gar,  narrow-minded,  tyrannical  master.  This  same  gentleman,
having  heard  of  the  fame  of  George's  invention,  took  a  ride  ovei

i  A  machine  of  this  description  was  really  the  invention  of  a  young  coloraf
man  in  Kentucky.
LIFE  AMONG  THE  LOWLY.  13

to  the  factory,  to  see  what  this  intelligent  chattel  had  been  about.
He  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm  by  the  employer,  who
congratulated  him  on  possessing  so  valuable  a  slave.
He  was  waited  upon  over  the  factory,  shown  the  machinery
by  George,  who,  in  high  spirits,  tallied  so  fluently,  held  himself
so  erect,  looked  so  handsome  and  manly,  that  his  master  began
to  feel  an  uneasy  consciousness  of  inferiority.  What  business
had  his  slave  to  be  marching  round  the  country,  inventing  mai-
chines,  and  holding  up  his  head  among  gentlemen  ?  He  'd  soon
put  a  stop  to  it.  He  'd  take  him  back,  and  put  him  to  hoeing
and  digging,  and  "  see  if  he  'd  step  about  so  smart."  Accord-
ingly, the  manufacturer  and  aU  hands  concerned  were  astounded
when  he  suddenly  demanded  George's  wages,  and  announced
his  intention  of  taking  him  home.
"But,  Mr.  Harris,''  remonstrated  the  manufacturer,  "isn't
this  rather  sudden  ?  "

"  What  if  it  is  ? — is  n't  the  man  mine  ?  "

"  We  would  be  willing,  sir,  to  increase  the  rate  of  compensati
tion."

"  No  object  at  aJl,  sir.  I  don't  need  to  hire  any  of  my  hands
out,  unless  I  've  a  mind  to."

"  But,  sir,  he  seems  peculiarly  adapted  to  this  business."

"  Dare  say  he  may  be ;  never  was  much  adapted  to  anything
that  I  set  him  about,  I  '11  be  boimd.''

"But  only  think  of  his  inventing  this  machine,"  interposed
one  of  the  workmen,  rather  unluckily.
