按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
eared and who were in many ways very close to them。 The most distinct thing that I now recall in connection with the scene was that some man who seemed to be a stranger （a United States officer； I presume） made a little speech and then read a rather long paperthe Emancipation Proclamation； I think。 After the reading we were told that we were all free； and could go when and where we pleased。 My mother； who was standing by my side； leaned over and kissed her children； while tears of joy ran down her cheeks。 She explained to us what it all meant； that this was the day for which she had been so long praying； but fearing that she would never live to see。
For some minutes there was great rejoicing； and thanksgiving； and wild scenes of ecstasy。 But there was no feeling of bitterness。 In fact； there was pity among the slaves for our former owners。 The wild rejoicing on the part of the emancipated coloured people lasted but for a brief period； for I noticed that by the time they returned to their cabins there was a change in their feelings。 The great responsibility of being free； of having charge of themselves； of having to think and plan for themselves and their children； seemed to take possession of them。 It was very much like suddenly turning a youth of ten or twelve years out into the world to provide for himself。 In a few hours the great questions with which the Anglo…Saxon race had been grappling for centuries had been thrown upon these people to be solved。 These were the questions of a home； a living； the rearing of children； education； citizenship； and the establishment and support of churches。 Was it any wonder that within a few hours the wild rejoicing ceased and a feeling of deep gloom seemed to pervade the slave quarters？ To some it seemed that； now that they were in actual possession of it； freedom was a more serious thing than they had expected to find it。 Some of the slaves were seventy or eighty years old； their best days were gone。 They had no strength with which to earn a living in a strange place and among strange people； even if they had been sure where to find a new place of abode。 To this class the problem seemed especially hard。 Besides； deep down in their hearts there was a strange and peculiar attachment to 〃old Marster〃 and 〃old Missus；〃 and to their children； which they found it hard to think of breaking off。 With these they had spent in some cases nearly a half…century； and it was no light thing to think of parting。 Gradually； one by one； stealthily at first； the older slaves began to wander from the slave quarters back to the 〃big house〃 to have a whispered conversation with their former owners as to the future。
Chapter II。 Boyhood Days
After the coming of freedom there were two points upon which practically all the people on our place were agreed； and I found that this was generally true throughout the South： that they must change their names； and that they must leave the old plantation for at least a few days or weeks in order that they might really feel sure that they were free。
In some way a feeling got among the coloured people that it was far from proper for them to bear the surname of their former owners； and a great many of them took other surnames。 This was one of the first signs of freedom。 When they were slaves； a coloured person was simply called 〃John〃 or 〃Susan。〃 There was seldom occasion for more than the use of the one name。 If 〃John〃 or 〃Susan〃 belonged to a white man by the name of 〃Hatcher；〃 sometimes he was called 〃John Hatcher；〃 or as often 〃Hatcher's John。〃 But there was a feeling that 〃John Hatcher〃 or 〃Hatcher's John〃 was not the proper title by which to denote a freeman； and so in many cases 〃John Hatcher〃 was changed to 〃John S。 Lincoln〃 or 〃John S。 Sherman；〃 the initial 〃S〃 standing for no name； it being simply a part of what the coloured man proudly called his 〃entitles。〃
As I have stated； most of the coloured people left the old plantation for a short while at least； so as to be sure； it seemed； that they could leave and try their freedom on to see how it felt。 After they had remained away for a while； many of the older slaves； especially； returned to their old homes and made some kind of contract with their former owners by which they remained on the estate。
My mother's husband； who was the stepfather of my brother John and myself； did not belong to the same owners as did my mother。 In fact； he seldom came to our plantation。 I remember seeing his there perhaps once a year； that being about Christmas time。 In some way； during the war； by running away and following the Federal soldiers； it seems； he found his way into the new state of West Virginia。 As soon as freedom was declared； he sent for my mother to come to the Kanawha Valley； in West Virginia。 At that time a journey from Virginia over the mountains to West Virginia was rather a tedious and in some cases a painful undertaking。 What little clothing and few household goods we had were placed in a cart； but the children walked the greater portion of the distance； which was several hundred miles。
I do not think any of us ever had been very far from the plantation； and the taking of a long journey into another state was quite an event。 The parting from our former owners and the members of our own race on the plantation was a serious occasion。 From the time of our parting till their death we kept up a correspondence with the older members of the family； and in later years we have kept in touch with those who were the younger members。 We were several weeks making the trip； and most of the time we slept in the open air and did our cooking over a log fire out…of…doors。 One night I recall that we camped near an abandoned log cabin； and my mother decided to build a fire in that for cooking； and afterward to make a 〃pallet〃 on the floor for our sleeping。 Just as the fire had gotten well started a large black snake fully a yard and a half long dropped down the chimney and ran out on the floor。 Of course we at once abandoned that cabin。 Finally we reached our destinationa little town called Malden； which is about five miles from Charleston； the present capital of the state。
At that time salt…mining was the great industry in that part of West Virginia； and the little town of Malden was right in the midst of the salt…furnaces。 My stepfather had already secured a job at a salt…furnace； and he had also secured a little cabin for us to live in。 Our new house was no better than the one we had left on the old plantation in Virginia。 In fact； in one respect it was worse。 Notwithstanding the poor condition of our plantation cabin； we were at all times sure of pure air。 Our new home was in the midst of a cluster of cabins crowded closely together； and as there were no sanitary regulations； the filth about the cabins was often intolerable。 Some of our neighbours were coloured people； and some were the poorest and most ignorant and degraded white people。 It was a motley mixture。 Drinking； gambling； quarrels； fights； and shockingly immoral practices were frequent。 All who lived in the little town were in one way or another connected with the salt business。 Though I was a mere child； my stepfather put me and my brother at work