Pundita Ramabai went about this time to see Harriet and they had an interesting talk together. Here was a remarkable trio taking hold of hands—the woman from East India, the Indian girl from the far West, and the black woman from the Southern States only two removes from an African savage!
Once when she came to New York, where she had not been in twenty years, and was starting off alone to find some friends miles away in a part of the city which she had never seen, we remonstrated with her, telling her she would surely be lost.
"Now, Missus," she said, "don't you t'ink dis ole head dat done de navigatin' down in Egypt can do de navigatin' up here in New York?"
And she walked many miles, scorning a "cyar," and found all the people she wished to see.
Harriet was known by various names among her Southern friends. One of these was "Ole Chariot," perhaps as a rhyme to the name by which they called her.
And so, often when she went to bring away a band of refugees, she would sing as she walked the dark country roads by night:
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"When dat ar' ole chariot comes, Who's gwine wid me?" |
And from some unseen singer would come the response:
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"When dat ar' ole chariot comes, I'se gwine wid you." |
And by some wireless telegraphy known only to the initiated it would be made known in one cabin or another where their deliverer was waiting concealed, and when she would be ready to pilot them on their long journey to freedom.