The contents of Mr. Thorne’s letter, as nearly as I can remember, were as follows:  “I have seen your slave, Linda, and conversed with her.  She can be taken very easily, if you manage prudently.  There are enough of us here to swear to her identity as your property.  I am a patriot, a lover of my country, and I do this as an act of justice to the laws.”  He concluded by informing the doctor of the street and number where I lived.  The children carried the pieces to Mrs. Hobbs, who immediately went to her brother’s room for an explanation.  He was not to be found.  The servants said they saw him go out with a letter in his hand, and they supposed he had gone to the post office.  The natural inference was, that he had sent to Dr. Flint a copy of those fragments.  When he returned, his sister accused him of it, and he did not deny the charge.  He went immediately to his room, and the next morning he was missing.  He had gone over to New York, before any of the family were astir.

It was evident that I had no time to lose; and I hastened back to the city with a heavy heart.  Again I was to be torn from a comfortable home, and all my plans for the welfare of my children were to be frustrated by that demon Slavery!  I now regretted that I never told Mrs. Bruce my story.  I had not concealed it merely on account of being a fugitive; that would have made her anxious, but it would have excited sympathy in her kind heart.  I valued her good opinion, and I was afraid of losing it, if I told her all the particulars of my sad story.  But now I felt that it was necessary for her to know how I was situated.  I had once left her abruptly, without explaining the reason, and it would not be proper to do it again.  I went home resolved to tell her in the morning.  But the sadness of my face attracted her attention, and, in answer to her kind inquiries, I poured out my full heart to her, before bed time.  She listened with true womanly sympathy, and told me she would do all she could to protect me.  How my heart blessed her!

Early the next morning, Judge Vanderpool and Lawyer Hopper were consulted.  They said I had better leave the city at once, as the risk would be great if the case came to trial.  Mrs. Bruce took me in a carriage to the house of one of her friends, where she assured me I should be safe until my brother could arrive, which would be in a few days.  In the interval my thoughts were much occupied with Ellen.  She was mine by birth, and she was also mine by Southern law, since my grandmother held the bill of sale that made her so.  I did not feel that she was safe unless I had her with me.  Mrs. Hobbs, who felt badly about her brother’s treachery, yielded to my entreaties, on condition that she should return in ten days.  I avoided making any promise.  She came to me clad in very thin garments, all outgrown, and with a school satchel on her arm, containing a few articles.  It was late in October, and I knew the child must suffer; and not daring to go out in the streets to purchase any thing, I took off my own flannel skirt and converted it into one for her.  Kind Mrs. Bruce came to bid me good by, and when she saw that I had taken off my clothing for my child, the tears came to her eyes.  She said, “Wait for me, Linda,” and went out.  She soon returned with a nice warm shawl and hood for Ellen.  Truly, of such souls as hers are the kingdom of heaven.