xt7d513ttq8k https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7d513ttq8k/data/mets.xml Green, Jacob D., b. 1813. 1864  books b92bg822822009 English H. Fielding : Huddersfield Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Fugitive slaves --United States. Narrative of the life of J. D. Green, a runaway slave from Kentucky, containing an account of his three escapes, in 1839, 1846, 1848. text Narrative of the life of J. D. Green, a runaway slave from Kentucky, containing an account of his three escapes, in 1839, 1846, 1848. 1864 2009 true xt7d513ttq8k section xt7d513ttq8k 
  
  
  
  
\

  
  
  
  
NARRATIVE
07

THE
or

LIFE
GREEN,

J;

D.

A RUNAWAY SLA Y E .
FROM
i
CONTAINING AN

KENTUCKY,

ACCOUNT OE BIS

THREE ESCAPES,

I n 1 839, 1846, and 1848.

EIGHTH

T H O U SAN D.
OF
*.

; LIBRARY
O

HUDDERSFIELD:

FG^TED BT HENEY FIELDLNQ, PACK HOUSE
V <

T  pb>.-

--  VN^

1864.

  
  
TESTIMONIALS. J acob G r e e n , a coloured m ail a nd an escaped a s lave, Las lectured i n my hearing, on A m e r i c a n j S lavery, i n Springfield School-room, and I was t i n m e n p leased w ith t he propriety w ith w hich he ft w as able to express himself,- and w ith t he capa' b ilities w h i c h he seemed to p ossess to interest a n a udience. GILBERT Mc.CALLUM. M i n i s t e r o f Springfield I ndependent C hapel, D ewsbury. H ^ I I j If S ept 2, 1863. H o p t o n House, Sept. 10, 1863. I h ave m u c h pleasure i n bearing my testimony i n favour of M r . Jacob G r e e n , as a lecturer on t he subject of A m e r i c a n Slavery, having been p resent when he gave a n able and efficient l ecture h ere about a in >nth ago. H aving h i m s elf witnessed- and experienced the fearful effects o f that accursed " i n s t i t u t i o n , " h e is w ell fitted t o describe its horrors, and I have no doubt that a mongst certain classes, his labours i n the a ntislavery c ause may be more t elling a nd efficient t han t hose of more highly educated lecturers who do not profess his peculiar advantages. I s hall b e w ell p leased to hear of h i m being employed b y any anti-slavery society. JAMES CAMERON, M i n i s t e r of H o p t o n C hapel.

i -f

i

f

V*

73174

  
  
iv.

E c c l e s h i l l , S ept. 11, 1863. M r . J acob Green gave a l ecture on Slavery, i n o ur School-room here, about two months ago, w hich I c onsidered a very able one ; and it was so considered by my people. JOHN ASTON. I c ertify that M r . Jacob Green has delivered t wo lectures i n the Foresters' H a l l , D enholm, to a v ery numerous audience ; and on each occasion h as given great satisfaction. T h e subjects w ere, first   Slavery,    second, the American War. H e l ectures remarkably w ell, a nd has a powerful v o i c e ; and I have not the least doubt w ould g ive satisfaction i n lecturing elsewhere. The c hair o n each occasion was taken   first, by myself as incumbent   second, by the Rev. T . R oberts, Independent M inister.
r : r

J.. F. N . E Y R E . I ncumbent of D e n h o l m . O ct. 18th, 1863. I c an thoroughly endorse the sentiments^of t he Rev. J . F . IS. E y r e , h erein recorded. T. R O B E R T S . M r . J . D . Green has lectured four times i n o ur School-rooms, and each time he has given v ery great satisfaction to a large assembly. F r o m w hat L h a v e seen of h i m , I believe h i m to b e worthy of public sympathy and support. W I L L I A M I N M A N , M inister. O venden, Nov. 14, 1863.

  
.

0

N A R R A T I V E , & c.
MY f ather and mother "were owned b j Judge Charles E a r l e , o f Queen A n n e ' s C o u n t y , M a r y l a n d , a n d I was born on the 2 4 t h o f A u g u s t , 1813. F r o m e ight to eleven years of age I was employed as an. e rrand h oy, c a r r y i n g water p r i n c i p a l l y for domestic purposes, f or 113 slaves and the f a m i l y . A s I grew older, i n the m o r n ings I "was employed l o o k i n g after the c ows, a nd "waiting in, t he house, and at twelve years I remember being i n great d anger of l o s n g m y life i n a singular w a y . I had seen the r e l i s h w i t h w h i c h master and friends t ook d r i n k from a bottle, a nd st eing a s imilar h ottle i n the closet, I thought what was g ood f or them would be p ood i or me, and I l a i d h o l d of the h ottle a n d t ook a g ood d raught of ( O h , horror of horrors) o x a l i c acid, and the doctor said m y satety was occasioned b y a h a b i t I h a d of p u t t i n g m y head i n the m i l k p ail a nd d r i n k i n g m i i k , as by doing so the m i l k c aused me to vomit and saved m y l ife. A b o u t this time m y mother was sold to a trader n a m e d " VVoodf'oik, and where she was c o n v e y e d ! have not h e a r e d u p t o the present time.. T h i s ciroumstance caused serious r e flections i n m y m i n d , as to the situation of slaves, and caused m e to contrast the condition of a w h i . e boy w i t h m ine, w h i c h t he following occurrence w i l l m ore v i v i d l y pourtray. O n e m o r n i n g a f er m y m o ' h e r was sold, a white boy was stealing . corn oi.t of m y master's b r r n , a nd I said for this act we black b oys w i l l b e wipped u n t i l o ne of us c onfesses t o have d one t hat w e are a l l innocent of, as such is the case i n every i nstance ; and I thought, O h , that master was here, or the o versi er, I would then let them see what b ecomes o f the corn. B u t , I s aw he was of v i h the corn to the extent of h a l f a b u s h e l , a nd I w i l l s ay nothing about i t u n t i l t hey miss i t , and i f I t e l l t hem they wont b e ! e v e m e it he denies i t , b ecause h e i s w hite and I am black. O h ! how dreadful it is to be b l a c k ! " Why w as I born black ? I t would have been bettor h a d I not b een b o m at a l l . O n l y yesterday, m y mother was sold to go t o, not one of us knows were, and I a m left alone, and I h ave no h ope o f seeing h< r again. A t this moment a raven a lighted o n a t r t e over m y head, and I c r i e d , " O h , H a v e n I i f I h ad wings l i k e y o u . I would s oon find m y mother and be h a p p y a g a i n . " Before p a t t i n g she advised me to be a g ood
;

  
6 b oy, and nhe would pray for me, an 11 must pray for her, a n d h oped we might m eet a gain i n heaven, an i I at o nce c o m m e n ced to pray, to the b est < f m y knowledge, " O u r F a t h e r art i n H eaven, be T h y name, kingdom c o m e .     A m e n " B u t , at this t ime, w ords of m y master obtruded into m y mind that G o d > d i d not care for black folks, as he did not make them, but the d     l d i d . T h e n I thought of the old saying amongst lis, as s tated by our master, that, when G o d was m a k i n g m a n , H e m ade white man out of the best c lay, as p it'ters make c h i n a , a nd t he d   1 was watching, and he immediately to k up s ome b lack mud and made a black m a n , and called h i m a nigger. M y mast( r was continually impressing upon me the necessity o f beicr* a g ood b oy, and used to say, that i f I was g ood, a n d b< haved as well to h i m as m y mother had d one, I s hould go t o Heaven without a question being asked. M y mother h a v ing often said the same, I d e t e r m i n e d from that; day to be a g ood b oy, and constantly f equented the Meeting-house a t ti n ded by the blacks where I learned from the minister, M r . C obb, how m u c h the L o r d h ad d one f or the blacks and for t heir s alvation : and he was i n the habit of r eminding us what a dvantages he h a d given us tor our benefit, for \*hen we were i n o ur native country. A f n V a , w e were destitute of B i b l e l i g h t , w orshipping i dols of sticks and s o nes, a nd barbarously m u r dering one another, G o d put i t into the hearts of these g ood s laveholders to venture across the bo om of the hazardous A t l a n t i c t o A f r i c a , a nd snat.'h us p oor n egroes as b r nds from t he eternal burning, and bring us w h e n we might sit u n d e r t he droppings of his sanctuary, and 1 arn the ways of industry a n I t he way to G o d . " O h , niggers! how happy are } our e\'t s w hich see t his h eavenly l i g h t ; m any m i l i ons ot nijjgers desired i t l ong, but d i e d without the sight. I frequently envy y o u r s ituations,.because God's special blessing s eems t o be ever over y o u , as though y o u were a seieot people, for how m u c h h a p pier i s your position than that of a free m a n , who, i f sick, m ust pay his doctor's b i l l ; i f hungry, must supply his wants b y his own exertions ; i f thirsty, must re resb himself b y his o wn aid. A n d yet y o u , oh, n i g g i r s ! y o u r master has a l l t his care for y o u . H e supplies your d a i l y wants ; y o u r meat a n d y o u r drink he provides ; and when y o u are sick he finds the b est s kill to br n g you to health as s oon as possible, /or y o u r s ickness is his loss, and y o u r health his gain ; and, a bove a l l w hen y o u die ( i f y o u are obedient to y o u r masters, imd g ood n igcrers), y o u r black faces w i l l s hine l i k e b lack jur s around the. t hrone of G o d . " Such was the religious instruction I was i n

g   I

  
7 t he habit of receiving unt'I T was about seventeen years o l d ; a nd to d that when at adv time I happened to he offended, o r s truck b y a white boy 1 was not to offend or strike in r eturn, u nle s i t was anothi r black, then I m i s f i t fhd c as h r r d as I c hose i n m y own d e.enee./ I t happ ned about this l i m e there w as a white boy who was continually stealing m y tops and m arbles, a nd one morning when doing so I caught h i m , and W .J h ad a battle, and I h ;d h i m down on the ground when M r . B u r m e y c ame up. * H e kicked me away from the white b o y s aying i f 1 be onged to h i m he would cur off m y bands for daring t o strike a white b o y ; this without asking the cause o f the quarrel, or of ; seer a ining w ho was to b'ame. The k i c k w as so severe that I was sometime b efore f f orgot i t , and c reated such a feeling of revenue i n m y b osom h i t I was d et r m i n c d wh n i b - came a man I would pay h i m back i n h is o wn coin, I went o t one day, and measured m\self by a t ree i n the wood, : nd cut a notch i n the tree to ascertain h ow last I grew. I went at different times for the space of t wo months and found I was no t aller, a nd I be an to fear h e would die b efore 1 s hould have g: own to man's estate, and I r esolved i f h     d d I w. ulm particulars given i t a ppeared he took the pipe as usual and l i hted i t , and had j ust g ot i t to his mo th when the powder exploded, an i the p arty s uspected wa^ Rogers, who had been there immediately
r

  
8 p receding; and Burmey's son went to Rogers and t h e / fought a bout the matter. L a w ensued, w h i c h c ost R g ers 800 d o l lars, B u r m e y 600 dollars and his face d isfigured; and m y m a s ter's wife c ame i n for a deal of scandal, w h i c h caused further p roceedings at l a w , costing the master 1-400 hundred dollars, a nd I w as never o nce s uspected or charged w i t h t he deed. A t t his time two or three n egroes h ad escaped, and I heard so much about the free States of the north that I was d e t e r m i n d to be free. So I began to study what we c all t he n orth s tar, or astronomy, to guide me to the free States. I w as i n the habit of d r i v i n g the roaster; and on one o c casion I had to drive h i m to B a l t i m o r e where two of his sons w ere studying l a w ; and while there, I stole s ome s weet p otatoes to roast when I got h ome ; a nd how master got to know I had them I never k n e w ; but when I got h ome h e g ave m e a note to M r . Cobb, the overseer, and told me to t e l l J Dick,(another s lave on the p i ntadon) to c ome t o B a l t i m o r e to h i m on the following evening, and as s oon as I t ook t he n oie m m y hand J was certain there was a flogging i n i t for riic, t hough he said nothing to me. I held the note that night a d f ollowing day, afraid to give i t to M r . Cobb, so confidant w as I of what would be the result. Towards evening I began t o reason t h u s     I f I give Cobb the note I s hall be w h i p p e d ; i f I w ithold the note from h i m I s hall be whipped, so a w h i p p i n g a ppears p lain i n either case. N o w Dick h aving arranged t o m eet h is sweetheart this night assumed sickness, s that he c ould have an e xcuse f or not meeting master at B a l t i m o r e , and h e wanted me to go instead of h i m . I a greed to go, j r o v i d i n g h e would take the note I had to M r . Cobb, as I had f orgot t o g ive i t h i m , to which he consented, and off w e n t ; and I h eard t hat when he delivered the note to M r . Cobb, he ordered h i m t o go to the whipping-post, and when he asked what he h a d d one h e was knocked down, and afterwards put to the p ost a nd t h i r t y - n i n e lashes were adminstered, and failed s eei n g h is sweetheart as w ell. W h e n I arrived at B a l t i m o r e m y m aster and young master t ook t heir s^ats and I drove away w ithout a ny question u ntil w e had g one t hree miles, when he a sked what I was doing there that night. I very n o l i t e l y s aid D i c k was not w e l l , a nd I h a d c ome i n his place. Ke t hen a sk d me i f M r . Cobb got his note, I answered, yes, s i r . H e t hen asked me how I felt, and I said first rate, sir. " T h e d    1 y o u d o , " said he. I siud, yes sir. H e said " nigger, d i d M r . C obb flog y o u ?" N o sir. I have d one n othing wrong. " Y o u never do," he answered ; and said no more u n t i l h e got
T

  
h ome. B e i n g a m a n who could not hear to bare any order o F h is d isobeyed or unfulfilled, h r immediately called for M r . C obb, and was told he was i n b e d ; and when he appeared, t he master asked i f he got the note sent by the nigger. M r . C obb said " Y e s " " T h e n w h y , " said master, " d i d y o u not p erform m y orders i n the note ?" " I d i d , s i r , " replied C o b b ; w hen the master said, " I told y o u to give that nigger t hir y nine l ashes," M r . Cobb says, " So I d i d , sir ; " when master r e p l i e d , " H e says y o u never l i c k e d , h i m at a l l . " U p o n w h i c h C obb said, " H     i s a l i a r : " w hen m y master called for m e (who had be-ic h earing the whole dialogue at the d oor), I t urned on m y t oes a nil w ent a short distance, and I shouted w i t h a l oud v oice t hat I was cominu, (to prevent t h e m k n o w i n g t hat I had been listening) and appeared b efore t h e m a nd s aid " here J am master, do y u want m e . " H e said "Yes. D i d y o u not t ell m e that M r . - Cobb had not flogged y o u , " ' a n d T said " yes I d i d ; he has not flogged mo" t o - d a y , sir." M r . Cobb answered, " I d i d not flog h . m . Y o u d i d not t e l l m e to flog h i m . Y o u t o l d me to flog that other n i g g e r . " " W h a t other n i g g e r , " enquired Master. Cobb said, " D i c k . " M a s t e r t hen said, " I d i d not, I told y o u to flog this nigger h e r e , " Cobb then produced the letter, and read i t as f o l l o w s : " M r . Cobb w i l l g ive the bearer 39 lashes on d e l i v e r y . " E . T . E ARLE. I t hen left the room and explanations t ook p 'ace. W h e n I w as again called i n . " H o w c ame D i c k to have h a d the l e t t e r , " a nd I then said I had f orgot t o deliver i t u ntil D i c k w anted ine to go to B a l t i m o r e i n his place, and I agreed p r o v i d i n g h e w o u i d take the letter. M a s t e r then s a i d ' y o u l i e , y o u infernal v i l l a i n , " a n d l a i d h o l d of a pair of tongs and said h e w o u i d dash m y brains out i f I d i d not t ell h i m the t r u t h . I t hen said I thought there was something i n the note that b oded n o g ood t o m e , and I d i d not intend to give i t to h i m . H e s aid, " y o u black vagabond, stay on this plantation three m onths longer, and y o u w i l l b e master and I the s l a v e ; no w onder y o u said y o u felt first rate when I asked y o u , but I w i l l s ell y o u to go Lo G e o r g i a the first chance I get." Then l a y i n g t he tongs down he opened the d oor a nd order* d me out. I k new\ he had on heavy cow-hide b oots, a nd I k n e w he w ould^try t o assist me i n m y outward progress, a n d though e xpecting i t , a n d went as quick as J could, I was m a t e r i a l l y a ssisted by a heavy k i c k from m y master's f oot. T h i s d i d n ot end the matter, for when D i c k / o u n d out I h a d caused h is b eing flogged, we had continual fightings for several m onths.
;

  
10 W h e n I w as fourteen years o l d m y master g ave m e a flogging, the marks of w h ch w i l l g o w i t h m e to m y g r a v e , a nd t his was for a crime of which I as completely innocent. A l v m aster's son had taken one of his pistols out, and by s ome a cc dent i t burst. W h e n enquiry was made about the d amaged pistol W i l l i a m t old lus father that he h a d seen me h ave i t ; t his, o f course, I denied, when master tied me up by m y thumbs and g ave m e 60 ladies, and also made me c onfess t he crime b efore h e would release me. F r o m this flogging m y back was raw and s ore f or three months ; the shirt that I w ore was made of rough tow l i n e n , a nd when at work i n t he fi Ids i t would so chafe the s ores t hat they w o u l d break a m i r u n , an I the hot sun o\ei we w o u l d balie the shirt,fast to m y back, and for four w e e k , I wore that s h i r t , u nable to p u l l i t off, and when I did p u l l i t off i t brought w i t h i t m u c h of m y f l v s h , l e a v i r g m y back perfectly r a w . Some t i m e after t his m y master found out the t ruth a bout the pistol, and w h e n I s aw that he d i d not offer me any apology for the b e a i i a g he h a d g iven me, and the lie he h a d made me c onfess, I w ent t6 h iai a nd said   now, master, y o u see thnt y o u beat me u n j u s t l y a bout that pistol, and made me co d ess t o a l i e     b u t a l l t he consolation I got w a s     c l e a r out, y o u black r a s c a l ; I never s truck a b low amiss i n m y l ife, e xcept w hen 1 struck at y o u a nd h appened to miss y o u ; there are | l e n t y of other crimes y o u have committed and d d not let me catch y o u at t h e m , so t hat flogging w i l l do for the lot. M aster h ad an old negro i n the f a m i ' y called U n c l e R e u b e n . T h i s g ood o ld man and his wife were v e r y g ood f riends of m y mother's,.and before s he was sold they often met and sung a nd p rayed, and talked abaut religion together. U n c l e Reuben f eli s i c k i n the middle of the harvest, and his sickness was v ery severe ; but m stcr having agrudg^ ?gainst uncle R e u b e n , a nd h s old wife aunt D i n a h , r especting a complaint that a unt D i n a h h ad made to mistress about his having outraged a nd v iolated her youngest daughter, h i ^ spite was carried out b y M r . Cobb, the oveiseer, who forced U n c l e R e u b e n into the fi I d a mongst the rest of us, and I was o dered to cradle b e h i n d h i m to make h i m k e p ur> w i t h t he rest of the gang. T h e p oor o ld man worked u ntil h e f ell, j u s t ahead of m e , upon t he cradle. M r . Cobbcameover and told h i m t o get up, and that h e w a s o n I y p l a y i n g t h e o ! d ? o k l i e r , and when the ol I m a n d i d not m ove to get up M r . Cobb g ave h i m a few kicks w i t h h is h e a v y b oots a nd told Reuben, sick as hi w as, t h it he would cure d m . H e o rdered us to take off his s hirt, a nd die poor'old m a n was
:

  
11 s tripped, w h e n M r . Cobb, w i t h h is h i c k o r y cane, l aid o n h i m t i l l h is back bled freely ; but s till t he old man seemed to take n o no t ic 3 o f what M r . Cobb was doing. M r . Cobb then t o l d u s to put on his shirt and carry h i m i n , for he appeared c o n v i n c e d that Reuben could not walk. T h e next morning I w ent to see h i m but he d i d not seem to know anybody. M a s t e r c ame i n along w i t h t he Doctor, and master swore at R e u b e n , t elling h i m that as s oon as he was w e l l enough he s hould h ave a g ood H ogging for having, by his own l o l l y , c aught his sickness. T h e doctor here checked his. mister's r age b y t elli g h i m , as he felt at lleuben by the w ri.-t, h e c ould not live many minutes longer ; at this mas'er was silent, a nd a f ew minutes R " u b e n was dead. P o o r A u n t D i n a h c ame i n out of the kitchen and wept fit to breaL, her p oor h eart. S he had four sons a nd three daughters, and they a d j o i n e d i n mournful lamentation. W h e n I was sixteen I was very fond of dancing, and was i n v i t e d p rivately to a negro shindy or dance, about twelve m i l e s f rom home, and for this purpose I got Aunt D i n a h to s tarch t he collars for m y two l i n e n s hirts, w hich were the first s tanding c ollars I h a d ever worn i n m y l i f e ; I had a g ood p air o f trous'.M-s, a nd a jacket, but no necktie, nor no pocket h a n d kerchief, so I stole aunt D i n a h ' s checked apron, and tore i t i n t w o     o n e p art for a necktie, the ot .ere for a pocket h a n d kerchief. I had twenty-four cents, or pennies which I d i v i d o d e qually w i t h n ifty large brass buttons i n m y right a n d l eft pockets. N o w , thought I to myself, when I ' get on the f loor and begin to dance   oh ! how the niggers w i l l s tare to h ear the money j i n g l e . I was combing m y hair to get the k nots out of i t : I then went and looked L i an old p iece o f b r o k e n looking-glass, and I thought, w i t h ' u t j o k i n g , that I w as the b est l ooking negro that I had ever seen i n my 1 fe. A b o u t ten o 'clock I s tole out to the stab!e when a l l was s t i l l ; a nd w h i l o I was getting ou one of m y master's horses, I said t o m y s e l f     M a s t e r wes i n here at six o 'clock a nd saw a l l these h orses clean, so I must look out and be back time enough to h ave y o u clean when he g ets u p i n the morning. I thought w hat a dash I should cut among the pretty yellow and S mho g als, and I felt quit confident, of course, that 1 should have m y p i c k among the best l ooking o nes, f or m y g ood c lothes, a nd m y abundance of money, and m y own g ood l o o k s     i n f ac! , I thought no mean t h i n g s j r f m y self.
-

W h e n I arrived at the place where the dance was, it was at a n o ld house in the w oods, w hich had ninny years before b een

  
12 a neo I end'-avonre I t o creep o ut as s lily as I could; but even this I was not permitted to d u n i l I h ad undergone a h a u l i n g < a round t he room by m y unfortunate shirt t a i l : a nd this j art o f the programme was preformed b. the gals, set on b . the b oys   every nigger who could net stand up and l a u d i , b e cause laughing made them weak, f ell d own on the floor and r olled r ound and round. W h e n the gals saw their own t m t hey let me g o, and I hurried outside and stood behind f i e h o u e, beaeath a beautiiul .bright m on, which saw m e t hat n i  ht the most wretched of a l l negroes i n the land of D i x i e : a nd w hat may me feel, i n my own opinion, that mv h u m i l i ation w as just as complete as the triumph of the n egroes i n -

  
ticLe w as glorious, was that the'raTs h a d ! t urned m y pcck^tjj - out, "and tound that the hundred-; of dollars they had thought my p ockets contained, consisted of 24 c ent? o r pennies; and 6 0 brass butrtoris. E v e r y t h i n g was ahYe and bappy inside the r c O m , b u t h o . o n e k n e w or enrea how miserable I w a s     t h e j o y and life of theTdance that n i g h t seemed e n t i r e l y at my e xpense, a l l through m y unfortunate shirt t ail. T h e first t h i n g I t hought of now was revenge. T a k e your comfort, niggers* now, said I to myself, for sorrow s hall b e yours i n t he morning, so I t ook o ut.my knife and went round the f ence a n d c ut every horse l oose, a nd they a l l ran away. I then got o n my horse and set off home. A s 1 r ode o n I thought to m y s e l f     I only wish I could be somewhere c lose e nough to See how those negroes-will net when t h - y c ome o ut and find a ll t heir horses g one. A n d then I laughed right out when I t ho/ight of the sport they had had Out of m y tnisfcifcsne, and t hat some w ere ten to twelve, and some l it t een mile's away f rom home. W e l l , t hought I , your masters w i l l l iave tc r eckon w ith y ou to-morrow ; you have had glad hearts ton i g h t a t my expense, but you w i l l h ave s ore b acks to-morrow a t your Own. . Now, when I got home, the stable was' i n 'a v ery b ail s ituation, and I was afraid to b r i n g my horse i n u n t i l
:

1 r o u l d strike a light. When, this was d one, I took t he saddle a nd b r i d l e off outside. N o s ooner h ad I d one t his than my h orse reared over the bars and ran away i t b the meadow. 2 cm u sed'him t i l l d aylight, and for my life 1 could not catch n i h i l M y feelings now may be better imagined than described. W n e n t he reader remembers'that this horse, w ith a l l the rest, m aster had seen clean at six o 'clock t he n i g h t before, a nd a l l s afedn the stable, and now to see h i m i n the meadow, w ith a l l t he marks of h a v i n g been driven somewhere and by s omebody, w hat e xcuse c ould I make, or w hat story could I invent i n o r eri.0 save m y p oor b ack from that-awful flogging w h i c h I k n e w must be the result of t he reve'ation of the t ruth. 1 s tudied a nd t ried, b ut could think of no lie that would stand m u s t e r . A t last I went into the stable and t a m e d a l l the r est out, and left the stable d oor o pen, and creeping into t lie h ouse, took off my tine clothes and put on those which T had b een wearing-all the week, and l aid m yself down on my straw. 1 h ad not l a i n l o n g before I h eard master shouting for me, for a l l t hose horses, eight i n number, were under my c a i e ; and a lthough h e shouted' for me at the top of his voice, I lay s tdl a nd p retended not to hear h i m ; but s-ion a fter I h e a r d a light s tep c o m i n g u p stairs, and a rap at my door   then I c ommenced

  
14 to o n as loud as possible, s till t he knocking continued. A t l ast I pretended to awake, and called out, who s there   that
V

SO ON Lizzy? y' UP*W H A T T I M E I S LT' ; L i z z y said master wanted me immediately ; yes, L i z z y , s aid I , t ell me.ster I m coming. I b othered about the room l o n g enough to give colour to the impression that I h ad just finished d ressing m yself; I t hen c ame a nd s aid, h ere I a m, master,, w hen he demanded of me, what were my horses doing i n the meadow ? Here I p ut on an expression of such wonder and s urprise   looking first i nto the meadow and then at the stable door, and to master's satisfaction, I seemed so completely confounded that my deception took u pon h i m the desired e ffect T heu I affected to roar right out, crying, now master, you saw m y horses a l l clean last night before I w ent to bed, and now some of those n egroes h ave turned them out so that I s hould h ave them to clean over again : w ell, I d eclare ! it's too bad, a nd I roared and cried as I went towards the meadow to drive t hem u p ; but master believing what I s aid, c alled me back    nd told me to c all M r . Cobb, and when |Mr. Cobb cama master told h i m to blow the horn ; when the bom was blown, t he negroes were to be seen coming from a l l parts of the p lantation, a nd forming around i n front of the balcony. M aster t hen came o ut and s aid, now I saw this b oys h orses c lean last night and i n the stable, so now t ell me which of you t urned t hem o ut? O f course they all denied it, then master ordered them all to go down into the meadow and drive up the h orses and clean them, me excepted; so they went and drove t hem up and set to work and cleaned them. O n Monday m orning we all turned out to work u n t i l b reakfast, when the h orn was blown, and we a l l repaired to the house. Here m aster again demanded to know who turned the horses l oose, a nd when they all denied i t , he tied them a l l up and g ave t hem e ach 39 lashes. Not yet satisfied, but determined to have a confession, as was always his custom on such occasions, he came to me and asked me which one I bad reason to suspect. M y poor g uilty heart already bleeding for the suffering I h a d caused my fellow slaves, was now almost driven to confession. W h a t m ust I do, select auother victim for further punishment, o r confess the t ruth a nd bear the consequence ? M y c onscience now rebuked me, l ike a n armed man ; but I happened to be one of those boys who, among all even of my mother's c h i l d r e n l oved myself best, and therefore had no dispositiou to satisfy m y conscience a t the expense o f a very s ore b ack, so I very soon t hought of D i c k a negro who, l ike I shmael, had his h a n d
oh m

JB O

what

3

*8

  
15 o at against every m a n , and a l l our hands were out against h im ; t his negro was a liekspitde or t ell-tale, a s l ittle b