The Narrative of Sojourner Truth | Page 6

strangers who rented
the house were humane people, and very kind to them; they were not
rich, and owned no slaves. How long this state of things continued, we
are unable to say, as Isabella had not then sufficiently cultivated her
organ of time to calculate years, or even weeks or hours. But she thinks
her mother must have lived several years after the death of Master
Charles. She remembers going to visit her parents some three or four
times before the death of her mother, and a good deal of time seemed to
her to intervene between each visit.
At length her mother's health began to decline-a fever-sore made its
ravages on one of her limbs, and the palsy began to shake her frame;
still, she and James tottered about, picking up a little here and there,

which, added to the mites contributed by their kind neighbors, sufficed
to sustain life, and drive famine from the door.

DEATH OF MAU-MAU BETT.

One morning, in early autumn, (from the reason above mentioned, we
cannot tell what year,) Mau-mau Bett told James she would make him a
loaf of rye-bread, and get Mrs. Simmons, their kind neighbor, to bake it
for them, as she would bake that forenoon. James told her he had
engaged to rake after the cart for his neighbors that morning; but before
he commenced, he would pole off some apples from a tree near, which
they were allowed to gather; and if she could get some of them baked
with the bread, it would give a nice relish for their dinner. He beat off
the apples, and soon after, saw Mau-mau Bett come out and gather
them up.
At the blowing of the horn for dinner, he groped his way into his cellar,
anticipating his humble, but warm and nourishing meal; when, lo!
instead of being cheered by the sight and odor of fresh-baked bread and
the savory apples, his cellar seemed more cheerless than usual, and at
first neither sight nor sound met eye or ear. But, on groping his way
through the room, his staff, which he used as a pioneer to go before,
and warn him of danger, seemed to be impeded in its progress, and a
low, gurgling, choking sound proceeded from the object before him,
giving him the first intimation of the truth as it was, that Mau-mau Bett,
his bosom companion, the only remaining member of his large family,
had fallen in a fit of the palsy, and lay helpless and senseless on the
earth! Who among us, located in pleasant homes, surrounded with
every comfort, and so many kind and sympathizing friends, can picture
to ourselves the dark and desolate state of poor old James-penniless,
weak, lame, and nearly blind, as he was at the moment he found his
companion was removed from him, and he was left alone in the world,
with no one to aid, comfort, or console him? for she never revived
again, and lived only a few hours after being discovered senseless by
her poor bereaved James.

LAST DAYS OF BOMEFREE.

Isabella and Peter were permitted to see the remains of their mother
laid in their last narrow dwelling, and to make their bereaved father a
little visit, ere they returned to their servitude. And most piteous were
the lamentations of the poor old man, when, at last, they also were
obliged to bid him "Farewell!" Juan Fernandes, on his desolate island,
was not so pitiable an object as this poor lame man. Blind and crippled,
he was too superannuated to think for a moment of taking care of
himself, and he greatly feared no persons would interest themselves in
his behalf. 'Oh,' he would exclaim, 'I had thought God would take me
first,-Mau-mau was so much smarter than I, and could get about and
take care of herself;-and I am so old, and so helpless. What is to
become of me? I can't do anything any more-my children are all gone,
and here I am left helpless and alone.' 'And then, as I was taking leave
of him,' said his daughter, in relating it, 'he raised his voice, and cried
aloud like a child-Oh, how he DID cry! I HEAR it now -and remember
it as well as if it were but yesterday-poor old man!!! He thought God
had done it all-and my heart bled within me at the sight of his misery.
He begged me to get permission to come and see him sometimes,
which I readily and heartily promised him.' But when all had left him,
the Ardinburghs, having some feeling left for their faithful and favorite
slave, 'took turns about' in keeping him- permitting him to stay a few
weeks at one house, and then a while at another, and so