I told her that was true.  She then asked me if there was not a girl in the city that I loved.  Well, now, this was coming into too close quarters with me!  People, generally, don’t like to tell their love stories to everybody that may think fit to ask about them, and it was so with me.  But, after blushing awhile and recovering myself, I told her that I did not want a wife.  She then asked me, if I did not think something of Eliza.  I told her that I did.  She then said that if I wished to marry Eliza, she would purchase her if she could.

I gave but little encouragement to this proposition, as I was determined to make another trial to get my liberty, and I knew that if I should have a wife, I should not be willing to leave her behind; and if I should attempt to bring her with me, the chances would be difficult for success.  However, Eliza was purchased, and brought into the family.

CHAPTER XII.

But the more I thought of the trap laid by Mrs. Price to make me satisfied with my new home, by getting me a wife, the more I determined never to marry any woman on earth until I should get my liberty.  But this secret I was compelled to keep to myself, which placed me in a very critical position.  I must keep upon good terms with Mrs. Price and Eliza.  I therefore promised Mrs. Price that I would marry Eliza; but said that I was not then ready.  And I had to keep upon good terms with Eliza, for fear that Mrs. Price would find out that I did not intend to get married.

I have here spoken of marriage, and it is very common among slaves themselves to talk of it.  And it is common for slaves to be married; or at least have the marriage ceremony performed.  But there is no such thing as slaves being lawfully married.  There has never yet a case occurred where a slave has been tried for bigamy.  The man may have as many women as he wishes, and the women as many men; and the law takes no cognizance of such acts among slaves.  And in fact some masters, when they have sold the husband from the wife, compel her to take another.

There lived opposite Captain Price’s, Doctor Farrar, well known in St. Louis.  He sold a man named Ben, to one of the traders.  He also owned Ben’s wife, and in a few days he compelled Sally (that was her name) to marry Peter, another man belonging to him.  I asked Sally “why she married Peter so soon after Ben was sold.”  She said, “because master made her do it.”

Mr. John Calvert, who resided near our place, had a woman named Lavinia.  She was quite young, and a man to whom she was about to be married was sold, and carried into the country near St. Charles, about twenty miles from St. Louis.  Mr. Calvert wanted her to get a husband; but she had resolved not to marry any other man, and she refused.  Mr. Calvert whipped her in such a manner that it was thought she would die.  Some of the citizens had him arrested, but it was soon hushed up.  And that was the last of it.  The woman did not die, but it would have been the same if she had.