Frances Ellen Watkins

Here you will find the Long Poem Aunt Chloe of poet Frances Ellen Watkins

Aunt Chloe

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 I remember, well remember,
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 That dark and dreadful day,
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 When they whispered to me, "Chloe,
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 Your children's sold away!" 1.
 It seemed as if a bullet
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 Had shot me through and through,
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 And I felt as if my heart-strings
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 Was breaking right in two. 1.
 And I says to cousin Milly,
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 "There must be some mistake;
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 Where's Mistus?" "In the great house crying --
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 Crying like her heart would break. 1.

 "And the lawyer's there with Mistus;
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 Says he's come to 'ministrate,
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 'Cause when master died he just left
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 Heap of debt on the estate. 1.

 "And I thought 'twould do you good
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 To bid your boys good-bye --
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 To kiss them both and shake their hands,
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 And have a hearty cry. 1.

 "Oh! Chloe, I knows how you feel,
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 'Cause I'se been through it all;
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 I thought my poor old heart would break,
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 When master sold my Saul." 1.

 Just then I heard the footsteps
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 Of my children at the door,
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 And then I rose right up to meet them,
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 But I fell upon the floor. 1.

 And I heard poor Jakey saying,
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 "Oh, mammy, don't you cry!"
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 And I felt my children kiss me
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 And bid me, both, good-bye. 1.

 Then I had a mighty sorrow,
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 Though I nursed it all alone;
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 But I wasted to a shadow,
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 And turned to skin and bone. 1.

 But one day dear uncle Jacob
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 (In heaven he's now a saint)
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 Said, "Your poor heart is in the fire,
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 But child you must not faint." 1.

 Then I said to uncle Jacob,
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 If I was good like you,
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 When the heavy trouble dashed me
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 I'd know just what to do. 1.

 Then he said to me, "Poor Chloe,
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 The way is open wide:"
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 And he told me of the Saviour,
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 And the fountain in His side. 1.

 Then he said "Just take your burden
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 To the blessed Master's feet;
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 I takes all my troubles, Chloe,
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 Right unto the mercy-seat." 1.

 His words waked up my courage,
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 And I began to pray,
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 And I felt my heavy burden
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 Rolling like a stone away. 1.

 And a something seemed to tell me,
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 You will see your boys again --
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 And that hope was like a poultice
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 Spread upon a dreadful pain. 1.

 And it often seemed to whisper,
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 Chloe, trust and never fear;
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 You'll get justice in the kingdom,
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 If you do not get it here. [2] The Deliverance 2.
 Master only left old Mistus
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 One bright and handsome boy;
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 But she fairly doted on him,
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 He was her pride and joy. 2.
 We all liked Mister Thomas,
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 He was so kind at heart;
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 And when the young folkes got in scrapes,
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 He always took their part. 2.
 He kept right on that very way
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 Till he got big and tall,
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 And old Mistus used to chide him
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 And say he'd spile us all. 2.

 But somehow the farm did prosper
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 When he took things in hand;
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 And though all the servants liked him,
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 He made them understand. 2.

 One evening Mister Thomas said,
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 "Just bring my easy shoes;
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 I am going to sit by mother,
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 And read her up the news." 2.

 Soon I heard him tell old Mistus
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 We're bound to have a fight;
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 But we'll whip the Yankees, mother,
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 We'll whip them sure as night!" 2.

 Then I saw old Mistus tremble;
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 She gasped and held her breath;
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 And she looked on Mister Thomas
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 With a face as pale as death. 2.

 "They are firing on Fort Sumpter;
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 Oh! I wish that I was there! --
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 Why, dear mother! what's the matter?
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 You're the picture of despair." 2.

 "I was thinking, dearest Thomas,
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 'Twould break my very heart
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 If a fierce and dreadful battle
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 Should tear our lives apart." 2.

 "None but cowards, dearest mother,
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 Would skulk unto the rear,
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 When the tyrant's hand is shaking
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 All the heart is holding dear." 2.

 I felt sorry for old Mistus;
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 She got too full to speak;
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 But I saw the great big tear-drops
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 A running down her cheek. 2.

 Mister Thomas too was troubled
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 With choosing on that night,
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 Betwixt staying with his mother
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 And joining in the fight. 2.

 Soon down into the village came
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 A call for volunteers;
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 Mistus gave up Mister Thomas,
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 With many sighs and tears. 2.

 His uniform was real handsome;
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