The poor fellow's income, depending, in some measure, upon small
presents bestowed by the negroes to whom he preached, was scarcely
enough to bring him out at the end of the week, and to be thus
deprived of it seemed more than his spirits could bear. Again and
again had he appealed to his master for justice; but there was no
justice for him,--his appeals proved as fruitless as the wind, on his
master's callous sensibilities. Instead of exciting compassion, he
only drew upon him his master's prejudices; he was threatened with
being sold, if he resisted for a day the payment of wages for his
own body. Hence he saw but one alternative left-one hope, one smile
from a good woman, who might, and he felt would, deliver him; that
was in writing to his good friend, Mrs. Rosebrook, whose generous
heart he might touch through his appeals for mercy. And yet there
was another obstacle; the post-office might be ten miles off, and
his master having compelled him to take the name of Peter Wiley, how
was he to get a letter to her without the knowledge of his master?
Should his letter be intercepted, his master, a strict
disciplinarian, would not only sell him farther south, but inflict
the severest punishment. Nevertheless, there was one consolation
left; his exertions on behalf of the slaves, and his earnestness in
promoting the interests of their masters, had not passed unnoticed
with the daughter of a neighbouring planter (this lady has since
distinguished herself for sympathy with the slave), who became much
interested in his welfare.
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