Whilst there are a score of other interesting letters, bearing on this case, the above must suffice, to give at least, an idea of the perplexities and dangers attending its early history.  Having accomplished this end, a more encouraging and pleasant phase of the transaction may now be introduced.  Here the difficulties, at least very many of them, vanish, yet in one respect, the danger became most imminent.  The following letter shows that the girl had been successfully rescued from her master, and that a reward of five hundred dollars had been offered for her.

    WASHINGTON, D.C., October 12, 1855.

    MR. WM. STILL:—­AS YOU PICK UP ALL THE NEWS THAT IS STIRRING, I
    CONTRIBUTE A FEW SCRAPS TO YOUR STOCK, GOING TO SHOW THAT THE
    POOR SLAVE-HOLDERS HAVE THEIR TROUBLES AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE.

    FOUR HEAVY LOSSES ON ONE SMALL SCRAP CUT FROM A SINGLE NUMBER OF
    THE “SUN!” HOW VEXATIOUS!  HOW PROVOKING!  ON THE OTHER HAND,
    THINK OF THE POOR, TIMID, BREATHLESS, FLYING CHILD OF FIFTEEN! 
    FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD!  OH, FOR SUCCOR!  TO WHOM IN ALL THIS
    WIDE LAND OF FREEDOM SHALL SHE FLEE AND FIND SAFETY? 
    ALAS!—­ALAS!—­THE LAW POINTS TO NO ONE!

    IS SHE STILL RUNNING WITH BLEEDING FEET?[A] OR HIDES SHE IN SOME
    COLD CAVE, TO REST AND STARVE? “$500 REWARD.”  YOURS, FOR THE
    WEAK AND THE POOR.  PERISH THE REWARD.

[Footnote A:  At the time this letter was written, she was then under Mr. B.’s protection in Washington, and had to be so kept for six weeks.  His question, therefore, “is she still running with bleeding feet,” etc., was simply a precautionary step to blind any who might perchance investigate the matter.]

    J.B.

Having thus succeeded in getting possession of, and secreting this fleeing child of fifteen, as best they could, in Washington, all concerned were compelled to “possess their souls in patience,” until the storm had passed.  Meanwhile, the “child of fifteen” was christened “Joe Wright,” and dressed in male attire to prepare for traveling as a lad.  As no opportunity had hitherto presented itself, whereby to prepare the “package” for shipment, from Washington, neither the “powder boy” nor Dr. T.[B] was prepared to attend to the removal, at this critical moment.  The emergency of the case, however, cried loudly for aid.  The other professional gentleman (Dr. H.), was now appealed to, but his engagements in the college forbade his absence before about Thanksgiving day, which was then six weeks off.  This fact was communicated to Washington, and it being the only resource left, the time named was necessarily acquiesced in.  In the interim, “Joe” was to perfect herself in the art of wearing pantaloons, and all other male rig.  Soon the days and weeks slid by, although at first the time for waiting seemed long, when, according to promise, Dr. H. was in Washington, with his horse and buggy prepared for duty.  The impressions made by Dr. H., on William Penn’s mind, at his first interview, will doubtless be interesting to all concerned, as may be seen in the following letter: