eased was he, that he gave me TWENTY-FIVE CENTS! and "bade me make
good use of it!" I told him I would, for one of the uses to which I
meant to put it, was to pay my fare on the underground railroad.

Things without went on as usual; but I was passing through the same
internal excitement and anxiety which I had experienced two years and
a half before. The failure, in that instance, was not calculated to
increase my confidence in the success of this, my second attempt; and I
knew that a second failure could not leave me where my first did--I must
either get to the _far north_, or be sent to the _far south_. Besides
the exercise of mind from this state of facts, I had the painful
sensation of being about to separate from a circle of honest and warm
hearted friends, in Baltimore. The thought of such a separation, where
the hope of ever meeting again is excluded, and where there can be no
correspondence, is very painful. It is my opinion, that thousands would
escape from{258} slavery who now remain there, but for the strong cords
of affection that bind them to their families, relatives and friends.
The daughter is hindered from escaping, by the love she bears her
mother, and the father, by the love he bears his children; and so, to
the end of the chapter. I had no relations in Baltimore, and I saw no
probability of ever living in the neighborhood of sisters and brothers;
but the thought of leaving my friends, was among the strongest
obstacles to my running away. The last two days of the week--Friday and
Saturday--were spent mostly in collecting my things together, for my
journey. Having worked four days that week, for my master, I handed him
six dollars, on Saturday night. I seldom spent my Sundays at home; and,
for fear that something might be discovered in my conduct, I kept up
my custom, and absented myself all day. On Monday, the third day of
September, 1838, in accordance with my resolution, I bade farewell to
the city of Baltimore, and to that slavery which had been my abhorrence
from childhood.

How I got away--in what direction I traveled--whether by land or by
water; whether with or without assistance--must, for reasons already
mentioned, remain unexplained.

LIFE as a FREEMAN

CHAPTER XXII. _Liberty Attained_

TRANSITION FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM--A WANDERER IN NEW YORK--FEELINGS
ON REACHING THAT CITY--AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE MET--UNFAVORABLE
IMPRESSIONS--LONELINESS AND INSECURITY--APOLOGY FOR SLAVE