The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-02-22

it had been exposed between cap and
collar and showed a white spot
which in some days that followed be-
came purple. Later. somebody ap-
peared from the kitchen with a
steaming cup of coffee and at last,
he was allowed to draw up to the
big open fire and put his now slip
pered feet, which had been in cold
water, on cricket before its bright
blaze. Its usual quiet and comfort
having been thus restored to the
family the children gathered around
him to listen to such thrilling tales
as only father could have woven
from the Incidents of his trip. The
word blizzard" had not then been
invented, but, as We listened to his
description of the rising wind that
drove the singing needles of the
sleet on his face, the chill struck to
the very marrow of our little bones
and the sting Of the sleet was sharp
on our warm little cheeks as we fix
ed wondering eyes upon the strange
spot growing darker on fathers face.
remember another day when the
June sunshine was falling over beau
tiful hills and brooks and woods and
intervales past which | rode in quiet
bliss with my father. Suddenly he
pointed with his whip. which he
never used on the horse, to a white
farm house and said. with sweep
of the whip that included the great
barns and orchard and cornfield,
THAT has all gone down one man )
throat Then he told of how ii had
once belonged to a certain man whom
| had often seen jogging along past
our house with his hands crossed be-
hind him. one Of them always carry
ing a little brown jug.
But the anti-slavery movement
made the deepest impression upon
his children. My brother used
laughingly to say that when he went
out into the world he had to learn
that white men were as good as
black" When Susan and Mary and
| were nine. five and seven respect
lively. We were left al home one win
ter afternoon while the older men,
bers OF the family went 10 Church
conference" We amused ourselves
with playing meeting" my part in
which was the preparation of ser
mon on "The Sin of Slavery The
little document was printed after the
! fashion of child and father finding
it on the table was greatly pleased
/ From that time he used to call me
Mrs. Stowe"
! Our home was a refuge for the flu
gitive slaves who found their way sc
! far north 1t was a usual thing for
us children to meet such at our
breakfast table strangers who had
not been there the night before and
were usually gone the next morning
Sometimes they stayed over from a
day to a week We never knew
when to expect them at table. One
big. fellow had been there several
days when, one sunny forenoon, g
boy appeared with a note from Cap
tain Joseph Philbrick. Father was
away but mother read the note ant
said, Tell Captain Philbrick that il
is all right and Immediately sent me
on what seemed to me a trivial or
rand to a far away neighbor Hel
manner had that extreme of calm
ness that convinced me there was
something in the wind. | suffered
no grass to grow under my feet ant
was back with a promptness that evil
IDENTIFY surprised her. The other
children had not returned from SINH.
lar errands, but my father was now
there and also Captain Philbrick with
two strange men intent on the bust
ness of opening closet doors. examin.
ing beds and performing sundry other
feats of bad manners. After they
had thoroly inspected the down stairs
rooms they said they would go up
stairs. One stood at the foot oil
the front stairs lest anything should
pass that way unseen, while the