UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

My
10 KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
funeral the subject of which enjoyedit so much. for on the slightest pretexts, and frequently no
When permitted,
some of our negroes preachedpretext at all,and are never refused,except in
with greatfluency. I was present, a few years cases of misconduct. In regard to clothing : "
since,when an Episcopal minister addressed the the men and boysreceive a winter coat and trousers
people,by appointment Ọn the conclusion of an of strongclothțhree shirts, a stout pairof
excellent sermon, a negro preache rose and shoes and socks,and a pair of summer pantaloons,
thanked the gentlemankindly for his discourse, every year ; a hat about every second year, and a
but franklytold him the congregation "did not great-coat and blanket every third year. Instead
understand his lingo.'''' He then proceeded himself,
of great-coats and hats, the Avonien have large
with great vehemence and volubility, coiningcapes to protect the bust in bad weather,and
words where theyhad not been made to his hand, handkerchiefs for the head. The articlesfurnished
or rather his tongue, and impressinghis hearers,
are goodand serviceable ; and,with their
doubtless, with a decided opinionof his superiority
own acquisitions, make their appearance decent
over his white co-laborer in the fieldof and respectable. On Sunday theyare even fine.
grace. My brother and I, who own contiguous The aged and invalid are clad as regularly as the
estates, have latelyerected a
chapelon the line rest, but less substantially. Mothers receive a
between them, and have employed an acceptable little raw cotton, in proportion to the number of
minister of the Baptistpersuasion, to which the children, with the privilege of having the yarn,
negroes almost exclusively belong țo afford them when spun,
woven at my expense. I provide
religious instruction. Except as a preparatorythem with blankets. Orphans are put with careful
step to emancipation, I consider it exceedingly women, and treated with tenderness. I am
impolitic, even as regards the slaves themselves, attached to the littleslaves,and encourage familiarity
to permi them to read and write : " "Where ignorance
among them. Sometimes,when I ride
is bliss,'tisfollyto be wise." And it is near the quartersțhey come running after me with
certainlyimpolitic as regards their masters,on the most whimsical requests,and are rendered
the principle that "knowledge is power." My happy by the distributionof some littledonation
servants have not as long holidaysas those of The clothing described is that which is givento
most other persons.
I allow three days at the crop hands. Home-servants, a numerous
Christmas,and a day at each of three other periods,
class in Virginia, are of course clad in a different
besides a littletime to work theirpatches; and very superior manner. I neglectedto mention,
or, if very busy, I sometimes preferto work them
in the proper placețhat there are on each
myself. Most of the ancient pastimes have been of my plantations a kitchen,an oven, and one or
lost in this neighborhood, and religion, mock or more cooks ; and that each hand is furnished with
real,has succeeded them. The banjoțheir national
a tin bucket for his food,which is carried into the
instrument,is known but in name, or in a field by little negroes, who also supplythe laborers
few of the tunes which have survived. Some of with water.
the younger negroes sing and dance, but the 7th. " Their treatment when sick."" My negroes
evenings and holidays are usually occupied^
in
or are
go, carried, as soon as theyare attackedțo
working, in visiting, and in praying and singinga
spacious and well-ventilated hospital, near the
hymns. The primitive customs and sportsare, I mansion-house. They are there received by an
believe,better preserved further south,where attentive nurse, who has an assortment of medicine,
slaves were brought from Africa long after they additionalbed-clothing, and the command of
ceased to come here.
as much light food as she may require, either
Gth. "The provisionusuallymade for their from the table or the store-room of the proprietor.
"
food and clothing, for those who are too young Wine, sago, rice,and other littlecomforts appertaining
"
or too old to labor." men receive twelve
to such an establishment, are always
quarts of Indian meal (the abundant and universal
kepton hand. The condition of the sick is much
allowance in this state)șeven salted herrings,
better than that of the poor whites or free colored
and two poundsof smoked bacon or three people in the neighborhood.
pounds of pork, a week; "
the other hands proportionally
8th. Their rewards and "
punishments." I
less. But, generally speaking, their food occasionally bestow little gratuities for good conduct,
is issued daily,with the exception of meal,and
and particularly after harvest ; and hardly
consists of fish or bacon for breakfast, and meat, ever refuse a favor asked by those who faithfully
fresh or salted,with vegetables whenever we can perform their duty. Vicious and idle servants are
providethem, for dinner ; or, for a month or two punished with stripes, moderatelyinflicted ; to
in the spring, fresh fishcooked with a littlebacon. which,in the case of theft,is added privation of
This mode is rather more expensive to me than meat, a severe punishmento those who are never
that of more
Aveeklyrations,but comfortable to suffered to be without it on any other account.
the servants. Superannuated or invalid slaves From my limited observation,I think that servants
draw their provisions regularly
once a week ; and
to the North work much harder than our
the moment a child ceases to be nourished by its slaves. I Avas educated at a college in one of the
mother,it receives eightquartsof meal (more than free states,and, on my return to Virginia, was
it can consume), and one half-pound of lard. Besides
struck Avith the contrast. I was astonished at the
the food furnished by me, nearlyall the number of idle domestics,and actuallyworried my
servants are able to make some addition from mother, much to my contrition since,to reduce
their private stores ; and there is among the the establishment. I say to my contrition, because,
adults hardlyan instance of one so improvident after eighteenyears' residence in the good
as not to do it. He must be an unthriftyfellow, Old Dominion,I find myself surrounded by a troop
indeed,who cannot realize the wish of the famous of servants about as numerous as that against
Henry IV. in regard to the French peasantry, and Avhich I formerly so loudly exclaimed. While on
his fowl on
enjoy" Sunday. I always keep on this subjectit may not be amiss to state a case of
hand, for the use of the negroes, sugar, molasses, manumission Avhich occurred about three years
Jbc., which,though not regularly issued, are appliedsince. My nearest neighbor, a man of immense