Produced by Suzanne Shell and PG Distributed Proofreaders
1893, Philadelphia
I confess when I first learned that Mrs. Harper was about to write "astory" on some features of the Anglo-African race, growing out of whatwas once popularly known as the "peculiar institution," I had my doubtsabout the matter. Indeed it was far from being easy for me to think thatshe was as fortunate as she might have been in selecting a subject whichwould afford her the best opportunity for bringing out a work of meritand lasting worth to the race—such a work as some of her personalfriends have long desired to see from her graphic pen. However, afterhearing a good portion of the manuscript read, and a general statementwith regard to the object in view, I admit frankly that my partialindifference was soon swept away; at least I was willing to wait forfurther developments.
Being very desirous that one of the race, so long distinguished in thecause of freedom for her intellectual worth as Mrs. Harper has had thehonor of being, should not at this late date in life make a blunderwhich might detract from her own good name, I naturally proposed toawait developments before deciding too quickly in favor of givingencouragement to her contemplated effort.
However, I was perfectly aware of the fact that she had much material inher possession for a most interesting book on the subject of thecondition of the colored people in the South. I know of no other woman,white or colored, anywhere, who has come so intimately in contact withthe colored people in the South as Mrs. Harper. Since emancipation shehas labored in every Southern State in the Union, save two, Arkansas andTexas; in the colleges, schools, churches, and the cabins not excepted,she has found a vast field and open doors to teach and speak on thethemes of education, temperance, and good home building, industry,morality, and the like, and never lacked for evidences of heartyappreciation and gratitude.
Everywhere help was needed, and her heart being deeply absorbed in thecause she willingly allowed her sympathies to impel her to perform mostheroic services.
With her it was no uncommon occurrence, in visiting cities or towns, tospeak at two, three, and four meetings a day; sometimes to promiscuousaudiences composed of everybody who would care to come.
But the kind of meetings she took greatest interest in were meetingscalled exclusively for women. In this attitude she could pour out hersympathies to them as she could not do before a mixed audience; andindeed she felt their needs were far more pressing than any other class.
And now I am prepared to most fully indorse her story. I doubt whethershe could, if she had tried ever so much, have hit upon a subject sowell adapted to reach a large number of her friends and the public withboth entertaining and instructive matter as successfully as she has donein this volume.
The grand and ennobling sentiments which have characterized all herutterances in laboring for the elevation of the oppressed will not befound missing in this book.
The previous books from her pen, which have been so very widelycirculated and admired, North and South—"Forest Leaves," "MiscellaneousPoems," "Moses, a Story of the N