He had borrowed a sailor's shirt, tarpaulin, cap,
and black cravat, tied in true sailor fashion, and he acted the part of
an "old salt" so perfectly that he excited no suspicion. When the
conductor came to collect his fare and inspected his "free papers,"
Douglass, in the most natural manner, said that he had none, but
promptly showed his "sailor's protection," which the railway official
merely glanced at and passed on without further question. Twice on the
trip he thought he was detected. Once when his car stood opposite a
south-bound train, Douglass observed a well-known citizen of Baltimore,
who knew him well, sitting where he could see him distinctly. At
another time, while still in Maryland, he was noticed by a man who had
met him frequently at the shipyards. In neither of these cases,
however, was he interfered with or molested. When he got into the free
State of Pennsylvania, he felt more joy than he dared express. He had
by his cool temerity and address passed every sentinel undetected, and
no slave, to his knowledge, he afterward said, ever got away from
bondage on so narrow a margin of safety.
HENRY WARD BEECHER
(1813-1887)
THE BOY WHO HALF-HEARTEDLY JOINED THE CHURCH
There is great encouragement for the seemingly backward, hesitant youth
in the story of Henry Ward Beecher's early life.
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