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| 522 TEE UNDERGROUND KAIL SOAD. pleased. For the slightest complaint the overseer might see fit to make against any of the slaves, she would tell him to sell them—" Sell, Mr. Morgan." "He would treat them worse than he would any dog; would beat them over the head with great hickory sticks, the same as he would beat an ox. He would pasture cows and horses on the plantation, and keep the money. We slaves all knew it, and we told her; but our words would not go in court against a white man, and uutil she was told by Mr. "White, and her cousin, Dr. Taylor, and Mr. Barclay, she would not believe how shamefully this overseer was cheating her. But at last she was convinced, and discharged him, and hired another by the name of John Moore. The new one, if anything, was worse than the old one, for he could do the most unblushing acts of cruelty with pleasure. He was a demon." Finally the estate bad to be settled, aud the property divided. At this time it was in the hands of tbe oldost daughter, Mistress Sally, who had been married to Frank Thomas, the Governor of Maryland. But the Governor had discarded her for some reason or other, and according to his published account of her it might seem that he had good reason for doing so. It was understood that he gave her a divorce, so she was considered single for life. It was also understood that she was to buy in the homestead at a moderate price, with as many slaves as she might desire. Said Jenny, " I was Bold at this settlement sale, and bought in by the 'grass widow' for four hundred dolJars." The place arid a number of slaves were bought iii on terms equally as low. After this the widow became smitten with a reverend gentleman, by the name of John Miller, who had formerly lived North ; he had been a popular preacher. After a courtship, which did not last very long, they were married, This took place three years ago, prior to the writing of this narrative. After the marriage, Rev. Mr. Miller took up his abode on the old homestead, and entered upon his duties as a slave-holder in good earnest. "How did you like him?" inquired a member of the Committee. " I despised him," was Jenny's prompt answer. " Why did you despise him ? " " Because lie had such mean ways with him," said Jenny. She then went on to remark as follows:—" Coming there, taking so much authority over other people's servants. He was so mean that he broke up all the privileges the servants had before he came. He stopped all hands from raising chickens, pigs, etc. He don't like to see them hold up their heads above their shoulders." Didn't he preach ? she was asked. " Yes, but I never heard him preach; I have heard him pray though. On Thursday nights, when he would not want the servants to go into town to meeting, he would keep up until it would be too late for them to go. He is now carrying on the farm, and follows butchering. He has not yet sold any of the slaves, bat has threatened to sell all hands to the trader." |