, to do all she possibly could, to help the
poor fugitives on their way to freedom. Many interesting
incidents occurred at the home of my uncle. I will relate one.
He had living with him at one time, two colored men, Thomas
Colbert and John Stewart. The latter was from Maryland; John
often said he would go back and get his wife. My uncle asked him
if he was not afraid of his master's catching him. He said no,
for his master knew if he undertook to take him, he would kill
him. He did go and brought his wife to my uncle's.

While these two large men, Tom and John, were there, along came
Robert (other name unknown), in a bad plight, his feet bleeding.
Robert was put in the barn to thrash, until he could be fixed up
to go again on his journey. But in a few days, behold, along
came his master. He brought with him that notorious constable,
Haines, from Lancaster, and one other man. They came suddenly
upon Robert; as soon as he saw them he ran and jumped out of the
"overshoot," some ten feet down. In jumping, he put one knee out
of joint. The men ran around the barn and seized him. By this
time, the two colored men, Tom and John, came, together with my
uncle and aunt. Poor Robert owned his master, but John told them
they should not take him away, and was going at them with a
club. One of the men drew a pistol to shoot John, but uncle told
him he had better not shoot him; this was not a slave State.
Inasmuch as Robert had owned his master, Uncle told John he must
submit, so they put Robert on a horse, and started with him.
After they were gone John said: "Mr. Gibbons, just say the word,
and I will bring Robert back." Aunt said: "Go, John, go!" So
John ran to Joseph Rakestraw's and got a gun (without any lock),
and ran across the fields, with Tom after him, and headed the
party. The men all ran except Haines, who kept Robert between
himself and John, so that John should not shoot him. But John
called out to Robert to drop off that horse, or he would shoot
him. This Robert did, and John and Tom brought him back in
triumph. My aunt said: "John, thee is a good fellow, thee has
done well." Robert was taken to Jesse Gilbert's barn, and Dr.
Dingee fixed his knee. As soon as he was able to travel, he took
a "bee-line" for the North star.

My life with my uncle and aunt made me an abolitio