habituated to keeping his word, that
he would sacrifice even his life to maintain it.

The first of the time of living at my master's own place, I was pretty
much employed in the house at carding wool and other household
business. In this situation I continued for some years, after which
my master put me to work out of doors. After many proofs of my
faithfulness and honesty, my master began to put great confidence in
me. My behavior to him had as yet been submissive and obedient. I
then began to have hard tasks imposed on me. Some of these were to
pound four bushels of ears of corn every night in a barrel for the
poultry, or be rigorously punished. At other seasons of the year I
had to card wool until a very late hour. These tasks I had to perform
when I was about nine years old. Some time after I had another
difficulty and oppression which was greater than any I had ever
experienced since I came into this country. This was to serve two
masters. James Mumford, my master's son, when his father had gone
from home in the morning, and given me a stint to perform that day,
would order me to do _this_ and _that_ business different from what my
master directed me. One day in particular, the authority which my
master's son had set up, had like to have produce melancholy effects.
For my master having set me off my business to perform that day and
then left me to perform it, his son came up to me in the course of the
day, big with authority, and and commanded me very arrogantly to quit
my present business and go directly about what he should order me. I
replied to him that my master had given me so much to perform that
day, and that I must therefore faithfully complete it in that time.
He then broke out in a great rage, snatched a pitchfork and went to
lay me over the head therewith; but I as soon got another and defended
myself with it, or otherwise he might have murdered me in his outrage.
He immediately called some people who were hearing at work for him,
and ordered them to take his hair rope and and come and bind me with
it. They all tried to bind me but in vain, tho' there were three
assistants in number. My upstart master than desisted, put his pocket
handkerchief before his eyes and went home with a design to tell his
mother of the struggle with young VENTURE. He told her that their
young VENTURE had become so stubborn that he could not controul him,
and asked her what he should do with him. In the mean t