The Grateful Negro : Kessinger Publishing : 9781166151140 : 116615114X : 10 Sep 2010 : The Grateful Negro: And The Birthday Present is a book written by Maria Edgeworth and published in 1874. The story follows the life of an enslaved man named Pedro, who is owned by a wealthy plantation owner named Mr. Villars. Pedro is a loyal and hardworking servant who is grateful for the kindness that Mr. Villars has shown him over the years.As Mr. Villars' birthday approaches, Pedro decides to give him a special gift to show his appreciation. He spends months carving a beautiful wooden box and filling it with flowers from the garden. When he presents the gift to Mr. Villars, he is overjoyed and touched by Pedro's thoughtfulness.However, not everyone is happy about Pedro's actions. The other slaves on the plantation become jealous and resentful, believing that Pedro is trying to gain favor with Mr. Villars. They plot to steal the gift and destroy it, but Pedro is able to outsmart them and save the