pse might meet their gaze instead of a living
creature. However, they mustered courage and pried off the lid. A woman
was discovered in the straw but no sign of life was perceptible. Their
fears seemed fulfilled. "Surely she is dead," thought the witnesses.

"Get up, my child," spake one of the women. With scarcely life enough to
move the straw covering, she, nevertheless, did now show signs of life,
but to a very faint degree. She could not speak, but being assisted
arose. She was straightway aided up stairs, not yet uttering a word.
After a short while she said, "I feel so deadly weak." She was then
asked if she would not have some water or nourishment, which she
declined. Before a great while, however, she was prevailed upon to take
a cup of tea. She then went to bed, and there remained all day, speaking
but a very little during that time. The second day she gained strength
and was able to talk much better, but not with ease. The third day she
began to come to herself and talk quite freely. She tried to describe
her sufferings and fears while in the box, but in vain. In the midst of
her severest agonies her chief fear was, that she would be discovered
and carried back to Slavery. She had a pair of scissors with her, and in
order to procure fresh air she had made a hole in the box, but it was
very slight. How she ever managed to breathe and maintain her existence,
being in the condition of becoming a mother, it was hard to comprehend.
In this instance the utmost endurance was put to the test. She was
obviously nearer death than Henry Box Brown, or any of the other box or
chest cases that ever came under the notice of the Committee.

In Baltimore she belonged to a wealthy and fashionable family, and had
been a seamstress and ladies' servant generally. On one occasion when
sent of an errand for certain articles in order to complete arrangements
for the Grand Opening Ball at the Academy of Music, she took occasion
not to return, but was among the missing. Great search was made, and a
large reward offered, but all to no purpose. A free colored woman, who
washed for the family, was suspected of knowing something of her going,
but they failing to get aught out of her, she was discharged.

Soon after the arrival of this traveler at Mrs. Myers' the Committee was
sent for and learned the facts as above stated. After spending some
three or four days in Mrs. Myers' family she remained in the writer's
family about the same lengt