Malinda was to me an affectionate wife.

She was with me in the darkest hours of adversity.
She was with me in sorrow, and joy, in fasting and feasting, in trial and persecution, in sickness and health, in sunshine and in shade.
Some months after our marriage, the unfeeling master to whom I belonged, sold his farm with the view of moving his slaves to the State of Missouri, regardless of the separation of husbands and wives forever; but for fear of my resuming my old practice of running away, if he should have forced me to leave my wife, by my repeated requests, he was constrained to sell me to his brother, who lived within seven miles of Wm.

Gatewood, who then held Malinda as his property.

I was permitted to visit her only on Saturday nights, after my work was done, and I had to be at home before sunrise on Monday mornings or take a flogging.

He proved to be so oppressive, and so unreasonable in punishing his victims, that I soon found that I should have to run away in self-defence.