"O, master, their own conduct makes them so," exclaimed Bella; "they treat us ill at the first, and then think we must not seek revenge, or even to escape from their cruelty; but if they good to us, we good to them; we don't come to them; we want to keep out of their way, but they come for us, and buy us whether we will or not."
"It is a bad subject, my good Bella," returned the farmer, "nor can I justify many of my countrymen in their treatment of you; but some are good."
"Yes, some are good," said she; "but it was my lot to fall into very bad hands at first."
"What did they do to you, my poor Bella?" asked John, his heart beating with compassion.
"Oh, they beat me, and starved me; and, worse than that, they killed my child; or they would not let me see it after it was nine months old, but made me work hard hard work!" Here tears seemed to choke her utterance, and the children looked at each other and their father, in silent distress.
"Get something to revive poor Bella," said he to Molly, whose weeping eyes bore testimony that her feelings were not blunted by age; "and do not begin this subject any more, my dear children," continued he, "you see how it distresses poor Bella, and it only opens to your knowledge crimes which I hope you will never have the inclination to commit. If, as the Scriptures declare, these people are suffering for the sins of their forefathers, and their state of slavery has been foretold so many thousand years, we must acknowledge all God's decrees are just, though the crimes of those who enslave and ill-treat them will most assuredly be punished."
Bella was now a little revived, and Anna proposed their returning home.
"Thank you, good Sir, for your kindness to a poor negro woman," said Bella; "my mistress will tell you all, but me talk no more about it, it tears my heart too much."
Molly begged her to say no more, and the children, after kissing her, promised never to ask her any more questions on so distressing a subject.