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| 180 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. matter remained far more than a year; bat the correspondence and anxiety increased, and with them disappointments and difficulties multiplied. The hope of Freedom, however, baoyed up the heart of the young slave girl during the long months of anxious waiting and daily expectation for the hour of deliverance to come. Equally true and faithful also did Mr. Bige-low prove to the last; but at times he had some painfully dark seasons to encounter, as may be seen from the subjoined letter: WASHINGTOK, D. C., October 6th, 1855. MR. STILL, DEAB SIB :—I regret exceedingly to learn by your favor of 4th instant, that all things are not ready. Although I cannot speak of any immediate and positive danger. [ Yet it is weU known that the city is full of incendiaries.] Perhaps you are aware that any colored citizen is liable at any hour of day or night without any show of authority to have his house ransacked by constables, and if others do it and commit the most outrageous depredations none but white witnesses can convict them. Such outrages are always common here, and no kind of property exposed to colored protection only, can be considered safe. [I don't say that much liberty should not be given to constables on account of numerous runaways, but it don't always work for good.] Before advertising they go round and offer rewards to sharp colored men of perhaps one or two hundred dollars, to betray runaways, and having discovered their hiding-place, seize them and then cheat their informers out of the money. [Although a law abiding man,] I am anxious in this case of innocence to raise no conflict or suspicion. [Be 'sure that the manumission is full and legal.] And as I am powerless without your aid, i pray you don't lose a moment in giving me relief. The ' idea of waiting yet for weeks seems dreadful; do reduce it to days if possible, and give me notice of the earliest possible time. The property is not yet advertised, but will be, [and if we delay too long, may be sold and lost.] It was a great misunderstanding, though not your fault, that so much delay would be necessary. [I repeat again that I must have the thing done legally, therefore, please get a good lawyer to draw up the deed of manumission.] Yours Truly, J. BIOELOW. Great was the anxiety felt in Washington. It is certainly not too much to say, that an equal amount of anxiety existed in Philadelphia respecting the safety of the merchandise. At this juncture Mr. Bigelow had come to the conclusion that it was no longer safe to write over his own name, but that he would do well to henceforth adopt the name of the renowned Quaker, Wm. Penn, (he was worthy of it) as in the case of the following letter. WASHINGTON, D. C., November 10th, 1855. DEAE SIB:—Doctor T. presented my card last night about half past eight which I instantly recognized. I, however, soon became suspicious, and afterwards confounded, to find the doctor using your name and the well known names of Mr. McK. and Mr. W. and yet, neither he nor I, could conjecture the object of his visit. The doctor is agreeable and sensible, and doubtless a true-hearted man. He seemed to see the whole matter as I did, and was embarrassed. He had nothing to propose, no information to give of the " P. Boy," or of any substitute, and seemed to want no particular information from me concerning my anxieties and perils, though I stated them to him, but found him as powerless as myself to give me relief. 'I had an agreeable interview with the doctor till after ten, when he left, intending to take the cars at six, as I suppose he did do, this morning. |