Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-08
John BROWNS LAST DAYS.
Glad He Was mot to Be Left to Spoil AL
Possibly.

The following characteristic letter from
John Brown, written only a few days be-
fore his execution has never been pub
lished. 1t was addressed to the great
grand uncle of Miss Julia King of the
faculty of the Emerson College of Ora
tory, says the Boston Transcript. 1t is
worthy of a wide circulation:
Charestown, jefferson Co., Va, - Nov
1853.
Rev. Luther Humphrey:
My Dear Friend-Your kind letter OF
the 18th inst. 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
Mayhower, that has either been sen
fenced to Imprisonment, or to the Gar
lows. But. my dear old friend, let not
that fact alone grieye you. You cannot
have forgotten how and where our
Grandfather Capt. John Brown zen III
1776: & that he, too. might have perlsheu
on the scaffold had circumstances peeh
but very little different. The 1act tld' :"
man dies under the hand of an execution
er for otherwise) has but little to 90 WIN
his true character, as | suppose ooii
Rogers perished at the stake, sIeat ~
good man as ! suppose: but ms oeliis ~
does not prove that any other man W.
has died in the same way was soou y,
otherwise Whether | have any iedson
to ..be of good cheer Tor noD IN view Vi
my end / can assure you that L Ieei 50
and that | am totally blinded IL 90 no
really experience that strengtnenlhs *
aoneoJ,tinn Won so faithfully implore IN
nv behalf God of our Fathers reWa u
your fidelity. | neither feel morU,ieu ne
graded nor in the least ashamed Oh my
imprisonment. my chaln' -of my
nrospect of death by hanging. l 1eel as
sured that mot one hair SHAH ran IRON,
my head without my heavenly Father.
I also feel that | have long been endeaN-
oring to hold exactly such fast as
God has chosen" See the passage IN
Isaiah which you have quoted. NO part
If nv life has been more happily spent
than that have spent here. ana HUM
bly trust that no part has been spent 10
better purpose / would not say TINS
boastingly: but Thanks be unto dod
who giveth us the victory through liiiiiiile
grace. =
should be Sixty years old were | to
live till May 9Th. 1860 | have enjoyed
much of life as it is; and have been re-
markedly prosperous, having cary
learned to regard the welfare ana pros
perity of others my own. ! have new
or since | can remember required great
amount of sleep, so that ! conclude that
] have already enjoyed full an average
number of waking hours with those VINO
reach their Three Score years ana Zen
| have not yet been driven 10 the use OF
glasses. but can still see to read and write
quite comfortably: but. more than that
have generally enjoyed remarkably
good health. I might go on TO recount
nnn,rmbered and unmerited blessings
among which would be some very severe
Affections & those the most needed bless
ings of all. And now. when ] think now
easily | might be left to spoil al nave
done or suffered in the cause OF freedom
| hardly dare risk another voyage, even
if had the opportunity.
1t is a long time since we met. but We
shall now soon come together in our "a
Tiers house" | trust. Let us hold fas'
that we already have"-rememberins
that we shall reap in due time if we faint
not. Thanks be ever unto God, who CIV
eth us the victory through Jesus Christ
our Lord. And now, my old, warm
hearted friend, Goodbye.
Your affectionate Cousin,
JOHN BROWN.