“Thus, I was brought to mind and follow _that_, that has been the guide and rule of my life,—_that within me_, that inclined me to good, and showed and condemned evil. Now I considered I had a new master—I had two masters; and it was showed me (in my mind) by my new Master, a certain tree on the hill-side, that I must not cut down. I knowed the tree well enough. I had not come to it yet. But I did not know what I _should_ do; for my old master had told me to cut all the trees down, on that hill-side. My new Master forbids me to cut a certain one. So I thought a good deal about it. I cut on; and by and by I came to the tree. I cut on by it, and let it stand. But I expected, every day, my old master would come, and see that tree standing, and say, ‘What did thee leave that tree standing for? Did not I tell thee to cut all the trees down, as thee went? Go, cut that tree down.’ Then, I didn’t know what I _should_ do. But he never said any thing to me about it. I cut on, and got some distance by it; and one day my old master brought out his axe, and cut the tree down himself; and never said, William, why didn’t thee cut that tree down? never said any thing to me about it. Then I thought, surely my new Master will make way for me, and take care of me, if I love him, and mind him, and am attentive to this my guide, and rule of life. And this seemed an evidence and proof of it, and strengthened me much in love, and confidence in my Guide.” After the respectable and goodly old man, had given this interesting account of the way and manner in which he was brought to follow the guide of his life, the following question was put to him: “Well, William, has thee, from that time, till now, been so careful and attentive to thy guide, as never to say or do amiss?” To which he replied, “Oh! no: I have missed it—I have several times missed it.” He was then asked, “Well, William, in that case, how _did_ thee get along?” He answered, “Oh! when I missed it,—when I found I had said, or done wrong, I felt very sorry. I tried to be more careful, for time to come;—never to do so any more: and I believe I was forgiven.” Another inquiry was made of William, how he and his old master got along together, after his change. He said, “Very well. Some time afterwards, one of the neighbours said to me, one day, ‘William, thy master talks of setting thee free.’ I didn’t think much about it—didn’t expect there was any thing in it; though I heard others say he talked of setting me free;—till, after some time, as my master was walking with me, going to my work, he said, ‘William, wouldn’t thee like to be free?’ I didn’t say any thing to it. I thought he might know I should like to be free. I didn’t make him any answer about it, but then I thought there was something in it. So after awhile, sure enough, he did set me free.”