Yonder drawing* was
made in a country where there was such hospitality, friendship, kindness
shown to the humble designer, that his eyes do not care to look out for
faults, or his pen to note them. How they sang; how they laughed and
grinned; how they scraped, bowed, and complimented you and each other,
those negroes of the cities of the Southern parts of the then
United States! My business kept me in the towns; I was but in one
negro-plantation village, and there were only women and little children,
the men being out a-field. But there was plenty of cheerfulness in the
huts, under the great trees--I speak of what I saw--and amidst the dusky
bondsmen of the cities. I witnessed a curious gayety; heard amongst the
black folk endless singing, shouting, and laughter; and saw on holidays
black gentlemen and ladies arrayed in such splendor and comfort as
freeborn workmen in our towns seldom exhibit. What a grin and bow that
dark gentleman performed, who was the porter at the colonel's, when he
said, "You write your name, mas'r, else I will forgot." I am not going
into the slavery question, I am not an advocate for "the institution,"
as I know, madam, by that angry toss of your head, you are about to
declare me to be.
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