From the Darkness Cometh the Light

From the Darkness Cometh the
Light

The Project Gutenberg EBook of From the Darkness Cometh the Light,
or
Struggles for Freedom, by Lucy A. Delaney This eBook is for the use
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Title: From the Darkness Cometh the Light, or Struggles for Freedom
Author: Lucy A. Delaney
Release Date: February 22, 2006 [EBook #17820]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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DARKNESS ***

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Struggles for Freedom.

[Illustration: (signed) Yours Truly, Lucy A. Delaney]

FROM THE
DARKNESS COMETH THE LIGHT
OR
STRUGGLES FOR FREEDOM.
[Illustration]
ST. LOUIS, MO. PUBLISHING HOUSE OF J. T. SMITH, No. 11,
Bridge Entrance.

Dedication.
To those who by their valor have made their name immortal, from
whom we are daily learning the lessons of patriotism, in whom we
respect the virtues of charity, patience and friendship as displayed
towards the colored race and to those
"Whose deeds crowd History's pages And Time's great volume make,"
is this little volume reverently dedicated--
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

Preface.
So many of my friends have urged me to give a short sketch of my
varied life that I have consented, and herewith present it for the
consideration of my readers. Those who were with me in the days of

slavery will appreciate these pages, for though they cannot recur with
any happiness to the now "shadowy past, or renew the unrenewable,"
the unaccountable longing for the aged to look backward and review
the events of their youth will find an answering chord in this little book.
Those of you who have never suffered as we have, perhaps may
suppose the case, and therefore accept with interest and sympathy the
passages of life and character here portrayed and the lessons which
should follow from them.
If there is a want of unity or coherence in this work, be charitable and
attribute it to lack of knowledge and experience in literary
acquirements. As this is a world of varied interests and many events,
although we are each but atoms, it must be remembered, that we assist
in making the grand total of all history, and therefore are excusable in
making our affairs of importance to ourselves, and endeavoring to
impress them on others. With this reason of my seeking your favor, I
leave you to the perusal of my little tale.
L. A. D.

STRUGGLES FOR FREEDOM.
CHAPTER I.
"Soon is the echo and the shadow o'er, Soon, soon we lie with
lid-encumbered eyes And the great fabrics that we reared before
Crumble to make a dust to hide who dies."
In the year 18--, Mr. and Mrs. John Woods and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew
Posey lived as one family in the State of Illinois. Living with Mrs.
Posey was a little negro girl, named Polly Crocket, who had made it her
home there, in peace and happiness, for five years. On a dismal night in
the month of September, Polly, with four other colored persons, were
kidnapped, and, after being securely bound and gagged, were put into a
skiff and carried across the Mississippi River to the city of St. Louis.

Shortly after, these unfortunate negroes were taken up the Missouri
River and sold into slavery. Polly was purchased by a farmer, Thomas
Botts, with whom she resided for a year, when, overtaken by business
reverses, he was obliged to sell all he possessed, including his negroes.
Among those present on the day set apart for the sale was Major Taylor
Berry, a wealthy gentleman who had travelled a long distance for the
purpose of purchasing a servant girl for his wife. As was the custom, all
the negroes were brought out and placed in a line, so that the buyers
could examine their good points at leisure. Major Berry was
immediately attracted by the bright and alert appearance of Polly, and
at once negotiated with the trader, paid the price agreed upon, and
started for home to present his wife with this flesh and blood
commodity, which money could so easily procure in our vaunted land
of freedom.
Mrs. Fanny Berry was highly pleased with Polly's manner and
appearance, and concluded to make a seamstress of her. Major Berry
had a mulatto servant, who was as handsome as an Apollo, and when
he and Polly met each other, day after day, the natural result followed,
and in a short time, with the full consent of Major Berry and his wife,
were married.