CHAPTER VI.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FAMILY I LEFT IN SLAVERY--PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE MYSELF AND PARENTS--HOW MET BY MY OLD MASTER.
It is but natural that the reader should wish to hear a word about the family I left behind.
There are frequently large slave families with whom God seems to deal in a remarkable manner.

I believe my family is an instance.
I have already stated that when I fled, I left a father, mother, and eleven brothers and sisters.

These were all, except my oldest brother, owned by the man from whom I fled.

It will be seen at once then how the fear of implicating them embarrassed me in the outset.

They suffered nothing, however, but a strong suspicion, until about six months after I had left; when the following circumstance took place:-- When I left my friend W.W.in Pennsylvania to go on north, I ventured to write a letter back to one of my brothers, informing him how I was; and this letter was directed to the care of a white man who was hired on the plantation, who worked in the garden with my father, and who professed a warm friendship to our family; but instead of acting in good faith, he handed the letter to my master.