The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-28
though often to Peru, and occasionally to

Union Grove, near lennepln. Inc M'ter
place was In the center of hot bed Of abo-
lItionists, where closely pursued fugitive
was sure OF safety and good care.
MlsDIRECTED AND PECULIAR TRAVELLERS,
Once there appeared at Mr., Lews's u
grey headed negro who seemed u hundred
years old. He wore huge pair of copper
trimmed spectacles, with one glass gone
and the other badly cracked. He wore an
aged and fearfully battered plug hat Size
too large, and carried pewtercased watch
without hands and the enamel In specks on
the face. This quaint time.pieCe was
about the size Of common saucer and Sc
cured around lis neck by long rawhlde
strip, half 10 three.quarters Of an inch wide,
which he had cut out with an apparently
very dull jack.kniie, He had faint fringe
OF wool around the base OF his Uranium,
the remainder being an undulating plain
Of greasy brown badness, which he Gov
cred with gay bandanna handkerchief, as
he said, "fer ter fool de flies" lie carried
the croukedest possible Of canes, and evil
deutly considered himself - dandy He
could give but little account Of himself
save that che had ruined away from Mar
ser. on de Knuwway, in Ole Yerginy,' and
che heerd tell dat de Nort star stood ODER
whur de Ian OF liberty wuri he had TOOK
and sOt his eye on dat star and ioiiered II
cher sence he lett hnawway! lie Hhu
travelled only by night anu In cloudy
weather when he couldn't see MS sleIuIar
guide, he had "hid by In the WOODS or
under some klnuly-dI'poseu heu5e, bu'
had never been refused lood al any mouse,
even In virginia, WhlIe en- route! IN lAe
evening he polu.eG out 10 MI Lewis MS
north star, which proved 10 be SIRIUS or
the dog star Tar IN Tie northwest; SO ne
had been heading toward that very remote
luminary! Mr. Lewis gave him lodging
and next morning some better advice, ana
started him on nearer route to his desti-
nation.
At another time came an Intelligent
black woman, whose back and shoulders
showed the marks of recent tlaggelation at
the hands of her "Marser." She chuCkled
as she exhibited them: ~ got 'em for run.
ming away. | done gone ruined away 70
(fouI) times befo. Spec he don't cotch dis
chile soon agin" and he didn't, for she
was soon across the line, and wrote back to
Mr. Lewis touching letter expressing her
thankiulness.
Another slave came TO Mr.. Lewis's care
who was so neafwhite that he escaped sus-
picion everywhere. He was good black.
smith and his master was his own half
brother! He went to Chicago and obtained
work and good wages, and his whereabouts
being no secret, his master wrote him an
affectionate letter, acknowledging the rela-
tionship and offering him a good position
if he would return, and the planters family
Joined in urging Dear Edward" to come
home. He had got taste of freedom and
refused to return, but remained in Chicago
where he tecame wealthy, and was never
molested nv his owner. He afterwards
,,.o.o NJ ,a,,S so,,;,,, forth tbosa factO
WHO 'i'' i' ~,
ana MS letters the Lewis ianiiiy SUN pre-
serve as a mOmento of some of the curious
combinations which grew ont of slavery
90 sooio, ins,;,u,,or
10 ''0'''
Magnolia were many girls of tender ages,
from the tender miss of ten or dozen
,,ooua 30 ,, o,, ,oo, :, bou f,u ror
Jo"''' " 'no 'oN"s "'"'"" ~ no' '0'
lection; and o1ten they were almost "hite
and some of them very pretty octaroons
who in the South we're the helpless and
,..;.,,,a o -, ,h;.o ,;hox.;,;o,,
frompted py moues'y anu moral cohsiuer-