Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-14
/ JOHN BROWN LETTER.
Communication Written by the Aboli
Zionist After the Hnrper's
Ferry Raid E0uud.

Hartford, Conn.,, Nov. L3.-The Rev. Luth-
er Humphrey. a cousin of the famous abol-
Zionist, o Brown, died here recently.
Among his property has been found a letter
written by John Brown during his ircarcer-
alton. after his raid on Harper's Ferry. 1t
is dated Charlestown. Jefferson county, Va.
November 19, 1858. and is as fololows:
Rev. Luther Humphrey: Ny Dear
Friend-Your kind letter of the 18th instant
is now before me. So far as my knowledge
goes as TO our mutual kindred, l suppose L
am the first since the landing of Peter
Brown from the Mayfower that has either
neen sentenced to Imprisonment or to the
galiows. But, my dear old friend. let not
tnat tact alone grieve you. You cannot
father. Captain NOV John afi Bowl SHn,e fell eli in iass.
and that he, too, might nave persisted on
the scaffold had circumstances been but
very little different.
1.-The fact that a man dies under the hand
OF an eXecutioner or otherwise has but little
to do with his true character, as 1 suppose.
John Rogers persisted at the stake. a
great and good man, as I suppose. but his
being so does not prove any other man who
has died in the same way was good or
otherwise. Whether 1 have any reason to
be of good cheer or not. in view of my
end. / can assure you that 1 feel SO and
experience that strengthening and %consola-
ton you so faithfully implore in my behalf.
God Of our fathers reward your fidelity.
Il neither feel mortified. degraded nor in
the least ashamed of my Imprisonment. my
chaln or my near prospects of death. by
hanging. / feel assured that not one hair
snail fall on my head without my Heavenly
Fathers will. 1 also feel that l have long
been endeavoring to hold exactly such a
part as God has chosen. See the passage in
my life has been more happily spent thar
that l have spent here and I humbly trust
that no part has been spent to better pur-
pose, l would not say this boastingly, but
thanks be unto God, Who giveth the VIC
tory through infinite grace.
II should be GO years old were I to live
TIL Ma 3. 1850. 1 have enjoyed much CT
life as 1t is and nave been remarkably pros
perous. having early learned to regard the
Weifare and prosperity Of others as my own.
L nave never, since I can remember, re-
CURED a great amount of sleep, so I con-
cIude that 1 have already enjoyed fully an
average number of waking hours with those
VINO reach their three score years and ten.
l nave not as yet been driven to the use of
glasses, but can still see to read and write
comfortably, but more than that 1 nave gen.
orally enjoyed remarkably good health. I
mleht go on to recount unnumbered and I'M
merlted blessings, among which would be
some very severe Affections, and those the
most needed blessings of all. And now,
Whsn think how easily I might be left to
spoil all l have done OF suffered in the cause
OF freedom. l hardly dare risk another yoy-
age II l even had the opportunity. 1t is a
long time since We met, but we Shall soon
come together in Our Fathers house. I
trust Let US hold fast that we already
nave. remembering that we shall reap in
due time If We faint not. Thanks be ever
through Jesus Christ. our Lord. And now,
my ole: warm-hearted friend, good-by.
John BROWN"