He said he had found Uncle Solomon in his garden, down on his knees, praying like an old owl, and had tipped him over, and frightened him half out of his wits.

At another time he found Uncle David sitting on his stool with his face thrust up the chimney, in order that his voice might not be heard by his brutal persecutor.

He was praying, giving utterance to these words, probably in reference to his bondage:--"_How long, oh, Lord, how long_ ?" "As long as my whip!" cried the overseer, who had stolen behind him, giving him a blow.

It was the sport of a demon.
Not long after my master had left us, the overseer ascertained for the first time that some of the hands could read, and that they had brought books with them from Virginia.

He compelled them to give up the keys of their chests, and on searching found several Bibles and hymn-books.
Uncle Solomon's chest contained quite a library, which he could read at night by the light of knots of the pitchpine.