Isabella as a Mother

In process of time, Isabella found herself the mother of five children, and she rejoiced in being permitted to be the instrument of increasing the property of her oppressors! Think, dear reader, without a blush, if you can, for one moment, of a mother thus willingly, and with pride, laying her own children, the 'flesh of her flesh,' on the altar of slavery-a sacrifice to the bloody Moloch! But we must remember that beings capable of such sacrifices are not mothers; they are only 'things,' 'chattels,' 'property.'

In time, Isabella became the mother of five children. She rejoiced that she was allowed to increase her oppressors' property! Dear reader, think for a moment, without blushing if you can, of such a mother. She willingly and proudly lays her own children, the 'flesh of her flesh,' on slavery's altar, a sacrifice to the bloody Moloch! But we must remember that beings capable of such sacrifices are not mothers. They are only 'things,' 'chattels,' 'property.'

But since that time, the subject of this narrative has made some advances from a state of chattelism towards that of a woman and a mother; and she now looks back upon her thoughts and feelings there, in her state of ignorance and degradation, as one does on the dark imagery of a fitful dream. One moment it seems but a frightful illusion; again it appears a terrible reality. I would to God it were but a dreamy myth, and not, as it now stands, a horrid reality to some three millions of chattelized human beings.

But since then, the woman in this story has made some progress from being treated as property toward being a woman and a mother. She now looks back on her thoughts and feelings in that state of ignorance and degradation. They seem like the dark images of a troubled dream. At one moment, they seem like a frightening illusion. At another, they seem terribly real. I wish to God it were only a dream, not the horrible reality it now is for some three million human beings treated as property.

I have already alluded to her care not to teach her children to steal, by her example; and she says, with groanings that cannot be written, 'The Lord only knows how many times I let my children go hungry, rather than take secretly the bread I liked not to ask for.' All parents who annul their preceptive teachings by their daily practices would do well to profit by her example.

I have already mentioned how careful she was not to teach her children to steal by her own example. She says, with groans that cannot be put into words, 'The Lord only knows how many times I let my children go hungry rather than secretly take bread I did not like to ask for.' All parents whose daily actions contradict what they teach their children would do well to learn from her example.

Another proof of her master's kindness of heart is found in the following fact. If her master came into the house and found her infant crying, (as she could not always attend to its wants and the commands of her mistress at the same time,) he would turn to his wife with a look of reproof, and ask her why she did not see the child taken care of; saying, most earnestly, 'I will not hear this crying; I can't bear it, and I will not hear any child cry so. Here, Bell, take care of this child, if no more work is done for a week.' And he would linger to see if his orders were obeyed, and not countermanded.

Another sign of her master's kindness is found in the following incident. Sometimes her master came into the house and found her baby crying. She could not always care for the baby's needs while also obeying her mistress's orders. When this happened, he would give his wife a disapproving look. He would ask why she did not make sure the child was cared for. He would say earnestly, 'I will not listen to this crying. I can't bear it, and I will not hear any child cry like that. Here, Bell, take care of this child, even if no more work gets done for a week.' He would stay to make sure his orders were obeyed and not overruled.

When Isabella went to the field to work, she used to put her infant in a basket, tying a rope to each handle, and suspending the basket to a branch of a tree, set another small child to swing it. It was thus secure from reptiles and was easily administered to, and even lulled to sleep, by a child too young for other labors. I was quite struck with the ingenuity of such a baby-tender, as I have sometimes been with the swinging hammock the native mother prepares for her sick infant-apparently so much easier than aught we have in our more civilized homes; easier for the child, because it gets the motion without the least jar; and easier for the nurse, because the hammock is strung so high as to supersede the necessity of stooping.

When Isabella went to work in the field, she used to put her infant in a basket. She tied a rope to each handle, hung the basket from a tree branch, and had another small child swing it. The basket kept the infant safe from reptiles. A child too young for other work could easily tend to the infant and even rock the baby to sleep. I was struck by the ingenuity of this way of tending a baby. I have sometimes felt the same about the swinging hammock a native mother prepares for her sick infant. It seems so much easier than anything we have in our more civilized homes. It is easier for the child because the hammock moves without the slightest jolt. It is also easier for the nurse because the hammock hangs high enough that she does not have to stoop.