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

Louisa Picquet, the Octoroon 26
think I was free, and so many others that I knew in Georgia, and she was still in
slavery! It was a great weight on my mind; and I thought if I could get religion I
should certainly meet her in heaven for I knew she was
Page 28
a Christian woman. I had thought of it very often, and thought how often I had
told the Lord I would serve him and had not done so, till I was almost afraid to
make another promise. Then I made up my mind to serve the Lord. I had often
been to the Methodist meeting there, when there was great excitement; but I
never went up to be prayed for. I thought it was a sin if I did not go up in the
right way.
"But I kept feelin' worse in my mind. Every thing I had ever done all came up
before me. I felt as if I could not look up; my eyes were fixed on the ground. In
the evenin'--Sunday evenin'--I went to meetin' in the Zion Baptist Church. Mr.
Shelton was preachin'. After he got through, they was singin'; I felt troubled all
through it. Then I went up to the altar with others. I made up my mind that I
would never hold up my head again on this earth till the Lord converted me. I
prayed hard enough that night. My husband was so mortified to think I prayed
so loud, and made so much noise; but I told him, Henry, I have to die for
myself, and it did not set me back at all. But I did not get rid of the burden I felt
till near daylight that night, or next mornin'. I was prayin' nearly all night, and
near mornin' I felt worse, as if I would die; and I tried to wake Henry up, but I
could not wake him at all. It seemed as if I had not time. All my long prayers
had gone to just the one word, 'Lord, have mercy!' and I could not say any thing
but that. And the moment I believe that the Lord would relieve me, the burden
went right off; and I felt as light as if I was right up in the air. And it seemed as
if there was light in the room. * * * Then, the next Sunday, I joined the church,
and the Sunday after was baptized. That was eight years ago, going on nine. I
been in that church ever since."
Q.--"Is your husband a professor of religion?"
A.--"Yes; he belongs to the same church. He experienced religion in Georgia."
Q.--"How about the two daughters?"
A.--"Elizabeth, my daughter, belongs to the same church. My husband's
daughter, Harriet, does not belong to any church."
24.03.2006