Page:The Story of the Jubilee Singers (7th).djvu/117

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complete the payment of $1,000, for which he was promised his freedom.

Julia remained with her mother till she was seven years old, and then went to live with an aunt who hired her own time of her master. Her uncle one day incautiously avowed his intention to run away, and he was hurried to the slave-mart, where Julia saw him sold from the auction-block to be sent South. They never heard of him again.

Her aunt was charged by her owner with intending to run away also. She had had no such purpose; but he gave her a week in which to settle up her accounts with her customers, for whom she did washing, intending then to take her to his place in the country, where she would have fewer facilities for running away than in St. Louis. But before the week expired he found that she had taken the money which she was owing him on her time, and had acted on the suggestion which he had given her, and successfully made her escape.

After this, Julia went out to service for a while, getting at first but $5 a month; and then lived for a time with her aunt in her fugitive concealment in Chicago. She had learned her letters when a child in Sunday-school, and hearing of the advantages for getting an education at Fisk University, determined to go there and prepare to become a teacher. Her mother aided her in paying her way, and as soon as she had made sufficient progress she spent her vacation in teaching a country school. She found the schoolroom almost unfurnished, and made forms with her own hands for the accommoda-