At that time such a journey seemed so entirely foreign to anything that I should ever be able to undertake that I did confess I did not give the matter very serious attention; but later Mr.Garrison joined his efforts to those of the ladies whom I have mentioned, and when their plans were made known to me Mr.Garrison not only had the route mapped out, but had, I believe, selected the steamer upon which we were to sail.
The whole thing was so sudden and so unexpected that I was completely taken off my feet.

I had been at work steadily for eighteen years in connection with Tuskegee, and I had never thought of anything else but ending my life in that way.

Each day the school seemed to depend upon me more largely for its daily expenses, and I told these Boston friends that, while I thanked them sincerely for their thoughtfulness and generosity, I could not go to Europe, for the reason that the school could not live financially while I was absent.

They then informed me that Mr.Henry L.Higginson, and some other good friends who I know do not want their names made public, were then raising a sum of money which would be sufficient to keep the school in operation while I was away.

At this point I was compelled to surrender.