Editor's Introduction

The author of the following autobiography is personally known to me, and her conversation and manners inspire me with confidence. During the last seventeen years, she has lived the greater part of the time with a distinguished family in New York, and has so deported herself as to be highly esteemed by them. This fact is sufficient, without further credentials of her character. I believe those who know her will not be disposed to doubt her veracity, though some incidents in her story are more romantic than fiction.

I know the author of this autobiography personally. Her conversation and manners inspire my confidence. For most of the past seventeen years, she has lived with a distinguished family in New York. She has conducted herself in a way that has earned their high regard. This fact is enough to establish her character without further evidence. I believe those who know her will not be inclined to doubt her honesty, though some incidents in her story are more romantic than fiction.

At her request, I have revised her manuscript; but such changes as I have made have been mainly for purposes of condensation and orderly arrangement. I have not added any thing to the incidents, or changed the import of her very pertinent remarks. With trifling exceptions, both the ideas and the language are her own. I pruned excrescences a little, but otherwise I had no reason for changing her lively and dramatic way of telling her own story. The names of both persons and places are known to me; but for good reasons I suppress them.

At her request, I have revised her manuscript. But my changes were mainly to shorten it and arrange it in an orderly way. I have added nothing to the events or changed the meaning of her very relevant remarks. With a few minor exceptions, both the ideas and the language are her own. I trimmed away a little excess, but otherwise I had no reason to change her lively and dramatic way of telling her story. I know the names of the people and places, but I am withholding them for good reasons.

It will naturally excite surprise that a woman reared in Slavery should be able to write so well. But circumstances will explain this. In the first place, nature endowed her with quick perceptions. Secondly, the mistress, with whom she lived till she was twelve years old, was a kind, considerate friend, who taught her to read and spell. Thirdly, she was placed in favorable circumstances after she came to the North; having frequent intercourse with intelligent persons, who felt a friendly interest in her welfare, and were disposed to give her opportunities for self-improvement.

It is natural to be surprised that a woman raised in slavery can write so well. But her circumstances explain her ability. First, she was naturally quick to understand things. Second, the mistress she lived with until she was twelve was a kind, considerate friend who taught her to read and spell. Third, after she came to the North, her circumstances were favorable. She often met with intelligent people who cared about her welfare and were willing to give her opportunities to improve herself.

I am well aware that many will accuse me of indecorum for presenting these pages to the public; for the experiences of this intelligent and much-injured woman belong to a class which some call delicate subjects, and others indelicate. This peculiar phase of Slavery has generally been kept veiled; but the public ought to be made acquainted with its monstrous features, and I willingly take the responsibility of presenting them with the veil withdrawn. I do this for the sake of my sisters in bondage, who are suffering wrongs so foul, that our ears are too delicate to listen to them. I do it with the hope of arousing conscientious and reflecting women at the North to a sense of their duty in the exertion of moral influence on the question of Slavery, on all possible occasions. I do it with the hope that every man who reads this narrative will swear solemnly before God that, so far as he has power to prevent it, no fugitive from Slavery shall ever be sent back to suffer in that loathsome den of corruption and cruelty.

I know that many people will accuse me of impropriety for publishing these pages. The experiences of this intelligent and deeply wronged woman belong to a class of subjects some call delicate and others call indecent. This particular aspect of slavery has generally been hidden from view. But the public ought to know its monstrous features, and I willingly take responsibility for exposing them. I do this for my sisters in bondage. They suffer wrongs so foul that our ears are too delicate to hear about them. I also hope to awaken conscientious, thoughtful women in the North to their duty. They must use their moral influence on the question of slavery at every possible opportunity. I hope, too, that every man who reads this account will swear solemnly before God to do all he can to prevent any fugitive from slavery from being sent back to suffer in that loathsome den of corruption and cruelty.

L. Maria Child.

L. Maria Child.

INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL, SEVEN YEARS CONCEALED.

EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF AN ENSLAVED GIRL, HIDDEN FOR SEVEN YEARS.