by Jack Thorne
CHAPTER XXIII.
Bill Sikes in New York.
It was near the Christmas holidays, a genuine Northern winter day, coldand piercing, going to the marrow in spite of heavy clothing. FrancisLewis, contractor and builder, sat in his comfortable office in WestForty-seventh street, New York city, when the door was pushed open and alight-skinned colored man entered. His face was thin and pinched, hishair and beard slightly mixed with gray, and he dragged one foot as hewalked.
"Well, what can I do for you, my good man?" said Mr. Lewis, rising."Take a seat; you don't look as though you are very well," pointing to achair near by. "I'm jes' lookin' aroun'," answered the man, loweringhimself into the chair with difficulty. "I'm er carp'nter maself." "Yes?Where are you from?" asked Mr. Lewis. "From the South--Wilmington," wasthe reply. "Oh, that's the scene of recent riots. What's the matter withthose people down there--crazy?" "No, but that was the only way theycould git er hol' er the gov-nment," answered the colored man. "Thecolored people bein' in the majority of course had controlin' power, butthey were always willin' fer the whites ter rule, an' they did rule. Butthere wasn't offices ernough to go 'round to all the bankrup' whites whowanted political jobs, and give the Negro er repersentation too, so theyconcluded ter wipe the Negro off the earth." "Shame! shame!" exclaimedMr. Lewis. "Then the colored people were gittin' er lon too well; theyhad considerable property, and was well up in the trades an'professions. I owned er whole block maself, an' was perpared to spen'ther balance of ma days at ease, but had ter sell ma house an' git out.""You say you are a carpenter--house builder?" "Yes, sir." "You mean tosay that you took contracts, planned and built houses?" "Oh, yes,"replied the colored man. "I never saw a colored architect. Say, George!"to a man who had just entered, "here's a colored architect andhouse-builder from the South." "Architect and builder?" queried theother, drawing nigh. "Well, Mr.--what is your name?" "William--WilliamSikes." "Mr. Sikes, are you looking for work at your trade in the North?The Trades Union and so forth make it pretty hard for a colored man toget in here; and then you can't work, you are lame." "I am a littlelame," replied Bill, looking down at his palsied arm. "I had a paralyticstroke some time er go. I am goin' in for treatment, an' if I git well,I won't ask Trade Union an' labor unions no boot. Where there's er willthere's er way." "But I am afraid you will never recover sufficientstrength to work again at your trade, my man," answered Mr. Lewis,tenderly; "but you can try." "Good day," said Bill, rising to go. "Goodday," said Mr. Lewis.
But Mrs. Sikes, still vigorous and strong, found in New York abundantopportunities for women to be useful. There was day's work, generalhouse work, chamber work and cooking situations to be had without verymuch effort on the part of the seeker. Mrs. Sikes, whose work hadchiefly been dressmaking and plain sewing, found the new field of laborquite irksome. The money realized from the sale of her property she mustnot let dwindle away too swiftly; her husband was helpless, and she mustwork, and the children must work. She found the North a place where aday's work meant a day's work in full; there was no let up; the pound offlesh was exacted. So she often tugged home to her apartments very tiredand discouraged.
They had been in New York quite a year, and Mrs. Sikes had quite gottenused to Northern ways (everything seeming easier accomplished), when oneevening at the dinner table she noticed that her husband watched hermore than usual. "What's the matter, William?" she asked, tenderly. "I'mawful discouraged," he said. "I--I don't get any better, an' hate tersee you an' children strugglin' so hard an' I can't help." "Now, don'tworry about that, William; it will do no good." "I was thinkin'," hewent on, "that we might try it again in Wil--" "Now, don't mentionWilmington to me again, William!" broke in Mrs Sikes, sharply. "If youwish to go back to that hell, I'll put you on the train and you can go;but I, never! Life is not so easy here, but I can walk the streets as alady, and my children are free to play and romp without fear of beingkilled for accidentally or purposely treading upon the toe of a whitechild. I have been free too long to endure slavery for one moment.Wilmington is not what it used to be, and I fear it never will be. Ihave just received a letter from Mrs. Cole saying that the situation hasnot changed. On Castle street about a month ago a black child's bodywas found full of bruises. It is supposed he was killed by white boys insport. A young man was called to his door a few nights ago and shot downbecause he had driven his horse over a gentleman's (?) dog. She says toappeal to the law is useless. She says further that the poor whites arepreparing for another raid. Now, I would rather live here free inpoverty than to live there a slave in comfort. The children are allaway, the property is sold, and there is nothing to be gained by going."Bill said no more to his wife upon the subject; he knew her too well tomisunderstand her words.
Molly's Final Step.
It was Sunday evening in New York. Bethel Church was crowded to thedoors. The sermon had been concluded, and the choir and congregation hadsolemnly chanted the Lord's Prayer. "As I looked over this audienceto-night," said Dr. Henderson, descending from the pulpit, "I think ofthe words of the blessed Saviour, 'The fields are white and ready toharvest,' so I'm going to open the doors of the church. Who here isready to make a start for heaven to-night? Come, sinner! God's notcalling the righteous, but you. There is a prodigal child here to-nightwho has wandered from home. Come home; there is bread and to spare, anda warm welcome there. Here comes one, thank God!" A young man wentforward and took the minister's hand, followed by two others. "Who elsewill come? There is some one that is almost persuaded. Remember that tobe almost persuaded is to be lost. Come, sinner.
"'Will you scorn the message Sent in mercy from above? Every sentence, oh how tender! Every line is full of love.'
"Listen to it: 'Every line is full of love.' God requires nopreparation; come just as you are. Just surrender yourself, yourselfto--" "I surrender, Lord." This exclamation startled the audience, andall eyes were turned upon a tall and stately woman, who suddenly arosein the centre of the church and started forward. This was MollyPierrepont, making the final step. "Poor Magdalene," she whispered asshe took Dr. Henderson's hand. "But God is gracious, my child," returnedthe minister.
A month went by. It was Sunday evening, and again Bethel was filled tooverflowing; but, large as that audience was, a serene stillnessprevailed, for out from the choir loft a rich soprano voice, patheticand appealing in its tone, fell serenely upon listening ears.
"Just as I am thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because thy promise I believe Oh Lamb of God, I come.
"Just as I am, thy love unknown, Hath broken every barrier down, Now to be Thine, yea Thine alone, Oh Lamb of God, I come."
Molly has done her part nobly and well, so I close the story withMolly.
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Transcriber's note:
The following changes have been made to the text:
Page 4: "Whose there" changed to "Who's there".
Page 13: "State from mountian" changed to "State from mountain".
Page 21: "Good da , Gideon" changed to "Good day, Gideon".
Page 25: "Georgia and Florida its" changed to "Georgia and Floridait's".
Page 29: "Kidder s Hill" changed to "Kidder's Hill".
Page 35: "anti-bellum liking" changed to "ante-bellum liking".
Page 44: "the main thorougfare" changed to "the main thoroughfare".
Page 44: "by offering to puschase" changed to "by offering to purchase".
Page 59: "it is writeen" changed to "it is written".
Page 63: "great' eal" changed to "great 'eal".
Page 92: "Wilmington Record" was italicized.
Page 93: "Dr. Pond" changed to "Dry Pond".
Page 111: "Misses," said a servant" changed to "missis," said aservant".
Page 113: "Such langauge" changed to "Such language".
Page 134: "make it prety hard" changed to "make it pretty hard".
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