The Underground Railroad eBook

William Still
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,446 pages of information about The Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad eBook

William Still
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,446 pages of information about The Underground Railroad.

The following pointed epistle, from Jeremiah Colburn alias William Cooper, beautifully illustrates the effects of Freedom on many a passenger who received hospitalities at the Philadelphia depot—­

    SYRACUSE, June 9th, 1858.

MR. STILL:—­Dear Sir:—­One of your Underground R.R.  Passenger Drop you these few Lines to let you see that he have not forgoten you one who have Done so much for him well sir I am still in Syracuse, well in regard to what I am Doing for a Living I no you would like to hear, I am in the Painting Business, and have as much at that as I can do, and enough to Last me all the Summer, I had a knolledge of Painting Before I Left the South, the Hotell where I was working Last winter the Proprietor fail & shot up in the Spring and I Loose evry thing that I was working for all Last winter.  I have Ritten a Letter to my Friend P. Christianson some time a goo & have never Received an Answer, I hope this wont Be the case with this one, I have an idea sir, next winter iff I can this summer make Enough to Pay Expenses, to goo to that school at McGrowville & spend my winter their.  I am going sir to try to Prepair myself for a Lectuer, I am going sir By the Help of god to try and Do something for the Caus to help my Poor Breathern that are suffering under the yoke.  Do give my Respect to Mrs Stills & Perticular to Miss Julia Kelly, I supose she is still with you yet, I am in great hast you must excuse my short letter.  I hope these few Lines may fine you as they Leave me quite well.  It will afford me much Pleasure to hear from you.

    yours Truly,

    WILLIAM COOPER.

    John Thompson is still here and Doing well.

It will be seen that this young Charlestonian had rather exalted notions in his head.  He was contemplating going to McGrawville College, for the purpose of preparing himself for the lecturing field.  Was it not rather strange that he did not want to return to his “kind-hearted old mistress?”

THOMAS HENRY, NATHAN COLLINS AND HIS WIFE MARY ELLEN.—­Thomas is about twenty-six, quite dark, rather of a raw-boned make, indicating that times with him had been other than smooth.  A certain Josiah Wilson owned Thomas.  He was a cross, rugged man, allowing not half enough to eat, and worked his slaves late and early.  Especially within the last two or three months previous to the escape, he had been intensely savage, in consequence of having lost, not long before, two of his servants.  Ever since that misfortune, he had frequently talked of “putting the rest in his pocket.”  This distressing threat made the rest love him none the more; but, to make assurances doubly sure, after giving them their supper every evening, which consisted of delicious “skimmed milk, corn cake and a herring each,” he would very carefully send them up in the loft over the kitchen, and there “lock them up,” to remain until called the next morning at three or four o’clock to go to work again.  Destitute of money, clothing, and a knowledge of the way, situated as they were they concluded to make an effort for Canada.

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Project Gutenberg
The Underground Railroad from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.