louisa picquet, the octoroon: or inside views of - Negro Artist

Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon 22
24.03.2006
"THEN, in about a month or three weeks, he died. I didn't cry nor nothin', for I
was glad he was dead; for I thought I could have some peace and happiness
then. I was left free, and that made me so glad I could hardly believe it myself.
"Then, on Sunday, I dressed myself and went out to go to
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church; and that was the first time I had been to church in six years. I used to go
to the colored church in Georgia, with my mother, in the afternoon. When I got
there, to the church in New Orleans, the minister talked just as though he knew
all about me, and talked about the vows I had made to the Lord about my
husband. Then I said in my mind, he wan't my husband; but then I determined to
go there to church. Then I asked the people what church it was, and they said, a
Methodist church. Then Mr. Williams' brother came, and told me I must go out
of that house, because he would not pay the rent. Then a woman there, a friend
of mine, let me come in one of her rooms. She was very kind to me, and used to
give me victuals when I did not know where to get it."
Q.--"Who was this woman?"
A.--"Her name was Helen Hopkins; she was a colored woman that used to take
in washing. I never knew how it was that she was so kind to me. I always
thought it was the Lord takin' care of the widow and the fatherless.
"One day I met Mr. Williams' brother, and he asked me what I was doin'; and I
told him, nothin'. He said that by rights I belonged to him, because his brother
had not paid him the money that he borrowed to help buy me. Mr. Williams--
John Williams--had said before that he would give me somethin' for the
children. Then he asked me why I did not go away, as his brother told me. Then
I told him it was because I had not money enough to go with, and asked him to
give me some. Then he said I had better thank God for my freedom; and that his
brother had got enough from him. Then I told this friend of mine, who had
given me victuals, and she advised me to get away as soon as I could.
"Then Mr. John Williams sent the things I had to a secondhand furniture store,
and sold them all; and I took the money and my two children, and went to
Cincinnati. I had just money enough to get there, and a little bit over."
Q.--"What made you stop at Cincinnati?"
A.--"Because I had no money to go further; and I met all my friends there that I