When was sent on errands, I always took my book. used to carry bread with me. Enough of it was always in the house and I was always welcome to it. I had more bread than some of the poor white children in the neighborhood. This bread I used to give to these hungry children and they, in return, would give me the valuable bread of knowledge, With their help, I finally succeeded in learning to read. I would sometimes talk with them about slavery. I would say, "you will be free as soon as you are 21 years old, but I am a slave for life, Do l not have the same right to be free as you?" These words used to trouble them. They would express for me the greatest sympathy and console me with the hope that something would occur so that I might be free one day.