“How long have you had that wish?” I said.
“Ever since me heard one goot minister preach in America, two years ago.”
“Where were you born?”
“In Africa. Me was very little boy when me was made slave by the white men.”
“How was that?”
“Me left father and mother one day at home to go get shells by de sea-shore, and as me was stooping down to gather them up, some white sailors came out of a boat and took me away. Me never see father nor mother again.”
“And what became of you then?”
“Me was put into ship, and brought to Jamaica and sold to a master, who kept me in his house to serve him some years; when, about three years ago, Captain W---, my master, dat spoke to you, bought me to be his servant on board his ship. And he be goot master; he gave me my liberty, and made me free, and me live with him ever since.”
“And what thoughts had you about your soul all that time before you went to America?” I asked him.
“Me no care for my soul at all before den. No man teach me one word about my soul.”