The Bondwoman's Narrative by Hannah Crafts & Henry Louis Gates

Author:Hannah Crafts & Henry Louis Gates [Crafts, Hannah & Gates, Henry Louis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Classics, General Fiction, FIC019000
ISBN: 9780446690294
Publisher: Warner
Published: 2002-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Will you have the goodness to favor an unfortunate woman with a private interview to[-]night in the bower at the bottom of the garden; the hour of meeting midnight.”

Charlotte

With a penetrating glance of inquiry she looked towards me, when I came again into her presence. I slightly nodded when her countenance brightened up with pleasure, and she soon after left the apartment.

I spent the time in vain conjectures of what could be the purport of Charlotte’s errand with me. That it was something connected with her husband I doubted not, but if she required assistance why not make a confidant of Mrs Henry, or of some one less helpless than myself. Of what use could I be to them, or why should they burden me with a secret that I began to think must be onerous? At last it occurred to me that I was attaching to[o] much importance to the whole affair, that it might be nothing of importance consequence, and that it would be much the wisest course to dismiss the subject from my mind.

It was the Sabbath, and Mr Henry was accustomed to instruct his servants in the great truths of the Gospel on that day. His labors, however, occupied only the morning hours, and were confined to catechetical instruction, while during the afternoon they held prayer meetings among themselve meetings for prayer and exhortation in which any one who wished to was permitted to hold forth.

In attending these religious exercises I found an agre[e]able diversion for my thoughts. The appeals to heaven though not characterised by much grace or elegance of diction were nevertheless earnest and fervid, and I doubt not that they found a place in the vial of odours which the angel in the apocalypse offered before the Throne of God.

After the evening repast I attended Mrs Henry in a very pleasant walk among the various negro lodges, and in looking over their little truck patches and gardens, all of which gave evidence of being neatly attended in the absence of weeds and the appearances of thrifty growth in the various plants, vegetables, and flowers, designed for use and ornament. Various groups of persons, young and old, all of whom seemed impressed with a feeling of reverence of the day reverential feeling of the sanctity of the day, and of regard for their mistress, were seated on little low benches at their doors, quiet[l]y enjoying the beauty of the evening. They all rose with courteous reverence to salute us as we passed, and invited us to walk over their grounds, and gather such flowers as we liked. I shall not soon forget the pleasing intimation of a devotional character impressed on each little party, by some perhaps formally assumed, but sincerely characterising the greater number, hushing the cheerful gayety of the young into a more quiet, though no less interesting exchange of sentiments, and suppressing the vehement arguments of those in more advanced age.

Sauntering along by one of the lodges, which stood a little

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