Trials Continued

When she had been at Mr. Nealy's several months, she began to beg God most earnestly to send her father to her, and as soon as she commenced to pray, she began as confidently to look for his coming, and, ere it was long, to her great joy, he came. She had no opportunity to speak to him of the troubles that weighed so heavily on her spirit, while he remained; but when he left, she followed him to the gate, and unburdened her heart to him, inquiring if he could not do something to get her a new and better place. In this way the slaves often assist each other, by ascertaining who are kind to their slaves, comparatively; and then using their influence to get such an one to hire or buy their friends; and masters, often from policy, as well as from latent humanity, allow those they are about to sell or let, to choose their own places, if the persons they happen to select for masters are considered safe pay. He promised to do all he could, and they parted. But, every day, as long as the snow lasted, (for there was snow on the ground at the time,) she returned to the spot where they separated, and walking in the tracks her father had made in the snow, repeated her prayer that 'God would help her father get her a new and better place.'

After she had been at Mr. Nealy's for several months, she began to beg God earnestly to send her father to her. As soon as she began to pray, she confidently expected him to come. Before long, to her great joy, he came. While he was there, she had no chance to tell him about the troubles weighing so heavily on her spirit. But when he left, she followed him to the gate and poured out her heart to him. She asked if he could do anything to get her a new and better place. Slaves often help each other in this way. They find out who is relatively kind to their slaves. Then they use their influence to persuade such a person to hire or buy their friends. Masters often let those they are about to sell or hire out choose their own places. Sometimes they do this out of self-interest, as well as from hidden humanity. They allow it if they believe the masters chosen can be trusted to pay. Her father promised to do all he could, and they parted. There was snow on the ground at the time. Every day, as long as the snow lasted, she returned to the spot where they had parted. She walked in her father's tracks in the snow and repeated her prayer that 'God would help her father get her a new and better place.'

A long time had not elapsed, when a fisherman by the name of Scriver appeared at Mr. Nealy's, and inquired of Isabel 'if she would like to go and live with him.' She eagerly answered 'Yes,' and nothing doubting but he was sent in answer to her prayer; and she soon started off with him, walking while he rode; for he had bought her at the suggestion of her father, paying one hundred and five dollars for her. He also lived in Ulster County, but some five or six miles from Mr. Nealy's.

Before long, a fisherman named Scriver came to Mr. Nealy's. He asked Isabel 'if she would like to go and live with him.' She eagerly answered 'Yes,' sure that he had been sent in answer to her prayer. She soon set off with him, walking while he rode. He had bought her for one hundred and five dollars at her father's suggestion. He also lived in Ulster County, about five or six miles from Mr. Nealy's.

Scriver, besides being a fisherman, kept a tavern for the accommodation of people of his own class-for his was a rude, uneducated family, exceedingly profane in their language, but, on the whole, an honest, kind and well-disposed people.

Besides being a fisherman, Scriver ran a tavern for people of his own class. His family was rude and uneducated and used a great deal of profanity. But on the whole, they were honest, kind, and well-meaning people.

They owned a large farm, but left it wholly unimproved; attending mainly to their vocations of fishing and inn-keeping. Isabella declares she can ill describe the kind of life she led with them. It was a wild, out-of-door kind of lief. She was expected to carry fish, to hoe corn, to bring roots and herbs from the woods for beers, go to the Strand for a gallon of molasses or liquor as the case might require, and 'browse around,' as she expresses it. It was a life that suited her well for the time-being as devoid of hardship or terror as it was of improvement; a need which had not yet become a want. Instead of improving at this place, morally, she retrograded, as their example taught her to curse; and it was here that she took her first oath. After living with them for about a year and a half, she was sold to one John J. Dumont, for the sum of seventy pounds. This was in 1810. Mr. Dumont lived in the same county as her former masters, in the town of New Paltz, and she remained with him till a short time previous to her emancipation by the State, in 1828.

They owned a large farm but left it entirely undeveloped. They worked mainly as fishers and innkeepers. Isabella says she can hardly describe the life she led with them. It was a wild life, spent outdoors. She was expected to carry fish, hoe corn, and bring roots and herbs from the woods for making beer. She also went to the Strand for a gallon of molasses or liquor, as needed, and 'browse around,' as she puts it. For the time being, the life suited her well. It was as free from hardship and terror as it was from improvement. She needed improvement, but had not yet come to desire it. Instead of improving morally there, she became worse. Their example taught her to curse, and it was there that she first swore. After living with them for about a year and a half, she was sold to John J. Dumont for seventy pounds. This was in 1810. Mr. Dumont lived in the same county as her former masters, in the town of New Paltz. She remained with him until shortly before the State emancipated her in 1828.