It was a step towards freedom to be allowed to bear
the responsibilities of a freeman, and I was determined
to hold on upon it. I bent myself to the work
of making money. I was ready to work at night
as well as day, and by the most untiring perseverance
and industry, I made enough to meet my expenses, and
lay up a little money every week. I went on thus
from May till August. Master Hugh then refused
to allow me to hire my time longer. The ground
for his refusal was a failure on my part, one Saturday
night, to pay him for my week’s time. This
failure was occasioned by my attending a camp meeting
about ten miles from Baltimore. During the week,
I had entered into an engagement with a number of
young friends to start from Baltimore to the camp
ground early Saturday evening; and being detained by
my employer, I was unable to get down to Master Hugh’s
without disappointing the company. I knew that
Master Hugh was in no special need of the money that
night. I therefore decided to go to camp meeting,
and upon my return pay him the three dollars.
I staid at the camp meeting one day longer than I
intended when I left. But as soon as I returned,
I called upon him to pay him what he considered his
due. I found him very angry; he could scarce
restrain his wrath. He said he had a great mind
to give me a severe whipping. He wished to know
how I dared go out of the city without asking his
permission. I told him I hired my time and while
I paid him the price which he asked for it, I did not
know that I was bound to ask him when and where I
should go. This reply troubled him; and, after
reflecting a few moments, he turned to me, and said
I should hire my time no longer; that the next thing
he should know of, I would be running away. Upon
the same plea, he told me to bring my tools and clothing
home forthwith. I did so; but instead of seeking
work, as I had been accustomed to do previously to
hiring my time, I spent the whole week without the
performance of a single stroke of work. I did
this in retaliation. Saturday night, he called
upon me as usual for my week’s wages. I
told him I had no wages; I had done no work that week.
Here we were upon the point of coming to blows.
He raved, and swore his determination to get hold
of me. I did not allow myself a single word;
but was resolved, if he laid the weight of his hand
upon me, it should be blow for blow. He did not
strike me, but told me that he would find me in constant
employment in future. I thought the matter over
during the next day, Sunday, and finally resolved
upon the third day of September, as the day upon which
I would make a second attempt to secure my freedom.
I now had three weeks during which to prepare for my
journey. Early on Monday morning, before Master
Hugh had time to make any engagement for me, I went
out and got employment of Mr. Butler, at his ship-yard
near the drawbridge, upon what is called the City Block,
thus making it unnecessary for him to seek employment
for me. At the end of the week, I brought him