The younger slaves, or the unmarried ones, were expected to see to the cattle, and attend to incidental duties at home. Those who had families at a distance, were now expected to visit them, and to spend with them the entire week. This time was regarded as our own, by the grace of our masters, and we, therefore used it, or abused it, as we pleased.
During these days, all regular work was suspended, and there was nothing to do but to keep fires, and look after the stock. The days between Christmas day and New Year's, are allowed the slaves as holidays. A knowledge of my ability to read and write, got pretty widely spread, which was very much against me. This made me a marked lad among the slaves, and a suspected one among the slaveholders. I hated slavery, slaveholders, and all pertaining to them and I did not fail to inspire others with the same feeling, wherever and whenever opportunity was presented. I had now got free from it, and the thing was known. Trained from the cradle up, to think and feel that their masters are superior, and invested with a sort of sacredness, there are few who can outgrow or rise above the control which that sentiment exercises. Slaves, generally, will fight each other, and die at each other's hands but there are few who are not held in awe by a white man. Despite of Covey, too, the report got abroad, that I was hard to whip that I was guilty of kicking back that though generally a good tempered Negro, I sometimes "got the devil in me." These sayings were rife in Talbot county, and they distinguished me among my servile brethren. I cared very little into whose hands I fell-I meant to fight my way. There is always more or less excitement about the matter of changing hands, but I had become somewhat reckless. My home for the year 1835 was already secured-my next master was already selected.
I gladly left the snakish Covey, although he was now as gentle as a lamb. Edward Covey ended on Christmas day, 1834. New Relations and Duties CHANGE OF MASTERS-BENEFITS DERIVED BY THE CHANGE-FAME OF THE FIGHT WITH COVEY-RECKLESS UNCONCERN-MY ABHORRENCE OF SLAVERY-ABILITY TO READ A CAUSE OF PREJUDICE-THE HOLIDAYS-HOW SPENT-SHARP HIT AT SLAVERY-EFFECTS OF HOLIDAYS-A DEVICE OF SLAVERY-DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COVEY AND FREELAND-AN IRRELIGIOUS MASTER PREFERRED TO A RELIGIOUS ONE-CATALOGUE OF FLOGGABLE OFFENSES-HARD LIFE AT COVEY'S USEFUL-IMPROVED CONDITION NOT FOLLOWED BY CONTENTMENT-CONGENIAL SOCIETY AT FREELAND'S-SABBATH SCHOOL INSTITUTED-SECRECY NECESSARY-AFFECTIONATE RELATIONS OF TUTOR AND PUPILS-CONFIDENCE AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG SLAVES-I DECLINE PUBLISHING PARTICULARS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FRIENDS-SLAVERY THE INVITER OF VENGEANCE.
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