es to stand up, in such
circumstances. A man, homeless, shelterless, breadless, friendless, and
moneyless, is not in a condition to assume a very proud or joyous tone;
and in just this condition was I, while wandering about the streets of
New York city and lodging, at least one night, among the barrels on one
of its wharves. I was not only free from slavery, but I was free from
home, as well. The reader{265} will easily see that I had something more
than the simple fact of being free to think of, in this extremity.

I kept my secret as long as I could, and at last was forced to go in
search of an honest man--a man sufficiently _human_ not to betray me
into the hands of slave-catchers. I was not a bad reader of the human
face, nor long in selecting the right man, when once compelled to
disclose the facts of my condition to some one.

I found my man in the person of one who said his name was Stewart. He
was a sailor, warm-hearted and generous, and he listened to my story
with a brother's interest. I told him I was running for my freedom--knew
not where to go--money almost gone--was hungry--thought it unsafe to go
the shipyards for work, and needed a friend. Stewart promptly put me in
the way of getting out of my trouble. He took me to his house, and went
in search of the late David Ruggles, who was then the secretary of the
New York Vigilance Committee, and a very active man in all anti-slavery
works. Once in the hands of Mr. Ruggles, I was comparatively safe. I was
hidden with Mr. Ruggles several days. In the meantime, my intended wife,
Anna, came on from Baltimore--to whom I had written, informing her of my
safe arrival at New York--and, in the presence of Mrs. Mitchell and Mr.
Ruggles, we were married, by Rev. James W. C. Pennington.

Mr. Ruggles [7] was the first officer on the under-ground railroad with
whom I met after reaching the north, and, indeed, the first of whom I
ever heard anything. Learning that I was a calker by trade, he promptly
decided that New Bedford was the proper{266} place to send me. "Many
ships," said he, "are there fitted out for the whaling business, and you
may there find work at your trade, and make a good living." Thus, in
one fortnight after my flight from Maryland, I was safe in New Bedford,
regularly entered upon the exercise of the rights, responsibilities, and
duties of a freeman.

I may mention a little circumstance which annoyed me on reaching New
Bedford. I had not a cent of mone