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February 12. (Thursday.) 



On my former visit to Jamaica, I found on my 

 estate a poor woman nearly one hundred years 

 old, and stone blind. She was too infirm to walk ; 

 but two young negroes brought her on their backs 

 to the steps of my house, in order, as she said, that 

 she might at least touch massa, although she could 

 not see him. When she had kissed my hand, " that 

 was enough," she said ; " now me hab once kiss a 

 massa's hand, me willing to die to-morrow, me no 

 care." She had a woman appropriated to her 

 service, and was shown the greatest care and atten- 

 tion ; however, she did not live many months after 

 my departure. There was also a mulatto, about 

 thirty years of age, named Bob, who had been 

 almost deprived of the use of his limbs by the 

 horrible cocoa-bay, and had never done the least 

 work since he was fifteen. He was so gentle and 

 humble, and so fearful, from the consciousness of 

 his total inability of soliciting my notice, that I 

 could not help pitying the poor fellow ; and when- 

 ever he came in my way I always sought to 

 encourage him by little presents, and other trifling 

 marks of favour. His thus unexpectedly meeting 

 with distinguishing kindness, where he expected to 

 be treated as a worthless incumbrance, made a 

 strong impression on his mind. Soon after my 

 departure his malady assumed a more active ap- 

 pearance j but during the last stages of its progress 



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