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Letter to Editor
December 9, 1824
The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Register
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
Humorous dialect letter from Felice Ann, a Black servant in Wilmington, proposing marriage to 'misser N.J.' from the Watchman newspaper, describing her background, skills, and appearance while seeking a husband.
OCR Quality
82%
Good
Full Text
To de Wilmington.
Massa Printer.-When I was little gal de very good pepel of dis place gib me de Sabbat school edekashen, which larn me to rite, and now I hope I bomby git married.
Massa Printer.-I sometime read in de newspaper afer massa B-- be done wid it. I tell litile gal for fetch it to me in de kitchen, and wen I wash de cup and saser, de dish and de plate I take mny pipe, den read all bout general Jakson, massa Adam massa Crofoot, and two tree more wat I forgit; but massa Printer how glad I be wen I rend bout J. want one wife. Now I all long want to marry, for de cole nite come, hi! hi! he! I be so glad I clap mv han for de fun;-- little gal say, Ningh what you shout for, you not in mcetenhouse? I tel neber mind, I se wat was good; I do hope now for get married. Massa B's Cato ofen set by de fire an put he arm roun my neck, and tell ine low he lobe me, and ax me for hab him--I say cha Cato, I ges you tink I mus be fool for hab you; no, you got no larnen, I's goin to rile a lub letter like young mistess: I's goin to'rite lobletter for de paper. See here, you no read bout young man who be shame for say he name, in de Watchman paper? he want a wife an how you no but I git him.
To misser N.J. in de Watchman, black or white.
I do lib in de toun wid massa B near de market; I hab no fortne, but I git haf dollar a week an I lay up haf dat too, an beside I got one new frock. I got no relashun but unkle Tom, an he saw wood for heseif: I be not wax, nor name Xantippe, but Felice Ann, my oder name no ods. I be verv plain too in the shortgown an pettecoat, an I doni lob to flit an flirt bout town like some folk, ony to unkle Tom's, ax unke Tom if I do, an I boun he say no. I hab six ense, dat is bet ter as sive; I make de bed snd sweep de room, won: I skrub and wash, too: I kook de dinner an eat him too.- no tree; can konm unkle Tom head an mend he trouser, fore; can make pepper-e-pot an hot korn, sivc; and kno how for make you one goed wife, an you good hushan, dats six; dare, hon you like Felice Ann, tink shel do? I be too very hansom; Cato tell me so, an I look in de glass an see de puty wite eye, an de puty wite teeth, an de fine black skin. I cover de wool wid a hankercher, it do not show. I be not big nor little; wen I stan s'rait an look ober my bly I do not sce my big toe; for all my foot is de beau ty, not so long as de shingle. Now I lobe you from read, if you hab no fortne, ony lay up wat I dc, dat will do. If you be one fool or be not, no matter; good lookin, noting. I lob little man, den I can fix him. I lcb goodna:re, he mus show de ivory all bout
I ges I now tell all wat is. I tell true my name an wat I be; an now I tink we mach bery well. an unkle Spencer shall tie de not.-Oh! how glad be. I be sham for go to de Pos Office; cone to de alley gate, tap tree times and gib one wissle, den I will fy into de arm ob lobe, be squeze to he bosom an den be happy.
FELICE ANN.
Massa Printer.-When I was little gal de very good pepel of dis place gib me de Sabbat school edekashen, which larn me to rite, and now I hope I bomby git married.
Massa Printer.-I sometime read in de newspaper afer massa B-- be done wid it. I tell litile gal for fetch it to me in de kitchen, and wen I wash de cup and saser, de dish and de plate I take mny pipe, den read all bout general Jakson, massa Adam massa Crofoot, and two tree more wat I forgit; but massa Printer how glad I be wen I rend bout J. want one wife. Now I all long want to marry, for de cole nite come, hi! hi! he! I be so glad I clap mv han for de fun;-- little gal say, Ningh what you shout for, you not in mcetenhouse? I tel neber mind, I se wat was good; I do hope now for get married. Massa B's Cato ofen set by de fire an put he arm roun my neck, and tell ine low he lobe me, and ax me for hab him--I say cha Cato, I ges you tink I mus be fool for hab you; no, you got no larnen, I's goin to rile a lub letter like young mistess: I's goin to'rite lobletter for de paper. See here, you no read bout young man who be shame for say he name, in de Watchman paper? he want a wife an how you no but I git him.
To misser N.J. in de Watchman, black or white.
I do lib in de toun wid massa B near de market; I hab no fortne, but I git haf dollar a week an I lay up haf dat too, an beside I got one new frock. I got no relashun but unkle Tom, an he saw wood for heseif: I be not wax, nor name Xantippe, but Felice Ann, my oder name no ods. I be verv plain too in the shortgown an pettecoat, an I doni lob to flit an flirt bout town like some folk, ony to unkle Tom's, ax unke Tom if I do, an I boun he say no. I hab six ense, dat is bet ter as sive; I make de bed snd sweep de room, won: I skrub and wash, too: I kook de dinner an eat him too.- no tree; can konm unkle Tom head an mend he trouser, fore; can make pepper-e-pot an hot korn, sivc; and kno how for make you one goed wife, an you good hushan, dats six; dare, hon you like Felice Ann, tink shel do? I be too very hansom; Cato tell me so, an I look in de glass an see de puty wite eye, an de puty wite teeth, an de fine black skin. I cover de wool wid a hankercher, it do not show. I be not big nor little; wen I stan s'rait an look ober my bly I do not sce my big toe; for all my foot is de beau ty, not so long as de shingle. Now I lobe you from read, if you hab no fortne, ony lay up wat I dc, dat will do. If you be one fool or be not, no matter; good lookin, noting. I lob little man, den I can fix him. I lcb goodna:re, he mus show de ivory all bout
I ges I now tell all wat is. I tell true my name an wat I be; an now I tink we mach bery well. an unkle Spencer shall tie de not.-Oh! how glad be. I be sham for go to de Pos Office; cone to de alley gate, tap tree times and gib one wissle, den I will fy into de arm ob lobe, be squeze to he bosom an den be happy.
FELICE ANN.
What sub-type of article is it?
Comedic
Emotional
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Marriage Proposal
Dialect Letter
Felice Ann
Personal Ad
Wilmington
Black Servant
Matrimonial
What entities or persons were involved?
Felice Ann
Misser N.J. In De Watchman
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Felice Ann
Recipient
Misser N.J. In De Watchman
Main Argument
felice ann proposes marriage to n.j., highlighting her domestic skills, savings, plain virtues, and affectionate nature, regardless of his fortune or appearance.
Notable Details
Written In Phonetic Black Dialect
References To Enslavement (Massa B, Cato)
Lists Six 'Enses' (Senses?) As Wifely Qualities
Humorously Rejects Local Suitor Cato For Lack Of Learning