Page:Narrative of the life and adventures of Henry Bibb, an American slave.djvu/125

Rh have his torch lit, and come with it in his hand to the gin house, before the overseer and driver, so as to be ready to go to the cotton field by the time they could see to pick out cotton. These lights looked beautiful at a distance. The object of blowing the horn for them two hours before day, was, that they should get their bite to eat, before they went to the field, that they need not stop to eat but once during the day. Another object was, to do up their flogging which had been comittedcommitted [sic] over night. I have often heard the sound of the slave driver's lash on the backs, of the slaves, and their heart-rending shrieks, which were enough to melt the heart of humanity, even among the most barbarous nations of the earth.

But the Deacon would keep no overseer on his plantation, who neglected to perform this every morning. I have heard him say that he was no better pleased than when he could hear the overeer's loud complaining voice, long before daylight in the morning, and the sound of the driver's lash among the toiling slaves.