"still small voice" seemed to whisper to me that I was doing very wicked
and sinful acts in helping to further the grocery iniquity. I was, in a
manner, forced to work, yet I was uneasy and troubled in my mind. Others
may think I was blameless; that I was a slave and not accountable for
acts my master commanded me to do. This seemed very specious reasoning,
but still I felt guilty, and sent fervent and prayerful petitions to the
throne of grace for forgiveness and fortitude to withstand temptation,
which enable me to do the will of my great Master regardless of the
consequences that might ensue to me from the effects of Wilson's wrath
or resentment.

We finished the building in about two months from the time we first
went to Salisbury, and prepared to return home.

It was here that I first saw a complete railroad and a locomotive with a
train of cars. My fellow-slave, on hearing the whistle of the locomotive
for the first time, was very much frightened, and jumped over the log he
was hewing, with the exclamation, "Good God! what is that?" and started
to run. I stopped him, and, explaining to him what the loud, shrill
shriek meant, quieted his fears. We both went to the depot and examined
the locomotive and cars with great curiosity and interest.

James Wilson, being still weak with his late sickness, was compelled to
ride in the wagon he had brought from home, and I rode his saddle-horse.
On the way, Wilson informed me that I was to attend the grocery at
Salisbury, and that he expected me to make money out of the concern. My
very soul revolted at the bare idea of being a whisky-vender, and my
immediate determination was not to be one. My mind was made up to "take
to the woods" on the first favorable opportunity. I said nothing,
however, but kept my own counsel.