How early the house became a city of
refuge for the runaway negro we learn from the eldest son, who
tells us he can just recollect a timid knock at the door of the
log cabin where they lived. A fugitive slave and his wife were
there, for they had heard that there were a couple residing in
the house who loved the negro and would lend him a rescuing hand.
They were speedily made to know they were welcome, and the
negress, relieved of her last fear, takes young John in a
motherly fashion upon her knee and kisses him. He almost
instinctively scampers off to rub the black from his face.
Returning, he watches his mother giving them supper. Presently
father's extraordinarily quick ear detects the sound of
horsehoofs half a mile away; weapons are thrust into the hands of
the terrified pair, and they are taken out to the woody swamps
behind the house to lie in hiding. Father then returns, only to
discover that it is a false alarm, whereupon he sallies forth to
bring them into shelter and warmth once more, and tells the
assembled family on their arrival how he had difficulty in the
dark in recognizing the hiding-place and really discovered them
at length by hearing the beating of their frightened hearts.
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