t number whose
experience had turned their love for the dear old home into hate. She
had witnessed the killing of a poor wretch right in front of her door,
within a stone's throw of his home; had heard the agonizing wails of his
wife and children--a sight which she had never expected to witness in
Wilmington. The roar of cannon and musketry, the yells of frightened
women and children kept her poor, helpless husband in constant terror,
hanging on to her skirts like a babe. And now, although weeks had passed
since that fatal day, the native white, emboldened by re-enforcement and
the demoralization of colored men, kept up the reign of terror. Colored
women of respectability who had not fled the city were compelled to
remain prisoners in their homes to escape ignominious treatment upon the
highways.

It was a few mornings after Thanksgiving Day when Mrs. West left her
cottage on Campbell street and ventured over to pay a visit to Mrs.
Sikes. "Well, Henrietta, how have you managed to live through it all?"
she asked, throwing her arms about the waist of Mrs. Sikes, who saw her
approaching, and had gone out upon the porch to greet her. "And poor
William! I've thought of you oh! so many times, Henrietta, knowing of
just how much you were in need of his protection during these days of
trial." "Yes," answered Mrs. Sikes, leading the visitor in and bolting
the door. "The burden upon his poor wife's shoulders is indeed heavy;
but, then, our men are unable to protect us, anyway, so great are the
odds against them." "Oh, Wilmington! Wilmington! who would have thought
that thou wouldst be the theatre for the tragedy enacted within thy
borders!" interrupted Mrs. West. "Some of us, at least, are too well
bred, have too much self-respect and pride to stand and endure this
state of things that exists now in our home. We could go to church and
worship unmolested in the days of slavery; now we have not been
permitted for weeks to hold public worship. They are determined to place
and keep North Carolina on a level with States further South. Would you
believe it? one of our white ladies sent her servant down to the bandit
Mayor to be whipped the other day." "Yes," said Mrs. Sikes, "another
went down to have a Negro woman driven out of her own house because she
lived in a white neighborhood and the children had had a little trouble
among themselves. And the poor black woman, to remain in her house, was
compelled to get down on her knees and b