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tself that proved quite success… ful； and in eight days after it was first thought of we were free from the horrible trammels of slavery； and glorifying God who had brought us safely out of a land of bondage。
Knowing that slaveholders have the privilege of taking their slaves to any part of the country they think proper； it occurred to me that； as my wife was nearly white； I might get her to disguise herself as an invalid gentleman； and assume to be my master； while I could attend as his slave； and that in this manner we might effect our escape。 After I thought of the plan； I sug… gested it to my wife； but at first she shrank from the idea。 She thought it was almost impossible for her to assume that disguise； and travel a dis… tance of 1；000 miles across the slave States。 How… ever； on the other hand； she also thought of her condition。 She saw that the laws under which we lived did not recognize her to be a woman； but a mere chattel； to be bought and sold； or otherwise dealt with as her owner might see fit。 Therefore the more she contemplated her helpless condition； the more anxious she was to escape from it。 So she said； 〃I think it is almost too much for us to undertake； however； I feel that God is on our side； and with his assistance； notwithstanding all the difficulties； we shall be able to succeed。 There… fore； if you will purchase the disguise； I will try to carry out the plan。〃
But after I concluded to purchase the disguise； I was afraid to go to any one to ask him to sell me the articles。 It is unlawful in Georgia for a white man to trade with slaves without the master's con… sent。 But； notwithstanding this； many persons will sell a slave any article that he can get the money to buy。 Not that they sympathize with the slave； but merely because his testimony is not admitted in court against a free white person。
Therefore； with little difficulty I went to dif… ferent parts of the town； at odd times； and purchased things piece by piece； （except the trowsers which she found necessary to make；） and took them home to the house where my wife resided。 She being a ladies' maid； and a favourite slave in the family； was allowed a little room to herself； and amongst other pieces of furniture which I had made in my overtime； was a chest of drawers； so when I took the articles home； she locked them up carefully in these drawers。 No one about the premises knew that she had anything of the kind。 So when we fancied we had everything ready the time was fixed for the flight。 But we knew it would not do to start off without first getting our master's con… sent to be away for a few days。 Had we left with… out this； they would soon have had us back into slavery； and probably we should never have got another fair opportunity of even attempting to escape。
Some of the best slaveholders will sometimes give their favourite slaves a few days' holiday at Christmas time； so； after no little amount of per… severance on my wife's part； she obtained a pass from her mistress； allowing her to be away for a few days。 The cabinet…maker with whom I worked gave me a similar paper； but said that he needed my services very much； and wished me to return as soon as the time granted was up。 I thanked him kindly； but somehow I have not been able to make it convenient to return yet； and； as the free air of good old England agrees so well with my wife and our dear little ones； as well as with myself； it is not at all likely we shall return at present to the 〃peculiar in… stitution〃 of chains and stripes。
On reaching my wife's cottage she handed me her pass； and I showed mine； but at that time neither of us were able to read them。 It is not only unlawful for slaves to be taught to read； but in some of the States there are heavy penalties at… tached； such as fines and imprisonment； which will be vigorously enforced upon any one who is humane enough to violate the so…called law。
The following case will serve to show how per… sons are treated in the most enlightened slavehold… ing community。
〃INDICTMENT。
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA； ｝ In the Circuit
NORFOLK COUNTY； ss。｝ Court。 The Grand Jurors empannelled in the body of the said County on their oath present； that Margaret Doug… lass； being an evil disposed person； not having the fear of God before her eyes； but moved and insti… gated by the devil； wickedly； maliciously； and feloniously； on the fourth day of July； in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty… four； at Norfolk； in said County； did teach a certain black girl named Kate to read in the Bible； to the great displeasure of Almighty God； to the per… nicious example of others in like case offending； contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided； and against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Virginia。
〃VICTOR VAGABOND； Prosecuting Attorney。〃
〃On this indictment Mrs。 Douglass was arraigned as a necessary matter of form； tried； found guilty of course； and Judge Scalaway； before whom she was tried； having consulted with Dr。 Adams； or… dered the sheriff to place Mrs。 Douglass in the prisoner's box； when he addressed her as follows： 'Margaret Douglass； stand up。 You are guilty of one of the vilest crimes that ever disgraced society； and the jury have found you so。 You have taught a slave girl to read in the Bible。 No enlightened society can exist where such offences go unpun… ished。 The Court； in your case； do not feel for you one solitary ray of sympathy； and they will inflict on you the utmost penalty of the law。 In any other civilized country you would have paid the forfeit of your crime with your life； and the Court have only to regret that such is not the law in this country。 The sentence for your offence is； that you be imprisoned one month in the county jail； and that you pay the costs of this prosecution。 Sheriff； remove the prisoner to jail。' On the pub… lication of these proceedings； the Doctors of Divinity preached each a sermon on the necessity of obeying the laws； the New York Observer noticed with much pious gladness a revival of religion on Dr。 Smith's plantation in Georgia； among his slaves； while the Journal of Commerce commended this political preaching of the Doctors of Divinity because it favoured slavery。 Let us do nothing to offend our Southern brethren。〃
However； at first； we were highly delighted at the idea of having gained permission to be absent for a few days； but when the thought flashed across my wife's mind； that it was customary for travellers to register their names in the visitors' book at hotels； as well as in the clearance or Custom…house book at Charleston； South Carolina it made our spirits droop within us。
So； while sitting in our little room upon the verge of despair； all at once my wife raised her head； and with a smile upon her face； which was a moment before bathed in tears； said； 〃I think I have it！〃 I asked what it was。 She said； 〃I think I can make a poultice and bind up my right hand in a sling； and with propriety ask the officers to register my name for me。〃 I thought that would do。
It then occurred to her that the smoothness of her face might betray her； so she decided to make another poultice； and put it in a white handkerchief to be worn under the chin； up the cheeks； and to tie over the head。 This nearly hid the expression of the countenance； as well as the beardless chin。
The poultice is left off in the engraving； because the likeness could not have been taken well with it on。
My wife； knowing that she would be thrown a good deal into the company of gentlemen； fancied that she could get on better if she had something to go over the eyes； so I went to a shop and bought a pair of green spectacles。 This was in the evening。
We sat up all night discussing the plan； and making preparations。 Just before the time arrived； in the morning； for us to leave； I cut off my wife's hair square at the back of the head； and got her to dress in the disguise and stand out on the floor。 I found that she made a most respectable looking gentleman。
My wife had no ambition whatever to assume this disguise； and would not have done so had it been possible to have obtained our liberty by more simple means； but we knew it was not customary in the South for ladies to travel with male servants； and therefore； notwithstanding my wife's fair com… plexion； it would have been a very difficult task for her to have come off as a free white lady； with me as her slave； in fact； her not being able to write would have made this quite impossible。 We knew that no public conveyance would take us； or any other slave； as a passenger； without our master's consent。 This consent could never be obtained to pass into a free State。 My wife's being muffled in the poultices； &c。； furnished a plausible excuse for avoiding general conversation； of which most Yankee travellers are passionately fond。
There are a large number of free negroes residing in the southern States； but in Georgia （and I believe in all the slave States；） every coloured per… son's complexion is prima facie evidence of his being a slave； and the lowest villain in the country； should he be a white man； has the legal power to arrest； and question； in the most inquisitorial