The Escape

Mr. Flint was hard pushed for house servants, and rather than lose me he had restrained his malice. I did my work faithfully, though not, of course, with a willing mind. They were evidently afraid I should leave them. Mr. Flint wished that I should sleep in the great house instead of the servants’ quarters. His wife agreed to the proposition, but said I mustn’t bring my bed into the house, because it would scatter feathers on her carpet. I knew when I went there that they would never think of such a thing as furnishing a bed of any kind for me and my little one. I therefore carried my own bed, and now I was forbidden to use it. I did as I was ordered. But now that I was certain my children were to be put in their power, in order to give them a stronger hold on me, I resolved to leave them that night. I remembered the grief this step would bring upon my dear old grandmother; and nothing less than the freedom of my children would have induced me to disregard her advice. I went about my evening work with trembling steps. Mr. Flint twice called from his chamber door to inquire why the house was not locked up. I replied that I had not done my work. “You have had time enough to do it,” said he. “Take care how you answer me!”

Mr. Flint was desperate for house servants, so he held back his malice rather than lose me. I did my work faithfully, though of course I did not do it willingly. The Flints were clearly afraid I would leave them. Mr. Flint wanted me to sleep in the main house instead of the servants’ quarters. His wife agreed, but said I must not bring my bed into the house because it would scatter feathers on her carpet. I knew when I went there that they would never think of providing any kind of bed for me and my little one. So I brought my own bed, but now I was forbidden to use it. I did as I was told. But now I was certain my children were to be put under the Flints’ power, so they could have a stronger hold on me. I resolved to leave them that night. I remembered the grief this step would bring my dear old grandmother. Nothing less than my children’s freedom would have persuaded me to disregard her advice. I went about my evening work with trembling steps. Mr. Flint called twice from his bedroom door, asking why the house was not locked up. I replied that I had not finished my work. “You’ve had enough time to do it,” he said. “Watch how you answer me!”

I shut all the windows, locked all the doors, and went up to the third story, to wait till midnight. How long those hours seemed, and how fervently I prayed that God would not forsake me in this hour of utmost need! I was about to risk every thing on the throw of a die; and if I failed, O what would become of me and my poor children? They would be made to suffer for my fault.

I shut all the windows, locked all the doors, and went up to the third floor to wait until midnight. Those hours seemed so long! I prayed fervently that God would not abandon me in this hour of desperate need. I was about to risk everything on a roll of the dice. If I failed, oh, what would become of me and my poor children? They would be made to suffer for my fault.

At half past twelve I stole softly down stairs. I stopped on the second floor, thinking I heard a noise. I felt my way down into the parlor, and looked out of the window. The night was so intensely dark that I could see nothing. I raised the window very softly and jumped out. Large drops of rain were falling, and the darkness bewildered me. I dropped on my knees, and breathed a short prayer to God for guidance and protection. I groped my way to the road, and rushed towards the town with almost lightning speed. I arrived at my grandmother’s house, but dared not see her. She would say, “Linda, you are killing me;” and I knew that would unnerve me. I tapped softly at the window of a room, occupied by a woman, who had lived in the house several years. I knew she was a faithful friend, and could be trusted with my secret. I tapped several times before she heard me. At last she raised the window, and I whispered, “Sally, I have run away. Let me in, quick.” She opened the door softly, and said in low tones, “For God’s sake, don’t. Your grandmother is trying to buy you and de chillern. Mr. Sands was here last week. He tole her he was going away on business, but he wanted her to go ahead about buying you and de chillern, and he would help her all he could. Don’t run away, Linda. Your grandmother is all bowed down wid trouble now.”

At half past twelve, I crept quietly downstairs. I stopped on the second floor because I thought I heard a noise. I felt my way into the parlor and looked out the window. The night was so dark that I could see nothing. I quietly raised the window and jumped out. Large drops of rain were falling, and the darkness confused me. I fell to my knees and said a short prayer to God for guidance and protection. I felt my way to the road and rushed toward town almost as fast as lightning. I reached my grandmother’s house, but I did not dare see her. She would say, “Linda, you are killing me,” and I knew her words would unnerve me. I tapped softly on the window of a room where a woman lived. She had lived in the house for several years. I knew she was a loyal friend who could be trusted with my secret. I tapped several times before she heard me. At last she raised the window, and I whispered, “Sally, I have run away. Let me in, quick.” She opened the door quietly and said in a low voice, “For God’s sake, don’t. Your grandmother is trying to buy you and the children. Mr. Sands was here last week. He told her he was going away on business. But he wanted her to go ahead with buying you and the children. He said he would help her all he could. Don’t run away, Linda. Your grandmother is already weighed down with trouble.”

I replied, “Sally, they are going to carry my children to the plantation to-morrow; and they will never sell them to any body so long as they have me in their power. Now, would you advise me to go back?”

I replied, “Sally, they are going to take my children to the plantation tomorrow. And they will never sell them to anyone as long as they have power over me. Now, would you advise me to go back?”

“No, chile, no,” answered she. “When dey finds you is gone, dey won’t want de plague ob de chillern; but where is you going to hide? Dey knows ebery inch ob dis house.”

“No, child, no,” she answered. “When they find you’re gone, they won’t want the trouble of the children. But where will you hide? They know every inch of this house.”

I told her I had a hiding-place, and that was all it was best for her to know. I asked her to go into my room as soon as it was light, and take all my clothes out of my trunk, and pack them in hers; for I knew Mr. Flint and the constable would be there early to search my room. I feared the sight of my children would be too much for my full heart; but I could not go out into the uncertain future without one last look. I bent over the bed where lay my little Benny and baby Ellen. Poor little ones! fatherless and motherless! Memories of their father came over me. He wanted to be kind to them; but they were not all to him, as they were to my womanly heart. I knelt and prayed for the innocent little sleepers. I kissed them lightly, and turned away.

I told her I had a hiding place, and that was all it was best for her to know. I asked her to go into my room as soon as it was light. She was to take all my clothes out of my trunk and pack them in hers. I knew Mr. Flint and the constable would come early to search my room. I feared that seeing my children would be too much for my already full heart. But I could not go out into the uncertain future without one last look. I bent over the bed where my little Benny and baby Ellen lay. Poor little ones! Fatherless and motherless! Memories of their father came back to me. He wanted to be kind to them, but they were not everything to him, as they were to my woman’s heart. I knelt and prayed for the innocent little sleepers. I kissed them lightly and turned away.

As I was about to open the street door, Sally laid her hand on my shoulder, and said, “Linda, is you gwine all alone? Let me call your uncle.”

As I was about to open the front door, Sally put her hand on my shoulder. She said, “Linda, are you going all alone? Let me call your uncle.”

“No, Sally,” I replied, “I want no one to be brought into trouble on my account.”

“No, Sally,” I replied, “I don’t want anyone to get into trouble because of me.”

I went forth into the darkness and rain. I ran on till I came to the house of the friend who was to conceal me.

I went out into the darkness and rain. I ran until I reached the house of the friend who would hide me.

Early the next morning Mr. Flint was at my grandmother’s inquiring for me. She told him she had not seen me, and supposed I was at the plantation. He watched her face narrowly, and said, “Don’t you know any thing about her running off?” She assured him that she did not. He went on to say, “Last night she ran off without the least provocation. We had treated her very kindly. My wife liked her. She will soon be found and brought back. Are her children with you?” When told that they were, he said, “I am very glad to hear that. If they are here, she cannot be far off. If I find out that any of my niggers have had any thing to do with this damned business, I’ll give ’em five hundred lashes.” As he started to go to his father’s, he turned round and added, persuasively, “Let her be brought back, and she shall have her children to live with her.”

Early the next morning, Mr. Flint came to my grandmother’s house asking for me. She told him she had not seen me and supposed I was at the plantation. He watched her face closely and said, “Don’t you know anything about her running away?” She assured him that she did not. He went on, “Last night she ran away for no reason at all. We had treated her very kindly. My wife liked her. She will soon be found and brought back. Are her children with you?” When he was told that they were, he said, “I am very glad to hear that. If they are here, she cannot be far away. If I find out that any of my niggers had anything to do with this damned business, I’ll give them five hundred lashes.” As he started to leave for his father’s house, he turned around and added, trying to persuade her, “Let her be brought back, and she can have her children live with her.”

The tidings made the old doctor rave and storm at a furious rate. It was a busy day for them. My grandmother’s house was searched from top to bottom. As my trunk was empty, they concluded I had taken my clothes with me. Before ten o’clock every vessel northward bound was thoroughly examined, and the law against harboring fugitives was read to all on board. At night a watch was set over the town. Knowing how distressed my grandmother would be, I wanted to send her a message; but it could not be done. Every one who went in or out of her house was closely watched. The doctor said he would take my children, unless she became responsible for them; which of course she willingly did. The next day was spent in searching. Before night, the following advertisement was posted at every corner, and in every public place for miles round:—

The news made the old doctor rage and shout furiously. It was a busy day for them. They searched my grandmother’s house from top to bottom. My trunk was empty, so they concluded that I had taken my clothes with me. Before ten o’clock, they thoroughly searched every ship headed north. They also read the law against sheltering fugitives to everyone on board. At night, a watch was set over the town. I knew how distressed my grandmother would be, and I wanted to send her a message. But I could not. Everyone who went in or out of her house was closely watched. The doctor said he would take my children unless she took responsibility for them. Of course, she willingly did so. The next day was spent searching. Before nightfall, the following advertisement was posted on every corner and in every public place for miles around:

“$300 Reward! Ran away from the subscriber, an intelligent, bright, mulatto girl, named Linda, 21 years of age. Five feet four inches high. Dark eyes, and black hair inclined to curl; but it can be made straight. Has a decayed spot on a front tooth. She can read and write, and in all probability will try to get to the Free States. All persons are forbidden, under penalty of the law, to harbor or employ said slave. $150 will be given to whoever takes her in the state, and $300 if taken out of the state and delivered to me, or lodged in jail.

“$300 Reward! An intelligent, light-skinned, mixed-race girl named Linda has run away from me. She is 21 years old and five feet four inches tall. She has dark eyes and black hair that tends to curl, but it can be straightened. She has a decayed spot on a front tooth. She can read and write, and she will probably try to reach the Free States. All people are forbidden by law to shelter or employ this enslaved girl. I will pay $150 to anyone who captures her in the state. I will pay $300 if she is captured outside the state and delivered to me or placed in jail.

Dr. Flint.”

Dr. Flint.”