A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison |
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| An example of the Indian Captivity Narrative, written in 1823 by James E. Seaver from interviews with Mary Jemison. | |||||||||||||||||||||
<Index to Etexts on Women's History>
PREFACE.
That to biographical writings we are indebted for the greatest and best
field in which to study mankind, or human nature, is a fact duly appreciated by
a well-informed community. In them we can trace the effects of mental operations
to their proper sources; and by comparing our own composition with that of those
who have excelled in virtue, or with that of those who have been sunk in the
lowest depths of folly and vice, we are enabled to select a plan of life that
will at least afford self-satisfaction, and guide us through the world in paths
of morality.
Without a knowledge of the lives of the vile and abandoned, we should be
wholly incompetent to set an appropriate value upon the charms, the excellence
and the worth of those principles which have produced the finest traits in the
character of the most virtuous.
Biography is a telescope of life, through which we can see the extremes and
excesses of the varied properties of the human heart. Wisdom and folly,
refinement and vulgarity, love and hatred, tenderness and cruelty, happiness and
misery, piety and infidelity, commingled with every other cardinal virtue or
vice, are to be seen on the variegated pages of the history of human events, and
are eminently deserving the attention of those who would learn to walk in the
"paths of peace."
The brazen statue and the sculptured marble, can commemorate the greatness of
heroes, statesmen, philosophers, and blood-stained conquerors, who have risen to
the zenith of human glory and popularity, under the influence of the mild sun of
prosperity: but it is the faithful page of biography that transmits to future
generations the poverty, pain, wrong, hunger, wretchedness and torment, and
every nameless misery that has been endured by those who have lived in
obscurity, and groped their lonely way through a long series of unpropitious
events, with but little help besides the light of nature. While the gilded
monument displays in brightest colors the vanity of pomp, and the emptiness of
nominal greatness, the biographical page, that lives in every line, is giving
lessons of fortitude in time of danger, patience in suffering, hope in distress,
invention in necessity, and resignation to unavoidable evils. Here also may be
learned, pity for the bereaved, benevolence for the destitute, and compassion
for the helpless; and at the same time all the sympathies of the soul will be
naturally excited to sigh at the unfavorable result, or to smile at the
fortunate relief.
In the great inexplicable chain which forms the circle of human events, each
individual link is placed on a level with the others, and performs an equal
task; but, as the world is partial, it is the situation that attracts the
attention of mankind, and excites the unfortunate vociferous eclat of elevation,
that raises the pampered parasite to such an immense height in the scale of
personal vanity, as, generally, to deprive him of respect, before he can return
to a state of equilibrium with his fellows, or to the place whence he started.
Few great men have passed from the stage of action, who have not left in the
history of their lives indelible marks of ambition or folly, which produced
insurmountable reverses, and rendered the whole a mere caricature, that can be
examined only with disgust and regret. Such pictures, however, are profitable,
for "by others' faults wise men correct their own."
The following is a piece of biography, that shows what changes may be
effected in the animal and mental constitution of man; what trials may be
surmounted; what cruelties perpetrated, and what pain endured, when stern
necessity holds the reins, and drives the car of fate.
As books of this kind are sought and read with avidity, especially by
children, and are well calculated to excite their attention, inform their
understanding, and improve them in the art of reading, the greatest care has
been observed to render the style easy, the language comprehensive, and the
description natural. Prolixity has been studiously avoided. The line of
distinction between virtue and vice has been rendered distinctly visible; and
chastity of expression and sentiment have received due attention. Strict
fidelity has been observed in the composition: consequently, no circumstance has
been intentionally exaggerated by the paintings of fancy, nor by fine flashes of
rhetoric: neither has the picture been rendered more dull than the original.
Without the aid of fiction, what was received as matter of fact, only has been
recorded.
It will be observed that the subject of this narrative has arrived at least
to the advanced age of eighty years; that she is destitute of education; and
that her journey of life, throughout its texture, has been interwoven with
troubles, which ordinarily are calculated to impair the faculties of the mind;
and it will be remembered, that there are but few old people who can recollect
with precision the circumstances of their lives, (particularly those
circumstances which transpired after middle age.) If, therefore, any error shall
be discovered in the narration in respect to time, it will be overlooked by the
kind reader, or charitably placed to the narrator's account, and not imputed to
neglect, or to the want of attention in the compiler.
The appendix is principally taken from the words of Mrs. Jemison's
statements. Those parts which were not derived from her, are deserving equal
credit, having been obtained from authentic sources.
For the accommodation of the reader, the work has been divided into chapters,
and a copious table of contents affixed. The introduction will facilitate the
understanding of what follows; and as it contains matter that could not be
inserted with propriety in any other place, will be read with interest and
satisfaction.
Having finished my undertaking, the subsequent pages are cheerfully submitted
to the perusal and approbation or animadversion of a candid, generous and
indulgent public. At the same time it is fondly hoped that the lessons of
distress that are portrayed, may have a direct tendency to increase our love of
liberty; to enlarge our views of the blessings that are derived from our liberal
institutions; and to excite in our breasts sentiments of devotion and gratitude
to the great Author and finisher of our happiness.
THE AUTHOR.
Pembroke, March 1, 1824.
Table of Contents | Preface
| Introduction | Chapter 1
| Chapter 2 | Chapter 3
| Chapter 4 | Chapter 5
| Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
| Chapter 8 | Chapter 9
| Chapter 10 | Chapter 11
| Chapter 12 | Chapter 13
| Chapter 14 | Chapter 15
| Chapter 16 | Appendix (1)
| Appendix (2) | Appendix (3) |
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Part of a collection of etexts on women's history produced by Jone Johnson Lewis. Editing and formatting © 1999-2003 Jone Johnson Lewis.
