Virginia--the hills and the streams of my birth-place; the kind and hospitable home; the gentle-hearted sisters, sweetening with their sympathy the sorrows of the slave--my wife--my children--all that had thus far made up my happiness, rose in contrast with my present condition.

Deeply as he has wronged me, may my master himself never endure such a night of misery! At daybreak, Huckstep told me to dress myself, and attend to his directions.

I rose, subdued and wretched, and at his orders handed the horn to the headmen of the gang, who summoned the hands to the field.
They were employed in clearing land for cultivation, cutting trees and burning.

I was with them through the day, and at night returned once more to my lodgings to be laughed at by the overseer.

He told me that I should do well, he did not doubt, by and by, but that a Virginia driver generally had to be whipped a few times himself before he could be taught to do justice to the slaves under his charge.