Page:Eventful life, and curious adventures of Peter Williamson.pdf/6

 7 The Life of Peter Williamson. 8

my countryman’s power, as he was, contrary to many others of his calling, a humane, worthy, honest man. Having no children of his own, and commiserating my unhappy con- dition, he took great care of me until I was fit for busi- ness ; and about die 12th year of my age, set me about little trifles; in which state I continued till my 14th year, when I was more fit for harder work. During such my idle state, see- ing my fellow-servants often reading and writing, it incited in me an inclination to learn, which I intimated to my Mas- ter, telling him I should be very willing to serve a year longer than the contract by which I was bound, 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 improv- ing myself at leisure hours. With this good master I continued till I was seventeen years old, when he died; and as a reward for my faithful service, left me 2001. currency, which was then about 1201. Sterling, his best horse, saddle, and all his wear- ing apparel. Being now my own master, having money in my pocket,

and all other necessaries, I employed myself in jobbing a- bout the country, working for any body that would employ me, for near seven years ; when thinking I had money sufficient to follow some better way of life, I resolved to settle; but thought one step necessary thereto was to be married; for which purpose, I applied to the daughter of a substantial plan- ter, and found my suit was not unacceptable to her or her father, so that matters were soon concluded upon, and we mar- ried. My father-in-law, in or- der to establish us in the world, in an easy, if not af- fluent manner, made me a deed of gift, of a tract of land, that lay on the frontiers of the pro- vince of Pensylvania, contain- ing about 200 acres, 30 of which were well cleared and fit for immediate use, whereou was a good house and barn. The place pleasing me well, I settled on it, though it cost me the major part of my money, in buying stock, household fur- niture, and implements for out- door work; and happy as I was in a good wife, yet did my felicity last me not long; for about the year 1754, the In- dians in the French interest, who had for a long time be- fore ravaged and destroyed o- ther parts of America unmolest- ed, I may very properly say, be- gan to be very troublesome on the frontiers of our province, where they generally appeared in small sculking parties, with yellings, shoutings, and antic postures.