Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself, with "A True Tale of Slavery" by John S. Jacobs / Edition 3 available in Paperback, eBook
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself, with "A True Tale of Slavery" by John S. Jacobs / Edition 3
- ISBN-10:
- 0674035836
- ISBN-13:
- 9780674035836
- Pub. Date:
- 11/30/2009
- Publisher:
- Harvard University Press
- ISBN-10:
- 0674035836
- ISBN-13:
- 9780674035836
- Pub. Date:
- 11/30/2009
- Publisher:
- Harvard University Press
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself, with "A True Tale of Slavery" by John S. Jacobs / Edition 3
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Overview
This is the standard edition of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, reissued here in the John Harvard Library and updated with a new bibliography.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780674035836 |
---|---|
Publisher: | Harvard University Press |
Publication date: | 11/30/2009 |
Series: | John Harvard Library Series , #119 |
Edition description: | Enlarged |
Pages: | 496 |
Sales rank: | 209,778 |
Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.25(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Written by HerselfBy Harriet A. Jacobs
Kessinger Publishing
Copyright © 2004 Harriet A. JacobsAll right reserved.
ISBN: 1419126253
Excerpt
Chapter One
Childhood.
I was born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy childhood had passed away. My father was a carpenter, and considered so intelligent and skilful in his trade, that, when buildings out of the common line were to be erected, he was sent for from long distances, to be head workman. On condition of paying his mistress two hundred dollars a year, and supporting himself, he was allowed to work at his trade, and manage his own affairs. His strongest wish was to purchase his children; but, though he several times offered his hard earnings for that purpose, he never succeeded. In complexion my parents were a light shade of brownish yellow, and were termed mulattoes. They lived together in a comfortable home; and, though we were all slaves, I was so fondly shielded that I never dreamed I was a piece of merchandise, trusted to them for safe keeping, and liable to be demanded of them at any moment. I had one brother, William, who was two years younger than myself - a bright, affectionate child. I had also a great treasure in my maternal grandmother, who was a remarkable woman in many respects. She was the daughter of a planter inSouth Carolina, who, at his death, left her mother and his three children free, with money to go to St. Augustine, where they had relatives. It was during the Revolutionary War; and they were captured on their passage, carried back, and sold to different purchasers. Such was the story my grandmother used to tell me; but I do not remember all the particulars. She was a little girl when she was captured and sold to the keeper of a large hotel. I have often heard her tell how hard she fared during childhood. But as she grew older she evinced so much intelligence, and was so faithful, that her master and mistress could not help seeing it was for their interest to take care of such a valuable piece of property. She became an indispensable personage in the household, officiating in all capacities, from cook and wet nurse to seamstress. She was much praised for her cooking; and her nice crackers became so famous in the neighborhood that many people were desirous of obtaining them. In consequence of numerous requests of this kind, she asked permission of her mistress to bake crackers at night, after all the household work was done; and she obtained leave to do it, provided she would clothe herself and her children from the profits. Upon these terms, after working hard all day for her mistress, she began her midnight bakings, assisted by her two oldest children. The business proved profitable; and each year she laid by a little, which was saved for a fund to purchase her children. Her master died, and the property was divided among his heirs. The widow had her dower in the hotel, which she continued to keep open. My grandmother remained in her service as a slave; but her children were divided among her master's children. As she had five, Benjamin, the youngest one, was sold, in order that each heir might have an equal portion of dollars and cents. There was so little difference in our ages that he seemed more like my brother than my uncle. He was a bright, handsome lad, nearly white; for he inherited the complexion my grandmother had derived from Anglo-Saxon ancestors. Though only ten years old, seven hundred and twenty dollars were paid for him. His sale was a terrible blow to my grandmother; but she was naturally hopeful, and she went to work with renewed energy, trusting in time to be able to purchase some of her children. She had laid up three hundred dollars, which her mistress one day begged as a loan, promising to pay her soon. The reader probably knows that no promise or writing given to a slave is legally binding; for, according to Southern laws, a slave, being property, can hold no property. When my grandmother lent her hard earnings to her mistress, she trusted solely to her honor. The honor of a slaveholder to a slave!
To this good grandmother I was indebted for many comforts. My brother Willie and I often received portions of the crackers, cakes, and preserves, she made to sell; and after we ceased to be children we were indebted to her for many more important services.
Such were the unusually fortunate circumstances of my early childhood. When I was six years old, my mother died; and then, for the first time, I learned, by the talk around me, that I was a slave. My mother's mistress was the daughter of my grandmother's mistress. She was the foster sister of my mother; they were both nourished at my grandmother's breast. In fact, my mother had been weaned at three months old, that the babe of the mistress might obtain sufficient food. They played together as children; and, when they became women, my mother was a most faithful servant to her whiter foster sister. On her death-bed her mistress promised that her children should never suffer for any thing; and during her lifetime she kept her word. They all spoke kindly of my dead mother, who had been a slave merely in name, but in nature was noble and womanly. I grieved for her, and my young mind was troubled with the thought who would now take care of me and my little brother. I was told that my home was now to be with her mistress; and I found it a happy one. No toilsome or disagreeable duties were imposed upon me. My mistress was so kind to me that I was always glad to do her bidding, and proud to labor for her as much as my young years would permit. I would sit by her side for hours, sewing diligently, with a heart as free from care as that of any free-born white child. When she thought I was tired, she would send me out to run and jump; and away I bounded, to gather berries or flowers to decorate her room. Those were happy days - too happy to last. The slave child had no thought for the morrow; but there came that blight, which too surely waits on every human being born to be a chattel.
When I was nearly twelve years old, my kind mistress sickened and died. As I saw the cheek grow paler, and the eye more glassy, how earnestly I prayed in my heart that she might live! I loved her; for she had been almost like a mother to me. My prayers were not answered. She died, and they buried her in the little churchyard, where, day after day, my tears fell upon her grave.
I was sent to spend a week with my grandmother. I was now old enough to begin to think of the future; and again and again I asked myself what they would do with me. I felt sure I should never find another mistress so kind as the one who was gone. She had promised my dying mother that her children should never suffer for any thing; and when I remembered that, and recalled her many proofs of attachment to me, I could not help having some hopes that she had left me free. My friends were almost certain it would be so. They thought she would be sure to do it, on account of my mother's love and faithful service. But, alas! we all know that the memory of a faithful slave does not avail much to save her children from the auction block.
After a brief period of suspense, the will of my mistress was read, and we learned that she had bequeathed me to her sister's daughter, a child of five years old. So vanished our hopes. My mistress had taught me the precepts of God's Word: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." But I was her slave, and I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor. I would give much to blot out from my memory that one great wrong. As a child, I loved my mistress; and, looking back on the happy days I spent with her, I try to think with less bitterness of this act of injustice. While I was with her, she taught me to read and spell; and for this privilege, which so rarely falls to the lot of a slave, I bless her memory.
She possessed but few slaves; and at her death those were all distributed among her relatives. Five of them were my grandmother's children, and had shared the same milk that nourished her mother's children. Notwithstanding my grandmother's long and faithful service to her owners, not one of her children escaped the auction block. These God-breathing machines are no more, in the sight of their masters, than the cotton they plant, or the horses they tend.
Continues...
Excerpted from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet A. Jacobs Copyright © 2004 by Harriet A. Jacobs. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
List of Illustrations xv
Introduction Jean Fagan Yellin xix
Note on the Text lv
Chronology lvii
Cast of Characters lxii
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Preface by the Author 1
Introduction by the Editor 3
I Childhood 5
II The New Master and Mistress 10
III The Slaves' New Year's Day 17
IV The Slave Who Dared to Feel like a Man 20
V The Trials of Girlhood 33
VI The Jealous Mistress 38
VII The Lover 46
VIII What Slaves Are Taught to Think of the North 54
IX Sketches of Neighboring Slaveholders 58
X A Perilous Passage in the Slave Girl's Life 68
XI The New Tie to Life 75
XII Fear of Insurrection 81
XIII The Church and Slavery 88
XIV Another Link to Life 98
XV Continued Persecutions 103
XVI Scenes at the Plantation 111
XVII The Flight 122
XVIII Months of Peril 126
XIX The Children Sold 135
XX New Perils 141
XXI The Loophole of Retreat 146
XXII Christmas Festivities 151
XXIII Still in Prison 154
XXIV The Candidate for Congress 159
XXV Competition in Cunning 163
XXVI Important Era in My Brother's Life 169
XXVII New Destination for the Children 175
XXVIII Aunt Nancy 183
XXIX Preparations for Escape 189
XXX Northward Bound 200
XXXI Incidents in Philadelphia 204
XXXII The Meeting of Mother and Daughter 210
XXXIII A Home Found 215
XXXIV The Old Enemy Again 219
XXXV Prejudice against Color 224
XXXVI The Hairbreadth Escape 228
XXXVII A Visit to England 234
XXXVIII Renewed Invitations to Go South 238
XXXIXe The Confession 241
XL The Fugitive Slave Law 244
XLI Free at Last 251
Appendix 261
A True Tale of Slavery
I Some Account of My Early Life 265
II A Further Account of My Family 267
III MyUncle's Troubles 271
IV My New Master's Plantation 275
V My Master Goes to Washington 27S
VI Sensations of Freedom 282
VII Cruel Treatment of Slaves 286
Illustrations 293
Abbreviations 309
Correspondence 311
Notes 343
Selected Bibliography 405
Acknowledgments 413
Index 417