Northern Georgia Sketches

"Northern Georgia Sketches" by Will N. Harben is a set of stories that paint a picture of life in Northern Georgia during the late 1800s. The stories show the way people lived and interacted, especially when it came to slavery and local traditions. The first story tells about Andrew Duncan and Peter Gill, dealing with the troubles that come from owning a slave named Big Joe. The Duncans visit the Gills and find out that Peter had to take ownership of Big Joe, who used to belong to the Whitney estate. The story has funny parts that show how awkward the Gills feel because they now own a slave, even though they never liked slavery before. Big Joe feels embarrassed, and the Gills struggle to handle their new position, which shows the bigger problems in society at that time, creating understanding of human connections tied to historical happenings.