The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-12-02

the heroic mother was calm and res olute,
and allowed 20 derangement in her plans.
Her mind bad evidently come to some
unexplained conclusion. An hour before
midnight, the whole party. one daught
alone excepted, took up their dangerous
III arch.
cannot undertake to give a tithe OF
the particulars of this perilous journey
thus begun. But its incidents were most
painful and exciting, while at times they
were sadly discouragiug. There were
SIX young children to provide for-soue
to carry, some even to nurse, and all to
be prevented from crying or complaining
aloud. Then food must be provided, for
the stock they started with was soon ex-
hausted. BY daylight they concealed
themselves in swamps or tbickets, some
times lying a whole day in the water
By night they travelled slowly, because
they must move silently and with extreme
caution. Twice they heard the distant
bayiug Of dogs. bot not their masters
though they were evidently in chase of
other runaways. Ouce, when but indif-
ferently concealed within a swamp, rem
dered nearly dry by long droutb. they
could distinctly hear the tramping OF
horsemen and their shouts to each other
These, SO far as they knew, we're all the
perils they encountered. They may have
been surrounded by dangers, but were
unconscious of them. as they stunned
the public roads, even in the darkest
nights, it may be supposed their clothes
were soon worn to tatters By the thickets
of briers through which their straiehtfor-
ward journey led them. The north star
was their only guide. Wherever that
stood they hurried onward, for they had
always heard that beneath it there was
no Slavery. The six children were terrible
clogs to their progress. But their faith
ers were strong men, with singularly pa
tient dispositions. The heroine of this
expedition never faltered for a moment
Once clear from her masters plantation,
her courage rose into assurance of sue
cess, and she performed prodigips Of en-
durance. She forded creeks with hea-
w child on her shoulder, and swan broad
rivers, supporting with one hand the la
borious burden. Her mind was SO intense.
ly excited that she slept but little, and ate
even less. Every faculty was strung to
its highest tension. As she was leader
of the troop into the wilderness, SO she
was the life and soul of it through all its
torturous Wanderings.
How long they starved and shivered
on this journey Katy is unable to tell
She thinks it must have been four weeks.
At the end of that period, as near as can
be judged, and some three hours after
nightfall, while quietly trampiDg over
plowed field, they were bro't suddenly to
halt by high and substantially built
fence. While examining how it was to
be got over, the figure of man unexpec-
tedly revealed itself to them. He had
been standing against the fence when
they came up-had heard and seen them.
Fear took possession of them for the mo-
uent, and they huddled round poor Katy.
The young children, also, began TO cry.
No wonder; it was the first white man
they had seen since they had fed from
their master. "Who are you!" the old man
shouted. But the fugitives made no re-
ply. One of them, dropping chid from
his shoulders, and passing over to his
wife, put himself in posture for defence,
with short. heavy club, which be drew
from the belt By which it was suspended
behind him. The stranger again called
out: "Are you looking for friends p
To this Katy quickly answered: "Oh !
yes, master, for Gods sake help US -
Instantly be opened the door of dark
lantern which be carried in his hand, and
the full fash from brilliant burner fell
directly ON the fugitivcs. Dazzled by the
glare. they covered their eyes, and while
thus half blinded by the sudden illumina-
ton, he came up to them. He compre
hended the case in an instant. "Be qui-
ct and don't be afraid, he said "you are
now among friends come, and will take
care of you. Cone with me-"
The fugitives were in Pennsylvania =
They had struck tue first station on the
Underground Railroad, and this man
was resident agent
He closed his lantern and led the way
toward light which fo: the first time
they saw cleaning over the fields mile
ahead. 1t was the agents residence
When they reached it be led theu to a
barn near by. unlocked the door and d.
rected them to lie down on wide spread
baymow, where the hay had evidently
been prepared more for sleeping purpo-
ses than of feeding cattle. Here be a-kcd
them in the kndest manner if any Of them
we're hungry. Katy tells me now that
the soft, kind aad pittyiDg voice of this
good man fell upon her heart with an o.
verwhelming tenderness that melted her
into tears. All doubts of her having got
among friends instead of enemies, were
now removed, aud she gave way to burst
of thankfulness, and of weepieg, confess
i ing that none but the children Of the par
ty had eaten anything for two days !
Their protector told them to remain per-
fectly quiet, not to answer any person but
L -