"Martha Adamson is a beautiful mulatress. That is, as good-looking as they ever are to me. I have never seen a mule as handsome as a horse—and I know I never will—no matter how I lament and sympathize with its undeserved mule condition. She is a trained sempstress and 'hired her own time,' as they call it. That is, the owner pays the doctor bill, finds food and clothing, &c. The slave pays his master five dollars a month, more or less, and makes a dollar a day if he pleases.
Martha, to the amazement of everybody, married a coal black negro, son of Dick the barber—that Dick who was set free fifty years ago or more for faithful services rendered Mr Chesnut's grandfather.
When asked in words such as these: 'How could she? She is so nearly white—how could she marry that horrid negro? It is positively shocking!'—answer: 'She inherits the taste of her white father—her mother was black.'
'How coarse you are.'
The son of this marriage, a bright boy called John, is grown—reads and writes—&c&c. The aforesaid Martha is now a widow. Her husband was free though black.
Last night there was a row. John beat a white man who was at his mother's. Poor Martha drinks. John had forbidden Mr T___ to bring whiskey to the house, and he found him seated at the table with his mother, both drunk. So he beat him all the way home to his own house. Verdict of the community: 'Served him right.' [House slave] Maria's word: 'White people say, "Well done! Go it, John—give it to him!"'"
