A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. HavilandHaviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Religion
A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. Haviland
Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Freed persons; Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith), 1808-1898; Underground Railroad
The day following I sent a note to Lawyer Thruston's office, and
received in reply the statement that his illness had prevented his
leaving his room during two weeks past, and urged me to come and see
him without delay, and he would stand between me and all harm. The
doctor said, as he was a lawyer of influence in their city, he advised
me to go; and as it was snowing a little, he gave me an umbrella, with
which I might screen myself while passing the jail, as well as be
sheltered from the snow. I found the lawyer very affable in his
manners, and he said they would do the best they could for Fairbanks,
and we might pay what we could. I returned without difficulty to our
"Jason."
I wrote a little article under the caption of "Correction," and sent it
to both the _Commercial_ and Louisville _Courier_. It was inserted,
with the following editorial note:
"Notwithstanding the pretended laudability of her errand to our city,
we are still satisfied it was out of no good motive, as birds of a
feather will flock together."
Most assuredly I was thankful to see the return of "Ben Franklin, No.
2," which took me from that nest of unclean birds to those of more
congenial and harmless habits. My anxious friends in Cincinnati had not
received either of any letters, and had read only these threatening
cards in the Cincinnati _Commercial_, copied from Louisville dailies,
that caused great anxiety. I sent a letter by both trips that this boat
made during the week I was in Louisville, and Colonel Buckner took both
and said he would sec them delivered at the boat.
While on the boat a gentleman and his wife among the passengers were
returning to their Eastern home, with whom I formed a pleasant
acquaintance. Among other topics of discussion was the value of hygiene
and hydropathy, in which a Louisville physician joined, narrating his
observations of the system during a practice of fifteen years in
Louisville. As he seemed to be an intelligent and social gentleman, we
all seemed to enjoy our new acquaintances. I remarked to him that there
seemed to exist quite an excitement in his city during the week past,
over an old lady who took a few articles of under-clothes and a quilt
or two to Fairbanks.
"O, yes; were you in the city?"
"I was, and was surprised at the excitement produced by her presence."
"Well, I suppose Shotwell did make a great stir over his loss of a
house-servant. I understand be spent three hundred dollars in his
effort to find that woman, as he thought she knew where his slave was.
I have forgotten her name."
"Mrs. Haviland, from Cincinnati, was the one threatened in your
dailies," I replied.
"Ob, yes, that was the name. I heard you say you are going to
Cincinnati; do you know any thing of that lady?"
"I do; I have been acquainted with her from childhood."
"You have! What sort of a lady is she?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account