Memories of Childhoods Slavery Days | Page 9

lady who hired Lawrence was very
reluctant to let him go.
We went back to Newport to see the landlady from whom I had hired
the house, and I paid such part of the rent as I could. Then I packed my
things and started for Boston. On reaching there, I kept such of my
things as I needed, and stored the rest, and took a furnished room. In
about a week's time I went to see the husband of the lady for whom I
had worked at Wellesley Hills just previous to my departure for the
South. He had told me to let him know when I returned to Boston. He
said a man and his wife were at present employed at his farm, but he
didn't know how long they would stay. Before another week had passed,
this gentleman sent for me. He said his wife wanted me to go out to the
farm, and that I could have Lawrence with me. The boy, he said, could
help his wife with the poultry, and could have a chance to go to school.
I was promised three dollars and a half a week, and no washing to do. I
was told that the farm had been offered for sale, and of course it might

change hands any day. I was promised, however, that I should lose
nothing by the change.
Lawrence was very lonely at the farm, with no companions, and used to
sit and cry.
The place was sold about ten weeks after I went there, and I came into
Boston to look about for a restaurant, leaving Lawrence at the farm.
When the home was broken up, the owners came to the Revere House,
Boston. Barrels of apples, potatoes and other provisions were given to
me.
I found a little restaurant near the Providence depot for sale. I made
arrangements at once to buy the place for thirty-five dollars, and the
next day I brought Lawrence and my things from Wellesley Hills. I
paid two dollars a week rent for my little restaurant, and did very well.
The next spring I sold the place for fifty dollars, in time to get a place
at the beach for the summer.
Lawrence got a position in a drug store, and kept it four years. Then he
went to Hampton College, Hampton, Va. After finishing there, he came
back and then went to the World's Fair in Chicago. After that he took a
position on one of the Fall River line boats. At the outbreak of the
Spanish War, he enlisted in Brooklyn as powderman on the battleship
Texas. He was on the Texas when the first shot was fired. He was
present at the decoration of the graves of the American soldiers in
Havana, and also at the decoration of the battleship Maine after she was
raised. After the war, he came to Brooklyn and got an honorable
discharge. Then he served as valet to a rich New York man, who
travelled a good deal. About the middle of last November (1906)
Lawrence came to Boston to see me. He is now in Atlantic City, a
waiter in the Royal Hotel.
In 1888, I was married, at 27 Pemberton Street, to Samuel H. Burton,
by Dr. O. P. Gifford. After my marriage, Mr. Burton got a place in
Braintree as valet to an old gentleman who was slightly demented, and
he could not be satisfied until I joined him. So I put our things into
storage and went to Braintree. I remained there ten months, and then

came back to Boston. Then I got a position as head matron in the help's
dining-room in a hotel at Watch Hill, R. I. My husband was also there
as waiter. At the end of the season we both came home, and rented a
lodging-house, and lost money on it.

REMINISCENCES
The times changed from slavery days to freedom's days. As young as I
was, my thoughts were mystified to see such wonderful changes; yet I
did not know the meaning of these changing days. But days glided by,
and in my mystified way I could see and hear many strange things. I
would see my master and mistress in close conversation and they
seemed anxious about something that I, a child, could not know the
meaning of.
But as weeks went by, I began to understand. I saw all the slaves one
by one disappearing from the plantation (for night and day they kept
going) until there was not one to be seen.
All around the plantation was left barren. Day after day I could run
down to the gate and see down the road troops and troops of Garrison's
Brigade, and in the midst of them gangs and gangs of negro