[140]
other produce of the place, down Tar river to Tarborough.
After laboring several years for another's benefit, Manuel began to feel anxious to derive some advantage from his own earnings.
He had children, and it troubled him to think that they must live and die in slavery.
He was acquainted with a colored man in the neighborhood, named Samuel Curtis, who had a certificate of freedom drawn up by the clerk of the county, and duly authenticated, with the county seal attached to it. Manuel thought he could easily pass for Samuel Curtis, and make his way to Philadelphia, if he could only obtain possession of this valuable paper.
He accordingly made him a confidant of his plans, and he bought the certificate for two dollars.
The next time Manuel was sent to Tarborough, he delivered the cargo as usual, then left the boat and started for the North.
He arrived safely in Philadelphia, where he assumed the name of Samuel Curtis, and earned a living by sweeping chimneys.
In a short time, he had several boys in his employ, and laid by money.
When he had been going on thus for about two years, he was suddenly met in the street by one of the neighbors of his old master, who immediately arrested him as a fugitive from slavery.
He was taken before Robert Wharton, then mayor.
The stranger declared that the colored man he had seized was a slave, belonging to one of his near
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