A Day in the Life of a Farmer

In my community, I am a middling farmer in 1622.  I am a widow, for my husband died when the Natives attacked, and scalped the English in Jamestown. I shall never marry again. I also used to have two children, James and Rebecca. James left me to go to Virginia. James was just like his father. The other child is Rebecca, a grown woman. Devestated, all I feel is loneliness, and bitterly mad. I did not quite understand why I was being left from, abandonded, rejected in some way.. I haven’t been to church in the ever longest time, and I know I musn’t go. My life wasn’t always this bad, though. On the plantation, I have a couple of slaves, like around five or six. The main crop that I grow is mainly tobacco, but I also grow wheat, barley, and corn. I promptly get up at six a.m. Usually the first thing I do, is to take a shower, then go down to cook, then consume my porridge. I usually wear a light pale blue dress, and for shoes, I usually wear cheap, brown, wore down shoes. On the top of my head, I put my hair into a bun, and put a light blue cap on top. On the plantation, the slaves and indentured servants remind me of flies. You know, the pesky, annoying little things. Creatures maybe. They usually obey my loud commands, but I usually straight one of them out sometimes. I would cackle harshly as their sweaty backs bloody from the crack of my brown, leather whip. I usually don’t whip them however. They know the drill ; get up promptly at three A.M., feed the animals, and head to the fields with the animals, farming tools such as hoes. I remember one day, I had a slave that would not listen at all! He winced when whipped, but still would be out of control.

“William! Cut your foolishness before I whip you!” Was he trying to take control? To show me that he wanted to be in charge? William never replied to my questions, statements, or comments. He just glared at me, like an angry animal.

After enough was enough, I decided to sell him. My heart, swelling with both relief and pure happiness from selling the animal, as I called him, but to also purchase another slave. All I thought about was the money, cotton and tobacco. Not thinking twice when we got to the slave stand, I just grabbed William by the arm, and never looked at him again. All I remember is buying another slave, and continuing on with my life.