Articles of agreement between E.W. Stephens and J.H. Sheffield of the first part & the undersigned Freedmen of the second part all of Jefferson County & State of Florida. Witnesseth that the said parties of the first part, in consideration of the services to be performed by said Freedmen wherein often specified, agree & hereby bind themselves to pay such freedmen at the rate of $12.50 per month payable as their necessities shall require, and all at the end of the year and supply them with quarters and the usual amount of rations. And then said Freedmen hereby bind themselves to labor for the parties of the first part as plantation hands until the 25th day of December next; to be obedient to the orders of their employers & [missing] work as may be required of [missing] about the plantation. It is further agreed by the parties to the contract that if any differences shall arise on account of this contract which they cannot mutually settled, the same to be submitted to a Board of Arbitration composed of two reliable citizens (one selected by each party) who together with the agent of the B.R.F. & A.L. shall constitute such Board whose decision shall be