: Austin Steward
: Twenty-Two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman
: Madison& Adams Press
: 9788026883319
: 1
: CHF 1.80
:
: 20. Jahrhundert (bis 1945)
: English
: 238
: Wasserzeichen
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
'Twenty-Two Years a Slave, and Forty Years a Freeman' is a slave narrative, detailing Austin Steward's early life of enslavement and escape, as well as his years of freedom and work at Wilber force Colony. Austin Steward (1793 - 1869) was an African-American abolitionist and author. He was born a slave and escaped from Virginia at about age 21, settling in Rochester, New York, and then Canada. Contents: Slave Life on the Plantation At the Great House Horse-racing and Its Consequences Journey to Our New Home in New York Incidents at Sodus Bay Removal From Sodus to Bath Dueling Horse-racing and General Training Death Bed and Bridal Scenes Hired Out to a New Master Thoughts on Freedom Capt. Helm - Divorce - Kidnapping Locate in the Village of Rochester Incidents in Rochester and Vicinity Sad Reverses of Capt. Helm British Emancipation of Slavery Oration - Termination of Slavery Condition of Free Colored People Persecution of the Colored People Removal to Canada Roughing It in the Wilds of Canada Narrow Escape of a Smuggler Narrative of Two Fugitives From Virginia Pleasant Re-union of Old and Tried Friends Private Losses and Private Difficulties Incidents and Peculiarities of the Indians Our Difficulties With Israel Lewis Desperation of a Fugitive Slave A Narrow Escape From My Enemies Death of B. Paul, and Return of His Brother My Family Return to Rochester The Land Agent and the Squatter Character and Death of I. Lewis My Return to Rochester Bishop Brown - Death of My Daughter Celebration of the First of August Correspondence Letter From A. Steward to Wm. L. Garrison

CHAPTER III
HORSE-RACING AND ITS CONSEQUENCES


Capt. Helm had a race-course on his plantation, on which he trained young horses for the fall races. One very fine horse he owned, calledMark Anthony, which he trained in the most careful manner for several months previous to the races. He would put him on the course every morning, sometimes covering him with a blanket, and then put him to his utmost speed, which he called"sweating him." Mark Anthony was to be put on the race-course in October following, as a competitor for the purse of ten thousand dollars, which was the amount to be lost or gained on the first day of the fall races. Capt. H. had also another young horse, calledBuffer, under a course of training, which he designed to enter the lists for the second day. His course of training had been about the same as Mark Anthony's, but being a year or two younger, it was thought that he had not sufficient"bottom" to risk so much money on, as was at stake on the first day.

When the time for the races to commence came, all was bustle and excitement in the house and on the plantation. It was a fine October morning, and the sun shed a mellow radiance on all around, when people began to throng the race-course. Some came with magnificent equipages, attended by their numerous train of black servants, dressed in livery, — some in less splendid array, — and others on foot, all hurrying on to the exciting scene. There the noblest blood of Old Virginia, of which many are wont to boast, was fully represented, as was also the wealth and fashion of the country for many miles around.

All were in high spirits, and none seemed to fear that they would be the losers in the amount of money about to change hands. And for what, pray, is all this grand outlay — this vast expenditure? Merely the pleasure and gratification of witnessing the speed of a fine horse, and the vanity of prejudging concerning it.

The arrangements were at length completed, — the horses regularly entered, Mark Anthony among the rest, — and then the word"go!" was given, when each horse sprang as if for his life, each striving to take the lead. Away they go, sweeping round the course with lightning speed, while every spectator's eye is strained, and every countenance flushed with intense anxiety.

Some of the noble animals were distanced the first heat, and others were taken away by their owners.

The judges allowed twenty minutes to prepare the horses for the second trial of their speed — a trial which must enrich or empoverish many of the thousands present. Already there were sad countenances to be seen in the crowd.

The horses were again in readiness, and the word given, — away they flew with the fleetness of the wind, to come in the second time.

But who can describe the anxiety written on every face, as they prepared for the third and last trial? I cannot. Many had already lost all they had staked, and others who had bet high began to fear for the result. Soon, however, all was again prepared and those foaming steeds, after having exerted their animal power to the utmost, have accomplished their task and come in for the last time. The purse was won,but not by Mark Anthony. Capt. Helm was more fortunate the second day. Buffer won the smaller purse, but the Captain came from the races, a much poorer man than when they commenced. These repeated failures and heavy losses had the effect to arouse him to a sense of his pecuniary position, and he soon after began to think and talk about going to some new country.

He resolved at last to visit the far-off"Genesee Country," which he shortly after put in practice, and after an absence of about three weeks he returned in good health, and delighted with the country; the more so, doubtless, because he said,"the more slaves a man possessed in that country the more he would be respected, and the higher would be his position in society."

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