The Graves of the Innocents

The Graves of the Innocents

1 item : 20 x 16.5 cm

A description, no author or date provided, of race relations in antebellum Virginia.

1

The graves of the Innocents

Take heed, that ye despise not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always
behold the face of my Father, which is in heaven. Matt' 18, &10.

Some years ago, a Lady and gentle=
man of Lower Virginia - thinking it best to change
their place of residence; removed to a lovely valley,
more than a hundred miles from their pleasant
old home. They left many, whom they were strong=
ly attached to - near, and dear relatives, and
friends. They found ^^a lovely spot, in one of the
many valleys along the mountains of Virginia, -
and the hands of industry, soon gathered many
comforts, and made a sweet home, amidst
those lovely scenes. But however lovely
the scenes of Nature may be, they cannot help
to keep off the visitations of Sickness, and
death, at all times. Sin, and death, are
every where. Sin, though conquered by
our Saviour, is not entirely dead; and death
is robbed of his sting, to those who love, and
trust in their blessed Redeemer. The Lady, after
a time, lost a dear little baby it only lived long
enough to make the older children and servants
begin to love its fair, and delicate form - and
to make plans, who should nurse it, and what
they would teach it. This being quite a new place,
there was no burying ground, on the Farm.

2

and the children were much comforted
when they were told that "Papa will bury little
brother, under the Walnut tree," this was in the
upper end of the garden, and so near a wood of
"grand old trees," that it was shaded by them
from the evening sun. With much labour,
the eldest of the boys, brought large pieces of
blue limestone, and put up a grave head,
and foot stone, to mark the remains of their
angel brother. Time passed on - and
then a little sufferer, that had long called
forth the sympathy of white, and black, old,
and young, was suddenly called away to its
rest in Heaven, from its mothers lap. it was
a child of one of the house Servants, and
again, the white children wanted to know, where
poor little Billie was to be laid. And their
parents gave them the comforting assurance, that
he should be laid by their little brother.
How thoughtful the grieved parents were, for so
unexpected a kindness; - may be understood
by those, who have lost their little ones, in
the same circumstances. So years rolled on, one,
and then another, little infant died, until
the little white baby, had four little "brown
baby" boys lying by him, under the Walnut

[3]
tree. And then, after a few years, when
God had given the white children another
dear little brother - and when they, and
all on the land - love him very much; this
fine little boy, had his kind heart touched
by little Martha's death. And he, like
those before him - was comforted, when he
saw him beloved Mamy's little grand child
laid to rest under the Walnut tree, "by my little
brother." and for days he would say "Lizzie
has got no little sister now, but Martha is not
in the ground, her body is in the ground grave, but her
soul is in Heaven." Now there are six little
infant bodies, under that tree, and they
will all arise, when the dead are called
forth by the sound of the Archangel's
Trumpet. ALL! of every age, and every
colour, and every Nation, will then arise!
Oh how will some have to bleed for shame,
for their sinful misjudging, how do they know,
that they would be any better, than those they
revile and speak evil of - and, in ^manysome
cases - ^{falsely condemn}cast fine brandy at? here is a fact,
that could be proved before any Court in
the Union. Let them who find themselves
sinless cast stones. But I have lived

[text inset on page 3]
I once heard a lady from one of the Northern
states say she could not bear to be in the room with a cold person
who would ask how could she have the belief that they are all the
children of One Father - God, and hope to meet them in heaven
I do not say that the case I speak of is common - but let all who find themselves
sinless cast stones.

[4]
long enough , and travelled far enough in
this country, to know, that those who make
the loudest outcry about kind feelings,
invariably have the least.

"Stillest streams, run deepest,
And oft water fairest meadows;
And the bird that flutters least,
Is longest on the wing."

There is no controverting the Truth, and it is
undeniable truth, that we feel most, for
any thing, we have had to take care of,
and watch over. Servants are a trouble
every where. ^{but a necessary one-} Often have I heard it said told me,
poor Mrs P. or Mrs B. had company, and just be=
fore they were to sit down to dinner, her Cook, - or
her house servant - walked off - sometimes both
at the same time. In Virginia, the servant
who would do such a thing, is looked on, with
scornful eyes, if not severely lectured, by all their
fellow servants. Good servants, who have principle
enough, to take pleasure in the performance
of their duties, are respected by all who
know them. And the children in every
family, feel bound to help to the last hour of their
lives - every servant who has waited on their
parents, nursed them all in sickness, and closed the
eyes, and prepared for the last resting place, the body
of a beloved parent, or any other relative or friend.

Ink on paper