May 29th, 1857.—We are really going to North Carolina and Father is going with us this time. It is almost. too good to be true. There is one cloud in my sky. Mother says we must take Frances with us that she may see her mother and grandmother. Now, Frances is very bad and nobody likes her very much, I have grown fond of her. Mother says we always love the child who gives us the most trouble and all the family laugh at me about “my objectionable little maid,” as they call her but she will not be any trouble after we get to Enfield, for Aunt Amy and Ann will have her all the time with them.
Aunt Robinson says we must keep on at school until the Friday before we leave. I am glad of that but it is hard to think of your lessons when so many pleasant thoughts are coming to your mind. She is going with us and Sister Mag says she is thankful the lessons are not to be continued all summer. But Sister Mag is a grown young lady now and does not study any more; she sings and plays a great deal and I love to hear her, she has such a sweet voice.
Susan Bradford is 11 years old when this entry was made. Frances is a slave as are her mother and grandmother.
Diary entries from before 1860 are included when the content is relevant to the issues that led to or framed the American Civil War. — MpG 5/22/2020