"Samuel George looked closely at the freed Negro facing him and he thought that though the man had the look of being familiar with time he bore none of the marks that time could leave. He was well built and well muscled, carrying his head high. There was gray in his hair, but his face was furrowed more by laughter than by years."
When Samuel looks at Amos, he sees someone with spirit. Amos isn't a young man, but his face bears none of the typical allusions to him being defeated by life. Although he's seen a fair bit of life, he still seems unbroken. More importantly, Amos was proud. Samuel is looking for someone who will work hard, and he recognizes all of the prime characteristics of that sort of person in Amos. This inspires respect in Samuel.
"He said little about his dream but he nourished it in his heart as the best place for a dream to grow."
Amos wants to purchase his freedom. Since most people would mock him for attempting to do so, he keeps his dream to himself. Safely tucked inside, his dream has the space to grow into an all-out conviction. This is the fuel which he will burn to secure himself his freedom eventually.
". . . for Africa was in a way none of them could explain linked up with heaven and they thought of the two places with the same reverence and ultimate longing."
Forcibly taken from their homeland, the slaves longed to return. To them, the distant memory of Africa become romanticized. Africa seemed like heaven to them because they associated it with freedom and happiness. Whether or not they had good lives in Africa, they could only remember it as a paradise compared to their lives of slavery in America.
"'Once, long years ago, I thought I could set a canoe-load of my people free by breaking the bands at my wrists and killing the white man who held the weapon. I had the strength in my hands to do such a deed and I had the fire within, but I didn't do it.'
'What held you back?'
Amos shook his head. 'My hand was restrained and I'm glad that it was, for the years between have shown me that it does a man no good to be free until he knows how to live, how to walk in step with God.'"
Despite having had the opportunity to free himself and others, Amos chose not to because he believes in delayed gratification. He has the foresight to recognize that, until he learns to govern himself, he won't accomplish any good with his freedom. He chose instead to do the hard work of learning to walk according to his convictions before seeking his own freedom.
