"When I was nearly twelve years old, my kind mistress sickened and died"

This quote from Harriet Ann Jacobs shows the sadness as well as sorrow of a girl who has shed her cherished mistress. It is a suggestion of the fragility of life and also the importance of cherishing the time we have with those we enjoy. The quote additionally speaks with the bond between Jacobs and also her girlfriend, as she refers to her as "kind". This suggests that her mistress gave comfort as well as compassion in her life, and also her fatality was an excellent loss. The fact that Jacobs was "nearly twelve years of ages" when her girlfriend died likewise speaks to the impact of the loss on her young life. It is a suggestion of the importance of treasuring the time we have with those we like, and the long-term impact of loss.