Part 3 (1/2)

This settled the matter The reas soon known over the whole country, and every slave-hunter was on the chase to gain the reward I ”laid close” and waited to escape froht not compromise Mr Dansley He was already under surveillance by slave-owners, and was in danger of being driven froainst him

The last day I was there I lay hid in some cotton-pens, close to the house, when two men came on the hunt of me They had their blood-hounds with them, and demanded perranted, when theon, and trehty and resigned myself entirely into his hands

The search wasthe cotton-pens in which I was hid; but God was on my side, and I was saved from their clutches I earnestly thanked God for my deliverance on this occasion

As soon as dark ca supplied hat provisions I could conveniently carry, I bid good-by to Christian Dansley and his family, and started on my perilous journey to the free states and Canada

My progress was necessarily slow and wearisoht The first point I designedon my journey was Memphis, where I hoped to find means of escape to Illinois

I had plenty of tihts were naturally concentrated on my deplorable condition all the time My past life ca through the woods I would compare myself to persecuted Christians in the days of the apostles and the early evaneglists The blessed Savior was persecuted in his very infancy and had to be hid by his parents They had to flee for life; I was fleeing for liberty What had I to complain of? Jesus ith me and would protect me God had delivered him from the very tomb of death; why need I fear? With these reflections in my mind I would feel revived and refreshed with the consolation that while there was life in me there was hope for me The words of the poet came to my memory, wherein he says:

”Neither will he upbraid you, Though often your request; He'll give you grace to conquer, And take you home to rest”

The consolation and help I received froh allwith God in h unto God he would draw nigh unto me; and that if I would let the word of Christ dwell in me I would be rich in all wisdom Yet I are I should suffer persecution if I lived Godly in Jesus Christ; therefore I deters which I had learned

On Sunday night I arrived at Holly Springs Uncle Ben lived there, and I was anxious to see hih his assistance, if possible, rest and food I had proceeded only a little way toward his house when I an conversation with him I learned that the reward Wilson had offered for s before me, and that persons were on the lookout for me The colored man seemed to have a suspicion that I was a runaway, and was disposed to aid me all in his power To keep out of the way of slave-hunters was my object, and I knew that the conteer to be further thought of

Fearful that the negro would betraysomewhat safe for the present, I sat down to think and rest ht Wilson would flayhis saddle-horse's back sore, but that if I could once get through to Meh the assistance of friends, to ain, and tried to hit upon some plan to accoain

After traveling a short time I came to a house by the road-side The kitchen stood about twenty yards fro, and had ain the back part of it I was very hungry, and debated in my mind as to the manner in which I should proceed to obtain food To ask for it was too risky, and I was fearful that if I was seen by any of the persons about the house I would be apprehended and put in the nearest jail as a runaway Looking in at theI saw a colored woman; and on a table aheld in readiness for the arrival of so the colored woman would leave the kitchen for so

After awhile the master and mistress arrived, it seems, from a visit

Shortly the mistress of the house came in and ordered the supper

Fortunately forhouse,”

and the cook, taking her hands full of things, left the kitchen and went into the house I ih the , promiscuously emptied the meat and bread into my sack, and left the kitchen the same way before the return of the cook, just in time to escape detection

I crouched in the shade of the cabin fearing to racious! some one hab tuk and turned in an' tuk all de bread an'

ht the household to the kitchen, and during the racket I hborhood I walked briskly for a couple of er

This wasto eat Before this I had been fortunate enough to obtain supplies of food from friendly slaves, but for the twenty-four hours previous toI make no excuse for this iht I only did what perhaps any one else, under the saer and other causes to withstand the te the food as I did As soon as my appetite was satisfied, however, my sin rose up before me in all its enormity; I felt distressed; and it ca tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted” Oh, what had I done! I had lost God's help in this iveness, and asked God to direct and protect me Yet I felt uneasy and depressed,--not that my faith in Jesus was any the less, but thatits own punish to pursue me; They may crush, but they shall not contemn-- They may torture, but shall not subdue ht I reached a forest in which I could concealundisturbed, until dark, when I proceeded onward While traveling _that night_ I was coe plantation I was afraid some white person would see uish, in the dark, a white froht I met a colored boy, who procured some food for me and directed me to a cotton-pen close by, where I could hide and sleep during the day When night caht--I crawled out of the pen and started for another night's walk I ht, and walked to within nine o on into Memphis in the day-time, consequently I slept in the woods that day without anything to eat,exhausted

I was very ht ca on e of Mt Pleasant, where I thought to obtain soe without seeing any one; but finally I saw a man who I rin and disappointment, he was a white h ain in bonds

The man asked me numerous and various questions, as to where I caain sinned, and paid the penalty I lied to the ed to ato his plantation

Quite a nuathered around me, and by repeated questions entrapped me Inquiries were made as to the health of Mr