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CHAPTER I. Imprisoned at Home by My Husband.

The Trustees ordered Mr. Packard to take me out of the Asylum, as no other person could legally remove me. I protested against being again put into his hands without some protection, knowing as I did, that he intended to incarcerate me for life in Northampton Asylum, Mass., if he was ever compelled to remove me from this.

But like as I entered the Asylum against my will, and in spite of my protest, so I was put out of it, into the absolute power of my persecutor against my will, and in spite of my protest to the contrary.

Mr. Packard removed me to Granville, Putnam County, Illinois, and placed me in the family of Mr. David Field, who married my adopted sister, where my son paid my board for about four months. Mr. Packard instructed this family to prevent my ever returning home to my children, adding:

"If she ever does come to see them I shall put her into another Asylum!"

During this time Granville community became acquainted with me and the facts in the case. And finding how intensely I desired to see my children, and be reinstated again into the duties of the maternal relation, and seeing no reason why this natural yearning of my nature should not be gratified, they called a meeting of the citizens where this subject was fully discussed, and Sheriff Leaper was appointed to communicate to me the result.

Their decision was that I go home to my children, taking their voluntary pledge as my protection, that should Mr. Packard again attempt to imprison me without a trial, they would use their influence to get him imprisoned in a Penitentiary, where they thought the laws of this Commonwealth would place him.

They also presented me thirty dollars to defray the expenses of my journey home to Manteno, and offered me the protection of a Sheriff as my travelling companion, if I desired it.

I declined this kind offer, fearing its effect upon Mr. Packard's feelings. I preferred to come to him alone and unprotected, hoping thus to arouse his manliness into exercise towards me, as one wholly dependent upon him for protection and shelter. And coming alone under these circumstances, might possibly lead him to reconsider his plan for perpetuating my imprisonment. For since this entire community, after becoming personally acquainted with me, had combined in defense of my sanity, he might be led to fear that the popular current might interpose a barrier to his treating me as an insane person in future.

My Granville friends appreciated the force of my argument, and therefore allowed me to return home unattended.

It was about ten o'clock, on a cold morning in November, that I arrived at the depot in Manteno. A few inches of snow had fallen the previous night, and now this snow was melting so as to render it very wet and sloppy under foot.

Without speaking to any one, I left my trunk at the depot and started to walk to my home, about one hundred yards distant. But before I had stepped from the platform I thought that my trunk, containing my valuable papers, must be carefully looked after, lest Mr. Packard get access to it and rob it of its valuables. I therefore concluded to return and request Mr. Harding, the depot master, to retain the trunk until called for by myself or my written order.

But as I turned round, I saw for the first time a boy following me, and seeing how very sloppy the platform was, I asked this boy if he would please go back and tell Mr. Harding that:

"Mrs. Packard requests him to please retain her trunk until she calls for it -- or, simply say, Mrs. Packard wishes Mr. Harding to not let Mr. Packard take her trunk."

The boy hesitated.

Said I, "an't you willing to do this favor for me? It is so wet I don't like to go back."

"I don't want to say anything against my Pa!"

Raising his cap, I looked him full in the face, exclaiming:

"Who are you? Is this my little George! Didn't I know my darling boy!"

As I embraced my precious child, and bestowed upon him kisses of the tenderest affection, I said:

"My darling George shall have his mother again. We shall never be separated now. Kind people are going to protect me and your Pa can't take your mother from you again."

At this point he drew back from my embrace, saying:

"My Pa has done right. He has not done wrong."

"Yes, George, your Pa has done wrong to take your mother from you and imprison her, as he has, without cause. An't you glad to see your mother?"

"Yes, mother! Yes! But -- but" -- and he burst into tears.

Seeing the conflict, between filial love and filial obedience that was going on in his little breast, I remarked:

"We wont talk any more about your father," and taking his hand, I said:

"Go with me, George."

"No, mother, I can't, Pa said I must get the mail and come directly home."

"I will go with you then to the Post-office."

And as we walked on together, I said:

"Did you know me, George?"

"Yes, mother, I knew you when you got off the train; Pa said you were coming to-day, and he told me to go to the depot and see if you came."