Lastly, she had let Hardbargain to excellent tenants—a young New Englander and his wife—who took it ready furnished and stocked as it was; and designed to work the land and keep a school.
The negroes had their usual carnival at Christmas, lasting till after New Year—during which, all that had been engaged in the last twelve months were married, and wedding parties were given and dances got up, etc., etc.
But on the second of January, Catherine caused them all to be assembled in her presence, and told them that she should, on the next Monday and thereafter, set them to work in earnest; that their overseer was gone—(“Thank Marster Lord for that,” exclaimed several)—but that she herself would be their overseer for the ensuing year. (“You’ll be fair, young mistress! We ain’t afeard o’ you,” said the same.) She waved her hand for silence and attention, and then informed them farther—that though they should find her hereafter as heretofore, just and moderate and merciful; ready to give ear to their complaints, and settle their difficulties, and reward their zeal—yet that she should certainly require a more steady and systematic application to their duties than they had ever before given. She said, in conclusion, that their health, comfort, improvement and happiness, should be her care; but that even in this also, she should need their co-operation—(“You shall hab it, mist’ess, ’deed you shall, honey;” from some of the older negroes.) Finally she dismissed them, telling them that she wished to see them all together again on Sunday evening at early candle-light, in the spinning-room, where she desired that they should assemble quietly.
On Saturday evening when the women were done spinning, Catherine directed that all the wheels should be taken to one corner of the room, and crowded together, and that the settees and benches from the piazza and lawns, should be brought in and arranged around the walls; and finally that a little reading stand and chair should be brought for her own use. These preparations occupied but ten minutes, and the room was fitted up for family worship.
On Sunday evening, at the appointed hour, Catherine met her assembled laborers and servants there. When they were all seated and perfectly still and attentive, she said to them—“I desired your presence here this Sabbath evening, that I might make a proposition to you. I have been thinking that we ought not to finish every day without remembering and returning thanks to our Heavenly Father for His daily bounties, protection and mercies to us, and asking a continuance of the same blessings; and I think we should not dare to lie down and commit ourselves to that helpless sleep that so resembles death, without confessing to our Lord the sins we have committed against Him during the day, imploring His forgiveness of them, and asking His watchful care over us during the darkness of the night and the defencelessness of sleep. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes, yes, mist’ess, we do, we do indeed,” answered several of the elder negroes, clearly—while a modest murmur of assent ran through the assembly. The negroes are strongly inclined to worship, and ever ready to co-operate in anything of that sacred character.
Catherine resumed—
“We should each do this in private by our own bedsides, but we should also do it together as a household—as the creatures of one God, the children of one Father.” She paused a moment in thought, and then spoke again. “I have been also reflecting that you ought all to know more of the Bible than you have as yet had any opportunity of knowing. And I think that most of you would be pleased to know more.” She paused for an answer.
“Yes, yes, mist’ess, we do,” chimed in many eager voices, old and young.
“I know you do. Well, then, henceforth we will assemble in this room every evening just before bed time, and as a household of the Lord, a family of one Father, spend a short time together in reading and hearing the Holy Scriptures, and in prayer. In beginning to read the Bible with you, I shall commence with the first chapter of the New Testament, and read a chapter every night, until we regularly read it through. And afterwards, in the same manner, we will go through David’s Psalms and the Prophets.”