Good-bye Dear Reader

I returned to some heart-wrenching news. My son Ben had embarked on a whaling voyage as a result of his abuse from his fellow apprentices when they found out that he was colored. I have left them alone too many times and am now reaping what I have sowed. But he is now with my brother William in California.

I received a letter from Emily Flint, Dr. Flints daughter. It begrudges me that they still keep tabs on me at all! But at least I am safe in Boston.

It has been two years since I have been in Boston, Ellen is going off to boarding school. And I will be so lonesome with out her. Just as I will be lonesome without you my dear readers. For I am trying to write a book, and if you enjoyed the few ramblings that I have managed to share with you then please feel free to take a look at it, if it ever happens.

Dr. Flint was on my trail for awhile but I have heard from my grandmother that he is dead and I feel as though I am free all over again.

The people I used to work for the Bruce's have purchased my freedom for real so that legally I am a free person, with value dignity, and worth.

So now our time has come to a close. You met me alone and a slave, and now I am in the company of good friend and free.

Thank you for following me by reading all of this, for at times when I had no one I could always write to you.

Now I am in pursuit of writing this book, I think that I shall call it "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl".

And as always I will remain most humbly yours,

~Harriet Jacobs

England

I was in England for 10 months. And here I learned many things. Life if different here, people are not treated as they are in America. I came here as a nurse to someone that I work for.

Here I have learned of grace and love and Christ, and I feel as though for the first time I have entered into a new and better life. I am embarking on something wonderful and I am excited.

Above I have put up some pictures of London that I have taken.

Reunited

I have been reunited with Ben, and he is now staying with William as I return to New York to work. Fighting for respect and safety here is so difficult here and discouraging. But as women, who is black, those are two fighting things against me, but who I am is stronger than both.

I reveled my identity to the people I have been working for and they helped me to move to be with my brother. I took Ellen with me and she was finally able to be with her brother. They were so sweet when they saw each other for the first time. Most children are awkward, and it takes a few moments to warm up to one another again. But not for my children, they embraced and cried and talked. And I could not get them to stop talking after that! How I love that we are all together once again!

I have been diligently teaching Ellen to read and write before school starts to that she will be prepared. She is doing well, and I am so thankful that perhaps my children can have even a better education than myself.

Lies and suffered bonds

I have finally been able to reunited with my daughter Ellen, only to find that she is not free, but has not been educated and is now the maid of Mr. Sand's eldest daughter. I was so hurt. After everything that we have been through couldn't we all just catch on break? I suppose that not until I am free will my children ever be free.

My brother William has returned. I have been working so diligently, Ellen has been so sick, and I feel that all I have time to do is to worry. But the day that William and I reunited we got Ellen and shared a moment that will forever be engrained in my mind. It truly is amazing the bonds that are created by people only through the pain that suffering brings.

I am happy to be with family and I am thankful.

Riding first class

I do not have much time for a long posting today. But I have arrived safely in New York. However, during my ventures I went on to a train and sat down. I was told that I was not allowed to sit there. I thought to myself, "I am not allowed to sit in a chair?"

But then I realized that they are commenting as to the color of my skin. I suppose that this freedom will have to be a step before freedom, for I guess that I am not really free at all, if I cannot even sit in a chair.

The Sun Rise

I have been on an adventure since I wrote to you last. My friend Fanny and I were smuggled aboard a ship bound for Philadelphia. We were for the first time treated well, and I felt that it was to deceive us. I was watching my back, feeling as though any moment they would sell us for a reward.

But dear reader, I am free. And in my first moment of freedom do you know what I felt? I felt so utterly abandoned and alone. My emptiness consumed me, and I began to morn the loss of my family.

But just as the dawn breaks the day with a ray of light, so did hope in my life when this morning Fanny and I stood on the ships deck and watched the sun rise over what we knew was free soil. I can not put into words what this all meant to me. But I am free.

6 Months

It has been six months since Ellen left. And today my grandmother received letting us know that Ellen had a safe arrival in Brooklyn. I feel much more at peace. Except for Ben, I introduced myself to him, because I was not sure if he remembered me at all. I held his face in my hands after we had small talked for a bit. He looked up at me with a big smile on his face and told me that of course he knew who I was, and if that wasn't enough, he told me that he also knew where I had been hiding. This made my heart soar.

Dear reader I am sorry that it has been so long since I have posted anything to you after you have followed me so faithfully. I have been busy in making plans to travel north. Hopefully, this will be the last trek of my journey to freedom.