had impressed his intentions on her mind.  Finally, when I was ready to start, my mistress took a notion to go out to ride, and desired me to dress her little boy, and then get ready for church.  Extensive hoops were then worn, and as I had attached my whole wardrobe under mine by a cord around my waist, it required considerable dexterity and no small amount of maneuvering to hide the fact from my mistress.  While attending to the child I had managed to stand in one corner of the room, for fear she might come in contact with me and thus discover that my hoops were not so elastic as they usually are.  I endeavored to conceal my excitement by backing and edging very genteelly out of the door.  I had nine pieces of clothing thus concealed on my person, and as the string which fastened them was small it caused me considerable discomfort.  To my great satisfaction I at last passed into the street, and my master and mistress drove down the street in great haste and were soon out of sight.  I saw my guide patiently awaiting me.  I followed him at a distance until we arrived at the church, and there met two young ladies, one of whom handed me a pass and told me to follow them at a square’s distance.  It was now twilight.  There was a company of soldiers about to take passage across the ferry, and I followed.  I showed my pass, and proceeded up the stairs on the boat.  While thus ascending the stairs, the cord which held my bundle of clothing broke, and my feet became entangled in my wardrobe, but by proceeding, the first step released one foot and the next the other.  This was observed only by a few soldiers, who were too deeply engaged in their own affairs to interfere with mine.  I seated myself in a remote corner of the boat, and in a few moments I landed on free soil for the first time in my life, except when hurled through Albany and Springfield at the time of our capture.  I was now under my own control.  The cars were waiting in Jefferson City for the passengers for Indianapolis, where we arrived about nine o’clock.

MATTIE IN INDIANAPOLIS—­THE GLORY OF FREEDOM—­PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S REMAINS EXHIBITED

My first business, after my arrival at Indianapolis was to find a boarding place in which I at once succeeded, and in a few hours thereafter was at a place of service of my own choice.  I had always been under the yoke of oppression, compelled to submit to its laws, and not allowed to advance a rod from the house, or even out of call, without a severe punishment.  Now this constant fear and restless yearning was over.  It appeared as though I had emerged into a new world, or had never lived in the old one before.  The people I lived with were Unionists, and became immediately interested in teaching and encouraging me in my literary advancement and all other important improvements, which precisely met the natural desires for which my soul had ever yearned since my earliest recollection.