The kidnapped and the ransomed. Being the personal recollections of Peter Still and his wife "Vina," after forty years of slavery

Front matter

Class t

Book

SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT f

Chapter II. Early Experience In Slavery

Characteristics of the Master and Mistress— Treatment of the Young Slaves- Peter's Visits at Ashland— Friendship of the Sons of Henry Clay— A bright Hope— The Disappointment— Peter Sent to the Brickyard— Standing in the Wheelbarrow - - - • - • - - • -31

Chapter III. Master Nattie

Peter and Levin again Sold— Characteristics of Master Nattie Gist— His Discipline—The Sunday-School - - 37

CHAPTER IY.

TnE TOBACCO FACTORY.

Mr. George Norton — Mr. Kisich— Longings for Freedom- Spencer Williams- Peter's Combat with Mr. Norton -....-- 43

[vii]

V1U CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII. First Four Years In The South

New Scenes and new Employments— The Post Office — Sunday Employment of the Slaves— Master Levi Buys a Plantation— He Marries — Peter a House-Servant—Kindness of his young Mistress— The Visit to Nashville— Peter's Reflections and Resolutions at Twenty-one— Master Levi removes to the Plantation—The " Great House" .------- 77

Chapter IX. Levin S Marriage

The Master's Opposition— Old Jimmy Hogun's Plantation — Levin and Fanny are married— Displeasure of the Master and Mistress— Consequent Persecucutions ........... 80

CONTENTS. xi

Chapter X

vina's early history.

The Foxall Family— Invitation to Alabama— Aunt Sally— Silas separated from his Family— Mr. Foxall's Removal to Alabama— The Failure— Vina is sold— She leaves Courtland— A sad Ride ------- gg

CHAPTER XI. VIXA'S FIRST YEAR AT McKIERNAN'S

Vina's Introduction to the Kitchen— First Interview with her new Master and Mistress— House Service— Sad Hours— Vina's first Whipping— She goes to the Field— Visit of Mr. Stout— Rosetta goes to Nashville— Vina visits her Mother - - - - - ... . . .97

Chapter XII. The Marriage

Peter and Vina become acquainted— Their growing Attachment— Peter hesitates to Marry— He declines going to Lexington— The Departure of his Master and Mistress— Peter and Vina are married— Vina's Clothing— Her second Visit to her Mother -..-..... jgg

Chapter XIII. The New Cabin

The Return from Lexington— Master Levi proposes in vain to buy Vina— Mr. McKiernan removes to Bainbridge— Peter builds his Cabin— The Furniture—He learns Shoemaking— The Flour-Barrel - - - . - 115

Chapter XIV. The Young Mother

Advent of Little Peter— Rest of the Slave— Mother at night— Her Sundays—

The Patch— Brutality of Simms, the Overseer— Vina's Illness - - 121

Chapter XV. Death Of A Kind Master

Master Levi again visits Lexington— Preparations for the Return— A Death Scene— The Widowed Mistress comes Home— Grief of the Slaves— Arrangements of tte Estate— The Mistress nobly protects her servants - - 129

Xll CONTENTS.

Chapter XVI

levin's death.

Levin's Health Fails— His religious Feeling— The Death bed— The Burial— Peter's

Chapter XVII. The Jaunt To Florida

Aunt Sally's Troubles-Threatened Separation of Families— Mr. Peoples removes his working Hands to Florida— Their Return— Aunt Sally's Visit to her Daughter— Aspect of Vina's Cabin - 138

Chapter XVIII

a slave-mother's good bye.

Gathering in the Crops— Grief in the Quarter— Preparations for Removal to the Coast— Aunt Sally parts with Quail— The Flat-boats stop at Bainbridge— Vina is summoned by Master Andrew to see her Mother— Night Scene on the River Bank— The final Separation— Journey down the River— The Sugar Farm— Mr. Peoples returns to Mississippi— Aunt Sally's Death - - 113

Chapter XXIII

peter's year at Mckiebnan's.

General Aspect of McKiernan's Plantation— Sketch of Vina's Family in 1841 — Tina's Industry and Economy — Punishment of Ann Eliza — Religious Excitement - .-..--.-. 175

CHAPTER XXIY.

burton's reign.

Personal Appearance of McKiernan's Slaves— Burton's opening Speech — Rebellion of Lewis— His Punishment— He flees to the Woods, where he is Joined by two Companions — Young Peter's Toothache — Hunting the Runaways with Dogs — Frank and Old Man John brought in — Frank's Punishment— Return of Lewis— The Master hands him over to Burton — Peculiar Luxury of an Overseer — Scene in Lewis' Cabin— The Runaway's Irons— Burton shoots Abram— Ruined Crops — McKieruan becomes Dissatisfied — Burton Deposed - • - - • 1S2

Chapter XXV. First Four Years In Tuscumbia

A Northern man as Master— Peter physically comfortable— Visits to the Cabin — Marriage of Miss Sarah Gist— Division of the Slaves among the Heirs of the Estate — Peter hired to Rev. Mr. Stedman — Varied Duties — The Pastor's Family— Peter hired to Mr. John Pollock— Goes to Nashville to the Whig Convention of 1814 — Camping Out— Scenes in the City— Fruitless Efforts to Escape from Slavery— Peter hired to Mr. Brady— A new Drop of Bitterness in the Slave-Cup - 193

CHAPTER XXYI.

PETER HIRES HIS TIME.

Peter hired to Mr. Allan Pollock— Private Business Arrangements— Success In earning Money— Consequent Hopes of Freedom— Peter hired to Mr. Joseph Friedman— Increasing Confidence in the Integrity of the Jew Brothers- Employment at the Seminary— Hired for another Year by Mr. Friedman 209

XIV CONTENTS.

Chapter XXVII. Peter Buys Himself

Peter Communicates his Wish for Freedom to the Jew— Mr. Friedman proposes to purchase him — Peter strives to Persuade his Young Master to sell him to the Jew— Circumstances Change — The sale Effected— Scene in the Counting-Room — Sympathy of the Tuscumbians — Generosity of Mr. Friedman — Death of Peter's youngest Son— Peter makes his last payment, and receives a Bill of Sale of Himself— Cautious Concealment of the Fact that He was Free— Preparations forgoing North — Tuscumbians excited — Farewell Visit to the Cabin at Bainbridge • - - 219

Chapter XXVIII. Journey To Philadelphia

Peter leaves Tuscumbia — Emotions on touching the Free Soil of Ohio — Communicates to his late Master his early History— Leaves for Philadelphia— Attempts of Slave-Catchers to entrap Him— Journey over the Mountains- Arrival at Philadelphia --------- 237

Chapter XXIX. The Kidnapped Boy Restored To His Mother

Peter's Search for his Kindred— The Anti-Slavery Office— A Brother Found- Doubts and Fears — Recognized by a Sister — An anxious Night — Sail up the Delaware — Sees Levin's Likeness in a Brother— Meets his Mother - - 245

Chapter XXX

peter's farewell visit to Alabama.

Peter goes to Cincinnati— Receives Free Papers— Returns to Tuscumbia— Reports of the Abolitionists— Visit to Bainbridge— Peter resumes his Labors— Preparations for a final Departure from Slave-Land— Parting with his Family —Difficulties at Padusah — Visit to a l'ouug Master in Louisville — Journeys safely to Philadelphia ----..-..

Chapter XXXI. The Escape

Peter consults with his Friends concerning the Ransom of his Family— Seth Concklin Volunteers to Rescue them— Sketch of Concklin's Character— His Journey to South Florence— Interview with Vina— Meets Young Peter and

CONTEXTS. XV

Levin — Returns to Louisville to complete his Arrangements— Vina and her Family obtain Passes — They meet Concklin at the Skiff— Rowing down the River— They Land at New Harmony, Indiana— Incidents of Travel in a Free State - 279

Chapter XXXII. The Capture

The Cottage Besieged— Slave-Catching made Easy— The Jail— Concklin's rash Fidelity— The Telegraph— Concklin Imprisoned— Arrival of McKiernan at the Jail — Return to Slave-Land — Concklin missed from the Boat — The Mistress of the Hotel at Paducah, proposes to buy the Fugitives - - 296

Chapter XXXIII. Peter Plans To Redeem His Family

Evil Tidings— Reminiscences of Slavery— Peter Resolves upon Purchasing his Family— Visit3 Cincinnati — Kindness of Mrs. Chase — Peter returns to New Jersey— Goes into Service— Letter from Mr. McKiernan— Efforts to find an Old Acquaintance— Mr. Thornton's Letter— Peter Resolves on Starting out to Raise Money ---------307

CHAPTER XXXIY.

Peter starts on his Travels— Testimonials from his Employers in Burlington- He visits his Brother in Brooklyn— Goes to Syracuse— Succeeds in finding an Old Friend, who testifies to his good Character while a Slave— Goes thence to Auburn, "Waterloo, and Rochester, N. Y.— To Boston and various Towns in that vicinity— Visits all the principal Towns in Maine and New Hampshire— Returns to Burlington, and visits Philadelphia— Again to Syracuse, Peterboro', Boston, Worcester, Fall River, Providence, New York City— Returns to Burlington— Vists Albany, N. Y., Pittsfield, Mass., New Haven, Ct., Hartford, Middletown, New London, Northampton, Mass., Syracuse, Buffalo, Toronto, C. W., Camillus, N. Y.— Returns to Burlington- Money placed in the the Hands of Mr. Hallowell, of Philadelphia— Agent sent to Alabama to purchase the Family • - - - - - 3l3

Chapter XXXV. Experience Of The Returned Fugitives

The Return of the Fugitives to the Pillaged Cabin— Punishment— -Vina and Catharine Separated— The Barbacue— Young Peter's Marriage— Susanna's First Baby— Advent of little Peter— Susanna's failing Health— Her Death 339 xvi CONTENTS.

Chapter XXXVI. " They Take Good Care Of Tiieir Property."

The Runaways Questioned Concerning the Route to the North— Tina's Lecture to her Master— Sale of the Produce of the Patches— Christmas Ride to Town— "Craps" at a Discount— Vina Invited Home from the Island— Ddphia— Leah - - - - 8H

Chapter XXXVII. The Re-tjnion

Vina Returns to the Island— Glad Tidings— Killing Hogs— McKiernan comes to the Island— The Ransomed Family leave the Plantation— Business Arrangements with the Master— Young Peter inquires the Price of his Baby— Difficulties in transporting Property in a Northerly Direction— The Family Re-united>-Hospitality of the Citizens of Cincinnati— Yisit at Pittsburg— Arrival of the Family at Burlington, their future Home— Yisit to Peter's aged Mother— Marriage Certificate - • - 303

Introduction

Within the last four years, many hundreds, probably thousands, of persons in our nominally free States, have seen Peter Still, a neat, staid black man, going from city to city, town to town, house to house, asking assistance to enable him to purchase the freedom of his wife and children. He has always been grateful for the smallest favors, and never morose when utterly denied. He has not obtruded himself or his story ; but those who have shown curiosity enough to make any inquiries, have been soon led to suspect that he was no common man ; that the events of his life had been thrillingly interesting — some of them even more wonderful than Ave often meet with in works of fiction. Kidnapped, in his early childhood, from the door-step

[xvii]

XV111 INTRODUCTION.

of his home in New Jersey ; more than forty years a slave in Kentueky and Alabama ; his unsuccessful appeal»to the great Henry Clay ; his liberation through the generosity of a Jew ; his restoration to his mother by the guidance of the slightest threads of memory ; the yearning of his heart for his loved ones; the heroic but disastrous attempt of Concklin to bring his wife and children to him — wherever these incidents of his life were detailed, they seldom failed to draw from the hand of the listener some contribution towards the exorbitant sum demanded for the liberation of his family.

Words of discouragement, even from his warmest friends, fell without weight on the heart of Peter Still. Arguments, sometimes urged against the propriety of paying, especially an exorbitant price, for liberty, were parried by him with a skill not to be acquired in "The Schools." His soul was intent upon a great purpose. He could not be withheld ; he could not be turned aside. His perseverance, his patience, his exactness, his tact, everywhere attracted attention, and often commanded respect. In less than three years, his wife and children were restored to him ; and, after a few weeks spent in seeing and being seen by friends and relatives, they all settled themselves in employ-

INTRODUCTION. XIX

ments, by which they are earning comfortable livelihoods, and laying the foundation of future independence.

It was thought, by most of those who had heard the histories of Peter Still and Seth Concklin, that such histories ought not to remain unwritten or unpublished. It was believed that good narratives of both of these remarkable men, would give to the people of the Northern States some new illustrations of the horrors of that "peculiar institution," which has well-nigh subjugated to itself our entire Republic.

It so happened that a lady was at hand, singularly qualified for the former and larger part of the task, not only by her ability as a Writer, but by her personal acquaintance with Peter Still, while he was in bondage. Mrs. Pickard had lived several years in the very town, or neighborhood, where most of the events transpired that would come into the narrative. She knew personally many of the individuals, who had acted conspicuous parts in the tragedy she was called upon to write. Moreover, she had conceived a very just appreciation of the character of this man and woman, who, under the laws of our country, had been subjected to all that domestic servitude can do to imbrute human beings, and yet retained so much that

XX INTRODUCTION.

is distinctive of the best specimens of our race. She was therefore persuaded to undertake the work, which is now given to the public.

The writer of this narrative was a highly esteemed teacher in the Female Seminary of Tuscumbia, Alabama. There Peter Still was employed in several menial o Sices, and was subject to her observation every day for many months. She often admired his untiring diligence, his cheerful patience, his eagerness to get work rather than to avoid it, and his earnest gratefulness for the perquisites that were frequently bestowed upon him by the many, whom he served in various ways, and served so well. Little did she suspect what was the mainspring of the intense life that she witnessed in the poor slave-man, who seemed to her to have so little to live for. She did not know that (as he has since told her) he was" hungering and thirsting after liberty," which had been promised him by a compassionate Jew, w r ho then owned him, for a sum that it seemed possible for him to accumulate. It was that hunger and thirst which filled " Uncle Peter" with all the graces, and brought him all the gifts, that he needed to attain the object of his heart's desire. He had long been known, and universally respected and loved, in the town where he lived. Everybody believed that what

INTRODUCTION. X xi

Uncle Peter said was true ; and that every duty imposed upon him would be faithfully discharged. But the amount of labor that he was then accustomed to perform had come to be a matter of frequent remark and admiration. Some attributed his severe toil to the requirements of his Jew master. They had yet to learn, that there is a harder driver than any Jewish or Christian slaveholder, even the man's own spirit, when the priceless boon of liberty is set before him, as an incitement to exertion.

We can promise the lovers of exciting adventure very much in the ensuing volume to gratify their taste ; and all those who really desire to fathom the heights and depths of that Iniquity which is threatening the destruction of our Kepublic, may turn to these pages, in the assurance that they will find in them a great amount and variety of information, derived from the most authentic sources, and given with the strictest regard to truth.

In this narrative will also be found, incidentally, but very clearly given, intimations of many excellences that are latent, as well as lively sketches of some that are patent, in the negro variety of our race — indeed, all the qualities of our common, and of our uncommon humanity — persistence in the pursuit of a

Xxii INTRODUCTION,

desired object; ingenuity in the device of plans for its attainment ; self-possession and self-command that can long keep a cherished purpose unrevealed; a deep, instinctive faith in God; a patience under hardship and hope deferred, which never dies ; and, withal, a joyousness which, like a life-preserver, bears one above the dark waves of unparalleled trouble

The latter and smaller portion of this volume — the Sketch of the Life of Seth Concklin — was written by a gentleman who has long held so high a place among American authors, that we shall not presume to give him our commendation. That Dr. Wm. IT. Fnrness, of Philadelphia, deemed the merits of Seth Concklin to be such as to deserve a tribute from his pen, must be a sufficient assurance that the subject of this sketch had evinced traits of character, and done deeds, or endured trials, worthy of commemoration. Those who know that Dr. Furness never touches anything that he does not adorn, will go to the perusal of his portion of this book, in the confident expectation of being delighted with the unaffected beauty of the sketch, and of having their sympathies and better feelings made to flow in unison with those of the true-hearted author. They will close the volume with gratitude to Dr. F., for having rescued from oblivion, and placed before

INTRODUCTION. XX111

his countrymen, another well-authenticated example of successful conflict with appalling difficulties in early life ; of unwavering fidelity to right principles, in the midst of great temptations ; and of heroic, disinterested self-sacrifice in the cause of suffering humanity.

SAMUEL J. MAY.

Syracuse, Feb. 14,1856.

THE

KIDNAPPED AND THE RANSOMED.

Chapter I. The Kidnapper

Late in the afternoon of a pleasant summer day, two little bo}^s were playing before the door of their mother's cottage. They were apparently about six or eight years old, and though their faces wore a dusky hue, their hearts were gay, and their laugh rang out clear and free.

Their dress was coarse, and in no wise restrained the motions of their agile limbs, for it consisted merely of a cotton shirt, reaching no lower than the knee.

How they ran races down the road, and turned summersets on the green grass ! How their eyes danced with merriment, and their white teeth glistened in the pleasant light !

But as the day wore on they grew weary, and with, childhood's first impulse, sought their mother. She was not in the house. All there was still and lonely. In one corner stood her bed, covered with a clean blanket, and the baby's cradle was empty by its side. Grandmother's bed, in another corner of the room, was made up nicely, and every article of the simple furniture was in its accustomed place. "Where' could they all have gone ?

"I reckon," said Levin, "mammy's gone to church.

2 (25)

The preachin' must be mighty long ! ! I's so hongry ! I's gwine to meetin' to see if she's thar."

The " church" stood in the woods, about a mile oft. It was an old white building that had formerly been occupied by the family of S. G., who now lived in a large brick house close by. The boys had often been at the church with their father, who kept the key of the building, and opened it for worship on Sundays, and prayer-meeting nights.

"You better not go thar, I reckon," replied Peter, the younger of the two boys, " Mammy '11 whip you well if you goes to foller her to meetin', and all about."

'-Mammy! O Mammy!"

Thus they called their mother, and cried because she did not answer, till their eyes were swollen, and their pleasant play forgotten.

Soon the sound of wheels diverted them for a moment from their childish grief, and looking up the road, they saw a handsome gig approaching. Its only occupant was a tall dark man, with black and glossy hair, which fell heavily below his white hat.

He looked earnestly at the little boys as he approached, and marking their evident distress, he checked his horse, and kindly asked the cause of their sorrow.

" Oh ! Mammy's done gone off, and there's nobody to give us our supper, and we're so hongry."

"Where is vour mother?"*

"Don't know, sir," replied Levin, "but I reckon she's gone to church,"

"Well, don't you want to ride? Jump up here with me, and I'll take you to your mother. I'm just going to church. Come! quick! What! no clothes

THE ODXAPPEK. 27

but a shirt? Go in and get a blanket. It will be nidht soon, and you will be cold."

Away they both ran for a blanket. Levin seized one from his mother's bed, and in his haste pushed the door against his brother, who was robbing his grandmother's couch of its covering.

The blanket was large, and little Peter, crying all the while, was repeatedly tripped by its falling under his feet while he was running to the gig.

The stranger lifted them up, and placing them between his feet, covered them carefully with the blankets, that they might not be cold. He spoke kindly to them, meanwhile, still assuring them that he would soon take them to their mother.

Away they went very swiftly, rejoicing in their childish hearts to think how their mother would wonder when she should see them coming.

After riding for some time. — how long they could not guess — they suddenly upset in the water with a great splash. The strange man had, in his haste, driven too near the bank of the river, and the slight vehicle had thus been overturned. He soon rescued the children from the water. They were much frightened, but nothing was injured by the accident, and in a few minutes they were once more covered with the blankets, and frving along the river bank faster even than before.

TVhen the gig stopped again, the sun was just - - ting. They were at the water side, and before them lav many boats, and vessels of different kinds. They had never seen anything like these before, but they had short time to gratify their childish curiosity ; for they were hurried on board a boat, which left the shore immediately.

With tlie assurance that they should now find their mother, they trusted implicitly in their new-made friend ; who strengthened their confidence in himself by gentle words and timely gifts. Cakes of marvellous sweetness were ever ready for them, if they grew impatient of the length of the journey ; and their childish hearts could know no distrust of one whose words and acts were kind.

How long they were on the boat they did not know ; nor by what other means they travelled could they afterwards remember, until they reached Versailles, Kentucky. Here their self-constituted guardian, whom they now heard addressed as Kincaid, placed them in a wagon with a colored woman and her child, and conveyed them to Lexington.

This was the first town they had ever seen, and as they were conducted up Main street, they were filled with wonder and admiration.

Kincaid took them to a plain brick house where dwelt one John Fisher, a mason by trade, and proprietor of a large brick yard.

After some conversation between the gentlemen, which of course the children did not understand, they were taken out to the kitchen, and presented to Aunt Betty, the cook.

"There, my boys," said Kincaid, "there is your mother — we've found her at last."

"No! no!" they shrieked, "that's not our mother! O, please, sir ! take us back !" With tears and cries they clung to him who had abused their guileless trust, and begged him not to leave them there.

This scene was soon ended by John Fisher himself, who, with a hearty blow on each cheek, bade them

THE KIDNAPPER. 29

"hush !" " You belong to me now, you little rascals, and I'll have no more of this. There's Aunt Betty, she's your mammy now; and if you behave yourselves, she'll be good to you."

Kineaid soon departed, and they never saw him again. They learned, however, from a white apprentice, who lived in the house, that he received from Mr. Fisher one hundred and fifty-five dollars for Levin, and one hundred and fifty for Peter.

Poor children ! what a heavy cloud now shadowed their young lives !

For the first few weeks they talked constantly of going back to their mother — except when their master was near. They soon learned that they must not mention the subject in his presence.

He was, in the main, a kind, indulgent man — but were they not his money ? Why should he allow them to prate about being stolen, when he had bought them, and paid a right good price ?

"Father," said John Fisher, junior, "isn't Philadelphia in a free State ?"

" Certainly — it is in Pennsjdvania."

"Well, then, I reckon those two boys you bought were stolen, for they lived with their mother near the Delaware river ; and Aunt Betty says that is at Philadelphia, It was too bad, father, for that man to steal them and sell them here, where they can never hear from their mother!"

"Pooh, boy! don't talk like a fool! Most likely they were sold to Kineaid, and he told them he would take them to their mother, in order to get them away without any fuss. And even if he did steal them — so were all the negroes stolen at first. I bought these boys, and paid for them, and I'll stop tlieir talk about being free, or I'll break tlieir black necks. A prettytale that, to go about the country — -just to spoil the sale if I should happen to wish to get shut of them ! Free, indeed ! And what is a free nigger ? They're better off here than if they were free, growing up in idleness, and with nobody to take care of them."

Before night the young offenders were thoroughly kicked and beaten, and received the assurance that they should be killed outright if they dared to tell such a tale again. So they grew cautious ; and spoke those sweet memories of home and mother only in whispers to each other, or to some fellow-slave that knew how to sympathize with their sorrows.

Chapter II. Karly Experience In Slavery

The long, hard lesson of slavery was now fairly open before our young students. In vain they shrank from its dreadful details. In vain they appealed for pity to their hard-handed master. Page after page of dark experiences shadowed their boyish eyes, and their young hearts, so merry hitherto, grew sad and anxious.

The necessity of concealing the true feelings is among the rudiments of slavery's lore. A servant should be merry. A gloomy face is a perpetual complaint, and why should it be tolerated ?

To this necessity the temperament of the African is most happily suited. Cheerful and warm-hearted, with an innate love of light and harmony, the slightest sympathy awakens his affection, and the faintest dawn of happiness provokes a smile.

Levin and Peter were not long in divining, with the tact of childhood, their exact position, domestic and social.

Their master was a large, fine looking man, with a free, hearty manner, and much real kindliness of disposition. He never allowed this latter quality, however, to interfere in business matters ; and as, in addition to the business of brickmaking, he rented a large plantation about a mile out of town, he had no time to waste in unprofitable sentimentalities. How to get the most work done with the least expense he regarded as a problem worthy of his attention, and his success in business proved that he considered it well.

Mrs. Fisher was a stout, freckle-faced lady, plain and unpretending in her dress and manner, and perfectly devoted to her husband and children. She had, at the time of which we speak, two boys, John and Sydney; and for the first three years that he lived with them, Peter was their constant playmate. Levin was sent to the brick-yard the second year after Fisher purchased them, he being at that time only nine years old.

At night the little slave boys rolled themselves up in their blankets, and slept on the floor in their mistress' room. They often waked in the morning under the bed, or the bureau, where Mrs. Fisher had shoved them with her foot, the night previous — that they might be out of the way. They were comfortably clothed, well fed, and — if they said nothing of their mother's house on the Delaware river — kindly treated. But if a word on that forbidden subject reached their master's ear, he became a monster. By stripes and kicks he taught them that they had no right to that blessed memory, that they were his property, and that he possessed the power to quiet their restless tongues.

The plantation which was rented by Mr. Fisher belonged to Mrs. Russell, a widow lady, and lay about a mile from the city, across the road from the residence of Henry Clay. Here, while Peter was too young to work in the brick-yard, he was sent daily for the cows, and for vegetables from the garden ; and as he had plenty of leisure, he spent many happy hours in playing with the little colored children at Mr. Clay's.

EARLY EXPERIENCE IN SLAVERY. 33

Frequently the merry group was joined by young Masters Theodore and Thomas Clay, and then the sport was liveliest.

The heart of the little new-made slave glowed with love for these noble boys, and he soon confided to them his sad history ; and one day, when Mrs. Clay, as was her custom, spoke kindly to the dusk}?- playmate of her sons, he simply recited to her the story of his sorrows, and asked her if she did not think some one would send him back to his mother.

She quieted him with cakes and other delicacies, to the palate of the child exceeding grateful, and then gently dismissed the children to their play.

But the brave-hearted boys were young enough to long to do something for their little favorite, and bade him tell his story to their father, who, they assured him, would send him back. There was true Kentucky generosity in their breasts, and they felt sure their honored father could not fail to do his utmost to redress such a cruel wrong.

" O Levin !" whispered Peter, the first time he was alone with his brother. "I reckon we'll go back to-reckly !"

"Go back! whar?"

"Why home, to see mother! Mass' Theodore Clay say, his father so good to evei^body, he know he'll send us back if we tell him how we got stole — says his father allers hope folks whar gits in trouble."

" Mass' Theodore say so ? Reckon then we will, kase Mr. Clay mighty good to all his people. Hi! Mars John Fisher ! } t ou's gwine lose these chillerns !"