steps that I have taken, are but a forewarning to me of the
heavenly rest: "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right,
and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me" (Psalm 119.75).


The Twelfth Remove

It was upon a Sabbath-day-morning, that they prepared for their
travel. This morning I asked my master whether he would sell me
to my husband. He answered me "Nux," which did much rejoice my
spirit. My mistress, before we went, was gone to the burial of
a papoose, and returning, she found me sitting and reading in my
Bible; she snatched it hastily out of my hand, and threw it out
of doors. I ran out and catched it up, and put it into my
pocket, and never let her see it afterward. Then they packed up
their things to be gone, and gave me my load. I complained it
was too heavy, whereupon she gave me a slap in the face, and
bade me go; I lifted up my heart to God, hoping the redemption
was not far off; and the rather because their insolency grew
worse and worse.

But the thoughts of my going homeward (for so we bent our
course) much cheered my spirit, and made my burden seem light,
and almost nothing at all. But (to my amazement and great
perplexity) the scale was soon turned; for when we had gone a
little way, on a sudden my mistress gives out; she would go no
further, but turn back again, and said I must go back again with
her, and she called her sannup, and would have had him gone back
also, but he would not, but said he would go on, and come to us
again in three days. My spirit was, upon this, I confess, very