Produced by Dave Morgan and PG Proofreaders BIOGRAPHY OF A SLAVE Being The Experiences Of Rev. Charles Thompson, A Preacher Of The United Brethren Church, WHILE A SLAVE IN THE SOUTH. Together With Startling Occurrences Incidental To Slave Life. 1875. PREFACE. In publishing this book I hope to do good not only to my own race, but to all who may read it. I am not a book-maker, and make no pretensions to literary attainments; and I have made no efforts to create for myself a place in the literary, book-making ranks. I claim for my book truthfulness and honesty of purpose, and upon that basis it must succeed or fail. The Biography of a Slave is called for by a very large number of my immediate acquaintances, and, I am assured, will meet with such reception as to justify the expense I have incurred in having it printed and bound. To the members of the United Brethren Church, white as well as colored, I look for help in the sale and circulation of my work, yet I am satisfied I will receive commendable patronage from members of all Christian churches everywhere. The book is written in the narrative style, as being much better suited to the tastes and capacities of my colored readers, and I have used simple and plain English language, discarding the idiomatic and provincial language of the southern slaves and ignorant whites, expecting thereby to help educate the blacks in the use of proper language. I am indebted to William H. Rhodes, Esq., attorney at law, of Newman, Douglas County, Illinois, for his valuable assistance in the preparation of my manuscript for the printer. He has re-written the whole of it for me, and has otherwise assisted me in the matter of placing the book before the public. CHARLES THOMPSON. Newman, Illinois, Aug., 1874. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Charles Thompson, born in Atala County, Mississippi--Division of Kirkwood's slaves among his six Children--The writer and his two sisters fall to Mrs. Wilson--The parting between mother and child--Deprived of a fond mother forever--Old Uncle Jack--Wilson buys Uncle Ben from Strucker--Uncle Ben runs away and is hunted with blood-hounds--Two hundred dollars reward. CHAPTER II. Not sent to hell by Wilson--Mrs. Wilson protects me, to whom I belong--Sent to school with the children--The school-children teach me to read and write--What came of it--Mount that mule or I'll shoot you--I mounted the mule--A start for the railroad to work--I dismount and take to the woods--I owe allegiance to God and my country only. CHAPTER III. Caught, tried, and taken back home to James Wilson--My mistress saves me from being whipped--I go to the railroad and work one month precisely--Go back home--Wilson surprised--Left the railroad at 3 o'clock A.M.--Did not want to disturb Leadbitter's rest--Sent to Memphis with a load of cotton--Afraid of the slave-pens and slave-auction--Start for home--Not sold--Pray, sing, and shout--Get home and ordered to hire myself out. CHAPTER IV.