, 1880-12-05
SOJOURNER TRUTH.
Further "reminiscences Of the Ca"
reer Of the African Sibyl.
Interesting Sayings and Doings Of a
Very Remarkable Parsonage.
4 Centeaariaa Kho las Played Stirring Part in
tue Country's History.

| tcuttaallda nav H1S tIalta otllllAS 1a1t IL
tue Country's History.
Special Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, Dec. 2.-In resum.
Ing the narrative of the life and adventures
of that unpretending yetmertorious coiored
woman, Sojourner Truth, it is but just to
! say that the notoriety and fame which she
has obtained have not been of her own seek
ing. She has ever sought to work conscien-
tious1y and do her duty, and not to seek the
applause of her fellow-beings. This trait III
| her character is well exeulplified by an incl
| dent, Of which was an eyewitness, which
| occurred In 1876, when the citizens OF this
| city celebrated the Centennial of Freedom.
| 1t was generally desired by all that S0journe1
should occupy prominent place at an cxlli-
| bition to he given in the city. She was to
represent the Freedman " coming out from
The shackles Of Slavery into Freedom. 1t
| was with much labor that she could be in
duccd to 60 before the people. As she ex-
| planned, ''I's not warthy to sit up var: but,
| II can do any work or say anythin' for the
| people, I'll do dat"
| It hardly seems possible that 4 person who
| has been on level with the cattle and swine,
| and for so many years subjected to such de-
morallzing influences, Should have
RETAINED HER MORAL INTEGRITY
to such an extent, anu cherished SO success
fully the religious sentiment in her soul. Il
certainly shows mind of ITO common order;
while it hightens the dctestati0n, that Is felt
III every right-1hinking bosom, Of that system
Of oppression which seeks to cripple the in
tellect, impair the understanding, and de-
prave the hearts Of its victims. That one SO
oppressed should rise to the prominent posi-
tion which she occupies, is, say, almost
miraculous.
SGjourner, as stated in my previous letter,
has no education read or write.
The only data Of her early life therefore, are
derived from her own remembrance; and her
memory is wonderful for So old person.
About one of the first things which she re-
members, prominently connected with her
early life, was the time when she was 0 years
old, and was sold on a block at auction, to-
gether with a flock of sheep. She and the
sheep together brought the sum of Sl04,
which, she remembers, was I; good price.
All her hardships, she says, date from
the day Of this sale. She was compelled to
labor hard in the fields all day, and, upon re-
turning to the house at night, had to work
the greater part Of the night, doug washing
and ironing for the masters house. Moth
ing but the most toilsome Of manual work,
WITH FREQUENT 1N1lUMAS nE.AT1SGs,
was Aer lot from this time to the day of her
liberation. There arc some hard things that
crossed Sojourner's life while i'll Slavery,
that she does not desire published for various
reasons: First, because the parties from
whose hands she suffered them have ren-
dered up their account to 4 Higher Tribunal,
and their innocent friends alone are living.
Secondly, because they are not all for tue
public car, from their very nature. And
third, but not least, because many Of the
stories would be so unnatural that people
would believe them untrue, which would i'll
jure, her name of ''Sojourner Truth" sand.
honey" said she in her quaint way"
wouldn't have people think I'd tell lie for
all tile world" One or two of the things which
she desired omitted may, however, be 1ncn-
toned here briefly. They relate to the in
humanity of her master, who was so brutal
that at one time le whipped q mother who
was nursing i.er little babe of n few. days,
because she did not To enough work; and
whipped her SO hard that mingled milk and
blood ran streaming down FROM her lacerated
breasts. At another time. Il little slaye-cllild
so annoyed its master by its crying that the
brute seized the child by its feet and
DASHED OUT IT'S BRAINS AGAINST THE WALL.
Another master crushed in the skull of one
Of his slaves with sle,1-stick, because of All
amount of labor, These are horrors of 4 by
gone time, which do not need reyivlng now
that Slavery has been abolished; and VIC
will kindly draw the curtain of charity over |
them.
At an early age Sojourner experienced re-
ligion, and, as :tl1 colurcl people Ito, became |
very enthusiastic over it. 3he never missed |
All opportunity to attend camp-1neeting or !
~ 4 CHI 117F4
ut Northampton lccturing for some time, she !
found out that n cainp-lnceting was in prog /
ress near by, and she could not stay away |
from it. Although it was "white peo.- |
that their Lord was her Lord; and SHE went |
There CHANGED to be also iii attendance Il |!
gang OF roughs, who had COME there for the |
express purpose Of haying frollc and break.
of them, she pecal,le very much friEltened,
and hid herself behind trunk, fearing they |
would wreak their mischief upon her, she |
being the only, colored person present
Dis tent ain't no protection. An' here
Cod a-ay;iin' i from I'M de lie Debii. Don't |
lie Bible say, One shall chase 4 thousand, |
an dar ANITA thousand here; II! not ty from
de Debi1, hut I'll 20 outa1l' face his hosts, am
GOD WILL PROTECT ME-
She then came out from her hitltng-place, |
andlnviteu se,eral to 70 with her and sue what |
they could do to still the raging crowd Of |
boys, who were running about screaming, |
shouting, firing pistols, and iual1lng threats !
Ut burning the tents. They deeIineu her ill /
yitatlon, and thought her wild tt think Ut |
such a thing. The tinise and confusion we're
now terrific. Sojourner left the tent, ard |
going about thirty rods to Il rise Ut .srnulid,
began to sing, i'll her nn'st ftrvitl ,:lanner, |
one Of tie canlp-lneeting sollgs. beginning:
1t was early N the morlius-it was early in the
iuUtftinx,
Just ut tho !,rcak OF day,
When He rose-wicn He rose-whcn He rose,
And went up to Heaven III IL clo:ll.
ALI who ever heard her sing will remember
her peculiar tunes and style, which oncc
heard can hardly be forgottcn. As sl!e COLI t
lncnccd IN sing with the utmost strength If
her powerful voice, the rouxsis made a rush
for her, and she was Immediately surrounded
by a dense bu,ly of the rioters, many If them
armed with sticks or clubs Her singing still
continued, and seemed to thrill the young
men, us
THEY QUIETED DOWN VERY MUCH
in their demonstrations. After pause, she
inquired, i'll her nitaest tones, "Why do you
come abuut lie with clubs and sticks l am
not doing harm to any one" I'VE amt a
goln to hurt you. OH wonlan," they cried
simultaneously. keep ON singing and talk