he relied on God's help in his misery.

Wilson came for Ben in due time, and after chaining him securely around
the neck he fastened one end of the chain to the rear of his buggy and
literally, a part of the time, dragged him to Holly Springs, about
thirty miles from Oxford, where he sold him to a man who had the
reputation of being the hardest master in the country. Wilson afterwards
took Ben's wife home. Thus they were separated,--Ben and his
wife,--never to meet again on this earth.

Wilson told me when he got home that he had sent Ben to hell, and that
he would send me there too. Infatuated man; he supposed he had done with
Ben for the very worst; he thought he had as much power over the souls
of his slaves as he had under "the laws" over their bodies. He found,
however, in time, that God was with us, and in his good time he
delivered us from our bondage and punished our persecutors as they
deserved.




CHAPTER II.

Not sent to hell by Wilson--Mrs. Wilson protects me, to whom I
belong--Sent to school with the children--The school-children teach me
to read and write--What came of it--Mount that mule or I'll shoot you--I
mounted the mule--A start for the railroad to work--I dismount and take
to the woods--I owe allegiance to God and my country only.