Memories of Childhoods Slavery Days | Page 6

family came home, we had a little
difficulty about my wages, and I left and came into Boston. One of my
Macon acquaintances had come North before me, and now had a
position as cook in a house on Columbus Avenue. I looked this girl up.
Then I went to a lodging-house for colored people on Kendall Street,
and spent one night there. Mrs. Kimball had refused to give me a
recommendation, because she wanted me to stay with her, and thought
the lack of a recommendation would be an inducement. In the
lodging-house I made acquaintance with a colored girl, who took me to
an intelligence office. The man at the desk said he would give me a
card to take to 24 Springfield Street, on receipt of fifty cents. I had
never heard of an office of this kind, and asked a good many questions.
After being assured that my money would be returned in case I did not
accept the situation, I paid the fifty cents and started to find the address
on the card. Being ignorant of the scheme of street numbering, I
inquired of a woman whom I met, where No. 24 was. This woman
asked me if I was looking for work, and when I told her I was, she said
a friend of hers on Springfield Street wanted a servant immediately. Of
course I went with this lady, and after a conference with the mistress of
the house as to my ability, when I could begin work, what wages I
should want, etc., I was engaged as cook at three dollars and a half a
week.
From this place I proceeded to 24 Springfield Street, as directed,
hoping that I would be refused, so that I might go back to the
intelligence office and get my fifty cents. The lady at No. 24 who
wanted a servant, said she didn't think I was large and strong enough,
and guessed I wouldn't do. Then I went and got my fifty cents.
Having now obtained a situation, I sent to Mr. Kimball's for my trunk. I
remained in my new place a year and a half. At the end of that time the
family moved to Dorchester, and because I did not care to go out there,
I left their service.

From this place, I went to Narragansett Pier to work as a chambermaid
for the summer. In the fall, I came back to Boston and obtained a
situation with a family, in Berwick Park. This family afterward moved
to Jamaica Plain, and I went with them. With this family I remained
seven years. They were very kind to me, gave me two or three weeks'
vacation, without loss of pay.
In June, 1884, I went with them to their summer home in the Isles of
Shoals, as housekeeper for some guests who were coming from Paris.
On the 6th of July I received word that my sister Caroline had died in
June. This was a great blow to me. I remained with the Reeds until they
closed their summer home, but I was not able to do much work after
the news of my sister's death.
I wrote home to Georgia, to the white people who owned the house in
which Caroline had lived, asking them to take care of her boy
Lawrence until I should come in October. When we came back to
Jamaica Plain in the fall, I was asked to decide what I should do in
regard to this boy. Mrs. Reed wanted me to stay with her, and promised
to help pay for the care of the boy in Georgia. Of course, she said, I
could not expect to find positions if I had a child with me. As an
inducement to remain in my present place and leave the boy in Georgia,
I was promised provision for my future days, as long as I should live. It
did not take me long to decide what I should do. The last time I had
seen my sister, a little over a year before she died, she had said, when I
was leaving, "I don't expect ever to see you again, but if I die I shall
rest peacefully in my grave, because I know you will take care of my
child."
I left Jamaica Plain and took a room on Village Street for the two or
three weeks until my departure for the South. During this time, a lady
came to the house to hire a girl for her home in Wellesley Hills. The
girl who was offered the place would not go. I volunteered to accept the
position temporarily, and went at once to the beautiful farm. At the end
of a week, a man and his wife had been