It so happened that Mr.Rodney French, late mayor of the city of New Bedford, had a ship fitting out for sea, and to which there was a large job of calking and coppering to be done.

I applied to that{272} noblehearted man for employment, and he promptly told me to go to work; but going on the float-stage for the purpose, I was informed that every white man would leave the ship if I struck a blow upon her.

"Well, well," thought I, "this is a hardship, but yet not a very serious one for me." The difference between the wages of a calker and that of a common day laborer, was an hundred per cent in favor of the former; but then I was free, and free to work, though not at my trade.

I now prepared myself to do anything which came to hand in the way of turning an honest penny; sawed wood--dug cellars--shoveled coal--swept chimneys with Uncle Lucas Debuty--rolled oil casks on the wharves--helped to load and unload vessels--worked in Ricketson's candle works--in Richmond's brass foundery, and elsewhere; and thus supported myself and family for three years.
The first winter was unusually severe, in consequence of the high prices of food; but even during that winter we probably suffered less than many who had been free all their lives.

During the hardest of the winter, I hired out for nine dolars( sic) a month; and out of this rented two rooms for nine dollars per quarter, and supplied my wife--who was unable to work--with food and some necessary articles of furniture.