A Woman's Life-Work Labors and Experiences

ng through my gate, and as he was a mulatto, I went out to see where he had gone. I found him sitting in the porch, waiting to see some one of whom to inquire whet

the balance?" "My two brothers are back a-ways," he r

me as being most likely to know the whereabouts of the young wife. They had been in my home a number of hours before the elder brother dared make the inquiry. I noticed the frequent heavy sigh and sad countenance, and I thought he was probably very anxious over the safety of his mother, and I assured him that she was in good hands, for I knew them to be true friends. While he assented, yet all my words of encouragement did not seem to cheer him, whil

" said I; "and d

am," was

usband was sold? She worri

lately." Then, after a pause, "S

where she lives takes a great interest in her. Perhaps you are acquainted with

had no suspicion of who he was until he

you tell me

of bad news

she was

ars, an' I couldn't go for a long tim

o inform brother Canfield, a Wesleyan minister, that the older brother of these fugitives w

y to meet his wife and little son he had never seen; and a time of great rejoicing was in the whole neighborhood. As they were married after slave style,

differ, b

ack and whit

ridge. They soon had a home for their mother, with her two little gr

dancing party under the guise of an oyster supper. How many delusive snares are laid to entrap and turn aside the youth into divergent paths. We found it necessary to suspend eight of our studen

his own defense, and two large scars which he said were gashes made at the same time with a Bowie-knife, which enabled his enemies to capture him. After they secured him in jail he was advertised in papers, which his master saw, and came and took him back, and caused him to be whipped on the bare back until the flesh was so badly torn that he was compelled to lie on his stomach four weeks. During this time he was not able to turn himself. After recovering his master put him in the iron works, of which he was proprietor. "If I hadn't been one of his engineers he would have sold me instead of giving m

e prevailed upon to rest longer, as he could not be easy until he reached Victoria's dominions. His clothes were made comfortable, and

tudents who were suspended last term returned to us, they sai

f the slave to whom he revealed his condition. Levi Coffin advised him to go with me to Michigan. As he was in greater haste than I was, he proposed to go on at once. Consequently I wrote a letter of introduction to my friends, requesting them to furnish him with work. In two

f African descent that could be detected. A deep sympathy was enlisted in his behalf. He was very anxious to convey intelligence to that sister of the ease with which he effected his escape, and that she too could free herself as easily. A number of the friends offered to aid, and one friend placed thirty dollars in my hands to bring about this result. I wrote to a colored minister in Little Rock, who replied, with a graphic account of their rejoicing at his s

ittle disappointed at the leaving of a through boat an hour earlier than reported. Levi said, "Perhaps thou'lt find it's all for the best," and so it was. For the second day after leaving Cincinnati the vessel was burned and sunk, with great loss

I was out of these United States. There was quite a company waiting to go up or down the river. Among them were six or eight young people-Colonel Thompson with his son and daughter, whom he was taking home from their school in Helena, Ark

rest last n

ell, I t

r a nigger fight, or rather a fight over a nigger. It seems he had started to run away and they overtook him here, and he fought like a tiger. He had armed himself with a six-shooter, and I tell you h

ted to a friend in Covington, Kentucky. There was an understanding, while in Cincinnati,

on. There was in the hotel an old lady going on the large boat, and she urged me to accompany her, and a young woman was going on the "Rough and Ready," who was anxious I should go with her, as she was alone, and going to her mother in Little Rock. The old lady said she was alone, and was going to her daughter, and asked Mrs. Reeves to intercede in h

e too familiar to be comfortable. I soon noticed the captain seemed quite disconcerted, and made many excuses. His cabin help were set to cleaning and setting things in order, and

so persistently to have a dance, I whispered to my young folks not to

s writing a let

, and then write again, then stop to listen to Mrs. Reeves, and then write again. I told my children they could see you had five or six pages for some paper; and yo

on I wrote for the Louisville Courier, while in that city, in behalf of Calvin Fairbanks, while he

l be as good as my word, and trouble you no more on that score. What paper have you wr

," said I; "I did writ

ille C

re trying to cheat us all the while. I wish you would write an article for the Little Rock Democrat,

and spend a week or two, and they would take me out into the country to see some beautiful plantations, as they had an excellent carriage driver. The young woman said "Pa has owned him a number o

private and convenient boarding house where I could remain a few days waiting for tidings from a through boat. The family they named happened to be where the young woman who came on the same boat with me was boarding, with her mother and brother in law, who was keeping a tailor's shop. I inquired of this young woman and her mother if they thought I could secure board there a few days, while waiting for tidings from a brother. They thought Mrs. Shears might not have a convenient room for me bu

o go away, when a nigger-drover brought a few he had left, and said he'd sell cheap, as it was the last he had on hand. He wanted nine hundred; but I told him I'd give him eight hundred in gold, and at last he concluded to take it. Well, as I told you, I set him to shelling on that barrel of corn, and I don't s'pose he she

n; but no word of pity, or even a sigh of sympathy, must be allowed here

rtains, for the night. This was satisfactory to me. The following morning, at gray dawn, the two little boys, Jack and Jim, came in with fire from

till this time o' day

nie didn'

lt yet, when these four fires ought to have been built an h

he chairs, and the boys crying, "I will get up early, missus; I wi

the little fellows went to light the o

bout, that these fires ar

is mornin'; they say Aun

l sleep till broad daylight. It's their business to

wrists, to a pole over the bay in the barn. The door was just opened by Joe Shears, to commence his day's work of whipping, as I soon heard the cries of one, then the other, alternating in stripes heard with

sat down to his card-table I looked for Jack, but after a game or two of cards he was out again, and the lash and cries resumed. I became so distressed that at four o'clock I took a walk on the street, ostensibly to rest by exercise after a day of sewing, but really to give vent to tears that had been

he sister-in-law said, "We ought to hav

re. Just think, Joe Shears has been whipping those two little boys all

they done?"

ow; do you,

indling, and the mistress wanted to know why their fires were not all built before, and they said Aunt Winnie didn't wake the

all built before daylight they've had them tied up in the barn all day; that cowhide Mrs. Shears keeps hung on her door-knob her Joe

said, "Be careful; don't talk so

l you, Joe, hell is lined this very

e more cruel here than

over. I tell you, there's more in hell to-night for treating nig

nd it will make trouble. It's th

of Dr. Webb, down street; they whip him and pound him about, and they'll kill him some day. And I think somebody ought to report to Dr

ead when two white men were passing by and saw the whole affair; and as Tom fell the doctor came up out of the cellar and went down town and reported his Tom had a fit. But the two men went into the cellar after the doctor left and found him dead and his skull broken in. They r

doctor we've been

tain

is heaped with j

wn" that almost frightened the New England old maid of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." I trem

k to do the very large washing for three boarders besides the family. I heard the mistress c

n Joe. "What's

he's sick and can't do

er called my attention to the quarrel of Mrs. Shears with her cook before Joe Shears came in. Then said she, "Poor Aunt Winnie will catch it now, I'll warrant. There, just hear those blows; they sound

Aunt Winnie will die? Why, I can't hold still." In as careless a manner as I could command

ity about them. I feel as if I want to pitch in

t Winnie is de

hink

ng in the

e door trying to wind a cloth around her bleeding head, and one eye was swollen shut. As she came in and reported how badly she was bruised up, she w

woman reeled to the door with her hand on her head and the cloth around it saturated with blood. I could not sleep a wink after the day of the unmerciful whipping of tho

Mrs. Springer to cut it; "for he is going to take me away three weeks from next Saturday night, 'cause the people are so hard here; he says I shan't stay here any longer." "I am so sorry for her, I told her to come in when her mistress and Joe Shears's wife are away making calls, and I would take her measure and cut and baste it: t

ur room a little while, and the daughter looked out the back window, where

sure he ea

his eyes; I've noticed

staggers sometimes, an

at him and hastened to

ringer says Jack

ack is going to die? I

e eats

er out. I wish I could scare them to death, so t

cque out of sight before our Joe comes in, for he's so mighty caref

ou say, he is a slave." "I don't know, but they do go somewhere out of the way of their owners, though they keep up a mighty hunt for a long time; yet a good many of 'em are never heard from; and I don't know where in creation they do go, and I don't care, so they get away from these hyenas that have no more fe

o walk out on the back way with a free mulatto girl, who was her intimate and confidential friend, and I was to go in a large yard of shrubs and fruit trees where I was to meet this friend who would call for Ann, with whom we were to take the proposed walk. At the appointed time and place I met the friend,

e, by a human being, would disarm it of ferocity, and cause it to leave. This course I resolved to pursue with these three formidable enemies, that were already assuming a threatening attitude, with a low growl, showing their teeth, with hair on end-the leader as large as a yearling calf, the two following him

ey

! what di

and looked in the eyes of the leader, an

I was so anxious to have Ann see you, I forgot the hounds until I started back, and I liked to have fainted, for I know the

badly frightened that it was some time before her voice ceased trembl

ly independent of any one, which she was confident of doing; but she wished to go on the same boat with me, if no one else was going from their city. I learned through her frien

en or twenty, small and slender. I noticed them frequently in tears. They were noticed by a few of the passengers, who made remarks about the sad faces of those negroes. Said one heartless woman, "Look at that nigger cryin'. I don't see what she's cryin'

lef' three bigger chillun behin'; never 'spects to see 'em ag'in; I wish he'd buy a plantation somewhar, so we could

yer. And he knew of their sorrow, and as they went to him he would comfort their sorrowing hearts. Pointing to his wife, he said, "She knows that, and I wish I did." I char

glad heart, where I could draw a free breath. I could visit them but two days before I was on my way home, where were many glad hearts to listen in private

work, richly repaid me for all my day and night toiling and cares, that seemed almost crushing at times. I purchased for the young men's hall a building that was erected for a water cure. That project failed, and the building that cost $2,000 to erect, was offered for three hundred dollars for my institution. I moved it one mile, and repaired it with fifteen rooms; and it was well filled the first year. This academic year of our

r, approached two men at work on the railroad between Pal

gan, you fool you

ease tell me how f

o go that way, you can go up that road till you come to the Quaker meeting-house, and go direct east two miles to the Widow Havil

folks knew you six miles off I would be safe to come to you, 'case I wants to go to Canada right soon. I started once before, and traveled three nights by the North star; and as Indiana was a free State I thought I would stop and buy

om he inquired for my house. I told him that his coat and pants were too ragged, and that I must repair them. As he had not a second shirt, I took one of my son's, and gave him a couple of towels, soap, and a pail of warm water, and told him to take off his coat for me to mend, while he went up stairs to the room over the kitchen to

nt, while tear

as this

hts afor

s jour o

But I got an ing'on to rub over the bottoms of my shoes so dogs couldn't foller me, an' I got four loaves o' bread and a big piece o' boiled meat, an' crawled

do for somet

ush burnin' I roasted a heap to las' a few days; but I

d I drew the shirt off from his shoulders and from the appearance of the shoulders and back it must have been cut to one mass of raw flesh six weeks before, as there were still large unheal

llain that did that as quick

replied, "he is

e place where he belongs the better. Indeed, I would sho

my son,

other; the quicker such a demon

s to look upon; but I did not cal

shed the poor man with healing salve, and tried to persuade him to rest a few days until he would be able to work; but no, he must see Canada before he could feel safe. He was very loath to sleep in any bed, and urged me to allow him to lie on the floor in the kitchen, but I insisted on his occupying the bed over the kitchen. I gave him a n

ter another fugitive came from Louisiana. He was a black-smith. I wrote to a wealthy farmer in Napoleon, Michigan, to learn whether he could not furnish busines

e of the monster for greater sacrifice of life. The continued imprisonment of Calvin Fairbanks and others are not satisfying portions. I read your letter to our Arkansas fr

lesh in man's

not feel

blood of slaves can procure. Alas for the tyrant slave-holder when God shall make his award to his poor, oppressed, and despised children, and to those who seek a transient and yet delusive means of present happiness by trampling his fellow and brother in the dust, and appropriating the soul and body of his own crushed victim t

, 1860. R.

Charles Williams, proved to b

en years of night work brought the money that procured her freedom. She had a son and daughter nearly grow up, and to purchase their freedom she was now bending her day and night energies. Her first object was to purchase the son, as his wages would aid her to accumulate more readily the amount required for the daughter, as s

r health began to fail. The deacon told her the money was coming too slowly, and that he could not wait longer than another year, before he would have to sell her to get his money back. "Weeping and prayer was my meat and drink day and night. Oh! must I see my poor chile' go after all my hope to save her?" A merchant in that town by whom she had been employed, told her he would give her a little secret advice, which was, to go to Louisville as she had done before, but not to stop there, but to go on to Cincinnati, and he would give her a good recommendation to his brother, Mr. Ketcham, who was a merchant and knew the abolitionists. They would aid her in raising the three hundred an

of endorsements as to her industrious and honest Christian character, and what the friends had done for her upon whom I had called, and but for her poor health would have brought her with me. After listening attentively to all my statements, he arose from his chair, walked nervously to and

ing that Hamilton family from the gr

r my wing, of course, I shoul

you a direct reply; did I do right, or wrong, in

s I tell you, if I had undertaken t

I; "I demand a square answer, and it is your duty

f I had more you should have it; of course you are right, and every sane man or woman k

weeks later the glad mother returned and redeemed her daughter. I saw

ster offered him to her for six hundred dollars, two hundred dollars less than the market price. I went with her a few days, and received from the friends one hundred and thirteen dollars. Then the sight of one whom she recog

years previously, and by industry had accumulated three hundred dollars. She came well recommended by Levi Coffin and others. While making calls in her behalf in a store o

est friends," sa

d. "I call upon my acquainta

you'll get from an abolitionist in this plac

a shout aros

lition friends," was the ironi

gentleman?"

nker on Main Stree

"I shall remember him

mentioned thi

dollars from Mr. Lyons," and I placed that in my book. I next m

takes all I have in my purse to-day; but I am glad to gi

Lyons's bank. "This, I believe, is Mr. Lyons, the proprietor, who pledged a few minutes ago five dollars for every one dollar I would ge

abolitionist'

Comstock an a

he is

en Allen an

he

Backus an a

he is

ist, for I call these men as radical a

they ar

hem that I may k

at they whip men and women and sell husbands and wives apart, and separate children fro

was a slave in Kentucky when she came to me for advice in Cincinnati, as she had a daughter to be sold, and her mistress was going to sell the whole family down the river. She was permitted to do her mistress's marketing in Cincinnati because she had confidence that she would not leave her family. I advised her to p

it is

find one, for I see I to

e hour of death overtook him, and that he might find peace and pardon for these Satanic assertions he had made. He sat quietly listening while I gave out my indignation without stint. "Hand me back that three dollars," and it was as freely r

, yet I never flee from them. If my cause is owned by the author of the Higher Law, none of these things move me. A few months after this we received a letter from Mintie Berry, the anxious wife, for whom we succeeded i

ng years of the fifteen he had suffered in a Kentucky penitentiary. How

ye muses, my

nd sweetly, swee

my harp-string's

peak gently, to

broken-no so

illumine my c

oved ones of da

o cheer me, I'm

ndly cherished

re I laughed at th

of life like a

a moment, and

ildhood, like the b

h fragrance, and a

t brought them ha

hind them, alo

dreary, how som

lections, of the

father once fea

e lovely, now s

menting her lo

ile, but a d

ith spirits of

n the bosom o

ese loved ones, n

d trembling, an

on nature, most

se numbers-we'

plaining, we'll

m our labors,

the weary and j

refuge, in he

er pleasures, and

r the land of bri

mildew, nor soul

ying, no sin sh

h us. Within three weeks fourteen of our students experienced the new spiritual life. But soon our ranks were broken. The seventy-five thousand men in arms called for a

isin Institute. The room-rent was not sufficient to meet the interest and other incidental expenses, and the tuition fees were required to pay the teac

so overshadowed our beloved institution. We closed this year with sad forebodings. Our beloved principal was fast hastening to his reward. He suggested a friend of his to fill his position the ensuing year, and died of consumption within six weeks of our vacation. He was a noble Chr

chool was continued in successful operation. But during the last term of 1863-4, when the war had taken seventeen of our noble young men into the field,

soldiers, and with papers from Austin Blair, governor of our State, from F. C. Beaman, member of Congress, and from others, I left my sweet home and the love

he exclaimed, "you can

'll get up eighty or a h

d be there to-night. I have not asked for money, but for supplies. I have a free pass to Chicago and return, and if I can get a pass free t

if you do not succeed i

cag

said, and

ience will come in for a share; and that is, that you will stop, once in a while, to think whether you are tired or not. You are going among the suffering and dying, and I know yo

will promise to do

e gate on free, or even half-fare, passes. He had told them that associations might pay their agents enough to pay their fare. But I was under the auspices of no association. I was only a self-const

d return," I replied, "and free transportation

u alone

m al

a lady of your age. Are you aware of the respons

not know but the experience of age, however, m

guess i

y arm chair, he said again, "How

for more supplies, within two or three months, and I can not s

aying, "There are your passes, and they'll bring you back any time this year." He gave me

nitary rooms with "Did you succ

said, "and free transportation for al

ing: "You are a favored one; not o

y leaving home with only fifteen

home, and visit hospitals. Oh, what scenes at once were presented to my view! Here were the groans of the wounded and dying soldiers. Some were p