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
“Indeed, Statie, you’ve done well. It won’t be long till I’ll have to
give the little doll up if you go on at this rate.”
“I hope not, master, for I long to see the darling with her free papers
in hand.”
With a lying effort, the master replied, “I hope you may succeed, for I
would much sooner sell her to you than to any one else, and I shall wait
on you as long as possible.”
Expressing her thanks for what she knew was a hypocritical promise,
Statie asked that the child might be allowed to accompany her to the
capital for a few days, a request readily granted by Mr. Lines that he
might the more easily avert any suspicion of his real purpose.
Cutting short her visit, Statie soon started with her child for the
city, but walked several miles out of her way to lay her troubles before
Mr. and Mrs. Barbour, who were greatly shocked at the revelation. Though
depreciating anything in the line of _underground_ work, Mr. Barbour, to
whom Lila had specially endeared herself by her childish ingenuousness,
after a few moments reflection said, “Wife, you know I propose making a
journey across Pennsylvania soon to the vicinity of our old home. Will
there be any harm in my seeing that Lila gets there?”
“No, husband; and you have my permission to see that Statie goes too. I
don’t think your politics ought to cripple your humanity, much less your
religion. _Do unto others as ye would that they should do unto you._”
Mr. Barbour’s mind was soon made up, and Statie was dismissed with
instructions to meet him on a by-road a little way out from the old
north burial ground soon after dark on the Wednesday evening following.
In arranging for his proposed trip, Mr. Barbour had provided himself
with a good team and a “Jersey wagon” well covered with oil cloth,
supported by bows. In this wagon he placed a high box so cut down in
front as to furnish a seat for himself, and so arranged that a person
could sit upright in the hinder part with feet projecting forward. To
the rear of this box, were attached doors, secured by a padlock whilst a
good supply of straw, clothing and provisions were placed within. When
all else was ready, the Jersey was labeled “Clocks,” and Wednesday night
Mr. Barbour drove out to the point of rendezvous where Statie and Lila
were found waiting, they were immediately placed in their extemporized
_retreat_ and the unique emancipation car moved northward across the
hills of Maryland at a rapid rate.
II.
It was court time in Warsaw, N. Y., and a large number of people were
gathered about the principal hotel when a man holding the reins over a
spanking team drove up and ordered accommodations for the team and
himself. Beckoning the hostler forward he proceeded with the team. As he
passed, a bystander remarked, “A right, royal team, that.”
“Pretty good for a peddler,” remarked another.
“Do you call that man a peddler?” queried a third.
“Didn’t you see ‘Clocks’ on the cover?” came back from No. 2.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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