Indentured Servant by Tecla Emerson

Author:Tecla Emerson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: immigration, indentured servants, young teen, slavery in america, 1700s america, 1700s america indentured servants immigration slavery in america young women in america, slaery, young women in america
Publisher: Tecla Emerson

It had been close to sunset. The hours worked that day were the longest that Bitsy could remember. The back breaking task of slashing the plants and stacking them was so tiring and strenuous, and with the fresh wound on her back stinging from the sweat pouring into it, and her stomach rumbling for lack of food, she knew she wasn’t going to make it.

It wasn’t long after sunset, as the blackness of the night crept in all around them, while Louis was busy flicking his whip at the borrowed help, that Bitsy once again fell into a crumpled heap between the rows of the thick green tobacco leaves. Louis, scowling his displeasure, walked over. In a dazed fog she could hear him slapping his whip against the palm of his hand. Why doesn’t he just end it once and for all, she thought.

It was well known in the slave quarters that he’d been warned by the master that too many of his slaves were being laid up by injuries inflicted by the overseer. The master said he wanted it stopped. Louis however was comfortable with his methods; the master exercised little control over him and rarely interfered. He took the warning lightly. She tried to rise. Louis flicked his whip once more and then mumbled, “Ain’t even worth the trouble.”

“Big Jim,” he yelled, “Get her outta here. Take her to yer woman. She ain’t doin’ us a lick a good here.”

Big Jim bent over and scooped her up, while murmuring unintelligible words. He carried her to the wagon and laid her with an unexpected gentleness on her side so’s not to aggravate her back further.

“Lucy ain’t gonna be happy ‘bout this,” he mumbled. He hopped up onto the wagon. “Gid’yup Grady, let’s git dis girl to home.” He slapped the old mare’s back with the worn leather reins.

The cool darkness of Lucy’s cabin welcomed her again. Big Jim laid her on the straw pallet and went in search of the healer. It wasn’t long before the grey blanket that served as a door lifted and in she walked, a small basket of herbs in hand.

“You sure is one for punishment, now ain’t you.” With a quiet gentleness she washed and cleaned the raw wound on Bitsy’s back, while unintelligible words were mumbled into the darkness. With a practiced touch, she smeared on the sweet-smelling salve. Bitsy bit down on her lip trying not to gasp from the pain.

“Here now chile, put this on,” she said, while shaking out a faded gingham dress. “Ain’t much left of yours. This be from da’ Mistress. She done give it to my Sally, but it be far too big for her yet. You go on and take it.” She let out a great sigh. “Mistress say she gonna have Louis hung if he done touch one more of her people. She say soon as Massa return Louis gonna go down the river, she don’ care who he be.”

Tiredness was in her voice and etched around her eyes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.