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

Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon 25
A.--"Why, he hired Eliza, and rented a house, and put her in. She was a slavewoman,
and took in washin'."
Q.--"How came they to part?"
A.--"Why, you see, she belong to heirs, and the property
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was sold for the money to be divided. Then a gentleman in Macon bought Eliza
for himself. Then Henry felt so bad about it that, pretty soon, he went to see her.
He went there with the intention of buyin' her and her baby, which was Henry's.
Mr. Picquet, Henry's father, was goin' to let him have the money. So, when he
got there, he found it different from what he expected. He found he could not
have her any more for his wife. You see, the gentleman had bought her for
himself. So my husband writ to his father that he could not get his wife, but he
could buy the child. Then his father, Mr. Picquet, sent on the money, and he
bought the child, and brought it away. It was about three months old, and he
raised it on a bottle, work all day, and then worry with the child all night."
Q.--"Is that child yet living?"
A.--"Oh yes; she is livin' with us in Cincinnati, and the smartest one we got too.
She is about thirteen or fourteen."
Q.--"Is she as white as your children?"
A.--"Oh no; she is the darkest one in the house. But her hair is straight, only
little bit wavy."
24.03.2006
CHAPTER XII.
THE LONG-LOST MOTHER HEARD FROM.
Q.--"How came you to find out where your mother was?"
A.--"Well, I hear she was in Texas, and I keep writin' to Texas, and supposed it
was one place, but never got no answer. But I kept prayin', and always believed
that I should see her or hear from her, before I died."
Q.--"You kept up praying all this time, did you?"
A.--"Yes; but when I came to Cincinnati, I thought more about my mother--to