The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-10-18

splendid it looked, and wondered if the sun
went right into the water and how 1T got out
again in the morning.
"Then 1 thought 1 heard mothers voice,
and l run on to the spring. AS stopped
down, shadow seemed to fall on the water,
which was clear and bril- ht as looking
glass, aud then strong hand caught hold of
each of my arms. let my gourd fall, and
was going to scream, though my heart seemed
to jump into my throat. But two white men
were holding me, and one stufing handker-
chief in my mouth, and then they dragged
me down to the sea-shore and put me into a
boat. In few minutes they rowed to the
side of big ship, and carried me on board.
was SO scared l was almost out of my SEN
ses, but all the time felt as if it had all
happened because did not mind my mother.
Nanny always seemed much agitated
at this point, said the doctor, "and she
would rock her chair and shake her head and
say, Lawsy, lawsy, children, all of you al
ways mind what your parents say. Maybe
you won't be stole away from your home, but
you may be sure something will happen to
you if you do not mind your mother
"Then we would all beg her to go on and
tell about the ship, and the old woman would
say, well, my darlingS, you may be sure |
felt mighty bad, but after while man took
the cloth out of my mouth and gave me some
supper but l was too much scared to eat
then. There were other black folks on the
ship and some of them talked so could not
understand them. Every day the boat would
go out, and the men would bring back the
people they had caught. Sometimes chill
dren, sometimes grown folks. About once
week the ship would move to new place,
until at last they had good load, and then
we sailed to this country. We had an easy
time and plenty to eat, and when We got to
port, the captain gave us all bright colored
gowns and striped caps to wear. We often
talked to each other and wondered what the
white folks wanted with US. One day a man
who could talk little English, asked the
captain if the white folks we're going to eat
US. The captain laughed and said he was a
fool l never could tell what port we came
to, for could not talk English then, but the
man that bought me and all the other chill.
dren took us to Richmond. Your grandpa
bought me from him and carried me home to
his wife.
"All this time 1 had felt very sad and
often cried at night, when other folks thought
l was asleep. l was always thinking about
my little brothers and sisters, and kept wish
ing l had gone to the spring early, as mother
told me to do.
"When your grandpa bought me he took
me home, and we went first into your grand
mas room and old master picked up the
pretty little white baby out of the cradle and
put it in my arms. The child was used to
black folks, and he was not bit afraid of
me, and he put his little white hands on
these marks on my face and patted my
cheeks, and at last he put up his sweet lips
and kissed me. 1t peared like a great load
rolled off my heart then, and l laughed out
loud. And then my insists, that was your
grandma, children, she patted my head too,
and gave me some supper. l sat down with
the baby in my lap, and l would eat some,
and he would eat some. And then insists
gave me nice little bed, and l still held
onto the baby, and we both went to sleep.
"Afser that, mistis, was very good to me
and taught me to talk English, and then she
taught me to read, and learned how the
good Lord died for all. When the Bishop
came around, insists had me baptised along
with her baby, and so | got used to this
country and was happy again. When was
grown up, me and my old man was married
in mistis' parlor and master gave US good
little cabin of our own to live in, and l raised
ten children of insists and ten of my own
And before your grandma, my blessed mis-
tbs, died, she said, Judy, want you and
all my children and all your children to
meet me in heaven, and then she went home
to glory"
"Your grandpa had died first, and after
insists died the black folks was divided out
'mong the white children by drawing lots
But l said they could not draw no lots for
me, for was going with Mas Charles, cause
he was insists baby when l came in the fam
lily, and had put his little hands on my face
and kissed me when my heart was like to
break.
"And that was your father, children, and
you must all grow up good like him, and be
sure you mind your mother"
Lynchbwg, Ia. ORA LANGHoRNE.
The Little Sparrow.