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un-happy companions, I never knew ; it was my lot to be sold to one of my countrymen, whose name was Hugh Wilson, a North Britain, who had in his youth undergone the same fate as myself— having been kidnapped from St. Johnstown, in Scotland. Happy was my lot in falling into my country- man’s power, as he was, contrary to many others of his calling, a humane, worthy, honest man. Having no children of his own, and commiser- ating my unhappy condition, he took great care of me until I was fit for business, and, about the 12th year of my age, set me about little trifies ; in which state I continued until my 14th year, when I was more fit for harder work. During such my idle state, seeing my fellow-servants of- ten reading and writing, it ineited in me an in- clination to learn, whieh I intimated to my mas- ter, telling him I should be very willing to serve a year longer than the contraet by which I was sold, if he would indulge me in going to school ; this he readily agreed to, saying that winter would be the best time. It being then summer, I waited with impatience for the other season ; but, to make some progress in my design, I got a Primer, and learned as much from my fellow- servants as I could. At school, where I went every winter for five years, I made a tolerable proficiency, and have ever since been improving
