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STORY
O F
SIR WILLIAM THOMPSON.
“When Sir William was in the plantation abroad, one of his friends told him, he had an indentured servant, whom he had just bought, that was his countryman, and a lusty man; but he is so idle, says he, that I cannot get him to work. Aye, says Sir William, let me see him. Accordingly they walked out together, and found the man sitting on a heap of stones. Upon this, Sir William, after enquiring about his country, asked why he did not go out to work?—I am not able, answered the man—Not able! says Sir William, I am sure you look very well: give him a few stripes. Upon this, the Planter struck him several times, but the poor man still kept his seat.
"They then left him, to look over the plantation, exclaiming against his obstinacy, all the way they went;—but how surprised were they, on their return, to find the poor man fallen off the place where he had been sitting, and dead! The cruelty, says Sir William, of my ordering the poor man to be beaten while in the agonies of death, lies always next
