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"I will certainly regard your request and protect your papers."

Saying this, he kissed me and left, reassuring me he would soon be back and take me to ride to Mr. Rumsey's.

This was our parting!

Little George, ever ready to serve me, ran out into the dewy grass and picked a saucer of ripe strawberries and brought them to my room, saying as he handed them to me:

"I have picked some strawberries for your breakfast, mother;" and he had hardly time to receive his mother's thanks, when his father called him out to the door, and with extended hand said:

"Come, George, won't you go with father to the store and get some sugar-plums?"

Glad as any boy of his age to get sugar-plums, he, of course, readily went with his father to get his plums, and also to get a ride too with his brother off on the prairie!

This was our parting scene!

Thus had my children been abducted, to prepare the way for the mother's abduction. And now the fatal hour had come that I must be transported into my living tomb.

CHAPTER III.
My Abduction.

Early on the morning of the 18th of June, 1860, as I arose from my bed, preparing to take my morning bath, I saw my husband approaching my door with our two physicians, both members of his church and our Bible-class -- and a stranger gentleman, Sheriff Burgess.

Fearing exposure, I hastily locked my door, and proceeded with the greatest despatch to dress myself. But before I had hardly commenced, my husband forced an entrance into my room through the window with an axe! And I, for shelter and protection against an exposure in a state of entire nudity, sprang into bed, just in time to receive my unexpected guests.

The trio approached my bed, and each doctor felt my pulse, and without asking a single question both pronounced me insane! Of course, my pulse was bounding at the time from excessive fright; and I ask, what lady of refinement and fine and tender sensibilities would not have a quickened pulse by such an untimely, unexpected, unmanly, and even outrageous entrance into her private sleeping room? I say it would be impossible for any woman, unless she was either insane or insensible to her surroundings, not to be agitated under such circumstances.

This was the only medical examination I had. This was the only trial of any kind I was allowed to have, to prove the charge of insanity brought against me by my husband to be a false charge. I had no chance for self-defence whatever.

My husband then informed me that the "forms of law" were all complied with, and he now wished me to dress for a ride to Jacksonville insane asylum!

I then asked the privilege of having my room vacated so that I might bathe myself, as usual, before dressing; intending to then secure about my person, secretly, my Bible-class documents, as all I had said in defence of my opinions was in writing, lest I be misrepresented. I therefore regarded these documents as my only means of defence, and had resorted to this innocent stratagem to secure them; that is, I did not tell Mr. Packard that I had any other reason for being left alone in my room than the one I gave him.

But he refused me this request, saying:

"I do not think it is best to leave you alone in your room."

He doubtless had the same documents in view, intending thus to keep me from getting them, for he ordered Miss Rumsey to be my lady's maid, as a spy upon my actions. I dared not attempt to get them with her eye upon me lest she take them from me, or report me to Mr. Packard, and thus not only defeat my attempt, but also by revealing their place of concealment, would prevent Isaac from securing them for me, as he had promised to do in case I should be kidnapped.

I resolved upon one more strategy as my last and only hope, and this was, to ask to be left alone long enough to pray in my own room once more before being forced from it into my prison. When, therefore, I was all dressed, ready to be kidnapped, I asked to see my dear little ones to bestow upon them my parting kiss.

But he denied me this favor also.

"Then," said I, can I bear such trials as these without God's help? May I not be allowed, husband, to ask this favor of God alone in my room before being thus exiled from it?"

"No," said he," I don't think it is best to let you be alone in your room."

"O! husband," said I," you have allowed me no chance for my secret devotions this morning; can't I be allowed this one last request?"

"No; I do not think it is best. But you may pray with your door open."

I asked the Sheriff if I might not be alone in my room a few minutes.

He replied, "I do not think it is best."

I then kneeled down in my room, with my bonnet and shawl on, and in the presence and the hearing of the sheriff and the conspirators, I offered up my petition in an audible voice, wherein I laid my burdens before my sympathizing Saviour, as I would have done in secret. Miss Rumsey reports that the burden of my prayer was for Mr. Packard's forgiveness. In fact, if I know anything of my own heart, I do know that it did not cherish a single feeling of resentment towards him. But my soul was burdened with a sense of his guilt, and only desired his pardon and forgiveness.