My old master had many boys and girls, but not one, so far as I know, ever mastered a single trade or special line of productive industry.

The girls were not taught to cook, sew, or to take care of the house.

All of this was left to the slaves.

The slaves, of course, had little personal interest in the life of the plantation, and their ignorance prevented them from learning how to do things in the most improved and thorough manner.

As a result of the system, fences were out of repair, gates were hanging half off the hinges, doors creaked, window-panes were out, plastering had fallen but was not replaced, weeds grew in the yard.