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up from slavery-第6章

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as still in debt to his master some three hundred dollars。 Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master; this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia; and placed the last dollar; with interest; in his hands。 In talking to me about this; the man told me that he knew that he did not have to pay the debt; but that he had given his word to the master; and his word he had never broken。 He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise。

From some things that I have said one may get the idea that some of the slaves did not want freedom。 This is not true。 I have never seen one who did not want to be free; or one who would return to slavery。

I pity from the bottom of my heart any nation or body of people that is so unfortunate as to get entangled in the net of slavery。 I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race。 No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction; and; besides; it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government。 Having once got its tentacles fastened on to the economic and social life of the Republic; it was no easy matter for the country to relieve itself of the institution。 Then; when we rid ourselves of prejudice; or racial feeling; and look facts in the face; we must acknowledge that; notwithstanding the cruelty and moral wrong of slavery; the ten million Negroes inhabiting this country; who themselves or whose ancestors went through the school of American slavery; are in a stronger and more hopeful condition; materially; intellectually; morally; and religiously; than is true of an equal number of black people in any other portion of the globe。 This is so to such an extend that Negroes in this country; who themselves or whose forefathers went through the school of slavery; are constantly returning to Africa as missionaries to enlighten those who remained in the fatherland。 This I say; not to justify slaveryon the other hand; I condemn it as an institution; as we all know that in America it was established for selfish and financial reasons; and not from a missionary motivebut to call attention to a fact; and to show how Providence so often uses men and institutions to accomplish a purpose。 When persons ask me in these days how; in the midst of what sometimes seem hopelessly discouraging conditions; I can have such faith in the future of my race in this country; I remind them of the wilderness through which and out of which; a good Providence has already led us。

Ever since I have been old enough to think for myself; I have entertained the idea that; notwithstanding the cruel wrongs inflicted upon us; the black man got nearly as much out of slavery as the white man did。 The hurtful influences of the institution were not by any means confined to the Negro。 This was fully illustrated by the life upon our own plantation。 The whole machinery of slavery was so constructed as to cause labour; as a rule; to be looked upon as a badge of degradation; of inferiority。 Hence labour was something that both races on the slave plantation sought to escape。 The slave system on our place; in a large measure; took the spirit of self…reliance and self…help out of the white people。 My old master had many boys and girls; but not one; so far as I know; ever mastered a single trade or special line of productive industry。 The girls were not taught to cook; sew; or to take care of the house。 All of this was left to the slaves。 The slaves; of course; had little personal interest in the life of the plantation; and their ignorance prevented them from learning how to do things in the most improved and thorough manner。 As a result of the system; fences were out of repair; gates were hanging half off the hinges; doors creaked; window…panes were out; plastering had fallen but was not replaced; weeds grew in the yard。 As a rule; there was food for whites and blacks; but inside the house; and on the dining…room table; there was wanting that delicacy and refinement of touch and finish which can make a home the most convenient; comfortable; and attractive place in the world。 Withal there was a waste of food and other materials which was sad。 When freedom came; the slaves were almost as well fitted to begin life anew as the master; except in the matter of book…learning and ownership of property。 The slave owner and his sons had mastered no special industry。 They unconsciously had imbibed the feeling that manual labour was not the proper thing for them。 On the other hand; the slaves; in many cases; had mastered some handicraft; and none were ashamed; and few unwilling; to labour。

Finally the war closed; and the day of freedom came。 It was a momentous and eventful day to all upon our plantation。 We had been expecting it。 Freedom was in the air; and had been for months。 Deserting soldiers returning to their homes were to be seen every day。 Others who had been discharged; or whose regiments had been paroled; were constantly passing near our place。 The 〃grape…vine telegraph〃 was kept busy night and day。 The news and mutterings of great events were swiftly carried from one plantation to another。 In the fear of 〃Yankee〃 invasions; the silverware and other valuables were taken from the 〃big house;〃 buried in the woods; and guarded by trusted slaves。 Woe be to any one who would have attempted to disturb the buried treasure。 The slaves would give the Yankee soldiers food; drink; clothinganything but that which had been specifically intrusted to their care and honour。 As the great day drew nearer; there was more singing in the slave quarters than usual。 It was bolder; had more ring; and lasted later into the night。 Most of the verses of the plantation songs had some reference to freedom。 True; they had sung those same verses before; but they had been careful to explain that the 〃freedom〃 in these songs referred to the next world; and had no connection with life in this world。 Now they gradually threw off the mask; and were not afraid to let it be known that the 〃freedom〃 in their songs meant freedom of the body in this world。 The night before the eventful day; word was sent to the slave quarters to the effect that something unusual was going to take place at the 〃big house〃 the next morning。 There was little; if any; sleep that night。 All as excitement and expectancy。 Early the next morning word was sent to all the slaves; old and young; to gather at the house。 In company with my mother; brother; and sister; and a large number of other slaves; I went to the master's house。 All of our master's family were either standing or seated on the veranda of the house; where they could see what was to take place and hear what was said。 There was a feeling of deep interest; or perhaps sadness; on their faces; but not bitterness。 As I now recall the impression they made upon me; they did not at the moment seem to be sad because of the loss of property; but rather because of parting with those whom they had reared and who were in many ways very close to them。 The most distinct thing that I now recall in con
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