,,biography ,,of ,a ,,slave ,being ,the ,experiences ,of ,rev4 ,charles ,thompson1 ,a ,preacher ,of ,the ,united ,brethren ,church1 ,,while ,a ,,slave ,,in ,,the ,,south4 ,together ,with ,startling ,occurrences ,incidental ,to ,slave ,life4 #ahge4 ,,preface4 ,in publishing this book ,i hope to do good not only to my own race1 but to all who may read it4 ,i am not a book-maker1 and make no pretensions to literary attainments2 and ,i have made no efforts to create for myself a place in the literary1 book-making ranks4 ,i claim for my book truthfulness and honesty of purpose1 and upon that basis it must succeed or fail4 ,the ,biography of a ,slave is called for by a very large number of my immediate acquaintances1 and1 ,i am assured1 will meet with such reception as to justify the expense ,i have incurred in having it printed and bound4 ,to the members of the ,united ,brethren ,church1 white as well as colored1 ,i look for help in the sale and circulation of my work1 yet ,i am satisfied ,i will receive commendable patronage from members of all ,christian churches everywhere4 ,the book is written in the narrative style1 as being much better suited to the tastes and capacities of my colored readers1 and ,i have used simple and plain ,english language1 discarding the idiomatic and provincial language of the southern slaves and ignorant whites1 expecting thereby to help educate the blacks in the use of proper language4 ,i am indebted to ,william ,h4 ,rhodes1 ,esq41 attorney at law1 of ,newman1 ,douglas ,county1 ,illinois1 for his valuable assistance in the preparation of my manuscript for the printer4 ,he has re-written the whole of it for me1 and has otherwise assisted me in the matter of placing the book before the public4 ,,charles ,,thompson4 ,newman1 ,illinois1 ,aug41 #ahgd4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,charles ,thompson1 born in ,atala ,county1 ,mississippi--,division of ,kirkwood's slaves among his six ,children--,the writer and his two sisters fall to ,mrs4 ,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 reward4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,not sent to hell by ,wilson--,mrs4 ,wilson protects me1 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 only4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,caught1 tried1 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 #c o'clock ,a4,m4--,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--,pray1 sing1 and shout--,get home and ordered to hire myself out4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,start out on my travels to hunt a new master--,find ,mr4 ,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 labor4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,james ,wilson comes along--,wants me to go with him to ,saulsbury1 ,tennessee1 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 it4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,was hired to ,mr4 ,thompson1 and adopted his name--,opened regular meetings1 and preached on the plantation and other places--,took unto myself a wife--,was purchased by ,thompson1 duly installed on the plantation1 and invested with authority--,various means and plans resorted to by the overseer to degrade me in the eyes of ,mr4 ,thompson--,driven1 through persecution1 to run away--,return back to my master4 ,,biography ,,of ,a ,,slave4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,i4 ,charles ,thompson1 born in ,atala ,county1 ,mississippi--,division of ,kirkwood's ,slaves ,among his ,six ,children--,the ,writer and his ,two ,sisters ,fall to ,mrs4 ,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 ,reward4 ,i was a slave1 and was born in ,atala ,county1 ,mississippi1 near the town of ,rockford1 on the third day of ,march1 #ahcc4 ,my father and mother both being slaves1 of course my pedigree is not traceable1 by me1 farther back than my parents4 ,our family belonged to a man named ,kirkwood1 who was a large slave-owner4 ,kirkwood died when ,i was about nine years old1 after which1 upon the settlement of the affairs of his estate1 the slaves belonging to the estate were divided equally1 as to value1 among the six heirs4 ,there were about seventy-five slaves to be divided into six lots2 and great was the tribulation among the poor blacks when they learned that they were to be separated4 ,when the division was completed two of my sisters and myself were cast into one lot1 my mother into another1 and my father into another1 and the rest of the family in the other lots4 ,young and slave as ,i was1 ,i felt the pang of separation from my loved and revered mother2 child that ,i was ,i mourned for mother1 even before our final separation1 as one dead to me forever4 ,so early to be deprived of a fond mother1 by the law1 gave me my first view of the curse of slavery4 ,until this time ,i did not know what trouble was1 but from then until the tocsin of freedom was sounded through the glorious ,emancipation ,proclamation by the immortal ,abraham ,lincoln1 ,i passed through hardship after hardship1 in quick succession1 and many1 many times ,i have almost seen and tasted death4 ,i bade farewell to my mother1 forever1 on this earth4 ,oh6 the pangs of that moment4 ,even after thirty years have elapsed the scene comes vividly to my memory as ,i write4 ,a gloomy1 dark cloud seemed to pass before my vision1 and the very air seemed to still with awfulness4 ,i felt bereaved1 forlorn1 forsaken1 lost4 ,put yourself in my place2 feel what ,i have felt1 and then say1 ,god is just2 he will protect the helpless and right the wronged1 and you will have some idea of my feelings and the hope that sustained me through long and weary years of servitude4 ,my mother1 my poor mother6 what must she have suffered4 ,never will ,i forget her last words2 never will ,i forget the earnest prayers of that mother begging for her child1 and refusing to be comforted4 ,she had fallen to the lot of ,mrs4 ,anderson1 and she pleaded with burning tears streaming down her cheeks1 ,he is my only son1 my baby child1 my youngest and the only son ,i have2 please let me have him to go with me6 ,anderson spoke roughly to her and told her to hold her peace2 but with her arms around me she clung to me and cried the louder1 ,let me have my child2 if you will let me have my baby you may have all the rest6 ,mothers can realize this situation only1 who have parted with children whom they never expected to see again4 ,imagine parting with your dearest child1 never to see it again2 to be thrown into life-servitude in one part of the country and your dear child in the same condition six hundred miles away4 ,although my mother was black1 she had a soul2 she had a heart to feel just as you have1 and ,i1 her child1 was being ruthlessly torn from her by inexorable law4 ,what would you have done if you had been in her place8 ,she prayed to ,god for help4 ,my kind old father consoled and encouraged my mother all he could1 and said to her1 ,do not be discouraged1 for ,jesus is your friend2 if you lack for knowledge1 he will inform you1 and if you meet with troubles and trials on your way1 cast all your cares on ,jesus1 and don't forget to pray4 ,the old man spoke these words while praying1 shouting1 crying1 and saying farewell to my mother4 ,he had1 in a manner1 raised nearly all the colored people on the plantation2 so he had a fatherly feeling for all of them4 ,the old man looked down on me1 and said1 ,my child1 you are now without a father and will soon be without a mother2 but be a good boy1 and ,god will be father and mother to you4 ,if you will put your trust in him and pray to him1 he will take you home to heaven when you die1 where you can meet your mother there1 where parting will be no more4 ,farewell4 ,i was then taken from my mother1 and have not seen or heard of her since--about twenty-nine years ago4 ,old ,uncle ,jack1 as my father was called by the plantation people1 spoke words of comfort to all of us before we were parted4 ,the lot of human chattels1 of which ,i was one1 was taken to their new home on ,wilson's plantation1 in the same county as the ,kirkwood plantation4 ,wilson told my sisters and myself that our mother and ourselves were about six hundred miles apart4 ,after ,i had been in my new home about two years1 ,wilson bought my uncle ,ben from a man named ,strucker1 who lived in the same neighborhood1 but he did not buy uncle ,ben's wife4 ,two years later ,wilson moved to another plantation he owned in ,pontotoc ,county1 ,mississippi1 about one hundred miles distant from his ,atala ,county plantation4 ,ben not being willing to go so far from his wife1 ran away from his master4 ,wilson1 however1 left word that if any one would catch and return ,ben to him1 he would pay two hundred dollars4 ,this was a bait not to be resisted4 ,the professional slave-hunters1 with their blood-hounds1 were soon on the track4 ,they failed to get the poor hunted man1 though4 ,ben was a religious1 ,god-fearing man1 and placed firm reliance on the help of the ,almighty1 in his serious trials1 and never failed to find help when most needed4 ,he stayed under cover in the woods1 in such lurking places as the nature of the country provided1 in the day time1 and at night would cautiously approach his wife's cabin1 when1 at an appointed signal1 she would let him in and give him such food and care as his condition required4 ,the slaves of the ,south were united in the one particular of helping each other in such cases as this1 and would adopt ingenious telegrams and signals to communicate with each other2 and it may well be believed that the inventive genius of the blacks was1 as a general thing1 equal to all emergencies1 and when driven to extremities they were brave to a fault4 ,ben's wife1 in this instance1 used the simple device of hanging a certain garment in a particular spot1 easily to be seen from ,ben's covert1 and which denoted that the coast was clear and no danger need be apprehended4 ,the garment and the place of hanging it had to be changed every day1 yet the signals thus made were true to the purpose1 and saved uncle ,ben from capture4 ,uncle ,ben was closely chased by the hounds and inhuman men-hunters2 on one occasion so closely that he plunged into a stream and followed the current for more than a mile4 ,taking to the water threw the hounds off the scent of the track4 ,before reaching the stream1 uncle ,ben was so closely pursued that one of the men in the gang shot at him1 the bullet passing unpleasantly close to him4 ,his wife heard the hounds and the gun-shot4 ,this race for life and liberty was only one of a continued series1 and was repeated as often as blood-hounds could find a track to follow4 ,at night ,ben was very much fatigued and hungry1 and his only hope of getting anything to eat was to reach his wife's cabin4 ,how to do this without being observed1 was the question4 ,as well as he was able1 about midnight he left his retreat and approached the cabin4 ,it was too dark to see a signal if one had been placed for him in the usual manner4 ,after waiting for some time a bright light shot through the cracks in the cabin for an instant1 and was repeated at intervals of two or three minutes1 three or four times4 ,this was the night-signal of all right agreed upon between uncle ,ben and his wife1 and was made by placing the usual grease light under a vessel and raising the vessel for a moment at intervals4 ,ben approached the cabin and gave his signal by rapping on the door three times1 and after a short pause three more raps4 ,thus they had to arrange to meet2 the husband to obtain food to sustain life1 and the wife to administer to him4 ,on this particular night their meeting was unusually impressive4 ,she had heard the death-hounds1 the sound of the gun-shot1 and she knew the yelps of the hounds and the shot were intended for ,ben1 her husband4 ,with no crime laid to him1 he was hunted down as a wild beast4 ,made in ,god's own image1 he is made a slave1 a brute1 an outcast1 and an outlaw because his skin is black4 ,thus they met1 ,ben and his wife4 ,after the usual precautions and mutual congratulations they both kneeled before the throne of ,god and thanked him for their preservation thus far1 and throwing themselves upon his goodness and bounty1 asked help in their need and safety in the future4 ,without rising from his knees1 ,ben1 even in the anguish of his heart1 consoled his wife1 remarking1 that the darkest hour is always just before daylight4 ,the blacks of the ,south have their own peculiar moral maxims1 applicable to all situations in life1 and the slaves not knowing how to read committed such ,bible truths as were read to them from time to time4 ,it is true they were generally superstitious in a great degree1 as all ignorant persons are2 yet their native sense of right led them to adopt the best and most religious principles1 dressed in homely sayings1 their circumstances permitted4 ,ben dare not stay very long at a time in his wife's cabin1 as a strict watch was constantly kept1 that the runaway might be apprehended4 ,bidding his wife farewell1 ,ben hastened back to one of a number of his hiding-places1 there to stay through the day1 unless routed out by the blood-hounds4 ,he was fortunate1 however1 in the help of ,god1 for his safety1 and the efforts of the hounds and the hounds' followers were futile4 ,finally1 ,wilson gave up chasing ,ben with blood-hounds1 and resolved to try a better and more human method4 ,he bought ,ben's wife and left her with ,strucker1 with instructions to send her and ,ben to his plantation if ,ben was willing for the arrangement4 ,ben soon got word of how matters stood with reference to himself1 and concluded if he could live with his wife on the same plantation that it was the very best he could do1 so he acceded to the wishes of ,wilson1 and was sent with his wife to ,wilson4 ,the happiness of this couple was unbounded when they found they could once more live together as ,god intended they should1 and the poor wife in her great gratitude cried1 ,god is on our side6 ,ben replied that he had told her on one occasion that ,god was on their side1 and that the darkest hour was just before day4 ,the usual expression used by the blacks when a runaway returned to his master was that he had come out of the woods2 that is1 he had left his hiding place in the woods and returned to the plantation to work4 ,when ,i heard that uncle ,ben had come out of the woods1 and was coming to live on our plantation1 my joy knew no bounds4 ,on the day when he was expected to arrive ,i got permission to go out on the road some distance and meet them4 ,early in the morning ,i caught a horse and started4 ,every wagon ,i met filled me with hope and fear blended2 hope that the wagon contained my uncle and aunt1 and fear that it did not4 ,i rode on1 on1 on1 all that day1 until my heart was sick with hope deferred4 ,i had received orders before starting that if ,i did not meet them that day to return home4 ,but ,i was so far from home1 and with straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of my uncle1 added to my keen disappointment in not seeing them1 made me feel tired1 sick1 and worn out4 ,so ,i stopped at a friendly cabin that night1 after telling the inmates who ,i was and what my errand was4 ,early the next morning ,i was out1 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 him1 notwithstanding my orders to return home4 ,after traveling about an hour ,i met the wagon containing uncle ,ben and his wife4 ,the joy of that moment to me is inexpressible4 ,having been deprived of mother and father he was the only relative my sisters and myself could ever have any hopes of seeing again4 ,my heart rejoiced exceedingly4 ,i was1 as it were1 a new boy entirely1 so overcome was ,i4 ,we all arrived home that same day1 and it was a much more pleasant trip than ,i had taken the day before4 ,on that day it was all anxiety1 mixed with hope and fear2 to-day it was all joy and thanksgiving1 again proving uncle ,ben's saying that the darkest hour is always just before day4 ,my sisters were simply wild with joy when we arrived4 ,they ran out the road to meet1 us crying1 ,there comes uncle ,ben2 we have one more friend6 ,we were all comforted and rejoiced to a very great extent1 and we felt indeed that we had one more friend with us4 ,we were as happy as slaves could be1 and spent all the time we could together--uncle ,ben1 his wife1 my sisters1 and myself4 ,but ,wilson harbored a grudge toward uncle ,ben because he had to buy his wife in order to get him1 and had said that if he ever got ,ben after he ran away he would whip him to death4 ,he treated ,ben very well for the time being1 but about a year after he had got him home he began to put his plans into operation for severely punishing him4 ,he was afraid of ,ben's prayers4 ,although ,wilson would not have hesitated a moment to have put any plan into execution he may have conceived1 under ordinary circumstances1 yet praying ,ben1 while defending himself by appeals to ,almighty ,god was stronger than with carnal weapons in his hands4 ,wilson proceeded cautiously and laid snares for ,ben4 ,uncle ,ben was one of the best hands on the plantation1 and religiously performed the labor alloted him truly and persistently4 ,he obeyed his overseer and ,wilson in all things pertaining to his manual occupation1 and obeyed ,god to the very best of his ability in this as in everything else4 ,but ,wilson wanted to punish ,ben1 and was determined to do so4 ,he knew that ,ben was a faithful slave to labor1 and was reliable1 yet he wished to break ,ben's spirit--his manhood1 the ,god part of him4 ,wilson did not seem to know that he was not fighting ,ben in his scheme of revenge but that he was fighting ,god in ,ben1 and that although he punished ,ben to the death he would be conquered himself1 and more severely punished than he could ever hope to punish ,ben4 ,but ,wilson was mad1 infatuated1 and satanically determined4 ,precautious preparations were made by ,wilson to insure success in his revengeful scheme1 and after having obtained the aid of several neighbors who were what might be called professional slave-whippers1 he deemed his undertaking to punish and conquer ,ben fully ripe for execution4 ,ben being a field hand was busily employed picking cotton1 with a prayerful heart1 and a watchful eye on ,wilson4 ,from ,wilson's actions ,ben was sure something was going to occur which would nearly concern him1 and having been hunted like a beast he had become suspicious and on his guard all the time4 ,having a feeling of presentiment1 he was uneasy1 and1 as was usual with him1 he kneeled down and asked ,god to protect him from the machinations of his enemies1 and give him heart1 courage1 and strength to overcome the evil intended him4 ,while praying he was startled by the snort of a horse1 and on looking around to ascertain the cause of the noise he discovered himself almost surrounded by armed men on horseback4 ,no time to think now2 the time for action had arrived4 ,ben knew at once the flight was for life4 ,better1 however1 was death than to be thus hunted and harassed4 ,bounding through the field he gained a friendly covert1 and seemingly by mere chance he eluded his pursuers and the hounds4 ,ben thanked ,god for his deliverance4 ,wilson with his heartless band were again baffled1 and with man-hunting and disappointments in his man-chase he became furious4 ,ben stayed in the woods about four weeks1 and during all this time my sisters1 ,ben's wife1 and myself were kept in close confinement1 to keep us from communicating with ,ben or rendering him any assistance4 ,thus all of us had to suffer4 ,but we were only slaves4 ,wilson finally took ,ben's wife to a man in ,oxford1 about twenty-five miles distant1 and came back circulating the word among the blacks that he had sold her4 ,wilson had made arrangements at ,oxford with some professional slave-hunters to catch ,ben if he ever came to see his wife1 for which purpose she had been taken there4 ,after a time ,ben was informed that he and his wife had been sold by ,wilson to a man in ,oxford1 and of course believing such to be the fact1 he went there to see her1 and make arrangements for the future4 ,his wife was told by the man with whom ,wilson had left her that he had bought both her and ,ben1 and wished her to get ,ben to come out of the woods4 ,laboring under this delusion1 ,ben was month4 ,the cabin was surrounded by armed men1 when ,ben was overpowered1 chained1 and put in jail for safe keeping until ,wilson should come after him4 ,living in the woods so long and the harsh treatment he was now receiving wore ,ben down considerably2 yet1 believing that the darkest hour is just before day1 he relied on ,god's help in his misery4 ,wilson came for ,ben in due time1 and after chaining him securely around the neck he fastened one end of the chain to the rear of his buggy and literally1 a part of the time1 dragged him to ,holly ,springs1 about thirty miles from ,oxford1 where he sold him to a man who had the reputation of being the hardest master in the country4 ,wilson afterwards took ,ben's wife home4 ,thus they were separated1--,ben and his wife1--never to meet again on this earth4 ,wilson told me when he got home that he had sent ,ben to hell1 and that he would send me there too4 ,infatuated man2 he supposed he had done with ,ben for the very worst2 he thought he had as much power over the souls of his slaves as he had under the laws over their bodies4 ,he found1 however1 in time1 that ,god was with us1 and in his good time he delivered us from our bondage and punished our persecutors as they deserved4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,not sent to hell by ,wilson--,mrs4 ,wilson protects me1 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 only4 ,the monotonous tedium of routine slave-labor was very often broken by some scene of cruelty to one or another of the poor blacks1 either by the master or his overseer2 and woe unto the luckless one if the master should happen to be in a good mood to break bones4 ,although slaves were worth money in the ,south at that time1 yet the ungovernable passions of some if not most masters found free vent in cruelty to their own property--that is1 their slaves4 ,this was the case with ,wilson1 and no opportunity was missed by him to make a poor black feel the effects of his brutish nature and passions4 ,his wife1 on the other hand1 made every effort to protect the blacks on the plantation as much as possible4 ,when ,wilson threatened to send me to hell1 as he had tried to send uncle ,ben1 ,mrs4 ,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 required4 ,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 waiters1 or personal servants1 and as ,i belonged to ,mrs4 ,wilson1 being an inherited chattel1 ,wilson acceded to her demand1 and ,i was sent along with the children when they went to school4 ,i was not allowed to sit with the white children in school1 but ,i loafed around handy1 ready for a call from either of my young mistresses4 ,the laws1 the enlightened laws of the southern states1 prohibited1 under heavy penalties1 the education of a slave1 or even a negro1 although free2 yet some of us1 under very disadvantageous circumstances1 learned to read and write4 ,it has always been a kind of habit with me to be doing something all the time1 and when not actually employed in some active work ,i would make use of my time for some good purpose2 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 hour1 while us little darkies loafed around and did nothing4 ,why couldn't we lighten our young masters and mistresses of that labor as well as other kinds of labor8 ,i determined that my young mistresses should not be made slaves of by the school-master1 but that ,i would do that work for them1 as they were generally so kind to me4 ,so ,i proposed the matter to them1 and they were tremendously pleased2 at least they laughed and chatted a great deal about me getting their lessons for them1 which so elated me that ,i could not avoid turning handsprings and somersaults all the way home that evening1 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 lessons4 ,i did not doubt my ability to perform the work1 for ,i was stout1 hearty1 and large for my age1 and could almost make a full hand in the field4 ,such was my idea at that time of getting lessons4 ,however1 the next day my young mistresses told me the school-master would not allow me to study their lessons for them1 but that ,i might take a book and sit outside of the school-house and study there1 but that ,i must be sure and not let any one see me4 ,why not8 ,why should ,i not study lessons in the school-house for my young mistresses8 ,because it is against the law for slaves to learn to read and write4 ,well1 that is curious4 ,a person1 because he is a slave1 must not study lessons2 must not learn to read and write because it is against the law4 ,what law8 ,my mistress used often to read to the children from a book which told about ,jesus1 and ,mary1 and ,lazarus1 and ,peter1 and ,paul2 and how ,jesus was our ,savior1 and shed his precious blood for the redemption of all who believed him and would obey his commands2 and how ,jesus said1 ,suffer little children to come unto me1 for of such is the kingdom of heaven4 ,did the law prohibit me from studying lessons out of a book about ,jesus1 and learning to read about ,jesus as my mistress did8 ,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 them8 ,i reckon so4 ,such was my reasoning2 and ,i determined to assist my young mistresses in getting their lessons1 law or no law1 let the consequences be what they may4 ,i received the book and went out from the school-house a short distance1 and secured myself from observation in a shady place4 ,i opened the book--a spelling-book it was4 ,hallo6 here's a dog and a cat1 and here's a sheep too1 and right here in the corner is a yoke--a regular ox-yoke4 ,well1 now1 this is nice4 ,so ,i got my first idea of what a book contained by the pictures in a spelling-book4 ,the print in the book meant something1 ,i was sure1 and my mind was employed until recess in endeavors to make out what the print and pictures were intended for4 ,the scholars came out at recess1 and my mistresses gave me such instructions as they were able1 which gave me a start ahead that enabled me to memorize the first six letters of the alphabet by the time school dismissed for noon4 ,i began to be deeply interested in studying lessons1 and was soon1 after hard study1 complete master of the alphabet4 ,i could repeat it forwards and backwards1 and could instantly tell the name of any letter pointed out to me4 ,my mistresses seemed to take great pleasure in teaching me1 and ,i was very anxious to learn4 ,i soon found that ,i could understand in a great measure the instructions the teacher gave to the different scholars1 by which ,i profited4 ,i sat in the back part of the house1 behind the scholars1 with my young mistress' old book in my hand1 and held it so that nobody could see it1 and studied constantly day after day1 which soon advanced me beyond some of the white children older than myself in learning4 ,i learned to spell and read2 and my appetite for knowledge increasing1 my young mistress set copies for me1 and by the time the school-term was out ,i could spell1 read1 and write4 ,slaves on large plantations in the ,south were worked in gangs1 under the general supervision of the overseer or slave-owner4 ,the gangs were placed under the immediate supervision of a trusty and intelligent slave1 whose duty it was to see that each hand performed his or her allotted task1 to weigh cotton during the picking season1 and to direct the slaves in their labor1 and were called field superintendents or bosses4 ,this was my position on the plantation a short time after school was out for the term4 ,for the first few days after my term at school as waiter for my young mistresses1 ,i was ordered into the field to pick cotton1 but was shortly placed over the hands as boss and cotton-weigher4 ,each picker had a stint or daily task to perform2 that is1 each of them was required to pick so many pounds of cotton1 and when in default were unmercifully whipped4 ,i had the cotton of each hand to weigh1 three times each day1 and had to keep the weights of each hand separate and correctly in my mind and report to ,wilson every night4 ,i dare not let ,wilson or any of the slaves know that ,i knew anything about figures or could read or write1 for a knowledge of those rudiments of education was considered criminal in a slave4 ,the slaves were nearly always jealous and envious of a boss of their own color1 and left no pretext untried to bring a boss into disrepute with the master and consequent corporal punishment4 ,and should ,i make a misstatement of the weight of any one hand's cotton1 that hand would know it4 ,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 day4 ,this was hard mind-work for me1 but ,i mastered the situation and escaped supersedure and punishment4 ,i held the position of field-superintendent about nine years1 and performed my duties faithfully and honestly1 to the satisfaction of my master and the hands under me generally4 ,why was ,i so faithful and dutiful to my slave master8 ,simply because ,i was doing my duty to ,god and acting in obedience to the commands of ,christ2 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 in4 ,as a slave ,i loved to do the will of the ,master in heaven2 as a responsible human being ,i could do no less4 ,i improved my knowledge1 whenever opportunity occurred1 and it was but a short time1 comparatively1 until ,i found out for myself1 by searching the ,scriptures clandestinely1 the great truths that ,jesus taught4 ,i read1 pondered1 and began the work of self-regeneration4 ,i read that ,god required of me to do certain things2 that unless ,i obeyed the commands of ,jesus ,i could expect no help from ,god4 ,i found that ,i was commanded to do1 and not stand still and wait for others to do for me4 ,the way seemed to open before me plainly and unmistakably1 and engraved the command to do firmly in my heart1 in the simple words1 ,do the will of ,god4 ,i obeyed the commands of our ,savior in all the essentials of repentance1 baptism1 and in everything1 and began the real work of my life--of living and being a servant of ,god and a faithful follower of ,jesus ,christ4 ,my field of labor was my own heart1 which ,i endeavored to render pure in the sight of ,god4 ,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 ,god4 ,i labored with them in a spirit of brotherly love1 and urged them1 in season and out of season1 to come to ,jesus4 ,my labors were not in vain1 for a great many were brought to the altar of prayer through my exertions1 and were forgiven4 ,wilson found out that ,i could read and write4 ,during the time of cotton-picking1 the last season ,i was superintendent1 a protracted meeting was held in the neighborhood1 and my master and mistress attended regularly4 ,the only time ,i could go was on ,sunday1 and ,i looked forward to that day with hope and pleasure4 ,on ,saturday evening my master stayed to church1 and did not expect to return home until ,sunday evening4 ,my report of weights were on my mind1 and ,i became somewhat uneasy about the result if ,i should attempt to remember them until the following ,monday4 ,what to do under the circumstances ,i did not know2 yet ,i knew that where there was a will there was a way4 ,i was afraid to set the weights down for fear of detection and punishment4 ,i hesitated and tried to think of some safe way out of the dilemma4 ,i knew if ,i let the matter rest over ,sunday ,i would not remember the weights1 for the reason that my mind was so employed and taken up with the religious revival that was then going on in the neighborhood1 in which ,i was very much interested on my own account and on account of my fellow-slaves4 ,i prayed to ,god to direct me right4 ,the overseer used a slate on which to set down the weights of cotton1 which was hanging in his cabin4 ,i took the slate down1 made the entries of weights with the names of the pickers1 and hung it up again4 ,during the next day 7,sunday7 the overseer came home1 and found the slate with the entries on it ,i had made4 ,he was somewhat surprised4 ,when ,wilson came home he was duly informed of the fact4 ,i was called1 and ordered into the presence4 ,i knew it was unlawful for me to know how to write1 and ,i dreaded the consequences of my rash act1 yet ,i unhesitatingly1 and with a courage that surprised me1 went to the house4 ,who wrote these names and weights on this slate1 ,charles8 asked ,mr4 ,wilson4 ,i did it1 sir1 ,i answered4 ,how and when did you learn to write8 ,during the time ,i attended my young mistresses to school1 sir4 ,wilson looked at me long and angrily1 and remarked that ,i had kept that fact secret for a long time1 and that as ,i had learned to read and write he could not help it4 ,but you must remember1 ,charles1 he continued1 that the law is that if any negro shall be found writing1 his forefinger shall be cut off at the first joint4 ,my time had now come for my first punishment1 ,i thought4 ,a day or two after ,i heard ,wilson1 while in conversation with the overseer1 say1 ,it will not do to let ,charles stay with the rest of the negroes1 or he will learn them all to read and write1 and then we might as well set them free4 ,what was to be done with me for my unpardonable crime8 ,all kinds of surmises and speculations entered my mind4 ,what was to be my fate8 ,belonging to ,mrs4 ,wilson--her property--,i was placed in charge of her son ,james1 who employed me at teaming1 that is1 hauling cotton1 lumber1 etc4 ,in this occupation ,i became pretty well acquainted with the surrounding country and the people1 and was very well satisfied with matters generally as they then stood4 ,but ,i was soon to learn that my young master was only anxious to carry out the plans of his father1 and was determined to punish1 or1 as they pleased to term it1 break me1 merely because ,i was related to ,ben--because ,i was able to read and write as well if not better than ,james ,wilson himself4 ,i was told one day by ,james that he had hired me to a man in ,pontotoc to work in a livery-stable1 and that ,i must come to his plantation without delay4 ,when ,i arrived ,i was informed that instead of going to ,pontotoc ,i should go to the railroad then building through ,mississippi1 and work for ,mr4 ,leadbitter4 ,i expostulated with my master1 and urged him1 with all the pleas and arguments at my command1 to allow me to remain on the plantation or go to ,pontotoc1 but to no avail4 ,he whipped out his six-shooter1 raving and swearing1 and bade me mount one of two mules instanter or he would shoot me on the spot4 ,i mounted the mule4 ,my reasons for not wanting to go to the railroad to work were good4 ,there was plenty to do on the plantation1 and there was no good cause for sending me away4 ,i feared rough usage at the railroad1 and rougher associations4 ,i had by this time become the religious teacher of all the well-disposed slaves in the neighborhood1 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 struggle4 ,i was no coward1 and was always ready to stand out to the end against all opposition1 when my duty as a humble follower of ,jesus was in question4 ,therefore my reluctance to be driven from my place of usefulness4 ,however1 ,i got on the mule and started1 in company with a colored man who was going with me to bring the mules back4 ,after traveling four or five miles1 and when at a convenient place1 ,i dismounted from the mules and told my companion ,i was going no farther with him1 and that if ,wilson wanted any one to go to the railroad to work he might go himself2 and ,i took to the woods4 ,this was the first time ,i ever attempted to escape and gain my freedom4 ,whether ,i was right or wrong ,i shall not say1 only ,i ask you to put yourself in my place as ,i was then situated1 and draw your own conclusions4 ,it is true ,i had formed dear and near associations1 and the old neighborhood had been the scene of my trials and triumphs4 ,my master had been uniformly kind1 as much so at least as his disposition would allow1 yet ,i felt1 although my skin was black1 ,i was entitled to and deserved freedom to worship ,god according to the dictates of my own conscience1 and to teach others the way to everlasting life4 ,i felt that ,i was a man made after ,god's own image1 and that no one had any right to a property in me as a mere chattel1 all human laws to the contrary notwithstanding4 ,i did not deem that ,i was a criminal1 and that ,i was escaping from penal servitude2 but that ,i was one of ,god's children1 escaping from a worse than ,egyptian bondage4 ,i rightfully owed allegiance to ,god and my country only4 ,so ,i run away4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,caught1 ,tried1 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 #c o'clock ,a4,m4--,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--,pray1 ,sing1 and ,shout--,get ,home and ,ordered to ,hire myself out4 ,the peculiar feelings one has who is a runaway are indescribable4 ,i felt every bit an outcast1 and was frightened by the least noise or the sight of any person1 and the yelp of a hound was terror to me4 ,i skulked and hid in the woods all day until night1 when ,i concluded to go to town1 get something to eat1 and make my arrangements for the future4 ,when the hoy1 who was sent by ,wilson with me1 returned and repeated to him my words1 vengeance was sworn against me1 and the hounds were turned loose for immediate chase4 ,i went to the town of ,pontotoc1 and while there refreshing myself in a cabin ,i heard hounds whining4 ,that was sufficient to inform me that ,i was trapped4 ,what to do ,i did not know1 but went to the door with the intention of making my escape1 if possible1 when ,i was met by ,james ,wilson and five other persons fully armed4 ,resistance was useless1 the hounds would have caught me before ,i could have run a hundred yards1 even if ,i could have escaped the bullets4 ,i surrendered1 and was securely tied by ,james ,wilson and his gang and taken back to the plantation4 ,dire threats were made against me1 but my mistress1 ,james' mother1 saved me again4 ,she informed her son that ,charles belonged to her2 that ,charles' mother had placed him1 under the care of ,god1 in her custody1 and that she did not intend to have him beaten4 ,james insisted on breaking me1 as he termed it1 and finally prevailed on his mother1 with promises1 that if she would let him deal with me he would break me without whipping me4 ,she consented4 ,james came to the cabin where ,i was tied and chained1 and told me that he did not desire to whip me1 but that if ,i did not go to the railroad to work every slave on the plantation would become demoralized1 and they would all do as they pleased4 ,his words and manner were very kind and conciliatory1 yet ,i took them for what they were worth1 and did not believe him2 for he would have whipped me severely if he had dared do so4 ,his reasoning regarding the poor1 ignorant slaves on the plantation1 however1 was to the point4 ,in their ignorance they would suppose that if ,i could do as ,i pleased and not be punished1 they could do the same2 and they would1 in all probability1 create an insurrection which would result in their own destruction4 ,for their sakes ,i acceded to ,james' wishes4 ,he told me that if ,i would go to the railroad and work for ,leadbitter one month1 that ,i might after that time hire myself out to whom ,i pleased and for as long a time as ,i pleased4 ,i was given a letter to ,leadbitter1 and immediately started on foot for the railroad4 ,when ,i arrived there ,i handed the letter to ,mr4 ,leadbitter1 who asked me how long ,i had come to stay with him4 ,i told him one month4 ,he broke the letter open1 and after reading it informed me that ,james ,wilson stated in the letter that ,i was to stay as long as he wanted me4 ,this was a piece of intelligence that learned me that ,james ,wilson would lie1 and from that time forward ,i had no confidence in his truthfulness4 ,i did not know what was best to do1 but finally made up my mind to fulfill and make good my promise1 and trust to the future to compel ,james ,wilson to perform his4 ,i thought this the right course4 ,i did not deem that ,i would be justified in breaking my promise because ,wilson was unreliable and broke his4 ,i concluded that if ,leadbitter kept me longer than one month he would have to be smarter than ,i gave him credit for being4 ,i asked ,leadbitter how many days there were in that month4 ,i went to work1 and kept account of the days4 ,i worked carefully4 ,the time passed slowly and wearily4 ,my associations were of the worst character possible1 and my co-laborers were of that lowest class of southern blacks whose ignorance and waywardness render them most of the time more than brutal4 ,i made every effort to do good among them1 and endeavored to preach to them on several occasions1 but was interrupted and deterred by the whites1 who forbade my preaching4 ,i talked to the blacks1 however1 whenever opportunity occurred1 and ,i hope that my labors for ,jesus were not in vain4 ,the last day of my month came and passed4 ,it was ,friday4 ,on ,saturday morning1 about three o'clock1 ,i started for home1 and with rapid walking ,i reached my destination about two hours after sunrise4 ,when ,i reached the plantation ,i cut across lots1 and passed through the field where ,wilson was at work with the hands4 ,i approached1 unobserved by him1 and spoke to him4 ,he looked at me with astonishment1 and in surprise asked1 ,what are you doing here8 ,you told me to stay one month2 ,i done so1 ,i answered4 ,did ,mr4 ,leadbitter know when you left8 ,i do not know1 sir1 ,i replied4 ,i left at three o'clock this morning1 and did not think it worth while to disturb ,mr4 ,leadbitter's rest4 ,three o'clock6 exclaimed ,wilson4 ,yes1 sir1 ,i quietly answered4 ,you ran away1 did you8 ,no1 sir1 ,i did not run away4 ,i stayed as long as you required me to stay1 when1 in obedience to your expressed promises1 ,i came home4 ,james ,wilson made some remark ,i could not understand1 but finally said that as ,i had come home he had some work for me to do before ,i could hire myself out4 ,i felt somewhat easy in my mind1 and waited to be set to work4 ,but when he afterwards told me he wanted me to take a load of cotton to ,memphis1 my heart misgave me1 ,i felt sure1 in my mind1 that ,i was to be sold from the slave-pens at ,memphis4 ,the grand trial time had now come for me1 and the teachings of my mother and uncle ,ben and uncle ,jack before and at our final separation came to me in full force4 ,they taught me1 before ,i could read for myself1 that in trouble ,i should rely implicitly on the help of my ,savior1 and that ,i should pray without ceasing4 ,to ,god ,i immediately turned for guidance and help1 and asked that my every step might be directed by him1 and that he should protect me from my enemies and persecutors4 ,i felt that ,i was being persecuted for ,jesus' sake1 for ,i was promised1 time and again1 that if ,i would quit preaching and talking to the slaves on religious subjects1 ,i should be advanced and my life made easy and comfortable4 ,i refused the offers1 because my ,master's work was of more importance than my ease4 ,i was impressed1 deeply1 with the great responsibilities resting upon me1 and was determined to preach and teach while ,i had strength and opportunity to do so4 ,i may have been mistaken with regard to the cause of my persecution by the ,wilsons1 but ,i think not4 ,i do not really believe that any one is persecuted for ,christ's sake in this day and age of the world1 in a ,christian country1 except in the ,south before the rebellion4 ,i have heard men1 and1 ,i am almost ashamed to say1 preachers1 proclaim that they were persecuted because of their adherence to the cause of ,christ1 when they were not persecuted at all on any account1 except probably on account of some wrong act of their own4 ,paul and the apostles were persecuted1 and early ,christians were persecuted1 but who ever heard of a citizen of the ,united ,states being persecuted because he was a follower of ,jesus6 ,but slaves in the ,south were persecuted and punished severely for preaching the gospel of ,christ1 not on that very account probably1 but because it would teach the slaves obedience to a higher power than the inhuman laws of the southern states as they then existed4 ,paul was persecuted for preaching the redemption of mankind through the blood of the ,savior1 by pagans and gentiles4 ,i was persecuted for the same reasons by the slave-owners of the ,south1 and for endeavoring to lead the benighted blacks to ,jesus4 ,there seems to be some likeness in the positions of ,paul and myself4 ,i felt that was the case1 at any rate4 ,my mind was distressed with the fear that ,i was being sent to ,memphis only to be sold to the highest bidder4 ,after addressing the throne of ,god for help and deliverance ,i felt relieved1 and determined that1 come what would1 ,i would use my best talents and exertions for my heavenly ,master wherever ,i might be4 ,relieved1 ,i set about making preparations for my trip to ,memphis1 with a prayerful heart4 ,two of us were going in company1 each with a load of cotton4 ,we started on ,monday morning1 and traveled along without unusual trouble or delay for three days over hilly and rough roads1 when we camped for the night within a mile of ,holly ,springs1 in ,mississippi1 and about fifty-five miles from home4 ,it will be remembered that uncle ,ben was sold by ,wilson to a man who lived in and near ,holly ,springs4 ,i was anxious to see uncle ,ben1 if possible1 and began making inquiries regarding his whereabouts4 ,a colored man came along the road1 driving a team1 of whom ,i inquired4 ,after a little time he said a preacher named ,ben ,harris lived in a house close by1 at the same time pointing to it4 ,upon further inquiries ,i learned that ,ben had taken another wife4 ,this may seem rather criminal1 and may appear to be a clear case of bigamy against uncle ,ben2 but when it is remembered that masters compelled their slaves to live together as man and wife1 without ceremony1 for the purpose only of breeding children1 and that ,ben had no say in the matter1 he will be held blameless4 ,the laws of the southern states did not recognize the legal relations of man and wife between slaves1 therefore they could not commit the crime of bigamy4 ,if ,ben was morally guilty1 he was forced into his guilt by law and general custom4 ,i had not seen ,ben for about ten years1 and was so overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him that ,i could scarcely wait until night1 for ,i was informed that he would not be at his cabin until night4 ,after attending to my affairs about town ,i waited until sundown1 when ,i went to the house indicated by my informant4 ,not being certain that the person who lived in the cabin was my uncle1 ,i necessarily had to make inquiries4 ,a colored woman met me at the door1 and answered such questions as ,i asked1 from which ,i was satisfied that ,ben lived here4 ,i informed the woman who ,i was and that ,ben was my uncle1 and that ,i had called1 in passing on my way to ,memphis1 to see him4 ,she cordially invited me to enter the cabin1 and told me that ,ben was out feeding the horses and would shortly be in4 ,i had to wait but a little while when ,ben came in4 ,he supposed me to be some passing stranger1 and did not recognize me4 ,after some desultory conversation ,i told him who ,i was and how ,i came to be there4 ,our meeting1 after mutual recognition1 was affectionate and cordial4 ,we talked over old times and related our experience since we parted at the ,wilson plantation4 ,we kneeled at the family altar1 and each poured out his soul's thanksgiving to ,god for his goodness to us1 having1 before ,i left1 a season of soul-reviving prayer4 ,thus we knelt1 uncle ,ben1 his wife1 and ,i1 poor slaves in the chains of bondage1 really and earnestly thanking ,god for the many blessings we received4 ,strange1 was it not8 when men and women rolling in wealth and all the luxuries and happiness that wealth could purchase1 did not even deign to notice the source from whence all their blessings flowed4 ,they had life and liberty1 and were unrestrained in the pursuit of happiness1 yet not once did they thank the great ,giver of all their good4 ,then what had we1 poor wretches1 to thank ,god for8 ,for everything we enjoyed1--for life1 for the blessed plan of salvation1 for our senses of seeing1 hearing1 and feeling1 for our hearts with which to love him1 for our humanity1 for the great gifts of sunshine1 rain1 regulated seasons1 the moon1 the stars1 the earth1 the trees1 the brooks1 the rivers1--everything truly enjoyable we thanked ,god for4 ,we thanked him for health and strength to do his work4 ,then we had a great deal to thank ,almighty ,god for1 although slaves4 ,how many of you ever think to thank ,god for sunshine or for reason8 ,let me illustrate4 ,a gentleman was passing along the highway1 when he was met by a poor maniac1 who accosted him1 saying1 ,what do you thank ,god for8 ,the gentleman being surprised by the abrupt question did not reply immediately1 when the maniac continued1 ,then thank ,god for your reason2 mine is gone2 ,i'm mad--a maniac4 ,this was something the gentleman had never thought of before1 and it opened to his mind an entirely new source of thankfulness4 ,we are apt to forget that we are not slaves1 not blind1 deaf1 or dumb1 and not insane2 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 it4 ,then thank ,god for everything1 your very existence included4 ,suppose the sun would stop in his course and not shine on the earth but for one day4 ,what consternation and grief there would be throughout the world6 ,then suppose that after twenty-four hours the sun should burst upon us in all his refulgence and glorious magnificence4 ,what a shout of joy would greet his appearance1 and glad hearts would pour out thanks upon thanks to the great ,giver for the needful sunshine4 ,then let us be thankful for all the great blessings bestowed upon us by our heavenly ,father1 and serve him with all our hearts1 in whatever position in life we may be placed4 ,uncle ,ben and ,i did then1 and we do yet4 ,after a prolonged conversation and a good and refreshing season of prayer ,i took my departure for my camp1 never expecting to meet my relative again1 and never have4 ,we started next morning on our way to ,memphis1 and traveled into ,memphis1 after three days1 on a very fine road for the ,south1 known as the state-line road4 ,we drove to the cotton-yard1 unloaded1 and received the receipts for the cotton1 and put up for the night at a wagon-yard4 ,i spent this night in prayer and supplication that ,god would save me from the slave-pen and the auctioneer's block2 and my prayers were responded to in my protection4 ,the next morning we started for home by what was known as the pigeon-roost route1 in order to save toll and other expenses4 ,the weight on my mind was removed1 and ,i felt happy and thankful4 ,i was not sold from the shambles4 ,i prayed1 ,i sung1 and ,i shouted by turns4 ,we arrived at home1 and ,i waited patiently for my next order4 ,my young master soon informed me1 however1 that ,i might hire myself out1 if ,i could find and one that would hire me4 ,good6 ,god was on my side4 ,with a light heart and truly happy ,i set about my preparations to hire myself out2 and the very first thing ,i did was to go to my cabin and thank ,god for his goodness1 and ask for his protection and guidance4 ,always praying8 ,yes1 ,i was always at it4 ,my heart was big with love to ,god4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,start out on my ,travels to ,hunt a ,new ,master--,find ,mr4 ,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 ,labor4 ,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 for4 ,sometimes this arrangement was made to save the master trouble4 ,in my case ,i was instructed to find a place to work at thirty dollars per month and board1 and then to return and report to ,wilson1 who would then give the necessary permission in writing1 which would stand as a contract between him and my employer4 ,my first object was to find a ,christian man to hire to who would allow me to pray and preach on all proper occasions1 and who would rather assist me than hinder me in my efforts to make ,christians of the blacks4 ,i cared nothing for the manual labor ,i had to do1 if ,i could only be placed in a position to do my great ,master's work4 ,his work was my life-labor4 ,on this particular account ,i was very careful who ,i applied to4 ,in a day or two ,i applied to ,mr4 ,dansley1 whose plantation was about eighteen miles from ,wilson's1 and who had been recommended to me as being the kind of man ,i was hunting for4 ,mr4 ,dansley questioned me closely1 and examined me as to my reasons for wanting to hire out1 and why my master wished me to hire out when there was plenty of work on his own place for me to do4 ,i confessed frankly that ,i could read and write1 and knew something about figures1 and was desirous to serve ,god and do his work by preaching1 and in every other way in my power2 that my master was afraid that ,i would demoralize his other slaves by learning them to read and write and by preaching to them1 and in order that ,i might not do that he wanted me off the plantation2 that he could not sell me because ,i was the property of his wife1 and that she would not consent to have me sold out of the family4 ,if those are faults1 as considered by ,mr4 ,wilson1 ,i am very well satisfied that you will perform your part of the contract notwithstanding2 yet what ,mr4 ,wilson is pleased to consider faults in you ,i deem good points in your character and disposition1 therefore ,i will hire you1 hoping that your duty to ,god will include your duty to me under the contract of hire4 ,i told him that was my understanding of my duty to ,god2 that it comprised1 in my condition of servitude1 my duty to my slave-master4 ,i informed ,mr4 ,dansley that my master1 ,wilson1 wanted thirty dollars per month for my services1 and that ,i wanted five dollars per month for myself1 making in all thirty-five dollars per month4 ,he was satisfied to pay that amount1 and gave me a letter to carry to ,wilson stating that he would hire me at thirty dollars per month1 yet he agreed with me that he would pay me1 besides1 five dollars per month4 ,when ,wilson gave me instructions to hire myself out at not less than thirty dollars per month1 he hoped ,i would fail1 from the fact that wages for field-hands were only twenty-five dollars per month2 and when ,i went back with ,mr4 ,dansley's letter so soon1 he was somewhat surprised4 ,he would have opened his eyes with wonder if he had known that ,dansley was to pay me five dollars per month extra4 ,he gave me a written permission to work for ,mr4 ,dansley as long as ,dansley should want me4 ,i immediately went to ,dansley's1 and stayed with him nine months--nine months of contented time4 ,i found my new master every way worthy of any confidence ,i might repose in him4 ,in moderate circumstances1 he used prudence and diligence in his business transactions and farm operations4 ,he was one of those kind of men some of which may be found in almost every community--an unassuming1 industrious1 ,christian gentleman4 ,for his farm-force he hired men1 both white and black2 and when his work pushed him he would require his cook and house-maid1 the only slaves he owned1 to assist in the fields4 ,at the time of my commencing to work for him he had white men hired who were worse1 if any thing1 in their habits of shiftless laziness than the lazy blacks4 ,these whites1 whom the negroes usually termed white trash1 were1 as a general thing1 the most vicious1 brutal1 thieving1 shiftless1 and lazy human beings imaginable4 ,they were ignorant in the greatest degree1 and would not work so long as they could obtain food to sustain life in any other way4 ,they deemed it an honor to be noticed civilly by a respectable negro1 and would fawn and truckle to the behests of any one who had the physical courage to command them4 ,such people can be found in no place except the ,south4 ,they are a result of the system of slavery and slave-laws1 and slave-owners are responsible for their condition4 ,such were the kind of men ,i had to work with4 ,these men would quarrel and wrangle among themselves1 and would consume time and neglect their work4 ,when the house-servants were at work in the field1 they would insult and misuse them in every conceivable manner1 and it was with great difficulty that ,mr4 ,dansley could get his work done properly and in season4 ,knowing ,i had been a farm-superintendent on ,wilson's plantation for a number of years1 ,mr4 ,dansley immediately appointed me to the same position on his farm1 which accounts for his readiness and willingness to pay me high wages4 ,this was a new kind of position for me1 and it required considerable thought and management for me to get matters properly arranged in my mind4 ,bossing white hands and working with them1 so as to make their labors profitable for my employer1 was no easy task4 ,the farm-work was carried on somewhat similar to the way in which large farms are worked in the northern states1 and it required great prudence and watchful care to avoid waste and save all the crops4 ,i arranged my rules of conduct1 hours of labor1 etc41 for the hands1 and submitted them to ,mr4 ,dansley for his approval4 ,mr4 ,dansley left the matter entirely with me2 and1 after trial1 ,i found my rules were not sufficiently stringent1 and that if ,i expected to successfully carry on that farm ,i would have to make rules with penalties attached1 the men ,i had to deal with caring little or nothing for mild1 persuasive laws4 ,i therefore drew up the following rules1 and presented them to ,mr4 ,dansley1 and requested him to make them stipulations in the contracts of hire with his men4 ,he approved them1 and acceded to my request4 #a4 ,quarreling and using vulgar and profane language is strictly forbidden on the farm1 and any hand or hands violating this rule shall be discharged or corrected1 in the discretion of the superintendent4 #b4 ,obedience to the just orders of the superintendent is essential to the profitable conduct of the farm2 therefore1 disobedience to the orders of the superintendent shall be followed by the discharge of the hand or hands so offending1 or his or their correction1 in the discretion of the superintendent4 #c4 ,each and every hand hereby binds himself to obey the just orders of the superintendent and the rules herein established1 and upon the discharge of any hand or hands1 by the superintendent1 one month's wages shall be forfeited4 ,these rules were signed by the hands1 that is1 they made their mark2 but ,i signed my name1 being the only negro hand on the place and the only one who could write4 ,peace and tranquillity reigned on that farm thereafter1 and better crops were not raised in the county4 ,my whole study and aim was to do right--to be just to my hands and do my duty to my employer4 ,i relied on ,god's help1 and prayerfully asked his guidance in every and all difficulties and emergencies1 and my success is attributable to that help which is always given when properly asked for4 ,the men ,i had to deal with were more to be pitied than blamed4 ,they were entirely ignorant of any but the most crude principles of right1 and were taught from their childhood only such rude notions as prevailed among the ignorant4 ,when ,i talked to them of ,jesus they seemed astonished4 ,they did not even know that punishment would meet them hereafter for their sins committed in this life1 and were puzzled and perplexed with the plan of salvation until after ,i had repeatedly explained it to them2 in fact1 ,i taught them the history of man1 from ,adam down to the coming of our ,savior1 and taught them the religion of ,jesus4 ,better-behaved men or better hands were not to be found in the neighborhood after they learned the way to ,jesus1 and many happy times we did have on that farm at our prayer--meetings and social gatherings4 ,all of us would meet at some convenient place on the farm1 every ,sabbath-day1 and would spend the time profitably1 in exhortation and prayer4 ,the master and mistress were always there1 and worked with a will in the cause of ,christ1 and ,i would exhort and preach to the best of my ability4 ,sometimes ,mr4 ,dansley would read a chapter from the ,bible and comment thereon1 and sometimes his wife would read and comment4 ,all of us prayed1 and some of the white hands became1 in a short time1 earnest public prayers4 ,they had found the fount of true happiness1 and would drink largely therefrom on all occasions4 ,our regular ,sunday meetings soon became known in the neighborhood1 and the neighbors and their slaves would come and worship with us1 until our congregations became so large that ,mr4 ,dansley allowed me to take the hands and clear away a nice place in the woods1 and make seats and a stand1 where we held our meetings regularly thereafter every ,sunday1 in the forenoon1 afternoon1 and at night2 besides1 we held a social prayer-meeting every ,wednesday evening4 ,these meetings were productive of great good to the community and to individuals4 ,in this way ,i brought men and women to ,god even while in a condition of slavery1 and required to labor six days in the week in the grain and cotton fields4 ,if ,i1 a slave1 could accomplish this much1 how much should the favored preachers of the country accomplish8 ,this is a hard question to answer1 however1 and ,i shall not insist on its consideration1 as every preacher can not be a ,lorenzo ,dow1 a ,john ,smith1 or a ,james ,findley4 ,among the field-hands under me were two brothers1 white men1 who1 when ,i first took charge of the farm were maliciously wicked toward each other1 and were almost constantly quarreling just like brothers7674 ,before three months had elapsed1 under my kind of treatment1 they were praying1 acting ,christians1 and remained so as long as ,i knew them4 ,from this time down to the present writing ,i have been a zealous worker in the ,lord's vineyard1 and shall remain in the harness as long as ,god wills4 ,regarding doctrinal points of theology ,i knew nothing1 and my whole stock of theological works could have been carried in a vest pocket1 in the shape of one or two tracts which fell in my way1 and which ,i read1 studied1 and preserved4 ,i had a ,bible1 and that alone served me as the guide in my ministry1 and furnished me with all the arguments necessary to the conversion of sinners and their redemption4 ,our congregation at ,mr4 ,dansley's was not organized into a church1 and ,i did not attempt to receive members into the church of ,christ4 ,i doubted my authority to do so1 and any efforts on my part in that direction would have been immediately stopped by the preachers and members of the white churches4 ,but this did not deter me from preaching and exhorting4 ,i believed firmly that ,god required of me the labor ,i performed1 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 myself4 ,my only consideration was1 ,where can ,i find an opportunity to do good and save souls4 ,i asked no pay for my services as a preacher1 and never received any2 hence ,i usually found congregations awaiting me at my appointments made up of all classes1 white and black1 and from all churches organized in the community4 ,my discourses were sometimes off-hand and sometimes studied4 ,it is true my studied discourses were1 in the main1 original1 and taken wholly from the ,bible1 yet they were none the less effective1 because they were earnest and honest4 ,my language was that of the southern blacks and uneducated whites at the beginning of my labors as an exhorter1 but after hard study and training ,i improved myself greatly in this respect1 and gained the reputation of being as correct in my pronunciation of ,english words as the majority of the white preachers4 ,i am not yet entirely free from dialectic pronunciation1 and never expect to be2 but ,i find that this very defect1 if so it may be called1 adds force to my sermons1 and gives them a distinctness not otherwise attainable4 ,therefore ,i make use of my very faults to do good4 ,i had hoped to stay with ,mr4 ,dansley as long as he could find it profitable to hire me2 and so far ,i had been of great use to him4 ,i had placed his whole farm in a good state of repair1 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 season4 ,i had the goodwill and confidence of the hands1 both white and black1 who worked under me1 and was an instrument in the hands of ,god in spreading the religion of ,jesus ,christ in the neighborhood2 consequently ,i was happy and contented1 with plenty of all kinds of work to do4 ,but ,i had accomplished my mission at this place1 and it pleased ,god to remove me to another field of labor1 where the harvest was ripe and ready for the reaper4 ,i never complained2 on the contrary1 ,i rejoiced that ,god was not done with me1 and had plenty for me to do4 ,when ,i had thoroughly worked one field of labor1 ,i deemed my immediate services no longer required1 and was glad when removed where more work was to be done in ,god's moral vineyard4 ,of course ,i formed intimate associations in every locality in which ,i was placed1 and was prone to leave them2 but ,i was content to do the will of ,god in every particular1 whether that will was expressed through the slave-laws and ,james ,wilson or otherwise4 ,i was a slave1 and was compelled to labor for the profit of my owner1 which ,i performed diligently and faithfully2 ,i was a child of ,god1 and owed him duty and obedience1 which ,i performed earnestly and constantly4 ,from my slave-owners ,i expected and received no reward or remuneration2 from ,god ,i received no pay as ,i labored1 but my great reward is yet to come4 ,i have been a depositor in ,god's bank1 from which ,i expect to draw largely at the final settlement4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,james ,wilson ,comes ,along--,wants me to go with ,him to ,saulsbury1 ,tennessee1 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 it4 ,one day ,james ,wilson came to ,mr4 ,dansley's1 and said he had come for me to go with him to ,saulsbury1 ,tennessee1 where he was going to start a grocery1 and that he wished my assistance in erecting a building therefor4 ,he informed me1 at the same time1 that as soon as the building was finished1 ,i might return to ,mr4 ,dansley and stay with him as long as he wanted me4 ,he had another colored man with him1 and desired to go right away4 ,all ,i had to do was to obey1 so without further ado ,i bade farewell to the people of the plantation1 and went with ,wilson4 ,the parting made me feel sad1 for a time4 ,the word grocery1 as applied in the ,south1 has a far different meaning than that intended in the ,north4 ,a grocery in the ,south is a place where whisky and other intoxicating beverages are sold1 and1 as a general thing1 at these places the planters and others congregate to drink1 carouse1 gamble1 quarrel1 and fight4 ,this was the kind of grocery ,james ,wilson was going to start in ,saulsbury1 and the thought of aiding even under protest and unwillingly in the establishment of one of these hells caused me much anxiety4 ,i made every effort to get relieved from this odious work1 but without avail4 ,we immediately began the erection of the grocery-building1 on our arrival at ,saulsbury1 and made good progress for a while4 ,the boards we used in the building had to be sawed by us two slaves with a whipsaw4 ,we dug a deep trench in the ground1 and laid the log to be sawed into boards lengthwise over the trench1 and one of us would stand in the trench under the log and the other on top of the log4 ,in this way we worked1 day after day1 until we had a sufficient number of boards to accommodate our wants4 ,the ,almighty1 it seemed to me1 interfered with our work4 ,james ,wilson was taken down very sick in the midst of our efforts to create this additional devil's den1 and was totally unable to leave his bed4 ,i had to take care of him1 and the work on the grocery-house was necessarily stopped4 ,as soon as he was able to be moved ,i took him to the ,sulphur ,springs1 not many miles away1 and nursed him carefully and attentively until he was able to be about again4 ,this sickness of ,wilson ,i deemed a warning to him1 and endeavored to impress as much on his mind2 but ,i was cursed and reviled for my pains4 ,i availed myself of every opportunity to dissuade him from his evil purpose1 but failed4 ,he was determined to start a grocery1 and start a grocery he would and did4 ,i cleared my skirts and conscience in the business1 however1 as far as ,i could under the circumstances2 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 iniquity4 ,i was1 in a manner1 forced to work1 yet ,i was uneasy and troubled in my mind4 ,others may think ,i was blameless2 that ,i was a slave and not accountable for acts my master commanded me to do4 ,this seemed very specious reasoning1 but still ,i felt guilty1 and sent fervent and prayerful petitions to the throne of grace for forgiveness and fortitude to withstand temptation1 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 resentment4 ,we finished the building in about two months from the time we first went to ,salisbury1 and prepared to return home4 ,it was here that ,i first saw a complete railroad and a locomotive with a train of cars4 ,my fellow-slave1 on hearing the whistle of the locomotive for the first time1 was very much frightened1 and jumped over the log he was hewing1 with the exclamation1 ,good ,god6 what is that8 and started to run4 ,i stopped him1 and1 explaining to him what the loud1 shrill shriek meant1 quieted his fears4 ,we both went to the depot and examined the locomotive and cars with great curiosity and interest4 ,james ,wilson1 being still weak with his late sickness1 was compelled to ride in the wagon he had brought from home1 and ,i rode his saddle-horse4 ,on the way1 ,wilson informed me that ,i was to attend the grocery at ,salisbury1 and that he expected me to make money out of the concern4 ,my very soul revolted at the bare idea of being a whisky-vender1 and my immediate determination was not to be one4 ,my mind was made up to take to the woods on the first favorable opportunity4 ,i said nothing1 however1 but kept my own counsel4 ,we traveled slowly1 by reason of the master's sickness2 and when we stopped for the night ,i found that the saddle ,i had been riding had hurt the horse's back4 ,wilson was furious1 and swore he would take as much hide from my back when we got home as the saddle had taken from the horse's back4 ,the next day after leaving ,salisbury we arrived at ,mr4 ,dansley's4 ,in conversation1 ,i heard ,wilson tell ,mr4 ,dansley that he intended to take me home with him4 ,i claimed the fulfillment of his promise from ,wilson1 and asked him if he was not going to let me work for ,mr4 ,dansley1 according to agreement4 ,this so enraged ,wilson that he pulled out his six-shooter1 and exclaimed3 ,mount that horse1 you ---- black rascal6 ,i did so4 ,fearful that the horse's back would become incurably sore if ,i rode him with his back in the condition it was1 ,i suggested that the horse had better be led4 ,wilson therefore ordered me into the wagon to drive the team1 and required ,havely1 my fellow-slave1 to walk1--intending we should take turns4 ,after awhile ,havely exchanged places with me1 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 slavery4 ,i took to the woods without attracting the attention of either ,wilson or ,havely1 and made good my escape1 for the time at least4 ,i made my way back to ,mr4 ,dansley's and told him my reasons for endeavoring to effect my escape from slavery1 and that the immediate cause of my present attempt was to keep myself clear of the accursed sin of whisky-selling4 ,my motives were applauded1 but my judgment was condemned4 ,how could ,i ever expect to escape to a country where ,i could be a free man8 ,even should ,i escape to the northern states the fugitive slave law1 which was then in full force1 would remand me back to slavery1 and it was a long1 tedious1 and perilous journey to ,canada4 ,i was going to make the attempt at any rate4 ,it was agreed between us that ,mr4 ,dansley should buy me of ,wilson if he could1 and that ,i should stay and work for him at the rate of thirty-five dollars per month until ,i had re-imbursed ,mr4 ,dansley1 when ,i should have my freedom papers4 ,it would have required about four years for me to pay for myself at those rates1 as ,wilson priced me at sixteen hundred dollars4 ,the negotiations for my purchase by ,mr4 ,dansley failed1 and ,i was left to my exertions to get to ,canada the best way ,i could4 ,i was secreted during this time about ,dansley's farm1 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 ,mr4 ,dansley's house1 of which the following is a copy3 ,,one ,,hundred ,,dollars ,,reward6 ,charles1 a slave1 has disappeared from the plantation of the undersigned1 in ,pontotoc ,county4 ,the above reward will be given for his apprehension and return to me alive4 ,,james ,,wilson4 ,this settled the matter4 ,the reward was soon known over the whole country1 and every slave-hunter was on the chase to gain the reward4 ,i laid close and waited to escape from that part of the country1 so that ,i might not compromise ,mr4 ,dansley4 ,he was already under surveillance by slave-owners1 and was in danger of being driven from the country2 in fact1 threats of lynching had been made against him4 ,the last day ,i was there ,i lay hid in some cotton-pens1 close to the house1 when two men came on the hunt of me4 ,they had their blood-hounds with them1 and demanded permission of ,dansley to search his house4 ,the permission was granted1 when the men began the search4 ,i could see and hear all that was going on1 and trembled for my safety4 ,i put myself on the mercy of the ,almighty and resigned myself entirely into his hands4 ,the search was made all over the premises1 including the cotton-pens in which ,i was hid2 but ,god was on my side1 and ,i was saved from their clutches4 ,i earnestly thanked ,god for my deliverance on this occasion4 ,as soon as dark came ,i emerged from my hiding-place1 and1 after being supplied with what provisions ,i could conveniently carry1 ,i bid good-by to ,christian ,dansley and his family1 and started on my perilous journey to the free states and ,canada4 ,my progress was necessarily slow and wearisome1 being compelled to travel altogether at night4 ,the first point ,i designed making on my journey was ,memphis1 where ,i hoped to find means of escape to ,illinois4 ,i had plenty of time for meditation and prayer1 and my thoughts were naturally concentrated on my deplorable condition all the time4 ,my past life came up in review before me1 and while sorrowfully wandering through the woods ,i would compare myself to persecuted ,christians in the days of the apostles and the early evaneglists4 ,the blessed ,savior was persecuted in his very infancy and had to be hid by his parents4 ,they had to flee for life2 ,i was fleeing for liberty4 ,what had ,i to complain of8 ,jesus was with me and would protect me4 ,god had delivered him from the very tomb of death2 why need ,i fear8 ,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 me4 ,the words of the poet came to my memory1 wherein he says3 ,neither will he upbraid you1 ,though often your request2 ,he'll give you grace to conquer1 ,and take you home to rest4 ,the consolation and help ,i received from my meditations sustained me through all my trials and hardships1 and ,i plodded my weary way along with ,god in my heart and bright hopes for the future4 ,i knew if ,i drew nigh unto ,god he would draw nigh unto me2 and that if ,i would let the word of ,christ dwell in me ,i would be rich in all wisdom4 ,yet ,i was aware ,i should suffer persecution if ,i lived godly in ,jesus ,christ2 therefore ,i determined to continue in the things which ,i had learned4 ,on ,sunday night ,i arrived at ,holly ,springs4 ,uncle ,ben lived there1 and ,i was anxious to see him and obtain through his assistance1 if possible1 rest and food4 ,i had proceeded only a little way toward his house when ,i met a colored man and began conversation with him4 ,i learned that the reward ,wilson had offered for me had arrived at ,holly ,springs before me1 and that persons were on the lookout for me4 ,the colored man seemed to have a suspicion that ,i was a runaway1 and was disposed to aid me all in his power4 ,to keep out of the way of slave-hunters was my object1 and ,i knew that the contemplated visit to ,uncle ,ben was fraught with too much danger to be further thought of4 ,fearful that the negro would betray me1 yet feeling somewhat safe for the present1 ,i sat down to think and rest myself4 ,i knew that if ,i was caught ,wilson would flay me1 as he had threatened to do1 for making his saddle-horse's back sore1 but that if ,i could once get through to ,memphis ,i would be enabled1 through the assistance of friends1 to make my way ,north4 ,yet ,i wanted to see ,uncle ,ben again1 and tried to hit upon some plan to accomplish that object2 but ,i failed1 and started on the road again4 ,after traveling a short time ,i came to a house by the road-side4 ,the kitchen stood about twenty yards from the main building1 and had a window in the back part of it4 ,i was very hungry1 and debated in my mind as to the manner in which ,i should proceed to obtain food4 ,to ask for it was too risky1 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 runaway4 ,looking in at the window ,i saw a colored woman2 and on a table a meal was prepared1 which1 it seemed1 was being held in readiness for the arrival of some one4 ,i waited patiently1 hoping the colored woman would leave the kitchen for some purpose2 but she sat quietly waiting4 ,after awhile the master and mistress arrived1 it seems1 from a visit4 ,shortly the mistress of the house came in and ordered the supper4 ,fortunately for me the supper was to be carried into the big house1 and the cook1 taking her hands full of things1 left the kitchen and went into the house4 ,i immediately sprung through the window1 promiscuously emptied the meat and bread into my sack1 and left the kitchen the same way before the return of the cook1 just in time to escape detection4 ,i crouched in the shade of the cabin fearing to move1 when ,i heard the cook exclaim3 ,good gracious6 some one hab tuk and turned in an' tuk all de bread an' meat4 ,her cries brought the household to the kitchen1 and during the racket ,i made my escape to the road and a more peaceful neighborhood4 ,i walked briskly for a couple of miles1 when ,i stopped and satisfied my ravenous hunger4 ,this was my first theft of something to eat4 ,before this ,i had been fortunate enough to obtain supplies of food from friendly slaves1 but for the twenty-four hours previous to my raid on the kitchen ,i had eaten nothing4 ,i make no excuse for this immoral act1 and ask no one to say ,i did right4 ,i only did what perhaps any one else1 under the same circumstances1 would have done4 ,i was too weak from hunger and other causes to withstand the temptation of obtaining the food as ,i did4 ,as soon as my appetite was satisfied1 however1 my sin rose up before me in all its enormity2 ,i felt distressed2 and it came vividly in my mind1 ,in that ,christ hath suffered1 being tempted1 he is able to succor them that are tempted4 ,oh1 what had ,i done6 ,i had lost ,god's help in this my hour of trial4 ,i prayed for forgiveness1 and asked ,god to direct and protect me4 ,yet ,i felt uneasy and depressed1--not that my faith in ,jesus was any the less1 but that my sin would bring its own punishment4 ,there is many a pang to pursue me2 ,they may crush1 but they shall not contemn-- ,they may torture1 but shall not subdue me1-- ',tis of ,god ,i think--not of them4 ,about daylight ,i reached a forest in which ,i could conceal myself during the day4 ,i slept soundly1 being undisturbed1 until dark1 when ,i proceeded onward4 ,while traveling that night ,i was compelled to pass a large plantation4 ,i was afraid some white person would see me1 therefore ,i avoided every one1--not being able to distinguish1 in the dark1 a white from a black person4 ,however1 about daylight ,i met a colored boy1 who procured some food for me and directed me to a cotton-pen close by1 where ,i could hide and sleep during the day4 ,when night came--it was ,thursday night--,i crawled out of the pen and started for another night's walk4 ,i made very good time that night1 and walked to within nine miles of ,memphis4 ,i was afraid to go on into ,memphis in the day-time1 consequently ,i slept in the woods that day without anything to eat1 my supply of food being exhausted4 ,i was very much exhausted1 and suffered greatly from hunger4 ,when night came ,i started again4 ,after proceeding on my way about two miles ,i came to the village of ,mt4 ,pleasant1 where ,i thought to obtain something to eat4 ,i had passed nearly through the village without seeing any one2 but finally ,i saw a man who ,i mistook for a colored man4 ,i accosted him1 when1 to my chagrin and disappointment1 he was a white man4 ,i felt that ,i had already betrayed myself2 and through my fright and want of steadiness ,i was again in bonds4 ,the man asked me numerous and various questions1 as to where ,i came from1 where ,i was going1 who ,i belonged to1 etc4 ,i again sinned1 and paid the penalty4 ,i lied to the man4 ,i told him ,i belonged to a man by the name of ,potts1 and that ,i was going to his plantation4 ,quite a number of persons soon gathered around me1 and by repeated questions entrapped me4 ,inquiries were made as to the health of ,mr4 ,potts' family1 and of ,mr4 ,potts in particular4 ,i stated that the family were well and that ,mr4 ,potts was as well as usual4 ,it turned out that several of the persons present knew the ,potts family1 and that ,mr4 ,potts had died two months previously4 ,i was immediately arrested and placed in a secure place1 tied and chained to the floor4 ,thus sin brought me into trouble4 ,had ,i trusted to ,god and not been in too great haste to get something to eat1 he would have helped me4 ,my weakness made me forget that ,i should not lie to any one1 seeing that ,i had put off the old man with his deeds4 ,in my great need of strengthening food1 ,christ would have succored me had ,i not forgotten to pray to him and ask his help1 for a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven4 ,in nearly all the villages of the ,south1 and on most of the large plantations1 were slave-jails1 where runaway and refractory slaves were incarcerated4 ,these jails were usually a double pen1 the inside pen being covered with a roof1 and the top of the outside pen being covered with sharp iron spikes4 ,between the pens one or more savage dogs were usually kept4 ,this was the kind of place ,i was now placed in4 ,hungry1 worn out with my journey1 and nearly naked1 ,i soon fell asleep from sheer exhaustion and slept soundly until morning4 ,after ,i had eaten my breakfast ,i was taken out of jail at ,mt4 ,pleasant and started back to ,holly ,springs1 well ironed and guarded1 where ,i was recognized as ,wilson's slave4 ,wilson was notified of my apprehension4 ,after laying in the jail at ,holly ,springs about three weeks ,wilson came for me4 ,i had made several attempts in that time to escape1 but did not succeed4 ,i was ironed and compelled to walk1 which1 in my exhausted state1 was too much for me1 and ,i was taken violently sick on the road1 when ,wilson procured a conveyance and hauled me the balance of the way home4 ,a physician was immediately summoned1 who ordered my shackles removed4 ,after the irons were removed ,i regained my spirits1 and entertained hopes of being able to make another attempt to regain my liberty4 ,i was very sick for several days4 ,about two o'clock on the last morning ,i stayed there ,i awoke and felt fresh1 and found that my strength had in a great measure returned4 ,upon looking around the moonlit room ,i found that ,i was alone4 ,to escape was my very first intention4 ,getting out of bed ,i examined the window to the cabin1 when ,i found ,i could raise it easily4 ,i gathered what clothes ,i could find1 as well as a blanket from the bed1 and climbing through the window made my escape unobserved4 ,i did not stop to put on my clothes until ,i had got two or three miles from the plantation4 ,i stayed in the woods about three weeks1 when ,i returned to my master and asked his forgiveness1 and promised that ,i would never run away again4 ,i was forgiven4 ,during my three weeks' starving and hiding in the woods ,i had ample time for reflection and thought4 ,prayerfully ,i considered my situation and asked ,god's help to direct me4 ,i came to the conclusion that ,i was entirely wrong in my course4 ,god1 for his own good purpose1 had placed me in bondage1 and in his good time he would relieve me either by death or emancipation4 ,my hardships1 ,i felt1 were by reason of my disobedience to ,god's will4 ,although ,i was a slave ,god had given me my task in his vineyard as a slave1 and ,i should have fronted the wrath of my master1 ,wilson1 rather than that of ,god4 ,i felt that ,i was doing wrong1 and after prayerful consideration ,i determined to do right1 and go back to the plantation and patiently await ,god's time to set me free4 ,wilson received me as kindly as his nature would permit1 and treated me as he did the other slaves and as if ,i had never been disobedient to him and ran away4 ,i felt better1 and knew then that ,i was right in the sight of my heavenly ,father4 ,my views underwent a change for the better while ,i was an outcast in the woods1 and after that ,i was better fitted to do my allotted work for ,god4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,was hired to ,mr4 ,thompson1 and adopted his name--,opened regular meetings1 and preached on the plantation and other places--,took unto myself a wife--,was purchased by ,thompson1 duly installed on the plantation1 and invested with authority--,various means and plans resorted to by the overseer to degrade me in the eyes of ,mr4 ,thompson--,driven1 through persecution1 to run away--,returned back to my master4 ,a short time after ,i came in from the woods ,wilson determined to hire me to a man named ,thompson1 who lived about twenty miles away4 ,i made no objection1 and was duly hired for the term of three years4 ,i adopted the name ,thompson1 from my new master1 which ,i have since retained4 ,the slaves of the ,south are usually named like brutes1 with only one name for a designation1 and it became customary among the slaves to adopt the surname of their masters4 ,i had never adopted the name of ,wilson1 because ,i disliked the man2 but as soon as ,i was hired to ,mr4 ,thompson ,i took his name1 therefore ,i was henceforth known as ,charles ,thompson4 ,the adoption of a name by myself may appear strange to a great many of my readers1 yet when it comes to be considered that ,i was a human chattel1 with no rights or privileges of ,american citizenship1 and that ,i was without a name1 except simply ,charles1 no surprise will be felt4 ,i labored faithfully and honestly for ,mr4 ,thompson during my term of service1 and endeavored in all things to do my duty4 ,i made such efforts as ,i could to bring the slaves on the plantation to ,jesus1 and inaugurated regular and stated meetings4 ,i preached and exhorted on the plantation and at other places where ,i could gather the negroes to hear me2 and ,i felt that ,i was the means in ,god's hands of redeeming precious souls4 ,in these meetings ,i had helpers from among the most intelligent of the slaves1 and made such progress that at all our meetings we would have a number of ,god-fearing whites to pray with us4 ,during my term of hired service with ,mr4 ,thompson ,i married a colored girl and added the responsibilities of a husband to my various cares4 ,the marriage of slaves was a mere formality among themselves1 there being nothing legal1 according to the laws of the southern states1 about the ceremony or marriage contract4 ,the slaves cohabited together in most instances with the express or implied consent of their masters2 and as the masters did not regard the marriage of their slaves as anything1 wives and husbands were constantly in danger of being separated forever4 ,but the slaves themselves instituted a ceremony which they considered morally binding1 as far as they were concerned2 and the slave-owners deemed it prudent to gratify their slaves by a recognition1 in some degree1 of the marital relations that might exist among them4 ,therefore a certain set of rules came into operation1 by general consent1 governing the visits of the husband to the wife when owned by different masters4 ,when the wife of a slave lived not more than five miles from his master he could visit her once a week2 when she lived not more than ten miles away1 he could go to see her once in two weeks2 and when she lived twenty or more miles away he could go to see her only once in two months4 ,at the expiration of my term of service ,i was loth to leave my wife at ,thompson's1 and go back to ,wilson's1 and strenuously objected1 knowing that ,i could get to see her only once in two months4 ,wilson having learned that ,i was not desirous of returning to him1 wrote to ,mr4 ,thompson to send me home as soon as the last day of my service expired2 but ,mr4 ,thompson was desirous of retaining me1 and made efforts to that effect4 ,he sent me to ,wilson to learn the price set for me4 ,i arrived in due time1 when ,wilson informed me that he would sell me to ,thompson1 but that he would not take less than twelve hundred dollars1 cash4 ,the proposition did not seem to please ,thompson1 but after a time he concluded to buy me1 and sent his son to ,wilson with the purchase money4 ,the purchase at that particular time was lucky for me1 as ,wilson had written ,thompson a very abusive letter1 and it was received by ,mr4 ,thompson on the evening of the day on which his son went to ,wilson's to buy me4 ,the bargain was made1 however1 and ,i was duly transferred to my new master1 by delivery and a bill of sale4 ,the personal matter between ,wilson and ,thompson soon blew over1 and ,i was duly installed on the plantation as one of the chattel fixtures4 ,i seemed to take a new lease of life from this time1 and determined1 if possible1 to profit by former experiences and shun every appearance of ill-nature and evil intentions1 and to gain the confidence of my new master1 that ,i might better do the work of my heavenly ,master4 ,all nature seemed lovely to me1 and ,i was happy in doing my duty and obliging the will of ,god4 ,i was invested with authority on the plantation by ,mr4 ,thompson1 and was required to keep an eye on the overseer1 and to report any enormities that might be committed by him4 ,mr4 ,thompson was a wealthy planter and kept a general overseer1 besides the usual field bosses2 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 integrity4 ,the position in which ,i was now placed was difficult and onerous2 but ,i did my duty to the very best of my ability1 and satisfactorily to my master4 ,the overseer soon found out that ,i was his overseer2 and he used every means1 and various plans1 to drive me to do something that would degrade me in the eyes of ,mr4 ,thompson4 ,it was only by reason of the greatest forbearance and the very closest attention to my duties that ,i escaped his machinations2 and by attending to everything with the most scrupulous care he could find no fault with me1 that had truth for its foundation4 ,but the constant and pertinacious maliciousness of the overseer1 and my own weakness1 eventually brought me to grief4 ,as a rule1 when a bad and wicked man undertakes any species of devilishness he generally prevails1 for a time1 and is apparently successful in his schemes2 and should he meet with failure at the onset his want of success only maddens him to greater exertions and more persistent efforts4 ,being urged by the devil1 and the devil being a hard driver1 he either rushes to his own destruction or destroys the happiness or lives of others4 ,thus ,i was placed in the crucible for further refinement and regeneration4 ,my humanity gave way for some time2 but ,god was with me1 and in the end ,i prevailed4 ,the overseer's name was ,hines1 and he belonged to that class of southern whites who are noted for their ignorance and brutality4 ,he could read and write a little1--just enough to make out a negro's pass or a receipt for money paid on account of his employer4 ,in this respect ,i was far in advance of him1 of which my master was aware1 and which was one of the causes of ,hines' excessive hatred of me1 and of his great desire to put me down and make me know my place1 as he termed it4 ,he was very irreligious1 and entirely wanting in every attribute of a ,christian4 ,he was also what in the ,south is termed a bully--that is1 he was free to use his pistols on the slightest occasion1 when among his equals1 but when in the presence of his superiors he was a cringing sycophant and coward4 ,he was a real coward1 at best1 in all places4 ,he did not want me on the plantation2 and he was determined that he would so harrass me that ,i would become as reckless and devilish as himself1 and thereby compel my master to send me to a slave-market to be sold4 ,hines concocted various tales and reported them to ,mr4 ,thompson1 relating to my alleged insubordination1 laziness1 refusal to work1 etc41 but all to no effect4 ,finally he told my master that ,i was so disobedient that the rest of the slaves were affected by my conduct1 and that ,i would ruin all the slaves on the plantation unless severe means were used to conquer me4 ,my master informed ,hines1 after hearing his story1 that ,jack1 a fellow-servant of mine in my younger days1 had killed ,prince1 another fellow-servant1 on ,wilson's plantation1 several years before2 that ,i might be imbued with the same spirit2 and that if he undertook to chastise me he might meet with the same fate of ,prince4 ,this murder occurred after ,i had been sold by ,wilson to ,thompson1 but being permitted to return to ,wilson's plantation once a year to visit and preach to my old flock1 ,i learned the facts regarding the matter4 ,jack belonged to a neighbor of ,wilson's by the name of ,scott1 and having done something displeasing to ,scott he wished to tie him up and whip him4 ,jack refused to be whipped by ,scott or any one else1 when ,prince was called upon by his master 7,scott7 to help him secure ,jack4 ,prince was reluctant1 but was commanded two or three times to take hold of ,jack and hold him4 ,jack told him not to approach him at the peril of his life2 but not heeding ,jack's warning he made the effort to tie ,jack1 when he was stabbed to the heart with a knife in ,jack's hand1 and expired almost instantly4 ,jack made his escape for a short time1 but was captured and immediately hanged without a trial or an opportunity to make any defense4 ,jack was captured in a corn-crib on ,wilson's plantation1 which made ,thompson suppose the murder had been committed there4 ,this recital1 which was made in substance to ,hines by my master1 cowed the overseer considerably1 and a house-servant who was present during the conversation afterwards told me that ,hines' face turned white as a sheet1 and he trembled like a leaf4 ,my master knew his overseer was a coward1 and that if he could work upon his fears by supposing me to be too high-spirited to stand a whipping1 he would probably save me from ,hines' malice1 and keep the overseer to his work4 ,good overseers were hard to get in the ,south4 ,an intelligent ,christian man would not have such a position under any circumstances1 and the very best of the poor white trash who would1 were unreliable and brutish2 therefore ,mr4 ,thompson had to do the very best he could under the circumstances4 ,he did not believe ,hines2 yet he had to humor him1 in a measure4 ,after a few days ,hines reported to ,mr4 ,thompson that he had heard me say that ,i would never be whipped by him or any other overseer on the plantation1 as long as ,i had life to resist1 which was a most malicious falsehood4 ,what ,i did tell ,hines was1 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 me4 ,the falsehood inflamed my master1 and in his wrath he told ,hines to whip me for the first offense ,i might commit1 or kill me in the attempt4 ,armed with this instruction1 ,hines was in high glee2 yet he dare not attempt anything without first laying well his plans and making sure of sufficient force to carry them out4 ,the next morning he charged me to pick six hundred pounds of cotton and deliver it at the weighing-house at night1 under penalty1 for a failure1 of one hundred lashes on my bare back with a rawhide4 ,this would not have been an extraordinary task in good cotton2 but where we had to work that day the cotton was poor1 and in that field the crop was not more than half a one4 ,however1 ,i worked hard against fate all day1 and prayed to ,almighty ,god to help me in my hour of need1 and keep me steadfast4 ,i knew ,i was to be punished not for any fault or misdoing1 but simply to gratify a brute in human shape1 and my inferior in intellect1 morality1 and physical strength4 ,the burden was hard to bear1 yet ,i prayed for strength to bear it4 ,when called from the field to the weighing-house ,i was kept waiting until all the other slaves had their cotton weighed4 ,when mine was weighed ,i was told by ,hines that ,i had only picked four hundred pounds4 ,i verily believed this to be untrue1 and felt convinced that ,i had picked at least five hundred pounds1 for ,i was one of the best1 if not the best1 cotton-pickers in the country2 and ,i had labored faithfully and rapidly all day1 and did not lose a minute's time1 unnecessarily4 ,hines turned to me and said1 ,go to your quarters2 ,i will settle with you in the morning4 ,now began new trials4 ,my duty and my ,christianity instructed me to face the undeserved and unjust punishment manfully4 ,the devil and my human nature told me to run away4 ,i became weak4 ,the fear of the disgrace of a whipping was too much for me1 and ,i succumbed to the evil one4 ,i made such arrangements as ,i could1 and concealed myself on the plantation1 before daylight the next morning1 so that ,i could take an early start in the night and travel behind my pursuers instead of before them4 ,my wife knew of my hiding-place1 and when night came she sought me and reported what had been done for my capture4 ,hines seemed1 she said1 to be more cheerful than usual in the morning when he found ,i was gone1 and hastened to report the good news1 as he thought1 to ,mr4 ,thompson4 ,after some conversation between them it was determined by my master to obtain the services of a professional slave-hunter1 and follow me with hounds4 ,the slave-hunter was sent for and came with his pack of dogs that same day about noon4 ,the hunt was immediately begun1 and the country was then being scoured in all directions for my tracks4 ,this information put me on my guard1 and gave me time to consider what direction ,i had better take in my flight4 ,i had provide myself a preparation called smut among the negroes1 which1 when spread thinly on the soles of the shoes or feet1 destroyed that peculiar scent by which blood-hounds are enabled to follow the trail of a man or a beast4 ,after bidding my wife farewell ,i smeared my shoes with smut and started in the direction of the hills1 beyond which was a large swamp1 the refuge of many a poor runaway4 ,on my way ,i had to pass through innumerable thickets of underbrush and briers1 and by reason thereof ,i tore my already much-worn clothes almost into shreds1 and lacerated my flesh severely1 especially on my arms and legs4 ,i arrived in the swamp1 however1 without being followed by the dogs1 and while proceeding slowly and dejectedly along1 my steps were suddenly stopped by a fierce and loud growl4 ,i was frightened1 to be sure1 yet ,i knew scarcely what to do4 ,the growl proceeded from a bear1 ,i felt fully assured1 for bears roamed through the hills and swamps of ,mississippi4 ,but with presence of mind ,i retreated slowly from the presence of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,bruin1 and not being followed by the bears my fears on that score were removed4 ,about this time it began to rain2 and the night was one of those black1 foreboding nights that novelists love so well to depict in their descriptions of storms4 ,the lightning flashed with a vividness that lighted up the dismal swamps with a weird and horrible brightness2 the thunder rolled peal upon peal1 making to me a pandemonium1 real and feeling2 the pitiless rain pelted me unmercifully and constantly1 with that persistence that made it almost unendurable to me4 ,i sat down at the root of a large tree1 not to shelter myself from the rain but to protect myself from the attack of any wild animal that should approach me4 ,there ,i sat the rest of the long night1 unfriended1 alone1 forsaken1--a hunted outcast4 ,man's inhumanity to man ,makes countless thousands mourn4 ,the condition in which ,i was now placed rendered me indeed a pitiable object4 ,i waited and longed for morning to come2 but the long1 slow minutes passed lazily along without regard to my sufferings or wishes4 ,after a long time1 to me1 ,i heard a rooster crow1 and the welcome sound brought me to my feet in an instant4 ,i started in the direction of the sound1 and approached warily4 ,having walked a short distance ,i reached the edge of the swamps1 or rather a dry spot or oasis in the swamp1 and by the faint glimmer of day1 which was just breaking1 ,i could see the outlines of a house4 ,the cock continued to crow1 which seemed to invite me to approach1 and which ,i construed into a good omen1--at least ,i really felt good at the sight of the house1 even though it might contain those who would chain me and take me back to my master4 ,i noticed that a public road ran along close to the house2 and after going on the road1 in approaching the house ,i was discovered by a dog1 belonging to the house1 who set up a furious barking4 ,fearing to stay and make my wants known ,i again sought cover in the swamp4 ,i stayed in the swamp that day and ate such berries1 roots1 and nuts as ,i could find4 ,i had plenty of time for prayer and meditation4 ,i was alone with ,god1 and prayed to him for help in my distress1 and for direction4 ,i became convinced that ,i had done wrong in running away1 and deemed that ,i had sinned against ,god4 ,i had been a runaway and an outcast before1 and had came to right conclusions2 yet ,i had turned from the path of duty1 and was even now being punished for my sin4 ,i determined to return to my master and take the consequences of my acts in running away4 ,i asked ,god to have mercy on me and pardon my sins1 and protect me from the wrath of my master and the maliciousness of ,hines4 ,having fully made up my mind to return to ,thompson and make such efforts as ,i could to allay the punishment ,i expected to receive1 ,i set about perfecting my plans to get there without being apprehended by the slave-hunters1 who were then1 ,i have no doubt1 hunting for me4 ,my master had offered a reward for my return to his plantation2 and should any one arrest me and take me home1 although ,i might be returning on my own accord1 they would receive the reward and ,i would have to make up the amount to my master in extra labor and extra punishment4 ,to avoid this was now my object4 ,at night ,i left the swamp and went to the road1 intending to travel home that night--thinking ,i was not more than ten or twelve miles away from there4 ,i was uncertain which way to go2 but ,i finally started off on the road1 hoping that ,i was going in the direction of ,thompson's4 ,the rain was pattering down2 but ,i traveled briskly all that night1 and about day-break ,i came to a plantation4 ,i entered one of the slave-cabins and told the inmates ,i was lost1 hungry1 and tired1 and asked them for something to eat4 ,one of the colored men spoke to a woman who appeared to be his wife1 and told her to get me something to eat1 and that he would go and get some pine to put on the fire4 ,his actions1 and the manner in which he spoke1 aroused my suspicions1 and being fearful that he intended to betray me1 ,i left the cabin directly after he did1 and sought an asylum in the woods1 where ,i stayed during that day4 ,thus the wicked flee when no one pursueth4 ,at night ,i found the same road ,i had traveled the day before1 and started again to try and get to ,thompson's4 ,i knew that ,i was wrong1 and that ,i was traveling away from instead of toward ,thompson's2 therefore ,i concluded to make inquiries at the first opportunity4 ,after traveling three or four miles ,i came to a cabin in which there was a light shining through the cracks between the logs4 ,approaching the cabin1 ,i intended to enter2 but being enabled to see the inmates through the cracks ,i discovered three white men sitting around the fire1 so ,i turned to leave4 ,as ,i was passing the corner of the cabin a colored woman came to the door for some purpose1 and saw me4 ,she jumped back into the cabin1 at the same time exclaiming1 ,here's a runaway nigger6 ,i immediately ran for the road2 but a dog--not a blood-hound--followed me1 and while getting over the fence between the cabin and the road he caught me by the breeches leg4 ,i shook him off and ran for the woods4 ,the white men were slave-hunters1 and were after me particularly1 as ,i learned afterwards4 ,they followed me closely by the sound of the crackling of brush1 and put the dogs they had with them on my track4 ,these dogs1 fortunately for me1 were in the cabin at the time ,i approached it4 ,as soon as ,i heard the first yelp of a blood-hound ,i smutted my shoe-soles1 and soon threw them off the scent4 ,the white men followed me about three or four miles4 ,finally1 finding ,i would not get away from them by running1 ,i stopped1 and making my way into a dense thicket of briers ,i sat down4 ,the white men stopped a short distance from me and listened1 ,i suppose1 for the sound of brush cracking4 ,after waiting a short time one of them started off in the direction they had come1 leaving the others still waiting1--using this ruse in order to throw me off my guard1 so as to enable the remaining ones to ascertain where ,i was by the noise ,i would make in walking4 ,i was too close to them2 and from the noise ,i heard from where they were standing ,i knew they had a dog with them1 and that they were only waiting for me to move to begin the chase again4 ,i sat perfectly quiet1 and waited patiently for the remaining whites and the dog to leave4 ,after a time the men began to move about through the brush1 coming still closer to me4 ,i heard them talking1 when one of them said1 ,we ought to catch the nigger if we have to run him all night4 ,no said the other1 we should let him alone to-night1 and start him up in the morning1 when we can have daylight for the chase1 and not run him to-night1 for we might run him off and never catch him4 ,after a short parley they concluded to get some more dogs and be on the ground before daylight1 so as to make sure of me4 ,as soon as they had gone out of my hearing ,i emerged from the brier thicket4 ,i found my limbs had become sore and benumbed from the exposure and hardships ,i had undergone1 and ,i was intensely hungry4 ,i worried along1 however1 to get out of that neighborhood as soon as possible4 ,the sky was now clear1 the air frosty1 and my rags were but a scant protection to me4 ,after walking awhile ,i found my soreness began to leave me1 when ,i began to accelerate my pace4 ,i had to walk as fast as ,i could1 and exercise my limbs all ,i could1 in order to keep warm4 ,after walking some time ,i came to a plantation4 ,upon reconnoitering1 ,i found an old house1 and approaching it with the intention of seeking a little rest in it during the remainder of the night and the next day1 ,i saw a light in it4 ,i went in1 however1 and found it to be the workshop of the plantation1 and five colored men were there putting handles in their axes4 ,i asked them for something to eat1 and was about to tell them the truth regarding myself1 when one of the negroes hurried me out of the cabin1 saying he would get me something to eat4 ,after we got out he told me ,i was very imprudent1 for if ,i had told the negroes who ,i was and that ,i was a runaway1 they would have taken me themselves4 ,he got me some meat and bread1 and after ,i had told him who ,i was and that ,i wanted to find my way back to ,thompson's1 he put me on the right road and gave me such directions as ,i required4 ,i found that ,i was about fifty miles from ,thompson's plantation1 and that it would require two nights' hard walking to get there4 ,i felt very much discouraged1 and grieved considerably to myself4 ,however1 having satisfied the cravings of my appetite1 ,i plucked up courage and started on my long return walk with renewed energy4 ,after traveling about five miles ,i came to a little town4 ,i was afraid to go through it on account of the liability of being apprehended2 and ,i did not like to go around it for fear of getting lost again4 ,i determined to risk going through the place1 and1 by avoiding every one1 escape detection4 ,there was quite an excitement here by reason of an epidemic sickness among the children1 and about every other house had a light in it4 ,i passed through the town with fear2 but ,i escaped arrest and felt like rejoicing over my good fortune1 not once thinking of any dangers or hardships that might lay before me4 ,after ,i got through the town ,i came to a considerable stream1 with a bridge across it1 the name of which ,i am unable to give2 but on the opposite end of the bridge from the town there is a road-way1 or levee1 thrown up across the bottom for about two miles4 ,at the time ,i crossed1 the stream was very much swelled from the recent rains1 and the water extended all over the bottom on each side of the road-grade1 and to within two or three feet of the top of it4 ,this grade ,i had to cross2 and ,i was greatly afraid that ,i would meet some one4 ,i started across1 and when about half way over the grade1 or levee1 ,i heard hounds baying ahead of me2 and the sounds seemed to be approaching me1 ,i became very much frightened1 and turned and fled back to the bridge1 when1 just as ,i was stepping on it1 ,i heard men's voices1 and stopped1 when ,i found they were coming across the bridge toward me4 ,i concluded ,i would rather face the blood-hounds than the white men1 so ,i made my way back over the grade as hurriedly as ,i could4 ,i reached the end of the grade without meeting the hounds and turned off into the woods4 ,after walking a short distance ,i heard the hounds again1 and the sound of their yelps was nearing me rapidly4 ,i turned my course immediately1 and ran as fast as ,i was able for three or four hundred yards1 when ,i saw distinctly1 in the starlight1 a man running nearly toward me4 ,my heart leaped into my throat1 as it were1 and ,i made ready for battle4 ,but the man proved to be a poor runaway like myself1 and the one whom the hounds were after4 ,i had got into a field1 and the runaway passed through the same field without noticing me4 ,i kept on in an opposite direction from the one which he had taken1 and crossed the fence on the other side of the field just in time to hear one of the slave-hunters say1 ,there he is now2 ,i heard him getting over the fence4 ,i threw myself on the ground and awaited results4 ,the dogs were hot on the other slave's track1 and were running at a great rate1 which induced the slave-hunters to think their companion was mistaken4 ,so1 to my great relief and pleasure1 they started on after the hounds4 ,i was nearly exhausted by my exertions during the night1 and as it was now nearly morning ,i lay on the ground for a time to rest and recuperate my worn-out energies a little4 ,in a short time ,i got up1 and after looking around ,i saw the outlines of plantation houses in the distance4 ,on going to them ,i found a resting-place in a fodder-loft1 in the horse-lot of the plantation4 ,i ensconced myself in the fodder1 when ,i again heard the infernal yelps of the blood-hounds1 and the more infernal yelps of the white pursuers urging the hounds after the poor runaway4 ,the hounds soon after caught the poor wretch1 whose cries for mercy were heart-rending and piteous4 ,my situation was perilous2 yet ,i had hopes that the other slave being run down and caught would save me1 from the fact that the hunters were not aware of the presence of another runaway in the immediate neighborhood4 ,the day wore slowly away1 and being very weak from hunger and fatigue ,i was unable to gain that rest my wasted body required4 ,i slept two or three hours1 however1 and had ample time for reflection4 ,the bridge where ,i had been so completely hemmed in the night before was impressed deeply upon my memory2 and the agony of mind while on the bridge was still troubling me4 ,i relied on a loving heavenly ,father in my troubles and trials1 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 ,sea4 ,god delivered them1 and ,i believed he would deliver me4 ,my faith was strong4 ,night came at last1 when ,i cautiously emerged from my hiding-place and continued my journey toward home4 ,i ran and walked about twenty-five miles1 and did not find any familiar objects to lead me to suppose ,i was in the neighborhood of my master's plantation1 when ,i began to look about for a place of concealment in which to spend another weary and lonesome day4 ,walking slowly along1 after a short time my attention was attracted by sounds as if some one was pounding a hard substance4 ,on stopping and listening1 ,i soon heard some person calling hogs4 ,the voice seemed familiar4 ,upon further investigation ,i began to recognize objects1 and soon ascertained that ,i was at home4 ,now that ,i had got back home1 new troubles arose in my mind4 ,i would be punished severely1 without doubt4 ,instead of going to the quarters ,i went directly to my master's plantation1 in the hope that ,i could enlist my mistress in my behalf1 and thus have the way made smooth for me4 ,my master was not at home1 fortunately1 and my mistress heard my story and prayers for forgiveness4 ,she promised to intercede with my master for me1 but that ,i must promise not to run away again1 which ,i did4 ,she bade me to go and hide myself in the stable loft1 and not to leave there until she sent for me4 ,soon after1 my master came home4 ,in conversation with him my mistress broached the subject as to my whereabouts4 ,he told her that he believed ,i had got to the free states and was lost to him2 however1 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 punished1 and that ,i should be forgiven4 ,in that case my mistress said she would insure my return speedily4 ,matters were soon arranged1 and ,i was re-instated in my former position on the plantation4 ,but severe trials were soon to overtake me1 and what ,i had already gone through was but an atom in comparison with what ,i afterwards suffered from the hands of my master1 and by reason of my condition of slavery4 ,thus ended my earlier experiences as a slave1 from my earliest recollection down to the time of my return to ,thompson's plantation4 ,i propose to continue this biography1 and include the whole in book form4 ,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 bound4 ,to the friends of the colored race ,i appeal for help in this matter1 hoping that sufficient interest is taken to insure the accumulation of sufficient funds for my purpose4 ,the remainder will contain my full experience as a minister of the gospel1 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 ,south1 and such suggestions as ,i may deem proper to aid to raise the standard of intelligence among negroes4