Glorying in Tribulation: The Life Work of Sojourner Truth

Appendices

Appendix One Early Ohio I Am Pleading For My People ([0 the Tune of "Auld Lang Syne") I am pleading for my peopleA poor, down-trodden race, Who dwell in freedom's boasted land, With no abiding place. I am pleading that my people May have their rights astored; For they have long been toiling, And yet had no reward. They are forced the crops to culture, But not for them they yield, Although both late and early They labor in the field. Whilst I bear upon my body The scars ofmany a gash, I am pleading for my people Who groan beneath the lash. I am pleading for the mothers Who gaze in wild despair Upon the hated auction-block, And see their children there. 204 Glorying in Tribulation I feel for those in bondageWell may I feel for them; I mow how fiendish hearts can be That sell their fellow-men. Yet those oppressors steeped in guiltI still would have them live; For I have learned ofJesus To suffer and forgive. I want no carnal weapons, No enginery ofdeath; For I love not to hear the sound Ofwar's tempestuous breath. I do not ask you to engage In death and bloody strife, I do not dare insult my God By asking for their life. But while your kindest sympathies To foreign lands do roam, I would ask you to remember Your own oppressed at home. I plead with you to sympathize With sighs and groans and scars, And note how base the tyranny Beneath the stripes and stars. (NarBk 302-3) Early Ohio Letterfrom Sojourner Truth to Amy Post Dear Mrs. Post [Ravenna, Ohio, a few days after the Woman's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, ca. 29 May 1851] 205 I have arrived safe in Ohio. I got to Buffaloe on the evening of the same day I left you. I left Buffalo Friday night and arrived in Cleaveland on Saturday. Had a beautiful passage up the lake. Stopped among the colored friends and was treated with great kindness until Tuesday. Attended a meeting and sold three dollars worth of books. And on Tuesday went to Akron to the Convention where I found plenty of kind friends just like you & they gave me so many kind invitations I hardly knew which to accept of first. But I left Akron this morning and got to Hudson in time to take the cars for Ravenna where I came to the house ofMrs Skinner who was at the convention and invited me to her house to remain until Mrs Treat comes to make arrangement for me. The Lord has directed me to this quiet family , and here I shall probably remain some days. Ifthere are any letters there for me direct them to Mrs Mary Ann B. Skinner Ravenna Portage Co. Ohio I sold a good many books at the Convention and have thus far been greatly prospered-Tell dear Abby Fair [i. e., Thayer] I wish she was here and she must come in the fall with Garrison and friends With love you and all kind friends Abby especialy and her dear mother and sister I remember all your kindness This from your friend Sojourner Truth To Mr Post I would say I have found some kind spirits like you. Dear Edmund I remember you still bathing you with water spiritually. Sojourner (The Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers, University ofRochester Library) 206 Glorying in Tribulation Letterfrom Sojourner Truth to William Lloyd Garrison Salem [Ohio] August 28 [18]51 Dear Mr Garrison Will you please inform me How how much I am now indebted to Mr Yerrington for the printing Please send Mr Yerrington's bill in full & all receipts upon it-I wish to know precisely how the matter stands Also please let me know how many booksJames W. Walker received ofofMr Yerington & how much money has been forwarded by Mr Walker on their account. Mr Walker says he sent the some money either to you or Mr Yerrington-but how much he could not tell when I saw him Please be particuler about Mr Yerrington account as I want to know how much I have got to pay him I wrote to you for a report of the no of books on hand but have as yet received no answer. I am anxious to know just what is the amount of my indebtedness what my means for...