AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FEMALE SLAVE
REDFIELD 34 BEEKMAN STREET, NEW YORK
1857Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by J. S. REDFIELD, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. E. O. JENKINS, Printer and Stereotyper, No. 26 FRANKFORT STREET.
TO ALL PERSONS
INTERESTED IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM
This little Book
IS
RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
BY THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
-
- CHAPTER I.
The Old Kentucky Farm—My Parentage and Early Training—Death of the Master—The Sale-day—New Master and New Home, 9 -
- CHAPTER II.
A View of the New Home, 19 -
- CHAPTER III.
The Yankee School-Mistress—Her Philosophy—The American Abolitionists, 29 -
- CHAPTER IV.
Conversation with Miss Bradly—A Light Breaks through the Darkness, 32 -
- CHAPTER V.
A Fashionable Tea-Table—Table-Talk—Aunt Polly's Experience—The Overseer's Authority—The Whipping-Post—Transfiguring Power of Divine Faith, 37 -
- CHAPTER VI.
Restored Consciousness—Aunt Polly's Account of my Miraculous Return to Life—The Master's Affray with the Overseer, 51 -
- CHAPTER VII.
Amy's Narrative, and her Philosophy of a Future State, 58 -
- CHAPTER VIII.
Talk at the Farm-House—Threats—The New Beau—Lindy, 65 -
- CHAPTER IX.
Lindy's Boldness—A Suspicion—The Master's Accountability—The Young Reformer—Words of Hope—The Cultivated Mulatto—The Dawn of Ambition, 76 - page: vi (Table of Contents) -vii (Table of Contents) [View Page vi (Table of Contents) -vii (Table of Contents) ]
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- CHAPTER X.
The Conversation, in which Fear and Suspicion are Aroused—The Young Master, 84 -
- CHAPTER XI.
The Flight—Young Master's Apprehensions—His Conversation—Amy—Edifying Talk among Ladies, 98 -
- CHAPTER XII.
Mr. Peterkin's Rage—Its Escape—Chat at the Breakfast-table—Change of Views—Power of the Flesh-pots, 101 -
- CHAPTER XIII.
Recollections—Consoling Influence of Sympathy—Amy's Doctrine of the Soul—Talk at the Spring, 107 -
- CHAPTER XIV.
The Prattlings of Insanity—Old Wounds Reopen—The Walk to the Doctor's—Influence of Nature, 116 -
- CHAPTER XV.
Quietude of the Woods—A Glimpse of the Stranger—Mrs. Mandy's Words of Cruel Irony—Sad Reflections, 121 -
- CHAPTER XVI.
A Reflection—American Abolitionists—Disaffection in Kentucky—The Young Master—His Remonstrance, 127 -
- CHAPTER XVII.
The Return of the Hunters, flushed with Success—Mr. Peterkin's Vagary, 136 -
- CHAPTER XVIII.
The Essay of Wit—Young Abolitionist—His Influence—A Night at the Door of the "Lock-Up," 147 -
- CHAPTER XIX.
Sympathy casteth out Fear—Consequence of the Night's Watch—Troubled Reflections, 161 -
- CHAPTER XX.
The Trader—A Terrible Fright—Power of Prayer—Grief of the Helpless, 170 -
- CHAPTER XXI.
Touching Farewell full of Pathos—The Parting—My Grief, 188 -
- CHAPTER XXII.
A Conversation—Hope Blossoms Out, but Charlestown is full of Excitability, 191 -
- CHAPTER XXIII.
The Supper—Its Consequences—Loss of Silver—A Lonely Night—Amy, 201 -
- CHAPTER XXIV.
The Punishment—Cruelty—Its Fatal Consequence—Death, 211 -
- CHAPTER XXV.
Conversation of the Father and Son—The Discovery; its Consequences—Death of the Young and Beautiful, 221 -
- CHAPTER XXVI.
The Funeral—Miss Bradly's Departure—The Dispute—Spirit Questions, 232 -
- CHAPTER XXVII.
The Awful Confession of the Master—Death—its Cold Solemnity, 243 -
- CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Bridal—Its Ceremonies—A Trip, and a Change of Homes—The Magnona—A Stranger, 251 -
- CHAPTER XXIX.
The Argument, 259 -
- CHAPTER XXX.
The Misdemeanor—The Punishment—Its Consequence—Fright, 279 -
- CHAPTER XXXI.
The Day of Trial—Anxiety—The Volunteer Counsel—Verdict of the Jury, 298 -
- CHAPTER XXXII.
Execution of the Sentence—A Change—Hope, 303 -
- CHAPTER XXXIII.
Sold—Life as a Slave—Pen—Charles' Story—Uncle Peter's Troubles—A Star Peeping Forth from the Cloud, 314 - page: viii (Table of Contents) -9[View Page viii (Table of Contents) -9]
-
- CHAPTER XXXIV.
Scene in the Pen—Starting "Down the River"—Uncle Peter's Trial—My Rescue, 333 -
- CHAPTER XXXV.
The Now Home—A Pleasant Family Group—Quiet Love-Meetings, 342 -
- CHAPTER XXXVI.
The New Associates—Depraved Vows—Elsy's Mistake—Departure of the Young Ladies—Loneliness, 343 -
- CHAPTER XXXVII.
The New Mistress,—Her Kindness of Disposition—A Pretty Home—And Love-Interviews In the Summer Days, 355 -
- CHAPTER XXXVIII.
An Awful Revelation—More Clouds to Darken the Sun of Life—Sickness and blessed Insensibility,366 -
- CHAPTER XXXIX.
Gradual Return of Happy Spirits—Brighter Prospects—An Old Acquaintance, 374 -
- CHAPTER XL.
The Crisis of Existence—A Dreadful Page in Life, 381 -
- CHAPTER XLI.
Revelation—Death the Peaceful Angel—Calmness, 391 -
- CHAPTER XLII.
Conclusion, 398