Diddie, Dumps and Tot or, Plantation child-life

Diddie, Dumps & Tot; or, Plantation child-life

In writing this little volume, I had for my primary object the idea of keeping alive many of the old stories, legends, traditions, games, hymns, and superstitions of the Southern slaves, which, with this generation of negroes, will pass away. There are now no more dear old "Mammies" and "Aunties" in our nurseries, no more good old "Uncles" in the workshops, to tell the children those old tales that have been told to our mothers and grandmothers for generationsthe stories that kept our fathers and grandfathers quiet at night, and induced them to go early to bed that they might hear them the sooner. Nor does my little book pretend to be any defence of slavery. I know not whether it was right or wrong (there are many pros and cons on that subject); but it was the law of the land, made by statesmen from the North as well as the South, long before my day, or my father's or grandfather's day; and, born under that law a slave-holder, and the descendant of slave-holders, raised in the heart of the cotton section, surrounded by negroes from my earliest infancy, "I KNOW whereof I do speak;" and it is to tell of the pleasant and happy relations that existed between master and slave that I write this story of "Diddie, Dumps, and Tot." The stories, plantation games, and hymns are just as I heard them in my childhood. I have learned that Mr. Harris, in "Uncle Remus," has already given the "Tar Baby;" but I have not seen his book, and, as our versions are probably different, I shall let mine remain just as "Chris" told it to the "chil'en." ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 17146
Author: Pyrnelle, Louise Clarke
Release Date: Nov 24, 2005
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Illustrator: Sheppard, William Ludwell, 1833-1912