Half a Century

roofs as we steamed away from her wharf, bound for Louisville, where my husb

the desolate slave-cursed shores of Kentucky, and the smiling plenty of the opposite bank; but Lou

eld possession of the national resources, Louisville might count on favors, and she was to be Queen City of the West. There was an aspiring little place which fancied itself a rival, a lit

Eldorado. Before we effected a landing at the crowded wharf, I fell to wondering if a Pittsburg drayman could take a Louisville dray, its l

in shining black broadcloth, each with a stove-pipe hat on the side of his head, his thumbs in the armholes of a satin vest, displaying a wonderful glimmer of gold chain and diamond stud, balancing himself firs

d on the street without a male protector, by a stare so lascivious as could not be imagined on American free soil. I learned that they all lived, in whole or in part, by the sale of their own children, and the labor of the mothers extorted by the lash. I came to know one hoary-haired veteran, who

a pistol, bowie-knife or slave-whip; that any other tool would ruin the reputation of the owner of the taper dig

o-story brick house, always closed except when a negress opened and dusted the rooms. I never saw sadness or sorrow until I saw that face; and it

one at a time, as they became saleable or got in his way. On the sale of the first, the mother "took on so that he was obliged to flog her almost to death before she gave up."

lesson she had

ed to lament the loss of two boy

ellow slave. To punish both, the young master had Jo tied up and lashed until he fainted, while Liza was held so that she must witness the torture, until insensibility came to her

n, and uncle sot great store by them. He couldn't bear to have them out of his sight, and always said he would give them to me. He would have done it, I know, if he had made a will; bu

South. Maybe your way, up North, is best, after all. I never knew a

cept when she went to her Baptist meeting, but for hours and hours she crooned h

f the eyelids, which forcibly closed her eyes,

ent on; so her employer sent for her owner, and I, as an abolitionist, was summoned to the conferenc

thout assistance from the flesh or bones inside; with the dress was combined a mass of lace and jewelry that rep

nd would not give her another dollar. They, knowing her necessities, were so ungrateful!-nobody could think how ungrateful; but in all her sorrows, Martha was her crowning grief. She had ha

this martyr and her husband had grown weary of flogging Martha. One hated so to send a servant to the public whipping-post; it looked like cruelty-did c

called me to witness, that she had sent her a cup of tea every day since she had complained of

was the business of the employer to pay them, and see that they were earned. If it were necessary now to send Martha to the whipping-post

curls making a border to her red turban, receiving her sentence without a word. As a sheep before her shearers she was dumb, opening not her mouth. Those wrinkled, old lips, from which I had heard few sounds, save

tive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound," but all I could do for Martha, was to give

s, where the sound of the blows, the curses of his two tormentors, and his shrieks and unavailing prayers for mercy were co

tity, where hundreds who heard the blows and shrieks knew the cause. From that house she was taken to the work-house and scourged by the public executi

descanting on the power of religion, and, in illustration, he told of two wicked youn

e religion out

a yard. This unique nigger was summoned, and proved to be a poor old man. His master informed him he had a bet on him, and the other party comman

curse Jesus! Jesus die

urse him; I n

raw the bet, but the other wanted sport and would win the money. Oh! the horrible details that that preacher gave of that day's

no curse Jesus; Jesus die fo

one hundred dollars. But, the only point which the preacher made, was that one in favor of re

ith four projections, and a hoop or bail up over his head. This had been put on him for the crime of running away; and was kept on to preve

mart, and acted as auctioneer in disposing of their services. The time at which this was done, was in t

ten-penny nail. The preacher in charge witnessed the punishment from a back window of his residence. Hundreds of others witnessed it,