The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-05-27
From the 'Diary Ofa Southern Refugee"
How a Free White Woman Had
Her Way.

I lRIgu tne 'DlaIy Ol oOuLueEu A-7luso0s
How a Free White Woman Had
Her Way.
We left Winchester in the stage coacl
for Strausburg at 10 o'clock at night, OF
the oath of December, 1861. The weather
was bitter cold, and we Congratulated our
selves that the coach was not crowded.
Mr.. McG. and the girls were on the back
seat, Methodist clergyman, a soldier anC
myself on the middle, and two soldiers an6
our maid Betsey on the front seat. We
went on by starlight, with every prospect
of pleasant drive of eighteen miles. As
we were leaving the suburbs of the town
the driver drew up before small house.
from which issued two women with baby
two baskets, several bundles and a box
The passengers began to shout: "Go on
driver; what do you mean? there's no room
for another; go on" The driver made nc
answer, but the women came to the coach
door and began toput in their bundles
The gentlemen protested that they could
mot get in; there was no room. The wO-
man with the baby said she would get in;
she was "agwine to Strausburg to spend
Christmas with her relations where she
was boFned and raised, and whar she bad
not been for ten years, and nobody had a
better right to the stage than she had, and
she was agwine, and Kitty Grim was
agwine, too-she's my sister-in-law, and
so is baby, cause baby never did see her
relations in Strausburg in her life. So,
Uncle Ben!V she exclaimed to the driver,
"take my basket and box by you, and
me, and Kitty, and baby, and the little
basket viii go inside" All this was said
amidst violent prOtestations from the men
within. "You can't get in; driver,go on"
But, suiting the action to the word, she
opened the door, calling, "COme, Kitty"
got on the step and thrust her head in,
saying, ''If these gentlemen Is gentlemen,
and has got any politeness, they will get
out and set with Uncle Ben, and let ladies
come inside.." A pause ensued. At last a
subdued tone from the soldier on the mid
die seat was heard to say, MADAME, il
you will get of the step, will get out"
avery well si1, and why didn't you do
that at first? And now," said she, look
lug al the man on the front seat, "there's
another seat by Uncle Ben; sposen you
get out. and let Kitty Grim have your seat;
she's bound to 60" The poor man quiet
ly got out, without saying a word, but the
very expression of his back, as he got out
of the coach, was subdued. "Now Kitty,
get in and bring the little basket'and them
two bundles; they won't poster the lady
much" The door was closed, and then
the scene being over, the passengers shout
ed with laughter.
Our heroine remained perfectly passive
until we got to the picket post, a mile
from town. The driver stopped; a soldier
came up for passports. She was thunder
struck. "Passes! passes for white folks! l
never heard of such thingl I amt got no
pass; nuther has Kitty Grim" 1 suggested
to her to keep quiet as the best policy.
Just at that time Tennessee soldier had
to confess that he had forgotten to get a
passport. "You can't go on" said the
official, and the soldier got out, Presently
the woman's turn came, "Madam, yonr
passport if you please" 81 amt got none;
nuther has Kitty Grim (that's my sister
in-lawG we amt agwine to git out, cause
we's agwine to Strausburg to spend
Christmas with my relations, and 1 amt
been thar for ten years, and l never
heard of white folks having passes"
"But, Madam" began the official.
"You needn't but madam me, I amt
agwine to get out, and would like to see
the man that would put me out. This is
a free country, and I'se agwine to Straus-
y
your lantern out of my face.'' "But,
Madam, my ORDERS" began the picket.
stDon't tell me nothin' bout orders; I
don't care nothin' bout orders; and you
needn't think cause the Tennessee man
got out, that I'se agwine to get out-'cause
I amt. Amt l got three sons in the
army; great sight bigger than you is? and
they fit at Manassas, and they amt no
a,-rI. fc I
amt agwine to get out this stage this
night, but Pm gwine to Strausburg, whar
1 was born and raised" r
The poor man looked non-plussed, but
yet another effort, he began, "NIy dear
madam" 81 amt none o. yer dear mad
ans; Use jist free white woman, and so
is Kitty Grim, and we aint no niggers to
get passes, and I'se gwine long this pike
to Strausburg. Now Use done talking"
With this she settled herself on the seat
and leaned back with most determined
air; and the discounted man shut the
door amid peals of laughter from within
and from without.
In a few moments we were quiet again,
and all began to settle themselves for
sleep, when the silence was broken by our
heroine: "Kitty, is you sick?' ''No,' said
Kitty. swell, it's wonder. Gentlemen,
can't you take Kitty's seat and give her
yourn? She gets sick when she's riding
with her back to the hosses." There was
a deathlike silence, and my curiosity was
aroused to know how she would manage
this point. After few moments she
began again: "Kitty, is you sicl1?'' ''No"
says Kitty, ''not yet" "Well, 1 do wish
one of you gentlemen would give Kitty
his seat" Still no reply. All became
quiet again, when she raised her voice:
''Kitty Grim, is you sick?' "Yes," says
Kitty, 'just little" "I knowed il;
knowed she was sick; and when Kitty
Grim gets sick, she most in ginerally filings
up!" The effect was electric. "My dear
exclaimed both gentlemen,
"take my seat, by all means take my seat. "
The Methodist clergyman, being near
est, gave up his seat and took hers. The
change was soon effected amid the most
uproarious laughter; all feeling that they
were fairly oUtgeneraled the third time.
FASTEST TINE oNTHE VELOCIPEDE
Last Saturday, at the VelOcipede
Rink in CIavpIand Mr.. Fred. HarabV