Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-05-25

OF her personal apprenticeship Hccount VI
her marriage with Professor Stowe. at the
ago of twenty. fve-her settlement ut Lane
Seminary, near Cincinnati, in Ohio, and the
increase of her family, she says
:" The most beautiful of these Cher chhl-
dren) and the most beloved, lies buried near
my Cincinnati residence. 1t was at his dying
bed. and al his grave, that learnt what
poor slave-mother may feel when her child is
torn from her. In the depths of my sorrow,
which seemed to me immeasurable, it was my
only prayer to God that such anguish might
not be suffered in vain.
There were circumstances connected with
this chid's death of such peculiar bitterness
of what might seem almost cruel suffering
that felt | could never bo consoed for it,
unless it should appear that the crushing of
my own heart might enable me to work out
some great good to others
His death took place during the cholera
summer, when in a circle of five miles
around me nine thousand were buried-a
mortality which have never heard exceeded
anywhere.
NY husband, in feeble health, was obliged
to be absent the whole time, and had sole
charge of family of fifteen persons. lie
could not return to me, because | would not
permit it for in many instances where pa
rents had returned from distance to their
families ana tnc lnleCteu atmosphere, tHe
suit had been sudden death, and the physi-
clans warned me that if he returned, it would
be to die. My poor Charlie died for want Of
timely medical aid for, in the universal con-
fusion and despair that prevailed, it was
often impossible to obtain assistance till it
was too la;r.
allude to this bereavement, because | be-
lieve that much that is In " Uncle Tom s
Cabin had its root in the awful scenes and
bitter sorrows of that summer 1t has left
now trust no trace in my mind, except q
deep compassion for the sorrowful, especially
for mothers who are separated from their
children.
During long years of struggling with
poverty, sickness, and hot, deblitating
climate, my children grew up around me.
| The nursery and the kitchen were my princi-
pal fields Of labor. Some ofmy friends, pity
ing my tolls, sent some Of my sketches to
certain literally paying ANIMALS, with my
name With the first money that earned
this way bought feather bed For, as
- i"tO PO. ei y anu "I'Hou' -
library of books, and great deal of learning,
this bed and pillows were thought on the
whole the most profitable investment.
| now thought had discovered the philo-
sopher'. stone, and when new carpet or
mattrass was needed, or when at the close of
the year it began to be evident that my fsmi
ly accounts, like Dora g, 'wouldn add up,
| then used to say to my faithful friend and
factotum, Anna, who shared all my joys and
sorrows, Now, if you'll keep the babies
quiet, and attend to all the things in the
house for one day, III write piece. and then
we shall be out ti,he scrape." And 80 be-
came an authoress Very modest at first, |
do assure you, and demonstrating very Sc
riously with the friends who had thought it
best to put my name to my productions, by
way OF getting up reputation.
During my life at the West lived two
miles from the city Of Cincinnati, in the coun
try; and domestic service, not always to be
found in the city, is next to impossible to be
obtained in the country, even by those whc
are willing to give the highest wages. 81
what was to be expected for poor me, who
had very little Of this worlds goods to offer
Had it not been for my inscparable fricnc
Anna, noble hearted English girl, whC
landed on our American shores in destitutior
and sorrow, and who clave unto me as Rutf
unto Naomi, / had never lived through al
the toll which this uncertainty and absolute
want Of domestic service imposed upon me
You NAV imagine, therefore, how glad was
when about u dozen families of liberated ne
groes came and settled in our vicinity. The
became my favoritc resorts in cases OF emer
! gency.
If any body want. to have a black face loo
handsome, let them be left as | have been
in feeble health. in oppressive hot weather
B, with sick baby in my arms, and two {
three other little ones in the nursery, and nc
t single servant in the whole house to do
{ single turn And then, if they should sc
y, any good Aunt frankie coming in, with he
e honest bluff, black face. her long, .tron
g arms, her chest as big and stout as barre
r and her hilarious, hearty laugh-pcrfect
t delighted to take ones washing and do it
q fair price, they eould appreciate the beau
= ofoiack people
i My cook, poor Eliza, was regular option
d of slave life in herself; fat, easy, gentl
Il loving and loveable always calling my III
o dest house "The place. as if it had been
is plantation with seven hundred hands on ,
,f Her way of arranging her kitchen was at fir
)f like Dinah s. though she imbibed our idc
more rapidly, and seemed more ready to Ii
N ten to my suggestions than did that dignit
; ry. She had lived through the whole 81
e. story of Virginia raised slaves life. 81
must have been in her youth q very han
to some mulatto girl. Her voice was sweet, h
manners refined and agreeable. She W
i'd raised in a good family as nurse and sem
trese.
i When the family became embarrassed, 5
ot was suddenly sold to he sent TO plantati
~ in Louisiana. She has often told me no
without any warning, she was forced int
IN carriage, and saw her little mistress scrca
~ ing and stretching her arms from the W
ou dow towards her AS she was driven away.
&c has told me of scenes on the Louisiana pl'
vi tations, and how she has often been out
re the night by. stealth ministering to "
al slaves who have been mangled OF lacerated
-, 7 shp sold
'i' Kentucky, and her last master was the fatl
l.. of all her children. On this point she alw
he maintained delicacy and reserve viii
ny though it is not at oil uncommon amC
Nv slave women, appears to me remarkable.
se' She always called her master her husba
o'- and spoke Of him with the same appar
ca feeling with which any woman regards
an husband aid it was not till after she
''n lived with me some years that dlscove
ost accidentally the real nature of the relatl
&c | shall never forget how sorry felt for
or' nor my feelings at her humble apolog
You know, Mrs. Stowe, slave women ca
tAe quadroon daughters, with beautiful hair
%ew % cyes-interesting children, whom had
'ao structed in the family school with my c
w dren.
u Time would fail to tell you all have lear
omii m incidentally of the slave system, in the hi
are ry of various slaves who came into my fan
,wn n and of the working of the underground |
';n. npn road, which may say ran through my bar
tie "
,nts \ SLAVE MIsrREss.-The defenders Of 81
,en, ~ call our special attention to the inau
ped Of the institution In promoting female
s by cacy and refinement. The lady of the pla
the ha. dignity and aristocratic pride Of
ions ing only equalled among the wives
his daughters of the nobility of Europe. In
uch for elegant and charming Incidence the
ind .laveholder' wife and daughters hav
superiors. But there is also black sid
this picture, and the instances are b
che, means few in which delicate southern IL
ings show an exquisite refinement in the tol
very of the helpless dependents against whom
have taken offence. recent instance