her warrant. She
perceived, by Miss Matilda's words and manner, in the first place, that
liberty was desirable, and, in the second, that she COULD take it. But,
ignorant child as she was, she little knew the difficulties that stood
in the way.

She had now lived several years in Mr. Lee's family, and had grown wiser
in many respects. She began to realize more fully what it was to be a
slave, and what her probable prospects were, if she did not escape. She
learned that there was a place, not a great way from her Virginian home,
where people did not hold her race in bondage; where she could go and
come as she pleased, choose her own employers and occupation, be paid
for her labor, provide for herself, and perhaps some day have a home of
her own, with husband and children whom she could hold and enjoy. Do you
think it strange that such a condition seemed attractive, and that she
was willing to make great efforts and run fearful risks to reach it?

She kept her intentions profoundly secret. Even Mammy Grace and Uncle
Simon, her best friends, were not in her confidence. But she prayed
about it constantly, and sought information from every possible source
with regard to this free land,--where it was, and how it could be
reached,--and at last formed her plan, which she determined to carry out
during the coming summer.

She knew she must have money, if she was going to travel, and for a
long time she had been carefully saving up all she could command. She
constantly endeavored to make herself useful in various ways in order to
get it. The summer-time was her money harvest; and this season she was
delighted to find visitors thronging to the Springs in greater numbers
than she had ever seen before. She knew if there was plenty of company,
there would be plenty of business, and consequently a plenty of money;
for the class of people who came there were for the most part wealthy,
and were quite willing to pay for the attentions they received. The
little brick houses in which they lodged were under the care of the
slave girls. Each one had two of these cabins, as they were called, in
charge, and were required to keep them in order, to wait upon the ladies
and children, and serve them at the table. Tidy was unwearied in her
efforts to please. She answered promptly to every call, and kept her
rooms in the neatest manner; and for her pains she received many a
bright coin, which was providently stored away in a little bag, and
conce