39

SUNDAY Words of Negroes 1862
The negroes are pretty cunning. They
pretend they want us to stay, that
they would be in despair if we went
away and they tell us they will
give us eggs + chickens. Indeed
they do constantly offer eggs + they
feel hurt if they are refused, for
that is equivalent to refusing to
make any return. Old Susannah
the cook often send to table fish or
other delicacies. When I ask her
where she got them she says a friend
gave them to her & she gives them to
us. She don't want pay - no indeed.
She always gave such things to her
old massas, and then they in re-
turn gave a little sweetning, or some
thing good from the house. It was
give & take, good feeling all round.
All giving on one side I should think
all taking, early on the other, and
good feeling according to the nature