Although slave-holders had spared no pains to keep Abram in the dark and
to make him love his yoke, he proved by his actions, that he had no
faith in their doctrines. Nor did he want for language in which to state
the reasons for his actions. He was just in the prime of life,
thirty-five years of age, chestnut color, common size, with a scar over
the left eye, and another on the upper lip.
Like many others, he talked in a simple, earnest manner, and in answer
to queries as to how he had fared, the following is his statement:
"I was held as the property of the late Taylor Sewell, but when I
escaped I was in the service of W.C. Williams, a commission merchant. My
old master was a very severe man, but he was always very kind to me. He
had a great many more colored folks, was very severe amongst them, would
get mad and sell right away. He was a drinking man, dissipated and a
gambler, a real sportsman. He lived on Newell Creek, about twelve miles
from Norfolk. For the last eight years I was hired to W.C. Williams, for
$150 a year--if I had all that money, it might do me some good. I left
because I wanted to enjoy myself some. I felt if I staid and got old no
one would care for me, I wouldn't be of no account to nobody."
"But are not the old slaves well cared for by their masters?" a member
of the Committee here remarked. "Take care of them! no!" Abram replied
with much earnestness, and then went on to explain how such property was
left to perish. Said Abram, "There was an old man named Ike, who
belonged to the same estate that I did, he was treated like a dog; after
they could get no more work out of him, they said, 'let him die, he is
of no service; there is no use of getting a doctor for him.' Accordingly
there could be no other fate for the old man but to suffer and die with
creepers in his legs."
It was sickening to hear him narrate instances of similar suffering in
the case of old slaves. Abram left two sisters and one brother in
bondage.
* * * * *