The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-08-10

,orvod. y
A short time utter being put IN tho "ields'
touk wife, Que Of the women OF tho plant t
,,ion--who served much to tighten my I
weary tolls. A littlc cabin with one room '
was furnished us to live in. down in what is I
termed tho Negro Quarters;' os all tho q
slaves Of a plantation, with tho exception Of
those engaged in tho m,Stors house, have /
their cabins togothor 10 place remote from {
his mansion.
Thoro was still another who served to s
tighten my labor much. Twas Young Mas.
tor Howard, old Masters son Who gnod {
angel that ho was, used to visit my cabin at
nights by stcnlth-.for, had ho boon discovcrod
is doing it, severe punishment would have
been hs. At such times he would bring
somo choice dainty from his fathers table
for "Unco Steve" as he called mc-:or he
had grown to like me, whou | occupied my
previous situation in tho house. He would |
often bring boUks,aud read from them but |
at frat there was much that | could not un.
derstand, till Howorl learned me to read
patiently explaining tho difficult words. !
when my Joy became worry gtea'. / could I
then "bear the burdens aud heat of tho day" |
much moro easily. for knew there was one
to care for me. who would tighten up my
cabin at nights by his pleasant cheerful face,
and acts of kindness. There was not n slave
on the plantation, who did not love Master
| Howard. and many were the simple prayers
offered up from Ihoir lowly cabins that the
great Master would forever bless him
But sad change was destined to come
| over uq. Young Master was taken sick. ard
died Oh il was sad day whom tho Iittlo
augol was buried. II was dav of rest for
tho poor slaves, aEd thoy were allowed to
4 Al. L., q
burial. When tho ,ittlo coffin was lowered
TO its resting place. and the damp oarh foil
with solemn sound many heart was wrune
with deep sorrow, many poor slave wept
as they recalled tho acts of Kindness which
those now cold hands had bestowed upon
/ them.
| Often in tho moonlight nights visited
| his grave for it always seemed to mo in
doing thus that the littlo follow was very
near, although could not behold him.
After his doarh became disheartened; it
was hard to work the burden seemed very
hsavy, because he was not with mo to make
! il light All tho hOrrid curses and whip
pings which tho ovCrscer showored upon me.
did not serve to prodace tho amount of work
was wont to perform; and, beginning to
think was y good for nothing niger, ns
he expressed himself, he was ordered by the
! Master, to whom he entered q complaint.
to take ine to the nearest market aud effect
disposal. Accordingly. hsnd-cuffrd aud
| chained. | wus driven 10 the landing on tho
river. aud placed aboard the FIRST boat going
up. Rs tho nearest market lay in that d.
rectiou, when, after a short passage, our des.
tination was reached being the town of
Memphis, Tennessee, where was disposed
of to a planter living in tho interior. who
A., G.. ~. &c
pur urchasing few field hands With other
human purchases, l was chained and driven
to his plantation, where it possible my treat-
, mont was moro severe than whom in the
possession of my first master. My treat
mont bec1mo so terrible that began to
mediate nh escape, Notwithstanding | was
aware of what the consequences would DO,
, ohould DO caught in tho undertaking.
Ono dark stormy night whom all was quiet
around tho masters house. having secured
] what little food aud clothing could com
. mand, / sot ont. and WHOM the morning
a broke had gained considerable distance
being woll aware of tho value of time. As
T., dared not travel during tho light of day,
crept into a thick "cano brake" which hap
: pened to be nigh, to rest. and wait for tho
r dark hours to como. that might DO enabled
@ to proceed on my way. had struck out ir
o q northerly direction in tho hope of being
j able TO pass through the State Ct Kentucky
Y and so reaching the Ohio river. which having
h crossed should DO in the land of Liberty
. But WAS doomed to be disappointed.
1 Early the next morning nfter my fight
# it being discovered that was missing. tn,
@ elder sons of tho planter together with tn,
/. hounds, set ou. in pursuit of their "fugitiv
o property !" and, after few hours. they wor
is enabled 10y the scent of the hounds to dis
# cover my Whereabouts.
RS Not willing to be captured 80 easily,
n, broko from my cover, setting off as fast a
5 my limbs would carry me. But il was of n
use; for had gained but short distanc
whom one of tho pursuing party shot at an
c. wounded me SO seriously as to prevent u
IS further progress.
u IN this condition l was'ashed to a hors
10 and carried buck to my Masters, where, moi
10 withsuanding my crippled condition. m
a clothing was stripped off and in the presenc
u Of all tho slaves belonging to tho plantation
e the lash was applied to my naked body su
)" at oach stroke my flesh was cut up in
., fearful manner, tho fionds who Inflicted I'll
blows only ceasing for fear OF killing me, 1
. thoy could not afford such n loss Aft,
)" venting their brutal propansities in th
~ manner, | was thrust into an out house, an
cn bundle nf weeds thrown in for bed =
D. Hero I remained for weeks, suffering fro
"a my wounds. and whom again became wo
aud sound. was once more sold TO plant,
further north, whero tho remainder of m
ou slavery was passed with comparatively kin
NJ treatment to what had hitherto receive
+. and whore after years of patient toll Ell
n' ccedod in purchasing my liberty. the
~, Immediately sot out for the North-the la,
'pr' Of the .free-and. aftor many hardshps, su
~ ioring from hunger and want, reached 20,
an settlement, where, thank tho Lord. ha'
~ been recognized as man. although differir
ny IN color, from those who call mo such.
'o This was the "old mans" story, and,
w, doubt not. n true ono, After this did NJ
OF doco II unpleasant TO do for him all IN,
re Law in my power. But he needed none
W, help him longs for tho great Master Of a
LOT both white aud black called him away
10 was his ,imo to go. He had served mar
W earthly mastersj but in doing so had n
forgotten Him who rulod with kindly haI
on over all, and with prayer of forgivene
W. for those who had ruled him with irt
oI' hands, his spirit passed from its worn o
u" letters of clay, TO that cline whero al
'.o wicked ceuse from troubling and tho wea
.no are at rest."