it
skeered outen a bresh heap."

"Marstah's stompin' an' ragin' 'roun lak a mad bull down thah," panted
the girl. "He say teh fotch Miss Betsy to him to oncet in the
settin'-room. She's gwine kotch it sho 'nough this time."

"'Deed she hain't, long's her brack mammy's heah teh p'otect her! Marse
Hi's losin' his las' grain o' sense; but he bettah min' how he capers
'roun'. He's been pussecutin' thet bressed chile long 'nough--all kaze
she's true teh her 'fections, an' woan give in when he say she shan't
hev thet nice, rosy-cheek, perlite young gemmin she's begaged to. Ole
Dilsey's done kep' still long 'nough; it's time fer her teh lay down de
law a bit. I hain't feared o' Marse Hi, ef he does stomp an' rumpage.
You heahs me, doan you?"

In this, as in all other large households throughout the Southern
States, the "black mammy" was an indispensable part of the family. The
real mother usually gave her children careful attention and
superintended their training; but she took upon herself little of the
drudgery and burden of their upbringing. A subordinate nurse was the
children's guardian and companion when they went out for play or
exercise, but the "black mammy" ruled over this negro and was the
highest authority on all matters pertaining to the nursery. Even the
real mother humored this foster mother in the management of the
children; and when, as in the case of Mrs. Gilcrest, the mistress was
frail of health and unassertive by nature, the black mammy's authority
became almost paramount. And such was the nature of Dilsey's authority.

Silas Gilcrest, Hiram's father, had bought Dilsey from a Massachusetts
slave-ship when she was a child of twelve years. She was just from
Africa, and could not speak a word of English. Silas Gilcrest brought
her at once into his own house, where she served first as nurse to the
infant Hiram, and later as upper house servant. Her skin was black as
ebony, but she was of superior intelligence and of stout and loyal
heart. She nursed Hiram Gilcrest in his babyhood, was his caretaker and
faithful attendant in boyhood, and his loyal adherent in early manhood.
When he married, she went with him from Massachusetts to Virginia, and
from there she and her husband and two children accompanied Hiram and
his wife to Kentucky.

When Betsy, Hiram's first-born, was laid in old Dilsey's arms, she had
just buried her own baby, and all the mother love of her passionate
nature went out to this tiny scion