The book is written in the narrative style, as being much better suited
to the tastes and capacities of my colored readers, and I have used
simple and plain English language, discarding the idiomatic and
provincial language of the southern slaves and ignorant whites,
expecting thereby to help educate the blacks in the use of proper
language.

I am indebted to William H. Rhodes, Esq., attorney at law, of Newman,
Douglas County, Illinois, for his valuable assistance in the preparation
of my manuscript for the printer. He has re-written the whole of it for
me, and has otherwise assisted me in the matter of placing the book
before the public.

CHARLES THOMPSON.

Newman, Illinois, Aug., 1874.




CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Charles Thompson, born in Atala County, Mississippi--Division of
Kirkwood's slaves among his six Children--The writer and his two sisters
fall to Mrs. Wilson--The parting between mother and child--Deprived of a
fond mother forever--Old Uncle Jack--Wilson buys Uncle Ben from
Strucker--Uncle Ben runs away and is hunted with blood-hounds--Two