days.  A better condition of things now presented itself.  As he possessed a large share of confidence, he came to the conclusion, as he was free, that he was capable of selecting his own residence and manage his own affairs with prudence and economy.  But, alas, his hopes were soon blighted.  More heart rending sorrow and degradation awaited him.  He was earnestly invited by a white decoyer to relinquish his former design and accompany him to Missouri and join him in speculation and become wealthy.  As partners, they embarked on board a schooner for St. Charles, Mo.  On the passage, my grandfather was seized with a fever, and for a while was totally unconscious.  When he regained his reason he found himself, near his journey’s end, divested of his free papers and all others.  On his arrival at St. Charles he was seized by a huge, surly looking slaveholder who claimed him as his property.  The contract had previously been concluded by his Judas-like friend, who had received the bounty.  Oh, what a sad disappointment.  After serving for thirty years to be thrust again into bondage where a deeper degradation and sorrow and hopeless toil were to be his portion for the remaining years of his existence.  In deep despair and overwhelmed with grief, he made his escape to the woods, determined to put an end to his sorrows by perishing with cold and hunger.  His master immediately pursued him, and in twenty-four hours found him with hands and feet frost-bitten, in consequence of which he lost the use of his fingers and toes, and was thenceforth of little use to his new master.  He remained with him, however, and married a woman in the same station in life.  They lived as happily as their circumstances would permit.  As Providence allotted, they only had one son, which was my father, Westly Jackson.  He had a deep affection for his family, which the slave ever cherishes for his dear ones.  He had no other link to fasten him to the human family but his fervent love for those who were bound to him by love and sympathy in their wrongs and sufferings.  My grandfather remained in the same family until his death.  My father, Westly Jackson, married, at the age of twenty-two, a girl owned by James Harris, named Ellen Turner.  Nothing of importance occurred until three years after their marriage, when her master, Harris failed through the extravagance and mismanagement of his wife, who was a great spendthrift and a dreaded terror to the poor slaves and all others with whom she associated in common circumstances, consequently the entire stock was sold by the sheriff to a trader residing in Virginia.  On account of the good reputation my mother sustained as a worthy servant and excellent cook, a tyrannical and much dreaded slaveholder watched for an opportunity to purchase her, but fortunately arrived a few moments too late, and she was bid off in too poor a condition of health to remain long a subject of banter and speculation.  Her husband was allowed to carefully lift her down from the block