July 1st, 1858.—Uncle Tony has had another stroke of paralysis; this time it is much worse than before. He is Lulu’s father, and Mother has excused her from all duties in the house, that she may take care of him. Lulu’s house is just outside the back yard, it has one large room and two smaller ones; uncle Tony stays in the large room where he can have all the company he wants. He likes everybody to come to see him, that is, he did, but now, since this last stroke he cannot speak, though he understands all that is said to him. Mother has his meals cooked and sent to him and Lulu eats from our table just as she always has done. Mother says a ?re this warm weather would make him uncomfortable.
Susan Bradford is 12 years old when this entry was made. Uncle Toney and Lulu are slaves.
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