University of Virginia Library

INTRODUCTION.

Islay Walden was born a slave in Randolph County North Carolina. His master died when he was an infant, and he was sold twice in his mother's arms. When eight or ten years old he attracted a good deal of attention by his ingenuity in the use of carpenter's tools, and for great aptness in reckoning. His master would take him to market to make his calculations for him, and bets were frequently made by himself and friends on Islay's being able to perform certain difficult calculations in three minutes time. These calculations were all mental; he never had the least training from books.

His master learned to value his services in keeping things in order about the place, making little repairs, etc., so that he was never put to hard work.

From the failure of his owners, he changed hands several times. His mother died when he was about eight years old.

When about eighteen years old he was engaged at a gold mine in driving oxen. The owner was a very passionate man, and was so angry one day that he was about to strike an ox to the ground with a mattock. Walden remonstrated, saying, “The ox will die.” It fell dead in a few moments. They threw its body into a pit where a shaft had been sunk, and while they were standing over it Walden made and recited impromptu his first verses—

After he had repeated this the man says, “Walden, you are a poet.” Walden asked, “What is a poet?” He replied, “One who writes poetry.” “What is poetry?” asked Walden. The man explained by asking him if he did not know what hymns are? &c.

From this time he was running over rhymes in his head, and longing to learn.

The second poem was composed on the occasion of his being attacked by a drunken man. A mob collected, and he was in danger of being killed if caught. While hiding from them under a tree he composed the lines beginning—

The surrender of General Lee occurred while he was at the mine. He left there soon after, and went from one mine to another, in North Carolina, until he came to Washington, searching for glasses to enable him to study.

He came on foot, the snow falling during part of the journey. He was told by some he was too old to learn; by others that his eyes were so poor he could never study.

After a good deal of wandering about he met Dr. Nichols at a preaching service at Howard University. He gave him the first real encouragement.

He composed some political ballads, which he had printed and went about the street selling them—all the time trying to find some help for his eyes, or some school where they

would teach him. He lived in this way three years, extending his travels through parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. While in New Jersey he attracted the attention of the Second Reformed Church in New Brunswick, which, through Professor Atherton, pledged one hundred and fifty dollars a year towards his school expenses until he should graduate.

Dr. Nichols was still his friend, and when he made application to enter Howard University a year ago his daughter taught him, patiently and faithfully, for three weeks. At the end of that time he was able to write something which resembled his name, read pretty well in the Second Reader, and worked examples in long division. He entered the lowest class three months behind it. At the end of six months he skipped a class, and joined another a year in advance of the one which he first entered.

Since he has been in the University he has composed a number of pieces suggested by passing events characteristic of school matters, &c., which he has collected in this little book. He wishes to sell them during his vacation, to make a sum sufficient for extra expenses during another year.

We do not claim great poetical merit, but think the effort worthy of encouragement. His stock of words is necessarily small, as he had no knowledge of books until within the past year.