Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-29
NUMBER THIRTY-N1NE.

the stations, and by my side in the cars. Ev-
eiy possible endeavOr was made to draw me
ihto conversation on sectional topics and
"hen pretended to be asleep, to get some
respite, was aware that was watched, my
| newspaper looked over. and the address On
my hat box well scanned When | reached
Charleston, my brother-in-law awaited me
with some 0stentation, and patronized me in
way more novel than agreeable He apoI-
ogised for it, as soon as we were in the ear
riage, saying that 1t was the only way of
atoning for having carelessly allowed me to
come at such a time.
He looked worn and not without reason.
lie had more duty on his shoulders than any
man could get through. He took me every
where with him, as the lesser of two evils.
He was severely blamed for showing a free
State man the resources and preparations of
South Carolina but he would have been
more blamed still, if he had shut up a
Northern man in his house. as if he was
ashamed of him. spy, of course.
found myself unwelcome in most Cf the
houses where | had been familiar before
The "Union savers were afraid Of admitting
me,-being depressed minority, dreading
further humiliation. Two or three opportu-
that they were greatly to be pitied, though
| believe that little more timely spirit
would have set them fairly on their feet
They could have stood their ground against
their equals they said /; but their dread was
of the Poor Whites " by whom they were
sure to be informed against and pillagcd, in
case of revolution.
KIT.
Our letters reached us in a state which
showed Us that they had been read and
several failed to arrive, as | found when got
home. The new taxation fell so heavily on
the opulent citizens that they said all security
of property was disappearing. My brother
in-law was disposed to send my sister and
the children northwards with me, the next
week, when all our plans were oyerthrown
by the arrival of deputatiOn who called at
night ''tO spare our feelings')-
with a recommendation from the authorities
that should take my departure Immediately.
A carriage was waiting in the next street
which would convey me, sufficiently escorted,
to a country station on the railway. If l
did not go, it was feared that the house
would be mobbed, and perhaps burned, next
morning. This left me no choice. There
was no charge against me but that Of being
an Inhabitant of a Northern State.
Arrangements were made for my sister and
her children to follow. unless public affairs
should come round very soon. 1 was rather
amused at the anxious questions about
whether she could travel safely in the free
states if known to be from Charleston. L
could not help being proud in saying that
little Lzzy and her mother might travel
alone OF together from Canada to the Della
ware without fear OF mOlestation from man,
woman, or child.
Charleston has been quiet once and again
since and | have been once more in its So
ciety, enjoying many laugh with the au-
thorities and their wives and daughters
about the alarms of that Winter.-But
told them then-and l hope they may not
have forgotten it-that such little rebelllons
may happen once too often. L have always
feared that they might have to learn this
from experience and now apprehend that
the time has come.
4 Son OF THE PILGRIMS.