Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White HousePart slave narrative, part memoir, and part sentimental fiction Behind the Scenes depicts Elizabeth Keckley's years as a salve and subsequent four years in Abraham Lincoln's White House during the Civil War. Through the eyes of this black woman, we see a wide range of historical figures and events of the antebellum South, the Washington of the Civil War years, and the final stages of the war. |
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609 Broadway Abraham Lincoln arms asked assassination believe Brady Burwell called Chicago child City Point cloth coln colored Davis dear Lizzie death dollars door Douglas dress Elizabeth ELIZABETH KECKLEY entered exclaimed eyes face father fear feel forget Frederick Douglass friends Garland Garnet give grief hand heart HENRY HIGHLAND GARNET Hillsboro hope husband Jefferson Davis Keckley Keyes kind knew lace lady learned letter Lincoln's room live look Louis Mary's child McClean Meem Miss morning mother never night North novel party passed President received reception remarked replied returned River Queen Robert Rude's Hill sent slave slavery soon street sunshine Tad Lincoln tell things thought to-night told wardrobe Washington weeks White House widow wife Wilberforce University Willie WILLIS L wish woman word worn write wrote York
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Page 61 - In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, at office in the city of St. Louis, this 25th day of April, eighteen hundred and fifty-four. "WM. J. HAMMOND, Clerk.
Page 223 - Mrs. Lincoln's former dressmaker, were you not?" "Yes, I worked for Mrs. Lincoln." "Are you very busy now?" "Very, indeed." "Can you do anything for me?" "That depends upon what is to be done, and when it is to be done.
Page 139 - His face was more cheerful than I had seen it for a long while, and he seemed to be in a generous, forgiving mood. CHAPTER IX. BEHIND THE SCENES. OME of the freedmen and freedwomen had exaggerated ideas of liberty. To them it was a beautiful vision, a land of sunshine, rest, and glorious promise. They flocked to Washington, and since their extravagant hopes were not realized, it was but natural that many of them should bitterly feel their disappointment. The colored people are wedded to associations,...
Page 62 - State of Missouri, County of St. Louis ]> I {as, is.) " I, the nndersigned Recorder of said county, certify that the foregoing instrument of writing was filed for record in my office on the 14th day of November, 1855 ; it is truly recorded in Book No. 169, page 288. " Witness my hand and official seal, date last aforesaid. [Ls] " C. KEEMLE, Recorder
Page 99 - BAKER. THERE was no patriot like Baker, So noble and so true; He fell as a soldier on the field, His face to the sky of blue. His voice is silent in the hall Which oft, his presence graced; No more he'll hear the loud acclaim Which rang from place to place. No squeamish notions filled his breast, The Union was his theme ; No surrender and no compromise," His day-thought and night's dream.
Page 188 - I come from Mrs. Lincoln. If you are Mrs. Keckley, come with me immediately to the White House." I hastily put on my shawl and bonnet, and was driven at a rapid rate to the White House. Everything about the building was sad and solemn. I was quickly shown to Mrs. Lincoln's room, and on entering, saw Mrs. L. tossing uneasily about upon a bed. The room was darkened, and the only person in it besides the widow of the President was Mrs. Secretary Welles, who had spent the night with her. Bowing to Mrs....
Page 106 - THIS LITTLE FELLOW had his acquaintances among his father's friends, and I chanced to be one of them. He never failed to seek me out in the crowd, shake hands, and make some pleasant remark; and this, in a boy often years of age, was, to say the least, endearing to a stranger.
Page 137 - He is a brave, honest Presbyterian soldier," were his words ; " what a pity that we should have to fight such a gallant fellow ! If we only had such a man to lead the armies of the North, the country would not be appalled with so many disasters.
Page 330 - This closed up the business, and with it I close the imperfect story of my somewhat romantic life. I have experienced many ops and downs, but still am stont of heart. The labor of a lifetime has brought me nothing in a pecuniary way. I have worked hard, but fortune, fickle dame, has not smiled upon me. If poverty did not weigh me down as it does, I would not now be toiling by day with my needle, and writing by night, in the plain little room on the fourth floor of No. 14 Carroll Place. And yet I...