CHAPTER XIII.
THE VICISSITUDES OF SLAVE LIFE.
Death of old Master’s son Richard, speedily followed by that of old Master--Valuation and division of all the property, including the slaves--Sent for to come to Hillsborough to be valued and divided--Sad prospects and grief--Parting--Slaves have no voice in deciding their own destinies--General dread of falling into Master Andrew’s hands--His drunkenness--Good fortune in falling to Miss Lucretia--She allows my return to Baltimore-- Joy at Master Hugh’s--Death of Miss Lucretia--Master Thomas Auld’s second marriage--The new wife unlike the old--Again removed from Master Hugh’s--Reasons for regret--Plan of escape 107
CHAPTER XIV.
EXPERIENCE IN ST. MICHAELS.
St. Michaels and its inhabitants--Capt. Auld--His new wife-- Sufferings from hunger--Forced to steal--Argument in vindication thereof--Southern camp-meeting--What Capt. Auld did there--Hopes--Suspicions--The result--Faith and works at variance--Position in the church--Poor Cousin Henny--Methodist preachers--Their disregard of the slaves--One exception-- Sabbath-school--How and by whom broken up--Sad change in my prospects--Covey, the negro-breaker 116
CHAPTER XV.
COVEY, THE NEGRO BREAKER.
Journey to Covey’s--Meditations by the way--Covey’s house-- Family--Awkwardness as a field hand--A cruel beating--Why given--Description of Covey--First attempt at driving oxen-- Hair-breadth escape--Ox and man alike property--Hard labor more effective than the whip for breaking down the spirit--Cunning and trickery of Covey--Family worship--Shocking and indecent contempt for chastity--Great mental agitation--Anguish beyond description 129