Slavery acc. to Jacobs

Slavery, according to Jacobs, is inconstant, full of broken and worthless promises between master and slave.  The slaves also are at the mercy (or lack thereof) of their masters.  Throughout, the stark differences between free man and slave are pulled into the spotlight.  For example, on New Year's, a free man would stay up till midnight and shoot off fireworks.  A slave, on the other hand, would go out to the "hiring-ground" and try to sell their service to a good master for a year, while their mother sits at home, crying because she might not see her son/daughter for years.  The master, if satisfied with the slave's work, may hire them again, without giving other masters a chance at the slave's labor.  The day after New Year's is reserved for the auction block, when the master would gladly exchange a slave for money without guilt at the pain of the slave's family.  The overall view is one of hypocrisy in the view of master to slave, shown in the broken promises of Linda's old mistress.