Boston, Massachusetts
Saturday, July 23, 1870
From “THE MESSAGE DEPARTMENT” Through the instrumentality of Miss Fanny Van Wyck
LITTLE VICTORIA
MA’AM, IF YOU please, I’d like to send some word to my old massa, George Burgess. He’s in Louisiana—Orville. [Can you spell the name of the place?] Ma’am, I can’t. I wants him to know that twelve of us are here in the spirit-land—twelve that once belonged to him. We are happy and free—twelve of us are here. I wants him to know, ma’am, when he comes here we’ll meet him, and old missus too. [You mean twelve of you once in bondage are now all free together?] Yes, ma’am, that’s what I mean.
Massa George’s brother Edward is in the spirit-land too, and he says tell Massa George he wants to speak; tell Massa George he was shot at Pillow and that’s why he never come back. [Fort Pillow?] Yes, ma’am, that’s what it was.
[Say all you wish to say.] I’ve got heaps to say, ma’am, but I … He knows about this, ma’am. He knows. [What does he know?] Who I am and who I belong to. He knows. [What was your name?] Vic—. Little Victoria. [How old were you?] Don’t know; I reckon I was ten. He knows about this—he knows.
[Say anything you think will make him remember you.] He will remember me—he will.