It was during this time that my mother passed on to glory. One morning she had told my father she would bake him a loaf of rye bread and some apples that he had gathered.

That evening, after he had finished his work, my father went down to the cellar. By then his sight was poor, and he had to feel he way around with a stick. When it hit upon something soft, he realized that Mau-mau had passed out. She never did recover.

My brother Peter and I were allowed to see my mother buried. My father was now a broken man and didn't want to live any longer. I told him that I had heard that the slaves in New York were supposed to be free in ten years. I promised that I would take care of him then like Mau-mau did. He said to me that he didn't think he could live that long.

I had to go back to my master's house, but I promised him I would come to see about him.