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not in my service. I began to grow impatient. 

 — " But what does she do at Cornwall ? Of what 

 use is she in the house?" — " Why sir, as to 

 use .... of no great use, sir ; " and then, after 

 a pause, he added in a lower voice, " It is the 

 custom, sir, in this country, for unmarried men to 

 have housekeepers, and Nancy is mine." But he 

 was unjust in saying that Nancy is of no use on 

 the estate ; for she is perpetually in the hospital, 

 nurses the children, can bleed, and mix up medi- 

 cines, and (as I am assured) she is of more service 

 to the sick than all the doctors. These brown 

 housekeepers generally attach themselves so sin- 

 cerely to the interests of their protectors, and make 

 themselves so useful, that they in common retain 

 their situation ; and their children (if slaves) are 

 always honoured by their fellows with the title of 

 Miss. My mulatto housemaid is always called 

 " Miss Polly," by her fellow-servant Phillis. This 

 kind of connection is considered by a brown girl 

 in the same light as marriage. They will tell you, 

 with an air of vanity, " I am Mr. Such-a-one's 

 Love!" and always speak of him as being her hus- 

 band; and I am told, that, except on these terms, 

 it is extremely difficult to obtain the favours of a 

 woman of colour. To gain the situation of house- 

 keeper to a white man, the mulatto girl 



" directs her aim ; 

 This makes her happiness, and this her fame." 



