1 SLAVES AND MASTERS Slave owners forced enslaved people to do many types of work including harsh physical labor such as picking cotton
Joe Bailey Talbot County Maryland September 20 1856 Joe Bailey watched the two slaves haul timber into the shipyard and nodded his approval Joe was a slave too one of the 40 working in the shipyard and on the farm owned by their master William Hughlett But Joe was no ordinary slave He was the foreman of the shipyard a manager of other slaves When the harvest was brought in from the fields in a few weeks he would supervise that too Joe took great pride in his privileged position The other slaves looked up to him almost as if he were their second master However Hughlett didn’t own Joe Joe’s master had rented him out to Hughlett for the past six years As Joe mulled over these thoughts his brother Bill who also worked for Hughlett came up to him How’s the boss man Bill asked Aren’t you supposed to be down at the mill Joe asked his brother The work there’s all done replied Bill Thought I’d come up and see if you needed me here
Joe looked up and saw their master approaching on horseback We don’t need help he said but you could ask Mr Hughlett what he needs doing Hughlett a tall man with a graying mustache rode up and reined in his horse He ignored Bill and spoke directly to Joe Things going smoothly up here Joe he asked As smooth as butter Mr Hughlett replied his foreman Good said Hughlett I’ve got some news that I think you’re going to like to hear Joe But I can’t tell you yet In a few days this business will be wrapped up and then I’ll have a surprise for you Until then keep up the good work Joe smiled Hughlett cast a sideways glance at Bill and then rode off toward his house What was that all about Bill asked his brother Joe grinned and rubbed his bald head Sounds like I might be getting a promotion he said Bill snorted The only promotion that would mean anything would be if he freed you And that would be some surprise Go on replied Joe I think you’re just a bit jealous Bill
Why should I be jealous of a fool like you Bill shot back And why am I a fool Joe asked For trusting a white man said his brother Then he strode off Joe watched him disappear along the banks of the nearby Choptank River He’s the fool he thought to himself Then he turned his thoughts to the surprise his master had in store for him and wondered what it could be
