Chapter 13

           OnmyarrivalatMasterEpps’,inobediencetohisorder,thefirstbusinessuponwhichIenteredwasthemakingofanaxe-helve. Thehandlesinusetherearesimplyaround,straightstick. Imadeacrookedone,shapedlikethosetowhichIhadbeenaccustomedattheNorth. Whenfinished,andpresentedtoEpps,helookedatitwithastonishment,unabletodetermineexactlywhatitwas. Hehadneverbeforeseensuchahandle,andwhenIexplaineditsconveniences,hewasforciblystruckwiththenoveltyoftheidea. Hekeptitinthehousealongtime,andwhenhisfriendscalled,waswonttoexhibititasacuriosity. 

           Itwasnowtheseasonofhoeing. Iwasfirstsentintothecorn-field,andafterwardssettoscrapingcotton. InthisemploymentIremaineduntilhoeingtimewasnearlypassed,whenIbegantoexperiencethesymptomsofapproachingillness. Iwasattackedwithchills,whichweresucceededbyaburningfever. Ibecameweakandemaciated,andfrequentlysodizzythatitcausedmetoreelandstaggerlikeadrunkenman. Nevertheless,Iwascompelledtokeepupmyrow. WheninhealthIfoundlittledifficultyinkeepingpacewithmyfellow-laborers,butnowitseemedtobeanutterimpossibility. OftenIfellbehind,whenthedriver’slashwassuretogreetmyback,infusingintomysickanddroopingbodyalittletemporaryenergy. Icontinuedtodeclineuntilatlengththewhipbecameentirelyineffectual. Thesharpeststingoftherawhidecouldnotarouseme.