Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/182

162 die with grief; I prayed God to take me out of the world; then I thought it was wrong to do so; I remembered hearing my mistress say Canada was a place where all the coloured people were free. Then I prayed God to enable me to get there. Not knowing what moment my husband might be sold from me, or me from him, we made up our minds to run away; during the Christmas holidays we asked our master for a pass (his written consent) to go to see our children, which he kindly granted. We took our children and immediately started for Canada; we were twelve weeks coming; we prayed and travelled. Many a time we would eat corn by the way. She said, "I have not that for my children now." She paused for a moment, and burst into tears. We were all silent for the time being; her husband could no longer restrain his feelings at the truthful recital of this sad story, which is only one among thousands; her feelings in some degree subsiding, and gaining her self-possession, This, said she, is worse than my present condition. Said I, "Very true, you are free; but had you not rather be in Slavery and have enough to eat, without begging, as you have to do?" "No, no; I had rather be free, and crawl on my hands and knees from door to door." I could not but admire her