparte, and what promises he had made +concerning St. Domingo,--promises which had been repeated in the +proclamation brought by General Le Clerc. Toussaint had had too severe +an experience to be easily deceived by fair words. He replied: "My sons, +you are no longer children. You are old enough to decide for yourselves. +If you wish to be on the side of France, you are free to do so. Stay +with me, or return to General Le Clerc, whichever you choose. Either +way, I shall love you always." Isaac, his oldest son, had been so +deceived by flattery and promises, that he declared his wish to return +to the French camp, feeling very sure that his father would be convinced +that Bonaparte was their best friend. But Placide, his step-son, said: +"My father, I will remain with you. I dread the restoration of Slavery, +and I am fearful about the future of St. Domingo." Who can tell what a +pang went through the father's heart when he embraced Isaac and bade him +farewell? + +General Le Clerc was very angry when he found that his overtures were +distrusted. He swore that he would seize Toussaint before he took his +boots off. He forthwith issued a proclamation declaring him to be an +outlaw. When General Toussaint read it to his soldiers, they cried out +with one accord, "We will die with you." He said to his officers: "When +the rainy season comes, sickness will rid us of our enemies. Till then +there is nothing before us but flame and slaughter." Orders were given +to fire the towns as the French army approached, and to deal destruction +upon them in every way. He gathered his army together at the entrance of +the mountains, and, aided by his brave generals Christophe and +Dessalines, kept up active skirmishing with the enemy. Horrible things +were done on both sides. The Bay of Mancenille was red with the blood of +negro prisoners slaughtered by the French. The blacks, infuriated by +revenge and dread of Slavery, killed white men, women, and children +without mercy. General Dessalines was of a savage temper, and incited +his troops to the most ferocious deeds. + +But the natural kindliness of the negro character was manifested on many +occasions, even in the midst of this horrible excitement. In many cases +they guided their old masters to hiding-places in the mountains or +forests, and secretly conveyed them food. + +Toussaint, with only a plank to sleep on and a cloak to cover him, was +constantly occupied with planning attacks and ambuscades, and preaching +on Sundays, exhorting the people, with fiery eloquence, to remember +that the cause of Liberty was the cause of God. General Le Clerc, +meanwhile, was disappointed to find so many difficulties in the way of +his wicked project. His troops wilted under the increasing heat of the +climate, and began to murmur. He issued proclamations, promising, in the +most solemn manner, that the freedom of all classes in St. Domingo +should be respected. These assurances induced several black regiments to +go over to the French. Toussaint's brother Paul, and two of his ablest +generals, Bellair and Maurepas, did the same. Still the +Commander-in-Chief, aided by Christophe and Dessalines, kept up a stout +resistance. But news came that fresh troops were coming from France, and +Christophe and Dessalines had an interview with General Le Clerc, in +which, by fair promises, he succeeded in gaining them over to the French +side. A messenger was then sent to ask for a conference with General +Toussaint. Solemn assurances were repeated that the freedom of the +blacks should be protected; and a proposition was made that he should be +colleague with General Le Clerc in the government of the island, and +that his officers should retain their rank in the army. With +reinforcements coming from France, and with his best generals gained +over, Toussaint had no longer hopes of defeating the invaders, though he +might send out skirmishers to annoy them. He had too little faith in the +promises of General Le Clerc to consent to take an oath of office under +him. He therefore replied: "I might remain a brigand in the mountains, +and harass you with perpetual warfare, so far as your power to prevent +it is concerned. But I disdain fighting for mere bloodshed; and, in +obedience to the orders of the First Consul, I yield to you. For myself, +I wish to live in retirement; but I accept your favorable terms for the +people and the army." + +With four hundred armed horsemen he set out for the Cape, to hold the +proposed conference with General Le Clerc. On the way, the people, +thinking peace was secured without the sacrifice of their freedom, +hailed him as their benefactor. Girls strewed flowers in his path, and +mothers held up their children to bless him. General Le Clerc received +him with a salute of artillery, and made a speech in which he highly +complimented his bravery, magnanimity, and good faith, and expressed a +hope that, though he chose to live in retirement, he would continue to +assist the government of the island by his wise counsels. In the +presence of the troops on both sides, he took an oath on the cross to +protect the freedom of St. Domingo. With the same solemn formalities, +General Toussaint promised that the treaty of peace should be faithfully +observed. + +The next day, he explained fully to his officers and soldiers what were +the terms of the treaty, and impressed upon their minds that such a +promise could not be violated without committing the sin of perjury. He +thanked them all for the courage and devotedness they had shown under +his command, embraced his officers, and bade them an affectionate +farewell. They shed tears, and expressed the greatest reluctance to part +with him; but he told them that such a course would best conduce to +public tranquillity. The soldiers were inconsolable. They followed him, +calling out in the saddest tones, "Have you deserted us?" He replied: +"No, my children. Do not be uneasy. Your officers are all under arms, +and at their posts." + +Twelve years had passed since he was working on the Breda estate, and +seeing houses and cane-fields on fire in every direction, had said to +his wife, "The slaves have risen." Since that time, his life had been +one scene of excitement, danger, ceaseless exertion, and overwhelming +responsibility. He had been commander-in-chief of the armies of St. +Domingo during five years, and governor of the island about one year. +Now, with a heart full of anxiety for his people, but cheered by hopes +of domestic happiness, he retired, far from the scene of his official +splendor, to Ennery, a beautiful valley among the mountains. Surrounded +by his family, he busied himself with clearing up the land and +cultivating oranges, bananas, and coffee. The people round about often +came to him for advice, and he freely assisted his neighbors in making +repairs and improvements. Strangers often visited him, and when he rode +abroad he was greeted with every demonstration of respect. + +General Le Clerc, meanwhile, was attacked by a new and terrible enemy. +His troops, unused to the climate, were cut down by yellow fever, as a +mower cuts grass. In this situation, had Toussaint excited the blacks +against them, they might have been exterminated; but he had sworn to +observe the treaty, and he was never known to break his word. The +kind-hearted negroes, in many cases, took pity on the suffering French +soldiers; they carried them many little comforts, and even took them +into their houses, and nursed them tenderly. + +Meanwhile, General Le Clerc's difficulties increased. His troops were +dying fast under the influence of the hot season; provisions were +getting scarce; he wanted to disband the negro troops that had joined +him, but they were wide awake and suspicious on the subject of Slavery, +and he dared not propose to disarm them. He was so treacherous himself +that he could not believe in the sincerity of others. He was always +suspecting that Toussaint would again take command of the blacks and +attack the remnant of his army while it was enfeebled by disease. +Bonaparte also felt that the popularity of Toussaint stood much in the +way of his accomplishing the design of restoring Slavery. It was +desirable to get him out of the way upon some pretext. The French +officers made him the object of a series of petty insults, and wantonly +destroyed the fruit on his grounds. By these means they hoped to provoke +him to excite an insurrection, that they might have an excuse for +arresting him. His friends warned him that these continual insults and +depredations foreboded mischief, and that he ought not to submit to +them. He replied, "It is a sacred duty to expose life when the freedom +of one's country is in peril; but to rouse the people to save one's own +life is inglorious." + +Finding private remonstrances of no use, he reported to the French +head-quarters that he and his neighbors were much annoyed by the conduct +of the French troops, and that the people in the valley were made very +uneasy by their rude manners and their depredations on property. He +received a very polite answer from General Brunet, inviting him to come +to his house to confer with him on that and other matters connected with +the public tranquillity. The letter closed with these words: "You will +not find all the pleasures I would wish to welcome you with, but you +will find the frankness of an honorable man, who desires nothing but the +happiness of the colony, and your own happiness. If Madame Toussaint, +with whom it would give me the greatest pleasure to become acquainted, +could accompany you, I should be gratified. If she has occasion for +horses, I will send her mine. Never, General, will you find a more +sincere friend than myself." + +Toussaint, who was sincerely desirous to preserve the public peace, and +who was too honest to suspect treachery under such a friendly form, went +to General Brunet's head-quarters, with a few attendants, on the 10th of +June, 1802. He was received with the greatest respect and cordiality. +His host consulted with him concerning the interests of the colony; and +they examined maps together till toward evening, when General Brunet +left the room. An officer with twenty armed men entered, saying: "The +Captain-General has ordered me to arrest you. Your attendants are +overpowered. If you resist, you are a dead man." Toussaint's first +impulse was to defend himself; but seeing it would be useless against +such numbers, he resigned himself to his hard fate, saying, "Heaven will +avenge my cause." + +His papers were seized, his house rifled and burned, his wife and +children captured, and at midnight they were all carried on board the +French ship Hero, without being allowed to take even a change of +clothing. His wrists were chained, he was locked in a cabin guarded by +soldiers with fixed bayonets, and not permitted to hold any +communication with his family. As the vessel sailed away from St. +Domingo, Toussaint, gazing on the outline of its mountains for the last +time, said, "They have cut down the tree of Liberty; but the roots are +many and deep, and it will sprout again." + +Toussaint l'Ouverture was even then incapable of imagining the base +designs against him. He supposed that he had been accused of something, +and was to be carried to France for trial. Conscious of uniform fidelity +to the French government, he felt no uneasiness as to the result, though +the treachery and violence with which he had been treated in return for +his great services made him very sad. Arrived on the shores of France, +he was removed to another vessel, and allowed only a few moments to say +farewell to his wife and children. They embraced him with tears, and +begged him to remember them, who had always loved him so dearly. + +From the vessel, instead of being carried to Paris for trial, as he +expected, he was hurried into a carriage, and, followed by a strong +guard, was carried to the dismal Castle of Joux, near the borders of +Switzerland. That ancient castle stands among the mountains of Jura, on +the summit of a solid rock five hundred feet high. He was placed in a +deep, dark dungeon, from the walls of which the water dripped +continually. This was in August, 1802. But though it was summer +elsewhere, it was damp and cold in Toussaint's dreary cell. The keeper +was allowed about four shillings a day to provide food for him; and one +faithful servant, who had accompanied the family from St. Domingo, was +allowed to remain with him. + +His spirits were kept up for some time with the daily expectation of +being summoned to attend his trial. But time passed on, and he could +obtain no tidings from the French government, or from his family. In a +letter to General Bonaparte, beseeching him to let him know of what he +was accused, and to grant him a trial, he wrote:-- + +"I have served my country with honor, fidelity, and integrity. All who +know me will do me the justice to acknowledge this. At the time of the +revolution, I spent all I had in the service of my country. I purchased +but one small estate, on which to establish my wife and family. I +neglected nothing for the welfare of St. Domingo. I made it my duty and +pleasure to develop all the resources of that beautiful colony. Since I +entered the service of the republic I have not claimed a penny of my +salary. I have taken money from the treasury only for public use. If I +was wrong in forming a constitution, it was through my great desire to +do good, and thinking it would please the government under which I +served. I have had the misfortune to incur your displeasure; but I am +strong in the consciousness of integrity and fidelity; and I dare affirm +that among all the servants of the state no one is more honest than +myself." + +This letter is still in existence, and some of the words are blotted out +by tears that fell while the noble captive was writing it. Bonaparte +paid no attention to this manly appeal. After weary waiting, Toussaint +wrote again:-- + +"First Consul, it is a misfortune to me that I am not known to you. If +you had thoroughly known me while I was in St. Domingo, you would have +done me more justice. I am not learned; I am ignorant: but my heart is +good. My father showed me the road to virtue and honor, and I am very +strong in my conscience in that matter. If I had not been so devoted to +the French government I should not be here. All my life I have been in +active service, and now I am a miserable prisoner, without power to do +anything, sunk in grief, and with health impaired. I ask you for my +freedom, that I may labor for the support of my family. For my venerable +father, now a hundred and five years old, who is blind, and needs my +assistance; for my dearly loved wife, who, separated from me, cannot, I +fear, endure the afflictions that overwhelm her; and for my cherished +family, who have made the happiness of my life. I call on your +greatness. Let your heart be softened by my misfortunes." + +This touching appeal met with the same fate as the first. Bonaparte even +had the meanness to forbid the prisoner's wearing an officer's uniform. +When he asked for a change of clothing, the cast-off suit of a soldier +and a pair of old boots were sent him. There seemed to be a deliberate +system of heaping contempt upon him. The daily sum allowed for his food +was diminished, and the cold winds of autumn began to howl round his +dungeon. They doubtless thought that so old a man, accustomed to +tropical warmth, and the devotion of a loving family, would die under +the combined influence of solitude, cold, and scanty food. But his iron +constitution withstood the severe test. The next step was to deprive him +of his faithful servant, Mars Plaisir. Seeing him weep bitterly, +Toussaint said to him: "Would I could console thee under this cruel +separation. Be assured I shall never forget thy faithful services. Carry +my last farewell to my wife and family." + +The farewell never reached them. Mars Plaisir was lodged in another +prison, lest he should tell of the slow murder that was going on in the +Castle of Joux. Toussaint's supply of food was gradually diminished, +till he had barely enough to keep him alive,--merely a little meal +daily, which he had to prepare for himself in an earthen jug. The walls +sparkled with frost, and the floor was slippery with ice, except +immediately around his little fire. Thus he passed through a most +miserable winter. He was thin as a skeleton; but still he did not die. +As a last resort, the governor of the castle went away and took the keys +of the dungeon with him. He was gone three days; and when he returned, +Toussaint was lying stiff and cold on his heap of straw. Doctors were +called in to examine him, and they certified that he died of apoplexy. +This was in April, 1803, after he had been more than eight months in +that horrid dungeon, and when he was a little more than sixty years old. +The body was buried in the chapel under the castle. It was given out to +the world that the deceased prisoner was a revolted slave, who had been +guilty of every species of robbery and cruelty; and that he had been +thrown into prison for plotting to deliver the island of St. Domingo +into the hands of the English. + +When the family of Toussaint l'Ouverture were informed of his death, +they were overwhelmed with grief, though they had no idea of the horrid +circumstances connected with it. The two oldest sons tried to escape +from France, but were seized and imprisoned. The French government +feared the consequences of their returning to St. Domingo. The youngest +son soon after died of consumption. Madame Toussaint sank under the +weight of her great afflictions. Her health became very feeble, and at +times her mind wandered. When the power of Bonaparte was overthrown, and +a new government introduced into France, a pension was granted for her +support, and her two sons were released from prison. She died in their +arms in 1816. + + * * * * * + +There was great consternation in St. Domingo when it was known that +Toussaint l'Ouverture had been kidnapped and carried off. There was an +attempt at mutiny among the black soldiers; but the leaders were shot by +the French, and the spirit of insurrection was put down for a time. No +tidings could be obtained from Toussaint, and after a while he was +generally believed to be dead. But his prediction was fulfilled. The +tree of Liberty, that had been cut down, did sprout again. Bonaparte +sent new troops to St. Domingo to supply the place of those cut off by +yellow fever. The French officers frequently subjected black soldiers to +the lash, a punishment which had never been inflicted upon them since +the days of Slavery. An active slave-trade was carried on with the other +French colonies, where Slavery had been restored, and people were +frequently smuggled away from St. Domingo and sold. The mulattoes found +out that people of their color were sold, as well as blacks. They had +formerly acted against their mothers' race, not because they were worse +than other men, but because they had the same human nature that other +men have. Being free born, and many of them educated and wealthy, and +slaveholders also, they despised the blacks, who had always been slaves; +but when Slavery touched people of their own color, they were ready to +act with the negroes against the whites. Toussaint's generals, though +they still held their old rank in the army, grew more and more +distrustful of the French. When General Christophe accepted an +invitation to dine with General Le Clerc, he ordered his troops to be in +readiness for a sudden blow. The French officer who sat next him at +table urged him to drink a great deal of wine; but Christophe was on his +guard, and kept his wits about him. At last he repulsed the offer of +wine with great rudeness, whereupon Le Clerc summoned his guard to be in +readiness, and began to accuse Toussaint of treachery to the whites. +"Treachery!" exclaimed the indignant Christophe. "Have you not broken +oaths and treaties, and violated the sacred rights of hospitality? Those +whose blood flows for our liberty are rewarded with prison, banishment, +death. Friends, soldiers, heroes of our mountains, are no longer around +me. Toussaint, the pride of our race, the terror of our enemies, whose +genius led us from Slavery to Liberty, who adorned peace with lovely +virtues, whose glory fills the world, was put in irons, like the vilest +criminal!" + +General Le Clerc deemed it prudent to preserve outward composure, for +General Christophe had informed him that troops were in readiness to +protect him. But notwithstanding many ominous symptoms of discontent +among the blacks and mulattoes, he blindly persevered in carrying out +the cruel policy of Bonaparte. Shiploads of slaves were brought into St. +Domingo and openly sold. Then came a decree authorizing slaveholders to +resume their old authority over the blacks. Bitterly did Toussaint's +officers regret having trusted to the promises of the French +authorities. The consciousness of having been deceived made the fire of +freedom burn all the more fiercely in their souls. The blacks were +everywhere ready to die rather than be slaves again. In November, 1803, +General Christophe published a document in which he said:-- + +"The independence of St. Domingo is proclaimed. Toward men who do us +justice we will act as brothers. But we have sworn not to listen with +clemency to any one who speaks to us of Slavery. We will be inexorable, +perhaps even cruel, toward those who come from Europe to bring among us +death and servitude. No sacrifice is too costly, and all means are +lawful, when men find that freedom, the greatest of all blessings, is to +be wrested from them." + +The closing scenes of the revolution were too horrible to be described. +General Rochambeau, who commanded the French army after the death of +General Le Clerc, was a tyrannical and cruel tool of the slaveholders. +Everywhere colored men were seized and executed without forms of law. +Maurepas, who had been one of Toussaint's most distinguished generals, +was seized on suspicion of favoring insurrection. His epaulets were +nailed to his shoulders with spikes, he was suspended from the yard-arm +of a vessel, while his wife and children, and four hundred of his black +soldiers, were thrown over to the sharks before his eyes. The trees were +hung with the corpses of negroes. Some were torn to pieces by +bloodhounds trained for the purpose; some were burnt alive. Sixteen of +Toussaint's bravest generals were chained by the neck to the rocks of an +uninhabited island, and left there to perish. Most of these victims were +firm in the midst of their tortures, and died with the precious word +Freedom on their lips. A mother, whose daughters were going to be +executed, said to them: "Be thankful. You will not live to be the +mothers of slaves." + +I am happy to record that all the whites were not destitute of feeling. +Some sea-captains, who were ordered to take negroes out to sea and drown +them, contrived to aid their escape to the mountains, or landed them on +other shores. + +The blacks, driven to desperation, became as cruel as their oppressors. +They visited upon white men, women, and children all the barbarities +they had seen and suffered. The wife of General Paul, brother of +Toussaint, was dragged from her peaceful home, and drowned by French +soldiers. This murder made him perfectly crazy with revenge. Though +naturally of a mild disposition, he thenceforth had no mercy on anybody +of white complexion. His old father, Gaou-Guinou, who survived Toussaint +about a year, was filled with the same spirit, and the last words he +uttered were a malediction on the whites. The spirit of the infernal +regions raged throughout all classes, and it was all owing to the +wickedness of Slavery. + +On the last day of November, 1803, little more than a year after the +abduction of Toussaint, the French were driven from the island, never +more to return. The colony, which might have been a source of wealth to +them, if Toussaint had been allowed to carry out his plans, was lost to +France forever. St. Domingo became independent, under its old name of +Hayti; and General Christophe, who was as able as Toussaint, but more +ambitious, was proclaimed emperor. A law was passed, and still remains +in force, that no white man should own a foot of soil on the island. But +white Americans and Europeans reside there, and transact various kinds +of business under the protection of equal laws. + +Perhaps it sometimes seemed to Toussaint, in the loneliness of his +dungeon, as if all his great sacrifices and efforts for his oppressed +race had been in vain. But they were not in vain. God raised him up to +do a great work, which he faithfully performed; and his spirit is still +"marching on." Slavery becomes more and more odious in the civilized +world, and nation after nation abolishes it. Fifty years after the death +of Toussaint all the slaves in the French colonies were emancipated. How +his spirit must rejoice to look on the West Indies now! + +In 1850 the grave of Toussaint l'Ouverture was discovered by some +engineers at work on the Castle of Joux. His skull was placed on a shelf +in the dungeon where he died, and is shown to travellers who visit the +place. + +For a long while great injustice was done to the memory of Toussaint +l'Ouverture, and also to the blacks who fought so fiercely in resistance +of Slavery; for the histories of St. Domingo were written by prejudiced +French writers, or by equally prejudiced mulattoes. But at last the +truth is made known. Candid, well-informed persons now acknowledge that +the blacks of St. Domingo sinned cruelly because they were cruelly +sinned against; and Toussaint l'Ouverture, seen in the light of his own +actions, is acknowledged to be one of the greatest and best men the +world has ever produced. A very distinguished English poet, named +Wordsworth, has written an admirable sonnet to his memory. The +celebrated Harriet Martineau, of England, has made him the hero of a +beautiful novel. Wendell Phillips, one of the most eloquent speakers in +the United States, has eulogized his memory in a noble lecture, +delivered in various parts of the country, before thousands and +thousands of hearers. And James Redpath has recently published in Boston +a biography of Toussaint l'Ouverture, truthfully portraying the pure and +great soul of that martyred hero. + +Well may the Freedmen of the United States take pride in Toussaint +l'Ouverture, as the man who made an opening of freedom for their +oppressed race, and by the greatness of his character and achievements +proved the capabilities of Black Men. + + * * * * * + +It is better to be a lean freeman than a fat slave.--_A Proverb in +Hayti._ + + + + +THE ASPIRATIONS OF MINGO. + + +A slave in one of our Southern States, named Mingo, was endowed with +uncommon abilities. If he had been a white man, his talents would have +secured him an honorable position; but being colored, his great +intelligence only served to make him an object of suspicion. He was +thrown into prison, to be sold. He wrote the following lines on the +walls, which were afterward found and copied. A Southern gentleman sent +them to a friend in Boston, as a curiosity, and they were published in +the Boston Journal, many years ago. The night after Mingo wrote them, he +escaped from the slave-prison; but he was tracked and caught by +bloodhounds, who tore him in such a shocking manner that he died. By +that dreadful process his great soul was released from his enslaved +body. His wife lived to be an aged woman, and was said to have many of +his poems in her possession. Here are the lines he wrote in his agony +while in prison:-- + + "Good God! and must I leave them now, + My wife, my children, in their woe? + 'Tis mockery to say I'm sold! + But I forget these chains so cold, + Which goad my bleeding limbs; though high + My reason mounts above the sky. + Dear wife, they cannot sell the rose + Of love that in my bosom glows. + Remember, as your tears may start, + They cannot sell the immortal part. + Thou Sun, which lightest bond and free, + Tell me, I pray, is liberty + The lot of those who noblest feel, + And oftest to Jehovah kneel? + Then I may say, but not with pride, + I feel the rushings of the tide + Of reason and of eloquence, + Which strive and yearn for eminence. + I feel high manhood on me now, + A spirit-glory on my brow; + I feel a thrill of music roll, + Like angel-harpings, through my soul; + While poesy, with rustling wings, + Upon my spirit rests and sings. + _He_ sweeps my heart's deep throbbing lyre, + Who touched Isaiah's lips with fire." + +May God forgive his oppressors. + + + + +BURY ME IN A FREE LAND. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + Make me a grave where'er you will, + In a lowly plain or a lofty hill; + Make it among earth's humblest graves, + But not in a land where men are slaves. + + I ask no monument proud and high, + To arrest the gaze of the passers by; + All that my yearning spirit craves + Is, Bury me not in a Land of Slaves. + + + + +PHILLIS WHEATLEY. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa, and brought to Boston, +Massachusetts, in the year 1761,--a little more than a hundred years +ago. At that time the people in Massachusetts held slaves. The wife of +Mr. John Wheatley of Boston had several slaves; but they were getting +too old to be very active, and she wanted to purchase a young girl, whom +she could train up in such a manner as to make her a good domestic. She +went to the slave-market for that purpose, and there she saw a little +girl with no other clothing than a piece of dirty, ragged carpeting tied +round her. She looked as if her health was feeble,--probably owing to +her sufferings in the slave-ship, and to the fact of her having no one +to care for her after she landed. Mrs. Wheatley was a kind, religious +woman; and though she considered the sickly look of the child an +objection, there was something so gentle and modest in the expression of +her dark countenance, that her heart was drawn toward her, and she +bought her in preference to several others who looked more robust. She +took her home in her chaise, put her in a bath, and dressed her in clean +clothes. They could not at first understand her; for she spoke an +African dialect, sprinkled with a few words of broken English; and when +she could not make herself understood, she resorted to a variety of +gestures and signs. She did not know her own age, but, from her shedding +her front teeth at that time, she was supposed to be about seven years +old. She could not tell how long it was since the slave-traders tore her +from her parents, nor where she had been since that time. The poor +little orphan had probably gone through so much suffering and terror, +and been so unable to make herself understood by anybody, that her mind +had become bewildered concerning the past. She soon learned to speak +English; but she could remember nothing about Africa, except that she +used to see her mother pour out water before the rising sun. Almost all +the ancient nations of the world supposed that a Great Spirit had his +dwelling in the sun, and they worshipped that Spirit in various forms. +One of the most common modes of worship was to pour out water, or wine, +at the rising of the sun, and to utter a brief prayer to the Spirit of +that glorious luminary. Probably this ancient custom had been handed +down, age after age, in Africa, and in that fashion the untaught mother +of little Phillis continued to worship the god of her ancestors. The +sight of the great splendid orb, coming she knew not whence, rising +apparently out of the hills to make the whole world glorious with light, +and the devout reverence with which her mother hailed its return every +morning, might naturally impress the child's imagination so deeply, that +she remembered it after she had forgotten everything else about her +native land. + +A wonderful change took place in the little forlorn stranger in the +course of a year and a half. She not only learned to speak English +correctly, but she was able to read fluently in any part of the Bible. +She evidently possessed uncommon intelligence and a great desire for +knowledge. She was often found trying to make letters with charcoal on +the walls and fences. Mrs. Wheatley's daughter, perceiving her +eagerness to learn, undertook to teach her to read and write. She found +this an easy task, for her pupil learned with astonishing quickness. At +the same time she showed such an amiable, affectionate disposition, that +all members of the family became much attached to her. Her gratitude to +her kind, motherly mistress was unbounded, and her greatest delight was +to do anything to please her. + +When she was about fourteen years old, she began to write poetry; and it +was pretty good poetry, too. Owing to these uncommon manifestations of +intelligence, and to the delicacy of her health, she was never put to +hard household work, as was intended at the time of her purchase. She +was kept constantly with Mrs. Wheatley and her daughter, employed in +light and easy services for them. Her poetry attracted attention, and +Mrs. Wheatley's friends lent her books, which she read with great +eagerness. She soon acquired a good knowledge of geography, history, and +English poetry; of the last she was particularly fond. After a while, +they found she was trying to learn Latin, which she so far mastered as +to be able to read it understandingly. There was no law in Massachusetts +against slaves learning to read and write, as there have been in many of +the States; and her mistress, so far from trying to hinder her, did +everything to encourage her love of learning. She always called her +affectionately, "My Phillis," and seemed to be as proud of her +attainments as if she had been her own daughter. She even allowed her to +have a fire and light in her own chamber in the evening, that she might +study and write down her thoughts whenever they came to her. + +Phillis was of a very religious turn of mind, and when she was about +sixteen she joined the Orthodox Church, that worshipped in the +Old-South Meeting-house in Boston. Her character and deportment were +such that she was considered an ornament to the church. Clergymen and +other literary persons who visited at Mrs. Wheatley's took a good deal +of notice of her. Her poems were brought forward to be read to the +company, and were often much praised. She was not unfrequently invited +to the houses of wealthy and distinguished people, who liked to show her +off as a kind of wonder. Most young girls would have had their heads +completely turned by so much flattery and attention; but seriousness and +humility seemed to be natural to Phillis. She always retained the same +gentle, modest deportment that had won Mrs. Wheatley's heart when she +first saw her in the slave-market. Sometimes, when she went abroad, she +was invited to sit at table with other guests; but she always modestly +declined, and requested that a plate might be placed for her on a +side-table. Being well aware of the common prejudice against her +complexion, she feared that some one might be offended by her company at +their meals. By pursuing this course she manifested a natural +politeness, which proved her to be more truly refined than any person +could be who objected to sit beside her on account of her color. + +Although she was tenderly cared for, and not required to do any +fatiguing work, her constitution never recovered from the shock it had +received in early childhood. When she was about nineteen years old, her +health failed so rapidly that physicians said it was necessary for her +to take a sea-voyage. A son of Mr. Wheatley's was going to England on +commercial business, and his mother proposed that Phillis should go with +him. + +In England she received even more attention than had been bestowed upon +her at home. Several of the nobility invited her to their houses; and +her poems were published in a volume, with an engraved likeness of the +author. In this picture she looks gentle and thoughtful, and the shape +of her head denotes intellect. One of the engravings was sent to Mrs. +Wheatley, who was delighted with it. When one of her relatives called, +she pointed it out to her, and said, "Look at my Phillis! Does she not +seem as if she would speak to me?" + +Still the young poetess was not spoiled by flattery. One of the +relatives of Mrs. Wheatley informs us, that "not all the attention she +received, nor all the honors that were heaped upon her, had the +slightest influence upon her temper and deportment. She was still the +same single-hearted, unsophisticated being." + +She addressed a poem to the Earl of Dartmouth, who was very kind to her +during her visit to England. Having expressed a hope for the overthrow +of tyranny, she says:-- + + "Should you, my Lord, while you peruse my song, + Wonder from whence my love of Freedom sprung,-- + Whence flow these wishes for the common good, + By feeling hearts alone best understood,-- + I, young in life, by seeming cruel fate, + Was snatched from Afric's fancied happy state. + What pangs excruciating must molest, + What sorrows labor in my parent's breast! + Steeled was that soul, and by no misery moved, + That from a father seized his babe beloved. + Such was my case; and can I then but pray + Others may never feel tyrannic sway." + +The English friends of Phillis wished to present her to their king, +George the Third, who was soon expected in London. But letters from +America informed her that her beloved benefactress, Mrs. Wheatley, was +in declining health, and greatly desired to see her. No honors could +divert her mind from the friend of her childhood. She returned to Boston +immediately. The good lady died soon after; Mr. Wheatley soon followed; +and the daughter, the kind instructress of her youth, did not long +survive. The son married and settled in England. For a short time +Phillis stayed with a friend of her deceased benefactress; then she +hired a room and lived by herself. It was a sad change for her. + +The war of the American Revolution broke out. In the autumn of 1776 +General Washington had his head-quarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts; +and the spirit moved Phillis to address some complimentary verses to +him. In reply, he sent her the following courteous note:-- + + "I thank you most sincerely for your polite notice of me in the + elegant lines you enclosed. However undeserving I may be of such + encomium, the style and manner exhibit a striking proof of your + poetical talents. In honor of which, and as a tribute justly due to + you, I would have published the poem, had I not been apprehensive + that, while I only meant to give the world this new instance of + your genius, I might have incurred the imputation of vanity. This, + and nothing else, determined me not to give it a place in the + public prints. + + "If you should ever come to Cambridge, or near head-quarters, I + shall be happy to see a person so favored by the Muses,[4] and to + whom Nature had been so liberal and beneficent in her + dispensations. + + "I am, with great respect, + "Your obedient, humble servant, + "GEORGE WASHINGTON." + +The early friends of Phillis were dead, or scattered abroad, and she +felt alone in the world. She formed an acquaintance with a colored man +by the name of Peters, who kept a grocery shop. He was more than +commonly intelligent, spoke fluently, wrote easily, dressed well, and +was handsome in his person. He offered marriage, and in an evil hour she +accepted him. He proved to be lazy, proud, and harsh-tempered. He +neglected his business, failed, and became very poor. Though unwilling +to do hard work himself, he wanted to make a drudge of his wife. Her +constitution was frail, she had been unaccustomed to hardship, and she +was the mother of three little children, with no one to help her in her +household labors and cares. He had no pity on her, and instead of trying +to lighten her load, he made it heavier by his bad temper. The little +ones sickened and died, and their gentle mother was completely broken +down by toil and sorrow. Some of the descendants of her lamented +mistress at last heard of her illness and went to see her. They found +her in a forlorn situation, suffering for the common comforts of life. +The Revolutionary war was still raging. Everybody was mourning for sons +and husbands slain in battle. The country was very poor. The currency +was so deranged that a goose cost forty dollars, and other articles in +proportion. In such a state of things, people were too anxious and +troubled to think about the African poetess, whom they had once +delighted to honor; or if they transiently remembered her, they took it +for granted that her husband provided for her. And so it happened that +the gifted woman who had been patronized by wealthy Bostonians, and who +had rolled through London in the splendid carriages of the English +nobility, lay dying alone, in a cold, dirty, comfortless room. It was a +mournful reverse of fortune; but she was patient and resigned. She made +no complaint of her unfeeling husband; but the neighbors said that when +a load of wood was sent to her, he felt himself too much of a gentleman +to saw it, though his wife was shivering with cold. The descendants of +Mrs. Wheatley did what they could to relieve her wants, after they +discovered her extremely destitute condition; but, fortunately for her, +she soon went "where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the +weary are at rest." + +Her husband was so generally disliked, that people never called her Mrs. +Peters. She was always called Phillis Wheatley, the name bestowed upon +her when she first entered the service of her benefactress, and by which +she had become known as a poetess. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[4] The ancient Greeks supposed that nine goddesses, whom they named +Muses, inspired people to write various kinds of poetry. + + + + +A PERTINENT QUESTION. + +BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS. + + +"Is it not astonishing, that while we are ploughing, planting, and +reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses and +constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, +and copper, silver and gold; that while we are reading, writing, and +ciphering, acting as clerks, merchants, and secretaries, having among us +lawyers, doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators, and +teachers; that while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common +to other men, digging gold in California, capturing the whale in the +Pacific, breeding sheep and cattle on the hillside; living, moving, +acting, thinking, planning; living in families as husbands, wives, and +children; and, above all, confessing and worshipping the Christian's +God, and looking hopefully for immortal life beyond the grave;--is it +not astonishing, I say, that we are called upon to prove that we are +_men_?" + + + + +THE WORKS OF PROVIDENCE. + +BY PHILLIS WHEATLEY. + + [Written at sixteen years of age.] + + + Arise, my soul! on wings enraptured rise, + To praise the Monarch of the earth and skies, + Whose goodness and beneficence appear, + As round its centre moves the rolling year; + Or when the morning glows with rosy charms, + Or the sun slumbers in the ocean's arms. + Of light divine be a rich portion lent, + To guide my soul and favor my intent. + Celestial Muse, my arduous flight sustain, + And raise my mind to a seraphic strain! + + Adored forever be the God unseen, + Who round the sun revolves this vast machine; + Though to his eye its mass a point appears: + Adored the God that whirls surrounding spheres, + Who first ordained that mighty Sol[5] should reign, + The peerless monarch of th' ethereal train. + Of miles twice forty millions is his height, + And yet his radiance dazzles mortal sight, + So far beneath,--from him th' extended earth + Vigor derives, and every flowery birth. + Vast through her orb she moves, with easy grace, + Around her Phoebus[6] in unbounded space; + True to her course, the impetuous storm derides, + Triumphant o'er the winds and surging tides. + + Almighty! in these wondrous works of thine, + What power, what wisdom, and what goodness shine! + And are thy wonders, Lord, by men explored, + And yet creating glory unadored? + + Creation smiles in various beauty gay, + While day to night, and night succeeds to day. + That wisdom which attends Jehovah's ways, + Shines most conspicuous in the solar rays. + Without them, destitute of heat and light, + This world would be the reign of endless night. + In their excess, how would our race complain, + Abhorring life! how hate its lengthened chain! + From air, or dust, what numerous ills would rise! + What dire contagion taint the burning skies! + What pestilential vapor, fraught with death, + Would rise, and overspread the lands beneath! + + Hail, smiling Morn, that, from the orient main + Ascending, dost adorn the heavenly plain! + So rich, so various are thy beauteous dyes, + That spread through all the circuit of the skies, + That, full of thee, my soul in rapture soars, + And thy great God, the cause of all, adores! + O'er beings infinite his love extends, + His wisdom rules them, and his power defends. + When tasks diurnal tire the human frame, + The spirits faint, and dim the vital flame, + Then, too, that ever-active bounty shines, + Which not infinity of space confines. + The sable veil, that Night in silence draws, + Conceals effects, but shows th' Almighty Cause. + Night seals in sleep the wide creation fair, + And all is peaceful, but the brow of care. + Again gay Phoebus, as the day before, + Wakes every eye but what shall wake no more; + Again the face of Nature is renewed, + Which still appears harmonious, fair, and good. + May grateful strains salute the smiling morn, + Before its beams the eastern hills adorn! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] _Sol_ is the word for sun in Latin, the language spoken by the +ancient Romans. + +[6] Phoebus was the name for the sun, in the language of the ancient +Greeks. + + + + +THE DYING CHRISTIAN. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + The silver cord was loosened, + We knew that she must die; + We read the mournful token + In the dimness of her eye. + + Like a child oppressed with slumber, + She calmly sank to rest, + With her trust in her Redeemer, + And her head upon his breast. + + She faded from our vision, + Like a thing of love and light; + But we feel she lives forever, + A spirit pure and bright. + + + + +KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +There are not many people who are conscientious about being kind in +their relations with human beings; and therefore it is not surprising +that still fewer should be considerate about humanity to animals. But +the Father of all created beings made dumb creatures to enjoy existence +in their way, as he made human beings to enjoy life in their way. We do +wrong in his sight if we abuse them, or keep them without comfortable +food and shelter. The fact that they cannot speak to tell of what they +suffer makes the sad expression of their great patient eyes the more +touching to any compassionate heart. Fugitive slaves, looking out +mournfully and wearily upon a cold, unsympathizing world, have often +reminded me of overworked and abused oxen; for though slaves were +endowed by their Creator with the gift of speech, their oppressors have +made them afraid to use it to complain of their wrongs. In fact, they +have been in a more trying situation than abused oxen, for they have +been induced by fear to use their gift of speech in professions of +contentment with their bondage. Therefore, those who have been slaves +know how to sympathize with the dumb creatures of God; and they, more +than others, ought to have compassion on them. The great and good +Toussaint l'Ouverture was always kind to the animals under his care, and +I consider it by no means the smallest of his merits. + +It is selfish and cruel thoughtlessness to stand laughing and talking, +or to be resting at ease, while horses or oxen are tied where they will +be tormented by flies or mosquitos. Last summer I read of a horse that +was left fastened in a swamp, where he could not get away from the swarm +of venomous insects, which stung him to death, while his careless, +hard-hearted driver was going about forgetful of him. It would trouble +my conscience ever afterward if I had the death of that poor helpless +animal to answer for. + +There is a difference in the natural disposition of animals, as there is +in the dispositions of men and women; but, generally speaking, if +animals are bad-tempered and stubborn, it is owing to their having been +badly treated when they were young. When a horse has his mouth hurt by +jerking his bridle, it irritates him, as it irritates a man to be +violently knocked about; and in both cases such treatment produces an +unwillingness to oblige the tormentor. Lashing a horse with a whip, to +compel him to draw loads too heavy for his strength, makes him angry and +discouraged; and at last, in despair of getting any help for his wrongs, +he stands stock still when he finds himself fastened to a heavy load, +and no amount of kicking or beating will make him stir. He has +apparently come to the conclusion that it is better to be killed at once +than to die daily. Slaves, who are under cruel taskmasters, also +sometimes sink down in utter discouragement, and do not seem to care for +being whipped to death. The best way to cure the disheartened and +obstinate laborer is to give him just wages and kind treatment; and the +best way to deal with the discouraged and stubborn horse is to give him +light loads and humane usage. + +It is a very bad custom to whip a horse when he is frightened. It only +frightens the poor creature all the more. Habits of running when +frightened, or of sheering at the sight of things to which they are not +accustomed, is generally produced in horses by mismanagement when they +are colts. By gentle and rational treatment better characters are +formed, both in animals and human beings. There was a gentleman in the +neighborhood of Boston who managed colts so wisely, that all who were +acquainted with him wanted a horse of his training. He was very firm +with the young animals; he never allowed them to get the better of him; +but he was never in a passion with them. He cured them of bad tricks by +patient teaching and gentle words; holding them tight all the while, +till they did what he wanted them to do. When they became docile, he +rubbed their heads, and patted their necks, and talked affectionately to +them, and gave them a handful of oats. In that way, he obtained complete +control over them. He never kicked them, or jerked their mouths with the +bridle; he never whipped them, or allowed a whip to be used; and the +result was that they learned to love him, and were always ready to do as +he bade them. + +I have read of a horse that was so terrified by the sound of a drum, +that if he heard it, even from a distance, he would run furiously and +smash to pieces any carriage to which he was harnessed. In consequence +of this, he was sold very cheap, though he was a strong, handsome +animal. The man who sold him said he had whipped and whipped him, to +cure him of the trick, but it did no good. People laughed at the man who +bought him, and said he had thrown money away upon a useless and +dangerous creature; but he replied, "I have some experience in horses, +and I think I can cure him." + +He resolved to use no violence, but to deal rationally and humanely with +the animal, as he would like to be dealt with if he were a horse. + +He kept him without food till he had become very hungry, and then he +placed a pan of oats before him on the top of a drum. As soon as he +began to eat, the man beat upon the drum. The horse reared and plunged +and ran furiously round the enclosure. He was led back to the stable +without any provender. After a while, oats were again placed before him +on the top of a drum. As soon as the drum was beaten, the horse reared +and ran away. I suppose he remembered the terrible whippings he had had +whenever he heard a drum, and so he thought the thing that made the +noise was an enemy to him. The third time the experiment was tried, he +had become excessively hungry. He pricked up his ears and snorted when +he heard the sound of the drum; but he stood still and looked at the +oats wistfully, while the man played a loud, lively tune. Finding the +noise did him no harm, he at last ventured to taste of the oats, and his +owner continued to play all the while he was eating. When the breakfast +was finished, he patted him on the neck and talked gently to him. For +several days his food was given to him in the same way. He was never +afraid of the sound of a drum afterward. On the contrary, he learned to +like it, because it made him think of sweet oats. + +The fact is, reasonable and kind treatment will generally produce a +great and beneficial change in vicious animals as well as in vicious +men. + + + + +JAMES FORTEN. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +James Forten was born in 1766, nearly a hundred years ago. His ancestors +had lived in Pennsylvania for several generations, and, so far as he +could trace them, they had never been slaves. In his boyhood the war of +the American Revolution began. The States of this Union were then +colonies of Great Britain. Being taxed without being represented in the +British Parliament, they remonstrated against it as an act of injustice. +The king, George the Third, was a dull, obstinate man, disposed to be +despotic. The loyal, respectful petitions of the Colonies were treated +with indifference or contempt; and at last they resolved to become +independent of England. When James Forten was about fourteen years old +he entered into the service of the Colonial navy, in the ship Royal +Louis, commanded by Captain Decatur, father of the celebrated commodore. +It was captured by the British ship Amphion, commanded by Sir John +Beezly. Sir John's son was on board, as midshipman. He was about the +same age as James Forten; and when they played games together on the +deck, the agility and skill of the brown lad attracted his attention. +They became much attached to each other; and the young Englishman +offered to provide for the education of his colored companion, and to +help him on in the world, if he would go to London with him. But James +preferred to remain in the service of his native country. The lads shed +tears at parting, and Sir John's son obtained a promise from his father +that his friend should not be enlisted in the British army. This was a +great relief to the mind of James; for his sympathies were on the side +of the American Colonies, and he knew that colored men in his +circumstances were often carried to the West Indies and sold into +Slavery. He was transferred to the prison-ship Old Jersey, then lying +near New York. He remained there, through a raging pestilence on board, +until prisoners were exchanged. + +After the war was over, he obtained employment in a sail-loft in +Philadelphia, where he soon established a good character by his +intelligence, honesty, and industry. He invented an improvement in the +management of sails, for which he obtained a patent. As it came into +general use, it brought him a good deal of money. In process of time, he +became owner of the sail-loft, and also of a good house in the city. He +married a worthy woman, and they brought up a family of eight children. +But though he had served his country faithfully in his youth, though he +had earned a hundred thousand dollars by his ingenuity and diligence, +and though his character rendered him an ornament to the Episcopal +Church, to which he belonged, yet so strong was the mean and cruel +prejudice against his color, that his family were excluded from schools +where the most ignorant and vicious whites could place their children. +He overcame this obstacle, at great expense, by hiring private teachers +in various branches of education. + +By the unrivalled neatness and durability of his work, and by the +uprightness of his character, he obtained extensive business, and for +more than fifty years employed many people in his sail-loft. Being near +the water, he had opportunities, at twelve different times, to save +people from drowning, which he sometimes did at the risk of his own +life. The Humane Society of Philadelphia presented him with an +engraving, to which was appended a certificate of the number of people +he had saved, and the thanks of the Society for his services. He had it +framed and hung in his parlor; and when I visited him, in 1835, he +pointed it out to me, and told me he would not take a thousand dollars +for it. He likewise told me of a vessel engaged in the slave-trade, the +owners of which applied to him for rigging. He indignantly refused; +declaring that he considered such a request an insult to any honest or +humane man. He always had the cause of the oppressed colored people +warmly at heart, and was desirous to do everything in his power for +their improvement and elevation. He early saw that colonizing free +blacks to Africa would never abolish Slavery; but that, on the contrary, +it tended to prolong its detestable existence. He presided at the first +meeting of colored people in Philadelphia, to remonstrate against the +Colonization Society. He was an earnest and liberal friend of the +Anti-Slavery Society; and almost the last words he was heard to utter +were expressions of love and gratitude to William Lloyd Garrison for his +exertions in behalf of his oppressed race. He never drank any +intoxicating liquor, and was a steadfast supporter of the Temperance +Society. Being of a kindly and humane disposition, he espoused the +principles of the Peace Society. His influence and pure example were +also given to those who were striving against licentiousness. Indeed, he +was always ready to assist in every good word and work. + +He died in 1842, at the age of seventy-six years. His funeral procession +was one of the largest ever seen in Philadelphia; thousands of people, +of all classes and all complexions, having united in this tribute of +respect to his character. + + + + +THE MEETING IN THE SWAMP. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +In 1812 there was war between the United States and Great Britain; and +many people thought it likely that a portion of the British army would +land in some part of the Southern States and proclaim freedom to the +slaves. The more intelligent portion of the slaves were aware of this, +and narrowly watched the signs of the times. + +Mr. Duncan, of South Carolina, was an easy sort of master, generally +thought by his neighbors to be too indulgent to his slaves. One evening, +during the year I have mentioned, he received many requests for passes +to go to a great Methodist meeting, and in every instance complied with +the request. After a while, he rang the bell for a glass of water, but +no servant appeared. He rang a second time, but waited in vain for the +sound of coming footsteps. Thinking over the passes he had given, he +remembered that all the house-servants had gone to Methodist meeting. +Then it occurred to him that Methodist meetings had lately been more +frequent than usual. He was in the habit of saying that his slaves were +perfectly contented, and would not take their freedom if he offered it +to them; nevertheless the frequency of Methodist meetings made him a +little uneasy, and brought to mind a report he had heard, that the +British were somewhere off the coast and about to land. + +The next morning, he took a ride on horseback, and in a careless way +asked the slaves on several plantations where was the Methodist meeting +last night. Some said it was in one place, and some in another,--a +circumstance which made him think still more about the report that the +British were going to land. He bought a black mask for his face, and a +suit of negro clothes, and waited for another Methodist meeting. In a +few days his servants again asked for passes, and he gave them. When the +last one had gone, he put on his disguise and followed them over field +and meadow, through woods and swamps. The number of dark figures +steering toward the same point continually increased. If any spoke to +him as they passed, he made a very short answer, in the words and tones +common among slaves. At last they arrived at an island in the swamp, +surrounded by a belt of deep water, and hidden by forest-trees matted +together by a luxuriant entanglement of vines. A large tree had been +felled for a bridge, and over this dusky forms were swarming as thickly +as ants into a new-made nest. After passing through a rough and +difficult path, they came out into a large level space, surrounded by +majestic trees, whose boughs interlaced, and formed a roof high +overhead, from which hung down long streamers of Spanish moss. Under +this canopy were assembled hundreds of black men and women. Some were +sitting silent and thoughtful, some eagerly talking together, and some +singing and shouting. The blaze of pine torches threw a strong light on +some, and made others look like great black shadows. + +Mr. Duncan felt a little disturbed by the strange, impressive scene, and +was more than half disposed to wish himself at home. For some time he +could make nothing out of the confused buzz of voices and chanting of +hymns. But after a while a tall man mounted a stump and requested +silence. "I suppose most all of ye know," said he, "that at our last +meeting we concluded to go to the British, if we could get a chance; but +we didn't all agree what to do about our masters. Some said we couldn't +keep our freedom without we killed the whites, but others didn't like +the thoughts of that. We've met again to-night to talk about it. An' +now, boys, if the British land here in Caroliny, what shall we do about +our masters?" + +As he sat down, a tall, fierce-looking mulatto sprang upon the stump, at +one leap, and exclaimed: "Scourge _them_, as they have scourged _us_. +Shoot _them_, as they have shot _us_. Who talks of mercy to our +masters?" + +"I do," said an aged black man, who rose up tottering, as he leaned both +hands on a wooden staff,--"I do; because the blessed Jesus always talked +of mercy. They shot my bright boy Joe, an' sold my pretty little Sally; +but, thanks to the blessed Jesus! I feel it in my poor old heart to +forgive 'em. I've been member of a Methodist church these thirty years, +an' I've heard many preachers, white and black; an' they all tell me +Jesus said, Do good to them that do evil to you, an' pray for them that +spite you. Now I say, Let us love our enemies; let us pray for 'em; an' +when our masters flog us, let us sing,-- + + 'You may beat upon my body, + But you cannot harm my soul. + I shall join the forty thousand by and by.'" + +When the tremulous chant ceased, a loud altercation arose. Some cried +out for the blood of the whites, while others maintained that the old +man's doctrine was right. Louder and louder grew the sound of their +excited voices, and the disguised slaveholder hid himself away deeper +among the shadows. In the midst of the confusion, a young man of +graceful figure sprang on the stump, and, throwing off a coarse cotton +frock, showed his back and shoulders deeply gashed by a whip and oozing +with blood. He made no speech, but turned round and round slowly, while +his comrades held up their torches to show his wounds. He stopped +suddenly, and said, with stern brevity, "Blood for blood." + +"Would you murder 'em all?" inquired a timid voice. "Dey don't _all_ +cruelize us." + +"Dar's Massa Campbell," pleaded another. "He neber hab his boys flogged. +You wouldn't murder _him_, would you?" + +"No, no," shouted several voices; "we wouldn't murder _him_." + +"I wouldn't murder _my_ master," said one of Mr. Duncan's slaves. "I +don't want to work for him for nothin'; I'se done got tired o' that; but +he sha'n't be killed, if I can help it; for he's a good master." + +"Call him a good master if ye like," said the youth with the bleeding +shoulders. "If the white men don't cut up the backs that bear their +burdens, if they don't shoot the limbs that make 'em rich, some are +fools enough to call 'em good masters. What right have they to sleep in +soft beds, while we, who do all the work, lie on the hard floor? Why +should I go in coarse rags, to clothe my master in broadcloth and fine +linen, when he knows, and I know, that we are sons of the same father? +Ye may get on your knees to be flogged, if ye like; but I'm not the boy +to do it." His high, bold forehead and flashing eye indicated an +intellect too active, and a spirit too fiery, for Slavery. The listeners +were spell-bound by his superior bearing, and for a while he seemed +likely to carry the whole meeting in favor of revenge. But the aged +black, leaning on his wooden staff, made use of every pause to repeat +the words, "Jesus told us to return good for evil"; and his gentle +counsel found response in many hearts. + +A short man, with roguish eyes and a laughing mouth, rose up and looked +round him with an expression of drollery that made everybody begin to +feel good-natured. After rubbing his head a little, he said: "I don't +know how to talk like Bob, 'cause I neber had no chance. But I'se +_thought_ a heap. Many a time I'se axed myself how de white man always +git he foot on de black man. Sometimes I tink one ting, and sometimes I +tink anoder ting; and dey all git jumbled up in my head, jest like seed +in de cotton. At last I finds out how de white man always git he foot on +de black man." He took from his old torn hat a bit of crumpled +newspaper, and smoothing it out, pointed at it, while he exclaimed: +"_Dat's_ de way dey do it! Dey got de _knowledge_; and dey don't let +poor nigger hab de knowledge. May be de British lan', and may be de +British no lan'. But I tell ye, boys, de white man can't keep he foot on +de black man, ef de black man git de knowledge. I'se gwine to tell ye +how I got de knowledge. I sot my mind on larning to read; but my ole +boss he's de most begrudgfullest massa, an' I knows he wouldn't let me +larn. So when I sees leetle massa wid he book, I ax him, 'What you call +dat?' He tell me dat's A. So I take ole newspaper, an' ax missis, 'May I +hab dis to rub de boots?' She say yes. Den, when I find A, I looks at +him till I knows him bery well. Den I ax leetle massa, 'What you call +dat?' He say dat's B. I looks at him till I knows him bery well. Den I +find C A T, an' I ax leetle massa what dat spell; an' he tell me _cat_. +Den, after a great long time, I read de newspaper. An' dar I find out +dat de British gwine to lan'. I tells all de boys; and dey say mus' hab +Methodist meetin'. An' what you tink dis nigger did todder day? You know +Jim, Massa Gubernor's boy? Wal, I wants mighty bad to tell Jim dat de +British gwine to lan'; but he lib ten mile off, and ole boss nebber let +me go. Wal, Massa Gubernor come to massa's, an' I bring he hoss to de +gate. I makes bow, and says, 'How Jim do, Massa Gubernor?' He tells me +Jim bery well. Den I tells him Jim and I was leetle boy togeder, an' I +wants to sen' Jim someting. He tells me Jim hab 'nuff ob eberyting. I +says, 'O yes, Massa Gubernor, I knows you good massa, and Jim hab +eberyting he want. But Jim an' I was leetle boy togeder, and I wants to +sen' Jim some backy.' Massa Gubernor laugh an' say, 'Bery well, Jack.' +So I gibs him de backy in de bery bit ob newspaper dat tell de British +gwine to lan'. I marks it wid brack coal, so Jim be sure to see it. An' +Massa Gubernor hisself carry it! Massa Gubernor hisself carry it! I has +to laugh ebery time I tinks on't." + +He clapped his hands, shuffled with his feet, and ended by rolling heels +over head, with peals of laughter. The multitude joined loudly in his +merriment, and it took some time to restore order. There was a good deal +of speaking afterward, and some of it was violent. A large majority were +in favor of being merciful to the masters; but all, without exception, +agreed to join the British if they landed. + +With thankfulness to Heaven, Mr. Duncan again found himself in the open +field, alone with the stars. Their glorious beauty seemed to him clothed +in new and awful power. Groups of shrubbery took startling forms, and +the sound of the wind among the trees was like the unsheathing of +swords. He never forgot the lesson of that night. In his heart he could +not blame his bondmen for seeking their liberty, and he felt grateful +for the merciful disposition they had manifested toward their +oppressors; for alone that night, in the solemn presence of the stars, +his conscience told him that Slavery _was_ oppression, however mild the +humanity of the master might make it. He did not emancipate his slaves; +for he had not sufficient courage to come out against the community in +which he lived. He felt it a duty to warn his neighbors of impending +danger; but he could not bring himself to reveal the secret of the +meeting in the swamp, which he knew would cause the death of many +helpless creatures, whose only crime was that of wishing to be free. +After a painful conflict in his mind, he contented himself with advising +the magistrates not to allow any meetings of the colored people for +religious purposes until the war was over. + +I have called him Mr. Duncan, but I have in fact forgotten his name. +Years after he witnessed the meeting in the swamp, he gave an account of +it to a gentleman in Boston, and I have stated the substance of it as it +was told to me. + + + + +A REASONABLE REQUEST. + + +We are natives of this country; we ask only to be treated _as well_ as +foreigners. Not a few of our fathers suffered and bled to purchase its +independence; we ask only to be treated _as well_ as those who fought +against it. We have toiled to cultivate it, and to raise it to its +present prosperous condition; we ask only to share _equal_ privileges +with those who come from distant lands to enjoy the fruits of our +labor.--REV. PETER WILLIAMS, _colored Rector of St. Philip's Church, New +York_, 1835. + + + + +THE SLAVE POET. + + +Mr. James Horton, of Chatham County, North Carolina, had a slave named +George, who early manifested remarkable intelligence. He labored with a +few other slaves on his master's farm, and was always honest, faithful, +and industrious. He contrived to learn to read, and every moment that +was allowed him for his own he devoted to reading. He was especially +fond of poetry, which he read and learned by heart, wherever he could +find it. After a time, he began to compose verses of his own. He did not +know how to write; so when he had arranged his thoughts in rhyme, he +spoke them aloud to others, who wrote them down for him. + +He was not contented in Slavery, as you will see by the following verses +which he wrote:-- + + "Alas! and am I born for this, + To wear this slavish chain? + Deprived of all created bliss, + Through hardship, toil, and pain? + + "How long have I in bondage lain, + And languished to be free! + Alas! and must I still complain, + Deprived of liberty? + + "O Heaven! and is there no relief + This side the silent grave, + To soothe the pain, to quell the grief + And anguish of a slave? + + "Come, Liberty! thou cheerful sound, + Roll through my ravished ears; + Come, let my grief in joys be drowned, + And drive away my fears. + + "Say unto foul oppression, Cease! + Ye tyrants, rage no more; + And let the joyful trump of peace + Now bid the vassal soar. + + "O Liberty! thou golden prize, + So often sought by blood, + We crave thy sacred sun to rise, + The gift of Nature's God. + + "Bid Slavery hide her haggard face, + And barbarism fly; + I scorn to see the sad disgrace, + In which enslaved I lie. + + "Dear Liberty! upon thy breast + I languish to respire; + And, like the swan unto her nest, + I'd to thy smiles retire." + +George's poems attracted attention, and several were published in the +newspaper called "The Raleigh Register." Some of them found their way +into the Boston newspapers, and were thought remarkable productions for +a slave. His master took no interest in any of his poems, and knew +nothing about them, except what he heard others say. Dr. Caldwell, who +was then President of the University of North Carolina, and several +other gentlemen, became interested for him, and tried to help him to +obtain his freedom. In 1829 a little volume of his poems, called "The +Hope of Liberty," was printed in Raleigh, by Gales and Son. The pamphlet +was sold to raise money enough for George to buy himself. He was then +thirty-two years old, in the prime of his strength, both in mind and +body. He was to be sent off to Liberia as soon as he was purchased; but +he had such a passion for Liberty, that he was willing to follow her to +the ends of the earth; though he would doubtless have preferred to have +been a freeman at home, among old friends and familiar scenes. He was +greatly excited about his prospects, and eagerly set about learning to +write. When he first heard the news that influential gentlemen were +exerting themselves in his behalf, he wrote:-- + + "'Twas like the salutation of the dove, + Borne on the zephyr through some lonesome grove, + When spring returns, and winter's chill is past, + And vegetation smiles above the blast. + + "The silent harp, which on the osiers hung, + Again was tuned, and manumission sung; + Away by hope the clouds of fear were driven, + And music breathed my gratitude to Heaven." + +It would have been better for him if his hopes had not been so highly +excited. His poems did not sell for enough to raise the sum his master +demanded for him, and his friends were not sufficiently benevolent to +make up the deficiency. In 1837, when he was forty years old, he was +still working as a slave at Chapel Hill, the seat of the University of +North Carolina. It was said at that time that he had ceased to write +poetry. I suppose the poor fellow was discouraged. If he is still alive, +he is sixty-seven years old; and I hope it will comfort his poor, +bruised heart to know that some of his verses are preserved, and +published for the benefit of those who have been his companions in +Slavery, and who, more fortunate than he was, have become freemen before +their strength has left them. + + + + +RATIE: + +A TRUE STORY OF A LITTLE HUNCHBACK. + +BY MATTIE GRIFFITH. + + +I want to tell you a story of a poor little slave-girl who lived and +died away down South. + +This little girl's name was Rachel, but they used to call her Ratie. She +was a hunchback and a dwarf, with an ugly black face, coarse and +irregular features, but a low, pleasant voice, and nice manners. Nobody +ever scolded Ratie, for she never deserved it. She always did her +work--the little that was assigned her--with a cheerful heart and +willing hand. This work was chiefly to gather up little bits of chips in +baskets, or collect shavings from the carpenters' shops, and take them +to the cabins or the great kitchen, where they were used for kindling +fires. She had a sweet, gentle spirit, and a low, cheery laugh that +charmed everybody. Even the white folks who lived up at the great house +loved her, and somehow felt better when she was near. + +Ratie used to go out into the fields on summer days, or in the early +spring, and pick the first flowers. Later in the season she caught the +butterflies or grasshoppers, but she never hurt them. She would look at +the bright spangled wings of the butterflies, or the green coats of the +pretty, chirping grasshoppers, with an eye full of admiration; and she +always seemed sorry when she gave them up. The lambs used to run to her, +and eat from her hands. If she went into the park, the deer came to her +side lovingly, and the young fawns sported and played around her. No one +harmed Ratie or expected harm from her. + +Poor little hunchback! Many an idle traveller has paused in his slow +wanderings to listen to her song, as she sat on the wayside stump, +knitting stockings for the work-people, and singing old snatches of +songs, and airs that bring back to the heart glimpses of the paradise of +our lost childhood! No broad-throated robin ever poured out a wilder, +fuller gush of melody than the songs of this untaught child! + +Little Ratie's days were passed in the same even routine, without +thought or chance of change. Up at the house they loved her; and her +young mistresses used to supply her with cast-off ribbons and shawls and +fancy trappings from their own wardrobes, which she prized very +much,--delighting to deck out her odd little person with these old +fineries. + +Once, as she sat singing on an old stile, and knitting a stocking, a +rough sort of gentleman, driving by in his neat little tilbury, stopped +and listened to Ratie's song. When he looked at the strange child he +felt a little shocked; but he called out in a loud voice, "Halloo, +Dumpey Blackie! here is a fip for your song"; and he tossed her a small +coin. "Take that, and give me another song." + +The child was pleased with the gift, took it up from where it had rolled +on the ground at her feet, and soon began another of her wild little +ditties. As she sang on, she forgot the exact words, and put in some of +her own, which harmonized just as well with the air. The stranger was so +much pleased, that he gave her another fip, and called for another +song, and still another. At length, he asked the child to whom she +belonged. She told him that she belonged to her old master. + +"And what is your old master's name?" asked the gentleman. + +Ratie, who had never been two miles beyond the borders of the +plantation, laughed, thinking it a fine joke that anybody should not +know the name of her "old master"; for, to her, he was the most +important personage in the world. So she only laughed and shook her head +derisively in answer. + +"Will you not tell me his name?" again asked the stranger. + +But the child smiled still more incredulously; so the gentleman deemed +it best to follow her home, which he accordingly did, and found that +Colonel Williams, a rich old planter, was the owner of this little +melodious blackbird. + +The stranger alighted and asked to see Colonel Williams. After a little +conversation he proposed to buy Ratie from her master. Colonel Williams +had never thought of selling the little deformity. He kept her on the +place more through charity than aught else. The extent of her musical +genius was unappreciated, and even unknown to him; but as she was a +happy little creature, much liked by all the family, and was only a +trifling expense, he had never thought of parting with her. Now, +however, when a handsome price was offered, she assumed something like +importance and interest in his eyes. He called her into the house, and +she obeyed with great alacrity, coming in neatly dressed, with a fresh +white apron, and sundry bits of bright-colored ribbons tied round her +head and neck. + +"Give us one of your best songs, Ratie," said her master. + +The girl broke out in a wild, warbling strain, clear, bird-like, and +musical, filling the long room with gushes of melody, until the lofty +arches echoed and re-echoed with the wild notes. When she had finished, +the enthusiastic stranger exclaimed, "That throat is a mint of gold!" + +And so little hunchback Ratie sang song after song, until she exhausted +herself; when her master sent her off to the slave-quarters, where she +continued her ditties out under the broad, soft light of the low-hanging +southern moon. + +The gentlemen sat up late that night, talking upon different subjects; +but, before they parted, it was arranged that the stranger should buy +Ratie at the high price he offered. + +The next morning, long before the sun rose, little Ratie was up, walking +through the quarter. She stooped down to look at every drop of dew that +glittered and sparkled on the green leaves and shrubs; and when the +great, round, golden sun began to creep up the eastern sky, and set it +all ablaze with red and gold and purple clouds, glorious as the pavilion +of the prophet, Ratie's little spirit danced within her, and broke forth +in hymns of music such as the wise men long ago--eighteen hundred years +past--sang at the foot of a little manger in a stable in Bethlehem of +Judaea. + +The child was too young and ignorant to know the meaning of the emotions +which fluttered and set on fire her own soul, but she was none the less +happy for this ignorance. God is very good! + +As Ratie wandered on, singing to herself, she grew so happy that the +rush of passionate fervor half frightened her. Tears came to her eyes, +and choked the song in her throat. She paused in her walk, and seated +herself on a little rock that lay in one corner of the quarter. As she +sat there alone, she continued to sing and weep; wherefore she could not +tell. By and by the great, rusty bell of the quarter rang out from its +hoarse, iron tongue the morning summons for the slaves to assemble. +Ragged, tattered, unshorn and unshaven, dirty, ill and angry-looking, +the negroes--men, women, and children, in large numbers--collected in +the quarter-yard, where the overseer, an ugly, harsh white man, with a +pistol in his belt, knife at his side, and whip in hand, stood to call +the roll. At the mention of each name, a slave came forward, saying with +a bow, "Here I am, massa." + +Ratie, who had no particular work to do, went limping on past the place +of the roll-call, when she saw her master and the strange gentleman +coming toward her. She did not, however, notice them. They were talking +together quite earnestly, and looking at her. Her master called out, +"Stop, Ratie; come this way." + +She obeyed the order with pleasing readiness. + +"Ratie," said the master, "how do you like this gentleman?" + +The child smiled, but made no answer in words. The master also smiled as +he added: "He thinks that you sing very prettily, and he has bought you. +He will be very kind and good to you; and as soon as you have had +breakfast, you must get your things ready to go off with him. Here is a +present for you"; and he tossed her a bright, shining, silver coin. + +The child seized the money, but did not seem to comprehend her master's +words. To be sold to her implied some sort of disgrace or hardship, +which she did not think she deserved; besides, she had always lived on +the "old plantation." She knew no other home; she did not want to leave +"the people" of the quarter; nor did she feel happy in going away from +the "white folks," particularly the "young mistresses," who had always +been so kind to her. She had also some vague yearning of heart to be +close to her mammy's grave, rough as it was; and near also to Grandpap's +cabin, where she roasted apples and potatoes on winter nights. + +She looked around upon the familiar quarter, the well-known people, the +row of cabins; and strained her gaze far away to the rolling fields in +the distance, where the negroes, like a swarm of crows, were busy at +their morning's work; and as she gazed, the whole landscape flushed with +the bloom and beauty of the risen sun. Then the wild, pealing horn +called the "sons of toil" from their morning hour's work to their frugal +breakfast. + +Ratie's little heart began to beat in its narrow limits as the word +"sold" wrote itself there, and broke through her comprehension with all +its horrors. She started quickly after her master, and, with the freedom +of a petted slave, caught hold of the skirt of his coat. Colonel +Williams turned suddenly round; and there, crouching on the earth at his +feet, was the hunchback child. She held up the money which he had given +her, and, in a sweet, tremulous voice, asked: "Massa, why has you sold +me? I has not behaved bad, as de boys did dat you sold last year. I +doesn't steal nor tell lies. Is it bekase I'se lazy? I do all de work +dey gives me to do. I'll do more. I'll go into de fields. I'll plant and +pick de cotton. Please don't sell me. I doesn't want to leave de ole +place. Mammy is buried here; so I wants to be when I dies. I wants +allers to live here." + +The stranger and Colonel Williams were much moved. They did not venture +to speak to the child, but tried to get away from the sound of her +plaintive cries. + +When the negroes drew around their morning meal, and learned that Ratie +was sold, they were unhappy, and refused to eat anything. They looked +sorrowfully at one another, and turned away from their untasted food. +"Poor Ratie!" exclaimed the old negroes, as they shook their heads in +mournful discontent, "we shall not hear any more her sweet songs in de +evenin' time." + +The young mistresses came to Ratie with kind gifts and kinder words. +They told her, with tears in their eyes, how sorry they were to part +with her, how good they knew she had been, and how much they wished +their papa would allow her to stay. Words and acts like these softened +the blow to the unfortunate child, and strengthened her for the coming +trial. She looked up smilingly through her tears, as she said to her +young mistresses: "Please not to cry for me. God is good, and de +preacher says he is everywhar; so I shall not be fur from de ole +plantation." + +When she was starting away, each of the negroes brought her some little +gift, such as cotton handkerchiefs, old ribbon-ends, bright-colored +glass beads, or autumn berries, dried and strung on threads for neck +ornaments. Each of these humble little tokens possessed an individual +interest which touched some spring in Ratie's little heart. When the +hour of separation came, she had nerved herself to the highest courage +of which she was capable. She took leave of each of the slaves, all of +them calling down the blessings of God upon her life. An old, lame negro +man, whom the slaves addressed as Grandpap, hobbled from his cabin, on a +broken crutch, to utter his farewell. + +"Good by, Ratie," he began, and his voice choked with emotion; "good by, +little Ratie, and may de good Lord be wid you. Him dat keres fur de +poor, de lowly, and de despised, up yonder, way fur and high up dere, is +a God dat loves all of his chillens alike. He doesn't kere fur de color +ob de skin or de quality ob de hair. In his sight, wool is jist as good +as de fair, straight hair. He loves de heart, and looks straight and +deep into dat, and keres fur nothin' else. Never you be afeard, Ratie, +Him'll take kere ob you, an' all sich as you, bekase He loves dem dat He +smites and afflicts. Now, He didn't break your poor little back for +nothin'. Him has Him's eye upon you. You is a lamb ob de fold, dat de +great Shepherd will go fur and long to look arter. Him holds you in the +holler ob Him's hand, an' He'll keep you dar. Mind what I tell you. Good +by, Ratie. God bless you. Allers trust Him. 'Member my last words; dat +is, Allers trust Him. Look to Him, and He'll never forget you." + +As he uttered these words, in a slow, oracular manner, he brushed a tear +from his eye with the back of his old, hard hand, and looking tenderly +toward the child, his lips moved slowly, and the words seemed to melt +unheard in the thin, morning air. He turned from her and hobbled off in +the direction of his cabin. + +The other slaves were more passionately demonstrative in their +farewells; but little Ratie bore up with a beautiful and proud +composure. + + * * * * * + +The new owner proved very kind to the gentle little creature; but her +heart had received a blow from which it could not recover. + +The master took her to New Orleans, intending to have her taught music, +that she might make money for him; but the poor child pined for "de ole +plantation" and "de ole folks at home,"--the kind people--"my people," +as she fondly called them--with whom she had been brought up. + +In the great city of New Orleans she was literally lost. She missed the +free country air, the green trees, the sweet singing-birds, the fields +blooming with early flowers, the meadows and the running brooks. It was +easy to see that the little hunchback was not happy. She grew thinner +and thinner, and her voice lost its flexible sweetness, its clear and +liquid roundness of tone. At last she fell away to a mere skeleton; then +sharp, burning fever set in, and little Ratie was taken down to her bed. +Day and night, in the delirium of fever, she raved for "de ole +plantation" and her own people. + +The new master promised, when she got better, to take her back to her +old home,--at least for a little while. But, alas! she never grew any +better. She faded slowly away, until one evening, just at sundown, in +the gay city of New Orleans, little Ratie breathed her last. + +Just before she died, she lifted her head from the pillow, and, resting +on her hand, she pointed eastward, saying: "Over dar is de ole +plantation. Don't you see? How pretty and nice it looks! Dar is all de +peoples at work. How busy dey is! But I'se not gwine dar. I doesn't want +to, any more. Dere up dar is God's plantation, and it is betterer far. +Dere is no slaves dar, but all is free and happy,--loving friends; and +it is dar dat I wants to go; and I hopes dat all de plantation folks +will come to me." + +And so little Ratie died. + + _From the New York Independent._ + + + + +THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. + +BY JAMES MONTGOMERY. + + + Hail to the Lord's anointed! + Great David's greater Son! + Hail, in the time appointed, + His reign on earth begun! + He comes to break oppression, + To set the captive free, + To take away transgression, + And rule in equity. + + He comes, with succor speedy, + To those who suffer wrong; + To help the poor and needy, + And bid the weak be strong; + To give them songs for sighing, + Their darkness turned to light, + Whose souls, condemned and dying, + Were precious in his sight. + + To him shall prayer unceasing, + And daily vows ascend; + His kingdom still increasing,-- + A kingdom without end. + The tide of time shall never + His covenant remove; + His name shall stand forever,-- + That name to us is Love. + + + + +THE BEGINNING AND PROGRESS OF EMANCIPATION IN THE BRITISH WEST INDIES. + + +Nothing has ever been done in this world more wicked and cruel than the +slave-trade on the coast of Africa. But the temptation to carry it on +was very great; for hundreds of men and women could be bought for a cask +of poor rum or a peck of cheap beads, and could be sold in the markets +of America or the West Indies for thousands of dollars. A hundred years +ago men were not at all ashamed of growing rich in this bad way. They +were respected in society as much as other men. They were often members +of churches and professed to be very pious. Perhaps they deceived +themselves, as well as others, and really thought they were pious, +because they observed all the ritual forms of religion. But, above all +their prayers, God heard the groans and the cries of the poor tortured +Africans. He put it into the heart of a young Englishman, named Thomas +Clarkson, to inquire into the wicked business, that was going on under +the sanction of the government, and unreproved by the Church. In the +course of his investigations, this young man discovered that the most +shocking cruelties were habitually practised. He found that poor +creatures stolen from their homes were packed close, like bales of +goods, in the dark holds of ships, where they were half choked by bad +odors from accumulated filth, and where they could hardly breathe for +want of air. The food allotted them was merely enough to keep them +alive. Many died of grief and despair, and still more of burning fevers +and other diseases. Living and dead often remained huddled together for +hours, and when the corpses were removed they were thrown out to the +sharks. But the sea-captains engaged in this horrid traffic were selfish +as well as cruel. They did not like to have their victims die, because +every one they lost on the passage diminished the dollars they expected +to get by selling them. So at times they brought the poor half-dead +wretches on deck and drove them round with a whip for exercise, and +insulted their misery by compelling them to dance, and sing the songs +they had sung in their native land. + +Thomas Clarkson called public attention to the subject by publishing +these things in a pamphlet. More than thirty years before, the humane +sect called Quakers had forbidden any of its members to be connected +with the slave-trade. But though the abominable traffic had been carried +on more than two hundred and fifty years by various nations calling +themselves Christian, there had been no attempt to excite general +attention to the subject till Clarkson published his pamphlet in 1786, +seventy-nine years ago. He became so much interested in the question +that he gave up all other pursuits in life, and wrote, and lectured, and +talked about it incessantly. The assembled representatives of the people +which we call a Congress, is called a Parliament in Great Britain.[7] He +tried to bring the subject before that body, and succeeded in gaining +the attention of some members, among whom the most conspicuous was the +benevolent William Wilberforce. He soon joined Mr. Clarkson in the +formation of a Society for the Abolition of the Slave-trade. This of +course gave great offence to the sea-captains and merchants engaged in +the profitable traffic. Clarkson met with all manner of insult and +abuse, and his life was sometimes in danger. The British government did +as governments are apt to do,--it sided with the rich and powerful as +long as it was politic to do so. But, though many of the aristocracy +were haughty and selfish, the generality of the common people were ready +to sympathize with the poor and the oppressed. When they became aware of +the outrages committed in the slave-trade, they determined that a stop +should be put to it. They wrote, and talked, and petitioned Parliament, +till the government was compelled to pay some attention to their +demands. When the friends of the infernal traffic found that a +resolution to abolish it was likely to be passed, they contrived to get +the word "gradual" inserted into the resolution, and thus defeated the +will of the people; for the gradual abolition of crime is no abolition +at all. It was as absurd as it would have been for them to say they +would abolish murder gradually. But though the law was insufficient to +accomplish the desired purpose, public opinion against the trade exerted +an increasing influence. The friends of those who were engaged in it +began to apologize for it as a necessary branch of trade, and pleaded +that laborers could not be supplied in the hot climate of the West +Indies in any other way. They were even shameless enough to defend it +and praise it as a benevolent scheme to bring savages away from heathen +Africa and make good Christians of them. Mr. Boswell, a well-known +English writer of that period, went so far as to pronounce it "a trade +which God had sanctioned"; and he declared that "to abolish it would be +to shut the gates of mercy on mankind." Such pretences deceived some. +But the English people have a great deal of good common sense; and it +was not easy to convince them that stealing men, women, and children +from their homes, torturing them on the ocean, and selling them in +strange lands, to be whipped to incessant toil without wages, was a +pious missionary enterprise. + +Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others continued their unremitting labors to +suppress the unrighteous traffic; the kindly sect of Quakers everywhere +assisted them; and benevolent people in other sects became more and more +convinced that it was their duty to do the same. All manner of obstacles +were put in the way of the desired reformation; but at last, after +twenty-two years of violent agitation, the slave-trade was entirely +abolished by Great Britain, at the commencement of the year 1808. +Sixteen years later, it was decreed by law that any British subject +caught in the traffic should be punished as a pirate. + +The king, George the Third, was opposed to the abolition, and so were +all the royal family, except the Duke of Gloucester. The nobility and +wealthy people, with a few honorable exceptions, took the same side. The +measure was carried by the good sense and good feeling of the common +people of Great Britain. + +There were no slaves in Great Britain. It had been decided by law that +any slave who landed in that country became free the moment he touched +the shore. But many of the West India islands, lying between North and +South America, were under the British government, and the laborers there +were held in Slavery. The English people knew very little what was going +on in those distant colonies. When West India planters visited their +relatives and friends in Great Britain, they made out a very fair story +for themselves. They said none but negroes could work in such a hot +climate, that sugar must be made, and negroes would not work unless they +were slaves. They represented themselves as very kind masters, and +described their bondmen as a very contented and merry class of laborers. +These planters were generally dashing men, who spent freely the money +they did not earn; and their fine manners and smooth talk gave the +impression that they must be _gentle_ men. + +People were slow to believe the accounts of cruelties practised in the +West Indies by these polished gentlemen. But more and more facts were +brought to light to prove that there was little to choose between the +slave-trade and the system of Slavery. When the honest masses of the +British people became convinced that the slaves in the West Indies were +entirely subject to the will of their masters, however licentious that +will might be, and that they were kept in such brutal ignorance they +could not read the Bible, they said at once that such a system ought to +be abolished. They sent missionaries to the West Indies to teach the +negroes. The planters considered this an impertinent interference with +their affairs. They said if slaves were instructed they would rise in +rebellion against their masters. The English people replied that it must +be a very bad system which made it dangerous for human beings to read +the Bible. The more closely they inquired into the subject, the more +their indignation was roused. Brown faces and yellow faces among the +slaves told a shameful story of licentious masters, while the chains and +whips and other instruments of torture found on every plantation proved +that severe treatment was universal. Again the honest masses of the +English people rose up in their moral majesty and said that wrong +should be righted. The government was unfavorable to the abolition of +Slavery, and the aristocracy, with a few honorable exceptions, +sympathized with the slaveholders. The West-Indian planters were boiling +over with rage. They pulled down the chapels where the negroes met +together to hear the words of Jesus; they mobbed the missionaries, they +thrust them into dungeons, and two or three of them were killed. Some of +the planters thought Slavery was a bad system, but they had to be very +cautious in expressing such an opinion; for if they were even suspected +of favoring abolition, their neighbors were sure to make them suffer for +it in some way. Even women seemed to be filled with the spirit of +Furies, whenever the subject of Slavery was mentioned. One of them said, +if she could get hold of Mr. Wilberforce she would tear his heart out. +Everywhere one heard mournful predictions of the ruin and desolation +that would follow emancipation. They insisted that negroes would not +work unless they were slaves, and of course no crops could be raised; +and what was still more to be dreaded, they would murder all the whites +and set fire to the towns. Sometimes they would present the subject from +a benevolent point of view, and urge that it would be the greatest +unkindness to the negroes to give them freedom; for when they had no +kind masters to take care of them they would certainly starve. + +The slaves of course found out that something in their favor was going +on in England. They watched eagerly for the arrival of vessels; they +took notice of everything that was said; if they could get hold of a +scrap of newspaper they hid it away, and those who could read would read +it privately to the others. If their masters were unusually cross, or +swore more than common, they would wink at each other and say, "There's +good news for us from England." + +The masters, on their part, watched the slaves closely. If they were +more silent than common, or if they appeared to be in better spirits +than common, they suspected them of plotting insurrections. But the +negroes did more wisely than that. They believed that good people in +England were working for them, and they tried to be patient till they +were emancipated by law. There was but one exception to this. The +planters in Jamaica were more bitter and furious than in the other +islands. They formed societies to uphold Slavery, and made flaming +speeches against the people and Parliament of Great Britain for "setting +the slaves loose upon them," as they called it. They did not reflect +that their colored servants, as they passed in and out, heard this +violent language and had sense enough to draw conclusions from it. But +they did draw from it a conclusion very dangerous to their masters. They +had heard talk of emancipation for several years, and it seemed to them +that the promised freedom was a long time coming. In 1832, the speeches +of the planters were so furious against the doings in Parliament, that +the slaves received the idea that the British government had already +passed laws for their freedom, and that their masters were cheating them +out of the legal rights that had been granted them. It was a sad mistake +for the poor fellows, and brought a great deal of suffering upon +themselves and others. They rose in insurrection, and it is said +destroyed property to the amount of six millions of dollars. But instead +of being protected by the British government, as they had expected, +soldiers were sent over to put down the insurrection, and many of the +negroes were shot and hung. + +Meanwhile their friends in England were working for them zealously. They +published pamphlets and papers and made speeches, and urgently +petitioned Parliament to "let the people go." One petition alone was +signed by eight hundred thousand women. One of the members, pointing to +the enormous roll, said: "There is no use in trying longer to resist the +will of the people. When all the women in Great Britain are knocking at +the doors of Parliament, something must be done." + +The government and the aristocracy were very reluctant to comply with +the demand of the people. But at last, after eleven years of more +violent struggle than it had taken to suppress the African slave-trade, +Slavery itself was abolished in the British West Indies forever. The +decree was to go into effect on the 1st day of August, 1834. Up to the +very last day, the planters persisted in saying that the measure would +ruin the islands. They said the emancipated slaves would do no work, but +would go round in large gangs, robbing, stealing, murdering the whites, +burning the houses, and destroying the fields of sugar-cane. If the +negroes had been revengeful, they might have done a great deal of +mischief; for there were five times as many colored people in the +islands as there were whites. But they were so thankful to get their +freedom at last, that there was no room in their hearts for bad +feelings. The tears were in their eyes as they told each other the good +news, and said, "Bress de Lord and de good English people." + +But many of the masters really believed their own alarming prophesies. +When they found that emancipation could not be prevented, numbers left +the islands. Some of those who remained did not dare to undress and go +to bed on the night of the 31st of July; and those who tried to sleep +were generally restless and easily startled. + +But while masters and mistresses were dreading to hear screams and +alarms of fire, their emancipated slaves were flocking to the churches +to offer up prayers and hymns of thanksgiving. + +In the island of Antigua there were thirty thousand slaves when the +midnight clock began to strive twelve, on the 31st of July, 1834; and +when it had done striking they were all free men and free women. It was +a glorious moment, never to be forgotten by them during the remainder of +their lives. The Wesleyan Methodists kept watch-night in all their +chapels. One of the missionaries who exhorted the emancipated people and +prayed with them thus described the solemn scene:-- + +"The spacious house was filled with the candidates for liberty. All was +animation and eagerness. A mighty chorus of voices swelled the song of +expectation and joy; and as they united in prayer, the voice of the +leader was drowned in the universal acclamations of thanksgiving and +praise and blessing and honor and glory to God, who had come down for +their deliverance. In such exercises the evening was spent, until the +hour of twelve approached. The missionary then proposed that when the +cathedral clock should begin to strike, the whole congregation should +fall on their knees, and receive the boon of freedom in silence. +Accordingly, as the loud bell tolled its first note, the crowded +assembly prostrated themselves. All was silence, save the quivering, +half-stifled breath of the struggling spirit. Slowly the tones of the +clock fell upon the waiting multitude. Peal on peal, peal on peal, +rolled over the prostrate throng, like angels' voices, thrilling their +weary heartstrings. Scarcely had the _last_ tone sounded, when +lightning flashed vividly, and a loud peal of thunder rolled through the +sky. It was God's pillar of fire. His trump of jubilee. It was followed +by a moment of profound silence. Then came the outburst. They shouted +'Glory! Hallelujah!' They clapped their hands, they leaped up, they fell +down, they clasped each other in their free arms, they cried, they +laughed, they went to and fro, throwing upward their unfettered hands. +High above all, a mighty sound ever and anon swelled up. It was the +utterance of gratitude to God. + +"After this gush of excitement had spent itself, the congregation became +calm, and religious exercises were resumed. The remainder of the night +was spent in singing and prayer, in reading the Bible, and in addresses +from the missionaries, explaining the nature of the freedom just +received, and exhorting the people to be industrious, steady, and +obedient to the laws, and to show themselves in all things worthy of the +high boon God had conferred upon them. + +"The 1st of August came on Friday; and a release from all work was +proclaimed until the next Monday. The great mass of the negroes spent +the day chiefly in the churches and chapels. The clergy and missionaries +throughout the island actively seized the opportunity to enlighten the +people on all the duties and responsibilities of their new relation. The +day was like a Sabbath. A Sabbath, indeed, when 'the wicked ceased from +troubling and the weary were at rest.' + +"The most kindly of the planters went to the chapels where their own +people were assembled, and shook hands with them, and exchanged hearty +good wishes. + +"At Grace Hill, a Moravian missionary station, the emancipated negroes +begged to have a sunrise meeting on the 1st of August, as they had been +accustomed to have at Easter; and as it was the Easter morning of their +freedom, the request was granted. The people all dressed in white, and +walked arm in arm to the chapel. There a hymn of thanksgiving was sung +by the whole congregation kneeling. The singing was frequently +interrupted by the tears and sobs of the melted people, until finally +they were overwhelmed by a tumult of emotion. + +"There was not a single dance by night or day; not even so much as a +fiddle played. There were no drunken carousals, no riotous assemblies. +The emancipated were as far from dissipation and debauchery as they were +from violence and carnage. Gratitude was the absorbing emotion. From the +hill-tops and the valleys the cry of a disenthralled people went upward, +like the sound of many waters: 'Glory to God! Glory to God!'" + +Mr. Bleby, one of the Methodist missionaries in Jamaica, thus describes +the same night in that island:-- + +"The church where the emancipated people assembled, at ten o'clock at +night, was very large; but the aisles, the gallery stairs, the +communion-place, the pulpit stairs, were all crowded; and there were +thousands of people round the building, at every open door and window, +looking in. We thought it right and proper that our Christian people +should receive their freedom as a boon from God, in the house of prayer; +and we gathered them together in the church for a midnight service. Our +mouths had been closed about Slavery up to that time. We could not quote +a passage that had reference even to _spiritual_ emancipation, without +endangering our lives. The planters had a law of 'constructive treason,' +that doomed any man to death who made use of language tending to excite +a desire for liberty among the slaves; and they found treason in the +Bible and sedition in the hymns of Watts and Wesley, and we had to be +very careful how we used them. You may imagine with what feelings I saw +myself emancipated from this thraldom, and free to proclaim 'liberty to +the captive, and the opening of prison doors to them that were bound.' I +took for my text, 'Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all +the inhabitants thereof. It shall be a jubilee unto you.' + +"A few minutes before midnight, I requested all the people to kneel down +in silent prayer to God, as befitting the solemnity of the hour. I +looked down upon them as they knelt. The silence was broken only by sobs +of emotion, which it was impossible to repress. The clock began to +strike. It was the knell of Slavery in all the British possessions! It +proclaimed liberty to eight hundred thousand human beings! When I told +them they might rise, what an outburst of joy there was among that mass +of people! The clock had ceased to strike, and they were slaves no +longer! Mothers were hugging their babes to their bosoms, old +white-headed men embracing their children and husbands clasping their +wives in their arms. By and by all was still again, and I gave out a +hymn. You may imagine the feelings with which these people, just +emerging into freedom, shouted + + 'Send the glad tidings o'er the sea! + His chains are broke, the slave is free!'" + +But though the dreaded 1st of August passed away so peacefully and +pleasantly, the planters could not get rid of the idea that their +laborers would not work after they were free. Mr. Daniell, who managed +several estates in Antigua, talking of the subject, two years +afterward, with an American gentleman from Kentucky, said: "I expected +some irregularities would follow such a prodigious change in the +condition of the negroes. I supposed there would be some relaxation from +labor during the week that followed emancipation; but on Monday morning, +I found all my hands in the field, not one missing. The same day I +received a message from another estate, of which I was proprietor, that +the negroes, to a man, had refused to go into the field. I immediately +rode to the estate, and found the laborers, with hoes in their hands, +doing nothing. Accosting them in a friendly manner, I inquired, 'What is +the meaning of this? How is it that you are not at work this morning?' +They immediately replied, 'It's not because we don't want to work, +massa; but we wanted to see you, first and foremost, to know what the +_bargain_ would be.' As soon as that matter was settled, the whole body +of negroes turned out cheerfully." Another manager declared that the +largest gang he had ever seen in the field, on his property, turned out +the week after emancipation. And such in fact was the universal +testimony of the managers throughout Antigua. + +In the days of Slavery, it had always been customary to order out the +militia during the Christmas holidays, when the negroes were in the +habit of congregating in large numbers, to enjoy the festivities of the +season. But the December after emancipation, the Governor issued a +proclamation, that, "_in consequence of the abolition of Slavery_," +there was no further need of taking that precaution. And it is a fact +that there have been no soldiers out at Christmas from that day to this. + +Unfortunately the British government had been so far influenced by the +representations of the planters, that the plan of emancipation they +adopted was a gradual one. All children under six years old were +unconditionally free, the magistrates alone had power to punish, and no +human being could be sold. But the slaves, under the new name of +apprentices, were obliged to work for their masters six years longer +without wages, except one day and a half in the week, which the law +decreed should be their own. The number of hours they were to work each +day was also stipulated by law. This was certainly a great improvement +in their condition; but it was not all they had expected. They were +peaceable, and worked more cheerfully than they had done while they were +slaves; for now a definite date was fixed when they should own all their +time, and they knew that every week brought them nearer to it. Still +they felt that entire justice had not been done to them. Sometimes white +men asked them if they would work when they were entirely free. They +answered, "In Slavery time we work; now we work better; den how you tink +we work when we _free_, when we get _paid_ for work!" Sometimes people +said to them, "I suppose you expect to do just as you please when you +are your own masters?" They replied: "We 'spect to 'bey de law. In oder +countries where dey is all free dey hab de law. We couldn't get along +widout de law. In Slavery time, massa would sometimes slash we when we +do as well as we could; but de law don't do harm to anybody dat behaves +himself. 'Prenticeship is bad enough; but we know de law make it so, and +for peace' sake we will be satisfy. But we murmur in we minds." + +In the island of Antigua, planters rejected the plan of apprenticeship. +They said, "If the negroes _must_ be free, let them be free at once, +without any more fuss and trouble." The result proved that they judged +wisely for their own interest, as well as for the comfort and +encouragement of their laborers. When the negroes found that they were +paid for every day's work, they put their whole hearts into it. So +zealous were they to earn wages, that they sometimes worked by +moonlight, or by the light of fires kindled among the dry cane-stalks. +In all respects, the change from the old order of things to the new went +on more smoothly in Antigua than it did anywhere else. + +In the islands where apprenticeship was tried, the irritability of the +masters made it work worse than it would otherwise have done. All that +most of them seemed to care for was to get as much work out of their +servants as they could, during the six years that they were to work +without wages, and it vexed them that they could not use the lash +whenever they pleased. They took away various little privileges which +they had been accustomed to grant; while during four days and a half of +the week the apprentices received no wages to compensate them for the +loss of those privileges. Being deprived of the power to sell the +children, they refused to supply them with any food. In fact, they +contrived every way to make the colored people think they had better +have remained slaves. But if they called out, "Work faster, you black +rascal, or I'll flog you!" the apprentices would sometimes lose +patience, and answer, "You can't flog we now." That would make the +master very angry, and he would send the apprentice to a magistrate to +be punished for impudence. The magistrates were the associates of the +planters; they ate their good dinners, and rode about in their +carriages. Consequently, they were more inclined to believe them than +they were to believe their servants. The laborers became so well aware +of this, that they were accustomed to say to each other, "It's of no use +for us to apply to the magistrates. They are so poisoned by massa's +turtle-soup." It has been computed by missionaries that, in the course +of two years, sixty thousand apprentices received, among them all, two +hundred and fifty thousand lashes, besides fifty thousand other +legalized punishments, such as the tread-mill and the chain-gang. + +The planters were full of complaints to travellers who visited the West +Indies. If they were asked, "Why don't you emancipate your laborers +entirely, and give them wages, as they do in Antigua,--they have no such +troubles there?" the prejudiced men would shake their heads and answer: +"Negroes will not work without being flogged. We must get what we can +out of them before 1840; for when they are their own masters they will +rob, murder, or starve, rather than labor." + +Planters who manifested a more kind and considerate disposition had +pleasanter relations with their servants, and they never found any +difficulty in procuring as much labor as they wanted. Some made it easy +for their apprentices to buy the remainder of their time; and it was +soon observed that those who owned all their time worked faster and +better than those who were without that stimulus. The idea gained ground +that unconditional emancipation would be better both for masters and +servants. The Marquis of Sligo, the humane Governor of Jamaica, set a +good example by emancipating all his apprentices. People in England +began to petition Parliament to abolish the apprenticeship, on the +ground that it proved unsatisfactory and troublesome to all parties. The +result was that all the apprentices in the British West Indies were +made entirely free on the 1st of August, 1838. Mr. Phillippo, a Baptist +missionary in Jamaica, thus describes the observance of the day in that +island: "On the preceding evening, the missionary stations throughout +the island were crowded with people, filling all the places of worship. +They remained at their devotions till the day of liberty dawned, when +they saluted it with joyous acclamations. Then they dispersed through +the towns and villages, singing 'God save the queen,' and rending the +air with their shouts,--'Freedom's come!' 'We're free! we're free!' 'Our +wives and children are free!' During the day, the places of worship were +crowded to suffocation. The scenes presented exceeded all description. +Joyous excitement pervaded the whole island. At Spanish Town, the +Governor, Sir Lionel Smith, addressed the emancipated people, who formed +a procession of seven thousand, and escorted the children of the +schools, about two thousand in number, to the Government House. They +bore banners and flags with various inscriptions, of which the following +are samples: 'Education, Religion, and Social Order'; 'August First, +1838,--the Day of our Freedom'; 'Truth and Justice have at last +prevailed.' The children sang before the Government House, and his +Excellency made a speech characterized by simplicity and kindness, which +was received with enthusiastic cheers. The procession then escorted +their pastor to his house. In front of the Baptist Chapel were three +triumphal arches, decorated with leaves and flowers, and surmounted by +flags bearing the inscriptions, 'Freedom has come!' 'Slavery is no +more!' 'The chains are broken, Africa is free!' There were many flags +bearing the names of their English benefactors,--Clarkson, Wilberforce, +Sligo, Thompson, etc. When these were unfurled, the enthusiasm of the +multitude rose to the highest pitch. For nearly an hour the air rang +with exulting shouts, in which the shrill voices of two thousand +children joined, singing, 'We're free! we're free!' Several of the +kindly disposed planters gave rural _fetes_ to the laborers. Long tables +were spread in the lawns, arches of evergreens were festooned with +flowers, and on the trees floated banners bearing the names of those who +had been most conspicuous in bringing about this blessed result. Songs +were sung, speeches made, prayers offered, and a plentiful repast eaten." +Mr. Phillippo says: "The conduct of the newly emancipated peasantry +would have done credit to Christians of the most civilized country in +the world. They were clean in their persons, and neat in their attire. +Their behavior was modest, unassuming, and decorous in a high degree. +There was no crowding, no vulgar familiarity, but all were courteous and +obliging to each other, as members of one harmonious family. There was +no dancing, gambling, or carousing. All seemed to have a sense of the +obligations they owed to their masters, to each other, and to the civil +authorities. The masters who were present at these _fetes_ congratulated +their former dependents on the boon they had received, and hopes were +mutually expressed that all past differences and wrongs might be +forgiven." + +On some of the estates where these festivals were held the laborers, +with few individual exceptions, went to work as usual on the following +day. _Many of them gave their first week of free labor as an offering of +good-will to their masters._ Thus the period from which many of the +planters had apprehended the worst consequences passed away in peace and +harmony. + +It is now twenty-seven years since the laborers in the British West +Indies have been made entirely free; and the missionaries, the +magistrates, and even the masters agree that the laborers are much more +faithful and industrious under the new system than they were under the +iron rule of Slavery. It is true, some of the old planters growled as +long as they lived. They had always predicted that freedom would bring +ruin on all classes, and it vexed them to see the negroes behaving so +well. They, however, made the most of the fact that there was less sugar +made than in former years. It was their own fault. The emancipated +slaves wanted to stay and work on the plantations where they had always +lived. But the masters could not give up their old habits of meanness +and tyranny. Their laborers could scarcely support life with the very +small wages they received; and yet they took from them the little +patches of provision-ground which they had formerly had, and charged +them enormously high rent for their miserable little huts. It seemed as +if they wanted to drive them to robbery, that they might say, "We told +you it would be so, if you set them free." + +But the freedmen disappointed them. Under all discouragements, they +persisted in behaving well. When they found that they could not get a +living on the old plantations where they wanted to stay, they went to +work on railroads, and wherever they could find employment. They laid up +as much as they could of their wages, and bought bits of land, on which +they built comfortable cabins for themselves, and laid out little +gardens. Their wives and children raised poultry and tended a cow, and +carried vegetables and butter and eggs to market, in baskets poised on +their heads. With the money thus earned they bought more land and added +to their little stock of furniture. Though the men received only from +eighteen to twenty-four cents a day, out of which they boarded +themselves, they were so industrious and saving that in four years the +freedmen in Jamaica alone had bought and paid for one hundred thousand +acres of land, and put up dwellings thereon. Mr. Phillippo states, that +during that time as many as two hundred new villages of freedmen were +formed. These villages generally received the names of benefactors, such +as Clarkson, Wilberforce, Thompson, &c. To their own little homes they +also gave names indicative of their gratitude and contentment. They +called them "Save Rent," "A Little of My Own," "Heart's Love," "Liberty +and Content," "Happy Retreat," "Jane's Delight," "Thank God to see It," +&c. + +Mr. Phillippo says:-- + +"These free villages are regularly laid out. The houses are small, many +of them built of stone or wood, with shingled roofs, green blinds, and +verandahs, to shield them from the sun. Most of them are neatly +thatched, and generally plastered and whitewashed both outside and in. +They now have looking-glasses, chairs, and side-boards decorated with +pretty articles of glass and crockery. Each dwelling has its little plot +of vegetables, generally neatly kept; and many of them have +flower-gardens in front, glowing with all the bright hues of the +tropics. The groups often presented are worthy of the painter's pencil +or the poet's song. Amid the stillness of a Sabbath evening, many +families, after their return from the house of God, may be seen gathered +together in the shadow of the trees, which overhang their cottages, +singing hymns, or listening to the reading of the Scriptures, with none +to molest or make them afraid." + +Mr. Charles Tappan of Boston, who visited Jamaica several years after +emancipation, writes:-- + +"On landing at Kingston, I must confess I was half inclined to believe +the story so industriously circulated, that the emancipated slave is +more idle and vicious than any other of God's intelligent creatures; but +when I rode through the valleys and over the mountains, and found +everywhere an industrious, sober people, I concluded all the vagabonds +of the island had moved to the sea-shore, to pick up a precarious living +by carrying baggage, begging, &c.; and such, upon inquiry, I found to be +the fact. Wherever I went in the rural districts, I found contented men +and women, cultivating sugar-cane, and numerous vegetables and fruits, +on their own account. Their neat, well-furnished cottages compared well +with the dwellings of pioneers in our own country. I found in them +mahogany furniture, crockery and glass ware, and shelves of useful +books. I saw Africans, of unmixed blood, grinding their own sugar-cane +in their own mills, and making their own sugar. + +"I attended a large meeting called to decide the question about inviting +a schoolmaster to settle among them. There was only one man who doubted +the expediency of taking the children from work and sending them to +school. One said, 'My little learning enabled me to see that a note, +given to me in payment for a horse was not written according to +contract.' Another said, 'I should have been wronged out of forty pounds +of coffee I sold in Kingston the other day, if I hadn't known how to +cipher.' Another said, 'I shall not have much property to leave my +children; but if they have learning they can get property.' Another +said, 'Those that can read will be more likely to get religion.' All +these people had been slaves, or were the children of slaves. I saw no +intoxicated person in Jamaica; and when it is considered that every man +there can make rum, it strikes me as very remarkable." + +One of the most striking characteristics of this colored peasantry is +their desire to obtain education for themselves and their children. +After a hard day's work, women would often walk miles, with babies in +their arms, to learn the alphabet. With the first money they can spare +they build school-houses and chapels and hire teachers. They also form +charitable societies and contribute money to help the aged and sick +among them. In the days of Slavery they herded together like animals; +but now it is considered disreputable and wrong to live together without +being married. In the days of Slavery they wore ragged and filthy +garments, but freedom has made them desirous of making a neat +appearance. Their working-clothes are generally well mended and clean, +and they keep a pretty suit to attend meeting and other festival +occasions. They are very careful of their best clothes. When they go to +dances, or social gatherings, they carry them in a basket, nicely folded +and covered up, and put them on when they arrive; and when they are +about to return home they again pack them up carefully. When they have +far to walk to meeting, over rough and dusty roads, they carry their +shoes and stockings till they come in sight of the church. + +This is not at all like what the old planters prophesied, when they said +that if the negroes were freed they would skulk in the woods and steal +yams to keep them from starving. But all that silly talk has passed +away. Everybody in the British West Indies acknowledges that +emancipation has proved a blessing both to the white and the black +population. There is not a planter to be found there who would restore +Slavery again, if his own wish could do it. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[7] The northern part of Great Britain is called Scotland, the southern +part England. The entire people are called British. + + + + +THE LAST NIGHT OF SLAVERY. + +BY JAMES MONTGOMERY. + + + Let the floods clap their hands! + Let the mountains rejoice! + Let all the glad lands + Breathe a jubilant voice! + The sun, that now sets on the waves of the sea, + Shall gild with his rising the land of the free! + + Let the islands be glad! + For their King in his might, + Who his glory hath clad + With a garment of light, + In the waters the beams of his chambers hath laid, + And in the green waters his pathway hath made. + + Dispel the blue haze, + Golden Fountain of Morn! + With meridian blaze + The wide ocean adorn! + The sunlight has touched the glad waves of the sea, + And day now illumines the land of the FREE! + + + + +MADISON WASHINGTON. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +This man was a slave, born in Virginia. His lot was more tolerable than +that of many who are doomed to bondage; but from his early youth he +always longed to be free. Nature had in fact made him too intelligent +and energetic to be contented in Slavery. Perhaps he would have +attempted to escape sooner than he did, had he not become in love with a +beautiful octoroon slave named Susan. She was the daughter of her +master, and the blood of the white race predominated in several of her +ancestors. Her eyes were blue, and her glossy dark hair fell in soft, +silky ringlets. Her lover was an unmixed black, and he also was +handsome. His features were well formed, and his large dark eyes were +very bright and expressive. He had a manly air, his motions were easy +and dignified, and altogether he looked like a being that would never +consent to wear a chain. + +If he had hated Slavery before, he naturally hated it worse after he had +married Susan; for a handsome woman, who is a slave, is constantly +liable to insult and wrong, from which an enslaved husband has no power +to protect her. They laid plans to escape; but unfortunately their +intention was discovered before they could carry it into effect. To +avoid being sold to the far South, where he could have no hopes of ever +rejoining his beloved Susan, he ran to the woods, where he remained +concealed several months, suffering much from privation and anxiety. His +wife knew where he was, and succeeded in conveying some messages to him, +without being detected. She persuaded him not to wait for a chance to +take her with him, but to go to Canada and earn money enough to buy her +freedom, and then she would go to him. + +He travelled only in the night, and by careful management, after a good +deal of hardship, he reached the Northern States, and passed into +Canada. There he let himself out to work on the farm of a man named +Dickson. He was so strong, industrious, intelligent, and well behaved, +that the farmer hoped to keep him a long time in his employ. He never +mentioned that he was born a slave; for the idea was always hateful to +him, and he thought also that circumstances might arise which would +render it prudent to keep his own secret. He showed little inclination +for conversation, and occupied every leisure moment in learning to read +and write. He remained there half a year, without any tidings from his +wife; for there are many difficulties in the way of slaves communicating +with each other at a distance. He became sad and restless. His employer +noticed it, and tried to cheer him up. One day he said to him: "Madison, +you seem to be discontented. What have you to complain of? Do you think +you are not treated well here? Or are you dissatisfied with the wages I +give you?" + +"I have no complaint to make of my treatment, sir," replied Madison. +"You have been just and kind to me; and since you manifest so much +interest in me, I will tell you what it is that makes me so gloomy." + +He then related his story, and told how his heart was homesick for his +dear Susan. He said she was so handsome that they would ask a high price +for her, and he had been calculating that it would take him years to +earn enough to buy her; meanwhile, he knew not what might happen to her. +There was no law to protect a slave, and he feared all sorts of things; +especially, he was afraid they might sell her to the far South, where he +could never trace her. So he said he had made up his mind to go back to +Virginia and try to bring her away. Mr. Dickson urged him not to attempt +it. He reminded him of the dangers he would incur: that he would run a +great risk of getting back into Slavery, and that perhaps he himself +would be sold to the far South, where he never would be able to +communicate with his wife. But Madison replied, "I am well aware of +that, sir; but freedom does me no good unless Susan can share it with +me." + +He accordingly left his safe place of refuge, and started for Virginia. +He had free-papers made out, which he thought would protect him till he +arrived in the neighborhood where he was known. He also purchased +several small files and saws, which he concealed in the lining of his +clothes. With these tools he thought he could effect his escape from +prison, if he should be taken up on the suspicion of being a runaway +slave. Passing through the State of Ohio, he met several who had +previously seen him on his way to Canada. They all tried to persuade him +not to go back to Virginia; telling him there were nine chances out of +ten that he would get caught and carried back into Slavery again. But +his answer always was, "Freedom does me no good while my wife is a +slave." + +When he came to the region where he was known, he hid in woods and +swamps during the day, and travelled only in the night. At last he came +in sight of his master's farm, and hid himself in the woods near by. +There he remained several days, in a dreadful state of suspense and +anxiety. He could not contrive any means to obtain information +concerning his wife. He was afraid they might have sold her, for fear +she would follow him. He prowled about in the night, in hopes of seeing +some old acquaintance, who would tell him whether she was still at the +old place; but he saw no one whom he could venture to trust. At last +fortune favored him. One evening he heard many voices singing, and he +knew by their songs that they were slaves. As they passed up the road, +he came out from the woods and joined them. There were so many of them +that the addition of one more was not noticed. He found that they were +slaves from several plantations, who had permits from their masters to +go to a corn-shucking. They were merry, for they were expecting to have +a lively time and a comfortable supper. Being a moonless evening, they +could not see Madison's face, and he was careful not to let them +discover who he was. He went with them to the corn-shucking; and, +keeping himself in the shadow all the time, he contrived, in the course +of conversation, to find out all he wanted to know. Susan was not sold, +and she was living in the same house where he had left her. He was +hungry, for he had been several days without food, except such as he +could pick up in the woods; but he did not dare to show his face at the +supper, where dozens would be sure to recognize him. So he skulked away +into the woods again, happy in the consciousness that his Susan was not +far off. + +He resolved to attempt to see her the next night. He was afraid to tap +at her window after all the people in the Great House were abed and +asleep; for, as she supposed he was in Canada, he thought she might be +frightened and call somebody. He therefore ventured to approach her room +in the evening. Unfortunately, the overseer saw him, and called a number +of whites, who rushed into the room just as he entered it. He fought +hard, and knocked down three of them in his efforts to escape. But they +struck at him with their bowie-knives till he was so faint with loss of +blood that he could resist no longer. They chained him and carried him +to Richmond, where he was placed in the jail. His prospects were now +dreary enough. His long-cherished hope of being reunited to his dear +wife vanished away in the darkness of despair. + +There was a slave-trader in Richmond buying a gang of slaves for the +market of New Orleans. Madison Washington was sold to him, and carried +on board the brig Creole, owned by Johnson and Eperson, of Richmond, and +commanded by Captain Enson. The brig was lying at the dock waiting for +her cargo, which consisted of tobacco, hemp, flax, and slaves. There +were two separate cabins for the slaves: one for the men and the other +for the women. Some of the poor creatures belonged to Johnson and +Eperson, some to Thomas McCargo, and some to Henry Hewell. Each had a +little private history of separation and sorrow. There was many a +bleeding heart there, beside the noble heart that was throbbing in the +bosom of Madison Washington. His purchasers saw that he was intelligent, +and they knew that he was sold for having escaped to Canada. He was +therefore chained to the floor of the cabin and closely watched. He +seemed quiet and even cheerful, and they concluded that he was +reconciled to his fate. On the contrary, he was never further from such +a state of mind. He closely observed the slaves who were in the cabin +with him. His discriminating eye soon selected those whom he could +trust. To them he whispered that there were more than a hundred slaves +on board, and few whites. He had his saws and files still hidden in the +lining of his clothes. These were busily used to open their chains, +while the captain and crew were asleep. They still continued to wear +their chains, and no one suspected that they could slip their hands and +feet out at their pleasure. + +When the Creole had been nine days out they encountered rough weather. +Most of the slaves were sea-sick, and therefore were not watched so +closely as usual. On the night of November 7, 1841, the wind was blowing +hard. The captain and mate were on deck, and nearly all the crew. Mr. +Henry Hewell, one of the owners of the cargo of slaves, who had formerly +been a slave-driver on a plantation, was seated on the companion, +smoking a cigar. The first watch had just been summoned, when Madison +Washington sprang on deck, followed by eighteen other slaves. They +seized whatever they could find to use as weapons. Hewell drew a pistol +from under his coat, fired at one of the slaves and killed him. Madison +Washington struck at him with a capstan-bar, and he fell dead at his +feet. The first and second mates both attacked Madison at once. His +strong arms threw them upon the deck wounded, but not killed. He fought +for freedom, not for revenge; and as soon as they had disarmed the +whites and secured them safely, he called out to his accomplices not to +shed blood. With his own hands he dressed the wounds of the crew, and +told them they had nothing to fear if they would obey his orders. The +man who had been a chained slave half an hour before was now master of +the vessel, and his grateful companions called him Captain Washington. +Being ignorant of navigation, he told Merritt, the first mate, that he +should have the freedom of the deck, if he would take an oath to carry +the brig faithfully into the nearest port of the British West Indies; +and he was afraid to do otherwise. + +The next morning Captain Washington ordered the cook to prepare the best +breakfast the store-room could furnish, for it was his intention to give +all the freed slaves a good meal. The women, who had been greatly +frightened by the tumult the night before, were glad enough to come out +of their close cabin into the fresh air. And who do you think was among +them? Susan, the beautiful young wife of Madison, was there! She had +been accused of communicating with her husband in Canada, and being +therefore considered a dangerous person, she had been sold to the +slave-trader to be carried to the market of New Orleans. Neither of them +knew that the other was on board. With a cry of surprise and joy they +rushed into each other's arms. The freed slaves threw up their caps and +hurrahed again and again, till the sea-gulls wondered at the noise. O, +it was a joyful, joyful time! Captain Washington was repaid for all he +had suffered. He had gained his own liberty, after having struggled for +it in vain for years; he had freed a hundred and thirty-four of his +oppressed brethren and sisters; and he had his beloved Susan in his +arms, carrying her to a land where the laws would protect their domestic +happiness. He felt richer at that moment than any king with a golden +crown upon his head. + +There had been but two lives lost. One white man was killed in the +affray, and he was the slave-driver who shot down one of the slaves. +Captain Enson and others who were wounded were kindly cared for by +Captain Washington. They proved ungrateful, and tried to regain +possession of the vessel and the slaves. The blacks were so exasperated +by this attempt, that they wanted to kill all the whites on board. But +Captain Washington called out to them: "We have got our liberty, and +that is all we have been fighting for. Let no more blood be shed! I have +promised to protect these men. They have shown that they are not worthy +of it; but let us be magnanimous." + +Next morning the Creole arrived at Nassau, in the island of New +Providence. Captain Washington and his companions sprang out upon free +soil. There he and his beloved Susan are living under the protection of +laws which make no distinctions on account of complexion. + + + + +EXTRACT FROM THE VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS. + + +"The election of members to serve as representatives of the people in +Assembly ought to be free; and all men having sufficient evidence of +permanent common interest with, and attachment to, the community have +the right of suffrage; and they cannot be taxed, or deprived of their +property for public uses, without their own consent, or that of their +representatives so elected; nor can they be bound by any law to which +they have not assented, in like manner, for the public good." + +The Virginia Bill of Rights was unanimously adopted by the people, in +June, 1776; and when they met, in January, 1830, to amend the +constitution of the State, they voted that the Bill of Rights needed no +amendment. + + + + +PRAISE OF CREATION. + +BY GEORGE HORTON. + + + Creation fires my tongue! + Nature, thy anthems raise, + And spread the universal song + Of thy Creator's praise. + + When each revolving wheel + Assumed its sphere sublime, + Submissive Earth then heard the peal, + And struck the march of time. + + The march in heaven begun, + And splendor filled the skies, + When Wisdom bade the morning sun + With joy from chaos rise. + + The angels heard the tune + Throughout creation ring; + They seized their golden harps as soon, + And touched on every string. + + When time and space were young, + And music rolled along, + The morning stars together sung, + And heaven was drowned in song. + + + + +FREDERICK DOUGLASS. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +Captain Anthony owned two or three farms on the eastern shore of +Maryland, and held about thirty slaves. One of them, a black woman named +Betsy, married a free black man named Isaac Baily; and they had a +numerous family of children, all of whom were, of course, slaves to +Captain Anthony. When she became an old widow she lived in a hut +separate from the other slaves, and was principally employed in nursing +troops of babies, which her children brought into the world for the +benefit of their master. Somewhere about the year 1817, Harriet, the +youngest of her five daughters, gave birth to a boy, on whom she +bestowed the high-sounding name of Frederick Augustus Washington Baily. +As she could not be spared from field-work, baby Frederick joined the +band of little slaves that were under his grandmother's care. Her hut +was made of logs, with no windows, a clay floor, and a mud chimney. But +the children were as well satisfied with it as if it had been a palace. +They were too young to know that they were slaves, and they were as +happy as little wild animals. They imitated the noises made by cats, +dogs, pigs, and barn-yard fowls, and rolled over and over on the ground, +laughing at their own fun. If the mud or dust made them uncomfortable, +they walked into the river without undressing; for the short tow shirt, +which was their only garment, was washed by swimming, and soon dried in +the sunshine. There was a wood close by, and it was one of their +greatest pleasures to watch the squirrels as they frisked about, or sat +on the stumps eating nuts. Near the hut was a well, with its beam placed +between the boughs of an old tree, and so well balanced that the +children could easily help themselves to water. Down in a valley, not +far off, was a water-mill, where people went to get their corn ground. +It was capital sport to play at fishing in the mill-pond, with thread +lines, and hooks made of bent pins; and they were never tired of seeing +the big wheel turn round, throwing off great drops of water that +sparkled in the sunshine. They lived mostly on corn mush, which they ate +from a big wooden tray, with oyster-shells for spoons. But they were as +healthy as little pigs, and enjoyed their coarse food as well. + +The greatest of their blessings was their good grandmother, who nursed +them kindly and did all she could to make them happy. They loved her +dearly; and when she was obliged to leave them for a short time, they +greeted her return with merry shouts. She was advanced in years, and the +hair that peeped from under the folds of her turban was very gray. But +she was remarkably strong for her age, straight in her figure, and quick +in her motions. She was very expert at catching fish, and sometimes +spent half the day in the water. She also made excellent nets to catch +shad and herring; and, as these nets sold extremely well, Captain +Anthony still found the old slave profitable. She had the name of being +born to good luck, because whatever business she undertook prospered in +her hands. She raised such excellent sweet potatoes that people often +sent for her to plant for them, saying, "If Gran'ma Betty touches them +they'll be sure to flourish." But the secret of her good luck was her +intelligence and carefulness. When she dug potatoes she took pains not +to cut or bruise them; and in winter she protected them from frost in a +hole under her hearth. + +Freddy's poor mother was not allowed the comfort of being with her +child. She was let out to work in the fields, twelve miles off. Whenever +she went to see her little boy she had to walk over all those miles +twice in the night-time, after a hard day's work; for if she was not +back in the field by sunrise she was severely whipped. Freddy saw her +but four or five times, and never by daylight. Sometimes she would lie +down beside him and talk to him till he fell asleep, but when he woke +she was always gone. He always remembered that she once took him on her +knee and gave him a cake in the shape of a heart. Her rare visits made +such an impression on him that he never forgot her personal appearance. +She was tall and finely proportioned, with regular features and a deep +black glossy complexion. Her manners were very sedate, her countenance +downcast, and her eyes very sad. When he was nearly seven years old she +died; but he knew nothing about it till long afterward. In later years +he heard that she could read, and that she was the only one of all the +slaves in the neighborhood who possessed that advantage. He never +discovered how she had learned. When she died he was too young to have +heard anything from her lips concerning his father. He was always told +that he was the son of a white man, and some whispered the name of his +master. But he never knew who was his father, and could only conjecture +why the eyes of his poor mother had such a sad expression. + +Captain Anthony did not carry on any of his own farms. He employed +overseers for that purpose; and however cruelly the slaves might be +treated by the overseers, they never could obtain any protection by +applying to the "old master," as they called him. All the interest he +took in them was to have as much work as possible forced out of them, +and to sell one every year to add to his income. He himself managed the +affairs of Colonel Lloyd, a wealthy gentleman with numerous plantations +and a thousand slaves. His home-plantation, on the river Miles, where he +resided with his family, was about twelve miles from the hut where +Frederick had been nursed. His manager, Captain Anthony, lived in a +house on the same plantation, and was personally a stranger to his own +little slaves. But the children had seen and heard of things which made +the name of the "old master" a terror to them. Frederick's first great +trouble was when he discovered that he was a slave, and that, as soon as +he was big enough to work, he would have to go to "old master." Nothing +could exceed his dread of leaving the dear old home, and being separated +from the kind friend of his childhood. When he was about eight years +old, Captain Anthony sent for him; but his grandmother kept it a secret, +knowing how it would frighten him. One bright summer morning she told +him she was going to Colonel Lloyd's plantation, and invited him to go +with her. He had a curiosity to see the grand place of which he had +heard so much; so she took him by the hand and led him away from the +happy home of his childhood, to which he never returned. She carefully +concealed from him how her heart was swelling, and her tender ways did +not lead him to suspect it. When the unconscious little boy began to be +overcome with fatigue she "toted" him on her strong shoulders. She +scarcely seemed to feel the burden, and insisted upon carrying him a +long way; but he felt too much of a man to permit it. He was, however, +a little afraid as they walked through the thick, dark woods; for +sometimes the old knotted and gnarled stumps, when seen from a distance, +looked like creatures with eyes and legs; and he kept a tight hold of +her gown till the monstrous things were safely passed. + +It was afternoon before they reached the famous Home Plantation of +Colonel Lloyd. There he found everything very different from the +solitude and poverty to which he had been accustomed. The plantation +seemed like a village, there were so many large houses, and stables, and +out-buildings, and mechanics' shops, and such a long row of huts for the +"slaves' quarters." Children were shouting and singing, and a great many +men and women were hoeing in the fields. The children came crowding +round Frederick, and asked him to go and play with them. He looked in +his grandmother's face, and seeing that she seemed very sad, he begun to +suspect that he was going to live with the "old master." He was +unwilling to lose sight of her for a moment; but she patted him on the +head, and said, "Be a good boy, and go and play with the children. That +one is your brother Perry, that is your sister Sarah, and that is your +sister Eliza." He had heard of these brothers and sisters before, but he +had never seen them, and they seemed like strangers. He kept close to +his grandmother; but at last she persuaded him to follow the children to +the back part of the house. He felt so shy that he stood leaning against +the wall, looking on, while the others played. After a while, a little +boy, who had been left in the kitchen, ran up to him, exclaiming, "Fed! +Fed! Grandmammy's gone!" He rushed after her, and when he found that she +was gone far out of sight, he threw himself on the ground and sobbed. +His brother and sisters brought him peaches and pears, but he flung them +away, and continued sobbing, till, overcome with sorrow and fatigue, he +fell into a deep sleep. + +As Colonel Lloyd's plantation was not near any town, the barrels, +wheels, shoes, and cloth that were needed by the numerous slaves were +manufactured by themselves. Large crops of grain and tobacco were raised +and shipped for Baltimore. All the business of twenty or thirty other +farms was transacted at this plantation, which was distinguished by the +name of "The Great House Farm"; and as Captain Anthony was overseer of +all the overseers, he was kept very busy all the time. He took no notice +of Freddy at first, but when told who the newcomer was, he patted him on +the head and said, "You are my little Indian boy." Occasionally when he +met him he would speak affectionately to him; but he was a +violent-tempered man, and Freddy soon learned to watch him closely when +he saw him coming. If he was shaking his head or muttering to himself, +he hastened to get out of his way, lest he should catch a blow without +knowing what it was for. The slave children had no one to care for them +but cross Katy, the cook, who cuffed them about, and kept all, except +her own children, in such a half-starved condition, that Freddy often +had a tussle with the dogs and cats for the bones that were thrown to +them. Summer and winter, they had no clothing but a coarse tow shirt +that reached to the knees. They were provided with two a year; and if +they wore out before allowance-day came round, they went naked. They +slept anywhere on the floor without covering. Freddy suffered much from +cold. His naked feet were cracked open in great gashes in the winter. +When he could get a chance, he would creep into the meal-bag at night. +So much for the care taken of their bodies; and it fared no better with +their souls. All the instruction they received was from Uncle Isaac, a +crippled slave, who, being unable to work, taught the children to say +the Lord's Prayer after him by rote, and switched them whenever they +made a mistake. + +But Freddy was at an age to bear privations and troubles lightly, and to +enjoy thoughtlessly whatever pleasant things came in his way. He had +never seen anything so grand as The Great House, in which Colonel Lloyd +resided. It was a large white building, with piazza and columns in +front, surrounded by arbors, and grain-houses, and turkey-houses, and +pigeon-houses, interspersed with grand old trees. There was an extensive +lawn, kept as smooth as velvet, and ornamented with flowering shrubs. +The carriage-road to and from the house made a circle round the lawn, +and was paved with white pebbles from the beach. Outside of this +enclosed space were extensive parks, where rabbits, deer, and other wild +animals frisked about. Flocks of red-winged blackbirds made the trees +look gay, and filled the air with melody. Vessels on their way to +Baltimore were continually in sight, and a sloop belonging to Colonel +Lloyd lay in the river, with its pretty little boat bobbing about in the +sparkling water. There was a windmill not far off, and the little slaves +were never tired of watching the great wings go whirling round. There +was a creek to swim in, and crabs and clams and oysters to be got by +wading and digging and raking for them. Freddy was glad enough to catch +them when he had a chance, for he never had half enough to eat. He had +one friend at The Great House. Daniel Lloyd, the Colonel's youngest +son, liked to have him assist in his sports. He protected him when +bigger boys wanted to make war upon him, and sometimes he gave him a +cake. Captain Anthony's family consisted of a son, Andrew, and a +daughter, Lucretia, who had married Captain Thomas Auld. Mrs. Lucretia +took a fancy to bright little Freddy. She liked to hear him sing, and +often spoke a kind word to him. This emboldened him so much, that when +he was very hungry he would go and sing under the window where she sat +at work, and she would generally give him a piece of bread, sometimes +with butter on it. That was a great treat for a boy who was fed all the +time on corn mush, and could not get half enough of that. His business +was to clean the front yard, to keep fowls out of the garden, to drive +the cows home from pasture, and to run of errands. He had a good deal of +time to play with his little relatives, and with the young slaves at +Colonel Lloyd's, who called him "Captain Anthony Fed." He was such a +mere boy, that it is no wonder so many new people and things soon cured +him of homesickness for his grandmother, who could very seldom get time +to trudge twelve miles to see him. + +But though his slave-life was not without gleams of enjoyment, he saw +and heard much that was painful. At one time he would see Colonel Lloyd +compel a faithful old slave get down upon his knees to be flogged for +not keeping the hair of his horses sufficiently smooth. At another time, +the overseer would shoot a slave dead for refusing to come up to be +whipped. Ever and anon some of them were sold to Georgia slave-traders, +and there was weeping and wailing in the families they left behind. On +the premises of his own master, he was not unfrequently wakened in the +night by the screams and groans of slaves who were being lashed. One of +Captain Anthony's slaves, named Esther, was the sister of Freddy's +mother. She had a pretty face and a graceful shape. She and a handsome +young slave of Colonel Lloyd's were much attached, and wished to marry. +But her old master, for reasons of his own, forbade her to see her +lover, and if he suspected them of meeting he would abuse the poor girl +in a most shocking manner. Freddy was too young at the time to +understand the full significance of this cruel treatment; but when he +thought of it in after years, it explained to him why his poor mother +had always looked so downcast and sad. As for himself, he managed to +escape very severe punishment, though Captain Anthony not unfrequently +whipped him for some carelessness or mischief. But when he saw the +plantation-laborers, even of so rich a man as Colonel Lloyd, driven out +to toil from early morning to dusk, shivering in the cold winds, or +dripping with rain, with no covering but a few coarse tow rags, he could +not help thinking that such was likely to be his fate when he was older. +Young as he was, he had a great dread of being a field-hand. Therefore +he was rejoiced when Mrs. Lucretia told him he was to be sent to +Baltimore, to live with her husband's brother, Mr. Hugh Auld. She told +him if he would make himself very clean, she would give him a pair of +new trousers. The prospect of exchanging his little tow shirt for new +trousers delighted him so much that he was ready to scrub his skin off +to obtain them. He was, moreover, very eager to see Baltimore; for +slaves who had been there told fine stories about the grand houses and +the multitude of ships. He had been only two years at Captain Anthony's, +and he had formed no attachment so strong as that he had felt for his +old grandmother. It was with a joyful heart that he went forth to view +the wonders of the city. When he arrived in Baltimore, his new mistress +met him at the door with a pleasant smile. She said to her son, "There's +little Freddy, who has come to take care of you"; and to him she said, +"You must be kind to little Tommy." Mrs. Sophia Auld had earned her own +living before her marriage, and she had not yet acquired the ways of +slaveholders toward servants. While her own little Tommy was on her +knee, Freddy was often seated by her side, and sometimes her soft hand +would rest upon his head in a kind, motherly way. He had never been +treated so since he left his good old grandmother. In a very short time +he loved her with all his heart, and was eager to do anything to please +her. It was his business to go of errands and take care of Tommy. The +boys became as much attached to each other as if they were brothers. +There was nothing to remind Freddy of being a slave. He had plenty of +wholesome food to eat, clean clothes to wear, and a good straw bed with +warm covering. Mrs. Auld was much in the habit of singing hymns and +reading the Bible aloud; and Freddy, who was not at all afraid of "Miss +Sophy," as he called her, said to her one day that he wished she would +teach him to read. She consented; and he was so quick at learning that +he was soon able to spell small words. His kind mistress was so much +pleased with his progress, that she told her husband about it, and +remarked, with much satisfaction, that Freddy would soon be able to read +the Bible. Mr. Auld was displeased, and forbade her giving any more +lessons. "It is contrary to law to teach a nigger to read," said he. "It +is unsafe, and can only lead to mischief. If you teach him to read the +Bible, it will make him discontented, and there will be no keeping him. +Next thing, he will be wanting to learn to write; and then he'll be +running away with himself." This was said in the presence of Freddy, and +it set his active mind to thinking. He had often before wondered why +black children were born to be slaves; and now he heard his master say +that if he learned to read it would spoil him for a slave. He resolved +that he _would_ learn to read. He carried a spelling-book in his pocket +when he went of errands, and persuaded some of the white boys who played +with him to give him a lesson now and then. He was soon able to read. +With some money that he earned for himself, he bought a book called "The +Columbian Orator." It contained many speeches about liberty. The reading +of them made him discontented. He was no longer light-hearted and full +of fun. He became thoughtful and serious. When he played with white +boys, he would ask, "Why haven't I as good a right to be free, and go +where I please, as you have?" And sometimes a generous-hearted boy would +answer, "I believe, Fred, you _have_ just as good a right to be free as +I have." + +He knew that his present situation was uncommonly favorable; but the +idea of being a slave for life became more and more hateful to him. He +had not been in Baltimore quite four years when an event occurred which +proved to him the extreme uncertainty of a slave's condition, even when +circumstances seemed the most favorable. His old master, Captain +Anthony, died; and his slaves were to be divided between his son Andrew +and his daughter Mrs. Lucretia Auld. Frederick was in terror lest it +should be decided that he belonged to Andrew, who was a confirmed +drunkard, and excessively cruel to the slaves. It was a month before the +division of the estate was decided by law; and the anxiety of his mind +was so great that it seemed to him half a year. He felt as if saved from +sentence of death, when he was informed that he belonged to Mrs. +Lucretia, who had been kind to him in his hungry boyhood. As she had no +occasion for his services, it was agreed that he should remain in Mr. +Hugh Auld's family; a circumstance which pleased Master Tom and his +mother about as much as it did Freddy. + +But in a short time he was again painfully reminded of the uncertainty +of his condition. Mrs. Lucretia and her brother Andrew both died, each +of them leaving one child. Neither Captain Anthony nor his children left +any of the slaves free. Even Frederick's old grandmother, who had nursed +her master when he was a baby, waited upon him through his boyhood, +worked faithfully for him during all her life, and reared up a multitude +of children and grandchildren to toil for him,--even she was left in +Slavery, with no provision made for her. The children she had tended so +lovingly were sold, or let out in distant places; all were unable to +write to inform her where they had gone; all were unable to help her, +because they were not allowed to have their own earnings. When her old +master and his children were dead, the owners of the property thought +Gran'ma Betty was too old to be of any further use; so they put up a hut +with a mud chimney in the woods, and left her there to find food for +herself as she could, with no mortal to render her any service in her +dying hour. This brutal proceeding increased the bitterness of +Frederick's feeling against Slavery. + +By the blessing of God the consolations of religion came to him, and +enabled him to look beyond this troubled and transitory world. A pious +colored man, called Uncle Lawson, became interested in him. They +attended prayer-meetings together, and Frederick often went to his house +on Sundays. They had refreshing times together, reading the Bible, +praying, and singing hymns. Uncle Lawson saw that his young friend had +uncommon intelligence, and he often said to him, "The Lord has a great +work for you to do, and you must prepare yourself for it." Frederick +replied that he did not see how a slave could prepare himself for any +great work; but the pious old man always answered, "Trust in the Lord. +He will bring it about in his own good time. You must go on reading and +studying Scripture." This prophecy inspired him with hope, and he seized +every opportunity to improve himself. But he had many obstacles to +contend with. His master, Mr. Hugh Auld, was made irritable by an +increasing love for brandy. When he found out that Frederick read and +spoke at religious meetings, he threatened to flog him if he continued +to do it. His kind mistress, who used to pat him on the head and call +him "Little Freddy," was changed by the habit of having slaves and +talking with slaveholders. The pleasant, motherly expression of her face +had become severe. She watched Frederick very closely, and if she caught +him with a book or newspaper in his hand, she would rush at him in a +great rage and snatch it away. Master Tommy had grown to be a tall lad, +and began to feel that he was born to be a master and Fred to be a +slave. Frederick would probably have tried to run away, had it not been +for the friendships he had formed for Uncle Lawson and the religious +young men he met at the meetings. Notwithstanding his master's threat, +he contrived to find opportunities to read and pray with good Uncle +Lawson; and it had a blessed influence on his spirit, making him feel at +peace with all men. Now that he had a taste of knowledge, it was +impossible to prevent his getting more. His master sent him of errands +to the shipyard almost daily. He noticed that the carpenters marked +their boards with letters. He asked the name of the letters, and copied +them with a bit of chalk. When the family went from home, he diligently +copied from the writing-books Master Tommy had brought from school; and +his zeal was so great that in a short time he could write as well as his +master. He picked up bits of newspapers wherever he could find them, and +he listened attentively when he heard slaveholders talking about the +Northern States and cursing the Abolitionists. He did not at first know +what was the meaning of "abolitionists"; but when he read in a newspaper +that petitions were sent into Congress for the abolition of Slavery, +light dawned upon him. He told trustworthy colored friends about it, and +they were comforted by the thought that there were people at the North +trying to help them out of bondage. + +But a new blow fell upon him. Captain Thomas Auld married again, after +the death of his wife Mrs. Lucretia, and removed to St. Michael's,--an +old village, the principal business of which was oyster fishing. He got +into a quarrel with his brother, Mr. Hugh Auld of Baltimore, and +demanded that Frederick should be sent back to him. So he was put on +board a ship for St. Michael's. When swift steamboats on their way to +Philadelphia passed the sloop that carried him, he bitterly regretted +that he had not escaped to the Free States from Baltimore, where he +could have had so many more opportunities for doing it than he could at +the old fishing-village. Captain Thomas Auld and his new wife were both +great professors of religion. He was an exhorter and class-leader in the +Methodist Church. But their religion was not of a kind that taught them +humanity to their fellow-creatures. They worked their slaves very hard, +and kept them half fed and half clothed. Scolding and flogging were +going on incessantly. Frederick soon discovered that they were violently +opposed to colored people's knowing how to read; but when a pious young +man in the neighborhood asked him to assist in a Sunday school for +colored children, he resolved to seize the opportunity of being useful. +When his master found out what he was doing, he was very angry; and the +next Sunday he and two other Methodist class-leaders went to the school, +armed with clubs and whips, and drove off both teachers and scholars. It +was agreed that Frederick had been spoiled by living in Baltimore, and +that it was necessary to cure him of his dangerous thirst for knowledge. +For that purpose he was sent to a famous "negro-breaker" in the +neighborhood named Covey. He was a great professor of religion, but a +monster of cruelty. Frederick was almost killed by hard labor, and not a +week passed without his being cruelly cut up with the whip. Escape was +impossible, for Covey was on the watch at all times of day and night. +Six months of such treatment wellnigh crushed all manhood out of him. +But cruelty was carried so far that at last he became desperate, and +when his master attempted to beat him, he struggled with him and threw +him down. He expected to be hung for it, according to the laws of +Maryland; but Covey prided himself on his reputation as a +"negro-breaker," and he was ashamed to have it known that he had been +conquered by a lad of seventeen. Frederick's time was not out for six +months longer, but Covey never attempted to whip him again. + +The next two years Frederick was let out to do field-work for Mr. +Freeland, who fed his slaves well, and never worked them beyond their +strength. Some of his slaves were intelligent, and desirous to learn to +read. On Sundays they had meetings in the woods, and twenty or thirty +young men were taught by Frederick. After a while they formed a plan of +escaping in a canoe. But some unknown men excited suspicion against +them, and they were seized and thrust into prison. They kept their +secrets so well, however, that no proof could be obtained against them, +and they were released without even a whipping. But some of the +neighboring slaveholders said Frederick was a dangerous fellow; that he +knew too much,--they would not have him tampering with their slaves; and +if he was not sent out of the neighborhood they would shoot him. Captain +Thomas Auld talked of selling him to Alabama; but he finally concluded +to let him out again to his brother Hugh, with a promise that if he +behaved well he should be free at twenty-five years old. + +When he returned to Baltimore he was let out to work at calking vessels; +and he soon became so expert at the business that he earned from seven +to nine dollars a week. He was trusted to make his own contracts, but +was required to pay Mr. Hugh Auld his earnings every Saturday night. On +such occasions a sixpence or a shilling was sometimes given him, for +which he was expected to be grateful; but it naturally occurred to him +that the whole of the money rightfully belonged to him who earned it. He +was attached to a worthy girl named Anna, but he was reluctant to form +family ties while he was subject to the vicissitudes of Slavery. He +often thought of escaping to the Free States, but the regulations were +so strict that it seemed a hopeless undertaking, unless he had money. +When Captain Thomas Auld visited Baltimore, he tried to make a bargain +with him to buy his time for a specified sum each week, being free to +earn as much more as he could. The reply was, "You are planning to run +away. But, wherever you go, I shall catch you." The master then tried to +coax him with promises of freedom in the future; but Frederick thought +it very uncertain when they would be willing to give up a man who +brought them in nine dollars a week. He concluded to go to the Free +States. How he accomplished it he never told, for he was afraid of +bringing trouble upon those who helped him. + +When he arrived in New York, he says he felt as he should suppose a man +would feel who had escaped from a den of hungry lions. But the joyful +feeling was soon checked. He met an acquaintance who had recently +escaped from Slavery. He told him the city was full of Southerners, who +had agents out in every direction to catch runaway slaves; and then he +hurried away, as if afraid of being betrayed. This made Frederick feel +very desolate. He was afraid to seek employment as a calker, lest spies +from his master should be on the watch for him. He bought a loaf of +bread, and hid away for the night among some barrels on a wharf. In the +morning, he met a sailor, who looked so good-natured and honest that he +ventured to tell him he was a fugitive slave, and to ask him for advice. +He was not deceived in the expression of the man's face. He invited him +to his house, and went in search of Mr. David Ruggles, a worthy colored +man, well known as a zealous friend of his oppressed race. The fugitive +was kept hidden for a few days, during which time Anna was sent for, and +they were married. By help of Mr. Ruggles, employment at calking was +obtained in New Bedford, a large town in Massachusetts, where a great +many ships are constantly employed. There he found many intelligent +colored people, not a few of whom had been slaves. They lived in +convenient houses, took newspapers, bought books, and sent their +children to good schools. They had various societies for improvement; +and when he attended their meetings, he was surprised to hear their +spirited discussions on various subjects. His bright mind was roused +into full activity by the influences around him. He changed his name to +Frederick Douglass. He was called Mr. Douglass now, and felt like it. He +worked hard, but that was a pleasure, now that he could enjoy his own +earnings. He felt safe; for there were so many Abolitionists and so many +intelligent colored people in New Bedford, that slaveholders did not +venture to go there to hunt for fugitives. The cruel treatment he had +received from hypocritical professors of religion had not destroyed his +faith in the excellence of real religion. He joined a church of colored +people, called Zion Methodists, and became a class-leader and preacher +among them. He took a newspaper called "The Liberator," edited by +William Lloyd Garrison, wherein he found the rights of the colored +people vindicated with great zeal and ability. His wife proved a neat +and industrious helpmate, and a little family of children began to +gather round him. Thus furnished with healthy employment for his mind, +his heart, and his hands, he lived over three years in New Bedford. + +At the end of that period, in the year 1841, a great Anti-Slavery +meeting was held in the vicinity, and Mr. Douglass went to hear Mr. +Garrison and others speak. He did not suppose that any one in the +meeting knew him; but a gentleman was present who had heard him preach +in Zion Church, and he went to him and urged him to address the +Anti-Slavery meeting. He was bashful about speaking before such a large +and intelligent audience; and when he was persuaded to mount the +platform he trembled in every limb. But what he said flowed right out +from the depths of his heart; and when people of any intelligence speak +in that way, they are always eloquent. The audience were greatly moved +by what he told them of his experiences. It was the beginning of a great +change in his life. The Anti-Slavery Society employed him to travel in +the Free States to lecture against Slavery; and that you may be sure he +could do with a will. Crowds went to hear him, and his ministration was +greatly blessed. The prophecy of good Uncle Lawson was fulfilled. The +Lord _had_ a great work for him to do; and in His own good time he had +brought it about. + +People who were in favor of Slavery said he was an impostor; that he did +not look like a slave, or speak like a slave; and that they did not +believe he had ever been in the Southern States. To prove that he was +not an impostor he wrote and published an account of his life, with the +names of his masters and the places where they resided. The book was +ably written, and produced almost as great an effect as his lectures. +Slaveholders were very angry that one of their escaped chattels should +produce such an excitement. There was great danger that some of their +agents would kidnap him as he went about the country lecturing. It was +therefore concluded that he had better go to England. In 1845 he took +passage for Liverpool in the English steamship Cambria. He was invited +to deliver a lecture on deck. Some slaveholders from New Orleans and +Georgia, who were a little under the influence of brandy, swore they +would throw him overboard if he did; but the captain of the vessel +threatened to put them in irons if they behaved in a disorderly manner. +When they arrived in England they tried to injure Mr. Douglass by +publishing that he was an insolent, lying negro; but their efforts only +served to make him famous. He delivered a great number of lectures, and +attracted crowds everywhere. In the Free States of his own country he +had been excluded from many places of improvement, and often insulted on +account of his color; but he had no such prejudice to encounter in +England. He behaved like a gentleman, and was treated like a gentleman. +Many distinguished and wealthy people invited him to their houses, as a +mark of respect for his natural abilities and the efforts he had made to +improve himself. But he felt that his labors were needed in America, in +behalf of his oppressed brethren, and he wanted to return. His friends +in England entered into negotiations with Captain Thomas Auld for the +purchase of his freedom, which they succeeded in obtaining for little +more than seven hundred dollars. + +After an absence of two years he returned to the United States a +freeman. He established himself with his family in Rochester, New York. +There he edited a weekly newspaper, called "The North Star," and from +time to time travelled about the country to deliver lectures, which were +always fully attended. After he was free he wrote a spirited letter to +his old master, Captain Thomas Auld, in which he asks: "What has become +of my dear old grandmother, whom you turned out, like an old horse, to +die in the woods? If she is still alive, she must be near eighty years +old,--too old to be of any service to you. O, she was father and mother +to me, so far as hard toil for my comfort could make her so. Send her to +me at Rochester, and it shall be the crowning happiness of my life to +take care of her in her old age." I never heard that any answer was +received to this letter. + +During the Rebellion Mr. Douglass labored zealously to raise colored +regiments, and one of his sons enlisted in the service of the United +States. After the Proclamation of Emancipation he was invited to +Baltimore, where he delivered an address before a large audience of +respectable citizens. How different was free Maryland from the +Slavery-ridden State which he had left, secretly and in terror, nearly +thirty years before! + + + + +HOW THE GOOD WORK GOES ON. + + +In the spring of 1865 an association of colored men was formed in +Baltimore for moral and intellectual improvement. They bought a building +formerly used by the Newton University, for which they paid sixteen +thousand dollars. In honor of their able pioneer, Frederick Douglass, +they named it "The Douglass Institute." On the day of its dedication he +delivered an address before the association in Baltimore, in the course +of which he said: "The mission of this institution is to develop +manhood; to build up manly character among the colored people of this +city and State. It is to teach them the true idea of manly independence +and self-respect. It is to be a dispenser of knowledge, a radiator of +light. In a word, we dedicate this institution to virtue, temperance, +knowledge, truth, liberty, and justice." + + + + +DEDICATION HYMN. + +BY J. M. WHITEFIELD. + + Written for the Vine Street Methodist Episcopal Church of colored + people, in Buffalo, N. Y. + + + God of our sires! before thy throne + Our humble offering now we bring; + Deign to accept it as thine own, + And dwell therein, Almighty King! + Around thy glorious throne above + Angels and flaming seraphs sing; + Archangels own thy boundless love, + And cherubim their tribute bring. + + And every swiftly rolling sphere, + That wends its way through boundless space, + Hymns forth, in chorus loud and clear, + Its mighty Maker's power and grace. + It is not ours to bear the parts + In that celestial song of praise; + But here, O Lord! with grateful hearts, + This earthly fane to Thee we raise. + + O let thy presence fill this house, + And from its portals ne'er depart! + Accept, O Lord! the humble vows + Poured forth by every contrite heart! + No sacrifice of beast or bird, + No clouds of incense here shall rise, + But, in accordance with thy word + We'll bring a holier sacrifice. + + Here shall the hoary-headed sire + Invoke thy grace, on bended knee; + While youth shall catch the sacred fire, + And pour its song of praise to Thee. + Let childhood, too, with stammering tongue, + Here lisp thy name with reverent awe; + And high and low, and old and young, + Learn to obey thy holy law. + + And when our spirits shall return + Back to the God who gave them birth, + And these frail bodies shall be borne + To mingle with their kindred earth,-- + Then, in that house not made with hands, + New anthems to thy praise we'll sing, + To Thee, who burst our slavish bands, + Our Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King. + + + + +A PRAYER. + + + Grant, O Father, that the time + Of earth's deliverance may be near, + When every land and tongue and clime + The message of Thy love shall hear; + When, smitten as with fire from heaven, + The captive's chain shall sink in dust, + And to his fettered soul be given + The glorious freedom of the just. + + JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + + + +WILLIAM AND ELLEN CRAFTS. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +William Crafts is a black man, born in Georgia. His master had the +reputation of being a humane man and a pious Christian. Yet, when some +of his slaves were getting old, he had no scruples about selling them +away from their families, and buying a young lot. Among those sold were +the father and mother of William. They were sold to different purchasers +from different places, and never saw each other again. They were much +attached to each other, and it was a consolation to their son to think +how happy would be their reunion in another world; for he says he never +knew people who more humbly placed their trust in God than his parents +did. William was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, and his brother to a +blacksmith; because slaves who worked well at a trade could be let out +with more profit to their masters, and would also bring a higher price +if sold. Before their time was out, their master became hard pressed for +money. Accordingly, he sold the young blacksmith, and mortgaged William +and his sister, a girl of fourteen. When the time of the mortgage was +up, their master had no money to redeem them, and they were placed on +the auction-block, to be sold to the highest bidder. The girl was sold +first, and bought by a planter who lived some distance in the country. +William was strongly attached to his sister; and when he saw her put +into a cart, to be carried away from him forever, it seemed as if his +heart would burst. He knelt down and begged and entreated to be allowed +to go and speak to her before she was taken away; but they handled him +roughly, and ordered him to stay on the auction-block. As he stood there +awaiting his own fate, he saw the cart moving slowly away. The tears +were rolling down his sister's cheeks, and she stretched her hands +toward him with a movement of despair. The thought that he could do +nothing for her, and that they might never meet more, almost killed him. +His eyes were blinded with tears; and when he could see again, the cart +was gone. + +He was bought by the man to whom he had been mortgaged, and ordered to +return to the cabinet-maker's shop to work. After a while his new master +took him to Macon, where he was let out to work at his trade. There he +became acquainted with a quadroon girl named Ellen, whom he afterward +married. + +Ellen was the daughter of her master, but her mother was a slave. Her +handsome dark eyes were apt to attract attention; her hair was straight, +and her skin was so nearly white that strangers often mistook her for +one of her master's own white family. This was very vexatious to her +mistress, who treated her so harshly that the poor child had no comfort +of her life. When she was eleven years old she was given to a daughter +of her mistress, who was about to be married to a gentleman living in +Macon. It was painful to part from her poor mother, but she was glad to +get away from the incessant cruelty of her old mistress. Her new +mistress proved more humane. In her service Ellen grew up without being +exposed to some of the most degrading influences of Slavery. + +She and the intelligent young cabinet-maker formed an attachment for +each other soon after they were acquainted. But Ellen had seen so much +of the separation of families in Slavery, that she was very reluctant to +marry. Whenever William said anything about it, she reminded him that +they were both slaves; and that if they were married either of their +masters could separate them whenever they chose. William remembered, +with bitterness of heart, how his father and mother and brother had been +sold, and how his sister had been torn from him without his being +allowed to bid her good by. He had not been tortured in his own person, +but he had seen other slaves cruelly whipped and branded with hot iron, +hunted and torn by bloodhounds, and even burned alive, merely for trying +to get their freedom. In view of these things, he had a great horror of +bringing children into the world to be slaves. He and Ellen often talked +together about escaping to the North and being married there. But they +reflected that they would have to travel a thousand miles before they +could reach any Free State. They knew that bloodhounds and slave-hunters +would be put upon their track; that if they were taken, they would be +subjected to terrible tortures; and that, even if they succeeded in +reaching the Free States, they would still be in danger of being +delivered up to their masters. They talked over a variety of plans; but +the prospect of escape seemed so discouraging, that at last they +concluded to ask their owner's consent to their marriage; and they +resolved to be as contented as they could in the situation to which they +were born. But they were too intelligent not to know that a great wrong +was done to them by keeping them in slavery. William shuddered to think +into what cruel and licentious hands his dear wife might fall if she +should be sold by her present owners; and Ellen was filled with great +anguish whenever she thought what might happen to her children, if she +should be a mother. They were always thinking and talking about freedom, +and they often prayed earnestly to God that some way of escape might be +opened for them. + +In December, 1848, a bold plan came into William's mind. He thought that +if his wife were dressed in men's clothes she could easily pass for a +white gentleman, and that he could accompany her on her travels as her +negro slave. Ellen, who was very modest and timid, at first shrank from +the idea. But, after reflecting more upon their hopeless situation, she +said: "It seems too difficult for us to undertake; but I feel that God +is on our side, and with His help we may carry it through. We will try." + +It was contrary to law for white men in the Southern States to sell +anything secretly to slaves; but there were always enough ready to do it +for the sake of getting money,--especially as they knew that no colored +man was allowed to testify against a white man. William was skilful and +diligent at his trade; and though his wages all went to his master, he +had contrived to lay up money by doing jobs for others in extra hours. +He therefore found little difficulty in buying the various articles of a +gentleman's dress, at different times and in different parts of the +town. He had previously made Ellen a chest of drawers, with locks and +key; and as she was a favorite and trusted slave, she was allowed to +keep it for her own use in the little room where she slept. As fast as +the articles were bought they were secretly conveyed to her, and she +locked them up. The next important thing was to obtain leave of absence +for a few days. It was near Christmas-time, when kind slaveholders +sometimes permit favorite slaves to be absent on a visit to friends or +relatives. But Ellen's services were very necessary to her mistress, and +she had to ask many times before she could obtain a written permission +to be gone for a few days. The cabinet-maker for whom William worked was +persuaded to give him a similar paper, but he charged him to be sure and +return as soon as the time was up, because he should need him very much. +There was still another difficulty in the way. Travellers were required +to register their names at the custom-houses and hotels, and to sign a +certificate for the slaves who accompanied them. When Ellen remembered +this, it made her weep bitterly to think that she could not write. But +in a few moments she wiped her eyes and said, with a smile, "I will +poultice my right hand and put it in a sling, and then there will be a +good excuse for asking the officers to write my name for me." When she +was dressed in her disguise, William thought she could easily pass for a +white gentleman, only she looked young enough for a mere boy; he +therefore bought a pair of green spectacles to make her look older. She, +on her part, was afraid that the smoothness of her chin might betray +her; she therefore resolved to tie a bandage round her face, as if she +were troubled with toothache. + +In four days after they first thought of the plan, all was in readiness. +They sat up all night, whispering over to each other the parts they were +to act in case of various supposable difficulties. William cut off +Ellen's glossy black hair, according to the fashion of gentlemen. When +all was carefully arranged, they knelt together and prayed that God +would protect them through their perilous undertaking. They raised the +latch of the door very softly, and looked out and listened. Nobody was +stirring abroad, and all was still. But Ellen trembled and threw herself +on her husband's breast. There she wept for a few moments, while he +tried to comfort her with whispered words of encouragement, though he +also felt that they were going forth into the midst of terrible dangers. +She soon recovered her calmness, and said, "Let us go." They stepped out +on tiptoe, shook hands in silence, and parted to go to the railway +station by different routes. William deemed it prudent to take a short +cut across the fields, to avoid being recognized; but his wife, who was +now to pass for his young master, went by the public road. Under the +name of Mr. William Johnson, she purchased tickets for herself and slave +for Savannah, which was about two hundred miles off. The porter who took +charge of the luggage at the station had formerly wished to marry Ellen; +but her disguise was so complete that he called her "Young massa," and +respectfully obeyed her orders concerning the baggage. She gave him a +bit of money for his trouble, and he made his best bow. + +The moment William arrived at the station, he hid himself in the "negro +car" assigned to servants. It was lucky that he did so; for, just before +the train started, he saw upon the platform the cabinet-maker, who had +given him a pass for quite a different purpose than an excursion to +Savannah. He was looking round, as if searching for some one; and +William afterward heard that he suspected him of attempting to escape. +Luckily, the train started before he had time to examine the "negro +car." + +Ellen had a narrow escape on her part; for a gentleman who took the seat +beside her proved to be Mr. Cray, who frequently visited at her +master's house, and who had known her ever since she was a child. Her +first thought was that he had come to seize her and carry her back; but +it soon became evident that he did not recognize her in a gentleman's +dress, with green spectacles, bandaged face, and her arm in a sling. +After the cars started, he remarked, "It is a very fine morning, sir." +Ellen, being afraid that her voice would betray her, continued to look +out of the window, and made no reply. After a little while, he repeated +the remark in a louder tone. The passengers who heard him began to +smile, and Mr. Cray turned away, saying, "I shall not trouble that deaf +fellow any more." To her great relief, he left the cars at the next +station. + +They arrived at Savannah early in the evening, and William having +brought his master something to eat, they went on board a steamer bound +for Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Johnson, as Ellen was now called, +deemed it most prudent to retire to his berth immediately. William, +fearing this might seem strange to the other passengers, made a great +fuss warming flannels and opodeldoc at the stove, informing them that +his young master was an invalid travelling to Philadelphia in hopes of +getting cured. He did not tell them the disease was Slavery; he called +it inflammatory rheumatism. The next morning, at breakfast, Mr. Johnson +was seated by the captain of the boat, and, as his right hand was tied +in a sling, his servant, William, cut up his food for him. The captain +remarked, "You have a very attentive boy, sir; but I advise you to watch +him like a hawk when you get North. Several gentlemen have lately lost +valuable niggers among them cut-throat Abolitionists." + +A hard-looking slave-trader, with red eyes, and bristly beard, was +sitting opposite. He laid down a piece of chicken he was eating, and +with his thumbs stuck in the arm-holes of his waistcoat, said: "I +wouldn't take a nigger North under no consideration. Now, if you'd like +to sell that 'ere boy, I'll pay you for him in silver dollars, on this +'ere board. What do you say, stranger?" Mr. Johnson replied, "I do not +wish to sell him, sir; I could not get on well without him." "You'll +_have_ to get on without him, if you take him to the North," continued +the slave-trader. "I am an older cove than you are, and I reckon I have +had more dealings with niggers. I tell you, stranger, that boy will +never do you any good if you take him across Mason and Dixon's line. I +can see by the cut of his eye that he is bound to run away as soon as he +can get a chance." Mr. Johnson replied, "I think not, sir. I have great +confidence in his fidelity." Whereupon the slave-trader began to swear +about niggers in general. A military officer, who was also travelling +with a servant, said to Mr. Johnson: "Excuse me, sir, for saying I think +you are likely to spoil that boy of yours by saying 'thank you' to him. +The only way to make a nigger toe the mark, and to keep him in his +place, is to storm at him like thunder. Don't you see that when I speak +to my Ned, he darts like lightning? If he didn't, I'd skin him." + +When the steamboat arrived at Charleston, the hearts of the fugitives +beat almost loud enough to be heard; they were so afraid their flight +had been discovered, and a telegraph sent from Savannah to have them +arrested. But they passed unnoticed among the crowd. They took a +carriage and drove to a fashionable hotel, where the invalid gentleman +received every attention befitting his supposed rank. He was seated at a +luxurious table in a brilliant dining-room, while William received some +fragments of food on a broken plate, and was told to go into the +kitchen. Mr. Johnson gave some pieces of money to the servants who +waited upon him; and they said to William, "Your massa is a big-bug. He +is de greatest gentleman dat has been dis way dis six months." + +Notwithstanding the favorable impression he had made, Mr. Johnson found +some difficulty in obtaining tickets to Philadelphia for himself and his +slave. The master of the ticket-office refused to write the invalid +gentleman's name for him. But the military officer who had breakfasted +with him stepped up and said he knew the gentleman, and all was right. +The captain of the North Carolina steamer hearing this, and not wishing +to lose a passenger, said, "I will register the gentleman's name, and +take the responsibility upon myself." Mr. Johnson thanked him politely, +and the captain remarked: "No disrespect was intended to you, sir; but +they are obliged to be very strict in Charleston. Some Abolitionist +might take a valuable nigger along with him, and try to pass him off as +his slave." + +They arrived safely at Wilmington, North Carolina, and took the cars to +Richmond, Virginia. On the way, an elderly lady in the cars, seeing +William on the platform, cried out, in great excitement, "There goes my +nigger Ned!" Mr. Johnson said, very politely, "No, madam, that is my +boy." But the lady, without paying any attention to what he said, called +out, "Ned, you runaway rascal, come to me, sir." On nearer inspection +she perceived that she was mistaken, and said to Mr. Johnson: "I beg +your pardon, sir. I was sure it was my Ned. I never saw two black pigs +look more alike." + +From Petersburg, a Virginia gentleman with two handsome daughters were +in the same car with Mr. Johnson. Supposing him to be a rich, +fashionable young Southerner, they were very attentive and sympathizing. +The old gentleman told him he knew how to pity him, for he had had +inflammatory rheumatism himself. He advised him to lie down to rest; +which he was very willing to do, as a good means of avoiding +conversation. The ladies took their extra shawls and made a comfortable +pillow for his head, and their father gave him a piece of paper which he +said contained directions for curing the rheumatism. The invalid thanked +him politely; but not knowing how to read, and fearing he might hold the +paper upside down, prudently put it in his pocket. When they supposed +him to be asleep, one of the ladies said, "Papa, he seems to be a very +nice young gentleman"; and the other responded, "I never felt so much +for any gentleman in my life." + +At parting the Virginian gave him his card and said: "I hope you will +call upon me when you return. I should be much pleased to see you, and +so would my daughters." He gave ten cents to William, and charged him to +be attentive to his master. This he promised to do, and he very +faithfully kept his word. + +They arrived at Baltimore with the joyful feeling that they were close +upon the borders of a Free State. William saw that his master was +comfortably placed in one of the best cars, and was getting into the +servants' car when a man tapped him on the shoulder and asked where he +was going. William replied humbly, "I am going to Philadelphia, sir, +with my master, who is in the next car." "Then you had better get him +out, and be mighty quick about it," said the man; "for the train is +going to start, and no man is allowed to take a slave past here till he +has satisfied the folks in the office that he has a right to take him +along." + +William felt as if he should drop down on the spot; but he controlled +himself, and went and asked his master to go back to the office. It was +a terrible fright. As Mr. Johnson stepped out he whispered, in great +agitation, "O William, is it possible we shall have to go back to +Slavery, after all we have gone through?" It was very hard to satisfy +the station-master. He said if a man carried off a slave that did not +belong to him, and the rightful owner could prove that he escaped on +that road, they would be obliged to pay for the slave. Mr. Johnson kept +up a calm appearance, though his heart was in his throat. "I bought +tickets at Charleston to pass us through to Philadelphia," said he; +"therefore you have no right to detain us here." "Right or no right, we +shall not let you go," replied the man. Some of the spectators +sympathized with the rich young Southerner, and said it was a pity to +detain him when he was so unwell. While the man hesitated, the bell rang +for the cars to start, and the fugitives were in an agony. "I don't know +what to do," said the man. "It all seems to be right; and as the +gentleman is so unwell, it is a hard case for him to be stopped on the +way. Clerk, run and tell the conductor to let this gentleman and his +slave pass." + +They had scarcely time to scramble into the cars, before the train +started. It was eight o'clock in the evening, and they expected to +arrive in Philadelphia early the next morning. They did not know that on +the way the passengers would have to leave the cars and cross the river +Susquehanna in a ferry-boat. They had slept very little for several +nights before they left Georgia, and they had been travelling day and +night for four days. William, overcome with fatigue, and feeling that +their greatest dangers were now over, fell sound asleep on a heap of +baggage. When they arrived at the ferry, it was cold, dark, and rainy; +and for the first time during their hazardous journey the invalid found +no faithful servant at hand when the cars stopped. He was in great +distress, fearing that William had been arrested or kidnapped. He +anxiously inquired of the passengers whether they had seen his boy. +There were a good many Northerners on board, and, supposing his slave +had run away, they rather enjoyed his perplexity. One gruffly replied, +"I am no slave-hunter." Another smiled as he said, "I guess he is in +Philadelphia before now." + +When they had crossed the ferry one of the guard found William still +sound asleep on the baggage, which had been rolled into the boat. He +shook him and bawled out: "Wake up, you boy! Your master has been half +scared to death. He thought you had run away." As soon as William was +enough awake to understand what had happened, he said, "I am sure my +good master does not think that of me." He hastened to explain to Mr. +Johnson how he happened to be out of the way. He was received with a +great leap of the heart; but the passengers only thought that the master +was very glad to recover his lost property. Some of them took a +convenient opportunity to advise William to run away when they reached +Philadelphia. He replied, "I shall never run away from such a good +master as I have." They laughed, and said, "You will think differently +when you get into a Free State." They told him how to proceed in case he +wanted to be free, and he thanked them. A colored man also entered into +conversation with him, and told him of a certain boarding-house in +Philadelphia, the keeper of which was very friendly to slaves who +wanted their freedom. + +On Christmas-day, just as morning was about to dawn, they came in sight +of the flickering lights of Philadelphia. William procured a cab as +quick as possible, hurried their baggage into it, and told the driver to +take them to the boarding-house which had been recommended to them. +While Ellen had been obliged to act the part of Mr. Johnson, she had +kept her mind wonderfully calm and collected. But now that she was on +free soil she broke down with the excess of her emotions. "Thank God, +William, we are safe, we are safe!" she exclaimed; and sinking upon her +husband's breast, she burst into a passion of tears. When they arrived +at the boarding-house, she was so faint she had no further occasion to +act being an invalid. As soon as a room was provided, they entered and +fastened the door. Then kneeling down side by side, folded in each +other's arms, with tears flowing freely, they thanked God for having +brought them safely through their dangerous journey, and having +permitted them to live to see this happy Sabbath day, which was +Christmas-day also. + +When they had rested and refreshed themselves with a wash, Ellen put on +her womanly garments and went to the sitting-room. When the landlord +came at their summons, he was very much surprised and perplexed. "Where +is your master?" inquired he; and when William pointed to his wife, he +thought it was a joke; for he could not believe she was the same person +who came into the house in the dress of a gentleman. He listened to +their singular story with great interest and sympathy. He told them he +was afraid it would not be safe for them to remain in Philadelphia, but +he would send for some Abolitionists who knew the laws better than he +did. Friends soon came, and gave them a hearty welcome; but they all +agreed that it would not be safe for them to remain long in +Philadelphia, and advised them to go to Boston. Barclay Ivens, a +kind-hearted Quaker farmer, who lived some distance in the country, +invited them to rest a few weeks at his house. They went accordingly. +But Ellen, who had not been accustomed to receive such attentions from +white people, was a little flurried when they arrived. She had received +the impression that they were going to stay with colored people; and +when she saw a white lady and three daughters come out to the wagon to +meet her, she was much disturbed, and said to William, "I thought they +were colored people." "It is all the same as if they were," replied he. +"They are our good friends." "It is _not_ all the same," said Ellen, +decidedly. "I have no faith in white people. They will be sending us +back into Slavery. I am going right off." She had not then become +acquainted with the Abolitionists. She had heard her master and other +Southerners talk about them as very bad men, who would make slaves +believe they were their friends, and then sell them into distant +countries. The Quaker lady saw that she was afraid, and she went up to +her and took her very kindly by the hand, saying: "How art thou, my +dear? We are very glad to see thee and thy husband. We have heard about +thy marvellous escape from Slavery. Come in and warm thyself. I dare say +thou art cold and hungry after thy journey." Ellen thanked her, and +allowed herself to be led into the house. Still she did not feel quite +safe in that strange place, away from all her people. When Mrs. Ivens +attempted to remove her bonnet, she said, "No, I thank you. I am not +going to stop long." "Poor child!" said the good Quaker mother, "I +don't wonder thou art timid. But don't be afraid. Thou art among friends +who would as soon sell their own daughters into Slavery as betray thee. +We would not harm a hair of thy head for the world." The kindly face and +the motherly tones melted the heart of the poor frightened fugitive, and +the tears began to flow. They stayed several weeks in that hospitable +house, and the son and daughters took so much pains to teach them to +read and write, that before they left they could spell a little, and +write their names quite legibly. They were strongly urged to stay +longer, and would have done so had they not been very desirous to be +earning their own living. When they left this excellent family it seemed +like parting with near and dear relatives. + +In Boston they were introduced to William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell +Phillips, Francis Jackson, Rev. Theodore Parker, and other good men, who +had for years been laboring for the emancipation of the slaves. The +fugitives made a favorable impression on strangers at first sight. They +both looked intelligent and honest. William had a very manly air, and +Ellen was modest and ladylike in her manners. + +Their marriage in Georgia had been, like other slave marriages, without +a certificate; therefore they were desirous to have the ceremony +performed again, with all the forms of law, now that they were in a free +land. They were accordingly married by the Rev. Mr. Parker, at the house +of a respectable colored citizen of Boston, named Lewis Hayden. Mr. +Crafts was employed at his trade, and his wife obtained work as a +seamstress. They lived in Boston two years, during which time they +established an excellent character by their honest industry and correct +deportment. They earned a comfortable living, and might have laid by +some money if circumstances had permitted them to remain in +Massachusetts. + +But in 1850 the Congress of the United States, under the influence of +slaveholders, passed a very wicked act called the Fugitive Slave Bill. +There was in Boston at that time a celebrated lawyer named Daniel +Webster. He wanted to be President of the United States, and for many +years no man had been able to get elected to that office unless he +pleased the slaveholders. He accordingly used his great influence to +help the passage of the bill, and advised the people of Massachusetts to +get over their scruples about hunting slaves. He died without being +President; and I hope God forgave the great sin into which his ambition +led him. By that cruel act of Congress, everybody, all over the country, +was required to send back fugitive slaves to their masters. Whoever +concealed them or helped them in any way became liable to a year's +imprisonment and a fine of a thousand dollars, besides paying the price +of the slave. In all the Northern cities there were many honest, +industrious colored people who had escaped from Slavery years before, +and were now getting a comfortable living. Many of them had married at +the North and reared families. But when slaveholders gained this victory +over the conscience of the North, they were compelled to leave their +business and their homes, and hide themselves wheresoever they could. +Mr. and Mrs. Crafts had many zealous friends in Boston, but the friends +of the slaveholders were more numerous. For some time past, Southerners +had been rather reluctant to hunt slaves in Massachusetts, because the +public opinion of the people was so much opposed to Slavery, that they +found it a difficult and disagreeable job. But after the passage of +that unrighteous bill, they and their pro-slavery accomplices at the +North became more bold. + +One day, while Mr. Crafts was busy in his shop, he received a visit from +a man by the name of Knight, who used to work in the same shop with him +in Georgia. He professed to be much pleased to see William again, and +invited him to walk round the streets and show him the curiosities of +Boston. Mr. Crafts told him he had work to do, and was very busy. The +next day he tried again; but finding Mr. Crafts still too busy to walk +with him, he said: "I wish you would come to see me at the United States +Hotel, and bring your wife with you. She would like to hear from her +mother. If you want to send letters to Georgia, I will take them for +you." This was followed by a badly spelled note to Mr. Crafts, informing +him that he was going to leave Boston early the next morning, and if he +wanted to send a letter to Georgia he must bring it to him at the hotel +after tea. Mr. Crafts smiled that he should think him silly enough to +walk into such an open trap. Mr. Knight had told him that he came to +Boston alone; but when he questioned the hotel-servant who brought the +note, he was told that a Mr. Hughes from Georgia accompanied him. Mr. +Hughes was a notorious slave-catcher, and the jailer of Macon. Mr. +Crafts continued to work at his shop; but he kept the door locked, and a +loaded pistol beside him. + +Finding that his intended victim was too much on his guard to be caught +by trickery, Mr. Hughes applied to the United States Court in Boston and +obtained a warrant to arrest William and Ellen Crafts as fugitive +slaves. This produced tremendous excitement. The Abolitionists were +determined that they should not be carried back into Slavery. They had +people everywhere on the watch, and employed lawyers to throw all manner +of difficulties in the way of the slave-hunters, whose persons and +manners were described in the newspapers in a way by no means agreeable +to them. The colored people held large meetings, and passed various +spirited resolutions, among which was the following: "_Resolved_, Man +wills us slaves, but God wills us free. We will as God wills. God's will +be done." Two hundred of them armed themselves and vowed that they would +defend William and Ellen Crafts to the death. Mr. Crafts said very +calmly, but very resolutely, that they should never take him alive. +Hughes the slave-catcher swore: "I'll have 'em if I stay in Boston to +all eternity. If there a'n't men enough in Massachusetts to take 'em, +I'll bring men from Georgia." Merchants in Boston, thinking only of +their trade with the South, sympathized with those men engaged in such a +base calling; and the United States officials did all they could to help +them. But though they received countenance and aid from many influential +men in Boston, those hirelings of Slavery could not help feeling ashamed +of their business. They complained that the boys in the streets hooted +after them, and that wherever they made their appearance, people called +out, "There go the slave-hunters!" They heard that the Abolitionists +were preparing to arrest them and try them as kidnappers; and the number +of colored people who watched their movements with angry looks made them +wish themselves back in Georgia. During all this commotion, the conduct +of Mr. Crafts excited universal admiration. He was resolute, but very +calm. If there had been any law to protect him, he would have appealed +to the law, rather than have harmed a hair of any man's head; but left +defenceless as he was among a pack of wolves hunting him and his +innocent wife, he was determined to defend his freedom at any cost. + +Ellen was secretly conveyed out of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Gray +Loring of Boston were excellent people, always kind to the poor and true +friends to the oppressed slaves. They spent their summers in the +neighboring town of Brookline. A Boston physician, who was an +Abolitionist, carried Ellen to their house in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. +Loring were both absent from home for a few days, but a lady who was +staying in the house received her with great kindness. She stayed there +two days, assisting the lady very industriously and skilfully with her +needle. Her mind was full of anxiety about her husband, whom she had +left in the city exposed to the most fearful danger. She was very +wakeful through the night, listening to every noise. As soon as she +became drowsy, she would wake with a sudden start from some bad dream. +She dreamed that she and William were running from the Georgia +slave-catcher, and that Daniel Webster was close behind them, pointing a +pistol at them. It was a sad thing that a man of such intellectual +ability as Mr. Webster, and with so much influence in society, should +make such bad use of his great power that he haunted the dreams of the +poor and the oppressed. Ellen rose in the morning with a feeling of +weariness and a great load upon her heart. But she kept back the tears +that were ready to flow, and was so quiet and sweet-tempered that she +completely gained the hearts of her protectors. Early the next evening, +the same friend who carried Ellen from the city brought her husband to +her. He also had been sleepless, and was worn down with fatigue and +anxiety. They were advised to retire to rest immediately, to remain in +their room with the door locked, and be careful not to show themselves +at the window. They followed these directions, and the lady was hoping +they would both have peaceful and refreshing slumber, when Ellen came to +say that her husband wanted to speak with her. She found him standing by +the fireplace looking very sad, but with a dignified calmness that +seemed to her truly noble in the midst of such dreadful danger. As she +entered he said, "Ellen has just told me that Mr. and Mrs. Loring are +absent from home. If we should be found in his house, he would be liable +to imprisonment and a heavy fine. It is wrong for us to expose him to +this danger without his knowledge and consent. We must seek shelter +elsewhere." The lady replied: "Mr. Loring would feel troubled to have +you leave his house under such circumstances. He is the best and kindest +of men, and a great friend of the colored people." "That makes it all +the more wrong for us to bring him into trouble on our account, without +his knowledge," replied Mr. Crafts. Ellen had kept up bravely all day, +but now her courage began to fail. She looked up with tears swimming in +her handsome eyes and said: "O William, it is so dark and rainy +to-night, and it seems so safe here! We may be seen and followed, if we +go out. You said you didn't sleep last night. I started up from a little +nap, dreaming that Daniel Webster was chasing us with a loaded pistol. I +thought of all manner of horrid things that might be happening to you, +and I couldn't sleep any more. Don't you think we might stay here just +this one night?" He looked at her with pity in his eyes, but said, very +firmly, "Ellen, it wouldn't be right." Without another word she +prepared to go, though the tears were falling fast. The lady, finding +his mind too fixed to be changed by her persuasions, sent a guide with +them to the house of Mr. Philbrick, a worthy, kind-hearted gentleman, +who lived about half a mile off. She herself told me the story; and she +said she never felt so much respect and admiration for any human beings +as she did for those two hunted slaves when she saw them walk out into +the darkness and rain because they thought it wrong to endanger, without +his consent, a friend of their persecuted people. She felt anxious lest +the slave-catcher or his agents might seize them on the road, and it was +a great relief to her mind when the guide returned and said Mr. +Philbrick received them gladly. + +After a few more days of peril they were secretly put on board a vessel, +which conveyed them to England. They carried letters which introduced +them to good people, who contributed money to put them to school for a +while. Their intelligence, industry, and good conduct confirmed the +favorable impression made by their first appearance. In 1860, Mr. Crafts +published a little book giving an account of their "Running a Thousand +Miles for Freedom." They have now been living in England fifteen years. +By their united industry and good management they earned a comfortable +living, and laid by a little, year after year, until they had enough to +buy a small house in the village of Hammersmith, not far from the great +city of London. There they keep their children at the best of schools, +and pay taxes which help to support the poor in the country which +protected them in their time of danger and distress. + +The honesty, energy, and good sense of Mr. Crafts inspired so much +respect and confidence in England, that the Quakers and other +benevolent people, who wish to do good to Africa, also merchants, who +want to open trade with that region, sent him out there with a valuable +cargo of goods, in November, 1862. The mission he is performing is very +important to the well-being of the world, as you will see by the +following explanation. + +Africa is four thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean from the United +States. It is inhabited by numerous tribes of black people, each tribe +with a separate government. These tribes vary in degrees of intelligence +and civilization; but they are generally of a peaceable and kindly +disposition, unless greatly provoked by wrongs from others. Where they +are safe from attack they live in little villages of huts, and raise +yams, rice, and other grain for food. They weave coarse cloth from +cotton, merely by means of sticks stuck in the ground, and in some +places they color it with gay patterns. They make very pretty baskets +and mats from grasses, and some of the tribes manufacture rude tools of +iron and ornaments of gold. But a constant state of warfare has hindered +the improvement of the Africans; for men have very little encouragement +to build good houses, and make convenient furniture, and plant grain, if +enemies are likely to come any night and burn and trample it all to the +ground. These continual wars have been largely caused by the +slave-trade. Formerly the African chiefs sold men into Slavery only in +punishment for some crime they had committed, or to work out a debt they +had failed to pay, or because they were prisoners taken in war. These +customs were barbarous enough, but they were not so bad as what they +were afterward taught to do by nations calling themselves Christians. In +various countries of Europe and America there were white people too +proud and lazy to work, but desirous to dress in the best and live on +the fat of the land. They sent ships out to Africa to bring them +negroes, whom they compelled to work without wages, with coarse, scanty +food, and scarcely any clothing. They grew rich on the labor of these +poor creatures, and spent their own time in drinking, gambling, and +horse-racing. Slave-traders, in order to supply them with as many +negroes as they wanted, would steal all the men, women, and children +they could catch on the coast of Africa; and would buy others from the +chiefs, paying them mostly in rum and gunpowder. This made the different +tribes very desirous to go to war with each other, in order to take +prisoners to sell to the slave-traders; and the more rum they drank, the +more full of fight they were. This mean and cruel business has been +carried on by white men four hundred years; and all that while African +villages have been burned in the night, and harvests trampled, and men, +women, and children carried off to hopeless Slavery in distant lands. +This continual violence, and intercourse with such bad white men as the +slave-traders, kept the Africans barbarous; and made them much more +barbarous than they would otherwise have been. Such a state of things +made it impossible for them to improve, as they would have done if the +nations called Christians had sent them spelling-books and Bibles +instead of rum, teachers instead of slave-traders, and tools and +machinery instead of gunpowder. + +Of all the African chiefs the King of Dahomey is the most powerful. He +sends armed men all about the country to carry off people and sell them +to Europeans and Americans. In that bad way he has grown richer than +other chiefs, and more hard-hearted. Benevolent people in England have +long desired to stop the ravages of the slave-trade and to teach the +Africans better things. The dearth of cotton in the United States, +occasioned by the Rebellion of the planters, turned the attention of +English merchants in the same direction. It was accordingly agreed to +send Mr. Crafts to Dahomey to open a trade, and try to convince the king +that it would be more profitable to him to employ men in raising cotton +than to sell them for slaves. He was well received by the King of +Dahomey, who shows a disposition to be influenced by his judicious +counsels. This is a great satisfaction to Mr. Crafts, desirous as he is +of elevating people of his own color. Numbers who were destined to be +sold into foreign Slavery are already employed in raising cotton in +their native land. Wars will become less frequent; and the African +tribes will gradually learn that the arts of peace are more profitable, +as well as more pleasant. This will bring them into communication with a +better class of white men; and I hope that, before another hundred years +have passed away, there will be Christian churches all over Africa, and +school-houses for the children. + +Mr. Crafts sold all the goods he carried out in the first vessel, and +managed the business so well that he was sent out with another cargo. He +is now one of the most enterprising and respected merchants in that part +of the world; and his labors produce better results than mere money, for +they are the means of making men wiser and better. How much would have +been lost to himself and the world if he had remained a slave in +Georgia, not allowed to profit by his own industry, and forbidden to +improve his mind by learning to read! + +Mr. M. D. Conway, the son of a slaveholder in Virginia, but a very able +and zealous friend of the colored people, recently visited England, and +sent the following letter to Boston, where it was read with great +interest by the numerous friends of William and Ellen Crafts:-- + + "LONDON, October 29th, 1864. + + "A walk one pleasant morning across a green common, then through a + quiet street of the village called Hammersmith, brought me to the + house of an American whom I respect as much as any now in Europe; + namely, William Crafts, once a slave in Georgia, then a hunted + fugitive in Massachusetts, but now a respected citizen of England, + and the man who is doing more to redeem Africa from her cruel + superstitions than all other forces put together. He lately came + home from Dahomey, the ship-load of goods that he had taken out to + Africa from Liverpool having been entirely sold. The merchants who + sent him are preparing another cargo for him, and he will probably + leave the country this week. His theory is, that commerce is to + destroy the abominations in the realm of Dahomey. He is very black, + but he finds the color which was so much against him in America a + leading advantage to him in Africa. Ellen, his wife, told us that + she was too white to go with him. He was absent on business in + Liverpool, and thus, to my regret, I missed the opportunity of + seeing him. There was a pretty little girl, and three unusually + handsome boys. They all inherit the light complexion and beauty of + their mother. We found Mrs. Crafts busy packing her husband's trunk + for his next voyage. She showed us a number of interesting things + which he had brought from Africa. Among them were birds of bright + plumage, a belt worn by the Amazons in war, a sword made by the + Africans, breastpins, and other excellent specimens of work in + metals. I remembered that years ago the sight of similar things + inspired Clarkson with his strong faith in the improvability of the + African race. + + "William and Ellen Crafts own the house in which they live. After + that brave flight of a thousand miles for freedom, after the + dangers which surrounded them in Massachusetts, it did my heart + good to see them enjoying their own simple but charming home, to + see them thus living under their own vine and fig-tree, none daring + to molest or make them afraid. + + "M. D. CONWAY." + +Mrs. Crafts has used her needle diligently to make garments for the +colored people of the United States emancipated by President Lincoln's +Proclamation. She has had the pleasure of hearing that her mother is +among them, healthy, and still young looking for her years. As soon as +arrangements can be made she will go to England to rejoin her daughter, +whom she has not seen since her hazardous flight from Georgia. + +I think all who read this romantic but true story will agree with me in +thinking that few white people have shown as much intelligence, moral +worth, and refinement of feeling as the fugitive slaves William and +Ellen Crafts. + + * * * * * + +In February, 1861, the Emperor of Russia proclaimed freedom to +twenty-three millions of serfs. Finding their freedom was not secure in +the hands of their former masters, he afterward completed the good work +by investing the freedmen with civil and political rights; including the +right to testify in court, the right to vote, and the right to hold +office. + + + + +SPRING. + +BY GEORGE HORTON. + + + Hail, thou auspicious vernal dawn! + Ye birds, proclaim that winter's gone! + Ye warbling minstrels, sing! + Pour forth your tribute as ye rise, + And thus salute the fragrant skies, + The pleasing smiles of spring! + + Coo sweetly, O thou harmless dove, + And bid thy mate no longer rove + In cold hybernal vales! + Let music rise from every tongue, + Whilst winter flies before the song + Which floats on gentle gales. + + Ye frozen streams, dissolve and flow + Along the valley sweet and slow! + Divested fields, be gay! + Ye drooping forests, bloom on high, + And raise your branches to the sky; + And thus your charms display! + + Thou world of heat! thou vital source! + The torpid insects feel thy force, + Which all with life supplies. + Gardens and orchards richly bloom, + And send a gale of sweet perfume, + To invite them as they rise. + + Near where the crystal waters glide + The male of birds escorts his bride, + And twitters on the spray; + He mounts upon his active wing, + To hail the bounty of the spring, + The lavish pomp of May. + + + + +THE GOOD GRANDMOTHER. + +BY HARRIET JACOBS. + + +I had a great treasure in my maternal grandmother, who was a remarkable +woman in many respects. She was the daughter of a planter in South +Carolina, who, at his death, left her and her mother free, with money to +go to St. Augustine, where they had relatives. It was during the +Revolutionary War, and they were captured on their passage, carried +back, and sold to different purchasers. Such was the story my +grandmother used to tell me. She was sold to the keeper of a large +hotel, and I have often heard her tell how hard she fared during +childhood. But as she grew older she evinced so much intelligence, and +was so faithful, that her master and mistress could not help seeing it +was for their interest to take care of such a valuable piece of +property. She became an indispensable person in the household, +officiating in all capacities, from cook and wet-nurse to seamstress. +She was much praised for her cooking; and her nice crackers became so +famous in the neighborhood that many people were desirous of obtaining +them. In consequence of numerous requests of this kind, she asked +permission of her mistress to bake crackers at night, after all the +household work was done; and she obtained leave to do it, provided she +would clothe herself and the children from the profits. Upon these +terms, after working hard all day for her mistress, she began her +midnight bakings, assisted by her two oldest children. The business +proved profitable; and each year she laid by a little, to create a fund +for the purchase of her children. Her master died, and his property was +divided among the heirs. My grandmother remained in the service of his +widow, as a slave. Her children were divided among her master's +children; but as she had five, Benjamin, the youngest, was sold, in +order that the heirs might have an equal portion of dollars and cents. +There was so little difference in our ages, that he always seemed to me +more like a brother than an uncle. He was a bright, handsome lad, nearly +white; for he inherited the complexion my grandmother had derived from +Anglo-Saxon ancestors. His sale was a terrible blow to his mother; but +she was naturally hopeful, and she went to work with redoubled energy, +trusting in time to be able to purchase her children. One day, her +mistress begged the loan of three hundred dollars from the little fund +she had laid up from the proceeds of her baking. She promised to pay her +soon; but as no promise or writing given to a slave is legally binding, +she was obliged to trust solely to her honor. + +In my master's house very little attention was paid to the slaves' +meals. If they could catch a bit of food while it was going, well and +good. But I gave myself no trouble on that score; for on my various +errands I passed my grandmother's house, and she always had something +to spare for me. I was frequently threatened with punishment if I +stopped there; and my grandmother, to avoid detaining me, often stood at +the gate with something for my breakfast or dinner. I was indebted to +her for all my comforts, spiritual or temporal. It was _her_ labor that +supplied my scanty wardrobe. I have a vivid recollection of the +linsey-woolsey dress given me every winter by Mrs. Flint. How I hated +it! It was one of the badges of Slavery. While my grandmother was thus +helping to support me from her hard earnings, the three hundred dollars +she lent her mistress was never repaid. When her mistress died, my +master, who was her son-in-law, was appointed executor. When grandmother +applied to him for payment, he said the estate was insolvent, and the +law prohibited payment. It did not, however, prohibit him from retaining +the silver candelabra which had been purchased with that money. I +presume they will be handed down in the family from generation to +generation. + +My grandmother's mistress had always promised that at her death she +should be free; and it was said that in her will she made good the +promise. But when the estate was settled, Dr. Flint told the faithful +old servant that, under existing circumstances, it was necessary she +should be sold. + +On the appointed day the customary advertisement was posted up, +proclaiming that there would be "a public sale of negroes, horses, &c." +Dr. Flint called to tell my grandmother that he was unwilling to wound +her feelings by putting her up at auction, and that he would prefer to +dispose of her at private sale. She saw through his hypocrisy, and +understood very well that he was ashamed of the job. She was a very +spirited woman; and if he was base enough to sell her, after her +mistress had made her free by her will, she was determined the public +should know it. She had, for a long time, supplied many families with +crackers and preserves; consequently "Aunt Marthy," as she was called, +was generally known; and all who knew her respected her intelligence and +good character. It was also well known that her mistress had intended to +leave her free, as a reward for her long and faithful services. When the +day of sale came, she took her place among the chattels, and at the +first call she sprang upon the auction-block. She was then fifty years +old. Many voices called out: "Shame! shame! Who's going to sell _you_, +Aunt Marthy? Don't stand there. That's no place for _you_." She made no +answer, but quietly awaited her fate. No one bid for her. At last a +feeble voice said, "Fifty dollars." It came from a maiden lady, seventy +years old, the sister of my grandmother's deceased mistress. She had +lived forty years under the same roof with my grandmother; she knew how +faithfully she had served her owners, and how cruelly she had been +defrauded of her rights, and she resolved to protect her. The auctioneer +waited for a higher bid; but her wishes were respected; no one bid above +her. The old lady could neither read nor write; and when the bill of +sale was made out, she signed it with a cross. But of what consequence +was that, when she had a big heart overflowing with human kindness? She +gave the faithful old servant her freedom. + +My grandmother had always been a mother to her orphan grandchildren, as +far as that was possible in a condition of Slavery. Her perseverance and +unwearied industry continued unabated after her time was her own, and +she soon became mistress of a snug little home, and surrounded herself +with the necessaries of life. She would have been happy, if her family +could have shared them with her. There remained to her but three +children and two grandchildren; and they were all slaves. Most earnestly +did she strive to make us feel that it was the will of God; that He had +seen fit to place us under such circumstances, and though it seemed +hard, we ought to pray for contentment. It was a beautiful faith, coming +from a mother who could not call her children her own. But I and +Benjamin, her youngest boy, condemned it. It appeared to us that it was +much more according to the will of God that we should be free, and able +to make a home for ourselves, as she had done. There we always found +balsam for our troubles. She was so loving, so sympathizing! She always +met us with a smile, and listened with patience to all our sorrows. She +spoke so hopefully, that unconsciously the clouds gave place to +sunshine. There was a grand big oven there, too, that baked bread and +nice things for the town; and we knew there was always a choice bit in +store for us. But even the charms of that old oven failed to reconcile +us to our hard lot. Benjamin was now a tall, handsome lad, strongly and +gracefully made, and with a spirit too bold and daring for a slave. + +One day his master attempted to flog him for not obeying his summons +quickly enough. Benjamin resisted, and in the struggle threw his master +down. To raise his hand against a white man was a great crime, according +to the laws of the State; and to avoid a cruel, public whipping, +Benjamin hid himself and made his escape. My grandmother was absent, +visiting an old friend in the country, when this happened. When she +returned, and found her youngest child had fled, great was her sorrow. +But, with characteristic piety, she said, "God's will be done." Every +morning she inquired whether any news had been heard from her boy. Alas! +news did come,--sad news. The master received a letter, and was +rejoicing over the capture of his human chattel. + +That day seems to me but as yesterday, so well do I remember it. I saw +him led through the streets in chains to jail. His face was ghastly +pale, but full of determination. He had sent some one to his mother's +house to ask her not to come to meet him. He said the sight of her +distress would take from him all self-control. Her heart yearned to see +him, and she went; but she screened herself in the crowd, that it might +be as her child had said. + +We were not allowed to visit him. But we had known the jailer for years, +and he was a kind-hearted man. At midnight he opened the door for my +grandmother and myself to enter, in disguise. When we entered the cell, +not a sound broke the stillness. "Benjamin," whispered my grandmother. +No answer. "Benjamin!" said she, again, in a faltering tone. There was a +jingling of chains. The moon had just risen, and cast an uncertain light +through the bars. We knelt down and took Benjamin's cold hands in ours. +Sobs alone were heard, while she wept upon his neck. At last Benjamin's +lips were unsealed. Mother and son talked together. He asked her pardon +for the suffering he had caused her. She told him she had nothing to +forgive; that she could not blame him for wanting to be free. He told +her that he broke away from his captors, and was about to throw himself +into the river, but thoughts of her came over him and arrested the +movement. She asked him if he did not also think of God. He replied: +"No, mother, I did not. When a man is hunted like a wild beast, he +forgets that there _is_ a God." + +The pious mother shuddered, as she said: "Don't talk so, Benjamin. Try +to be humble, and put your trust in God." + +"I wish I had some of your goodness," he replied. "You bear everything +patiently, just as though you thought it was all right. I wish I could." + +She told him it had not always been so with her; that once she was like +him; but when sore troubles came upon her, and she had no arm to lean +upon, she learned to call on God, and he lightened her burdens. She +besought him to do so likewise. + +The jailer came to tell us we had overstayed our time, and we were +obliged to hurry away. Grandmother went to the master and tried to +intercede for her son. But he was inexorable. He said Benjamin should be +made an example of. That he should be kept in jail till he was sold. For +three months he remained within the walls of the prison, during which +time grandmother secretly conveyed him changes of clothes, and as often +as possible carried him something warm for supper, accompanied with some +little luxury for her friend the jailer. He was finally sold to a +slave-trader from New Orleans. When they fastened irons upon his wrists +to drive him off with the coffle, it was heart-rending to hear the +groans of that poor mother, as she clung to the Benjamin of her +family,--her youngest, her pet. He was pale and thin now, from hardships +and long confinement; but still his good looks were so observable that +the slave-trader remarked he would give any price for the handsome lad, +if he were a girl. We, who knew so well what Slavery was, were thankful +that he was not. + +Grandmother stifled her grief, and with strong arms and unwavering faith +set to work to purchase freedom for Benjamin. She knew the slave-trader +would charge three times as much as he gave for him; but she was not +discouraged. She employed a lawyer to write to New Orleans, and try to +negotiate the business for her. But word came that Benjamin was missing; +he had run away again. + +Philip, my grandmother's only remaining son, inherited his mother's +intelligence. His mistress sometimes trusted him to go with a cargo to +New York. One of these occasions occurred not long after Benjamin's +second escape. Through God's good providence the brothers met in the +streets of New York. It was a happy meeting, though Benjamin was very +pale and thin; for on his way from bondage he had been taken violently +ill, and brought nigh unto death. Eagerly he embraced his brother, +exclaiming: "O Phil! here I am at last. I came nigh dying when I was +almost in sight of freedom; and O how I prayed that I might live just to +get one breath of free air! And here I am. In the old jail, I used to +wish I was dead. But life is worth something now, and it would be hard +to die." He begged his brother not to go back to the South, but to stay +and work with him till they earned enough to buy their relatives. + +Philip replied: "It would kill mother if I deserted her. She has pledged +her house, and is working harder than ever to buy you. Will you be +bought?" + +"Never!" replied Benjamin, in his resolute tone. "When I have got so far +out of their clutches, do you suppose, Phil, that I would ever let them +be paid one red cent? Do you think I would consent to have mother turned +out of her hard-earned home in her old age? And she never to see me +after she had bought me? For you know, Phil, she would never leave the +South while any of her children or grandchildren remained in Slavery. +What a good mother! Tell her to buy _you_, Phil. You have always been a +comfort to her; and I have always been making her trouble." + +Philip furnished his brother with some clothes, and gave him what money +he had. Benjamin pressed his hand, and said, with moistened eyes, "I +part from all my kindred." And so it proved. We never heard from him +afterwards. + +When Uncle Philip came home, the first words he said, on entering the +house, were: "O mother, Ben is free! I have seen him in New York." For a +moment she seemed bewildered. He laid his hand gently on her shoulder +and repeated what he had said. She raised her hands devoutly, and +exclaimed, "God be praised! Let us thank Him." She dropped on her knees +and poured forth her heart in prayer. When she grew calmer, she begged +Philip to sit down and repeat every word her son had said. He told her +all, except that Benjamin had nearly died on the way and was looking +very pale and thin. + +Still the brave old woman toiled on to accomplish the rescue of her +remaining children. After a while she succeeded in buying Philip, for +whom she paid eight hundred dollars, and came home with the precious +document that secured his freedom. The happy mother and son sat by her +hearthstone that night, telling how proud they were of each other, and +how they would prove to the world that they could take care of +themselves, as they had long taken care of others. We all concluded by +saying, "He that is _willing_ to be a slave, let him be a slave." + +My grandmother had still one daughter remaining in Slavery. She belonged +to the same master that I did; and a hard time she had of it. She was a +good soul, this old Aunt Nancy. She did all she could to supply the +place of my lost mother to us orphans. She was the _factotum_ in our +master's household. She was house-keeper, waiting-maid, and everything +else: nothing went on well without her, by day or by night. She wore +herself out in their service. Grandmother toiled on, hoping to purchase +release for her. But one evening word was brought that she had been +suddenly attacked with paralysis, and grandmother hastened to her +bedside. Mother and daughter had always been devotedly attached to each +other; and now they looked lovingly and earnestly into each other's +eyes, longing to speak of secrets that weighed on the hearts of both. +She lived but two days, and on the last day she was speechless. It was +sad to witness the grief of her bereaved mother. She had always been +strong to bear, and religious faith still supported her; but her dark +life had become still darker, and age and trouble were leaving deep +traces on her withered face. The poor old back was fitted to its burden. +It bent under it, but did not break. + +Uncle Philip asked permission to bury his sister at his own expense; and +slaveholders are always ready to grant _such_ favors to slaves and their +relatives. The arrangements were very plain, but perfectly respectable. +It was talked of by the slaves as a mighty grand funeral. If Northern +travellers had been passing through the place, perhaps they would have +described it as a beautiful tribute to the humble dead, a touching proof +of the attachment between slaveholders and their slaves; and very likely +the mistress would have confirmed this impression, with her handkerchief +at her eyes. _We_ could have told them how the poor old mother had +toiled, year after year, to buy her son Philip's right to his own +earnings; and how that same Philip had paid the expenses of the funeral +which they regarded as doing so much credit to the master. + +There were some redeeming features in our hard destiny. Very pleasant +are my recollections of the good old lady who paid fifty dollars for the +purpose of making my grandmother free, when she stood on the +auction-block. She loved this old lady, whom we all called Miss Fanny. +She often took tea at grandmother's house. On such occasions, the table +was spread with a snow-white cloth, and the china cups and silver spoons +were taken from the old-fashioned buffet. There were hot muffins, +tea-rusks, and delicious sweetmeats. My grandmother always had a supply +of such articles, because she furnished the ladies of the town with such +things for their parties. She kept two cows for that purpose, and the +fresh cream was Miss Fanny's delight. She invariably repeated that it +was the very best in town. The old ladies had cosey times together. They +would work and chat, and sometimes, while talking over old times, their +spectacles would get dim with tears, and would have to be taken off and +wiped. When Miss Fanny bade us "Good by," her bag was always filled with +grandmother's best cakes, and she was urged to come again soon. + +[Here follows a long account of persecutions endured by the +granddaughter, who tells this story. She finally made her escape, after +encountering great dangers and hardships. The faithful old grandmother +concealed her for a long time at great risk to them both, during which +time she tried in vain to buy free papers for her. At last there came a +chance to escape in a vessel Northward bound. She goes on to say:--] + +"All arrangements were made for me to go on board at dusk. Grandmother +came to me with a small bag of money, which she wanted me to take. I +begged her to keep at least part of it; but she insisted, while her +tears fell fast, that I should take the whole. 'You may be sick among +strangers,' said she; 'and they would send you to the poor-house to +die.' Ah, that good grandmother! Though I had the blessed prospect of +freedom before me, I felt dreadfully sad at leaving forever that old +homestead, that had received and sheltered me in so many sorrows. +Grandmother took me by the hand and said, 'My child, let us pray.' We +knelt down together, with my arm clasped round the faithful, loving old +friend I was about to leave forever. On no other occasion has it been my +lot to listen to so fervent a supplication for mercy and protection. It +thrilled through my heart and inspired me with trust in God. I staggered +into the street, faint in body, though strong of purpose. I did not look +back upon the dear old place, though I felt that I should never see it +again." + +[The granddaughter found friends at the North, and, being uncommonly +quick in her perceptions, she soon did much to supply the deficiencies +of early education. While leading a worthy, industrious life in New +York, she twice very narrowly escaped becoming a victim to the infamous +Fugitive Slave Law. A noble-hearted lady purchased her freedom, and +thereby rescued her from further danger. She thus closes the story of +her venerable ancestor:--] + +"My grandmother lived to rejoice in the knowledge of my freedom; but not +long afterward a letter came to me with a black seal. It was from a +friend at the South, who informed me that she had gone 'where the +wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.' Among +the gloomy recollections of my life in bondage come tender memories of +that good grandmother, like a few fleecy clouds floating over a dark and +troubled sea." + + H. J. + +NOTE.--The above account is no fiction. The author, who was thirty years +in Slavery, wrote it in an interesting book entitled "Linda." She is an +esteemed friend of mine; and I introduce this portion of her story here +to illustrate the power of character over circumstances. She has intense +sympathy for those who are still suffering in the bondage from which she +escaped. She has devoted all her energies to the poor refugees in our +camps, comforting the afflicted, nursing the sick, and teaching the +children. On the 1st of January, 1863, she wrote me a letter, which +began as follows: "I have lived to hear the Proclamation of Freedom for +my suffering people. All my wrongs are forgiven. I am more than repaid +for all I have endured. Glory to God in the highest!" + + L. M. CHILD. + + * * * * * + +"THEY CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES." + + Our tobacco they plant, and our cotton they pick, + And our rice they can harvest and thrash; + They feed us in health, and they nurse us when sick, + And they earn--while we pocket--our cash. + They lead us when young, and they help us when old, + And their toil loads our tables and shelves; + But they're "niggers"; and _therefore_ (the truth must be told) + They cannot take care of _themselves_. + + REV. JOHN PIERPONT. + + + + +THE COLORED MOTHER'S PRAYER. + + + Great Father! who created all, + The colored and the fair, + O listen to a mother's call; + Hear Thou the negro's prayer! + + Yet once again thy people teach, + With lessons from above, + That they may _practise_ what they _preach_, + And _all_ their neighbors love. + + Again the Gospel precepts give; + Teach them this rule to know,-- + Such treatment as ye should _receive_, + Be willing to _bestow_. + + Then my poor child, my darling one, + Will never feel the smart + Of their unjust and cruel scorn, + That withers all the heart. + + Great Father! who created all, + The colored and the fair, + O listen to a mother's call; + Hear Thou the negro's prayer! + + + + +WILLIAM COSTIN. + + +Mr. William Costin was for twenty-four years porter of a bank in +Washington, D. C. Many millions of dollars passed through his hands, but +not a cent was ever missing, through fraud or carelessness. In his daily +life he set an example of purity and benevolence. He adopted four orphan +children into his family, and treated them with the kindness of a +father. His character inspired general respect; and when he died, in +1842, the newspapers of the city made honorable mention of him. The +directors of the bank passed a resolution expressive of their high +appreciation of his services, and his coffin was followed to the grave +by a very large procession of citizens of all classes and complexions. +Not long after, when the Honorable John Quincy Adams was speaking in +Congress on the subject of voting, he said: "The late William Costin, +though he was not white, was as much respected as any man in the +District; and the large concourse of citizens that attended his remains +to the grave--as well white as black--was an evidence of the manner in +which he was estimated by the citizens of Washington. Now, why should +such a man as that be excluded from the elective franchise, when you +admit the vilest individuals of the white race to exercise it?" + + * * * * * + +Strain every nerve, wrestle with every power God and nature have put +into your hands, for your place among the races of this Western +world.--WENDELL PHILLIPS. + + + + +EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +People of all colors and conditions love their offspring; but very few +consider sufficiently how much the future character and happiness of +their children depend on their own daily language and habits. It does +very little good to teach children to be honest if the person who +teaches them is not scrupulous about taking other people's property or +using it without leave. It does very little good to tell them they ought +to be modest, if they are accustomed to hear their elders use unclean +words or tell indecent stories. Primers and catechisms may teach them to +reverence God, but the lesson will lose half its effect if they +habitually hear their parents curse and swear. Some two hundred years +ago a very learned astronomer named Sir Isaac Newton lived in England. +He was so devout that he always took off his hat when the name of God +was mentioned. By that act of reverence he taught a religious lesson to +every child who witnessed it. Young souls are fed by what they see and +hear, just as their bodies are fed with daily food. No parents who knew +what they were doing would give their little ones poisonous food, that +would produce fevers, ulcers, and death. It is of far more consequence +not to poison their souls; for the body passes away, but the soul is +immortal. + +When a traveller pointed to a stunted and crooked tree and asked what +made it grow so, a child replied, "I suppose somebody trod on it when +it was little." It is hard for children born in Slavery to grow up +spiritually straight and healthy, because they are trodden on when they +are little. Being constantly treated unjustly, they cannot learn to be +just. Their parents have no power to protect them from evil influences. +They cannot prevent their continually seeing cruel and indecent actions, +and hearing profane and dirty words. Heretofore, you could not educate +your children, either morally or intellectually. But now that you are +freemen, responsibility rests upon you. You will be answerable before +God for the influence you exert over the young souls intrusted to your +care. You may be too ignorant to teach them much of book-learning, and +you may be too poor to spend much money for their education, but you can +set them a pure and good example by your conduct and conversation. This +you should try your utmost to do, and should pray to the Heavenly Father +to help you; for it is a very solemn duty, this rearing of young souls +for eternity. That you yourselves have had a stunted growth, from being +trodden upon when you were little, will doubtless make you more careful +not to tread upon them. + +It is necessary that children should be made obedient to their elders, +because they are not old enough to know what is good for themselves; but +obedience should always be obtained by the gentlest means possible. +Violence excites anger and hatred, without doing any good to +counterbalance the evil. When it is necessary to punish a child, it +should be done in such a calm and reasonable manner as to convince him +that you do it for his good, and not because you are in a rage. + +Slaves, all the world over, are generally much addicted to lying. The +reason is, that if they have done any mischief by carelessness or +accident, they dare not tell the truth about it for fear of a cruel +flogging. Violent and tyrannical treatment always produces that effect. +Wherever children are abused, whether they are white or black, they +become very cunning and deceitful; for when the weak are tortured by the +strong, they have no other way to save themselves from suffering. Such +treatment does not cure faults; it only makes people lie to conceal +their faults. If a child does anything wrong, and confesses it frankly, +his punishment ought to be slight, in order to encourage him in habits +of truthfulness, which is one of the noblest attributes of manhood. If +he commits the same fault a second time, even if he confesses it, he +ought not to be let off so easily, because it is necessary to teach him +that confession, though a very good thing, will not supply the place of +repentance. When children are naughty, it is better to deprive them of +some pleasant thing that they want to eat or drink or do, than it is to +kick and cuff them. It is better to attract them toward what is right +than to drive them from what is wrong. Thus if a boy is lazy, it is +wiser to promise him reward in proportion to his industry, than it is to +cuff and scold him, which will only make him shirk work as soon as you +are out of sight. Whereas, if you tell him, "You shall have six cents if +you dig one bushel of potatoes, and six cents more if you dig two," he +will have a motive that will stimulate him when you are not looking +after him. If he is too lazy to be stimulated by such offers, he must be +told that he who digs no potatoes must have none to eat. + +The moral education which you are all the time giving your children, by +what they hear you say and see you do, is of more consequence to them +than reading and writing and ciphering. But the education they get at +school is also very important; and it will be wise and kind in you to +buy such books as they need, and encourage them in every way to become +good scholars, as well as good men. By so doing you will not only +benefit them, but you will help all your race. Every colored man or +woman who is virtuous and intelligent takes away something of prejudice +against colored men and women in general; and it likewise encourages all +their brethren and sisters, by showing what colored people are capable +of doing. + +The system of Slavery was all penalty and no attraction; in other words, +it punished men if they did _not_ do, but it did not reward them for +_doing_. In the management of your children you should do exactly the +opposite of this. You should appeal to their manhood, not to their +fears. After emancipation in the West Indies, planters who had been +violent slaveholders, if they saw a freedman leaning on his hoe, would +say, "Work, you black rascal, or I'll flog you"; and the freedman would +lean all the longer on his hoe. Planters of a more wise and moderate +character, if they saw the emancipated laborers idling away their time, +would say, "We expect better things of free men"; and that appeal to +their manhood made the hoes fly fast. + +Old men and women have been treated with neglect and contempt in +Slavery, because they were no longer able to work for the profit of +their masters. But respect and tenderness are peculiarly due to the +aged. They have done much and suffered much. They are no longer able to +help themselves; and we should help them, as they helped us in the +feebleness of our infancy, and as we may again need to be helped in the +feebleness of age. Any want of kindness or civility toward the old +ought to be very seriously rebuked in children; and affectionate +attentions should be spoken of as praiseworthy. + +Slavery in every way fosters violence. Slave-children, being in the +habit of seeing a great deal of beating, early form the habit of kicking +and banging each other when they are angry, and of abusing poor helpless +animals intrusted to their care. On all such occasions parents should +say to them: "Those are the ways of Slavery. We expect better things of +free children." + + * * * * * + +AN HONORABLE RECORD. + +In 1837 the colored population in Philadelphia numbered eighteen +thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight. Many of them were poor and +ignorant, and some of them were vicious; as would be the case with any +people under such discouraging influences. But, notwithstanding they +were excluded by prejudice from all the most profitable branches of +industry, they had acquired property valued at one million three hundred +and fifty thousand dollars; five hundred and fifty thousand was in real +estate, and eight hundred thousand was personal property. They had built +sixteen churches, valued at one hundred and fourteen thousand dollars, +for the support of which they annually paid over six thousand dollars. +The pauper tax they paid was more than enough to support all the colored +paupers in the city. They had eighty benevolent societies, and during +that year they had expended fourteen thousand one hundred and +seventy-two dollars for the relief of the sick and the helpless. A +number of them who had been slaves had paid, in the course of that year, +seventy thousand seven hundred and thirty-three dollars to purchase +their own freedom, or that of their relatives. + + + + +THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + Thank God for little children! + Bright flowers by earth's wayside,-- + The dancing, joyous life-boats + Upon life's stormy tide. + + Thank God for little children! + When our skies are cold and gray, + They come as sunshine to our hearts, + And charm our cares away. + + I almost think the angels, + Who tend life's garden fair, + Drop down the sweet wild blossoms + That bloom around us here. + + It seems a breath of heaven + "Round many a cradle lies," + And every little baby + Brings a message from the skies. + + The humblest home, with children, + Is rich in precious gems; + Better than wealth of monarchs, + Or golden diadems. + + Dear mothers, guard these jewels + As sacred offerings meet,-- + A wealth of household treasures, + To lay at Jesus' feet. + + + + +SAM AND ANDY. + +BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE. + + +A beautiful slave in Kentucky, named Eliza, had a very handsome little +boy. One day she overheard her master making a bargain with a +slave-trader by the name of Haley to sell them both. She made her escape +that night, taking her child with her. Her mistress, who was much +attached to her, and did not want to have her sold, was glad when she +heard that Eliza was gone; but her master, who was afraid the trader +would think he had helped her off after he had taken the money for her, +ordered the horses Bill and Jerry to be brought, and two of his slaves, +called Sam and Andy, to go with the slave-trader in pursuit of the +fugitive. The way they contrived how _not_ to overtake Eliza is thus +told in "Uncle Tom's Cabin":-- + +"'Sam! Halloo, Sam!' said Andy. 'Mas'r wants you to cotch Bill and +Jerry.' + +"'High! what's afoot now?' said Sam. + +"'Why I s'pose you don't know that Lizy's cut stick, and clared out, +with her young un?' + +"'You teach your granny!' replied Sam, with infinite contempt; 'knowed +it a heap sooner than _you_ did. This nigger a'n't so green, now.' + +"'Wal, anyhow, Mas'r wants Bill and Jerry geared right up; and you and +I's to go with Mas'r Haley, to look arter her,' said Andy. + +"Sam, who had just been contriving how he could make himself of +importance on the plantation, exclaimed: 'Good, now! dat's de time o' +day! It's Sam dat's called for in dese yere times. _He_'s de nigger. +Mas'r'll see what Sam can do!' + +"'Ah, you'd better think twice,' said Andy; 'for Missis don't want her +cotched, and she'll be in yer wool.' + +"'High! how you know dat?' said Sam, opening his eyes. + +"'Heard her say so, my own self, dis blessed mornin', when I bring in +Mas'r's shaving-water. She sent me to see why Lizy didn't come to dress +her; and when I telled her she was off, she jes ris up, and ses she, +"The Lord be praised!" Mas'r he seemed rael mad; and ses he, "Wife, you +talk like a fool." But, Lor! she'll bring him to. I knows well enough +how that'll be. It's allers best to stand Missis's side the fence, now I +tell yer,' said Andy. + +"Sam scratched his woolly pate, and gave a hitch to his pantaloons, as +he had a habit of doing when his mind was perplexed. 'Der a'n't never no +sayin' 'bout no kind o' thing in dis yere world,' said he at last. 'Now +I'd a said sartin that Missis would a scoured the varsal world after +Lizy.' + +"'So she would,' said Andy; 'but can't ye see through a ladder, ye black +nigger? Missis don't want dis yer Mas'r Haley to get Lizy's boy; dat's +de go. And I 'specs you'd better be making tracks for dem +hosses,--mighty sudden too,--for I hearn Missis 'quirin' arter yer; so +you've stood foolin' long enough.' + +"Sam, upon this, began to bestir himself in earnest, and after a while +appeared, bearing down gloriously towards the house, with Bill and Jerry +in a full canter. Adroitly throwing himself off before they had any +idea of stopping, he brought them up alongside the horse-post like a +tornado. Haley's horse, which was a skittish young colt, winced and +bounced, and pulled hard at his halter. + +"'Ho! ho!' said Sam, 'skeery, ar ye?' and his black face lighted up with +a curious, mischievous gleam. 'I'll fix ye now,' said he. + +"There was a large beech-tree overshadowing the place, and the small, +sharp, triangular beech-nuts lay scattered thickly on the ground. Sam +stroked and patted the colt, and while pretending to adjust the saddle, +he slipped under it a sharp little nut, in such a manner that the least +weight brought upon the saddle would annoy the nervous animal, without +leaving any perceptible wound. + +"'Dar, me fix 'em,' said he, rolling his eyes with an approving grin. + +"At this moment Mrs. Shelby appeared on the balcony and beckoned to him. +'Why have you been loitering so, Sam?' said she. 'I sent Andy to tell +you to hurry.' + +"'Bress you, Missis, hosses won't be cotched all in a minit. They done +clared out down to the south pasture, and everywhar,' said Sam. + +"'Well, Sam,' replied his mistress, 'you are to go with Mr. Haley to +show him the road, and help him. Be careful of the horses, Sam. You know +Jerry was a little lame last week. _Don't ride them too fast._' She +spoke the last words in a low voice, and with strong emphasis. + +"'Let dis chile alone for dat,' said Sam, rolling up his eyes with a +look full of meaning. 'Yes, Missis, I'll look out for de hosses.' + +"Sam returned to his stand under the beech-tree, and said to Andy, 'Now, +Andy, I wouldn't be 't all surprised if dat ar gen'lman's crittur should +gib a fling, by and by, when he comes to be a gettin' up. You know, +Andy, critturs _will_ do such things'; and Sam poked Andy in the side, +in a highly suggestive manner. + +"'High!' exclaimed Andy, with an air that showed he understood +instantly. + +"'Yes, you see, Andy, Missis wants to make time,' said Sam; 'dat ar's +cl'ar to der most or'nary 'bserver. I jis make a little for her. Now, +you see, get all dese yere hosses loose, caperin' permiscus round dis +yere lot, and down to de wood dar, and I 'spec Mas'r won't be off in a +hurry.' + +"Andy grinned. + +"'You see, Andy,' said Sam, 'if any such thing should happen as that +Mas'r Haley's hoss _should_ begin to act contrary, and cut up, you and I +jist lets go of _our'n_ to help him! O yes, we'll _help_ him!' And Sam +and Andy laid their heads back on their shoulders, and broke into a low, +immoderate laugh, snapping their fingers, and flourishing their heels +with exquisite delight. + +"While they were enjoying themselves in this style, Haley appeared on +the verandah. Some cups of very good coffee had somewhat mollified him, +and he came out smiling and talking in tolerably restored humor. Sam and +Andy clawed for their torn hats, and flew to the horse-posts to be ready +to 'help Mas'r.' The brim of Sam's hat was all unbraided, and the +slivers of the palm-leaf started apart in every direction, giving it a +blazing air of freedom and defiance. The brim had gone entirely from +Andy's hat; but he thumped the crown on his head, and looked about well +pleased, as if to ask, 'Who says I haven't got a hat?' + +"'Well, boys,' said Haley, 'be alive now. We must lose no time.' + +"'Not a bit of him, Mas'r,' said Sam, putting Haley's rein into his +hand and holding his stirrup, while Andy was untying the other two +horses. + +"The instant Haley touched the saddle the mettlesome creature bounded +from the earth with a sudden spring, that threw his master sprawling +some feet off, on the dry, soft turf. With frantic ejaculations Sam made +a dive at the reins, but only succeeded in brushing the torn slivers of +his hat into the horse's eyes, which by no means tended to allay the +confusion of his nerves. With two or three contemptuous snorts he upset +Sam, flourished his heels vigorously in the air, and pranced away toward +the lower end of the lawn. He was followed by Bill and Jerry, whom Andy +had not failed to let loose, according to contract, speeding them off +with various direful cries. And now there was a scene of great +confusion. Sam and Andy ran and shouted; dogs ran barking here and +there; Mike, Mose, Mandy, Fanny, and all the smaller specimens on the +place, raced, whooped, shouted, and clapped their hands with outrageous +zeal. Haley's fleet horse entered into the spirit of the scene with +great gusto. He raced round the lawn, which was half a mile in extent, +and seemed to take a mischievous delight in letting his pursuers come +within a hand's breadth of him, and then whisking off again with a start +and a snort. + +"Sam's torn hat was seen everywhere. If there seemed to be the least +chance that a horse could be caught, down he bore upon him full tilt, +shouting, 'Now for it! Cotch him! cotch him!' in a way that set them all +to racing again. + +"Haley ran up and down, stamped, cursed, and swore. The master in vain +tried to give some directions from the balcony, and the mistress looked +from her chamber window and laughed. She had some suspicion that Sam was +the cause of all this confusion. + +"At last, about twelve o'clock, Sam appeared, mounted on Jerry, leading +Haley's horse, reeking with sweat, but with flashing eyes and dilated +nostrils, showing that the spirit of freedom had not yet entirely +subsided. + +"'He's cotched!' exclaimed Sam, triumphantly. 'If it hadn't been for me +they might a bust themselves, all on 'em; but I cotched him.' + +"'_You!_' growled Haley. 'If it hadn't been for _you_, this never would +have happened.' + +"'Bress us, Mas'r!' exclaimed Sam; 'when it's me that's been a racin' +and chasin' till the swet jist pours off me.' + +"'Well, well!' said Haley, 'you've lost me near three hours with your +cursed nonsense. Now let's be off, and have no more fooling.' + +"'Why, Mas'r,' said Sam, in a deprecating tone, 'I do believe you mean +to kill us all clar,--hosses and all. Here we are all jist ready to drop +down, and the critturs all in a reek o' sweat. Sure Mas'r won't think of +startin' now till arter dinner. Mas'r's hoss wants rubben down. See how +he's splashed hisself!--and Jerry limps, too. Don't think Missis would +be willing to have us start dis yere way, no how. Bress you, Mas'r, we +can ketch up, if we stop. Lizy nebber was no great of a walker.' + +"The mistress, who, greatly to her amusement, overheard this +conversation from the verandah, now came forward and courteously urged +Mr. Haley to stay to dinner, saying that the cook should bring it on the +table immediately. All things considered, the slave-trader concluded it +was best to do so. As he moved toward the parlor, Sam rolled his eyes +after him with unutterable meaning, and gravely led the horses to the +stable. + +"When he had fairly got beyond the shelter of the barn, and fastened +the horse to a post, he exclaimed, 'Did you see him, Andy? _Did_ yer see +him? O Lor', if it warn't as good as a meetin', now, to see him a +dancin' and a kickin', and swarin' at us! Didn't I hear him? Swar away, +ole fellow! says I to myself. Will you have yer hoss now, or wait till +you cotch him? says I.' And Sam and Andy leaned up against the barn, and +laughed to their hearts' content. + +"'Yer oughter seen how mad he looked when I brought the hoss up. Lor', +he'd a killed me if he durs' to; and there I was a standin' as innercent +and humble.' + +"'Lor', I seed you,' said Andy. 'A'n't you an old hoss, Sam?' + +"'Rather 'specs I am,' said Sam. 'Did you see Missus up stars at the +winder? I seed her laughin'.' + +"'I'm sure I was racin' so I didn't see nothin,' said Andy. + +"'Wal, yer see, I'se 'quired a habit o' bobservation,' said Sam. 'It's a +very 'portant habit, Andy; and I 'commend yer to be cultivatin' it, now +yer young. Bobservation makes all de difference in niggers. Didn't I see +what Missis wanted, though she never let on? Dat ar's bobservation, +Andy. I 'specs it's what yer may call a faculty. Faculties is different +in different peoples; but cultivation of 'em goes a great way.' + +"'I guess if I hadn't helped your bobservation dis mornin', yer wouldn't +have seen yer way so smart,' said Andy. + +"'You's a promisin' chile, Andy, der a'n't no manner o' doubt,' said +Sam. 'I think lots of yer, Andy; and I don't feel no ways ashamed to +take idees from yer. Let's go up to the house now, Andy. I'll be boun' +Missis'll give us an uncommon good bite dis yere time.'" + +"The mistress had promised that dinner should be brought on the table in +a hurry, and she had given the orders in Haley's hearing. But the +servants all seemed to have an impression that Missis would not be +disobliged by delay. Aunt Chloe, the cook, went on with her operations +in a very leisurely manner. Then it was wonderful what a number of +accidents happened. One upset the butter; another tumbled down with the +water, and had to go to the spring for more; another spilled the gravy; +then Aunt Chloe set about making new gravy, watching it and stirring it +with the greatest precision. If reminded that the orders were to hurry, +she answered shortly that she 'warn't a going to have raw gravy on the +table, to help nobody's catchin's.' + +"From time to time there was giggling in the kitchen, when news was +brought that 'Mas'r Haley was mighty oneasy, and that he couldn't set in +his cheer no ways, but was a walkin' and stalkin' to the winders and +through the porch.' + +"'Sarves him right!' said Aunt Chloe. 'He'll git wus nor oneasy, one of +these days, if he don't mend his ways.' + +"At last the dinner was sent in, and the mistress smiled and chatted, +and did all she could to make the time pass imperceptibly. + +"At two o'clock, Sam and Andy brought the horses up to the posts, +apparently greatly refreshed and invigorated by the scamper of the +morning. As Haley prepared to mount, he said, 'Your master don't keep no +dogs, I s'pose?' + +"'Heaps on 'em,' said Sam, triumphantly. 'Thar's Bruno,--he's a roarer; +and besides that, 'bout every nigger of us keeps a pup o' some natur' or +uther.' + +"'But does your master keep any dogs for tracking out niggers?' said +Haley. + +"Sam knew very well what he meant, but he kept on a look of desperate +simplicity. 'Wal,' said he, 'our dogs all smells round considerable +sharp. I 'spect they's the _kind_, though they ha'n't never had no +_practice_. They's far dogs at most anything though, if you'd get 'em +started.' He whistled to Bruno, a great lumbering Newfoundland dog, who +came pitching tumultuously toward them. + +"'You go hang!' exclaimed Haley, mounting his horse. 'Come, tumble up, +now.' + +"Sam tumbled up accordingly, contriving to tickle Andy as he did so. +This made Andy split out into a laugh, greatly to Haley's indignation, +who made a cut at him with his riding-whip. 'I'se 'stonished at yer, +Andy,' said Sam, with awful gravity. 'This yere's a seris bisness, Andy. +Yer mustn't be a makin' game. This yere a'n't no way to help Mas'r.' + +"When they came to the boundaries of the estate, Haley said: 'I shall +take the road to the river. I know the way of all of 'em. They always +makes tracks for the underground.' + +"'Sartin, dat's de idee,' said Sam. 'Mas'r Haley hits de thing right in +de middle. Now, der's two roads to de river,--de dirt road and der pike. +Which Mas'r mean to take?' + +"Andy looked up innocently at Sam, surprised at hearing this new +geographical fact; but he instantly confirmed what Sam said. + +"'I'd rather be 'clined to 'magine that Lizy'd take der dirt road, bein' +it's the least travelled,' said Sam. Though Haley was an old bird, and +inclined to be suspicious of chaff, he was rather brought up by this +view of the case. He pondered a moment, and said, 'If yer wasn't both on +yer such cussed liars, now!' + +"The pensive tone in which this was spoken amused Andy prodigiously. He +fell a little behind, and shook so with laughter as to run a great risk +of falling from his horse. But Sam's face was immovably composed into +the most doleful gravity. + +"'Course, Mas'r can do as he'd ruther,' said Sam. 'It's all one to us. +When I study 'pon it, I think de straight road is de best.' + +"'She would naturally go a lonesome way,' said Haley. + +"'I should 'magine so,' said Sam; 'but gals is pecular. Dey nebber does +nothin' ye thinks they will; mose gen'lly de contrar; so if yer thinks +they've gone one road, it's sartin you'd better go t'other, and then +you'll be sure to find 'em. So I think we'd better take de straight +road.' + +"Haley announced decidedly that he should go the other, and asked when +they should come to it. + +"'A little piece ahed,' said Sam, giving a wink to Andy. He added +gravely, 'I've studded on de matter, and I'm quite clar we ought not to +go dat ar way. I nebber been over it no way. It's despit lonesome, and +we might lose our way. And now I think on't, I hearn 'em tell dat ar +road was all fenced up down by der creek. A'n't it, Andy?' + +"Andy wasn't certain; he'd only 'hearn tell' about that road, but had +never been over it. + +"Haley thought the first mention of the road was involuntary on Sam's +part, and that, upon second thoughts, he had lied desperately to +dissuade him from taking that direction because he was unwilling to +implicate Eliza. Therefore he struck briskly into the road, and was +followed by Sam and Andy. + +"The road in fact had formerly been an old thoroughfare to the river, +but after the laying of the new pike it had been abandoned. It was open +for about an hour's ride, and after that it was cut across by various +farms and fences. Sam knew this perfectly well; indeed, the road had +been so long closed that Andy had never heard of it. He therefore rode +along with an air of dutiful submission, only groaning occasionally, and +saying it was 'desp't rough, and bad for Jerry's foot.' + +"'Now, I jest give yer warning, I know yer,' said Haley. 'Yer won't get +me to turn off this yere road, with all yer fussin'; so you shet up.' + +"'Mas'r will go his own way,' said Sam, with rueful submission, at the +same time winking portentously to Andy, whose delight now was very near +the explosive point. Sam was in wonderful spirits. He professed to keep +a very brisk lookout. At one time he exclaimed that he saw 'a gal's +bunnet' on the top of some distant eminence; at another time, he called +out to Andy to ask if 'that thar wasn't Lizy down in the holler.' He was +always sure to make these exclamations in some rough or craggy part of +the road, where the sudden quickening of speed was a special +inconvenience to all parties concerned, thus keeping Haley in a state of +constant commotion. + +"After riding about an hour in this way, the whole party made a +precipitate and tumultuous descent into a barn-yard belonging to a large +farming establishment. Not a soul was in sight, all the hands being +employed in the fields; but as the barn stood square across the road, +it was evident that their journey in that direction had reached its end. + +"'You rascal!' said Haley; 'you knew all about this.' + +"'Didn't I _tell_ yer I knowed, and yer wouldn't believe me?' replied +Sam. 'I telled Mas'r 't was all shet up, and fenced up, and I didn't +'spect we could git through. Andy heard me.' + +"This was too true to be disputed, and the unlucky man had to pocket his +wrath as well as he could. All three faced to the right about, and took +up their line of march for the highway." + +[The consequence of all these delays was, that they reached the Ohio +River only in season to see Eliza and her child get safely on the other +side, by jumping from one mass of floating ice to the other.] + +"'The gal's got seven devils in her I believe,' said Haley. 'How like a +wild-cat she jumped!' + +"'Wal, now,' said Sam, scratching his head, 'I hope Mas'r 'scuse us +tryin' dat ar road. Don't think I feel spry enough for dat ar, no way'; +and Sam gave a hoarse chuckle. + +"'_You_ laugh!' exclaimed the slave-trader, with a growl. + +"'I couldn't help it now, Mas'r,' said Sam, giving way to the long +pent-up delight of his soul. 'She looked so curis, a leapin' and +springin'; ice a crackin'--and only to hear her! plump! ker chunk! ker +splash!' and Sam and Andy laughed till the tears rolled down their +cheeks. + +"'I'll make yer laugh t'other side yer mouths!' exclaimed the trader, +laying about their heads with his riding-whip. Both ducked, and ran +shouting up the bank. They were on their horses before he could come up +with them. + +"With much gravity Sam called out: 'Good evening, Mas'r Haley. Won't +want us no longer. I 'spect Missis be anxious 'bout Jerry. Missis +wouldn't hear of our ridin' the critturs over Lizy's bridge to-night.' +With a poke into Andy's ribs, they started off at full speed, their +shouts of laughter coming faintly on the wind. + +"Sam was in the highest possible feather. He expressed his exultation by +all sorts of howls and ejaculations, and by divers odd motions and +contortions of his whole system. Sometimes he would sit backward with +his face to the horse's tail; then, with a whoop and a somerset, he +would come right side up in his place again; and, drawing on a grave +face, he would begin to lecture Andy for laughing and playing the fool. +Anon, slapping his sides with his arms, he would burst forth in peals of +laughter, that made the old woods ring as they passed. With all these +evolutions, he contrived to keep the horses up to the top of their +speed, until, between ten and eleven, their heels resounded on the +gravel at the end of the balcony. + +"His mistress flew to the railings, and called out, 'Is that you, Sam? +Where are they?' + +"'Mas'r Haley's a restin' at the tavern,' said Sam. 'He's drefful +fatigued, Missis.' + +"'And Eliza, where is she, Sam?' + +"'Wal, Missis, de Lord he persarves his own. Lizy's done gone over the +river into 'Hio; as 'markably as if de Lord took her over in a chariot +of fire and two hosses.' + +"His master, who had followed his wife to the verandah, said, 'Come up +here, and tell your mistress what she wants to know.' + +"Sam soon appeared at the parlor-door, hat in hand. In answer to their +questions, he told his story in lively style. 'Dis yere's a providence, +and no mistake,' said Sam, piously rolling up his eyes. 'As Missis has +allers been instructin' on us, thar's allers instruments ris up to do de +Lord's will. Now if it hadn't been for me to-day, Lizy'd been took a +dozen times. Warn't it I started off de hosses, dis yere mornin', and +kept 'em chasin' till dinner time? And didn't I car Mas'r Haley five +miles out of de road dis evening? else he'd a come up with Lizy, as easy +as a dog arter a coon. Dese yere's all providences!' + +"With as much sternness as he could command under the circumstances, his +master said, 'They are a kind of providences that you'll have to be +pretty sparing of, Sam. I allow no such practices with gentlemen on my +place.' + +"Sam stood with the corners of his mouth lowered, in most penitential +style. 'Mas'r's quite right,' said he. 'It was ugly on me; thar's no +disputin' that ar; and of course Mas'r and Missis wouldn't encourage no +such works. I'm sensible ob dat ar. But a poor nigger like me's 'mazin' +tempted to act ugly sometimes, when fellers will cut up such shines as +dat ar Mas'r Haley. He a'n't no gen'l'man no way. Anybody's been raised +as I've been can't help a seein' dat ar.' + +"'Well, Sam,' said his mistress, 'as you seem to have a proper sense of +your errors, you may go now and tell Aunt Chloe she may get you some of +that cold ham that was left of dinner to-day. You and Andy must be +hungry.' + +"'Missis is a heap too good for us,' said Sam, making his bow with +alacrity and departing. + +"Having done up his piety and humility, to the satisfaction of the +parlor, as he trusted, he clapped his palm-leaf on his head with a sort +of free-and-easy air, and proceeded to the dominions of Aunt Chloe, with +the intention of flourishing largely in the kitchen." + + + + +JOHN BROWN AND THE COLORED CHILD. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + [When John Brown went from the jail to the gallows, in Charlestown, + Virginia, December 2, 1859, he stooped to kiss a little colored + child.] + + + A winter sunshine, still and bright, + The Blue Hills bathed with golden light, + And earth was smiling to the sky, + When calmly he went forth to die. + + Infernal passions festered there, + Where peaceful Nature looked so fair; + And fiercely, in the morning sun, + Flashed glitt'ring bayonet and gun. + + The old man met no friendly eye, + When last he looked on earth and sky; + But one small child, with timid air, + Was gazing on his hoary hair. + + As that dark brow to his upturned, + The tender heart within him yearned; + And, fondly stooping o'er her face, + He kissed her for her injured race. + + The little one she knew not why + That kind old man went forth to die; + Nor why, 'mid all that pomp and stir, + He stooped to give a kiss to _her_. + + But Jesus smiled that sight to see, + And said, "He did it unto _me_." + The golden harps then sweetly rung, + And this the song the angels sung: + + "Who loves the poor doth love the Lord; + Earth cannot dim thy bright reward: + We hover o'er yon gallows high, + And wait to bear thee to the sky." + + * * * * * + +John Brown, on his way to the scaffold, stooped to take up a +slave-child. That closing example was the legacy of the dying man to his +country. That benediction we must continue and fulfil. In this new +order, equality, long postponed, shall become the master-principle of +our system, and the very frontispiece of our Constitution.--HON. CHARLES +SUMNER. + + * * * * * + +Christ told me to remember those in bonds as bound with them; to do +toward them as I should wish them to do toward me in similar +circumstances. My conscience bade me to do that. Therefore I have no +regret for the transaction for which I am condemned. I think I feel as +happy as Paul did when he lay in prison. He knew if they killed him it +would greatly advance the cause of Christ. That was the reason he +rejoiced. On that same ground "I do rejoice, yea, and will +rejoice."--JOHN BROWN. + + + + +THE AIR OF FREEDOM. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + [Written at Niagara Falls in 1856.] + + +I have just returned from Canada. I have gazed for the first time upon +free land. Would you believe it? the tears sprang to my eyes, and I +wept. It was a glorious sight to gaze, for the first time, on the land +where a poor slave, flying from our land of boasted liberty, would in a +moment find his fetters broken and his shackles loosed. Whatever he was +in the land of Washington, in the shadow of Bunker Hill Monument, or +even upon Plymouth Rock, _here_ he becomes "a man and a brother." + +I had gazed on Harper's Ferry, or rather the Rock at the Ferry, towering +up in simple grandeur, with the gentle Potomac gliding peacefully at its +feet; and I felt that it was God's masonry. My soul expanded while +gazing on its sublimity. I had heard the ocean singing its wild chorus +of sounding waves, and the living chords of my heart thrilled with +ecstasy. I have since seen the rainbow-crowned Niagara, girdled with +grandeur and robed with glory, chanting the choral hymn of omnipotence; +but none of these sights have melted me, as did the first sight of free +land. + +Towering mountains, lifting their hoary summits to catch the first faint +flush of day, when the sunbeams kiss the shadows from morning's drowsy +face, may expand and exalt your soul; the first view of the ocean may +fill you with strange delight; the great, the glorious Niagara may hush +your spirit with its ceaseless thunder,--it may charm you with its robe +of crested spray, and with its rainbow crown: but the land of freedom +has a lesson of deeper significance than foaming waves and towering +mountains. It carries the heart back to that heroic struggle in Great +Britain for the emancipation of the slaves, in which the great heart of +the people throbbed for liberty, and the mighty pulse of the nation beat +for freedom, till eight hundred thousand men, women, and children in the +West Indies arose redeemed from bondage and freed from chains. + + + + +EMANCIPATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, APRIL 16, 1862. + +BY JAMES MADISON BELL. + + + Unfurl your banners to the breeze! + Let Freedom's tocsin sound amain, + Until the islands of the seas + Re-echo with the glad refrain! + Columbia's free! Columbia's free! + Her teeming streets, her vine-clad groves, + Are sacred now to Liberty, + And God, who every right approves. + + Thank God, the Capital is free! + The slaver's pen, the auction-block, + The gory lash of cruelty, + No more this nation's pride shall mock; + No more, within those ten miles square, + Shall men be bought and women sold; + Nor infants, sable-hued and fair, + Exchanged again for paltry gold. + + To-day the Capital is free! + And free those halls where Adams stood + To plead for man's humanity, + And for a common brotherhood; + Where Sumner stood, with massive frame, + Whose eloquent philosophy + Has clustered round his deathless name + Bright laurels for eternity; + + Where Wilson, Lovejoy, Wade, and Hale, + And other lights of equal power, + Have stood, like warriors clad in mail, + Before the giant of the hour,-- + Co-workers in a common cause, + Laboring for their country's weal, + By just enactments, righteous laws, + And burning, eloquent appeal. + + To them we owe and gladly bring + The grateful tributes of our hearts; + And while we live to muse and sing, + These in our songs shall claim their parts. + To-day Columbia's air doth seem + Much purer than in days agone; + And now her mighty heart, I deem, + Hath lighter grown by marching on. + + + + +THE LAWS OF HEALTH. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +There are three things peculiarly essential to health,--plenty of fresh +water, plenty of pure air, and enough of nourishing food. + +If possible, the human body should be washed all over every day; but if +circumstances render that difficult, the operation should be performed +at least two or three times a week. People in general are not aware how +important frequent bathing is. The cuticle, or skin, with which the +human body is covered, is like fine net-work, or lace. By help of a +magnifying-glass, called a microscope, it can be seen that there are a +thousand holes in every inch of our skin. In the skin of a middle-sized +man there are two millions three hundred and four thousand of these +holes, called pores. Those pores are the mouths of exceedingly small +vessels made to carry off fluids, which are continually formed in the +human body, and need to be continually carried off. This process is +going on all the time, whether we are sleeping or waking, hot or cold. +When we are cool and at rest, that which passes off is invisible; and +because we see no signs of it, and are not sensible of it, it is called +insensible perspiration. But in very hot weather, or when we exercise +violently, a saltish fluid passes through our pores in great drops, +which we call sweat; and because we can see and feel it, it is called +sensible perspiration. If the pores of the body are filled up with dust, +or any kind of dirt, the fluids cannot pass off through them, as Nature +intended; and, being shut up, they become corrupt and produce fevers and +bad humors. This is the reason why physicians always advise people to be +careful and keep their pores open. In order to do this, dust and dirt +should be frequently washed away. Many a fever and many a troublesome +sore might be prevented by frequent bathing. Moreover, the skin looks +smoother and handsomer when it is washed often. If a pond or river is +near by, it is well to swim a few minutes every day or two; if not, the +body should be washed with a pail of water and a rag. But it is not safe +to go into cold water, or to apply it to the skin, when you are very +much heated; nor is it safe to drink much cold water until you get +somewhat cool. The best way is to plunge into water when you first get +up in the morning, and then rub yourself with a cloth till you feel all +of a glow. It takes but a few minutes, and you will feel more vigorous +for it all day. Cool water is more healthy to wash in than warm water. +It makes a person feel stronger, and it is not attended with any danger +of catching cold afterward. But water directly from the well is too +chilly; it is better to use it when it has been standing in the house +some hours. Garments worn next to the skin, and the sheets in which you +sleep, imbibe something of the fluids all the time passing from the +body; therefore they should be washed every week. I am aware that, as +slaves, you had no beds or sheets; but as free men I hope you will +gradually be able to provide yourselves with such comforts. Meanwhile, +sleep in the cleanest way that you can; for that is one way to avoid +sickness. When the skin is hot and feverish, it does a great deal of +good to wipe the face, arms, and legs with a cloth moistened with cool +water, changed occasionally. Headache is often cured by placing the feet +in cool water a minute or two, and then rubbing them smartly with a dry +cloth. Sitting in cool water fifteen or twenty minutes is also a remedy +for headache or dizziness. A cut or bruise heals much quicker if it is +soaked ten or fifteen minutes in cool water, then wrapped in six or +eight folds of wet rag, and covered with a piece of dry cloth. The rag +should be moistened again when it gets dry. This simple process subdues +the heat and fever of a wound. When the throat is sore, it is an +excellent thing to wash the outside freely with cold water the first +thing in the morning, and then wipe it very dry. A wet bandage at night, +covered with a dry cloth, to keep it from the air, often proves very +comforting when the throat is inflamed. Indeed, it is scarcely possible +to say too much in favor of using cool water freely, at suitable times. + +Fresh air is as important as good water. The lungs of the human body are +all the time drawing in air and breathing out air. What we breathe out +carries away with it something from our bodies. Therefore it is +unhealthy to be in a room with many people, without doors or windows +open; for the people draw in all the fresh air, and what they breathe +out is more or less corrupted by having passed through their bodies. It +is very important to health to have plenty of pure fresh air to breathe. +No dirty things, or decaying substances, such as cabbage leaves or +mouldy vegetables, or pools of stagnant water, should be allowed to +remain anywhere near a dwelling. The pools should be filled up, and the +decaying things should be carried away from the house, heaped up and +covered with earth to make manure for the garden. If there is not room +enough to do that, they should be buried in the ground. Whole families +often have fevers from breathing the bad odors that rise from such +things. It is morally wrong to indulge in any habits that injure the +health or well-being of others. The bed, and the coverings of the bed, +should have fresh air let in upon them every day; otherwise, they retain +the fluids which are passing from the body all the time. In England, +children that worked in large manufactories became pale and sickly and +died off fast. When doctors inquired into it, they found that the poor +little creatures crept into the same bedclothes week after week, and +month after month, without having them washed or aired. + +Occasional change in articles of food is healthy, as well as agreeable; +but it is injurious to eat a great variety of things at the same meal. +There are two good rules, so very simple that everybody, rich or poor, +can observe them: First, never indulge yourself in eating what you have +found by experience does not agree with you; secondly, when you have +eaten enough, do not continue to eat merely because the food tastes +good. It is foolish to derange the stomach for a long time to please the +palate for a short time. + +If you have oppressed feelings in the head, or sour and bitter tastes in +the mouth, or a tendency to sickishness, take nothing but bread and +water for two or three days, and you will be very likely to save +yourself from a fever. + +People might spare themselves many a toothache if they would rinse their +mouths after every meal, and every night, before going to bed, remove +every particle of food from between the teeth, and rinse them thoroughly +with water. New toothpicks should be made often, for the sake of +cleanliness. + +Dirt was a necessity of Slavery; and that is one reason, among many +others, why freemen should hate it, and try to put it away from their +minds, their persons, and their habitations. + + + + +PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION OF +EMANCIPATION, JANUARY 1, 1863. + +BY FRANCES E. W. HARPER. + + + It shall flash through coming ages, + It shall light the distant years; + And eyes now dim with sorrow + Shall be brighter through their tears. + + It shall flush the mountain ranges, + And the valleys shall grow bright; + It shall bathe the hills in radiance, + And crown their brows with light. + + It shall flood with golden splendor + All the huts of Caroline; + And the sun-kissed brow of labor + With lustre new shall shine. + + It shall gild the gloomy prison, + Darkened by the nation's crime, + Where the dumb and patient millions + Wait the better-coming time. + + By the light that gilds their prison + They shall see its mouldering key; + And the bolts and bars shall vibrate + With the triumphs of the free. + + Though the morning seemed to linger + O'er the hill-tops far away, + Now the shadows bear the promise + Of the quickly coming day. + + Soon the mists and murky shadows + Shall be fringed with crimson light, + And the glorious dawn of freedom + Break refulgent on the sight. + + + + +NEW-YEAR'S DAY ON THE ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1863. + +BY CHARLOTTE L. FORTEN. + + +A few days before Christmas we were delighted at receiving a beautiful +Christmas Hymn from John G. Whittier, written especially for our +children. They learned it very easily, and enjoyed singing it. We showed +them the writer's picture, and told them he was a very good friend of +theirs, who felt the deepest interest in them, and had written this Hymn +expressly for them to sing. This made them very proud and happy. + +Early Christmas morning we were wakened by the people knocking at the +doors and windows, and shouting "Merry Christmas!" After distributing +some little presents among them, we went to the church, which had been +decorated with holly, pine, cassena, mistletoe, and the hanging moss, +and had a very Christmas-like look. The children of our school assembled +there, and we gave them the nice comfortable clothing and the +picture-books which had been kindly sent by some Philadelphia ladies. +There were at least a hundred and fifty children present. It was very +pleasant to see their happy, expectant little faces. To them it was a +wonderful Christmas-day, such as they had never dreamed of before. There +was cheerful sunshine without, lighting up the beautiful moss drapery of +the oaks, and looking in joyously through the open windows; and there +were bright faces and glad hearts within. + +After the distribution of the gifts, the children were addressed by some +of the gentlemen present. Then they sang the following Hymn, which their +good friend Whittier had written for them:-- + + "O, none in all the world before + Were ever so glad as we! + We're free on Carolina's shore, + We're all at home and free. + + "Thou Friend and Helper of the poor, + Who suffered for our sake, + To open every prison-door, + And every yoke to break,-- + + "Bend low thy pitying face and mild, + And help us sing and pray; + The hand that blest the little child + Upon our foreheads lay. + + "We hear no more the driver's horn, + No more the whip we fear; + This holy day that saw thee born + Was never half so dear. + + "The very oaks are greener clad, + The waters brighter smile; + O, never shone a day so glad + On sweet St. Helen's Isle. + + "We praise Thee in our songs to-day, + To Thee in prayer we call; + Make swift the feet and straight the way + Of freedom unto all. + + "Come once again, O blessed Lord! + Come walking on the sea! + And let the mainlands hear the word + That sets the islands free!" + +Then they sang John Brown's Hallelujah Song, and several of their own +hymns. + +Christmas night, the children came in and had several grand shouts. They +were too happy to keep still. One of them, a cunning, kittenish little +creature, named Amaretta, only six years old, has a remarkably sweet +voice. "O Miss," said she, "all I want to do is to sing and shout!" And +sing and shout she did, to her heart's content. She reads nicely, and is +very fond of books. Many of the children already know their letters. The +parents are eager to have them learn. They sometimes say to me: "Do, +Miss, let de children learn eberyting dey can. We neber hab no chance to +learn nuttin'; but we wants de chillen to learn." They are willing to +make many sacrifices that their children may attend school. One old +woman, who had a large family of children and grandchildren, came +regularly to school in the winter, and took her seat among the little +ones. Another woman, who had one of the best faces I ever saw, came +daily, and brought her baby in her arms. It happened to be one of the +best babies in the world, and allowed its mother to pursue her studies +without interruption. + +New-Year's Day, Emancipation Day, was a glorious one to us. General +Saxton and Colonel Higginson had invited us to visit the camp of the +First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers on that day, "the greatest +day in the nation's history." We enjoyed perfectly the exciting scene on +board the steamboat Flora. There was an eager, wondering crowd of the +freed people, in their holiday attire, with the gayest of headkerchiefs, +the whitest of aprons, and the happiest of faces. The band was playing, +the flags were streaming, and everybody was talking merrily and feeling +happy. The sun shone brightly, and the very waves seemed to partake of +the universal gayety, for they danced and sparkled more joyously than +ever before. Long before we reached Camp Saxton, we could see the +beautiful grove and the ruins of the old fort near it. Some companies of +the First Regiment were drawn up in line under the trees near the +landing, ready to receive us. They were a fine, soldierly looking set of +men, and their brilliant dress made a splendid appearance among the +trees. It was my good fortune to find an old friend among the officers. +He took us over the camp and showed us all the arrangements. Everything +looked clean and comfortable; much neater, we were told, than in most of +the white camps. An officer told us that he had never seen a regiment in +which the men were so honest. "In many other camps," said he, "the +Colonel and the rest of us would find it necessary to place a guard +before our tents. We never do it here. Our tents are left entirely +unguarded, but nothing has ever been touched." We were glad to know +that. It is a remarkable fact, when we consider that the men of this +regiment have all their lives been slaves; for we all know that Slavery +does not tend to make men honest. + +The ceremony in honor of Emancipation took place in the beautiful grove +of live-oaks adjoining the camp. I wish it were possible to describe +fitly the scene which met our eyes, as we sat upon the stand, and looked +down on the crowd before us. There were the black soldiers in their blue +coats and scarlet pantaloons; the officers of the First Regiment, and of +other regiments, in their handsome uniforms; and there were crowds of +lookers-on, men, women, and children, of every complexion, grouped in +various attitudes, under the moss-hung trees. The faces of all wore a +happy, interested look. The exercises commenced with a prayer by the +chaplain of the regiment. An ode, written for the occasion, was then +read and sung. President Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation was then +read, and enthusiastically cheered. The Rev. Mr. French presented +Colonel Higginson with two very elegant flags, a gift to the First +Regiment, from the Church of the Puritans, in New York. He accompanied +them by an appropriate and enthusiastic speech. As Colonel Higginson +took the flags, before he had time to reply to the speech, some of the +colored people, of their own accord, began to sing,-- + + "My country, 'tis of thee, + Sweet land of liberty, + Of thee we sing!" + +It was a touching and beautiful incident, and sent a thrill through all +our hearts. The Colonel was deeply moved by it. He said that reply was +far more effective than any speech he could make. But he did make one of +those stirring speeches which are "half battles." All hearts swelled +with emotion as we listened to his glorious words, "stirring the soul +like the sound of a trumpet." His soldiers are warmly attached to him, +and he evidently feels toward them all as if they were his children. + +General Saxton spoke also, and was received with great enthusiasm. +Throughout the morning, repeated cheers were given for him by the +regiment, and joined in heartily by all the people. They know him to be +one of the best and noblest men in the world. His unfailing kindness and +consideration for them, so different from the treatment they have +sometimes received at the hands of United States officers, have caused +them to have unbounded confidence in him. + +At the close of Colonel Higginson's speech, he presented the flags to +the color-bearers, Sergeant Rivers and Sergeant Sutton, with an earnest +charge, to which they made appropriate replies. + +Mrs. Gage uttered some earnest words, and then the regiment sang John +Brown's Hallelujah Song. + +After the meeting was over, we saw the dress-parade, which was a +brilliant and beautiful sight. An officer told us that the men went +through the drill remarkably well, and learned the movements with +wonderful ease and rapidity. To us it seemed strange as a miracle to see +this regiment of blacks, the first mustered into the service of the +United States, thus doing itself honor in the sight of officers of other +regiments, many of whom doubtless came to scoff. The men afterward had a +great feast; ten oxen having been roasted whole, for their especial +benefit. + +In the evening there was the softest, loveliest moonlight. We were very +unwilling to go home; for, besides the attractive society, we knew that +the soldiers were to have grand shouts and a general jubilee that night. +But the steamboat was coming, and we were obliged to bid a reluctant +farewell to Camp Saxton and the hospitable dwellers therein. We walked +the deck of the steamer singing patriotic songs, and we agreed that +moonlight and water had never looked so beautiful as they did that +night. At Beaufort we took the row-boat for St. Helena. The boatmen as +they rowed sang some of their sweetest, wildest hymns. It was a fitting +close to such a day. Our hearts were filled with an exceeding great +gladness; for although the government had left much undone, we knew that +Freedom was surely born in our land that day. It seemed too glorious a +good to realize, this beginning of the great work we had so longed for +and prayed for. It was a sight never to be forgotten, that crowd of +happy black faces from which the shadow of Slavery had forever passed. +"Forever free! forever free!"--those magical words in the President's +Proclamation were constantly singing themselves in my soul. + + + + +SONG OF THE NEGRO BOATMEN AT PORT ROYAL, S. C. + +BY JOHN G. WHITTIER. + + + O praise and tanks! De Lord he come + To set de people free; + An' massa tink it day ob doom, + An' we ob jubilee. + De Lord dat heap de Red Sea waves, + He jus' as 'trong as den; + He say de word: we las' night slaves; + To-day, de Lord's free men. + De yam will grow, de cotton blow, + We'll hab de rice an' corn: + O nebber you fear, if nebber you hear + De driver blow his horn! + + Ole massa on he trabbels gone; + He leaf de land behind: + De Lord's breff blow him furder on, + Like corn-shuck in de wind. + We own de hoe, we own de plough, + We own de hands dat hold; + We sell de pig, we sell de cow, + But nebber chile be sold. + + We pray de Lord: he gib us signs + Dat some day we be free; + De Norf-wind tell it to de pines, + De wild-duck to de sea; + We tink it when de church-bell ring, + We dream it in de dream; + De rice-bird mean it when he sing, + De eagle when he scream. + + We know de promise nebber fail, + An' nebber lie de Word; + So, like de 'postles in de jail, + We waited for de Lord: + An' now he open ebery door, + An' trow away de key; + He tink we lub him so before, + We lub him better free. + De yam will grow, de cotton blow, + He'll gib de rice an' corn: + O nebber you fear, if nebber you hear + De driver blow his horn! + + + + +EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY HON. HENRY WILSON TO THE COLORED PEOPLE IN +CHARLESTON, S. C., APRIL, 1865. + + +"For twenty-nine years, in private life and in public life, at all times +and on all occasions, I have spoken and voted against Slavery, and in +favor of the freedom of every man that breathes God's air or walks His +earth. And to-day, standing here in South Carolina, I feel that the +slave-power we have fought so long is under my heel; and that the men +and women held in bondage so long are free forevermore. + +"Understanding this to be your position,--that you are forever +free,--remember, O remember, the sacrifices that have been made for your +freedom, and be worthy of the blessing that has come to you! I know you +will be. [Cheers.] Through these four years of bloody war, you have +always been loyal to the old flag of the country. You have never +betrayed the Union soldiers who were fighting the battles of the +country. You have guided them, you have protected them, you have cheered +them. You have proved yourselves worthy the great situation in which you +were placed by the Slaveholders' Rebellion. Four years ago you saw the +flag of your country struck down from Fort Sumter; yesterday you saw the +old flag go up again. Its stars now beam with a brighter lustre. You +know now what the old flag means,--that it means liberty to every man +and woman in the country. [Cheers.] + +"You have been patient, you have endured, you have trusted in God and +your country; and the God of our fathers has blessed our country, and +He has blessed you. The long, dreary, chilly night of Slavery has passed +away forevermore, and the sun of Liberty casts its broad beams upon you +to-day. + +"But your duties commence with your liberties. Remember that you are to +be obedient, faithful, true, and loyal to the country forevermore. +[Cheers, and cries of 'Yes!' 'Yes!' 'Yes!'] Remember that you are to +educate your children; that you are to improve their condition; that you +are to make a brighter future for _them_ than the past has been to +_you_. Remember that you are to be industrious. Freedom does not mean +that you are not to work. It means that when you do work you shall have +pay for it, to carry home to your wives and the children of your love. +Liberty means the liberty to work for yourselves, to have the fruits of +your labor, to better your own condition, and improve the condition of +your children. I want every man and woman to understand that every +neglect of duty, every failure to be industrious, to be economical, to +support yourselves, to take care of your families, to secure the +education of your children, will be put in the faces of your friends as +a reproach. Your old masters will point you out and say to us, 'We told +you so.' For more than thirty years we have said that you were fit for +liberty. We have maintained it amid obloquy and reproach. For +maintaining this doctrine in the halls of Congress our names have been +made a by-word. The great lesson for you in the future is to prove that +we were right; to prove that you were worthy of liberty. We simply ask +you, in the name of your friends, in the name of our country, to show by +your good conduct, and by efforts to improve your condition, that you +were worthy of freedom; to prove to all the world, even to your old +masters and mistresses, that it was a sin against God to hold you in +Slavery, and that you are worthy to have your names enrolled among the +freemen of the United States of America. [Great cheering.] + +"We want you to respect yourselves; to walk erect, with the +consciousness that you are free men. Be humane and kind to each other, +always serving each other when you can. Be courteous and gentlemanly to +everybody on earth, black and white, but cringe to nobody. + +"You have helped us to fight our battles; you have stood by the old +flag; you have given us your prayers; and you have had the desire of +your hearts fulfilled. The cause of freedom has triumphed; and in our +triumph we want all to stand up and rejoice together." + + + + +EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH BY HON. JUDGE KELLY TO THE COLORED PEOPLE IN +CHARLESTON, S. C., APRIL, 1865. + + +"I will not, my colored friends, talk to you of the past. You understand +that all too well. I turn to the hopeful future; not to flatter you for +the deeds you have done during the last four years, but to remind you +that, though you no longer have earthly masters, there is a Ruler in +heaven whom you are bound to obey,--that Great Being who strengthened +and guided your eminent friend William Lloyd Garrison, who trained +Abraham Lincoln for his great work, in honest poverty and +simple-mindedness; that good God whose stars shine the same over the +slaves' huts and the masters' palaces. His laws you must obey. You must +worship Him not only at the altar, but in every act of your daily life. +It will not be enough to observe the Sabbath, to go to Him with your +sorrows, and remember Him in your joys. You must remember that He has +said to man, 'In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat thy bread.' Labor +is the law of all. Your friends in the North appeal to you to help them +in the great work they undertook to do for you. We want you to work +_with_ us. We want you to do it by working here in South Carolina, +earning wages, taking care of your money, and making profit out of that +money. Work on the plantation, if that is all you can do. If you can +work in the workshop, do it, and work well. He who does a day's work not +so well as he might have done it, cheats himself. Strive that your work +on Monday shall be better done than it was on Saturday; and when +Saturday comes round again, you will be able to do a still more skilful +day's work. We at the North sometimes learn three or four trades. If any +one of you feels sure that he can do better for himself and his family +by changing his pursuit, he had better change it." + +"I like to look at the women assembled here. Remember, my friends, that +you are to be mothers and wives in the homes of free men. You must try +to make those homes respectable and happy. You are to be the mothers of +American citizens. You must give them the best education you can. You +must strive to make them intelligent, educated, moral, patriotic, and +religious men. Many of you cannot read, but you are not too old yet to +learn. A mother who knows how to read can half educate her own child by +helping him with his lessons; and the mother who has but little learning +will get a great deal more by trying to hear the child's lessons; and so +it is with the father. + +"You need no longer live in slave huts, now that you are to have your +own earnings. I charge you, men, to make your homes comfortable, and +you, women, to make them happy. Work industriously. Be faithful to each +other; be true and honest with all men. If you respect yourselves, +others will respect you. There are Northerners who are prejudiced +against you; but you can find the way to their hearts and consciences +through their pockets. When they find that there are colored tradesmen +who have money to spend, and colored farmers who want to buy goods of +them, they will no longer call you Jack and Joe; they will begin to +think that you are Mr. John Black and Mr. Joseph Brown." [Great +laughter.] + + + + +BLACK TOM. + +BY A YANKEE SOLDIER. + + + Hunted by his Rebel master + Over many a hill and glade, + Black Tom, with his wife and children, + Found his way to our brigade. + + Tom had sense and truth and courage, + Often tried where danger rose: + Once our flag his strong arm rescued + From the grasp of Rebel foes. + + One day, Tom was marching with us + Through the forest as our guide, + When a ball from traitor's rifle + Broke his arm and pierced his side. + + On a litter white men bore him + Through the forest drear and damp, + Laid him, dying, where our banners + Brightly fluttered o'er our camp. + + Pointing to his wife and children, + While he suffered racking pain, + Said he to our soldiers round him, + "Don't let _them_ be slaves again!" + + "No, by Heaven!" spoke out a soldier,-- + And _that_ oath was not profane,-- + "Our brigade will still protect them; + They shall ne'er be slaves again." + + Over old Tom's dusky features + Came and stayed a joyous ray; + And with saddened friends around him, + His free spirit passed away. + + * * * * * + +At Rodman's Point, in North Carolina, the United States troops were +obliged to retreat before Rebels, who outnumbered them ten to one. The +scow in which they attempted to escape stuck in the mud, and could not +be moved with poles. While the soldiers were lying down they were in +some measure protected from Rebel bullets; but whoever jumped into the +water to push the boat off would certainly be killed. A vigorous black +man who was with them said: "Lie still. I will push off the boat. If +they kill me, it is nothing; but you are soldiers, and are needed to +fight for the country." He leaped overboard, pushed off the boat, and +sprang back, pierced by seven bullets. He died two days after. + +I wish I knew his name; for it deserves to be recorded with the noblest +heroes the world has known. + + + + +LETTER FROM A FREEDMAN TO HIS OLD MASTER. + + [Written just as he dictated it.] + + DAYTON, OHIO, August 7, 1865. + + _To my old Master_, COLONEL P. H. ANDERSON, _Big + Spring, Tennessee_. + +Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten +Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, +promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt +uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before +this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never +heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier +that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me +twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and +am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear +old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, +Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will +meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see +you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the +neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a +chance. + +I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give +me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, +with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,--the +folks call her Mrs. Anderson,--and the children--Milly, Jane, and +Grundy--go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has +a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend +church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others +saying, "Them colored people were slaves" down in Tennessee. The +children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was +no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys +would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you +will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to +decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again. + +As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be +gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the +Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she +would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to +treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity +by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will +make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and +friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, +and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two +dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand +six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time +our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our +clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for +Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. +Please send the money by Adams's Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., +Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we +can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good +Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have +done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations +without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in +Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for +the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those +who defraud the laborer of his hire. + +In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for +my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. +You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay +here and starve--and die, if it come to that--than have my girls brought +to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will +also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored +children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to +give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits. + +Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you +when you were shooting at me. + + From your old servant, + JOURDON ANDERSON. + + * * * * * + +SERGEANT W. H. CARNEY, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was very severely +wounded when the famous Fifty-Fourth Regiment attacked Fort Wagner; but +he resolutely held up the Stars and Stripes, as he dragged his wounded +limb along, amid a shower of bullets; and when he reached his comrades +he exclaimed exultingly, "The dear old flag has never touched the +ground, boys!" + + + + +COLONEL ROBERT G. SHAW. + +BY ELIZA B. SEDGWICK. + + + [In the summer of 1863 an attack was made on Fort Wagner, in South + Carolina, by the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, composed of colored + troops. Their leader, COLONEL SHAW, belonging to one of the best + white families in Boston, was killed. When his friends asked for + his body, the reply of the Rebels was, "He is buried with his + niggers."] + + Buried with a band of brothers, + Whom for him would fain have died; + Buried with the gallant fellows + Who fell fighting by his side. + + Buried with the men God gave him,-- + Those whom he was sent to save; + Buried with the martyred heroes, + He has found an honored grave. + + Buried where his dust so precious + Makes the soil a hallowed spot; + Buried where by Christian patriot + He shall never be forgot. + + Buried in the ground accursed, + Which man's fettered feet have trod; + Buried where his voice still speaketh, + Appealing for the slave to God. + + Fare thee well, thou noble warrior! + Who in youthful beauty went + On a high and holy mission, + By the God of battles sent. + + Chosen of Him, "elect and precious," + Well didst thou fulfil thy part; + When thy country "counts her jewels," + She shall wear thee on her heart. + + + + +ADVICE FROM AN OLD FRIEND. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + + +For many years I have felt great sympathy for you, my brethren and +sisters, and I have tried to do what I could to help you to freedom. And +now that you have at last received the long-desired blessing, I most +earnestly wish that you should make the best possible use of it. I have +made this book to encourage you to exertion by examples of what colored +people are capable of doing. Such men and women as Toussaint +l'Ouverture, Benjamin Banneker, Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, +and William and Ellen Crafts, prove that the power of _character_ can +overcome all external disadvantages, even that most crushing of all +disadvantages, Slavery. Perhaps few of you will be able to stir the +hearts of large assemblies by such eloquent appeals as those of +Frederick Douglass, or be able to describe what you have seen and heard +so gracefully as Charlotte L. Forten does. Probably none of you will be +called to govern a state as Toussaint l'Ouverture did; for such a +remarkable career as his does not happen once in hundreds of years. But +the Bible says, "He that ruleth his own spirit is greater than he that +ruleth a kingdom"; and such a ruler every man and woman can become, by +the help and blessing of God. It is not the _greatness_ of the thing a +man does which makes him worthy of respect; it is the doing _well_ +whatsoever he hath to do. In many respects, your opportunities for +usefulness are more limited than those of others; but you have one great +opportunity peculiar to yourselves. You can do a vast amount of good to +people in various parts of the world, and through successive +generations, by simply being sober, industrious, and honest. There are +still many slaves in Brazil and in the Spanish possessions. If you are +vicious, lazy, and careless, their masters will excuse themselves for +continuing to hold them in bondage, by saying: "Look at the freedmen of +the United States! What idle vagabonds they are! How dirty their cabins +are! How slovenly their dress! That proves that negroes cannot take care +of themselves, that they are not fit to be free." But if your houses +look neat, and your clothes are clean and whole, and your gardens well +weeded, and your work faithfully done, whether for yourselves or others, +then all the world will cry out, "You see that negroes _can_ take care +of themselves; and it is a sin and a shame to keep such men in Slavery." +Thus, while you are serving your own interests, you will be helping on +the emancipation of poor weary slaves in other parts of the world. It is +a great privilege to have a chance to do extensive good by such simple +means, and your Heavenly Father will hold you responsible for the use +you make of your influence. + +Your manners will have a great effect in producing an impression to your +advantage or disadvantage. Be always respectful and polite toward your +associates, and toward those who have been in the habit of considering +you an inferior race. It is one of the best ways to prove that you are +not inferior. Never allow yourselves to say or do anything in the +presence of women of your own color which it would be improper for you +to say or do in the presence of the most refined white ladies. Such a +course will be an education for them as well as for yourselves. When you +appoint committees about your schools and other public affairs, it would +be wise to have both men and women on the committees. The habit of +thinking and talking about serious and important matters makes women +more sensible and discreet. Such consultations together are in fact a +practical school both for you and them; and the more modest and +intelligent women are, the better will children be brought up. + +Personal appearance is another important thing. It is not necessary to +be rich in order to dress in a becoming manner. A pretty dress for +festival occasions will last a long while, if well taken care of; and a +few wild-flowers, or bright berries, will ornament young girls more +tastefully than jewels. Working-clothes that are clean and nicely +patched always look respectable; and they make a very favorable +impression, because they indicate that the wearer is neat and +economical. And here let me say, that it is a very great saving to mend +garments well, and before the rents get large. We thrifty Yankees have a +saying that "a stitch in time saves nine"; and you will find by +experience that neglected mending will require more than nine stitches +instead of one, and will not look so well when it is done. + +The appearance of your villages will do much to produce a favorable +opinion concerning your characters and capabilities. Whitewash is not +expensive; and it takes but little time to transplant a cherokee rose, a +jessamine, or other wild shrubs and vines, that make the poorest cabin +look beautiful; and, once planted, they will be growing while you are +working or sleeping. It is a public benefit to remove everything dirty +or unsightly, and to surround homes with verdure and flowers; for a +succession of pretty cottages makes the whole road pleasant, and cheers +all passers by; while they are at the same time an advertisement, easily +read by all men, that the people who live there are not lazy, slovenly, +or vulgar. The rich pay a great deal of money for pictures to ornament +their walls, but a whitewashed cabin, with flowering-shrubs and vines +clustering round it, is a pretty picture freely exhibited to all men. It +is a public benefaction. + +But even if you are as yet too poor to have a house and garden of your +own, it is still in your power to be a credit and an example to your +race: by working for others as faithfully as you would work for +yourself; by taking as good care of their tools as you would if they +were your own; by always keeping your promises, however inconvenient it +may be; by being strictly honest in all your dealings; by being +temperate in your habits, and never speaking a profane or indecent +word,--by pursuing such a course you will be consoled with an inward +consciousness of doing right in the sight of God, and be a public +benefactor by your example, while at the same time you will secure +respect and prosperity for yourself by establishing a good character. A +man whose conduct inspires confidence is in a fair way to have house and +land of his own, even if he starts in the world without a single cent. + +Be careful of your earnings, and as saving in your expenses as is +consistent with health and comfort; but never allow yourselves to be +stingy. Avarice is a mean vice, which eats all the heart out of a man. +Money is a good thing, and you ought to want to earn it, as a means of +improving the condition of yourselves and families. But it will do good +to your character, and increase your happiness, if you impart a portion +of your earnings to others who are in need. Help as much as you +conveniently can in building churches and school-houses for the good of +all, and in providing for the sick and the aged. If your former masters +and mistresses are in trouble, show them every kindness in your power, +whether they have treated you kindly or not. Remember the words of the +blessed Jesus: "Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which +despitefully use you and persecute you." + +There is one subject on which I wish to guard you against +disappointment. Do not be discouraged if freedom brings you more cares +and fewer advantages than you expected. Such a great change as it is +from Slavery to Freedom cannot be completed all at once. By being +brought up as slaves, you have formed some bad habits, which it will +take time to correct. Those who were formerly your masters have acquired +still worse habits by being brought up as slaveholders; and they cannot +be expected to change all at once. Both of you will gradually improve +under the teaching of new circumstances. For a good while it will +provoke many of them to see those who were once their slaves acting like +freemen. They will doubtless do many things to vex and discourage you, +just as the slaveholders in Jamaica did after emancipation there. They +seemed to want to drive their emancipated bondmen to insurrection, that +they might have a pretext for saying: "You see what a bad effect freedom +has on negroes! We told you it would be so!" But the colored people of +Jamaica behaved better than their former masters wished them to do. They +left the plantations where they were badly treated, or poorly paid, but +they worked diligently elsewhere. Their women and children raised +vegetables and fowls and carried them to market; and, by their united +industry and economy, they soon had comfortable little homes of their +own. + +I think it would generally be well for you to work for your former +masters, if they treat you well, and pay you as much as you could earn +elsewhere. But if they show a disposition to oppress you, quit their +service, and work for somebody who will treat you like freemen. If they +use violent language to you, never use impudent language to them. If +they cheat you, scorn to cheat them in return. If they break their +promises, never break yours. If they propose to women such connections +as used to be common under the bad system of Slavery, teach them that +freedwomen not only have the legal power to protect themselves from such +degradation, but also that they have pride of character. If in fits of +passion, they abuse your children as they formerly did, never revenge it +by any injury to them or their property. It is an immense advantage to +any man always to keep the right on his side. If you pursue this course +you will always be superior, however rich or elegant may be the man or +woman who wrongs you. + +I do not mean by this that you ought to submit tamely to insult or +oppression. Stand up for your rights, but do it in a manly way. Quit +working for a man who speaks to you contemptuously, or who tries to take +a mean advantage of you, when you are doing your duty faithfully by him. +If it becomes necessary, apply to magistrates to protect you and redress +your wrongs. If you are so unlucky as to live where the men in +authority, whether civil or military, are still disposed to treat the +colored people as slaves, let the most intelligent among you draw up a +statement of your grievances and send it to some of your firm friends in +Congress, such as the Hon. Charles Sumner, the Hon. Henry Wilson, and +the Hon. George W. Julian. + +A good government seeks to make laws that will equally protect and +restrain all men. Heretofore you had no reason to respect the laws of +this country, because they punished you for crime, in many cases more +severely than white men were punished, while they did nothing to protect +your rights. But now that good President Lincoln has made you free, you +will be legally protected in your rights and restrained from doing +wrong, just as other men are protected and restrained. It is one of the +noblest privileges of freemen to be able to respect the law, and to rely +upon it always for redress of grievances, instead of revenging one wrong +by another wrong. + +You will have much to put up with before the new order of things can +become settled on a permanent foundation. I am grieved to read in the +newspapers how wickedly you are still treated in some places; but I am +not surprised, for I knew that Slavery was a powerful snake, that would +try to do mischief with its tail after its head was crushed. But, +whatever wrongs you may endure, comfort yourselves with two reflections: +first, that there is the beginning of a better state of things, from +which your children will derive much more benefit than you can; +secondly, that a great majority of the American people are sincerely +determined that you shall be protected in your rights as freemen. Year +by year your condition will improve. Year by year, if you respect +yourselves, you will be more and more respected by white men. Wonderful +changes have taken place in your favor during the last thirty years, and +the changes are still going on. The Abolitionists did a great deal for +you, by their continual writing and preaching against Slavery. Then this +war enabled thousands of people to see for themselves what a bad +institution Slavery was; and the uniform kindness with which you treated +the Yankee soldiers raised you up multitudes of friends. There are still +many pro-slavery people in the Northern States, who, from aristocratic +pride or low vulgarity, still call colored people "niggers," and treat +them as such. But the good leaven is now fairly worked into public +sentiment, and these people, let them do what they will, cannot get it +out. + +The providence of God has opened for you an upward path. Walk ye in it, +without being discouraged by the brambles and stones at the outset. +Those who come after you will clear them away, and will place in their +stead strong, smooth rails for the steam-car called Progress of the +Colored Race. + + + + +DAY OF JUBILEE. + +BY A. G. DUNCAN. + + + Roll on, thou joyful day, + When tyranny's proud sway, + Stern as the grave, + Shall to the ground be hurled, + And Freedom's flag unfurled + Shall wave throughout the world, + O'er every slave! + + Trump of glad jubilee, + Echo o'er land and sea, + Freedom for all! + Let the glad tidings fly, + And every tribe reply, + Glory to God on high, + At Slavery's fall! + + + THE END. + + +Cambridge: Stereotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co. + + + * * * * * + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation and spelling errors have been repaired. Spelling +and accented letters, as well as inconsistent chapter headings in the +Contents and the body of the text, have otherwise been retained as +they appear in the original publication. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Freedmen's Book, by Lydia Maria Child + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FREEDMEN'S BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 38479.txt or 38479.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/4/7/38479/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Henry Flower and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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