I asked him if there was any way for us to
get to Dresden that night. He answered,
’No, it is a dark night, and a muddy road, and
no conveyance can be got tonight.’
I soon found that we must stay in Chatham
until Monday morning.
On our way to the boarding-house,
the gentleman said to me: ‘Is this
your son with you?’ I answered, no; and then
I asked him, if he knew a man living in D., by the
name of Bradley. He replied that he was
very well acquainted with him, and then inquired
if that young man was Mr. Bradley’s
brother. I said, no—not exactly a
brother. He must have thought it strange
that I did not give him a more definite answer
to his question.
When we reached the house, we found
several boarders in the sitting-room and a
few neighbors. I had already told him
my name, but with regard to Joe, I had not yet had
a chance to explain. I, of course, was
introduced to those who were in the room,
but Joe—well, Joe took a seat, and
did not seem to be troubled about an introduction.
As the landlord was going out of the room,
I asked permission to speak with him alone.
He took me into another room, and I said to
him: ’That young man, as you call
him, is a young woman, and has come dressed in this
manner, all the way from Washington City.
She would be very glad now to be able to change
her clothes.’
He was greatly surprised, and would
hardly believe that it was so; but said, ‘I
will call my wife.’ She came, and
I guess all the women in the house came with her.
They soon disappeared, and Joe with them, who,
after being absent a while, returned, and
was introduced as Miss Ann Maria Weems.
The whole company were on their feet, shook
hands, laughed, and rejoiced, declaring that this
beat all they had ever seen before. Chatham contains,
I was told, more than three thousand fugitives.
The weather there, is not colder than in New York.
The next morning was the Sabbath,
but this I must pass and hasten to D., the
residence of Mr. Bradley. We started
early Monday morning. As a part of the road was
very bad, we did not reach there till a late
hour. As we were passing along, and getting
near to the place, we met two colored men
who were talking together—one on horseback,
and the other on foot. I inquired of them, if
they could tell me how far it was to Mr. Bradley’s.
The man on horseback said it was about a mile
further, and then proceeded to give directions.
After he had done this, he said: ’I
reckon I am the one that you want to find,
my name is Bradley.’ Well, I replied, probably
you are the man. Just then Ann Maria
turned her head around. As soon as he
saw her face, he exclaimed: ’My Lord!
Maria, is that you? Is that you?
My child, is it you? We never expected
to see you again! We had given you up; O, what
will your aunt say? It will kill her! She
will die! It will kill her.’
I told him, that as I was obliged
Print
Word
PDF
