University of Virginia Library

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

turned away. Master used to whip them himself sometimes, with hickory switches as large as my little finger. My mother nursed all his children: she was reckoned a very good servant; and our mistress made it a point to give one of my mother's children to each of her own. I fell to the lot of Elizabeth, her second daughter, and it was my business to wait upon her.

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

was a match made in heaven, it was Charity and her husband."My husband was a nice good man; and mistress knew we set stores by one another. Her children promised they never would separate me from my husband and children. Indeed, they used to tell me they would never sell me at all; and I am sure they meant what they said. But my young master got into trouble. He used to come home and sit leaning his head on his hand by the hour, without speaking to any body. I saw something was the matter; and I begged him to tell me what made him look so worried. He told me he owed seventeen hundred dollars, that he could not pay; and he was afraid he would have to go to prison. I begged him to sell me and my children, rather than to go to jail. I saw the tears come into his eyes. "I don't know, Charity,"said he; "I'll see what can be done. One thing you may feel easy about; I will never separate you from your husband and children, let what will come."

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've nursed for my mistress. From the time my first baby was born, I always set my heart upon buying freedom for some of my children. I thought it was of more consequence to them than to me; for I was old, and used to being a slave. But mistress Kinmore wouldn't let me have my children. One after another she sold 'em away from me.

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

and buy of me. Sometimes he would say, "Aunt Charity, (he always called me Aunt Charity,) you must fix me up a nice little mess, for I feel poorly to-day."I always made something good for him—, and if he didn't happen to have any change, I always trusted him. He liked my messes mighty well.—Now, who do you think that should turn out to be, but the very speculator that bought me! He came to me, and said he, "Aunt Charity, you've been very good to me, and fixed me up many a nice little mess, when I've been poorly; and now you shall have your freedom for it, and I'll give you your youngest child."

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.