Her Standing With Her New Master and Mistress

Had Mrs. Dumont possessed that vein of kindness and consideration for the slaves, so perceptible in her husband's character, Isabella would have been as comfortable here, as one had best be, if one must be a slave. Mr. Dumont had been nursed in the very lap of slavery, and being naturally a man of kind feelings, treated his slaves with all the consideration he did his other animals, and more, perhaps. But Mrs. Dumont, who had been born and educated in a non-slaveholding family, and, like many others, used only to work-people, who, under the most stimulating of human motives, were willing to put forth their every energy, could not have patience with the creeping gait, the dull understanding, or see any cause for the listless manners and careless, slovenly habits of the poor down-trodden outcast-entirely forgetting that every high and efficient motive had been removed far from him; and that, had not his very intellect been crushed out of him, the slave would find little ground for aught but hopeless despondency. From this source arose a long series of trials in the life of our heroine, which we must pass over in silence; some from motives of delicacy, and others, because the relation of them might inflict undeserved pain on some now living, whom Isabel remembers only with esteem and love; therefore, the reader will not be surprised if our narrative appears somewhat tame at this point, and may rest assured that it is not for want of facts, as the most thrilling incidents of this portion of her life are from various motives suppressed.

If Mrs. Dumont had shown the kindness and consideration for slaves that were so noticeable in her husband, Isabella would have been as comfortable here as one could hope to be as a slave. Mr. Dumont had grown up surrounded by slavery. He was naturally kind and treated his slaves with as much consideration as he gave his other animals, and perhaps more. But Mrs. Dumont had been born and raised in a family that did not own slaves. Like many others, she was used to workers who were willing to give their full effort, driven by the strongest human motives. She had no patience with the poor, downtrodden outcast’s slow pace or dull understanding. Nor could she see any reason for his listless manner or careless, untidy habits. She completely forgot that every strong and effective motive had been taken away from him. She also forgot that, if his very intellect had not been crushed, the slave would find little reason for anything but hopeless despair. This gave rise to a long series of trials in our heroine’s life, which we must pass over in silence. We leave some out for reasons of delicacy. We leave others out because telling them might cause undeserved pain to some still living, whom Isabel remembers only with esteem and love. The reader, therefore, will not be surprised if our narrative seems somewhat tame at this point. The reader may rest assured that this is not for lack of facts. We have withheld the most thrilling incidents of this part of her life for various reasons.

One comparatively trifling incident she wishes related, as it made a deep impression on her mind at the time-showing, as she thinks, how God shields the innocent, and causes them to triumph over their enemies, and also how she stood between master and mistress. In her family, Mrs. Dumont employed two white girls, one of whom, named Kate, evinced a disposition to 'lord it over' Isabel, and, in her emphatic language, 'to grind her down '. Her master often shielded her from the attacks and accusations of others, praising her for her readiness and ability to work, and these praises seemed to foster a spirit of hostility to her, in the minds of Mrs. Dumont and her white servant, the latter of whom took every opportunity to cry up her faults, lessen her in the esteem of her master and increase against her the displeasure of her mistress, which was already more than sufficient for Isabel's comfort. Her master insisted that she could do as much work as half a dozen common people, and do it well, too; whilst her mistress insisted that the

She wishes to tell of one relatively minor incident because it made a deep impression on her at the time. She believes it shows how God protects the innocent and helps them triumph over their enemies. It also shows how she stood between her master and mistress. Mrs. Dumont employed two white girls in her household. One of them, named Kate, showed a tendency to 'lord it over' Isabel and, in Isabel's emphatic words, 'to grind her down'. Her master often protected Isabel from attacks and accusations by others. He praised her willingness and ability to work. But his praise seemed to make Mrs. Dumont and her white servant hostile toward Isabel. The servant took every opportunity to exaggerate Isabel's faults and lower her master's opinion of her. She also tried to increase her mistress's displeasure with Isabel, which was already more than enough to make Isabel uncomfortable. Her master insisted that Isabel could do as much work as half a dozen ordinary people, and do it well, too. But her mistress insisted that the

first was true, only because it ever came from her hand but half performed. A good deal of feeling arose from this difference of opinion, which was getting to rather an uncomfortable height, when, all at once, the potatoes that Isabel cooked for breakfast assumed a dingy, dirty look. Her mistress blamed her severely, asking her master to observe 'a fine specimen of Bell's work!'-adding, 'it is the way all her work is done.' Her master scolded also this time, and commanded her to be more careful in future. Kate joined with zest in the censures, and was very hard upon her. Isabella thought that she had done all she well could to have them nice; and became quite distressed at their appearances, and wondered what she should do to avoid them. In this dilemma, Gertrude Dumont (Mr. D.'s eldest child, a good, kind-hearted girl of ten years, who pitied Isabel sincerely), when she heard them all blame her so unsparingly, came forward, offering her sympathy and assistance; and when about to retire to bed, on the night of Isabella's humiliation, she advanced to Isabel, and told her, if she would wake her early next morning, she would get up and attend to her potatoes for her, while she (Isabella) went to milking, and they would see if they could not have them nice, and not have 'Poppee,' her word for father, and 'Matty,' her word for mother, and all of 'em, scolding so terribly.

The first was true only because her work was always left half done. This difference of opinion caused a good deal of tension, which was becoming rather uncomfortable. Then, all at once, the potatoes Isabel cooked for breakfast took on a dull, dirty look. Her mistress blamed her harshly and asked her master to look at “a fine specimen of Bell's work!” She added, “it is the way all her work is done.” Her master scolded her too this time and ordered her to be more careful in the future. Kate eagerly joined in the criticism and was very hard on her. Isabella thought she had done all she reasonably could to make the potatoes nice. She was very upset by how they looked and wondered how she could keep it from happening again. Gertrude Dumont, Mr. D.'s eldest child, came to her aid. Gertrude was a good, kind-hearted girl of ten who felt sincere pity for Isabel. When she heard everyone blaming Isabel so harshly, she offered her sympathy and help. That night, after Isabella's humiliation, Gertrude came to her before going to bed. She told Isabel that if she woke her early the next morning, she would get up and tend the potatoes while Isabella went to milk. Then they would see if they could make the potatoes nice and keep “Poppee,” her word for father, and “Matty,” her word for mother, and all of them from scolding so terribly.

Isabella gladly availed herself of this kindness, which touched her to the heart, amid so much of an opposite spirit. When Isabella had put the potatoes over to boil, Getty told her she would herself tend the fire, while Isabel milked. She had not long been seated by the fire, in performance of her promise, when Kate entered, and requested Gertrude to go out of the room and do something for her, which she refused, still keeping her place in the corner. While there, Kate came sweeping about the fire, caught up a chip, lifted some ashes with it, and dashed them into the kettle. Now the mystery was solved, the plot discovered! Kate was working a little too fast at making her mistress's words good, at showing that Mrs. Dumont and herself were on the right side of the dispute, and consequently at gaining power over Isabella. Yes, she was quite too fast, inasmuch as she had overlooked the little figure of justice, which sat in the comer, with scales nicely balanced, waiting to give all their dues.

Isabella gladly accepted this kindness. It touched her deeply amid so much unkindness. After Isabella put the potatoes on to boil, Getty offered to tend the fire while Isabel milked. Getty had not been sitting by the fire long when Kate entered. Kate asked Gertrude to leave the room and do something for her. Gertrude refused and stayed in the corner. While Gertrude sat there, Kate came sweeping around the fire. She grabbed a chip of wood, scooped up some ashes with it, and threw them into the kettle. Now the mystery was solved, the plot discovered! Kate was moving a little too quickly to prove her mistress's words true. She was trying to show that Mrs. Dumont and she were right in the dispute. In this way, she hoped to gain power over Isabella. Yes, she was moving much too quickly. For she had overlooked the little figure of justice sitting in the corner. There she sat, her scales carefully balanced, waiting to give everyone their due.

But the time had come when she was to be overlooked no longer. It was Getty's turn to speak now. 'Oh Poppee! oh Poppee!' said she, 'Kate has been putting ashes in among the potatoes! I saw her do it! Look at those that fell on the outside of the kettle! You can now see what made the potatoes so dingy every morning, though Bell washed them clean!' And she repeated her story to every new comer, till the fraud was made as public as the censure of Isabella had been. Her mistress looked blank, and remained dumb-her master muttered something which sounded very like an oath-and poor Kate was so chop-fallen, she looked like a convicted criminal, who would gladly have hid herself, (now that the baseness was out,) to conceal her mortified pride and deep chagrin.

But the time had come when she could no longer be ignored. Now it was Getty's turn to speak. 'Oh Poppee! oh Poppee!' she said. 'Kate has been putting ashes in among the potatoes! I saw her do it! Look at the ashes that fell outside the kettle! Now you can see what made the potatoes so dirty every morning, though Bell washed them clean!' She repeated her story to everyone who came in. Soon the trick was as widely known as the blame Isabella had received. Her mistress looked blank and said nothing. Her master muttered something that sounded very much like a curse. And poor Kate looked so crestfallen that she resembled a convicted criminal. Now that her meanness had been exposed, she would gladly have hidden herself to conceal her wounded pride and deep embarrassment.

It was a fine triumph for Isabella and her master, and she became more ambitious than ever to please him; and he stimulated her ambition by his commendation, and by boasting of her to his friends, telling them that 'that wench' (pointing to Isabel) 'is better to me than a man-for she will do a good family's washing in the night, and be ready in the morning to go into the field, where she will do as much at raking and binding as my best hands.' Her ambition and desire to please were so great, that she often worked several nights in succession, sleeping only short snatches, as she sat in her chair; and some nights she would not allow herself to take any sleep, save what she could get resting herself against the wall, fearing that if she sat down, she would sleep too long. These extra exertions to please, and the praises consequent upon them, brought upon her head the envy of her fellow-slaves, and they taunted her with being the 'white folks' nigger.' On the other hand, she received the larger share of the confidence of her master, and many small favors that were by them unattainable. I asked her if her master, Dumont, ever whipped her? She answered, 'Oh yes, he sometimes whipped me soundly, though never cruelly. And the most severe whipping he ever give me was because I was cruel to a cat.' At this time she looked upon her master as a God; and believed that he knew of and could see her at all times, even as God himself. And she used sometimes to confess her delinquencies, from the conviction that he already knew them, and that she should fare better if she confessed voluntarily: and if any one talked to her of the injustice of her being a slave, she answered them with contempt, and immediately told her master. She then firmly believed that slavery was right and honorable. Yet she now sees very clearly the false position they were all in, both masters and slaves; and she looks back, with utter astonishment, at the absurdity of the claims so arrogantly set up by the masters, over beings designed by God to be as free as kings; and at the perfect stupidity of the slave, in admitting for one moment the validity of these claims.

It was a great triumph for Isabella and her master. She became more eager than ever to please him. He encouraged her ambition by praising her and boasting about her to his friends. Pointing to Isabel, he told them, "That wench is better to me than a man. She will do a good family's washing at night and be ready to go into the field in the morning. There she will do as much raking and binding as my best hands." Her ambition and desire to please were so great that she often worked several nights in a row. She slept only briefly, sitting in her chair. Some nights she would allow herself no sleep except what she could get while leaning against the wall. She feared that if she sat down, she would sleep too long. Her extra efforts to please her master, and the praise she received for them, made her fellow-slaves jealous. They taunted her for being the "white folks' nigger." On the other hand, her master placed greater trust in her. She also received many small favors that the other slaves could not get. I asked her if her master, Dumont, ever whipped her. She answered, "Oh yes, he sometimes whipped me soundly, though never cruelly. And the most severe whipping he ever give me was because I was cruel to a cat." At that time, she looked upon her master as a God. She believed that he knew about her and could see her at all times, just as God himself could. Sometimes she confessed her wrongdoings because she was convinced that her master already knew about them. She also believed she would fare better if she confessed willingly. If anyone spoke to her about the injustice of her being a slave, she answered them with contempt. She immediately told her master what they had said. She firmly believed then that slavery was right and honorable. Yet she now sees very clearly the false position they were all in, both masters and slaves. She looks back with utter astonishment at the absurd claims the masters so arrogantly made over human beings. God had designed those beings to be as free as kings. She is also astonished at the complete stupidity of the slave in accepting those claims as valid for even a moment.

In obedience to her mother's instructions, she had educated herself to such a sense of honesty, that, when she had become a mother, she would sometimes whip her child when it cried to her for bread, rather than give it a piece secretly, lest it should learn to take what was not its own! And the writer of this knows, from personal observation, that the slaveholders of the South feel it to be a religious duty to teach their slaves to be honest, and never to take what is not their own! Oh consistency, art thou not a jewel? Yet Isabella glories in the fact that she was faithful and true to her master; she says, 'It made me true to my God'-meaning, that it helped to form in her a character that loved truth, and hated a lie, and had saved her from the bitter pains and fears that are sure to follow in the wake of insincerity and hypocrisy.

Following her mother's instructions, she taught herself to be strictly honest. When she became a mother, she sometimes whipped her child for crying to her for bread. She did this rather than secretly give the child a piece, for fear the child would learn to take what was not its own! The writer knows from personal observation that Southern slaveholders feel it is their religious duty to teach their slaves to be honest. They teach them never to take what is not their own! Oh, consistency, aren't you a jewel? Yet Isabella takes pride in having been faithful and true to her master. She says, 'It made me true to my God.' She means that it helped her develop a character that loved truth and hated lies. It also saved her from the bitter pain and fear that are sure to follow insincerity and hypocrisy.

As she advanced in years, an attachment sprung up between herself and a slave named Robert. But his master, an Englishman by the name of Catlin, anxious that no one's property but his own should be enhanced by the increase of his slaves, forbade Robert's visits to Isabella, and commanded him to take a wife among his fellow-servants. Notwithstanding this interdiction, Robert, following the bent of his inclinations, continued his visits to Isabel, though very stealthily, and, as he believed, without exciting the suspicion of his master; but one Saturday afternoon, hearing that Bell was ill, he took the liberty to go and see her. The first intimation she had of his visit was the appearance of her master, inquiring 'if she had seen Bob.' On her answering in the negative, he said to her, 'If you see him, tell him to take care of himself, for the Catlins are after him.' Almost at that instant, Bob made his appearance; and the first people he met were his old and his young masters. They were terribly enraged at finding him there, and the eldest began cursing, and calling upon his son to 'Knock down the d-d black rascal'; at the same time, they both fell upon him like tigers, beating him with the heavy ends of their canes, bruising and mangling his head and face in the most awful manner, and causing the blood, which streamed from his wounds, to cover him like a slaughtered beast, constituting him a most shocking spectacle. Mr. Dumont interposed at this point, telling the ruffians they could no longer thus spill human blood on his premises-he would have 'no niggers killed there.' The Catlins then took a rope they had taken with them for the purpose, and tied Bob's hands behind him in such a manner, that Mr. Dumont insisted on loosening the cord, declaring that no brute should be tied in that manner, where he was. And as they led him away, like the greatest of criminals, the more humane Dumont followed them to their homes, as Robert's protector; and when he returned, he kindly went to Bell, as he called her, telling her he did not think they would strike him any more, as their wrath had greatly cooled before he left them. Isabella had witnessed this scene from her window, and was greatly shocked at the murderous treatment of poor Robert, whom she truly loved, and whose only crime, in the eye of his persecutors, was his affection for her. This beating, and we know not what after treatment, completely subdued the spirit of its victim, for Robert ventured no more to visit Isabella, but like an obedient and faithful chattel, took himself a wife from the house of his master. Robert did not live many years after his last visit to Isabel, but took his departure to that country, where 'they neither marry nor are given in marriage,' and where the oppressor cannot molest.

As she grew older, Isabella grew attached to a slave named Robert. His master was an Englishman named Catlin. Catlin wanted only his own property to gain in value when his slaves had children. So he forbade Robert to visit Isabella and ordered him to take a wife among his fellow servants. Despite this ban, Robert followed his feelings and continued to visit Isabel. He did so very secretly and believed he had not aroused his master's suspicion. But one Saturday afternoon, he heard that Bell was ill and took the liberty of going to see her. The first sign Isabella had of his visit was the appearance of her master, asking 'if she had seen Bob.' When she said no, he told her, 'If you see him, tell him to take care of himself, for the Catlins are after him.' Almost at that moment, Bob appeared. The first people he met were his old and his young masters. They were furious to find him there. The elder Catlin began cursing and called on his son to 'Knock down the d-d black rascal'. At the same time, both men attacked Robert like tigers. They beat him with the heavy ends of their canes, terribly bruising and mangling his head and face. Blood streamed from his wounds and covered him like a slaughtered beast. He was a shocking sight. At this point, Mr. Dumont stepped in. He told the ruffians they could no longer spill human blood on his property. He would have 'no niggers killed there.' The Catlins then took a rope they had brought for the purpose and tied Bob's hands behind him. They tied him so tightly that Mr. Dumont insisted on loosening the rope. He declared that no brute should be tied that way where he was. They led Robert away like the worst of criminals. The more humane Dumont followed them home to protect him. When Dumont returned, he kindly went to Bell, as he called her. He told her he did not think they would strike Robert anymore, because their anger had greatly cooled before he left them. Isabella had watched this scene from her window. She was deeply shocked by the murderous treatment of poor Robert, whom she truly loved. In the eyes of his persecutors, his only crime was his affection for her. This beating, and whatever treatment followed it, completely broke Robert's spirit. He never dared visit Isabella again. Instead, like an obedient and faithful piece of property, he took a wife from his master's house. Robert did not live many years after his last visit to Isabel. He departed for that country where 'they neither marry nor are given in marriage,' and where the oppressor cannot harm them.