Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-01-21

After several years Of continual
residence and incessant labor in
teaching and other missionary en-
terprise, my health becoming some
what impaired, | resigned my posi-
ton to a very benevolent and COM
petent negro instructor, and re-
turned to America. We landed at
Norfolk, Virginia, and soon after
ward | went on horseback to Ken
lucky where | had lived, to look
after a little property interest had
left there. found my little home,
furniture, library, and piece of land
in possession of a man who claimed
ownership. | asked him who he
bought them of, and he said Mr..
Grudge, the name of my wife's fost-
or father. | then went and called
on an elderly lawyer, and told him
the facts in the case, of how had
come back to my home after long
absence. to find it sold, and in un-
lawful possession. The lawyer
looked at me very sharp for a min
ute or two, and then said: / guess |
remember you, and if am not mis-
taken you are that abolitionist peda-
gogue who taught school here a
number of years ago. | wouldn't
believe YOU under cath. ard you can
get right out
Without further words, | needed
his peremptory request, and went
back to where | was stopping. That
night, little after mid night, an old
darky friend, and slave of the
man who had robbed me of my
home, whom had met and talked
with, came and raped on my he'd
room window, and called me in a
low voice. to come out quick |
did so, as had not fully undressed
for fear of being mobbed. The
darby, almost GREATNESS, stood hold
ing on to the bride of my horse.
Jump on quick, Marsa A mob is
comm TO go! Dere's bag oats,
and vi'tuls, my oil woman put up
to he wav!
Embracing my deIiverer, leaped
into the saddle and galloped away.
Looking back, saw the mob stealth
Iy approaching the house, and hear
ing the sound of my horses feet on
rapid gallop, two on horses, sus-
pecIing their prey had escaped them,
dashed after me. The night was
pitch. black, so they could not see
me. But when ! slackened. | could
hear them coming. | had a fleet
Animal and kept good distance
ahead, riding fast until break OF
da, when ] came to the home OF
40 old Quaker frierd in the noun
tainS whom | had stopped with Nher
fleeing with my boy. There | wa
concealed, and my horse led into
the woo1s and hidden. Pretty soor
after, two men Oh foaming horse:
stopped and asked the Quaker if he
had seen a man go by that morning
riding fleet chestnut horse? He
replied: Nay, friends; thee better
look on some other road and The
pursuers turned hack. The mex
night | started On, and hid in thu
woods that next day. After thu
third night | had 10 Tears Of being
pursued, and rode in the daytime.
My cross country ride to Ken
lucky, was attended with grieviou
disappointment, not only in finding
had been defrauded of my property
but in having to flee ftom the at
tack Of mob. laid it all to The
charge Of slavery, ard trust in Coo
that Right will yet prevail
Upon my return to Norfolk, al
good luck would have it, | cot {
position as mate on coastwist
trading vessel, just recently from
Boston. On making my application
| showed the captain letters of pre-
vious service in IKE employment
ahen on my voyage to Africa, and o.
our capture of the SLAYER. | coulC
see by the pleasure they gave hin
that | had a warm sympathizer; anc
as we neared Boston not long after
found him to be an ardent anti
slavery man. He confded to III,
the secret of his having aboard tw,
runaway slaves whom he was EN-
ploying as steve-dores until he land
el them on free soil. On the mex