From the Darkness Cometh the Light | Page 8

to slavery for the sake of her child, Lucy, and her
subsequent efforts in securing her own freedom. All these incidents he
lingered over step by step, and concluding, he said:
"Gentlemen of the jury, I am a slave-holder myself, but, thanks to the
Almighty God, I am above the base principle of holding anybody a
slave that has as good right to her freedom as this girl has been proven
to have; she was free before she was born; her mother was free, but
kidnapped in her youth, and sacrificed to the greed of negro traders,
and no free woman can give birth to a slave child, as it is in direct
violation of the laws of God and man!"
At this juncture he read the affidavit of Mr. A. Posey, with whom my
mother lived at the time of her abduction; also affidavits of Mr. and
Mrs. Woods, in corroboration of the previous facts duly set forth. Judge
Bates then said:
"Gentlemen of the jury, here I rest this case, as I would not want any
better evidence for one of my own children. The testimony of Judge
Wash is alone sufficient to substantiate the claim of Polly Crockett
Berry to the defendant as being her own child."
The case was then submitted to the jury, about 8 o'clock in the evening,
and I was returned to the jail and locked in the cell which I had
occupied for seventeen months, filled with the most intense anguish.
CHAPTER V.
"There's a joy in every sorrow, There's a relief from every pain; Though
to-day 'tis dark to-morrow HE will turn all bright again."
Before the sheriff bade me good night he told me to be in readiness at

nine o'clock on the following morning to accompany him back to court
to hear the verdict. My mother was not at the trial. She had lingered
many days about the jail expecting my case would be called, and
finally when called to trial the dear, faithful heart was not present to
sustain me during that dreadful speech of Mr. Hutchinson. All night
long I suffered agonies of fright, the suspense was something awful,
and could only be comprehended by those who have gone through
some similar ordeal.
I had missed the consolation of my mother's presence, and I felt so
hopeless and alone! Blessed mother! how she clung and fought for me.
No work was too hard for her to undertake. Others would have flinched
before the obstacles which confronted her, but undauntedly she pursued
her way, until my freedom was established by every right and without a
questioning doubt!
On the morning of my return to Court, I was utterly unable to help
myself. I was so overcome with fright and emotion,--with the
alternating feelings of despair and hope--that I could not stand still long
enough to dress myself. I trembled like an aspen leaf; so I sent a
message to Mrs. Lacy to request permission for me to go to her room,
that she might assist me in dressing. I had done a great deal of sewing
for Mrs. Lacy, for she had showed me much kindness, and was a good
Christian. She gladly assisted me, and under her willing hands I was
soon made ready, and, promptly at nine o'clock, the sheriff called and
escorted me to the courthouse.
On our way thither, Judge Bates overtook us. He lived out a short
distance in the country, and was riding on horseback. He tipped his hat
to me as politely as if I were the finest lady in the land, and cried out,
"Good morning Miss Lucy, I suppose you had pleasant dreams last
night!" He seemed so bright and smiling that I was imbued with
renewed hope; and when he addressed the sheriff with "Good morning
Sir. I don't suppose the jury was out twenty minutes were they?" and
the sheriff replied "oh! no, sir," my heart gave a leap, for I was sure that
my fate was decided for weal or woe.
I watched the judge until he turned the corner and desiring to be

relieved of suspense from my pent-up anxiety, I eagerly asked the
sheriff if I were free, but he gruffly answered that "he didn't know." I
was sure he did know, but was too mean to tell me. How could he have
been so flinty, when he must have seen how worried I was.
At last the courthouse was reached and I had taken my seat in such a
condition of helpless terror that I could not tell one person from another.
Friends and foes were as one, and vainly did I try to distinguish them.
My long confinement, burdened with harrowing anxiety, the sleepless
night I had just spent, the unaccountable absence of my