This tenderness and sympathy on the part of those held in bondage was a result of their kindly and generous nature.

In order to defend and protect the women and children who were left on the plantations when the white males went to war, the slaves would have laid down their lives.

The slave who was selected to sleep in the "big house" during the absence of the males was considered to have the place of honour.

Any one attempting to harm "young Mistress" or "old Mistress" during the night would have had to cross the dead body of the slave to do so.

I do not know how many have noticed it, but I think that it will be found to be true that there are few instances, either in slavery or freedom, in which a member of my race has been known to betray a specific trust.
As a rule, not only did the members of my race entertain no feelings of bitterness against the whites before and during the war, but there are many instances of Negroes tenderly caring for their former masters and mistresses who for some reason have become poor and dependent since the war.