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Plantation Sketches By: Margaret Devereux |
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BY MARGARET DEVEREUX
PRIVATELY PRINTED AT
The Riverside Press, Cambridge
MDCCCCVI
[Illustration: MAMMY]
COPYRIGHT 1906 BY MARGARET DEVEREUX ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
EDITOR'S PREFACE
The descriptions of Southern life in this little book, as well as the
accompanying stories, were written by Mrs. Devereux during the past
fifteen years, in large part after she had passed her sixty fifth
year. They are essentially reminiscent, and were prepared originally
with no thought of publication, but merely to be read to her
grandchildren, so that there might be preserved in their minds some
conception of the old time lives of their grandparents. The sketches
thus came to be read by me to my own children, who are of the third
generation. They brought to my mind so simply, yet so vividly and in
so attractive a manner, a picture of the old plantation life, they
showed such remarkable memory of interesting details, that they seemed
to me to merit publication. The charm of the descriptions will
impress all readers, and the truthfulness of the illustrations of
negro character and habits will be recognized by all who are familiar
with the South. The sketches are simple, homely little tales prepared
for children, and they must be read with this fact in mind; but they
have nevertheless an interest and a lesson for maturer readers, to
whom they are now offered. Arthur Winslow 18 Chestnut St., Boston, Mass.
April 27, 1906
CONTENTS
Letter to my Grandchildren ix Plantation Life 1 Going to the Plantation 40 My Own Early Home 52 Two Bob Whites 59 Little Dave 74 The Hog Feeder's Day 85 The Junior Reserve 113 Mammy 119 War Reminiscences 150
TO MY GRANDCHILDREN
As the "New South," with all its changes and improvements, rises above
the horizon, those whose hearts still cling to the "Old South" look
sadly backward and sigh to see it fade away into dimness, to be soon
lost to sight and to live only in the memory of the few. Hoping to
rescue from oblivion a few of the habits, thoughts, and feelings of
the people who made our South what it was, I have drawn from memory a
few pen sketches of plantation life, based upon actual events, in
which are recorded some of the good and even noble traits of character
which were brought forth under the yoke of slavery. For you, my dear grandchildren, I have tried to fix, before they fade
entirely, these already faint reflections from the "light of other
days." Margaret Devereux. Raleigh, North Carolina.
December, 1905.
PLANTATION LIFE
I am going to try to describe to you something of the lives and homes
of your dear grandfather and of your great grandfather, because I want
you to know something of them, because their mode of life was one of
which scarcely a vestige is left now, and because, finally, I don't
want you to be led into the misconception held by some that Southern
planters and slaveholders were cruel despots, and that the life of the
negro slaves on the plantation was one of misery and sorrow. Before I enter upon my brief narrative I want you to realize that it
is all strictly true, being based upon my knowledge of facts; very
simple and homely in its details, but with the merit of entire
truthfulness. Your great grandfather, Thomas Pollock Devereux, and your grandfather,
John Devereux, were planters upon an unusually large scale in North
Carolina; together they owned eight large plantations and between
fifteen and sixteen hundred negroes. Their lands, situated in the rich
river bottoms of Halifax and Bertie counties, were very fertile, the
sale crops being corn, cotton, and droves of hogs, which were sent to
Southampton county, Virginia, for sale... Continue reading book >>
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