120 



they are excellent cajolers, and lay it on with a 

 trowel. Nicholas and John Fuller came to me 

 this morning to beg a favour, " and beg massa 

 hard, quite hard ! " It was, that when massa 

 went away, he would leave his picture for the 

 negroes ; " that they might talk to it, all just as 

 they did to massa." Shakspeare says — ■ 



" A little flattery does well sometimes ! " 



But, although the mode of expressing it may be 

 artifice, the sentiment of good-will may be shown, 

 A dog grows attached to the person who feeds 

 and makes much of him ; and as they have never 

 experienced as yet any but kind treatment from 

 me personally, it would be against common sense 

 and nature to suppose that my negroes do not feel 

 kindly towards me. 



January 20. 

 THE RUNAWAY. 



Peter, Peter was a black boy ; 



Peter, him pull foot one day : 

 Buckra girl, him* Peter's joy ; 



Lilly white girl entice him away. 

 Fye, Missy Sally, fye on you ! 

 Poor Blacky Peter why undo ? 

 Oh ! Peter, Peter was a bad boy ; 

 Peter was a runaway. 



* The negroes never 

 distinguish between 

 " him" and " her " in 

 their conversation. 



