you from then?" was the next question. "From
York, sir." "From York? Why then did the Dr. bring you here?" was the
next query, "the Dr. went expressly to Washington after a young girl,
who was to be brought away dressed up as a boy, and I took you to be the
person." Without replying "the lad" arose and walked out of the house.
The querist, somewhat mystified, followed him, and then when the two
were alone, "the lad" said, "I am the one the Dr. went after." After
congratulating her, the writer asked why she had said, that she was not
from Washington, but from York. She explained, that the Dr. had strictly
charged her not to own to any person, except the writer, that she was
from Washington, but from York. As there were persons present (wife,
hired girl, and a fugitive woman), when the questions were put to her,
she felt that it would be a violation of her pledge to answer in the
affirmative. Before this examination, neither of the individuals present
for a moment entertained the slightest doubt but that she was a "lad,"
so well had she acted her part in every particular. She was dressed in a
new suit, which fitted her quite nicely, and with her unusual amount of
common sense, she appeared to be in no respect lacking. To send off a
prize so rare and remarkable, as she was, without affording some of the
stockholders and managers of the Road the pleasure of seeing her, was
not to be thought of. In addition to the Vigilance Committee, quite a
number of persons were invited to see her, and were greatly astonished.
Indeed it was difficult to realize, that she was not a boy, even after
becoming acquainted with the facts in the case.

The following is an exact account of this case, as taken from the
Underground Rail Road records:

"THANKSGIVING DAY, Nov., 1855.

Arrived, Ann Maria Weems, _alias_ 'Joe Wright,' _alias_ 'Ellen
Capron,' from Washington, through the aid of Dr. H. She is about
fifteen years of age, bright mulatto, well grown, smart and
good-looking. For the last three years, or about that length of
time, she has been owned by Charles M. Price, a negro trader, of
Rockville, Maryland. Mr. P. was given to 'intemperance,' to a
very great extent, and gross 'profanity.' He buys and sells many
slaves in the course of the year. 'His wife is cross and
peevish.' She used to take great pleasure in 'torturing' one
'little slave boy.' He was the son of his master (and was owned