her Negro friend: though the benefits in a great degree remained to us; wholesome fruits, better provisions, more agreeable cloathing, and a more watchful attendance. I sometimes won∣dered the woman, who thus generously alleviated our sufferings, never once en∣quired

into their origin; but having learnt, by painful experience, the impro∣priety of judging without information, I still flattered myself with the prospect of a release: which at the worst I considered as only delayed, till I could perfect my daughter in the woeful tale of those later events, which thus unjustly confined us.
In process of time, I understood from my sweet Mary's improved accents, that our benefactress was named Anana; and never from that moment did my soul of∣fer up a prayer, in which that name (how∣ever unhallowed) was not included.
The total ignorance in which my daughter's mind yet remained, shocked and grieved me. Being wholly without books, I knew not any manner of sup∣plying their place, and could only substi∣tute principles for modes, and instil into her tender mind the religious and moral documents, which yet existed in mine. I endeavoured to give her an idea of the nature and appearance of books. I every day made her repeat that word a hundred times; I charged her to do so immedi∣ately,

whenever she visited Anana. But whatever the reason, I saw her near eight years old apparently, without having been able to procure her the advantage, or my∣self the relief of reading.
Thus innocently and happily employ∣ed, I one day saw my prison door thrown open, and the interview so long desired, unexpectedly granted me. Anana en∣tered in mourning. I incoherently blend∣ed the dictates of gratitude and sorrow. The amiable Anana told me in broken French, she came to comfort me. Charm∣ed to find it in my power to render my∣self intelligible to her, I related briefly my story, which her complacency assured me she did not half understand. It was with the utmost difficulty I comprehend∣ed from her, that Don Pedro de Sylva, the unjust Governor, who had condemned me without examination, was at length dead; that she had for some time past been his favorite, and used the influence that title gave her to indulge her fond∣ness for my child, and lighten my cap∣tivity: that it had always been as much

in her power to visit my prison as now, but not finding any certain crime imputed to me, and sure if I could acquit myself of the suspicion, she should become warm∣ly interested in my favor, (perhaps to the degree of exasperating the benefactor she might then be obliged