lar circumstances. Let him be a fugitive slave
in a strange land--a land given up to be the hunting-ground for
slaveholders--whose inhabitants are legalized kidnappers--where he is
every moment subjected to the terrible liability of being seized upon
by his fellowmen, as the hideous crocodile seizes upon his prey!--I say,
let him place himself in my situation--without home or friends--without
money or credit--wanting shelter, and no one to give it--wanting bread,
and no money to buy it,--and at the same time let him feel that he is
pursued by merciless men-hunters, and in total darkness as to what to
do, where to go, or where to stay,--perfectly helpless both as to the
means of defence and means of escape,--in the midst of plenty, yet
suffering the terrible gnawings of hunger,--in the midst of houses, yet
having no home,--among fellow-men, yet feeling as if in the midst
of wild beasts, whose greediness to swallow up the trembling and
half-famished fugitive is only equalled by that with which the monsters
of the deep swallow up the helpless fish upon which they subsist,--I
say, let him be placed in this most trying situation,--the situation in
which I was placed,--then, and not till then, will he fully appreciate
the hardships of, and know how to sympathize with, the toil-worn and
whip-scarred fugitive slave.

Thank Heaven, I remained but a short time in this distressed situation.
I was relieved from it by the humane hand of Mr. DAVID RUGGLES, whose
vigilance, kindness, and perseverance, I shall never forget. I am
glad of an opportunity to express, as far as words can, the love and
gratitude I bear him. Mr. Ruggles is now afflicted with blindness, and
is himself in need of the same kind offices which he was once so forward
in the performance of toward others. I had been in New York but a few
days, when Mr. Ruggles sought me out, and very kindly took me to his
boarding-house at the corner of Church and Lespenard Streets. Mr.
Ruggles was then very deeply engaged in the memorable _Darg_ case, as
well as attending to a number of other fugitive slaves, devising ways
and means for their successful escape; and, though watched and hemmed in
on almost every side, he seemed to be more than a match for his enemies.

Very soon after I went to Mr. Ruggles, he wished to know of me where
I wanted to go; as he deemed it unsafe for me to remain in New York. I
told him I was a calker, and should like to go where I could get work.
I thoug