further damage or being molested. Every body was
frightened, and it was deemed advisable to transfer
Mrs. Ponder's effects to Fort Valley, a small
place farther south. However, before this could be
done, it became indisputably known that Wilson had
withdrawn.

After an uneventful stay--other than this incident
just related--of nine months in Macon, the office
of custodian was resigned, and although yet a
slave, as far as he knew, and without permission
from any one, Flipper returned to Atlanta with his
wife and two sons, Henry, the elder, and Joseph,
the younger. This was in the spring of 1865. Atlanta
was in ruins, and it appeared a dreary place indeed
to start anew on the unfinished journey of life.
Every thing was not destroyed, however. A few houses
remained. One of these was occupied. The people were
rapidly returning, and the railroads from Atlanta
were rapidly being rebuilt.

During all this time the education of the young
Flippers had been necessarily neglected. In the
early spring of 1865, the family of an ex-rebel
captain became neighbors of the Flippers, now
well to do, and were soon on the most, friendly
terms with them. With remarkable condescension
the wife of this ex-rebel offered to instruct
Henry and Joseph for a small remuneration. The
Offer was readily and gladly accepted, and the