improve myself by gathering up such
crumbs of knowledge as I could, and adding little by little to mystock of information. Of course my opportunities were limited,
and I had much to make me miserable and discontented. The life of a slave at best is not a pleasant one, but I had formed
a resolution to always look on the bright side of things, to be industrious, cheerful, and true-hearted, to do some good though
in an humble way, and to win some love if I could. “I am a slave” thus my thoughts would run. “I can never be great, nor rich;
I cannot hold an elevated position in society, but I can do my duty, and be kind in the sure and certain hope of an eternal
reward.[”]
By and by as I grew older, and was enabled to manifest my good intentions, not so much by words, as a manner of sympathy and
consideration for every one, I was quite astonished to see how much I was trusted and confided in, how I was made the repository
of secrets, and how the weak, the sick, and the suffering came to me for advice and assistance. Then the little slave children
were almost entirely confided to my care. I hope that I was good and gentle to them; for I pitied their hard and cruel fate
very much, and used to think that, notwithstanding all the labor and trouble they gave me, if I could so discharge my duty
by them that in after years their memories would hover over this as the sunshiny period of their lives I should be amply repaid.
What a blessing it is that faith, and hope, and love are universal in their nature and operation—that poor as well as rich,
bond as well as free are susceptible to their pleasing influences, and contain within themselves a treasure of consolation
for all the ills of life. These little children, slaves though they were, and doomed to a life of toil and drudgery, ignorant,
and untutored, assimilated thus to the highest and proudest in the land—thus evinced their equal origin, and immortal destiny.
How much love and confidence and affection I won it is impossible to describe. How the rude and boisterous became gentle and
obliging, and how ready they all were to serve and obey me,not because I exacted the service or obedience, but because their own loving natures prompted
them to reciprocate my love. How I longed to become their teacher, and open the door of knowledge to their minds by instructing
them to read but it might not be. I could not have even hoped to escape detection would have and discovery would have entailed punishment on all.
Thus the seasons passed away. Summer insensibly melted into autumn, and autumn gave place to winter. I still visited Aunt
Hetty, and enjoyed the benefits of her gracious counsels. Seated by the clear wood fire she was always busy in the preparation
or repair of garments as perfect taste and economy dictated, or plying her bright knitting needles by the evening lamp, while
her aged companion sat socially by her side.
One evening I was sitting with them, and reading from the book of God. Our intercourse had remained so long undiscovered that
I had almost ceased to fear disclosure. Probably I had grown less circumspect though not intentionally, or it might be that
in conformity to the inscrutable ways of Providence the faith and strength of these aged servants of the Cross were to be
tried by a more severe ordeal. Alas: Alas that I should have been the means.
The door suddenly opened without warning, and the overseer of my master’s estate walked into the house. My horror, and grief,
and astonishment were indescribable. I felt Oh how much more than I tell. He addressed me rudely, and bade me begone home
on the instant. I durst not disobey, but retreating through the doorway I glanced back at the calm sedate countenances of
the aged couple, who were all unmoved by the torrent of threats and invectives he poured out against them.
My Master was absent at the time, over the overseer could find no precedent for my case, and so
crumbs of knowledge as I could, and adding little by little to mystock of information. Of course my opportunities were limited,
and I had much to make me miserable and discontented. The life of a slave at best is not a pleasant one, but I had formed
a resolution to always look on the bright side of things, to be industrious, cheerful, and true-hearted, to do some good though
in an humble way, and to win some love if I could. “I am a slave” thus my thoughts would run. “I can never be great, nor rich;
I cannot hold an elevated position in society, but I can do my duty, and be kind in the sure and certain hope of an eternal
reward.[”]
By and by as I grew older, and was enabled to manifest my good intentions, not so much by words, as a manner of sympathy and
consideration for every one, I was quite astonished to see how much I was trusted and confided in, how I was made the repository
of secrets, and how the weak, the sick, and the suffering came to me for advice and assistance. Then the little slave children
were almost entirely confided to my care. I hope that I was good and gentle to them; for I pitied their hard and cruel fate
very much, and used to think that, notwithstanding all the labor and trouble they gave me, if I could so discharge my duty
by them that in after years their memories would hover over this as the sunshiny period of their lives I should be amply repaid.
What a blessing it is that faith, and hope, and love are universal in their nature and operation—that poor as well as rich,
bond as well as free are susceptible to their pleasing influences, and contain within themselves a treasure of consolation
for all the ills of life. These little children, slaves though they were, and doomed to a life of toil and drudgery, ignorant,
and untutored, assimilated thus to the highest and proudest in the land—thus evinced their equal origin, and immortal destiny.
How much love and confidence and affection I won it is impossible to describe. How the rude and boisterous became gentle and
obliging, and how ready they all were to serve and obey me,not because I exacted the service or obedience, but because their own loving natures prompted
them to reciprocate my love. How I longed to become their teacher, and open the door of knowledge to their minds by instructing
them to read but it might not be. I could not have even hoped to escape detection would have and discovery would have entailed punishment on all.
Thus the seasons passed away. Summer insensibly melted into autumn, and autumn gave place to winter. I still visited Aunt
Hetty, and enjoyed the benefits of her gracious counsels. Seated by the clear wood fire she was always busy in the preparation
or repair of garments as perfect taste and economy dictated, or plying her bright knitting needles by the evening lamp, while
her aged companion sat socially by her side.
One evening I was sitting with them, and reading from the book of God. Our intercourse had remained so long undiscovered that
I had almost ceased to fear disclosure. Probably I had grown less circumspect though not intentionally, or it might be that
in conformity to the inscrutable ways of Providence the faith and strength of these aged servants of the Cross were to be
tried by a more severe ordeal. Alas: Alas that I should have been the means.
The door suddenly opened without warning, and the overseer of my master’s estate walked into the house. My horror, and grief,
and astonishment were indescribable. I felt Oh how much more than I tell. He addressed me rudely, and bade me begone home
on the instant. I durst not disobey, but retreating through the doorway I glanced back at the calm sedate countenances of
the aged couple, who were all unmoved by the torrent of threats and invectives he poured out against them.
My Master was absent at the time, over the overseer could find no precedent for my case, and so
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