in his veins and gave him intense agony,
from which he only found relief on awaking, having actually fallen
asleep in that condition. Finally, however, he arrived at Philadelphia,
on a steamer, Sabbath morning. A devoted friend of his, expecting him,
engaged a carriage and repaired to the wharf for the box. The bill of
lading and the receipt he had with him, and likewise knew where the box
was located on the boat. Although he well knew freight was not usually
delivered on Sunday, yet his deep solicitude for the safety of his
friend determined him to do all that lay in his power to rescue him from
his perilous situation. Handing his bill of lading to the proper officer
of the boat, he asked if he could get the freight that it called for.
The officer looked at the bill and said, "No, we do not deliver freight
on Sunday;" but, noticing the anxiety of the man, he asked him if he
would know it if he were to see it. Slowly--fearing that too much
interest manifested might excite suspicion--he replied: "I think I
should." Deliberately looking around amongst all the "freight," he
discovered the box, and said, "I think that is it there." Said officer
stepped to it, looked at the directions on it, then at the bill of
lading, and said, "That is right, take it along." Here the interest in
these two bosoms was thrilling in the highest degree. But the size of
the box was too large for the carriage, and the driver refused to take
it. Nearly an hour and a half was spent in looking for a furniture car.
Finally one was procured, and again the box was laid hold of by the
occupant's particular friend, when, to his dread alarm, the poor fellow
within gave a sudden cough. At this startling circumstance he dropped
the box; equally as quick, although dreadfully frightened, and, as if
helped by some invisible agency, he commenced singing, "Hush, my babe,
lie still and slumber," with the most apparent indifference, at the same
time slowly making his way from the box. Soon his fears subsided, and it
was presumed that no one was any the wiser on account of the accident,
or coughing. Thus, after summoning courage, he laid hold of the box a
third time, and the Rubicon was passed. The car driver, totally ignorant
of the contents of the box, drove to the number to which he was directed
to take it--left it and went about his business. Now is a moment of
intense interest--now of inexpressible delight. The box is opened, the
straw removed, and the poor fel