The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-07-04


and runvines, emerged from the wood, and found
myself wading marshy ground and over bitches.
can form no correct idea of the distance | travelled,
but came to road, should think, about three
O'Clock in the morning. 1t so happened that came
out near where there was fork in the road of three
prongs Now arose a serious query-whlch is the
right prong for me was reminded by the circum-
stance OF superstltious proyerb among the slaves,
that " the left hand turning is unucky," but
had never been in the habit of placing faith in this
or any similar superstition, am not aware that it
had the least weight upon my mind, as | had the
same difficulty with the right hand turning. After
lew moments parley with myself, took the central
prong of the road and pushed On with all my speed.
1t had not cleared off, but fresh wind had sprung
up; twas chilly and searching. This, with my
wet clothing made me very uncomfortable /; my
nerves began to culver before the searching wind
The barking of mastiffs, the Growing of fowls, and
the distant rafting of market wagons, warned me that
day was approaching
At this juncture he sees farm establishment with
a small, hove-like barn, and into this he gladly
skulked, and buried himself among the straw. Here
he lay the whole Thursday, his only danger being
the yelping of small dog, which had noticed his
entrance into the barn. In the course of the after
noon he heard with terror the noise of horsemen who
passed in search of him. They spoke few words
to the farmer, mentioning that the runaway niger
Il
dollars was offered for his recovery 1t was now
too evident that the country was aroused onthe sub
Ject of his escape. Night came, and he was again
on his route but speed was out of the question:
" All could do was TO keep my legs in notion and
this continued to do with the utmost difficulty
The latter part of the night suffered extremely
from cold There came a heavy frost | expected
at every moment to fall on the road and perish. |
came to a corn-feld covered with heavy shocks of
Ind IL, hoJl H.. 7 L.
got an ear, and then crept into of the shocks
ate as much of it as | could, and thought | would
rest little and start again but weary nature could
not sustain the operation of grinding hard for It's
| own nourlshment, and | sunk to sleep. When
! awoke the sun shining around ] started with
alarm, but was too late 10 think of seeking another
shelter !; therefore nestled myself down, and con-
ceaed myself as best | could from the light of day.
After recovering a little from my fright commenc-
ed eating my whole corn. Grain by grain worked
away at it when my jaws grew tired, as they often
did, would rest, and then begin afresh. Thus, al
though began an early breakfast, was nearly the
whole of the forenoon before had done. Nothing
of Importance occurred during the day, until about
the middle of the afternoon, when ! was thrown in
to panic by the appearance of party of gunners,
who passed near me with their dogs. After shoot
ing or two birds, however, and passing within a
few rods of my rai covering, they went on and left
| without
any other incident worth naming. As | sailed OUT
felt very evident benefit from the ear of corn had
nibbled away My strength was considerably re-
newed though was far from being nourshed.
felt that my life at least safe from death by hun
ger Thus encouraged, sst out with better speed
than had made since Sunday and Monday night''
He now believed himselfto be near the boundary
line of Pennsy vanla and under this impression skip
ped and sang for joy.-The day dawned, and the
/ oil he a.
What ensued may be told in his own words A
lttlc after the rose, came in sight of toll gate
For moment, all the events which followed nv
passing toll-gate on Wednesday morning came
fresh to my recollection and produced some hesita-
ton; but at all events, said |, will try again. On
arriving at the gate, found it attended only by an
elderly woman, whom | afterward learned was a
widow, and an excellent Christian woman | asked
her if l was In Pennsylvania. On being informed
that I was, asked her if she knew where could
get employment She said she did not, but advised
me to 90 to W w. Quaker. who
lived about three miles from her. whom would find
to take an interest in me. She gave me directions
, which way TO take. | thanked her and babe her
good morning and was very careful to follow her
directions. In about half an hour stood at the door
of W W. After knocking the door
opened upon acknowledgement table, the sight of
which seemed at once to increase my hunger seven
fold Not daing to enter, said had been sent to
him in search of employment. ''Well," said he
"come in and take thy breakfast, and get warm %
These words, spoken by stranger, but with such an
air of simple sincerity and fathery kindness, made
an overwhelming impression upon my mind They
made me feel, in spite of all my fear and timdity
that had in the providence of God, found a friend
and home.--He at once gained my confidence ,and
felt that might confde TO him fact which, | had
as yet conided to no From that day to this,
whenever discover the least disposition in my heart
to disregard the wretched position of any poor or
distressed persons, with whom meet, call 10 mind
these words-"Come in and take thy breakfast, and
get warm' They ipvariby remind me, of what
was at that time. My condition was wretched as
that of any human being can possibly be-, with the
exception of the loss of health or reason had but
four peices of clothing about my person, having left
all the rest in the hands of my capor. l was a
starving fugitive, without home or friends; reward
offered for my person in the public papers; pursued
by cruel man-hunters, and no claim upon him to
whose door went Had he turned me away must
have persisted. Nay, he took in, and gave of his
food, and shared with me his own garments. Such
treatment had never before received from the hands
of any wheman.'' We have copied the whole of
this passage Its simple eloquence is the best tribute
that can be paid to that spirit of benevolence which
so universally distinguishes the Society of Friends