Memoir of plantation childhood: nursery rules, anointing with mutton tallow, freedom of childhood

Evening held two horrors for me — One a stone jar — about pint size — containing mutton — suet — and a piece of white flannel. The last thing before being tucked into bed was to be anointed — face and hands — with a thick coating of melted mutton suet. The other — “night drawers” made with feet — now called sleeping garments — They were made of heavy white canton flannel. When laundered the fuzz washed into hard little balls and I loathed the feel of them. The nurse dozed by the fire until the children were asleep — and then went to her room which was down stairs.

I am firmly convinced that the rules and regulations — made and carried out — make a happier home life — and happier children. We had our place for all our play and freedom we wanted — but it was apart from the life of the grown ups. I do not mean that we were not a part of our parents daily life — we were. Mauma Mim was constantly in and out of the nursery — and we were always near Dad when he was in the yard — but we were not allowed to