, and I was as profoundly ignorant, comparatively, as a child five
years old. This was painful, annoying, and humiliating in the extreme. Up
to this time, I recollected to have seen one copy of the New Testament,
but the entire Bible I had never seen, and had never heard of the
Patriarchs, or of the Lord Jesus Christ. I recollected to have heard two
sermons, but had heard no mention in them of Christ, or the way of life
by Him. It is quite easy to imagine, then, what was the state of my mind,
having been reared in total moral midnight; it was a sad picture of mental
and spiritual darkness.

As my friend poured light into my mind, I saw the darkness; it amazed and
grieved me beyond description. Sometimes I sank down under the load, and
became discouraged, and dared not hope that I could ever succeed in
acquiring knowledge enough, to make me happy, or useful to my
fellow-beings.

My dear friend, W.W., however, had a happy tact to inspire me with
confidence; and he, perceiving my state of mind, exerted himself, not
without success, to encourage me. He cited to me various instances of
coloured persons, of whom I had not heard before, and who had
distinguished themselves for learning, such as Bannicker, Wheatley, and
Francis Williams.

How often have I regretted that the six months I spent in the family of
W.W., could not have been six years. The danger of recapture, however,
rendered it utterly imprudent that I should remain longer; and early in
the month of March, while the ground was covered with the winter's snow, I
left the bosom of this excellent family, and went forth once more to try
my fortune among strangers.

My dear reader, if I could describe to you the emotions I felt when I left
the threshold of W.W.'s door, you could not fail to see how deplorable is
the condition of the fugitive slave, often for months and years after he
has escaped the immediate grasp of the tyrant. When I left my parents, the
trial was great, but I had now to leave a friend who had done more for me
than parents could have done as slaves; and hence I felt an endearment to
that friend which was heightened by a sense of the important relief he had
afforded me in the greatest need, and hours of pleasant and highly
profitable intercourse.

About a month previous to leaving the house of W.W., a small circumstance
occurred one evening, which I only name to shew the harassing fears and
dread in which I lived during most of the time I was ther