Page:Negro servant, an authentic and interesting narrative of a young Negro servant.pdf/18

( 18 ) sire to know the word of God, have proved effectual motives for their learning to read with great advantage to themselves and others: it was strikingly so in the present case.

I had for a considerable time been accustomed to meet some serious persons once a week, in a cottage at no great distance from the house where he lived, for the purpose of religious conversation, instruction, and prayer. Having found these occasions remarkably useful and interesting to myself and others, I thought it would be very desirable to take the Negro there, in order that there might be many witnesses to the simplicity and sincerity of real Christianity, as exhibited in the character of this promising young overt, I hoped it might have proved an eminent means of grace to excite and quicken the spirit of prayer and praise amongst some, over whose spiritual progress I was anxiously watching.

I accordingly obtained his master's leave that he should attend me to one of my cottage assemblies. As I approached the house. I saw my friend the Negro sitting under a tree, and waiting my arrival. He held in his hand a little traet which I had given him; his Bible lay on the ground. He rose with much cheerfulness, saying,

'Ah! Massa, me very glad to see you, me tink you long time coming.'

'William, I hope you are well, I am going to take you with me to a few of my friends, who, I hope are also the friends of the Lord. We meet every Wednesday evening for conversation about the things that belong to our everlasting peace, and I am sure you will be a welcome visitor.'

'Massa me not goot enough to be with such goot people. Me great sinner. They be goot Christian.'

'If you were to ask them, William, they would each you they were worse than any body. Many of them were once, and that not very long ago, living, in a very