As I did not yet forget my Maker, I daily performed my duty towards him who had been so gracious unto me. My master (or rather my friend,) soon perceived a great change in me, which he did not know what to attribute it to; at last he knew by some of the servants who watched me, that I was in the ways of Christianity: some times he used to plague me about it, for fun, but for all that he did not esteem me the less.
One day having some company at home, that were invited to spend two or three weeks with us; I retired as usual after supper to bed, and knelt down: at the time I was pouring out my soul unto GOD in prayers, a young lady inadvertently passed by, and seeing my chamber door half open, stepped in; and finding me in the posture as before mentioned, she bursted into a loud laugh and rushed out of the room, and in a few minutes I had the whole company round me making all sorts of jests, some laughing till they fell down on the floor, others holding their sides with laughing, and others jumping and stamping, &c. It was indeed such a noise as I never heard before, for it was both a tragedy, and comedy. In all that disturbance I was as firm as a rock, and did not move from the place in which I was, untill I had fulfilled my duty towards my SAVIOUR. I told them it was very unmannerly to disturb me thus, in my most precious time: for prayers were my best delight and comfort, and without them I could not rest nor be happy. The tale soon spread in the neighbourhood about me being a devout,[18] so that I was persecuted daily by my own friends, but as I did not mind them, they were soon tired, and at last were obliged to let me be quiet, seeing they could not get master over me.
Three weeks after that scandalous scene, I was taken very ill, of the putrid and malign fever; three days after the Doctor gave me up, for I was so ill that he thought I could not recover.
I was ten days and nights senseless; and saw wondrous things in my agony; and the eleventh day I came to myself again: my keeper said to me, "I hope you have prayed enough this time?" I did not know what she meant, but having asked her the reason why; she said, all the time I was senseless, I did nothing else but pray night and day untill I came to my senses again. I was a long time before I could recover my former strength again; and as soon as I was able, I went to my business. I then was melancholy with thinking about my Country, and Mother; as for my Mother I did not know in what quarter of the world she was in; notwithstanding that, I took my pen and wrote, first, to St. Domingo, and then to two or three other places where I thought most likely, but all was without success, for no answer was to be had. Again I wrote, and so on for about eighteen months without receiving the least tidings: which made me some how think that my poor Mother was no more. I was in such a low state of mind that my life became a burden to me, I could not find any comfort either in amusement or prayer; and when at prayer, I prayed not with such a delight as I used to do: so that in a short time I quite turned my back from the path of the truly and most blessed LORD JESUS CHRIST, and became again as wicked as ever.
One day my master called me, and said, "the Negroes are in rebellion, and you must go to war and fight." He provided horse and arms for me, and sent me to join the cavalry that were encamped at a little distance from where we lived. Some days after I was at the camp, the Captain ordered me to go into the Town to carry some dispatches; I made some excuse, telling him to send some others; but he said, "you are appointed to go and you must for I dare not trust any other." I obeyed and went out of the camp, and rode to Town which was nine or ten miles distance from the place above mentioned; and not being able to return the same day, I waited till morning: but what was my great surprise at the moment I was putting my foot in the stirrup to return? an alarm was given that the whole camp were murdered in the night,[19] except one who escaped having on nothing but his shirt. We being the only persons that were spared, we were put into another company, and marched on the same day against the rebels, and were successful in all our attempts. I was for three weeks night and day fighting, some times wet through with rain, and at other times suffocated with the heat: all that while, I never knew what it was to lay down or take rest; neither having an opportunity to put clean linen on: but at last we returned into the Town, where we took some refreshment and put clean linen on, for we had need of it. No sooner was I refreshed, but I was ordered to carry some letters of consequence to a camp nine miles off; but as the road was very dangerous, I asked one of my comrades to go with me, which he did with great pleasure; we arrived at the camp without the least injury or danger: but it was not with the same luck we went back, for as we were passing through a dark Wood, (it was then between ten and eleven o'Clock at night,) a shower of musket balls were fired at us, which unexpected noise and hissing, so much frighted our horses, that it was impossible for us to lead them; they rushed through brambles and briers, and at last plunged into a dead Lake, where we had like to have been drowned; but our horses being stout animals, they swam and gained the other side in a few minutes. We made the best of our way through woods and thickets to escape the fury of the balls which were continually flying about us, and after having wandered a great while through unpracticable places, we found again the road, and rode as fast as we could to the Town: since that affair I have been in many obstinate and bloody engagements.
One day as I was reading the news-paper, I heard that St. Domingo was in a state of tranquillity; at this I was determined to go thither: accordingly, I went on board a Ship that was going there; we went first to St. Thomas, to take some passengers, and for my dear Country we sailed, and arrived safe there. My first inquiry was my Mother; I was about two days rambling through the streets without hearing any tidings respecting her or any other relations; till at last peradventure I met with one of my Cousins that was in France at the time I left that Country; she took me to her house and entertained me with loving kindnesses; and told me that my Mother was in the Spanish part of St. Domingo, at the distance of sixty miles from the place where I then was.
Anxious to see the author of my days, I would have set out immediately, but she entreated me to spend a week or two with her, to which I agreed: we related to each other our misfortunes, and soothed each other's sorrows. Once in my conversation I was speaking of that barbarous and pretended Uncle of mine, who used me so ill when I was in France; I asked her whether she knew where he was, she told me that he was in the Town, and not far from the house; I was indeed amazed that such a wretch was still alive; she told me also that he came some times to see her; well, said I, if he comes I will be ready for his reception, for I am no more what I formerly was, [a Child,] that I should dread him. Two days after, he heard that I was in Town, and came to see me: as soon as he came into the house, my mind was struck with horror. He advanced towards me and asked how I did stretching forth his hand to shake hands with me; I refused my hand and said, Sir, I do not shake hands with people that I know not. "why (said he) don't you know me?" no Sir! I replied: "why don't you know your Uncle S?" no Sir! I never had any relation of that name: "why don't you remember you lived in France with me?" no Sir! for I am sure I never saw you before to day, if I did, my mind does not afford me the recollection of your features: "how is it you don't remember me, who married your Aunt V.—— in second wedlock?" "Oh! yes I do now you execrable villain; retire from my presence, monster of iniquities; think not that you shall go unpunished, nor escape the wrath of GOD, for the sword of vengeance hangs over your head, and will crush you to atoms in an unexpected time that justice may be satisfied." He first blushed, then became pale, and without replying left the house; and I saw him no more while I tarried there. My Cousin was very much pleased with my reception of him; but as the time I agreed with her was expired, I thought of going to see my Mother; so I took leave of her and embarked in a long-boat which was going that way: in four and twenty hours I was landed at Moutechristo where she resided, and was not long to find out the place of her dwelling, the Town being small. I will just let my reader know how I made my entrance: first, I knock'd at the door; when in, I asked her whether she knew me; she said no Sir; I asked her again whether she had not Children abroad; she said yes, "but, [giving a deep sigh,] all my hopes are vanished, for it is between thirteen and fourteen years since I have seen or heard from them." I then said to her, behold the youngest of them before you: she exclaimed in a transport of joy, "Oh! my Son is it you? my dear H.—— is still existing?" and then fainted: but was not long in that state, for her exceeding joy soon called her to her senses again. My hard heart was melted in an instant; I could no longer withstand that filial love; I threw myself into those arms which were so desirous and eager to welcome me to that breast which was so ardently panting for me: our joy was so great on both sides, that neither of us could utter a word. Our language was only by sighs: and those precious tears which bedewed my face when I first parted with her, were once more mixed with mine. Our arms interwove in each other as an emblem of the most affecting tenderness. In that posture we remained a long time, so much were our feelings affected, that we could not utter a single word.
Some time afterwards, she shewed me my little Brother and Sister, by her second husband; and dispatched my Brother to go and fetch my Father-in-law who was then at the farm, a little distance from the Town. In the mean time she said to me; "your Father-in-law is an honest man? he is not like many others, but he is a true Father that I have met with for you;" she then asked me where my Brothers were; I told her they were taken prisoners by the English and conveyed to England: at the same time my Father-in-law came into the house, which interrupted our conversation. He seemed to be very joyful of my arrival, and treated me with the greatest kindness. This was the happiest moment I ever enjoyed, being in the bosom of my friends. But all this happiness did not last long, for the Negroes rose up again, and killed every white man that fell into their hands.
I was then compelled to stand in my own defence, as a foot soldier; every night, alarms were given, for the blacks were at the gates of the Town: but having received reinforcement, they were repulsed. Afterwards I was sent to garrison, fifteen miles off, where I stay'd four and twenty days; at my return my little Brother fell sick of the fever, and died in two days after; which put my Mother and Father-in-law in such distress of mind, that I thought they would have followed, especially my Father-in-law, for he was a man of very tender feelings: but by degrees and length of time, their griefs were dispersed.
Five months were expired since my arrival at my Mother's. I was daily upon guard, or doing some other things respecting the warfaring business. One day being on guard, I was informed of the arrival of both my Brothers; I immediately ran home, and found it was so; my joy was inexpressible at the sight of them, particularly at the eldest, who was, and always has been my most intimate friend: it was then five years and some months since they were taken prisoners; during that time I never heard from them, which made me think many times that they were no more in this World. Soon after, the report of their arrival was spread in the Town; and coming to the ears of the commander of the place, they were sent for by his orders, and enrolled[20] them into a company of foot soldiers. The duty was hard, the rebels being daily about us, and almost every night there was some fighting or attempt. One day after a very bloody engagement that was fought at the advanced post, I was sent thither with the company which I was in to reinforce them, in case they should be attacked again: I stay'd there four and twenty days, and was relieved by my eldest Brother. The day after I took leave of him, and returned into the Town. As soon as I arrived, my Mother sent me to the Metropolis about some business. When there, the troubles were so great, that no one was in safety of their lives: three days after my arrival, a strong battle took place, and lasted from four o'Clock in the morning till six in the evening. The day after I was occupied in doing the errand for my Mother; and as soon as I had done, I wrote a letter to her, sending an account of all the business; and told her she must not expect me to return, nor perhaps see me more; telling her my reason was, that St. Domingo was a place too dangerous for me to remain in any longer: and told her not to be uneasy about me, for I had already taken shipping.