o a trader in Richmond, Va., for no other offence than
simply "because she had resisted" the lustful designs of her master,
being "true to her own companion." After this poor slave mother and her
children were cast into prison for sale, the husband and some of his
friends tried hard to find a purchaser in the neighborhood; but the
malicious and brutal master refused to sell her--wishing to gratify his
malice to the utmost, and to punish his victims all that lay in his
power, he sent them to the place above named.

In this trying hour, the severed and bleeding heart of the husband
resolved to escape at all hazards, taking with him a daguerreotype
likeness of his wife which he happened to have on hand, and a lock of
hair from her head, and from each of the children, as mementoes of his
unbounded (though sundered) affection for them.

After crossing the river, his wet clothing freezing to him, he rode all
night, a distance of about forty miles. In the morning he left his
faithful horse tied to a fence, quite broken down. He then commenced his
dreary journey on foot--cold and hungry--in a strange place, where it
was quite unsafe to make known his condition and wants. Thus for a day
or two, without food or shelter, he traveled until his feet were
literally worn out, and in this condition he arrived at Harrisburg,
where he found friends. Passing over many of the interesting incidents
on the road, suffice it to say, he arrived safely in this city, on New
Year's night, 1857, about two hours before day break (the telegraph
having announced his coming from Harrisburg), having been a week on the
way. The night he arrived was very cold; besides, the Underground train,
that morning, was about three hours behind time; in waiting for it,
entirely out in the cold, a member of the Vigilance Committee thought he
was frosted. But when he came to listen to the story of the Fugitive's
sufferings, his mind changed.

Scarcely had Robert entered the house of one of the Committee, where he
was kindly received, when he took from his pocket his wife's likeness,
speaking very touchingly while gazing upon it and showing it.
Subsequently, in speaking of his family, he showed the locks of hair
referred to, which he had carefully rolled up in paper separately.
Unrolling them, he said, "this is my wife's;" "this is from my oldest
daughter, eleven years old;" "and this is from my next oldest;" "and
this from the next," "and this from my infant, only e