could take him back to his master.  The landlady, being engaged in getting supper, set him to watch the cakes that were baking.  As she was passing back and forth he ostentatiously removed his hat, coat, and shoes, and placed them in the bar-room.  Having done this, he said to her, “I will step out a moment.”  This he did, she sending a boy to watch him.  When the boy came out he appeared to be very sick and called hastily for water.  The boy ran in to get it.  Now was his golden opportunity.  Jumping the fence he ran to a clump of trees which occupied low ground behind the house and concealing himself in it for a moment, ran and continued to run, he knew not whither, until he found himself at the toll gate near Petersburg, in Adams county.  Before this he had kept in the fields and forests, but now found himself compelled to come out upon the road.  The toll-gate keeper, seeing at once that he was a fugitive, said to him, “I guess you don’t know the road.”  “I guess I can find it myself,” was the reply.  “Let me show you,” said the man.  “You may if you please,” replied the fugitive.  Taking him out behind his dwelling, he pointed across the fields to a new brick farm-house, and said, “Go there and inquire for Mr. Wright.”  The slave thanked him and did as he was directed.

He remained with William Wright until April, 1829.  During this short time he learned to read, write, and cipher as far as the single rule of three, as it was then called, or simple proportion.  During his residence with William Wright, nothing could exceed his kindness or gratitude to the whole family.  He learned to graft trees, and thus rendered great assistance to William Wright in his necessary business.  When working in the kitchen during the winter he would never allow Phebe Wright to perform any hard labor, always scrubbing the floor and lifting heavy burdens for her.  Before he went away in the spring he assumed a name which his talents, perseverance, and genius have rendered famous in both hemispheres, that of James W.C.  Pennington.  The initial W. was for his benefactor’s family, and C. for the family of his former master.  From William Wright’s he went to Daniel Gibbons’, thence to Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and from there to New Haven, Conn., where, while performing the duties of janitor at Yale College, he completed the studies of the college course.  After a few years, he went to Heidelberg, where the degree of D.D. was conferred upon him.  He never forgot William Wright and his family, and on his return from Europe brought them each a present.  The story of his escape and wonderful abilities was spread over England.  An American acquaintance of the Wright family was astonished, on visiting an Anti-slavery fair in London many years ago, to see among the pictures for sale there, one entitled, “William and Phebe Wright receiving James W.C.  Pennington.”  The Dr. died in Florida, in 1870, where he had gone to preach and assist in opening schools amongst the Freemen.