In due time the trial came on, and I was to be tried for theft!  Lewis had reported all through the settlement that on a certain time I had called at his house, and from a bundle of papers which his wife showed me, I had purloined the note, which had caused me so much trouble.  To prove this it was necessary to get his wife to corroborate the statement.  This was not an easy matter.  Mrs. Lewis, indignant and distressed by her husband’s unkindness, had left him and taken up her abode in the family of a hospitable Englishman.  After Lewis had been sent out as an agent for the colony, finding himself possessed of sufficient funds to cut a swell, he associated and was made a great deal of, by both ladies and gentlemen in high stations of life; the consequence of which was, he looked now with disdain upon his faithful, but illiterate wife, who like himself had been born a slave, and bred on a Southern plantation; and who had with him escaped from the cruel task-master, enduring with him the hardships and dangers of the flying fugitive.

Now her assistance was necessary to carry forward his plans, and he endeavored in various ways to induce her to return, but in vain.  When he sent messengers to inform her how sorry he felt for his past abuse, she said she feared it was only some wicked plot to entice her away from the peaceable home she had found.  Lewis saw that he must devise some other method to obtain her evidence.  He therefore called on the brother of the Englishman in whose family Mrs. Lewis was, and in a threatening manner told him that he understood his brother was harboring his wife, and that he intended to make him pay dear for it.  The brother, to save trouble, said he would assist him to get his wife, and that night conducted Lewis to her residence.  No better proof can be given that Mrs. Lewis possessed the true heart of a woman, than that the moment her husband made humble concessions, and promised to love and protect her henceforth, she forgave him all his past infidelity and neglect, and looked with hope to a brighter future.  In return Lewis presented her with a note, telling her to take it to a certain person and present it, and he would give her twenty dollars on it.  This would, he doubtless thought, leave her in his power.

As Mrs. Lewis could not read, the unsuspecting wife presented the paper all in good faith.  The gentleman looked at her sharply, suspiciously,—­and then asked her, if she was not aware that she was presenting him a paper completely worthless!  The poor woman was mortified and astonished; and instead of returning to her husband, fled to Wilberforce, and called at our house.  Knowing how disastrous to me would be her false statement, and ignorant of her state of mind, I asked her if she had come to assist Mr. Lewis by swearing against me.  I saw at once, that she had not yet been informed of her husband’s design.

“Swear against you, Mr. Steward!” said she.  “I know nothing to swear that would injure you; I have always known you as an honest, upright man, and you need not fear my turning against an innocent person, for the benefit of one I know to be guilty.  Nor would I have left my place, had I known what I now do.”  So all help and fear was ended in that quarter.