did on his plantation; and every one of them, in his estimation,
was worth two hundred dollars, as Negroes were selling then, the
moment they drew breath."[11] Many people purchased Negro women
because they were good breeders, making large fortunes by selling
their children. This compulsory breeding naturally crushed the
maternal instincts in Negro women. One month after the birth of a
child, it was taken to a nursery and cared for by a servant until it
was sold, while the mother worked in the field. Thus she neither fed,
clothed, nor controlled her child, and consequently the usual love
between mother and child was absent. This is well illustrated in the
case of a certain slave mother, who, when dying, was asked how she
felt about leaving her children and who replied: "O missis, you will
take care of them; I don't mind them." It has been truthfully said
that the most appalling feature of slavery was the lack of family life
suffered by the Negro.

The Negroes lived in huts near the large house, which were usually log
cabins with board floors and good chimneys and which were generally
comfortable, but which, because of filth and indolence, presented a
foul and wretched appearance. Indeed, the appearance of the slave
himself was unfavorable. Olmsted describes him as "clumsy, awkward,
gross, elephantine in all his expressions and demeanor." The clothing
of the slave was of every variety, from the "smart mulatto lady's
maid, who wore the still fresh dress that had been her mistress's,
down to the pickaninny of three, five, or eight years of age, who went
as nature made him."[12] The little Negroes usually wore only a shirt
that reached to their knees, while the grown ones received two pairs
of shoes, a new suit of clothes, and a hat each year.[13] Their food,
as well as their clothes, varied according to the master, generally
consisting of cornmeal, bacon, and molasses, while on some plantations
they were allowed wheat flour, seasonal vegetables, and even
chicken.[14] It is reasonable to judge that the living of the slaves
was not very high, for it was to the interest of the master to bring
the food and clothing of the slaves down to the lowest cost.

The education of the slaves was very displeasing to the planter. North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana passed laws
forbidding slaves being taught to read or write, although North
Carolina slaves could be taught arithmetic. It was said that if they