The Story of Mattie J. Jackson | Page 3

a
mother left alone with sorrow in her heart.
But my mother was conscious some time previous of the change that
was to take place with my father, and if he was sold in the immediate
vicinity he would be likely to be sold again at their will, and she
concluded to assist him to make his escape from bondage. Though the
parting was painful, it afforded her solace in the contemplation of her
husband becoming a free man, and cherishing a hope that her little
family, through the aid of some angel of mercy, might be enabled to
make their escape also, and meet to part no more on earth. My father
came to spend the night with us, according to his usual custom. It was
the last time, and sadness brooded upon his brow. It was the only
opportunity he had to make his escape without suspicion and detection,
as he was immediately to fall into the hands of a new master. He had
never been sold from the place of his birth before, and was determined
never to be sold again if God would verify his promise. My father was
not educated, but was a preacher, and administered the Word of God
according to the dictation and revelation of the spirit. His former master
had allowed him the privilege of holding meetings in the village within
the limits of his pass on the Sundays when he visited my mother. But
on this Saturday evening he arrived and gave us all his farewell kiss,
and hurried away. My mother's people were aware of my father's
intention, but rather than spare my mother, and for fear she might be
detected, they secreted his escape. His master called a number of times
and enquired for him and strongly pressed my mother to give him an
account of my father, but she never gave it. We waited patiently,
hoping to learn if he succeeded in gaining his freedom. Many anxious
weeks and months passed before we could get any tidings from him,
until at length my mother heard that he was in Chicago, a free man and
preaching the Gospel. He made every effort to get his family, but all in
vain. The spirit of slavery so strongly existed that letters could not

reach her; they were all destroyed. My parents had never learned the
rescuing scheme of the underground railroad which had borne so many
thousands to the standard of freedom and victories. They knew no other
resource than to depend upon their own chance in running away and
secreting themselves. If caught they were in a worse condition than
before.

THEIR ATTEMPT TO MAKE THEIR ESCAPE
Two years after my father's departure, my mother, with her two
children, my sister and myself, attempted to make her escape. After
traveling two days we reached Illinois. We slept in the woods at night. I
believe my mother had food to supply us but fasted herself. But the
advertisement had reached there before us, and loafers were already in
search of us, and as soon as we were discovered on the brink of the
river one of the spies made enquiries respecting her suspicious
appearance. She was aware that she was arrested, consequently she
gave a true account of herself--that she was in search of her husband.
We were then destitute of any articles of clothing excepting our
wearing apparel. Mother had become so weary that she was compelled
to leave our package of clothing on the way. We were taken back to St.
Louis and committed to prison and remained there one week, after
which they put us in Linch's trader's yard, where we remained about
four weeks. We were then sold to William Lewis. Mr. Lewis was a
very severe master, and inflicted such punishment upon us as he
thought proper. However, I only remember one severe contest Mr.
Lewis had with my mother. For some slight offence Mrs. Lewis
became offended and was tartly and loudly reprimanding her, when Mr.
L. came in and rashly felled her to the floor with his fist. But his wife
was constantly pulling our ears, snapping us with her thimble, rapping
us on the head and sides of it. It appeared impossible to please her.
When we first went to Mr. L.'s they had a cowhide which she used to
inflict on a little slave girl she previously owned, nearly every night.
This was done to learn the little girl to wake early to wait on her
children. But my mother was a cook, as I before stated, and was in the
habit of roasting meats and toasting bread. As they stinted us for food

my mother roasted the cowhide. It was rather poor picking, but it was
the last cowhide my mother ever