Old Dinah, the cook, was as unfeeling as her mistress, and
she was pleased to see the child made to work in the hot sun.
"Dat white nigger 'll soon be black enuff if missis keeps her
workin' out dar," she said, as she wiped the perspiration from her
sooty brow.
Dinah was the mother of thirteen children, all of whom had been
taken from her when young; and this, no doubt, did much to harden
her feelings, and make her hate all white persons.
The burning sun poured its rays on the face of the friendless child
until she sank down in the corner of the garden, and was actually
broiled to sleep.
"Dat little nigger ain't workin' a bit, missus," said Dinah to Mrs.
Miller, as the latter entered the kitchen.
"She's lying in the sun seasoning; she will work the better by and
by," replied the mistress.
"Dese white niggers always tink dey seff good as white folks," said
the cook.
"Yes; but we will teach them better, won't we, Dinah?" rejoined
Mrs. Miller.
"Yes, missus," replied Dinah; "I don't like dese merlatter niggers,
no how. Dey always want to set dey seff up for sumfin' big." With
this remark the old cook gave one of her coarse laughs, and
continued: "Missis understands human nature, don't she? Ah! ef she
ain't a whole team and de ole gray mare to boot, den Dinah don't
know nuffin'."
Of course, the mistress was out of the kitchen before these last
marks were made.
It was with the deepest humiliation that Henry learned from one of
his own slaves the treatment which his child was receiving at the
hands of his relentless mother-in-law.
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