The day before his departure for Washington I made arrangements, toward evening, to get from my hiding-place into the storeroom below.  I found myself so stiff and clumsy that it was with great difficulty I could hitch from one resting place to another.  When I reached the storeroom my ankles gave way under me, and I sank exhausted on the floor.  It seemed as if I could never use my limbs again.  But the purpose I had in view roused all the strength I had.  I crawled on my hands and knees to the window, and, screened behind a barrel, I waited for his coming.  The clock struck nine, and I knew the steamboat would leave between ten and eleven.  My hopes were failing.  But presently I heard his voice, saying to some one, “Wait for me a moment.  I wish to see aunt Martha.”  When he came out, as he passed the window, I said, “Stop one moment, and let me speak for my children.”  He started, hesitated, and then passed on, and went out of the gate.  I closed the shutter I had partially opened, and sank down behind the barrel.  I had suffered much; but seldom had I experienced a keener pang than I then felt.  Had my children, then, become of so little consequence to him?  And had he so little feeling for their wretched mother that he would not listen a moment while she pleaded for them?  Painful memories were so busy within me, that I forgot I had not hooked the shutter, till I heard some one opening it.  I looked up.  He had come back.  “Who called me?” said he, in a low tone.  “I did,” I replied.  “Oh, Linda,” said he, “I knew your voice; but I was afraid to answer, lest my friend should hear me.  Why do you come here?  Is it possible you risk yourself in this house?  They are mad to allow it.  I shall expect to hear that you are all ruined,” I did not wish to implicate him, by letting him know my place of concealment; so I merely said, “I thought you would come to bid grandmother good by, and so I came here to speak a few words to you about emancipating my children.  Many changes may take place during the six months you are gone to Washington, and it does not seem right for you to expose them to the risk of such changes.  I want nothing for myself; all I ask is, that you will free my children, or authorize some friend to do it, before you go.”

He promised he would do it, and also expressed a readiness; to make any arrangements whereby I could be purchased.

I heard footsteps approaching, and closed the shutter hastily.  I wanted to crawl back to my den, without letting the family know what I had done; for I knew they would deem it very imprudent.  But he stepped back into the house, to tell my grandmother that he had spoken with me at the storeroom window, and to beg of her not to allow me to remain in the house over night He said it was the height of madness for me to be there; that we should certainly all be ruined.  Luckily, he was in too much of a hurry to wait for a reply, or the dear old woman would surely have told him all.