ment to the letter. About the 1st of March, 1855, Mary was
presented to the Vigilance Committee. She was of agreeable manners,
about forty-five years of age, dark complexion, round built, and
intelligent. She had been the mother of fifteen children, four of whom
had been sold away from her; one was still held in slavery in
Petersburg; the others were all dead.

At the sale of one of her children she was so affected with grief that
she was thrown into violent convulsions, which caused the loss of her
speech for one entire month. But this little episode was not a matter to
excite sympathy in the breasts of the highly refined and tender-hearted
Christian mothers of Petersburg. In the mercy of Providence, however,
her reason and strength returned.

She had formerly belonged to the late Littleton Reeves, whom she
represented as having been "kind" to her, much more so than her mistress
(Mrs. Reeves). Said Mary, "She being of a jealous disposition, caused me
to be hired out with a hard family, where I was much abused, frequently
flogged, and stinted for food," etc.

But the sweets of freedom in the care of the Vigilance Committee now
delighted her mind, and the hope that her husband would soon follow her
to Canada, inspired her with expectations that she would one day "sit
under her own vine and fig tree where none dared to molest or make her
afraid."

The Committee rendered her the usual assistance, and in due time,
forwarded her on to Queen Victoria's free land in Canada. On her arrival
she wrote back as follows--

TORONTO, March 14th, 1855.

DEAR MR. STILL:--I take this opportunity of addressing you with
these few lines to inform you that I arrived here to-day, and
hope that this may find yourself and Mrs. Still well, as this
leaves me at the present. I will also say to you, that I had no
difficulty in getting along. the two young men that was with me
left me at Suspension Bridge. they went another way.

I cannot say much about the place as I have ben here but a short
time but so far as I have seen I like very well. you will give
my Respect to your lady, & Mr & Mrs Brown. If you have not
written to Petersburg you will please to write as soon as can I
have nothing More to Write at present but yours Respectfully

EMMA BROWN (old name MARY EPPS).

Now, Joseph and Robert (Mary's associate passengers from Richmond) must
here be noticed. Joseph was of a dark orang