I was also sent by Mrs. Wood to be put in the Cage one night, and was next morning flogged, by the magistrate’s order, at her desire; and this all for a quarrel I had about a pig with another slave woman.  I was flogged on my naked back on this occasion:  although I was in no fault after all; for old Justice Dyett, when we came before him, said that I was in the right, and ordered the pig to be given to me.  This was about two or three years after I came to Antigua.

When we moved from the middle of the town to the Point, I used to be in the house and do all the work and mind the children, though still very ill with the rheumatism.  Every week I had to wash two large bundles of clothes, as much as a boy could help me to lift; but I could give no satisfaction.  My mistress was always abusing and fretting after me.  It is not possible to tell all her ill language.—­One day she followed me foot after foot scolding and rating me.  I bore in silence a great deal of ill words:  at last my heart was quite full, and I told her that she ought not to use me so;—­that when I was ill I might have lain and died for what she cared; and no one would then come near me to nurse me, because they were afraid of my mistress.  This was a great affront.  She called her husband and told him what I had said.  He flew into a passion:  but did not beat me then; he only abused and swore at me; and then gave me a note and bade me go and look for an owner.  Not that he meant to sell me; but he did this to please his wife and to frighten me.  I went to Adam White, a cooper, a free black, who had money, and asked him to buy me.  He went directly to Mr. Wood, but was informed that I was not to be sold.  The next day my master whipped me.

Another time (about five years ago) my mistress got vexed with me, because I fell sick and I could not keep on with my work.  She complained to her husband, and he sent me off again to look for an owner.  I went to a Mr. Burchell, showed him the note, and asked him to buy me for my own benefit; for I had saved about 100 dollars, and hoped, with a little help, to purchase my freedom.  He accordingly went to my master:—­“Mr. Wood,” he said, “Molly has brought me a note that she wants an owner.  If you intend to sell her, I may as well buy her as another.”  My master put him off and said that he did not mean to sell me.  I was very sorry at this, for I had no comfort with Mrs. Wood, and I wished greatly to get my freedom.

The way in which I made my money was this.—­When my master and mistress went from home, as they sometimes did, and left me to take care of the house and premises, I had a good deal of time to myself, and made the most of it.  I took in washing, and sold coffee and yams and other provisions to the captains of ships.  I did not sit still idling during the absence of my owners; for I wanted, by all honest means, to earn money to buy my freedom.  Sometimes I bought a hog cheap on board ship, and sold it for double the money on shore; and I also earned a good deal by selling coffee.  By this means I by degrees acquired a little cash.  A gentleman also lent me some to help to buy my freedom—­but when I could not get free he got it back again.  His name was Captain Abbot.