The old man nodded his head, and went on with his work, while Ann
related to him the sad history of her life.

"My mother, who was a favorite slave, died when I was born; and my
mistress, who had a young baby only a few days older than myself, took
me to nurse. I slept, during my infancy, in the cradle with my little
mistress, and afterwards in the room with her, and thus we grew up as
playmates and companions until we reached our seventh year, when we
both had scarlet fever. My little mistress, who was the only child of a
widow, died; and her mother, bending over her death-bed, cried, 'I will
have no little daughter now!' when the child placed her arms about her
and said, 'Mamma, let Ann be your daughter; she'll be your little girl;
I'll go to her mamma, and she'll stay with my mamma.'

"And from that time I was no more a slave, but a child in the house. My
mistress brought a governess for me from the North, and I was taught as
white girls are. I was fond of my books, and my life was a very happy
one, though we lived on a lonely plantation, and had but little company.

"I was almost white, as you see, and my mistress had taught me to call
her mamma. I was devoted to her, and very fond of my governess, and they
both petted me as if I really had been a daughter instead of a slave.
Four years ago the brother of my governess came out from Vermont to make
his sister a visit at our home. He fell in love with me, and I loved him
dearly, and, accompanied by my 'mamma' and his sister, we went into
Pennsylvania, and were married. You know we could not be married in
Maryland, for it is a Slave State, and I was a slave. My mistress had,
of course, always intended that I should be free, but neglected from
time to time to draw up the proper papers.