Anonymous - The memoirs of Dolly Morton

How did you come to know that I had spanked them? I inquired.

Oh, dey came home cryin’ and rubbin’ deir bottoms, an’ dey tole us dat de Missis had given dem a spankin’ in de summer house for trowin’ stones at de kitten.

I smiled, and asked Dinah if she knew who was the father of the children. She knew everything connected with Woodlands, and she informed me that the father was a white man who had at one time been an overseer on the plantation. I then asked her several more questions, and, since she was always ready to chatter to me on the least encouragement, I heard some very curious stories about the doings of slave women and girls.

She also gave me many particulars which I had not heard before about herself and the Randolph family. Dinah was very fond of hearing herself speak, and she used a great many more words than were necessary, so I will only give you a summary of what she told me.

She was exactly the same age as Randolph, both having been born on the same day, thirty-five years back. Her mother had been Randolph’s nurse, and the two children had been brought up together and had played with each other in their young days. When George grew to boyhood, he became the young master and she had to submit to all his caprices.

He was the only child and his parents spoiled him, allowing him to do what he liked. He was very precocious, and, before he was fifteen years of age, he had begun to feel her. Whenever she offended him, he would throw her down upon the floor, turn up her petticoats and spank her.

When they were eighteen years of age, he took her maidenhead. Then he continued to possess her whenever he felt inclined, for three years. After this, he went to Europe. He was away for a couple of years, and, after his return, he had further carnal relations with her only occasionally.

When Dinah was twenty-five, she got married to a quadroon man a few years older than she.

From that time, Randolph had never touched her. But, as she pithily expressed it: Massa George had plenty of oder gals in de house.

When Randolph was thirty years old, his father and mother died within a short time of each other and he became master of Woodlands. When that event occurred, Dinah was a widow and was head parlormaid. Randolph made her housekeeper and gave her a certain amount of authority over the other slave women. Of course he had never hesitated to whip her if she happened to displease him; it was, however, nearly two years now since she had received a whipping.

Dinah, having started, would have gone on chattering all night about Woodlands and its people. But as I was beginning to feel very sleepy, I sent her away and went to bed.

Next morning I received a letter from Randolph informing me that he would be home in three days and telling me to have a good dinner ready for him at the usual hour, with gumbo soup, stewed terrapin and roasted canvasback ducks. He was very fond of those three things, two of which-gumbo soup and stewed terrapin-can be got in perfection only in the Southern States.

Sending for Dinah, I told her that her master was coming back and I gave her orders about the dinner, also telling her to warn the cook and the kitchen-women to be careful. Randolph, being a great gourmet, was most particular about the cooking of everything, and if a cook, through carelessness, spoiled a dish, her bottom was generally made to smart.

After lunch on the day Randolph was to return, I interviewed Dinah, who told me that she had got the terrapin and the canvasback ducks and that the cooks were preparing a very good dinner. It was only two o’clock, and, since I did not expect Randolph to be home until six, I thought I would go out for a ride.

I knew that he would scold me if he did not find me dressed for dinner and waiting in the drawing room to receive him. So, after ordering my horse to be brought to the terrace, I went up to my room, and, assisted by Rosa, dressed in full riding costume-a short chemise reaching to my knees and a dark blue habit. On my head I wore a soft felt hat of tan color, and I had tan gauntlets on my hands.

Rosa always was amused when she was helping me to dress in riding costume, and, on this occasion, while buttoning my breeches round my broad hips, she laughed, saying, Oh Missis, how funny you does look in dem tight trousies. Dey does show de shape of your figure, an’

no mistake.

However, when I was completely attired, the girl gazed admiringly at me, remarking that I looked real lubly. And I think that I may say without conceit that I did look well in riding costume.

I went downstairs and out on the terrace, where one of the Negro grooms was walking my horse up and down. The horse was getting old, but he was a very handsome creature, a thoroughbred dark bay with black points. He knew me well, for I used to visit him every day, giving him bits of bread, lumps of sugar and slices of carrot, of all of which he was very fond.

The groom put me up on the saddle, then I trotted off alone. (I never took a man with me.) It was a bright, cool day, the old horse was frisky but perfectly under my control, and, as he ambled with an easy action along the smooth, level road, the breeze fanned my cheeks, bringing an increased color to them. My eyes began to sparkle and I felt in very good spirits.

I rode seven miles to a farm house, where I dismounted and had a glass of milk while the old horse had a bucket of meal and water. Then, after a short rest, I again mounted and rode slowly back to Woodlands, arriving at five o’clock.

The groom was waiting for me on the terrace, and, as he helped me down from the saddle, he told me that de Massa had been back about an hour. Hurrying into the house, I went straight to the drawing room, where I found Randolph lying on the sofa.

Oh, George! I exclaimed. I am sorry I was not in when you returned. But I did not think that you would be home until six o’clock.

I expected that he would be very cross with me for not having been waiting for him. But, to my great relief, he was in good humor. Never mind, Dolly, he said. It doesn’t matter.

Then, getting off the sofa, he lifted me up in his arms and kissed me on the forehead in a gentle affectionate way. (He seldom kissed me, and, when he did, his kisses generally were coarse and sensual.) I was surprised at his soft manner and tender kiss, and I thought to myself that, if only he would treat me more as a woman and less as a subject for the gratification of his passions, I might get to like him a little.

But his soft mood did not last many moments. I saw the sensual look, which I knew so well, come into his eyes as they roved over the curves of my bosom and the outlines of my hips, which were clearly defined by my tightly-fitting habit. After a moment, he said: You are looking very fresh and rosy, and your habit does show off your figure to perfection. In fact you look so nice that I am going to ’have’ you this minute, just as you stand.

Oh! I exclaimed, rather taken aback. That will be very uncomfortable. I’ve got on breeches and boots. Come to my room and let me take them off.

No, I won’t go to your room, he said laughing. I intend to keep you here and poke you just as you are. I’ve ’had’ women in all sorts of dress and undress, but I’ve never ’had’ one in full riding costume. It will be a decided novelty; therefore my pleasure will be increased. I’ve not touched a woman since I left you. Now take off your hat and gloves, but don’t remove anything else.

When I first had seen him that afternoon, I was not disinclined for a poke, for there had been three weeks abstinence and, if he had taken me quietly up to my room, had let me undress and then had poked me properly on the bed, I should have been quite pleased. But now I was annoyed by the coarse way in which he had spoken, and I disliked having to submit to his embraces while dressed as I was. However, I knew that it would be useless to remonstrate.