Our Nig | Page 8

reply to the query what
should be done with her, in a tone which indicated self-importance in
the speaker. She was indeed the idol of her mother, and more nearly
resembled her in dis- position and manners than the others.
Jane, an invalid daughter, the eldest of those at home, was reclining on
a sofa apparently un- interested.
"Keep her," said Jack. "She's real hand- some and bright, and not very
black, either."
"Yes," rejoined Mary; "that's just like you, Jack. She'll be of no use at
all these three years, right under foot all the time."
"Poh! Miss Mary; if she should stay, it wouldn't be two days before you
would be telling the girls about OUR nig, OUR nig!" retorted Jack.
"I don't want a nigger 'round ME, do you, mother?" asked Mary.
"I don't mind the nigger in the child. I should like a dozen better than
one," replied her mother. "If I could make her do my work in a few
years, I would keep her. I have so much trouble with girls I hire, I am
almost persuaded if I have one to train up in my way from a child, I
shall be able to keep them awhile. I am tired of changing every few
months."
"Where could she sleep?" asked Mary. "I don't want her near me."
"In the L chamber," answered the mother.
"How'll she get there?" asked Jack. "She'll be afraid to go through that
dark passage, and she can't climb the ladder safely."
"She'll have to go there; it's good enough for a nigger," was the reply.
Jack was sent on horseback to ascertain if Mag was at her home. He
returned with the testimony of Pete Greene that they were fairly

departed, and that the child was intentionally thrust upon their family.
The imposition was not at all relished by Mrs. B., or the pert, haughty
Mary, who had just glided into her teens.
"Show the child to bed, Jack," said his mother. "You seem most
pleased with the little nigger, so you may introduce her to her room."
He went to the kitchen, and, taking Frado gently by the hand, told her
he would put her in bed now; perhaps her mother would come the next
night after her.
It was not yet quite dark, so they ascended the stairs without any light,
passing through nicely furnished rooms, which were a source of great
amazement to the child. He opened the door which connected with her
room by a dark, unfinished passage-way. "Don't bump your head," said
Jack, and stepped before to open the door leading into her
apartment,--an unfin- ished chamber over the kitchen, the roof slant-
ing nearly to the floor, so that the bed could stand only in the middle of
the room. A small half window furnished light and air. Jack returned to
the sitting room with the remark that the child would soon outgrow
those quarters.
"When she DOES, she'll outgrow the house," remarked the mother.
"What can she do to help you?" asked Mary. "She came just in the right
time, didn't she? Just the very day after Bridget left," continued she.
"I'll see what she can do in the morning," was the answer.
While this conversation was passing below, Frado lay, revolving in her
little mind whether she would remain or not until her mother's return.
She was of wilful, determined nature, a stranger to fear, and would not
hesitate to wander away should she decide to. She remem- bered the
conversation of her mother with Seth, the words "given away" which
she heard used in reference to herself; and though she did not know
their full import, she thought she should, by remaining, be in some
relation to white people she was never favored with before. So she
resolved to tarry, with the hope that mother would come and get her
some time. The hot sun had penetrated her room, and it was long before
a cooling breeze reduced the temperature so that she could sleep.
Frado was called early in the morning by her new mistress. Her first
work was to feed the hens. She was shown how it was ALWAYS to be
done, and in no other way; any departure from this rule to be punished
by a whipping. She was then accompanied by Jack to drive the cows to

pasture, so she might learn the way. Upon her return she was allowed to
eat her breakfast, consisting of a bowl of skimmed milk, with brown
bread crusts, which she was told to eat, standing, by the kitchen table,
and must not be over ten minutes about it. Meanwhile the family were
taking their morning meal in the dining-room. This over, she was
placed on a cricket to wash the