MY DEAR MOTHER: — I have imbrace an opportunity of writing
you these few lines (hoping) that they may fine you as they Leave me quite well
I will now inform you how I am geting I am now a free man Living By the sweet
of my own Brow not serving a nether man & giving him all I Earn But what I
make is mine and iff one Plase do not sute me I am at Liberty to Leave and go
some where elce & can ashore you I think highly of Freedom and would not
exchange it for nothing that is offered me for it I am waiting in a Hotel I supose
you Remember when I was in Jail I told you the time would Be Better and you see
that the time has come when I Leave you my heart was so full & yours But I
new their was a Better Day a head, & I have Live to see it I hird when I
was on the Underground R. Road that the Hounds was on my Track but it was no go
I new I was too far out of their Beach where they would never smell my track
when I Leave you I was carred to Richmond & sold & From their I was taken
to North Carolina & sold & I Ran a way & went Back to Virginna
Between Richmond & home & their I was caught & Put in Jail &
their I Remain till the oner come for me then I was taken & carred Back to
Richmond then I was sold to the man who I now Leave he is nothing But a But of
a Feller Remember me to your Husband At all in quirin Friends & say to Miss
Rosa that I am as Free as she is & more happier I no I am getting $12 per
month for what Little work I am Doing I hope to here from you a gain I your Son
& ever By
JOHN THOMPSON.
SOURCE: William Still, The Underground Railroad: A
Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters &c., p. 44
