running a thousand miles for freedom-第5章
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pts to buy them； Frank cultivated large whiskers and moustachios； cut off his hair； put on a wig and glasses； and went down as a white man； and stopped in the neighbourhood where his sister was； and after see… ing her and also his little brother； arrangements were made for them to meet at a particular place on a Sunday； which they did； and got safely off。
I saw Frank myself； when he came for the little twins。 Though I was then quite a lad； I well remember being highly delighted by hearing him tell how nicely he and Mary had served Slator。
Frank had so completely disguised or changed his appearance that his little sister did not know him； and would not speak till he showed their mother's likeness； the sight of which melted her to tears；for she knew the face。 Frank might have said to her
〃'O； Emma！ O； my sister； speak to me！ Dost thou not know me； that I am thy brother？ Come to me； little Emma； thou shalt dwell With me henceforth； and know no care or want。' Emma was silent for a space； as if 'Twere hard to summon up a human voice。〃 Frank and Mary's mother was my wife's own dear aunt。
After this great diversion from our narrative； which I hope dear reader； you will excuse； I shall return at once to it。
My wife was torn from her mother's embrace in childhood； and taken to a distant part of the country。 She had seen so many other children separated from their parents in this cruel man… ner； that the mere thought of her ever becoming the mother of a child； to linger out a miserable existence under the wretched system of American slavery； appeared to fill her very soul with horror； and as she had taken what I felt to be an important view of her condition； I did not； at first； press the marriage； but agreed to assist her in trying to devise some plan by which we might escape from our unhappy condition； and then be married。
We thought of plan after plan； but they all seemed crowded with insurmountable difficulties。 We knew it was unlawful for any public convey… ance to take us as passengers； without our master's consent。 We were also perfectly aware of the startling fact； that had we left without this consent the professional slave…hunters would have soon had their ferocious bloodhounds baying on our track； and in a short time we should have been dragged back to slavery； not to fill the more favour… able situations which we had just left； but to be separated for life； and put to the very meanest and most laborious drudgery； or else have been tortured to death as examples； in order to strike terror into the hearts of others； and thereby pre… vent them from even attempting to escape from their cruel taskmasters。 It is a fact worthy of remark； that nothing seems to give the slaveholders so much pleasure as the catching and torturing of fugitives。 They had much rather take the keen and poisonous lash； and with it cut their poor trembling victims to atoms； than allow one of them to escape to a free country； and expose the infamous system from which he fled。
The greatest excitement prevails at a slave…hunt。 The slaveholders and their hired ruffians appear to take more pleasure in this inhuman pursuit than English sportsmen do in chasing a fox or a stag。 Therefore； knowing what we should have been compelled to suffer； if caught and taken back； we were more than anxious to hit upon a plan that would lead us safely to a land of liberty。
But； after puzzling our brains for years； we were reluctantly driven to the sad conclusion； that it was almost impossible to escape from slavery in Georgia； and travel 1；000 miles across the slave States。 We therefore resolved to get the consent of our owners； be married； settle down in slavery； and endeavour to make ourselves as comfortable as possible under that system； but at the same time ever to keep our dim eyes steadily fixed upon the glimmering hope of liberty； and earnestly pray God mercifully to assist us to escape from our unjust thraldom。
We were married； and prayed and toiled on till December； 1848； at which time （as I have stated） a plan suggested itself that proved quite success… ful； and in eight days after it was first thought of we were free from the horrible trammels of slavery； and glorifying God who had brought us safely out of a land of bondage。
Knowing that slaveholders have the privilege of taking their slaves to any part of the country they think proper； it occurred to me that； as my wife was nearly white； I might get her to disguise herself as an invalid gentleman； and assume to be my master； while I could attend as his slave； and that in this manner we might effect our escape。 After I thought of the plan； I sug… gested it to my wife； but at first she shrank from the idea。 She thought it was almost impossible for her to assume that disguise； and travel a dis… tance of 1；000 miles across the slave States。 How… ever； on the other hand； she also thought of her condition。 She saw that the laws under which we lived did not recognize her to be a woman； but a mere chattel； to be bought and sold； or otherwise dealt with as her owner might see fit。 Therefore the more she contemplated her helpless condition； the more anxious she was to escape from it。 So she said； 〃I think it is almost too much for us to undertake； however； I feel that God is on our side； and with his assistance； notwithstanding all the difficulties； we shall be able to succeed。 There… fore； if you will purchase the disguise； I will try to carry out the plan。〃
But after I concluded to purchase the disguise； I was afraid to go to any one to ask him to sell me the articles。 It is unlawful in Georgia for a white man to trade with slaves without the master's con… sent。 But； notwithstanding this； many persons will sell a slave any article that he can get the money to buy。 Not that they sympathize with the slave； but merely because his testimony is not admitted in court against a free white person。
Therefore； with little difficulty I went to dif… ferent parts of the town； at odd times； and purchased things piece by piece； （except the trowsers which she found necessary to make；） and took them home to the house where my wife resided。 She being a ladies' maid； and a favourite slave in the family； was allowed a little room to herself； and amongst other pieces of furniture which I had made in my overtime； was a chest of drawers； so when I took the articles home； she locked them up carefully in these drawers。 No one about the premises knew that she had anything of the kind。 So when we fancied we had everything ready the time was fixed for the flight。 But we knew it would not do to start off without first getting our master's con… sent to be away for a few days。 Had we left with… out this； they would soon have had us back into slavery； and probably we should never have got another fair opportunity of even attempting to escape。
Some of the best slaveholders will sometimes give their favourite slaves a few days' holiday at Christmas time； so； after no little amount of per… severance on my wife's part； she obtained a pass from her mistress； allowing her to be away for a few days。 The cabinet…maker with whom I worked gave me a similar paper； but said that he needed my services very much； and wished me to return as soon as the time granted was up。 I thanked him kindly； but somehow I have not been able to make it convenient to return yet； and； as the free air of good old England agrees so well with my wife and our dear little ones； as well as with myself； it is not at all likely we shall return at present to the 〃peculiar in… stitution〃 of chains and stripes。
On reaching my wife's cottage she handed me her pass； and I showed mine； but at that time neither of us were able to read them。 It is not only unlawful for slaves to be taught to read； but in some of the States there are heavy penalties at… tached； such as fines and imprisonment； which will be vigorously enforced upon any one who is humane enough to violate the so…called law。
The following case will serve to show how per… sons are treated in the most enlightened slavehold… ing community。
〃INDICTMENT。
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA； ｝ In the Circuit
NORFOLK COUNTY； ss。｝ Court。 The Grand Jurors empannelled in the b
