way rejoicing to
Canada.

Stephen Taylor, Charles Brown, Charles Henry Hollis, and Luther Dorsey.
Stephen was a fine young man, of twenty years of age; he fled to keep
from being sold. He "supposed his master wanted money." His master was a
"tall, spare-faced man, with long whiskers, very wicked and very
quick-tempered," and was known by the name of James Smithen, of Sandy
Hook, Harford county, Md. His wife was also a very "close woman." They
had four children growing up to occupy their places as oppressors.
Stephen was not satisfied to serve either old or young masters any
longer, and made up his mind to leave the first opportunity. Before this
watchful and resolute purpose the way opened, and he soon found it
comparatively easy to find his way from Maryland to Pennsylvania, and
likewise into the hands of the Vigilance Committee, to whom he made
known fully the character of the place and people whence he had fled,
the dangers he was exposed to from slave-hunters, and the strong hope he
cherished of reaching free land soon. Being a young man of promise,
Stephen was advised earnestly to apply his mind to seek an education,
and to use every possible endeavor to raise himself in the scale of
manhood, morally, religiously and intellectually; and he seemed to drink
in the admonitions thus given with a relish. After recruiting, and all
necessary arrangements had been made for his comfort and passage to
Canada, he was duly forwarded. "One more slave-holder is minus another
slave worth at least $1200, which is something to rejoice over," said
Committee. Stephen's parents were dead; one brother was the only near
relative he left in chains.

Charles Brown was about twenty-five years of age, quite black, and bore
the marks of having been used hard, though his stout and hearty
appearance would have rendered him very desirable to a trader. He fled
from William Wheeling, of Sandy Hook, Md. He spoke of his master as a
"pretty bad man," who was "always quarreling," and "would drink, swear
and lie." Left simply because he "never got anything for his labor." On
taking his departure for Canada, he was called upon to bid adieu to his
mother and three brothers, all under the yoke. His master he describes
thus--

"His face was long, cheek-bones high, middling tall, and about
twenty-six years of age." With this specimen of humanity, Charles was
very much dissatisfied, and he made up his mind not to stand the burdens
of Slavery a day longe