h we could call our own. My
wife was a Christian, and had learned to know the worth of prayer, so
would always speak consolingly. "God will help us," she said: "let us
try and be patient." Our trial went on, until one morning I heard a
great fuss in the house, the madam calling for the yard man to come and
tie my wife, as she could not manage her. My wife had always refused to
allow the madam to whip her; but now, as the babies were here, mistress
thought she would try it once more. Matilda resisted, and madam called
for Boss. In a minute he came, and, grabbing my wife, commenced choking
her, saying to her: "What do you mean? Is that the way you talk to
ladies?" My wife had only said to her mistress: "You shall not whip me."
This made her furious, hence her call for Boss. I was in the dining
room, and could hear everything. My blood boiled in my veins to see my
wife so abused; yet I dare not open my mouth. After the fuss, my wife
went straight to the laundry. I followed her there, and found her
bundling up her babies' clothes, which were washed but not ironed. I
knew at a glance that she was going away. Boss had just gone to the
city; and I did not know what to say, but I told her to do the best she
could. Often when company came and I held the horses, or did an errand
for them, they would tip me to a quarter or half a dollar. This money I
always saved, and so had a little change, which I now gave to Matilda,
for her use in her effort to get away from her cruel treatment. She
started at once for Forrest's trader's yards, with the babies in her
arms and, after she got into Memphis, she stopped outside the yard to
rest. While she was sitting on the curb stone, Forrest came out of the
yard by the back gate and saw her. Coming up to her he said: "My God!
Matilda, what are you doing here? You have changed so I would not have
known you. Why have you come here?" Matilda said: "I came back here to
be sold again." He stepped back and called another "nigger trader,"
Collins by name, from Kentucky. "Look here," said Forrest, pointing to
my wife. Collins took in the situation at once and said he would buy her
and the children. "That woman is of a good family," said he, "and was
only sold to prevent her from getting her freedom." She was then taken
into the yard. "Oh!" said Forrest, "I know these McGees, they are hard
colts." Word was then sent McGee that his cook was in the yard and had
come to be sold. He went in haste to the yard.