t noted on the record book.

His mother had been sold several times. His brother, William Henry Gary,
escaped from Washington, D.C., when quite a youth. What became of him it
was not for Harrison to tell, but he supposed that he had made his way
to a free State, or Canada, and he hoped to find him. He had no
knowledge of any other relatives.

In further conversation with him, relative to his being a single man, he
said, that he had resolved not to entangle himself with a family until
he had obtained his freedom.

He had found it pretty hard to meet his monthly hire, consequently he
was on the look-out to better his condition as soon as a favorable
opportunity might offer. Harrison's mistress had a son named John James
Ashley, who was then a minor. On arriving at majority, according to the
will of this lad's father, he was to have possession of Harrison as his
portion. Harrison had no idea of having to work for his support--he
thought that, if John could not take care of himself when he grew up to
be a man, there was a place for all such in the poor-house.

Harrison was also moved by another consideration. His mistress' sister
had been trying to influence the mistress to sell him; thus considering
himself in danger, he made up his mind that the time had come for him to
change his habitation, so he resolved to try his fortune on the
Underground Rail Road.

* * * * *

ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1857.

JOE ELLIS.

The subject of this sketch was one of two hundred slaves, owned by
Bolling Ellis, who possessed large plantations at Cabin Point, Surrey
Co., Va. Joe pictured his master, overseers, and general treatment of
slaves in no favorable light.

The practice of punishing slaves by putting them in the stocks and by
flogging, was dwelt upon in a manner that left no room to doubt but that
Joe had been a very great sufferer under his master's iron rule. As he
described the brutal conduct of overseers in resorting to their habitual
modes of torturing men, women, and children, it was too painful to
listen to with composure, much more to write down.

Joe was about twenty-three years of age, full black, slender, and of
average intellect, considering the class which he represented. On four
occasions previous to the final one he had made fruitless efforts to
escape from his tormentors in consequence of brutal treatment. Although
he at last succeeded, the severe trials through which