He fell in love with
me, and I loved him dearly, and, accompanied by my 'mamma' and his
sister, we went into Pennsylvania, and were married. You know we could
not be married in Maryland, for it is a Slave State, and I was a
slave. My mistress had, of course, always intended that I should be
free, but neglected from time to time to draw up the proper papers.
"For two years after my marriage my husband and I lived on the
plantation, he managing the estate until he was called to Washington
on business, and, in returning, the train was thrown down an
embankment, and he was among the killed.
"Soon after that my baby was born, and before he was six months old my
mistress died suddenly, when it was found that the estate was
insolvent, and everything must be sold to pay the debts; and I and my
baby, with the other goods and chattels, were put up for sale. Mr.
Martin, the speculator, bought me, thinking I would bring a fancy
price; but my heart was broken, and I grieved until my health gave
way, so that nobody ever wanted me, until your kind-hearted master
bought me to give me a home to die in. But oh, Uncle Bob," she
continued, bursting into tears, "to think my boy, my baby, must be a
slave! His father's relatives are poor. He had only a widowed mother
and two sisters.
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