Page:Narrative of William W. Brown, a fugitive slave.djvu/54

50 "O, master, let me stay to catch

My baby's sobbing breath,

His little glassy eye to watch,

And smooth his limbs in death,

And cover him with grass and leaf,

Beneath the large oak tree:

It is not sullenness, but grief—

O, master, pity me!

The morn was chill—I spoke no word,

But feared my babe might die,

And heard all day, or thought I heard,

My little baby cry.

At noon, oh, how I ran and took

My baby to my breast!

I lingered—and the long lash broke

My sleeping infant's rest.

I worked till night—till darkest night,

In torture and disgrace;

Went home and watched till morning light,

To see my baby's face.

Then give me but one little hour—

O! do not lash me so!

One little hour—one little hour—

And gratefully I'll go."

Mr. Walker commanded her to return into the ranks with the other slaves. Women who had children were not chained, but those that had none were. As soon as her child was disposed of she was chained in the gang.

The following song I have often heard the slaves