By: Ellen Levine
(Non-Fiction/Informational/Diversity/Biography)
Henry
Brown wasn’t sure how old he was because he’s a slave and slaves weren’t
allowed to know their birthdays.
Him and his brothers and sisters worked in a big house. Their master had been good to their
family so-far but said “see how leaves are blowing in the wind? Like slave
children from their families (imagery).
One day the master became ill, Henry thought maybe he would free him but
instead he said he would give him to his son. He told him never to tell a lie, and said good bye to his
family. Henry started working in
new master’s tobacco factory.
Another boy told him Nancy who was a slave shopping for her mistress,
they agreed to meet again. Months
late Henry asked Nancy to be his wife.
Both masters agreed and they got married and had two kids and lived
together, even thought they had different masters. Nancy’s master lost a lot of money and was afraid they would
sell her children. His friend
James came into the factory and told Henry, Nancy and kids sold at the slave
market. Rushed out at lunchtime to
center of town and saw them all being taken away in carts. Weeks passed and Henry saw a bird and
thought how he could be free. Dr.
Smith-a white man who thought slavery was wrong. Henry asked Dr. Smith and James to help him. He was going to mail himself to a place
where there were no slaves. (Philadelphia) Needed a reason to stay home from work so burnt his hands
with ritriol. Next day at 4 am
they took him to the station, begged clerks to be careful. He was all thrown around (box was on
steamboat to Washington, DC. Fell
asleep and woke up to knocking. 4
men (3 white, 1 black) said “Welcome to Philadelphia.” Henry had his birthday: March 30,
1849-his 1st day of freedom, then was given the middle name
‘Box’.
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