running a thousand miles for freedom-第2章
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ne； and was only to be retained in slavery by care and kind treatment。〃 The broker who negotiated the sale from Miller to Belmonte； in 1838； testified in Court that he then thought； and still thought； that the girl was white！
The case was elaborately argued on both sides； but was at length decided in favour of the girl； by the Supreme Court declaring that 〃she was free and white； and therefore unlawfully held in bondage。〃
The Rev。 George Bourne； of Virginia； in his Picture of Slavery； published in 1834； relates the case of a white boy who； at the age of seven； was stolen from his home in Ohio； tanned and stained in such a way that he could not be distinguished from a person of colour； and then sold as a slave in Virginia。 At the age of twenty； he made his escape； by running away； and happily succeeded in rejoining his parents。
I have known worthless white people to sell their own free children into slavery； and； as there are good…for…nothing white as well as coloured persons everywhere； no one； perhaps； will wonder at such inhuman transactions： particularly in the Southern States of America； where I believe there is a greater want of humanity and high principle amongst the whites； than among any other civilized people in the world。
I know that those who are not familiar with the working of 〃the peculiar institution；〃 can scarcely imagine any one so totally devoid of all natural affection as to sell his own offspring into returnless bondage。 But Shakespeare； that great observer of human nature； says：
〃With caution judge of probabilities。 Things deemed unlikely； e'en impossible； Experience often shews us to be true。〃
My wife's new mistress was decidedly more humane than the majority of her class。 My wife has always given her credit for not exposing her to many of the worst features of slavery。 For instance； it is a common practice in the slave States for ladies； when angry with their maids； to send them to the calybuce sugar…house； or to some other place established for the purpose of punishing slaves； and have them severely flogged； and I am sorry it is a fact； that the villains to whom those de… fenceless creatures are sent； not only flog them as they are ordered； but frequently compel them to submit to the greatest indignity。 Oh！ if there is any one thing under the wide canopy of heaven； horrible enough to stir a man's soul； and to make his very blood boil； it is the thought of his dear wife； his unprotected sister； or his young and virtuous daughters； struggling to save themselves from falling a prey to such demons！
It always appears strange to me that any one who was not born a slaveholder； and steeped to the very core in the demoralizing atmosphere of the Southern States； can in any way palliate slavery。 It is still more surprising to see virtuous ladies looking with patience upon； and remaining indif… ferent to； the existence of a system that exposes nearly two millions of their own sex in the manner I have mentioned； and that too in a professedly free and Christian country。 There is； however； great consolation in knowing that God is just； and will not let the oppressor of the weak； and the spoiler of the virtuous； escape unpunished here and hereafter。
I believe a similar retribution to that which destroyed Sodom is hanging over the slaveholders。 My sincere prayer is that they may not provoke God； by persisting in a reckless course of wicked… ness； to pour out his consuming wrath upon them。
I must now return to our history。
My old master had the reputation of being a very humane and Christian man； but he thought nothing of selling my poor old father； and dear aged mother； at separate times； to different persons； to be dragged off never to behold each other again； till summoned to appear before the great tribunal of heaven。 But； oh！ what a happy meeting it will be on that day for those faithful souls。 I say a happy meeting； because I never saw persons more devoted to the service of God than they。 But how will the case stand with those reckless traffickers in human flesh and blood； who plunged the poisonous dagger of separation into those loving hearts which God had for so many years closely joined togethernay； sealed as it were with his own hands for the eternal courts of heaven？ It is not for me to say what will become of those heartless tyrants。 I must leave them in the hands of an all…wise and just God； who will； in his own good time； and in his own way； avenge the wrongs of his oppressed people。
My old master also sold a dear brother and a sister； in the same manner as he did my father and mother。 The reason he assigned for disposing of my parents； as well as of several other aged slaves； was； that 〃they were getting old； and would soon become valueless in the market； and therefore he intended to sell off all the old stock； and buy in a young lot。〃 A most disgraceful conclusion for a man to come to； who made such great professions of religion！
This shameful conduct gave me a thorough hatred； not for true Christianity； but for slave… holding piety。
My old master； then； wishing to make the most of the rest of his slaves； apprenticed a brother and myself out to learn trades： he to a black… smith； and myself to a cabinet…maker。 If a slave has a good trade； he will let or sell for more than a person without one； and many slave… holders have their slaves taught trades on this account。 But before our time expired； my old master wanted money； so he sold my brother； and then mortgaged my sister； a dear girl about four… teen years of age； and myself； then about sixteen； to one of the banks； to get money to speculate in cotton。 This we knew nothing of at the moment； but time rolled on； the money became due； my master was unable to meet his payments； so the bank had us placed upon the auction stand and sold to the highest bidder。
My poor sister was sold first： she was knocked down to a planter who resided at some distance in the country。 Then I was called upon the stand。 While the auctioneer was crying the bids； I saw the man that had purchased my sister getting her into a cart； to take her to his home。 I at once asked a slave friend who was standing near the platform； to run and ask the gentleman if he would please to wait till I was sold； in order that I might have an opportunity of bidding her good…bye。 He sent me word back that he had some distance to go； and could not wait。
I then turned to the auctioneer； fell upon my knees； and humbly prayed him to let me just step down and bid my last sister farewell。 But； instead of granting me this request； he grasped me by the neck； and in a commanding tone of voice； and with a violent oath； exclaimed； 〃Get up！ You can do the wench no good； therefore there is no use in your seeing her。〃
On rising； I saw the cart in which she sat moving slowly off； and； as she clasped her hands with a grasp that indicated despair； and looked pitifully round towards me； I also saw the large silent tears trickling down her cheeks。 She made a farewell bow； and buried her face in her lap。 This seemed more than I could bear。 It appeared to swell my aching heart to its utmost。 But before I could fairly recover； the poor girl was gone；gone； and I have never had the good for… tune to see her from that day to this！ Perhaps I should have never heard of her again； had it not been for the untiring efforts of my good old mother； who became free a few years ago by pur… chase； and； after a great deal of difficulty； found my sister residing with a family in Mississippi。 My mother at once wrote to me； informing me of the fact； and requesting me to do something to get her free； and I am happy to say that； partly by lecturing occasionally； and through the sale of an engraving of my wife in the disguise in which she escaped； together with the extreme kind… ness and generosity of Miss Burdett Coutts； Mr。 George Richardson of Plymouth； and a few other friends； I have nearly accomplished this。 It would be to me a great and ever…glorious achievement to restore my sister to our dear mother； from whom she was forcibly driven in early life。
I was knocked down to the cashier of the bank to which we were mortgaged； and ordered to return to the cabinet shop where
