Year: 1869




The following is an extract from an old
letter written by S. Maria Child. and pub
lished in the Anti-Slavery Standard:


Not long ago, a black woman, originally
from Petersburg, Virginia, stopped here to
rest herself, and entertained me greatly by
her graphic account of the state of things in
the Old Dominion, when she resided there
She told me her name was Nancy Smith, and
when inquired if she had ever been a slave,
she answered: +" No, Missis; my grandma,
ther bought her freedom before my mother
was born but colored folks, whether they be
slaves or free, have hard time Of it down
there in Virginny, for the rich Shareholders
are given over to proud heart, and are very
hard upon the poor-upon the poor whites,
as well as upon the colored folks.


When | was about sixteen, my father let
me out for year to work for Mr.. c..
The colored girl that lived there before did
had three children by him. His wife told him
that the girl had become so lazy and impu-
dent that there was no getting along with
her, and she must be sent away but he al
ways answered, I pay for the niger. and
she shall stay as long as please AT last
he got put out with her for something, and
sent her off | soon found that be expected
to play the same game with me that he had
done with the other girl. But | didn't like
Massa. and did like Misss, who was nice,
friendly woman. didn't care to tell Massa
didn't like his ways. hadn't any mother
to 90 to with my troubles and if had one,
she could not have helped me- for it don't
do for colored folks down there to make any
complaint again the white folks. l thought
the best thing was to tell Missis all about it,
and ask her what should do. She told me
not to let Massa know that she knew any
thing about it, but to come to her whenever
| was in any difficulty, and she would try to
help me out So when Massa wanted to
make bargain with me, said, 'yes, Mas
sa, but l went right off and told Missis.
tried all | could to keep out of his way, but
he laid all manner of plans. and was always
making signs to me behind Missis' back
One day he told me to 90 to Jabe Smiths
spring and bring him a pitcher of water
that he was going away to be gone for an
hour, and he wanted some cold water when
he came back. He said this before his wife,
and afterwards came into the kitchen and
said, | shall be at the spring when you go
for water and do you mind and go exactly at
the time | tell YOU Yes, Masss,' and |
went straight to Missis and told her of the
bargain we had made. As he was going
away she said, There's a great deal for
Nancy to do to-day. Jabe Smiths spring is
long way off, and | don't know how to
spare her to go there He answered, pay
for the niger. and she shall go where L
please. | like the water from that spring
better than any other, and | choose to have
some to-day When he was gone, she told
me to do as he had bid me, but to ask two
colored women in the neighborhood to 60
with me- | did so, and Massa was mad
enough when he see three of US coming. But
the other women pretended that they had
come to fill their pals, and so he didn't
say anything. He never suspcioned it was
Mssis' doings. Another time he said. I'm
going out this evening" and shall come home
through the garden so don't you go to bolt
the gate till ten O'Clock. l shall be down
there behind the bushes Yes, Massa,'
said |. Then l went to Missis and said,
Massa and have made another bargain.'-
And what is it now, Nancy?' said She
When | explained it to her, she told me to
obey his orders and she would see about it.
She seated herself at window, overlooking
the garden, and when | went to bolt the gate
at ten O'Clock, she called out, Nancy, have
You brought in all the baby's things that
were on the grass? When | answered yes,
she said, | am afraid you haven picked 'em
all up carefully. ] must come and see about
it myself So she followed me, and pre-
tended to scold. saying There's no trusting
you. like to see to everything myself |
pretended to grumble, too, saying, never
see such Missis as you are. always tagging
round after me, and finding fault She had
taken Massa's cane as she passed through
the entry, and she went poking about among
the bushes to see whether any of the b.by's
things were on the grass. The moon was
shining, and when we came to the gate, she
cried out Nancy. what's that behind the
bushes there? Is it big dog2' i looks
like dog. said l. She began to poke it
hard with the cane, till Massa cried out
What the devil are you doing that for p
30, Alfred said she, is that you?' What
are you doing there?' "A thief stole neigh
Dor Saunders fruit last night said he, and
| thought maybe he'd come for mine to- night,
and I'd watch for him. Another time,
Massa wanted me to meet him in the cellar,
and Missis contrived to have him shut up
there for two or three hours, as if by acci
dent. When my time was out | went to a
new place. loved my Missis, but it wasn't
pleasant to live so. Missis cried when
went away; she said she was afraid she
should never find another girl who would be
so faithful to her as l had been."


Nancy related these adventures In lively,
amusing way without the slightest tinge OF
immodesty. Her comedy subsidized into trag
edy as she related some of the barbarities she
had witnessed. But they seemed to be nc
sadder result of slavery than such degrad
ing alliance between mistress and servant
Like most of her fervid race, Nancy was very
devout. When l offered her food; she rever-
emily evoked a blessing upon it aud upon me,
before she partook of it.