The sorrow in the slave quarter was only second to
that in the "big house." When the two young masters were brought home
wounded, the sympathy of the slaves was shown in many ways. They were
just as anxious to assist in the nursing as the family relatives of
the wounded. Some of the slaves would even beg for the privilege of
sitting up at night to nurse their wounded masters. This tenderness
and sympathy on the part of those held in bondage was a result of
their kindly and generous nature. In order to defend and protect the
women and children who were left on the plantations when the white
males went to war, the slaves would have laid down their lives. The
slave who was selected to sleep in the "big house" during the absence
of the males was considered to have the place of honour. Any one
attempting to harm "young Mistress" or "old Mistress" during the night
would have had to cross the dead body of the slave to do so. I do not
know how many have noticed it, but I think that it will be found to be
true that there are few instances, either in slavery or freedom, in
which a member of my race has been known to betray a specific trust.
As a rule, not only did the members of my race entertain no
feelings of bitterness against the whites before and during the war,
but there are many instances of Negroes tenderly carrying for their
former masters and mistresses who for some reason have become poor and
dependent since the war.
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