house. When left thus, I used to spend the time in writing in the
spaces left in Master Thomas's copy-book, copying what he had written. I
continued to do this until I could write a hand very similar to that of
Master Thomas. Thus, after a long, tedious effort for years, I finally
succeeded in learning how to write.



CHAPTER VIII


In a very short time after I went to live at Baltimore, my old master's
youngest son Richard died; and in about three years and six months
after his death, my old master, Captain Anthony, died, leaving only his
son, Andrew, and daughter, Lucretia, to share his estate. He died while
on a visit to see his daughter at Hillsborough. Cut off thus
unexpectedly, he left no will as to the disposal of his property. It was
therefore necessary to have a valuation of the property, that it might
be equally divided between Mrs. Lucretia and Master Andrew. I was
immediately sent for, to be valued with the other property. Here again
my feelings rose up in detestation of slavery. I had now a new
conception of my degraded condition. Prior to this, I had become, if not
insensible to my lot, at least partly so. I left Baltimore with a young
heart overborne with sadness, and a soul full of apprehension. I took
passage with Captain Rowe, in the schooner Wild Cat, and, after a sail
of about twenty-four hours, I found myself near the place of my birth. I
had now been absent from it almost, if not quite, five years. I,
however, remembered the place very well. I was only about five years old
when I left it, to go and live with my old master on Colonel Lloyd's
plantation; so that I was now between ten and eleven years old.