Donation of Case’s Maps of United States, British Provinces, etc., from S. M. H.
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
THE STORY OF REBECCA.
BY REV. J. E. ROY, D.D.
The following incident in the life of a freedwoman affected me very much. Let me tell you her history.
In the old times, Col. Holly, of Middle Tennessee, was known as a kind master; but failing in business, his slaves had to be sold; then, hoping to retrieve his fortune, removed to Arkansas, taking with him two little slave girls, one of whom was Rebecca, four and a half years old. Here she grew up in his family, and was married to a man who belonged to another master, and who hired his time, paying one-half his wages as a mechanic.
In Tennessee her mother was, of course, taken away to another family. Her father, who had not belonged to Col. Holly, had already been sold to the Red River country, where he soon after died.
Recently, at Little Rock, I was a guest for five days in the house of Rebecca. Her husband owned his home, together with two other places. Her only son and a son-in-law were teaching school, and she was mothering the two little girls of her deceased daughter. On the centre table were a large family Bible and a copy of Shakespeare, both rich in binding and illustration; and on the walls were some, not costly, but tasteful and suggestive pictures, one of which represented Abraham Lincoln, Charles Sumner and John Brown. Her deportment was that of a lady; her company enjoyable. She said she remembered well the time and the scene when she was taken from her mother. The screaming was yet ringing in her ears. She bore in mind the last words of her mother, as she put a little red flannel shawl round her neck: “God bless my child! God bless my child!” She had in memory also her own crying and bursting of heart. So, too, was fresh in her mind, her weeping of nights in the new home, until, upon the imperative chiding of master and mistress, she was obliged to repress that relief of hidden sorrow.