lding and rating me. I bore in silence a great deal of ill
words: at last my heart was quite full, and I told her that she ought not
to use me so;--that when I was ill I might have lain and died for what she
cared; and no one would then come near me to nurse me, because they were
afraid of my mistress. This was a great affront. She called her husband
and told him what I had said. He flew into a passion: but did not beat me
then; he only abused and swore at me; and then gave me a note and bade me
go and look for an owner. Not that he meant to sell me; but he did this to
please his wife and to frighten me. I went to Adam White, a cooper, a free
black, who had money, and asked him to buy me. He went directly to Mr.
Wood, but was informed that I was not to be sold. The next day my master
whipped me.

Another time (about five years ago) my mistress got vexed with me, because
I fell sick and I could not keep on with my work. She complained to her
husband, and he sent me off again to look for an owner. I went to a Mr.
Burchell, showed him the note, and asked him to buy me for my own benefit;
for I had saved about 100 dollars, and hoped, with a little help, to
purchase my freedom. He accordingly went to my master:--"Mr. Wood," he
said, "Molly has brought me a note that she wants an owner. If you intend
to sell her, I may as well buy her as another." My master put him off and
said that he did not mean to sell me. I was very sorry at this, for I had
no comfort with Mrs. Wood, and I wished greatly to get my freedom.

The way in which I made my money was this.--When my master and mistress
went from home, as they sometimes did, and left me to take care of the
house and premises, I had a good deal of time to myself, and made the most
of it. I took in washing, and sold coffee and yams and other provisions
to the captains of ships. I did not sit still idling during the absence of
my owners; for I wanted, by all honest means, to earn money to buy my
freedom. Sometimes I bought a hog cheap on board ship, and sold it for
double the money on shore; and I also earned a good deal by selling
coffee. By this means I by degrees acquired a little cash. A gentleman
also lent me some to help to buy my freedom--but when I could not get free
he got it back again. His name was Captain Abbot.

My master and mistress went on one occasion into the country, to Date
Hill, for change of air, and carried me with them to take charge of the
children, and to