Clotel by William Wells Brown

Author:William Wells Brown [Brown, William Wells]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Children of presidents -- Fiction, Women slaves -- Fiction, Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 -- Relations with women -- Fiction, Domestic fiction, Illegitimate children -- Fiction, African American women -- Fiction, African American families -- Fiction
Publisher: Standard Ebooks
Published: 2020-08-09T20:24:52+00:00

XIII

A Slave Hunting Parson

’Tis too much prov’d⁠—that with devotion’s visage,

And pious action, we do sugar o’er the devil himself.

Shakespeare

“You will, no doubt, be well pleased with neighbour Jones,” said Mr. Peck, as Carlton stepped into the chaise to pay his promised visit to the “ungodly man.”

“Don’t forget to have a religious interview with the negroes,” remarked Georgiana, as she gave the last nod to her young convert.

“I will do my best,” returned Carlton, as the vehicle left the door.

As might have been expected, Carlton met with a cordial reception at the hands of the proprietor of the Grove Farm. The servants in the “Great House” were well dressed, and appeared as if they did not want for food. Jones knew that Carlton was from the North, and a non-slaveholder, and therefore did everything in his power to make a favourable impression on his mind. “My negroes are well clothed, well fed, and not overworked,” said the slaveholder to his visitor, after the latter had been with him nearly a week.

“As far as I can see your slaves appear to good advantage,” replied Carlton. “But,” continued he, “if it is a fair question, do you have preaching among your slaves on Sunday, Mr. Jones?”

“No, no,” returned he, “I think that’s all nonsense; my negroes do their own preaching.”

“So you do permit them to have meetings.”

“Yes, when they wish. There’s some very intelligent and clever chaps among them.”

“As tomorrow is the Sabbath,” said Carlton, “if you have no objection, I will attend meeting with them.”

“Most certainly you shall, if you will do the preaching,” returned the planter.

Here the young man was about to decline, but he remembered the parting words of Georgiana, and he took courage and said, “Oh, I have no objection to give the negroes a short talk.” It was then understood that Carlton was to have a religious interview with the blacks the next day, and the young man waited with a degree of impatience for the time.

In no part of the South are slaves in a more ignorant and degraded state than in the cotton, sugar, and rice districts.

If they are permitted to cease labour on the Sabbath, the time is spent in hunting, fishing, or lying beneath the shade of a tree, resting for the morrow. Religious instruction is unknown in the far South, except among such men as the Rev. C. C. Jones, John Peck, and some others who regard religious instruction, such as they impart to their slaves, as calculated to make them more trustworthy and valuable as property. Jones, aware that his slaves would make rather a bad show of intelligence if questioned by Carlton, resolved to have them ready for him, and therefore gave his driver orders with regard to their preparation. Consequently, after the day’s labour was over, Dogget, the driver, assembled the negroes together and said, “Now, boys and gals, your master is coming down to the quarters tomorrow with his visitor, who is going to give you a preach, and I want you should understand what he says to you.

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