 After being admonished by his father , Dr. Ned Trescott , for damaging a peony while playing in his family 's yard , young Jimmie Trescott visits his family 's coachman , Henry Johnson . Henry , who is described as " a very handsome negro " , " known to be a light , a weight , and an eminence in the suburb of the town " , is friendly toward Jimmie . Later that evening Henry dresses smartly and saunters through town — inciting catcalls from friends and ridicule from the local white men — on his way to call on the young Bella Farragut , who is extremely taken with him . 
