2. Aunt Charity and the Speculator
BY CHARITY BOWERY (1844) The Romance of the Civil War | ||
2. Aunt Charity and the Speculator
BY CHARITY BOWERY (1844)
I Am about sixty-five years old, and was born near Edenton, North Carolina. My master was very kind to his slaves: if an overseer whipped them, he was
SLAVE QUARTERS.
[Description: Run-down
shanty with two slaves in front of it.]
Oh, my old mistress was a kind woman. She was the same as a mother to poor Charity. If Charity wanted to learn to spin, she let her learn; if Charity wanted to learn to knit, she let her learn; if Charity wanted to learn to weave, she let her learn. I had a wedding when I was married; and when my dear good mistress died, she charged her children never to separate me and my husband; "for,"said she, "if ever there
Two or three days after he came to me, and said; "Charity, how should you like to be sold to Mr. Kinmore?"I told him I would rather be sold to him than to any body else, because my husband belonged to him. Mr. Kinmore agreed to buy us; and so I and my children went there to live. He was a kind master; but as for mistress Kinmore,— she was a divil! Mr. Kinmore died a few years after he bought us; and in his will he left me and my husband free; but I never knew anything about it, for years afterward. I don't know how they managed it. My poor husband died, and never knew that he was free. But it's all the same now. He's among the ransomed.
Sixteen children I've had, first and last; and twelve
I tried every way I could, to lay up a copper to buy my children; but I found it pretty hard; for mistress kept me at work all the time. It was "Charity! Charity! Charity!"from morning till night. "Charity, do this,"and "Charity, do that."
I used to do the washings of the family; and large washings they were. The public road ran right by my little hut; and I thought to myself, while I stood there at the wash-tub, I might just as well as not, be earnin 'o'— something to buy my children. So I set up a little oyster-board; and when anybody came along, that wanted a few oysters and a cracker, I left my wash-tub and waited upon him. When I got a little money laid up, I went to my mistress and tried to buy one of my children. She knew how long my heart had been set upon it, and how hard I had worked for it. But she wouldn't let me have one ! So, I went to work again; and sat up late nights, in hopes I could earn enough to tempt her. When I had two hundred dollars, I went to her again ; but she thought she could find a better market, and she wouldn't let me have one. As last, what do you think that woman did? She sold me and five of my children to the speculators!
Surely, ma'am, there's always some good comes of being kind to folks. While I kept my oyster-board, there was a thin, peaked-looking man, used to come
Well, after that I concluded I'd come to the Free States. But mistress had one child of mine; a boy about twelve years old. I had always set my heart upon buying Richard. He was the image of his father; and my husband was a nice good man; and we set stores by one another. Besides I was always uneasy in my mind about Richard. He was a spirity lad; and I knew it was very hard for him to be a slave. Many a time, I have said to him, "Richard, let what will happen, never lift your hand against your master."
But I knew it would always be hard work for him to be a slave. I carried all my money to my mistress, and told her I had more due to me; and if all of it wasn't enough to buy my poor boy, I'd work hard and send her all my earnings till she said I had paid enough. She knew she could trust me. She knew Charity always kept her word. But she was a hard-hearted woman. She wouldn't let me have my boy. With a heavy heart, I went to work to earn more, in hopes I might one day be able to buy him.
To be sure, I didn't get much more time, than I did when I was a slave; for mistress was always calling upon me; and I didn't like to disoblige her. I wanted to keep the right side of her, in hopes she'd let me have my boy. One day she sent me of an errand. I had to wait some time. When I come back, mistress was counting a heap of bills in her lap. She was a rich woman,—she rolled in gold. My little girl stood behind her chair and as mistress counted the money— ten dollars,— twenty dollars,— fifty dollars,— I saw that she kept crying. I thought may be mistress had struck her. But when I see the tears keep rolling down her cheeks all the time, I went up to her, and whispered, "What's the matter?"She pointed to mistress's lap and said, "Broder's money! Broder's money! "Oh, then I understood it all! I said to mistress Kinmore, "Have you sold my boy?"Without looking up from counting her money she drawled out, "Yes, Charity; and I got a great price for him!"
Oh, my heart was too full! She had sent me away of an errand, because she didn't want to be troubled with our cries. I hadn't any chance to see my poor boy. I shall never see him again in this world. My heart felt as if it was under a great load of lead. I couldn't speak my feelings. I never spoke them to her, from that day to this. As I went out of the room, I lifted up my hands, and all I could say was, "Mistress, how could you do it?"
Here I have taken in washing; and my daughter is smart at her needle; and we get a very comfortable living.
2. Aunt Charity and the Speculator
BY CHARITY BOWERY (1844) The Romance of the Civil War | ||