The Lowes were not wealthy and it was necessary for them to raise and manufacture as many things on the plantation as possible.  Slaves toiled from early morning until night in the corn, cotton sugar cane and tobacco fields.  Others tended the large herds of cattle from which milk, butter, meat and leather was produced.  The leather was tanned and made into crude shoes for the slaves for the short winter months.  No one wore shoes except during cold weather and on Sundays.  Fruit orchards and vegetables were also grown, but not given as much attention as the cotton and corn, as these were the main money crops.

As a child Rebecca learned to ape the ways of her mistress.  At first this was considered very amusing.  Whenever she had not knitted her required number of socks during the week, she simply informed them that she had not done it because she had not wanted to—­besides she was not a “nigger.”  This stubbornness accompanied by hysterical tantrums continued to cause Rebecca to receive many stiff punishments that might have been avoided.  Her master had given orders that no one was ever to whip her, so devious methods were employed to punish her, such as marching her down the road with hands tied behind her back, or locking her in a dark room for several hours with only bread and water.

Rebecca resembled very much a daughter of William Lowe.  The girl was really her aunt, and very conscious of the resemblance.  Both had brown eyes and long dark hair.  They were about the same height and the clothes of the young mistress fitted Rebecca “like a glove.”  To offset this likeness, Rebecca’s hair was always cut very short.  Finally Rebecca rebelled at having her hair all cut off and blankly refused to submit to the treatment any longer.  After this happening, the girls formed a dislike for each other, and Rebecca was guilty of doing every mean act of which she was capable to torment the white girl.  Rebecca’s mother aided and abetted her in this, often telling her things to do.  Rebecca did not fear the form of punishment administered her and she had the cunning to keep “on the good side of the master” who had a fondness for her “because she was so much like the Lowes.”  The mistress’ demand that she be sold or beaten was always turned aside with “Dear, you know the child can’t help it; its that cursed Cherokee blood in her.”

There seemed to be no very strong opposition to a slave’s learning to read and write on the plantation, so Rebecca learned along with the white children.  Her father purchased books for her with money he was allowed to earn from the sale of corn whiskey which he made, or from work done on some other plantation during his time off.  He was not permitted to buy his freedom, however.

On Sundays Rebecca attended church along with the other slaves.  Services were held in the white churches after their services were over.  They were taught to obey their masters and work hard, and that they should be very thankful for the institution of slavery which brought them from darkest Africa.