[From a Report on the Free Colored Population of Ohio.]
“Calling upon a family not long since, whose children did not come to
school very regularly, we found the father and mother were out at
work. On saying to the eldest child, aged about ten years, “why dont
you come to school, my girl?” she replied, “I’m staying at home to
help buy father.”
“As this family attend the sabbath school, we will state some
particulars respecting them, to illustrate a general fact. Their
history is, by no means, a remarkable one. Conversing with them one
day, they remarked: “We have been wonderfully blessed; not one in a
hundred is treated so well as we have been.” A few years since, the
mother, an amiable woman, intelligent, pious, and beloved by all who
knew her, was emancipated. But she lived in continual dread lest her
husband, who was still a slave, should be sold and separated from her
forever. After much painful solicitation, his master permitted him to
come to Cincinnati, to work out his freedom. Although under no
obligation, except his verbal promise, he is now, besides supporting a
sickly family, saving from his daily wages the means of paying the
price of his body. The money is sent to a nephew of his master, who is
now studying for the ministry, in Miami University. The following is
an extract from the correspondence of this candidate for the ministry.
It is addressed to this colored man.
“Mr. OVERTON:
Sir, I have an order on you for $150, from your old master.
It is in consideration of your dues to him for your freedom.
I am in great want of the money, and have been for some
time. I shall only ask you 10 per cent interest, although 12
is common. The money has been due two months. If you cannot
pay it before the last of March, I shall have to return the
order to Uncle Jo,――for I cannot wait longer than that time.
It must also run at 12 per cent interest henceforth. If you
cannot pay it all, write to me, and let me know when you
can. Uncle Jo requests me to let him know when you would
have any more money for him.
Yours in haste.”
“This is only one of a series of dunning letters which came every few
weeks. Soon after the reception of this, Mr. Overton scraped together
the pittance he had earned, and sent the young man $100, with
interest. And he is now going out at days work, and his wife, when
able, is taking in washing, to pay the balance.”