Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-09-12
4 Letter Of John Brown.
WRITTEN JUST BEFORE HIS EXECUTION
CHARLEsTowN, jefferson County, Va,
18th Novemher- 1853.

CHARLEsTowN, jefferson County, Va,
18th November, 1859.
Rer. Luther Humphrey
My Dear Friend Your kind letter of the
18th instant is now before me. So far as my
knowledge goes as to our mutual kindred,
| suppose am the first since the landing OF
Peter Brown from the Mayfiower that has
either been sentenced 10 Imprisonment or TO
the gallows. But, my dear old friend, let
not that fact alone grieve you. You cannot
have forgotten hour and ichere your grand
father Capt. John Brown fell in l7l6,
and that he, too, might have persisted on the
scaffold had circumstances been peTy hine
different The fact that a man dies under
the hand of an executioner Tor otherwise)
has but little to do with his true character,
asI suppose John Rogers persisted at the
stake great and good man, as | suppose,
but has bang so does moi PreUe that any other
man who has died in the same way was
GOOD or ofherlrise Whether | have any
reason to ''be Of good cheer Tor mott IN
view of my end. | can assure you that Itea
so and that am totally blinded if do not
really erperienoe that strengthening and con-
ISOLATION, You 50 faithfully implore IN my
behalf God of our fathers, reward your
fidelity. | neither feel mortified, dcgrGded
nor an the least ashamed OF my lmprison-
ment, my chain, or my near prospect o.
death b. hanging. ! feel assured that not
/ one hair shall fall from my head without
nv Heavenly Father | also feel that
| have long been endedrOrlHg to hold exactly
'.such a past as God Las chosen See the
passage in Isaiah which you have quoted
| No part of nv life has been more happily
/ spent than that have spent here, and |
! humbly trust that no part has been spent TO
better purpose. iCouid not say this boast
NAH. but thanks be unto God who glyeth
US the victory, through infinite grace !
should be co years old were to live TIL
Nav 9. 1860 | have enjoyed much oil a
il i and have been remarkably prosperous-
having eqriy learned to regard the welfare
| and prosperity of others a. my OlrR. l have
never since can remember required great
amount of sleep. 50 that conclude / have
ALREADY enjoyed fitH an acreage number OF
waking hours with those who reach thelI
.sthree-score wears and ten" | have not a.
vet been driven TO the use OF glasses, but
can still see TO read quite comfortably But
more than that, have generally ENJOYED re
| markab.y good health. | might 90 on Il
| recount unnumbered and lHHlerlfed bless
| ings. among which would be some very Sc
we're affections, and those the most needed
blessings Of all. And now. when | think
how easily might be LEFT 10 spoil all have
| done or suffered in the cause Of freedom.
| hardly dare risk another voyage, If l even
had the opportunity. 1t l. long time
| since We met, but We shall now soon come
| together in our Fathers house. 1 trust.
Let Us hold fast that we already have,
Remembering that we shall reap in du'
time if we faint not Thanks be erer unto
God. who giyeih u the victory, through
Jesus Christ our Lord" And now, ny old
warm-hearted friend. ''good-by.'
Your anecii0nate cousin.
JONI Bows.