ether. Mother remained in the
trader's yard two weeks, my sister six, myself four.

THE FARE AT THEIR NEW HOMES

Mother was sold to Captain Plasio. My sister to Benj. Board, and
myself to Capt. Ephraim Frisbee. The man who bought my mother was a
Spaniard. After she had been there a short time he tried to have my
mother let my brother stop at his saloon, a very dissipated place, to
wait upon his miserable crew, but my mother objected. In spite of her
objections he took him down to try him, but some Union soldiers called
at the saloon, and noticing that he was very small, they questioned
him, and my brother, child like, divulged the whole matter. The
Captain, fearful of being betrayed and losing his property, let him
continue with my mother. The Captain paid eight hundred dollars for my
mother and brother. We were all sold for extravagant prices. My
sister, aged sixteen, was sold for eight hundred and fifty dollars; I
was sold for nine hundred dollars. This was in 1863. My mother was
cook and fared very well. My sister was sold to a single gentleman,
whose intended took charge of her until they were married, after which
they took her to her home. She was her waiter, and fared as well as
could be expected. I fared worse than either of the family. I was not
allowed enough to eat, exposed to the cold, and not allowed through
the cold winter to thoroughly warm myself once a month. The house was
very large, and I could gain no access to the fire. I was kept
constantly at work of the heaviest kind,--compelled to move heavy
trunks and boxes,--many times to wash till ten and twelve o'clock at
night. There were three deaths in the family while I remained there,
and the entire burden was put upon me. I often felt to exclaim as the
Children of Israel did: "O Lord, my burden is greater than I can
bear." I was then seventeen years of age. My health has been impaired
from that time to the present. I have a severe pain in my side by the
slightest over exertion. In the Winter I suffer intensely with cold,
and cannot get warm unless in a room heated to eighty degrees. I am
infirm and burdened with the influence of slavery, whose impress will
ever remain on my mind and body. For six months I tried to make my
escape. I used to rise at four o'clock in the morning to find some one
to assist me, and at last I succeeded. I was allowed two hours once in
two weeks to go and return three miles. I could contrive no other way
than to impro