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38 THE GENEROUS NEGRO.

While the account was drawing out, he continued smoking, in a state of mind that a monarch might envy.  When it was finished, he went in search of his friend, with the discharged account and the mutilated bond in his hand.
7. On meeting him, he presented the papers to him with this address : "Sir, I am sensibly affected with your misfortunes : the obligations I have received from your family, give me a relation to every branch of it.  I know that your inability to pay what you owe, gives you more uneasiness than the loss of your own substance.
8. "That you may not be anxious on my account in particular, accept of this discharge, and the remains of your bond.  I am overpaid in the satisfaction that I feel from having done my duty.  I beg you to consider this only as a token of the happiness you will confer upon me, whenver you put it my power to do you a good office."
9. The philanthropists of England take pleasure in speaking of him:--"Having become rich by commerce, he consecrated all of his fortune to acts of benevolence.  The unfortunate, without distinction of color, had a claim on his affections.  He gave to the indigent ; lent to those who could not make a return ; visited prisoners, gave them good advice, and endeavored to bring back the guilty to virtue. He died at Bridgetown, on that island, in 1758, equally lamented by blacks and whites, for he was a friend to all."

CAPTAIN PAUL CUFFEE.  39

CAPTAIN PAUL CUFFEE.

Paul Cuffee, the subject of this narrative, was the youngest son of John Cuffee, a poor African, whom the hand of unfeeling avarice had dragged from his home and connections, and sold into a state of slavery ; but who, by good conduct, faithfulness, and a perservering industry, in time obtained his freedom.  He afterward purchased a farm, and, having married one of the native inhabitants of America, brought up a family of ten children respectably, on one of the Elizabeth Islands, near New Bedford, Massachusetts.
2. In the year 1773, when Paul was about fourteen years of age, his father died, leaving a widow with six daughters to the care of him and his brothers.  Although he had no learning except what he had received from the hand of friendship, yet by that means he advanced to a considerable degree of knowledge in arithmetic and navigation.
3.  Of the latter, he acquired enough in two weeks to enable him to command his own vessel in its voyages to many ports in the Southern States, the West Indies, England, Russia, and to Africa.  The beginning of his business in this line was in an open boat ; but by prudence and