chose to die.
We finally arrived after what I guessed was almost an hour of walking. Bird's gimpy leg kept us at a slow pace, though I did enjoy his company. Master Smith and his wife were waiting on the porch in rocking chairs when we arrived.
"There they are!" I heard Master Smith say as we approached.
Mistress Smith was not what I had expected. I thought she'd be old and ugly but I was surprised to see that she was very young compared to Master Smith. I guess she might have been in her later twenties. She appeared to be a little on the heavy side but not fat by any means. Her long blond hair stood out on her light blue dress and she appeared quite attractive. I was surprised that Master Smith would prefer a nigger to his beautiful wife.
Master Smith had shaved the stubble from his face though I suspected he only shaved occasionally. The skin of his chin and jaw was much paler than that of his forehead and upper cheeks. The house was very large, not nearly as big as Master Edward's but still it was intimidating to know that I would have to clean it alone.
"So you're Alice?" Mistress Smith said.
"Yes ma'am" I replied.
"Well I think you will like it here. It's very quiet and I don't expect a lot from my house keeper, just basic cooking and cleaning." Mistress Smith said. "It's just Robert and I here today; my personal servant is on an errand so I will show you around."
I followed Mistress Smith into the house. She showed me where the kitchen was. I expected that was where I would be spending most of my time.
"Robert seems to be quite taken with you." She said before pausing as if she were awaiting a reply.
"I reckon so Mistress Smith" was all I could think to say.
"Please don't be so formal, call me Ms. Rebekah" She replied.
"Yes ma'am" I responded.
Ms. Rebekah went on to show me around the kitchen as best she could but it was obvious that she didn't spend much time there or know where things were.
"I'll have Sissy show you around better when she returns." She said as I followed her into the main room. "Now Sissy handles my garden and personal needs so you won’t be doing any of that, but I am very strict when it comes to dirt and dust in the house, I can't stand it so your duties will consist of a lot of cleaning chores." She said.
"Yes ma'am." I responded. "Will I be looking after your children?”
"I don’t have any children. My only son died several years ago and I can’t have anymore.” Ms. Rebekah replied.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
"Its fine, you didn't know." She began. "An unfortunate surgery in my youth left me damaged inside. I was lucky to have Charles for seven years. I prefer not to discuss it."
"Yes ma'am" I responded.
Ms. Rebekah showed me around the house and then to the main closet where my cleaning supplies were stored then she left me to begin my work. I was nervous. I had no idea what I was doing but I just grabbed a feather dusted and a cloth and began wiping down everything in the house. Ms. Rebekah remained outside most of the day. Late in the afternoon I heard a wagon approaching. I looked out a window and saw a wagon pull up to the front of the house. Two slaves, a buck and a wench got out and began unloading boxes.
"Alice!" Ms. Rebekah yelled.
I went outside where I was told to help Sissy and Henry unload the wagon. The two slaves appeared to be about the same age as Ms. Rebekah. Henry was very large and muscular, Sissy was small framed and the top of her head came only to Henry's chest.
"Sissy, when you are done with that take Alice and show her what is expected of her. I tried to explain it, but you know I'm not good at that sort of thing." Ms. Rebekah said.
"Yes'um" Sissy replied.
Once the heavy boxes were unloaded Sissy took me inside.
"So you Massa Smith new girl huh?" Sissy asked.
"What you mean?" I asked as if I didn't know what she was talking about.
"Ever body know what he do with his house keepers. Can you even cook?" Sissy asked.
I just looked at
We finally arrived after what I guessed was almost an hour of walking. Bird's gimpy leg kept us at a slow pace, though I did enjoy his company. Master Smith and his wife were waiting on the porch in rocking chairs when we arrived.
"There they are!" I heard Master Smith say as we approached.
Mistress Smith was not what I had expected. I thought she'd be old and ugly but I was surprised to see that she was very young compared to Master Smith. I guess she might have been in her later twenties. She appeared to be a little on the heavy side but not fat by any means. Her long blond hair stood out on her light blue dress and she appeared quite attractive. I was surprised that Master Smith would prefer a nigger to his beautiful wife.
Master Smith had shaved the stubble from his face though I suspected he only shaved occasionally. The skin of his chin and jaw was much paler than that of his forehead and upper cheeks. The house was very large, not nearly as big as Master Edward's but still it was intimidating to know that I would have to clean it alone.
"So you're Alice?" Mistress Smith said.
"Yes ma'am" I replied.
"Well I think you will like it here. It's very quiet and I don't expect a lot from my house keeper, just basic cooking and cleaning." Mistress Smith said. "It's just Robert and I here today; my personal servant is on an errand so I will show you around."
I followed Mistress Smith into the house. She showed me where the kitchen was. I expected that was where I would be spending most of my time.
"Robert seems to be quite taken with you." She said before pausing as if she were awaiting a reply.
"I reckon so Mistress Smith" was all I could think to say.
"Please don't be so formal, call me Ms. Rebekah" She replied.
"Yes ma'am" I responded.
Ms. Rebekah went on to show me around the kitchen as best she could but it was obvious that she didn't spend much time there or know where things were.
"I'll have Sissy show you around better when she returns." She said as I followed her into the main room. "Now Sissy handles my garden and personal needs so you won’t be doing any of that, but I am very strict when it comes to dirt and dust in the house, I can't stand it so your duties will consist of a lot of cleaning chores." She said.
"Yes ma'am." I responded. "Will I be looking after your children?”
"I don’t have any children. My only son died several years ago and I can’t have anymore.” Ms. Rebekah replied.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
"Its fine, you didn't know." She began. "An unfortunate surgery in my youth left me damaged inside. I was lucky to have Charles for seven years. I prefer not to discuss it."
"Yes ma'am" I responded.
Ms. Rebekah showed me around the house and then to the main closet where my cleaning supplies were stored then she left me to begin my work. I was nervous. I had no idea what I was doing but I just grabbed a feather dusted and a cloth and began wiping down everything in the house. Ms. Rebekah remained outside most of the day. Late in the afternoon I heard a wagon approaching. I looked out a window and saw a wagon pull up to the front of the house. Two slaves, a buck and a wench got out and began unloading boxes.
"Alice!" Ms. Rebekah yelled.
I went outside where I was told to help Sissy and Henry unload the wagon. The two slaves appeared to be about the same age as Ms. Rebekah. Henry was very large and muscular, Sissy was small framed and the top of her head came only to Henry's chest.
"Sissy, when you are done with that take Alice and show her what is expected of her. I tried to explain it, but you know I'm not good at that sort of thing." Ms. Rebekah said.
"Yes'um" Sissy replied.
Once the heavy boxes were unloaded Sissy took me inside.
"So you Massa Smith new girl huh?" Sissy asked.
"What you mean?" I asked as if I didn't know what she was talking about.
"Ever body know what he do with his house keepers. Can you even cook?" Sissy asked.
I just looked at
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