From Dixie to Canada: Romances and Realities of the Underground RailroadJohnson, H. U. (Homer Uri)
History
From Dixie to Canada: Romances and Realities of the Underground Railroad
Johnson, H. U. (Homer Uri)
Fugitive slaves -- United States; Underground Railroad
On its receipt, Mr. Bishop took the necessary precautions to execute the
contents of the letter, and on the third night proceeded to carry them
out, being not unaware of the fact that he was closely watched.
IX.
Two men were standing in their respective doorways in the village of
Andover, Ohio, on a November afternoon. The one was a broad-shouldered,
full-chested man, with a flowing beard, a merry twinkle in the eye, a
kind of devil-may-care negligence in his appearance, with a physique
that betokened great power and endurance. This man had long been known
technically as “Thribble X” of station “1001,” at Gustavus, Ohio, from
which place he had migrated to Andover to proclaim the principles of the
Universalist faith, and was known among his people as Elder Shipman, or
more familiarly, “Uncle Charley.”
The other gentleman was of slimmer build, sandy complexion, thoughtful
mien, and the very manner in which he handled his pipe would guarantee
that he was of “Hinglish stock.”
As they thus stood, a buggy came driving from the east at break-neck
speed, and dashing up to the parsonage the driver exclaimed, “Elder, can
you do anything for this duck, for they’re after us hotter’n h—ll.”
“Don’t you know there is no such place as that, Mose?” was the calm
reply.
“Well, well, I’ve no time to discuss theological matters now; all I know
is if there is no such place, there ought to be a new creation at once
for the sake of two fellows that must already be this side of the
Shenango.”
“So near as that? Set him out.”
Immediately the colored man was bidden to alight, and whilst he and the
elder struck out for the woods a short distance to the southwest, the
buggy was turned and driven rapidly toward Richmond.
Scarcely was it out of sight, when two horsemen came galloping into
town, and riding up to our English friend, who had been an interested
spectator of the little scene just described and was wont to express his
satisfaction of English laws by quoting,
“Slaves cannot breathe in Highland; if their lungs
Received ’er hair, that moment they are free;”
and inquired, “Stranger, did you see a buggy drive into town from the
east a short time ago with two men in it?”
“Hi ’ave, gentlemen.”
“Was one of them black?”
“’E was, gentlemen.”
“Should you think the other was the man they call Mose Bishop?”
“Hi should, gentlemen.”
“Which way did he drive?”
“To the north, gentlemen.”
“Thank you, sir, and good day.”
“Good day, gentlemen.”
Clapping spurs to their horses, the riders were away with a bound, under
the inspiration of the first genuine cry of “On to Richmond.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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