but did not succeed in catching one; so I was obliged to go on walking again, but shortly met with a gentleman’s horse on the road which I mounted, and rode into Chester, and let the horse go where he liked.  In Chester I met with a quaker, named Sharpies, who took me to his house, gave me the best accommodation, and called his friends to see me, never seemed weary of asking questions of negro life in the different plantations.  I let them see the money I had, which was in notes, and much damaged by my swimming across the river, but they kindly passed it for me, and I got other money for it; and I was presented with two suits of clothes.  He sent in a waggon to Philadelphia and recommended me to a gentleman (who being alive, I wish not to reveal), where I remained in his employ about five weeks.  This kind friend persuaded me to make for Canada; and it was with much reluctance I at last complied.  My reluctance was in consequence of understanding that Canada was a very cold place, and I did not relish the idea of going on that account; and as a gentleman said he could find employment for me at Derby, near Philadelphia, I went and worked there three years, during which time I was a regular attendant at the Methodist Free Church, consisting entirely of colored people; at which place I heard the scriptures expounded in a different way by colored ministers—­as I found that God had made colored as well as white people:  as He had made of one blood all the families of the earth, and that all men were free and equal in his sight; and that he was no respecter of persons whatever the color:  but whoever worked righteousness was accepted of Him.  Being satisfied that I had not sinned against the Holy Ghost by obtaining my freedom, I enlisted in the church, and became one of the members thereof.

About this time, Mr. Roberts, for whom I worked, failed in business, and his property was seized for debt and sold, thereby throwing me out of employment.  I was arrested and taken back to Maryland, where I was placed in prison, with a collar round my neck for eleven days.

On the twelfth day my master came to see me, and of course I begged of him to take me home and let me go to work.  No, nigger, said master—­I have no employment for a vagabond of your stamp; but I’m going to order that collar off your neck, not because I think that you are sufficiently punished, but because there are some gentlemen coming through the jail to-morrow, and they want to purchase some negroes, so you had better do your best to get a master amongst them—­and mind you don’t tell them that ever you ran away, for if you do none of them will buy you.  Now I will give you a good character, notwithstanding you have done your best to injure me, a good master, and you have even tried to rob me by running away—­still I’ll do my best to get you a good master, for my bible teaches me to do good for evil.  The next day I was called out with forty other slaves, belonging to different