University of Virginia Library

2. CHAPTER II.
In which Sheppard Lee is introduced to his master.

Just at this moment, to make my anguish more
complete, in stepped a tall and dignified person,
bearing a huge walking-stick; with which I was
so certain he would proceed to maul me, that I
made a second dive under the bedclothes, loudly
beseeching him for mercy.

To my surprise, however, instead of beating me,
he spoke to the old woman, whom he called aunt
Phœbe (and who, in return, entitled him Massa
Jodge), asked “if I was not light-headed?” said that
“it was a great pity I had so hard a time of it,” that
“I was very much hurt,” that “he would be sorry to
lose me,” and so on; and, in fine, expressed what
he said in accents so humane and gentle, that I
was encouraged to steal a peep at him; seeing
which he sat down on a stool, felt my pulse, and
giving me quite a good-natured look, asked me “if
I felt in much pain?”

I was astonished that he should treat me thus, if
my master. But, surveying him more intently, I
perceived there was little in his appearance to justify
any fears of cruelty. He was an aged man,
with a head of silver that gave him an uncommonly
venerable air; and, though his visage was grave,

it expressed a native good-humour and amiableness.

My terrors fled before his soothing accents and
benevolent looks; but being still confused, I was
unable to reply in proper terms to his questions;
so that when he asked me, as he soon did, what I
meant by crying for mercy, I made answer, “Oh
Lord, sir, I was afraid you was going to beat me!”
at which he laughed, and said “my conscience
was growing tenderer than common;” adding, that
“there was no doubt I deserved a trouncing, as
did every other boy on his estate; for a set of
greater scoundrels than his was not to be found in
all Virginia; and if they had their deserts, they
would get a round dozen apiece every day.”

He then began to ask me particularly about my
ailments; and I judged from his questions and
certain occasional remarks which he let fall, that I
had been lying insensible for several days, that my
neck had been put out of place, or dislocated, and
reduced again by some practitioner of uncommon
skill. And here, lest the reader should think such
a circumstance improbable, I beg leave to say that
I have lately seen an account of a similar operation
performed by an English surgeon on the neck
of a fox-hunting squire; and as the story appeared
in the newspapers, there can be no doubt of its
truth.

While the gentleman—my master—was thus
asking me of my pains, and betraying an interest
in my welfare that softened my heart towards him,

there came into the hovel a young lady of a very
sweet countenance, followed by two or three younger
girls and a little boy, all of whom seemed glad
to see me, the little boy in particular, shaking me
by the hand, while his youthful sisters (for all were
my master's children) began to drag from a basket
and display before my eyes the legs of a roasted
chicken, a little tart, a jelly, and divers other dainty
viands, which they had brought with them, as they
said, “for poor sick Tom,” and insisted upon seeing
him eat on the spot. As for the young lady,
the eldest sister, she smiled on them and on me
(for I was not backward to accept and dispose of
the savoury gifts), but told me I must not be imprudent,
nor eat too much, and I would soon be
well. “What!” thought I, “does a slave ever eat
too much?”

It is astonishing what a revolution was effected
in my feelings by the gentle deportment of my
master, and the kindly act of his children. I looked
upon them and myself with entirely new eyes;
I felt a sort of affection for them steal through my
spirit, and I wondered why I had ever thought of
them with fear. I took a particular liking to the
little boy, who, by-the-by, was a namesake of
mine, he being Massa Tommy, and I plain Tom,
and I had an unaccountable longing come over me
to take him on my back and go galloping on all-fours
over the grass at the door. I had no more
thoughts of running away to avoid the dreadful
lash, and the shame of bonds; and, my master and

his children presently leaving the hovel, having
first charged me to keep myself quiet and easy, I
fell sound asleep, and dreamed I lay a whole day
on my back on a clay-bank, eating johnny-cake
and fried bacon.