Truth Stranger Than Fiction

by Josiah Henson

Engraved by F. O. Freeman Boston.

Josiah Henson

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

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FATHER HENSON'S STORY

OF

HIS OWN LIFE

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WITH AN INTRODUCTION

BY MRS. H B STOWE

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BOSTON:

JOHN P JEWETT AND COMPANY

CLEVELAND, OHIO:

HENRY P B JEWETT

1858.

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by

JOHN P. JEWETT AND COMPANY,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of
Massachusettts.

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LITHOTYPED BY COWLES AND COMPANY,
17 WASHINGTON STREET,
BOSTON.

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Press of Geo. C. Rand & Avery.

PREFACE.

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The numerous friends of the author of this little work will need no greater recommendation than his name to make it welcome. Among all the singular and interesting records to which the institution of American slavery has given rise, we know of none more striking, more characteristic and instructive, than that of Josiah Henson.

Born a slave—a slave in effect in a heathen land—and under a heathen master, he grew up without Christian light or knowledge, and like the Gentiles spoken of by St. Paul, "without the law did by nature the things that are written in the law." One sermon, one offer of salvation by Christ, was sufficient for him, as for the Ethiopian eunuch, to make him at once a believer from the heart and a preacher of Jesus.

To the great Christian doctrine of forgiveness of enemies and the returning of good for evil, he was by God's grace made a faithful witness, under circumstances that try men's souls and make us all who read it say, "lead us not into such temptation." We earnestly commend this portion of his narrative to those who, under much smaller temptations, think themselves entitled to render evil for evil.

The African race appear as yet to have been companions only of the sufferings of Christ. In the melancholy scene of his death—while Europe in the person of the Roman delivered him unto death, and Asia in the person of the Jew clamored for his execution—Africa was represented in the person of Simon the Cyrenean, who came patiently bearing after him the load of the cross; and ever since then poor Africa has been toiling on, bearing the weary cross of contempt and oppression after Jesus. But they who suffer with him shall also reign; and when the unwritten annals of slavery shall appear in the judgment, many Simons who have gone meekly bearing their cross after Jesus to unknown graves, shall rise to thrones and crowns! Verily a day shall come when he shall appear for these his hidden ones and then "many that are last shall be first and the first shall be last."

Our excellent friend has prepared this edition of his works for the purpose of redeeming from slavery a beloved brother, who has groaned for many years under the yoke of a hard master. Whoever would help Jesus,were he sick or in prison, may help him now in the person of these his little ones, his afflicted and suffering children. The work is commended to the kind offices of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

H. B. STOWE.

Andover, Mass., April 5, 1858.

CONTENTS.

 

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CHAPTER I.
MY BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD.
Earliest memories.—Born in Maryland.—My father's first appearance.—Attempted outrage on my mother.—My father's fight with an overseer. —One hundred stripes and his car cut off.—Throws away his banjo and becomes morose.—Sold South,	1
CHAPTER II.
MY FIRST GREAT TRIAL.
Origin of my name.—A kind master.—He is drowned.—My mother's prayers.—A slave auction.—Torn from my mother.—Severe sickness.—A cruel master.—sold again and restored to my mother,	8
CHAPTER III.
MY BOYHOOD AND YOUTH
Early employment.—Slave-life.—Food, lodging, clothing.—Amusements.—Gleams of sunshine.—My knight-errantry.—Become an overseer and general superintendent,	16
CHAPTER IV.
MY CONVERSION.
A good man.—Hear a sermon for the first time.—Its effects upon me.—Prayer and communion.—Its first fruits,	25
CHAPTER V.
MAIMED FOR LIFE.
Taking care of my drunken master.—His fight with an overseer.—Rescue him.—Am terribly beaten by the overseer.—My master seeks redress at law, but fails.—Sufferings then and since.—Retain my post as superintendent,	31
CHAPTER VI
A RESPONSIBLE JOURNEY.
My marriage.—Marriage of my master.—His ruin.—Comes to me for aid.—A great enterprise undertaken.—Long and successful journey.—Incidents by the way.—Struggle between inclination and duty.—Duty triumphant,	42
CHAPTER VII.
A NEW HOME.
Become a Methodist preacher.—My poor companions sold.—My agony.—Sent for again.—Interview with a kind Methodist preacher.—Visit free soil and begin my struggle for freedom,	55
CHAPTER VIII.
RETURN TO MARYLAND.
Reception from my old master.—A slave again.—Appeal to an old friend.—Buy my freedom.—Cheated and betrayed.—Back to Kentucky, and a slave again,	66
CHAPTER IX.
TAKEN SOUTH, AWAY FROM WIFE AND CHILDREN.
Start for New Orleans.—Study navigation on the Mississippi.—The captain struck blind.—Find some of my old companions.—The lower depths,	79
CHAPTER X.
A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION.
Sigh for death.—A murder in my heart.—The axe raised.—Conscience speaks and I am saved.—God be praised!	86
CHAPTER XI.
PROVIDENTIAL DELIVERANCE.
Offered for sale.—Examined by purchasers.—Plead with my young master in vain,—Man's extremity, God's opportunity.—Good for evil.—Return North.—My increased value.—Resolve to be a slave no longer,	93
CHAPTER XII.
ESCAPE FROM BONDAGE.
Solitary Musings.—Preparations for flight.—A long good-night to master.—A dark night on the river.—Night journeys in Indiana.—On the brink of starvation.—A kind woman.—A new style of drinking cup.—Reach Cincinnati,	102
CHAPTER XIII.
JOURNEY TO CANADA.
Good Samaritans.—Alone in the wilderness.—Meet some Indians.—Reach Sandusky.—Another friend.—All aboard.—Buffalo.—A "free nigger."—Frenzy of joy on reaching Canada,	113
CHAPTER XIV.
NEW SCENES AND A NEW HOME.
A poor man in a strange land.—Begin to acquire property.—Resume preaching.—Boys go to school.—What gave me a desire to learn to read.—A day of prayer in the woods,	128
CHAPTER XV.
LIFE IN CANADA.
Condition of the blacks in Canada.—A tour of exploration.—Appeal to the Legislature.—Improvements,	138
CHAPTER XVI.
CONDUCTING SLAVES TO CANADA.
Sympathy for the slaves.—James Lightfoot.—My first mission to the South.—A Kentucky company of fugitives.—Safe at home,	144
CHAPTER XVII.
SECOND JOURNEY ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
A shower of stars.—Kentuckians.—A stratagem.—A providence.—Conducted across the Miami River by a cow.—Arrival at Cincinnati.—One of the party taken ill.—We leave him to die.—Meet a "friend."—A poor white man.— strange impression.—Once more in Canada,	150
CHAPTER XVIII.
HOME AT DAWN.
Condition in Canada.—Efforts in behalf of my people.—Rev. Mr. Wilson.—A convention of blacks.—Manual-labor school,	165
CHAPTER XIX.
LUMBERING OPERATIONS.
Industrial project.—Find some able friends in Boston.—Procure funds and construct a saw-mill.—Sales of lumber in Boston.—Incident in the Custom House,	173
CHAPTER XX.
VISIT TO ENGLAND.
Debt on the institution.—A new pecuniary enterprise.—Letters of recommendation to England.—Personal difficulties.—Called an impostor.—Triumphant victory over these troubles,	179
CHAPTER XXI.
THE WORLD'S FAIR IN LONDON.
My contribution to the great exhibition.—Difficulty with the American superintendent.—Happy release.—The great crowd.—A call from the Queen.—Medal awarded to me,	187
CHAPTER XXII.
VISITS TO THE RAGGED SCHOOLS.
Speech at Sunday School Anniversary.—Interview with Lord Grey.—Interview with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and dinner with Lord John Russell, the great events of my life,	194
CHAPTER XXIII.
CLOSING UP MY LONDON AGENCY.
My narrative published.—Letter from home apprising me of the sickness of my wife.—Departure from London.—Arrival at home.—Meeting with my family.—The great sorrow of my life, the death of my wife,	203
CHAPTER XXIV.
CLOSING CHAPTER.
Containing an accurate account of the past and present condition of the fugitive slaves in Canada, with some remarks on their future prospects,	209

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