They said they were persuaded that their policy was to wait patiently for the operation of those influences which were now at work for the removal of prejudice.

"_Social intercourse_," they said, "was not a thing to be gained by _pushing_." "They could not go to it, but it would come to them." It was for them however, to maintain an upright, dignified course, to be uniformly courteous, to seek the cultivation of their minds, and strive zealously for substantial worth, and by such means, and such alone, they could aid in overcoming prejudice.
Mr.Bourne was a slave until he was twenty-three years old.

He was purchased by his father, a free negro, who gave five hundred dollars for him.

His mother and four brothers were bought at the same time for the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars.

He spoke very kindly of his former master.