Beasts of burden would be incomprehensible.

Both of my children were very proud of my position among and influence over the blacks.
And really I looked like a black-fellow myself at this time--not so much on account of exposure, as because my body was constantly coated with the charcoal and grease which serves as a protection from the weather and from insects.

My children, you may be interested to learn, never grasped the fact that my exile was other than quite voluntary on my part.
The children of the blacks continued to interest me as much as ever (I was always fond of children); and I never grew tired of watching them at their quaint little games.

I think they all loved me as much as I did them, and I was glad to see that their lives were one long dream of happiness.

They had no school to attend, no work to perform, and no punishment to suffer.