Coming up to her he said: "My God!
Matilda, what are you doing here? You have changed so I would not have
known you. Why have you come here?" Matilda said: "I came back here to
be sold again." He stepped back and called another "nigger trader,"
Collins by name, from Kentucky. "Look here," said Forrest, pointing to
my wife. Collins took in the situation at once and said he would buy her
and the children. "That woman is of a good family," said he, "and was
only sold to prevent her from getting her freedom." She was then taken
into the yard. "Oh!" said Forrest, "I know these McGees, they are hard
colts." Word was then sent McGee that his cook was in the yard and had
come to be sold. He went in haste to the yard. Collins offered to buy
her, but McGee said no man's money could buy that woman and her
children. I raised her husband and I would not separate them. She was
brought back, and as they rode along in the rockaway, Boss said: "When I
am through with you I guess you won't run away again." As they drove up
I saw the madam go running out to meet them. She shouted to Matilda:
"Ah! madam, you put up at the wrong hotel." They at once went to the
barn where my wife was tied to the joist, and Boss and the madam beat
her by turns. After they had finished the whipping, Boss said,
tauntingly: "Now I am buying you and selling you--I want you to know
that I never shall sell you while my head and yours is hot.
Pages:
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93