P.S. I ought to say, that I have no doubt but there were good
reasons for the P. Boy's going to Richmond instead of W.; _but
what can they be_?
Whilst there are a score of other interesting letters, bearing on this
case, the above must suffice, to give at least, an idea of the
perplexities and dangers attending its early history. Having
accomplished this end, a more encouraging and pleasant phase of the
transaction may now be introduced. Here the difficulties, at least very
many of them, vanish, yet in one respect, the danger became most
imminent. The following letter shows that the girl had been successfully
rescued from her master, and that a reward of five hundred dollars had
been offered for her.
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 12, 1855.
MR. WM. STILL:--AS YOU PICK UP ALL THE NEWS THAT IS STIRRING, I
CONTRIBUTE A FEW SCRAPS TO YOUR STOCK, GOING TO SHOW THAT THE
POOR SLAVE-HOLDERS HAVE THEIR TROUBLES AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE.
FOUR HEAVY LOSSES ON ONE SMALL SCRAP CUT FROM A SINGLE NUMBER OF
THE "SUN!" HOW VEXATIOUS! HOW PROVOKING! ON THE OTHER HAND,
THINK OF THE POOR, TIMID, BREATHLESS, FLYING CHILD OF FIFTEEN!
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD! OH, FOR SUCCOR! TO WHOM IN ALL THIS
WIDE LAND OF FREEDOM SHALL SHE FLEE AND FIND SAFETY?
ALAS!--ALAS!--THE LAW POINTS TO NO ONE!
IS SHE STILL RUNNING WITH BLEEDING FEET?[A] OR HIDES SHE IN SOME
COLD CAVE, TO REST AND STARVE? "$500 REWARD." YOURS, FOR THE
WEAK AND THE POOR. PERISH THE REWARD.
[Footnote A: At the time this letter was written, she was then
under Mr. B.'s protection in Washington, and had to be so kept
for six weeks. His question, therefore, "is she still running
with bleeding feet," etc., was simply a precautionary step to
blind any who might perchance investigate the matter.]