Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-04-01
THE OLD SLAVE MOTHER.


as its own face before it, Gas the poet
might have observed, bat didn't,) was sit
ting quietly playing the doorstep.
VIII you have the kindness, madam
1 said, to give me glass of water?'
'Oh yes, massa, said the old woman l
had spoken to, as she set herself about
gettingit. Ibid not want it-I only ask
ed for it as an excuse for entering the
house.
Are you a Zee woman, madam
No, massa; Is not Is not likely to |
be- said the old lady.
Were you ever she North ?
No massa.
She gave funnily ssrutinizing glance:
Well, massa, l can't say dat, for
neeber was dar,' she returned, in a slow
and very peculiar tone.
How old are you? I?
wasn't that popping hther delicate
question in a rather summary manner
my fair sisters of the Northl0
Is sixty-two, said the venerable
slave.
(Ladies, lovely, of the North would
you believe it? She actually appeared
to be of the age she menioned-no, not
even single day older,)
She had had eleven Children, bu-
Is only three 1 kin seq now, massa,'
she added, mournfully.
Have any of your children been sold ?
I inquired.
Yes she said, sobbiny, the tears be-
ginning to trickle down her furrowed
cheeks, three on 'em. Two boys were
sold down South-I don' know where
they is; and my Oldest son was sold tc
Texas three years since. There was talk
about his coming back, but it's bin talked
about too-oo-oo'-her sobs interrupted
her speech for a few seconds too-oo-oc
long to be true, Is afeered'
! Her maternal affections were strongly
moved; l knew she would answer any
questions now.
1t must have been very hard with yot
to part with your boys; almost as har,
as when your other children died?'
said.
Almost, Nasal she rejoined, ia
, wuss. When they're dead, it seems a
if we knowed they was gone; but whel
they're sold down South-ah !-ah !
massa'-
She did not finish the sentence in ar
ticulata words, but the tears that race,
down her wrinkled face, the signs tha
heaved her bereaved maternal breas
concluded it more eloquently than he
tongue could have done.
It almost broke my heart, massa,' sh
said, but we cannot complain-tce's on
iy sIares.
A curious wish entered my mind a
: she uttered these words. | wished tha
l had the right of selecting the mode {
furnishing the Southern pro-slavery d
vines in the world to come. | woul
give each of them, what none of ther
has, A CHRISTIAN HEART, capable {
compassion for human sorrow and suffie
J. ing; and then I would compel them
,rI look, throughout all eternity, on the gho
of the face of this poor miserable mothe
whose children had been sold by the
. inhuman masters far away from her, al
far distant from each other.
'Oh! Godl' I calculated, as I gazt
on her grief-furrowed face, which W
wet with heart-sad tears, this slavery
the most Internal institution that the ST
If looks down upon
se l did not address this remark to the 0
u woman; 1 did not, indeed, intend to utt
ht it at all; but 1 did speak it aloud, al
Id she heard it.
III Yes, massa,' she said, itam infern'
v but we's no choice but to submit
We Would you believe it, my old frien
es l said, that your masters, and tn,
" white serfs at the North, say you are
happy ard contented with slaveryY
Well, massa,' she replied, we h
often to say so to people that ask US
1g would have said it to you, if you had
talked about my childer; we's Altered
SIX complain
so Yes, suppose so +; not half of J
ed are cohtented"
.ht "A half on US, massa? ? she exclaim
be energeticaiiy, no, not one qssartsrF
i'll talked with the old mother for f
minutes longer, and then took her
ou the hand.
Good bye, old lady I said, I he
US that you will die free woman, with
'ut your children around you
A deep sigh preceded the slaye-motht