was about eighteen miles from Wilson's, and who had been recommended to
me as being the kind of man I was hunting for. Mr. Dansley questioned me
closely, and examined me as to my reasons for wanting to hire out, and
why my master wished me to hire out when there was plenty of work on his
own place for me to do. I confessed frankly that I could read and write,
and knew something about figures, and was desirous to serve God and do
his work by preaching, and in every other way in my power; that my
master was afraid that I would demoralize his other slaves by learning
them to read and write and by preaching to them, and in order that I
might not do that he wanted me off the plantation; that he could not
sell me because I was the property of his wife, and that she would not
consent to have me sold out of the family. "If those are faults, as
considered by Mr. Wilson, I am very well satisfied that you will perform
your part of the contract notwithstanding; yet what Mr. Wilson is
pleased to consider faults in you I deem good points in your character
and disposition, therefore I will hire you, hoping that your duty to God
will include your duty to me under the contract of hire." I told him
that was my understanding of my duty to God; that it comprised, in my
condition of servitude, my duty to my slave-master. I informed Mr.
Dansley that my master, Wilson, wanted thirty dollars per month for my
services, and that I wanted five dollars per month for myself, making in
all thirty-five dollars per month. He was satisfied to pay that amount,
and gave me a letter to carry to Wilson stating that he would hire me at
thirty dollars per month, yet he agreed with me that he would pay me,
besides, five dollars per month.

When Wilson gave me instructions to hire myself out at not less than
thirty dollars per month, he hoped I would fail, from the fact that
wages for field-hands were only twenty-five dollars per month; and when
I went back with Mr. Dansley's letter so soon, he was somewhat