g deeply the insult,
replied to the last expression,--"If I am one too many, sir, give me a
chance to get a purchaser, and I am willing to be sold when it may suit
you."

"Bazil, I told you to hush!" and suiting the action to the word, he drew
forth the "cowhide" from under his arm, fell upon him with most savage
cruelty, and inflicted fifteen or twenty severe stripes with all his
strength, over his shoulders and the small of his back. As he raised
himself upon his toes, and gave the last stripe, he said, "By the * * * I
will make you know that I am master of your tongue as well as of your
time!"

Being a tradesman, and just at that time getting my breakfast, I was near
enough to hear the insolent words that were spoken to my father, and to
hear, see, and even count the savage stripes inflicted upon him.

Let me ask any one of Anglo-Saxon blood and spirit, how would you expect a
_son_ to feel at such a sight?

This act created an open rupture with our family--each member felt the
deep insult that had been inflicted upon our head; the spirit of the whole
family was roused; we talked of it in our nightly gatherings, and showed
it in our daily melancholy aspect. The oppressor saw this, and with the
heartlessness that was in perfect keeping with the first insult, commenced
a series of tauntings, threatenings, and insinuations, with a view to
crush the spirit of the whole family.

Although it was sometime after this event before I took the decisive step,
yet in my mind and spirit, I never was a _Slave_ after it.

Whenever I thought of the great contrast between my father's employment on
that memorable Monday morning, (feeding the little lamb,) and the
barbarous conduct of my master, I could not help cordially despising the
proud abuser of my sire; and I believe he discovered it, for he seemed to
have diligently sought an occasion against me. Many incidents occurred to
convince me of this, too tedious to mention; but there is one I will
mention, because it will serve to show the state of feeling that existed
between us, and how it served to widen the already open breach.

I was one day shoeing a horse in the shop yard. I had been stooping for
some time under the weight of the horse, which was large, and was very
tired; meanwhile, my master had taken his position on a little hill just
in front of me, and stood leaning back on his cane, with his hat drawn
ever his eyes. I put down the horse's foot, and straightened mysel