Bill Sikes in New York.
It was near the Christmas holidays, a genuine Northern winter day, cold
and piercing, going to the marrow in spite of heavy clothing. Francis
Lewis, contractor and builder, sat in his comfortable office in West
Forty-seventh street, New York city, when the door was pushed open and a
light-skinned colored man entered. His face was thin and pinched, his
hair and beard slightly mixed with gray, and he dragged one foot as he
walked.
"Well, what can I do for you, my good man?" said Mr. Lewis, rising.
"Take a seat; you don't look as though you are very well," pointing to a
chair near by. "I'm jes' lookin' aroun'," answered the man, lowering
himself into the chair with difficulty. "I'm er carp'nter maself." "Yes?
Where are you from?" asked Mr. Lewis. "From the South--Wilmington," was
the reply. "Oh, that's the scene of recent riots. What's the matter with
those people down there--crazy?" "No, but that was the only way they
could git er hol' er the gov-nment," answered the colored man. "The
colored people bein' in the majority of course had controlin' power, but
they were always willin' fer the whites ter rule, an' they did rule. But
there wasn't offices ernough to go 'round to all the bankrup' whites who
wanted political jobs, and give the Negro er repersentation too, so they
concluded ter wipe the Negro off the earth." "Shame! shame!" exclaimed
Mr. Lewis. "Then the colored people were gittin' er lon too well; they
had considerable property, and was well up in the trades an'
professions. I owned er whole block maself, an' was perpared to spen'
ther balance of ma days at ease, but had ter sell ma house an' git out."
"You say you are a carpenter--house builder?" "Yes, sir." "You mean to
say that you took contracts, planned and built houses?" "Oh, yes,"
replied the colored man. "I never saw a colored architect. Say, George!"
to a man who had just entered, "here's a colored architect and
house-builder from the South." "Architect and builder?" queried the
other, drawing nigh. "Well, Mr.--what is your name?" "William--William
Sikes." "Mr. Sikes, are you looking for work at your trade in the North?
The Trades Union and so forth make it pretty hard for a colored man to
get in here; and then you can't work, you are lame." "I am a little
lame," replied Bill, looking down at his palsied arm. "I had a paralytic
stroke some time er go. I am goin' in for treatment, an' if I git well,
I won't ask Trade Union an' labor unions no boot. Where there's er will
there's er way." "But I am afraid you will never recover sufficient
strength to work again at your trade, my man," answered Mr. Lewis,
tenderly; "but you can try." "Good day," said Bill, rising to go. "Good
day," said Mr. Lewis.
But Mrs. Sikes, still vigorous and strong, found in New York abundant
opportunities for women to be useful. There was day's work, general
house work, chamber work and cooking situations to be had without very
much effort on the part of the seeker. Mrs. Sikes, whose work had
chiefly been dressmaking and plain sewing, found the new field of labor
quite irksome. The money realized from the sale of her property she must
not let dwindle away too swiftly; her husband was helpless, and she must
work, and the children must work. She found the North a place where a
day's work meant a day's work in full; there was no let up; the pound of
flesh was exacted. So she often tugged home to her apartments very tired
and discouraged.
They had been in New York quite a year, and Mrs. Sikes had quite gotten
used to Northern ways (everything seeming easier accomplished), when one
evening at the dinner table she noticed that her husband watched her
more than usual. "What's the matter, William?" she asked, tenderly. "I'm
awful discouraged," he said. "I--I don't get any better, an' hate ter
see you an' children strugglin' so hard an' I can't help." "Now, don't
worry about that, William; it will do no good." "I was thinkin'," he
went on, "that we might try it again in Wil--" "Now, don't mention
Wilmington to me again, William!" broke in Mrs Sikes, sharply. "If you
wish to go back to that hell, I'll put you on the train and you can go;
but I, never! Life is not so easy here, but I can walk the streets as a
lady, and my children are free to play and romp without fear of being
killed for accidentally or purposely treading upon the toe of a white
child. I have been free too long to endure slavery for one moment.
Wilmington is not what it used to be, and I fear it never will be. I
have just received a letter from Mrs. Cole saying that the situation has
not changed. On Castle street about a month ago a black child's body
was found full of bruises. It is supposed he was killed by white boys in
sport. A young man was called to his door a few nights ago and shot down
because he had driven his horse over a gentleman's (?) dog. She says to
appeal to the law is useless. She says further that the poor whites are
preparing for another raid. Now, I would rather live here free in
poverty than to live there a slave in comfort. The children are all
away, the property is sold, and there is nothing to be gained by going."
Bill said no more to his wife upon the subject; he knew her too well to
misunderstand her words.
Molly's Final Step.
It was Sunday evening in New York. Bethel Church was crowded to the
doors. The sermon had been concluded, and the choir and congregation had
solemnly chanted the Lord's Prayer. "As I looked over this audience
to-night," said Dr. Henderson, descending from the pulpit, "I think of
the words of the blessed Saviour, 'The fields are white and ready to
harvest,' so I'm going to open the doors of the church. Who here is
ready to make a start for heaven to-night? Come, sinner! God's not
calling the righteous, but you. There is a prodigal child here to-night
who has wandered from home. Come home; there is bread and to spare, and
a warm welcome there. Here comes one, thank God!" A young man went
forward and took the minister's hand, followed by two others. "Who else
will come? There is some one that is almost persuaded. Remember that to
be almost persuaded is to be lost. Come, sinner.
"'Will you scorn the message
Sent in mercy from above?
Every sentence, oh how tender!
Every line is full of love.'
"Listen to it: 'Every line is full of love.' God requires no
preparation; come just as you are. Just surrender yourself, yourself
to--" "I surrender, Lord." This exclamation startled the audience, and
all eyes were turned upon a tall and stately woman, who suddenly arose
in the centre of the church and started forward. This was Molly
Pierrepont, making the final step. "Poor Magdalene," she whispered as
she took Dr. Henderson's hand. "But God is gracious, my child," returned
the minister.
A month went by. It was Sunday evening, and again Bethel was filled to
overflowing; but, large as that audience was, a serene stillness
prevailed, for out from the choir loft a rich soprano voice, pathetic
and appealing in its tone, fell serenely upon listening ears.
"Just as I am thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe
Oh Lamb of God, I come.
"Just as I am, thy love unknown,
Hath broken every barrier down,
Now to be Thine, yea Thine alone,
Oh Lamb of God, I come."
Molly has done her part nobly and well, so I close the story with
Molly.
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
The following changes have been made to the text:
Page 4: "Whose there" changed to "Who's there".
Page 13: "State from mountian" changed to "State from mountain".
Page 21: "Good da , Gideon" changed to "Good day, Gideon".
Page 25: "Georgia and Florida its" changed to "Georgia and Florida
it's".
Page 29: "Kidder s Hill" changed to "Kidder's Hill".
Page 35: "anti-bellum liking" changed to "ante-bellum liking".
Page 44: "the main thorougfare" changed to "the main thoroughfare".
Page 44: "by offering to puschase" changed to "by offering to purchase".
Page 59: "it is writeen" changed to "it is written".
Page 63: "great' eal" changed to "great 'eal".
Page 92: "Wilmington Record" was italicized.
Page 93: "Dr. Pond" changed to "Dry Pond".
Page 111: "Misses," said a servant" changed to "missis," said a
servant".
Page 113: "Such langauge" changed to "Such language".
Page 134: "make it prety hard" changed to "make it pretty hard".