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Title: Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave
Author: Charles Ball
Release date: September 14, 2012 [eBook #40760]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Richard J. Shiffer and the
Distributed Proofreading volunteers at http://www.pgdp.net
for Project Gutenberg. (This file was produced from images
generously made available by The Internet Archive.)
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Programming In Visual Basic 2010 1st Edition Bradley Test Bank
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- 5. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-1 True / False Questions 1. To add scroll bars to list boxes and combo boxes you must set the ScrollAlwaysVisible property to True. True False 2. List boxes have a Text property, but it can only be accessed at run time. True False 3. List boxes and combo boxes have a Text property that can be accessed at design time. True False 4. Items are added to a list box during design-time with the ListIndex property. True False 5. It is possible to add values to a list box or combo box during design by using the Items property. True False 6. List boxes and combo boxes can only hold numeric values. True False 7. The Alphabetize property can be set to True and the combo or list box will automatically be sorted when an item is added to the list. True False
- 6. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-2 8. The SelectedIndex property can be used to select an item in the list or to determine which item is selected. True False 9. Use the code: NamesListBox.SelectedIndex = -1, to deselect all items in a list. True False 10. If a list contains 15 items, the Count property will be 15 and the highest SelectedIndex property will be 16. True False 11. The code, "NameLabel.Text = NameComboBox.Text", or the code, "NameLabel.Text = NameComboBox.Items(NameComboBox.SelectedIndex)" will display the selected name in NameLabel. True False 12. To remove an individual item from a list box, you can use the Remove method and specify the index of the item. True False 13. If you want to remove an item from a list during run time, you can use either the Items.RemoveAt method or the Items.Remove method. True False 14. The Clear method is used to empty the contents of a list or combo box. True False
- 7. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-3 15. The TextChanged event procedure occurs once for every keystroke entered. True False 16. An "iteration" is a single execution of the statement(s) in the loop. True False 17. A loop that begins with Do Until will test the condition at the top of the loop. True False 18. The statements in a loop may never be performed if a loop begins with Do Until. True False 19. Boolean variables only hold the values True or False. True False 20. Boolean variables are commonly referred to as switches or flags. True False 21. The identifier for a loop index in a For/Next statement must be LoopIndexInteger. True False 22. The counter in a For/Next loop can be a variable or a constant. True False
- 8. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-4 23. Use the Exit For statement if you need to terminate a For/Next loop before the loop index reaches its final value. True False 24. The Continue statement can be used to skip to the next iteration of a loop. True False 25. Use the Select method of a text box in order to select the text in the text box. True False 26. Assign a valid index to the SelectedIndex property of a list box in order to make an item in the list appear selected. True False 27. Set up output for the printer using the methods and events of the Printer component. True False 28. To start printing output, you execute the Print method of the PrintDocument component. True False 29. You can specify the X and Y coordinates for each element on the graphics page. True False 30. The X and Y coordinates define the upper-left corner of an element on a graphics page. True False
- 9. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-5 31. Use the WriteString method to send a line of text to the graphics page. True False Multiple Choice Questions 32. Use the _______ control from the toolbox to create list boxes on a form. A. List B. ListBox C. ComboBox D. SimpleList 33. A _______ control contains a text box as part of the control. A. Frame B. ListBox C. ComboBox D. DropDownList 34. Which of the following is NOT a style for combo boxes? A. Simple B. DropDown C. DropDownList D. SimpleList 35. List boxes and combo boxes _______. A. are created with the same tool from the toolbox B. have a Text property during design time C. hold a list of values D. always have scroll bars
- 10. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-6 36. Items can be added to a list during design time using the _________ collection. A. AddLists B. Items C. ItemsAdd D. AddItems 37. Values for the items in a list _______. A. can be entered in the Items collection in the Properties window B. can be entered in the Values collection in the Properties window C. can be entered in the AddItem collection in the Properties window D. must be entered in alphabetical order 38. The data that appears in a combo box when it is first displayed can be added to the combo box _______. A. using the Form_Load procedure and the combo box Items.Add method B. during design time in the Items Collection of the combo box C. using the ComboBox.Add() method D. Answers A and B are correct. 39. Items can be added to a list during run time using the _________ method. A. AddLists B. Lists C. ItemsAdd D. Items.Add 40. Items in a list can be placed in alphabetical order by _______. A. setting the Sorted property to True B. selecting the item in the list and then using the arrow keys to move the item up or down the list C. setting the Alphabetize property to True D. setting the Index property to 1
- 11. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-7 41. Which of the following instructions will add the word, monkey, to a list box named AnimalsListBox? A. AnimalsListBox.Insert(monkey) B. AnimalsListBox.Insert ("monkey") C. AnimalsListBox.Items.Add(monkey) D. AnimalsListBox.Items.Add("monkey") 42. The code that will add the name, John, to a combo box named NamesComboBox is _______. A. NamesComboBox.Items.Add ("John") B. NamesComboBox.AddItem = ("John") C. Add.NamesComboBox = ("John") D. Add."John".NamesComboBox 43. The SelectedIndex property of the first item in a list is _______. A. -1 B. 0 C. 1 D. True 44. What is the value of the SelectedIndex property if the user has not selected an item from a combo box? A. -1 B. 0 C. 1 D. None of these 45. What is the value of the SelectedIndex property if the user has selected the last item in a list with four items? A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 0
- 12. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-8 46. Which of the following code examples can be used to determine the number of items in a list box named ColorListBox? A. ColorListBox.Count.Index B. ColorListBox.Items.Count C. ColorListBox(Items.Total) D. ColorListBox.SelectedIndex 47. An individual item can be deleted from a list with the _______. A. Items.Delete method B. Items.Clear method C. Items.Erase method D. Items.RemoveAt method 48. The code to delete the selected item from ColorListBox is _______. A. ColorListBox.Clear B. ColorListBox.RemoveItem C. ColorListBox.Delete (ColorListBox.ListIndex) D. ColorListBox.Items.RemoveAt (ColorListBox.SelectedIndex) 49. Which text box event occurs when a text box gets the focus? A. Click event B. Enter event C. Leave event D. TextChanged event 50. Which text box event occurs each time the user types a character into a text box? A. Click event B. GotFocus event C. Enter event D. TextChanged event
- 13. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-9 51. The process of repeating a series of instructions is called ______________. A. jumping B. reiteration C. looping D. initializing 52. The group of repeated instructions in a Do/Loop is called a(n) __________. A. group B. set C. loop body D. iteration 53. A single execution of a group of instructions inside a Do/Loop is called _______. A. an iteration B. a loop C. a set D. a group 54. The statements inside of a Do Until/Loop may never be executed if _______. A. the terminating condition is at the top of the loop and it is True the first time it is tested B. the terminating condition is at the bottom of the loop and it is True the first time it is tested C. Both answers A and B would cause the statements in the loop not to be executed. D. The statements in the loop will always be executed. 55. The values of Boolean data types are sometimes referred to as _______. A. banners B. flags C. ribbons D. posters
- 14. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-10 56. When is the counter incremented in a FOR/NEXT statement? A. In the NEXT statement B. In the FOR statement C. In the Exit For statement D. When the statements in the loop are executed 57. When is the counter tested in a FOR/NEXT statement? A. In the NEXT statement B. In the FOR statement C. When the counter is initialized D. When the counter is incremented 58. When does a For/Next statement terminate iteration? A. When executing the For statement, the counter must be greater than the final value. B. When executing the For statement, the counter must be the same as the final value. C. When executing the Next statement, the counter must be greater than the final value. D. When executing the Next statement, the counter must be the same as the final value. 59. Incorrect indentation of the statements in For/Next loops _______. A. will cause the program to halt B. will cause the logic of calculations inside the loop to perform incorrectly C. will make the program difficult to read and understand D. all of these 60. How many times will the statements inside this For/Next loop be executed? For IndexInteger = 1 to 10 'Statements in loop Next IndexInteger A. 2 B. 4 C. 5 D. 10
- 15. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-11 61. How many times will the statements inside this For/Next loop be executed? For IndexInteger = 2 to 12 Step 3 'Statements in loop Next IndexInteger A. 2 B. 4 C. 5 D. 10 62. What is the value of IndexInteger after the code in the loop below is completed? For IndexInteger = 1 to 10 'Statements in loop Next IndexInteger A. 0 B. 1 C. 10 D. 11 63. How many times will the statements inside this For/Next loop be executed? For IndexInteger = 4 to 1 'Statements in loop Next IndexInteger A. 0 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5 64. What is the value of IndexInteger after the loop below is executed? For IndexInteger = 4 to 1 'Statements in loop Next IndexInteger A. 0 B. 1 C. 4 D. 5
- 16. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-12 65. What will be the value of ValueInteger after execution of these statements? For IndexInteger = 1 to 10 Step 2 ValueInteger += IndexInteger Next IndexInteger A. 20 B. 25 C. 36 D. None of these 66. What will be the value of IndexInteger after execution of these statements? For IndexInteger = 1 to 10 Step 2 ValueInteger = += IndexInteger Next IndexInteger A. 10 B. 11 C. 13 D. 14 67. Terminate a For/Next loop with the _______ statement. A. Exit B. ExitFor C. ExitLoop D. Continue 68. Skip to the next iteration of a Do loop with the _______ statement. A. Exit For B. Exit Do C. Continue For D. Continue Do
- 17. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-13 69. Which method is used to make all of the text in a text box appear selected? A. SelectText B. SelectedIndex C. SelectedItem D. SelectAll 70. The methods and events of the _________ component can be used to set up output for the printer. A. Printer B. PrintDocument C. Print D. PrintAndPreview 71. The PrintDocument's PrintPage event is fired once for each page to be printed. This technique is referred to as a _______. A. PagePrint method B. graphics page C. callback D. SystemPrint 72. The _______ method is used to send a line of text to the graphics page. A. DrawString B. WriteLine C. String D. Print 73. When an item is selected in a list box or a combo box, the _______ property holds the selected item. A. SelectAll B. Text C. Print D. Selected
- 18. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing 7-14 74. ________ is used for viewing print output on the screen. The user can then choose to print or cancel. A. Preview B. Sample view C. Print preview D. Test print page Short Answer Questions 75. What is the Items collection and how does it relate to a list box and/or a combo box? 76. Write the code for a FOR NEXT loop that will execute as many times as there are items in a combo box named ItemsComboBox. Use CountInteger as the counter (loop index).
- 19. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing Key 7-15 True / False Questions 1. (p. 288) To add scroll bars to list boxes and combo boxes you must set the ScrollAlwaysVisible property to True. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Create and use list boxes and combo boxes. 2. (p. 289) List boxes have a Text property, but it can only be accessed at run time. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Create and use list boxes and combo boxes. 3. (p. 289) List boxes and combo boxes have a Text property that can be accessed at design time. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Create and use list boxes and combo boxes. 4. (p. 289) Items are added to a list box during design-time with the ListIndex property. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Enter items into list boxes using the Items collection in the Properties window. 5. (p. 289) It is possible to add values to a list box or combo box during design by using the Items property. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Enter items into list boxes using the Items collection in the Properties window.
- 20. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing Key 7-16 6. (p. 289) List boxes and combo boxes can only hold numeric values. FALSE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Create and use list boxes and combo boxes. 7. (p. 291) The Alphabetize property can be set to True and the combo or list box will automatically be sorted when an item is added to the list. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Add and remove items in a list at run time. 8. (p. 292) The SelectedIndex property can be used to select an item in the list or to determine which item is selected. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Determine which item in a list is selected. 9. (p. 292) Use the code: NamesListBox.SelectedIndex = -1, to deselect all items in a list. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Determine which item in a list is selected. 10. (p. 292) If a list contains 15 items, the Count property will be 15 and the highest SelectedIndex property will be 16. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Use the Items.Count property to determine the number of items in a list.
- 21. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing Key 7-17 11. (p. 293) The code, "NameLabel.Text = NameComboBox.Text", or the code, "NameLabel.Text = NameComboBox.Items(NameComboBox.SelectedIndex)" will display the selected name in NameLabel. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Display a selected item from a list. 12. (p. 293) To remove an individual item from a list box, you can use the Remove method and specify the index of the item. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Add and remove items in a list at run time. 13. (p. 293) If you want to remove an item from a list during run time, you can use either the Items.RemoveAt method or the Items.Remove method. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Add and remove items in a list at run time. 14. (p. 294) The Clear method is used to empty the contents of a list or combo box. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Add and remove items in a list at run time. 15. (p. 295) The TextChanged event procedure occurs once for every keystroke entered. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Display a selected item from a list.
- 22. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing Key 7-18 16. (p. 296) An "iteration" is a single execution of the statement(s) in the loop. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Use Do/Loops and For/Next statements to iterate through a loop. 17. (p. 298) A loop that begins with Do Until will test the condition at the top of the loop. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Use Do/Loops and For/Next statements to iterate through a loop. 18. (p. 298) The statements in a loop may never be performed if a loop begins with Do Until. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Use Do/Loops and For/Next statements to iterate through a loop. 19. (p. 298) Boolean variables only hold the values True or False. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Use Do/Loops and For/Next statements to iterate through a loop. 20. (p. 298) Boolean variables are commonly referred to as switches or flags. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Use Do/Loops and For/Next statements to iterate through a loop.
- 23. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing Key 7-19 21. (p. 299) The identifier for a loop index in a For/Next statement must be LoopIndexInteger. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Use Do/Loops and For/Next statements to iterate through a loop. 22. (p. 299) The counter in a For/Next loop can be a variable or a constant. FALSE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Use Do/Loops and For/Next statements to iterate through a loop. 23. (p. 302) Use the Exit For statement if you need to terminate a For/Next loop before the loop index reaches its final value. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Terminate a loop with the Exit statement. 24. (p. 303) The Continue statement can be used to skip to the next iteration of a loop. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Skip to the next iteration of a loop by using the Continue statement. 25. (p. 304) Use the Select method of a text box in order to select the text in the text box. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Display a selected item from a list.
- 24. Chapter 007 Lists, Loops, and Printing Key 7-20 26. (p. 305) Assign a valid index to the SelectedIndex property of a list box in order to make an item in the list appear selected. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Objective: Display a selected item from a list. 27. (p. 306) Set up output for the printer using the methods and events of the Printer component. FALSE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Send information to the printer or the Print Preview window using the PrintDocument class. 28. (p. 306) To start printing output, you execute the Print method of the PrintDocument component. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Send information to the printer or the Print Preview window using the PrintDocument class. 29. (p. 307) You can specify the X and Y coordinates for each element on the graphics page. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Send information to the printer or the Print Preview window using the PrintDocument class. 30. (p. 307) The X and Y coordinates define the upper-left corner of an element on a graphics page. TRUE Difficulty: Medium Objective: Send information to the printer or the Print Preview window using the PrintDocument class.
- 25. Another Random Scribd Document with Unrelated Content
- 29. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave
- 30. This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave Author: Charles Ball Release date: September 14, 2012 [eBook #40760] Most recently updated: October 23, 2024 Language: English Credits: Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Richard J. Shiffer and the Distributed Proofreading volunteers at http://www.pgdp.net for Project Gutenberg. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIFTY YEARS IN CHAINS; OR, THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN SLAVE ***
- 31. Transcriber's Note Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook. The cover image was produced by Jeroen Hellingman and has been placed into the public domain.
- 32. F I F T Y Y E A R S I N C H A I N S ; O R , T H E L I F E O F A N A M E R I C A N S L A V E .
- 33. "My God! can such things be? Hast Thou not said that whatsoe'er is done Unto thy weakest and thy humblest one, Is even done to Thee?"—Whittier. New-York H . D A Y T O N , P U B L I S H E R 36 HOWARD STREET. Indianapolis, Ind.:—Asher & Company. 1860. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by H. DAYTON, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. J. J. REED, PRINTER & STEREOTYPER, 43 Centre-St., N. Y.
- 34. PREFACE. The story which follows is true in every particular. Responsible citizens of a neighboring State can vouch for the reality of the narrative. The language of the slave has not at all times been strictly adhered to, as a half century of bondage unfitted him for literary work. The subject of the story is still a slave by the laws of this country, and it would not be wise to reveal his name.
- 35. FIFTY YEARS IN CHAINS OR, THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN SLAVE.
- 36. CHAPTER I. SEPARATED FROM MY MOTHER. My story is a true one, and I shall tell it in a simple style. It will be merely a recital of my life as a slave in the Southern States of the Union—a description of negro slavery in the "model Republic." My grandfather was brought from Africa and sold as a slave in Calvert county, in Maryland. I never understood the name of the ship in which he was imported, nor the name of the planter who bought him on his arrival, but at the time I knew him he was a slave in a family called Maud, who resided near Leonardtown. My father was a slave in a family named Hauty, living near the same place. My mother was the slave of a tobacco planter, who died when I was about four years old. My mother had several children, and they were sold upon master's death to separate purchasers. She was sold, my father told me, to a Georgia trader. I, of all her children, was the only one left in Maryland. When sold I was naked, never having had on clothes in my life, but my new master gave me a child's frock, belonging to one of his own children. After he had purchased me, he dressed me in this garment, took me before him on his horse, and started home; but my poor mother, when she saw me leaving her for the last time, ran after me, took me down from the horse, clasped me in her arms, and wept loudly and bitterly over me. My master seemed to pity her, and endeavored to soothe her distress by telling her that he would be a good master to me, and that I should not want anything. She then, still holding me in her arms, walked along the road beside the horse as he moved slowly, and earnestly and imploringly besought my master to buy her and the rest of her children, and not permit them to be carried away by the negro buyers; but whilst thus entreating him to save her and her family, the slave-driver, who had first bought her, came running in pursuit of her with a raw-hide in his hand. When he overtook us, he told her
- 37. he was her master now, and ordered her to give that little negro to its owner, and come back with him. My mother then turned to him and cried, "Oh, master, do not take me from my child!" Without making any reply, he gave her two or three heavy blows on the shoulders with his raw-hide, snatched me from her arms, handed me to my master, and seizing her by one arm, dragged her back towards the place of sale. My master then quickened the pace of his horse; and as we advanced, the cries of my poor parent became more and more indistinct—at length they died away in the distance, and I never again heard the voice of my poor mother. Young as I was, the horrors of that day sank deeply into my heart, and even at this time, though half a century has elapsed, the terrors of the scene return with painful vividness upon my memory. Frightened at the sight of the cruelties inflicted upon my poor mother, I forgot my own sorrows at parting from her and clung to my new master, as an angel and a saviour, when compared with the hardened fiend into whose power she had fallen. She had been a kind and good mother to me; had warmed me in her bosom in the cold nights of winter; and had often divided the scanty pittance of food allowed her by her mistress, between my brothers, and sisters, and me, and gone supperless to bed herself. Whatever victuals she could obtain beyond the coarse food, salt fish and corn bread, allowed to slaves on the Patuxent and Potomac rivers, she carefully distributed among her children, and treated us with all the tenderness which her own miserable condition would permit. I have no doubt that she was chained and driven to Carolina, and toiled out the residue of a forlorn and famished existence in the rice swamps, or indigo fields of the South. My father never recovered from the effects of the shock, which this sudden and overwhelming ruin of his family gave him. He had formerly been of a gay, social temper, and when he came to see us on a Saturday night, he always brought us some little present, such as the means of a poor slave would allow—apples, melons, sweet potatoes, or, if he could procure nothing else, a little parched corn, which tasted better in our cabin, because he had brought it.
- 38. He spent the greater part of the time, which his master permitted him to pass with us, in relating such stories as he had learned from his companions, or in singing the rude songs common amongst the slaves of Maryland and Virginia. After this time I never heard him laugh heartily, or sing a song. He became gloomy and morose in his temper, to all but me; and spent nearly all his leisure time with my grandfather, who claimed kindred with some royal family in Africa, and had been a great warrior in his native country. The master of my father was a hard, penurious man, and so exceedingly avaricious, that he scarcely allowed himself the common conveniences of life. A stranger to sensibility, he was incapable of tracing the change in the temper and deportment of my father, to its true cause; but attributed it to a sullen discontent with his condition as a slave, and a desire to abandon his service, and seek his liberty by escaping to some of the free States. To prevent the perpetration of this suspected crime of running away from slavery, the old man resolved to sell my father to a southern slave-dealer, and accordingly applied to one of those men, who was at that time in Calvert, to become the purchaser. The price was agreed on, but, as my father was a very strong, active, and resolute man, it was deemed unsafe for the Georgian to attempt to seize him, even with the aid of others, in the day-time, when he was at work, as it was known he carried upon his person a large knife. It was therefore determined to secure him by stratagem, and for this purpose, a farmer in the neighborhood, who was made privy to the plan, alleged that he had lost a pig, which must have been stolen by some one, and that he suspected my father to be the thief. A constable was employed to arrest him, but as he was afraid to undertake the business alone, he called on his way, at the house of the master of my grandfather, to procure assistance from the overseer of the plantation. When he arrived at the house, the overseer was at the barn, and thither he repaired to make his application. At the end of the barn was the coach-house, and as the day was cool, to avoid the wind which was high, the two walked to the side of the coach-house to talk over the matter, and settle their plan of operations. It so happened that my grandfather, whose business it was to keep the coach in good condition, was at
- 39. work at this time, rubbing the plated handles of the doors, and brightening the other metallic parts of the vehicle. Hearing the voice of the overseer without, he suspended his work, and listening attentively, became a party to their councils. They agreed that they would delay the execution of their project until the next day, as it was then late. They supposed they would have no difficulty in apprehending their intended victim, as, knowing himself innocent of the theft, he would readily consent to go with the constable to a justice of the peace, to have the charge examined. That night, however, about midnight, my grandfather silently repaired to the cabin of my father, a distance of about three miles, aroused him from his sleep, made him acquainted with the extent of his danger, gave him a bottle of cider and a small bag of parched corn, and then enjoined him to fly from the destination which awaited him. In the morning the Georgian could not find his newly purchased slave, who was never seen or heard of in Maryland from that day. After the flight of my father, my grandfather was the only person left in Maryland with whom I could claim kindred. He was an old man, nearly eighty years old, he said, and he manifested all the fondness for me that I could expect from one so old. He was feeble, and his master required but little work from him. He always expressed contempt for his fellow-slaves, for when young, he was an African of rank in his native land. He had a small cabin of his own, with half an acre of ground attached to it, which he cultivated on his own account, and from which he drew a large share of his sustenance. He had singular religious notions—never going to meeting or caring for the preachers he could, if he would, occasionally hear. He retained his native traditions respecting the Deity and hereafter. It is not strange that he believed the religion of his oppressors to be the invention of designing men, for the text oftenest quoted in his hearing was, "Servants, be obedient to your masters." The name of the man who purchased me at the vendue, and became my master, was John Cox; but he was generally called Jack Cox. He was a man of kindly feelings towards his family, and treated his slaves, of whom he had several besides me, with humanity. He
- 40. permitted my grandfather to visit me as often as he pleased, and allowed him sometimes to carry me to his own cabin, which stood in a lonely place, at the head of a deep hollow, almost surrounded by a thicket of cedar trees, which had grown up in a worn out and abandoned tobacco field. My master gave me better clothes than the little slaves of my age generally received in Calvert, and often told me that he intended to make me his waiter, and that if I behaved well I should become his overseer in time. These stations of waiter and overseer appeared to me to be the highest points of honor and greatness in the whole world, and had not circumstances frustrated my master's plans, as well as my own views, I should probably have been living at this time in a cabin on the corner of some tobacco plantation. Fortune had decreed otherwise. When I was about twelve years old, my master, Jack Cox, died of a disease which had long confined him to the house. I was sorry for the death of my master, who had always been kind to me; and I soon discovered that I had good cause to regret his departure from this world. He had several children at the time of his death, who were all young; the oldest being about my own age. The father of my late master, who was still living, became administrator of his estate, and took possession of his property, and amongst the rest, of myself. This old gentleman treated me with the greatest severity, and compelled me to work very hard on his plantation for several years, until I suppose I must have been near or quite twenty years of age. As I was always very obedient, and ready to execute all his orders, I did not receive much whipping, but suffered greatly for want of sufficient and proper food. My master allowed his slaves a peck of corn, each, per week, throughout the year; and this we had to grind into meal in a hand- mill for ourselves. We had a tolerable supply of meat for a short time, about the month of December, when he killed his hogs. After that season we had meat once a week, unless bacon became scarce, which very often happened, in which case we had no meat at all. However, as we fortunately lived near both the Patuxent river and the Chesapeake Bay, we had abundance of fish in the spring, and as
- 41. long as the fishing season continued. After that period, each slave received, in addition to his allowance of corn, one salt herring every day. My master gave me one pair of shoes, one pair of stockings, one hat, one jacket of coarse cloth, two coarse shirts, and two pair of trowsers, yearly. He allowed me no other clothes. In the winter time I often suffered very much from the cold; as I had to drive the team of oxen which hauled the tobacco to market, and frequently did not get home until late at night, the distance being considerable, and my cattle traveled very slow. One Saturday evening, when I came home from the corn field, my master told me that he had hired me out for a year at the city of Washington, and that I would have to live at the Navy Yard. On the New Year's day following, which happened about two weeks afterwards, my master set forward for Washington, on horseback, and ordered me to accompany him on foot. It was night when we arrived at the Navy Yard, and everything appeared very strange to me. I was told by a gentleman who had epaulets on his shoulders, that I must go on board a large ship, which lay in the river. He at the same time told a boy to show me the way. This ship proved to be a frigate, and I was told that I had been brought there to cook for the people belonging to her. In the course of a few days the duties of my station became quite familiar to me; and in the enjoyment of a profusion of excellent provisions, I felt very happy. I strove by all means to please the officers and gentlemen who came on board, and in this I soon found my account. One gave me a half-worn coat, another an old shirt, and a third, a cast off waistcoat and pantaloons. Some presented me with small sums of money, and in this way I soon found myself well clothed, and with more than a dollar in my pocket. My duties, though constant, were not burthensome, and I was permitted to spend Sunday afternoon in my own way. I generally went up into the city to see the new and splendid buildings; often walked as far as Georgetown, and made
- 42. many new acquaintances among the slaves, and frequently saw large numbers of people of my color chained together in long trains, and driven off towards the South. At that time the slave-trade was not regarded with so much indignation and disgust, as it is now. It was a rare thing to hear of a person of color running away, and escaping altogether from his master: my father being the only one within my knowledge, who had, before this time, obtained his liberty in this manner, in Calvert county; and, as before stated, I never heard what became of him after his flight. I remained on board the frigate, and about the Navy Yard, two years, and was quite satisfied with my lot, until about three months before the expiration of this period, when it so happened that a schooner, loaded with iron and other materials for the use of the yard, arrived from Philadelphia. She came and lay close by the frigate, to discharge her cargo, and amongst her crew I observed a black man, with whom, in the course of a day or two, I became acquainted. He told me he was free, and lived in Philadelphia, where he kept a house of entertainment for sailors, which, he said, was attended to in his absence by his wife. His description of Philadelphia, and of the liberty enjoyed there by the black people, so charmed my imagination that I determined to devise some plan of escaping from the frigate, and making my way to the North. I communicated my designs to my new friend, who promised to give me his aid. We agreed that the night before the schooner should sail, I was to be concealed in the hold, amongst a parcel of loose tobacco, which, he said, the captain had undertaken to carry to Philadelphia. The sailing of the schooner was delayed longer than we expected; and, finally, her captain purchased a cargo of flour in Georgetown, and sailed for the West Indies. Whilst I was anxiously awaiting some other opportunity of making my way to Philadelphia, (the idea of crossing the country to the western part of Pennsylvania, never entered my mind,) New Year's day came, and with it came my old master from Calvert, accompanied by a gentleman named Gibson, to whom, he said, he had sold me, and to whom he delivered me over in the Navy Yard. We all three set out
- 43. that same evening for Calvert, and reached the residence of my new master the next day. Here, I was informed, that I had become the subject of a law-suit. My new master claimed me under his purchase from old Mr. Cox; and another gentleman of the neighborhood, named Levin Ballard, had bought me of the children of my former master, Jack Cox. This suit continued in the courts of Calvert county more than two years; but was finally decided in favor of him who had bought me of the children. I went home with my master, Mr. Gibson, who was a farmer, and with whom I lived three years. Soon after I came to live with Mr. Gibson, I married a girl of color named Judah, the slave of a gentleman by the name of Symmes, who resided in the same neighborhood. I was at the house of Mr. Symmes every week; and became as well acquainted with him and his family, as I was with my master. Mr. Symmes also married a wife about the time I did. The lady whom he married lived near Philadelphia, and when she first came to Maryland, she refused to be served by a black chambermaid, but employed a white girl, the daughter of a poor man, who lived near. The lady was reported to be very wealthy, and brought a large trunk full of plate and other valuable articles. This trunk was so heavy that I could scarcely carry it, and it impressed my mind with the idea of great riches in the owner, at that time. After some time Mrs. Symmes dismissed her white chambermaid and placed my wife in that situation, which I regarded as a fortunate circumstance, as it insured her good food, and at least one good suit of clothes. The Symmes' family was one of the most ancient in Maryland, and had been a long time resident in Calvert county. The grounds had been laid out, and all the improvements projected about the family abode, in a style of much magnificence, according to the custom of the old aristocracy of Maryland and Virginia. Appendant to the domicile, and at no great distance from the house, was a family vault, built of brick, in which reposed the occupants of the estate, who had lived there for many previous generations. This
- 44. vault had not been opened or entered for fifteen years previous to the time of which I speak; but it so happened, that at this period, a young man, a distant relation of the family, died, having requested on his death-bed, that he might be buried in this family resting place. When I came on Saturday evening to see my wife and child, Mr. Symmes desired me, as I was older than any of his black men, to take an iron pick and go and open the vault, which I accordingly did, by cutting away the mortar, and removing a few bricks from one side of the building; but I could not remove more than three or four bricks before I was obliged, by the horrid effluvia which issued at the aperture, to retire. It was the most deadly and sickening scent that I have ever smelled, and I could not return to complete the work until after the sun had risen the next day, when I pulled down so much of one of the side walls, as to permit persons to walk in upright. I then went in alone, and examined this house of the dead, and surely no picture could more strongly and vividly depict the emptiness of all earthly vanity, and the nothingness of human pride. Dispersed over the floor lay the fragments of more than twenty human skeletons, each in the place where it had been deposited by the idle tenderness of surviving friends. In some cases nothing remained but the hair and the larger bones, whilst in several the form of the coffin was yet visible, with all the bones resting in their proper places. One coffin, the sides of which were yet standing, the lid only having decayed and partly fallen in, so as to disclose the contents of this narrow cell, presented a peculiarly moving spectacle. Upon the centre of the lid was a large silver plate, and the head and foot were adorned with silver stars.—The nails which had united the parts of the coffin had also silver heads. Within lay the skeletons of a mother and her infant child, in slumbers only to be broken by the peal of the last trumpet. The bones of the infant lay upon the breast of the mother, where the hands of affection had shrouded them. The ribs of the parent had fallen down, and rested on the back bone. Many gold rings were about the bones of the fingers. Brilliant ear-rings lay beneath where the ears had been; and a glittering gold chain encircled the ghastly and haggard vertebræ of a once beautiful neck The shroud and flesh had disappeared, but the hair of the mother appeared strong and
- 45. fresh. Even the silken locks of the infant were still preserved. Behold the end of youth and beauty, and of all that is lovely in life! The coffin was so much decayed that it could not be removed. A thick and dismal vapor hung embodied from the roof and walls of this charnel house, in appearance somewhat like a mass of dark cobwebs; but which was impalpable to the touch, and when stirred by the hand vanished away. On the second day we deposited with his kindred, the corpse of the young man, and at night I again carefully closed up the breach which I had made in the walls of this dwelling-place of the dead.
- 47. CHAPTER II Some short time after my wife became chambermaid to her mistress, it was my misfortune to change masters once more. Levin Ballard, who, as before stated, had purchased me of the children of my former master, Jack Cox, was successful in his law suit with Mr. Gibson, the object of which was to determine the right of property in me; and one day, whilst I was at work in the corn-field, Mr. Ballard came and told me I was his property; asking me at the same time if I was willing to go with him. I told him I was not willing to go; but that if I belonged to him I knew I must. We then went to the house, and Mr. Gibson not being at home, Mrs. Gibson told me I must go with Mr. Ballard. I accordingly went with him, determining to serve him obediently and faithfully. I remained in his service almost three years, and as he lived near the residence of my wife's master, my former mode of life was not materially changed, by this change of home. Mrs. Symmes spent much of her time in exchanging visits with the families of the other large planters, both in Calvert and the neighboring counties; and through my wife, I became acquainted with the private family history of many of the principal persons in Maryland. There was a great proprietor, who resided in another county, who owned several hundred slaves; and who permitted them to beg of travelers on the high-way. This same gentleman had several daughters, and according to the custom of the time, kept what they called open house: that is, his house was free to all persons of genteel appearance, who chose to visit it. The young ladies were supposed to be the greatest fortunes in the country, were reputed beautiful, and consequently were greatly admired.
- 48. Two gentlemen, who were lovers of these girls, desirous of amusing their mistresses, invited a young man, whose standing in society they supposed to be beneath theirs, to go with them to the manor, as it was called. When there, they endeavored to make him an object of ridicule, in presence of the ladies; but he so well acquitted himself, and manifested such superior wit and talents, that one of the young ladies fell in love with him, and soon after wrote him a letter, which led to their marriage. His two pretended friends were never afterwards countenanced by the family, as gentlemen of honor; but the fortunate husband avenged himself of his heartless companions, by inviting them to his wedding, and exposing them to the observation of the vast assemblage of fashionable people, who always attended a marriage, in the family of a great planter. The two gentlemen, who had been thus made to fall into the pit that they had dug for another, were so much chagrined at the issue of the adventure, that one soon left Maryland; and the other became a common drunkard, and died a few years afterwards. My change of masters realized all the evil apprehensions which I had entertained. I found Mr. Ballard sullen and crabbed in his temper, and always prone to find fault with my conduct—no matter how hard I had labored, or how careful I was to fulfil all his orders, and obey his most unreasonable commands. Yet, it so happened, that he never beat me, for which, I was altogether indebted to the good character, for industry, sobriety and humility, which I had established in the neighborhood. I think he was ashamed to abuse me, lest he should suffer in the good opinion of the public; for he often fell into the most violent fits of anger against me, and overwhelmed me with coarse and abusive language. He did not give me clothes enough to keep me warm in winter, and compelled me to work in the woods, when there was deep snow on the ground, by which I suffered very much. I had determined at last to speak to him to sell me to some person in the neighborhood, so that I might still be near my wife and children—but a different fate awaited me.
- 49. My master kept a store at a small village on the bank of the Patuxent river, called B——, although he resided at some distance on a farm. One morning he rose early, and ordered me to take a yoke of oxen and go to the village, to bring home a cart which was there, saying he would follow me. He arrived at the village soon after I did, and took his breakfast with his store-keeper. He then told me to come into the house and get my breakfast. Whilst I was eating in the kitchen, I observed him talking earnestly, but low, to a stranger near the kitchen door. I soon after went out, and hitched my oxen to the cart, and was about to drive off, when several men came round about me, and amongst them the stranger whom I had seen speaking with my master. This man came up to me, and, seizing me by the collar, shook me violently, saying I was his property, and must go with him to Georgia. At the sound of these words, the thoughts of my wife and children rushed across my mind, and my heart beat away within me. I saw and knew that my case was hopeless, and that resistance was vain, as there were near twenty persons present, all of whom were ready to assist the man by whom I was kidnapped. I felt incapable of weeping or speaking, and in my despair I laughed loudly. My purchaser ordered me to cross my hands behind, which were quickly bound with a strong cord; and he then told me that we must set out that very day for the South. I asked if I could not be allowed to go to see my wife and children, or if this could not be permitted, if they might not have leave to come to see me; but was told that I would be able to get another wife in Georgia. My new master, whose name I did not hear, took me that same day across the Patuxent, where I joined fifty-one other slaves, whom he had bought in Maryland. Thirty-two of these were men, and nineteen were women. The women were merely tied together with a rope, about the size of a bed-cord, which was tied like a halter round the neck of each; but the men, of whom I was the stoutest and strongest, were very differently caparisoned. A strong iron collar was closely fitted by means of a padlock round each of our necks. A chain of iron, about a hundred feet in length, was passed through the hasp of each padlock, except at the two ends, where the hasps
- 50. of the padlock passed through a link of the chain. In addition to this, we were handcuffed in pairs, with iron staples and bolts, with a short chain, about a foot long, uniting the handcuffs and their wearers in pairs. In this manner we were chained alternately by the right and left hand; and the poor man to whom I was thus ironed, wept like an infant when the blacksmith, with his heavy hammer, fastened the ends of the bolts that kept the staples from slipping from our arms. For my own part, I felt indifferent to my fate. It appeared to me that the worst had come that could come, and that no change of fortune could harm me. After we were all chained and handcuffed together, we sat down upon the ground; and here reflecting upon the sad reverse of fortune that had so suddenly overtaken me, I became weary of life, and bitterly execrated the day I was born. It seemed that I was destined by fate to drink the cup of sorrow to the very dregs, and that I should find no respite from misery but in the grave. I longed to die, and escape from the hands of my tormentors; but even the wretched privilege of destroying myself was denied me, for I could not shake off my chains, nor move a yard without the consent of my master. Reflecting in silence upon my forlorn condition, I at length concluded that as things could not become worse—and as the life of man is but a continued round of changes, they must, of necessity, take a turn in my favor at some future day. I found relief in this vague and indefinite hope, and when we received orders to go on board the scow, which was to transport us over the Patuxent, I marched down to the water with a firmness of purpose of which I did not believe myself capable, a few minutes before. We were soon on the south side of the river, and taking up our line of march, we traveled about five miles that evening, and stopped for the night at one of those miserable public houses, so frequent in the lower parts of Maryland and Virginia, called "ordinaries." Our master ordered a pot of mush to be made for our supper; after despatching which we all lay down on the naked floor to sleep in our handcuffs and chains. The women, my fellow-slaves, lay on one side
- 51. of the room; and the men who were chained with me, occupied the other. I slept but little this night, which I passed in thinking of my wife and little children, whom I could not hope ever to see again. I also thought of my grandfather, and of the long nights I had passed with him, listening to his narratives of the scenes through which he had passed in Africa. I at length fell asleep, but was distressed by painful dreams. My wife and children appeared to be weeping and lamenting my calamity; and beseeching and imploring my master on their knees, not to carry me away from them. My little boy came and begged me not to go and leave him, and endeavored, as I thought, with his little hands to break the fetters that bound me. I awoke in agony and cursed my existence. I could not pray, for the measure of my woes seemed to be full, and I felt as if there was no mercy in heaven, nor compassion on earth, for a man who was born a slave. Day at length came, and with the dawn, we resumed our journey towards the Potomac. As we passed along the road, I saw the slaves at work in the corn and tobacco fields. I knew they toiled hard and lacked food; but they were not, like me, dragged in chains from their wives, children and friends. Compared with me, they were the happiest of mortals. I almost envied them their blessed lot. Before night we crossed the Potomac, at Hoe's Ferry, and bade farewell to Maryland. At night we stopped at the house of a poor gentleman, at least he appeared to wish my master to consider him a gentleman; and he had no difficulty in establishing his claim to poverty. He lived at the side, of the road, in a framed house, which had never been plastered within—the weather-boards being the only wall. He had about fifty acres of land enclosed by a fence, the remains of a farm which had once covered two or three hundred acres; but the cedar bushes had encroached upon all sides, until the cultivation had been confined to its present limits. The land was the picture of sterility, and there was neither barn nor stable on the place. The owner was ragged, and his wife and children were in a similar plight. It was with difficulty that we obtained a bushel of corn, which our master ordered us to parch at a fire made in the yard, and to eat for our supper. Even this miserable family possessed
- 52. two slaves, half-starved, half-naked wretches, whose appearance bespoke them familiar with hunger, and victims of the lash; but yet there was one pang which they had not known—they had not been chained and driven from their parents or children, into hopeless exile. We left this place early in the morning, and directed our course toward the south-west; our master riding beside us, and hastening our march, sometimes by words of encouragement, and sometimes by threats of punishment. The women took their place in the rear of our line. We halted about nine o'clock for breakfast, and received as much corn-bread as we could eat, together with a plate of boiled herrings, and about three pounds of pork amongst us. Before we left this place, I was removed from near the middle of the chain, and placed at the front end of it; so that I now became the leader of the file, and held this post of honor until our irons were taken from us, near the town of Columbia in South Carolina. We continued our route this day along the high road between the Potomac and Rappahannock; and I saw each of those rivers several times before night. Our master gave us no dinner to-day, but we halted and got as much corn-mush and sour milk as we could eat for supper. The weather grew mild and pleasant, and we needed no more fires at night. From this time we all slept promiscuously, men and women on the floors of such houses as we chanced to stop at. We passed on through Bowling Green, a quiet village. Time did not reconcile me to my chains, but it made me familiar with them. I reflected on my desperate situation with a degree of calmness, hoping that I might be able to devise some means of escape. My master placed a particular value upon me, for I heard him tell a tavern-keeper that if he had me in Georgia he could get eight hundred dollars for me, but he had bought me for his brother, and believed he should not sell me; he afterwards changed his mind, however. I carefully examined every part of our chain, but found no place where it could be separated.
- 53. We all had as much corn-bread as we could eat, procured of our owner at the places we stopped at for the night. In addition to this we usually had a salt herring every day. On Sunday we had a quarter of a pound of bacon each. We continued our course up the country westward for a few days and then turned South, crossed James river above Richmond, as I heard at the time. After more than four weeks of travel we entered South Carolina near Camden, and for the first time I saw a field of cotton in bloom. As we approached the Yadkin river the tobacco disappeared from the fields and the cotton plant took its place as an article of general culture. I was now a slave in South Carolina, and had no hope of ever again seeing my wife and children. I had at times serious thoughts of suicide so great was my anguish. If I could have got a rope I should have hanged myself at Lancaster. The thought of my wife and children I had been torn from in Maryland, and the dreadful undefined future which was before me, came near driving me mad. It was long after midnight before I fell asleep, but the most pleasant dream, succeeded to these sorrowful forebodings. I thought I had escaped my master, and through great difficulties made my way back to Maryland, and was again in my wife's cabin with my little children on my lap. Every object was so vividly impressed on my mind in this dream, that when I awoke, a firm conviction settled upon my mind, that by some means, at present incomprehensible to me, I should yet again embrace my wife, and caress my children in their humble dwelling. Early in the morning, our master called us up; and distributed to each of the party a cake made of corn-meal and a small piece of bacon. On our journey, we had only eaten twice a day, and had not received breakfast until about nine o'clock; but he said this morning meal was given to welcome us to South Carolina. He then addressed us all, and told us we might now give up all hope of ever returning to the places of our nativity; as it would be impossible for us to pass through the States of North Carolina and Virginia,
- 54. without being taken up and sent back. He further advised us to make ourselves contented, as he would take us to Georgia, a far better country than any we had seen; and where we would be able to live in the greatest abundance. About sunrise we took up our march on the road to Columbia, as we were told. Hitherto our master had not offered to sell any of us, and had even refused to stop to talk to any one on the subject of our sale, although he had several times been addressed on this point, before we reached Lancaster; but soon after we departed from this village, we were overtaken on the road by a man on horseback, who accosted our driver by asking him if his niggars were for sale. The latter replied, that he believed he would not sell any yet, as he was on his way to Georgia, and cotton being now much in demand, he expected to obtain high prices for us from persons who were going to settle in the new purchase. He, however, contrary to his custom, ordered us to stop, and told the stranger he might look at us, and that he would find us as fine a lot of hands as were ever imported into the country —that we were all prime property, and he had no doubt would command his own prices in Georgia. The stranger, who was a thin, weather-beaten, sun-burned figure, then said, he wanted a couple of breeding wenches, and would give as much for them as they would bring in Georgia—that he had lately heard from Augusta, and that niggers were not higher there than in Columbia, and, as he had been in Columbia the week before, he knew what niggers were worth. He then walked along our line, as we stood chained together, and looked at the whole of us—then turning to the women, asked the prices of the two pregnant ones. Our master replied, that these were two of the best breeding- wenches in all Maryland—that one was twenty-two, and the other only nineteen—that the first was already the mother of seven children, and the other of four—that he had himself seen the children at the time he bought their mothers—and that such wenches would be cheap at a thousand dollars each; but as they were not able to keep up with the gang, he would take twelve hundred dollars for the two. The purchaser said this was too much,
- 55. but that he would give nine hundred dollars for the pair. This price was promptly refused; but our master, after some consideration, said he was willing to sell a bargain in these wenches, and would take eleven hundred dollars for them, which was objected to on the other side; and many faults and failings were pointed out in the merchandise. After much bargaining, and many gross jests on the part of the stranger, he offered a thousand dollars for the two, and said he would give no more. He then mounted his horse, and moved off; but after he had gone about one hundred yards, he was called back; and our master said, if he would go with him to the next blacksmith's shop on the road to Columbia, and pay for taking the irons off the rest of us, he might have the two women. This proposal was agreed to, and as it was now about nine o'clock, we were ordered to hasten on to the next house, where, we were told, we must stop for breakfast. At this place we were informed that it was ten miles to the next smith's shop, and our new acquaintance was obliged by the terms of his contract, to accompany us thither. We received for breakfast, about a pint of boiled rice to each person, and after this was despatched, we again took to the road, eager to reach the blacksmith's shop, at which we expected to be relieved of the iron rings and chains, which had so long galled and worried us. About two o'clock we arrived at the longed-for residence of the smith; but, on inquiry, our master was informed that he was not at home, and would not return before evening. Here a controversy arose, whether we should all remain here until the smith returned, or the stranger should go on with us to the next smithery, which was said to be only five miles distant. This was a point not easily settled between two such spirits as our master and the stranger; both of whom had been overseers in their time, and both of whom had risen to the rank of proprietors of slaves. The matter had already produced angry words, and much vaunting on the part of the stranger;—"that a freeman of South Carolina was not to be imposed upon; that by the constitution of the State, his rights were sacred, and he was not to be deprived of his liberty, at the arbitrary will of a man just from amongst the Yankees, and who
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