learning was constantly improved at all opportunities--when I got large
enough to go to work, while employed, I was reflecting on many things
that would present themselves to my imagination, and whenever an
opportunity occurred of looking at a book, when the school children were
getting their lessons, I would find many things that the fertility of my
own imagination had depicted to me before; all my time, not devoted to
my master's service, was spent either in prayer, or in making
experiments in casting different things in moulds made of earth, in
attempting to make paper, gunpowder, and many other experiments, that
although I could not perfect, yet convinced me of its practicability if
I had the means.[Footnote: When questioned as to the manner of
manufacturing those different articles, he was found well informed on
the subject.] I was not addicted to stealing in my youth, nor have ever
been--Yet such was the confidence of the negroes in the neighborhood,
even at this early period of my life, in my superior judgment, that they
would often carry me with them when they were going on any roguery, to
plan for them. Growing up among them, with this confidence in my
superior judgment, and when this, in their opinions, was perfected by
Divine inspiration, from the circumstances already alluded to in my
infancy, and which belief was ever afterwards zealously inculcated by
the austerity of my life and manners, which became the subject of remark
by white and black.--Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear
so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped
myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer--By this time,
having arrived to man's estate, and hearing the scriptures commented on
at meetings, I was struck with that particular passage which says: "Seek
ye the kingdom of Heaven and all things shall be added unto you." I
reflected much on this passage, and prayed daily for light on this
subject--As I was praying one day at my plough, the spirit spoke to me,
saying, "Seek ye the kingdom of Heaven and all things shall be added