Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-04-18
An African in Virginia.

AS we were talking Of the colored
people the other day, our old white
haired doctor said, 'My nanny was
a native of Africa. She had strange
looking mark, something like a double
cross on each cheek and each arm. She
was very kind and loving to US all, and
sometimes when we asked her to Gell
us story, she would take my youngest
sister in her arms, and the rest of US
would cuddle round her, and she would
push back her specs and say, Children,
do you see these marks Well, that
was the sign of our tribe or family in
the country where 1 was born, over the
sea. They meant something in our
language, just as letters do in books
here. But have forgotten what it
was, and all about it, 'cept that my
father was chief, and he and all our
folks had marks just like mine. That is
beautiful country to live in. There are
grander looking trees and finer flowers.
and more beautiful birds than 1 ever
saw in old Vrginny. But there are
big snakes and fierce beasts, thai you
all never see, 'cept when the show
comes along. We lived in funny little
houses without no windows, and the
roofs were made of leaves like your mas
big fan, only heap bigger. At night
we fastened our doors tight for fear
some beast or snake would get in
Our folks did not have any nice clothes
or furniture nor a heap Of things We
have here, but we were happy all day
long, and at night too, when we sat by
a big fire and had plenty Of nuts to eat.
Then the old folks would tell tales, or
some one would sing and we would all
dance. My mother had great many
children, and we were happy playing
from morning till night, for nobody
does much work there.
zone day my mother said she was
going away all day on visit, and she
told me to bring big gourd Of water
from the spring to boil the plaintain
fruit for supper. Mother went off on
her visit just like your ma does here,
'cept your ma takes her knitting and
my mother carried along a big basket
she was weaving. She did not wear any
clothes but piece ofred calico round
her waists, and string of blue beads
round her neck.
''Well, we children played on, and 1
| forgot all about the water mother had
told me to fetch, till most dark, and
then 1 jerked up gourd that would
hold as much as two tin buckets here,
and ran down to the spring under the
big palm tree.
Laws! children, l can member
everything bout that evening like it
was yesterday" Nanny would say
"0ur village was near the sea-shore,
and the sun was setting, and the water
of the ocean looked like gold.
II stood still minute and thought
how splendid it looked, and wondered
if the sun went right into the water,
and how it got out again in the morn
ing.
''Then l thought l heard mothers
voice, and run on to the spring. AS
l stopped down, shadow seemed to
tall on the water, which was clear and
bright as looking-glass, and then a
strong hand caught hold of each of my
arms. 1 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 stuffing handkerchiefin my mouth
= and then they dragged me down to the
sea-shore and put me into boat. In a
few minutes they rowed TO the side of a
big ship, and carried me on board. I
was so scared was almost out of my
senses, but all happened because did
not mind my mother.
NANNY always seemed much agi-
tated at this point" said the doctor,
land she would rock her chair and shake
her head and say, 'Lawsy, lawsy,
children, all of you always 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 en-
and tell about the ship, and the old
woman would say, "Well, my darllngs,
you may be sure I felt mighty bad, but
after a while man took the cloth out of
my mouth and gave me some supper !;
but 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 children,
sometimes grown folks. About once a
week the ship would move to new
place, until at last they had a 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
were going to eat us. The captain
laughed and said he was fool. never
could tell what port we came to, for l
could not talk English then, but the
man that bought me and all the other
children took us to Richmond. Your
grandpa bought me from him and
carried me home to his wife.
''All this time had felt very sad and