 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
| ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1859. 503 EDWARD was serving on a farm, under a man named Booth. Perceiving that Booth was "running through his property" very fast by hard drinking, Edward's better judgment admonished him that his so-called master would one day have need of more rum money, and that he might not be too good to offer him in the market for what he would bring. Charles resolved that when his brothers crossed the line dividing Delaware and Pennsylvania, he would not be far behind. The mother of these boys was freed at the age of twenty-eight, and lived in "Wilmington, Delaware. It was owing to the fact that their mother had been freed that they entertained the vague notion that they too might be freed; but it was a well established fact that thousands lived and died in such a hope without ever realizing their expectations. The boys, more shrewd and wide awake than many others, did not hearken to such " stuff." The two younger heard the views of the elder brother, and expressed a •willingness to follow him. Edward, becoming satisfied that what they meant to do must be done quickly, took the lead, and off they started for a free State. JOHN was owned by one James B. Rodgers, a farmer, and " a most every kind of man," as John expressed himself; in fact John thought that his owner was such a strange, wicked, and cross character that be couldn't tell himself what he was. Seeing that slaves were treated no better than dogs and hogs, John thought that he was none too young to be taking steps to get away. CHARLES was held by James Rodgers, Sr., under whom he said that he had served nine years with faint prospects of some time becoming free, but when, was doubtful. ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1859. JAMES TAYLOB, ALBERT GROSS, AND JOHN OKINAQE. To see mere lads, not twenty-one years of age, smart enough to outwit the very shrewdest and wisest slave-holders of Virginia was very gratifying. The young men composing this arrival were of this keen-sighted order. JAMES was only a little turned of twenty, of a yellow complexion, and intelligent. A trader, by the name of George Ailer, professed to own James. He said that he had been used tolerable well, not so bad as many had been used. James was learning the carpenter trade; but he waa anxious to obtain his freedom, and finding his two companions true on the main question, in conjunction with them he contrived a plan of escape, and ' took out.' His father and mother, Harrison and Jane Taylor, were left at Fredericks-burg to mourn the absence of their son. ALBERT waa in his twentieth year, the picture of good health, not |