hire myself out in the poorest season of the year. He asked me after
this what I would give for the privilege per month. I replied that I
would leave it wholly with his own generosity to determine what I
should return him a month. Well then, said he, if so two pounds a
month. I answered him that if that was the least he would take I
would be contented.

Accordingly, I hired myself out at Fisher's Island, and earned twenty
pounds; thirteen pounds six shillings of which my master drew for the
privilege, and the remainder I paid him for my freedom. This made
fifty-one pounds two shillings which I paid him. In October following
I went and wrought six months at Long Island. In that six months'
time I cut and corded four hundred cords of wood, besides threshing
out seventy-five bushels of grain, and received of my wages down only
twenty pounds, which left remaining a larger sum. Whilst I was out
that time, I took upon my wages only one pair of shoes. At night I
lay upon the hearth, with one coverlet over and another under me. I
returned to my master and gave him what I received on my six months
labor. This left only thirteen pounds eighteen shillings to make up
the full sum for my redemption. My master liberated me, saying I
might pay what was behind if I could ever make it convenient,
otherwise it would be well. The amount of the money which I had paid
my master towards redeeming my time, was seventy-one pounds two
shillings. The reason of my master for asking such an unreasonable
price, was he said, to secure himself in case I should ever come to
want. Being thirty-six years old, I left Col. Smith once for all. I
had already been sold three different times, made considerable money
with seemingly nothing to derive it from, been cheated out of a large
sum of money, lost much by misfortunes, and paid an enormous sum for
my freedom.