Several times he threw hints to be present when I was given a whipping, but since my parents did not think it unusual for their daughter to be whipped, they did not understand the hints. Mr. Raleigh acted at times as though he wished he might be able to take me out to the woodshed and give me a whipping, but lacked the courage to ask the privilege. I honestly think that if he had asked and my parents felt I had done something to deserve it, they would have permitted him to whip me. To them a disobedient girl deserved to be whipped, and it did not matter much to them who did it as long as her bottom received a good tanning. Besides, Mr. Raleigh had made a very favorable impression on them, and they thought everything he did was above question… I believe they would have approved of him whipping me even without asking their permission…
CHAPTER 2: SOLD INTO SLAVERY
Even though I was an only child, my parents did not have a great deal of affection for me. They wanted a boy when I was born. They felt a girl was only so much more extra expense, while a boy would have been a real help to them around the farm. About that time, the drought was beginning to create havoc among the farms. My father had planted a large mixed crop, but none of it was saved from the scorching sun.
“Maybe Mr. Raleigh would advance you some money to tide us over till next year,” Mother suggested one evening as she and Father sat discussing conditions.
“Maybe,” Father replied, but his tone was hopeless. “I have no security to offer him, so he might not care to. The bank's holding a mortgage on everything. People don't like to advance money these days without good security for it.”
“But we've got to do something,” Mother declared. “Perhaps Mr. Raleigh would give Lucille a job as housekeeper or something and she could help us out with her wages. We've put her through school and done things for her, so she can help us out now.”