Before she had time to take all the steps necessary to insure success in this undertaking, her master was informed of her being in the city, and sent constables in pursuit of her.  Luckily, her friends were apprized of this in season to give her warning; and her own courage and ingenuity proved adequate to the emergency.  She disguised herself in sailor’s clothes, and walked boldly to the Philadelphia boat.  There she walked up and down the deck, with her arms folded, smoking a cigar, and occasionally passing and repassing the constables who had been sent on board in search of her.  These men, having watched till the last moment for the arrival of a colored woman answering to her description, took their departure.  The boat started, and brought the courageous mother safely to Philadelphia, where Friend Hopper and others rejoiced over the history of her hair-breadth escape.

A few weeks after, she went to the place where her child had been left, and succeeded in bringing it safely away.  For a short time, her happiness seemed to be complete; but when the first flush of joy and thankfulness had subsided, she began to be harassed with continual fears lest she and her child should be arrested in some evil hour, and carried back into slavery.  By unremitting industry, and very strict economy, she strove to lay by money enough to purchase their freedom.  She had made friends by her good conduct and obliging ways, while her maternal affection and enterprising character excited a good deal of interest among those acquainted with her history.  Donations were occasionally added to her earnings, and a sum was soon raised sufficient to accomplish her favorite project.  Isaac T. Hopper entered into negotiation with her master, and succeeded in obtaining manumission for her and her child.

COLONEL RIDGELEY’S SLAVE.

A slave escaped from Colonel Ridgeley, who resided in the southern part of Virginia.  He went to Philadelphia, and remained there undiscovered for several years.  But he was never quite free from anxiety, lest in some unlucky hour, he should be arrested and carried back to bondage.  When he had laid up some money, he called upon Isaac T. Hopper to assist him in buying the free use of his own limbs.  A negotiation was opened with Col.  Ridgeley, who agreed to take two hundred dollars for the fugitive, and appointed a time to come to Philadelphia to arrange the business.  But instead of keeping his agreement honorably, he went to that city several weeks before the specified time, watched for his bondman, seized him, and conveyed him to Friend Hopper’s office.  When the promised two hundred dollars were offered, he refused to accept them.

“Why, that is the sum thou hast agreed upon,” said Friend Hopper.

“I know that,” replied the Colonel; “but I won’t take it now.  He was the best servant I ever had.  I can sell him for one thousand dollars in Virginia.  Under present circumstances, I will take five hundred dollars for him, and not one cent less.”