3. CHAPTER III.
An old woman's cure for a disease extremely prevalent both in the
coloured and uncoloured creation.
The next day I was visited again by my master,
and by other members of his family whom I had
not seen before, and of whom I shall say nothing
now, having occasion to mention them hereafter.
The children brought me “goodies” as before, and
little Tommy told me to “make haste and get well,
for there were none of the other `boys' ”—meaning
negroes—“who knew how to gallop the cock-horse
half so well as I.” In short, I was treated
like a human being, and fed like a king, and began
to grow wondrous content with my situation. The
doctor also came, and having fingered about my
neck for a while, declared my case to be the most
marvellous one ever known, and concluded by telling
me I was well enough to get up, and that I
might do so whenever I chose.
Now this was a matter of which I was as well
satisfied as he could be, being quite certain I never
was better in my life; but I felt amazing delight in
lolling a-bed, doing nothing except feeding on the
good things with which my master's children so
liberally supplied me; and, I believe; had they left
the matter to be decided by my own will, I should
have been lying on that bed, luxuriating in happy
laziness, to this day. It is certain I fabricated
falsehoods without number, for the mere purpose
of keeping my bed; for whenever my master, who
came to inquire about me at least once a day, ventured
to hint I was well enough to get up if I
would but choose to think so, I felt myself unaccountably
impelled to declare, with sighs and
groans, that I could scarce move a limb, and that I
suffered endless pangs; all which was false, for I
was strong as a horse, and without any pain whatever.
“Well, well,” my venerable master used to say,
“I know you are cheating me, you rascal. But
that's the way with you all. A negro will be a negro;
and, sure, I have the laziest set of scoundrels
on my estate that ever ate up a good-natured master.”
Unhappily, for so I then thought it, old aunt
Phœbe, who had been appointed to nurse me, and
who was very conscientious about her master's interest
in all cases where her own was not involved,
was by no means so easily imposed upon as the
old gentleman; and on the seventh day after I
opened my eyes, she dispelled a pleasing revery in
which I was indulging, by bidding me arise and
begone. I began to plead my pains: “Can't play
'possum with me!” said she; “good-for-nothin'
nigga, not worth you cawn!” and, not deigning to
employ any other argument, she took a broomstick
to me, and fairly beat me out of the hovel. I
thought it was very odd I should get my first beating
of a fellow-slave, and I was somewhat incensed
at the old woman for her cruelty; but by-and-by,
when I had taken a seat in the sunshine, snuffed
the fresh autumn air, and looked about me a little,
I fell into a better humour with her, and—if that
were possible—with myself.
