The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-11-05

year. Think Of that
OCTOBER %.
Another day has gone-at last. You cam
not think with what laggard feet they NOPE
along. II is not yet three weeks since left
keokuk, and feel as if had lived ter years
in that time. On board the boat everybody
thought that could not be more than Ii !;
and ! half thought so myself; but now
knou that nm almost 20.
am lodging at a hotel. The window Of
my room oycrlooks the back yard, where are
the kitchen, the negro cabins, the wash
house, and the general working place of the
slaves. ] have good opportunity for ma
king observations, ..and although Mrs,
the landlady, is, suppose, as kind as the
most whom YOU will find at the South, yet
cannot help seeing things which make my
heart throb with pain, There is n little ne.
gro boy about six years old-the age when
children naturally love play and freedom !;
but this little fellow must ,cork, steadily and
YEARLY, or receive blows aud dreadful
threats. The landady has whipped him
twice since have been here. heard it the
first time, aud soar it the second. lie had
not been quite SO diigent about some piece
Of work as his mistress desired, and she took
a whip with a thick leathern lash, and, hold.
ing him by the shoulder, beat him till al
most shrieked aloud. The child dared not
cry aloud, for that would only have increased
his punishment but quiyering, fearful sobs
shook his frame, and he implored mercy, in
a humble, deprecating tone that made me
shiver. . oh don't Missus!" sPlease
Mssus! daar!'' But il did no good
The blows fell thick and fast around the
bare feet and ankles, and over the face, neck
and shoulders. Poor child--poor child =
There IS little negro baby about year old,
belonging to one of the slave women. 1t
sits all day long ON the floor by the fire, I'M
noticed and uncared for. / have never heard
il cry rs other children cry. Sometimes af-
/ ter aparoxysm Of coughing Git has the whoop-
/ inc cough) it will utter low, plaintivc means,
i SO sad that in spite of myself the tears will
I come into my eyes, aud long to take it up
in my arms and carry it away from these dark
scenes, where It's young life may expand nat
utaiiy, and not be crushed and broken BY
this great evil where it may laugh and CRY
when ii peases, instead Of being obliged tt
watch with covering, fearful chances tn,
eonntenance OF another TO see If il could dar
to change It's position. A harsh exclamation
'NissuS" will at ATTY time make it shri
back and smother those sud means in tn
midst ~ lis suiferings. Mrs told me
with sogt u triumphant smile, Of the pow
or her mere voice has over even the bah,
slaves.
OCTOBER 81.
Stl.l another day numbered with the past
hive adopted new method Of marking th
time. Each day learn one stanza Of Whit
tiers long, beautiful poem, "The Last Wall
N Autumn" There's are Is, and when hav,
learned them all, shall know tina. a mont,
has almost He'd. Brother came to see me
few minutesSas. night. lie has been ridin,
through the country, .'prospecting." II,
eployed has excursion, and was in excellent
SPIRITS. lie mentioned incidentally, that hi
trip htd cost him nothing. How that cou!,
be ean's imagine, for people charge for ep
cry thing here. DIR. Ii told us that il
making his Geological survey Of the State
he was obliged 70 even pay for drink d
water, and glass of butternilk cost dime
OCTOBER ran, SusDAN.@
te prospect u that we shalt have a y, =
driz1ling day. NJ church, no anything.
meant ~ have goncout and hunted Up Sun
day school, i il had been pleasant day
anu begged the privilege Of teaching som,
LITTLE ones, 10 memory Of my birds nest d
home. Ba. must give that up.
In ioohing over my letters, | feel hall
ashamed q think cannot write more brioht
y. But 10 arite of myself, my pen vii re-.
cord the shadows, even when | mean Other.
wise. Perhaps one reason of this lies Ii n !
ROOM IL has never received one CLEAN Of
Of sunshine since have been in il. | can
COX on' u my one window "a little one at