A Childs Anti-Slavery Book | Page 9

And so she
went on; but the more she talked the more firmly Lewis made up his
mind that he would learn to read if he could, and the words of his
mother came to his mind with authority: "If you're going to be a free
man you'll want to know how to read."
About two months after this he paid another visit to Sam Tyler. Sam's
plot of ground and cabin was near the division line between the two
farms, and Lewis took his time to go down there after dark. He asked
Sam to teach him to read.
"I should think you'd got enough of that," said Sam. "I shouldn't think it
would pay."
"What would you take for what you know about readin'?" asked Lewis.
"Well, I can't say as I'd like to sell it, but it would only be a plague to
you so long as you belong to Massa Stamford."
By dint of coaxing, however, Lewis succeeded in getting him to teach
him the letters, taking the opportunity to go to him rainy nights, or
when Mr. Stamford was away from home. That was the end of Sam's
help. He had an "idea in his head" that it was not good policy for him to
do this without Massa Stamford's consent, after what Mr. Pond had said
about Lewis's coming to Sunday school. Sam was a cautious negro, not
so warm-hearted and impulsive as the most of his race. He prided
himself on being more like white folks.
Lewis was soon in trouble of another sort. He had found an old
spelling-book, and Sam had shown him that the letters he had learned
were to be put together to make words. Then, too, he managed to get a
little time to himself every morning, by rising very early. So far so
good, and his diligence was deserving of success, but the progress he
made was very discouraging. C-a-n spelled sane, n-o-t spelled note, and
g-o spelled jo. "I sane note jo;" what nonsense! and there was no one
that could explain the matter intelligently. He perseveres bravely for a
while, finding now and then a word that he could understand; but at last
his book was gone from its hiding place; he knew not where to get

another; and in short he was pretty much discouraged. These
difficulties had cooled his ardor much more than the whip had done,
and by degrees he settled down into a state of despondency and
indifference that Mr. Stamford would have considered a matter of the
deepest regret, had it befallen one of his own children.
Years passed on--long, dreary, cheerless years. Lewis was now a boy of
seventeen, rather intelligent in appearance, but melancholy, and not
very hearty. In spite of repeated thinnings out by sales at different times
to the traders, the number of Mr. Stamford's slaves had greatly
increased, and now the time came when they must all be disposed of.
He had accepted a call from a distant village, and must necessarily
break up his farming establishment.
It was a sad sight to see these poor people, who had lived together so
long, put up at auction and bid off to persons that had come from many
different places. Here goes the father of a family in one direction, the
mother in another, and the children all scattered hither and thither. And
then it was heartrending to witness their brief partings. Bad as had been
their lot with Mr. Stamford, they would far sooner stay with him than
be separated from those of their fellow-slaves whom they loved.
A lot at a time were put up in a row, and one after another was called
upon the block, and after a few bids was handed over to a new master,
to be taken wherever he might choose.
Ned and Jim and Lewis stood side by side in one of those rows. Ned
had grown up to be a fine sprightly lad, and the bidding for him was
lively. He was struck down to a Southern trader. Lewis listened
despondently while the bidding for Jim was going on, expecting every
moment to hear his own name called, when suddenly a strong hand was
laid upon his shoulder from behind, and he was drawn from the row.
After a thorough examination by a strange gentleman, in company with
his master, he was bid to step aside. From some words that he heard
pass between them, he understood that he had been sold at private sale,
bartered off for a pair of carriage-horses.
The animals, a pair of handsome bays, were standing near by, and he

turned to look at them. "Suppose they were black," said he to himself,
"would they be any meaner, less powerful, less valuable, less spirited?