The Story of Mattie J. Jackson | Page 4

had an opportunity to cook while we
remained in his family. Mr. L. soon moved about six miles from the
city, and entered in partnership with his brother-in-law. The servants
were then divided and distributed in both families. It unfortunately fell
to my lot to live with Mrs. Larry, my mistress' sister, which rendered
my condition worse than the first. My master even disapproved of my
ill treatment and took me to another place; the place my mother resided
before my father's escape. After a short time Mr. Lewis again returned
to the city. My mother still remained as cook in his family. After six
years' absence of my father my mother married again a man by the
name of George Brown, and lived with her second husband about four
years, and had two children, when he was sold for requesting a
different kind and enough food. His master considered it a great insult,
and declared he would sell him. But previous to this insult, as he called
it, my step-father was foreman in Mr. L.'s tobacco factory. He was
trusty and of good moral habits, and was calculated to bring the highest
price in the human market; therefore the excuse to sell him for the
above offence was only a plot. The morning this offence occurred, Mr.
L. bid my father to remain in the kitchen till he had taken his breakfast.
After pulling his ears and slapping his face bade him come to the
factory; but instead of going to the factory he went to Canada. Thus my
poor mother was again left alone with two more children added to her
misery and sorrow to toil on her weary pilgrimage.
Racked with agony and pain she was left alone again, With a purpose
nought could move And the zeal of woman's love, Down she knelt in
agony To ask the Lord to clear the way.
True she said O gracious Lord, True and faithful is thy word; But the
humblest, poorest, may Eat the crumbs they cast away.
Though nine long years had passed Without one glimmering light of
day She never did forget to pray And has not yet though whips and
chains are cast away.
For thus said the blessed Lord, I will verify my word; By the faith that
has not failed, Thou hast asked and shall prevail.

We remained but a short time at the same residence when Mr. Lewis
moved again to the country. Soon after, my little brother was taken sick
in consequence of being confined in a box in which my mother was
obliged to keep him. If permitted to creep around the floor her mistress
thought it would take too much time to attend to him. He was two years
old and never walked. His limbs were perfectly paralyzed for want of
exercise. We now saw him gradually failing, but was not allowed to
render him due attention. Even the morning he died she was compelled
to attend to her usual work. She watched over him for three months by
night and attended to her domestic affairs by day. The night previous to
his death we were aware he could not survive through the approaching
day, but it made no impression on my mistress until she came into the
kitchen and saw his life fast ebbing away, then she put on a sad
countenance for fear of being exposed, and told my mother to take the
child to her room, where he only lived one hour. When she found he
was dead she ordered grave clothes to be brought and gave my mother
time to bury him. O that morning, that solemn morning. It appears to
me that when that little spirit departed as though all heaven rejoiced
and angels veiled their faces.
My mother too in concert joined,-- Her mingled praise with them
combined. Her little saint had gone to God Who saved him with his
precious blood.
Who said "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not."

THE SOLDIERS, AND OUR TREATMENT DURING THE WAR
Soon after the war commenced the rebel soldiers encamped near Mr.
Lewis' residence, and remained there one week. They were then
ordered by General Lyons to surrender, but they refused. There were
seven thousand Union and seven hundred rebel soldiers. The Union
soldiers surrounded the camp and took them and exhibited them
through the city and then confined them in prison. I told my mistress
that the Union soldiers were coming to take the camp. She replied that
it was false, that it was General Kelly coming to re-enforce Gen. Frost.

In a few moments the alarm was heard. I told Mrs. L. the Unionists had
fired upon the rebels. She replied it was only the salute of Gen. Kelly.
At