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.

My master and mistress went on one occasion into the country, to Date
Hill, for change of air, and carried me with them to take charge of the
children, and to do the work of the house. While I was in the country, I
saw how the field negroes are worked in Antigua. They are worked very hard
and fed but scantily. They are called out to work before daybreak, and
come home after dark; and then each has to heave his bundle of grass for
the cattle in the pen. Then, on Sunday morning, each slave has to go out
and gather a large bundle of grass; and, when they bring it home, they
have all to sit at the manager's door and wait till he come out: often
have they to wait there till past eleven o'clock, without any breakfast.
After that, those that have yams or potatoes, or fire-wood to sell, hasten
to market to buy a dog's worth[10] of salt fish, or pork, which is a great
treat for them. Some of them buy a little pickle out of the shad barrels,
which they call sauce, to season their yams and Indian corn. It is very