Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-09-18
Written for the Lswisburg Chronicle.
A U N II II E Il L Y =



literature" is at the present time circula-
ted throughout our land. North, East,
West, and (what is Of more especial in
terest to us) throughout the green and
quiet vallies of the great State of Pennsyl
vania, such works as "Uncle Toms Cabin," !"
"Frederick Douglas" "Isaac T. Hopper" /"
with various publications Of the same de-
scription-all of them containing a vast
deal more truth than falsehood-have
been sent, with "God speed the right" 7"
upon their crrand of mercy. And the
leaven is working these books have been
introduced into the family circle, and into
our seminarics Of learning; the minds of
the young are being Influenced, and the
boys. who will be the statesmen to control
under God, the destinies Of our country,
with the girls, who are to become Ameri.
can wives and mothers, are growing up
with horror Of slavery as earnest as the
we'll wishers Of human freedom can desire
Many thousands Of people, patriots, phi
lanthropists, and Christians, who were ig-
norant, or Indifferent to the condition Of
the poor slave population of the South,
have been brought, since the publication
Of these books, and the passage Of that
infamous act, the "Fugitive Slave Law"
to think, and that correctly, aud are now
willing to act. Others profess to believe
that such accounts are exaggerated they
have been told, by persons who have ira.
veled among them, that "is is surprising
how comfortable they are" they have
their own cabins; selfinterest leads the
master to provide for them food and clio.
thing; they have medical attendance fur
nished, when sick and the catalogue is
sometimes heightened out, intermiuably,
with numerous other advantages, all the
result Of state Of slavery. And to some
who are superficial in their mode of think
ing and observation, We are willing to ad-
NIT that it may really appear as they rep
resent. But what does any mere traveller,
or guest, at Southern dwelling, know of
the minutia Of the system7 Is probable
be or she would be coguizant Of cbastise.
meuts, hardships, separations, &c? or
is j. other than likely the fairest side
would be turned for their Inspection! 1t
is the interest of the master to do so, and
the slave is aware that i; is punishment,
or death, for him to make it appear other
wise. But without any further remarks
We will 60 on With the simple little narra-
tive We have to tell; merely prefacing
that it is too literal a fact to contain many
stirring incidents, being only an episode
in the history Of one poor broken heart,
and we dare say an everyday affair in SOU
thern slave life.
"AUNT HETTY" had nothing about her
to distinguish her from the generality of
colored people. She was between fifty and
sixty years of age, rather small aud feeble
looking, but with good na.ured face, and
kind and pleasant word FOR every body.
As to her qualifications, she had the repu-
tatiou Of being one of the best cooks, and
bakers, where many Of her race excel. At
the time of which VIC write, she was hired
as "maid of all work." in the family of
Methodist minister, whom we shall desig-
nate by the name Of Smith, who had been
sent as a supply for two years to Virginia.
Her MASTER Mr.. Baily, was to receive
from Mr.. Smith twenty five dollars year
for Hetty's services. She herself, was not
allowed to touch farthing of her earnings,
but was furnished by her masters agent
with one or two coarse suits as her need
might be, in the course of the year and
it was stipulated that she was to have suf-
ficient food, this food to consist of bacon
aud corn bread. For the slaves, even those
who cook, are not permitted to partake of
the food prepared for the tables of those
they serve, unless as a special favor. In
Mr.. Smiths family, however, Aunt Hetty
was great favorite, and this part of the
arrangement, as far as they were concern.
ed, was dead letter. Hetty's life had
been one Of trial and hardship, but she
had the happy faculty Of making the best
of circumstances, and Of appearing cheer
full and contented. One day, however,
her mistress, on going to the kitchen, to
her astonishment found her overwhelmed
with grief, and with voice broken by
sobs, she, (Hetty) gave her to understand
the cause Of her emotion. Her husbands
master was dead, and by will had manu-.
mitted all bis slaves, among them David,
her husband. We are Eot sufficiently
acquainted with the phraseology of the
African, to attempt to give Amt Hetty's
remarks in their peculiar dialect, nor do we
think it at all necessary, SO We will rem
der them into plain English. The sub
stance Of what she said, was that she had
hecn married twenty live vears and had