He seemed desirous to get the poor girl out of existence, or, at any rate, off his hands.

In proof of this, he afterwards gave her away to his sister Sarah (Mrs.Cline) but, as in the case of Master{157} Hugh, Henny was soon returned on his hands.

Finally, upon a pretense that he could do nothing with her (I use his own words) he "set her adrift, to take care of herself." Here was a recently converted man, holding, with tight grasp, the well-framed, and able bodied slaves left him by old master--the persons, who, in freedom, could have taken care of themselves; yet, turning loose the only cripple among them, virtually to starve and die.
No doubt, had Master Thomas been asked, by some pious northern brother, _why_ he continued to sustain the relation of a slaveholder, to those whom he retained, his answer would have been precisely the same as many other religious slaveholders have returned to that inquiry, viz: "I hold my slaves for their own good." Bad as my condition was when I lived with Master Thomas, I was soon to experience a life far more goading and bitter.

The many differences springing up between myself and Master Thomas, owing to the clear perception I had of his character, and the boldness with which I defended myself against his capricious complaints, led him to declare that I was unsuited to his wants; that my city life had affected me perniciously; that, in fact, it had almost ruined me for every good purpose, and had fitted me for everything that was bad.

One of my greatest faults, or offenses, was that of letting his horse get away, and go down to the farm belonging to his father-in-law.