The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly of Raleigh, N.C.: Embracing an account of his early life, the redemption by purchase of himself and family from slavery, and his banishment from the place of his birth for the crime of wearing a colored skin — John Shaqi
The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly of Raleigh, N.C.: Embracing an account of his early life, the redemption by purchase of himself and family from slavery, and his banishment from the place of his birth for the crime of wearing a colored skinLane, Lunsford
History
The Narrative of Lunsford Lane, Formerly of Raleigh, N.C.: Embracing an account of his early life, the redemption by purchase of himself and family from slavery, and his banishment from the place of his birth for the crime of wearing a colored skin
Lane, Lunsford
African Americans -- North Carolina -- Biography; Enslaved persons -- North Carolina -- Biography; Enslaved persons' writings, American; Freed persons -- United States -- Biography; Lane, Lunsford, 1803-; Raleigh (N.C.) -- History -- 19th century; Slavery -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Be it known, that William Boylan, whose signature appears in his own
proper hand writing to the annexed certificate, was at the time of
signing the same and now is a Justice of the Peace and the Presiding
Magistrate for the county of Wake, in the State aforesaid, and as such
he is duly qualified and empowered to give said certificate, which is
here done in the usual and proper manner; and full faith and credit are
due to the same, and ought to be given to all the official acts of the
said William Boylan as Presiding Magistrate aforesaid.
[L.S.]
In testimony whereof, I, J.M. Morehead. Governor, Captain General and
Commander in Chief, have caused the Great Seal of the State to be
hereunto affixed, and signed the same at the city of Raleigh, on the
26th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and forty-two, and in the sixty-sixth year of the Independence of the
United States.
J.M. MOREHEAD.
By the Governor.
P. REYNOLDS, Private Secretary.
But thou art born a slave, my child;
Those little hands must toil,
That brow must sweat, that bosom ache
Upon another's soil;
And if perchance some tender joy
Should bloom upon thy heart,
Another's hand may enter there,
And tear it soon apart.
Thou art a little joy to me,
But soon thou may'st be sold,
Oh! lovelier to thy mother far
Than any weight of gold;
Or I may see thee scourg'd and driv'n
Hard on the cotton-field,
To fill a cruel master's store,
With what thy blood may yield.
Should some fair maiden win thy heart,
And thou should'st call her thine;
Should little ones around thee stand,
Or round thy bosom twine,
Thou wilt not know how soon away
These loves may all be riv'n,
Nor what a darkened troop of woe
Through thy lone breast be driv'n.
Thy master may be kind, and give
Thy every wish to thee,
Only deny that greatest wish,
_That longing to be free:_
Still it will seem a comfort small
That thou hast sweeter bread,
A better hut than other slaves,
Or pillow for thy head.
What joys soe'er may gather round,
What other comforts flow,--
_That_, like a mountain in the sea,
O'ertops each wave below,
That ever-upward, firm desire
To break the chains, and be
Free as the ocean is, or like
The ocean-winds, be free.
Oh, child! thou art a little slave;
And all of thee that grows,
Will be another's weight of flesh,--
But thine the weight of wees
Thou art a little slave, my child,
And much I grieve and mourn
That to so dark a destiny
A lovely babe I've borne.
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