# Aunt Chloe explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

Aunt Chloe recounts the traumatic day her children were sold away, her initial despair, and her eventual turn to faith and hope through the counsel of Uncle Jacob.

## Themes in this chapter

### Motherhood and Family

Aunt Chloe's maternal grief over the sale of her children is the emotional core of the chapter.

### Hope and Redemption

Through prayer and faith, Chloe finds hope that she will see her boys again.

## Character check-ins

### Aunt Chloe

The narrator and grieving mother whose children are sold away.

### Milly Green

Cousin who comforts Chloe and shares her own experience of losing a child.

### Jakey

One of Chloe's sons, who bids her goodbye.

### Uncle Jacob

A saintly figure who counsels Chloe to bring her burden to the Saviour.

### Mistus

The mistress of the house, also crying over the sale.

## Key lines

> When they whispered to me, 'Chloe, Your children's sold away!' It seemed as if a bullet Had shot me through and through, And I felt as if my heart-strings Was breaking right in two.

When I was told my children were sold, it felt like a bullet shot through me, breaking my heart in two.

_Chloe describes the devastating news of her children's sale._

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

His words gave me courage; I prayed and felt my heavy burden lift away like a rolling stone.

_Uncle Jacob's counsel leads Chloe to prayer and relief._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/aunt-chloe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters