white persons. From those I
conclude that he was in no way peculiar, but should be classed with
those slaveholders who are not remarkable either for the severity or the
indulgence they extend to their people.

My mother, who was named Louisa Simms, died when I was very young; and
to my grandmother I am indebted for the very little kindness I received
in my early childhood; and this kindness could only be shown me at long
intervals, and in a hurried way, as I shall presently show.

Like every Southern plantation of respectable extent and pretensions,
our place had what is called the "Quarter," or place where the slaves of
both sexes are lodged and fed. With us the Quarter was composed of a
number of low buildings, with an additional building for single people
and such of the children as were either orphans or had parents sold away
or otherwise disposed of. This building was a hundred feet long by
thirty wide, and had a large fireplace at either end, and small rooms
arranged along the sides. In these rooms the children were huddled from
day to day, the smaller and weaker subject to the whims and caprices of
the larger and stronger. The largest children would always seize upon
the warmest and best places, and say to us who were smaller, "Stand
back, little chap, out of my way"; and we had to stand back or get a
thrashing.

When my grandmother, who was cook at the "great house," came to look
after me, she always brought me a morsel privately; and at such times I
was entirely free from annoyance by the older ones. But as she could
visit me only once in twenty-four hours, my juvenile days enjoyed but
little rest from my domineering superiors in years and strength.

When my grandmother would inquire of the others how her "little boy" was
getting on, they would tell her that I was doing well, and kindly invite
me to the fire to warm myself. I was afraid to complain to her of their
treatment, as, for so doing, they would have beaten me, after she had
gone to the "great house" again. I was thus compelled to submit to their
misrepresentation, as well as to their abuse and indifference, until I
grew older, when, by fighting first with one and then with another, I
became "too many" for them, and could have a seat at the fire as well as
the best. This experience of my boyhood has since been repeated in my
manhood. My rights at the fireplace were won by my child-fists; my
rights as a freeman were, under God, secured by my own right