Araminta was enslaved. At age six, she already had a job as a weaver’s helper.
“No, do it like this!”
“Like this, Missus?”
“NO, NO, NO! It’s simple, like this! You are no help at all!”
“How is she doing?”
“Worse than useless! She’s slow and doesn’t do it right. We should send her back.”
“Minty, you come help me outside.”
“Yes, sir.”
“This is a muskrat trap. I have set them up all over this swamp. I want you to wade in and check them.”
“Check for muskrats?”
“That’s right, in you go.”
Comprehension Questions
1. What tasks were forced upon Araminta?
A. Cooking and sewing.
B. Harvesting a field.
C. Helping the weaver and wading in the swamp to check on muskrat traps.
2. Why were people making her do these chores?
A. Because they were strict.
B. Because hard work builds character.
C. Because Araminta was a slave.
A. Because they were strict.
B. Because hard work builds character.
C. Because Araminta was a slave.
Your Thoughts
3. Did you like this excerpt? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
4. List any vocabulary words below.