A narrative of some remarkable incidents, in the life of Solomon Bayley : $b formerly a slave, in the State of Delaware, North AmericaBayley, Solomon
Religion
A narrative of some remarkable incidents, in the life of Solomon Bayley : $b formerly a slave, in the State of Delaware, North America
Bayley, Solomon
African Americans -- Biography; Bayley, Solomon; Enslaved persons -- Delaware -- Biography; Enslaved persons -- United States -- Biography; Enslaved persons' writings, American -- Delaware; Fugitive slaves -- United States -- Biography; Slavery -- Delaware -- History; Slavery -- Virginia -- History
the switch went down; so he was knocked off to me at three hundred and
sixty dollars and a shilling. Then the tender-hearted young man, that
first proposed to my young master, went into the store, and brought
five round silver dollars, and gave to me in the office, where I went
to sign the bond; then three of my securities agreed upon the spot, to
make me up twenty dollars at the day of payment.
By this time I got raised up from my sadness, and went out after I
had signed the bond, so much revived and clothed with such a spirit
of faith and courage, believing a way would be opened for me to get
through, though I could not tell how; but as I came out of the office,
I met the executor and administrator who said to me, “well, Solomon,
you have got Spence after all;” I said, “yes, master George, but I
gave up, and if it had not been for those men who pitied me, and who
did as they did, I never should have got him, and now what will you
give me?” He put his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a round
silver dollar and gave me, which caused me to rejoice more for that
one dollar, than for the twenty dollars promised me just before in
the office: and now I will give the reader my reason why I rejoiced
more for the one than for the twenty dollars; because two days before
the sale, he, the executor and administrator, offered a challenge to
me and to them I trusted in, touching the sale of my son; now as he
was the first that put me in heart to try to buy my son, I thought it
right, two days before the sale, to go to him and hear what he had to
say to me; and when I got there, he says, “well Solomon, where are you
going?” I said, “I am come down to meet the day of sale;” he said,
“well, what are you going to do?” I answered, I want to buy my son if I
can; he says, “you do?” and added, “you will have a hard time of it;” I
answered, “I have been thinking so;” he says, “Solomon, there are four
men who say they will give four hundred dollars for your son;” then
says I “they will get him;” he says, “Solomon what are you willing to
give?” I answered, “not more than two hundred and fifty dollars;” he
says, “you will not get him for that, but I suppose you are so much in
favour with the people, nobody will bid against you; but if nobody
will bid against you, I will; you need not think you are going to get
him for nothing,” and he seemed angry; then I was very sad at that
saying, and says, “master George, you was the very first man that put
me in heart, and now you seem to put me out of heart;” then he, in an
angry gust of manner, said, “well Solomon, try your faith, and added,
you remember the birds, and how you exercised faith, and was delivered;
now try your faith;” as though he felt as if he could defy the armies
of the living God: but when he gave me the dollar, then I thought of
the challenge “now try your faith.” I then believed, that God could
work and none could hinder him: although it appeared this man had done
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