Page:The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.pdf/286

[ 240 ] that will take the cause in hand, and you had better try it.' I told him then, that I would try it, which enraged him very much; however, out of regard to the ladies, I remained still, and never made any farther demand of my right. Some time afterwards, these friendly ladies asked me what I meant to do with myself, and how they could assist me. I thanked them, and said, if they pleased, I would be their servant; but if not I had thirty-seven guineas, which would support me for some time, and I would be much obliged to them to recommend me to some person who would teach me a business whereby I might earn my living. They answered me very politely, that they were sorry it did not suit them to take me as their servant, and asked me what business I should like to learn? I said, hair-dressing. They then promised to assist me in this; and soon after, they recommended me to a gentleman whom I had known before, Capt. O'Hara, who treated me with much kindness, and procured me a master, a hair-dresser, in Coventry court, Haymarket, with whom he placed me. I was with this man from September till the February following. In that time we had a neighbour in the same court, who taught the French-horn. He used to blow it so well, that