Page:Negro servant, an authentic and interesting narrative of a young Negro servant.pdf/11

( 11 ) or Cephas or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.'

I cast my eyes downwards a little to the left towards a small cove, the shore of which consists of fine hard sand. It is surrounded by fragments of rock, chalk cliffs, and steep banks of broken earth. Shut out from human intercourse and dwellings, it seems formed for retirement and contemplation. On one of these rocks I unexpectedly observed a man sitting with a book, which he was reading. The place was near two hundred yards perpendicularly below me; but I soon discovered by his dress, and by the black colour of his features, contracted with the white rocks beside him, that it was no other than my negro disciple; with, as I doubted not, a Bible in his hand. I rejoiced at this unlooked-for opportunity of meeting him in so solitary and interesting a situation. I descended a steep bank, winding by a kind of rude stair-case, formed by fishermen and shepherds' boys in the side of the cliff down to the shore.

He was intent on his book, and did not perceive me till I approached very near to him.

'William, is that you?'

'Ah! Massa, me very glad to see you. How come Massa into this place? Me thought nobody here, but only God and me.'

'I was coming to your Master's house to see you, and rode round by this way for the sake of the prospect. I often come here in fine weather, to look at the sea, and the shipping. Is that your Bible?'

'Yes, Sir, this is my dear goot Bibleǃ'

'In the course of conversation, be sometimes addressed me with the word, Massa,' for 'Master,' according to the well known habit of the Negro slaves in the West Indies; and sometimes, Sir,' as he was taught since his arrival in England but the former word seemed to be most familiar to him.