Slave v. “Free” Labour

“Caesar,” said a planter to one of his Negro slaves, “shin up thet thar tree an’ thin out ther branches some.” The Negro showed no dispo­sition to reply, and being urged with language customary of the time and place, answered, “Yaas, Massa, me go plenty quick, Massa, but dis chile ‘im tink, s’pose Cassar ‘im fa’ down—dat’s berry bad job fo’ Massa: Caesar ‘im cost lot o’ money. Spec’ Massa better send Irish Mike. If white man fa’ down dat aint no loss t’nobody, nohow.”