Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-03-19
Lillic B. chaco wyman iii New England Magu

Lille B. Chace Wyman III New England Maga-
zine.
Harriet Tuhman was born in Dor
chester county, Nd, about the year
1920. She was held as slave, although
there is reason to believe that but for
a fraudulent transaction she and her
mother would have been free according
to the provisions OF former masters
will. Harriet was one of 10 children.
While she was very little, two of her
older sisters were sold, chained up
with other negroes and driven away.
She perched on the top OF fence and
watched them CO. crying as they went.
When she was II or l3 years old, she
was told to help tie up man to be
whipped. She refused, and the negro
ran off, while she put herself in the
doorway to prevent pursuit. The owner
caught up a heavy ircn weight and
threw it at the fugitive. 1t hit Har-
riet on the head, and induced an ill
ness which left her subject to attacks
of letharic nature, which often caused
her to fall asleep, even if she were
working or engaged in conversation.
She vas "hired OUT to act as
child's nurse and maid of all work,
when little moro than a child herself.
She was Obliged TO work all day and
then rock baby as much of the night
as was necessary to keen it quiet. The
cradle was placed near the mother s
bed. Harriet was stationed at the cradle,
and a whip lay within the mother's
reach. Ii ever Harriet ceased her rock
ing and fell asleep, and the baby woke
and cried enough to disturb its mother,
the lash curled cruelty round the lit
tie black girls neck and shoulders.
She fell i'll finally, and was returned,
a Scared, worn creature, TO her master.
Her mother nursed her back to
health, and then she developed remark
able muscular strength. Being SO strong
she was hired out to a man who made
her lift heavy barrels and perform the
lanor of a horse or OK. She broke down
again, SO utterly that not even the whip
could rouse her to work, and she was
once more sent home. She lay ill a
whole winter. Her master offered to
sell her for very low price, and used
to bring men to loo9 at her. She heard
them discuss the bargain, and lying
there, while the depressing bartering
went on about her, she prayed for long
time that her master might be con-
verted. At last she grew angry and
altered her prayer and said: Lord, if
you amt never going to change dat
mans heart kill him, Lord, an take
him out oh de way, so he wont do no
more mischief. Soon after this, she
heard that tho man had died, and she
was Immediately struck with penitent
feelings and wished she had not prayed
for his death.
She feared now that all tho dead
man's slaves would be sold, and she
heard rumor that sho aud two Of her
brothers were to be speedily sent South,
SO she determined 10 run away. She
had scarcely any idea where to 90, or
what she would find if she won't; but
the little knowledge she possesscd
about the North re.enfurced her in.
stinctive conviction that a shelter
awaited her somewhere in the world.
She had been wont to dream of flying
over towns and fields, hills and
streams and of coming to a river in
Which she would have drowned. as she
tried to cross it, but for "ladies all
dressed in white, who, " she said, put
out deir arms, and pulled her safely
over. She had deep religious faith and
talth also In signs, omens and dreams.
Accordingly, urged on by forebodings
as to her future II she remained slave.
and impeled by mystical impulses, she
pursuaded her two brothers to start
with her one night for the distant land
OF liberty, which, for all they knew
with any certainty, might prove indeed
to be a 'No-man's land. "
She dared not tell her father and
mother of her determination 10 escano,
lest they in thoir distress should reveal
her plans; but she wished to utter her
iarewells IN some fashion that they and
her other friends would remem bnr
ana Interpret afterwards, in order that
they might be comforted In her alb,
sence' 80 she went about among theiI
cabins, singing as she wont:
When dat ere ole chariot comes.
IN gwine To leabp you.
I'm bound for de promised land
Frien's Pm gwine to leabe Won.
I'm sorry. frien's to leabc YOU.
Farewell oh farewell
Her brothers went with her but a
short way. Their hearts mispaye thon
IN the darkness and the loneliness oi
the hidden road. Harriet stood still
and watched them 60 back. and then.
woman, young and all alone in the
midnight, she turned her rcsolute stems
northward. She had mRda up her mind
mat she had a right to one of two
thlng5, freedom or death. She was
determined that no man should +aKe
her back alive.
She reached Philadelphia, and wont
TO work to earn her living: but abe
was haunted by thoughts of those
whom she had loft behind in sIavery.
In December, 1900, she went back n,
tar as Baltimore, and helped her siste,
TO escape with two children. She ccn.
tinued TO make journeys into Mari land
and bring away fugitives, until III,
Civil War occurred No record wa,
Kept of the number she thus delivere,
from slavery, but il is probable thal
u amounted to about 300: and she wen
down 10 times to rescue these pennle
she never failed in any expedition. anf
none OF the poor creatures whom sb,
guided North was ever reCaptured
Thus she came tu DO called the Moss,
Of her people.
She often passed through Delaware
and received aid in her nndettnlin,,
from Thomas Garrett. This Man ,ya,
q Quaker whose principle object i,
NE was 10 assist fugitive slaves m,
writer OF this sketch onre heard hIn
say IN his benign and happy Old ags 20
Ihe war came iittlc too soon for m,
business, wanted to hplp off 3.o0l
slaves. hah only aot ~ 10 ,. 7oor
Jarrett was twice trioi and Gne,
heaylIy, and At 80 years old was thiu
rendered pennllesH a. punishment fo
ms aonr5 IN hehalfof fu,itivcs.
me tnltrd States iulge as he urn
houhred sentence un onc uf these a.
raslons aa'd; Garrett, let this he
lesson L" YOU, not 10 Interfere here
alter %lth the cause of iustic6 by hcIn
ing off RUNAWAY nnnror4 - ~ y
Tho brave ia 0Dr.or lir,.l Il;