And I can truly say, that I never deceived him, when he thus trusted me.

Nothing would mortify me as much, as to hear it said, "A negro can't be trusted." This saying would always nerve me with a determination _to be trustworthy_ .-- If I was trusted, I would deserve to be trusted.

I wanted to show that principle was not confined to color.

But I have been led to look at it since, and have thought that perhaps it was more pride than principle in me, at that time, for I was a wicked sinner.
The first idea I ever got of writing, was from trying to imitate my employer, who used to write the names of his customers on the lining of the boots and shoes, as he gave them out to be made.

So I tried to make letters, and soon succeeded in writing my name, and then the word Fredericksburg, and so on.