Аннотация:The slaves Martha and Sabino had been with the Vaz da Silva family for a long time, living in Curvelo, Minas Gerais.It's hard to say exactly how long, but at least since João Vaz da Silva inherited them from his father.João lived with his wife, his children and the two slaves (there was also a third, Conrado, labeled as mentally deficient).Martha and Sabino remained captive until João reached old age, when, out of fear of approaching death and judgment, or for the good services rendered to the family, he freed Sabino and drafted freedom papers for Martha, who was to be released after her master had passed away.Even before João's death, Sabino and Martha had no doubts as to the change in their status.After they received their freedom, they continued to reside with their masters, "reigning among them the equality of domestic intimacy, without distinction as to servile condition, " and to interact with their masters "of their own free will, singing and dancing with them." But the harmony in the Vaz da Silva home lasedt only until João's death.Shortly thereafter, Martha, unhappy with her ex-mistress's interference in her quarrels with a certain Maria Bernardina, left.Martha went to live in the home of Manoel Rodrigues Vianna.Because she was continually pursued by João Vaz da Silva's children
