To this class the problem seemed especially
hard. Besides, deep down in their hearts there was a strange and
peculiar attachment to "old Marster" and "old Missus," and to
their children, which they found it hard to think of breaking
off. With these they had spent in some cases nearly a
half-century, and it was no light thing to think of parting.
Gradually, one by one, stealthily at first, the older slaves
began to wander from the slave quarters back to the "big house"
to have a whispered conversation with their former owners as to
the future.
Chapter II. Boyhood Days
After the coming of freedom there were two points upon which
practically all the people on our place were agreed, and I found
that this was generally true throughout the South: that they must
change their names, and that they must leave the old plantation
for at least a few days or weeks in order that they might really
feel sure that they were free.
In some way a feeling got among the coloured people that it was
far from proper for them to bear the surname of their former
owners, and a great many of them took other surnames. This was
one of the first signs of freedom. When they were slaves, a
coloured person was simply called "John" or "Susan." There was
seldom occasion for more than the use of the one name.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54