Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. Domestic Helpers?Hannah Clarke?My First Appearance as Groomsman?Helping at a Well-Digging?A Colored Family?Naming a Baby. DOMESTIC HELPERS?HANNAH CLARKE. If I have failed to give you a bird’s-eye view of our Green Hill menage, it has been because our humbler friends, who assisted in the hard work of the family, have not been mentioned. These were received more on an equality than is the custom in cities, and during the long winter evenings were instructed at a large parlor table, by my eldest brother and sisters, in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Sleepy times were these to me, and I was dismissed to bed before the closing hour. But among our assistants was one whose name I write now with lnie and respect, such as I have felt for but few of my race not connected with me by family ties. Hannah Clarke (afterwards Bond) was one of nature’s noblewomen. Her family was very respectable; but, left an orphan while young, and her mother in reduced circumstances, Hannah was placed with my mother to
bring up. A most valuable member of our family, and a blessing to it she became. During the life of my father, at the
old house, she was my nurse, and we were much attached to each other. Indeed, to this day I believe she loved me better than her own children. Hannah assisted in every capacity that was required; but, if I recollect, took most of her meals at our table, except when
company came. Dependable in all she undertook, she was a great relief to my mother, and was felt to be one of the family. Previous to our removal from Old Green Hill, the barn caught fire, and in her anxiety to assist in extinguishing the flames she took up a large washing-tub filled with water, and with almost superhuman strength, caused by fright, carried ita considerable distanc…