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
Although I had passed her pursuers without fear, yet when Levi Coffin
informed me that Ruffin, the greatest slave-hunter in the city, had
just moved next door to Burgess, where I left Maria, my fears were
almost equal to Maria's. "Laura, thou hast left thy fugitive with a
good family, but in a poor place," said our venerable friend. "But wait
until to-morrow evening, when thou hadst better give her another move,
as I know they will use all possible care." The following evening Levi
and friend Hughes were to be on Central Avenue near Longworth Street,
and as I came out with my Quaker woman, they were to walk half a block
ahead and turn on Ninth Street to his house, and if sister Catherine's
sign appeared on the balcony of the second story, we were to ascend the
outside flight of steps, and take her up to the attic in the fourth
story.
Champlin had doubled the reward, and was raving with rage over the loss
of their nurse. He said he would have her if he had to "set one foot in
hell after her," cursing and swearing in a perfect foam; and said a
thousand dollars should be doubled but what he would have her. As the
streets were too well lighted, to give her the appearance of a white
person through the veil, I called for a saucer of flour, with which I
thoroughly powdered her face. Before her veil was adjusted she happened
to look up and saw herself in the large mirror before her, and burst
into a laugh over her white face and Quaker bonnet. I gave her a shake
as I placed my hands over her shoulders: "Don't laugh loud, for your
liberty's sake. Remember the next door neighbor would get his thousand
dollars reward from Champlin, if he could know you are here." "I won't
look at that glass ag'in, I looks so quare."
I took her on the front walk, and following our previous plans, at the
invitation of the white cloth on the balustrade, we soon found
ourselves in the attic. She remained here two weeks, not daring to move
in any direction, as the wealthy New Orleans planter's biped
bloodhounds were seen and heard from in almost every direction through
the city.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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