Autobiography of a Female SlaveBrowne, Martha Griffith
History
Autobiography of a Female Slave
Browne, Martha Griffith
African American women -- Fiction; Didactic fiction; Enslaved women -- Fiction; Kentucky -- Fiction; Slavery -- Fiction
The result of their trip was to find Monkton very feeble from the loss
of blood, and suffering from the cut made by the broken bottle, but with
enough life left in him for the fabrication of a falsehood, which was of
course believed, as he had a _white face_. He stated that he had
proceeded to the administration of the whipping, directed by my master;
that I resisted him; and finding it necessary to bind me, he was
attempting to do so, when I swore that I would kill him, and that
suiting the action to the word, I hurled the broken bottle at his
temples.
When Mr. Summerville repeated this to Miss Jane, in my presence, stating
that it was the testimony that Monkton was prepared to give in open
court, for I was to be arrested, I could not refrain from uttering a cry
of surprise, and saying:
"Mr. Monkton has misrepresented the case, as 'I can show.'"
"Yes, but you will not be allowed to give evidence," said Master
William.
"Will Mr. Monkton's testimony be taken?" I inquired.
"Certainly, but a negro cannot bear witness against a white person."
I said nothing, but many thoughts were troubling me.
"You see, Ann, what your bad conduct has brought _you to_," said Miss
Jane.
Again I attempted to tell the facts of the case, and defend myself, but
she interrupted me, saying:
"Do you suppose I believe a word of that? I can assure you I do not,
and, moreover, I'm not going to spend my money to have a lawyer employed
to keep you from the punishment you so richly deserve. So you must
content yourself to take the public hanging or whipping in the jail
yard, which is the penalty that will be affixed to your crime." Turning
to Mr. Summerville, she added, "I think it will do Ann good, for it will
take down her pride, and make her a valuable nigger. She has been too
proud of her character; for my part, I had rather she had had less
virtue. I've always thought she was virtuous because she did not want us
to increase in property, and was too proud to have her children live in
bondage."
I dared not make any remark; but there I stood in dread of the
approaching arrest, which came full soon.
As I was sewing for Miss Jane, Mr. Summerville opened the door, and said
to a rough man, pointing to me--
"There's the girl."
"Come along with me to jail, gal."
How fearfully sounded the command. The jail-house was a place of terror,
and though I had in my brief life "supped full of horrors," this was a
new species of torture that I had hoped to leave untasted.
Taking with me nothing but my bonnet, I followed Constable Calcraft down
stairs into the street. Upon one of the landings I met Henry, and I knew
from his kindly mournful glance, that he gave me all his compassion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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