turn around to remark to Josiah, who was hoeing not far away, "Yer,
Josiah, you jes come heah, suh, and tote dis chile up to de house. She
too hebby fer de Missus. You lubbering black nigger, you jes good fer
nothin' nohow and doan you eber stamp on my foot agin! Go long, Miss
Tiny, we will bring up de chillens!"

Jaffray was home for midday dinner. "I've bought a nurse girl
for you, Renestine. Here is the bill of sale," he said, handing a
light blue paper to her. Renestine read: "A copper colored girl," etc.
When they were seated at the table Jaffray said: "I felt like a mean
creature when I paid the money for that girl, but I knew we needed a
nurse girl. Aunt Caroline can't cook and care any longer for the
children too, so what was to be done? This slavery system is
frightful, and mark my words, Renestine, the day will come when the
darkies will be free. Where I was born on the Rhine, no one would
believe for a moment that I would buy a human being. They would hate
me as I hate myself for bartering in human flesh."

"I know, I know, Jaffray. I remember when my sister used to
send Josiah out in the morning to work, he would come back in the
evening with his pay that he had earned in the blacksmith shop and give
it to her, and Aunt Caroline would bring her money, too, that she had
made by a hard day's, washing and ironing. Oh, yes, it is all wrong
and dreadful, but we will treat them well and wait for the day to set
them free!"

"It will not be long now. There are all sorts of rumors about
Lincoln doing this 'and that."

"You mean about setting the negroes free?"