[Vision2020] COMPLAINT OF A MINISTER'S SLAVE

[Tom Hansen]

COMPLAINT OF A MINISTER'S SLAVE
The first mentioned found himself in the Unhappy predicmanet of a
Slaveholder, or Haver, by God's Providence

Pity me, stranger, pity me,
I'm friendless, and a slave!
I was so when I breathed at first,
I'll go one to my grave.

I'm poor; the highest wage I got
For all my toil and pain,
Was blows and stripes from morn till night, -
The collar and the chain.

I had a wife, no not a wife -
But one I loved as dear;
Oh, I could bear the hardest toil
If only she was near.

Those eyes that now with care are dim,
Have seen my master's lash
Sink deep into the quivering limb,
And the blood stream from the gash!

I saw them rivetting her chain,
I had no power to save;
I heard her cry to me for help,
'Twas vain - I was a slave!

We had a child - oh, glad was I
When the weary day was done;
I always thought that I was free,
As I clasped my similar son.

I was too happy for a slave, -
Upon one fatal day.
My wife and child were torn from me,
And parted far away.

My master gave me love! - my life!
For gold, for cursed gold; -
For silks and jewels to his wife,
My only child he sold!

When they were gone, some white men came
>From a land beyond the sea;
They took away the price of blood,
And gave it to the FREE!!!

While stranger, if thou hast a heart,
For white men here have none,
Return into thy slaveless land,
And tell the deeds here done.

Tell there of all our bloody tears,
Our every groan and sigh;
Tell that no bible e'er was here
To speak of God on high -
Three millions of thy fellow men
Will bless you ere they die!

(The Stranger's Reply.)

Hush! says the Reverend double D,
These impious feelings smother,
Your master is a holy man,
A (blank) Church Christian Brother !!!