"The outer door was open, and I entered without knocking. A woman
was bending over a washtub at the back part of the room. I looked
around me for the body, but could see no indication of anything
having happened out of the ordinary course.
"I thought it possible that Scip had deceived me, and accordingly
spoke to the woman, inquiring if she was Scip's mother.
"She replied in the affirmative.
" 'And where is his father?' I next inquired.
" 'Oh, he's done dead,' she said, continuing her washing.
" 'When did he die?'
" 'Las' night, massa.'
" 'And where is the body?'
" 'Toted off, massa, very first t'ing dis mornin'.'
"In spite of this case of apparent insensibility, the negro's
family attachments are quite as warm naturally as our own. They
have little reason, indeed, to mourn over the loss of a husband
or father, since, in most cases, it is the only portal to the
freedom which they covet. The separation of families, too, tends,
of course, to weaken family ties. While I write these words I
cannot help recalling our own happy home, and longing for an
hour, if not more, of your society.
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