The Narrative of Sojourner Truth | Page 3

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The Narrative of Sojourner Truth (1850) Dictated by Sojourner Truth (ca.1797-1883); Edited by Olive Gilbert

NARRATIVE OF SOJOURNER TRUTH
Written by Olive Gilbert, based on information provided by Sojourner Truth.
1850

CONTENTS
HER BIRTH AND PARENTAGE ACCOMMODATIONS HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS HER RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION THE AUCTION DEATH OF MAU-MAU BETT LAST DAYS OF BOMEFREE DEATH OF BOMEFREE COMMENCEMENT OF ISABELLA'S TRIALS IN LIFE TRIALS CONTINUED HER STANDING WITH HER NEW MASTER AND MISTRESS ISABELLA'S MARRIAGE ISABELLA AS A MOTHER SLAVEHOLDER'S PROMISES HER ESCAPE ILLEGAL SALE OF HER SON IT IS OFTEN DARKEST JUST BEFORE DAWN DEATH OF MRS. ELIZA FOWLER ISABELLA'S RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE NEW TRIALS FINDING A BROTHER AND SISTER GLEANINGS THE MATTHIAS DELUSION FASTING THE CAUSE OF HER LEAVING THE CITY THE CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSING A TRAVELLER A NIGHT'S LODGING SOME OF HER VIEWS AND REASONINGS THE SECOND ADVENT DOCTRINES ANOTHER CAMP-MEETING LAST INTERVIEW WITH HER MASTER
CERTIFICATES OF CHARACTER

NARRATIVE OF SOJOURNER TRUTH

HER BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.
THE subject of this biography, SOJOURNER TRUTH, as she now calls herself-but whose name, originally, was Isabella-was born, as near as she can now calculate, between the years 1797 and 1800. She was the daughter of James and Betsey, slaves of one Colonel Ardinburgh, Hurley, Ulster County, New York.
Colonel Ardinburgh belonged to that class of people called Low Dutch.
Of her first master, she can give no account, as she must have been a mere infant when he died; and she, with her parents and some ten or twelve other fellow human chattels, became the legal property of his son, Charles Ardinburgh. She distinctly remembers hearing her father and mother say, that their lot was a fortunate one, as Master Charles was the best of the family,-being, comparatively speaking, a kind master to his slaves.
James and Betsey having, by their faithfulness, docility, and respectful behavior, won his particular regard, received from him particular favors-among which was a lot of land, lying back on the slope of a mountain, where, by improving the pleasant evenings and Sundays, they managed to raise a little tobacco, corn, or flax; which they exchanged for extras, in the articles of food or clothing for themselves and children. She has no remembrance that Saturday afternoon was ever added to their own time, as it is by some masters in the Southern States.

ACCOMMODATIONS.
Among Isabella's earliest recollections was the removal of her master, Charles Ardinburgh, into his new house, which he had built for a hotel, soon after the decease of his father. A cellar, under this hotel, was assigned to his slaves, as their sleeping apartment,-all the slaves he possessed, of both sexes, sleeping (as is quite common in a state of slavery) in the same room. She carries in her mind, to this day, a vivid picture of this dismal chamber; its only lights consisting of a few panes of glass, through which she thinks the sun never shone, but with thrice reflected rays; and the space between the loose boards of the floor, and the uneven earth below, was often filled with mud and water, the uncomfortable splashings of which were as annoying as its noxious