and may appear to be a clear case of bigamy against uncle Ben; but when
it is remembered that masters compelled their slaves to live together as
man and wife, without ceremony, for the purpose only of breeding
children, and that Ben had no say in the matter, he will be held
blameless. The laws of the southern states did not recognize the legal
relations of man and wife between slaves, therefore they could not
commit the crime of bigamy. If Ben was morally guilty, he was forced
into his guilt by law and general custom. I had not seen Ben for about
ten years, and was so overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him that I
could scarcely wait until night, for I was informed that he would not be
at his cabin until night. After attending to my affairs about town I
waited until sundown, when I went to the house indicated by my
informant. Not being certain that the person who lived in the cabin was
my uncle, I necessarily had to make inquiries. A colored woman met me at
the door, and answered such questions as I asked, from which I was
satisfied that Ben lived here. I informed the woman who I was and that
Ben was my uncle, and that I had called, in passing on my way to
Memphis, to see him. She cordially invited me to enter the cabin, and
told me that Ben was out feeding the horses and would shortly be in. I
had to wait but a little while when Ben came in. He supposed me to be
some passing stranger, and did not recognize me. After some desultory
conversation I told him who I was and how I came to be there. Our
meeting, after mutual recognition, was affectionate and cordial. We
talked over old times and related our experience since we parted at the
Wilson plantation. We kneeled at the family altar, and each poured out
his soul's thanksgiving to God for his goodness to us, having, before I
left, a season of soul-reviving prayer.

Thus we knelt, uncle Ben, his wife, and I, poor slaves in the chains of
bondage, really and earnestly thanking God for the many blessings we