When they had rested and refreshed themselves with a wash, Ellen put on
her womanly garments and went to the sitting-room. When the landlord
came at their summons, he was very much surprised and perplexed. "Where
is your master?" inquired he; and when William pointed to his wife, he
thought it was a joke; for he could not believe she was the same person
who came into the house in the dress of a gentleman. He listened to
their singular story with great interest and sympathy. He told them he
was afraid it would not be safe for them to remain in Philadelphia, but
he would send for some Abolitionists who knew the laws better than he
did. Friends soon came, and gave them a hearty welcome; but they all
agreed that it would not be safe for them to remain long in
Philadelphia, and advised them to go to Boston. Barclay Ivens, a
kind-hearted Quaker farmer, who lived some distance in the country,
invited them to rest a few weeks at his house. They went accordingly.
But Ellen, who had not been accustomed to receive such attentions from
white people, was a little flurried when they arrived. She had received
the impression that they were going to stay with colored people; and
when she saw a white lady and three daughters come out to the wagon to
meet her, she was much disturbed, and said to William, "I thought they
were colored people." "It is all the same as if they were," replied he.
"They are our good friends." "It is _not_ all the same," said Ellen,
decidedly. "I have no faith in white people. They will be sending us
back into Slavery. I am going right off." She had not then become
acquainted with the Abolitionists. She had heard her master and other
Southerners talk about them as very bad men, who would make slaves
believe they were their friends, and then sell them into distant
countries. The Quaker lady saw that she was afraid, and she went up to
her and took her very kindly by the hand, saying: "How art thou, my
dear? We are very glad to see thee and thy husband. We have heard about
thy marvellous escape from Slavery. Come in and warm thyself. I dare say
thou art cold and hungry after thy journey." Ellen thanked her, and
allowed herself to be led into the house. Still she did not feel quite
safe in that strange place, away from all her people. When Mrs. Ivens
attempted to remove her bonnet, she said, "No, I thank you. I am not
going to stop long." "Poor child!" said the good Quaker mother, "I
don't wonder thou art timid. But don't be afraid. Thou art among friends
who would as soon sell their own daughters into Slavery as betray thee.
We would not harm a hair of thy head for the world." The kindly face and
the motherly tones melted the heart of the poor frightened fugitive, and
the tears began to flow. They stayed several weeks in that hospitable
house, and the son and daughters took so much pains to teach them to
read and write, that before they left they could spell a little, and
write their names quite legibly. They were strongly urged to stay
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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