I was now, for the first time in my life, to be a field hand; and in my new employment I found myself even more awkward than a green country boy may be supposed to be, upon his first entrance into the bewildering scenes of city life; and my awkwardness gave me much trouble.

Strange and unnatural as it may seem, I had been at my new home but three days, before Mr.Covey (my brother in the Methodist church) gave me a bitter foretaste of what was in reserve for me.

I presume he thought, that since he had but a single year in which to complete his work, the sooner he began, the better.
Perhaps he thought that by coming to blows at once, we should mutually better understand our relations.

But to whatever motive, direct or indirect, the cause may be referred, I had not been in his possession three whole days, before he subjected me to a most brutal chastisement.
Under his heavy blows, blood flowed freely, and wales were left on my back as large as my little finger.

The sores on my back, from this flogging, continued for weeks, for they were kept open by the rough and coarse cloth which I wore for shirting.