We had heard it rumored that there were some suitors for Mammy's hand. She had always avowed that she had been a “likely gal,” but we had to take her word for this, as she had very slender claims to “likelihood”--if the word suits hers--in our remembrance. She was nearly a mulatto--very “light gingerbread,” or “saddle-colored”--and a widow of some years' standing. Still, there was no accounting for tastes amongst the colored folks, any more than there was amongst the whites in this matter. We surmised that some of the aspirants suspected Mammy of having a _dot_, the accumulation of many perquisites for her assistance on wedding occasions. It may be remarked that she had no legal right to demand anything for such services. One of the sisters approached Mammy timidly on this subject, and was assured positively by her that “they ain't no nigger in the whole university whar I would marry. No, ma'm. I done got 'nough of um.” We knew that Mammy's married life had been a stormy one. Her husband, Jerry, had been a skilful coach-painter, and got good wages for his master, who was liberal in the 'lowance that was made by all generous owners to slaves of this class. Jerry was a fervent “professor,” who came home drunk nearly every night, and never failed to throw up to Mammy her dangerous spiritual condition. Jerry was so vulnerable a subject that Mammy was prepared to score some strong points against him. He invariably met these retorts with roars of laughter and loud assertions of his being “in grace once for all.” * * * * * Left the sole representative of my family in the city, I had to start a new establishment, just as Mammy did. I made a visit to hers a few days after our separation, and came away with my heart in my mouth at the sight of some of the familiar objects of Mammy's room, and such of our own as she had fallen heir to, in strange places and appositions. I also felt that Mammy's room had a more homelike aspect than my own. There was no doubt that Mammy enjoyed her new conditions and surroundings. She had been provided with a paper signed by some of us, stating that it was with our permission that she lived to herself. This secured her free movement at all times--the privilege of very few of her race not legally manumitted. Her visits to me were quite frequent, and she never failed to find something that needed putting to rights, and putting it so immediately, with fierce comments on the worthlessness of all “high-lands,” which was _negroce_ for hirelings--a class held in contempt by the servants owned in families. I think that Mammy must have discovered the fact that my estate was somewhat deteriorated. I was painfully conscious of this myself, and saw no prospect of its amelioration. The little cash that had come to me was quite dissipated, and my meagre salary was insufficient to satisfy my artificial wants--the only ones that a young man cannot dispense with and be happy.