nown
naught but misery and sorrow.

Mrs. Cahell, having engaged board for a month at a fashionable private
boarding-house on Chestnut street, took an early opportunity to caution
Cordelia against going into the streets, and against having anything to
say or do with "free niggers in particular"; withal, she appeared
unusually kind, so much so, that before retiring to bed in the evening,
she would call Cordelia to her chamber, and by her side would take her
Prayer-book and Bible, and go through the forms of devotional service.
She stood very high both as a church communicant and a lady in society.

For a fortnight it seemed as though her prayers were to be answered, for
Cordelia apparently bore herself as submissively as ever, and Madame
received calls and accepted invitations from some of the _elite_ of the
city, without suspecting any intention on the part of Cordelia to
escape. But Cordelia could not forget how her children had all been sold
by her mistress!

Cordelia was about fifty-seven years of age, with about an equal
proportion of colored and white blood in her veins; very neat,
respectful and prepossessing in manner.

From her birth to the hour of her escape she had worn the yoke under
Mrs. C., as her most efficient and reliable maid-servant. She had been
at her mistress' beck and call as seamstress, dressing-maid, nurse in
the sickroom, etc., etc., under circumstances that might appear to the
casual observer uncommonly favorable for a slave. Indeed, on his first
interview with her, the Committee man was so forcibly impressed with the
belief, that her condition in Virginia had been favorable, that he
hesitated to ask her if she did not desire her liberty. A few moments'
conversation with her, however, convinced him of her good sense and
decision of purpose with regard to this matter. For, in answer to the
first question he put to her, she answered, that, "As many creature
comforts and religious privileges as she had been the recipient of under
her 'kind mistress,' still she 'wanted to be free,' and 'was bound to
leave,' that she had been 'treated very cruelly,' that her children had
'all been sold away' from her; that she had been threatened with sale
herself 'on the first insult,'" etc.

She was willing to take the entire responsibility of taking care of
herself. On the suggestion of a friend, before leaving her mistress, she
was disposed to sue for her freedom, but, upon a reconsideration of the
matter,