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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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