<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n“Dan, an Irishman, one of Adams’ Express drivers, is just the fellow to go to the depot after the box,” said Davis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He drinks a little too much whiskey sometimes, but he will do anything I ask him to do, promptly and obligingly. I’ll trust Dan, for I believe he is the very man.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The difficulty which Mr. McKim had been so anxious to overcome was thus pretty well settled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was agreed that Dan should go after the box next morning before daylight and bring it to the Anti-Slavery office direct, and to make it all the more agreeable for Dan to get up out of his warm bed and go on this errand before day, it was decided that he should have a five dollar gold piece for himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, these preliminaries having been satisfactorily arranged, it only remained for Mr. Davis to see Dan and give him instructions accordingly, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next morning, according to arrangement, the box was at the Anti-Slavery office in due time. The witnesses present to behold the resurrection were J.M. McKim, Professor C.D. Cleveland, Lewis Thompson, and the writer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. McKim was deeply interested; but having been long identified with the Anti-Slavery cause as one of its oldest and ablest advocates in the darkest days of slavery and mobs, and always found by the side of the fugitive to counsel and succor, he was on this occasion perfectly composed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Cleveland, however, was greatly moved. His zeal and earnestness in the cause of freedom, especially in rendering aid to passengers, knew no limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ordinarily he could not too often visit these travelers, shake them too warmly by the hand, or impart to them too freely of his substance to aid them on their journey. But now his emotion was overpowering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Thompson, of the firm of Merrihew & Thompson\u2014about the only printers in the city who for many years dared to print such incendiary documents as anti-slavery papers and pamphlets\u2014one of the truest friends of the slave, was composed and prepared to witness the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All was quiet. The door had been safely locked. The proceedings commenced. Mr. McKim rapped quietly on the lid of the box and called out, “All right!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instantly came the answer from within, “All right, sir!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The witnesses will never forget that moment. Saw and hatchet quickly had the five hickory hoops cut and the lid off, and the marvellous resurrection of Brown ensued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rising up in his box, he reached out his hand, saying, “How do you do, gentlemen?”<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
How do you do, gentlemen?<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThe little assemblage hardly knew what to think or do at the moment. He was about as wet as if he had come up out of the Delaware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Very soon he remarked that, before leaving Richmond he had selected for his arrival-hymn (if he lived) the Psalm beginning with these words: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He heard my prayer<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd most touchingly did he sing the psalm, much to his own relief, as well as to the delight of his small audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was then christened Henry Box Brown, and soon afterwards was sent to the hospitable residence of James Mott and E.M. Davis, on Ninth street, where, it is needless to say, he met a most cordial reception from Mrs. Lucretia Mott and her household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clothing and creature comforts were furnished in abundance, and delight and joy filled all hearts in that stronghold of philanthropy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he had been so long doubled up in the box he needed to promenade considerably in the fresh air, so James Mott put one of his broad-brim hats on his head and tendered him the hospitalities of his yard as well as his house, and while Brown promenaded the yard flushed with victory, great was the joy of his friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After his visit at Mr. Mott’s, he spent two days with the writer, and then took his departure for Boston, evidently feeling quite conscious of the wonderful feat he had performed, and at the same time it may be safely said that those who witnessed this strange resurrection were not only elated at his success but were made to sympathize more deeply than ever before with the slave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n