After being cast aside by this young man, the
slave-woman betook herself to the business of a laundress, and was
considered to be the most tasteful woman in Richmond at her
vocation.
Isabella and Marion, the two daughters of Agnes, resided with their
mother, and gave her what aid they could in her business. The
mother, however, was very choice of her daughters, and would allow
them to perform no labor that would militate against their
lady-like appearance. Agnes early resolved to bring up her
daughters as ladies, as she termed it.
As the girls grew older, the mother had to pay a stipulated price
for them per month. Her notoriety as a laundress of the first
class enabled her to put an extra charge upon the linen that
passed through her hands; and although she imposed little or no
work upon her daughters, she was enabled to live in comparative
luxury and have her daughters dressed to attract attention,
especially at the negro balls and parties.
Although the term "negro ball" is applied to these gatherings, yet
a large portion of the men who attend them are whites. Negro balls
and parties in the Southern States, especially in the cities and
towns, are usually made up of quadroon women, a few negro men, and
any number of white gentlemen. These are gatherings of the most
democratic character. Bankers, merchants, lawyers, doctors, and
their clerks and students, all take part in these social
assemblies upon terms of perfect equality. The father and son not
unfrequently meet and dance alike at a negro ball.
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