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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Biography of a Slave, by Charles Thompson
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Biography of a Slave
+       Being the Experiences of Rev. Charles Thompson
+
+Author: Charles Thompson
+
+Posting Date: November 5, 2011 [EBook #9941]
+Release Date: February, 2006
+First Posted: November 2, 2003
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIOGRAPHY OF A SLAVE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Dave Morgan and PG Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+BIOGRAPHY OF A SLAVE
+
+Being The Experiences Of Rev. Charles Thompson,
+A Preacher Of The United Brethren Church,
+
+WHILE A SLAVE IN THE SOUTH.
+
+Together With Startling Occurrences Incidental To Slave Life.
+
+
+
+1875.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+In publishing this book I hope to do good not only to my own race, but
+to all who may read it. I am not a book-maker, and make no pretensions
+to literary attainments; and I have made no efforts to create for myself
+a place in the literary, book-making ranks. I claim for my book
+truthfulness and honesty of purpose, and upon that basis it must succeed
+or fail. The Biography of a Slave is called for by a very large number
+of my immediate acquaintances, and, I am assured, will meet with such
+reception as to justify the expense I have incurred in having it printed
+and bound. To the members of the United Brethren Church, white as well
+as colored, I look for help in the sale and circulation of my work, yet
+I am satisfied I will receive commendable patronage from members of all
+Christian churches everywhere.
+
+The book is written in the narrative style, as being much better suited
+to the tastes and capacities of my colored readers, and I have used
+simple and plain English language, discarding the idiomatic and
+provincial language of the southern slaves and ignorant whites,
+expecting thereby to help educate the blacks in the use of proper
+language.
+
+I am indebted to William H. Rhodes, Esq., attorney at law, of Newman,
+Douglas County, Illinois, for his valuable assistance in the preparation
+of my manuscript for the printer. He has re-written the whole of it for
+me, and has otherwise assisted me in the matter of placing the book
+before the public.
+
+CHARLES THOMPSON.
+
+Newman, Illinois, Aug., 1874.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+Charles Thompson, born in Atala County, Mississippi--Division of
+Kirkwood's slaves among his six Children--The writer and his two sisters
+fall to Mrs. Wilson--The parting between mother and child--Deprived of a
+fond mother forever--Old Uncle Jack--Wilson buys Uncle Ben from
+Strucker--Uncle Ben runs away and is hunted with blood-hounds--Two
+hundred dollars reward.
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+Not sent to hell by Wilson--Mrs. Wilson protects me, to whom I
+belong--Sent to school with the children--The school-children teach me
+to read and write--What came of it--Mount that mule or I'll shoot
+you--I mounted the mule--A start for the railroad to work--I dismount
+and take to the woods--I owe allegiance to God and my country only.
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+Caught, tried, and taken back home to James Wilson--My mistress saves me
+from being whipped--I go to the railroad and work one month
+precisely--Go back home--Wilson surprised--Left the railroad at
+3 o'clock A.M.--Did not want to disturb Leadbitter's rest--Sent to Memphis
+with a load of cotton--Afraid of the slave-pens and slave-auction--Start
+for home--Not sold--Pray, sing, and shout--Get home and ordered to hire
+myself out.
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+Start out on my travels to hunt a new master--Find Mr. Dansley--Hire to
+him--Thirty dollars per month for my master and five dollars for
+myself--Wilson astonished--Appointed superintendent of Dansley's
+farm--Rules and regulations--Peace and tranquillity--My moral labors
+successful--Prayer and social meetings--Meetings in the woods--Quarrel
+and fight like very brothers--Time comes to be moved to another field of
+labor.
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+James Wilson comes along--Wants me to go with him to Saulsbury,
+Tennessee, to help build a house for a grocery-store--Takes me along
+with him--Wilson taken sick--I take care of him--He gels well--I make
+another attempt to escape from slavery--What came of it.
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+Was hired to Mr. Thompson, and adopted his name--Opened regular
+meetings, and preached on the plantation and other places--Took unto
+myself a wife--Was purchased by Thompson, duly installed on the
+plantation, and invested with authority--Various means and plans
+resorted to by the overseer to degrade me in the eyes of Mr.
+Thompson--Driven, through persecution, to run away--Return back to my
+master.
+
+
+
+
+BIOGRAPHY OF A SLAVE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+Charles Thompson, born in Atala County, Mississippi--Division of
+Kirkwood's Slaves Among his Six Children--The Writer and his Two Sisters
+Fall to Mrs. Wilson--The Parting Between Mother and Child--Deprived of a
+Fond Mother Forever--Old Uncle Jack--Wilson Buys Uncle Ben from
+Strucker--Uncle Ben Runs Away and is Hunted with Blood-Hounds--Two
+Hundred Dollars Reward.
+
+
+I was a slave, and was born in Atala County, Mississippi, near the town
+of Rockford, on the third day of March, 1833. My father and mother both
+being slaves, of course my pedigree is not traceable, by me, farther
+back than my parents. Our family belonged to a man named Kirkwood, who
+was a large slave-owner. Kirkwood died when I was about nine years old,
+after which, upon the settlement of the affairs of his estate, the
+slaves belonging to the estate were divided equally, as to value, among
+the six heirs. There were about seventy-five slaves to be divided into
+six lots; and great was the tribulation among the poor blacks when they
+learned that they were to be separated.
+
+When the division was completed two of my sisters and myself were cast
+into one lot, my mother into another, and my father into another, and
+the rest of the family in the other lots. Young and slave as I was, I
+felt the pang of separation from my loved and revered mother; child that
+I was I mourned for mother, even before our final separation, as one
+dead to me forever. So early to be deprived of a fond mother, by the
+"law," gave me my first view of the curse of slavery. Until this time I
+did not know what trouble was, but from then until the tocsin of freedom
+was sounded through the glorious Emancipation Proclamation by the
+immortal Abraham Lincoln, I passed through hardship after hardship, in
+quick succession, and many, many times I have almost seen and tasted
+death.
+
+I bade farewell to my mother, forever, on this earth. Oh! the pangs of
+that moment. Even after thirty years have elapsed the scene comes
+vividly to my memory as I write. A gloomy, dark cloud seemed to pass
+before my vision, and the very air seemed to still with awfulness. I
+felt bereaved, forlorn, forsaken, lost. Put yourself in my place; feel
+what I have felt, and then say, God is just; he will protect the
+helpless and right the wronged, and you will have some idea of my
+feelings and the hope that sustained me through long and weary years of
+servitude. My mother, my poor mother! what must she have suffered. Never
+will I forget her last words; never will I forget the earnest prayers of
+that mother begging for her child, and refusing to be comforted. She had
+fallen to the lot of Mrs. Anderson, and she pleaded with burning tears
+streaming down her cheeks, "He is my only son, my baby child, my
+youngest and the only son I have; please let me have him to go with me!"
+
+Anderson spoke roughly to her and told her to hold her peace; but with
+her arms around me she clung to me and cried the louder, "Let me have my
+child; if you will let me have my baby you may have all the rest!"
+
+Mothers can realize this situation only, who have parted with children
+whom they never expected to see again. Imagine parting with your dearest
+child, never to see it again; to be thrown into life-servitude in one
+part of the country and your dear child in the same condition six
+hundred miles away. Although my mother was black, she had a soul; she
+had a heart to feel just as you have, and I, her child, was being
+ruthlessly torn from her by inexorable "law." What would you have done
+if you had been in her place? _She_ prayed to God for help.
+
+My kind old father consoled and encouraged my mother all he could, and
+said to her, "Do not be discouraged, for Jesus is your friend; if you
+lack for knowledge, he will inform you, and if you meet with troubles
+and trials on your way, cast all your cares on Jesus, and don't forget
+to pray." The old man spoke these words while praying, shouting, crying,
+and saying farewell to my mother. He had, in a manner, raised nearly all
+the colored people on the plantation; so he had a fatherly feeling for
+all of them. The old man looked down on me, and said, "My child, you are
+now without a father and will soon be without a mother; but be a good
+boy, and God will be father and mother to you. If you will put your
+trust in him and pray to him, he will take you home to heaven when you
+die, where you can meet your mother there, where parting will be no
+more. Farewell." I was then taken from my mother, and have not seen or
+heard of her since--about twenty-nine years ago. Old Uncle Jack, as my
+father was called by the plantation people, spoke words of comfort to
+all of us before we were parted.
+
+The lot of human chattels, of which I was one, was taken to their new
+home on Wilson's plantation, in the same county as the Kirkwood
+plantation. Wilson told my sisters and myself that our mother and
+ourselves were about six hundred miles apart.
+
+After I had been in my new home about two years, Wilson bought my uncle
+Ben from a man named Strucker, who lived in the same neighborhood, but
+he did not buy uncle Ben's wife. Two years later Wilson moved to another
+plantation he owned in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, about one hundred
+miles distant from his Atala County plantation. Ben not being willing to
+go so far from his wife, ran away from his master. Wilson, however, left
+word that if any one would catch and return Ben to him, he would pay two
+hundred dollars. This was a bait not to be resisted. The professional
+slave-hunters, with their blood-hounds, were soon on the track. They
+failed to get the poor hunted man, though. Ben was a religious,
+God-fearing man, and placed firm reliance on the help of the Almighty,
+in his serious trials, and never failed to find help when most needed.
+He stayed under cover in the woods, in such lurking places as the nature
+of the country provided, in the day time, and at night would cautiously
+approach his wife's cabin, when, at an appointed signal, she would let
+him in and give him such food and care as his condition required. The
+slaves of the South were united in the one particular of helping each
+other in such cases as this, and would adopt ingenious telegrams and
+signals to communicate with each other; and it may well be believed that
+the inventive genius of the blacks was, as a general thing, equal to all
+emergencies, and when driven to extremities they were brave to a fault.
+Ben's wife, in this instance, used the simple device of hanging a
+certain garment in a particular spot, easily to be seen from Ben's
+covert, and which denoted that the coast was clear and no danger need be
+apprehended. The garment and the place of hanging it had to be changed
+every day, yet the signals thus made were true to the purpose, and saved
+uncle Ben from capture. Uncle Ben was closely chased by the hounds and
+inhuman men-hunters; on one occasion so closely that he plunged into a
+stream and followed the current for more than a mile. Taking to the
+water threw the hounds off the scent of the track. Before reaching the
+stream, uncle Ben was so closely pursued that one of the men in the gang
+shot at him, the bullet passing unpleasantly close to him. His wife
+heard the hounds and the gun-shot. This race for life and liberty was
+only one of a continued series, and was repeated as often as
+blood-hounds could find a track to follow. At night Ben was very much
+fatigued and hungry, and his only hope of getting anything to eat was to
+reach his wife's cabin. How to do this without being observed, was the
+question. As well as he was able, about midnight he left his retreat and
+approached the cabin. It was too dark to see a signal if one had been
+placed for him in the usual manner. After waiting for some time a bright
+light shot through the cracks in the cabin for an instant, and was
+repeated at intervals of two or three minutes, three or four times. This
+was the night-signal of "all right" agreed upon between uncle Ben and
+his wife, and was made by placing the usual grease light under a vessel
+and raising the vessel for a moment at intervals. Ben approached the
+cabin and gave _his_ signal by rapping on the door three times, and
+after a short pause three more raps. Thus they had to arrange to meet;
+the husband to obtain food to sustain life, and the wife to administer
+to him. On this particular night their meeting was unusually impressive.
+She had heard the death-hounds, the sound of the gun-shot, and she knew
+the yelps of the hounds and the shot were intended for Ben, her
+husband. With no crime laid to him, he was hunted down as a wild beast.
+Made in God's own image, he is made a slave, a brute, an outcast, and an
+outlaw because his skin is black. Thus they met, Ben and his wife. After
+the usual precautions and mutual congratulations they both kneeled
+before the throne of God and thanked him for their preservation thus
+far, and throwing themselves upon his goodness and bounty, asked help in
+their need and safety in the future. Without rising from his knees, Ben,
+even in the anguish of his heart, consoled his wife, remarking, "that
+the darkest hour is always just before daylight."
+
+The blacks of the South have their own peculiar moral maxims, applicable
+to all situations in life, and the slaves not knowing how to read
+committed such Bible truths as were read to them from time to time. It
+is true they were generally superstitious in a great degree, as all
+ignorant persons are; yet their native sense of right led them to adopt
+the best and most religious principles, dressed in homely "sayings,"
+their circumstances permitted.
+
+Ben dare not stay very long at a time in his wife's cabin, as a strict
+watch was constantly kept, that the runaway might be apprehended.
+Bidding his wife farewell, Ben hastened back to one of a number of his
+hiding-places, there to stay through the day, unless routed out by the
+blood-hounds. He was fortunate, however, in the help of God, for his
+safety, and the efforts of the hounds and the hounds' followers were
+futile.
+
+Finally, Wilson gave up chasing Ben with blood-hounds, and resolved to
+try a better and more human method. He bought Ben's wife and left her
+with Strucker, with instructions to send her and Ben to his plantation
+if Ben was willing for the arrangement. Ben soon got word of how matters
+stood with reference to himself, and concluded if he could live with his
+wife on the same plantation that it was the very best he could do, so he
+acceded to the wishes of Wilson, and was sent with his wife to Wilson.
+
+The happiness of this couple was unbounded when they found they could
+once more live together as God intended they should, and the poor wife
+in her great gratitude cried, "God is on our side!" Ben replied that he
+had told her on one occasion that God was on their side, and that "the
+darkest hour was just before day."
+
+The usual expression used by the blacks when a runaway returned to his
+master was that he "had come out of the woods;" that is, he had left his
+hiding place in the woods and returned to the plantation to work.
+
+When I heard that uncle Ben had come out of the woods, and was coming to
+live on our plantation, my joy knew no bounds. On the day when he was
+expected to arrive I got permission to go out on the road some distance
+and meet them. Early in the morning I caught a horse and started. Every
+wagon I met filled me with hope and fear blended; hope that the wagon
+contained my uncle and aunt, and fear that it did not. I rode on, on,
+on, all that day, until my heart was sick with hope deferred. I had
+received orders before starting that if I did not meet them that day to
+return home. But I was so far from home, and with straining my eyes to
+catch a glimpse of my uncle, added to my keen disappointment in not
+seeing them, made me feel tired, sick, and worn out. So I stopped at a
+friendly cabin that night, after telling the inmates who I was and what
+my errand was. Early the next morning I was out, and the anxiety to see
+my uncle was so great I thought I would ride out the road a short
+distance in the hope of meeting him, notwithstanding my orders to return
+home. After traveling about an hour I met the wagon containing uncle
+Ben and his wife. The joy of that moment to me is inexpressible. Having
+been deprived of mother and father he was the only relative my sisters
+and myself could ever have any hopes of seeing again. My heart rejoiced
+exceedingly. I was, as it were, a new boy entirely, so overcome was I.
+We all arrived home that same day, and it was a much more pleasant trip
+than I had taken the day before. On that day it was all anxiety, mixed
+with hope and fear; to-day it was all joy and thanksgiving, again
+proving uncle Ben's saying that "the darkest hour is always just before
+day." My sisters were simply wild with joy when we arrived. They ran out
+the road to meet, us crying, "There comes uncle Ben; we have one more
+friend!" We were all comforted and rejoiced to a very great extent, and
+we felt indeed that we had "one more friend" with us. We were as happy
+as slaves could be, and spent all the time we could together--uncle Ben,
+his wife, my sisters, and myself.
+
+But Wilson harbored a grudge toward uncle Ben because he had to buy his
+wife in order to get him, and had said that if he ever got Ben after he
+ran away he would whip him to death. He treated Ben very well for the
+time being, but about a year after he had got him home he began to put
+his plans into operation for severely punishing him. He was afraid of
+Ben's prayers. Although Wilson would not have hesitated a moment to have
+put any plan into execution he may have conceived, under ordinary
+circumstances, yet praying Ben, while defending himself by appeals to
+Almighty God was stronger than with carnal weapons in his hands. Wilson
+proceeded cautiously and laid snares for Ben. Uncle Ben was one of the
+best hands on the plantation, and religiously performed the labor
+alloted him truly and persistently. He obeyed his overseer and Wilson in
+all things pertaining to his manual occupation, and obeyed God to the
+very best of his ability in this as in everything else. But Wilson
+wanted to punish Ben, and was determined to do so. He knew that Ben was
+a faithful slave to labor, and was reliable, yet he wished to break
+Ben's spirit--his manhood, the God part of him. Wilson did not seem to
+know that he was not fighting Ben in his scheme of revenge but that he
+was fighting God in Ben, and that although he punished Ben to the death
+he would be conquered himself, and more severely punished than he could
+ever hope to punish Ben. But Wilson was mad, infatuated, and
+satanically determined. Precautious preparations were made by Wilson to
+insure success in his revengeful scheme, and after having obtained the
+aid of several neighbors who were what might be called professional
+slave-whippers, he deemed his undertaking to punish and conquer Ben
+fully ripe for execution. Ben being a field hand was busily employed
+picking cotton, with a prayerful heart, and a watchful eye on Wilson.
+From Wilson's actions Ben was sure something was going to occur which
+would nearly concern him, and having been hunted like a beast he had
+become suspicious and on his guard all the time. Having a feeling of
+presentiment, he was uneasy, and, as was usual with him, he kneeled down
+and asked God to protect him from the machinations of his enemies, and
+give him heart, courage, and strength to overcome the evil intended him.
+While praying he was startled by the snort of a horse, and on looking
+around to ascertain the cause of the noise he discovered himself almost
+surrounded by armed men on horseback. No time to think now; the time for
+action had arrived. Ben knew at once the flight was for life. Better,
+however, was death than to be thus hunted and harassed. Bounding through
+the field he gained a friendly covert, and seemingly by mere chance he
+eluded his pursuers and the hounds. Ben thanked God for his deliverance.
+Wilson with his heartless band were again baffled, and with man-hunting
+and disappointments in his man-chase he became furious. Ben stayed in
+the woods about four weeks, and during all this time my sisters, Ben's
+wife, and myself were kept in close confinement, to keep us from
+communicating with Ben or rendering him any assistance. Thus all of us
+had to suffer. But we were only slaves.
+
+Wilson finally took Ben's wife to a man in Oxford, about twenty-five
+miles distant, and came back circulating the word among the blacks that
+he had sold her. Wilson had made arrangements at Oxford with some
+professional slave-hunters to catch Ben if he ever came to see his wife,
+for which purpose she had been taken there.
+
+After a time Ben was informed that he and his wife had been sold by
+Wilson to a man in Oxford, and of course believing such to be the fact,
+he went there to see her, and make arrangements for the future. His wife
+was told by the man with whom Wilson had left her that he had bought
+both her and Ben, and wished her to get Ben to "come out of the woods."
+Laboring under this delusion, Ben was month. The cabin was surrounded
+by armed men, when Ben was overpowered, chained, and put in jail for
+safe keeping until Wilson should come after him. Living in the woods so
+long and the harsh treatment he was now receiving wore Ben down
+considerably; yet, believing that "the darkest hour is just before day,"
+he relied on God's help in his misery.
+
+Wilson came for Ben in due time, and after chaining him securely around
+the neck he fastened one end of the chain to the rear of his buggy and
+literally, a part of the time, dragged him to Holly Springs, about
+thirty miles from Oxford, where he sold him to a man who had the
+reputation of being the hardest master in the country. Wilson afterwards
+took Ben's wife home. Thus they were separated,--Ben and his
+wife,--never to meet again on this earth.
+
+Wilson told me when he got home that he had sent Ben to hell, and that
+he would send me there too. Infatuated man; he supposed he had done with
+Ben for the very worst; he thought he had as much power over the souls
+of his slaves as he had under "the laws" over their bodies. He found,
+however, in time, that God was with us, and in his good time he
+delivered us from our bondage and punished our persecutors as they
+deserved.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+Not sent to hell by Wilson--Mrs. Wilson protects me, to whom I
+belong--Sent to school with the children--The school-children teach me
+to read and write--What came of it--Mount that mule or I'll shoot you--I
+mounted the mule--A start for the railroad to work--I dismount and take
+to the woods--I owe allegiance to God and my country only.
+
+
+The monotonous tedium of routine slave-labor was very often broken by
+some scene of cruelty to one or another of the poor blacks, either by
+the master or his overseer; and woe unto the luckless one if the master
+should happen to be in a good mood to break bones. Although slaves were
+worth money in the South at that time, yet the ungovernable passions of
+some if not most masters found free vent in cruelty to their own
+property--that is, their slaves. This was the case with Wilson, and no
+opportunity was missed by him to make a poor black feel the effects of
+his brutish nature and passions. His wife, on the other hand, made every
+effort to protect the blacks on the plantation as much as possible. When
+Wilson threatened to send me to hell, as he had tried to send uncle
+Ben, Mrs. Wilson came forward in my behalf and saved me from her
+husband's unwarranted wrath by telling him that she wished "Charles to
+accompany her children to school and take such care of them as might be
+required." It was customary in the South for families who owned slaves
+to send one or more of them with their children when they attended
+school as waiters, or personal servants, and as I belonged to Mrs.
+Wilson, being an inherited chattel, Wilson acceded to her demand, and I
+was sent along with the children when they went to school. I was not
+allowed to sit with the white children in school, but I "loafed around
+handy," ready for a call from either of my young mistresses.
+
+The "laws," the enlightened laws of the southern states, prohibited,
+under heavy penalties, the education of a slave, or even a negro,
+although free; yet some of us, under very disadvantageous circumstances,
+learned to read and write.
+
+It has always been a kind of habit with me to "be doing something" all
+the time, and when not actually employed in some active work I would
+make use of my time for some good purpose; and while "loafing around"
+that school-house it occurred to me as being strange that the white
+children should be compelled to sit and study hour after hour, while us
+little darkies "loafed around" and did nothing. Why couldn't we lighten
+our young masters and mistresses of that labor as well as other kinds of
+labor? I determined that my young mistresses should not be made slaves
+of by the school-master, but that I would do that work for them, as they
+were generally so kind to me. So I proposed the matter to them, and they
+were tremendously pleased; at least they laughed and chatted a great
+deal about me getting their lessons for them, which so elated me that I
+could not avoid turning handsprings and somersaults all the way home
+that evening, my joy being so great at the idea of doing my mistresses
+the favor of taking such great labor off their hands as getting their
+lessons. I did not doubt my ability to perform the work, for I was
+stout, hearty, and large for my age, and could almost make a full hand
+in the field. Such was my idea at that time of getting lessons. However,
+the next day my young mistresses told me the school-master would not
+allow me to study their lessons for them, but that I might take a book
+and sit outside of the school-house and study there, but that I must be
+sure and not let any one see me. Why not? Why should _I_ not study
+lessons in the school-house for my young mistresses? Because it is
+against the "law" for slaves to learn to read and write. Well, that is
+curious. A person, because he is a slave, must not study lessons; must
+not learn to read and write because it is against the "law." What law?
+
+My mistress used often to read to the children from a book which told
+about Jesus, and Mary, and Lazarus, and Peter, and Paul; and how Jesus
+was our Savior, and shed his precious blood for the redemption of all
+who believed him and would obey his commands; and how Jesus said,
+"Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of
+heaven." Did the "law" prohibit me from studying lessons out of a book
+about Jesus, and learning to read about Jesus as my mistress did? When
+my mistress sent my young mistresses to Jesus wouldn't she send me along
+with them just the same as she sent me to school with them? I reckon so.
+Such was my reasoning; and I determined to assist my young mistresses in
+getting their lessons, law or no law, let the consequences be what they
+may.
+
+I received the book and went out from the school-house a short distance,
+and secured myself from observation in a shady place. I opened the
+book--a spelling-book it was. Hallo! here's a dog and a cat, and here's
+a sheep too, and right here in the corner is a yoke--a regular ox-yoke.
+Well, now, this _is_ nice. So I got my first idea of what a book
+contained by the pictures in a spelling-book. The print in the book
+meant something, I was sure, and my mind was employed until recess in
+endeavors to make out what the print and pictures were intended for. The
+scholars came out at recess, and my mistresses gave me such instructions
+as they were able, which gave me a start ahead that enabled me to
+memorize the first six letters of the alphabet by the time school
+dismissed for noon.
+
+I began to be deeply interested in "studying lessons," and was soon,
+after hard study, complete master of the alphabet. I could repeat it
+forwards and backwards, and could instantly tell the name of any letter
+pointed out to me. My mistresses seemed to take great pleasure in
+teaching me, and I was very anxious to learn. I soon found that I could
+understand in a great measure the instructions the teacher gave to the
+different scholars, by which I profited. I sat in the back part of the
+house, behind the scholars, with my young mistress' old book in my hand,
+and held it so that nobody could see it, and studied constantly day
+after day, which soon advanced me beyond some of the white children
+older than myself in learning. I learned to spell and read; and my
+appetite for knowledge increasing, my young mistress set copies for me,
+and by the time the school-term was out I could spell, read, and write.
+
+Slaves on large plantations in the South were worked in gangs, under the
+general supervision of the overseer or slave-owner. The gangs were
+placed under the immediate supervision of a trusty and intelligent
+slave, whose duty it was to see that each hand performed his or her
+allotted task, to weigh cotton during the picking season, and to direct
+the slaves in their labor, and were called field superintendents or
+bosses. This was my position on the plantation a short time after school
+was out for the term.
+
+For the first few days after my term at school as waiter for my young
+mistresses, I was ordered into the field to pick cotton, but was shortly
+placed over the hands as "boss" and cotton-weigher. Each picker had a
+"stint" or daily task to perform; that is, each of them was required to
+pick so many pounds of cotton, and when in default were unmercifully
+whipped. I had the cotton of each hand to weigh, three times each day,
+and had to keep the weights of each hand separate and correctly in my
+mind and report to Wilson every night. I dare not let Wilson or any of
+the slaves know that I knew anything about figures or could read or
+write, for a knowledge of those rudiments of education was considered
+criminal in a slave. The slaves were nearly always jealous and envious
+of a "boss" of their own color, and left no pretext untried to bring a
+"boss" into disrepute with the master and consequent corporal
+punishment. And should I make a misstatement of the weight of any one
+hand's cotton, that hand would know it. Therefore at the time I am now
+writing of I had the weights of about three hundred baskets of cotton to
+report to Wilson every day. This was hard mind-work for me, but I
+mastered the situation and escaped supersedure and punishment. I held
+the position of field-superintendent about nine years, and performed my
+duties faithfully and honestly, to the satisfaction of my master and the
+hands under me generally.
+
+Why was I so faithful and dutiful to my slave master? Simply because I
+was doing my duty to God and acting in obedience to the commands of
+Christ; for my book taught me to do good and shun evil--to obey the
+revealed will of God no matter what position I might be placed in. As a
+slave I loved to do the will of the Master in heaven; as a responsible
+human being I could do no less.
+
+I improved my knowledge, whenever opportunity occurred, and it was but a
+short time, comparatively, until I found out for myself, by searching
+the Scriptures clandestinely, the great truths that Jesus taught. I
+read, pondered, and began the work of self-regeneration. I read that God
+required of me to do certain things; that unless I obeyed the commands
+of Jesus I could expect no help from God. I found that I was commanded
+to "do," and not stand still and wait for others to "do" for me. The way
+seemed to open before me plainly and unmistakably, and engraved the
+command to "do" firmly in my heart, in the simple words, "Do the will of
+God." I obeyed the commands of our Savior in all the essentials of
+repentance, baptism, and in everything, and began the real work of my
+life--of living and being a servant of God and a faithful follower of
+Jesus Christ. My field of labor was my own heart, which I endeavored to
+render pure in the sight of God. But a short time elapsed when my work
+within myself began to bear fruit in my efforts to redeem my
+fellow-slaves from sin and make them children of God. I labored with
+them in a spirit of brotherly love, and urged them, in season and out
+of season, to come to Jesus. My labors were not in vain, for a great
+many were brought to the altar of prayer through my exertions, and were
+forgiven.
+
+Wilson found out that I could read and write. During the time of
+cotton-picking, the last season I was superintendent, a protracted
+meeting was held in the neighborhood, and my master and mistress
+attended regularly. The only time I could go was on Sunday, and I looked
+forward to that day with hope and pleasure. On Saturday evening my
+master stayed to church, and did not expect to return home until Sunday
+evening. My report of weights were on my mind, and I became somewhat
+uneasy about the result if I should attempt to remember them until the
+following Monday. What to do under the circumstances I did not know; yet
+I knew that "where there was a will there was a way." I was afraid to
+set the weights down for fear of detection and punishment. I hesitated
+and tried to think of some safe way out of the dilemma. I knew if I let
+the matter rest over Sunday I would not remember the weights, for the
+reason that my mind was so employed and taken up with the religious
+revival that was then going on in the neighborhood, in which I was very
+much interested on my own account and on account of my fellow-slaves. I
+prayed to God to direct me right. The overseer used a slate on which to
+set down the weights of cotton, which was hanging in his cabin. I took
+the slate down, made the entries of weights with the names of the
+pickers, and hung it up again. During the next day (Sunday) the overseer
+came home, and found the slate with the entries on it I had made. He was
+somewhat surprised. When Wilson came home he was duly informed of the
+fact. I was called, and ordered into _the presence_. I knew it was
+unlawful for me to know how to write, and I dreaded the consequences of
+my rash act, yet I unhesitatingly, and with a courage that surprised me,
+went to the house.
+
+"Who wrote these names and weights on this slate, Charles?" asked Mr.
+Wilson.
+
+"I did it, sir," I answered.
+
+"How and when did you learn to write?"
+
+"During the time I attended my young mistresses to school, sir."
+
+Wilson looked at me long and angrily, and remarked that I had kept that
+fact secret for a long time, and that as I had learned to read and write
+he could not help it. "But you must remember, Charles," he continued,
+"that the law is that if any negro shall be found writing, his
+forefinger shall be cut off at the first joint."
+
+My time had now come for my first punishment, I thought. A day or two
+after I heard Wilson, while in conversation with the overseer, say, "It
+will not do to let Charles stay with the rest of the negroes, or he will
+learn them all to read and write, and then we might as well set them
+free."
+
+What was to be done with me for my unpardonable crime? All kinds of
+surmises and speculations entered my mind. What was to be my fate?
+Belonging to Mrs. Wilson--her property--I was placed in charge of her
+son James, who employed me at teaming, that is, hauling cotton, lumber,
+etc.
+
+In this occupation I became pretty well acquainted with the surrounding
+country and the people, and was very well satisfied with matters
+generally as they then stood. But I was soon to learn that my young
+master was only anxious to carry out the plans of his father, and was
+determined to punish, or, as they pleased to term it, "break me," merely
+because I was related to Ben--because I was able to read and write as
+well if not better than James Wilson himself.
+
+I was told one day by James that he had hired me to a man in Pontotoc to
+work in a livery-stable, and that I must come to his plantation without
+delay. When I arrived I was informed that instead of going to Pontotoc I
+should go to the railroad then building through Mississippi, and work
+for Mr. Leadbitter. I expostulated with my master, and urged him, with
+all the pleas and arguments at my command, to allow me to remain on the
+plantation or go to Pontotoc, but to no avail. He whipped out his
+six-shooter, raving and swearing, and bade me mount one of two mules
+instanter or he would shoot me on the spot. I mounted the mule.
+
+My reasons for not wanting to go to the railroad to work were good.
+There was plenty to do on the plantation, and there was no good cause
+for sending me away. I feared rough usage at the railroad, and rougher
+associations. I had by this time become the religious teacher of all the
+well-disposed slaves in the neighborhood, and I was so much interested
+in my labors that I doomed my great Master's work of too much importance
+to be driven away from it without a struggle. I was no coward, and was
+always ready to stand out to the end against all opposition, when my
+duty as a humble follower of Jesus was in question. Therefore my
+reluctance to be driven from my place of usefulness. However, I got on
+the mule and started, in company with a colored man who was going with
+me to bring the mules back. After traveling four or five miles, and when
+at a convenient place, I dismounted from the mules and told my companion
+I was going no farther with him, and that if Wilson wanted any one to go
+to the railroad to work he might go himself; and I "took to the woods."
+
+This was the first time I ever attempted to escape and gain my freedom.
+Whether I was right or wrong I shall not say, only I ask you to put
+yourself in my place as I was then situated, and draw your own
+conclusions. It is true I had formed dear and near associations, and the
+old neighborhood had been the scene of my trials and triumphs. My master
+had been uniformly kind, as much so at least as his disposition would
+allow, yet I felt, although my skin was black, I was entitled to and
+deserved freedom to worship God according to the dictates of my own
+conscience, and to teach others the way to everlasting life. I felt that
+I was a man made after God's own image, and that no one had any right to
+a property in me as a mere chattel, all human laws to the contrary
+notwithstanding. I did not deem that I was a criminal, and that I was
+escaping from penal servitude; but that I was one of God's children,
+escaping from a worse than Egyptian bondage. I rightfully owed
+allegiance to God and my country only. So I run away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+Caught, Tried, and Taken Back Home to James Wilson--My Mistress Saves me
+from Being Whipped--I go to the Railroad and Work one Month
+Precisely--Go Back Home--Wilson Surprised--Left the Railroad at 3
+o'clock A.M.--Did not Want to Disturb Leadbitter's rest--Sent to Memphis
+with a Load of Cotton--Afraid of the Slave-pens and Slave-auction--Start
+for Home--Not Sold--Pray, Sing, and Shout--Get Home and Ordered to Hire
+myself out.
+
+
+The peculiar feelings one has who is a "runaway" are indescribable. I
+felt every bit an outcast, and was frightened by the least noise or the
+sight of any person, and the yelp of a hound was terror to me. I skulked
+and hid in the woods all day until night, when I concluded to go to
+town, get something to eat, and make my arrangements for the future.
+
+When the "hoy," who was sent by Wilson with me, returned and repeated to
+him my words, vengeance was sworn against me, and the hounds were turned
+loose for immediate chase. I went to the town of Pontotoc, and while
+there refreshing myself in a cabin I heard hounds whining. That was
+sufficient to inform me that I was trapped. What to do I did not know,
+but went to the door with the intention of making my escape, if
+possible, when I was met by James Wilson and five other persons fully
+armed. Resistance was useless, the hounds would have caught me before I
+could have run a hundred yards, even if I could have escaped the
+bullets. I surrendered, and was securely tied by James Wilson and his
+gang and taken back to the plantation. Dire threats were made against
+me, but my mistress, James' mother, saved me again. She informed her son
+that "Charles belonged to her; that Charles' mother had placed him,
+under the care of God, in her custody, and that she did not intend to
+have him beaten."
+
+James insisted on "breaking" me, as he termed it, and finally prevailed
+on his mother, with promises, that if she would let him deal with me he
+would "break" me without whipping me. She consented. James came to the
+cabin where I was tied and chained, and told me that he did not desire
+to whip me, but that if I did not go to the railroad to work every slave
+on the plantation would become demoralized, and they would all do as
+they pleased. His words and manner were very kind and conciliatory, yet
+I took them for what they were worth, and did not believe him; for he
+would have whipped me severely if he had dared do so. His reasoning
+regarding the poor, ignorant slaves on the plantation, however, was to
+the point. In their ignorance they would suppose that if I could do as I
+pleased and not be punished, they could do the same; and they would, in
+all probability, create an insurrection which would result in their own
+destruction. For their sakes I acceded to James' wishes. He told me that
+if I would go to the railroad and work for Leadbitter one month, that I
+might after that time hire myself out to whom I pleased and for as long
+a time as I pleased.
+
+I was given a letter to Leadbitter, and immediately started on foot for
+the railroad. When I arrived there I handed the letter to Mr.
+Leadbitter, who asked me how long I had come to stay with him. I told
+him one month. He broke the letter open, and after reading it informed
+me that James Wilson stated in the letter that I was to stay as long as
+he wanted me. This was a piece of intelligence that learned me that
+James Wilson would lie, and from that time forward I had no confidence
+in his truthfulness. I did not know what was best to do, but finally
+made up my mind to fulfill and make good my promise, and trust to the
+future to compel James Wilson to perform his. I thought this the right
+course. I did not deem that I would be justified in breaking my promise
+because Wilson was unreliable and broke his. I concluded that if
+Leadbitter kept me longer than one month he would have to be smarter
+than I gave him credit for being. I asked Leadbitter how many days there
+were in that month.
+
+I went to work, and kept account of the days. I worked carefully. The
+time passed slowly and wearily. My associations were of the worst
+character possible, and my co-laborers were of that lowest class of
+southern blacks whose ignorance and waywardness render them most of the
+time more than brutal. I made every effort to do good among them, and
+endeavored to preach to them on several occasions, but was interrupted
+and deterred by the whites, who forbade my preaching. I talked to the
+blacks, however, whenever opportunity occurred, and I hope that my
+labors for Jesus were not in vain.
+
+The last day of my month came and passed. It was Friday. On Saturday
+morning, about three o'clock, I started for home, and with rapid walking
+I reached my destination about two hours after sunrise. When I reached
+the plantation I "cut across lots," and passed through the field where
+Wilson was at work with the hands. I approached, unobserved by him, and
+spoke to him. He looked at me with astonishment, and in surprise asked,
+"What are you doing here?"
+
+"You told me to stay one month; I done so," I answered.
+
+"Did Mr. Leadbitter know when you left?"
+
+"I do not know, sir," I replied. "I left at three o'clock this morning,
+and did not think it worth while to disturb Mr. Leadbitter's rest."
+
+"Three o'clock!" exclaimed Wilson.
+
+"Yes, sir," I quietly answered.
+
+"You ran away, did you?"
+
+"No, sir, I did not run away. I stayed as long as you required me to
+stay, when, in obedience to your expressed promises, I came home."
+
+James Wilson made some remark I could not understand, but finally said
+that as I had come home he had some work for me to do before I could
+hire myself out. I felt somewhat easy in my mind, and waited to be set
+to work. But when he afterwards told me he wanted me to take a load of
+cotton to Memphis, my heart misgave me, I felt sure, in my mind, that I
+was to be sold from the slave-pens at Memphis. The grand trial time had
+now come for me, and the teachings of my mother and uncle Ben and uncle
+Jack before and at our final separation came to me in full force. They
+taught me, before I could read for myself, that in trouble I should rely
+implicitly on the help of my Savior, and that I should pray without
+ceasing. To God I immediately turned for guidance and help, and asked
+that my every step might be directed by him, and that he should protect
+me from my enemies and persecutors.
+
+I felt that I was being persecuted for Jesus' sake, for I was promised,
+time and again, that if I would quit preaching and talking to the slaves
+on religious subjects, I should be advanced and my life made easy and
+comfortable. I refused the offers, because my Master's work was of more
+importance than my ease. I was impressed, deeply, with the great
+responsibilities resting upon me, and was determined to preach and teach
+while I had strength and opportunity to do so. I may have been mistaken
+with regard to the cause of my persecution by the Wilsons, but I think
+not. I do not really believe that any one is persecuted for Christ's
+sake in this day and age of the world, in a Christian country, except in
+the South before the rebellion. I have heard men, and, I am almost
+ashamed to say, preachers, proclaim that they were persecuted because of
+their adherence to the cause of Christ, when they were not persecuted
+at all on any account, except probably on account of some wrong act of
+their own. Paul and the apostles were persecuted, and early Christians
+were persecuted, but who ever heard of a citizen of the United States
+being persecuted because he was a follower of Jesus! But slaves in the
+South were persecuted and punished severely for preaching the gospel of
+Christ, not on that very account probably, but because it would teach
+the slaves obedience to a higher power than the inhuman laws of the
+southern states as they then existed. Paul was persecuted for preaching
+the redemption of mankind through the blood of the Savior, by pagans and
+gentiles. I was persecuted for the same reasons by the slave-owners of
+the South, and for endeavoring to lead the benighted blacks to Jesus.
+There seems to be some likeness in the positions of Paul and myself. I
+felt that was the case, at any rate.
+
+My mind was distressed with the fear that I was being sent to Memphis
+only to be sold to the highest bidder. After addressing the throne of
+God for help and deliverance I felt relieved, and determined that, come
+what would, I would use my best talents and exertions for my heavenly
+Master wherever I might be. Relieved, I set about making preparations
+for my trip to Memphis, with a prayerful heart. Two of us were going in
+company, each with a load of cotton. We started on Monday morning, and
+traveled along without unusual trouble or delay for three days over
+hilly and rough roads, when we camped for the night within a mile of
+Holly Springs, in Mississippi, and about fifty-five miles from home.
+
+It will be remembered that uncle Ben was sold by Wilson to a man who
+lived in and near Holly Springs. I was anxious to see uncle Ben, if
+possible, and began making inquiries regarding his whereabouts. A
+colored man came along the road, driving a team, of whom I inquired.
+After a little time he said a preacher named Ben Harris lived in a house
+close by, at the same time pointing to it. Upon further inquiries I
+learned that Ben had taken another wife. This may seem rather criminal,
+and may appear to be a clear case of bigamy against uncle Ben; but when
+it is remembered that masters compelled their slaves to live together as
+man and wife, without ceremony, for the purpose only of breeding
+children, and that Ben had no say in the matter, he will be held
+blameless. The laws of the southern states did not recognize the legal
+relations of man and wife between slaves, therefore they could not
+commit the crime of bigamy. If Ben was morally guilty, he was forced
+into his guilt by law and general custom. I had not seen Ben for about
+ten years, and was so overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him that I
+could scarcely wait until night, for I was informed that he would not be
+at his cabin until night. After attending to my affairs about town I
+waited until sundown, when I went to the house indicated by my
+informant. Not being certain that the person who lived in the cabin was
+my uncle, I necessarily had to make inquiries. A colored woman met me at
+the door, and answered such questions as I asked, from which I was
+satisfied that Ben lived here. I informed the woman who I was and that
+Ben was my uncle, and that I had called, in passing on my way to
+Memphis, to see him. She cordially invited me to enter the cabin, and
+told me that Ben was out feeding the horses and would shortly be in. I
+had to wait but a little while when Ben came in. He supposed me to be
+some passing stranger, and did not recognize me. After some desultory
+conversation I told him who I was and how I came to be there. Our
+meeting, after mutual recognition, was affectionate and cordial. We
+talked over old times and related our experience since we parted at the
+Wilson plantation. We kneeled at the family altar, and each poured out
+his soul's thanksgiving to God for his goodness to us, having, before I
+left, a season of soul-reviving prayer.
+
+Thus we knelt, uncle Ben, his wife, and I, poor slaves in the chains of
+bondage, really and earnestly thanking God for the many blessings we
+received. Strange, was it not? when men and women rolling in wealth and
+all the luxuries and happiness that wealth could purchase, did not even
+deign to notice the source from whence all their blessings flowed. They
+had life and liberty, and were unrestrained in the pursuit of happiness,
+yet not once did they thank the great Giver of all their good. Then what
+had we, poor wretches, to thank God for? For everything we enjoyed,--for
+life, for the blessed plan of salvation, for our senses of seeing,
+hearing, and feeling, for our hearts with which to love him, for our
+humanity, for the great gifts of sunshine, rain, regulated seasons,
+the moon, the stars, the earth, the trees, the brooks, the
+rivers,--everything truly enjoyable we thanked God for. We thanked him
+for health and strength to do his work. Then we had a great deal to
+thank Almighty God for, although slaves. How many of you ever think to
+thank God for sunshine or for reason? Let me illustrate. A gentleman
+was passing along the highway, when he was met by a poor maniac, who
+accosted him, saying, "What do you thank God for?" The gentleman being
+surprised by the abrupt question did not reply immediately, when the
+maniac continued, "Then thank God for your reason; mine is gone; I'm
+mad--a maniac." This was something the gentleman had never thought of
+before, and it opened to his mind an entirely new source of
+thankfulness. We are apt to forget that we are not slaves, not blind,
+deaf, or dumb, and not insane; yet should we lose any one of our five
+senses we would then know how to be thankful for and appreciate that
+sense should we regain it. Then thank God for everything, your very
+existence included. Suppose the sun would stop in his course and not
+shine on the earth but for one day. What consternation and grief there
+would be throughout the world! Then suppose that after twenty-four hours
+the sun should burst upon us in all his refulgence and glorious
+magnificence. What a shout of joy would greet his appearance, and glad
+hearts would pour out thanks upon thanks to the great Giver for the
+needful sunshine. Then let us be thankful for all the great blessings
+bestowed upon us by our heavenly Father, and serve him with all our
+hearts, in whatever position in life we may be placed. Uncle Ben and I
+did _then_, and we do _yet_.
+
+After a prolonged conversation and a good and refreshing season of
+prayer I took my departure for my camp, never expecting to meet my
+relative again, and never have.
+
+We started next morning on our way to Memphis, and traveled into
+Memphis, after three days, on a very fine road for the South, known as
+the state-line road. We drove to the cotton-yard, unloaded, and received
+the receipts for the cotton, and put up for the night at a wagon-yard. I
+spent this night in prayer and supplication that God would save me from
+the slave-pen and the auctioneer's block; and my prayers were responded
+to in my protection. The next morning we started for home by what was
+known as the pigeon-roost route, in order to save toll and other
+expenses.
+
+The weight on my mind was removed, and I felt happy and thankful. I was
+not sold from the shambles. I prayed, I sung, and I shouted by turns. We
+arrived at home, and I waited patiently for my next order.
+
+My young master soon informed me, however, that I might hire myself out,
+if I could find and one that would hire me. Good! God was on my side.
+With a light heart and truly happy I set about my preparations to hire
+myself out; and the very first thing I did was to go to my cabin and
+thank God for his goodness, and ask for his protection and guidance.
+Always praying? Yes, I was always at it. My heart was big with love to
+God.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+Start out on my Travels to Hunt a New Master--Find Mr. Dansley--Hire to
+Him--Thirty Dollars per Month for my Master and Five Dollars for
+Myself--Wilson Astonished--Appointed Superintendent of Dansley's
+Farm--Rules and Regulations--Peace and Tranquillity--My Moral Labors
+Successful--Prayer and Social Meetings--Meetings in the Woods--Quarrel
+and Fight like very Brothers--Time comes to be Moved to Another Field of
+Labor.
+
+
+It was customary in the slave states to allow slaves to hire themselves
+for their masters to such as the slaves themselves desired to work for.
+Sometimes this arrangement was made to save the master trouble. In my
+case I was instructed to find a place to work at thirty dollars per
+month and board, and then to return and report to Wilson, who would then
+give the necessary permission in writing, which would stand as a
+contract between him and my employer.
+
+My first object was to find a Christian man to hire to who would allow
+me to pray and preach on all proper occasions, and who would rather
+assist me than hinder me in my efforts to make Christians of the
+blacks. I cared nothing for the manual labor I had to do, if I could
+only be placed in a position to do my great Master's work. His work was
+my life-labor. On this particular account I was very careful who I
+applied to. In a day or two I applied to Mr. Dansley, whose plantation
+was about eighteen miles from Wilson's, and who had been recommended to
+me as being the kind of man I was hunting for. Mr. Dansley questioned me
+closely, and examined me as to my reasons for wanting to hire out, and
+why my master wished me to hire out when there was plenty of work on his
+own place for me to do. I confessed frankly that I could read and write,
+and knew something about figures, and was desirous to serve God and do
+his work by preaching, and in every other way in my power; that my
+master was afraid that I would demoralize his other slaves by learning
+them to read and write and by preaching to them, and in order that I
+might not do that he wanted me off the plantation; that he could not
+sell me because I was the property of his wife, and that she would not
+consent to have me sold out of the family. "If those are faults, as
+considered by Mr. Wilson, I am very well satisfied that you will perform
+your part of the contract notwithstanding; yet what Mr. Wilson is
+pleased to consider faults in you I deem good points in your character
+and disposition, therefore I will hire you, hoping that your duty to God
+will include your duty to me under the contract of hire." I told him
+that was my understanding of my duty to God; that it comprised, in my
+condition of servitude, my duty to my slave-master. I informed Mr.
+Dansley that my master, Wilson, wanted thirty dollars per month for my
+services, and that I wanted five dollars per month for myself, making in
+all thirty-five dollars per month. He was satisfied to pay that amount,
+and gave me a letter to carry to Wilson stating that he would hire me at
+thirty dollars per month, yet he agreed with me that he would pay me,
+besides, five dollars per month.
+
+When Wilson gave me instructions to hire myself out at not less than
+thirty dollars per month, he hoped I would fail, from the fact that
+wages for field-hands were only twenty-five dollars per month; and when
+I went back with Mr. Dansley's letter so soon, he was somewhat
+surprised. He would have opened his eyes with wonder if he had known
+that Dansley was to pay me five dollars per month extra. He gave me a
+written permission to work for Mr. Dansley as long as Dansley should
+want me. I immediately went to Dansley's, and stayed with him nine
+months--nine months of contented time.
+
+I found my new master every way worthy of any confidence I might repose
+in him. In moderate circumstances, he used prudence and diligence in his
+business transactions and farm operations. He was one of those kind of
+men some of which may be found in almost every community--an unassuming,
+industrious, Christian gentleman.
+
+For his farm-force he hired men, both white and black; and when his work
+pushed him he would require his cook and house-maid, the only slaves he
+owned, to assist in the fields. At the time of my commencing to work for
+him he had white men hired who were worse, if any thing, in their habits
+of shiftless laziness than the lazy blacks. These whites, whom the
+negroes usually termed "white trash," were, as a general thing, the most
+vicious, brutal, thieving, shiftless, and lazy human beings imaginable.
+They were ignorant in the greatest degree, and would not work so long as
+they could obtain food to sustain life in any other way. They deemed it
+an honor to be noticed civilly by a respectable negro, and would fawn
+and truckle to the behests of any one who had the physical courage to
+command them. Such people can be found in no place except the South.
+They are a result of the system of slavery and slave-laws, and
+slave-owners are responsible for their condition. Such were the kind of
+men I had to work with. These men would quarrel and wrangle among
+themselves, and would consume time and neglect their work. When the
+house-servants were at work in the field, they would insult and misuse
+them in every conceivable manner, and it was with great difficulty that
+Mr. Dansley could get his work done properly and in season. Knowing I
+had been a farm-superintendent on Wilson's plantation for a number of
+years, Mr. Dansley immediately appointed me to the same position on his
+farm, which accounts for his readiness and willingness to pay me high
+wages.
+
+This was a new kind of position for me, and it required considerable
+thought and management for me to get matters properly arranged in my
+mind. "Bossing" white hands and working with them, so as to make their
+labors profitable for my employer, was no easy task. The farm-work was
+carried on somewhat similar to the way in which large farms are worked
+in the northern states, and it required great prudence and watchful care
+to avoid waste and save all the crops. I arranged my rules of conduct,
+hours of labor, etc., for the hands, and submitted them to Mr. Dansley
+for his approval. Mr. Dansley left the matter entirely with me; and,
+after trial, I found my rules were not sufficiently stringent, and that
+if I expected to successfully "carry on" that farm I would have to make
+rules with penalties attached, the men I had to deal with caring little
+or nothing for mild, persuasive laws. I therefore drew up the following
+rules, and presented them to Mr. Dansley, and requested him to make them
+stipulations in the contracts of hire with his men. He approved them,
+and acceded to my request.
+
+1. Quarreling and using vulgar and profane language is strictly
+forbidden on the farm, and any hand or hands violating this rule shall
+be discharged or corrected, in the discretion of the superintendent.
+
+2. Obedience to the just orders of the superintendent is essential to
+the profitable conduct of the farm; therefore, disobedience to the
+orders of the superintendent shall be followed by the discharge of the
+hand or hands so offending, or his or their correction, in the
+discretion of the superintendent.
+
+3. Each and every hand hereby binds himself to obey the just orders of
+the superintendent and the rules herein established, and upon the
+discharge of any hand or hands, by the superintendent, one month's wages
+shall be forfeited.
+
+These rules were signed by the hands, that is, they "made their mark;"
+but I signed my name, being the only negro hand on the place and the
+only one who could write.
+
+Peace and tranquillity reigned on that farm thereafter, and better crops
+were not raised in the county. My whole study and aim was to do
+right--to be just to my hands and do my duty to my employer. I relied on
+God's help, and prayerfully asked his guidance in every and all
+difficulties and emergencies, and my success is attributable to that
+help which is always given when properly asked for.
+
+The men I had to deal with were more to be pitied than blamed. They were
+entirely ignorant of any but the most crude principles of right, and
+were taught from their childhood only such rude notions as prevailed
+among the ignorant. When I talked to them of Jesus they seemed
+astonished. They did not even know that punishment would meet them
+hereafter for their sins committed in this life, and were puzzled and
+perplexed with the plan of salvation until after I had repeatedly
+explained it to them; in fact, I taught them the history of man, from
+Adam down to the coming of our Savior, and taught them the religion of
+Jesus. Better-behaved men or better hands were not to be found in the
+neighborhood after they learned the way to Jesus, and many happy times
+we did have on that farm at our prayer--meetings and social gatherings.
+All of us would meet at some convenient place on the farm, every
+Sabbath-day, and would spend the time profitably, in exhortation and
+prayer. The master and mistress were always there, and worked with a
+will in the cause of Christ, and I would exhort and preach to the best
+of my ability. Sometimes Mr. Dansley would read a chapter from the Bible
+and comment thereon, and sometimes his wife would read and comment. All
+of us prayed, and some of the white hands became, in a short time,
+earnest public prayers. They had found the fount of true happiness, and
+would drink largely therefrom on all occasions.
+
+Our regular Sunday meetings soon became known in the neighborhood, and
+the neighbors and their slaves would come and worship with us, until our
+congregations became so large that Mr. Dansley allowed me to take the
+hands and clear away a nice place in the woods, and make seats and a
+stand, where we held our meetings regularly thereafter every Sunday, in
+the forenoon, afternoon, and at night; besides, we held a social
+prayer-meeting every Wednesday evening. These meetings were productive
+of great good to the community and to individuals. In this way I
+brought men and women to God even while in a condition of slavery, and
+required to labor six days in the week in the grain and cotton fields.
+If I, a slave, could accomplish this much, how much should the favored
+preachers of the country accomplish? This is a hard question to answer,
+however, and I shall not insist on its consideration, as every preacher
+can not be a Lorenzo Dow, a John Smith, or a James Findley.
+
+Among the field-hands under me were two brothers, white men, who, when I
+first took charge of the farm were maliciously wicked toward each other,
+and were almost constantly quarreling just like brothers(!). Before
+three months had elapsed, under my kind of treatment, they were praying,
+acting Christians, and remained so as long as I knew them.
+
+From this time down to the present writing I have been a zealous worker
+in the Lord's vineyard, and shall remain in the harness as long as God
+wills.
+
+Regarding doctrinal points of theology I knew nothing, and my whole
+stock of theological works could have been carried in a vest pocket, in
+the shape of one or two tracts which fell in my way, and which I read,
+studied, and preserved. I had a Bible, and that alone served me as the
+guide in my ministry, and furnished me with all the arguments necessary
+to the conversion of sinners and their redemption.
+
+Our congregation at Mr. Dansley's was not organized into a church, and I
+did not attempt to receive members into the church of Christ. I doubted
+my authority to do so, and any efforts on my part in that direction
+would have been immediately stopped by the preachers and members of the
+white churches. But this did not deter me from preaching and exhorting.
+I believed firmly that God required of me the labor I performed, and I
+was so much interested and taken up in my work that I did not stop to
+consider what the consequences would be to myself. My only consideration
+was, "Where can I find an opportunity to do good and save souls." I
+asked no pay for my services as a preacher, and never received any;
+hence I usually found congregations awaiting me at my appointments made
+up of all classes, white and black, and from all churches organized in
+the community. My discourses were sometimes off-hand and sometimes
+studied. It is true my studied discourses were, in the main, original,
+and taken wholly from the Bible, yet they were none the less effective,
+because they were earnest and honest. My language was that of the
+southern blacks and uneducated whites at the beginning of my labors as
+an exhorter, but after hard study and training I improved myself greatly
+in this respect, and gained the reputation of being as correct in my
+pronunciation of English words as the majority of the white preachers. I
+am not yet entirely free from dialectic pronunciation, and never expect
+to be; but I find that this very defect, if so it may be called, adds
+force to my sermons, and gives them a distinctness not otherwise
+attainable. Therefore I make use of my very faults to do good.
+
+I had hoped to stay with Mr. Dansley as long as he could find it
+profitable to hire me; and so far I had been of great use to him. I had
+placed his whole farm in a good state of repair, and had matured and
+saved his crops in such a manner that his profits were much larger than
+they ever were before in any one season. I had the goodwill and
+confidence of the hands, both white and black, who worked under me, and
+was an instrument in the hands of God in spreading the religion of Jesus
+Christ in the neighborhood; consequently I was happy and contented, with
+plenty of all kinds of work to do. But I had accomplished my mission at
+this place, and it pleased God to remove me to another field of labor,
+where the harvest was ripe and ready for the reaper. I never
+complained; on the contrary, I rejoiced that God was not done with me,
+and had plenty for me to do. When I had thoroughly worked one field of
+labor, I deemed my immediate services no longer required, and was glad
+when removed where more work was to be done in God's moral vineyard. Of
+course I formed intimate associations in every locality in which I was
+placed, and was prone to leave them; but I was content to do the will of
+God in every particular, whether that will was expressed through the
+slave-laws and James Wilson or otherwise.
+
+I was a slave, and was compelled to labor for the profit of my owner,
+which I performed diligently and faithfully; I was a child of God, and
+owed him duty and obedience, which I performed earnestly and constantly.
+From my slave-owners I expected and received no reward or remuneration;
+from God I received no pay as I labored, but my great reward is yet to
+come. I have been a depositor in God's bank, from which I expect to draw
+largely at the final settlement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+James Wilson Comes Along--Wants me to go with Him to Saulsbury,
+Tennessee, to Help Build a House for a Grocery-Store--Takes me Along
+with Him--Wilson Taken Sick--I Take Care of Him--He gets Well--I make
+another Attempt to Escape from Slavery--What Came of it.
+
+
+One day James Wilson came to Mr. Dansley's, and said he had come for me
+to go with him to Saulsbury, Tennessee, where he was going to start a
+grocery, and that he wished my assistance in erecting a building
+therefor. He informed me, at the same time, that as soon as the building
+was finished, I might return to Mr. Dansley and stay with him as long as
+he wanted me. He had another colored man with him, and desired to go
+right away. All I had to do was to obey, so without further ado I bade
+farewell to the people of the plantation, and went with Wilson. The
+parting made me feel sad, for a time.
+
+The word grocery, as applied in the South, has a far different meaning
+than that intended in the North. A grocery in the South is a place
+where whisky and other intoxicating beverages are sold, and, as a
+general thing, at these places the planters and others congregate to
+drink, carouse, gamble, quarrel, and fight. This was the kind of grocery
+James Wilson was going to start in Saulsbury, and the thought of aiding
+even under protest and unwillingly in the establishment of one of these
+hells caused me much anxiety. I made every effort to get relieved from
+this odious work, but without avail.
+
+We immediately began the erection of the grocery-building, on our
+arrival at Saulsbury, and made good progress for a while. The boards we
+used in the building had to be sawed by us two slaves with a whipsaw. We
+dug a deep trench in the ground, and laid the log to be sawed into
+boards lengthwise over the trench, and one of us would stand in the
+trench under the log and the other on top of the log. In this way we
+worked, day after day, until we had a sufficient number of boards to
+accommodate our wants.
+
+The Almighty, it seemed to me, interfered with our work. James Wilson
+was taken down very sick in the midst of our efforts to create this
+additional devil's den, and was totally unable to leave his bed. I had
+to take care of him, and the work on the grocery-house was necessarily
+stopped. As soon as he was able to be moved I took him to the Sulphur
+Springs, not many miles away, and nursed him carefully and attentively
+until he was able to be about again.
+
+This sickness of Wilson I deemed a warning to him, and endeavored to
+impress as much on his mind; but I was cursed and reviled for my pains.
+I availed myself of every opportunity to dissuade him from his evil
+purpose, but failed. He was determined to start a grocery, and start a
+grocery he would and did. I cleared my skirts and conscience in the
+business, however, as far as I could under the circumstances; yet a
+"still small voice" seemed to whisper to me that I was doing very wicked
+and sinful acts in helping to further the grocery iniquity. I was, in a
+manner, forced to work, yet I was uneasy and troubled in my mind. Others
+may think I was blameless; that I was a slave and not accountable for
+acts my master commanded me to do. This seemed very specious reasoning,
+but still I felt guilty, and sent fervent and prayerful petitions to the
+throne of grace for forgiveness and fortitude to withstand temptation,
+which enable me to do the will of my great Master regardless of the
+consequences that might ensue to me from the effects of Wilson's wrath
+or resentment.
+
+We finished the building in about two months from the time we first
+went to Salisbury, and prepared to return home.
+
+It was here that I first saw a complete railroad and a locomotive with a
+train of cars. My fellow-slave, on hearing the whistle of the locomotive
+for the first time, was very much frightened, and jumped over the log he
+was hewing, with the exclamation, "Good God! what is that?" and started
+to run. I stopped him, and, explaining to him what the loud, shrill
+shriek meant, quieted his fears. We both went to the depot and examined
+the locomotive and cars with great curiosity and interest.
+
+James Wilson, being still weak with his late sickness, was compelled to
+ride in the wagon he had brought from home, and I rode his saddle-horse.
+On the way, Wilson informed me that I was to attend the grocery at
+Salisbury, and that he expected me to make money out of the concern. My
+very soul revolted at the bare idea of being a whisky-vender, and my
+immediate determination was not to be one. My mind was made up to "take
+to the woods" on the first favorable opportunity. I said nothing,
+however, but kept my own counsel.
+
+We traveled slowly, by reason of the master's sickness; and when we
+stopped for the night I found that the saddle I had been riding had hurt
+the horse's back. Wilson was furious, and swore he would take as much
+hide from my back when we got home as the saddle had taken from the
+horse's back.
+
+The next day after leaving Salisbury we arrived at Mr. Dansley's. In
+conversation, I heard Wilson tell Mr. Dansley that he intended to take
+me home with him.
+
+I claimed the fulfillment of his promise from Wilson, and asked him if
+he was not going to let me work for Mr. Dansley, according to agreement.
+This so enraged Wilson that he pulled out his six-shooter, and
+exclaimed:
+
+"Mount that horse, you ---- black rascal!"
+
+I did so.
+
+Fearful that the horse's back would become incurably sore if I rode him
+with his back in the condition it was, I suggested that the horse had
+better be led. Wilson therefore ordered me into the wagon to drive the
+team, and required Havely, my fellow-slave, to walk,--intending we
+should take turns. After awhile Havely exchanged places with me, and
+while walking along in rear of the wagon it occurred to me that this
+would be as favorable an opportunity as I would soon again get for
+making my escape from Wilson and slavery.
+
+I "took to the woods" without attracting the attention of either Wilson
+or Havely, and made good my escape, for the time at least.
+
+I made my way back to Mr. Dansley's and told him my reasons for
+endeavoring to effect my escape from slavery, and that the immediate
+cause of my present attempt was to keep myself clear of the accursed sin
+of whisky-selling. My motives were applauded, but my judgment was
+condemned.
+
+How could I ever expect to escape to a country where I could be a free
+man? Even should I escape to the northern states the fugitive slave law,
+which was then in full force, would remand me back to slavery, and it
+was a long, tedious, and perilous journey to Canada. I was going to make
+the attempt at any rate.
+
+It was agreed between us that Mr. Dansley should buy me of Wilson if he
+could, and that I should stay and work for him at the rate of
+thirty-five dollars per month until I had re-imbursed Mr. Dansley, when
+I should have my freedom papers. It would have required about four years
+for me to pay for myself at those rates, as Wilson "priced" me at
+sixteen hundred dollars.
+
+The negotiations for my purchase by Mr. Dansley failed, and I was left
+to my exertions to get to Canada the best way I could. I was secreted
+during this time about Dansley's farm, and was aroused to a sense of my
+condition one day by reading a hand-bill which was posted on a tree on
+the road close to Mr. Dansley's house, of which the following is a copy:
+
+  "ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD!"
+
+  "Charles, a slave, has disappeared from the plantation of
+  the undersigned, in Pontotoc County. The above reward
+  will be given for his apprehension and return to me alive.
+
+  "JAMES WILSON."
+
+This settled the matter. The reward was soon known over the whole
+country, and every slave-hunter was on the chase to gain the reward. I
+"laid close" and waited to escape from that part of the country, so that
+I might not compromise Mr. Dansley. He was already under surveillance by
+slave-owners, and was in danger of being driven from the country; in
+fact, threats of lynching had been made against him.
+
+The last day I was there I lay hid in some cotton-pens, close to the
+house, when two men came on the hunt of me. They had their blood-hounds
+with them, and demanded permission of Dansley to search his house. The
+permission was granted, when the men began the search. I could see and
+hear all that was going on, and trembled for my safety. I put myself on
+the mercy of the Almighty and resigned myself entirely into his hands.
+The search was made all over the premises, including the cotton-pens in
+which I was hid; but God was on my side, and I was saved from their
+clutches. I earnestly thanked God for my deliverance on this occasion.
+
+As soon as dark came I emerged from my hiding-place, and, after being
+supplied with what provisions I could conveniently carry, I bid good-by
+to Christian Dansley and his family, and started on my perilous journey
+to the free states and Canada.
+
+My progress was necessarily slow and wearisome, being compelled to
+travel altogether at night. The first point I designed making on my
+journey was Memphis, where I hoped to find means of escape to Illinois.
+
+I had plenty of time for meditation and prayer, and my thoughts were
+naturally concentrated on my deplorable condition all the time. My past
+life came up in review before me, and while sorrowfully wandering
+through the woods I would compare myself to persecuted Christians in the
+days of the apostles and the early evaneglists. The blessed Savior was
+persecuted in his very infancy and had to be hid by his parents. They
+had to flee for life; I was fleeing for liberty. What had I to complain
+of? Jesus was with me and would protect me. God had delivered him from
+the very tomb of death; why need I fear? With these reflections in my
+mind I would feel revived and refreshed with the consolation that while
+there was life in me there was hope for me. The words of the poet came
+to my memory, wherein he says:
+
+  "Neither will he upbraid you,
+    Though often your request;
+  He'll give you grace to conquer,
+    And take you home to rest."
+
+The consolation and help I received from my meditations sustained me
+through all my trials and hardships, and I plodded my weary way along
+with God in my heart and bright hopes for the future. I knew if I drew
+nigh unto God he would draw nigh unto me; and that if I would let the
+word of Christ dwell in me I would be rich in all wisdom. Yet I was
+aware I should suffer persecution if I lived godly in Jesus Christ;
+therefore I determined to continue in the things which I had learned.
+
+On Sunday night I arrived at Holly Springs. Uncle Ben lived there, and I
+was anxious to see him and obtain through his assistance, if possible,
+rest and food. I had proceeded only a little way toward his house when I
+met a colored man and began conversation with him. I learned that the
+reward Wilson had offered for me had arrived at Holly Springs before me,
+and that persons were on the lookout for me. The colored man seemed to
+have a suspicion that I was a runaway, and was disposed to aid me all in
+his power. To keep out of the way of slave-hunters was my object, and I
+knew that the contemplated visit to Uncle Ben was fraught with too much
+danger to be further thought of.
+
+Fearful that the negro would betray me, yet feeling somewhat safe for
+the present, I sat down to think and rest myself. I knew that if I was
+caught Wilson would flay me, as he had threatened to do, for making his
+saddle-horse's back sore, but that if I could once get through to
+Memphis I would be enabled, through the assistance of friends, to make
+my way North. Yet I wanted to see Uncle Ben again, and tried to hit upon
+some plan to accomplish that object; but I failed, and started on the
+road again.
+
+After traveling a short time I came to a house by the road-side. The
+kitchen stood about twenty yards from the main building, and had a
+window in the back part of it. I was very hungry, and debated in my mind
+as to the manner in which I should proceed to obtain food. To ask for it
+was too risky, and I was fearful that if I was seen by any of the
+persons about the house I would be apprehended and put in the nearest
+jail as a runaway. Looking in at the window I saw a colored woman; and
+on a table a meal was prepared, which, it seemed, was being held in
+readiness for the arrival of some one. I waited patiently, hoping the
+colored woman would leave the kitchen for some purpose; but she sat
+quietly waiting.
+
+After awhile the master and mistress arrived, it seems, from a visit.
+Shortly the mistress of the house came in and ordered the supper.
+Fortunately for me the supper was to be carried into the "big house,"
+and the cook, taking her hands full of things, left the kitchen and went
+into the house. I immediately sprung through the window, promiscuously
+emptied the meat and bread into my sack, and left the kitchen the same
+way before the return of the cook, just in time to escape detection.
+
+I crouched in the shade of the cabin fearing to move, when I heard the
+cook exclaim:
+
+"Good gracious! some one hab tuk and turned in an' tuk all de bread an'
+meat."
+
+Her cries brought the household to the kitchen, and during the racket I
+made my escape to the road and a more peaceful neighborhood. I walked
+briskly for a couple of miles, when I stopped and satisfied my ravenous
+hunger.
+
+This was my first theft of something to eat. Before this I had been
+fortunate enough to obtain supplies of food from friendly slaves, but
+for the twenty-four hours previous to my raid on the kitchen I had eaten
+nothing. I make no excuse for this immoral act, and ask no one to say I
+did right. I only did what perhaps any one else, under the same
+circumstances, would have done. I was too weak from hunger and other
+causes to withstand the temptation of obtaining the food as I did. As
+soon as my appetite was satisfied, however, my sin rose up before me in
+all its enormity; I felt distressed; and it came vividly in my mind, "In
+that Christ hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that
+are tempted." Oh, what had I done! I had lost God's help in this my hour
+of trial. I prayed for forgiveness, and asked God to direct and protect
+me. Yet I felt uneasy and depressed,--not that my faith in Jesus was any
+the less, but that my sin would bring its own punishment.
+
+  "There is many a pang to pursue me;
+    They may crush, but they shall not contemn--
+  They may torture, but shall not subdue me,--
+    'Tis of God I think--not of them."
+
+About daylight I reached a forest in which I could conceal myself during
+the day. I slept soundly, being undisturbed, until dark, when I
+proceeded onward. While traveling _that night_ I was compelled to pass a
+large plantation. I was afraid some white person would see me,
+therefore I avoided every one,--not being able to distinguish, in the
+dark, a white from a black person. However, about daylight I met a
+colored boy, who procured some food for me and directed me to a
+cotton-pen close by, where I could hide and sleep during the day. When
+night came--it was Thursday night--I crawled out of the pen and started
+for another night's walk. I made very good time that night, and walked
+to within nine miles of Memphis. I was afraid to go on into Memphis in
+the day-time, consequently I slept in the woods that day without
+anything to eat, my supply of food being exhausted.
+
+I was very much exhausted, and suffered greatly from hunger. When night
+came I started again. After proceeding on my way about two miles I came
+to the village of Mt. Pleasant, where I thought to obtain something to
+eat. I had passed nearly through the village without seeing any one; but
+finally I saw a man who I mistook for a colored man. I accosted him,
+when, to my chagrin and disappointment, he was a white man. I felt that
+I had already betrayed myself; and through my fright and want of
+steadiness I was again in bonds.
+
+The man asked me numerous and various questions, as to where I came
+from, where I was going, who I belonged to, etc.
+
+I again sinned, and paid the penalty. I lied to the man. I told him I
+belonged to a man by the name of Potts, and that I was going to his
+plantation.
+
+Quite a number of persons soon gathered around me, and by repeated
+questions entrapped me. Inquiries were made as to the health of Mr.
+Potts' family, and of Mr. Potts in particular. I stated that the family
+were well and that Mr. Potts was as well as usual.
+
+It turned out that several of the persons present knew the Potts family,
+and that Mr. Potts had died two months previously.
+
+I was immediately arrested and placed in a secure place, tied and
+chained to the floor.
+
+Thus sin brought me into trouble. Had I trusted to God and not been in
+too great haste to get something to eat, he would have helped me. My
+weakness made me forget that I should not lie to any one, seeing that I
+had put off the old man with his deeds. In my great need of
+strengthening food, Christ would have succored me had I not forgotten to
+pray to him and ask his help, for "a man can receive nothing except it
+be given him from heaven."
+
+In nearly all the villages of the South, and on most of the large
+plantations, were slave-jails, where runaway and refractory slaves were
+incarcerated. These jails were usually a double pen, the inside pen
+being covered with a roof, and the top of the outside pen being covered
+with sharp iron spikes. Between the pens one or more savage dogs were
+usually kept. This was the kind of place I was now placed in.
+
+Hungry, worn out with my journey, and nearly naked, I soon fell asleep
+from sheer exhaustion and slept soundly until morning.
+
+After I had eaten my breakfast I was taken out of jail at Mt. Pleasant
+and started back to Holly Springs, well ironed and guarded, where I was
+recognized as Wilson's slave. Wilson was notified of my apprehension.
+After laying in the jail at Holly Springs about three weeks Wilson came
+for me. I had made several attempts in that time to escape, but did not
+succeed.
+
+I was ironed and compelled to walk, which, in my exhausted state, was
+too much for me, and I was taken violently sick on the road, when Wilson
+procured a conveyance and hauled me the balance of the way home. A
+physician was immediately summoned, who ordered my shackles removed.
+
+After the irons were removed I regained my spirits, and entertained
+hopes of being able to make another attempt to regain my liberty. I was
+very sick for several days.
+
+About two o'clock on the last morning I stayed there I awoke and felt
+fresh, and found that my strength had in a great measure returned. Upon
+looking around the moonlit room I found that I was alone. To escape was
+my very first intention. Getting out of bed I examined the window to the
+cabin, when I found I could raise it easily. I gathered what clothes I
+could find, as well as a blanket from the bed, and climbing through the
+window made my escape unobserved. I did not stop to put on my clothes
+until I had got two or three miles from the plantation.
+
+I stayed in the woods about three weeks, when I returned to my master
+and asked his forgiveness, and promised that I would never run away
+again. I was forgiven.
+
+During my three weeks' starving and hiding in the woods I had ample time
+for reflection and thought. Prayerfully I considered my situation and
+asked God's help to direct me. I came to the conclusion that I was
+entirely wrong in my course. God, for his own good purpose, had placed
+me in bondage, and in his good time he would relieve me either by death
+or emancipation. My hardships, I felt, were by reason of my disobedience
+to God's will. Although I was a slave God had given me my task in his
+vineyard as a slave, and I should have fronted the wrath of my master,
+Wilson, rather than that of God. I felt that I was doing wrong, and
+after prayerful consideration I determined to do right, and go back to
+the plantation and patiently await God's time to set me free.
+
+Wilson received me as kindly as his nature would permit, and treated me
+as he did the other slaves and as if I had never been disobedient to him
+and ran away. I felt better, and knew then that I was right in the sight
+of my heavenly Father. My views underwent a change for the better while
+I was an outcast in the woods, and after that I was better fitted to do
+my allotted work for God.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+Was hired to Mr. Thompson, and adopted his name--Opened regular
+meetings, and preached on the plantation and other places--Took unto
+myself a wife--Was purchased by Thompson, duly installed on the
+plantation, and invested with authority--Various means and plans
+resorted to by the overseer to degrade me in the eyes of Mr.
+Thompson--Driven, through persecution, to run away--Returned back to my
+master.
+
+
+A short time after I came in from the woods Wilson determined to hire me
+to a man named Thompson, who lived about twenty miles away. I made no
+objection, and was duly hired for the term of three years.
+
+I adopted the name "Thompson," from my new master, which I have since
+retained.
+
+The slaves of the South are usually named like brutes, with only one
+name for a designation, and it became customary among the slaves to
+adopt the surname of their masters. I had never adopted the name of
+Wilson, because I disliked the man; but as soon as I was hired to Mr.
+Thompson I took his name, therefore I was henceforth known as Charles
+Thompson. The adoption of a name by myself may appear strange to a
+great many of my readers, yet when it comes to be considered that I was
+a human chattel, with no rights or privileges of American citizenship,
+and that I was without a name, except simply "Charles," no surprise will
+be felt.
+
+I labored faithfully and honestly for Mr. Thompson during my term of
+service, and endeavored in all things to do my duty. I made such efforts
+as I could to bring the slaves on the plantation to Jesus, and
+inaugurated regular and stated meetings. I preached and exhorted on the
+plantation and at other places where I could gather the negroes to hear
+me; and I felt that I was the means in God's hands of redeeming precious
+souls. In these meetings I had helpers from among the most intelligent
+of the slaves, and made such progress that at all our meetings we would
+have a number of God-fearing whites to pray with us.
+
+During my term of hired service with Mr. Thompson I married a colored
+girl and added the responsibilities of a husband to my various cares.
+
+The marriage of slaves was a mere formality among themselves, there
+being nothing legal, according to the laws of the southern states, about
+the ceremony or marriage contract. The slaves cohabited together in most
+instances with the express or implied consent of their masters; and as
+the masters did not regard the marriage of their slaves as anything,
+wives and husbands were constantly in danger of being separated forever.
+
+But the slaves themselves instituted a ceremony which they considered
+morally binding, as far as they were concerned; and the slave-owners
+deemed it prudent to gratify their slaves by a recognition, in some
+degree, of the marital relations that might exist among them. Therefore
+a certain set of rules came into operation, by general consent,
+governing the visits of the husband to the wife when owned by different
+masters. When the wife of a slave lived not more than five miles from
+his master he could visit her once a week; when she lived not more than
+ten miles away, he could go to see her once in two weeks; and when she
+lived twenty or more miles away he could go to see her only once in two
+months.
+
+At the expiration of my term of service I was loth to leave my wife at
+Thompson's, and go back to Wilson's, and strenuously objected, knowing
+that I could get to see her only once in two months.
+
+Wilson having learned that I was not desirous of returning to him, wrote
+to Mr. Thompson to send me home as soon as the last day of my service
+expired; but Mr. Thompson was desirous of retaining me, and made
+efforts to that effect. He sent me to Wilson to learn the price set for
+me. I arrived in due time, when Wilson informed me that he would sell me
+to Thompson, but that he would not take less than twelve hundred
+dollars, cash.
+
+The proposition did not seem to please Thompson, but after a time he
+concluded to buy me, and sent his son to Wilson with the purchase money.
+The purchase at that particular time was lucky for me, as Wilson had
+written Thompson a very abusive letter, and it was received by Mr.
+Thompson on the evening of the day on which his son went to Wilson's to
+buy me. The bargain was made, however, and I was duly transferred to my
+new master, by delivery and a bill of sale. The personal matter between
+Wilson and Thompson soon blew over, and I was duly installed on the
+plantation as one of the chattel fixtures.
+
+I seemed to take a new lease of life from this time, and determined, if
+possible, to profit by former experiences and shun every appearance of
+ill-nature and evil intentions, and to gain the confidence of my new
+master, that I might better do the work of my heavenly Master. All
+nature seemed lovely to me, and I was happy in doing my duty and
+obliging the will of God.
+
+I was invested with authority on the plantation by Mr. Thompson, and
+was required to keep an eye on the overseer, and to report any
+enormities that might be committed by him.
+
+Mr. Thompson was a wealthy planter and kept a general overseer, besides
+the usual field bosses; yet there were other slaves on the plantation
+who had the confidence of the master and were put at such service as
+required intelligence and integrity.
+
+The position in which I was now placed was difficult and onerous; but I
+did my duty to the very best of my ability, and satisfactorily to my
+master. The overseer soon found out that I was _his_ overseer; and he
+used every means, and various plans, to drive me to do something that
+would degrade me in the eyes of Mr. Thompson. It was only by reason of
+the greatest forbearance and the very closest attention to my duties
+that I escaped his machinations; and by attending to everything with the
+most scrupulous care he could find no fault with me, that had truth for
+its foundation. But the constant and pertinacious maliciousness of the
+overseer, and my own weakness, eventually brought me to grief.
+
+As a rule, when a bad and wicked man undertakes any species of
+devilishness he generally prevails, for a time, and is apparently
+successful in his schemes; and should he meet with failure at the onset
+his want of success only maddens him to greater exertions and more
+persistent efforts. Being urged by the devil, and the devil being a hard
+driver, he either rushes to his own destruction or destroys the
+happiness or lives of others. Thus I was placed in the crucible for
+further refinement and regeneration. My humanity gave way for some time;
+but God was with me, and in the end I prevailed. The overseer's name was
+Hines, and he belonged to that class of southern whites who are noted
+for their ignorance and brutality. He could read and write a
+little,--just enough to make out a negro's pass or a receipt for money
+paid on account of his employer. In this respect I was far in advance of
+him, of which my master was aware, and which was one of the causes of
+Hines' excessive hatred of me, and of his great desire to "put me down
+and make me know my place," as he termed it. He was very irreligious,
+and entirely wanting in every attribute of a Christian. He was also what
+in the South is termed a "bully"--that is, he was free to use his
+pistols on the slightest occasion, when among his equals, but when in
+the presence of his superiors he was a cringing sycophant and coward. He
+was a real coward, at best, in all places. He did not want me on the
+plantation; and he was determined that he would so harrass me that I
+would become as reckless and devilish as himself, and thereby compel my
+master to send me to a slave-market to be sold.
+
+Hines concocted various tales and reported them to Mr. Thompson,
+relating to my alleged insubordination, laziness, refusal to work, etc.,
+but all to no effect. Finally he told my master that I was so
+disobedient that the rest of the slaves were affected by my conduct, and
+that I would ruin all the slaves on the plantation unless severe means
+were used to conquer me.
+
+My master informed Hines, after hearing his story, that Jack, a
+fellow-servant of mine in my younger days, had killed Prince, another
+fellow-servant, on Wilson's plantation, several years before; that I
+might be imbued with the same spirit; and that if he undertook to
+chastise me he might meet with the same fate of Prince.
+
+This murder occurred after I had been sold by Wilson to Thompson, but
+being permitted to return to Wilson's plantation once a year to visit
+and preach to my old flock, I learned the facts regarding the matter.
+
+Jack belonged to a neighbor of Wilson's by the name of Scott, and having
+done something displeasing to Scott he wished to tie him up and whip
+him. Jack refused to be whipped by Scott or any one else, when Prince
+was called upon by his master (Scott) to help him secure Jack. Prince
+was reluctant, but was commanded two or three times to take hold of
+Jack and hold him. Jack told him not to approach him at the peril of his
+life; but not heeding Jack's warning he made the effort to tie Jack,
+when he was stabbed to the heart with a knife in Jack's hand, and
+expired almost instantly. Jack made his escape for a short time, but was
+captured and immediately hanged without a trial or an opportunity to
+make any defense. Jack was captured in a corn-crib on Wilson's
+plantation, which made Thompson suppose the murder had been committed
+there.
+
+This recital, which was made in substance to Hines by my master, cowed
+the overseer considerably, and a house-servant who was present during
+the conversation afterwards told me that Hines' face turned white as a
+sheet, and he trembled like a leaf.
+
+My master knew his overseer was a coward, and that if he could work upon
+his fears by supposing me to be too high-spirited to stand a whipping,
+he would probably save me from Hines' malice, and keep the overseer to
+his work. Good overseers were hard to get in the South. An intelligent
+Christian man would not have such a position under any circumstances,
+and the very best of the "poor white trash" who _would_, were unreliable
+and brutish; therefore Mr. Thompson had to do the very best he could
+under the circumstances. He did not believe Hines; yet he had to humor
+him, in a measure.
+
+After a few days Hines reported to Mr. Thompson that he had heard me say
+that I would never be whipped by him or any other overseer on the
+plantation, as long as I had life to resist, which was a most malicious
+falsehood. What I did tell Hines was, that I would so conduct myself and
+so perform my work that he nor any other overseer on the plantation
+should never have cause to chastise me.
+
+The falsehood inflamed my master, and in his wrath he told Hines to whip
+me for the first offense I might commit, or kill me in the attempt.
+
+Armed with this instruction, Hines was in high glee; yet he dare not
+attempt anything without first laying well his plans and making sure of
+sufficient force to carry them out. The next morning he charged me to
+pick six hundred pounds of cotton and deliver it at the weighing-house
+at night, under penalty, for a failure, of one hundred lashes on my bare
+back with a rawhide.
+
+This would not have been an extraordinary task in good cotton; but where
+we had to work that day the cotton was poor, and in that field the crop
+was not more than half a one. However, I worked hard against fate all
+day, and prayed to Almighty God to help me in my hour of need, and keep
+me steadfast. I knew I was to be punished not for any fault or misdoing,
+but simply to gratify a brute in human shape, and my inferior in
+intellect, morality, and physical strength. The burden was hard to bear,
+yet I prayed for strength to bear it. When called from the field to the
+weighing-house I was kept waiting until all the other slaves had their
+cotton weighed. When mine was weighed I was told by Hines that I had
+only picked four hundred pounds. I verily believed this to be untrue,
+and felt convinced that I had picked at least five hundred pounds, for I
+was one of the best, if not the best, cotton-pickers in the country; and
+I had labored faithfully and rapidly all day, and did not lose a
+minute's time, unnecessarily.
+
+Hines turned to me and said, Go to your quarters; I will settle with you
+in the morning.
+
+Now began new trials. My duty and my Christianity instructed me to face
+the undeserved and unjust punishment manfully. The devil and my human
+nature told me to run away. I became weak. The fear of the disgrace of a
+whipping was too much for me, and I succumbed to the evil one.
+
+I made such arrangements as I could, and concealed myself on the
+plantation, before daylight the next morning, so that I could take an
+early start in the night and travel behind my pursuers instead of before
+them. My wife knew of my hiding-place, and when night came she sought me
+and reported what had been done for my capture.
+
+Hines seemed, she said, to be more cheerful than usual in the morning
+when he found I was gone, and hastened to report the good news, as he
+thought, to Mr. Thompson. After some conversation between them it was
+determined by my master to obtain the services of a professional
+slave-hunter, and follow me with hounds. The slave-hunter was sent for
+and came with his pack of dogs that same day about noon. The hunt was
+immediately begun, and the country was then being scoured in all
+directions for my tracks.
+
+This information put me on my guard, and gave me time to consider what
+direction I had better take in my flight. I had provide myself a
+preparation called "smut" among the negroes, which, when spread thinly
+on the soles of the shoes or feet, destroyed that peculiar scent by
+which blood-hounds are enabled to follow the trail of a man or a beast.
+After bidding my wife farewell I smeared my shoes with "smut" and
+started in the direction of the hills, beyond which was a large swamp,
+the refuge of many a poor runaway.
+
+On my way I had to pass through innumerable thickets of underbrush and
+briers, and by reason thereof I tore my already much-worn clothes almost
+into shreds, and lacerated my flesh severely, especially on my arms and
+legs. I arrived in the swamp, however, without being followed by the
+dogs, and while proceeding slowly and dejectedly along, my steps were
+suddenly stopped by a fierce and loud growl. I was frightened, to be
+sure, yet I knew scarcely what to do. The growl proceeded from a bear, I
+felt fully assured, for bears roamed through the hills and swamps of
+Mississippi. But with presence of mind I retreated slowly from the
+presence of Mr. and Mrs. Bruin, and not being followed by the bears my
+fears on that score were removed.
+
+About this time it began to rain; and the night was one of those black,
+foreboding nights that novelists love so well to depict in their
+descriptions of storms. The lightning flashed with a vividness that
+lighted up the dismal swamps with a weird and horrible brightness; the
+thunder rolled peal upon peal, making to me a pandemonium, real and
+feeling; the pitiless rain pelted me unmercifully and constantly, with
+that persistence that made it almost unendurable to me. I sat down at
+the root of a large tree, not to shelter myself from the rain but to
+protect myself from the attack of any wild animal that should approach
+me. There I sat the rest of the long night, unfriended, alone,
+forsaken,--a hunted outcast.
+
+  "Man's inhumanity to man
+  Makes countless thousands mourn."
+
+The condition in which I was now placed rendered me indeed a pitiable
+object. I waited and longed for morning to come; but the long, slow
+minutes passed lazily along without regard to my sufferings or wishes.
+After a long time, to me, I heard a rooster crow, and the welcome sound
+brought me to my feet in an instant. I started in the direction of the
+sound, and approached warily. Having walked a short distance I reached
+the edge of the swamps, or rather a dry spot or oasis in the swamp, and
+by the faint glimmer of day, which was just breaking, I could see the
+outlines of a house. The cock continued to crow, which seemed to invite
+me to approach, and which I construed into a good omen,--at least I
+really felt good at the sight of the house, even though it might contain
+those who would chain me and take me back to my master. I noticed that a
+public road ran along close to the house; and after going on the road,
+in approaching the house I was discovered by a dog, belonging to the
+house, who set up a furious barking. Fearing to stay and make my wants
+known I again sought "cover" in the swamp. I stayed in the swamp that
+day and ate such berries, roots, and nuts as I could find. I had plenty
+of time for prayer and meditation. I was alone with God, and prayed to
+him for help in my distress, and for direction. I became convinced that
+I had done wrong in running away, and deemed that I had sinned against
+God. I had been a runaway and an outcast before, and had came to right
+conclusions; yet I had turned from the path of duty, and was even now
+being punished for my sin. I determined to return to my master and take
+the consequences of my acts in running away. I asked God to have mercy
+on me and pardon my sins, and protect me from the wrath of my master and
+the maliciousness of Hines. Having fully made up my mind to return to
+Thompson and make such efforts as I could to allay the punishment I
+expected to receive, I set about perfecting my plans to get there
+without being apprehended by the slave-hunters, who were then, I have no
+doubt, hunting for me. My master had offered a reward for my return to
+his plantation; and should any one arrest me and take me home, although
+I might be returning on my own accord, they would receive the reward and
+I would have to make up the amount to my master in extra labor and
+extra punishment. To avoid this was now my object.
+
+At night I left the swamp and went to the road, intending to travel home
+that night--thinking I was not more than ten or twelve miles away from
+there. I was uncertain which way to go; but I finally started off on the
+road, hoping that I was going in the direction of Thompson's. The rain
+was pattering down; but I traveled briskly all that night, and about
+day-break I came to a plantation. I entered one of the slave-cabins and
+told the inmates I was lost, hungry, and tired, and asked them for
+something to eat. One of the colored men spoke to a woman who appeared
+to be his wife, and told her to get me something to eat, and that he
+would go and get some pine to put on the fire. His actions, and the
+manner in which he spoke, aroused my suspicions, and being fearful that
+he intended to betray me, I left the cabin directly after he did, and
+sought an asylum in the woods, where I stayed during that day. Thus "the
+wicked flee when no one pursueth."
+
+At night I found the same road I had traveled the day before, and
+started again to try and get to Thompson's. I knew that I was wrong, and
+that I was traveling away from instead of toward Thompson's; therefore I
+concluded to make inquiries at the first opportunity. After traveling
+three or four miles I came to a cabin in which there was a light
+shining through the cracks between the logs. Approaching the cabin, I
+intended to enter; but being enabled to see the inmates through the
+cracks I discovered three white men sitting around the fire, so I turned
+to leave. As I was passing the corner of the cabin a colored woman came
+to the door for some purpose, and saw me. She jumped back into the
+cabin, at the same time exclaiming, "Here's a runaway nigger!"
+
+I immediately ran for the road; but a dog--not a blood-hound--followed
+me, and while getting over the fence between the cabin and the road he
+caught me by the breeches leg. I shook him off and ran for the woods.
+
+The white men were slave-hunters, and were after me particularly, as I
+learned afterwards. They followed me closely by the sound of the
+crackling of brush, and put the dogs they had with them on my track.
+These dogs, fortunately for me, were in the cabin at the time I
+approached it. As soon as I heard the first yelp of a blood-hound I
+"smutted" my shoe-soles, and soon threw them off the scent. The white
+men followed me about three or four miles. Finally, finding I would not
+get away from them by running, I stopped, and making my way into a dense
+thicket of briers I sat down. The white men stopped a short distance
+from me and listened, I suppose, for the sound of brush cracking. After
+waiting a short time one of them started off in the direction they had
+come, leaving the others still waiting,--using this ruse in order to
+throw me off my guard, so as to enable the remaining ones to ascertain
+where I was by the noise I would make in walking. I was too close to
+them; and from the noise I heard from where they were standing I knew
+they had a dog with them, and that they were only waiting for me to move
+to begin the chase again. I sat perfectly quiet, and waited patiently
+for the remaining whites and the dog to leave. After a time the men
+began to move about through the brush, coming still closer to me. I
+heard them talking, when one of them said, "We ought to catch the nigger
+if we have to run him all night." "No" said the other, "we should let
+him alone to-night, and start him up in the morning, when we can have
+daylight for the chase, and not run him to-night, for we might run him
+off and never catch him."
+
+After a short parley they concluded to get some more dogs and be on the
+ground before daylight, so as to make sure of me. As soon as they had
+gone out of my hearing I emerged from the brier thicket. I found my
+limbs had become sore and benumbed from the exposure and hardships I
+had undergone, and I was intensely hungry. I worried along, however, to
+get out of that neighborhood as soon as possible. The sky was now clear,
+the air frosty, and my rags were but a scant protection to me. After
+walking awhile I found my soreness began to leave me, when I began to
+accelerate my pace. I had to walk as fast as I could, and exercise my
+limbs all I could, in order to keep warm. After walking some time I came
+to a plantation. Upon reconnoitering, I found an old house, and
+approaching it with the intention of seeking a little rest in it during
+the remainder of the night and the next day, I saw a light in it. I went
+in, however, and found it to be the workshop of the plantation, and five
+colored men were there putting handles in their axes. I asked them for
+something to eat, and was about to tell them the truth regarding myself,
+when one of the negroes hurried me out of the cabin, saying he would get
+me something to eat. After we got out he told me I was very imprudent,
+for if I had told the negroes who I was and that I was a runaway, they
+would have taken me themselves. He got me some meat and bread, and after
+I had told him who I was and that I wanted to find my way back to
+Thompson's, he put me on the right road and gave me such directions as I
+required.
+
+I found that I was about fifty miles from Thompson's plantation, and
+that it would require two nights' hard walking to get there. I felt very
+much discouraged, and grieved considerably to myself. However, having
+satisfied the cravings of my appetite, I plucked up courage and started
+on my long return walk with renewed energy.
+
+After traveling about five miles I came to a little town. I was afraid
+to go through it on account of the liability of being apprehended; and I
+did not like to go around it for fear of getting lost again. I
+determined to risk going through the place, and, by avoiding every one,
+escape detection. There was quite an excitement here by reason of an
+epidemic sickness among the children, and about every other house had a
+light in it. I passed through the town with fear; but I escaped arrest
+and felt like rejoicing over my good fortune, not once thinking of any
+dangers or hardships that might lay before me.
+
+After I got through the town I came to a considerable stream, with a
+bridge across it, the name of which I am unable to give; but on the
+opposite end of the bridge from the town there is a road-way, or levee,
+thrown up across the "bottom" for about two miles. At the time I
+crossed, the stream was very much swelled from the recent rains, and the
+water extended all over the bottom on each side of the road-grade, and
+to within two or three feet of the top of it. This grade I had to cross;
+and I was greatly afraid that I would meet some one. I started across,
+and when about half way over the grade, or levee, I heard hounds baying
+ahead of me; and the sounds seemed to be approaching me, I became very
+much frightened, and turned and fled back to the bridge, when, just as I
+was stepping on it, I heard men's voices, and stopped, when I found they
+were coming across the bridge toward me. I concluded I would rather face
+the blood-hounds than the white men, so I made my way back over the
+grade as hurriedly as I could. I reached the end of the grade without
+meeting the hounds and turned off into the woods. After walking a short
+distance I heard the hounds again, and the sound of their yelps was
+nearing me rapidly. I turned my course immediately, and ran as fast as I
+was able for three or four hundred yards, when I saw distinctly, in the
+starlight, a man running nearly toward me. My heart leaped into my
+throat, as it were, and I made ready for battle. But the man proved to
+be a poor runaway like myself, and the one whom the hounds were after. I
+had got into a field, and the runaway passed through the same field
+without noticing me. I kept on in an opposite direction from the one
+which he had taken, and crossed the fence on the other side of the field
+just in time to hear one of the slave-hunters say, "There he is now; I
+heard him getting over the fence." I threw myself on the ground and
+awaited results. The dogs were "hot" on the other slave's track, and
+were running at a great rate, which induced the slave-hunters to think
+their companion was mistaken. So, to my great relief and pleasure, they
+started on after the hounds. I was nearly exhausted by my exertions
+during the night, and as it was now nearly morning I lay on the ground
+for a time to rest and recuperate my worn-out energies a little.
+
+In a short time I got up, and after looking around I saw the outlines of
+plantation houses in the distance. On going to them I found a
+resting-place in a fodder-loft, in the horse-lot of the plantation. I
+ensconced myself in the fodder, when I again heard the infernal yelps of
+the blood-hounds, and the more infernal yelps of the white pursuers
+urging the hounds after the poor runaway. The hounds soon after caught
+the poor wretch, whose cries for mercy were heart-rending and piteous.
+My situation was perilous; yet I had hopes that the other slave being
+run down and caught would save me, from the fact that the hunters were
+not aware of the presence of another runaway in the immediate
+neighborhood.
+
+The day wore slowly away, and being very weak from hunger and fatigue I
+was unable to gain that rest my wasted body required. I slept two or
+three hours, however, and had ample time for reflection. The bridge
+where I had been so completely hemmed in the night before was impressed
+deeply upon my memory; and the agony of mind while on the bridge was
+still troubling me. I relied on a loving heavenly Father in my troubles
+and trials, and brought to my mind the condition of the children of
+Israel when about to be overwhelmed by the hosts of Pharaoh on the shore
+of the Red Sea. God delivered them, and I believed he would deliver me.
+My faith was strong.
+
+Night came at last, when I cautiously emerged from my hiding-place and
+continued my journey toward home. I ran and walked about twenty-five
+miles, and did not find any familiar objects to lead me to suppose I was
+in the neighborhood of my master's plantation, when I began to look
+about for a place of concealment in which to spend another weary and
+lonesome day. Walking slowly along, after a short time my attention was
+attracted by sounds as if some one was pounding a hard substance. On
+stopping and listening, I soon heard some person calling hogs. The
+voice seemed familiar. Upon further investigation I began to recognize
+objects, and soon ascertained that I was "at home." Now that I had got
+back "home," new troubles arose in my mind. I would be punished
+severely, without doubt.
+
+Instead of going to "the quarters" I went directly to my master's
+plantation, in the hope that I could enlist my mistress in my behalf,
+and thus have the way made smooth for me. My master was not at home,
+fortunately, and my mistress heard my story and prayers for forgiveness.
+She promised to intercede with my master for me, but that I must promise
+not to run away again, which I did. She bade me to go and hide myself in
+the stable loft, and not to leave there until she sent for me. Soon
+after, my master came home. In conversation with him my mistress
+broached the subject as to my whereabouts. He told her that he believed
+I had got to the free states and was lost to him; however, that if any
+of the slaves on the plantation knew where I was they should get me word
+that if I would come back I should not be punished, and that I should be
+forgiven. In that case my mistress said she would insure my return
+speedily.
+
+Matters were soon arranged, and I was re-instated in my former position
+on the plantation. But severe trials were soon to overtake me, and what
+I had already gone through was but an atom in comparison with what I
+afterwards suffered from the hands of my master, and by reason of my
+condition of slavery.
+
+Thus ended my earlier experiences as a slave, from my earliest
+recollection down to the time of my return to Thompson's plantation.
+
+I propose to continue this biography, and include the whole in book
+form. This pamphlet is printed for the purpose of enabling me to raise
+money to continue my work and paying for printing the whole in a book
+substantially and neatly bound.
+
+To the friends of the colored race I appeal for help in this matter,
+hoping that sufficient interest is taken to insure the accumulation of
+sufficient funds for my purpose.
+
+The remainder will contain my full experience as a minister of the
+gospel, and incidents relating to my efforts and the efforts of my
+co-workers in building up the church of Christ among the former slaves
+of the South, and such suggestions as I may deem proper to aid to raise
+the standard of intelligence among negroes.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Biography of a Slave, by Charles Thompson
+
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