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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:14 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:14 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11859-0.txt b/11859-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c6febe --- /dev/null +++ b/11859-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11689 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11859 *** + +ISAAC T. HOPPER + +A True Life + +BY + +L. MARIA CHILD + +1853 + + + + + + +[Illustration: Isaac T. Hopper] + + + + + Thine was a soul with sympathy imbued, + Broad as the earth, and as the heavens sublime; + Thy godlike object, steadfastly pursued, + To save thy race from misery and crime. + + Garrison. + + + +TO + +HANNAH ATTMORE HOPPER, + +WIDOW OF THE LATE + +ISAAC T. HOPPER, + +THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED, BY HER +GRATEFUL AND ATTACHED FRIEND, + +L. MARIA CHILD. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This biography differs from most works of the kind, in embracing +fragments of so many lives. Friend Hopper lived almost entirely for +others; and it is a striking illustration of the fact, that I have found +it impossible to write his biography without having it consist largely +of the adventures of other people. + +I have not recounted his many good deeds for the mere purpose of +eulogizing an honored friend. I have taken pleasure in preserving them +in this form, because I cherish a hope that they may fall like good seed +into many hearts, and bring forth future harvests in the great field of +humanity. + +Most of the strictly personal anecdotes fell from his lips in familiar +and playful conversation with his sister, or his grand-children, or his +intimate friends, and I noted them down at the time, without his +knowledge. In this way I caught them in a much more fresh and natural +form, than I could have done if he had been conscious of the process. + +The narratives and anecdotes of fugitive slaves, which form such a +prominent portion of the book, were originally written by Friend Hopper +himself, and published in newspapers, under the title of "Tales of +Oppression." I have re-modelled them all; partly because I wished to +present them in a more concise form, and partly because the principal +actor could be spoken of more freely by a third person, than he could +speak of himself. Moreover, he had a more dramatic way of _telling_ a +story than he had of _writing_ it; and I have tried to embody his +unwritten style as nearly as I could remember it. Where-ever incidents +or expressions have been added to the published narratives, I have done +it from recollection. + +The facts, which were continually occurring within Friend Hopper's +personal knowledge, corroborate the pictures of slavery drawn by Mrs. +Stowe. Her descriptions are no more fictitious, than the narratives +written by Friend Hopper. She has taken living characters and facts of +every-day occurrence, and combined them in a connected story, radiant +with the light of genius, and warm with the glow of feeling. But is a +landscape any the less real, because there is sunshine on it, to bring +out every tint, and make every dew-drop sparkle? + +Who that reads the account here given of Daniel Benson, and William +Anderson, can doubt that slaves are capable of as high moral excellence, +as has ever been ascribed to them in any work of fiction? Who that reads +Zeke, and the Quick Witted Slave, can pronounce them a stupid race, +unfit for freedom? Who that reads the adventures of the Slave Mother, +and of poor Manuel, a perpetual mourner for his enslaved children, can +say that the bonds of nature are less strong with them, than with their +more fortunate white brethren? Who can question the horrible tyranny +under which they suffer, after reading The Tender Mercies of a +Slaveholder, and the suicide of Romaine? + +Friend Hopper labored zealously for many, many years; and thousands have +applied their best energies of head and heart to the same great work; +yet the slave-power in this country is as strong as ever--nay, stronger. +Its car rolls on in triumph, and priests and politicians outdo each +other in zeal to draw it along, over its prostrate victims. But, lo! +from under its crushing wheels, up rises the bleeding spectre of Uncle +Tom, and all the world turns to look at him! Verily, the slave-power is +strong; but God and truth are stronger. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +GENERAL INDEX. + +Allusions to his Parents. +Anecdotes of Childhood. +Allusions to Sarah his Wife. +Allusions to Joseph Whitall. +Anecdotes of Apprenticeship. +His Religious Experience. +Tales of Oppression and Anecdotes of Colored People. +Anecdotes of Prisoners and of Vicious Characters in Philadelphia. +His Love of Fun. +Allusions to his Private Life and Domestic Character. +Anecdotes connected with Quakers. +Schism in the Society of Friends. +Anecdotes connected with his Visit to England and Ireland. +Anti-Slavery Experiences in New-York. +His Attachment to the Principles and Usages of Friends. +Disowned by the Society of Friends in New-York. +His Connection with the Prison Association of New-York. +His Illness, Death, and Funeral. + + + + +PARTICULAR INDEX. + +His birth. +Anecdote of his Grandmother's Courage. +His Childish Roguery. +His Contest with British Soldiers. +His Violent Temper. +Conscientiousness in Boyhood. +Tricks at School. +Going to Mill. +Going to Market. +Anecdote of General Washington. +Pelting the Swallows. +Anecdote of the Squirrel and her young ones. +The Pet Squirrel. +The Pet Crow. +Encounter with a Black Snake. +Old Mingo the African. +Boyish Love for Sarah Tatum. +His Mother's parting advice when he leaves Home. +Mischievous Trick at the Cider Barrel. +He nearly harpoons his Uncle. +He nearly kills a Fellow Apprentice. +Adventure with a young Woman. +His first Slave Case. +His Youthful Love for Sarah Tatum. +Nicholas Waln. +Mary Ridgeway. +William Savery. +His early Religious Experience. +Letter from Joseph Whitall. +He marries Sarah Tatum. +His interest in Colored People. +Charles Webster. +Ben Jackson. +Thomas Cooper. +A Child Kidnapped. +Wagelma. +James Poovey. +Romaine. +David Lea. +The Slave Hunter. +William Bachelor. +Levin Smith. +Etienne Lamaire. +Samuel Johnson. +Pierce Butler's Ben. +Daniel Benson. +The Quick-Witted Slave. +James Davis. +Mary Holliday. +Thomas Harrison. +James Lawler. +William Anderson. +Sarah Roach. +Zeke. +Poor Amy. +Manuel. +Slaveholders mollified. +The United States Bond. +The tender mercies of a Slaveholder. +The Foreign Slave. +The New-Jersey Slave. +A Slave Hunter Defeated. +Mary Morris. +The Slave Mother. +Colonel Ridgeley's Slave. +Stop Thief! +The Disguised Slaveholder. +The Slave of Dr. Rich. +His Knowledge of Law. +Mutual Confidence between him and the Colored People. +Mercy to Kidnappers. +Richard Allen, the Colored Bishop. +The Colored Guests at his Table. +Kane the Colored Man fined for Blasphemy. +John McGrier. +Levi Butler. +The Musical Boy. +Mary Norris. +The Magdalen. +The Uncomplimentary Invitation. +Theft from Necessity. +Patrick M'Keever. +The Umbrella Girl. +The two young Offenders. +His courageous intercourse with violent Prisoners. +Not thoroughly Baptized. +The puzzled Dutchman. +Hint to an Untidy Neighbor. +Resemblance to Napoleon. +The Dress, Manners, and Character of Sarah, his wife. +The Devil's Lane. +Jacob Lindley's Anecdotes. +Singular Clairvoyance of Arthur Howell, a Quaker Preacher. +Prophetic Presentiment of his Mother. +The aged Bondman emancipated. +A Presentiment of Treachery. +The Quaker who purchased a Stolen Horse. +Elias Hicks and the Schism in the Society of Friends. +Pecuniary difficulties. +Death of his Wife. +Death of his son Isaac. +Journey to Maryland, and Testimony against Slavery. +His marriage with Hannah Attmore. +Removes to New-York. +Matthew Carey's facetious Letter of Introduction. +Anecdotes of his visit to England and Ireland. +Anecdote of the Diseased Horse. +Visit to William Penn's Grave. +The Storm at Sea. Profane Language rebuked. +The Clergyman and his Books. +His Book-store in New-York. +The Mob in Pearl-Street. +Judge Chinn's Slave. +One of his sons mobbed at the South. +His Letter to the Mayor of Savannah. +His Phrenological Character. +His Unconsciousness of Distinctions in Society. +The Darg Case. +Letter from Dr. Moore. +Mrs. Burke's Slave. +Becomes Agent in the Anti-Slavery Office. +His youthful appearance. +Anecdotes showing his love of Fun. +His sense of Justice. +His Remarkable Memory. +His Costume and Personal Habits. +His Library. +His Theology. +His Adherence to Quaker Usages. +Capital Punishment. +Rights of Women. +Expressions of gratitude from Colored People. +His fund of Anecdotes and his Public Speaking. +Remarks of Judge Edmonds thereon. +His separation from the Society of Friends in New-York. +Visit to his Birth-place. +Norristown Convention. +Visit from his Sister Sarah. +Visit to Boston. +Visit to Bucks County. +Prison Association in New-York. +Correspondence with Governor Young. +Preaching in Sing Sing Chapel. +Anecdotes of Dr. William Rogers. +Interesting Cases of Reformed Convicts. +Letter from Dr. Walter Channing. +Anecdotes of William Savery and James Lindley at the South. +Sonnet by William L. Garrison. +His sympathy with Colored People turned out of the Cars. +A Methodist Preacher from the South. +His Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Law. +His Domestic Character. +He attracts Children. +His Garden described in a Letter to L.M. Child. +Likenesses of him. +Letter concerning Joseph Whitall. +Letters concerning Sarah his wife. +Letter to his Daughter on his 80th Birth-day. +Allusions to Hannah, his wife. +Letter resigning the agency of the Prison Association. +His last Illness. +His Death. +Letter from a Reformed Convict. +Resolutions passed by the Prison Association. +Resolutions passed by the Anti-Slavery Society. +His Funeral. +Lucretia Mott. +Public Notices and Private Letters of Condolence. +His Epitaph. + + + + +I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched +out. + +When the ear heard me, then it blessed me: and when the eye saw me, it +gave witness to me: + +Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him +that had none to help him. + +The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused +the widow's heart to sing for joy. Job xxix. 10, 11, 12, 13. + + + + +LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER + + +Isaac Tatem Hopper was born in Deptford Township, near Woodbury, West +New-Jersey, in the year 1771, on the third day of December, which +Quakers call the Twelfth Month. His grandfather belonged to that +denomination of Christians, but forfeited membership in the Society by +choosing a wife from another sect. His son Levi, the father of Isaac, +always attended their meetings, but never became a member. + +A family of rigid Presbyterians, by the name of Tatem, resided in the +neighborhood. While their house was being built, they took shelter for a +few days, in a meeting-house that was little used, and dug a pit for a +temporary cellar, according to the custom of new settlers in the forest. +The country at that time was much infested with marauders; but Mrs. +Tatem was an Amazon in physical strength and courage. One night, when +her husband was absent, and she was alone in the depths of the woods +with three small children, she heard a noise, and looking out saw a +band of thieves stealing provisions from the cellar. They entered the +meeting-house soon after, and she had the presence of mind to call out, +"Hallo, Jack! Call Joe, and Harry, and Jim! Here's somebody coming." The +robbers, supposing she had a number of stout defenders at hand, thought +it prudent to escape as quickly as possible. The next day, her husband +being still absent, she resolved to move into the unfinished house, for +greater security. The door had neither lock nor latch, but she contrived +to fasten it in some fashion. At midnight, three men came and tried to +force it open; but every time they partially succeeded, she struck at +them with a broad axe. This mode of defence was kept up so vigorously, +that at last they were compelled to retreat. + +She had a daughter, who was often at play with neighbor Hopper's +children; and when Levi was quite a small boy, it used to be said +playfully that little Rachel Tatem would be his wife, and they would +live together up by the great white oak; a remarkable tree at some +distance from the homestead. The children grew up much attached to each +other, and when Levi was twenty-two years old, the prophecy was +fulfilled. + +The young man had only his own strong hands and five or six hundred +acres of wild woodland. He grubbed up the trees and underbrush near the +big white oak, removed his father's hen-house to the cleared spot, +fitted it up comfortably for a temporary dwelling, and dug a cellar in +the declivity of a hill near by. To this humble abode he conducted his +young bride, and there his two first children were born. The second was +named Isaac Tatem Hopper, and is the subject of this memoir. + +Rachel inherited her mother's energy and courage, and having married a +diligent and prudent man, their worldly circumstances gradually +improved, though their family rapidly increased, and they had nothing +but land and labor to rely upon. When Isaac was one year and a half old, +the family removed to a new log-house with three rooms on a floor, +neatly whitewashed. To these the bridal hen-house was appended for a +kitchen. + +Isaac was early remarked as a very precocious child. He was always +peeping into everything, and inquiring about everything. He was only +eighteen months old, when the new log-house was built; but when he saw +them laying the foundation, his busy little mind began to query whether +the grass would grow under it; and straightway he ran to see whether +grass grew under the floor of the hen-house where he was born. + +He was put to work on the farm as soon as he could handle a hoe; but +though he labored hard, he had plenty of time and strength left for all +manner of roguery. While he was a small fellow in petticoats, he ran +into a duck-pond to explore its depth. His mother pulled him out, and +said, "Isaac, if you ever go there again, I will make you come out +faster than you went in." He thought to himself, "Now I will prove +mother to be in the wrong; for I will go in as fast as I can, and surely +I can't come out any faster." So into the pond he went, as soon as the +words were out of her mouth. + +A girl by the name of Polly assisted about the housework. She was +considered one of the family, and always ate at the same table, +according to the kindly custom of those primitive times. She always +called her mistress "Mammy," and served her until the day of her death; +a period of forty years. The children were much attached to this +faithful domestic; but nevertheless, Isaac could not forbear playing +tricks upon her whenever he had opportunity.--When he was five or six +years old, he went out one night to see her milk the cow. He had +observed that the animal kicked upon slight provocation; and when the +pail was nearly full, he broke a switch from a tree near by, slipped +round to the other side of the cow, and tickled her bag. She instantly +raised her heels, and over went Polly, milk-pail, stool, and all. Isaac +ran into the house, laughing with all his might, to tell how the cow had +kicked over Polly and the pail of milk. His mother went out immediately +to ascertain whether the girl was seriously injured.--"Oh, mammy, that +little rogue tickled the cow, and made her do it," exclaimed Polly. +Whereupon, Isaac had a spanking, and was sent to bed without his supper. +But so great was his love of fun, that as he lay there, wakeful and +hungry, he shouted with laughter all alone by himself, to think how +droll Polly looked when she rolled over with the pail of milk after her. + +When he was seven or eight years old, his uncle's wife came one day to +the house on horseback. She was a fat, clumsy woman, and got on and off +her horse with difficulty. Isaac knew that all the family were absent; +but when he saw her come ambling along the road, he took a freak not to +tell her of it. He let down the bars for her; she rode up to the +horse-block with which every farm-house was then furnished, rolled off +her horse, and went into the house. She then discovered, for the first +time, that there was no one at home. After resting awhile, she mounted +to depart. But Isaac, as full of mischief as Puck, put the bars up, so +that she could not ride out. In vain she coaxed, scolded, and +threatened. Finding it was all to no purpose, she rode up to the block +and rolled off from her horse again.--Isaac, having the fear of her whip +before his eyes, ran and hid himself. She let down the bars for herself, +but before she could remount, the mischievous urchin had put the bars +up again and run away.--This was repeated several times; and the +exasperated visitor could never succeed in catching her tormentor. His +parents came home in the midst of the frolic, and he had a sound +whipping. He had calculated upon this result all the time, and the +uneasy feeling had done much to mar his sport; but on the whole, he +concluded such rare fun was well worth a flogging. + +The boys at school were apt to neglect their lessons while they were +munching apples. In order to break up this disorderly habit, the master +made it a rule to take away every apple found upon them.--He placed such +forfeited articles upon his desk, with the agreement that any boy might +have them, who could succeed in abstracting them without being observed +by him. One day, when a large rosy-cheeked apple stood temptingly on the +desk, Isaac stepped up to have his pen mended. He stood very demurely at +first, but soon began to gaze earnestly out of the window, behind the +desk. The master inquired what he was looking at. He replied, "I am +watching a flock of ducks trying to swim on the ice. How queerly they +waddle and slide about!" "Ducks swim on ice!" exclaimed the +schoolmaster; and he turned to observe such an unusual spectacle. It was +only for an instant; but the apple meanwhile was transferred to the +pocket of his cunning pupil. He smiled as he gave him his pen, and +said, "Ah, you rogue, you are always full of mischief!" + +The teacher was accustomed to cheer the monotony of his labors by a race +with the boys during play hours. There was a fine sloping lawn in front +of the school-house, terminating in a brook fringed with willows. The +declivity gave an impetus to the runners, and as they came among the +trees, their heads swiftly parted the long branches. Isaac tied a +brick-bat to one of the pendant boughs, and then invited the master to +run with him. He accepted the invitation, and got the start in the race. +As he darted through the trees, the brick merely grazed his hair. If it +had hit him, it might have cost him his life; though his mischievous +pupil had not reflected upon the possibility of such a result. + +There was a bridge across the brook consisting of a single rail. One +day, Isaac sawed this nearly in two; and while the master was at play +with the boys, he took the opportunity to say something very +impertinent, for which he knew he should be chased. He ran toward the +brook, crossed the rail in safety, and instantly turned it over, so that +his pursuer would step upon it when the cut side was downward. It +immediately snapped under his pressure, and precipitated him into the +stream, while the young rogue stood by almost killing himself with +laughter. But this joke also came very near having a melancholy +termination; for the master was floated down several rods into deep +water, and with difficulty saved himself from drowning. + +There was a creek not far from his father's house, where it was +customary to load sloops with wood. Upon one of these occasions, he +persuaded a party of boys to pry up a pile of wood and tip it into a +sloop, in a confused heap. Of course, it must all be taken out and +reloaded. When he saw how much labor this foolish trick had caused, he +felt some compunction; but the next temptation found the spirit of +mischief too strong to be resisted. + +Coming home from his uncle's one evening, he stopped to amuse himself +with taking a gate off its hinges. When an old Quaker came out to see +who was meddling with his gate, Isaac fired a gun over his head, and +made him run into the house, as if an evil spirit were after him. + +It was his delight to tie the boughs of trees together in narrow paths, +that people travelling in the dark, might hit their heads against them; +and to lay stones in the ruts of the road, when he knew that farmers +were going to market with eggs, in the darkness of morning twilight. If +any mischief was done for miles round, it was sure to be attributed to +Isaac Hopper. There was no malice in his fun; but he had such +superabounding life within him, that it _would_ overflow, even when he +knew that he must suffer for it. His boyish activity, strength, and +agility were proverbial. Long after he left his native village, the +neighbors used to tell with what astonishing rapidity he would descend +high trees, head foremost, clinging to the trunk with his feet. + +The fearlessness and firmness of character, which he inherited from both +father and mother, manifested itself in many ways. He had a lamb, whose +horns were crooked, and had a tendency to turn in. His father had given +it to him for his own, on condition that he should keep the horns +carefully filed, so that they should not hurt the animal. He had a small +file on purpose, and took such excellent care of his pet, that it soon +became very much attached to him, and trotted about after him like a +dog. When he was about five or six years old, British soldiers came into +the neighborhood to seize provisions for the army, according to their +custom during our revolutionary war. They tied the feet of the tame +lamb, and threw it into the cart with other sheep and lambs. Isaac came +up to them in season to witness this operation, and his heart swelled +with indignation. He sprang into the cart, exclaiming, "That's _my_ +lamb, and you shan't have it!" The men tried to push him aside; but he +pulled out a rusty jack-knife, which he had bought of a pedlar for +two-pence, and cut the rope that bound the poor lamb. A British officer +rode up, and seeing a little boy struggling so resolutely with the +soldiers, he inquired what was the matter. "They've stolen my lamb!" +exclaimed Isaac; "and they shan't have it. It's _my_ lamb!" + +"_Is_ it your lamb, my brave little fellow?" said the officer. "Well, +they shan't have it. You'll make a fine soldier one of these days." + +So Isaac lifted his lamb from the cart, and trudged off victorious. He +had always been a whig; and after this adventure, he became more decided +than ever in his politics. He often used to boast that he would rather +have a paper continental dollar, than a golden English guinea. The +family amused themselves by exciting his zeal, and Polly made him +believe he was such a famous whig, that the British would certainly +carry him off to prison. He generally thought he was fully capable of +defending himself; but when he saw four soldiers approaching the house +one day, he concluded the force was rather too strong for him, and +hastened to hide himself in the woods. + +His temper partook of the general strength and vehemence of his +character. Having put a small quantity of gunpowder on the stove of the +school-house, it exploded, and did some injury to the master. One of the +boys, who was afraid of being suspected of the mischief, in order to +screen himself, cried out, "Isaac Hopper did it!"--and Isaac was +punished accordingly. Going home from school, he seized the informer as +they were passing through a wood, tied him up to a tree, and gave him a +tremendous thrashing. The boy threatened to tell of it; but he assured +him that he would certainly kill him if he did; so he never ventured to +disclose it. + +In general, his conscience reproved him as soon as he had done anything +wrong, and he hastened to make atonement. A poor boy, who attended the +same school, usually brought a very scanty dinner. One day, the spirit +of mischief led Isaac to spoil the poor child's provisions by filling +his little pail with sand. When the boy opened it, all eagerness to eat +his dinner, the tears came into his eyes; for he was very hungry. This +touched Isaac's heart instantly. "Oh, never mind, Billy," said he. "I +did it for fun; but I'm sorry I did it.. Come, you shall have half of my +dinner." It proved a lucky joke for Billy; for from that day henceforth, +Isaac always helped him plentifully from his own stock of provisions. + +Isaac and his elder brother were accustomed to set traps in the woods to +catch partridges. One day, when he was about six years old, he went to +look at the traps early in the morning, and finding his empty, he took a +plump partridge from his brother's trap, put it in his own, and carried +it home as his. When his brother examined the traps, he said he was sure +_he_ caught the bird, because there were feathers sticking to his trap; +but Isaac maintained that there were feathers sticking to his also. +After he went to bed, his conscience scorched him for what he had done. +As soon as he rose in the morning, he went to his mother and said, "What +shall I do? I have told a lie, and I feel dreadfully about it. That +_was_ Sam's partridge. I said I took it from my trap; and so I did; but +I put it in there first." + +"My son, it is a wicked thing to tell a lie," replied his mother. "You +must go to Sam and confess, and give him the bird." + +Accordingly, he went to his brother, and said, "Sam, here's your +partridge. I did take it out of my trap; but I put it in there first." +His brother gave him a talking, and then forgave him. + +Being a very bright, manly boy, he was intrusted to carry grain several +miles to mill, when he was only eight years old. On one of these +occasions, he arrived just as another boy, who preceded him, had +alighted to open the gate. "Just let me drive in before you shut it," +said Isaac, "and then I shall have no need to get down from my wagon." +The boy patiently held the gate for him to pass through; but, Isaac, +without stopping to thank him, whipped up his horse, arrived at the mill +post haste, and claimed the right to be first served, because he was the +first comer. When the other boy found he was compelled to wait, he +looked very much dissatisfied, but said nothing. Isaac chuckled over +his victory at first, but his natural sense of justice soon suggested +better thoughts. He asked himself whether he had done right thus to take +advantage of that obliging boy? The longer he reflected upon it, the +more uncomfortable he felt. At last, he went up to the stranger and said +frankly, "I did wrong to drive up to the mill so fast, and get my corn +ground, when you were the one who arrived first; especially as you were +so obliging as to hold the gate open for me to pass through. I was +thinking of nothing but fun when I did it. Here's sixpence to make up +for it." The boy was well pleased with the amend thus honorably offered, +and they parted right good friends. + +At nine years old, he began to drive a wagon to Philadelphia, to sell +vegetables and other articles from his father's farm; which he did very +satisfactorily, with the assistance of a neighbor, who occupied the next +stall in the market. According to the fashion of the times, he wore a +broad-brimmed hat, and small-clothes with long stockings. Being +something of a dandy, he prided himself upon having his shoes very +clean, and his white dimity small clothes without spot or blemish. He +caught rabbits, and sold them, till he obtained money enough to purchase +brass buckles for his knees, and for the straps of his shoes. The first +time he made his appearance in the city with this new finery, he felt +his ambition concerning personal decoration completely satisfied. The +neatness of his dress, and his manly way of proceeding, attracted +attention, and induced his customers to call him "THE LITTLE GOVERNOR." +For several years, he was universally known in the market by that title. +Fortunately, his father had no wish to obtain undue advantage in the +sale of his produce; for had it been otherwise, his straight-forward +little son would have proved a poor agent in transacting his affairs. +One day, when a citizen inquired the price of a pair of chickens, he +answered, with the utmost simplicity, "My father told me to sell them +for fifty cents if I could; and if not, to take forty." + +"Well done, my honest little fellow!" said the gentleman, smiling, "I +will give you whatever is the current price. I shall look out for you in +the market; and whenever I see you, I shall always try to trade with +you." And he kept his word. + +When quite a small boy, he was sent some distance of an errand, and +arrived just as the family were about to sit down to supper. There were +several pies on the table, and they invited him to partake. The long +walk had whetted his appetite, and the pies looked exceedingly tempting; +but the shyness of childhood led him to say, "No, I thank you." When he +had delivered his message, he lingered, and lingered, hoping they would +ask him again. But the family were Quakers, and they understood yea to +mean yea, and nay to mean nay. They would have considered it a mere +worldly compliment to repeat the invitation; so they were silent. Isaac +started for home, much repenting of his bashfulness, and went nearly +half of the way revolving the subject in his mind. He then walked back +to the house, marched boldly into the supper-room, and said, "I told a +lie when I was here. I did want a piece of pie; but I thought to be sure +you would ask me again." This explicit avowal made them all smile, and +he was served with as much pie as he wished to eat. + +The steadfastness of his whig principles led him to take a lively +interest in anecdotes concerning revolutionary heroes. His mother had a +brother in Philadelphia, who lived in a house formerly occupied by +William Penn, at the corner of Second Street and Norris Alley. This +uncle frequently cut and made garments for General Washington, Benjamin +Franklin, and other distinguished men. Nothing pleased Isaac better than +a visit to this city relative; and when there, his boyish mind was much +occupied with watching for the famous men, of whom he had heard so much +talk. Once, when General Washington came there to order some garments, +he followed him a long distance from the shop. The General had observed +his wonder and veneration, and was amused by it. Coming to a corner of +the street, he turned round suddenly, touched his hat, and made a very +low bow. This playful condescension so completely confused his juvenile +admirer, that he stood blushing and bewildered for an instant, then +walked hastily away, without remembering to return the salutation. The +tenderness of spirit often manifested by him, was very remarkable in +such a resolute and mischievous boy. There was an old unoccupied barn in +the neighborhood, a favorite resort of swallows in the Spring-time. When +he was about ten years old, he invited a number of boys to meet him the +next Sunday morning, to go and pelt the swallows. They set off on this +expedition with anticipations of a fine frolic; but before they had gone +far, Isaac began to feel a strong conviction that he was doing wrong. He +told his companions he thought it was very cruel sport to torment and +kill poor little innocent birds; especially as they might destroy +mothers, and then the little ones would be left to starve. There was a +Quaker meeting-house about a mile and a half distant, and he proposed +that they should all go there, and leave the swallows in peace. But the +boys only laughed at him, and ran off shouting, "Come on! Come on!" He +looked after them sorrowfully for some minutes, reproaching himself for +the suffering he had caused the poor birds. He then walked off to +meeting alone; and his faithfulness to the light within him was followed +by a sweet peacefulness and serenity of soul. The impression made by +this incident, and the state of mind he enjoyed while in meeting, was +one of the earliest influences that drew him into the Society of +Friends.--When he returned home, he heard that one of the boys had +broken his arm while stoning the swallows, and had been writhing with +pain, while he had been enjoying the consolations of an approving +conscience. + +At an early age, he was noted for being a sure shot, with bow and arrow, +or with gun. A pair of king-birds built in his father's orchard, and it +was desirable to get rid of them, because they destroy honey-bees. Isaac +watched for an opportunity, and one day when the birds flew away in +quest of food for their young, he transfixed them both at once with his +arrow. At first, he was much delighted with this exploit; but his +compassionate heart soon became troubled about the orphan little ones, +whom he pictured to himself as anxiously expecting the parents that +would never return to feed them again. This feeling gained such strength +within him, that he early relinquished the practice of shooting, though +he found keen excitement in the pursuit, and was not a little proud of +his skill. + +Once, when he had entrapped a pair of partridges, he put them in a box, +intending to keep them there. But he soon began to query with himself +whether creatures accustomed to fly must not necessarily be very +miserable shut up in such a limited space. He accordingly opened the +door. One of the partridges immediately walked out, but soon returned to +prison to invite his less ventursome mate. The box was removed a few +days after, but the birds remained about the garden for months, often +coming to the door-step to pick up crumbs that were thrown to them. When +the mating-season returned the next year, they retired to the woods. + +From earliest childhood he evinced great fondness for animals, and +watched with lively interest all the little creatures of the woods and +fields. He was familiar with all their haunts, and they gave names to +the localities of his neighborhood. There was Turkey Causeway, where +wild turkies abounded; and Rabbit Swamp, where troops of timid little +rabbits had their hiding places; and Squirrel Grove, where many +squirrels laid in their harvest of acorns for the winter; and Panther +Bridge, where his grandfather had killed a panther. + +Once, when his father and the workmen had been cutting down a quantity +of timber, Isaac discovered a squirrel's nest in a hole of one of the +trees that had fallen. It contained four new-born little ones, their +eyes not yet opened. He was greatly tempted to carry them home, but they +were so young that they needed their mother's milk. So after examining +them, he put them back in the nest, and with his usual busy helpfulness +went to assist in stripping bark from the trees. When he went home from +his work, toward evening, he felt curious to see how the mother squirrel +would behave when she returned and found her home was gone. He +accordingly hid himself in a bush to watch her proceedings. About dusk, +she came running along the stone wall with a nut in her mouth, and went +with all speed to the old familiar tree. Finding nothing but a stump +remaining there, she dropped the nut and looked around in evident +dismay. She went smelling all about the ground, then mounted the stump +to take a survey of the country. She raised herself on her hind legs and +snuffed the air, with an appearance of great perplexity and distress. +She ran round the stump several times, occasionally raising herself on +her hind legs, and peering about in every direction, to discover what +had become of her young family. At last, she jumped on the prostrate +trunk of the tree, and ran along till she came to the hole where her +babies were concealed. What the manner of their meeting was nobody can +tell; but doubtless the mother's heart beat violently when she +discovered her lost treasures all safe on the warm little bed of moss +she had so carefully prepared for them. After staying a few minutes to +give them their supper, she came out, and scampered off through the +bushes. In about fifteen minutes, she returned and took one of the young +ones in her mouth, and carried it quickly to a hole in another tree, +three or four hundred yards off, and then came back and took the others, +one by one, till she had conveyed them all to their new home. The +intelligent instinct manifested by this little quadruped excited great +interest in Isaac's observing mind. When he drove the cows to pasture, +he always went by that tree, to see how the young family were getting +along. In a short time, they were running all over the tree with their +careful mother, eating acorns under the shady boughs, entirely +unconscious of the perils through which they had passed in infancy. + +Some time after, Isaac traded with another boy for a squirrel taken from +the nest before its eyes were open. He made a bed of moss for it, and +fed it very tenderly. At first, he was afraid it would not live; but it +seemed healthy, though it never grew so large as other squirrels. He did +not put it in a cage; for he said to himself that a creature made to +frisk about in the green woods could not be happy shut up in a box. This +pretty little animal became so much attached to her kind-hearted +protector, that she would run about after him, and come like a kitten +whenever he called her. While he was gone to school, she frequently ran +off to the woods and played with wild squirrels on a tree that grew +near his path homeward. Sometimes she took a nap in a large knot-hole, +or, if the weather was very warm, made a cool bed of leaves across a +crotch of the boughs, and slept there. When Isaac passed under the tree, +on his way from school, he used to call "Bun! Bun! Bun!" If she was +there, she would come to him immediately, run up on his shoulder, and so +ride home to get her supper. + +It seemed as if animals were in some way aware of his kindly feelings, +and disposed to return his confidence; for on several occasions they +formed singular intimacies with him. When he was six or seven years old, +he spied a crow's nest in a high tree, and, according to his usual +custom, he climbed up to make discoveries. He found that it contained +two eggs, and he watched the crow's movements until her young ones were +hatched and ready to fly. Then he took them home. One was accidentally +killed a few days after, but he reared the other, and named it Cupid. +The bird became so very tame, that it would feed from his hand, perch on +his shoulder, or his hat, and go everywhere with him. It frequently +followed him for miles, when he went to mill or market. He was never put +into a cage, but flew in and out of the house, just as he pleased. If +Isaac called "Cu! Cu!" he would hear him, even if he were up in the +highest tree, would croak a friendly answer, and come down directly. If +Isaac winked one eye, the crow would do the same. If he winked his other +eye, the crow also winked with his other eye. Once when Cupid was on his +shoulder, he pointed to a snake lying in the road, and said "Cu! +Cu!"--The sagacious bird pounced on the head of the snake and killed him +instantly; then flew back to his friend's shoulder, cawing with all his +might, as if delighted with his exploit. If a stranger tried to take +him, he would fly away, screaming with terror. Sometimes Isaac covered +him with a handkerchief and placed him on a stranger's shoulder; but as +soon as he discovered where he was, he seemed frightened almost to +death. He usually chose to sleep on the roof of a shed, directly under +Isaac's bed-room window. One night he heard him cawing very loud, and +the next morning he said to his father, "I heard Cupid talking in his +sleep last night." His father inquired whether he had seen him since; +and when Isaac answered, "No," he said, "Then I am afraid the owls have +taken him." The poor bird did not make his appearance again; and a few +days after, his bones and feathers were found on a stump, not far from +the house. This was a great sorrow for Isaac. It tried his young heart +almost like the loss of a brother. + +His intimacy with animals was of a very pleasant nature, except on one +occasion, when he thrust his arm into a hollow tree, in search of +squirrels, and pulled out a large black snake. He was so terrified, that +he tumbled headlong from the tree, and it was difficult to tell which +ran away fastest, he or the snake. This incident inspired the bold boy +with fear, which he vainly tried to overcome during the remainder of his +life. There was a thicket of underbrush between his father's farm and +the village of Woodbury. Once, when he was sent of an errand to the +village, he was seized with such a dread of snakes, that before entering +among the bushes, he placed his basket on an old rail, knelt down and +prayed earnestly that he might pass through without encountering a +snake. When he rose up and attempted to take his basket, he perceived a +large black snake lying close beside the rail. It may well be believed +that he went through the thicket too fast to allow any grass to grow +under his feet. + +When he drove the cows to and from pasture, he often met an old colored +man named Mingo. His sympathizing heart was attracted toward him, +because he had heard the neighbors say he was stolen from Africa when he +was a little boy. One day, he asked Mingo what part of the world he came +from; and the poor old man told how he was playing with other children +among the bushes, on the coast of Africa, when white men pounced upon +them suddenly and dragged them off to a ship. He held fast hold of the +thorny bushes, which tore his hands dreadfully in the struggle. The old +man wept like a child, when he told how he was frightened and distressed +at being thus hurried away from father, mother, brothers and sisters, +and sold into slavery, in a distant land, where he could never see or +hear from them again. This painful story made a very deep impression +upon Isaac's mind; and, though he was then only nine years old, he made +a solemn vow to himself that he would be the friend of oppressed +Africans during his whole life. + +He was as precocious in love, as in other matters. Not far from his +home, lived a prosperous and highly respectable Quaker family, named +Tatum. There were several sons, but only one daughter; a handsome child, +with clear, fair complexion, blue eyes, and a profusion of brown +curly hair. She was Isaac's cousin, twice removed; for their +great-grandfathers were half-brothers. When he was only eight years old, +and she was not yet five, he made up his mind that little Sarah Tatum +was his wife. He used to walk a mile and a half every day, on purpose to +escort her to school. When they rambled through the woods, in search of +berries, it was his delight to sit beside her on some old stump, and +twist her glossy brown ringlets over his fingers. A lovely picture they +must have made in the green, leafy frame-work of the woods--that fair, +blue-eyed girl, and the handsome, vigorous boy! When he was fourteen +years old, he wrote to her his first love-letter. The village +schoolmaster taught for very low wages, and was not remarkably +well-qualified for his task; as was generally the case at that early +period. Isaac's labor was needed on the farm all the summer; +consequently, he was able to attend school only three months during the +winter. He was, therefore, so little acquainted with the forms of +letter-writing, that he put Sarah's name inside the letter, and his own +on the outside. She, being an only daughter, and a great pet in her +family, had better opportunities for education. She told her young lover +that was not the correct way to write a letter, and instructed him how +to proceed in future. From that time, they corresponded constantly. + +Isaac likewise formed a very strong friendship with his cousin Joseph +Whitall, who was his schoolmate, and about his own age. They shared +together all their joys and troubles, and were companions in all boyish +enterprises. Thus was a happy though laborious childhood passed in the +seclusion of the woods, in the midst of home influences and rustic +occupations. His parents had no leisure to bestow on intellectual +culture; for they had a numerous family of children, and it required +about all their time to feed and clothe them respectably. But they were +worthy, kind-hearted people, whose moral precepts were sustained by +their upright example. His father was a quiet man, but exceedingly firm +and energetic. When he had made up his mind to do a thing, no earthly +power could turn him from his purpose; especially if any question of +conscience were involved therein. During the revolutionary war, he +faithfully maintained his testimony against the shedding of blood, and +suffered considerably for refusing to pay military taxes. Isaac's mother +was noted for her fearless character, and blunt directness of speech. +She was educated in the Presbyterian faith, and this was a source of +some discordant feeling between her and her husband. The preaching of +her favorite ministers seemed to him harsh and rigid, while she regarded +Quaker exhortations as insipid and formal. But as time passed on, her +religious views assimilated more and more with his; and about +twenty-four years after their marriage, she joined the Society of +Friends, and frequently spoke at their meetings. She was a spiritual +minded woman, always ready to sympathise with the afflicted, and +peculiarly kind to animals. They were both extremely hospitable and +benevolent to the poor. On Sunday evenings, they convened all the family +to listen to the Scriptures and other religious books.--In his journal +Isaac alludes to this custom, and says: "My mind was often solemnized by +these opportunities, and I resolved to live more consistently with the +principles of christian sobriety." + +When he was sixteen years old, it became a question to what business he +should devote himself.--There was a prospect of obtaining a situation +for him in a store at Philadelphia; and for that purpose it was deemed +expedient that he should take up his abode for a while with his maternal +uncle, whose house he had been so fond of visiting in early boyhood. He +did not succeed in obtaining the situation he expected, but remained in +the city on the look-out for some suitable employment. Meanwhile, he was +very helpful to his uncle, who, finding him diligent and skillful, tried +to induce him to learn his trade.--It was an occupation ill-adapted to +his vigorous body and active mind; but he was not of a temperament to +fold his hands and wait till something "turned up;" and as his uncle was +doing a prosperous business, he concluded to accept his proposition. +About the same time, his beloved cousin, Joseph Whitall, was sent to +Trenton to study law. This was rather a severe trial to Isaac's +feelings. Not that he envied his superior advantages; but he had sad +forebodings that separation would interrupt their friendship, and that +such a different career would be very likely to prevent its renewal. +They parted with mutual regret, and did not meet again for several +years. + +When Isaac bade adieu to the paternal roof, his mother looked after him +thoughtfully, and remarked to one of his sisters, "Isaac is no common +boy.--He will do something great, either for good or evil." She called +him back and said, "My son, you are now going forth to make your own way +in the world. Always remember that you are as good as any other person; +but remember also that you are no better." With this farewell +injunction, he departed for Philadelphia, where he soon acquired the +character of a faithful and industrious apprentice. + +But his boyish love of fun was still strong within him, and he was the +torment of all his fellow apprentices. One of them, named William +Roberts, proposed that they should go together into the cellar to steal +a pitcher of cider. Isaac pulled the spile, and while William was +drawing the liquor, he took an unobserved opportunity to hide it. When +the pitcher was full, he pretended to look all around for it, without +being able to find it. At last, he told his unsuspecting comrade that he +must thrust his finger into the hole and keep it there, while he went to +get another spile. William waited and waited for him to return, but when +an hour or more had elapsed, his patience was exhausted, and he began to +Halloo!--The noise, instead of bringing Isaac to his assistance, brought +the mistress of the house, who caught the culprit at the cider-barrel, +and gave him a severe scolding, to the infinite gratification of his +mischievous companion. + +Once, when the family were all going away, his uncle left the house in +charge of him and another apprentice, telling them to defend themselves +if any robbers came. Having a mind to try the courage of the lads, he +returned soon after, and attempted to force a window in the back part of +the house, which opened upon a narrow alley inclosed by a high fence. As +soon as Isaac heard the noise, he seized an old harpoon that was about +the premises, and told his companion to open the window the instant he +gave the signal. His orders were obeyed, and he flung the harpoon with +such force, that it passed through his uncle's vest and coat, and nailed +him tight to the fence. When he told the story, he used to say he never +afterward deemed it necessary to advise Isaac to defend himself. + +Among the apprentices was one much older and stouter than the others. He +was very proud of his physical strength, and delighted to play the +tyrant over those who were younger and weaker than himself. When Isaac +saw him knocking them about, he felt an almost irresistible temptation +to fight; but his uncle was a severe man, likely to be much incensed by +quarrels among his apprentices. He knew, moreover, that a battle between +him and Samson would be very unequal; so he restrained his indignation +as well as he could. But one day, when the big bully knocked him down, +without the slightest provocation, he exclaimed, in great wrath, "If you +ever do that again, I'll kill you. Mind what I say. I tell you I'll kill +you." + +Samson snapped his fingers and laughed, and the next day he knocked him +down again. Isaac armed himself with a heavy window-bar, and when the +apprentices were summoned to breakfast, he laid wait behind a door, and +levelled a blow at the tyrant, as he passed through. He fell, without +uttering a single cry. When the family sat down to breakfast, Mr. Tatem +said, "Where is Samson?" + +His nephew coolly replied, "I've killed him." + +"Killed him!" exclaimed the uncle. "What do you mean?" + +"I told him I would kill him if he ever knocked me down again," rejoined +Isaac; "and I _have_ killed him." + +They rushed out in the utmost consternation, and found the young man +entirely senseless. A physician was summoned, and for some time they +feared he was really dead. The means employed to restore him were at +last successful; but it was long before he recovered from the effects of +the blow. When Isaac saw him so pale and helpless, a terrible remorse +filled his soul. He shuddered to think how nearly he had committed +murder, in one rash moment of unbridled rage. This awful incident made +such a solemn and deep impression on him, that from that time he began +to make strong and earnest efforts to control the natural impetuosity of +his temper; and he finally attained to a remarkable degree of +self-control. Weary hours of debility brought wiser thoughts to Samson +also; and when he recovered his strength, he never again misused it by +abusing his companions. + +In those days, Isaac did not profess to be a Quaker. He used the +customary language of the world, and liked to display his +well-proportioned figure in neat and fashionable clothing. The young +women of his acquaintance, it is said, looked upon him with rather +favorable eyes; but his thoughts never wandered from Sarah Tatum for a +single day. Once, when he had a new suit of clothes, and stylish boots, +the tops turned down with red, a young man of his acquaintance invited +him to go home with him on Saturday evening and spend Sunday. He +accepted the invitation, and set out well pleased with the expedition. +The young man had a sister, who took it into her head that the visit was +intended as an especial compliment to herself. The brother was called +out somewhere in the neighborhood, and as soon as she found herself +alone with their guest, she began to specify, in rather significant +terms, what she should require of a man who wished to marry her.--Her +remarks made Isaac rather fidgetty; but he replied, in general terms, +that he thought her ideas on the subject were very correct. "I suppose +you think my father will give me considerable money," said she; "but +that is a mistake. Whoever takes me must take me for myself alone." + +The young man tried to stammer out that he did not come on any such +errand; but his wits were bewildered by this unexpected siege, and he +could not frame a suitable reply. She mistook his confusion for the +natural timidity of love, and went on to express the high opinion she +entertained of him. Isaac looked wistfully at the door, in hopes her +brother would come to his rescue. But no relief came from that quarter, +and fearing he should find himself engaged to be married without his own +consent, he caught up his hat and rushed out. It was raining fast, but +he splashed through mud and water, without stopping to choose his steps. +Crossing the yard in this desperate haste, he encountered the brother, +who called out, "Where are you going?" + +"I'm going home," he replied. + +"Going home!" exclaimed his astonished friend, "Why it is raining hard; +and you came to stay all night. What does possess you, Isaac? Come back! +Come back, I say!" + +"I won't come back!" shouted Isaac, from the distance. "I'm going home." +And home he went.--His new clothes were well spattered, and his red-top +boots loaded with mud; but though he prided himself on keeping his +apparel in neat condition, he thought he had got off cheaply on this +occasion. + +Soon after he went to reside in Philadelphia, a sea captain by the name +of Cox came to his uncle's on a visit. As the captain was one day +passing through Norris Alley, he met a young colored man, named Joe, +whose master he had known in Bermuda. He at once accused him of being a +runaway slave, and ordered him to go to the house with him. Joe called +him his old friend, and seemed much pleased at the meeting. He said he +had been sent from Bermuda to New-York in a vessel, which he named; he +had obtained permission to go a few miles into the country, to see his +sister, and while he was gone, the vessel unfortunately sailed; he +called upon the consignee and asked what he had better do under the +circumstances, and he told him that his captain had left directions for +him to go to Philadelphia and take passage home by the first vessel. +Captain Cox was entirely satisfied with this account. He said there was +a vessel then in port, which would sail for Bermuda in a few days, and +told Joe he had better go and stay with him at Mr. Tatem's house, while +he made inquiries about it. + +When Isaac entered the kitchen that evening, he found Joe sitting there, +in a very disconsolate attitude; and watching him closely he observed +tears now and then trickling down his dark cheeks. He thought of poor +old Mingo, whose pitiful story had so much interested him in boyhood, +and caused him to form a resolution to be the friend of Africans.--The +more he pondered on the subject, the more he doubted whether Joe was so +much pleased to meet his "old friend," as he had pretended to be. He +took him aside and said, "Tell me truly how the case stands with you. I +will be your friend; and come what will, you may feel certain that I +will never betray you." Joe gave him an earnest look of distress and +scrutiny, which his young benefactor never forgot. Again he assured him, +most solemnly, that he might trust him. Then Joe ventured to acknowledge +that he was a fugitive slave, and had great dread of being returned into +bondage. He said his master let him out to work on board a ship going to +New-York. He had a great desire for freedom, and when the vessel arrived +at its destined port, he made his escape, and travelled to Philadelphia, +in hopes of finding some one willing to protect him. Unluckily, the very +day he entered the City of Brotherly Love he met his old acquaintance +Captain Cox; and on the spur of the moment he had invented the best +story he could. + +Isaac was then a mere lad, and he had been in Philadelphia too short a +time to form many acquaintances; but he imagined what his own feelings +would be if he were in poor Joe's situation, and he determined to +contrive some way or other to assist him. He consulted with a prudent +and benevolent neighbor, who told him that a Quaker by the name of John +Stapler, in Buck's County, was a good friend to colored people, and the +fugitive had better be sent to him. Accordingly, a letter was written to +Friend Stapler, and given to Joe, with instructions how to proceed. +Meanwhile, Captain Cox brought tidings that he had secured a passage to +Bermuda. Joe thanked him, and went on board the vessel, as he was +ordered. But a day or two after, he obtained permission to go to Mr. +Tatem's house to procure some clothes he had left there. It was nearly +sunset when he left the ship and started on the route, which Isaac had +very distinctly explained to him. When the sun disappeared, the bright +moon came forth.--By her friendly light, he travelled on with a hopeful +heart until the dawn of day, when he arrived at Friend Stapler's house +and delivered the letter. He was received with great kindness, and a +situation was procured for him in the neighborhood, where he spent the +remainder of his life comfortably, with "none to molest or make him +afraid." + +This was the first opportunity Isaac had of carrying into effect his +early resolution to befriend the oppressed Africans. + +While the experiences of life were thus deepening and strengthening his +character, the fair child, Sarah Tatum, was emerging into womanhood. She +was a great belle in her neighborhood, admired by the young men for her +comely person, and by the old for her good sense and discreet manners. +He had many competitors for her favor. Once, when he went to invite her +to ride to Quarterly Meeting, he found three Quaker beaux already there, +with horses and sleighs for the same purpose. But though some of her +admirers abounded in worldly goods, her mind never swerved from the love +of her childhood. The bright affectionate school-boy, who delighted to +sit with her under the shady trees, and twist her shining curls over his +fingers, retained his hold upon her heart as long as its pulses +throbbed. + +Her father at first felt some uneasiness, lest his daughter should marry +out of the Society of Friends. But Isaac had been for some time +seriously impressed with the principles they professed, and when he +assured the good old gentleman that he would never take Sarah out of the +Society, of which she was born a member, he was perfectly satisfied to +receive him as a son-in-law. + +At that period, there were several remarkable individuals among Quaker +preachers in that part of the country, and their meetings were unusually +lively and spirit-stirring. One of them, named Nicholas Waln, was +educated in the Society of Friends, but in early life seems to have +cared little about their principles. He was then an ambitious, +money-loving man, remarkably successful in worldly affairs. But the +principles inculcated in childhood probably remained latent within him; +for when he was rapidly acquiring wealth and distinction by the practice +of law, he suddenly relinquished it, from conscientious motives. This +change of feeling is said to have been owing to the following incident. +He had charge of an important case, where a large amount of property was +at stake. In the progress of the cause, he became more and more aware +that right was not on the side of his client; but to desert him in the +midst was incompatible with his ideas of honor as a lawyer. This +produced a conflict within him, which he could not immediately settle to +his own satisfaction. A friend, who met him after the case was decided, +inquired what was the result. He replied, "I did the best I could for my +client. I have gained the cause for him, and have thereby defrauded an +honest man of his just dues." He seemed sad and thoughtful, and would +never after plead a cause at the bar. He dismissed his students, and +returned to his clients all the money he had received for unfinished +cases. For some time afterward, he appeared to take no interest in +anything but his own religious state of feeling. He eventually became a +preacher, very popular among Friends, and much admired by others.--His +sermons were usually short, and very impressive. A contemporary thus +describes the effect of his preaching: "The whole assembly seemed to be +baptized together, and so covered with solemnity, that when the meeting +broke up, no one wished to enter into conversation with another." He was +particularly zealous against a paid ministry, and not unfrequently +quoted the text, "Put me in the priest's office, I pray thee, that I may +eat a piece of bread." One of his most memorable discourses began with +these words: "The lawyers, the priests, and the doctors, these are the +deceivers of men." He was so highly esteemed, that when he entered the +court-house, as he occasionally did, to aid the poor or the oppressed in +some way, it was not uncommon for judges and lawyers to rise +spontaneously in token of respect.--Isaac had great veneration for his +character, and was much edified by his ministry. + +Mary Ridgeway, a small, plain, uneducated woman, was likewise remarkably +persuasive and penetrating in her style of preaching, which appeared to +Isaac like pure inspiration. Her exhortations took deep hold of his +youthful feelings, and strongly influenced him to a religious life. + +But more powerful than all other agencies was the preaching of William +Savery. He was a tanner by trade; remarked by all who knew him as a man +who "walked humbly with his God." One night, a quantity of hides were +stolen from his tannery, and he had reason to believe that the thief was +a quarrelsome, drunken neighbor, whom I will call John Smith. The next +week, the following advertisement appeared in the County newspaper: +"Whoever stole a lot of hides on the fifth of the present month, is +hereby informed that the owner has a sincere wish to be his friend. If +poverty tempted him to this false step, the owner will keep the whole +transaction secret, and will gladly put him in the way of obtaining +money by means more likely to bring him peace of mind." This singular +advertisement attracted considerable attention; but the culprit alone +knew whence the benevolent offer came. When he read it, his heart melted +within him, and he was filled with contrition for what he had done. A +few nights afterward, as the tanner's family were about retiring to +rest, they heard a timid knock, and when the door was opened, there +stood John Smith with a load of hides on his shoulder. Without looking +up, he said, "I have brought these back, Mr. Savery. Where shall I put +them?" "Wait till I can light a lantern, and I will go to the barn with +thee," he replied.--"Then perhaps thou wilt come in and tell me how this +happened. We will see what can be done for thee." As soon as they were +gone out, his wife prepared some hot coffee, and placed pies and meat on +the table. When they returned from the barn, she said "Neighbor Smith, +I thought some hot supper would be good for thee." He turned his back +toward her and did not speak. After leaning against the fire-place in +silence for a moment, he said, in a choked voice, "It is the first time +I ever stole anything, and I have felt very bad about it. I don't know +how it is. I am sure I didn't think once that I should ever come to be +what I am. But I took to drinking, and then to quarrelling. Since I +began to go down hill, everybody gives me a kick. You are the first man +who has ever offered me a helping hand. My wife is sickly, and my +children are starving. You have sent them many a meal, God bless you! +and yet I stole the hides from you, meaning to sell them the first +chance I could get. But I tell you the truth when I say it is the first +time I was ever a thief." + +"Let it be the last, my friend," replied William Savery. "The secret +shall remain between ourselves. Thou art still young, and it is in thy +power to make up for lost time. Promise me that thou wilt not drink any +intoxicating liquor for a year, and I will employ thee to-morrow at good +wages. Perhaps we may find some employment for thy family also. The +little boy can at least pick up stones.--But eat a bit now, and drink +some hot coffee. Perhaps it will keep thee from craving anything +stronger to-night. Doubtless, thou wilt find it hard to abstain at +first; but keep up a brave heart, for the sake of thy wife and children, +and it will soon become easy. When thou hast need of coffee, tell Mary, +and she will always give it to thee." + +The poor fellow tried to eat and drink, but the food seemed to choke +him. After an ineffectual effort to compose his excited feelings, he +bowed his head on the table, and wept like a child. After a while, he +ate and drank with good appetite; and his host parted with him for the +night with this kindly exhortation; "Try to do well, John; and thou wilt +always find a friend in me." + +He entered into his employ the next day, and remained with him many +years, a sober, honest, and faithful man. The secret of the theft was +kept between them; but after John's death, William Savery sometimes told +the story, to prove that evil might be overcome with good. + +This practical preacher of righteousness was likewise a great preacher +orally; if greatness is to be measured by the effect produced on the +souls of others. Through his ministry, the celebrated Mrs. Fry was first +excited to a lively interest in religion. When he visited England in +1798, she was Elizabeth Gurney, a lively girl of eighteen, rather fond +of dress and company. Her sister, alluding to the first sermon they +heard from William Savery, writes thus: "His voice and manner were +arresting, and we all liked the sound. Elizabeth became a good deal +agitated, and I saw her begin to weep. The next morning, when she took +breakfast with him at her uncle's, he preached to her after breakfast, +and prophesied of the high and important calling she would be led into." +Elizabeth herself made the following record of it in her journal; "In +hearing William Savery preach, he seemed to me to overflow with true +religion; to be humble, and yet a man of great abilities. Having been +gay and disbelieving, only a few years ago, makes him better acquainted +with the heart of one in the same condition. We had much serious +conversation. What he said, and what I felt was like a refreshing shower +falling upon earth that had been dried up for ages." + +This good and gifted man often preached in Philadelphia; not only at +stated seasons, on the first and fifth day of the week, but at evening +meetings also, where the Spirit is said to have descended upon him and +his hearers in such copious measure that they were reminded of the +gathering of the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Isaac was at an +impressible age, and on those occasions his thirsty soul drank eagerly +from the fountain of living water. He never forgot those refreshing +meetings. To the end of his days, whenever anything reminded him of +William Savery, he would utter a warm eulogium on his deep +spirituality, his tender benevolence, his cheerful, genial temper, and +the simple dignity of his deportment. + +Isaac was about twenty-two years old, when he was received as a member +of the Society of Friends. It was probably the pleasantest period of his +existence. Love and religion, the two deepest and brightest experiences +of human life, met together, and flowed into his earnest soul in one +full stream. He felt perfectly satisfied that he had found the one true +religion. The plain mode of worship suited the simplicity of his +character, while the principles inculcated were peculiarly well +calculated to curb the violence of his temper, and to place his strong +will under the restraint of conscience. Duties toward God and his fellow +men stood forth plainly revealed to him in the light that shone so +clearly in his awakened soul. Late in life, he often used to refer to +this early religious experience as a sweet season of peace and joy. He +said it seemed as if the very air were fragrant, and the sunlight more +glorious than it had ever been before. The plain Quaker meeting-house in +the quiet fields of Woodbury was to him indeed a house of prayer, though +its silent worship was often undisturbed by a single uttered word. +Blended with those spiritual experiences was the fair vision of his +beloved Sarah, who always attended meeting, serene in her maiden beauty. +The joy of renovated friendship also awaited him there, in that quaint +old gathering place of simple worshippers. When he parted from his dear +cousin, Joseph Whitall, they were both young men of good moral +characters, but not seriously thoughtful concerning religion. Years +elapsed, and each knew not whither the other was travelling in spiritual +experiences. But one day, when Isaac went to meeting as usual, and was +tying his horse in the shed, a young man in the plain costume of the +Friends came to tie his horse also. A glance showed that it was Joseph +Whitall, the companion of his boyhood and youth. For an instant, they +stood surprised and silent, looking at each other's dress; for until +then neither of them was aware that the other had become a Quaker. Tears +started to their eyes, and they embraced each other. They had long and +precious interviews afterward, in which they talked over the +circumstances that had inclined them to reflect on serious subjects, and +the reasons which induced them to consider the Society of Friends as the +best existing representative of Christianity. + +The gravity of their characters at this period, may be inferred from the +following letter, written in 1794: + + "Dear Isaac,-- + + "While I sat in retirement this evening, thou wert brought fresh + into my remembrance, with a warm desire for thy welfare and + preservation. Wherefore, be encouraged to press forward and + persevere in the high and holy way wherein thou hast measurably, + through mercy, begun to tread. From our childhood I have had an + affectionate regard for thee, which hath been abundantly increased; + and, in the covenant of life I have felt thee near. May we, my + beloved friend, now in the spring time of life, in the morning of + our days, with full purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord. May we + seek Him for our portion and our inheritance; that He may be + pleased, in his wonderful loving kindness, to be our counsellor and + director; that, in times of trouble and commotion, we may have a + safe hiding-place, an unfailing refuge. I often feel the want of a + greater dependance, a more steadfast leaning, upon that Divine Arm + of power, which ever hath been, and still is, the true support of + the righteous. Yet, I am sometimes favored to hope that in the + Lord's time an advancement will be known, and a more full + establishment in the most holy faith. 'For then shall we know, if + we follow on to know the Lord, that His going forth is prepared as + the morning, and He will come unto us as the rain, as the latter + and the former rain upon the earth.' May we, from time to time, be + favored to feel his animating presence, to comfort and strengthen + our enfeebled minds, that so we may patiently abide in our + allotments, and look forward with a cheering hope, that, whatever + trials and besetments may await us, they may tend to our further + refinement, and more close union in the heavenly covenant. And when + the end comes, may we be found among those who through many + tribulations have washed their garments white in the blood of the + Lamb, and be found worthy to stand with him upon Mount Zion. + + "So wisheth and prayeth thy affectionate friend, + + "JOSEPH WHITALL." + +The letters which passed between him and his betrothed partake of the +same sedate character; but through the unimpassioned Quaker style gleams +the steady warmth of sincere affection. There is something pleasant in +the simplicity with which he usually closed his epistles to her: "I am, +dear Sally, thy real friend, Isaac." + +They were married on the eighteenth of the Ninth Month, [September,] +1795; he being nearly twenty-four years of age, and she about three +years younger. The worldly comforts which a kind Providence bestowed on +Isaac and his bride, were freely imparted to others. The resolution +formed after listening to the history of old Mingo's wrongs was pretty +severely tested by a residence in Philadelphia. There were numerous +kidnappers prowling about the city, and many outrages were committed, +which would not have been tolerated for a moment toward any but a +despised race. Pennsylvania being on the frontier of the slave states, +runaways were often passing through; and the laws on that subject were +little understood, and less attended to. If a colored man was arrested +as a fugitive slave, and discharged for want of proof, the magistrate +received no fee; but if he was adjudged a slave, and surrendered to his +claimant, the magistrate received from five to twenty dollars for his +trouble; of course, there was a natural tendency to make the most of +evidence in favor of slavery. + +Under these circumstances, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society was +frequently called upon to protect the rights of colored people. Isaac T. +Hopper became an active and leading member of this association. He was +likewise one of the overseers of a school for colored children, +established by Anthony Benezet; and it was his constant practice, for +several years, to teach two or three nights every week, in a school for +colored adults, established by a society of young men. In process of +time, he became known to everybody in Philadelphia as the friend and +legal adviser of colored people upon all emergencies. The shrewdness, +courage, and zeal, with which he fulfilled this mission will be seen in +the course of the following narratives, which I have selected from a +vast number of similar character, in which he was the principal agent. + + + + +CHARLES WEBSTER. + + +In 1797, a wealthy gentleman from Virginia went to spend the winter in +Philadelphia, accompanied by his wife and daughter. He had a slave named +Charles Webster, whom he took with him as coachman and waiter. When they +had been in the city a few weeks, Charles called upon Isaac T. Hopper, +and inquired whether he had become free in consequence of his master's +bringing him into Pennsylvania. It was explained to him, that if he +remained there six months, with his master's knowledge and consent, he +would then be a free man, according to the laws of Pennsylvania. The +slave was quite disheartened by this information; for he supposed his +owner was well acquainted with the law, and would therefore be careful +to take him home before that term expired. + +"I am resolved never to return to Virginia," said he. "Where can I go to +be safe?" + +Friend Hopper told him his master might be ignorant of the law, or +forgetful of it. He advised him to remain with the family until he saw +them making preparations to return. If the prescribed six months expired +meanwhile, he would be a free man. If not, there would be time enough to +consult what had better be done. "It is desirable to obtain thy liberty +in a legal way, if possible," said he; "for otherwise thou wilt be +constantly liable to be arrested, and may never again have such a good +opportunity to escape from bondage." + +Charles hesitated, but finally concluded to accept this prudent advice. +The time seemed very long to the poor fellow; for he was in a continual +panic lest his master should take him back to Virginia; but he did his +appointed tasks faithfully, and none of the family suspected what was +passing in his mind. + +The long-counted six months expired at last; and that very day, his +master said, "Charles, grease the carriage-wheels, and have all things +in readiness; for I intend to start for home to-morrow." + +The servant appeared to be well pleased with this prospect, and put the +carriage and harness in good order. As soon as that job was completed, +he went to Friend Hopper and told him the news. When assured that he was +now a free man, according to law, he could hardly be made to believe it. +He was all of a tremor with anxiety, and it seemed almost impossible to +convince him that he was out of danger. He was instructed to return to +his master till next morning, and to send word by one of the hotel +servants in case he should be arrested meanwhile. + +The next morning, he again called upon Friend Hopper, who accompanied +him to the office of William Lewis, a highly respectable lawyer, who +would never take any fee for his services on such occasions. When Mr. +Lewis heard the particulars of the case, he wrote a polite note to the +Virginian, informing him that his former slave was now free, according +to the laws of Pennsylvania; and cautioning him against any attempt to +take him away, contrary to his own inclination. + +The lawyer advised Friend Hopper to call upon the master and have some +preparatory conversation with him, before Charles was sent to deliver +the note. He was then, only twenty-six years of age, and he felt +somewhat embarrassed at the idea of calling upon a wealthy and +distinguished stranger, who was said to be rather imperious and +irritable. However, after a little reflection, he concluded it was his +duty, and accordingly he did it. + +When the Southerner was informed that his servant was free, and that a +lawyer had been consulted on the subject, he was extremely angry, and +used very contemptuous language concerning people who tampered with +gentlemen's servants. The young Quaker replied, "If thy son were a slave +in Algiers, thou wouldst thank me for tampering with _him_ to procure +his liberty. But in the present case, I am not obnoxious to the charge +thou hast brought; for thy servant came of his own accord to consult me, +I merely made him acquainted with his legal rights; and I intend to see +that he is protected in them." + +When Charles delivered the lawyers note, and his master saw that he no +longer had any legal power over him, he proposed to hire him to drive +the carriage home. But Charles was very well aware that Virginia would +be a very dangerous place for him, and he positively refused. The +incensed Southerner then claimed his servant's clothes as his property, +and ordered him to strip instantly. Charles did as he was ordered, and +proceeded to walk out of the room naked. Astonished to find him willing +to leave the house in that condition, he seized him violently, thrust +him back into the room, and ordered him to dress himself. When he had +assumed his garments, he walked off; and the master and servant never +met again. + +Charles was shrewd and intelligent, and conducted himself in such a +manner as to gain respect. He married an industrious, economical woman, +who served in the family of Chief Justice Tilghman. In process of time, +he built a neat two-story house, where they brought up reputably a +family of fourteen children, who obtained quite a good education at the +school established by Anthony Benezet. + + + + +BEN JACKSON. + + +Ben was born a slave in Virginia. When he was about sixteen years old, +his mind became excited on the subject of slavery. He could not +reconcile it with the justice and goodness of the Creator, that one man +should be born to toil for another without wages, to be driven about, +and treated like a beast of the field. The older he grew, the more +heavily did these considerations press upon him. At last, when he was +about twenty-five years old, he resolved to gain his liberty, if +possible. He left his master, and after encountering many difficulties, +arrived in Philadelphia, where he let himself on board a vessel and went +several voyages. When he was thirty years of age, he married, and was +employed as a coachman by Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the +Declaration of Independence. He lived with him two years; and when he +left, Dr. Rush gave him a paper certifying that he was a free man, +honest, sober, and capable. + +In 1799, his master came to Philadelphia, and arrested him as his +fugitive slave. Ben had an extraordinary degree of intelligence and +tact. When his master brought him before a magistrate, and demanded the +usual certificate to authorize him to take his human chattel back to +Virginia, Ben neither admitted nor denied that he was a slave. He merely +showed the certificate of Dr. Rush, and requested that Isaac T. Hopper +might be informed of his situation. Joseph Bird, the justice before whom +the case was brought, detested slavery, and was a sincere friend to the +colored people. He committed Ben to prison until morning, and despatched +a note to Isaac T. Hopper informing him of the circumstance, and +requesting him to call upon Dr. Rush. When the doctor was questioned, he +said he knew nothing about Ben's early history; he lived with him two +years, and was _then_ a free man. + +When Friend Hopper went to the prison, he found Ben in a state of great +anxiety and distress. He admitted that he was the slave of the man who +claimed him, and that he saw no way of escape open for him. His friend +told him not to be discouraged, and promised to exert himself to the +utmost in his behalf. The constable who had arrested him, sympathized +with the poor victim of oppression, and promised to do what he could for +him. Finding him in such a humane mood, Friend Hopper urged him to bring +Ben to the magistrate's office a short time _before_ the hour appointed +for the trial. He did so, and found Friend Hopper already there, +watching the clock. The moment the hand pointed to nine, he remarked +that the hour, of which the claimant had been apprized, had already +arrived; no evidence had been brought that the man was a slave; on the +contrary, Dr. Rush's certificate was strong presumptive evidence of his +being a freeman; he therefore demanded that the prisoner should be +discharged. Justice Bird, having no desire to throw obstacles in the +way, promptly told Ben he was at liberty, and he lost no time in +profiting by the information. Just as he passed out of the door, he saw +his master coming, and ran full speed. He had sufficient presence of +mind to take a zigzag course, and running through a house occupied by +colored people, he succeeded in eluding pursuit. + +When Friend Hopper went home, he found him at his house. He tried to +impress upon his mind the peril he would incur by remaining in +Philadelphia, and advised him by all means to go to sea. But his wife +was strongly attached to him, and so unwilling to consent to this plan, +that he concluded to run the risk of staying with her. He remained +concealed about a week, and then returned to the house he had previously +occupied. They lived in the second story, and there was a shed under +their bed-room window. Ben placed a ladder under the window, to be ready +for escape; but it was so short, that it did not reach the roof of the +shed by five or six feet. His wife was an industrious, orderly woman, +and kept their rooms as neat as a bee-hive. The only thing which marred +their happiness was the continual dread that man-hunters might pounce +upon them, in some unguarded hour, and separate them forever. About a +fortnight after his arrest, they were sitting together in the dusk of +the evening, when the door was suddenly burst open, and his master +rushed in with a constable. Ben sprang out of the window, down the +ladder, and made his escape. His master and the constable followed; but +as soon as they were on the ladder, Ben's wife cut the cord that held +it, and they tumbled heels over head upon the shed. This bruised them +some, and frightened them still more. They scrambled upon their feet, +cursing at a round rate. + +Ben arrived safely at the house of Isaac T. Hopper, who induced him to +quit the city immediately, and go to sea. His first voyage was to the +East Indies. While he was gone, Friend Hopper negotiated with the +master, who, finding there was little chance of regaining his slave, +agreed to manumit him for one hundred and fifty dollars. As soon as Ben +returned, he repaid from his wages the sum which had been advanced for +his ransom. His wife's health was greatly impaired by the fear and +anxiety she had endured on his account. She became a prey to melancholy, +and never recovered her former cheerfulness. + + + + +THOMAS COOPER. + + +The person who assumed this name was called Notly, when he was a slave +in Maryland. He was compelled to labor very hard, was scantily supplied +with food and clothing, and lodged in a little ricketty hut, through +which the cold winds of winter whistled freely. He was of a very +religious turn of mind, and often, when alone in his little cabin at +midnight, he prayed earnestly to God to release him from his +sufferings. + +In the year 1800, he found a favorable opportunity to escape from his +unfeeling master, and made his way to Philadelphia, where he procured +employment in a lumber-yard, under the name of John Smith. He was so +diligent and faithful, that he soon gained the good-will and confidence +of his employers. He married a worthy, industrious woman, with whom he +lived happily. By their united earnings they were enabled to purchase a +small house, where they enjoyed more comfort than many wealthy people, +and were much respected by neighbors and acquaintances. + +Unfortunately, he confided his story to a colored man, who, for the sake +of reward, informed his master where he was to be found. Accordingly, he +came to Philadelphia, arrested him, and carried him before a magistrate. +Having brought forward satisfactory evidence that he was a slave, an +order was granted to carry him back to Maryland. Isaac T. Hopper was +present at this decision, and was afflicted by it beyond measure. John's +employers pitied his condition, and sympathized with his afflicted wife +and children. They offered to pay a large sum for his ransom; but his +savage master refused to release him on any terms. This sober, +industrious man, guiltless of any crime, was hand-cuffed and had his +arms tied behind him with a rope, to which another rope was appended, +for his master to hold. While they were fastening his fetters, he spoke +a few affectionate words to his weeping wife. "Take good care of the +children," said he; "and don't let them forget their poor father. If you +are industrious and frugal, I hope you will be enabled to keep them at +school, till they are old enough to be placed at service in respectable +families. Never allow them to be idle; for that will lead them into bad +ways. And now don't forget my advice; for it is most likely you will +never see me again." + +Then addressing his children, he said, "You will have no father to take +care of you now. Mind what your mother tells you, and be very careful +not to do anything to grieve her. Be industrious and faithful in +whatever you are set about; and never play in the streets with naughty +children." + +They all wept bitterly while he thus talked to them; but he restrained +his sobs, though it was evident his heart was well nigh breaking. Isaac +T. Hopper was present at this distressing scene, and suffered almost as +acutely as the poor slave himself. In the midst of his parting words, +his master seized the rope, mounted his horse, snapped his whip, and set +off, driving poor John before him. This was done in a Christian country, +and there was no law to protect the victim. + +John was conveyed to Washington and offered for sale to speculators, +who were buying up gangs for the Southern market. The sight of dejected +and brutified slaves, chained together in coffles, was too common at the +seat of our republican government to attract attention; but the +barbarity of John's master was so conspicuous, that even there he was +rebuked for his excessive cruelty. These expressions of sympathy were +quite unexpected to the poor slave, and they kindled a faint hope of +escape, which had been smouldering in his breast. Manacled as he was, he +contrived to trip up his master, and leaving him prostrate on the +ground, he ran for the woods. He was soon beyond the reach of his +tyrant, and might have escaped easily if a company had not immediately +formed to pursue him. They chased him from the shelter of the bushes to +a swamp, where he was hunted like a fox, till night with friendly +darkness overshadowed him. While his enemies were sleeping, he +cautiously made his way by the light of the stars, to the house of an +old acquaintance, who hastened to take off his fetters, and give him a +good supper. + +Thus refreshed, he hastened to bid his colored friend farewell, and with +fear and trembling set off for Philadelphia. He had several rivers to +cross, and he thought likely men would be stationed on the bridges to +arrest him. Therefore, he hid himself in the deepest recesses of the +woods in the day-time, and travelled only in the night. He suffered much +with hunger and fatigue, but arrived home at last, to the great +astonishment and joy of his family. He well knew that these precious +moments of affectionate greeting were highly dangerous; for his own roof +could afford no shelter from pursuers armed with the power of a wicked +law. He accordingly hastened to Isaac T. Hopper for advice and +assistance. + +The yellow fever was then raging in Philadelphia, and the children had +all been carried into the country by their mother. Business made it +necessary for Friend Hopper to be in the city during the day-time, and a +colored domestic remained with him to take charge of the house. This +woman was alone when the fugitive arrived; but she showed him to an +upper chamber secured by a strong fastening. He had been there but a +short time, when his master came with two constables and proceeded to +search the house. When they found a room with the door bolted, they +demanded entrance; and receiving no answer, they began to consult +together how to gain admittance. At this crisis, the master of the house +came home, and received information of what was going on up-stairs. He +hastened thither, and ordered the intruders to quit his house instantly. +One of the constables said, "This gentleman's slave is here; and if you +don't deliver him up immediately, we will get a warrant to search the +house." + +"Quit my premises," replied Friend Hopper. "The mayor dare not grant a +warrant to search my house." + +The men withdrew in no very good humor, and a message soon came from the +mayor requesting to see Isaac T. Hopper. He obeyed the summons, and the +magistrate said to him, "This gentleman informs me that his slave is in +your house. Is it so?" + +The wary Friend replied, "Thou hast just told me that this man _says_ he +is. Dost thou not believe him?" + +"But I wish to know from yourself whether he is in your house or not," +rejoined the magistrate. + +"If the mayor reflects a little, I think he will see that he has no +right to ask such a question; and that I am not bound to answer it," +replied Friend Hopper. "If he is in my house, and if this man can prove +it, I am liable to a heavy penalty; and no man is bound to inform +against himself. These people have not behaved so civilly, that I feel +myself under any especial obligations of courtesy toward them. Hast thou +any further business with me?" + +"Did you say I dared not grant a warrant to search your house?" asked +the mayor. + +He answered, "Indeed I did say so; and I now repeat it. I mean no +disrespect to anybody in authority; but neither thou nor any other +magistrate would dare to grant a warrant to search my house. I am a man +of established reputation. I am not a suspicious character." + +The mayor smiled, as he replied, "I don't know about that, Mr. Hopper. +In the present case, I am inclined to think you are a _very_ suspicious +character." And so they parted. + +The master resorted to various stratagems to recapture his victim. He +dressed himself in Quaker costume and went to his house. The once happy +home was desolate now; and the anxious wife sat weeping, with her little +ones clinging to her in childish sympathy. The visitor professed to be +very friendly to her husband, and desirous to ascertain where he could +be found, in order to render him advice and assistance in eluding the +vigilance of his master. The wife prudently declined giving any +information, but referred him to Isaac T. Hopper, as the most suitable +person to consult in the case. Finding that he could not gain his object +by deception, he forgot to sustain the quiet character he had assumed, +but gave vent to his anger in a great deal of violent and profane +language. He went off, finally, swearing that in spite of them all he +would have his slave again, if he was to be found on the face of the +earth. + +John Smith remained under the protection of Friend Isaac about a week. +Spies were seen lurking round the house for several days; but they +disappeared at last. Supposing this was only a trick to put them off +their guard, a colored man was employed to run out of the house after +dark. The enemies who were lying in ambush, rushed out and laid violent +hands upon him. They released him as soon as they discovered their +mistake; but the next day Friend Hopper had them arrested, and compelled +them to enter into bonds for their good behavior. On the following +evening the same man was employed to run out again; and this time he was +not interrupted. The third evening, John Smith himself ventured forth +from his hiding-place, and arrived safely in New-Jersey. + +He let himself to a worthy farmer, and soon gained the confidence and +good will of all the family. He ate at the same table with them, and sat +with them on Sunday afternoons, listening to their reading of the +Scriptures and other religious books. This system of equality did not +diminish the modesty of his deportment, but rather tended to increase +his habitual humility. + +He remained there several months, during which time he never dared to +visit his family, though only eight miles distant from them. This was a +great source of unhappiness; for he was naturally affectionate, and was +strongly attached to his wife and children. At length, he ventured to +hire a small house in a very secluded situation, not far from the +village of Haddonfield: and once more he gathered his family around him. +But his domestic comfort was constantly disturbed by fear of +men-stealers. While at his work in the day-time, he sometimes started at +the mere rustling of a leaf; and in the night time, he often woke up in +agony from terrifying dreams. + +The false friend, who betrayed him to his cruel master, likewise +suffered greatly from fear. When he heard that John had again escaped, +he was exceedingly alarmed for his own safety. He dreamed that his +abused friend came with a knife in one hand and a torch in the other, +threatening to murder him and burn the house. These ideas took such hold +of his imagination, that he often started up in bed and screamed aloud. +But John was too sincerely religious to cherish a revengeful spirit. The +wrong done to him was as great as one mortal could inflict upon another; +but he had learned the divine precept not to render evil for evil. + +The event proved that John's uneasiness was too well founded. A few +months after his family rejoined him, Isaac T. Hopper heard that his +master had arrived in Philadelphia, and was going to New-Jersey to +arrest him. He immediately apprised him of his danger; and the tidings +were received with feelings of desperation amounting to phrensy. He +loaded his gun and determined to defend himself. Very early the next +morning, he saw his master with two men coming up the narrow lane that +led to his house. He stationed himself in the door-way, leveled his gun, +and called out, "I will shoot the first man that crosses that fence!" +They were alarmed, and turned back to procure assistance. John seized +that opportunity to quit his retreat. He hastened to Philadelphia, and +informed Isaac T. Hopper what had happened. His friend represented to +him the unchristian character of such violent measures, and advised him +not to bring remorse on his soul by the shedding of blood. The poor +hunted fugitive seemed to be convinced, though it was a hard lesson to +learn in his circumstances. Again he resolved to fly for safety; and his +friend advised him to go to Boston. A vessel from that place was then +lying in the Delaware, and the merchant who had charge of her, pitying +his forlorn situation, offered him a passage free of expense. Kindness +bestowed on him was always like good seed dropped into a rich soil. He +was so obliging and diligent during the voyage, that he more than +compensated the captain for his passage. He arrived safely in Boston, +where his certificates of good character soon enabled him to procure +employment. Not long after, he sent for his wife, who sold what little +property they had in Philadelphia, and took her children to their new +home. + +When John left New-Jersey, he assumed the name of Thomas Cooper, by +which he was ever afterward known. He had early in life manifested a +religious turn of mind; and this was probably increased by his continual +perils and narrow escapes. He mourned over every indication of +dishonesty, profanity, or dissipation, among people of his own color; +and this feeling grew upon him, until he felt as if it were a duty to +devote his life to missionary labors. He became a popular preacher among +the Methodists, and visited some of the West India Islands in that +capacity. His Christian example and fervid exhortations, warm from the +heart, are said to have produced a powerful effect on his untutored +hearers. After his return, he concluded to go to Africa as a missionary. +For that purpose, he took shipping with his family for London, where he +was received with much kindness by many persons to whom he took letters +of introduction. His children were placed at a good school by a +benevolent member of the Society of Friends; and from various quarters +he received the most gratifying testimonials of respect and sympathy. +But what was of more value than all else to the poor harassed fugitive, +was the fact that he now, for the first time in his life, felt entirely +safe from the fangs of the oppressor. + +He remained in London about a year and a half. During that time he +compiled a hymn book which his friends published with his portrait in +front. He preached with great acceptance to large congregations: several +thousand persons assembled to hear his farewell sermon on the eve of his +departure for Africa. He sailed for Sierra Leone, in the latter part of +1818, and was greeted there with much cordiality; for his fame had +preceded him. All classes flocked to hear him preach, and his labors +were highly useful. After several years spent in the discharge of +religious duties, he died of the fever which so often proves fatal to +strangers in Africa. His wife returned with her children to end her days +in Philadelphia. + + + + +A CHILD KIDNAPPED. + + +In the year 1801, a Captain Dana engaged passage in a Philadelphia +schooner bound to Charleston, South Carolina. The day he expected to +sail, he called at the house of a colored woman, and told her he had a +good suit of clothes, too small for his own son, but about the right +size for her little boy. He proposed to take the child home to try the +garments, and if they fitted him he would make him a present of them. +The mother was much gratified by these friendly professions, and dressed +the boy up as well as she could to accompany the captain, who gave him +a piece of gingerbread, took him by the hand, and led him away. Instead +of going to his lodgings, as he had promised, he proceeded directly to +the schooner, and left the boy in care of the captain: saying that he +himself would come on board while the vessel was on the way down the +river. As they were about to sail, a sudden storm came on. The wind +raged so violently, that the ship dragged her anchor, and they were +obliged to haul to at a wharf in the district of Southwark. A +respectable man, who lived in the neighborhood, was standing on the +wharf at the time, and hearing a child crying very bitterly on board the +vessel, he asked the colored cook whose child that was, and why he was +in such distress. He replied that a passenger by the name of Dana +brought him on board, and that the boy said he stole him from his +mother. + +A note was immediately despatched to Isaac T. Hopper, who, being away +from home, did not receive it till ten o'clock at night. The moment he +read it, he called for a constable, and proceeded directly to the +schooner. In answer to his inquiries, the captain declared that all the +hands had gone on shore, and that he was entirely alone in the vessel. +Friend Hopper called for a light, and asked him to open the forecastle, +that they might ascertain whether any person were there. He peremptorily +refused; saying that his word ought to be sufficient to satisfy them. +Friend Hopper took up an axe that was lying on the deck, and declared +that he would break the door, unless it was opened immediately. In this +dilemma, the captain, with great reluctance, unlocked the forecastle; +and there they found the cook and the boy. The constable took them all +in custody, and they proceeded to the mayor's. The rain fell in +torrents, and it was extremely dark; for in those days, there were no +lamps in that part of the city. They went stumbling over cellar doors, +and wading through gutters, till they arrived in Front street, where Mr. +Inskeep, the mayor, lived. It was past midnight, but when a servant +informed him that Isaac T. Hopper had been ringing at the door, and +wished to see him, he ordered him to be shown up into his chamber. After +apologizing for the unseasonableness of the hour, he briefly stated the +urgency of the case, and asked for a verbal order to put the captain and +cook in prison to await their trial the next morning. The magistrate +replied, "It is a matter of too much importance to be disposed of in +that way. I will come down and hear the case." A large hickory log, +which had been covered with ashes in the parlor fire-place, was raked +open, and they soon had a blazing fire to dry their wet garments, and +take off the chill of a cold March storm. The magistrate was surprised +to find that the captain was an old acquaintance; and he expressed much +regret at meeting him under such unpleasant circumstances. After some +investigation into the affair, he was required to appear for trial the +next morning, under penalty of forfeiting three thousand dollars. The +cook was committed to prison, as a witness; and the colored boy was sent +home with Isaac T. Hopper, who agreed to produce him at the time +appointed. + +Very early the next morning, he sent a messenger to inform the mother +that her child was in safety; but she was off in search of him, and was +not to be found. On the way to the mayor's office, they met her in the +street, half distracted. As soon as she perceived her child, she cried +out, "My son! My son!" threw her arms round him, and sobbed aloud. She +kissed him again and again, saying, "Oh my child, I thought I had lost +you forever." + +When they all arrived at the mayor's office, at the hour appointed for +trial, the captain protested that he had no knowledge of anything wrong +in the business, having merely taken care of the boy at the request of a +passenger. When he was required to appear at the next court to answer to +the charge of kidnapping, he became alarmed, and told where Captain Dana +could be arrested. His directions were followed, and the delinquent was +seized and taken to Isaac T. Hopper's house. He was in a towering +passion, protesting his innocence, and threatening vengeance against +everybody who should attempt to detain him. Badly as Friend Hopper +thought of the man, he almost wished he had escaped, when he discovered +that he had a wife and children to suffer for his misdoings. His tender +heart would not allow him to be present at the trial, lest his wife +should be there in distress. She did not appear, however, and Captain +Dana made a full confession, alleging poverty as an excuse. He was an +educated man, and had previously sustained a fair reputation. He was +liberated on bail for fifteen hundred dollars, which was forfeited; but +the judgments were never enforced against his securities. + + + + +WAGELMA. + + +Wagelma was a lively intelligent colored boy of ten years old, whom his +mother had bound as an apprentice to a Frenchman in Philadelphia. This +man being about to take his family to Baltimore, in the summer of 1801, +with the intention of going thence to France, put his apprentice on +board a Newcastle packet bound to Baltimore, without having the consent +of the boy or his mother, as the laws of Pennsylvania required. The +mother did not even know of his intended departure, till she heard that +her child was on board the ship. Fears that he might be sold into +slavery, either in Baltimore or the West Indies, seized upon her mind; +and even if that dreadful fate did not await him, there was great +probability that she would never see him again. + +In her distress she called upon Isaac T. Hopper, immediately after +sunrise. He hastened to the wharf, where the Newcastle packet generally +lay, but had the mortification to find that she had already started, and +that a gentle breeze was wafting her down the stream. He mounted a fleet +horse, and in twenty minutes arrived at Gloucester Point, three miles +below the city. The ferry at that place was kept by a highly respectable +widow, with whom he had been long acquainted. He briefly stated the case +to her, and she at once ordered one of her ferrymen to put him on board +the Newcastle packet, which was in sight, and near the Jersey shore. +They made all speed, for there was not a moment to lose. + +When they came along-side the packet, the captain, supposing him to be a +passenger for Baltimore, ordered the sailors to assist him on board. +When his business was made known, he was told that the Frenchman was in +the cabin. He sought him out, and stated that the laws of Pennsylvania +did not allow apprentices to be carried out of the state without certain +preliminaries, to which he had not attended. The Frenchman had six or +eight friends with him, and as he was going out of the country, he put +the laws at defiance. Meanwhile, the vessel was gliding down the river, +carrying friend Hopper to Newcastle. He summoned the captain, and +requested him to put the colored boy into the ferry-boat, which was +alongside ready to receive him. He was not disposed to interfere; but +when Friend Hopper drew a volume from his pocket and read to him the +laws applicable to the case, he became alarmed, and said the boy must be +given up. Whereupon, Friend Hopper directed the child to go on deck, +which he was ready enough to do; and the ferryman soon helped him on +board the boat. + +The Frenchman and his friends were very noisy and violent. They +attempted to throw Friend Hopper overboard; and there were so many of +them, that they seemed likely to succeed in their efforts. But he seized +one of them fast by the coat; resolved to have company in the water, if +he were compelled to take a plunge. They struck his hand with their +canes, and pulled the coat from his grasp. Then he seized hold of +another; and so the struggle continued for some minutes. The ferryman, +who was watching the conflict, contrived to bring his boat into a +favorable position; and Friend Hopper suddenly let go the Frenchman's +coat, and tumbled in. + +When he returned to Philadelphia with the boy, he found the mother +waiting at his house, in a state of intense anxiety. The meeting between +mother and son was joyful indeed; and Wagelma made them all laugh by his +animated description of his friend's encounter with the Frenchmen, +accompanied by a lively imitation of their gesticulations. In witnessing +the happiness he had imparted, their benefactor found more than +sufficient compensation for all the difficulties he had encountered. + + + + +JAMES POOVEY. + + +Slavery having been abolished by a gradual process in Pennsylvania, +there were many individuals who still remained in bondage at the period +of which I write. Among them was James Poovey, slave to a blacksmith in +Pennsylvania. He had learned his master's trade, and being an athletic +man, was very valuable. During several winters, he attended an evening +school for the free instruction of colored people. He made very slow +progress in learning, but by means of unremitting industry and +application, he was at last able to accomplish the desire of his heart, +which was to read the New Testament for himself. + +The fact that colored men born a few years later than himself were free, +by the act of gradual emancipation, while he was compelled to remain in +bondage, had long been a source of uneasiness; and increase of knowledge +by no means increased his contentment. Having come to the conclusion +that slavery was utterly unjust, he resolved not to submit to it any +longer. In the year 1802, when he was about thirty-three years of age, +he took occasion to inform his master that he could read the New +Testament. When he observed that he was glad to hear it, James replied, +"But in the course of my reading I have discovered that it would be a +sin for me to serve you as a slave any longer". + +"Aye?" said his master. "Pray tell me how you made that discovery." + +"Why, the New Testament says we must do as we would be done by," replied +James. "Now if I submit to let you do by _me_, as you would not be +willing I should do by _you_, I am as bad as you are. If you will give +me a paper that will secure my freedom at the end of seven years, I will +serve you faithfully during that time; but I cannot consent to be a +slave any longer." + +His master refused to consent to this proposition. James then asked +permission to go to sea till he could earn money enough to buy his +freedom; but this proposal was likewise promptly rejected. + +"You will get nothing by trying to keep me in slavery," said James; "for +I am determined to be free. I shall never make you another offer." + +He walked off, and his master applied for a warrant to arrest him, and +commit him to prison, as a disobedient and refractory slave. When he had +been in jail a month, he called to see him, and inquired whether he were +ready to return home and go to work. + +"I _am_ at home," replied James. "I expect to end my days here. I never +will serve you again as a slave, or pay you one single cent. What do you +come here for? There is no use in your coming." + +The master was greatly provoked by this conduct, and requested the +inspectors to have him put in the cells and kept on short allowance, +till he learned to submit. Isaac T. Hopper was one of the board; and as +the question was concerning a colored man, they referred it to him. +Accordingly, the blacksmith sought an interview with him, and said, "Jim +has been a faithful industrious fellow; but of late he has taken it into +his head that he ought to be free. He strolled off and refused to work, +and I had him put in prison. When I called to see him he insulted me +grossly, and positively refused to return to his business. I have been +referred to you to obtain an order to confine him to the cells on short +allowance, till he submits." + +Friend Hopper replied, "I have been long acquainted with Jim. I was one +of his teachers; and I have often admired his punctuality in attending +school, and his patient industry in trying to learn." + +"It has done him no good to learn to read," rejoined the master. "On the +contrary, it has made him worse." + +"It has made him wiser," replied Isaac; "but I think it has not made him +worse. I have scruples about ordering him to be punished; for he +professes to be conscientious about submitting to serve as a slave. I +have myself suffered because I could not conscientiously comply with +military requisitions. The Society of Friends have suffered much in +England on account of ecclesiastical demands. I have thus some cause to +know how hateful are persecutors, in the sight of God and of men. I +cannot therefore be active in persecuting James, or any other man, on +account of conscientious scruples." + +"It is your duty to have him punished," rejoined the blacksmith. + +"I am the best judge of that," answered Friend Hopper; "and I do not +feel justified in compelling him to submit to slavery." + +The blacksmith was greatly exasperated, and went off, saying, "I hope to +mercy your daughter will marry a negro." + +At the expiration of the term of imprisonment allowed by law, James +still refused to return to service, and he was committed for another +thirty days. His master called to see him again, and told him if he +would return home, and behave well, he should have a new suit of clothes +and a Methodist hat. "I don't want your new clothes, nor your Methodist +hat," replied James. "I tell you I never will serve you nor any other +man as a slave. I had rather end my days in jail." + +His master finding him so intractable, gave up the case as hopeless. +When his second term of imprisonment expired, he was discharged, and no +one attempted to molest him. He earned a comfortable living, and looked +happy and respectable; but his personal appearance was not improved by +leaving his beard unshaved. One day, when Friend Hopper met him in the +street, he said, "Jim, why dost thou wear that long beard? It looks very +ugly." + +"I suppose it does," he replied, "but I wear it as a memorial of the +Lord's goodness in setting me free; for it was Him that done it." + + + + +ROMAINE. + + +A Frenchman by the name of Anthony Salignac removed from St. Domingo to +New-Jersey, and brought with him several slaves; among whom was Romaine. +After remaining in New-Jersey several years, he concluded in 1802, to +send Romaine and his wife and child back to the West Indies. Finding him +extremely reluctant to go, he put them in prison some days previous, +lest they should make an attempt to escape. From prison they were put +into a carriage to be conveyed to Newcastle, under the custody of a +Frenchman and a constable. They started from Trenton late in the +evening, and arrived in Philadelphia about four o'clock in the morning. +People at the inn where they stopped remarked that Romaine and his wife +appeared deeply dejected. When food was offered they refused to eat. His +wife made some excuse to go out, and though sought for immediately +after, she was not to be found. Romaine was ordered to get into the +carriage. The Frenchman was on one side of him and the constable on the +other. "_Must_ I go?" cried he, in accents of despair. They told him he +must. "And alone?" said he. "Yes, you must," was the stern reply. The +carriage was open to receive him, and they would have pushed him in, but +he suddenly took a pruning knife from his pocket, and drew it three +times across his throat with such force that it severed the jugular vein +instantly, and he fell dead on the pavement. + +As the party had travelled all night, seemed in great haste, and watched +their colored companions so closely some persons belonging to the prison +where they stopped suspected they might have nefarious business on hand; +accordingly, a message was sent to Isaac T. Hopper, as the man most +likely to right all the wrongs of the oppressed. He obeyed the summons +immediately; but when he arrived, he found the body of poor Romaine +weltering in blood on the pavement. + +Speaking of this scene forty years later, he said, "My whole soul was +filled with horror, as I stood viewing the corpse. Reflecting on that +awful spectacle, I exclaimed within myself, How long, O Lord, how long +shall this abominable system of slavery be permitted to curse the land! +My mind was introduced into sympathy with the sufferer. I thought of the +agony he must have endured before he could have resolved upon that +desperate deed. He knew what he had to expect, from what he had +experienced in the West Indies before, and he was determined not to +submit to the same misery and degradation again. By his sufferings he +was driven to desperation; and he preferred launching into the unknown +regions of eternity to an endurance of slavery." + +An inquest was summoned, and after a brief consultation, the coroner +brought in the following verdict: "Suicide occasioned by the dread of +slavery, to which the deceased knew himself devoted." + +Romaine and his wife were very good looking. They gave indications of +considerable intelligence, and had the character of having been very +faithful servants. His violent death produced a good deal of excitement +among the people generally, and much sympathy was manifested for the +wife and child, who had escaped. + +The master had procured a certificate from the mayor of Trenton +authorizing him to remove his slaves to the West Indies; but the jury of +inquest, and many others, were of opinion that his proceedings were not +fully sanctioned by law. Accordingly, Friend Hopper, and two other +members of the Abolition Society, caused him to be arrested and brought +before a magistrate; not so much with the view of punishing him, as with +the hope of procuring manumission for the wife and child. In the course +of the investigation, the friends of the Frenchman were somewhat violent +in his defence. Upon one occasion, several of them took Friend Hopper up +and put him out of the house by main force; while at the same time they +let their friend out of a back door to avoid him. However, Friend Hopper +met him a few minutes after in the street and seized him by the button. +Alarmed by the popular excitement, and by the perseverance with which he +was followed up, he exclaimed in agitated tones, "Mon Dieu! What is it +you do want? I will do anything you do want." + +"I want thee to bestow freedom on that unfortunate woman and her child," +replied Friend Hopper. + +He promised that he would do so; and he soon after made out papers to +that effect, which were duly recorded. + + + + +THE SLAVE HUNTER. + + +In July, 1802, a man by the name of David Lea, went to Philadelphia to +hunt up runaway slaves for their Southern masters. A few days after his +arrival, he arrested a colored man, whom he claimed as the property of +Nathan Peacock of Maryland. The man had lived several years in +Philadelphia, had taken a lot of ground in the Northern Liberties, and +erected a small house on it. + +In the course of the investigation, the poor fellow, seeing no chance of +escape, acknowledged that he was Mr. Peacock's slave, and had run away +from him because he wanted to be free. His friends, being unwilling to +see him torn from his wife and children, made an effort to purchase his +freedom. After much intreaty, the master named a very large sum as his +ransom; and the slave was committed to prison until the affair was +settled. + +David Lea was a filthy looking man, apparently addicted to intemperance. +Friend Hopper asked him if he had any business in Philadelphia. He +answered, "No." He inquired whether he had any money, and he answered, +"_No_." Friend Hopper then said to the magistrate, "Here is a stranger +without money, who admits that he has no regular means of obtaining a +livelihood. Judging from his appearance, there is reason to conclude +that he may be a dangerous man. I would suggest whether it be proper +that he should be permitted to go at large." + +The magistrate interrogated the suspicious looking stranger concerning +his business in Philadelphia; and he, being ashamed to acknowledge +himself a slave-catcher, returned very evasive and unsatisfactory +answers. He was accordingly committed to prison, to answer at the next +court of Sessions. It was customary to examine prisoners before they +were locked up, and take whatever was in their pockets, to be restored +to them whenever they were discharged. David Lea strongly objected to +this proceeding; and when they searched him they found more than fifty +advertisements for runaway slaves; a fact which made the nature of his +business sufficiently obvious. Friend Hopper, had a serious conversation +with him in prison, during which he stated that he was to have received +forty-five dollars for restoring the slave to his master. Friend Hopper +told him if he would give an order upon Mr. Peacock for that amount, to +go toward buying the slave's freedom, he should be released from +confinement, on condition of leaving the city forthwith. He agreed to do +so, and the money was paid. But the slave was found to be in debt more +than his small house was worth, and the price for his ransom was so +exorbitantly high, that it was impossible to raise it. Under these +circumstances, Friend Hopper thought it right to return the forty-five +dollars to David Lea; but he declined receiving it. He would take only +three dollars, to defray his expenses home; and gave the following +written document concerning the remainder: "I request Isaac T. Hopper to +pay the money received from the order, which I gave him upon Nathan +Peacock, to the managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, or to any other +charitable institution he may judge proper." + + His + DAVID x LEA. + Mark. + +He was discharged from prison, and the money paid to the Pennsylvania +Hospital. Next year, the following item was published in their accounts: +"Received of David Lea, a noted negro-catcher, by the hands of Isaac T. +Hopper, forty-two dollars; he having received forty-five dollars for +taking up a runaway slave, of which he afterward repented, and directed +the sum to be paid to the Pennsylvania Hospital, after deducting three +dollars to pay his expenses home." + +The slave was carried back to the South, but escaped again. After +encountering many difficulties, he was at last bought for a sum so +small, that it was merely nominal; and he afterward lived in +Philadelphia unmolested. + + + + +WILLIAM BACHELOR. + + +It was a common thing for speculators in slaves to purchase runaways for +much less than their original value, and take the risk of not being able +to catch them. In the language of the trade, this was called buying them +running. In April, 1802, Joseph Ennells and Captain Frazer, of Maryland, +dealers in slaves, purchased a number in this way, and came to +Philadelphia in search of them. There they arrested, and claimed as +their property, William Bachelor, a free colored man, about sixty years +old. A colored man, whom the slave-dealers brought with them, swore +before a magistrate that William Bachelor once belonged to a gang of +slaves, of which he was overseer; that he had changed his name, but he +knew him perfectly well. William affirmed in the most earnest manner, +that he was a free man; but Mr. Ennells and Captain Frazer appeared to +be such respectable men, and the colored witness swore so positively, +that the magistrate granted a certificate authorizing them to take him +to Maryland. + +As they left the office, they were met by Dr. Kinley, who knew William +Bachelor well, and had a great regard for him. Finding that his +protestations had no effect with the Marylanders, he ran with all speed +to Isaac T. Hopper, and entering his door almost out of breath, +exclaimed, "They've got old William Bachelor, and are taking him to the +South, as a slave. I know him to be a free man. Many years ago, he was a +slave to my father, and he manumitted him. He used to carry me in his +arms when I was an infant. He was a most faithful servant." + +Friend Hopper inquired which way the party had gone, and was informed +that they went toward "Gray's Ferry." He immediately started in pursuit, +and overtook them half a mile from the Schuylkill. He accosted Mr. +Ennells politely, and told him he had made a mistake in capturing +William Bachelor; for he was a free man. Ennells drew a pistol from his +pocket, and said, "We have had him before a magistrate, and proved to +his satisfaction that the fellow is my slave. I have got his +certificate, and that is all that is required to authorize me to take +him home. I will blow your brains out if you say another word on the +subject, or make any attempt to molest me." + +"If thou wert not a coward, thou wouldst not try to intimidate me with a +pistol," replied Isaac. "I do not believe thou hast the least intention +of using it in any other way; but thou art much agitated, and may fire +it accidentally; therefore I request thee not to point it toward me, but +to turn it the other way. It is in vain for thee to think of taking this +old man to Maryland. If thou wilt not return to the city voluntarily, I +will certainly have thee stopped at the bridge, where thou wilt be +likely to be handled much more roughly than I am disposed to do." + +While this controversy was going on, poor William Bachelor was in the +greatest anxiety of mind. "Oh, Master Hopper," he exclaimed, "Don't let +them take me! I am not a slave. All the people in Philadelphia know I +am a free man. I never was in Maryland in my life." + +Ennells, hearing the name, said, "So your name is Hopper, is it? I have +heard of you. It's time the world was rid of you. You have done too much +mischief already." + +When Friend Hopper inquired what mischief he had done, he replied, "You +have robbed many people of their slaves." + +"Thou art mistaken," rejoined the Quaker. "I only prevent Southern +marauders from robbing people of their liberty." + +After much altercation, it was agreed to return to the city; and William +was again brought before the alderman, who had so hastily surrendered +him. Dr. Kinley, and so many other respectable citizens, attended as +witnesses, that even Ennells himself was convinced that his captive was +a free man. He was accordingly set at liberty. It was, however, +generally believed that Mr. Ennells knew he was not a slave when he +arrested him. It was therefore concluded to prosecute him for attempting +to take forcibly a free man out of the state and carry him into slavery. + +When Friend Hopper went to his lodgings with a warrant and two +constables, for this purpose, he found him writing, with a pistol on +each side of him. The moment they entered, he seized a pistol and +ordered them to withdraw, or he would shoot them. Friend Hopper +replied, "These men are officers, and have a warrant to arrest thee for +attempting to carry off a free man into slavery. I advise thee to lay +down thy pistol and go with us. If not, a sufficient force will soon be +brought to compel thee. Remember thou art in the heart of Philadelphia. +It is both foolish and imprudent to attempt to resist the law. A pistol +is a very unnecessary article here, whatever it may be elsewhere. +According to appearances, thou dost not attempt to use it for any other +purpose than to frighten people; and thou hast not succeeded in doing +that." + +Rage could do nothing in the presence of such imperturbable calmness; +and Ennells consented to go with them to the magistrate. On the way, he +quarrelled with one of the constables, and gave him a severe blow on the +face with his cane. The officer knocked him down, and would have +repeated the blow, if Friend Hopper had not interfered. Assisting +Ennells to rise, he said, "Thou hadst better take my arm and walk with +me. I think we can agree better." + +When the transaction had been investigated before a magistrate, Mr. +Ennells was bound over to appear at the next mayor's court and answer to +the charge against him. The proprietor of the hotel where he lodged +became his bail. Meanwhile, numerous letters came from people of the +first respectability in Maryland and Virginia, testifying to his good +character. His lawyer showed these letters to Friend Hopper, and +proposed that the prosecution should be abandoned. He replied that he +had no authority to act in the matter himself; but he knew the Abolition +Society had commenced the prosecution from no vindictive feelings, but +merely with the view of teaching people to be careful how they infringed +on the rights of free men. The committee of that society met the same +evening, and agreed to dismiss the suit, Mr. Ennells paying the costs; +to which he readily assented. + + + + +LEVIN SMITH. + + +Levin was a slave in Maryland. He married a free woman and had several +children. In 1802, his master sold him to a speculator, who was in the +habit of buying slaves for the Southern market. His purchaser took him +to his farm in Delaware, and kept him at work till he could get a +profitable chance to sell him. His new master was a desperate fellow, +and Levin was uneasy with the constant liability of being sold to the +far South. He opened his heart to a neighbor, who advised him to escape, +and gave him a letter to Isaac T. Hopper. His wife and children had +removed to Philadelphia, and there he rejoined them. She took in +washing, and he supported himself by sawing wood. He had been there +little more than a month, when his master heard where he was, and +bargained with the captain of a small sloop to catch him and bring him +back to Delaware. + +The plan was to seize Levin in his bed, hurry him on board the sloop, +and start off immediately, before his family could have time to give the +alarm. They would probably have succeeded in this project, if the +captain had not drank a little too freely the evening previous, and so +forgotten to get some goods on board, as he had promised. Levin was +seized and carried off; but the sloop was obliged to wait for the goods, +and in the meantime messengers were sent to Isaac T. Hopper. He was in +bed, but sprang up the instant he heard a violent knocking at the door. +In his haste, he thrust on an old rough coat and hat, which he was +accustomed to wear to fires; for, in addition to his various other +employments, he belonged to a fire-company. He hurried to the scene of +action as quickly as possible, and found that the slave had been +conveyed to a small tavern near the wharf where the sloop lay. When the +landlord was questioned where the men were who had him in custody, he +refused to give any information. But there was a crowd of men and boys; +and one of them said, "They are up-stairs in the back room." The +landlord stood in the door-way, and tried to prevent Friend Hopper from +passing in; but he pushed him aside, and went up to the chamber, where +he found Levin with his hands tied, and guarded by five or six men. +"What are you going to do with this man?" said he. The words were +scarcely out of his mouth, before they seized him violently and pitched +him out of the chamber window. He fell upon empty casks, and his mind +was so excited, that he was not aware of being hurt. There was no time +to be lost; for unless there was an immediate rescue, the man would be +forced on board the sloop and carried off. As soon as he could get upon +his feet, he went round again to the front door and ascended the stairs; +but the door of the chamber was locked. He then returned to the back +yard, mounted upon the pent-house, by means of a high board fence, and +clambered into the window of a chamber, that opened into the room where +the slave was. He entered with an open penknife in his hand, exclaiming, +"Let us see if you will get me out so soon again!" Speaking thus, he +instantly cut the cords that bound the slave, and called out, "Follow +me!" He rushed down stairs as fast as he could go, and the slave after +him. The guard were utterly astonished at seeing the man return, whom +they had just tossed out of an upper window, and the whole thing was +done so suddenly, that Friend Hopper and the liberated captive were in +the street before they had time to recover their wits. + +A rowdy looking crowd of men and boys followed the fugitive and his +protector, shouting, "Stop thief! Stop thief!" until they came to the +office of a justice of the peace, half a mile from where they started. +The astonished magistrate exclaimed, "Good heavens, Mr. Hopper, what +brings you here this time of the morning, in such a trim, and with such +a rabble at your heels!" When the circumstances were briefly explained, +he laughed heartily, and said, "I don't think they would have treated +you so roughly, if they had known who you were." He was informed that +Levin was a slave in Maryland, but had been living in Delaware with a +man who bought him, and had thus become legally free. Measures were +taken to protect him from further aggression, and he was never after +molested. + +Friend Hopper went home to a late breakfast; and when he attempted to +rise from the table, he was seized with violent pains in the back, in +consequence of his fall. He never after entirely recovered from the +effects of it. + + + + +ETIENNE LAMAIRE. + + +This man was a slave to a Frenchman of the same name, in the Island of +Guadaloupe. In consideration of faithful services, his master gave him +his freedom, and he opened a barber's shop on his own account. Some time +after, he was appointed an officer in the French army, against Victor +Hughes. He had command of a fort, and remained in the army until the +close of the war. After that period, there were symptoms of insurrection +among the colored people, because the French government revoked the +decree abolishing slavery in their West India Islands. Etienne was a man +of talent, and had acquired considerable influence, particularly among +people of his own color. He exerted this influence on the side of mercy, +and was the means of saving the lives of several white people who had +rendered themselves obnoxious by their efforts to restore slavery. + +Affairs were so unsettled in Guadaloupe, that Etienne determined to seek +refuge in the United States; and an old friend of his master procured a +passport for him. A man by the name of Anslong, then at Guadaloupe, had +two slaves, whom he was about to send to the care of Dennis Cottineau, +of Philadelphia, with directions to place them on a farm he owned, near +Princeton, New-Jersey. When it was proposed that Etienne should take +passage in the same vessel, Anslong manifested much interest in his +behalf. He promised that he should have his passage free, for services +that he might render on board; and he took charge of his passport, +saying that he would give it to the captain for safe keeping. + +When the vessel arrived at Philadelphia, in March, 1803, Etienne was +astonished to find that Anslong had paid his passage, and claimed him +as his slave. Dennis Cottineau showed the receipts for the passage +money, and written directions to forward the _three_ slaves to +New-Jersey. In this dilemma, he asked counsel of a colored man, whom he +had formerly known in Guadaloupe; and he immediately conducted him to +Isaac T. Hopper. He related the particulars of his case very +circumstantially, and the two colored men, who were really the slaves of +Anslong, confirmed his statement. When Friend Hopper had cautiously +examined them, and cross-examined them, he became perfectly satisfied +that Etienne was free. He advised him not to leave the city, and told +him to let him know in case Dennis Cottineau attempted to compel him to +do so. He accordingly waited upon that gentleman and told him he had +resolved not to submit to his orders to go to New-Jersey. Whereupon +Cottineau took possession of his trunk, containing his papers and +clothing, and caused him to be committed to prison. + +A writ of _habeas corpus_ was procured, and the case was brought before +Judge Inskeep, of the Court of Common Pleas. It was found to be involved +in considerable difficulty. For while several witnesses swore that they +knew Etienne in Guadaloupe, as a free man, in business for himself, +others testified that they had known him as the slave of Anslong. It was +finally referred to the Supreme Court, and Etienne was detained in +prison several months to await his trial. Eminent counsel were employed +on both sides; Jared Ingersoll for the claimant, and Joseph Hopkinson +for the defendant. A certificate was produced from the municipality of +Guadaloupe, showing that Etienne had been an officer in the French army +for several years, and had filled the station in a manner to command +respect. The National Decree abolishing slavery in that Island was also +read; but Mr. Ingersoll contended that when the decree was revoked, +Etienne again became a slave. In his charge, Judge Shippen said that the +evidence for and against freedom was about equally balanced; and in that +case, it was always a duty to decide in favor of liberty. The jury +accordingly brought in a unanimous verdict that Etienne was free. The +court ordered him to refund the twenty dollars, which Anslong had paid +for his passage; and he was discharged. + +He was a dark mulatto, tall, well-proportioned, and stylish-looking. His +handsome countenance had a remarkably bright, frank expression, and +there was a degree of courteous dignity in his manner, probably acquired +by companionship with military officers. But he belonged to a caste +which society has forbidden to develop the faculties bestowed by nature. +Such a man might have performed some higher use than cutting hair, if he +had lived in a wisely organized state of society. However, he made the +best of such advantages as he had. He opened a barber's shop in +Philadelphia, and attracted many of the most highly respectable citizens +by his perfect politeness and punctuality. The colored people had +various benevolent societies in that city, for the relief of the poor, +the sick, and the aged, of their own complexion. Etienne Lamaire was +appointed treasurer of several of these societies, and discharged his +trust with scrupulous integrity. + +Isaac T. Hopper had been very active and vigilant in assisting him to +regain his freedom; and afterward, when he became involved in some +difficulty on account of stolen goods left on his premises without his +knowledge, he readily became bail for him. His confidence had not been +misplaced; for when the affair had been fully investigated, the recorder +declared that Mr. Lamaire had acted like an honest and prudent man, +throughout the whole transaction. + +His gratitude to Friend Hopper was unbounded, and he missed no +opportunity to manifest it. To the day of his death, some fourteen or +fifteen years ago, he never would charge a cent for shaving, or cutting +the hair of any of the family, children, or grand-children; and on New +Year's day, he frequently sent a box of figs, or raisins, or bon-bons, +in token of grateful remembrance. + + + + +SAMUEL JOHNSON. + + +Samuel Johnson was a free colored man in the state of Delaware. He +married a woman who was slave to George Black. They had several +children, and when they became old enough to be of some value as +property, their parents were continually anxious lest Mr. Black should +sell them to some Georgia speculator, to relieve himself from pecuniary +embarrassment; an expedient which was very often resorted to under such +circumstances. When Johnson visited his wife, they often talked together +on the subject; and at last they concluded to escape to a free state. +They went to Philadelphia and hired a small house. He sawed wood, and +she took in washing. Being industrious and frugal, they managed to live +very comfortably, except the continual dread of being discovered. + +In December, 1804, when they had been thus situated about two years, her +master obtained some tidings of them, and immediately went in pursuit. A +friend happened to become aware of the fact, and hastened to inform them +that Mr. Black was in the city. Samuel forthwith sent his wife and +children to a place of safety; but he remained at home, not supposing +that he could be in any danger. The master arrived shortly after, with +two constables, and was greatly exasperated when he found that his +property had absconded. They arrested the husband, and vowed they would +hold him as a hostage, till he informed them where they could find his +wife and children. When he refused to accompany them, they beat him +severely, and swore they would carry him to the South and sell him. He +told them they might carry him into slavery, or murder him, if they +pleased, but no torture they could inflict would ever induce him to +betray his family. Finding they could not break his resolution, they +tied his hands behind his back, and dragged him to a tavern kept by +Peter Fritz, in Sassafras-street. There they left him, guarded by the +landlord and several men, while they went in search of the fugitives. + +Some of Johnson's colored neighbors informed Isaac T. Hopper of these +proceedings; and he went to the tavern, accompanied by a friend. They +attempted to enter the room occupied by Samuel and his guard, but found +the door fastened, and the landlord refused to unlock it. When they +inquired by what authority he made his tavern a prison, he replied that +the man was placed in his custody by two constables, and should not be +released till they came for him. + +"Open the door!" said Friend Hopper; "or we will soon have it opened in +a way that will cost something to repair it. Thou hast already made +thyself liable to an action for false imprisonment. If thou art not +very careful, thou wilt find thyself involved in trouble for this +business." + +The landlord swore a good deal, but finding them so resolute, he +concluded it was best to open the door. After obtaining the particulars +of the case from Johnson himself, Friend Hopper cut the cord that bound +his hands, and said, "Follow me!" + +The men on guard poured forth a volley of threats and curses. One of +them sprang forward in great fury, seized Johnson by the collar, and +swore by his Maker that he should not leave the room till the constables +arrived. Friend Hopper stepped up to him, and said, "Release that man +immediately! or thou wilt be made to repent of thy conduct." The ruffian +quailed under the influence of that calm bold manner, and after some +slight altercation let go his grasp. + +Johnson followed his protector in a state of intense anxiety concerning +his wife and children. But they had been conveyed to a place of safety, +and the man-hunters never afterward discovered their retreat. + + + + +PIERCE BUTLER'S BEN. + + +In August, 1804, a colored man about thirty-six years old waited upon +the committee of the Abolition Society, and stated that he was born a +slave to Pierce Butler, Esq., of South Carolina, and had always lived +in his family. During the last eleven years, he had resided most of the +time in Pennsylvania. Mr. Butler now proposed taking him to Georgia; but +he was very unwilling to leave his wife, she being in delicate health +and needing his support. After mature consideration of the case, the +committee, believing Ben was legally entitled to freedom, agreed to +apply to Judge Inskeep for a writ of _habeas corpus;_ and Isaac T. +Hopper was sent to serve it upon Pierce Butler, Esq., at his house in +Chestnut-street. + +Being told that Mr. Butler was at dinner, he said he would wait in the +hall until it suited his convenience to attend to him. Mr. Butler was a +tall, lordly looking man, somewhat imperious in his manners, as +slaveholders are wont to be. When he came into the hall after dinner, +Friend Hopper gave him a nod of recognition, and said, "How art thou, +Pierce Butler? I have here a writ of _habeas corpus_ for thy Ben." + +Mr. Butler glanced over the paper, and exclaimed, "Get out of my house, +you scoundrel!" + +Feigning not to hear him, Friend Hopper looked round at the pictures and +rich furniture, and said with a smile, "Why, thou livest like a nabob +here!" + +"Get out of my house, I say!" repeated Mr. Butler, stamping violently. + +"This paper on the walls is the handsomest I ever saw," continued +Isaac. "Is it French, or English? It surely cannot have been +manufactured in this country." Talking thus, and looking leisurely about +him as he went, he moved deliberately toward the door; the slaveholder +railing at him furiously all the while. + +"I am a citizen of South Carolina," said he. "The laws of Pennsylvania +have nothing to do with me. May the devil take all those who come +between masters and their slaves; interfering with what is none of their +business." Supposing that his troublesome guest was deaf, he put his +head close to his ear, and roared out his maledictions in stentorian +tones. + +Friend Hopper appeared unconscious of all this. When he reached the +threshold, he turned round and said, "Farewell. We shall expect to see +thee at Judge Inskeep's." + +This imperturbable manner irritated the hot-blooded slave-holder beyond +endurance. He repeated more vociferously than ever, "Get out of my +house, you scoundrel! If you don't, I'll kick you out." The Quaker +walked quietly away, as if he didn't hear a word. + +At the appointed time, Mr. Butler waited upon the Judge, where he found +Friend Hopper in attendance. The sight of him renewed his wrath. He +cursed those who interfered with his property; and taking up the Bible, +said he was willing to swear upon that book that he would not take +fifteen hundred dollars for Ben. Friend Hopper charged him with +injustice in wishing to deprive the man of his legal right to freedom. +Mr. Butler maintained that he was as benevolent as any other man. + +"Thou benevolent!" exclaimed Friend Hopper. "Why, thou art not even +just. Thou hast already sent back into bondage two men, who were legally +entitled to freedom by staying in Philadelphia during the term +prescribed by law. If thou hadst a proper sense of justice, thou wouldst +bring those men back, and let them take the liberty that rightfully +belongs to them." + +"If you were in a different walk of life, I would treat your insult as +it deserves," replied the haughty Southerner. + +"What dost thou mean by that? asked Isaac. Wouldst thou shoot me, as +Burr did Hamilton? I assure thee I should consider it no honor to be +killed by a member of Congress; and surely there would be neither honor +nor comfort in killing thee; for in thy present state of mind thou art +not fit to die." + +Mr. Butler told the judge he believed that man was either deaf or crazy +when he served the writ of _habeas corpus_; for he did not take the +slightest notice of anything that was said to him. Judge Inskeep smiled +as he answered, "You don't know Mr. Hopper as well as we do." + +A lawyer was procured for Ben; but Mr. Butler chose to manage his own +cause. He maintained that he was only a sojourner in Pennsylvania; that +Ben had never resided six months at any one time in that State, except +while he was a member of Congress; and in that case, the law allowed him +to keep his slave in Pennsylvania as long as he pleased. The case was +deemed an important one, and was twice adjourned for further +investigation. In the course of the argument, Mr. Butler admitted that +he returned from Congress to Philadelphia, with Ben, on the second of +January, 1804, and had remained there with him until the writ of _habeas +corpus_ was served, on the third of August, the same year. The lawyers +gave it as their opinion that Ben's legal right to freedom was too plain +to admit of any doubt. They said the law to which Mr. Butler had alluded +was made for the convenience of Southern gentlemen, who might need the +attendance of their personal slaves, when Congress met in Philadelphia; +but since the seat of government was removed, it by no means authorized +members to come into Pennsylvania with their slaves, and keep them there +as long as they chose. After much debate, the judge gave an order +discharging Ben from all restraint, and he walked off rejoicing. + +His master was very indignant at the decision, and complained loudly +that a Pennsylvania court should presume to discharge a Carolinian +slave. + +When Ben was set at liberty, he let himself to Isaac W. Morris, then +living at his country seat called Cedar Grove, three miles from +Philadelphia. Being sent to the city soon after, on some business for +his employer, he was attached by the marshall of the United States, on a +writ _De homine replegiando_, at the suit of Mr. Butler, and two +thousand dollars were demanded for bail. The idea was probably +entertained that so large an amount could not be procured, and thus Ben +would again come into his master's possession. But Isaac T. Hopper and +Thomas Harrison signed the bail-bond, and Ben was again set at liberty, +to await his trial before the Circuit Court of the United States. +Bushrod Washington, himself a slaveholder, presided in that court, and +Mr. Butler was sanguine that he should succeed in having Judge Inskeep's +decision reversed. The case was brought in October, 1806, before Judges +Bushrod Washington and Richard Peters. It was ably argued by counsel on +both sides. The court discharged Ben, and he enjoyed his liberty +thenceforth without interruption. + + + + +DANIEL BENSON. + + +Daniel and his mother were slaves to Perry Boots, of Delaware. His +master was in the habit of letting him out to neighboring farmers and +receiving the wages himself. Daniel had married a free woman, and they +had several children, mostly supported by her industry. His mother was +old and helpless; and the master, finding it rather burdensome to +support her, told Daniel that if he would take charge of her, and pay +him forty dollars a year, he might go where he pleased. + +The offer was gladly accepted; and in 1805 he removed to Philadelphia, +with his mother and family. He sawed wood for a living, and soon +established such a character for industry and honesty, that many of the +citizens were in the habit of employing him to purchase their wood and +prepare it for the winter. Upon one occasion, when he brought in a bill +to Alderman Todd, that gentleman asked if he had not charged rather +high. Daniel excused himself by saying he had an aged mother to support, +in addition to his own family; and that he punctually paid his master +twenty dollars every six months, according to an agreement he had made +with him. When the alderman heard the particulars, his sympathy was +excited, and he wrote a note to Isaac T. Hopper, requesting him to +examine into the case; stating his own opinion that Daniel had a legal +right to freedom. The wood-sawyer started off with the note with great +alacrity, and delivered it to Friend Hopper, saying in very animated +tones, "Squire Todd thinks I am free!" He was in a state of great +agitation between hope and fear. When he had told his story, he was sent +home to get receipts for all the money he had paid his master since his +arrival in Philadelphia. It was easy to prove from these that he had +been a resident in Pennsylvania, with his owner's consent, a much longer +time than the law required to make him a free man. When Friend Hopper +gave him this information, he was overjoyed. He could hardly believe it. +The tidings seemed too good to be true. When assured that he was +certainly free, beyond all dispute, and that he need not pay any more of +his hard earnings to a master, the tears came to his eyes, and he +started off to bring his wife, that she also might hear the glad news. +When Friend Hopper was an old man, he often used to remark how well he +remembered their beaming countenances on that occasion, and their warm +expressions of gratitude to God. + +Soon after this interview, a letter was addressed to Perry Boots, +informing him that his slave was legally free, and that he need not +expect to receive any more of his wages. He came to Philadelphia +immediately, to answer the letter in person. His first salutation was, +"Where can I find that ungrateful villain Dan? I will take him home in +irons." + +Friend Hopper replied, "Thou wilt find thyself relieved from such an +unpleasant task; for I can easily convince thee that the law sustains +thy slave in taking his freedom." + +Reading the law did not satisfy him. He said he would consult a lawyer, +and call again. When he returned, he found Daniel waiting to see him; +and he immediately began to upbraid him for being so ungrateful. Daniel +replied, "Master Perry, it was not _justice_ that made me your slave. It +was the _law_; and you took advantage of it. Now, the law makes me free; +and ought you to blame me for taking the advantage which it offers me? +But suppose I were not free, what would you be willing to take to +manumit me?" + +His master, somewhat softened, said, "Why, Dan, I always intended to set +you free some time or other." + +"I am nearly forty years old," rejoined his bondsman, "and if I am ever +to be free, I think it is high time now. What would you be willing to +take for a deed of manumission?" + +Mr. Boots answered, "Why I think you ought to give me a hundred +dollars." + +"Would that satisfy you, master Perry? Well, I can pay you a hundred +dollars," said Daniel. + +Here Friend Hopper interfered, and observed there was nothing +rightfully due to the master; that if justice were done in the case, he +ought to pay Daniel for his labor ever since he was twenty-one years +old. + +The colored man replied, "I was a slave to master Perry's father; and he +was kind to me. Master Perry and I are about the same age. We were +brought up more like two brothers, than like master and slave. I can +better afford to give him a hundred dollars, than he can afford to do +without it. I will go home and get the money, if you will make out the +necessary papers while I am gone." + +Surprised and gratified by the nobility of soul manifested in these +words, Friend Hopper said no more to dissuade him from his generous +purpose. He brought one hundred silver dollars, and Perry Boots signed a +receipt for it, accompanied by a deed of manumission. He wished to have +it inserted in the deed that he was not to be responsible for the +support of the old woman. But Daniel objected; saying, "Such an +agreement would imply that I would not voluntarily support my poor old +mother." + +When the business was concluded, he invited his former master and Friend +Hopper to dine with him; saying, "We are going to have a pretty good +dinner, in honor of the day." Mr. Boots accepted the invitation; but +Friend Hopper excused himself, on account of an engagement that would +detain him till after dinner. When he called, he found they had not yet +risen from the table, on which were the remains of a roasted turkey, a +variety of vegetables, and a decanter of wine. Friend Hopper smiled when +Daniel remarked, "I know master Perry loves a little brandy; but I did +not like to get brandy; so I bought a quart of Mr. Morris' best wine, +and thought perhaps that would do instead. I never drink anything but +water myself." + +Soon after Daniel Benson became a free man, he gave up sawing wood, and +opened a shop for the sale of second-hand clothing. He was successful in +business, brought up his family very reputably, and supported his mother +comfortably to the end of her days. For many years, he was class-leader +in a Methodist church for colored people, and his correct deportment +gained the respect of all who knew him. + +If slavery were _ever_ justifiable, under _any_ circumstances, which of +these two characters ought to have been the master, and which the slave? + + + + +THE QUICK-WITTED SLAVE. + + +About the year 1805, a colored man, who belonged to Colonel Hopper, of +Maryland, escaped with his wife and children, who were also slaves. He +went to Philadelphia and hired a small house in Green's Court, where he +lived several months before his master discovered his retreat. As soon +as he obtained tidings of him, he went to Philadelphia, and applied to +Richard Hunt, a constable who was much employed as a slave hunter. +Having procured a warrant, they went together, in search of the +fugitives. It was about dusk, and the poor man just returned from daily +toil, was sitting peacefully with his wife and children, when in rushed +his old master, accompanied by the constable. + +With extraordinary presence of mind, the colored man sprang up, and +throwing his arms round his master's neck, exclaimed, "O, my dear +master, how glad I am to see you! I _thought_ I should like to be free; +but I had a great deal rather be a slave. I can't get work, and we have +almost starved. I would have returned home, but I was afraid you would +sell me to the Georgia men. I beg your pardon a thousand times. If you +will only forgive me, I will go back with you, and never leave you +again." + +The master was very agreeably surprised by this reception, and readily +promised forgiveness. He was about to dismiss the constable, but the +slave urged him to stay a few minutes. "I have earned a little money +to-day, for a rarity," said he; "and I want to go out and buy something +to drink; for I suppose old master must be tired." He stepped out, and +soon returned with a quantity of gin, with which he liberally supplied +his guests. He knew full well that they were both men of intemperate +habits; so he talked gaily about affairs in Maryland, making various +inquiries concerning what had happened since he left; and ever and anon +he replenished their glasses with gin. It was not long before they were +completely insensible to all that was going on around them. The colored +man and his family then made speedy preparations for departure. While +Colonel Hopper and the constable lay in the profound stupor of +intoxication, they were on the way to New Jersey, with all their +household goods, where they found a safe place of refuge before the +rising of the sun. + +When consciousness returned to the sleepers, they were astonished to +find themselves alone in the house; and as soon as they could rally +their wits, they set off in search of the fugitives. After spending +several days without finding any track of them, the master called upon +Isaac T. Hopper. He complained bitterly of his servant's ingratitude in +absconding from him, and of the trick he had played to deceive him. He +said he and his family had always been extremely comfortable in +Maryland, and it was a great piece of folly in them to have quitted such +a happy condition. He concluded by asking for assistance in tracing +them; promising to treat them as kindly as if they were his own +children, if they would return to him. + +Friend Hopper replied, "If the man were as happy with thee as thou hast +represented, he will doubtless return voluntarily, and my assistance +will be quite unnecessary. I do not justify falsehood and deception; but +I am by no means surprised at them in one who has always been a slave, +and had before him the example of slaveholders. Why thou shouldst accuse +him of ingratitude, is more than I can comprehend. It seems to me that +he owes thee nothing. On the contrary, I should suppose that thou wert +indebted to him; for I understand that he has served thee more than +thirty years without wages. So far from helping thee to hunt the poor +fugitives, I will, with all my heart, do my utmost to keep them out of +thy grasp." + +"Have you seen my man?" inquired the slaveholder. + +"He came to me when he left his own house in Green's Court," replied +Friend Hopper; "and I gave him such advice on that occasion, as I +thought proper. Thou art the first slaveholder I ever met with bearing +my name. Perhaps thou hast assumed it, as a means of gaining the +confidence of colored people, to aid thee in recapturing the objects of +thy avarice." + +The Colonel replied that it was really his name, and departed without +having gained much satisfaction from the interview. He remained in +Philadelphia a week or ten days, where he was seized with _mania a +potu_. He was carried home in a straight jacket, where he soon after +died. + +A few months after these transactions, the slave called to see Friend +Hopper. He laughed till he could hardly stand, while he described the +method he had taken to elude his old master, and the comical scene that +followed with him and the constable. "I knew his weak side," said he. "I +knew where to touch him." + +Friend Hopper inquired whether he was not aware that it was wrong to +tell falsehoods, and to get men drunk. + +"I suppose it _was_ wrong," he replied. "But liberty is sweet; and none +of us know what we would do to secure it, till we are tried." + +He afterward returned to Philadelphia, where he supported his family +comfortably, and remained unmolested. + + + + +JAMES DAVIS. + + +In 1795, James escaped from bondage in Maryland, and went to +Philadelphia, where he soon after married. He remained undisturbed for +ten years, during which time he supported himself and family comfortably +by sawing wood. But one day, in the year 1805, his master called to see +him, accompanied by two other men, who were city constables. He appeared +to be very friendly, asked James how he was getting along, and said he +was glad to see him doing so well. At last, he remarked, "As you left +my service without leave, I think you ought to make me some +compensation for your time. Autumn is now coming on, and as that is +always a busy season for wood-sawyers, perhaps you can make me a small +payment at that time." + +This insidious conversation threw James completely off his guard, and he +promised to make an effort to raise some money for his master. As soon +as he had said enough to prove that he was his bondsman, the slaveholder +threw off the mask of kindness, and ordered the constables to seize and +hand-cuff him. His wife and children shrieked aloud, and Isaac T. +Hopper, who happened to be walking through the street at the time, +hastened to ascertain the cause of such alarming sounds. Entering the +house, he found the colored man hand-cuffed, and his wife and children +making the loud lamentations, which had arrested his attention. The poor +woman told how her husband had been duped by friendly words, and now he +was to be torn from his family and carried off into slavery. Friend +Hopper's feelings were deeply affected at witnessing such a heartrending +scene, and he exerted his utmost eloquence to turn the master from his +cruel purpose. The wife and children wept and entreated also; but it was +all in vain. He replied to their expostulations by ridicule, and +proceeded to hurry his victim off to prison. The children clung round +Friend Hopper's knees, crying and sobbing, and begging that he would +not let those men take away their father. But the fact that the poor +fellow had acknowledged himself a slave rendered resistance hopeless. He +was taken before a magistrate, and thence to prison. + +Friend Hopper was with him when his master came the next day to carry +him away. With a countenance expressive of deepest anguish, the unhappy +creature begged to speak a word in private, before his master entered. +When Friend Hopper took him into an adjoining room, he exclaimed in an +imploring tone, "Can't you give me some advice?" Agitated by most +painful sympathy, the Friend knew not what to answer. After a moment's +hesitation, he said, "Don't try to run away till thou art sure thou hast +a good chance." This was all he could do for the poor fellow. He was +obliged to submit to seeing him bound with cords, put into a carriage, +and driven off like a sheep to the slaughter-house. + +He was conveyed to Maryland and lodged in jail. Several weeks after, he +was taken thence and sold to a speculator, who was making up a coffle of +slaves for the far South. After crossing the Susquehanna, they stopped +at a miserable tavern, where the speculator and his companions drank +pretty freely, and then began to amuse themselves by shooting at a mark. +They placed the slave by the tavern door, where they could see him. +While he sat there, thinking of his wife and children, feeling sad and +forlorn beyond description, he noticed that a fisherman drew near the +shore with a small boat, to which was fastened a rope and a heavy stone, +to supply the place of an anchor. When he saw the man step out of the +boat and throw the stone on the ground, Friend Hopper's parting advice +instantly flashed through his mind. Hardship, scanty food, and above +all, continual distress of mind, had considerably reduced his flesh. He +looked at his emaciated hands, and thought it might be possible to slip +them through his iron cuffs. He proceeded cautiously, and when he saw +that his guard were too busy loading their pistols to watch him, he +released himself from his irons by a violent effort, ran to the river, +threw the stone anchor into the boat, jumped in, and pushed for the +opposite shore. The noise attracted the attention of his guard, who +threatened him with instant death if he did not return. They loaded +their pistols as quickly as possible, and fired after him, but luckily +missed their aim. James succeeded in reaching the opposite side of the +river, where he set the boat adrift, lest some one should take it back +and enable them to pursue him. He bent his course toward Philadelphia, +and on arriving there, went directly to Friend Hopper's house. He had +become so haggard and emaciated, that his friend could hardly believe it +was James Davis who stood before him. He said he dared not go near his +old home, and begged that some place might be provided where he could +meet his wife and children in safety. This was accomplished, and Friend +Hopper was present when the poor harassed fugitive was restored to his +family. He described the scene as affecting beyond description. The +children, some of whom were very small, twined their little arms round +him, eagerly inquiring, "Where have you been? How did you get away?" and +his wife sobbed aloud, while she hugged the lost one to her heart. + +The next morning he was sent to Bucks County in a market wagon. Some +friends there procured a small house for him, and his family soon joined +him. He was enabled to earn a comfortable living, and his place of +retreat was never afterward discovered by enemies of the human family. + + + + +MARY HOLLIDAY. + + +A very light mulatto girl, named Fanny, was slave to the widow of John +Sears, in Maryland. When about twenty-four years old, she escaped to +Philadelphia, and lived in the family of Isaac W. Morris, where she was +known by the assumed name of Mary Holliday. She was honest, prudent, and +industrious, and the family became much attached to her. She had not +been there many months when her mistress obtained tidings of her, and +went to Philadelphia, accompanied by a man named Dutton. She was +arrested on the seventh of June, 1805, and taken before Matthew Lawler, +who was then mayor. Isaac W. Morris immediately waited on Isaac T. +Hopper to inform him of the circumstance, and they proceeded together to +the mayor's office. + +Dutton, being examined as a witness, testified that he knew a mulatto +named Fanny, who belonged to Mrs. Sears, and he believed the woman +present, called Mary Holliday, was that person. Mary denied that she was +the slave of the claimant, or that her name was Fanny; but her agitation +was very evident, though she tried hard to conceal it. + +Friend Hopper remarked to the mayor, "This case requires testimony as +strong as if the woman were on trial for her life, which is of less +value than liberty. I object to the testimony as insufficient; for the +witness cannot say positively that he _knows_ she is the same person, +but only that he _believes_ so. Wouldst thou consider such evidence +satisfactory in the case of a white person?" + +The mayor who was not friendly to colored people, replied, "I should +not; but I consider it sufficient in such cases as these." + +"How dark must the complexion be, to justify thee in receiving such +uncertain evidence?" inquired Friend Hopper. + +The mayor pointed to the prisoner and said, "As dark as that woman." + +"What wouldst thou think of such testimony in case of thy own daughter?" +rejoined Friend Hopper. "There is very little difference between her +complexion and that of the woman now standing before thee." + +He made no reply, but over-ruled the objection to the evidence. He +consented, however, to postpone the case three days, to give time to +procure testimony in her favor. + +Isaac W. Morris soon after called upon Friend Hopper and said, "Mary has +acknowledged to us that her name is Fanny, and that she belongs to Mrs. +Sears. My family are all very much attached to her, and they cannot bear +the thought of her being carried away into slavery. I will advance three +hundred dollars, if thou wilt obtain her freedom." + +Friend Hopper accordingly called upon Mrs. Sears, and after stipulating +that nothing said on either side should be made use of in the trial, he +offered two hundred dollars for a deed of manumission. The offer was +promptly rejected. After considerable discussion, three hundred and +fifty dollars were offered; for it was very desirable to have the case +settled without being obliged to resort to an expensive and uncertain +process of law. Mrs. Sears replied, "It is in vain to treat with me on +the subject; for I am determined not to sell the woman on any terms. I +will take her back to Maryland, and make an example of her." + +"I hope thou wilt find thyself disappointed," rejoined Friend Hopper. +The slaveholder merely answered with a malicious smile, as if perfectly +sure of her triumph. + +Finding himself disappointed in his attempts to purchase the woman, +Friend Hopper resolved to carry the case to a higher court, and +accumulate as many legal obstructions as possible. For that purpose, he +obtained a writ _De homine replegiando_, and when the suitable occasion +arrived, he accompanied Mary Holliday to the mayor's office, with a +deputy sheriff to serve the writ. When the trial came on, he again urged +the insufficiency of proof brought by the claimant. The mayor replied, +in a tone somewhat peremptory, "I have already decided that matter. I +shall deliver the slave to her mistress." + +Friend Hopper gave the sheriff a signal to serve the writ. He was a +novice in the business, but in obedience to the instructions given him, +he laid his hand on Mary's shoulder, and said, "By virtue of this writ, +I replevin this woman, and deliver her to Mr. Hopper." + +Her protector immediately said to her, "Thou canst now go home with me." +But her mistress seized her by the arm, and said she should _not_ go. +The mayor was little acquainted with legal forms, beyond the usual +routine of city business. He seemed much surprised, and inquired what +the writ was. + +"It is a _homine replegiando_," replied Friend Hopper. + +"I don't understand what that means," said the mayor. + +"It is none the less powerful on that account," rejoined Friend Hopper. +"It has taken the woman out of thy power, and delivered her to another +tribunal." + +During this conversation, the mistress kept her grasp upon Mary. Friend +Hopper appealed to the mayor, again repeating that the girl was now to +await the decision of another court. He accordingly told Mrs. Sears it +was necessary to let her go. She asked what was to be done in such a +case. The mayor, completely puzzled, and somewhat vexed, replied +impatiently, "I don't know. You must ask Mr. Hopper. His laws are above +mine. I thought I knew something about the business; but it seems I +don't." + +Mary went home with her protector, and Mrs. Sears employed Alexander J. +Dallas as counsel. The case was kept pending in the Supreme Court a long +time; for no man understood better than Friend Hopper how to multiply +difficulties. Mrs. Sears frequently attended, bringing witnesses with +her from Maryland; which of course involved much trouble and expense. +After several years, the trial came on; but it was found she had left +some of her principal witnesses at home. Most of the forenoon was spent +in disputes about points of law, and the admissibility of certain +evidence. The court then adjourned to three in the afternoon. + +Mrs. Sears was informed that even if the court adjudged Mary to be her +slave, Friend Hopper would doubtless fail to produce her, and they would +be compelled to go through another process to recover from him the +penalty of the bond. She had become exceedingly weary of the law, the +trouble and expense of which had far exceeded her expectations. She +therefore instructed her lawyer to try to effect a compromise. Friend +Hopper, being consulted for this purpose, offered to pay two hundred and +fifty dollars for Mary if the claimant would pay the costs. She accepted +the terms, well pleased to escape from further litigation. + +When the court met in the afternoon, they were informed that the matter +was settled; and the jury with consent of parties, rendered a verdict +that Mary was free. By her own earnings, and donations from sympathizing +friends, she gradually repaid Isaac W. Morris three hundred dollars +toward the sum he had advanced for the expenses of her trial. + +In his efforts to protect the rights and redress the wrongs of colored +people, Friend Hopper had a zealous and faithful ally in Thomas +Harrison, also a member of the Society of Friends. When recounting the +adventures they had together, he used to say, "That name excites +pleasant emotions whenever it occurs to me. I shall always reverence his +memory. He was my precursor in Philadelphia, as the friend of the slave, +and my coadjutor in scores of cases for their relief. His soul was +always alive to the sufferings of his fellow creatures, and dipped into +sympathy with the oppressed; not that idle sympathy that can be +satisfied with lamenting their condition, and make no exertions for +their relief; but sympathy, like the apostle's faith, manifesting itself +in works, and extending its influence to all within its reach." + +Thomas Harrison was a lively, bustling man, with a roguish twinkle in +his eye, and a humorous style of talking. Some Friends, of more quiet +temperaments than himself, thought he had more activity than was +consistent with dignity. They reminded him that Mary sat still at the +feet of Jesus, while Martha was "troubled about many things." + +"All that is very well," replied Thomas; "but Mary would have had a late +breakfast, after all, if it had not been for Martha." + +From among various anecdotes in which Friend Harrison's name occurs, I +select the following: + + + + +JAMES LAWLER. + + +James was a slave to Mr. McCalmont of Delaware. In 1805, when he was +about thirty years old, he escaped to New Jersey and let himself out to +a farmer. After he had been there a few months, several runaway slaves +in his neighborhood were arrested and carried back to the South. This +alarmed him, and he became very anxious that some person should advance +a sum of money sufficient to redeem him from bondage, which he would +bind himself to repay by labor. Finding that his employer abhorred +slavery, and was very friendly to colored people, he ventured to open +his heart to him; and Isaac T. Hopper was consulted on the subject. + +The first step was to write to Mr. McCalmont to ascertain what were the +lowest terms on which he would manumit his slave. The master soon came +in person, accompanied by a Philadelphia merchant, who testified that +his friend McCalmont was a highly respectable man, and treated his +slaves with great kindness. He said James would be much happier with his +master than he could be in any other situation, and strongly urged +Friend Hopper to tell where he might be found. + +He replied, "It does not appear that James _thought_ himself so happy, +or he would not have left his service. Even if I had no objection to +slavery, I should still be bound by every principle of honor not to +betray the confidence reposed in me. But feeling as it is well known I +do on that subject, I am surprised thou shouldst make such a proposition +to me." + +They then called upon Thomas Harrison, and tried to enlist him in their +favor by repeating how well James had been treated, and how happy he was +in slavery. Friend Harrison replied, in his ironical way, "O, I know +very well that slaves sleep on feather beds, while their master's +children sleep on straw; that they eat white bread, and their master's +children eat brown. But enclose ten acres with a high wall, plant it +with Lombardy poplars and the most beautiful shrubbery, build a +magnificent castle in the midst of it, give thee pen, ink, and paper, to +write about the political elections in which thou art so much +interested, load thee with the best of everything thy heart could +desire, still I think thou wouldst want to get out beyond the wall." + +The master, being unable to ascertain where his slave could be found, +finally informed Friend Hopper that he would manumit him on the receipt +of one hundred and fifty dollars. Mr. John Hart, a druggist, generously +advanced the sum, and James was indentured to him for the term of five +years. Before the contract was concluded, somebody remarked that +perhaps he would repeat his old trick of running away. "I am not afraid +of that," replied Mr. Hart. "I will tie him by the teeth;" meaning he +would feed him well. + +In fact, James now appeared quite satisfied. His new master and mistress +were kind to him, and he was faithful and diligent in their service. +When a year or two had elapsed, he asked permission to visit his old +master and fellow servants. Mr. Hart kept a carriage, which he seldom +used in the winter, and he told James he might take one of the horses. +This suited his taste exactly. He mounted a noble looking animal, with +handsome saddle and bridle, and trotted off to Delaware. When he +arrived, he tied the horse and went into the kitchen. Mr. McCalmont +coming home soon after, and observing a very fine horse in his yard, +supposed he must have some distinguished visitor. Upon inquiry, he was +informed that Jim rode the horse there, and was then in the kitchen. He +went out and spoke very pleasantly to his former slave, and said he was +glad to see him. Being informed that the horse belonged to his new +master, Mr. Hart, who had kindly permitted him to use it, he ordered the +animal to be taken to the stable and supplied with hay and oats. James +was treated kindly by all the family, and spent two days very agreeably. +When about to take leave, Mr. McCalmont said to him, "Well, Jim, I am +glad to find that you have a good master, and are happy. But I had +rather you would not come here again in the style you now have; for it +will make my people dissatisfied." + +James returned much pleased with his excursion, and soon went to give +Friend Hopper an account of it. He served out his time faithfully, and +remained afterward in the same family, as a hired servant. + + + + +WILLIAM ANDERSON. + + +William was a slave in Virginia. When about twenty-five years old, he +left his master and went to Philadelphia with two of his fellow slaves; +giving as a reason that he wanted to try whether he couldn't do +something for himself. When they had been absent a few months, their +master "sold them running" to Mr. Joseph Ennells, a speculator in +slaves, who procured a warrant and constable, and repaired to +Philadelphia in search of his newly acquired property. They arrived on +Saturday, a day when many people congregated at the horse-market. +Ennells soon espied the three fugitives among the crowd, and made an +attempt to pounce upon them. Luckily, they saw the movement, and dodging +quickly among the multitude, they escaped. + +After spending some days in search of them, Ennells called upon Isaac T. +Hopper and Thomas Harrison, and offered to sell them very cheap if they +would hunt them up. Friend Hopper immediately recognized him as the man +who had threatened to blow out his brains, when he went to the rescue of +old William Bachelor; and he thus addressed him: "I would advise thee to +go home and obtain thy living in some more honorable way; for the trade +in which thou art engaged is a most odious one. On a former occasion +_thou_ wert treated with leniency; and I recommend a similar course to +thee with regard to these poor fugitives." + +The speculator finally agreed to sell the three men for two hundred and +fifty dollars. The money was paid, and he returned home. In the course +of a few days William Anderson called upon Isaac T. Hopper for advice. +He informed him that Thomas Harrison had bought him and his companions, +and told him he had better find the other two, and go and make a bargain +with Friend Harrison concerning the payment. He called accordingly, and +offered to bind himself as a servant until he had earned enough to repay +the money that had been advanced; but he said he had searched in vain +for the two companions of his flight. They had left the city abruptly, +and he could not ascertain where they had gone. Thomas Harrison said to +him, "Perhaps thou art not aware that thou hast a legal claim to thy +freedom already; for I am a citizen of Pennsylvania, and the laws here +do not allow any man to hold a slave." + +William replied, "I am too grateful for the kindness you have shown me, +to feel any disposition to take advantage of that circumstance. If I +live, you shall never lose a single cent on my account." + +He was soon after indentured to Mr. Jacob Downing a respectable merchant +of Philadelphia, who agreed to pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars +for his services. This was half of the money advanced for all of them. +William served the stipulated time faithfully. His master said he never +had a more honest and useful servant; and he on his part always spoke of +the family with great respect and affection. + +When the time of his indenture had expired, he called upon his old +benefactor, Thomas Harrison. After renewing his grateful acknowledgments +for the service rendered to him in extremity, he inquired whether +anything had ever been heard from the two other fugitives. Being +answered in the negative, he replied, "Well, Mr. Harrison, you paid two +hundred and fifty dollars for us, and you have not been able to find my +companions. You have received only one hundred and twenty-five dollars. +It is not right that you should lose by your kindness to us. I am +willing you should bind me again to make up the balance." + +"Honest fellow! Honest fellow!" exclaimed Thomas Harrison. "Go about thy +business. Thou hast paid thy share, and I have no further claim upon +thee. Conduct as well as thou hast done since I have known thee, and +thou wilt surely prosper." + +Friend Hopper happened to be present at this interview; and he used to +say, many years afterward, that he should never forget how it made his +heart glow to witness such honorable and disinterested conduct. The two +other fugitives were never heard of, and Friend Harrison of course lost +one hundred and twenty-five dollars. William frequently called upon his +benefactors, and always conducted in the most exemplary manner. + + + + +SARAH ROACH. + + +Sarah Roach, a light mulatto, was sold by her master in Maryland to a +man residing in Delaware. The laws of Delaware prohibit the introduction +of slaves, unless brought into the state by persons intending to reside +there permanently. If brought under other circumstances they become +free. Sarah remained with her new master several years before she was +made aware of this fact. Meanwhile, she gave birth to a daughter, who +was of course free, if the mother was free at the time she was born. At +last, some one informed the bondwoman that her master had no legal claim +to her services. She then left him and went to Philadelphia. But she +remained ignorant of the fact that her daughter was free, in +consequence of the universal maxim of slave law, that "the child follows +the condition of the mother." + +When the girl was about sixteen years old, she absconded from Delaware, +and went to her mother, who inquired of Isaac T. Hopper what was the +best method of eluding the vigilance of her master. After ascertaining +the circumstances, he told her that her daughter was legally free, and +instructed her to inform him in case any person attempted to arrest her. + +Her claimant soon discovered her place of abode, and in the summer of +1806 went in pursuit of her. Being aware that his claim had no +foundation in law, he did not attempt to establish it before any +magistrate, but seized the girl and hurried her on board a sloop, that +lay near Spruce-street wharf, unloading staves. Fearing she would be +wrested from him by the city authorities, he removed the vessel from the +wharf and anchored near an island between Philadelphia and New-Jersey. A +boat was placed alongside the sloop, into which the cargo was unloaded +and carried to the wharf they had left. + +The mother went to Isaac T. Hopper in great distress, and informed him +of the transaction. He immediately made application to an alderman, who +issued a process to have the girl brought before him. Guided by two +colored men, who had followed her when she was carried off, he +immediately proceeded to the sloop, accompanied by an officer. When the +claimant saw them approaching, he went into the cabin for his gun, and +threatened them with instant death if they came near his vessel. Friend +Hopper quietly told the men to go ahead and pay no attention to his +threats. When they moored their boat alongside of the one into which +they were unloading staves, he became very vociferous, and pointing his +gun at Friend Hopper's breast, swore he should not enter the vessel. + +He replied, "I have an officer with me, and I have authority from a +magistrate to bring before him a girl now in thy vessel. I think we are +prepared to show that she is free." + +The man still kept his gun pointed, and told them to beware how they +attempted to come on board. + +"If thou shouldst injure any person, it would be impossible for thee to +escape," replied Friend Hopper; "for thou art a hundred and twenty miles +from the Capes, with hundreds of people on the wharf to witness thy +deed." + +While speaking thus, he advanced toward him until he came near enough to +seize hold of the gun and turn it aside. The man made a violent jerk to +wrest the weapon from him, and still clinging fast hold of it he was +pulled on board. In the scuffle to regain possession of his gun, the man +trod upon a roller on the deck, lost his balance, and fell sprawling on +his back. Friend Hopper seized that opportunity to throw the gun +overboard. Whereupon, a sailor near by seized an axe and came toward him +in a great rage. Even if the courageous Quaker had wished to escape, +there was no chance to do so. He advanced to meet the sailor, and +looking him full in the face said, "Thou foolish fellow, dost thou think +to frighten me with that axe, when thy companion could not do it with +his gun? Put the axe down. Thou art resisting legal authority, and +liable to suffer severely for thy conduct." + +In a short time they became more moderate, but denied that the girl was +on board. The vessel was nearly emptied of her cargo, and Friend Hopper +peeping into the hold found her stowed away in a remote part of it. He +brought her on deck and took her with him into the boat, of which his +companions, including the constable, had retained possession. + +The girl was uncommonly handsome, with straight hair and regular +European features. No one could have guessed from her countenance that +any of her remote ancestors were Africans. + +The claimant did not make his appearance at the alderman's office. A +warrant was obtained charging him and the sailor with having resisted an +officer in the discharge of his duty. Isaac T. Hopper returned to the +sloop with a constable and brought the two men before a magistrate to +answer to this charge. They did not attempt to deny the truth of it, but +tried to excuse themselves on the plea that they resisted an attempt to +take away their property. Of course, this was of no avail, and they were +obliged to enter into bonds for their appearance at court. Being +strangers in the city, it was difficult to obtain bail, and there seemed +to be no alternative but a prison. However, as there must unavoidably be +considerable trouble and delay in procuring all the necessary evidence +concerning the birth of the alleged slave, her friends agreed to dismiss +them, if they would pay all expenses, give each of the officers five +dollars, and manumit the girl. Under existing circumstances, they were +glad to avail themselves of the offer; and so the affair was settled. + + + + +ZEKE. + + +A man by the name of Daniel Godwin, in the lower part of Delaware, made +a business of buying slaves running; taking the risk of losing the small +sums paid for them under such circumstances. In the year 1806, he +purchased in this way a slave named Ezekiel, familiarly called Zeke. He +went to Philadelphia, and called on Isaac T. Hopper; thinking if he knew +where the man was, he would be glad to have his freedom secured on +moderate terms. While they were talking together, a black man happened +to walk in, and leaning on the counter looked up in Mr. Godwin's face +all the time he was telling the story of his bargain. When he had done +speaking, he said, "How do you do, Mr. Godwin? Don't you know me?" + +The speculator answered that he did not. + +"Then you don't remember a man that lived with your neighbor, Mr.----?" +continued he. + +Mr. Godwin was at first puzzled to recollect whom he meant; but when he +had specified the time, and various other particulars, he said he did +remember such a person. + +"Well," answered the black man, "I am he; and I am Zeke's brother." + +The speculator inquired whether he knew where he was. + +He replied, "O yes, Mr. Godwin, I know where he is, well enough. But I'm +sorry you've bought Zeke. You'll never make anything out of him. A bad +speculation, Mr. Godwin." + +"Why, what's the matter with Zeke?" asked the trader. + +"O, these blacks come to Philadelphia and they get into bad company," +replied he. "They are afraid to be seen in the day-time, and so they go +prowling about in the night. I'm very sorry you've bought Zeke. He'll +never do you one cent's worth of good. A bad speculation, Mr. Godwin." + +The prospect seemed rather discouraging, and the trader said, "Come now, +suppose you buy Zeke yourself? I'll sell him low." + +"If I bought him, I should only have to maintain him into the bargain," +replied the black man. "He's my brother, to be sure; but then he'll +never be good for anything." + +"Perhaps he would behave better if he was free," urged Mr. Godwin. + +"That's the only chance there is of his ever doing any better," +responded the colored man. "But I'm very doubtful about it. If I should +make up my mind to give him a chance, what would you be willing to sell +him for?" + +The speculator named one hundred and fifty dollars. + +"Poh! Poh!" exclaimed the other. "I tell you Zeke will never be worth a +cent to you or anybody else. A hundred and fifty dollars, indeed!" + +The parley continued some time longer, and the case seemed such a +hopeless one, that Mr. Godwin finally agreed to take sixty dollars. The +colored man went off, and soon returned with the required sum. Isaac T. +Hopper drew up a deed of manumission, in which the purchaser requested +him to insert that Zeke was now commonly called Samuel Johnson. The +money was paid, and the deed signed with all necessary formalities. When +the business was entirely completed, the colored man said, "Zeke is now +free, is he?" When Mr. Godwin answered, "Yes," he turned to Friend +Hopper and repeated the question: "Zeke is free, and nobody can take +him; can they, Mr. Hopper? If he was here, he would be in no danger; +would he?" + +Friend Hopper replied, "Wherever Zeke may now be, I assure thee he is +free." + +Being thus assured, the black man made a low bow, and with a droll +expression of countenance said, "I hope you are very well, Mr. Godwin. I +am happy to see you, sir. I am Zeke!" + +The speculator, finding himself thus outwitted, flew into a violent +rage. He seized Zeke by the collar, and began to threaten and abuse him. +But the colored man shook his fist at him, and said, "If you don't let +me go, Mr. Godwin, I'll knock you down. I'm a free citizen of these +United States; and I won't be insulted in this way by anybody." + +Friend Hopper interfered between them, and Mr. Godwin agreed to go +before a magistrate to have the case examined. When the particulars had +been recounted, the magistrate answered, "You have been outwitted, sir. +Zeke is now as free as any man in this room." + +There was something so exhilarating in the consciousness of being his +own man, that Zeke began to "feel his oats," as the saying is. He said +to the magistrate, "May it please your honor to grant me a warrant +against Mr. Godwin? He violently seized me by the collar; thus +committing assault and battery on a free citizen of these United +States." + +Friend Hopper told him he had better be satisfied with that day's work, +and let Mr. Godwin go home. He yielded to this expostulation, though he +might have made considerable trouble by insisting upon retaliation. + + + + +POOR AMY. + + +A Frenchman named M. Bouilla resided in Spring Garden, Philadelphia, in +the year 1806. He and a woman, who had lived with him some time, had in +their employ a mulatto girl of nine years old, called Amy. Dreadful +stories were in circulation concerning their cruel treatment to this +child; and compassionate neighbors had frequently solicited Friend +Hopper's interference. After a while, he heard they were about to send +her into the country; and fearing she might be sold into slavery, he +called upon M. Bouilla to inquire whither she was going. As soon as he +made known his business, the door was unceremoniously slammed in his +face and locked. A note was then sent to the Frenchman, asking for a +friendly interview; but he returned a verbal answer. "Tell Mr. Hopper to +mind his own business." + +Considering it his business to protect an abused child, he applied to a +magistrate for a warrant, and proceeded to the house, accompanied by his +friend Thomas Harrison and a constable. As soon as they entered the +door, M. Bouilla ran up-stairs, and arming himself with a gun, +threatened to shoot whoever advanced toward him. Being blind, however, +he could only point the gun at random in the direction of their voices, +or of any noise which might reach his ear. The officer refused to +attempt his arrest under such peril; saying, he was under no obligation +to risk his life. Friend Hopper expostulated with the Frenchman, +explained the nature of their errand, and urged him to come down and +have the matter inquired into in an amicable way. But he would not +listen, and persisted in swearing he would shoot the first person who +attempted to come near him. At last, Friend Hopper took off his shoes, +stepped up-stairs very softly and quickly, and just as the Frenchman +became aware of his near approach, he seized the gun and held it over +his shoulder. It discharged instantly, and shattered the plastering of +the stairway, making it fly in all directions. There arose a loud cry, +"Mr. Hopper's killed! Mr. Hopper's killed!" + +The gun being thus rendered harmless, the Frenchman was soon arrested, +and they all proceeded to the magistrate's office, accompanied by +several of the neighbors. There was abundant evidence that the child +had been half starved, unmercifully beaten, and tortured in various +ways. Indeed, she was such a poor, emaciated, miserable looking object, +that her appearance was of itself enough to prove the cruel treatment +she had received. When the case had been fully investigated, the +magistrate ordered her to be consigned to the care of Isaac T. Hopper, +who hastened home with her, being anxious lest his wife should +accidentally hear the rumor that he had been shot. + +He afterwards ascertained that Amy was daughter of the white woman who +had aided in thus shamefully abusing her. He kept her in his family till +she became well and strong, and then bound her to one of his friends in +the country to serve till she was eighteen. She grew up a very pretty +girl, and deported herself to the entire satisfaction of the family. +When her period of service had expired, she returned to Philadelphia, +where her conduct continued very exemplary. She frequently called to see +Friend Hopper, and often expressed gratitude to him for having rescued +her from such a miserable condition. + + + + +MANUEL. + + +Manuel was an active, intelligent slave in North Carolina. His master, +Mr. Joseph Spear, a tar manufacturer, employed him to transport tar, and +other produce of the place, down Tar river to Tarborough. After +laboring several years for another's benefit, Manuel began to feel +anxious to derive some advantage from his own earnings. He had children, +and it troubled him to think that they must live and die in slavery. He +was acquainted with a colored man in the neighborhood, named Samuel +Curtis, who had a certificate of freedom drawn up by the clerk of the +county, and duly authenticated, with the county seal attached to it. +Manuel thought he could easily pass for Samuel Curtis, and make his way +to Philadelphia, if he could only obtain possession of this valuable +paper. He accordingly made him a confidant of his plans, and he bought +the certificate for two dollars. + +The next time Manuel was sent to Tarborough, he delivered the cargo as +usual, then left the boat and started for the North. He arrived safely +in Philadelphia, where he assumed the name of Samuel Curtis, and earned +a living by sweeping chimneys. In a short time, he had several boys in +his employ, and laid by money. When he had been going on thus for about +two years, he was suddenly met in the street by one of the neighbors of +his old master, who immediately arrested him as a fugitive from slavery. +He was taken before Robert Wharton, then mayor. The stranger declared +that the colored man he had seized was a slave, belonging to one of his +near neighbors in North Carolina. Samuel denied that he was a slave, +and showed his certificate of freedom. The stranger admitted that the +document was authentic, but he insisted that the real name of the person +who had possession of the paper was Manuel. He said he knew him +perfectly well, and also knew Samuel Curtis, who was a free colored man +in his neighborhood. The mayor decided that he could not receive parole +evidence in contradiction to a public record; and Samuel Curtis was set +at liberty. + +To the honor of this worthy magistrate be it recorded that during forty +years whilst he was alderman in Philadelphia, and twenty years that he +was mayor, he never once surrendered a fugitive slave to his claimant, +though frequently called upon to do so. He used to tell Friend Hopper +that he could not conscientiously do it; that he would rather resign his +office. He often remarked that the Declaration, "All men are created +equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable +rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;" +appeared to him based on a sacred principle, paramount to all law. + +When Samuel Curtis was discharged, he deemed it expedient to go to +Boston; thinking he might be safer there than in Philadelphia. But he +had not been there many days, before he met the same man who had +previously arrested him; and he by no means felt sure that the mayor of +that city would prove as friendly to the colored people as was Robert +Wharton. To add to his troubles, some villain broke open his trunk while +he was absent from his lodgings, and stole a hundred and fifty dollars +of his hard earnings. The poor fugitive began to think there was no safe +resting-place for him on the face of the earth. He returned to +Philadelphia disconsolate and anxious. He was extremely diligent and +frugal, and every year he contrived to save some money, which he put out +at interest in safe hands. At last, he was able to purchase a small lot +in Powell-street, on which he built a good three-story brick house, +where he lived with his apprentices, and let some of the rooms at a good +profit. + +In 1807, he called upon Friend Hopper and told him that his eagerness to +make money had chiefly arisen from a strong desire to redeem his +children from bondage. But being a slave himself, he said it was +impossible for him to go in search of them, unless his own manumission +could be obtained. It happened that a friend of Isaac T. Hopper was +going to North Carolina. He agreed to see the master and ascertain what +could be done. Mr. Spear never expected to hear from his slave again, +and the proposition to buy him after so many years had elapsed, seemed +like finding a sum of money. He readily agreed to make out a bill of +sale for one hundred dollars, which was immediately paid. + +The first use Samuel Curtis made of the freedom he had purchased was to +set off for the South in search of his children. To protect himself as +much as possible from the perils of such an undertaking, he obtained a +certificate of good character, signed by the mayor of Philadelphia, and +several of the most respectable citizens. They also gave him "a pass" +stating the object of his journey, and commending him to the protecting +kindness of those among whom he might find it necessary to travel. With +these he carefully packed his deed of manumission, and set forth on his +errand of paternal love. When he went to take leave of Friend Hopper, he +was much agitated. He clasped his hand fervently, and the tears flowed +fast down his weather-beaten cheeks. "I know I am going into the midst +of danger," said he. "Perhaps I may be seized and sold into slavery. But +I am willing to hazard everything, even my own liberty, if I can only +secure the freedom of my children. I have been a slave myself, and I +know what slaves suffer. Farewell! Farewell, my good friend. May God +bless you, and may he restore to me my children. Then I shall be a happy +man." + +He started on his journey, and went directly to his former master to +obtain information. He did not at first recognize his old servant. But +when he became convinced that the person before him was the identical +Manuel, who had formerly been his slave, he seemed pleased to see him, +entertained him kindly, and inquired how he had managed to get money +enough to buy his children. + +The real Samuel Curtis, who sold him the certificate of freedom, was +dead; and since he could no longer be endangered by a statement of +particulars, the spurious Samuel related the whole story of his escape, +and of his subsequent struggles; concluding the whole by expressing an +earnest wish to find his children. + +Mr. Spear had sold them, some years before, to a man in South Carolina; +and thither the father went in search of them. On arriving at the +designated place, he found they had been sold into Georgia. He went to +Georgia, and was told they had been sold to a man in Tennessee. He +followed them into Tennessee, but there he lost all track of them. After +the most patient and diligent search, he was compelled to return home +without further tidings of them. + +As soon as he arrived in Philadelphia, he went to Isaac T. Hopper to +tell how the cherished plan of his life had been frustrated. He seemed +greatly dejected, and wept bitterly. "I have deprived myself of almost +every comfort," said he; "that I might save money to buy my poor +children. But now they are not to be found, and my money gives me no +satisfaction. The only consolation I have is the hope that they are all +dead." + +The bereaved old man never afterward seemed to take comfort in anything. +He sunk, into a settled melancholy, and did not long survive his +disappointment. + + + + +SLAVEHOLDERS MOLLIFIED. + + +In the winter of 1808, several Virginia planters went to Philadelphia to +search for eleven slaves, who had absconded. Most of these colored +people had been there several years, and some of them had acquired a +little property. Their masters had ascertained where they lived, and one +evening, when they returned from their accustomed labors, unconscious of +danger impending over them, they were pounced upon suddenly and conveyed +to prison. It was late at night when this took place, and Friend Hopper +did not hear of it till the next morning. + +He had risen very early, according to his usual custom, and upon opening +his front door he found a letter slipped under it, addressed to him. +This anonymous epistle informed him that eleven slaves had been +arrested, and were to be tried before Alderman Douglass that morning; +that the owners were gentlemen of wealth and high standing, and could +produce the most satisfactory evidence that the persons arrested were +their slaves; consequently Friend Hopper's attendance could be of no +possible benefit to them. It went on to say that the magistrate +understood his business, and could do justice without his assistance; +but if, notwithstanding this warning, he did attend at the magistrate's +office, for the purpose of wresting from these gentlemen their property, +his house would be burned while himself and family were asleep in it, +and his life would certainly be taken. The writer invoked the most awful +imprecations upon himself if he did not carry these threats into +execution. + +Friend Hopper was too much accustomed to such epistles to be disturbed +by them. He put it in his pocket, and said nothing about it, lest his +wife should be alarmed. A few minutes afterward, he received a message +from some colored people begging him to go to the assistance of the +fugitives; and when the trial came on, he was at the alderman's office, +of course. Richard Rush was counsel for the claimants. The colored +prisoners had no lawyer. This examination was carried on with much +earnestness and excitement. One of the Virginians failed in proof as to +the identity of the person he claimed. In the case of several others, +the power of attorney was pronounced informal by the magistrate. After a +long protracted controversy, during which Friend Hopper threw as many +difficulties in the way as possible, it was decided that four of the +persons in custody were proved to be slaves, and the other seven were +discharged. This decision greatly exasperated the Southerners, and they +vented their anger in very violent expressions. The constables employed +were unprincipled men, ready for any low business, provided it were +profitable. The man-hunters had engaged to give them fifty dollars for +each slave they were enabled to take back to Virginia; but they were to +receive nothing for those who were discharged. Hence, their extreme +anxiety to avoid Friend Hopper's interference. When they found that more +than half of their destined prey had slipped through their fingers, they +were furious. One of them especially raved like a madman. He had written +the anonymous letter, and was truly "a lewd fellow of the baser sort." + +Friend Hopper's feelings were too much interested for those who had been +decreed slaves, to think anything of the abuse bestowed on himself. All +of them, three men and one woman, were married to free persons; and it +was heart-breaking to hear their lamentations at the prospect of being +separated forever. There was a general manifestation of sympathy, and +even the slaveholders were moved to compassion. Friend Hopper opened a +negotiation with them in behalf of the Abolition Society, and they +finally consented to manumit them all for seven hundred dollars. The +money was advanced by a Friend named Thomas Phipps, and the poor slaves +returned to their humble homes rejoicing. They repaid every farthing of +the money, and ever after manifested the liveliest gratitude to their +benefactors. + +When the anger of the Southerners had somewhat cooled, Friend Hopper +invited them to come and see him. They called, and spent the evening in +discussing the subject of slavery. When they parted from the veteran +abolitionist, it was with mutual courtesy and kindliness. They said they +respected him for acting so consistently with his own principles; and if +they held the same opinions, they should doubtless pursue the same +course. + +This was a polite concession, but it was based on a false foundation; +for it assumed that it was a mere matter of _opinion_ whether slavery +were right or wrong; whereas it is a palpable violation of immutable +principles of justice. They might as well have made the same remark +about murder or robbery, if they had lived where a selfish majority were +strong enough to get those crimes sanctioned by law and custom. The +Bedouin considers himself no robber because he forcibly takes as much +toll as he pleases from all who pass through the desert. His ancestors +established the custom, and he is not one whit the less an Arab +gentleman, because he perpetuates their peculiar institution. Perhaps he +also would say that if he held the same opinions as more honest +Mahometans, he would do as they do. In former days, custom made it +honorable to steal a neighbor's cattle, on the Scottish border; as many +Americans now deem it respectable to take children from poor defenceless +neighbors, and sell them like sheep in the market. Sir Walter Scott says +playfully, "I have my quarters and emblazonments free of all stain but +Border Theft and High Treason, which I hope are _gentlemanlike crimes_" +Yet the stealing of cattle does not now seem a very noble achievement in +the eyes of honorable Scotchmen How will the stealing of children, +within bounds prescribed by law and custom, appear to future generations +of Americans? + + + + +THE UNITED STATES BOND. + + +A planter in Virginia, being pressed for money, sold one of his +bondwomen, of sixteen years old, to a speculator who was buying up +slaves for the markets of the South and South-west. The girl was +uncommonly handsome, with smooth hair, and a complexion as light as most +white people. Her new owner, allured by her beauty, treated her with +great kindness, and made many flattering promises. She understood his +motives, and wished to escape from the degradation of such a destiny as +he had in store for her. In order to conciliate her good will, he +imposed few restraints upon her. The liberty thus allowed gave her a +favorable opportunity to abscond, which she did not fail to improve. She +travelled to Philadelphia without encountering any difficulties on the +road; for her features and complexion excited no suspicion of her being +a fugitive slave. She maintained herself very comfortably by her own +industry, and after a time married a light mulatto, who was a very sober +industrious man. He was for many years employed by Joshua Humphreys, a +ship-carpenter of great respectability in the District of Southwark. By +united industry and frugality they were enabled to build a small house +on a lot they had taken on ground rent. The furniture was simple, but +extremely neat, and all the floors were carpeted. Every thing indicated +good management and domestic comfort. + +She had been in Philadelphia thirteen years, and was the mother of a +promising family, when in 1808 she was arrested by her last master, as a +fugitive slave. The Virginian who sold her, and two other persons from +the South, attended as witnesses. Isaac T. Hopper also attended, with +his trusty friend Thomas Harrison. When the witnesses were examined, her +case appeared utterly hopeless; and in private conversation with Friend +Hopper she admitted that she was a slave to the man who claimed her. Mr. +Humphreys, pitying the distress of his honest, industrious workman, +offered to advance one hundred dollars toward purchasing her freedom. +But when Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas Harrison attempted to negotiate with +the claimant for that purpose, he treated all their offers with the +rudest contempt. They tried to work upon his feelings, by representing +the misery he would inflict on her worthy husband and innocent children; +but he turned a deaf ear to all their entreaties. They finally offered +to pay him four hundred dollars for a deed of manumission, which at that +time was considered a very high price; but he stopped all further +discussion by declaring, with a violent oath, that he would not sell her +on _any_ terms. Of course, there was nothing to be done, but to await +the issue of the trial. + +When the magistrate asked the woman whether she were a slave, Friend +Hopper promptly objected to her answering that question, unless he would +agree to receive as evidence _all_ she might say. He declined doing +that. Friend Hopper then made some remarks, in the course of which he +said, "The most honest witnesses are often mistaken as to the identity +of persons. It surprises me that the witnesses in this case should be so +very positive, when the woman was but sixteen years old at the time they +say she eloped, and such a long period has since elapsed. + +"The question at stake is as important as life itself to this woman, to +her honest husband, and to her poor little innocent children. For my +own part, I conscientiously believe she has a _just_ claim to her +freedom." + +All this time, the woman stood holding her little girl and boy by the +hand. She was deeply dejected, but her manners were as calm and +dignified, as if she had been one of the best educated ladies in the +land. The children were too young to understand the terrible doom that +threatened their mother, but they perceived that their parents were in +some great trouble, and the little creatures wept in sympathy. + +When Friend Hopper described this scene forty years afterward, he used +to say, "I shall never forget the anguish expressed in her handsome +countenance, as she looked down upon her children. I see it as plainly +as if it all happened yesterday." + +At the time, it was almost too much for his sympathizing heart to +endure. He felt like moving heaven and earth to rescue her. The trial +came on in the afternoon, and it happened that the presiding magistrate +was accustomed to drink rather freely of wine after dinner. Friend +Hopper perceived that his mental faculties were slightly confused, and +that the claimant was a heavy, stupid-looking fellow. With these +thoughts there suddenly flashed through his brain the plan of eluding an +iniquitous law, in order to sustain a higher law of justice and +humanity. He asked to have the case adjourned till the next day, that +there might be further opportunity to inquire into it; adding, "Thomas +Harrison and myself will be responsible to the United States for this +woman's appearance to-morrow. In case of forfeiture, we will agree to +pay any sum that may be deemed reasonable." + +The claimant felt perfectly sure of his prey, and made no objection to +the proposed arrangement. It was accordingly entered on the docket that +Thomas Harrison and Isaac T. Hopper were bound to the United States, in +the sum of one thousand dollars, to produce the woman for further trial +at nine o'clock the next morning. + +When Friend Hopper had obtained a copy of the recognizance, signed by +the magistrate, he chuckled inwardly and marched out of the office. If +there was a flaw in anything, Thomas Harrison had a jocose way of +saying, "There is a hole in the ballad." As they went into the street +together, his friend said, "Thomas, there's a hole in the ballad. The +recognizance we have just signed is good for nothing. The United States +have not the slightest claim upon that woman." + +The next morning, at nine o'clock all parties, except the woman, were at +the mayor's office. After waiting for her about an hour, the magistrate +said, "Well gentlemen, the woman does not make her appearance, and I +shall be obliged to forfeit your recognizance." + +"A thousand dollars is a large sum to lose," rejoined Friend Hopper. +"But if it comes to the worst, I suppose we must make up our minds to +pay the United States all the claim they have upon us." + +"The United States! The United States!" exclaimed the magistrate +quickly. He turned to look at his docket, and after a slight pause he +said to the claimant, "There is difficulty here. You had better employ +counsel." + +Thomas Ross, a respectable lawyer, who lived a few doors above, was +summoned, and soon made his appearance. Having heard the particulars of +the case briefly stated, he also examined the docket; then turning to +Isaac T. Hopper, with a comical gesture and tone, he exclaimed, "Eh!" To +the claimant he said, "You must catch your slave again if you can; for +you can do nothing with these securities." + +Of course, the master was very angry, and so was the magistrate, who had +inadvertently written the recognizance just as it was dictated to him. +They charged Friend Hopper with playing a trick upon them, and +threatened to prosecute him. He told them he had no fears concerning a +prosecution; and if he _had_ played a trick, he thought it was better +than to see a helpless woman torn from husband and children and sent +into slavery. + +The magistrate asked, "How could you say you believed the woman had a +right to her freedom? You have brought forward no evidence whatever to +prove your assertion." + +He replied, "I did not say I believed she had a _legal_ right to her +freedom. That she had a _just_ right to it, I did believe; for I think +every human being has a just claim to freedom, unless guilty of some +crime. The system of slavery is founded on the grossest and most +manifest injustice." + +"It is sanctioned by the law of the land," answered the claimant; "and +you have no right to fly in the face of the laws." + +Friend Hopper contented himself with saying, "If I have broken any law, +I stand ready to meet the consequences. But no law can make wrong +right." + +The speculator spent several days in fruitless search after the +fugitive. When he had relinquished all hopes of finding her, he called +on Isaac T. Hopper and offered to manumit her for four hundred dollars. +He replied, "At one time, we would gladly have given that sum; but now +the circumstances of the case are greatly changed, and we cannot consent +to give half that amount." After considerable controversy he finally +agreed to take one hundred and fifty dollars. The money was paid, and +the deed of manumission made out in due form. At parting, the claimant +said, with a very bitter smile, "I hope I may live to see you south of +the Potomac some day." + +Friend Hopper replied, "Thou hadst better go home and repent of sins +already committed, instead of meditating the commission of more." + +When telling this story in after years, he was wont to say, "I am aware +that some will disapprove of the part I acted in that case; because they +will regard it as inconsistent with the candor which men ought always to +practice toward each other. I can only say that my own conscience has +never condemned me for it. I could devise no other means to save the +poor victim." + +Before we decide to blame Friend Hopper more than he blamed himself in +this matter, it would be well to imagine how we ourselves should have +felt, if we had been witnesses of the painful scene, instead of reading +it in cool blood, after a lapse of years. If a handsome and modest woman +stood before us with her weeping little ones, asking permission to lead +a quiet and virtuous life, and a pitiless law was about to tear her from +husband and children and consign her to the licentious tyrant from whom +she had escaped, should we not be strongly tempted to evade such a law +by any means that offered at the moment? + +It would be wiser to expend our moral indignation on statesmen who +sanction and sustain laws so wicked, that just and kind-hearted citizens +are compelled either to elude them, or to violate their own honest +convictions and the best emotions of their hearts. + + + + +THE TENDER MERCIES OF A SLAVEHOLDER. + + +In the year of 1808 a Southerner arrested a fugitive slave in +Philadelphia and committed him to prison. When he called for him, with +authority to take him back to the South, the poor fellow seemed +dreadfully distressed. He told the keeper that his master was very +severe, and he knew that terrible sufferings awaited him if he was again +placed in his power. He hesitated long before he followed the keeper to +the iron gate, through which he was to pass out of prison. When he saw +his oppressor standing there with fetters in his hand, ready to take him +away, he stopped and pleaded in the most piteous tones for permission to +find a purchaser in Philadelphia. His owner took not the slightest +notice of these humble entreaties, but in a peremptory manner ordered +him to come out. The slave trembled all over, and said in the fainting +accents of despair, "Master, I _can't_ go with you!" + +"Come out, you black rascal!" exclaimed the inexorable tyrant. "Come out +immediately!" + +The poor wretch advanced timidly a few steps, then turned back +suddenly, as if overcome with mortal fear. The master became very +impatient, and in angry vociferous tones commanded the keeper to bring +him out by force. + +All this time, the keeper had stood with his hand on the key of the iron +door, very reluctant to open it. But at last he unlocked it, and told +the poor terrified creature that he must go. He rushed to the door in +the frenzy of desperation, gazed in his master's face for an instant, +then flew back, took a sharp knife, which he had concealed about him, +and drew it across his throat with such force, that he fell senseless +near his master's feet, spattering his garments with blood. All those +who witnessed this awful scene, supposed the man was dead. Dr. Church, +physician of the prison, examined the wound, and said there was scarcely +a possibility that he could survive, though the wind-pipe was not +entirely separated. But even the terrible admonition of that ghastly +spectacle produced no relenting feelings in the hard heart of the +slaveholder. He still demanded to have his victim delivered up to him. +When the keeper declined doing it, and urged the reason that the +physician said he could not be moved without imminent danger to his +life, the brutal tyrant exclaimed, "Damn him! He's my property; and I +_will_ have him, dead or alive. If he dies, it's nobody's loss but +mine." + +As he had the mayor's warrant for taking him, the keeper dared not incur +the responsibility of disobeying his requisitions. He convened the +inspectors for consultation; and they all agreed that any attempt to +remove the wounded man would render them accessory to his death. They +laid the case before the mayor, who ordered that the prisoner should +remain undisturbed till the physician pronounced him out of danger. When +the master was informed of this, he swore that nobody had any right to +interfere between him and his property. He cursed the mayor, threatened +to prosecute the keeper, and was in a furious rage with every body. + +Meanwhile, the sympathy of Isaac T. Hopper was strongly excited in the +case, and he obtained a promise from the physician that he would let him +know if there was any chance that the slave would recover. Contrary to +all expectation, he lingered along day after day; and in about a week, +the humane physician signified to Friend Hopper, and Joseph Price, one +of the inspectors, that a favorable result might now be anticipated. Of +course, none of them considered it a duty to inform the master of their +hopes. They undertook to negotiate for the purchase of the prisoner, and +obtained him for a moderate price. The owner was fully impressed with +the belief that he would die before long, and therefore regarded the +purchase of him as a mere freak of humanity, by which he was willing +enough to profit. When he heard soon afterward that the doctor +pronounced him out of danger, he was greatly enraged. But his suffering +victim was beyond the reach of his fury, which vented itself in harmless +execrations. + +The colored man lived many years, to enjoy the liberty for which he had +been willing to sacrifice his life. He was a sober, honest, +simple-hearted person, and always conducted in a manner entirely +satisfactory to those who had befriended him in his hour of utmost need. + + + + +THE FOREIGN SLAVE. + + +Early in the year of 1808, a Frenchman arrived in Philadelphia from one +of the West India Islands, bringing with him a slave, whom he took +before one of the aldermen, and had him bound to serve him seven years +in Virginia. When the indenture was executed, he committed his bondman +to prison, for safe-keeping, until he was ready to leave the city. One +of the keepers informed Isaac T. Hopper of the circumstance, and told +him the slave was to be carried South the next morning. + +Congress had passed an Act prohibiting the importation of slaves, which +was to begin to take effect at the commencement of the year 1808. It +immediately occurred to Friend Hopper that the present case came within +the act; and if so, the colored man was of course legally entitled to +freedom. In order to detain him till he could examine the law, and take +advice on the subject, he procured a warrant for debt and lodged it at +the prison, telling the keeper not to let the colored man go till he had +paid his demand of a hundred dollars. + +When the Frenchman called for his slave next morning, they refused to +discharge him; and he obtained a writ of _habeas corpus_, to bring the +case before the mayor's court. Friend Hopper was informed that the slave +was on trial, that the Recorder did not think it necessary to notify +him, and had made very severe remarks concerning the fictitious debt +assumed for the occasion. He proceeded directly to the court, which was +thronged with people, who watched him with lively curiosity, and made a +lane for him to pass through. Mahlon Dickinson, the Recorder, was in the +act of giving his decision on the case, and he closed his remarks by +saying, "The conduct of Mr. Hopper has been highly reprehensible. The +man is not his debtor; and the pretence that he was so could have been +made for no other reason but to cause unnecessary delay, vexation, and +expense." The lawyers smiled at each other, and seemed not a little +pleased at hearing him so roughly rebuked; for many of them had been +more or less annoyed by his skill and ready wit in tangling their +skein, in cases where questions of freedom were involved. Friend Hopper +stood before the Recorder, looking him steadfastly in the face, while he +was making animadversions on his conduct; and when he had finished, he +respectfully asked leave to address the court for a few minutes. + +"Well, Mr. Hopper," said the Recorder, "what have you to say in +justification of your very extraordinary proceedings?" + +He replied, "It is true the man is not my debtor; but the court has +greatly erred in supposing that the step I have taken was merely +intended to produce unnecessary delay and expense. The Recorder will +doubtless recollect that Congress has passed an act prohibiting the +introduction of foreign slaves into this country. It is my belief that +the case now before the court is embraced within the provisions of that +act. But I needed time to ascertain the point; and I assumed that the +man was my debtor merely to detain him until the Act of Congress could +be examined." + +Jared Ingersoll, an old and highly respectable lawyer, rose to say, "May +it please your honors, I believe Mr. Hopper is correct in his opinion. A +National Intelligencer containing the Act of Congress is at my office, +and I will send for it if you wish." The paper was soon brought, and +Friend Hopper read aloud the section which Mr. Ingersoll pointed out; +placing strong emphasis on such portions as bore upon the case then +pending. When he had concluded, he observed, "I presume the court must +now be convinced that the censures so liberally bestowed on my conduct +are altogether unmerited." + +The counsel for the claimant said a newspaper was not legal evidence of +the existence of a law. Friend Hopper replied, "The court is well aware +that I am no lawyer. But I have heard lawyers talk about _prima facie_ +evidence; and I should suppose the National Intelligencer amounted at +least to that sort of evidence, for it is the acknowledged organ of +government, in which the laws are published for the information of +citizens. But if that is not satisfactory, I presume the court will +detain the man until an authenticated copy of the law can be obtained." + +After some discussion, the court ordered a copy of the law to be +procured; but the attorney abandoned the case, and the slave was set at +liberty. + +As soon as this decision was announced, the throng of spectators, white +and colored, began to shout, "Hurra for Mr. Hopper!" The populace were +so accustomed to see him come off victorious from such contests, that +they began to consider his judgment infallible. + +Many years afterward, when Friend Hopper met Mahlon Dickinson on board +a steam-boat, he inquired whether he recollected the scolding he gave +him on a certain occasion. He replied pleasantly, "Indeed I do. I +thought I _had_ you that time, and I intended to give it to you; but you +slipped through my fingers, as usual." + + + + +THE NEW-JERSEY SLAVE. + + +In the year 1809, a gentleman from East New-Jersey visited Philadelphia, +and brought a young slave to wait upon him. When they had been in that +city four or five months, the lad called upon Isaac T. Hopper to inquire +whether his residence in Philadelphia had made him free. He was informed +that he would not have a legal claim to freedom till he had been there +six months. Just as the term expired, somebody told the master that the +laws of Pennsylvania conferred freedom on slaves under such +circumstances. He had been ignorant of the fact, or had forgotten it, +and as soon as he received the information he became alarmed lest he +should lose his locomotive property. He sent for a constable, who came +to his door with a carriage. The lad had just come up from the cellar +with an armful of wood. When he entered the parlor, the constable +ordered him to put it down and go with him. He threw the wood directly +at the legs of the officer, and ran down cellar full speed, slamming the +door after him. As soon as the constable could recover from the blow he +had received, he followed the lad into the cellar; but he had escaped by +another door, and gone to Isaac T. Hopper. + +It was snowing fast, and when he arrived there in his shirt sleeves, his +black wool plentifully powdered with snow, he was a laughable object to +look upon. But his countenance showed that he was too thoroughly +frightened and distressed to be a subject of mirth to any compassionate +heart. Friend Hopper tried to comfort him by promising that he would +protect him, and assuring him that he was now legally free. His +agitation subsided in a short time, and he began to laugh heartily to +think how he had upset the constable. The master soon came to Friend +Hopper's house, described the lad's dress and appearance, and inquired +whether he had seen him. He admitted that he had, but declined telling +where he was. The master made some severe remarks about the meanness of +tampering with gentlemen's servants, and went away. In about half an +hour he returned with the constable and said Alderman Kepler desired his +respects to Isaac T. Hopper, and wished to see him at his office. He +replied, "I think it likely that Alderman Kepler has not much more +respect for me than I have for him. If he has more _business_ with me +than I have with him, I am at home, and can be spoken with." + +The master went away, but soon returned with two constables and a +lawyer, who was very clamorous in his threats of what would be the +consequences if the slave was not at once surrendered to the gentleman. +One of the officers said he had a warrant to search the house. "Very +well," replied Friend Hopper, "execute it." + +"I have great respect for you," rejoined the officer. "I should be sorry +to search your house by virtue of the warrant. I hope you will consent +to my doing so without." + +"There is no need of delicacy on this occasion," replied Friend Hopper. +"Thou hadst better proceed to the extent of thy authority." + +"You give your consent, do you?" inquired the officer. + +He answered, "No, I do not. If thou hast a warrant, of course my consent +is not necessary. Proceed to the full extent of thy authority. But if +thou goest one inch beyond, thou wilt have reason to repent of it." + +The party left the house utterly discomfited. He afterward learned that +they had applied for a search-warrant, but could not procure one. + +The first step in the process of securing the lad's freedom was to +obtain proof that he had been in Philadelphia six months. The landlord +of the hotel where the master lodged, refused to say anything on the +subject, being unwilling to offend his lodger. But the servants were +under no such prudential restraint; and from them Friend Hopper obtained +testimony sufficient for his purpose. He then wrote a note to the +alderman that he would be at his office with the lad at nine o'clock +next morning, and requesting him to inform the claimant. In the mean +time, he procured a writ of _habeas corpus_, to have it in readiness in +case circumstances required it. The claimant made his appearance at the +appointed hour, and stated how he had come to Philadelphia on a visit, +and brought a slave to attend upon him. He descanted quite largely upon +the courtesy due from citizens of one state to those of another state. + +Friend Hopper was about to reply, when the magistrate interrupted him by +saying, "I shall not interfere with the citizens of other states. I +shall surrender the boy to his master. If he thinks he has a legal claim +to his freedom, let him prosecute it in New-Jersey." + +Friend Hopper said nothing, but gave a signal to have the writ served. +The magistrate was highly offended, and asked in an angry tone, "What +was your object in procuring a writ of _habeas corpus_?" + +Friend Hopper replied, "From my knowledge of thee, I anticipated the +result that has just occurred; and I determined to remove the case to a +tribunal where I had confidence that justice would be done in the +premises." + +The Court of Common Pleas was then in session. The case was brought +before it the next day, and after the examination of two or three +witnesses, the lad was declared free. + + + + +A SLAVE HUNTER DEFEATED. + + +In 1810, a slave escaped from Virginia to Philadelphia. In a few months, +his master heard where he was, and caused him to be arrested. He was a +fine looking young man, apparently about thirty years old. When he was +brought before Alderman Shoemaker, that magistrate's sympathy was so +much excited, that he refused to try the case unless some one was +present to defend the slave. Isaac T. Hopper was accordingly sent for. +When he had heard a statement of the case, he asked the agent of the +slaveholder to let him examine the Power of Attorney by which he had +been authorized to arrest a "fugitive from labor," and carry him to +Virginia. The agent denied his right to interfere, but Alderman +Shoemaker informed him that Mr. Hopper was a member of the Emancipation +Society, and had a right to be satisfied. + +The Power of Attorney was correctly drawn, and had been acknowledged in +Washington, before Bushrod Washington, one of the judges of the Supreme +Court of the United States. Friend Hopper's keen eye could detect no +available flaw in it. When the agent had been sworn to answer truly all +questions relating to the case, he inquired whether the fugitive he was +in search of had been advertised; if so, he wished to see the +advertisement. It was handed to him, and he instantly noticed that it +was headed "Sixty Dollars Reward." + +"Art thou to receive sixty dollars for apprehending the man mentioned in +this advertisement?" said he. + +The agent replied, "I am to receive that sum provided I take him home to +Virginia." + +"How canst thou prove that the man thou hast arrested is the one here +advertised?" inquired he. + +The agent answered that he could swear to the fact. + +"That may be," rejoined Friend Hopper; "but in Philadelphia we do not +allow any person, especially a stranger, to swear sixty dollars into his +own pocket. Unless there is better evidence than thy oath, the man must +be set at liberty." + +The agent became extremely irritated, and said indignantly, "Do you +think I would swear to a lie?" + +"Thou art a stranger to me," replied Friend Hopper. "I don't know +whether thou wouldst swear falsely or not. But there is one thing I do +know; and that is, I am not willing to trust thee." + +The agent reiterated, "I know the man standing there as well as I know +any man living. I am perfectly sure he is the slave described in the +advertisement. I was overseer for the gentleman who owns him. If you +examine his back, you will find scars of the whip." + +"And perhaps thou art the man who made the scars, if he has any," +rejoined the Friend. + +Without replying to this suggestion, the slave-hunter ordered the +colored man to strip, that his back might be examined by the court. +Friend Hopper objected to such a proceeding. "Thou hast produced no +evidence that the man thou hast arrested is a slave," said he. "Thou and +he are on the same footing before this court. We have as good a right to +examine thy back, as are have to examine his." He added, with a very +significant tone, "In some places, they whip for kidnapping." + +This remark put the slave-hunter in a violent rage. The magistrate +decided that his evidence was not admissible, on the ground that he was +interested. He then proposed to summon two witnesses from a Virginian +vessel lying at one of the wharves. + +"Of course thou art at liberty to go for witnesses," replied Friend +Hopper. "But I appeal to the magistrate to discharge this man. Under +present circumstances, he ought not to be detained a single moment." The +alderman needed no urging on that point. He very promptly discharged the +prisoner. As soon as he left the office, the slave-hunter seized hold of +him, and swore he would keep him till witnesses were brought. But Friend +Hopper walked up to him, and said in his resolute way, "Let go thy hold! +or I will take such measures as will make thee repent of thy rashness. +How darest thou lay a finger upon the man after the magistrate has +discharged him?" + +Thus admonished, he reluctantly relinquished his grasp, and went off +swearing vengeance against "the meddlesome Quaker." + +Friend Hopper hastened home with the colored man, and wrote a brief +letter to his friend William Reeve, in New-Jersey, concluding with these +words: "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto the +least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." This letter was +given to the fugitive with directions how to proceed. His friend +accompanied him to the ferry, saw him safely across the river, and then +returned home. + +In an hour or two the slave-hunter came to the house, accompanied by a +constable and two witnesses from Virginia. "The slave I arrested was +seen to come here," said he. "Where is he? Produce him." + +Friend Hopper replied very quietly, "The man has been here; but he is +gone now." + +This answer made the agent perfectly furious. After discharging a volley +of oaths, he said he had a search warrant, and swore he would have the +house searched from garret to cellar. "Very well," replied Friend +Hopper, "thou art at liberty to proceed according to law; but be careful +not to overstep that boundary. If thou dost, it will be at thy peril." + +After the slave-hunter had vented his rage in a torrent of abuse, the +constable proposed to speak a few words in private. With many friendly +professions, he acknowledged that they had no search-warrant. "The +gentleman was about to obtain one from the mayor," said he; "but I +wished to save your feelings. I told him you were well acquainted with +me, and I had no doubt you would permit me to search your house without +any legal process." + +Friend Hopper listened patiently, perfectly well aware that the whole +statement was a sham. When the constable paused for a reply, he opened +the door, and said very concisely, "Thou art at liberty to go about thy +business." + +They spent several days searching for the fugitive, but their efforts +were unavailing. + + + + +MARY MORRIS. + + +A woman, who was born too early to derive benefit from the gradual +emancipation law of Pennsylvania, escaped from bondage in Lancaster +County to Philadelphia. There she married a free colored man by the name +of Abraham Morris. They lived together very comfortably for several +years, and seemed to enjoy life as much as many of their more wealthy +neighbors. But in the year 1810, it unfortunately happened that Mary's +master ascertained where she lived, and sent a man to arrest her, with +directions either to sell her, or bring her back to him. + +Abraham Morris was a very intelligent, industrious man, and had laid up +some money. He offered one hundred and fifty dollars of his earnings to +purchase the freedom of his wife. The sum was accepted, and the parties +applied to Daniel Bussier, a magistrate in the District of Southwark, to +draw up a deed of manumission. The money was paid, and the deed given; +but the agent employed to sell the woman absconded with the money. The +master, after waiting several months and not hearing from him, sent to +Philadelphia and caused Mary Morris to be arrested again. She was taken +to the office of Daniel Bussier, and notwithstanding he had witnessed +her deed of manumission a few months before, he committed her to prison +as a fugitive slave. When her husband called upon Isaac T. Hopper and +related all the circumstances, he thought there must be some mistake; +for he could not believe that any magistrate would be so unjust and +arbitrary, as to commit a woman to prison as a fugitive, when he had +seen the money paid for her ransom, and the deed of manumission given. +He went to Mr. Bussier immediately, and very civilly told him that he +had called to make inquiry concerning a colored woman committed to +prison as a fugitive slave on the evening previous. + +"Go out of my office!" said the undignified magistrate. "I want nothing +to do with you." + +He replied, "I come here as the friend and adviser of the woman's +husband. My request is reasonable, and I trust thou wilt not refuse it." + +In answer to this appeal, Mr. Bussier merely repeated, "Go out of my +office!" + +Friend Hopper offered him half a dollar, saying, "I want an extract from +thy docket. Here is the lawful fee." + +All this time, Mr. Bussier had been under the hands of a barber, who was +cutting his hair. He became extremely irritated, and said, "If you won't +leave this office, I will put you out, as soon as I have taken the seat +of justice." + +"I wish thou wouldst take the seat of justice," replied Friend Hopper; +"for then I should obtain what I want; but if thou dost, I apprehend it +will be for the first time." + +Mr. Bussier sprang hastily from his chair, and seated himself at the +magisterial desk, which was raised about a foot from the floor, and +surrounded by a railing. Conceiving himself now armed with the thunders +of the law, he called out, in tones of authority, "Mr. Hopper, I command +you to quit this office!" + +The impassive Quaker stood perfectly still, and pointing to Abraham +Morris, he again tendered the half dollar, saying, "I want an extract +from thy docket, in the case of this man's wife. Here is the lawful fee +for it. Please give it to me." + +This quiet perseverance deprived the excited magistrate of what little +patience he had left. He took the importunate petitioner by the +shoulders, pushed him into the street, and shut the door. + +Friend Hopper then applied to Jacob Rush, President of the Court of +Common Pleas for a writ of _habeas corpus._ The woman was brought before +him, and when he had heard the particulars of the case, and examined her +deed of manumission, he immediately discharged her, to the great joy of +herself and husband. + +Friend Hopper thought it might be a useful lesson for Mr. Bussier to +learn that his "little brief authority" had boundaries which could not +be passed with impunity. He accordingly had him indicted for assault +and battery. He and his political friends were a good deal ashamed of +his conduct, and finally, after many delays in bringing on the trial, +and various attempts to hush up the matter, Mr. Bussier called upon +Friend Hopper to say that he deeply regretted the course he had pursued. +His apology was readily accepted, and the case dismissed; he agreeing to +pay the costs. + + + + +THE SLAVE MOTHER. + + +Gassy was slave to a merchant in Baltimore, by the name of Claggett. She +had reason to believe that her master was about to sell her to a +speculator, who was making up a coffle for the markets of the far South. +The terror felt in view of such a prospect can be understood by slaves +only. She resolved to escape; and watching a favorable opportunity, she +succeeded in reaching the neighborhood of Haddonfield, New Jersey. There +she obtained service in a very respectable family. She was honest, +steady, and industrious, and made many friends by her cheerful, obliging +manners. But her heart was never at rest; for she had left in Baltimore +a babe little more than a year old. She had not belonged to an unusually +severe master; but she had experienced quite enough of the sufferings of +slavery to dread it for her child. Her thoughts dwelt so much on this +painful subject, that her naturally cheerful character became extremely +saddened. She at last determined to make a bold effort to save her +little one from the liability of being sold, like a calf or pig in the +shambles. She went to see Isaac T. Hopper and communicated to him her +plan. He tried to dissuade her; for he considered the project extremely +dangerous, and well nigh hopeless. But the mother's heart yearned for +her babe, and the incessant longing stimulated her courage to incur all +hazards. To Baltimore she went; her pulses throbbing hard and fast, with +the double excitement of hope and fear. She arrived safely, and went +directly to the house of a colored family, old friends of hers, in whom +she could confide with perfect safety. To her great joy, she found that +they approved her plan, and were ready to assist her. Arrangements were +soon made to convey the child to a place about twenty miles from +Baltimore, where it would be well taken care of, till the mother could +find a safe opportunity to remove it to New Jersey. + +Before she had time to take all the steps necessary to insure success in +this undertaking, her master was informed of her being in the city, and +sent constables in pursuit of her. Luckily, her friends were apprized of +this in season to give her warning; and her own courage and ingenuity +proved adequate to the emergency. She disguised herself in sailor's +clothes, and walked boldly to the Philadelphia boat. There she walked +up and down the deck, with her arms folded, smoking a cigar, and +occasionally passing and repassing the constables who had been sent on +board in search of her. These men, having watched till the last moment +for the arrival of a colored woman answering to her description, took +their departure. The boat started, and brought the courageous mother +safely to Philadelphia, where Friend Hopper and others rejoiced over the +history of her hair-breadth escape. + +A few weeks after, she went to the place where her child had been left, +and succeeded in bringing it safely away. For a short time, her +happiness seemed to be complete; but when the first flush of joy and +thankfulness had subsided, she began to be harassed with continual fears +lest she and her child should be arrested in some evil hour, and carried +back into slavery. By unremitting industry, and very strict economy, she +strove to lay by money enough to purchase their freedom. She had made +friends by her good conduct and obliging ways, while her maternal +affection and enterprising character excited a good deal of interest +among those acquainted with her history. Donations were occasionally +added to her earnings, and a sum was soon raised sufficient to +accomplish her favorite project. Isaac T. Hopper entered into +negotiation with her master, and succeeded in obtaining manumission for +her and her child. + + + + +COLONEL RIDGELEY'S SLAVE. + + +A slave escaped from Colonel Ridgeley, who resided in the southern part +of Virginia. He went to Philadelphia, and remained there undiscovered +for several years. But he was never quite free from anxiety, lest in +some unlucky hour, he should be arrested and carried back to bondage. +When he had laid up some money, he called upon Isaac T. Hopper to assist +him in buying the free use of his own limbs. A negotiation was opened +with Col. Ridgeley, who agreed to take two hundred dollars for the +fugitive, and appointed a time to come to Philadelphia to arrange the +business. But instead of keeping his agreement honorably, he went to +that city several weeks before the specified time, watched for his +bondman, seized him, and conveyed him to Friend Hopper's office. When +the promised two hundred dollars were offered, he refused to accept +them. + +"Why, that is the sum thou hast agreed upon," said Friend Hopper. + +"I know that," replied the Colonel; "but I won't take it now. He was the +best servant I ever had. I can sell him for one thousand dollars in +Virginia. Under present circumstances, I will take five hundred dollars +for him, and not one cent less." + +After considerable discussion, Friend Hopper urged him to allow his +bondman until ten o'clock next morning, to see what could be done among +his friends; and he himself gave a written obligation that the man +should be delivered up to him at that hour, in case he could not procure +five hundred dollars to purchase his freedom. + +When the master was gone, Friend Hopper said to the alarmed fugitive, +"There now remains but one way for thee to obtain thy freedom. As to +raising five hundred dollars, that is out of the question. But if thou +wilt be prompt and resolute, and do precisely as I tell thee, I think +thou canst get off safely." + +"I will do anything for freedom," replied the bondman; "for I have made +up my mind, come what may, that I never will go back into slavery." + +"Very well then," rejoined his friend. "Don't get frightened when the +right moment comes to act; but keep thy wits about thee, and do as I +tell thee. Thy master will come here to-morrow at ten o'clock, according +to appointment. I must deliver thee up to him, and receive back the +obligation for one thousand dollars, which I have given him. Do thou +stand with thy back against the door, which opens from this room into +the parlor. When he has returned the paper to me, open the door +quickly, lock it on the inside, and run through the parlor into the +back-yard. There is a wall there eight feet high, with spikes at the +top. Thou wilt find a clothes-horse leaning against it, to help thee up. +When thou hast mounted, kick the clothes-horse down behind thee, drop on +the other side of the wall, and be off." The premises were then shown to +him, and he received minute directions through what alleys and streets +he had better pass, and at what house he could find a temporary refuge. + +Col. Ridgeley came the next morning, at the appointed hour, and brought +a friend to stand sentinel at the street door, lest the slave should +attempt to rush out. It did not occur to him that there was any danger +of his running _in_. + +"We have not been able to raise the five hundred dollars," said Friend +Hopper; "and here is thy man, according to agreement." + +The Colonel gave back his obligation for one thousand dollars; and the +instant it left his hand, the fugitive passed into the parlor. The +master sprang over the counter after him, but found the door locked. +Before he could get to the back yard by another door, the wall was +scaled, the clothes-horse thrown down, and the fugitive was beyond his +reach. Of course, he returned very much disappointed and enraged; +declaring his firm belief that a trick had been played upon him +purposely. After he had given vent to his anger some little time, Friend +Hopper asked for a private interview with him. When they were alone +together in the parlor, he said, "I admit this was an intentional trick; +but I had what seemed to me good reasons for resorting to it. In the +first place, thou didst not keep the agreement made with me, but sought +to gain an unfair advantage. In the next place, I knew that man was thy +own son; and I think any person who is so unfeeling as to make traffic +of his own flesh and blood, deserves to be tricked out of the chance to +do it." + +"What if he is my son?" rejoined the Virginian. "I've as good a right to +sell my own flesh and blood as that of any other person. If I choose to +do it, it is none of your business." He opened the door, and beckoning +to his friend, who was in waiting, he said, "Hopper admits this was all +a trick to set the slave free." Then turning to Friend Hopper, he added, +"You admit it was a trick, don't you?" + +"Thou and I will talk that matter over by ourselves," he replied. "The +presence of a third person is not always convenient." + +The Colonel went off in a violent passion, and forgetting that he was +not in Virginia, he rushed into the houses of several colored people, +knocked them about, overturned their beds, and broke their furniture, +in search of the fugitive. Being unable to obtain any information +concerning him, he cooled down considerably, and went to inform Friend +Hopper that he would give a deed of manumission for two hundred dollars; +but his offer was rejected. + +"Why that was your own proposal!" vociferated the Colonel. + +"Very true," he replied; "and I offered thee the money; but thou refused +to take it." + +After storming awhile, the master went off to obtain legal advice from +the Hon. John Sergeant. Meanwhile, several of the colored people had +entered a complaint against him for personal abuse, and damage done to +their furniture. He was obliged to give bonds for his appearance at the +next court, to answer their accusations. This was a grievous humiliation +for a proud Virginian, who had been educated to think that colored +people had no civil rights. In this unpleasant dilemma, his lawyer +advised him to give a deed of manumission for one hundred and fifty +dollars; promising to exert his influence to have the mortifying suits +withdrawn. + +The proposed terms were accepted, and the money promptly paid by the +slave from his own earnings. But when Mr. Sergeant proposed that the +suits for assault and battery should be withdrawn, Friend Hopper +replied, "I have no authority to dismiss them." + +"They will be dismissed if you advise it," rejoined the lawyer; "and if +you will promise to do it, I shall be perfectly satisfied." + +"These colored people have been very badly treated," answered Friend +Hopper. "If the aggressor wants to settle the affair, he had better go +to them and offer some equivalent for the trouble he has given." + +The lawyer replied, "When he agreed to manumit the man for one hundred +and fifty dollars, he expected these suits would be dismissed, of +course, as a part of the bargain. What sum do you think these people +will take to withdraw them?" + +Friend Hopper said he thought they would do it for one hundred and fifty +dollars. + +"I will pay it," replied Mr. Sergeant; "for Colonel Ridgeley is very +anxious to return home." + +Thus the money paid for the deed of manumission was returned. Forty +dollars were distributed among the colored people, to repay the damage +done to their property. After some trifling incidental expenses had been +deducted, the remainder was returned to the emancipated slave; who thus +obtained his freedom for about fifty dollars, instead of the sum +originally offered. + + + + +STOP THIEF! + + +About the year 1826, a Marylander, by the name of Solomon Low, arrested +a fugitive slave in Philadelphia, and took him to the office of an +alderman to obtain the necessary authority for carrying him back into +bondage. Finding the magistrate gone to dinner, they placed the colored +man in the entry, while Mr. Low and his companions guarded the door. +Some of the colored people soon informed Isaac T. Hopper of these +circumstances, and he hastened to the office. Observing the state of +things there, he concluded it would be no difficult matter to give the +colored man a chance to escape. He stepped up to the men at the door, +and demanded in a peremptory manner by what authority they were holding +that man in duress. Mr. Low replied, "He is my slave." + +"This is strange conduct," rejoined Friend Hopper. "Who can tell whether +he is thy slave or not? What proof is there that you are not a band of +kidnappers? Dost thou suppose the laws of Pennsylvania tolerate such +proceedings?" + +These charges arrested the attention of Mr. Low and his companions, who +turned round to answer the speaker. The slave, seeing their backs toward +him for an instant, seized that opportunity to rush out; and he had run +two or three rods before they missed him. They immediately raised the +cry of "Stop Thief! Stop Thief!" An Irishman, who joined in the +pursuit, arrested the fugitive and brought him back to his master. + +Friend Hopper remonstrated with him; saying, "The man is not a thief. +They claim him for a slave, and he was running for liberty. How wouldst +thou like to be made a slave?" + +The kind-hearted Hibernian replied, "Then they lied; for they said he +was a thief. If he is a slave, I'm sorry I stopped him. However, I will +put him in as good a condition as I found him." So saying, he went near +the man who had the fugitive in custody, and seized him by the collar +with a sudden jerk, that threw him on the pavement. The slave instantly +started, and ran at his utmost speed, again followed by the cry of "Stop +Thief!" Having run some distance, and being nearly out of breath, he +darted into the shop of a watch-maker, named Samuel Mason, who +immediately closed and fastened his door, so that the crowd could not +follow him. The fugitive passed out of the back door, and was never +afterward recaptured. + +The disappointed master brought an action against Samuel Mason for +rescuing his slave. Charles J. Ingersoll and his brother Joseph, two +accomplished lawyers of Philadelphia, conducted the trial for him, with +zeal and ingenuity worthy of a better cause. Isaac T. Hopper was +summoned as a witness, and in the course of examination he was asked +what course members of the Society of Friends adopted when a fugitive +slave came to them. He replied, "I am not willing to answer for any one +but myself." + +"Well," said Mr. Ingersoll, "what would _you_ do in such a case? Would +you deliver him to his master? + +"Indeed I would not!" answered the Friend. "My conscience would not +permit me to do it. It would be a great crime; because it would be +disobedience to my own dearest convictions of right. I should never +expect to enjoy an hour of peace afterward. I would do for a fugitive +slave whatever I should like to have done for myself, under similar +circumstances. If he asked my protection, I would extend it to him to +the utmost of my power. If he was hungry, I would feed him. If he was +naked, I would clothe him. If he needed advice, I would give such as I +thought would be most beneficial to him." + +The cause was tried before Judge Bushrod Washington, nephew of General +Washington. Though a slaveholder himself, he manifested no partiality +during the trial, which continued several days, with able arguments on +both sides. The counsel for the claimant maintained that Samuel Mason +prevented the master from regaining his slave, by shutting his door, and +refusing to open it. The counsel for the defendant replied that there +was much valuable and brittle property in the watchmaker's shop, which +would have been liable to robbery and destruction, if a promiscuous mob +had been allowed to rush in. Judge Washington summed up the evidence +very clearly to the jury, who after retiring for deliberation a +considerable time, returned into court, declaring that they could not +agree upon a verdict, and probably never should agree. They were ordered +out again, and kept together till the court adjourned, when they were +dismissed. + +At the succeeding term, the case was tried again, with renewed energy +and zeal. But the jury, after being kept together ten days, were +discharged without being able to agree upon a verdict. Some, who were +originally in favor of the defendant, became weary of their long +confinement, and consented to go over to the slaveholder's side; but one +of them, named Benjamin Thaw, declared that he would eat his Christmas +dinner in the jury-room, before he would consent to such a flagrant act +of injustice. + +His patience held out till the court adjourned. Consequently a third +trial became necessary; and the third jury brought in a verdict in favor +of the watchmaker. + +The expenses of these suits were estimated at seventeen hundred dollars. +Solomon Low was in limited circumstances; and this expenditure in +prosecuting an innocent man was said to have caused his failure soon +after. + + + + +THE DISGUISED SLAVEHOLDER. + + +A colored woman and her son were slaves to a man in East Jersey. She had +two sons in Philadelphia, who had been free several years, and her +present master was unacquainted with them. In 1827, she and her younger +son escaped, and went to live in Philadelphia. Her owner, knowing she +had free sons in that city, concluded as a matter of course that she had +sought their protection. A few weeks after her flight, he followed her, +and having assumed Quaker costume, went to the house of one of her sons. +He expressed great interest for the woman, and said he wished to obtain +an interview with her for her benefit. His friendly garb and kind +language completely deceived her son, and he told him that his mother +was then staying at his brother's house, which was not far off. Having +obtained this information, the slaveholder procured a constable and +immediately went to the place described. Fortunately, the son was at +home, and it being warm weather he sat near the open door. The mother +was seated at a chamber window, and saw a constable approaching the +house, with a gentleman in Quaker costume, whom she at once recognized +as her master. She gave the alarm to her son, who instantly shut the +door and fastened it. The master, being refused admittance, placed a +guard there, while he went to procure a search-warrant. These +proceedings attracted the attention of colored neighbors, and a crowd +soon gathered about the house. They seized the man who guarded the door, +and held him fast, while the woman and her fugitive son rushed out. It +was dusk, and the uncertain light favored their escape. They ran about a +mile, and took refuge with a colored family in Locust-street. The +watchman soon got released from the colored people who held him, and +succeeded in tracing the woman to her new retreat, where he again +mounted guard. The master returned meanwhile, and having learned the +circumstances, went to the magistrate to obtain another warrant to +search the house in Locust-street. + +At this stage of the affair, Friend Hopper was summoned, and immediately +went to the rescue, accompanied by one of his sons, about sixteen years +old. He found the woman and her son stowed away in a closet, exceedingly +terrified. He assured them they would be quite as safe on the +mantel-piece, as they would be in that closet; that their being found +concealed would be regarded as the best evidence that they were the +persons sought for. Knowing it was dangerous for them to remain in that +house, he told them of a plan he had formed, on the spur of the moment. +After giving them careful instructions how to proceed, he left them and +requested that the street door might be opened for him. A crowd +immediately rushed in, as he had foreseen would be the case. He affected +to be greatly displeased, and ordered the men of the house to turn all +the intruders out. They obeyed him; and among the number turned out were +the two fugitives. It was dark, and in the confusion, the watchman on +guard could not distinguish them among the multitude. + +Friend Hopper had hastily consigned them to his son, with instructions +to take them to his house; and the watchman, seeing that he himself +remained about the premises, took it for granted that the fugitives had +not escaped. + +As soon as it was practicable, Friend Hopper returned home, where he +found the woman and her son in a state of great agitation. He +immediately sent her to a place of greater safety, and gave the son a +letter to a farmer thirty miles up in the country. He went directly to +the river Schuylkill, but was afraid to cross the bridge, lest some +person should be stationed there to arrest him. He accordingly walked +along the margin of the river till he found a small boat, in which he +crossed the stream. Following the directions he had received, he arrived +at the farmer's house, where he had a kindly welcome, and obtained +employment. + +The master being unable to recapture his slaves, called upon Isaac T. +Hopper to inquire if he knew anything about them. He coolly replied, "I +believe they are doing very well. From what I hear, I judge it will not +be necessary to give thyself any further trouble on their account." + +"There is no use in trying to capture a runaway slave in Philadelphia," +rejoined the master. "I believe the devil himself could not catch them +when they once get here." + +"That is very likely," answered Friend Hopper. "But I think he would +have less difficulty in catching the masters; being so much more +familiar with them." + +Sixty dollars had already been expended in vain; and the slave-holder, +having relinquished all hope of tracing the fugitives, finally agreed to +manumit the woman for fifty dollars, and her son for seventy-five +dollars. These sums were advanced by two citizens friendly to the +colored people, and the emancipated slaves repaid them by faithful +service. + + + + +THE SLAVE OF DR. RICH. + + +In the autumn of 1828, Dr. Rich of Maryland came to Philadelphia with +his wife, who was the daughter of an Episcopal clergyman in that city, +by the name of Wiltbank. She brought a slave to wait upon her, intending +to remain at her father's until after the birth of her child, which was +soon expected to take place. When they had been there a few months, the +slave was informed by some colored acquaintance that she was free in +consequence of being brought to Philadelphia. She called to consult with +Isaac T. Hopper, and seemed very much disappointed to hear that a +residence of six months was necessary to entitle her to freedom; that +her master was doubtless aware of that circumstance, and would probably +guard against it. + +After some minutes of anxious reflection, she said, "Then there is +nothing left for me to do but to run away; for I am determined never to +go back to Maryland." + +Friend Hopper inquired whether she thought it would be right to leave +her mistress without any one to attend upon her, in the situation she +then was. She replied that she felt no scruples on that point, for her +master was wealthy, and could hire as many servants as he pleased. +Finding her mind entirely made up on the subject, he gave her such +instructions as seemed suited to the occasion. + +The next morning she was not to be found; and Dr. Rich went in search of +her, with his father-in-law, Mr. Wiltbank. Having frightened some +ignorant colored people where she visited, by threats of prosecuting +them for harboring a runaway, they confessed that she had gone from +their house to Isaac T. Hopper. Mr. Wiltbank accordingly waited upon +him, and after relating the circumstances of the case, inquired whether +he had seen the fugitive. In reply, he made a frank statement of the +interview he had with her, and of her fixed determination to obtain her +freedom. The clergyman reproached her with ingratitude, and said she had +always been treated with great kindness. + +"The woman herself gives a very different account of her treatment," +replied Friend Hopper; "but be that as it may, I cannot blame her for +wishing to obtain her liberty." + +He asked if Friend Hopper knew where she then was; and he answered that +he did not. "Could you find her, if you tried?" inquired he. + +"I presume I could do it very easily," rejoined the Quaker. "The colored +people never wish to secrete themselves from me; for they know I am +their true friend." + +Mr. Wiltbank then said, "If you will cause her to be brought to your +house, Dr. Rich and myself will come here at eight o'clock this evening. +You will then hear her ask her master's pardon, acknowledge the kindness +with which she has always been treated, and express her readiness to go +home with him." + +Friend Hopper indignantly replied, "I have no doubt that fear might +induce her to profess all thou hast said. But what trait hast thou +discovered in my character, that leads thee to suppose I would be such +a hypocrite as to betray the confidence this poor woman has reposed in +me, by placing her in the power of her master, in the way thou hast +proposed?" + +Mr. Wiltbank then requested that a message might be conveyed to the +woman, exhorting her to return, and promising that no notice whatever +would be taken of her offence. + +"She shall be informed of thy message, if that will be any satisfaction +to thee," replied Friend Hopper; "but I am perfectly sure she will never +voluntarily return into slavery." + +Dr. Rich and Mr. Wiltbank called in the evening, and were told the +message had been delivered to the woman, but she refused to return. "She +is in your house now," exclaimed Dr. Rich. "I can prove it; and if you +don't let me see her, I will commence a suit against you to-morrow, for +harboring my slave." + +"I believe Solomon Low resides in thy neighborhood," said Friend Hopper. +"Art thou acquainted with him?" + +Being answered in the affirmative, he said, "Solomon Low brought three +such suits as thou hast threatened. They cost him seventeen hundred +dollars, which I heard he was unable to pay. But perhaps thou hast +seventeen hundred dollars to spare?" + +Dr. Rich answered that he could well afford to lose that sum. + +"Very well," rejoined his opponent. "There are lawyers enough who need +it, and still more who would be glad to have it." + +Finding it alike impossible to coax or intimidate the resolute Quaker, +they withdrew. About eleven o'clock at night, some of the family +informed Friend Hopper that there was a man continually walking back and +forth in front of the house. He went out and accosted him thus: "Friend, +art thou watching my house?" When the stranger replied that he was, he +said, "It is very kind in thee; but I really do not think there is any +occasion for thy services. I am quite satisfied with the watchmen +employed by the public." + +The man answered gruffly, "I have taken my stand, and I intend to keep +it." + +Friend Hopper told him he had no objection; and he was about to re-enter +the house, when he observed Dr. Rich, who was so wrapped up in a large +cloak, that at first he did not recognize him. He exclaimed, "Why +doctor, art thou here! Is it possible thou art parading the streets so +late in the night, at this cold season of the year? Now, from motives of +kindness, I do assure thee thy slave is not in my house. To save thee +from exposing thy health by watching at this inclement season, I will +give thee leave to search the house." + +The doctor replied, "I shall obtain a warrant in the morning, and search +it with the proper officer." + +"There appear to be several on the watch," said Friend Hopper; "and it +surely is not necessary for all of them to be out in the cold at the +same time. If thou wilt be responsible that nothing shall be stolen, +thou art welcome to use my parlor as a watch-house." This offer was +declined with freezing civility, and Friend Hopper returned to his +dwelling. Passing through the kitchen, he observed two colored domestics +talking together in an under tone, apparently planning something which +made them very merry. Judging from some words he overheard, that they +had a mischievous scheme on foot, he resolved to watch their movements +without letting them know that he noticed them. One of them put on an +old cloak and bonnet, opened the front door cautiously, looked up the +street and down the street, but saw nobody. The watchers had seen the +dark face the moment it peeped out, and they were lying in ambush to +observe her closely. After a minute of apparent hesitation, she rushed +into the street and ran with all speed. They joined in hot pursuit, and +soon overtook her. She pretended to be greatly alarmed, and called aloud +for a watchman. The offenders were arrested and brought back to the +house with the girl. Friend Hopper explained that these men had been +watching his house, supposing a fugitive slave to be secreted there; and +that they had mistaken one of his domestics for the person they were in +search of. After laughing a little at the joke practised upon them, he +proposed that they should be set at liberty; and they were accordingly +released. + +The next morning, as soon as it was light, he invited the watchers to +come in and warm themselves, but they declined. After sunrise, they all +dispersed, except two. When breakfast was ready, he urged them to come +in and partake; telling them that one could keep guard while the other +was eating. But they replied that Dr. Rich had ordered them to hold no +communication with him. + +Being firmly persuaded that the slave was in the house, they kept sentry +several days and nights. For fear she might escape by the back way, a +messenger was sent to Mr. Warrence, who occupied a building in the rear, +offering to pay him for his trouble if he would watch the premises in +that direction. His wife happened to overhear the conversation; and +having a pitcher of scalding water in her hand, she ran out saying, "Do +you propose to hire my husband to watch neighbor Hopper's premises for a +runaway slave? Go about your business! or I will throw this in your +face." + +When Dr. Rich called again, he was received politely, and the first +inquiry was how he had succeeded in his efforts to procure a +search-warrant. He replied, "The magistrate refused to grant one." + +"Perhaps Joseph Reed, the Recorder, would oblige thee in that matter," +said Friend Hopper. + +The answer was, "I have been to him, and he declines to interfere." + +It was then suggested that it might be well to retain a lawyer with a +portion of the seventeen hundred dollars he said he had to spare. + +"I have been to Mr. Broome," rejoined the doctor. "He tells me that you +understand the law in such cases as well as he does; and he advises me +to let the matter alone." + +"I will give thee permission to search my house," said Friend Hopper; +"and I have more authority in that matter than any magistrate, judge, or +lawyer, in the city." + +"That is very gentlemanly," replied the doctor; "but I infer from it +that the woman is not in your house." + +He was again assured that she was not; and they fell into some general +discourse on the subject of slavery. "Suppose you came to Maryland and +lost your horse," said the Doctor. "If you called upon me, and I told +you that I knew where he was, but would not inform you, would you +consider yourself treated kindly?" "In such a case, I should not +consider myself well treated," replied Friend Hopper. "But in this part +of the country, we make a distinction between horses and men. We believe +that human beings have souls." + +"That makes no difference," rejoined the Doctor. "You confess that you +could find my slave if you were so disposed; and I consider it your duty +to tell me where she is." "I will do it when I am of the same opinion," +replied Friend Hopper; "but till then thou must excuse me." + +The fugitive was protected by a colored man named Hill, who soon +obtained a situation for her as servant in a respectable country family, +where she was kindly treated. In the course of a year or two, she +returned to Philadelphia, married a steady industrious man, and lived +very comfortably. + +Mr. Hill had a very revengeful temper. One of his colored neighbors +brought suits against him for criminal conduct, and recovered heavy +damages. From that time he seemed to hate people of his own complexion, +and omitted no opportunity to injure them. The woman he befriended, when +he was in a better state of mind, had been married nine or ten years, +and had long ceased to think of danger, when he formed the wicked +project of making a little money by betraying her to her master. +Accordingly he sought her residence accompanied by one of those +wretches who make a business of capturing slaves. When he entered her +humble abode, he found her busy at the wash-tub. Rejoiced to see the man +who had rendered her such essential service in time of need, she threw +her arms about his neck, exclaiming, "O, uncle Hill, how glad I am to +see you!" She hastily set aside her tub, wiped up the floor, and +thinking there was nothing in the house good enough for her benefactor, +she went out to purchase some little luxuries. Hill recommended a +particular shop, and proposed to accompany her. The slave-hunter, who +had been left in the street, received a private signal, and the moment +she entered the shop, he pounced upon her. Before her situation could be +made known to Isaac T. Hopper, she was removed to Baltimore. The last he +ever heard of her she was in prison there, awaiting her day of sale, +when she was to be transported to New-Orleans. + +He used to say he did not know which was the most difficult for his mind +to conceive of, the cruel depravity manifested by the ignorant colored +man, or the unscrupulous selfishness of the slaveholder, a man of +education, a husband and a father, who could consent to use such a tool +for such a purpose. + +Many more narratives of similar character might be added; for I think he +estimated at more than one thousand the number of cases in which he had +been employed for fugitives, in one way or another, during his forty +years' residence in Philadelphia. But enough have been told to +illustrate the active benevolence, uncompromising boldness, and ready +wit, which characterized this friend of humanity. His accurate knowledge +of all laws connected with slavery was so proverbial, that magistrates +and lawyers were generally averse to any collision with him on such +subjects. + +In 1810, Benjamin Donahue of Delaware applied to Mr. Barker, mayor of +Philadelphia, to assist him in recovering a fugitive, with whose place +of residence he was perfectly sure Isaac T. Hopper was acquainted. After +a brief correspondence with Friend Hopper, the mayor said to Mr. +Donahue, "We had better drop this business, like a hot potato; for Mr. +Hopper knows more law in such cases as this, than you and I put +together." + +He would often resort to the most unexpected expedients. Upon one +occasion, a slave case was brought before Judge Rush, brother of Dr. +Benjamin Rush. It seemed likely to terminate in favor of the +slaveholder; but Friend Hopper thought he observed that the judge +wavered a little. He seized that moment to inquire, "Hast thou not +recently published a legal opinion, in which it is distinctly stated +that thou wouldst never seek to sustain a human law, if thou wert +convinced that it conflicted with any law in the Bible?" + +"I did publish such a statement," replied Judge Rush; "and I am ready +to abide by it; for in all cases, I consider the divine law above the +human." + +Friend Hopper drew from his pocket a small Bible, which he had brought +into court for the express purpose, and read in loud distinct tones the +following verses: "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant +which is escaped from his master unto thee: He shall dwell with thee, +even among you, in that place which he shall choose, in one of thy +gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him." Deut. 23: +15, 16. + +The slaveholder smiled; supposing, this appeal to old Hebrew law would +be considered as little applicable to modern times, as the command to +stone a man to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. But when the +judge asked for the book, read the sentence for himself, seemed +impressed by it, and adjourned the decision of the case, he walked out +of the court-house muttering, "I believe in my soul the old fool _will_ +let him off on that ground." And sure enough, the slave was discharged. + +Friend Hopper's quickness in slipping through loop-holes, and dodging +round corners, rendered him exceedingly troublesome and provoking to +slaveholders. He often kept cases pending in court three or four years, +till the claimants were completely wearied out, and ready to settle on +any terms. His acute perception of the slightest flaw in a document, or +imperfection in evidence, always attracted notice in the courts he +attended. Judges and lawyers often remarked to him, "Mr. Hopper, it is a +great pity you were not educated for the legal profession. You have such +a judicial mind." Mr. William Lewis, an eminent lawyer, offered him +every facility for studying the profession. "Come to my office and use +my library whenever you please," said he; "or I will obtain a clerkship +in the courts for you, if you prefer that. Your mind is peculiarly +adapted to legal investigation, and if you would devote yourself to it, +you might become a judge before long." + +But Friend Hopper could never overcome his scruples about entering on a +career of worldly ambition. He thought he had better keep humble, and +resist temptations that might lead him out of the plainness and +simplicity of the religious Society to which he belonged. + +As for the colored people of Philadelphia, they believed in his +infallibility, as devout Catholics believe in the Pope. They trusted +him, and he trusted them; and it is remarkable in how few instances he +found his confidence misplaced. The following anecdote will illustrate +the nature of the relation existing between him and that much abused +race. Prince Hopkins, a wood-sawyer of Philadelphia, was claimed as a +fugitive slave by John Kinsmore of Baltimore. When Friend Hopper went +to the magistrate's office to inquire into the affair, he found the poor +fellow in tears. He asked for a private interview, and the alderman gave +his consent. When they were alone, Prince confessed that he was the +slave in question. In the course of his narrative, it appeared that he +had been sent into Pennsylvania by his mistress, and had resided there +with a relative of hers two years. Friend Hopper told him to dry up his +tears, for it was in his power to protect him. When he returned to the +office, he informed the magistrate that Prince Hopkins was a free man; +having resided in Pennsylvania, with the consent of his mistress, a much +longer time than the law required. Mr. Kinsmore was irritated, and +demanded that the colored man should be imprisoned till he could obtain +legal advice. + +"Let him go and finish the wood he was sawing," said Friend Hopper. "I +will be responsible for his appearance whenever he is wanted. If the +magistrate will give me a commitment, Prince will call at my house after +he has finished sawing his wood, and I will send him to jail with it. He +can remain there, until the facts I have stated are clearly proved." + +The slave-holder and his lawyer seemed to regard this proposition as an +insult. They railed at Friend Hopper for his "impertinent interference," +and for the absurd idea of trusting "that nigger" under such +circumstances. + +He replied, "I would rather trust 'that nigger,' as you call him, than +either of you." So saying, he marched off with the magistrate's mittimus +in his pocket. + +When Prince Hopkins had finished his job of sawing, he called for the +commitment, and carried it to the jailor, who locked him up. +Satisfactory evidence of his freedom was soon obtained, and he was +discharged. + +The colored people appeared to better advantage with their undoubted +friend, than they possibly could have done where a barrier of prejudice +existed. They were not afraid to tell him their experiences in their own +way, with natural pathos, here and there dashed with fun. A +fine-looking, athletic fugitive, telling him his story one day, said, +"When I first run away, I met some people who were dreadful afraid I +couldn't take care of myself. But thinks I to myself I took care of +master and myself too for a long spell; and I guess I can make out." +With a roguish expression laughing all over his face, he added, "I don't +look as if I was suffering for a master; do I, Mr. Hopper?" + +Though slaveholders had abundant reason to dread Isaac T. Hopper, as +they would a blister of Spanish flies, yet he had no hardness of feeling +toward them, or even toward kidnappers; hateful as he deemed the +system, which produced them both. + +In 1801, a sober industrious family of free colored people, living in +Pennsylvania on the borders of Maryland, were attacked in the night by a +band of kidnappers. The parents were aged, and needed the services of +their children for support. Knowing that the object of the marauders was +to carry them off and sell them to slave speculators, the old father +defended them to the utmost of his power. In the struggle, he was +wounded by a pistol, and one of his daughters received a shot, which +caused her death. One of the sons, who was very ill in bed, was beaten +and bruised till he was covered with blood. But mangled and crippled as +he was, he contrived to drag himself to a neighboring barn, and hide +himself under the straw. + +If such lawless violence had been practised upon any white citizens, the +Executive of Pennsylvania would have immediately offered a high reward +for the apprehension of the aggressors; but the victims belonged to a +despised caste, and nothing was done to repair their wrongs. Friend +Hopper felt the blood boil in his veins when he heard of this cruel +outrage, and his first wish was to have the offenders punished; but as +soon as he had time to reflect, he said, "I cannot find it in my heart +to urge this subject upon the notice of the Executive; for death would +be the penalty if those wretches were convicted." + +There were many highly respectable individuals among the colored people +of Philadelphia. Richard Allen, who had been a slave, purchased freedom +with the proceeds of his own industry. He married, and established +himself as a shoemaker in that city, where he acquired considerable +property, and built a three-story brick house. He was the principal +agent in organizing the first congregation of colored people in +Philadelphia, and was their pastor to the day of his death, without +asking or receiving any compensation. During the latter part of his +life, he was Bishop of their Methodist Episcopal Church. Absalom Jones, +a much respected colored man, was his colleague. In 1793, when the +yellow fever was raging, it was extremely difficult to procure +attendants for the sick on any terms; and the few who would consent to +render service, demanded exorbitant prices. But Bishop Allen and Rev. +Mr. Jones never hesitated to go wherever they could be useful; and with +them, the compensation was always a secondary consideration. When the +pestilence had abated, the mayor sent them a certificate expressing his +approbation of their conduct. But even these men, whose worth commanded +respect, were not safe from the legalized curse that rests upon their +hunted race. A Southern speculator arrested Bishop Allen, and claimed +him as a fugitive slave, whom he had bought running. The constable +employed to serve the warrant was ashamed to drag the good man through +the streets; and he merely said, in a respectful tone, "Mr. Allen, you +will soon come down to Alderman Todd's office, will you?" + +The fugitive, whom they were seeking, had absconded only four years +previous; and everybody in Philadelphia, knew that Richard Allen had +been living there more than twenty years. Yet the speculator and his +sons swore unblushingly that he was the identical slave they had +purchased. Mr. Allen thought he ought to have some redress for this +outrage; "For," said he, "if it had not been for the kindness of the +officer, I might have been dragged through the streets like a felon." + +Isaac T. Hopper was consulted, and a civil suit commenced. Eight hundred +dollars bail was demanded, and the speculator, being unable to procure +it, was lodged in the debtor's prison. When he had been there three +months, Mr. Allen caused him to be discharged; saying he did not wish to +persecute the man, but merely to teach him not to take up free people +again, for the purpose of carrying them into slavery. + +The numerous instances of respectability among the colored people were +doubtless to be attributed in part to the protecting influence extended +over them by the Quakers. But even in those days, the Society of +Friends were by no means all free from prejudice against color; and in +later times, I think they have not proved themselves at all superior to +other sects in their feelings and practice on this subject. Friend +Hopper, Joseph Carpenter, and the few who resemble them in this respect, +are _exceptions_ to the general character of modern Quakers, not the +_rule._ The following very characteristic anecdote shows how completely +Isaac was free from prejudice on account of complexion. It is an unusual +thing to see a colored Quaker; for the African temperament is fervid and +impressible, and requires more exciting forms of religion. David Maps +and his wife, a very worthy couple, were the only colored members of the +Yearly Meeting to which Isaac T. Hopper belonged. On the occasion of the +annual gathering in Philadelphia, they came with other members of the +Society to share the hospitality of his house. A question arose in the +family whether Friends of white complexion would object to eating with +them. "Leave that to me," said the master of the household. Accordingly +when the time arrived, he announced it thus: "Friends, dinner is now +ready. David Maps and his wife will come with me; and as I like to have +all accommodated, those who object to dining with them can wait till +they have done." The guests smiled, and all seated themselves at the +table. + +The conscientiousness so observable in several anecdotes of Isaac's +boyhood was strikingly manifested in his treatment of a colored printer, +named Kane. This man was noted for his profane swearing. Friend Hopper +had expostulated with him concerning this bad habit, without producing +the least effect. One day, he encountered him in the street, pouring +forth a volley of terrible oaths, enough to make one shudder. Believing +him incurable by gentler means, he took him before a magistrate, who +fined him for blasphemy. + +He did not see the man again for a long time; but twenty years +afterward, when he was standing at his door, Kane passed by. The +Friend's heart was touched by his appearance; for he looked old, feeble, +and poor. He stepped out, shook hands with him, and said in kindly +tones, "Dost thou remember me, and how I caused thee to be fined for +swearing?" + +"Yes, indeed I do," he replied. "I remember how many dollars I paid, as +well as if it were but yesterday." + +"Did it do thee any good;" inquired Friend Hopper. + +"Never a bit," answered he. "It only made me mad to have my money taken +from me." + +The poor man was invited to walk into the house. The interest was +calculated on the fine, and every cent repaid to him. "I meant it for +thy good," said the benevolent Quaker; "and I am sorry that I only +provoked thee." Kane's countenance changed at once, and tears began to +flow. He took the money with many thanks, and was never again heard to +swear. + +Friend Hopper's benevolence was by no means confined to colored people. +Wherever there was good to be done, his heart and hand were ready. From +various anecdotes in proof of this, I select the following. + + + + +JOHN McGRIER. + + +John was an Irish orphan, whose parents died of yellow fever, when he +was very young. He obtained a scanty living by doing errands for +cartmen. In the year 1800, when he was about fourteen years old, there +was a long period during which he could obtain scarcely any employment. +Being without friends, and in a state of extreme destitution, he was +tempted to enter a shop and steal two dollars from the drawer. He was +pursued and taken. Isaac T. Hopper, who was one of the inspectors of the +prison at that time, saw a crowd gathered, and went to inquire the +cause. The poor boy's history was soon told. Friend Hopper liked the +expression of his countenance, and pitied his forlorn condition. When he +was brought up for trial, he accompanied him, and pleaded with the +judge in his favor. He urged that the poor child's education had been +entirely neglected, and consequently he was more to be pitied than +blamed. If sent to prison, he would in all probability become hardened, +if not utterly ruined. He said if the judge would allow him to take +charge of the lad, he would promise to place him in good hands, where he +would be out of the way of temptation. The judge granted his request, +and John was placed in prison merely for a few days, till Friend Hopper +could provide for him. He proposed to his father to have the boy bound +to him. The old gentleman hesitated at first, on account of his +neglected education and wild way of living; but pity for the orphan +overcame his scruples, and he agreed to take him. John lived with him +till he was twenty-one years of age, and was remarkably faithful and +industrious. But about two years after, a neighbor came one night to +arrest him for stealing a horse. Old Mr. Hopper assured him it was not +possible John had done such a thing; that during all the time he had +lived in his family he had proved himself entirely honest and +trustworthy. The neighbor replied that his horse had been taken to +Philadelphia and sold; and the ferryman from Woodbury was ready to swear +that the animal was brought over by Hopper's John, as he was generally +called. John was in bed, but was called up to answer the accusation. He +did not attempt to deny it, but gave up the money at once, and kept +repeating that he did know what made him do it. He was dreadfully +ashamed and distressed. He begged that Friend Isaac would not come to +see him in prison, for he could not look him the face. His anguish of +mind was so great, that when the trial came on, he was emaciated almost +to a skeleton. Old Mr. Hopper went into court and stated the adverse +circumstances of his early life, and his exemplary conduct during nine +years that he had lived in his family. He begged that he might be fined +instead of imprisoned, and offered to pay the fine himself. The +proposition was accepted, and the kind old man took the culprit home. + +This lenient treatment completely subdued the last vestige of evil +habits acquired in childhood. He was humble and grateful in the extreme, +and always steady and industrious. He conducted with great propriety +ever afterward, and established such a character for honesty, that the +neighbors far and wide trusted him to carry their produce to market, +receiving a small commission for his trouble. Eventually, he came to own +a small house and farm, where he lived in much comfort and +respectability. He always looked up to Isaac as the friend who had early +raised him from a downward and slippery path; and he was never weary of +manifesting gratitude by every little attention he could devise. + + + + +LEVI BUTLER. + + +Some one having told Friend Hopper of an apprentice who was cruelly +treated, he caused investigation to be made, and took the lad under his +own protection. As he was much bent upon going to sea, he was placed in +a respectable boarding-house for sailors, till a fitting opportunity +could be found to gratify his inclination. One day, a man in the employ +of this boarding-house brought a bill to be paid for the lad. He was +very ragged, but his manners were those of a gentleman, and his +conversation showed that he had been well educated. His appearance +excited interest in Friend Hopper's mind, and he inquired into his +history. He said his name was Levi Butler; that he was of German +extraction, and had been a wealthy merchant in Baltimore, of the firm of +Butler and Magruder. He married a widow, who had considerable property, +and several children. After her death, he failed in business, and gave +up all his own property, but took the precaution to secure all her +property to her children. His creditors were angry, and tried various +ways to compel him to pay them with his wife's money. He was imprisoned +a long time. He petitioned the Legislature for release, and the +committee before whom the case was brought made a report in his favor, +highly applauding his integrity in not involving his own affairs with +the property belonging to his wife's children, who had been intrusted to +his care. Poverty and persecution had broken down his spirits, and when +he was discharged from prison he left Baltimore and tried to obtain a +situation as clerk in Philadelphia. He did not succeed in procuring +employment. His clothes became thread-bare, and he had no money to +purchase a new suit. In this situation, some people to whom he applied +for employment treated him as if he were an impostor. In a state of +despair he went one day to drown himself. But when he had put some heavy +stones in his pocket to make him sink rapidly, he seemed to hear a voice +calling to him to forbear; and looking up, he saw a man watching him. He +hurried away to avoid questions, and passing by a sailor's +boarding-house, he went in and offered to wait upon the boarders for his +food. They took him upon those terms; and the gentleman who had been +accustomed to ride in his own carriage, and be waited upon by servants, +now roasted oysters and went of errands for common seamen. He was in +this forlorn situation, when accident introduced him to Friend Hopper's +notice. He immediately furnished him with a suit of warm clothes; for +the weather was cold, and his garments thin. He employed him to post up +his account-books, and finding that he did it in a very perfect manner, +he induced several of his friends to employ him in a similar way. + +A brighter day was dawning for the unfortunate man, and perhaps he might +have attained to comfortable independence, if his health had not failed. +But he had taken severe colds by thin clothing and exposure to inclement +weather. A rapid consumption came on, and he was soon entirely unable to +work. Under these circumstances, the best Friend Hopper could do for him +was to secure peculiar privileges at the alms-house, and surround him +with, all the little comforts that help to alleviate illness. He visited +him very often, until the day of his death, and his sympathy and kind +attentions were always received with heartfelt gratitude. + + + + +THE MUSICAL BOY. + + +One day when Friend Hopper visited the prison, he found a dark-eyed lad +with a very bright expressive countenance His right side was palsied, so +that the arm hung down useless. Attracted by his intelligent face, he +entered into conversation with him, and found that he had been palsied +from infancy. He had been sent forth friendless into the world from an +alms-house in Maryland. In Philadelphia, he had been committed to prison +as a vagrant, because he drew crowds about him in the street by his +wonderful talent of imitating a hand-organ, merely by whistling tunes +through his fingers. Friend Hopper, who had imbibed the Quaker idea that +music was a useless and frivolous pursuit, said to the boy, "Didst thou +not know it was wrong to spend thy time in that idle manner?" + +With ready frankness the young prisoner replied, "No, I did not; and I +should like to hear how _you_ can prove it to be wrong. God has given +you sound limbs. Half of my body is paralyzed, and it is impossible for +me to work as others do. It has pleased God to give me a talent for +music. I do no harm with it. It gives pleasure to myself and others, and +enables me to gain a few coppers to buy my bread. I should like to have +you show me wherein it is wrong." + +Without attempting to do so, Friend Hopper suggested that perhaps he had +been committed to prison on account of producing noise and confusion in +the streets. + +"I make no riot," rejoined the youth. "I try to please people by my +tunes; and if the crowd around me begin to be noisy, I quietly walk +off." + +Struck with the good sense and sincerity of these answers, Friend Hopper +said to the jailor, "Thou mayest set this lad at liberty. I will be +responsible for it." + +The jailer relying on his well-known character, and his intimacy with +Robert Wharton, the mayor, did not hesitate to comply with his request. +At that moment, the mayor himself came in sight, and Friend Hopper said +to the lad, "Step into the next room, and play some of thy best tunes +till I come." + +"What's this?" said Mr. Wharton. "Have you got a hand-organ here!" + +"Yes," replied Friend Hopper; "and I will show it to thee. It is quite +curious." + +At first, the mayor could not believe that the sounds he had heard were +produced by a lad merely whistling through his fingers. He thought them +highly agreeable, and asked to have the tunes repeated. + +"The lad was committed to prison for no other offence than making that +noise, which seems to thee so pleasant," said Friend Hopper. "I dare say +thou wouldst like to make it thyself, if thou couldst. I have taken the +liberty to discharge him." + +"Very well," rejoined the mayor, with a smile. "You have done quite +right, Friend Isaac. You may go, my lad. I shall not trouble you. But +try not to collect crowds about the streets." + +"That I cannot help," replied the youth. "The crowds _will_ come, when I +whistle for them; and I get coppers by collecting crowds. But I promise +you I will try to avoid their making any riot or confusion." + + + + +MARY NORRIS. + + +A stout healthy woman, named Mary Norris was continually taken up as a +vagrant, or committed for petty larceny. As soon as she was discharged +from the penalty of one misdemeanor, she was committed for another. One +day, Friend Hopper, who was then inspector, said to her, "Well, Mary, +thy time is out next week. Dost thou think thou shalt come back again?" + +"Yes," she replied sullenly. + +"Dost thou _like_ to come back?" inquired he. + +"No, to be sure I don't," rejoined the prisoner. "But I've no doubt I +_shall_ come back before the month is out." + +"Why dost thou not make a resolution to behave better?" said the kindly +inspector. + +"What use would it be?" she replied. "You wouldn't take me into your +family. The doctor wouldn't take me into his family. No respectable +person would have anything to do with me. My associates _must_ be such +acquaintances as I make here. If they steal, I am taken up for it; no +matter whether I am guilty or not. I am an old convict, and nobody +believes what I say. O, yes, I shall come back again. To be sure I shall +come back," she repeated bitterly. + +Her voice and manner excited Friend Hopper's compassion, and he thus +addressed her: "If I will get a place for thee in some respectable +family where they will be kind to thee, wilt thou give me thy word that +thou wilt be honest and steady, and try to do thy duty." + +Her countenance brightened, and she eagerly answered, "Yes I _will_! And +thank God and you too, the longest day I have to live." + +He exerted his influence in her behalf, and procured a situation for her +as head-nurse at the alms-house. She was well contented there, and +behaved with great propriety. Seventeen years afterward, when Friend +Hopper had not seen her for a long time, he called to inquire about her, +and was informed that during all those years, she had been an honest, +sober, and useful woman. She was rejoiced to see him again, and +expressed lively gratitude, for the quiet and comfortable life she +enjoyed through his agency. + + + + +THE MAGDALEN. + + +Upon one occasion, Friend Hopper entered a complaint against an old +woman, who had presided over an infamous house for many years. She was +tried, and sentenced to several months imprisonment. He went to see her +several times, and talked very seriously with her concerning the errors +of her life. Finding that his expostulations made some impression, he +asked if she felt willing to amend her ways. "Oh, I should be thankful +to do it!" she exclaimed. "But who would trust me? What can I do to earn +an honest living? Everybody curses me, or makes game of me. How _can_ I +be a better woman, if I try ever so hard?" + +"I will give thee a chance to amend thy life," he replied; "and if thou +dost not, it shall be thy own fault." + +He went round among the wealthy Quakers, and by dint of great persuasion +he induced one to let her a small tenement at very low rent. A few +others agreed to purchase some humble furniture, and a quantity of +thread, needles, tape, and buttons, to furnish a small shop. The poor +old creature's heart overflowed with gratitude, and it was her pride to +keep everything very neat and orderly. There she lived contented and +comfortable the remainder of her days, and became much respected in the +neighborhood. The tears often came to her eyes when she saw Friend +Hopper. "God bless that good man!" she would say. "He has been the +salvation of me." + + + + +THE UNCOMPLIMENTARY INVITATION. + + +A preacher of the Society of Friends felt impressed with the duty of +calling a meeting for vicious people; and Isaac T. Hopper was appointed +to collect an audience. In the course of this mission, he knocked at +the door of a very infamous house. A gentleman who was acquainted with +him was passing by, and he stopped to say, "Friend Hopper, you have +mistaken the house." + +"No, I have not," he replied. + +"But that is a house of notorious ill fame," said the gentleman. + +"I know it," rejoined he; "but nevertheless I have business here." + +His acquaintance looked surprised, but passed on without further query. +A colored girl came to the door. To the inquiry whether her mistress was +within, she answered in the affirmative. "Tell her I wish to see her," +said Friend Hopper. The girl was evidently astonished at a visitor in +Quaker costume, and of such grave demeanor; but she went and did the +errand. A message was returned that her mistress was engaged and could +not see any one. "Where is she?" he inquired. The girl replied that she +was up-stairs. "I will go to her," said the importunate messenger. + +The mistress of the house heard him, and leaning over the balustrade of +the stairs, she screamed out, "What do you want with me, sir?" + +In very loud tones he answered, "James Simpson, a minister of the +Society of Friends, has appointed a meeting to be held this afternoon, +in Penrose store, Almond-street. It is intended for publicans, sinners, +and harlots. I want thee to be there, and bring thy whole household with +thee. Wilt thou come?" + +She promised that she would; and he afterward saw her at the meeting +melted into tears by the direct and affectionate preaching. + + + + +THEFT FROM NECESSITY. + + +One day, when the family were in the midst of washing, a man called at +Isaac T. Hopper's house to buy soap fat, and was informed they had none +to sell. A minute after he had passed out, the domestic came running in +to say that he had stolen some of the children's clothes from the line. +Friend Hopper followed him quickly, and called out, "Dost thou want to +buy some soap-fat? Come back if thou dost." + +When the man had returned to the kitchen, he said, "Now give up the +clothes thou hast stolen." + +The culprit was extremely confused, but denied that he had stolen +anything. + +"Give them up at once, without any more words. It will be much better +for thee," said Friend Hopper, in his firm way. + +Thus urged, the stranger drew from his bosom some small shirts and +flannel petticoats. "My wife is very sick," said he. "She has a babe two +weeks old, wrapped up in an old rag; and when I saw this comfortable +clothing on the line, I was tempted to take it for the poor little +creature. We have no fuel except a little tan. A herring is the last +mouthful of food we have in the house; and when I came away, it was +broiling on the hot tan." + +His story excited pity; but fearing it might be made up for the +occasion, Friend Hopper took him to a magistrate and said, "Please give +me a commitment for this man. If he tells a true story, I will tear it +up. I will go and see for myself." + +When he arrived at the wretched abode, he found a scene of misery that +pained him to the heart. The room was cold, and the wife was in bed, +pale and suffering. Her babe had no clothing, except a coarse rag torn +from the skirt of an old coat. Of course he destroyed the commitment +immediately. His next step was to call upon the rich Quakers of his +acquaintance, and obtain from them contributions of wood, flour, rice, +bread, and warm garments. Employment was soon after procured for the +man, and he was enabled to support his family comfortably. He never +passed Friend Hopper in the street without making a low bow, and often +took occasion to express his grateful acknowledgments. + + + + +PATRICK McKEEVER. + + +Patrick was a poor Irishman in Philadelphia. He and another man were +arrested on a charge of burglary, convicted and sentenced to be hung. I +am ignorant of the details of his crime, or why the sentence was not +carried into execution. There were probably some palliating +circumstances in his case; for though he was carried to the gallows, +seated on his coffin, he was spared for some reason, and his companion +was hung. He was afterward sentenced to ten years imprisonment, and this +was eventually shortened one year. During the last three years of his +term, Friend Hopper was one of the inspectors, and frequently talked +with him in a gentle, fatherly manner. The convict was a man of few +words, and hope seemed almost dead within him; but though he made no +large promises, his heart was evidently touched by the voice of +kindness. As soon as he was released, he went immediately to work at his +trade of tanning leather, and conducted himself in the most exemplary +manner. Being remarkable for capability, and the amount of work he could +accomplish, he soon had plenty of employment. He passed Friend Hopper's +house every day, as he went to his work, and often received from him +words of friendly encouragement. + +Things were going on thus satisfactorily, when his friend heard that +constables were in pursuit of him, on account of a robbery committed the +night before. He went straight to the mayor, and inquired why orders +had been given to arrest Patrick McKeever. + +"Because there has been a robbery committed in his neighborhood," +replied the magistrate. + +He inquired what proof there was that Patrick had been concerned in it. + +"None at all," rejoined the mayor. "But he is an old convict, and that +is enough to condemn him." + +"It is _not_ enough, by any means," answered Friend Hopper. "Thou hast +no right to arrest any citizen without a shadow of proof against him. In +this, case, I advise thee by all means to proceed with humane caution. +This man has severely atoned for the crime he did commit; and since he +wishes to reform, his past history ought never to be mentioned against +him. He has been perfectly honest, sober, and industrious, since he came +out of prison. I think I know his state of mind; and I am willing to +take the responsibility of saying that he is guiltless in this matter." + +The mayor commended Friend Hopper's benevolence, but remained +unconvinced. To all arguments he replied, "He is an old convict, and +that is enough." + +Patrick's kind friend watched for him as he passed to his daily labors, +and told him that he would probably be arrested for the robbery that had +been committed in his neighborhood. The poor fellow bowed down his +head, the light vanished from his countenance, and hope seemed to have +forsaken him utterly. "Well," said he, with a deep sigh, "I suppose I +must make up my mind to spend the remainder of my days in prison." + +"Thou wert not concerned in this robbery, wert thou?" inquired Friend +Hopper, looking earnestly in his face. + +"No, indeed I was not," he replied. "God be my witness, I want to lead +an honest life, and be at peace with all men. But what good will _that_ +do me? Everybody will say, he has been in the State Prison, and that is +enough." + +His friend did not ask him twice; for he felt assured that he had spoken +truly. He advised him to go directly to the mayor, deliver himself up, +and declare his innocence. This wholesome advice was received with deep +dejection. He had lost faith in his fellow-men; for they had been to him +as enemies. "I know what will come of it," said he. "They will put me in +prison whether there is any proof against me, or not. They won't let me +out without somebody will be security for me; and who will be security +for an old convict?" + +"Keep up a good heart," replied Friend Hopper. "Go to the mayor and +speak as I have advised thee. If they talk of putting thee in prison, +send for me." + +Patrick acted in obedience to this advice, and was treated just as he +had expected. Though there was not a shadow of proof against him, his +being an old convict was deemed sufficient reason for sending him to +jail. + +Friend Hopper appeared in his behalf. "I am ready to affirm that I +believe this man to be innocent," said he. "It will be a very serious +injury for him to be taken from his business and detained in prison +until this can be proved. Moreover, the effect upon his mind may be +completely discouraging. I will be security for his appearance when +called for; and I know very well that he will not think of giving me the +slip." + +The gratitude of the poor fellow was overwhelming. He sobbed till his +strong frame shook like a leaf in the wind. The real culprits were soon +after discovered. For thirty years after and to the day of his death, +Patrick continued to lead a virtuous and useful life; for which he +always thanked Friend Hopper, as the instrument of Divine Providence. + + + + +THE UMBRELLA GIRL. + + +A young girl, the only daughter of a poor widow, removed from the +country to Philadelphia to earn her living by covering umbrellas. She +was very handsome; with glossy black hair, large beaming eyes, and "lips +like wet coral." She was just at that susceptible age when youth is +ripening into womanhood, when the soul begins to be pervaded by "that +restless principle, which impels poor humans to seek perfection in +union." + +At a hotel near the store for which she worked an English traveller, +called Lord Henry Stuart, had taken lodgings. He was a strikingly +handsome man, and of princely carriage. As this distinguished stranger +passed to and from his hotel, he encountered the umbrella girl, and was +attracted by her uncommon beauty. He easily traced her to the store, +where he soon after went to purchase an umbrella. This was followed up +by presents of flowers, chats by the wayside, and invitations to walk or +ride; all of which were gratefully accepted by the unsuspecting rustic; +for she was as ignorant of the dangers of a city as were the squirrels +of her native fields. He was merely playing a game for temporary +excitement. She, with a head full of romance, and a heart melting under +the influence of love, was unconsciously endangering the happiness of +her whole life. + +Lord Henry invited her to visit the public gardens on the Fourth of +July. In the simplicity of her heart, she believed all his flattering +professions, and considered herself his bride elect; she therefore +accepted the invitation with innocent frankness. But she had no dress +fit to appear in on such a public occasion, with a gentleman of high +rank, whom she verily supposed to be her destined husband. While these +thoughts revolved in her mind, her eye was unfortunately attracted by a +beautiful piece of silk, belonging to her employer. Could she not take +it, without being seen, and pay for it secretly, when she had earned +money enough? The temptation conquered her in a moment of weakness. She +concealed the silk, and conveyed it to her lodgings. It was the first +thing she had ever stolen, and her remorse was painful. She would have +carried it back, but she dreaded discovery. She was not sure that her +repentance would be met in a spirit of forgiveness. + +On the eventful Fourth of July, she came out in her new dress. Lord +Henry complimented her upon her elegant appearance, but she was not +happy. On their way to the gardens, he talked to her in a manner which +she did not comprehend. Perceiving this, he spoke more explicitly. The +guileless young creature stopped, looked in his face with mournful +reproach, and burst into tears. The nobleman took her hand kindly, and +said, "My dear, are you an innocent girl?" + +"I am, I am," she replied, with convulsive sobs. "Oh, what have I ever +done, or said, that you should ask me such a question?" + +The evident sincerity of her words stirred the deep fountains of his +better nature. "If you are innocent," said he, "God forbid that I should +make you otherwise. But you accepted my invitations and presents so +readily, that I supposed you understood me." + +"What _could_ I understand," said she, "except that you intended to make +me your wife?" + +Though reared amid the proudest distinctions of rank, he felt no +inclination to smile. He blushed and was silent. The heartless +conventionalities of the world stood rebuked in the presence of +affectionate simplicity. He conveyed her to her humble home, and bade +her farewell, with a thankful consciousness that he had done no +irretrievable injury to her future prospects. The remembrance of her +would soon be to him as the recollection of last year's butterflies. +With her, the wound was deep. In the solitude of her chamber she wept in +bitterness of heart over her ruined air-castles. And that dress, which +she had stolen to make an appearance befitting his bride! Oh, what if +she should be discovered? And would not the heart of her poor widowed +mother break, if she should ever know that her child was a thief? + +Alas, her wretched forebodings proved too true. The silk was traced to +her; she was arrested on her way to the store and dragged to prison. +There she refused all nourishment, and wept incessantly. On the fourth +day, the keeper called upon Isaac T. Hopper, and informed him that there +was a young girl in prison, who appeared to be utterly friendless, and +determined to die by starvation. The kind-hearted Friend immediately +went to her assistance. He found her lying on the floor of her cell, +with her face buried in her hands, sobbing as if her heart would break. +He tried to comfort her, but could obtain no answer. + +"Leave us alone," said he to the keeper. "Perhaps she will speak to me, +if there is no one to hear." When they were alone together, he put back +the hair from her temples, laid his hand kindly on her beautiful head, +and said in soothing tones, "My child, consider me as thy father. Tell +me all thou hast done. If thou hast taken this silk, let me know all +about it. I will do for thee as I would for my own daughter; and I doubt +not that I can help thee out of this difficulty." + +After a long time spent in affectionate entreaty, she leaned her young +head on his friendly shoulder, and sobbed out, "Oh, I wish I was dead. +What will my poor mother say when she knows of my disgrace?" + +"Perhaps we can manage that she never shall know it," replied he. +Alluring her by this hope, he gradually obtained from her the whole +story of her acquaintance with the nobleman. He bade her be comforted, +and take nourishment; for he would see that the silk was paid for, and +the prosecution withdrawn. + +He went immediately to her employer, and told him the story. "This is +her first offence," said he. "The girl is young, and she is the only +child of a poor widow. Give her a chance to retrieve this one false +step, and she may be restored to society, a useful and honored woman. I +will see that thou art paid for the silk." The man readily agreed to +withdraw the prosecution, and said he would have dealt otherwise by the +girl, if he had known all the circumstances. "Thou shouldst have +inquired into the merits of the case," replied Friend Hopper. "By this +kind of thoughtlessness, many a young creature is driven into the +downward path, who might easily have been saved." + +The kind-hearted man next proceeded to the hotel, and with Quaker +simplicity of speech inquired for Henry Stuart. The servant said his +lordship had not yet risen. "Tell him my business is of importance," +said Friend Hopper. The servant soon returned and conducted him to the +chamber. The nobleman appeared surprised that a stranger, in the plain +Quaker costume, should thus intrude upon his luxurious privacy. When he +heard his errand, he blushed deeply, and frankly admitted the truth of +the girl's statement. His benevolent visitor took the opportunity to +"bear a testimony" against the selfishness and sin of profligacy. He did +it in such a kind and fatherly manner, that the young man's heart was +touched. He excused himself, by saying that he would not have tampered +with the girl, if he had known her to be virtuous. "I have done many +wrong things," said he, "but thank God, no betrayal of confiding +innocence weighs on my conscience. I have always esteemed it the basest +act of which man is capable." The imprisonment of the poor girl, and the +forlorn situation in which she had been found, distressed him greatly. +When Friend Hopper represented that the silk had been stolen for _his_ +sake, that the girl had thereby lost profitable employment, and was +obliged to return to her distant home, to avoid the danger of exposure, +he took out a fifty dollar note, and offered it to pay her expenses. + +"Nay," said Isaac. "Thou art a very rich man, I presume. I see in thy +hand a large roll of such notes. She is the daughter of a poor widow, +and thou hast been the means of doing her great injury. Give me +another." + +Lord Henry handed him another fifty dollar note, and smiled as he said, +"You understand your business well. But you have acted nobly, and I +reverence you for it. If you ever visit England, come to see me. I will +give you a cordial welcome, and treat you like a nobleman." + +"Farewell, friend," replied the Quaker. "Though much to blame in this +affair, thou too hast behaved nobly. Mayst thou be blessed in domestic +life, and trifle no more with the feelings of poor girls; not even with +those whom others have betrayed and deserted." + +When the girl was arrested, she had sufficient presence of mind to +assume a false name, and by that means, her true name had been kept out +of the newspapers. "I did this," said she, "for my poor mother's sake." +With the money given by Lord Stuart, the silk was paid for, and she was +sent home to her mother well provided with clothing. Her name and place +of residence forever remained a secret in the breast of her benefactor. + +Years after these events transpired, a lady called at Friend Hopper's +house, and asked to see him. When he entered the room, he found a +handsomely dressed young matron, with a blooming boy of five or six +years old. She rose quickly to meet him, and her voice choked as she +said, "Friend Hopper, do you know me?" He replied that he did not. She +fixed her tearful eyes earnestly upon him, and said, "You once helped me +when in great distress." But the good missionary of humanity had helped +too many in distress, to be able to recollect her without more precise +information. With a tremulous voice, she bade her son go into the next +room for a few minutes; then dropping on her knees, she hid her face in +his lap, and sobbed out, "I am the girl who stole the silk. Oh, where +should I now be, if it had not been for you!" + +When her emotion was somewhat calmed, she told him that she had married +a highly respectable man, a senator of his native state. Being on a +visit in Friend Hopper's vicinity, she had again and again passed his +dwelling, looking wistfully at the windows to catch a sight of him; but +when she attempted to enter her courage failed. + +"But I must return home to-morrow," said she, "and I could not go away +without once more seeing and thanking him who saved me from ruin." She +recalled her little boy, and said to him, "Look at that gentleman, and +remember him well; for he was the best friend your mother ever had." +With an earnest invitation to visit her happy home, and a fervent "God +bless you!" she bade her benefactor farewell. + + + + +THE TWO YOUNG OFFENDERS. + + +In the neighborhood of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, there lived a man whose +temper was vindictive and badly governed. Having become deeply offended +with one of his neighbors, he induced his two sons to swear falsely that +he had committed an infamous crime. One of the lads was about fifteen +years old, and the other about seventeen. The alleged offence was of so +gross a nature, and was so at variance with the fair character of the +person accused that the witnesses were subjected to a very careful and +shrewd examination. They became embarrassed, and the flaws in their +evidence were very obvious. They were indicted for conspiracy against an +innocent man; and being taken by surprise, they were thrown into +confusion, acknowledged their guilt, and declined the offer of a trial. +They were sentenced to two years' imprisonment at hard labor in the +Penitentiary of Philadelphia. + +Isaac T. Hopper, who was at that time one of the inspectors, happened to +be at the prison when they arrived at dusk, hand-cuffed and chained +together, in custody of the sheriff. Their youth and desolate appearance +excited his compassion. "Keep up a good heart, my poor lads," said he. +"You can retrieve this one false step, if you will but make the effort. +It is still in your power to become respectable and useful men. I will +help you all I can." + +He gave particular directions that they should be placed in a room by +themselves, apart from the contagion of more hardened offenders. To +prevent unprofitable conversation, they were constantly employed in the +noisy occupation of heading nails. From time to time, the humane +inspector spoke soothing and encouraging words to them, and commended +their good behavior. When the Board of Inspectors met, he proposed that +the lads should be recommended to the governor for pardon. Not +succeeding in this effort, he wrote an article on the impropriety of +confining juvenile offenders with old hardened convicts. He published +this in the daily papers, and it produced considerable effect. When the +Board again met, Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas Dobson were appointed to +wait on the governor, to obtain a pardon for the lads if possible. After +considerable hesitation, the request was granted on condition that +worthy men could be found, who would take them as apprentices. Friend +Hopper agreed to find such persons; and he kept his word. One of them +was bound to a tanner, the other to a carpenter. But their excellent +friend did not lose sight of them. He reminded them that they were now +going among strangers, and their success and happiness would mainly +depend on their own conduct. He begged of them, if they should ever get +entangled with unprofitable company, or become involved in difficulty of +any kind, to come to him, as they would to a considerate father. He +invited them to spend all their leisure evenings at his house. For a +long time, it was their constant practice to take tea with him every +Sunday, and join the family in reading the Bible and other serious +books. + +At the end of a year, they expressed a strong desire to visit their +father. Some fears were entertained lest his influence over them should +prove injurious; and that being once freed from restraint, they would +not willingly return to constant industry and regular habits. They, +however, promised faithfully that they would, and Friend Hopper thought +it might have a good effect upon them to know that they were trusted. He +accordingly entered into bonds for them; thinking this additional claim +on their gratitude would strengthen his influence over them, and help to +confirm their good resolutions. + +They returned punctually at the day and hour they had promised, and +their exemplary conduct continued to give entire satisfaction to their +employers. A short time after the oldest had fulfilled the term of his +indenture, the tanner with whom he worked bought a farm, and sold his +stock and tools to his former apprentice. Friend Hopper took him to the +governor's house, dressed in his new suit of freedom clothes, and +introduced him as one of the lads whom he had pardoned several years +before; testifying that he had been a faithful apprentice, and much +respected by his master. The governor was well pleased to see him, shook +hands with him very cordially, and told him that he who was resolute +enough to turn back from vicious ways, into the paths of virtue and +usefulness, deserved even more respect than one who had never been +tempted. + +He afterward married a worthy young woman with a small property, which +enabled him to build a neat two-story brick house. He always remained +sober and industrious, and they lived in great comfort and +respectability. + +The younger brother likewise passed through his apprenticeship in a +manner very satisfactory to his friends; and at twenty-one years of age, +he also was introduced to the governor with testimonials of his good +conduct. He was united to a very respectable young woman, but died a few +years after his marriage. + +Both these young men always cherished warm gratitude and strong +attachment for Isaac T. Hopper. They both regularly attended the +meetings of the Society of Friends, which had become pleasantly +associated in their minds with the good influences they had received +from their benefactor. + +Friend Hopper was a strict disciplinarian while he was inspector, and it +was extremely difficult for the prisoners to deceive him by any artful +devices, or hypocritical pretences. But he was always in the habit of +talking with them in friendly style, inquiring into their history and +plans, sympathizing with their troubles and temptations, encouraging +them to reform, and promising to assist them if they would try to help +themselves. It was his custom to take a ramble in the country with his +children every Saturday afternoon. All who were old enough to walk +joined the troop. They always stopped at the prison, and were well +pleased to deliver to the poor inmates, with their own small hands, such +little comforts as their father had provided for the purpose. He was +accustomed to say that there was not one among the convicts, however +desperate they might be, with whom he should be afraid to trust himself +alone at midnight with large sums of money in his pocket. An +acquaintance once cautioned him against a prisoner, whose temper was +extremely violent and revengeful, and who had been heard to swear that +he would take the life of some of the keepers. Soon after this warning, +Friend Hopper summoned the desperate fellow, and told him he was wanted +to pile a quantity of lumber in the cellar. He went down with him to +hold the light, and they remained more than an hour alone together, out +of hearing of everybody. When he told this to the man who had cautioned +him, he replied, "Well, I confess you have good courage. I wouldn't have +done it for the price of the prison and all the ground it stands upon; +for I do assure you he is a terrible fellow." + +"I don't doubt he is," rejoined the courageous inspector; "but I knew he +wouldn't kill _me_. I have always been a friend to him, and he is aware +of it. What motive could he have for harming me?" + +One of the prisoners, who had been convicted of man-slaughter, became +furious, in consequence of being threatened with a whipping. When they +attempted to bring him out of his dungeon to receive punishment, he +seized a knife and a club, rushed back again, and swore he would kill +the first person who came near him. Being a very strong man, and in a +state of madness, no one dared to approach him. They tried to starve him +into submission; but finding he was not to be subdued in that way, they +sent for Friend Hopper, as they were accustomed to do in all such +difficult emergencies. He went boldly into the cell, looked the +desperado calmly in the face, and said, "It is foolish for thee to +contend with the authorities. Thou wilt be compelled to yield at last. I +will inquire into thy case. If thou hast been unjustly dealt by, I +promise thee it shall be remedied." This kind and sensible remonstrance +had the desired effect. From that time forward, he had great influence +over the ferocious fellow, who was always willing to be guided by his +advice, and finally became one of the most reasonable and orderly +inmates of the prison. + +I have heard Friend Hopper say that while he was inspector he aided and +encouraged about fifty young convicts, as nearly as he could recollect; +and all, except two, conducted in such a manner as to satisfy the +respectable citizens whom he had induced to employ them. He was a shrewd +observer of the countenances and manners of men, and doubtless that was +one reason why he was not often disappointed in those he trusted. + +The humor which characterized his boyhood, remained with him in maturer +years, and often effervesced on the surface of his acquired gravity; as +will appear in the following anecdotes. + +Upon a certain occasion, a man called on him with a due bill for twenty +dollars against an estate he had been employed to settle. Friend Hopper +put it away, saying he would examine it and attend to it as soon as he +had leisure. The man called again a short time after, and stated that he +had need of six dollars, and was willing to give a receipt for the whole +if that sum were advanced. This proposition excited suspicion, and the +administrator decided in his own mind that he would pay nothing till he +had examined the papers of the deceased. Searching carefully among +these, he found a receipt for the money, mentioning the identical items, +date, and circumstances of the transaction; stating that a due-bill had +been given and lost, and was to be restored by the creditor when found. +When the man called again for payment, Isaac said to him, in a quiet +way, "Friend Jones, I understand thou hast become pious lately." + +He replied in a solemn tone, "Yes, thanks to the Lord Jesus, I have +found out the way of salvation." + +"And thou hast been dipped I hear," continued the Quaker. "Dost thou +know James Hunter?" + +Mr. Jones answered in the affirmative. + +"Well, he also was dipped some time ago," rejoined Friend Hopper; "but +his neighbors say they didn't get the crown of his head under water. The +devil crept into the unbaptized part, and has been busy within him ever +since. I am afraid they didn't get _thee_ quite under water. I think +thou hadst better be dipped again." + +As he spoke, he held up the receipt for twenty dollars. The countenance +of the professedly pious man became scarlet, and he disappeared +instantly. + +A Dutchman once called upon Friend Hopper, and said, "A tief have stole +mine goots. They tell me you can help me, may be." Upon inquiring the +when and the where, Friend Hopper concluded that the articles had been +stolen by a man whom he happened to know the police had taken up a few +hours previous. But being disposed to amuse himself, he inquired very +seriously, "What time of the moon was it, when thy goods were stolen?" +Having received information concerning that particular, he took a slate +and began to cipher diligently. After a while, he looked up, and +pronounced in a very oracular manner, "Thou wilt find thy goods." + +"Shall I find mine goots?" exclaimed the delighted Dutchman; "and where +is de tief?" + +"Art thou quite sure about the age of the moon?" inquired the pretended +magician. Being assured there was no mistake on that point, he ciphered +again for a few minutes, and then answered, "Thou wilt find the thief in +the hands of the police." + +The Dutchman went away, evidently inspired with profound reverence. +Having found his goods and the thief, according to prediction, he +returned and asked for a private interview. "Tell me dat secret," said +he, "and I will pay you a heap of money." + +"What secret?" inquired Friend Hopper. + +"Tell me how you know I will find mine goots, and where I will find de +tief?" rejoined he. + +"The plain truth is, I guessed it," was the reply; "because I had heard +there was a thief at the police office, with such goods as thou +described." + +"But what for you ask about de moon?" inquired the Dutchman. "You make +figures, and den you say, you will find your goots. You make figures +again, den you tell me where is de tief. I go, and find mine goots and +de tief, just as you say. Tell me how you do dat, and I will pay you a +heap of money." + +Though repeatedly assured that it was done only for a joke, he went away +unsatisfied: and to the day of his death, he fully believed that the +facetious Quaker was a conjuror. + +When Friend Hopper hired one of two houses where the back yards were +not separated, he found himself considerably incommoded by the +disorderly habits of his next neighbor. The dust and dirt daily swept +into the yard were allowed to accumulate there in a heap, which the wind +often scattered over the neater premises adjoining. The mistress of the +house was said to be of an irritable temper, likely to take offence if +asked to adopt a different system. He accordingly resolved upon a +course, which he thought might cure the evil without provoking a +dispute. One day, when he saw his neighbor in her kitchen, he called his +own domestic to come out into the yard. Pointing to the heap of dirt, he +exclaimed, loud enough to be heard in the next house, "Betsy, art thou +not ashamed to sweep dust and litter into such a heap. See how it is +blowing about our neighbor's yard! Art thou not ashamed of thyself?" + +"I didn't sweep any dirt there," replied the girl. "They did it +themselves." + +"Pshaw! Pshaw! don't tell me that," rejoined he. "Our neighbor wouldn't +do such an untidy thing. I wonder she hasn't complained of thee before +now. Be more careful in future; for I should be very sorry to give her +any occasion to say she couldn't keep the yard clean on our account." + +The domestic read his meaning in the roguish expression of his eye, and +she remained silent. The lesson took effect. The heap of dirt was soon +removed, and never appeared afterward. + +Such a character as Isaac T. Hopper was of course well known throughout +the city where he lived. Every school-boy had heard something of his +doings, and as he walked the street, everybody recognized him, from the +chief justice to the chimney-sweep. His personal appearance was +calculated to attract attention, independent of other circumstances. +Joseph Bonaparte, who then resided at Bordentown, was attracted toward +him the first moment he saw him, on account of a strong resemblance to +his brother Napoleon. They often met in the steamboat going down the +Delaware, and on such occasions, the ex-king frequently pointed him out +as the most remarkable likeness of the emperor, that he had ever met in +Europe or America. He expressed the opinion that with Napoleon's uniform +on, he might be mistaken for him, even by his own household; and if he +were to appear thus in Paris, nothing could be easier than for him to +excite a revolution. + +But the imperial throne, even if it had been directly offered to him, +would have proved no temptation to a soul like his. In some respects, +his character, as well as his person, strongly resembled Napoleon. But +his powerful will was remarkably under the control of conscience, and +his energy was tempered by an unusual share of benevolence. If the +other elements of his character had not been balanced by these two +qualities, he also might have been a skilful diplomatist, and a +successful leader of armies. Fortunately for himself and others, he had +a nobler ambition than that of making widows and orphans by wholesale +slaughter. The preceding anecdotes show how warmly he sympathized with +the poor, the oppressed, and the erring, without limitation of country, +creed, or complexion; and how diligently he labored in their behalf. But +from the great amount of public service that he rendered, it must not be +inferred that he neglected private duties. Perhaps no man was ever more +devotedly attached to wife and children than he was. His Sarah, as he +was wont to call her, was endowed with qualities well calculated to +retain a strong hold on the affections of a sensible and conscientious +man. Her kindly disposition, and the regular, simple habits of her life, +were favorable to the preservation of that beauty, which had won his +boyish admiration. Her wavy brown hair was softly shaded by the delicate +transparent muslin of her Quaker cap; her face had a tender and benign +expression; and her complexion was so clear, that an old gentleman, who +belonged to the Society of Friends, and who was of course not much +addicted to poetic comparisons, used to say he could never look at her +without thinking of the clear pink and white of a beautiful +conch-shell. She was scrupulously neat, and had something of that +chastened coquetry in dress, which is apt to characterize the handsome +women of her orderly sect. Her drab-colored gown, not high in the neck, +was bordered by a plain narrow tucker of fine muslin, visible under her +snow-white neckerchief. A white under-sleeve came just below the elbow, +where it terminated in a very narrow band, nicely stitched, and fastened +with two small silver buttons, connected by a chain. She was a very +industrious woman, and remarkably systematic in her household affairs; +thus she contrived to find time for everything, though burdened with the +care of a large and increasing family. The apprentices always sat at +table with them, and she maintained a perfect equality between them and +her own children. She said it was her wish to treat them precisely as +she would like to have _her_ boys treated, if _they_ should become +apprentices. On Sunday evenings, which they called First Day evenings, +the whole family assembled to hear Friend Hopper read portions of +scripture, or writings of the early Friends. On such occasions, the +mother often gave religious exhortations to the children and +apprentices, suited to the occurrences of the week, and the temptations +to which they were peculiarly subject. During the last eight years of +her life, she was a recommended minister of the Society of Friends, and +often preached at their meetings. Her manners were affable, and her +conversation peculiarly agreeable to young people. But she knew when +silence was seemly, and always restrained her discourse within the +limits of discretion. When any of her children talked more than was +useful, she was accustomed to administer this concise caution: "My dear, +it is a nice thing to say nothing, when thou hast nothing to say." Her +husband was proud of her, and always manifested great deference for her +opinion. She suffered much anxiety on account of the perils to which he +was often exposed in his contests with slaveholders and kidnappers; and +for many years, the thought was familiar to her mind that she might one +day see him brought home a corpse. While the yellow fever raged in +Philadelphia, she had the same anxiety concerning his fearless devotion +to the victims of that terrible disease, who were dying by hundreds +around them. But she had a large and sympathizing heart, and she never +sought to dissuade him from what he considered the path of duty. When +one of his brothers was stricken with the fever, and the family with +whom he resided were afraid to shelter him, she proposed to have him +brought under their own roof, where he was carefully nursed till he +died. She was more reluctant to listen to his urgent entreaties that she +would retire into the country with the children, and remain with them +beyond the reach of contagion; for her heart was divided between the +husband of her youth and the nurslings of her bosom. But his anxiety +concerning their children was so great, that she finally consented to +pursue the course most conducive to his peace of mind; and he was left +in the city with a colored domestic to superintend his household +affairs. Through this terrible ordeal of pestilence he passed unscathed, +though his ever ready sympathy brought him into frequent contact with +the dying and the dead. + +Besides this public calamity, which darkened the whole city for a time, +Friend Hopper shared the common lot of humanity in the sad experiences +of private life. Several of his children died at that attractive age, +when the bud of infancy is blooming into childhood. Relatives and +friends crossed the dark river to the unknown shore. On New Year's day, +1797, his mother departed from this world at fifty-six years old. In +1818, his father died at seventy-five years of age. His physical vigor +was remarkable. When he had weathered seventy winters, he went to visit +his eldest son, and being disappointed in meeting the stage to return, +as he expected, he walked home, a distance of twenty-eight miles. At +that advanced age, he could rest one hand on his cane and the other on a +fence, and leap over as easily as a boy. He had long flowing black hair, +which fell in ringlets on his shoulders; and when he died, it was +merely sprinkled with gray. When his private accounts were examined +after his decease, they revealed the fact that he had secretly expended +hundreds of dollars in paying the debts of poor people, or redeeming +their furniture when it was attached. + +But though many dear ones dropped away from his side, as Friend Isaac +moved onward in his pilgrimage, many remained to sustain and cheer him. +Among his wife's brothers, his especial friend was John Tatum, who lived +in the vicinity of his native village. This worthy man had great +sympathy with the colored people, and often sheltered the fugitives whom +his brother-in-law had rescued. He was remarkable for his love of peace; +always preferring to suffer wrong rather than dispute. The influence of +this pacific disposition upon others was strikingly illustrated in the +case of two of his neighbors. They were respectable people, in easy +circumstances, and the families found much pleasure in frequent +intercourse with each other. But after a few years, one of the men +deemed that an intentional affront had been offered him by the other. +Instead of good-natured frankness on the occasion, he behaved in a +sullen manner, which provoked the other, and the result was that +eventually neither of them would speak when they met. Their fields +joined, and when they were on friendly terms, the boundary was marked +by a fence, which they alternately repaired. But when there was feud +between them, neither of them was willing to mend the other's fence. So +each one built a fence for himself, leaving a very narrow strip of land +between, which in process of time came to be generally known by the name +of Devil's Lane, in allusion to the bad temper that produced it. A brook +formed another portion of the boundary between their farms, and was +useful to both of them. But after they became enemies, if a freshet +occurred, each watched an opportunity to turn the water on the other's +land, by which much damage was mutually done. They were so much occupied +with injuring each other in every possible way, that they neglected +their farms and grew poorer and poorer. One of them became intemperate; +and everything about their premises began to wear an aspect of +desolation and decay. At last, one of the farms was sold to pay a +mortgage, and John Tatum, who was then about to be married, concluded to +purchase it. Many people warned him of the trouble he would have with a +quarrelsome and intemperate neighbor. But, after mature reflection, he +concluded to trust to the influence of a peaceful and kind example, and +accordingly purchased the farm. + +Soon after he removed thither, he proposed to do away the Devil's Lane +by building a new fence on the boundary, entirely at his own expense. +His neighbor acceded to the proposition in a very surly manner, and for +a considerable time seemed determined to find, or make some occasion for +quarrel. But the young Quaker met all his provocations with forbearance, +and never missed an opportunity to oblige him. Good finally overcame +evil. The turbulent spirit, having nothing to excite it, gradually +subsided into calmness. In process of time, he evinced a disposition to +be kind and obliging also. Habits of temperance and industry returned, +and during the last years of his life he was considered a remarkably +good neighbor. + +Friend Hopper's attachment to the religious society he had joined in +early life was quite as strong, perhaps even stronger, than his love of +kindred. The Yearly Meeting of Friends at Philadelphia was a season of +great satisfaction, and he delighted to have his house full of guests, +even to overflowing. On these occasions, he obeyed the impulses of his +generous nature by seeking out the least wealthy and distinguished, who +would be less likely than others to receive many invitations. In +addition to these, who were often personal strangers to him, he had his +own familiar and cherished friends. A day seldom passed without a visit +from Nicholas Wain, who had great respect and affection for him and his +wife, and delighted in their society. He cordially approved of their +consistency in carrying out their conscientious convictions into the +practices of daily life. Some of Isaac's relatives and friends thought +he devoted rather too much time and attention to philanthropic missions, +but Nicholas Wain always stood by him, a warm and faithful friend to the +last. He was a true gentleman, of courtly, pleasing manners, and amusing +conversation. Notwithstanding his weight of character, he was so playful +with the children, that his visits were always hailed by them, as +delightful opportunities for fun and frolic. He looked beneath the +surface of society, and had learned to estimate men and things according +to their real value, not by a conventional standard. His wife did not +regard the pomps and vanities of the world with precisely the same +degree of indifference that he did. She thought it would be suitable to +their wealth and station to have a footman behind her carriage. This +wish being frequently expressed, her husband at last promised to comply +with it. Accordingly, the next time the carriage was ordered, for the +purpose of making a stylish call, she was gratified to see a footman +mounted. When she arrived at her place of destination, the door of her +carriage was opened, and the steps let down in a very obsequious manner, +by the new servant; and great was her surprise and confusion, to +recognize in him her own husband! + +Jacob Lindley, of Chester county, was another frequent visitor at Friend +Hopper's house; and many were the lively conversations they had +together. He was a preacher in the Society of Friends, and missed no +opportunity, either in public or private, to protest earnestly against +the sin of slavery. He often cautioned Friends against laying too much +stress on their own peculiar forms, while they professed to abjure +forms. He said he himself had once received a lesson on this subject, +which did him much good. Once, when he was seated in meeting, an +influential Friend walked in, dressed in a coat with large metal +buttons, which he had borrowed in consequence of a drenching rain! He +seated himself opposite to Jacob Lindley, who was so much disturbed by +the glittering buttons, that "his meeting did him no good." When the +congregation rose to depart, he felt constrained to go up to the Friend +who had so much troubled him, and inquire why he had so grievously +departed from the simplicity enjoined upon members of their Society. The +good man looked down upon his garments, and quietly replied, "I borrowed +the coat because my own was wet; and indeed, Jacob, I did not notice +what buttons were on it." Jacob shook his hand warmly, and said, "Thou +art a better Christian than I am, and I will learn of thee." + +He often used to inculcate the same moral by relating another incident, +which happened in old times, when Quakers were accustomed to wear cocked +hats turned up at the sides. A Friend bought a hat of this description, +without observing that it was looped up with a button. As he sat in +meeting with his hat on, as usual, he observed many eyes directed toward +him, and some with a very sorrowful expression. He could not conjecture +a reason for this, till he happened to take off his hat and lay it +beside him. As soon as he noticed the button, he rose and said, +"Friends, if religion consists in a button, I wouldn't give a button for +it." Having delivered this short and pithy sermon, he seated himself, +and resumed the offending hat with the utmost composure. + +Once, when Jacob Lindley was dining with Friend Hopper, the conversation +turned upon his religious experiences, and he related a circumstance to +which he said he very seldom alluded, and never without feelings of +solemnity and awe. Being seized with sudden and severe illness, his soul +left the body for several hours, during which time he saw visions of +heavenly glory, not to be described. When consciousness began to return, +he felt grieved that he was obliged to come back to this state of being, +and he was never after able to feel the same interest in terrestrial +things, that he had felt before he obtained this glimpse of the +spiritual world. + +Arthur Howell was another intimate acquaintance of Friend Hopper. He was +a currier in Philadelphia, a preacher in the Society of Friends, +characterized by kindly feelings, and a very tender conscience. Upon +one occasion, he purchased from the captain of a vessel a quantity of +oil, which he afterward sold at an advanced price. Under these +circumstances, he thought the captain had not received so much as he +ought to have; and he gave him an additional dollar on every barrel. +This man was remarkable for spiritual-mindedness and the gift of +prophecy. It was no uncommon thing for him to relate occurrences which +were happening at the moment many miles distant, and to foretell the +arrival of people, or events, when there appeared to be no external +reasons on which to ground such expectations. + +One Sunday morning, he was suddenly impelled to proceed to Germantown in +haste. As he approached the village, he met a funeral procession. He had +no knowledge whatever of the deceased; but it was suddenly revealed to +him that the occupant of the coffin before him was a woman whose life +had been saddened by the suspicion of a crime, which she never +committed. The impression became very strong on his mind that she wished +him to make certain statements at her funeral. Accordingly, he followed +the procession, and when they arrived at the meeting-house, he entered +and listened to the prayer delivered by her pastor. When the customary +services were finished, Arthur Howell rose, and asked permission to +speak. "I did not know the deceased, even by name," said he. "But it is +given me to say, that she suffered much and unjustly. Her neighbors +generally suspected her of a crime, which she did not commit; and in a +few weeks from this time, it will be made clearly manifest to the world +that she was innocent. A few hours before her death, she talked on this +subject with the clergyman who attended upon her, and who is now +present; and it is given me to declare the communication she made to him +upon that occasion." + +He then proceeded to relate the particulars of the interview; to which +the clergyman listened with evident astonishment. When the communication +was finished, he said, "I don't know who this man is, or how he has +obtained information on this subject; but certain it is, he has +repeated, word for word, a conversation which I supposed was known only +to myself and the deceased." + +The woman in question had gone out in the fields one day, with her +infant in her arms, and she returned without it. She said she had laid +it down on a heap of dry leaves, while she went to pick a few flowers; +and when she returned, the baby was gone. The fields and woods were +searched in vain, and neighbors began to whisper that she had committed +infanticide. Then rumors arose that she was dissatisfied with her +marriage; that her heart remained with a young man to whom she was +previously engaged; and that her brain was affected by this secret +unhappiness. She was never publicly accused; partly because there was no +evidence against her, and partly because it was supposed that if she did +commit the crime, it must have been owing to aberration of mind. But she +became aware of the whisperings against her, and the consciousness of +being an object of suspicion, combined with the mysterious disappearance +of her child, cast a heavy cloud over her life, and made her appear more +and more unlike her former self. This she confided to her clergyman, in +the interview shortly preceding her death; and she likewise told him +that the young man, to whom she had been engaged, had never forgiven her +for not marrying him. + +A few weeks after her decease, this young man confessed that he had +stolen the babe. He had followed the mother, unobserved by her, and had +seen her lay the sleeping infant on its bed of leaves. As he gazed upon +it, a mingled feeling of jealousy and revenge took possession of his +soul. In obedience to a sudden impulse, he seized the babe, and carried +it off hastily. He subsequently conveyed it to a distant village, and +placed it out to nurse, under an assumed name and history. The child was +found alive and well, at the place he indicated. Thus the mother's +innocence was made clearly manifest to the world, as the Quaker +preacher had predicted at her funeral. + +I often heard Friend Hopper relate this anecdote, and he always said +that he could vouch for the truth of it; and for several other similar +things in connection with the ministry of his friend Arthur. + +A singular case of inward perception likewise occurred in the experience +of his own mother. In her Diary, which is still preserved in the family, +she describes a visit to some of her children in Philadelphia, and adds: +"Soon after this, the Lord showed me that I should lose a son. It was +often told me, though without sound of words. Nothing could be more +intelligible than this still, small voice. It said, Thou wilt lose a +son; and he is a pleasant child." + +Her son James resided with relatives in Philadelphia, and often went to +bathe in the Delaware. On one of these occasions, soon after his +mother's visit, a friend who went with him sank in the water, and James +lost his own life by efforts to save him. A messenger was sent to inform +his parents, who lived at the distance of eight miles. While he staid in +the house, reluctant to do his mournful errand, the mother was seized +with sudden dread, and heard the inward voice saying, "James is +drowned." She said abruptly to the messenger, "Thou hast come to tell me +that my son James is drowned. Oh, how did it happen?" He was much +surprised, and asked why she thought so. She could give no explanation +of it, except that it had been suddenly revealed to her mind. + +I have heard and read many such stories of Quakers, which seem too well +authenticated to admit of doubt. They themselves refer all such cases to +"the inward light;" and that phrase, as they understand it, conveys a +satisfactory explanation to their minds. I leave psychologists to settle +the question as they can. + +Those who are well acquainted with Quaker views, are aware that by "the +inward light," they signify something higher and more comprehensive than +conscience. They regard it as the voice of God in the soul, which will +always guard man from evil, and guide him into truth, if reverently +listened to, in stillness of the passions, and obedience of the will. +These strong impressions on individual minds constitute their only call +and consecration to the ministry, and have directed' them in the +application of moral principles to a variety of subjects, such as +intemperance, war, and slavery. Men and women were impelled by the +interior monitor to go about preaching on these topics, until their +individual views became what are called "leading testimonies" in the +Society. The abjuration of slavery was one of their earliest +"testimonies." There was much preaching against it in their public +meetings, and many committees were appointed to expostulate in private +with those who held slaves. At an early period, it became an established +rule of discipline for the Society to disown any member, who refused to +manumit his bondmen. + +Friend Hopper used to tell an interesting anecdote in connection with +these committees. In the course of their visits, they concluded to pass +by one of their members, who held only one slave, and he was very old. +He was too infirm to earn his own living, and as he was very kindly +treated, they supposed he would have no wish for freedom. But Isaac +Jackson, one of the committee, a very benevolent and conscientious man, +had a strong impression on his mind that duty required him not to omit +this case. He accordingly went alone to the master, and stated how the +subject appeared to him, in the inward light of his own soul. The Friend +was not easily convinced. He brought forward many reasons for not +emancipating his slave; and one of the strongest was that the man was +too feeble to labor for his own support, and therefore freedom would be +of no value to him. Isaac Jackson replied, "He labored for thee without +wages, while he had strength, and it is thy duty to support him now. +Whether he would value freedom or not, is a question he alone is +competent to decide." + +These friendly remonstrances produced such effect, that the master +agreed to manumit his bondman, and give a written obligation that he +should be comfortably supported during the remainder of his life, by him +or his heirs. When the papers were prepared the slave was called into +the parlor, and Isaac Jackson inquired, "Would'st thou like to be free?" +He promptly answered that he should. The Friend suggested that he was +now too feeble to labor much, and inquired how he would manage to obtain +a living. The old man meekly replied, "Providence has been kind to me +thus far; and I am willing to trust him the rest of my life." + +Isaac Jackson then held up the papers and said, "Thou art a free man. +Thy master has manumitted thee, and promised to maintain thee as long as +thou mayest live." + +This was so unexpected, that the aged bondman was completely overcome. +For a few moments, he remained in profound silence; then, with a sudden +impulse, he fell on his knees, and poured forth a short and fervent +prayer of thanksgiving to his Heavenly Father, for prolonging his life +till he had the happiness to feel himself a free man. + +The master and his adviser were both surprised and affected by this +eloquent outburst of grateful feeling. The poor old servant had seemed +so comfortable and contented, that no one supposed freedom was of great +importance to him. But, as honest Isaac Jackson observed, _he_ alone was +competent to decide _that_ question. + +Quakers consider "the inward light" as a guide not merely in cases +involving moral principles, but also in the regulation of external +affairs; and in the annals of their Society, are some remarkable +instances of dangers avoided by the help of this internal monitor. + +Friend Hopper used to mention a case where a strong impression had been +made on his own mind, without his being able to assign any adequate +reason for it. A young man, descended from a highly respectable Quaker +family in New-Jersey, went to South Carolina and entered into business. +He married there, and as his wife did not belong to the Society of +Friends, he was of course disowned. After some years of commercial +success, he failed, and went to Philadelphia, where Friend Hopper became +acquainted with him, and formed an opinion not unfavorable. When he had +been in that city some time, he mentioned that his wife owned land in +Carolina, which he was very desirous to cultivate, but was prevented by +conscientious scruples concerning slave-labor. He said if he could +induce some colored people from Philadelphia to go there and work for +him as free laborers, it would be an advantage to him, and a benefit to +them. He urged Friend Hopper to exert his influence over them to +convince them that such precautions could be taken, as would prevent any +danger of their being reduced to slavery; saying that if he would +consent to do so, he doubtless could obtain as many laborers as he +wanted. The plan appeared feasible, and Friend Hopper was inclined to +assist him in carrying it into execution. Soon after, two colored men +called upon him, and said they were ready to go, provided he thought +well of the project. Nothing had occurred to change his opinion of the +man, or to excite distrust concerning his agricultural scheme. But an +impression came upon his mind that the laborers had better not go; an +impression so strong, that he thought it right to be influenced by it. +He accordingly told them he had thought well of the plan, but his views +had changed, and he advised them to remain where they were. This greatly +surprised the man who wished to employ them, and he called to +expostulate on the subject; repeating his statement concerning the great +advantage they would derive from entering into his service. + +"There is no use in arguing the matter," replied Friend Hopper. "I have +no cause whatever to suspect thee of any dishonest or dishonorable +intentions; but there is on my mind an impression of danger, so powerful +that I cannot conscientiously have any agency in inducing colored +laborers to go with thee." + +Not succeeding in his project, the bankrupt merchant went to New-Jersey +for a time, to reside with his father, who was a worthy and influential +member of the Society of Friends. An innocent, good natured old colored +man, a fugitive from Virginia, had for some time been employed to work +on the farm, and the family had become much attached to him. The son who +had returned from Carolina was very friendly with this simple-hearted +old servant, and easily gained his confidence. When he had learned his +story, he offered to write to his master, and enable him to purchase his +freedom for a sum which he could gradually repay by labor. The fugitive +was exceedingly grateful, and put himself completely in his power by a +full statement of all particulars. The false-hearted man did indeed +write to the master; and the poor old slave was soon after arrested and +carried to Philadelphia in irons. Friend Hopper was sent for, and went +to see him in prison. With groans and sobs, the captive told how +wickedly he had been deceived. "I thought he was a Quaker, and so I +trusted him," said he. "But I saw my master's agent pay him fifty +dollars for betraying me." + +Friend Hopper assured him that the deceiver was not a Quaker; and that +he did not believe any Quaker on the face of the earth would do such an +unjust and cruel deed. He could devise no means to rescue the sufferer; +and with an aching heart he was compelled to see him carried off into +slavery, without being able to offer any other solace than an +affectionate farewell. + +The conduct of this base hypocrite proved that the warning presentiment +against him had not been without foundation. Grieved and indignant at +the wrong he had done to a helpless and unoffending fellow-creature, +Friend Hopper wrote to him as follows: "Yesterday, I visited the poor +old man in prison, whom thou hast so perfidiously betrayed. Gloomy and +hopeless as his case is, I would prefer it to thine. Thou hast received +fifty dollars as the reward of thy treachery; but what good can it do +thee? Canst thou lay down thy head at night, without feeling the sharp +goadings of a guilty conscience? Canst thou ask forgiveness of thy sins +of our Heavenly Father, whom thou hast so grievously insulted by thy +hypocrisy? Judas betrayed his master for thirty pieces of silver, and +afterward hung himself. Thou hast betrayed thy brother for fifty; and if +thy conscience is not seared, as with hot iron, thy compunction must be +great. I feel no disposition to upbraid thee. I have no doubt thy own +heart does that sufficiently; for our beneficent Creator will not suffer +any to be at ease in their sins. Thy friend, I.T.H." + +The worthy old Quaker in New-Jersey was not aware of his son's +villainous conduct until some time after. When the circumstances were +made known to the family they were exceedingly mortified and afflicted. + +Friend Hopper used to tell another story, which forms a beautiful +contrast to the foregoing painful narrative. I repeat it, because it +illustrates the tenderness of spirit, which has so peculiarly +characterized the Society of Friends, and because I hope it may fall +like dew on hearts parched by vindictive feelings. Charles Carey lived +near Philadelphia, in a comfortable house with a few acres of pasture +adjoining. A young horse, apparently healthy, though lean, was one day +offered him in the market for fifty dollars. The cheapness tempted him +to purchase; for he thought the clover of his pastures would soon put +the animal in good condition, and enable him to sell him at an advanced +price. He was too poor to command the required sum himself, but he +borrowed it of a friend. The horse, being well fed and lightly worked, +soon became a noble looking animal, and was taken to the city for sale. +But scarcely had he entered the market, when a stranger stepped up and +claimed him as his property, recently stolen. Charles Carey's son, who +had charge of the animal, was taken before a magistrate. Isaac T. Hopper +was sent for, and easily proved that the character of the young man and +his father was above all suspicion. But the stranger produced +satisfactory evidence that he was the rightful owner of the horse, which +was accordingly delivered up to him. When Charles Carey heard the +unwelcome news, he quietly remarked, "It is hard for me to lose the +money; but I am glad the man has recovered his property." + +About a year afterward, having occasion to go to a tavern in +Philadelphia, he saw a man in the bar-room, whom he at once recognized +as the person who had sold him the horse. He walked up to him, and +inquired whether he remembered the transaction. Being answered in the +affirmative, he said, "I am the man who bought that horse. Didst thou +know he was stolen?" With a stupified manner and a faltering voice, the +stranger answered, "Yes." + +"Come along with me, then," said Charles; "and I will put thee where +thou wilt not steal another horse very soon." + +The thief resigned himself to his fate with a sort of hopeless +indifference. But before they reached the magistrate's office, the voice +within began to plead gently with the Quaker, and turned him from the +sternness of his purpose. "I am a poor man," said he, "and thou hast +greatly injured me. I cannot afford to lose fifty dollars; but to +prosecute thee will not compensate me for the loss. Go thy way, and +conduct thyself honestly in future." + +The man seemed amazed. He stood for a moment, hesitating and confused; +then walked slowly away. But after taking a few steps, he turned back +and said, "Where can I find you, if I should ever be able to make +restitution for the wrong I have done?" + +Charles replied, "I trust thou dost not intend to jest with me, after +all the trouble thou hast caused me?" + +"No, indeed I do not," answered the stranger. "I hope to repay you, some +time or other." + +"Very well," rejoined the Friend, "if thou ever hast anything for me, +thou canst leave it with Isaac T. Hopper, at the corner of Walnut and +Dock-streets." Thus they parted, and never met again. + +About a year after, Friend Hopper found a letter on his desk, addressed +to Charles Carey. When it was delivered to him, he was surprised to find +that it came from the man who had stolen the horse, and contained twenty +dollars. A few months later, another letter containing the same sum, was +left in the same way. Not long after, a third letter arrived, enclosing +twenty dollars; the whole forming a sum sufficient to repay both +principal and interest of the money which the kind-hearted Quaker had +lost by his dishonesty. + +This last letter stated that the writer had no thoughts of stealing the +horse ten minutes before he did it. After he had sold him, he was so +haunted by remorse and fear of detection, that life became a burthen to +him, and he cared not what became of him. But when he was arrested, and +so unexpectedly set at liberty, the crushing weight was taken from him. +He felt inspired by fresh courage, and sustained by the hope of making +some atonement for what he had done. He made strenuous efforts to +improve his condition, and succeeded. He was then teaching school, was +assessor of the township where he resided, and no one suspected that he +had ever committed a dishonest action. + +The good man, to whom this epistle was addressed, read it with moistened +eyes, and felt that the reward of righteousness is peace. + +For many years after Isaac T. Hopper joined the Society of Friends, a +spirit of peace and of kindly communion prevailed among them. No sect +has ever arisen which so nearly approached the character of primitive +christianity, in all relations with each other and with their fellow +men. But as soon as the early christians were relieved from persecution, +they began to persecute each other; and so it was with the Quakers. +Having become established and respected by the world, the humble and +self-denying spirit which at the outset renounced and contended with the +world gradually departed. Many of them were rich, and not unfrequently +their fortunes were acquired by trading with slave-holders. Such men +were well satisfied to have the testimonies of their spiritual +forefathers against slavery read over among themselves, at stated +seasons; but they felt little sympathy with those of their +cotemporaries, who considered it a duty to remonstrate publicly and +freely with all who were connected with the iniquitous system. + +A strong and earnest preacher, by the name of Elias Hicks, made himself +more offensive than others in this respect. He appears to have been a +very just and conscientious man, with great reverence for God, and +exceedingly little for human authority. Everywhere, in public and in +private, he lifted up his voice against the sin of slavery. He would eat +no sugar that was made by slaves, and wear no garment which he supposed +to have been produced by unpaid labor. In a remarkable manner, he showed +this "ruling passion strong in death." A few hours before he departed +from this world, his friends, seeing him shiver, placed a comfortable +over him. He felt of it with his feeble hands, and made a strong effort +to push it away. When they again drew it up over his shoulders, he +manifested the same symptoms of abhorrence. One of them, who began to +conjecture the cause, inquired, "Dost thou dislike it because it is made +of cotton?" He was too far gone to speak, but he moved his head in token +of assent. When they removed the article of slave produce, and +substituted a woolen blanket, he remained quiet, and passed away in +peace. + +He was accustomed to say, "It takes _live_ fish to swim _up_ stream;" +and unquestionably he and his friend Isaac T. Hopper were both very much +alive. The quiet boldness of this man was altogether unmanageable. In +Virginia or Carolina, he preached more earnestly and directly against +slavery, than he did in New-York or Pennsylvania; for the simple reason +that it seemed to be more needed there. Upon one of these occasions, a +slaveholder who went to hear him from curiosity, left the meeting in +great wrath, swearing he would blow out that fellow's brains if he +ventured near his plantation. When the preacher heard of this threat, he +put on his hat and proceeded straightway to the forbidden place. In +answer to his inquiries, a slave informed him that his master was then +at dinner, but would see him in a short time. He seated himself and +waited patiently until the planter entered the room. With a calm and +dignified manner, he thus addressed him: "I understand thou hast +threatened to blow out the brains of Elias Hicks, if he comes upon thy +plantation. I am Elias Hicks." + +The Virginian acknowledged that he did make such a threat, and said he +considered it perfectly justifiable to do such a deed, when a man came +to preach rebellion to his slaves. + +"I came to preach the Gospel, which inculcates forgiveness of injuries +upon slaves as well as upon other men," replied the Quaker. "But tell +me, if thou canst, how this Gospel can be _truly_ preached, without +showing the slaves that they _are_ injured, and thus making a man of thy +sentiments feel as if they were encouraged in rebellion." + +This led to a long argument, maintained in the most friendly spirit. At +parting, the slaveholder shook hands with the preacher, and invited him +to come again. His visits were renewed, and six months after, the +Virginian emancipated all his slaves. + +When preaching in the free states, he earnestly called upon all to +abstain from slave-produce, and thus in a measure wash their own hands +from participation in a system of abominable wickedness and cruelty. His +zeal on this subject annoyed some of his brethren, but they could not +make him amenable to discipline for it; for these views were in +accordance with the earliest and strongest testimonies of the Society of +Friends; moreover, it would have been discreditable to acknowledge +_such_ a ground of offence. But the secret dissatisfaction showed itself +in a disposition to find fault with him. Charges were brought against +his doctrines. He was accused of denying the authority of Scripture, and +the divinity of Christ. + +It was a departure from the original basis of the Society to assume any +standard whatsoever concerning creeds. It is true that the early Quakers +wrote volumes of controversy against many of the prevailing opinions of +their day; such as the doctrine of predestination, and of salvation +depending upon faith, rather than upon works. All the customary external +observances, such as holy days, baptism, and the Lord's Supper, they +considered as belonging to a less spiritual age, and that the time had +come for them to be done away. Concerning the Trinity, there appears to +have been difference of opinion among them from the earliest time. When +George Fox expressed a fear that William Penn had gone too far in +defending "the true unity of God," Penn replied that he had never heard +any one speak more plainly concerning the manhood of Christ, than George +Fox himself. Penn was imprisoned in the Tower for "rejecting the mystery +of the Trinity," in a book called "The Sandy Foundation Shaken." He +afterward wrote "Innocency with her Open Face," regarded by some as a +compromise, which procured his release. But though various popular +doctrines naturally came in their way, and challenged discussion, while +they were endeavoring to introduce a new order of things, the +characteristic feature of their movement was attention to practical +righteousness rather than theological tenets. They did not require their +members to profess faith in any creed. They had but one single bond of +union; and that was the belief that every man ought to be guided in his +actions, and in the interpretation of Scripture, by the light within his +own soul. Their history shows that they mainly used this light to guide +them in the application of moral principles. Upon the priesthood, in +every form, they made unsparing warfare; believing that the gifts of the +Spirit ought never to be paid with money. They appointed committees to +visit the sick, the afflicted, and the destitute, and to superintend +marriages and funerals. The farmer, the shoemaker, the physician, or the +merchant, followed his vocation diligently, and whenever the Spirit +moved him to exhort his brethren, he did so. The "First, and Fifth Day" +of the week, called by other denominations Sunday and Thursday, were set +apart by them for religious meetings. Women were placed on an equality +with men, by being admitted to this free Gospel ministry, and appointed +on committees with men, to regulate the affairs of the Society. They +abjured war under all circumstances, and suffered great persecution +rather than pay military taxes. They early discouraged the distillation +or use of spirituous liquors, and disowned any of their members who +distilled them from grain. Protests against slavery were among their +most earnest testimonies, and it was early made a rule of discipline +that no member of the Society should hold slaves. When the Quakers +first arose, it was a custom in England, as it still is on the continent +of Europe, to say _thou_ to an inferior, or equal, and _you_ to a +superior. They saw in this custom an infringement of the great law of +human brotherhood; and because they would "call no man master," they +said _thou_ to every person, without distinction of rank. To the +conservatives of their day, this spiritual democracy seemed like +deliberate contempt of authority; and as such, deserving of severe +punishment. More strenuously than all other things, they denied the +right of any set of men to prescribe a creed for others. The only +authority they recognized was "the light within;" and for freedom to +follow this, they were always ready to suffer or to die. + +On all these subjects, there could be no doubt that Elias Hicks was a +Quaker of the old genuine stamp. But he differed from many others in +some of his theological views. He considered Christ as "the only Son of +the most high God;" but he denied that "the _outward person_," which +suffered on Calvary was properly the Son of God. He attached less +importance to miracles, than did many of his brethren. He said he had +learned more of his own soul, and had clearer revelations of God and +duty, while following his plough, than from all the books he had ever +read. He reverenced the Bible as a record of divine power and goodness, +but did not consider a knowledge of it essential to salvation; for he +supposed that a Hindoo or an African, who never heard of the Scriptures, +or of Christ, might become truly a child of God, if he humbly and +sincerely followed the divine light within, given to every human soul, +according to the measure of its faithfulness. + +Many of his brethren, whose views assimilated more with orthodox +opinions, accused him of having departed from the principles of early +Friends. But his predecessors had been guided only by the light within; +and he followed the same guide, without deciding beforehand precisely +how far it might lead him. This principle, if sincerely adopted and +consistently applied, would obviously lead to large and liberal results, +sufficient for the progressive growth of all coming ages. It was so +generally admitted to be the one definite bond of union among early +Friends, that the right of Elias Hicks to utter his own convictions, +whether they were in accordance with others or not, would probably never +have been questioned, if some influential members of the Society had not +assumed more power than was delegated to them; thereby constituting +themselves a kind of ecclesiastical tribunal. It is the nature of such +authority to seek enlargement of its boundaries, by encroaching more and +more on individual freedom. + +The friends of Elias Hicks did not adopt his views or the views of any +other man as a standard of opinion. On the subject of the Trinity, for +instance, there were various shadings of opinion among them. The +probability seems to be that the influence of Unitarian sects, and of +Orthodox sects had, in the course of years, gradually glided in among +the Quakers, and more or less fashioned their theological opinions, +though themselves were unconscious of it; as we all are of the +surrounding air we are constantly inhaling. + +But it was not the Unitarianism of Elias Hicks that his adherents fought +for, or considered it necessary to adopt. They simply contended for his +right to express his own convictions, and denied the authority of any +man, or body of men, to judge his preaching by the assumed standard of +any creed. Therefore, the real ground of the struggle seems to have been +resistance to ecclesiastical power; though theological opinions +unavoidably became intertwisted with it. It was a new form of the old +battle, perpetually renewed ever since the world began, between +authority and individual freedom. + +The agitation, which had for some time been heaving under the surface, +is said to have been brought into open manifestation by a sermon which +Elias Hicks preached against the use of slave produce, in 1819. A bitter +warfare followed. Those who refused to denounce his opinions were +accused of being infidels and separatists; and they called their +accusers bigoted and intolerant. With regard to disputed doctrines, both +claimed to find sufficient authority in the writings of early Friends; +and each side charged the other with mutilating and misrepresenting +those writings. As usual in theological controversies, the skein became +more and more entangled, till there was no way left but to cut it in +two. In 1827 and 1828, a separation took place in the Yearly Meetings of +Philadelphia, New-York, and several other places. Thenceforth, the +members were divided into two distinct sects. In some places the friends +of Elias Hicks were far the more numerous. In others, his opponents had +a majority. Each party claimed to be the genuine Society of Friends, and +denied the other's right to retain the title. The opponents of Elias +Hicks called themselves "Orthodox Friends," and named his adherents +"Hicksites." The latter repudiated the title, because they did not +acknowledge him as their standard of belief, though they loved and +reverenced his character, and stood by him as the representative of +liberty of conscience. They called themselves "Friends," and the others +"the Orthodox." + +The question which was the genuine Society of Friends was more important +than it would seem to a mere looker on; for large pecuniary interests +were involved therein. It is well known that Quakers form a sort of +commonwealth by themselves, within the civil commonwealth by which they +are governed. They pay the public school-tax, and in addition build +their own school-houses, and employ teachers of their own Society. They +support their own poor, while they pay the same pauper tax as other +citizens. They have burying grounds apart from others, because they have +conscientious scruples concerning monuments and epitaphs. Of course, the +question which of the two contending parties was the true Society of +Friends involved the question who owned the meeting-houses, the burying +grounds, and the school funds. The friends of Elias Hicks offered to +divide the property, according to the relative numbers of each party; +but those called Orthodox refused to accept the proposition. Lawsuits +were brought in various parts of the country. What a bitter state of +animosity existed may be conjectured from the fact that the "Orthodox" +in Philadelphia refused to allow "Hicksites" to bury their dead in the +ground belonging to the undivided Society of Friends. On the occasion of +funerals, they refused to deliver up the key; and after their opponents +had remonstrated in vain, they forced the lock. + +I believe in almost every instance, where the "Hicksites" were a +majority, and thus had a claim to the larger share of property, they +offered to divide in proportion to the relative numbers of the two +parties. After the separation in New-York, they renewed this offer, +which had once been rejected; and the "Orthodox" finally agreed to +accept a stipulated sum for their interest in the property. The Friends +called "Hicksites" numbered in the whole more than seventy thousand. + +Quakers in England generally took part against Elias Hicks and his +friends. Some, who were styled "The Evangelical Party," went much beyond +their brethren in conformity with the prevailing denominations of +Christians called Orthodox. Many of them considered a knowledge of the +letter of Scripture essential to salvation; and some even approved of +baptism by water; a singular departure from the total abrogation of +external rites, which characterized Quakerism from the beginning. +William and Mary Howitt, the well known and highly popular English +writers, were born members of this religious Society. In an article +concerning the Hicksite controversy, written for the London Christian +Advocate, the former says: "My opinion is, that Friends will see cause +to repent the excision of that great portion of their own body, on the +plea of heretical opinions. By sanctioning it, they are bound, if they +act impartially and consistently, to expel others also for heterodox +opinions. This comes of violating the sacred liberty of conscience; of +allowing ourselves to be infected with the leaven of a blind zeal, +instead of the broad philanthropy of Christ. Is there no better +alternative? Yes. To adopt the principle of William Penn; to allow +freedom of opinion; and while we permit the Evangelical party to hold +_their_ favorite notions, so long as they consent to conform to our +system of public worship, to confess that we have acted harshly to the +Hicksites, and open our arms to all who are sincere in their faith, and +orderly in their conduct." + +As the adherents of Elias Hicks at that time represented freedom of +conscience, of course Isaac T. Hopper belonged to that party, and +advocated it with characteristic zeal. In fact, he seems to have been +the Napoleon of the battle. It was not in his nature intentionally to +misrepresent any man; and even when the controversy was raging most +furiously, I believe there never was a time when he would not willingly +have acknowledged a mistake the moment he perceived it. But his +temperament was such, that wherever he deemed a principle of truth, +justice, or freedom was at stake, he could never quit an adversary till +he had demolished him completely, and _convinced_ him that he was +demolished; though he often felt great personal kindness toward the +individual thus prostrated, and was always willing to render him any +friendly service. He used to say that his resistance in this controversy +was principally roused by the disposition which he saw manifested "to +crush worthy, innocent Friends, for mere difference of opinion;" and no +one, who knew him well, could doubt that on this subject, as on others, +he was impelled by a sincere love of truth and justice. But neither he +nor any other person ever entered the lists of theological controversy +without paying dearly for the encounter. Perpetual strife grieved and +disturbed his own spirit, while his energy, perseverance, and bluntness +of speech, gained him many enemies. Wherever this unfortunate sectarian +schism was introduced, it divided families, and burst asunder the bonds +of friendship. For a long time, they seemed to be a Society of Enemies, +instead of a Society of Friends. In this respect, no one suffered more +acutely than Isaac T. Hopper. It was his nature to form very strong +friendships; and at this painful juncture, many whom he had long loved +and trusted, parted from him. Among them was his cousin Joseph Whitall, +who had embraced Quakerism at the same period of life, who had been the +friend of his boyhood, and the cherished companion of later years. They +had no personal altercation, but their intimacy gradually cooled off, +and they became as strangers. + +He had encountered other difficulties also, at a former period of his +life, the shadows of which still lay across his path. About twelve or +fifteen years after his marriage, his health began to fail. His +vigorous frame pined away to a mere shadow, and he was supposed to be +in a consumption. At the same time, he found himself involved in +pecuniary difficulties, the burden of which weighed very heavily upon +him, for many reasons. His strong sense of justice made it painful for +him to owe debts he could not pay. He had an exceeding love of imparting +to others, and these pecuniary impediments tied down his large soul with +a thousand lilliputian cords. He had an honest pride of independence, +which chafed under any obligation that could be avoided. His strong +attachment to the Society of Friends rendered him sensitive to their +opinion; and at that period their rules were exceedingly strict +concerning any of their members, who contracted debts they were unable +to pay. People are always ready to censure a man who is unprosperous in +worldly affairs; and if his character is such as to render him +prominent, he is all the more likely to be handled harshly. Of these +trials Friend Hopper had a large share, and they disturbed him +exceedingly; but the consciousness of upright intentions kept him from +sinking under the weight that pressed upon him. + +He was always a very industrious man, and whatever he did was well done. +But the fact was, the claims upon his time and attention were too +numerous to be met by any one mortal man. He had a large family to +support, and during many years his house was a home for poor Quakers, +and others, from far and near. He had much business to transact in the +Society of Friends, of which he was then an influential and highly +respected member. He was one of the founders and secretary of a society +for the employment of the poor; overseer of the Benezet school for +colored children; teacher, without recompense, in a free school for +colored adults; inspector of the prison, without a salary; member of a +fire-company; guardian of abused apprentices; the lawyer and protector +of slaves and colored people, upon all occasions. When pestilence was +raging, he was devoted to the sick. The poor were continually calling +upon him to plead with importunate landlords and creditors. He was not +unfrequently employed to settle estates involved in difficulties, which +others were afraid to undertake. He had occasional applications to exert +influence over the insane, for which he had peculiar tact. When he heard +of a man beginning to form habits likely to prove injurious to himself +or his family, he would go to him, whether his rank were high or low, +and have private conversations with him. He would tell him some story, +or suppose some case, and finally make him feel, "Thou art the man." He +had a great gift in that way, and the exertion of it sometimes +seasonably recalled those who were sliding into dangerous paths. + +When one reflects upon the time that must have been bestowed on all +these avocations, do his pecuniary embarrassments require any further +explanation? A member of his own Society summed up the case very justly +in few words. Hearing him censured by certain individuals, she replied, +"The whole amount of it is this:--the Bible requires us to love our +neighbor as well as ourselves; and Friend Isaac has loved them better." + +These straitened circumstances continued during the remainder of his +residence in Philadelphia; and his family stood by him nobly through the +trial. Household expenses were reduced within the smallest possible +limits. His wife opened a tea-store, as an available means of increasing +their income. The simple dignity of her manners, and her pleasing way of +talking, attracted many ladies, even among the fashionable, who liked to +chat with the handsome Quaker matron, while they were purchasing +household stores. The elder daughters taught school, and took upon +themselves double duty in the charge of a large family of younger +children. How much they loved and honored their father, was indicated by +their zealous efforts to assist and sustain him. I have heard him tell, +with much emotion, how one of them slipped some of her earnings into his +pocket, while he slept in his arm-chair. She was anxious to save him +from the pain of being unable to meet necessary expenses, and at the +same time to keep him ignorant of the source whence relief came. + +His spirit of independence never bent under the pressure of misfortune. +He was willing to deprive himself of everything, except the simplest +necessaries of life; but he struggled manfully against incurring +obligations. There was a Quaker fund for the gratuitous education of +children; but when he was urged to avail himself of it, he declined, +because he thought such funds ought to be reserved for those whose +necessities were greater than his own. + +The government added its exactions to other pecuniary annoyances; but it +had no power to warp the inflexibility of his principles. He had always +refused to pay the militia tax, because, in common with all +conscientious Quakers, he considered it wrong to do anything for the +support of war. It seems no more than just that a sect, who pay a double +school-tax, and a double pauper-tax, and who almost never occasion the +state any expense by their crimes, should be excused for believing +themselves bound to obey the injunction of Jesus, to return good for +evil; but politicians have decided that practical Christianity is not +always consistent with the duty of citizens. Accordingly, when Friend +Hopper refused to pay for guns and swords, to shoot and stab his fellow +men, they seized his goods to pay the tax. The articles chosen were +often of much greater value than their demand, and were sacrificed by a +hurried and careless sale. His wife had received a handsome outfit from +her father, at the time of her marriage; but she was destined to see one +article of furniture after another seized to pay the military fines, +which were alike abhorrent to her heart and her conscience. Among these +articles, was a looking glass, of an unusually large and clear plate, +which was valuable as property, and dear to her as a bridal gift from +her parents. She could not see it carried off by the officer, to meet +the expenses of military reviews, without a sigh--perhaps a tear. But +she was not a woman ever to imply a wish to have her husband compromise +his principles. + +Thus bearing up bravely against the pelting storms of life, he went on, +hand in hand with his beloved Sarah. But at last, he was called to part +with the steady friend and pleasant companion of his brightest and his +darkest hours. She passed from him into the spiritual world on the +eighteenth of the Sixth Month, (June,) 1822, in the forty-seventh year +of her age. She suffered much from the wasting pains of severe +dyspepsia; but religious hope and faith enabled her to endure all her +trials with resignation, and to view the approach of death with cheerful +serenity of soul. Toward the close of her life, the freshness of her +complexion was injured by continual suffering; but though pale, she +remained a handsome woman to the last. During her long illness, she +received innumerable marks of respect and affection from friends and +neighbors; for she was beloved by all who knew her. A short time before +her death, she offered the following prayer for the dear ones she was so +soon to leave; "O Lord, permit me to ask thy blessing for this family. +Thy favor is better than all the world can give. For want of keeping +close to thy counsel, my soul has often been pierced with sorrow. Pity +my weakness. Look thou from heaven, and forgive. Enable me, I beseech +thee, to renew my covenant, and so to live under the influence of thy +Holy Spirit, as to keep it. Preserve me in the hour of temptation. Thou +alone knowest how prone I am to err on the right side and on the left. +Bless the children! O Lord, visit and re-visit their tender minds. Lead +them in the paths of uprightness, for thy name's sake. I ask not riches +nor honor for them; but an inheritance in thy ever-blessed truth." She +left nine children, the youngest but six years old, to mourn the loss of +a most tender careful and self-sacrificing mother. + +While her bereaved husband was still under the shadow of this great +grief, he was called to part with his son Isaac, who in little more than +a year, followed his mother, at the early age of fifteen. He was a +sedate gentle lad, and had always been a very pleasant child to his +parents. His father cherished his memory with great tenderness, and +seldom spoke of him without expressing his conviction that if he had +lived he would have become a highly acceptable minister in the Society +of Friends; a destiny which would have been more agreeable to his +parental feelings, than having a son President of the United States. + +Soon after this melancholy event, Friend Hopper went to Maryland, to +visit two sisters who resided there. He was accompanied in this journey +by his wife's brother, David Tatum. At an inn where they stopped for +refreshment, the following characteristic incident occurred: A colored +girl brought in a pitcher of water. "Art thou a slave?" said Friend +Hopper. When she answered in the affirmative, he started up and +exclaimed, "It is against my principles to be waited upon by a slave." +His more timid brother-in-law inquired, in a low tone of voice, whether +he were aware that the mistress was within hearing. "To be sure I am," +answered Isaac aloud. "What would be the use of saying it, if she were +_not_ within hearing?" He then emptied the pitcher of water, and went +out to the well to re-fill it for himself. Seeing the landlady stare at +these proceedings, he explained to her that he thought it wrong to avail +himself of unpaid labor. In reply, she complained of the ingratitude of +slaves, and the hard condition of their masters. "It is very +inconvenient to live so near a free state," said she. "I had sixteen +slaves; but ten of them have run away, and I expect the rest will soon +go." + +"I hope they will," said Isaac. "I am sure I would run away, if I were a +slave." + +At first, she was disposed to be offended; but he reasoned the matter +with her, in a quiet and friendly manner, and they parted on very civil +terms. David Tatum often used to tell this anecdote, after they returned +home; and he generally added, "I never again will travel in a Southern +state with brother Isaac; for I am sure it would be at the risk of my +life." + +Time soothes all afflictions; and those who have dearly loved their +first companion are sometimes more likely than others to form a second +connexion; for the simple reason that they cannot learn to do without +the happiness to which they have been accustomed. There was an intimate +friend of the family, a member of the same religious Society, named +Hannah Attmore. She was a gentle and quiet person, of an innocent and +very pleasing countenance. Her father, a worthy and tender spirited man, +had been an intimate friend of Isaac T. Hopper, and always sympathized +with his efforts for the oppressed. A strong attachment had likewise +existed between her and Friend Hopper's wife; and during her frequent +visits to the house, it was her pleasure to volunteer assistance in the +numerous household cares. The fact that his Sarah had great esteem for +her, was doubtless a strong attraction to the widower. His suit was +favorably received, and they were married on the fourth of the second +month, (February) 1824. She was considerably younger than her +bridegroom; but vigorous health and elastic spirits had preserved his +youthful appearance, while her sober dress and grave deportment, made +her seem older than she really was. She became the mother of four +children, two of whom died in early childhood. Little Thomas, who ended +his brief career in three years and a half, was always remembered by his +parents, and other members of the family, as a remarkably bright, +precocious child, beautiful as an infant angel. + +It has been already stated that the schism in the Society of Friends +introduced much controversy concerning the theological opinions of its +founders. There was consequently an increased demand for their writings, +and the branch called "Hicksites" felt the need of a bookstore. Friend +Hopper's business had never been congenial to his character, and of late +years it had become less profitable. A large number of his wealthiest +customers were "Orthodox;" and when he took part with Elias Hicks, they +ceased to patronize him. He was perfectly aware that such would be the +result; but whenever it was necessary to choose between his principles +and prosperity, he invariably followed what he believed to be the truth. +He was considered a suitable person to superintend the proposed +bookstore, and as the state of his financial affairs rendered a change +desirable, he concluded to accede to the proposition of his friends. For +that purpose, he removed to the city of New-York in 1829. + +In the autumn of the following year, some disputed claims, which his +wife had on the estate of her maternal grandfather in Ireland, made it +necessary for him to visit that country. Experience had painfully +convinced him that theological controversy sometimes leads to personal +animosity; and that few people were so open and direct in their mode of +expressing hostility, as he himself was. Therefore, before going abroad, +he took the precaution to ask letters from citizens of various classes +and sects in Philadelphia; and he found no difficulty in obtaining them +from the most respectable and distinguished. Matthew Carey, the well +known philanthropist wrote as follows: "As you are about to visit my +native country, and have applied to me for a testimonial concerning your +character, I cheerfully comply with your request. I have been well +acquainted with you for about thirty-five years, and I can testify that, +during the whole of that time, you have been a perfect pest to our +Southern neighbors. A Southern gentleman could scarcely visit this city, +without having his slave taken from him by your instrumentality; so +that they dread you, as they do the devil." After enjoying a mutual +laugh over this epistle, another was written for the public, certifying +that he had known Isaac T. Hopper for many years as "a useful and +respectable citizen of the fairest character." + +When Friend Hopper arrived in Ireland, he found many of the Quakers +prejudiced against him, and many untrue stories in circulation, as he +had expected. Sometimes, when he visited public places, he would +overhear people saying to each other, in a low voice, "That's Isaac T. +Hopper, who has given Friends so much trouble in America." A private +letter from an "Orthodox" Quaker in Philadelphia was copied and +circulated in all directions, greatly to his disadvantage. It +represented him as a man of sanctified appearance, but wholly unworthy +of credit; that business of a pecuniary nature was a mere pretence to +cover artful designs; his real object being to spread heretical +doctrines in Ireland, and thus sow dissension among Friends. In his +journal of this visit to a foreign land, Friend Hopper says: "It is +astonishing what strange ideas some of them have concerning me. They +have been informed that I can find stolen goods, and am often applied to +on such occasions. I think it would be no hard matter to make them +believe me a wizard." This was probably a serious version of his +pleasantry with the Dutchman about finding his goods by calculating the +age of the moon. + +Many of the Irish Friends had formed from hearsay the most extravagant +misconceptions concerning the Friends called "Hicksites." They supposed +them to be outright infidels, and that the grossest immoralities were +tolerated among them; that they pointed loaded pistols at the "Orthodox" +brethren, and drove them out of their own meeting-houses by main force. +One of them expressed great surprise when Friend Hopper informed him +that they were in the constant habit of reading the Scriptures in their +families, and maintained among themselves the same discipline that had +always been used in the Society. Sometimes when he attended Quaker +meetings during the early portion of his visit, the ministers preached +at him, by cautioning young people to beware of the adversary, who was +now going about like a cunning serpent, in which form he was far more +dangerous, than when he assumed the appearance of a roaring lion. But +after a while, this tendency was rebuked by other preachers, who +inculcated forbearance in judging others; reminding their hearers that +the spirit of the Gospel always breathed peace and good will toward men. +As for Isaac himself, he behaved with characteristic openness. When a +stranger, in Quaker costume, introduced himself, and invited him to go +home and dine with him, he replied, "I am represented by some people as +a very bad man; and I do not wish to impose myself upon the hospitality +of strangers, without letting them know who I am." + +The stranger assured him that he knew very well who he was, and cared +not a straw what opinions they accused him of; that he was going to have +a company of Friends at dinner, who wished to converse with him. He went +accordingly, and was received with true Irish hospitality and kindness. + +Upon another occasion, a Quaker lady, who did not know he was a +"Hicksite," observed to him, "I suppose the Society of Friends are very +much thinned in America, since so many have gone off from them." He +replied, "It is always best to be candid. I belong to the party called +Hicksites, deists, and schismatics; and I suppose they are the ones to +whom thou hast alluded as having gone off from the Society. I should +like to talk with thee concerning the separation in America; for we have +been greatly misrepresented. But I came to this country solely on +business, and I have no wish to say or do anything that can unsettle the +mind, or wound the feelings of any Friend." She seemed very much +surprised, and for a minute or two covered her face with her hands. But +when the company broke up, some hours after, she followed him into the +entry, and cordially invited him to visit her. "What! canst thou +tolerate the company of a heretic?" he exclaimed. She replied with a +smile, "Yes, such a one as thou art." + +In fact, wherever he had a chance to make himself known, prejudices +melted away under the influence of his frank and kindly manners. Some +people of other sects, as well of his own, took an interest in him for +the very reasons that caused distrust and dislike in others; viz: +because they had heard of him as the champion of perfect liberty of +conscience, who considered it unnecessary to bind men by any creed +whatsoever. Among these, he mentions in his journal, Professor Stokes of +Dublin, who relinquished a salary of two thousand eight hundred pounds a +year, because he could not conscientiously subscribe to the doctrine of +the Trinity. It was proposed to dismiss him from the college altogether; +but he demanded a hearing before the trustees and students. This +privilege could not be denied, without infringing the laws of the +institution; and deeming that such a discussion might prove injurious, +they concluded to retain him, on a salary of eight hundred pounds. +Friend Hopper describes him thus: "He is an intelligent and +liberal-minded man, and has a faculty of exposing the errors and +absurdities of the Athanasian Creed to much purpose. He was of a good +spirit, and I was much gratified with his company. He insisted upon +accompanying me home in the evening, and though I remonstrated against +it, on account of his advanced age, he attended me to the door of my +lodgings." + +During this visit to Ireland, Friend Hopper was treated with great +hospitality and respect by many who were wealthy, and many who were not +wealthy; by members of the Society of Friends, and of various other +religious sects. He formed a high estimate of the Irish character, and +to the day of his death, always spoke with warm affection of the friends +he found there. In his journal, he often alludes with pleasure to the +children he met with, in families where he visited; for he was always +extremely partial to the young. Speaking of a visit to a gentleman in +the environs of Dublin, by the name of Wilson, he says: "I rose early +in the morning, and the eldest daughter, about ten or eleven years old, +very politely invited me to walk with her. We rambled about in the +pastures, and through beautiful groves of oak, beech and holly. The +little creature tried her very best to amuse me. She told me about the +birds and the hares, and other inhabitants of the woods. She inquired +whether I did not want very much to see my wife and children; and +exclaimed, 'How I should like to see you meet them! It would give you so +much pleasure!'" He speaks of a little girl in another family, who seemed +very much attracted toward him, and finally whispered to her father, "I +want to go and speak to that Friend." She was introduced accordingly, +and they had much pleasant chat together. + +In one of the families where he visited, they told him an instructive +story concerning a Quaker who resided in Dublin, by the name of Joseph +Torrey. One day when he was passing through the streets, he saw a man +leading a horse, which was evidently much diseased. His compassionate +heart was pained by the sight, and he asked the man where he was going. +He replied, "The horse has the staggers, and I am going to sell him to +the carrion-butchers." + +"Wilt thou sell him to me for a crown!" inquired Joseph. The man readily +assented, and the poor animal was led to the stable of his new friend, +where he was most kindly tended. Suitable remedies and careful treatment +soon restored him to health and beauty. One day, when Friend Torrey was +riding him in Phoenix Park, a gentleman looked very earnestly at the +horse, and at last inquired whether his owner would be willing to sell +him. "Perhaps I would," replied Joseph, "if I could get a very good +master for him." + +"He so strongly resembles a favorite horse I once had, that I should +think he was the same, if I didn't know he was dead," rejoined the +stranger. + +"Did he die in thy stable?" inquired Joseph. + +The gentleman replied, "No. He had the staggers very badly, and I sent +him to the carrion-butchers." + +"I should be sorry to sell an animal to any man, who would send him to +the carrion-butchers because he was diseased," answered Joseph. "If thou +wert ill, how wouldst thou like to have thy throat cut, instead of being +kindly nursed?" + +With some surprise, the gentleman inquired whether he intended to +compare him to a horse. "No," replied Joseph; "but animals have +feelings, as well as human beings; and when they are afflicted with +disease, they ought to be carefully attended. If I consent to sell thee +this horse, I shall exact a promise that thou wilt have him kindly +nursed when he is sick, and not send him to have his throat cut." + +The gentleman readily promised all that was required, and said he should +consider himself very fortunate to obtain a horse that so much resembled +his old favorite. When he called the next day, to complete the bargain, +he inquired whether forty guineas would be a satisfactory price. The +conscientious Quaker answered, "I have good reason to believe the horse +was once thine; and I am willing to restore him to thee on the +conditions I have mentioned. I have saved him from the carrion-butchers, +but I will charge thee merely what I have expended for his food and +medicine. Let it be a lesson to thee to treat animals kindly, when they +are diseased. Never again send to the butchers a faithful servant, that +cannot plead for himself, and may, with proper attention, again become +useful to thee." + +How little Friend Hopper was inclined to minister to aristocratic +prejudices, may be inferred from the following anecdote. One day, while +he was visiting a wealthy family in Dublin, a note was handed to him, +inviting him to dine the next day. When he read it aloud, his host +remarked, "Those people are very respectable, but not of the first +circles. They belong to our church, but not exactly to our set. Their +father was a mechanic." + +"Well I am a mechanic myself," said Isaac. "Perhaps if thou hadst known +that fact, thou wouldst not have invited _me_?" + +"Is it possible," exclaimed his host, "that a man of your information +and appearance can be a mechanic!" + +"I followed the business of a tailor for many years," rejoined his +guest. "Look at my hands! Dost thou not see marks of the shears? Some of +the mayors of Philadelphia have been tailors. When I lived there, I +often walked the streets with the Chief Justice. It never occurred to me +that it was any honor, and I don't think it did to him." + +Upon one occasion, Friend Hopper went into the Court of Chancery in +Dublin, and kept his hat on, according to Quaker custom. While he was +listening to the pleading, he noticed that a person who sat near the +Chancellor fixed his eyes upon him with a very stern expression. This +attracted the attention of lawyers and spectators, who also began to +look at him, Presently an officer tapped him on the shoulder, and said, +"Your hat, sir!" + +"What's the matter with my hat?" he inquired. + +"Take it off?" rejoined the officer. "You are in his Majesty Court of +Chancery." + +"That is an honor I reserve for his Majesty's Master," he replied. +"Perhaps it is my shoes thou meanest?" + +The officer seemed embarrassed, but said no more; and when the Friend +had stayed as long as he felt inclined, he quietly withdrew. + +One day, when he was walking with a lawyer in Dublin, they passed the +Lord Lieutenant's castle. He expressed a wish to see the Council +Chamber, but was informed that it was not open to strangers. "I have a +mind to go and try," said he to his companion. "Wilt thou go with me?" + +"No indeed," he replied; "and I would advise you not to go." + +He marched in, however, with his broad beaver on, and found the Lord +Lieutenant surrounded by a number of gentleman. "I am an American," said +he. "I have heard a great deal about the Lord Lieutenant's castle, and +if it will give no offence, I should like very much to see it." + +His lordship seemed surprised by this unceremonious introduction, but he +smiled, and said to a servant, "Show this American whatever he wishes to +see." + +He was conducted into various apartments, where he saw pictures, +statues, ancient armor, antique coins, and many other curious articles. +At parting, the master of the mansion was extremely polite, and gave him +much interesting information on a variety of topics. When he rejoined +his companion, who had agreed to wait for him at some appointed place, +he was met with the inquiry, "Well, what luck?" + +"O, the best luck in the world," he replied, "I was treated with great +politeness." + +"Well certainly, Mr. Hopper, you are an extraordinary man," responded +the lawyer. "I wouldn't have ventured to try such an experiment." + +At the expiration of four months, having completed the business which +rendered his presence in Ireland necessary, he made a short visit to +England, on his way home. There also his hat was objected to on several +occasions. While in Bristol, he asked permission to look at the interior +of the Cathedral. He had been walking about some little time, when a +rough-looking man said to him, in a very surly tone, "Take off your hat, +sir!" + +He replied very courteously, "I have asked permission to enter here to +gratify my curiosity as a stranger. I hope it is no offence." + +"Take off your hat!" rejoined the rude man. "If you don't, I'll take it +off for you." + +Friend Hopper leaned on his cane, looked him full in the face, and +answered very coolly, "If thou dost, I hope thou wilt send it to my +lodgings; for I shall have need of it this afternoon. I lodge at No. 35, +Lower Crescent, Clifton." The place designated was about a mile from the +Cathedral. The man stared at him, as if puzzled to decide whether he +were talking to an insane person, or not. When the imperturbable Quaker +had seen all he cared to see, he deliberately walked away. + +At Westminster Abbey he paid the customary fee of two shillings sixpence +for admission. The door-keeper followed him, saying, "You must uncover +yourself, sir." + +"Uncover myself!" exclaimed the Friend, with an affectation of ignorant +simplicity. "What dost thou mean? Must I take off my coat?" + +"Your coat!" responded the man, smiling. "No indeed. I mean your hat." + +"And what should I take off my hat for?" he inquired. + +"Because you are in a church, sir," answered the door-keeper. + +"I see no church here," rejoined the Quaker. "Perhaps thou meanest the +house where the church assembles. I suppose thou art aware that it is +the _people_, not the _building_, that constitutes a church?" + +The idea seemed new to the man, but he merely repeated, "You must take +off your hat, sir." + +But the Friend again inquired, "What for? On account of these images? +Thou knowest Scripture commands us not to worship graven images." + +The man persisted in saying that no person could be permitted to pass +through the church without uncovering his head. "Well friend," rejoined +Isaac, "I have some conscientious scruples on that subject; so give me +back my money, and I will go out." + +The reverential habits of the door-keeper were not quite strong enough +to compel him to that sacrifice; and he walked away, without saying +anything more on the subject. + +When Friend Hopper visited the House of Lords, he asked the +sergeant-at-arms if he might sit upon the throne. He replied, "No, sir. +No one but his majesty sits there." + +"Wherein does his majesty differ from other men?" inquired he. "If his +head were cut off, wouldn't he die?" + +"Certainly he would," replied the officer. + +"So would an American," rejoined Friend Hopper. As he spoke, he stepped +up to the gilded railing that surrounded the throne, and tried to open +the gate. The officer told him it was locked. "Well won't the same key +that locked it unlock it?" inquired he. "Is this the key hanging here?" + +Being informed that it was, he took it down and unlocked the gate. He +removed the satin covering from the throne, carefully dusted the railing +with his handkerchief, before he hung the satin over it, and then seated +himself in the royal chair. "Well," said he, "do I look anything like +his majesty?" + +The man seemed embarrassed, but smiled as he answered, "Why, sir, you +certainly fill the throne very respectably." + +There were several noblemen in the room, who seemed to be extremely +amused by these unusual proceedings. + +At a place called Jordans, about twenty-two miles from London, he +visited the grave of William Penn. + +In his journal, he says: "The ground is surrounded by a neat hedge, and +is kept in good order. I picked some grass and moss from the graves of +William Penn, Thomas Ellwood, and Isaac Pennington; and some ivy and +holly from the hedge; which I intend to take with me to America, as a +memorial of my visit. I entered the meeting-house, and sat on the +benches which had been occupied by George Fox, William Penn, and George +Whitehead, in years long since passed away. It brought those old +Friends so distinctly before the view of my mind, that my heart was +ready to exclaim, 'Surely this is no other than the house of God, and +this is the gate of heaven.' I cannot describe my feelings. The manly +and majestic features of George Fox, and the mournful yet benevolent +countenance of Isaac Pennington, seemed to rise before me. But this is +human weakness. Those men bore the burthen and heat of their own day; +they faithfully used the talents committed to their trust; and I doubt +not they are now reaping the reward given to faithful servants. It is +permitted us to love their memories, but not to idolize them. They could +deliver neither son or daughter by their righteousness; but only their +own souls." + +"In the great city of London everything tended to satisfy me that the +state of our religious Society is generally very low. A light was once +kindled there, that illuminated distant lands. As I walked the streets, +I remembered the labors, the sufferings, and the final triumph of those +illustrious sons of the morning, George Fox, George Whitehead, William +Penn, and a host of others; men who loved not their lives in comparison +with the holy cause of truth and righteousness, in which they were +called to labor. These worthies have been succeeded by a generation, who +seem disposed to garnish the sepulchres of their fathers, and live upon +the fruit of their labors, without submitting to the power of that +Cross, which made them what they were. There appears to me to be much +formality and dryness among them; though there are a few who mourn, +almost without hope, over the desolation that has been made by the +world, the flesh, and the devil." + +There were many poor emigrants on board the merchant ship, in which +Friend Hopper returned home. He soon established friendly communication +with them, and entered with sympathy into all their troubles. He made +frequent visits to the steerage during the long voyage, and always had +something comforting and cheering to say to the poor souls. There was a +clergyman on board, who also wished to benefit them, but he approached +them in an official way, to which they did not so readily respond. One +day, when he invited the emigrants to join him in prayer, an old Irish +woman replied, "I'd rather play a game o' cards, than hear you prache and +pray." She pointed to Friend Hopper, and added, "_He_ comes and stays +among us, and always spakes a word o' comfort, and does us some good. +But _you_ come and prache and pray, and then you are gone. One look from +that Quaker gintleman is worth all the praching and praying that be in +you." + +The vessel encountered a dense fog, and ran on a sand bank as they +approached the Jersey shore. A tremendous sea was rolling, and dashed +against the ship with such force, that she seemed every moment in +danger of being shattered into fragments. If there had been a violent +gale of wind, all must have been inevitably lost. The passengers were +generally in a state of extreme terror. Screams and groans were heard in +every direction. But Friend Hopper's mind was preserved in a state of +great equanimity. He entreated the people to be quiet, and try to keep +possession of their faculties, that they might be ready to do whatever +was best, in case of emergency. Seeing him so calm, they gathered +closely round him, as if they thought he had some power to save them. +There was a naval officer on board, whose frenzied state of feeling +vented itself in blasphemous language. Friend Hopper, who was always +disturbed by irreverent use of the name of Deity, was peculiarly shocked +by it under these solemn circumstances. He walked up to the officer, put +his hand on his shoulder, and looking him in the face, said, "From what +I have heard of thy military exploits, I supposed thou wert a brave man; +but here thou art pouring forth blasphemies, to keep up the appearance +of courage, while thy pale face and quivering lips show that thou art in +mortal fear. I am ashamed of thee. If thou hast no reverence for Deity +thyself, thou shouldst show some regard for the feelings of those who +have." The officer ceased swearing, and treated his adviser with marked +respect. A friendship was formed between them, which continued as long +as the captain lived. + +The clergyman on board afterward said to Friend Hopper, "If any other +person had talked to him in that manner, he would have knocked him +down." + +In about two hours, the vessel floated off the sandbar and went safely +into the harbor of New-York. At the custom-house, the clergyman was in +some perplexity about a large quantity of books he had brought with him, +on which it was proposed to charge high duties. "Perhaps I can get them +through for thee," said Friend Hopper. "I will try." He went up to the +officer, and said, "Isn't it a rule of the custom-house not to charge a +man for the tools of his trade?" He replied that it was. "Then thou art +bound to let this priest's books pass free," rejoined the Friend. +"Preaching is the trade he gets his living by; and these books are the +tools he must use." The clergyman being aware of Quaker views with +regard to a paid ministry, seemed doubtful whether to be pleased or not, +with _such_ a mode of helping him out of difficulty. However, he took +the joke as good naturedly as it was offered, and the books passed free, +on the assurance that they were all for his own library. + +Friend Hopper's bookstore in New-York was a place of great resort for +members of his own sect. His animated style of conversation, his +thousand and one anecdotes of runaway slaves, his descriptions of keen +encounters with the "Orthodox," in the process of separation, attracted +many listeners. His intelligence and well-known conscientiousness +commanded respect, and he was held in high estimation by his own branch +of the Society, though the opposite party naturally entertained a less +favorable opinion of the "Hicksite" champion. Such a character as he was +must necessarily always be a man of mark, with warm friends and bitter +enemies. + +His resemblance to Bonaparte attracted attention in New-York, as it had +done in Philadelphia. Not long after he removed to that city, there was +a dramatic representation at the Park Theatre, in which Placide +personated the French Emperor. While this play was attracting public +attention, the manager happened to meet Friend Hopper in the street. As +soon as he saw him, he exclaimed, "Here is Napoleon himself come back +again!" He remarked to some of his acquaintance that he would gladly +give that Quaker gentleman one hundred dollars a night, if he would +consent to appear on the stage in the costume of Bonaparte. + +About this period northern hostility to slavery took a new form, more +bold and uncompromising than the old Abolition Societies. It demanded +the immediate and unconditional emancipation of every slave, in a voice +which has not yet been silenced, and never will be, while the +oppressive system continues to disgrace our country. Of course, Friend +Hopper could not otherwise than sympathize with any movement for the +abolition of slavery, based on pacific principles. Pictures and +pamphlets, published by the Anti-Slavery Society were offered for sale +in his book-store. During the popular excitement on this subject, in +1834, he was told that his store was about to be attacked by an +infuriated rabble, and he had better remove all such publications from +the window. "Dost thou think I am such a coward as to forsake my +principles, or conceal them, at the bidding of a mob?" said he. +Presently, another messenger came to announce that the mob were already +in progress, at the distance of a few streets. He was earnestly advised +at least to put up the shutters, that their attention might not be +attracted by the pictures. "I shall do no such thing," he replied. The +excited throng soon came pouring down the street, with loud and +discordant yells. Friend Hopper walked out and stood on the steps. The +mob stopped in front of his store. He looked calmly and firmly at them, +and they looked irresolutely at him, like a wild animal spell-bound by +the fixed gaze of a human eye. After a brief pause, they renewed their +yells, and some of their leaders called out, "Go on, to Rose-street!" +They obeyed these orders, and in the absent of Lewis Tappan, a +well-known abolitionist, they burst open his house, and destroyed his +furniture. + +In 1835, Judge Chinn, of Mississippi, visited New-York, and brought with +him a slave, said to have cost the large sum of fifteen hundred dollars. +A few days after their arrival in the city, the slave eloped, and a +reward of five hundred dollars was offered for his apprehension. Friend +Hopper knew nothing about him; but some mischievous person wrote a note +to Judge Chinn, stating that the fugitive was concealed at his store, in +Pearl-street. A warrant was procured and put into the hands of a +constable frequently employed in that base business. At that season of +the year, many Southerners were in the city to purchase goods. A number +of them accompanied the judge to Pearl-street, and distributed +themselves at short distances, in order to arrest the slave, in case he +attempted to escape. They preferred to search the store in the absence +of Friend Hopper, and watched nearly an hour for a favorable +opportunity. Meanwhile, he was entirely unconscious of their +proceedings; and having occasion to call at a house a few doors below, +he left the store for a short time in charge of one of his sons. As soon +as he was gone, four or five men rushed in. Not finding the object of +their pursuit, they jumped out of a back window, and began to search +some buildings in the rear. When people complained of such +unceremonious intrusion upon their premises, the constable excused +himself by saying they were trying to apprehend a felon. Friend Hopper's +son called out that it was a slave, not a felon, they were in search of; +for he heard them say so. This made the constable very angry; for, like +most slave-catchers, he was eager for the reward, but rather ashamed of +the services by which he sought to obtain it. He swore roundly, and one +of his party gave the young man a blow on his face. + +Friend Hopper, being sent for, returned immediately; and for some time +after, he observed a respectable looking person occasionally peeping +into the store, and skulking out of sight as soon as he thought himself +observed. At last, he went to the door, and said, "My friend, if thou +hast business with me, come in and let me know what it is; but don't be +prying about my premises in that way." He walked off, and joined a group +of people, who seemed to be much excited. Friend Hopper followed, and +found they were the men who had been recently searching his store. He +said to their leader, "Art thou the impertinent fellow who has been +intruding upon my premises, in my absence?" The constable replied that +he had a warrant, and was determined to execute it. Though a stranger to +his countenance, Friend Hopper was well aware that he was noted for +hunting slaves, and being unable to disguise his abhorrence of the +odious business, he said, "Judas betrayed his master for thirty pieces +of silver; and for a like sum, I suppose thou wouldst seize thy brother +by the throat, and send him into interminable bondage. If thy conscience +were as susceptible of conviction as his was, thou wouldst do as he did; +and thus rid the community of an intolerable nuisance." + +One of the Southerners repeated the word "Brother!" in a very sneering +tone. + +"Yes," rejoined Friend Hopper, "I said brother." + +He returned to his store, but was soon summoned into the street again, +by a complaint that the constable and his troop of slaveholders were +very roughly handling a colored man, saying he had no business to keep +in their vicinity. When Friend Hopper interfered, to prevent further +abuse, several of the Southerners pointed bowie-knives and pistols at +him. He told the constable it was his duty, as a police-officer, to +arrest those men for carrying deadly weapons and making such a turmoil +in the street; and he threatened to complain of him if he did not do it. +He complied very reluctantly, and of course the culprits escaped before +they reached the police-office. + +A few days after, as young Mr. Hopper was walking up Chatham-street, on +his way home in the evening, some unknown person came behind him, +knocked him down, and beat him in a most savage manner, so that he was +unable to leave his room for many days. No doubt was entertained that +this brutal attack was by one of the company who were on the search for +Judge Chinn's slave. + +It was afterward rumored that the fugitive had arrived safely in Canada. +I never heard that he returned to the happy condition of slavery; though +his master predicted that he would do so, and said he never would have +been so foolish as to leave it, if it had not been for the false +representations of abolitionists. + +In 1836, the hatred which Southerners bore to Friend Hopper's name was +manifested in a cruel and altogether unprovoked outrage on his son, +which caused the young man a great deal of suffering, and well nigh cost +him his life. John Hopper, Esq., now a lawyer in the city of New-York, +had occasion to go to the South on business. He remained in Charleston +about two months, during which time he was treated with courtesy in his +business relations, and received many kind attentions in the intercourse +of social life. One little incident that occurred during his visit +illustrates the tenacious attachment of Friends to their own mode of +worship. When he left home, his father had exhorted him to attend +Friends' meeting while he was in Charleston. He told him that a meeting +had been established there many years ago, but he supposed there were +not half a dozen members remaining, and probably they had no ministry; +for the original settlers had died, or left Carolina on account of their +testimony against slavery. But as Quakers believe that silent worship is +often more blessed to the soul, than the most eloquent preaching, he had +a strong desire that his son should attend the meeting constantly, even +if he found but two or three to unite with him. The young man promised +that he would do so. Accordingly, when he arrived in Charleston, he +inquired for the meeting-house, and was informed that it was well nigh +deserted. On the first day of the week, he went to the place designated, +and found a venerable, kind-looking Friend seated under the preachers' +gallery. In obedience to a signal from him, he took a seat by his side, +and they remained there in silence nearly two hours. Then the old man +turned and shook hands with him, as an indication that the meeting was +concluded, according to the custom of the Society of Friends. When he +found that he was talking to the son of Isaac T. Hopper, and that he had +promised to attend meeting there, during his stay in Charleston, he was +so much affected, that his eyes filled with tears. "Oh, I shall be glad +of thy company," said he; "for most of the time, this winter, I am here +all alone. My old friends and companions have all died, or moved away. I +come here twice on First days, and once on Fifth day, and sit all, all +alone, till I feel it right to leave the house and go home." + +This lonely old worshipper once had an intimate friend, who for a long +time was his only companion in the silent meeting. At the close, they +shook hands and walked off together, enjoying a kindly chat on their way +home. Unfortunately, some difficulty afterward occurred between them, +which completely estranged them from each other. Both still clung to +their old place of worship. They took their accustomed seats, and +remained silent for a couple of hours; but they parted without shaking +hands, or speaking a single word. This alienation almost broke the old +man's heart. After awhile, he lost even, this shadow of companionship, +and there remained only "the voice within," and echoes of memory from +the empty benches. + +While Mr. Hopper remained in Charleston, he went to the Quaker +meeting-house every Sunday, and rarely found any one there except the +persevering old Friend, who often invited him to go home with him. He +seemed to take great satisfaction in talking with him about his father, +and listening to what he had heard him say concerning the Society of +Friends. When the farewell hour came, he was much affected; for he felt +it not likely they would ever meet again; and the conversation of the +young stranger had formed a link between him and the Quakerism he loved +so well. The old man continued to sit alone under the preacher's gallery +till the house took fire and was burned to the ground. He died soon +after that event, at a very advanced age. + +Another incident, which occurred during Mr. Hopper's stay in Charleston, +seemed exceedingly trivial at the time, but came very near producing +fatal consequences. One day, when a clergyman whom he visited was +showing him his library, he mentioned that his father had quite an +antiquarian taste for old documents connected with the Society of +Friends. At parting, the clergyman gave him several pamphlets for his +father, and among them happened to be a tract published by Friends in +Philadelphia, describing the colony at Sierra Leone, and giving an +account of the slave trade on the coast of Africa. He put the pamphlets +in his trunk, and started for Savannah, where he arrived on the +twenty-eighth of January. At the City Hotel, he unfortunately +encountered a marshal of the city of New-York, who was much employed in +catching runaway slaves, and of course sympathized with slaveholders. He +pointed the young stranger out, as a son of Isaac T. Hopper, the +notorious abolitionist. This information kindled a flame immediately, +and they began to discuss plans of vengeance. The traveller, not +dreaming of danger, retired to his room soon after supper. In a few +minutes, his door was forced open by a gang of intoxicated men, escorted +by the New-York marshal. They assailed him with a volley of blasphemous +language, struck him, kicked him, and spit in his face. They broke open +and rifled his trunk, and searched his pockets for abolition documents. +When they found the harmless little Quaker tract about the colony at +Sierra Leone, they screamed with exultation. They shouted, "Here is what +we wanted! Here is proof of abolitionism!" Some of them rushed out and +told the mob, who crowded the bar-room and entries, that they had found +a trunk full of abolition tracts. Others seized Mr. Hopper violently, +telling him to say his last prayers, and go with them. The proprietor of +the City Hotel was very naturally alarmed for the safety of the +building. He was in a great passion, and conjured them to carry their +victim down forthwith; saying he could do nothing with the mob below, +who were getting very impatient waiting for him. Turning to Mr. Hopper, +he said, "Young man, you are in a very unfortunate situation. You ought +never to have left your home. But it is your own doing; and you deserve +your fate." When appealed to for protection, he exclaimed, "Good God! +you must not appeal to me. This is a damned delicate business. I shall +not be able to protect my own property. But I will go for the mayor." + +One of the bar-keeper's confidential friends sent him a slip of paper, +on which was written, "His only mode of escape is by the window;" and +the bar-keeper, who had previously shown himself decidedly unfriendly, +urged him again and again to profit by this advice. He occupied the +third story, and the street below his window was thronged with an +infuriated mob, thirsting and clamoring for his blood. In view of these +facts, it seems not very uncharitable to suppose that the advice was +given to make sure of his death, apparently by his own act, and thus +save the city of Savannah from the disgrace of the deed. Of the two +terrible alternatives, he preferred going down-stairs into the midst of +the angry mob, who were getting more and more maddened by liquor, having +taken forcible possession of the bar. He considered his fate inevitable, +and had made up his mind to die. But at the foot of the stairs, he was +met by the mayor and several aldermen, whose timely arrival saved his +life. After asking some questions, and receiving the assurance that he +came to Savannah solely on commercial business, the magistrates +accompanied Mr. Hopper to his room, and briefly examined his books and +papers. The mayor then went down and addressed the mob, assuring them +that he should be kept in custody during the night; that strict +investigation should be made, and if there was the slightest evidence of +his being an abolitionist, he should not be suffered to go at large. +The mayor and a large body of civil officers accompanied the prisoner to +the guard-house, and a number of citizens volunteered their services, to +strengthen the escort; but all their efforts scarcely sufficed to keep +him from the grasp of the infuriated multitude. He was placed in a +noisome cell, to await his trial, and the customary guard was increased +for his protection. Portions of the mob continued howling round the +prison all night, and the mayor was sent for several times to prevent +their bursting in. A gallows was erected, with a barrel of feathers and +a tub of tar in readiness under it, that they might amuse themselves +with their victim before they murdered him. + +Next morning, at five o'clock, the prisoner was brought before the mayor +for further examination. Many of the mob followed him to the door of the +office to await the issue. The evidence was satisfactory that he +belonged to no anti-slavery society, and that his business in Savannah +had no connection whatever with that subject. As for the pamphlet about +Sierra Leone, the mayor said he considered that evidence in his favor; +because it was written in support of colonization. Before the +examination closed, there came a driving rain, which dispersed the mob +lying in wait round the building. Aided by this lucky storm their +destined victim passed out without being observed. At parting, the +mayor said to him, "Young man, you may consider it a miracle that you +have escaped with your life." + +He took refuge on board the ship Angelique, bound for New-York, and was +received with much kindness and sympathy by Captain Nichols, the +commander. There was likewise a sailor on board, who happened to be one +of the many that owed a debt of gratitude to Friend Hopper; and he swore +he would shoot anybody that attempted to harm his son. In a short time, +a messenger came from the mayor to announce that the populace had +discovered where Mr. Hopper was secreted, and would probably attack the +vessel. In this emergency, the captain behaved nobly toward his hunted +fellow-citizen. He requested him to lie down flat in the bottom of a +boat, which he himself entered and conducted to a brig bound for +Providence. The captain was a New-England man, but having been long +engaged in Southern trade, his principles on the subject of slavery were +adapted to his interest. He gave the persecuted young traveller a most +ungracious reception, and said if he thought he was an abolitionist he +would send him directly back to Savannah. However, the representations +of Captain Nichols induced him to consent that he should be put on +board. They had a tedious passage of thirty-five days, during which +there was a long and violent storm, that seemed likely to wreck the +vessel. The mob had robbed Mr. Hopper of his money and clothing. He had +no comfortable garments to shield him from the severe cold, and his +hands and feet were frozen. At last, he arrived at Providence, and went +on board the steamer Benjamin Franklin, bound for New-York. There he had +the good fortune to meet with a colored waiter, whose father had been +redeemed from slavery by Friend Hopper's exertions. He was assiduously +devoted to the son of his benefactor, and did everything in his power to +alleviate his distressed condition. + +When the traveller arrived at his home, he was so haggard and worn down +with danger and fatigue, that his family scarcely recognized him. His +father was much excited and deeply affected, when he heard what perils +he had gone through merely on account of his name. He soon after +addressed the following letter to the mayor of Savannah: + + "New-York, 4th month, 18th, 1836. + + "Friend, + + "My object in addressing thee is to express my heartfelt gratitude + for thy exertions in saving the life of my son, which I have cause + to believe was in imminent peril, from the violence of unreasonable + men, while in your city a few weeks ago. I am informed that very + soon after his arrival in Savannah, the fact became known to a + marshal of this city, who was then there, and who, by his + misrepresentations, excited the rabble to a determination to + perpetrate the most inhuman outrage upon him, and in all + probability to take his life; and that preparations were made, + which, if carried into effect, would doubtless have produced that + result. + + "Tar and feathers, as a mode of punishment, I am inclined to think + is rather of modern invention; and I am doubtful whether they will + be more efficient than whipping, cutting off ears, the rack, the + halter, and the stake. Superstition and intolerance have long ago + called in all these to their aid, in suppressing reformation in + religion; but they were unable to accomplish the end designed; and + if I am not greatly mistaken, they would prove entirely + insufficient to stop the progress of emancipation. + + "If it is the determination of the people of Savannah to deliver up + to a lawless and blood-thirsty mob every person coming among them + whose sentiments are opposed to slavery, I apprehend there are very + few at the North who would not be obnoxious to their hostility. For + I believe they all view slavery as an evil that must be abolished + at no very distant day. Would it not be well for the people of the + South to reflect upon the tendency of their conduct? Where such + aggressions upon humanity are committed, the slaves will naturally + inquire into the cause; and when they are informed that it is in + consequence of their oppressed and degraded condition, and that the + persons thus persecuted are charged with being their friends, they + cannot feel indifferent. One such scene as was witnessed in the + case of my son would tend more to excite a spirit of insurrection + and insubordination among them, than ten thousand 'incendiary + pamphlets,' not one word of which any of them could read. My son + went to Savannah solely on his own private business, without any + intention of interfering with the slaves, or with the subject of + slavery in any way. But even supposing the charge to have been + true, do not your laws award sufficient punishment? How could you + stand silently by, and witness proceedings that would put to blush + the Arab, or the untutored inhabitant of the wilderness in our own + country? The negroes, whom you affect to despise so much, would set + an example of benevolence and humanity, when on their own soil, if + a stranger came among them, which you cannot be prepared to + imitate, till you have made great improvements in civilization. + + "The people of Savannah profess Christianity; but what avails + profession, where latitude is given to the vilest and most depraved + passions of the human heart? Suppose the mob had murdered my son; a + young man who went among you in the ordinary course of his + business, and who, even according to _your_ understanding of the + term, had done no evil; a young man of fair reputation, with + numerous near relatives and friends to mourn over the barbarous + deed; would you have been guiltless? I think the just witness in + your consciences would answer No. + + "I have long deplored the evils of slavery, and my sympathy has + often been much excited for the master, as well as the slave. I am + aware of the difficulties attending the system, and I should + rejoice if I could aid in devising some mode of relief, that would + satisfy the claims of justice and humanity, and at the same time be + acceptable to the inhabitants of the South. + + "It is certainly cause of deep regret that the Southern people + suffer their angry passions to become so highly excited on this + subject, which, of all others, ought to be calmly considered. For + it remains a truth that 'the wrath of man worketh not the + righteousness of God,' neither can it open his eyes to see in what + his best interest consists. O, that your ears may be open to the + voice of wisdom before it is too late! The language of an eminent + statesman, who was a slaveholder, often occurs to me: 'I tremble + for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that his + justice will not sleep forever.' Surely we have high authority for + believing that 'For the crying of the poor, and the sighing of the + needy, God will arise.' I hope I shall not be suspected of + entertaining hostile or unkind feelings toward the people of the + South, when I say that I believe slavery must and will be + abolished. As sure as God is merciful and good, it is an evil that + cannot endure forever. + + "An inspired apostle says, that our gracious Creator 'hath made of + one blood all nations of men;' and our Saviour gave this + commandment: 'As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to + them likewise.' If we believe these declarations, and I hope none + doubt their authority, I should think reasoning unnecessary to + convince us that to oppress and enslave our fellow men cannot be + pleasing to Him, who is just and equal in all his ways. + + "My concern for the welfare of my fellow men is not confined to + color, or circumscribed by geographical lines. I can never see + human suffering without feeling compassion, and I would always + gladly alleviate it, if I had it in my power. I remember that we + are all, without distinction of color or locality, children of the + same Universal Parent, who delights to see the human family dwell + together in peace and harmony. I am strongly inclined to the + opinion that the proceedings of that portion of the inhabitants of + the North who are called abolitionists, would not produce so much + agitation and excitement at the South, if the people there felt + entirely satisfied that slavery was justifiable in the sight of + infinite purity and justice. An eminent minister of the Gospel, + about the middle of the seventeenth century, often urged upon the + attention of people this emphatic injunction: 'Mind the light!' + 'All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for + whatsoever doth make manifest is light.' Now, if this light, or + spirit of truth, 'a manifestation of which is given to every man to + profit withal,' should be found testifying in your consciences + against injustice and oppression, regard its admonitions! It will + let none remain at ease in their sins. It will justify for well + doing; but to those who rebel against it, and disregard its + reproofs, it will become the 'worm that dieth not, and the fire + that is not quenched.' + + "I am aware that complaints are often made, because obstacles are + thrown in the way of Southerners reclaiming their fugitive slaves. + But bring the matter home to yourselves. Suppose a white man + resided among you, who, for a series of years, had conducted with + sobriety, industry, and probity, and had given frequent evidence of + the kindness of his heart, by a disposition to oblige whenever + opportunity offered; suppose he had a wife and children dependent + upon him, and supported them comfortably and respectably; could you + see that man dragged from his bed, and from the bosom of his + family, in the dead time of night, manacled, and hurried away into + a distant part of the country, where his family could never see him + again, and where they knew he must linger out a miserable + existence, more intolerable than death, amid the horrors of + slavery? I ask whether you could witness all this, without the most + poignant grief? This is no picture of the fancy. It is a sober + reality. The only difference is, the men thus treated are black. + But in my view, this does not diminish the horrors of such cruel + deeds. Can it be expected then, that the citizens of this state, or + indeed of any other, would witness all this, without instituting + the severest scrutiny into the legality of the proceedings? More + especially, when it is known that the persons employed in this + nefarious business of hunting up fugitive slaves are men destitute + of principle, whose hearts are callous as flint, and who would send + a free man into bondage with as little compunction as they would a + slave, if they could do it with impunity. + + "Of latter time, we hear much said about a dissolution of the + Union. Far better, in my view, that this should take place, if it + can be effected without violence, than to remain as we are; when a + peaceable citizen cannot enter your territory on his own lawful + business, without the risk of being murdered by a ruthless mob. + + "With reverent thankfulness to Him, who numbers the hairs of our + heads, without whose notice not even a sparrow falls to the + ground, and to whose providence I consider myself indebted for the + redemption of my beloved son from the hands of barbarians, permit + me again to say that I feel sincerely grateful to thee and others, + who kindly lent aid, though late, in rescuing him from the violence + of unreasonable and wicked men, who sought his life without a + cause. I may never have it in my power to do either of you + personally a kindness; but some other member of the great family of + mankind may need assistance in a way that I can relieve him. If + this should be the case, I hope I shall not fail to embrace the + opportunity. + + "With fervent desires that the beneficent Creator and Father of the + Universe may open the eyes of all to see that 'the fast which he + hath chosen is to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy + burdens and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every + yoke.' + + "I am thy sincere friend, + + "ISAAC T. HOPPER." + +Soon after the circumstances above related, the mayor of New-York +revoked the warrant of the marshal, who had been so conspicuous in the +outrage. This step was taken in consequence of his own admissions +concerning his conduct. + +In 1837, a little incident occurred, which may be interesting to those +who are curious concerning phrenology. At a small social party in +New-York, a discussion arose on that subject; and, as usual, some were +disposed to believe and others to ridicule. At last the disputants +proposed to test the question by careful experiment. Friend Hopper was +one of the party, and they asked him to have his head examined by the +well-known O.S. Fowler. Having a good-natured willingness to gratify +their curiosity, he consented. It was agreed that he should not speak +during the operation, lest the tones of his voice might serve as an +index of his character. It was further stipulated that no person in the +room should give any indication by which the phrenologist might be +enabled to judge whether he was supposed to be speaking correctly or +not. The next day, Mr. Fowler was introduced blindfolded into a room, +where Isaac T. Hopper was seated with the party of the preceding +evening. Having passed his hands over the strongly developed head, he +made the following statement, which was taken down by a rapid writer, as +the words fell from his lips. + +"The first and strongest manifestation of this character is efficiency. +Not one man in a thousand is capable of accomplishing so much. The +strong points are very strong; the weak points are weak; so that he is +an eccentric and peculiar character. + +"The pole-star of his character is moral courage. + +"He has very little reverence, and stands in no awe of the powers that +be. He pays no regard to forms or ceremonies, or established customs, in +church or state. He renders no homage to great names, such as D.D.; +L.L.D.; or Excellency. He treats his fellow men with kindness and +affection, but not with sufficient respect and courtesy. + +"He is emphatically republican in feeling and character. He makes +himself free and familiar with every one. He often lets himself down too +much. This constitutes a radical defect in his character. + +"He will assert and maintain human rights and liberty at every hazard. +In this cause, he will stake anything, or suffer anything. This +constitutes the leading feature of his character. Every other element is +blended into this. + +"I should consider him a very cautious man in fact, though in appearance +he is very imprudent; especially in remarks on moral subjects. + +"He is too apt to denounce those whom he considers in error; to apply +opprobrious epithets and censure in the strongest terms, and the boldest +manner. + +"I have seldom, if ever, met with a larger organ of conscientiousness. + +"Nothing so much delights him as to advocate and propagate moral +principles; no matter how unpopular the principles may be. + +"He has very little credulity. + +"He is one of the closest observers of men and things anywhere to be +found. He sees, as it were by intuition everything that passes around +him, and understands just when and where to take men and things; just +how and where to say things with effect; and in all he says, he speaks +directly to the point. + +"He says and does a great many severe and cutting things. If anybody +else said and did such things, they would at once get into hot water; +but he says and does them in such a manner, that even his enemies, and +those against whom his censures are aimed, cannot be offended with him. +He is always on the verge of difficulty, but never _in_ difficulty. + +"He is hated mainly by those not personally acquainted with him. A +personal interview, even with his greatest enemies, generally removes +enmity; because of the smoothness and easiness of his manners. + +"He has at command a great amount of well-digested information on almost +every subject, and makes admirable use of his knowledge. He has a great +many facts, and always brings them in their right place. His general +memory of particulars, incidents, places, and words, is really +wonderful. + +"But he has a weak memory concerning names, dates, numbers, and colors. +He never recognizes persons by their dress, or by the color of anything +pertaining to them. + +"He tells a story admirably, and acts it out to the life. He makes a +great deal of fun, and keeps others in a roar of laughter, while he is +sober himself. For his fun, he is as much indebted to the manner as to +the matter. He makes his jokes mainly by happy comparisons, striking +illustrations, and the imitative power with which he expresses them. + +"He possesses a great amount of native talent, but it is so admirably +distributed, that he appears to have more than he actually possesses. + +"His attachment to his friends is remarkably strong and ardent. But he +will associate with none except those whose moral characters are +unimpeachable. + +"He expects and anticipates a great deal; enters largely into things; +takes hold of every measure with spirit; and is always overwhelmed with +business. Move where he will, he cannot be otherwise than a +distinguished man." + +That this description was remarkably accurate in most particulars will +be obvious to those who have read the preceding anecdotes. It is not +true, however, that he was enthusiastic in character, or that he had the +appearance of being so. He was far too practical and self-possessed, to +have the reputation of being "half crazy," even among those who are +prone to regard everything as insane that is out of the common course. +Neither do I think he was accustomed to "let himself down too much;" for +according to my radical ideas, a man _cannot_ "let himself down," who +"associates only with those whose moral characters are unimpeachable." +It is true that he was pleasant and playful in conversation with all +classes of people; but he was remarkably free from any tinge of +vulgarity. It is true, also, that he was totally and entirely +unconscious of any such thing as distinctions of rank. I have been +acquainted with many theoretical democrats, and with not a few who tried +to be democratic, from kind feelings-and principles of justice; but +Friend Hopper and Francis Jackson of Boston are the only two men I ever +met, who were born democrats; who could not help it, if they tried; and +who would not know _how_ to try; so completely did they, by nature, +ignore all artificial distinctions. Of course, I do not use the word +democrat in its limited party sense, but to express their perfect +unconsciousness that any man was considered to be above them, or any man +beneath them. If Friend Hopper encountered his wood-sawyer, after a +considerable absence, he would shake hands warmly, and give him a +cordial welcome. If the English Prince had called upon him, he would +have met with the same friendly reception, and would probably have been +accosted something after this fashion: "How art thou, friend Albert? +They tell me thou art amiable and kindly disposed toward the people; and +I am glad to see thee." Those who observe the parting advice given by +Isaac's mother, when he went to serve his apprenticeship in +Philadelphia, will easily infer that this peculiarity was hereditary. +Some men, who rise above their original position, either in character or +fortune, endeavor to conceal their early history. Others obtrude it upon +all occasions, in order to magnify themselves by a contrast between what +they have been and what they are. But he did neither the one nor the +other. The subject did not occupy his thoughts. He spoke of having been +a tailor, whenever it came naturally in his way, but never for the sake +of doing so. His having been born in a hen-house was a mere external +accident in his eyes; and in the same light he regarded the fact that +Victoria was born in a palace. What was the spiritual condition of the +two at any given age, was the only thing that seemed to him of real +importance. + +His steadfastness in maintaining moral principles, "however unpopular +those principles might be," was severely tried in the autumn of 1838. At +a late hour in the night, two colored men came to his house, and one +introduced the other as a stranger in the city, who had need of a +lodging. Friend Hopper of course conjectured that he might be a fugitive +slave; and this conjecture was confirmed the next morning. The stranger +was a mulatto, about twenty-two years old, and called himself Thomas +Hughes. According to his own account, he was the son of a wealthy +planter in Virginia, who sold his mother with himself and his twin +sister when they were eleven months old. His mother and sister were +subsequently sold, but he could never ascertain where they were sent. +When he was about thirteen, he was purchased by the son of his first +master. Being hardly dealt with by this relative, he one day +remonstrated with him for treating his own brother with so much +severity. This was, of course, deemed a great piece of insolence in a +bondman, and he was punished by being sold to a speculator, carried off +hand-cuffed, with his feet tied under the horse's belly, and finally +shipped for Louisiana with a coffle of five hundred slaves. He was +bought by a gambler, who took him to Louisville, Kentucky. When he had +lived there three years, his master, having lost large sums of money, +told him he should be obliged to sell him. Thomas had meanwhile +ascertained that his father had removed to Kentucky, and was still a +very wealthy man. He obtained permission to go and see him, with the +hope that he would purchase him and set him free. Accordingly, he +called upon him, and told him that he was Thomas, the son of his slave +Rachel, who had always assured him that he was his father. The rich +planter did not deny poor Rachel's assertion, but in answer to her son's +inquiries, he plainly manifested that he neither knew nor cared who had +bought her, or to what part of the country she had been sent. Thomas +represented his own miserable condition, in being sold from one to +another, and subject to the will of whoever happened to be his owner. He +intreated his father to purchase him, with a view to manumission; but +himself and his proposition were both treated with supreme contempt. +Thus rejected by his father, and unable to discover any traces of his +mother, he returned disheartened to Louisville, and was soon after sent +to New-Orleans to be sold. Mr. John P. Darg, a speculator in slaves, +bought him; and he soon after married a girl named Mary, who belonged to +his new master. Mr. Darg went to New-York, to visit some relatives, and +took Thomas with him. It was only a few days after their arrival in the +city, that the slave left him, and went to Isaac T. Hopper to ask a +lodging. When he acknowledged that he was a fugitive, intending to take +refuge in Canada, it was deemed imprudent for him to remain under the +roof of a person so widely known as an abolitionist; but a very +benevolent and intelligent Quaker lady, near eighty years old, named +Margaret Shoemaker, gladly gave him shelter. + +When Friend Hopper went to his place of business, after parting with the +colored stranger, he saw an advertisement in a newspaper called the Sun, +offering one thousand dollars reward for the apprehension and return of +a mulatto man, who had stolen seven or eight thousand dollars from a +house in Varick-street. A proportionate reward was offered for the +recovery of any part of the money. Though no names were mentioned, he +had reason to conjecture that Thomas Hughes might be the mulatto in +question. He accordingly sought him out, read the advertisement to him, +and inquired whether he had stolen anything from his master. He denied +having committed any theft, and said the pretence that he had done so +was a mere trick, often resorted to by slaveholders, when they wanted to +catch a runaway slave. That this remark was true, Friend Hopper knew +very well by his own experience; he therefore concluded it was likely +that Thomas was not guilty. He expressed this conviction in conversation +on the subject with Barney Corse, a benevolent member of the Society of +Friends, who was kindly disposed toward the colored people. In +compliance with Friend Hopper's request, that gentleman waited upon the +editor of the Sun, accompanied by a lawyer, and was assured that a large +amount of money really had been stolen from Mr. Darg, and that if he +could recover it, he was willing to give a pledge for the manumission of +the slave, beside paying the promised reward to whoever would enable him +to get possession of the money. Barney Corse called upon Mr. Darg, who +promptly confirmed the statement made by the editor in his name. The +Friend then promised that he, and others who were interested for the +slave, would do their utmost to obtain tidings of the money, and see it +safely restored, on those conditions; but he expressly stipulated that +he could not do it otherwise, because he had conscientious scruples, +which would prevent him, in all cases, from helping to return a fugitive +slave to his master. + +It is to be observed that the promise of manumission was given as the +highest bribe that could be offered to induce the slave to refund the +money he had taken; for though in argument slaveholders generally +maintain that their slaves have no desire for freedom, they are never +known to _act_ upon that supposition. In this case, the offer served a +double purpose; for it stimulated the benevolent zeal of Friend Hopper +and Barney Corse, and induced the fugitive to confess what he had done. +He still denied that he had any intention of stealing, but declared that +he took the money merely to obtain power over his master, hoping that +the promise to restore it would secure his manumission. It is +impossible to tell whether he spoke truth or not; for poor Thomas had +been educated in a bad school of morals. Sold by his father, abused by +his brother, and for years compelled to do the bidding of gamblers and +slave-speculators, how could he be expected to have very clear +perceptions of right and wrong? The circumstances of the case, however, +seem to render it rather probable that he really was impelled by the +motive which he assigned for his conduct. Mr. Darg declared that he had +previously considered him an honest and faithful servant; that he was in +the habit of trusting him with the key of his trunk, and frequently sent +him to it for money. The bank-bills he had purloined were placed in the +hands of two colored men in New-York, because, as he said, he could not +return them himself, but must necessarily employ somebody to do it for +him, in the intended process of negotiating for his freedom. + +Friend Hopper, his son-in-law James S. Gibbons, and Barney Corse, were +very earnest to recover the money, for the best of reasons. In the first +place, they greatly desired to secure the manumission of the slave. In +the second place, the honesty of their characters led them to wish that +the master should recover what was his own. In both instances, they +wished to restore stolen property to the rightful owner; to Thomas +Hughes the free use of his own faculties and limbs, which had been +stolen from him, and to Mr. Darg the money that had been purloined from +him. It is not likely that the Southerner would have ever regained any +portion of the amount stolen, had it not been for their exertions. But, +by careful and judicious management, they soon recovered nearly six +thousand dollars, which was immediately placed in one of the principal +banks of the city, with a full statement of the circumstances of the +case to the cashier. Over one thousand more was heard of as having been +deposited with a colored man in Albany. Friend Hopper proposed that +Barney Corse should go in pursuit of it, accompanied by the colored man +who sent it there. He agreed to do so; but he deemed it prudent to have +a previous interview with Mr. Darg, to obtain his written promise to +manumit Thomas, to pay the necessary expenses of the journey, and to +exonerate from criminal prosecution any person or persons connected with +the robbery, provided that assurance proved necessary in order to get +possession of the money. All this being satisfactorily accomplished, he +went to Albany and brought back the sum said to have been deposited +there. Ten or fourteen hundred dollars were still wanting to complete +the amount, which Mr. Darg said he had lost; but they had hopes of +obtaining that also, by confronting various individuals, who had become +involved with this complicated affair. Meanwhile, Barney Corse and +James S. Gibbons called upon Mr. Darg to inform him of the amount +recovered and safely deposited in the bank, and to pay him the sum +brought from Albany. Instead of giving the deed of manumission, which +had been his own voluntary offer at the outset, and which he knew had +been the impelling motive to exertion, Mr. Darg had two police-officers +in an adjoining room to arrest Barney Corse for having stolen money in +his possession. He was of course astonished at such an ungrateful return +for his services, but at once expressed his readiness to go before any +magistrate that might be named. + +It would not be easy to give an adequate idea of the storm of +persecution that followed. Popular prejudice against abolitionists was +then raging with uncommon fury; and police-officers and editors availed +themselves of it to the utmost to excite hostility against individuals, +who had been actuated by a kind motive, and who had proceeded with +perfect openness throughout the whole affair. The newspapers of the city +were pro-slavery, almost without exception. The idea of sending +abolitionists to the State Prison was a glorious prospect, over which +they exulted mightily. They represented that Thomas had been enticed +from his master by these pretended philanthropists, who had advised him +to steal the money, as a cunning mode of obtaining manumission. As for +the accused, all they asked was a speedy and thorough investigation of +their conduct. The case was however postponed from week to week, and +offers were made meanwhile to compromise the matter, if Barney Corse +would pay the balance of the lost money. He had wealthy connexions, and +perhaps the prosecutors hoped to extort money from them, to avoid the +disgrace of a trial. But Barney Corse was far from wishing to avoid a +trial. + +At this juncture of affairs, Friend Hopper took a step, which raised a +great clamor among his enemies, and puzzled some of his friends at the +time, because they did not understand his motives. He sued Mr. Darg for +the promised reward of one thousand dollars. He had several reasons for +this proceeding. In the first place, the newspapers continually pointed +him out as a man over whose head a criminal prosecution was pending; +while he had at the same time had good reason to believe that his +accusers would never venture to meet him before a court of justice; and +a proper regard for his own character made him resolved to obtain a +legal investigation of his conduct by some process. In the second place, +Mr. Darg had subjected Barney Corse to a great deal of trouble and +expense; and Friend Hopper thought it no more than fair that expenses +caused by his own treachery should be paid from his own pocket. In the +third place, David Ruggles, a worthy colored man, no way implicated in +the transaction, had been arrested, and was likely to be involved in +expense. In the fourth place, the police officers, who advised the +arrest of Barney Corse, made themselves very conspicuous in the +persecution. He believed they had been actuated by a desire to obtain +the reward for themselves; and as they had no just claim to it, he +determined to defeat them in this attempt. He therefore sued for the +reward himself, though he never intended to use a dollar of it. This was +manifested at the time, by a declaration in the newspapers, that if he +recovered the reward, he would give all over the expenses to some +benevolent society. It was frequently intimated to him that there should +be no further proceedings against him, if he would withdraw this suit; +but he constantly replied that a trial was what he wanted. Finding all +overtures rejected, a complaint was laid before the Grand Jury; and such +was the state of popular prejudice, that twelve out of nineteen of that +body concurred in finding a bill against men of excellent moral +character, without any real evidence to sustain the charge. Barney Corse +had never taken measures to prevent the arrest of Thomas Hughes. He +simply declined to render any assistance. He believed that he was under +no legal obligation to do otherwise; and he knew for a certainty that he +was under no moral obligation; because conscience would not allow him +to aid in returning a runaway slave to his master. Nevertheless, he and +Isaac T. Hopper, and James S. Gibbons, were indicted for "feloniously +receiving, harboring, aiding and maintaining said Thomas, in order that +he might escape from arrest, and avoid conviction and punishment." +Friend Hopper was advised that he might avail himself of some technical +defects in the indictment; but he declined doing it; always insisting +that a public investigation was what he wanted. + +The trial was carried on in the same spirit that characterized the +previous proceedings. A colored man, known to have had dishonest +possession of a portion of the lost money, was admitted to testify, on +two successive trials, against Barney Corse, who had always sustained a +fair character. The District Attorney talked to the jury of "the +necessity of appeasing the South." As if convicting an honest and +kind-hearted Quaker of being accomplice in a felony could do anything +toward settling the questions that divided North and South on the +subject of slavery! One of the jury declared that he never would acquit +an abolitionist. Mr. Darg testified of himself during the trial, that he +never intended to manumit Thomas, and had made the promise merely as a +means of obtaining his money. The newspapers spoke as if the guilt of +the accused was not to be doubted, and informed the jury that the +public expected them to convict these men. + +In fact, the storm lowered so darkly, that some friends of the +persecuted individuals began to feel uneasy. But Friend Hopper's mind +was perfectly undisturbed. Highly respectable lawyers offered to conduct +the cause for him; but he gratefully declined, saying he preferred to +manage it for himself. He informed the court that he presumed they +understood the law, and he was quite sure that he understood the facts; +therefore, he saw no need of a lawyer between them. The Court of +Sessions was held every month, and he appeared before it at almost every +term, to demand a trial. At last, in January 1840, when the hearing had +been delayed fifteen months, he gave notice that unless he was tried +during that term, he should appear on the last day of it, and request +that a _nolle prosequi_ should be ordered. The trial not coming on, he +appeared accordingly, and made a very animated speech, in which he dwelt +with deserved severity on the evils of the police system, and on the +efforts of a corrupt press to pervert the public mind. He said he did +not make these remarks to excite sympathy. He was not there to ask for +mercy, but to demand justice. "And I would have you all to understand +distinctly," continued the brave old man, "that I have no wish to evade +the charge against me for being an abolitionist. I _am_ an +abolitionist. In that, I am charged truly. I have been an abolitionist +from my early years, and I always expect to remain so. For this, I am +prosecuted and persecuted. I most sincerely believe that slavery is the +greatest sin the Lord Almighty ever suffered to exist upon this earth. +As sure as God is good and just, he will put an end to it; and all +opposition will be in vain. As regards myself, I can only say, that +having lived three-score and nearly ten years, with a character that +placed me above suspicion in such matters as have been urged against me, +I cannot now forego the principles which have always influenced my +conduct in relation to slavery. Neither force on the one hand, nor +persuasion on the other, will ever alter my course of action." + +One of the New-York papers, commenting on this speech, at the time, +states that "the old gentleman was listened to very attentively. He was +composed, dignified, and clear in his manner, and evidently had much +effect on the court and a large number of spectators. He certainly +needed no counsel to aid him." + +The court ordered a _nolle prosequi_ to be entered, and the defendants +were all discharged. The suit for the reward proceeded no further. David +Ruggles had been early discharged, and the whole case had been +completely before the public in pamphlet form; therefore the principal +objects for urging it no longer existed. + +Though the friends of human freedom made reasonable allowance for a man +brought up under such demoralizing influences as Thomas Hughes had been, +they of course felt less confidence in him, than they would have done +had he sought to obtain liberty by some more commendable process. Being +aware of this, he returned to his master, not long after he acknowledged +the theft. At one time, it was proposed to send him back to the South; +but he swore that he would cut his throat rather than return into +slavery. The best lawyers declared their opinion that he was legally +entitled to freedom, in consequence of his master's written promise to +manumit him if the money were restored; consequently some difficulties +would have attended any attempt to coerce him. He was tried on an +indictment for grand larceny, convicted, and sentenced to the State +Prison for two years; the shortest term allowed for the offence charged +against him. Through the whole course of the affair, he proved himself +to be a very irresolute and unreliable character. At one time, he said +that: his master was a notorious gambler; then he denied that he ever +said so; then he affirmed that his first statement was true, though he +had been frightened into contradicting it. When his time was out at Sing +Sing, he expressed to Friend Hopper and others his determination to +remain at the North; but after an interview with Mr. Darg, he consented +to return to the South with him. Although he was thus wavering in +character, he could never be persuaded to say that any abolitionist +advised him to take his master's money. He always declared that no white +man knew anything about it, until after he had placed it out of his own +hands; and that the friends who were willing to aid him in procuring his +manumission had always expressed their regret that he had committed such +a wrong action. He deserved praise for his consistency on this point; +for he had the offer of being exempted from prosecution himself, and +used as a witness, if he would say they advised him to steal the money. + +When Thomas Hughes consented to return to the South with Mr. Darg, it +was with the full understanding that he went as a free man, consenting +to be his servant. This he expressed during his last interview with +Friend Hopper, in Mr. Darg's presence. But the newspapers represented +that he had voluntarily gone back into slavery; and such was their +exultation over his supposed choice, that a person unacquainted with the +history of our republic might have inferred that the heroes of the +revolution fought and died mainly for the purpose of convincing their +posterity of the superior advantages of slavery over freedom. However, +it was not long before Thomas returned to New-York, and told the +following story: "A short time before my release from prison, Mr. Darg +brought my wife to see me, and told me we should both be free and enjoy +each other's society as long as we lived, if I would go with him. He +said I should suffer here at the North; for the abolitionists would do +nothing for me. I went with him solely with the hope of living with +Mary. I thought if he attempted to hold me as a slave, we would both run +away, the first opportunity. He told me we should meet Mary in +Washington; but when we arrived in Baltimore, he shut me up in jail, and +told me Mary was sold, and carried off South. I cannot describe how I +felt. I never expect to see her again. He asked me if I consented to +come with him on Mary's account, or on his own account. I thought it +would make it better for me to say on his account; and I said so. I hope +the Lord will forgive me for telling a falsehood. When I had been in +jail some time, he called to see me, and said that as I did not come +with him on account of my wife, he would not sell me; that I should be +free, and he would try to buy Mary for me." + +Thomas said he was informed that certain people in New-York wrote to Mr. +Darg, advising him not to sell him, because the abolitionists predicted +that he would do so; and he thought that was the reason why he was not +sold. If this supposition was correct, it is a great pity that his +master was not induced by some better motive to avoid an evil action. +Thomas uniformly spoke of Mrs. Darg with respect and gratitude. He said, +"She was always very kind to me and Mary. I know she did not want to +have me sold, or to have Mary sold; for I believe she loved her. I feel +very sorry that I could not live with her and be free; but I had rather +live in the State Prison all my life than to be a slave." + +I never heard what became of Thomas. Friend Shoemaker used to tell me, +years afterward, how she secreted him, and rejoiced in the deed. I heard +the good lady, when more than ninety years old, just before her death, +talk the matter over; and her kindly, intelligent countenance smiled all +over, as she recounted how she had contrived to dodge the police, and +avoid being a witness in the case. The Fugitive Slave Law would be of no +avail to tyrants, if all the women at the North had as much moral +courage, and were as benevolent and quick-witted as she was. + +Those who were most active in persecuting Friend Hopper and Barney Corse +convinced the public, by their subsequent disreputable career, that they +were not men whose word could be relied upon. + +Dr. R.W. Moore, of Philadelphia, in a letter to Friend Hopper concerning +this troublesome case, says: "I am aware thou hast passed through many +trials in the prosecution of this matter. Condemned by the world, +censured by some of thy friends, and discouraged by the weak, thou hast +had much to bear. But thou hast been able to foil thy enemies, and to +pass through the flames without the smell of fire on thy garments. Thy +Christian firmness is an example to us all. It reminds one of those +ancient Quakers, who, knowing themselves in the right, suffered wrongs +rather than compromise their principles. For the sake of mankind, I am +sorry there are not more such characters among us. They would do more to +exalt our principles, than a host of the professors of the present day." + +A year or two later, another incident occurred, which excited similar +exultation among New-York editors, that a human being had been so wise +as to prefer slavery to freedom; and there was about as much cause for +such exultation as there had been in the case of Thomas Hughes. + +Mrs. Burke of New-Orleans went to New-York to visit a relative by the +name of Morgan. She brought a slave to attend upon her, and took great +care to prevent her becoming acquainted with the colored people. I don't +know how city editors would account for this extreme caution, +consistently with their ideas of the blessedness of slavery. They might +argue that there was danger free colored people would be so attracted by +her charming pictures of bondage, that they would emigrate to the South +in larger numbers than would supply the slave-markets, and thus occasion +some depression in an honorable branch of trade in this republic. +However they might please to explain it, the simple fact was, Mrs. Burke +did not allow her slave to go into the street. Of course, she must have +had some other motive than the idea that _freedom_ could be attractive +to her. The colored people became aware of the careful constraint +imposed upon the woman, and they informed the abolitionists. Thinking it +right that slaves should be made aware of their legal claim to freedom, +when brought or sent into the free states, with knowledge and consent of +their masters, they applied to Judge Oakley for a writ of _habeas +corpus,_ by virtue of which the girl was brought before him. While she +was in waiting, Friend Hopper heard of the circumstance, and immediately +proceeded to the court-room. There he found Mr. Morgan and one of his +southern friends talking busily with the slave. The woman appeared +frightened and undecided, as is often the case, under such +circumstances. Those who wished her to return to the South plied her +with fair promises. They represented abolitionists as a set of +kidnappers, who seized colored strangers under friendly pretences, and +nobody could tell what became of them afterward. It was urged that her +condition would be most miserable with the "free niggers" of the North, +even if the abolitionists did not sell her, or spirit her away to some +unknown region. + +On the other hand, the colored people, who had assembled about the +court-room, were very eager to rescue her from slavery. She did not +understand their motives, or those of the abolitionists; for they had +been diligently misrepresented to her. "What do they want to do it +_for_?" she asked, with a perplexed air. "What will they do with me?" +She was afraid there was some selfish motive concealed. She dared not +trust the professions of strangers, whose characters had been so +unfavorably represented. Friend Hopper found her in this confused state +of mind. The Southerner was very willing to speak _for_ her. He gave +assurance that she did not want her freedom; that she desired to return +to the South; and that she had been in no respect distrained of her +liberty in the city of New-York. + +"Thou art a very respectable looking man," said Friend Hopper; "but I +have known slaveholders, of even more genteel appearance than thou art, +tell gross falsehoods where a slave was in question. I tell thee +plainly, that I have no confidence in slaveholders, in any such case. I +have had too much acquaintance with them. I know their game too well." + +The Southerner said something about its being both mean and wrong to +come between master and servant. + +"Such may be thy opinion," replied Friend Hopper; "but my views of duty +differ from thine in this matter." Then turning to the woman, he said, +"By the laws here, thou art free. No man has a right to make thee a +slave again. Thou mayest stay at the North, or go back to New-Orleans, +just as thou choosest." + +The Southerner here interposed to say, "Mind what that old gentleman +says. You can go back to New-Orleans, to your husband, if you prefer to +go." + +"But let me tell thee," said Friend Hopper to the woman, "that if thou +stayest here, thou wilt be free; but if they carry thee back, they may +sell thee away from thy husband. Dost thou wish to be free?" + +The tears gushed from her eyes in full flood, and she replied earnestly, +"I do want to be free. To be _sure I_ do want to be free; but then I +want to go to my husband." + +Mr. Morgan and his Southern friend grew excited. With an angry glance at +the old gentleman, the latter exclaimed, "I only wish we had you in +New-Orleans! We'd hang you up in twenty-four hours." + +"Then you are a set of savages," replied Friend Hopper. + +"_You_ are a set of thieves," retorted he. + +"Well, savages may be thieves also," rejoined the abolitionist, with a +significant smile. + +"You are no gentleman," responded the other, in an irritated tone. + +"I don't profess to be a gentleman," answered the impassive Quaker. "But +I am an honest old man; and perhaps that will do as well." + +This remark occasioned a general smile. Indeed it was pleasant to +observe, throughout this scene in the court-room, that popular sympathy +was altogether on the side of freedom. It was a strange blind instinct +on the part of the people, considering how diligently they had been +instructed otherwise by pulpit and press; but so it was. + +When the slave was summoned into the judge's room, Friend Hopper +followed; being extremely desirous to have her understand her position +clearly. He found Mr. Morgan and his Southern friend in close and +earnest conversation with her. When he attempted to approach her, he was +unceremoniously shoved aside, with the remark, "Don't push me away!" + +"I did not push thee," said Friend Hopper; "and see that thou dost not +push _me_!" He then inquired of the woman if he had rightly understood +that her husband was free. She replied in the affirmative. "Then let me +tell thee," said the kind-hearted old gentleman, "that we will send for +him, and obtain employment for him here, if it is thy choice to +remain." + +Again she wept, and repeated, "I do want to be free." But she was +evidently bewildered and distrustful, and did not know how to understand +the opposite professions that were made to her. + +On representation of the claimant's friends, Judge Oakley adjourned the +case till the next morning; telling the woman she was at liberty to go +with whom she pleased. The colored people had assembled in considerable +numbers, and were a good deal excited. Experience led them to suppose +that she would either be cajoled into consenting to return to slavery, +or else secretly packed off to New-Orleans, if she were left in Southern +hands. They accordingly made haste to hustle her away. But their +well-intended zeal terrified the poor bewildered creature, and she +escaped from them, and went back to her mistress. + +The pro-slavery papers chuckled, as they always do, when some poor +ignorant victim is deceived by false representation, alarmed by an +excitement that she does not comprehend, afraid that strangers are not +telling her the truth, or that they have not the power to protect her; +and in continual terror of future punishment, if she should attempt to +take her freedom, and yet be unable to maintain it. Great is the triumph +of republicans, when, under such trying circumstances, _one_ poor +bewildered wretch goes back to slavery; but of the _hundreds_, who every +month take their freedom, through fire and flood, and all manner of +deadly perils, they are as silent as the grave. + +In the spring of 1841, I went to New-York to edit the Anti-Slavery +Standard, and took up my abode with the family of Isaac T. Hopper. The +zealous theological controversy among Friends naturally subsided after +the separation between the opposing parties had become an old and +settled fact. Consequently the demand for Quaker books diminished more +and more. The Anti-Slavery Society, at that time, needed a Treasurer and +Book-Agent; and Friend Hopper was proposed as a suitable person for that +office. As only a small portion of his time was occupied with the sale +of books he had on hand, he concluded to accept the proposition. He was +then nearly seventy years old; but he appeared at least twenty years +younger, in person and manners. His firm, elastic step seemed like a +vigorous man of fifty. He would spring from the Bowery cars, while they +were in motion, with as much agility as a lad of fourteen. His hair was +not even sprinkled with gray. It looked so black and glossy, that a +young lady, who was introduced to him, said she thought he wore a wig +unnaturally dark for his age. It was a favorite joke of his to make +strangers believe he wore a wig; and they were not easily satisfied +that he spoke in jest, until they examined his head. + +The roguery of his boyhood had subsided into a love of little +mischievous tricks; and the playful tone of humor, that rippled through +his conversation, frequently reminded me of the Cheeryble Brothers, so +admirably described by Dickens. If some one rang at the door, and +inquired for Mr. Hopper, he always answered, "There is no such person +lives here." If the stranger urged that he had been directed by a man +who said he knew Mr. Hopper, he would persevere in saying, "There must +be some mistake. No such person lives here." At last, when the +disappointed visitor turned to go away, he would call out, "Perhaps thou +means Isaac T. Hopper? That is _my_ name." + +Being called upon to give a receipt to a Catholic priest for some money +deposited in his hands, he simply wrote "Received of John Smith." When +the priest had read it, he handed it back and said, "I am disbursing +other people's money, and shall be obliged to show this receipt; +therefore, I should like to have you write my name, the Reverend John +Smith." "I have conscientious scruples about using titles," replied +Friend Hopper. "However, I will try to oblige thee." He took another +slip of paper, and wrote, "Received of John Smith, who _calls_ himself +the Reverend." The priest smiled, and accepted the compromise; being +well aware that the pleasantry originated in no personal or sectarian +prejudice. + +He always had something facetious to say to the people with whom he +traded. The oyster-men, the coal-men, and the women at the fruit-stalls +in his neighborhood, all knew him as a pleasant old gentleman, always +ready for a joke. One day, when he was buying some peaches, he said to +the woman, "A serious accident happened at our house last night. I +killed two robbers." "Dear me!" she exclaimed. "Were they young men, or +old convicts? Had they ever been in Sing Sing?" "I don't know about +that," replied he. "I should think they might have been by the noise +they made. But I despatched them before they had stolen much. The walls +are quite bloody." "Has a Coroner's inquest been called?" inquired the +woman. When he answered, "No," she lifted her hands in astonishment, and +exclaimed, "Well now, I do declare! If anybody else had done it, there +would have been a great fuss made about it; but you are a privileged +man, Mr. Hopper." When he was about to walk away, he turned round and +said, "I did not mention to thee that the robbers I killed were two +mosquitoes." The woman had a good laugh, and he came home as pleased as +a boy, to think how completely his serious manner had deceived her. + +One day he went to a hosiery store, and said to the man, "I bought a +pair of stockings here yesterday. They looked very nice; but when I got +home, I found two large holes in them; and I have come for another pair. +The man summoned his wife, and informed her of what the gentleman had +said. + +"Bless me! Is it possible, sir?" she exclaimed. + +"Yes," replied Friend Hopper, I found they had holes as large as my +hand." + +"It is very strange," rejoined she; "for I am sure they were new. But if +you have brought them back, of course we will change them." + +"O," said he, "upon examination, I concluded that the big holes were +made to put the feet in; and I liked the stockings so well, that I have +come to buy another pair." + +At another time, he entered a crockery shop, where a young girl was +tending. He made up a very sorrowful face, and in whining tones, told +her that he was in trouble and needed help. She asked him to wait till +the gentleman came; but he continued to beseech that she would take +compassion on him. The girl began to be frightened by his importunity, +and looked anxiously toward the door. At last, the man of the shop came +in; and Friend Hopper said, "This young woman thinks she cannot help me +out of my trouble; but I think she can. The fact is, we are going to +have company, and so many of our tumblers are broken, that I came to +ask if she would sell me a few." + +One day, when he was walking quickly up the Bowery, his foot slipped on +a piece of orange-peel, and he fell prostrate on the sidewalk. He +started up instantly, and turning to a young man behind him, he said, +"Couldst thou have done that any better?" + +He very often mingled with affairs in the street, as he passed along. +One day, when he saw a man beating his horse brutally, he stepped up to +him and said, very seriously, "Dost thou know that some people think men +change into animals when they die?" + +The stranger's attention was arrested by such an unexpected question, +and he answered that he never was acquainted with anybody who had that +belief. + +"But some people do believe it," rejoined Friend Hopper; "and they also +believe that animals may become men. Now I am thinking if thou shouldst +ever be a horse, and that horse should ever be a man, with such a temper +as thine, the chance is thou wilt get some cruel beatings." Having thus +changed the current of his angry mood, he proceeded to expostulate with +him in a friendly way; and the poor beast was reprieved, for that time, +at least. + +He could imitate the Irish brogue very perfectly; and it was a standing +jest with him to make every Irish stranger believe he was a countryman. +During his visit to Ireland, he had become so well acquainted with +various localities, that I believe he never in any instance failed to +deceive them, when he said, "Och! and sure I came from old Ireland +meself." After amusing himself in this way for a while, he would tell +them, "It is true I did come from Ireland; but, to confess the truth, I +went there first." + +Once, when he saw two Irishmen fighting, he seized one of them by the +arm, and said, "I'm from ould Ireland. If thou _must_ fight, I'm the man +for thee. Thou hadst better let that poor fellow alone. I'm a dale +stouter than he is; and sure it would be braver to fight me." The man +thus accosted looked at him with surprise, for an instant, then burst +out laughing, threw his coat across his arm, and walked off. + +Another time, when he found two Irishmen quarrelling, he stepped up and +inquired what was the matter. "He's got my prayer-book," exclaimed one +of them; "and I'll give him a bating for it; by St. Patrick, I will." +"Let me give thee a piece of advice," said Friend Hopper. "It's a very +hot day, and bating is warm work. I'm thinking thou had'st better put it +off till the cool o' the morning." The men, of course, became cooler +before they had done listening to this playful remonstrance. + +Once, when he was travelling in the stage, they passed a number of +Irishmen with cart-loads of stones, to mend the road. Friend Hopper +suggested to the driver that he had better ask them to remove a very +large stone, which lay directly in the way and seemed dangerous. "It +will be of no use if I do," replied the driver. "They'll only curse me, +and tell me to go round the old road, over the hill; for the fact is, +this road is not fairly opened to the public yet." Friend Hopper jumped +out, and asked if they would turn that big stone aside. "And sure ye've +no business here at all," they replied. "Ye may jist go round by the +ould road." "Och!" said Friend Hopper, "and is this the way I'm trated +by my coontryman? I'm from Ireland meself; and sure I did'nt expect to +be trated so by my coontrymen in a strange coontry." + +"And are ye from ould Ireland?" inquired they. + +"Indade I am," he replied. + +"And what part may ye be from?" said they. + +"From Mount Mellick, Queen's County," rejoined he; and he began to talk +familiarly about the priest and the doctor there, till he got the +laborers into a real good humor, and they removed the stone with the +utmost alacrity. The passengers in the stage listened to this +conversation, and supposed that he was in reality an Irish Quaker. When +he returned to them and explained the joke, they had a hearty laugh over +his powers of mimicry. + +His tricks with children were innumerable. They would often be lying in +wait for him in the street; and if he passed without noticing them, they +would sometimes pull at the skirts of his coat, to obtain the customary +attention. Occasionally, he would observe a little troop staring at him, +attracted by the singularity of his costume. Then, he would stop, face +about, stretch out his leg, and say, "Come now, boys! Come, and take a +good look!" It was his delight to steal up behind them, and tickle their +necks, while he made a loud squealing noise. The children, supposing +some animal had set upon them, would jump as if they had been shot. And +how he would laugh! When he met a boy with dirty face or hands, he would +stop him, and inquire if he ever studied chemistry. The boy, with a +wondering stare, would answer, "No." "Well then, I will teach thee how +to perform a curious chemical experiment," said Friend Hopper. "Go home, +take a piece of soap, put it in water, and rub it briskly on thy hands +and face. Thou hast no idea what a beautiful froth it will make, and how +much whiter thy skin will be. That's a chemical experiment. I advise +thee to try it." + +The character of his wife was extremely modest and reserved; and he took +mischievous pleasure in telling strangers the story of their courtship +in a way that made her blush. "Dost thou know what Hannah answered, when +I asked if she would marry me?" said he. "I will tell thee how it was. +I was walking home with her one evening, soon after the death of her +mother, and I mentioned to her that as she was alone now, I supposed she +intended to make some change in her mode of living. When she said yes, I +told her I had been thinking it would be very pleasant to have her come +and live with me. 'That would suit me exactly,' said she. This prompt +reply made me suppose she might not have understood my meaning; and I +explained that I wanted to have her become a member of my family; but +she replied again, 'There is nothing I should like better.'" + +The real fact was, the quiet and timid Hannah Attmore was not dreaming +of such a thing as a proposal of marriage. She supposed he spoke of +receiving her as a boarder in his family. When she at last perceived his +meaning, she slipped her arm out of his very quickly, and was too much +confused to utter a word. But it amused him to represent that she seized +the opportunity the moment it was offered. + +There was one of the anti-slavery agents who did everything in a +dashing, wholesale style, and was very apt to give peremptory orders. +One day he wrote a letter on business, to which the following postscript +was appended: "Give the hands at your office a tremendous blowing up. +They need it." Friend Hopper briefly replied: "According to thy orders, +I have given the hands at our office a tremendous blowing up. They want +to know what it is for. Please inform me by return of mail." + +When the Prison Association of New-York petitioned to be incorporated, +he went to Albany on business therewith connected. He was then a +stranger at the seat of government, though they afterward came to know +him well. When he was seated in the senate-chamber, a man came to him +and told him to take off his hat. He replied, "I had rather not. I am +accustomed to keep it on." + +"But it is contrary to the rules," rejoined the officer. "I am ordered +to turn out any man who refuses to uncover his head." + +The Quaker quietly responded, "Very well, friend, obey thy orders." + +"Then, will you please to walk out, sir?" said the officer. + +"No," replied Friend Hopper. "Didst thou not tell me thou wert ordered +to turn me out? Dost thou suppose I am going to do thy duty for thee?" + +The officer looked embarrassed, and said, half smiling, "But how am I to +get you out?" + +"Carry me out, to be sure," rejoined Friend Hopper. "I see no other +way." + +The officer went and whispered to the Speaker, who glanced at the +noble-looking old gentleman, and advised that he should be let alone. + +Sometimes his jests conveyed cutting sarcasms. One day, when he was +riding in an omnibus, he opened a port-monnaie lined with red. A man +with very flaming visage, who was somewhat intoxicated, and therefore +very much inclined to be talkative, said, "Ah, that is a very gay +pocket-book for a Quaker to carry." + +"Yes, it is very red," replied Friend Hopper; "but is not so red as thy +nose." The passengers all smiled, and the man seized the first +opportunity to make his escape. + +A poor woman once entered an omnibus, which was nearly full, and stood +waiting for some one to make room. A proud-looking lady sat near Friend +Hopper, and he asked her to move a little, to accommodate the new comer. +But she looked very glum, and remained motionless. After examining her +countenance for an instant, he said, "If thy face often looks so, I +shouldn't like to have thee for a neighbor." The passengers exchanged +smiles at this rebuke, and the lady frowned still more deeply. + +One of the jury in the Darg case was "a son of Abraham," rather +conspicuous for his prejudice against colored people. Some time after +the proceedings were dropped, Friend Hopper happened to meet him, and +entered into conversation on the subject. The Jew was very bitter +against "that rascally thief, Tom Hughes." "It does not become _thee_ to +be so very severe," said Friend Hopper; "for thy ancestors were slaves +in Egypt, and went off with the gold and silver jewels they borrowed of +their masters." + +One day he met several of the Society of Friends, whom he had not seen +for some time. Among them was an Orthodox Friend, who was rather stiff +in his manners. The others shook hands with Isaac; but when he +approached "the Orthodox," he merely held out his finger. + +"Why dost thou offer me thy finger?" said he. + +"I don't allow people of certain principles to get very deep hold of +_me_," was the cold reply. + +"Thou needest have no uneasiness on that score," rejoined Friend Hopper; +"for there never was anything deep in thee to get hold of." + +The sense of justice, so conspicuous in boyhood, always remained a +distinguishing trait in his character. Once, after riding half a mile, +he perceived that he had got into the wrong omnibus. When he jumped out, +the driver called for pay; but he answered, "I don't owe thee anything. +I've been carried the wrong way." This troubled him afterward, when he +considered that he had used the carriage and horses, and that the +mistake was his own fault. He kept on the look-out for the driver, but +did not happen to see him again, until several weeks afterward. He +called to him to stop, and paid the sixpence. + +"Why, you refused to pay me, when I asked you," said the driver. + +"I know I did," he replied; "but I repented of it afterward. I was in a +hurry then, and I did not reflect that the mistake was my fault, not +thine; and that I ought to pay for riding half a mile with thy horses, +though they did carry me the wrong way." The man laughed, and said he +didn't often meet with such conscientious passengers. + +The tenacity of the old gentleman's memory was truly remarkable. He +often repeated letters, which he had written or received twenty years +before on some memorable occasion; and if opportunity occurred to +compare them with the originals, it would be found that he had scarcely +varied a word. He always maintained that he could distinctly remember +some things, which happened before he was two years old. One day, when +his parents were absent, and Polly was busy about her work, he sat +bolstered up in his cradle, when a sudden gust of wind blew a large +piece of paper through the entry. To his uneducated senses, it seemed to +be a living creature, and he screamed violently. It was several hours +before he recovered from his extreme terror. When his parents returned, +he tried to make them understand how a strange thing had come into the +house, and run, and jumped, and made a noise. But his lisping language +was so very imperfect, that they were unable to conjecture what had so +frightened him. For a long time after, he would break out into sudden +screams, whenever the remembrance came over him. At seventy-five years +old, he told me he remembered exactly how the paper then appeared to +him, and what sensations of terror it excited in his infant breast. + +He had a large old-fashioned cow-bell, which was always rung to summon +the family to their meals. He resisted having one of more modern +construction, because he said that pleasantly reminded him of the time +when he was a boy, and used to drive the cows to pasture. Sometimes, he +rang it much longer than was necessary to summon the household. On such +occasions, I often observed him smiling while he stood shaking the bell; +and he would say, "I am thinking how Polly looked, when the cow kicked +her over; milk-pail and all. I can see it just as if it happened +yesterday. O, what fun it was!" + +He often spoke of the first slave whose escape he managed, in the days +of his apprenticeship. He was wont to exclaim, "How well I remember the +anxious, imploring, look that poor fellow gave me, when I told him I +would be his friend! It rises up before me now. If I were a painter, I +could show it to thee." + +But clearly above all other things, did he remember every look and tone +of his beloved Sarah; even in the days when they trudged to school +together, hand in hand. The recollection of this first love, closely +intertwined with his first religious impressions, was the only flowery +spot of romance in the old gentleman's very practical character. When he +was seventy years of age, he showed me a piece of writing she had copied +for him, when she was a girl of fourteen. It was preserved in the +self-same envelope, in which she sent it, and pinned with the same pin, +long since blackened by age. I said, "Be careful not to lose that pin." + +"Lose it!" he exclaimed. "No money could tempt me to part with it. I +loved the very ground she trod upon." + +He was never weary of eulogizing her comely looks, beautiful manners, +sound principles, and sensible conversation. The worthy companion of his +later life never seemed troubled by such remarks. She not only "listened +to a sister's praises with unwounded ear," but often added a heartfelt +tribute to the virtues of her departed friend. + +It is very common for old people to grow careless about their personal +appearance, and their style of conversation; but Friend Hopper was +remarkably free from such faults. He was exceedingly pure in his mind, +and in his personal habits. He never alluded to any subject that was +unclean, never made any indelicate remark, or used any unseemly +expression. There was never the slightest occasion for young people to +feel uneasy concerning what he might say. However lively his mood might +be, his fun was always sure to be restrained by the nicest sense of +natural propriety. He shaved, and took a cold plunge-bath every day. Not +a particle of mud or dust was allowed to remain upon his garments. He +always insisted on blacking his own shoes; for it was one of his +principles not to be waited upon, while he was well enough to wait upon +himself. They were always as polished as japan; and every Saturday +night, his silver buckles were made as bright as a new dollar, in +readiness to go to meeting the next day. His dress was precisely like +that worn by William Penn. At the time I knew him, I believe he was the +only Quaker in the country, who had not departed from that model in the +slightest degree. It was in fact the dress of all English gentlemen, in +King Charles's time; and the only peculiarity of William Penn was, that +he wore it without embroidery or ornament of any kind, for the purpose +of protesting against the extravagance of the fashionable world. +Therefore, the _spirit_ of his intention and that of other early +Friends, would be preserved by wearing dress cut according to the +prevailing mode, but of plain materials, and entirely unornamented. +However, Friend Hopper was attached to the ancient costume from early +association, and he could not quite banish the idea that any change in +it would be a degree of conformity to the fashions of the world. The +long stockings, and small clothes buckled at the knee, were well adapted +to his finely formed limbs; and certainly he and his lady-like Hannah, +in their quaint garb of the olden time, formed a very agreeable picture. + +He had no peculiarities with regard to eating or drinking. He always +followed the old-fashioned substantial mode of living, to which he had +been accustomed in youth, and of which moderation in all things was the +rule. For luxuries he had no taste. He thought very little about his +food; but when it was before him, he ate with the vigorous appetite +natural to strong health and very active habits. When his health failed +for a time in Philadelphia, and he seemed wasting away to a shadow, his +physician recommended tobacco. He found great benefit from it, and in +consequence of the habit then formed he became an inveterate smoker, and +continued so till he was past seventy years old. + +Being out of health for a short time, at that period, the doctor told +him he thought smoking was not good for his complaint. He accordingly +discontinued the practice, and formed a resolution not to renew it. When +he recovered, it cost him a good deal of physical annoyance to conquer +the long-settled habit; but he had sufficient strength of mind to +persevere in the difficult task, and he never again used tobacco in any +form. Speaking of this to his son Edward, he said, "The fact is, whoever +cures himself of any selfish indulgence, becomes a better man. It may +seem strange that I should set out to improve at my age; but better late +than never." + +He was eminently domestic in his character. Perhaps no man ever lived, +who better enjoyed staying at home. He loved to invite his +grand-children, and write them pleasant little notes about the +squirrel-pie, or some other rarity, which he had in preparation for +them. He seldom went out of his own family circle, except on urgent +business, or to attend to some call of humanity. He was always very +attentive in waiting upon his wife to meeting, or elsewhere, and spent a +large portion of his evenings in reading to her from the newspapers, or +some book of Travels, or the writings of early Friends. No man in the +country had such a complete Quaker library. He contrived to pick up +every rare old volume connected with the history of his sect. He had a +wonderful fondness and reverence for many of those books. They seemed to +stand to him in the place of old religious friends, who had parted from +his side in the journey of life. There, at least, he found Quakerism +that had not degenerated; that breathed the same spirit as of yore. + +I presume that his religious opinions resembled those of Elias Hicks. +But I judged so mainly from incidental remarks; for he regarded +doctrines as of small importance, and considered theology an +unprofitable topic of conversation. Practical righteousness, manifested +in the daily affairs of life, was in his view the sum and substance of +religion. The doctrine of the Atonement never commended itself to his +reason, and his sense of justice was disturbed by the idea of the +innocent suffering for the guilty. He moreover thought it had a +pernicious tendency for men to rely on an abstract article of faith, to +save them from their sins. With the stern and gloomy sects, who are +peculiarly attracted by the character of Deity as delineated in the Old +Testament, he had no sympathy. The Infinite One was ever present to his +mind, as a loving Father to all his children, whether they happened to +call him by the name of Brama, Jehovah, God, or Allah. + +He was strongly attached to the forms of Quakerism, as well as to the +principles. It troubled him, when some of his children changed their +mode of dress, and ceased to say _thee_ and _thou_. He groaned when one +of his daughters appeared before him with a black velvet bonnet, though +it was exceedingly simple in construction, and unornamented by feather +or ribbon. She was prepared for this reception, and tried to reconcile +him to the innovation by representing that a white or drab-colored silk +bonnet showed every stain, and was therefore very uneconomical for a +person of active habits. "Thy good mother was a very energetic woman," +he replied; "but she found no difficulty in keeping her white bonnet as +nice as a new pin." His daughter urged that it required a great deal of +trouble to keep it so; and that she did not think dress was worth so +much trouble. But his groan was only softened into a sigh. The fashion +of the bonnet his Sarah had worn, in that beloved old meeting-house at +Woodbury, was consecrated in his memory; and to his mind, the outward +type also stood for an inward principle. I used to tell him that I found +something truly grand in the original motive for saying _thee_ and +_thou_; but it seemed to me that it had degenerated into a mere +hereditary habit, since the custom of applying _you_ exclusively to +superiors had vanished from the English language. He admitted the force +of this argument; but he deprecated a departure from their old forms, +because he considered it useful, especially to the young, to carry the +cross of being marked and set apart from the world. But though he was +thus strict in what he required of those who had been educated as +Quakers, he placed no barrier between himself and people of other sects. +He loved a righteous man, and sympathized with an unfortunate one, +without reference to his denomination. In fact, many of his warmest and +dearest friends were not members of his own religious society. + +Early in life he formed an unfavorable opinion of the effect of capital +punishment. His uncle Tatum considered it a useful moral lesson to take +all his apprentices to hear the tragedy of George Barnwell, and to +witness public executions. On one of these occasions, he saw five men +hung at once. His habits of shrewd observation soon led him to conclude +that such spectacles generally had a very hardening and bad influence on +those who witnessed them, or heard them much talked about. In riper +years, his mind was deeply interested in the subject, and he read and +reflected upon it a great deal. The result of his investigations was a +settled conviction that executions did not tend to diminish crime, but +rather to increase it, by their demoralizing effect on the community. He +regarded them with abhorrence, as a barbarous custom, entirely out of +place in a civilized country and a Christian age. + +Concerning the rights of women, he scarcely needed any new light from +modern theories; for, as a Quaker, he had been early accustomed to +practical equality between men and women in all the affairs of the +Society. He had always been in the habit of listening to them as +preachers, and of meeting them on committees with men, for education, +for the care of the poor, for missions to the Indians, and for financial +regulations. Therefore, it never occurred to him that there was anything +unseemly in a woman's using any gift with which God had endowed her, or +transacting any business, which she had the ability to do well. + +After his removal to New-York, incidents now and then occurred, which +formed pleasant links with his previous life in Philadelphia. Sometimes +slaves, whom he had rescued many years before, or convicts, whom he had +encouraged to lead a better life, called to see him and express their +gratitude. Sometimes their children came to bless him. There was one old +colored woman, who never could meet him without embracing him. Although +these demonstrations were not always convenient, and did not partake of +the quiet character of Quaker discipline, he would never say anything to +repress the overflowings of her warm old heart. As one of his sons +passed through Bond-street, he saw an old colored man rubbing his +knees, and making the most lively gesticulations of delight. Being asked +what was the matter, he pointed across the street, and exclaimed, "O, if +I was only sure that was Friend Hopper of Philadelphia! If I was only +_sure_!" When told that he was not mistaken, he rushed up to the old +gentleman, threw his arms about his neck, and hugged him. + +When I told him of Julia Pell, a colored Methodist preacher, whose +fervid untutored eloquence had produced an exciting effect on my mind, +he invited her to come and take tea with him. In the course of +conversation, he discovered that she was the daughter of Zeke, the slave +who outwitted his purchaser; as described in the preceding narratives. +It was quite an interesting event in her life to meet with the man who +had written her father's manumission papers, while she was in her +infancy. When the parting hour came, she said she felt moved to pray; +and dropping on her knees, she poured forth a brief but very earnest +prayer, at the close of which she said: "O Lord, I beseech thee to +shower down blessings on that good old man, whom thou hast raised up to +do such a blessed work for my down-trodden people." + +Friend Hopper's fund of anecdotes, especially with regard to colored +people, was almost inexhaustible. He related them with so much +animation, that he was constantly called upon to repeat them, both at +public meetings and in private conversation; and they never failed to +excite lively interest. Every stranger, who was introduced to him, tried +to draw him out; and it was an easy matter; for he loved to oblige +people, and it is always pleasant for an old soldier to fight his +battles over again. In this readiness to recount his own exploits, there +was nothing that seemed like silly or obtrusive vanity. It often +reminded me of the following just remark in the Westminster Review, +applied to Jeremy Bentham: "The very egotism in which he occasionally +indulged was a manifestation of a _want_ of self-thought. This unpopular +failing is, after all, one of the characteristics of a natural and +simple mind. It requires much _thought_ about one's self to _avoid_ +speaking of one's self." + +It has been already mentioned that Friend Hopper passed through a fiery +trial in his own religious society, during the progress of the schism +produced by the preaching of Elias Hicks. Fourteen years had elapsed +since the separation. The "Hicksite" branch had become an established +and respectable sect. In cities, many of them were largely engaged in +Southern trade. I have heard it stated that millions of money were thus +invested. They retained sympathy with the theological opinions of Elias +Hicks, but his rousing remonstrances against slavery would have been +generally very unwelcome to their ears. They cherished the names of +Anthony Benezet, John Woolman, and a host of other departed worthies, +whose labors in behalf of the colored people reflected honor on their +Society. But where was the need of being so active in the cause, as +Isaac T. Hopper was, and always had been? "The way did not open" for +_them_ to be so active; and why should _his_ zeal rebuke _their_ +listlessness? Was it friendly, was it respectful in him, to do more than +his religious Society thought it necessary to do? It is astonishing how +troublesome a living soul proves to be, when they try to shut it up +within the narrow limits of a drowsy sect! + +I had a friend in Boston, whose wealthy and aristocratic parents brought +him up according to the most approved model of genteel religion. He +learned the story of the Good Samaritan, and was early accustomed to +hear eulogies pronounced on the holy Jesus, who loved the poor, and +associated with the despised. When the boy became a man he joined the +Anti-Slavery Society, and openly avowed that he regarded Africans as +brethren of the great human family. His relatives were grieved to see +him pursuing such an injudicious and disrespectable course. Whereupon, a +witty reformer remarked, "They took most commendable pains to present +Jesus and the Good Samaritan as models of character, but they were +surprised to find that he had taken them at their word." + +The case was somewhat similar with Isaac T. Hopper. He had imbibed +anti-slavery principles in full flood at the fountain of Quakerism. +Their best and greatest men were conspicuous as advocates of those +principles. Children were taught to revere those men, and their +testimonies were laid up in honorable preservation, to be quoted with +solemn formality on safe occasions. Friend Hopper acted as if these +professions were in good earnest; and thereby he disturbed his sect, as +my Boston friend troubled his family, when he made practical use of +their religious teaching. + +That many of the modern Quakers should be blinded by bales of cotton, +heaped up between their souls and the divine light, is not remarkable; +for cotton is an impervious material. But it is a strange anomaly in +their history that any one among them should have considered himself +guided by the Spirit to undertake the especial mission of discouraging +sympathy with the enslaved. A minister belonging to that branch of the +Society called "Hicksites," who usually preached in Rose-street Meeting, +New-York, had imbibed very strong prejudices against all modern reforms: +and he manifested his aversion with a degree of excitement, in language, +tone, and gesture, very unusual in that quiet sect. Those who labored +in the cause of temperance, anti-slavery, or non-resistance, he was wont +to stigmatize as "hireling lecturers," "hireling book-agents," and +"emissaries of Satan." Soon after Thomas Hughes consented to return to +the South, in consequence of the fair professions of Mr. Darg, this +preacher chimed in with the exulting tones of the pro-slavery press, by +alluding to it in one of his public discourses as follows. After +speaking of the tendency of affliction to produce humility, he went on +to say, "As a slave, who had suffered the effects of his criminal +conduct, and been thus led to calm reflection, recently chose to go back +with this master into slavery, and endure all the evils of that +condition, notwithstanding his former experience of them, rather than +stay with those hypocritical workers of popular righteousness who had +interfered in his behalf. For my own part, I commend his choice. I had a +thousand times rather be a slave, and spend my days with slaveholders, +than to dwell in companionship with abolitionists." + +The state of things among Quakers in the city of New-York may be +inferred from the fact that this minister was exceedingly popular, and +his style of preaching cordially approved by a majority of them. One of +the editors of the Anti-Slavery Standard, at that time, wrote a severe, +though by no means abusive article on the subject, headed "Rare +Specimen of a Quaker Preacher." This gave great offence, and Isaac T. +Hopper was very much blamed for it. He, and his son-in-law James S. +Gibbons, and his friend Charles Marriott, then belonged to the Executive +Committee of the Anti-Slavery Society; and it was assumed to be their +duty to have prevented the publication of the sarcastic article. Charles +Harriot was absent from the city when it was published, and Friend +Hopper did not see it till after it was in print. When they urged these +facts, and stated, moreover, that they had no right to dictate to the +editor what he should say, or what he should not say, they were told +that they ought to exculpate themselves by a public expression of their +disapprobation. But as they did not believe the editorial article +contained any mis-statement of facts, they could not conscientiously say +any thing that would satisfy the friends of the preacher. It would be +tedious to relate the difficulties that followed. There were visits from +overseers, and prolonged sessions of committees; a great deal of talking +_with_ the accused, and still more talking _about_ them. A strong +disposition was manifested to make capital against them out of the Darg +Case. Robert H. Morris, who was presiding Judge while that case was +pending, and afterward Mayor of New-York, had long known Friend Hopper, +and held him in much respect. When he was told that some sought to cast +imputations on his character, he was greatly surprised, and offered to +give favorable testimony in any form that might be desired. J.R. +Whiting, the District Attorney, expressed the same readiness; and +private misrepresentations were silenced by a published certificate from +them, testifying that throughout the affair Friend Hopper had merely +"exhibited a desire to procure the money for the master, and the +manumission of the slave." + +The principal argument brought by Friends, against their members uniting +with Anti-Slavery Societies, was that they were thus led to mix +indiscriminately with people of other denominations, and brought into +contact with hireling clergymen. There seemed some inconsistency in this +objection, coming from the mouths of men who belonged to Rail Road +Corporations, and Bank Stock Companies, and who mingled constantly with +slaveholders in Southern trade; for the early testimonies of the Society +were quite as explicit against slavery, as against a paid ministry. +However, those of their members who were abolitionists were willing to +obviate this objection, if possible. They accordingly formed an +association among themselves, "for the relief of those held in slavery, +and the improvement of the free people of color." But when this +benevolent association asked for the use of Rose-street Meeting-house, +their request was not only refused, but condemned as disorderly. +Affairs were certainly in a very singular position. Both branches of the +Society of Friends were entirely inert on the subject of slavery. Both +expressed pity for the slave, but both agreed that "the way did not +open" for them to _do_ anything. If individual members were thus driven +to unite in action with other sects upon a subject which seemed to them +very important, they were called disorganizers. When they tried to +conciliate by forming an association composed of Quakers only, they were +told that "as the Society of Friends saw no way to move forward in this +concern, such associations appeared to reflect upon _them_;" implying +that they failed in discharging their duty as a religious body. What +could an earnest, direct character, like Isaac T. Hopper, do in the +midst of a sect thus situated? He proceeded as he always did. He walked +straight forward in what seemed to him the path of duty, and snapped all +the lilliputian cords with which they tried to bind him. + +Being unable to obtain any apology from their offending members, the +Society proceeded to administer its discipline. A complaint was laid +before the Monthly Meeting of New-York, in which Isaac T. Hopper, James +S. Gibbons, and Charles Marriott, were accused of "being concerned in +the publication and support of a paper calculated to excite discord and +disunity among Friends." Friend Hopper published a statement, +characterised by his usual boldness, and disturbed his mind very little +about the result of their proceedings. April, 1842, he wrote thus, to +his daughter, Sarah H. Palmer, of Philadelphia: "During my late +indisposition, I was induced to enter into a close examination of my own +heart; and I could not find that I stood condemned there for the part I +have taken in the anti-slavery cause, which has brought upon me so much +censure from those 'who know not God, nor his son Jesus Christ. They +profess that they know God, but in works they deny him.' I have not yet +given up our Society as lost. I still live in the faith that it will see +better days. I often remember the testimony borne by that devoted and +dignified servant of the Lord, Mary Ridgeway; which was to this import: +'The Lord, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has gathered this Society +to be a people, and has placed his name among them; and He has given +them noble testimonies to hold up to the nations; but if they prove +unfaithful, those testimonies will be given unto others, who may be +compared to the stones of the street; and _they_ will wear the crowns +that were intended for this people, who will be cast out, as salt that +has lost its savor.' We may plume ourselves upon being the _children_ of +Abraham, but in the days of solemn inquisition, which surely will come, +it will only add to our condemnation, because we have not done the +_works_ of Abraham." + +"The Yearly Meeting will soon be upon us, when we shall have a final +decision in our cases. I feel perfectly resigned to the result, be it +what it may. Indeed, I have sometimes thought I should be happier _out_ +of the Society than _in_ it. I should feel more at liberty to 'cry aloud +and spare not, to lift up my voice like a trumpet, and show the people +their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.' I believe no +greater benefit could be conferred on the Society. There are yet many in +it who see and deplore its departure from primitive uprightness, but who +are afraid to come out as they ought against the evils that prevail in +it." + +An aged and very worthy Friend in Philadelphia, named Robert Moore, who +deeply sympathized with the wrongs of colored people, wrote to Friend +Hopper as follows: "From 1822 to 1827, we had many interesting +conversations in thy little front room, respecting the distracted state +of our Society, and the efforts made to sustain our much beloved brother +Elias Hicks, against those who were anxious for his downfall and +excommunication. This great excitement grew hotter till the separation +in 1827; we not being able to endure any longer the intolerance of the +party in power. Well, it appears that the persecuted have now, in their +turn, become persecutors; and those who went through the fire aforetime +are devoted to pass through it again. But, my dear friend, I hope thou +and all who are doomed to suffer for conscience sake, will stand firm, +and not deviate one inch from what you believe to be your duty. They may +cast you out of the synagogue, which I fear has become so corrupt that a +seat among them has ceased to be an honor, or in any way desirable; but +you will pass through the furnace unscathed. Not a hair of your heads +will be singed." + +The ecclesiastical proceedings in this case were kept pending more than +a year, I think; being carried from the Monthly Meeting to the +Quarterly, and thence to the Yearly Meeting. Thirty-six Friends were +appointed a committee in the Yearly Meeting. They had six sessions, and +finally reported that, after patient deliberation, they found eighteen +of their number in favor of confirming the decision of the Quarterly +Meeting; fifteen for reversing it; and three who declined giving any +judgment in the case. Upon this report, the Yearly Meeting confirmed the +decision of the inferior tribunals; and Isaac T. Hopper, James S. +Gibbons, and Charles Marriott were excommunicated; in Quaker phrase, +disowned. + +I thus expressed myself at the time; and the lapse of ten years has not +changed my view of the case: Excommunication for _such_ causes will cut +off from the Society their truest, purest, and tenderest spirits. There +is Isaac T. Hopper, whose life has been one long chapter of benevolence, +an unblotted record of fair integrity. A man so exclusive in his +religious attachments that the principles of his Society are to his mind +identical with Christianity, and its minutest forms sacred from +innovation. A man whose name is first mentioned wherever Quakerism is +praised, or benevolence to the slave approved. + +There is Charles Marriott, likewise widely known, and of high standing +in the Society; mild as a lamb, and tender-hearted as a child; one to +whom conflict with others is peculiarly painful, but who nevertheless, +when principles are at stake, can say, with the bold-hearted Luther, +"God help me! I cannot otherwise." + +There is James S. Gibbons, a young man, and therefore less known; but +wherever known, prized for his extreme kindness of heart, his steadfast +honesty of purpose, his undisguised sincerity, and his unflinching +adherence to his own convictions of duty. A Society has need to be very +rich in moral excellence, that can afford to throw away three such +members. + +Protests and disclaimers against the disownment of these worthy men came +from several parts of the country, signed by Friends of high character; +and many private letters were addressed to them, expressive of sympathy +and approbation. Friend Hopper was always grateful for such marks of +respect and friendship; but his own conscience would have sustained him +without such aid. He had long felt a deep sadness whenever he was +reminded of the _spiritual_ separation between him and the religious +Society, whose preachers had exerted such salutary influence on his +youthful character; but the _external_ separation was of no consequence. +He attended meeting constantly, as he had ever done, and took his seat +on the bench under the preachers' gallery, facing the audience, where he +had always been accustomed to sit, when he was an honored member of the +Society. Charles Marriott, who was by temperament a much meeker man, +said to him one day, "The overseers have called upon me, to represent +the propriety of my taking another seat, under existing circumstances. I +expect they will call upon thee, to give the same advice." + +"I expect they _won't_," was Isaac's laconic reply; and they never did. + +His daughter, Abby H. Gibbons, soon after resigned membership in the +Monthly Meeting of New-York for herself and her children; and his sons +Josiah and John did the same. The grounds stated were that "the meeting +had manifestly departed from the original principles and testimonies of +the Society of Friends; that the plainest principles of civil and +religious freedom had been violated in the whole proceedings in relation +to their father; and that the overseers had prepared an official +document calculated to produce false impressions with regard to him; +accusing him of 'grossly reproachful conduct' in the well known Darg +Case; whereas there was abundant evidence before the public that his +proceedings in that case were influenced by the purest and most +disinterested motives." + +The Philadelphia Ledger, after stating that the Society of Friends in +New-York had disowned some of their prominent members for being +connected, directly or indirectly, with an Abolition Journal, added the +following remark: "This seems rather singular; for we had supposed that +Friends were favorably inclined toward the abolition of slavery. But +many of their members are highly respectable merchants, extensively +engaged in Southern trade. We are informed that they are determined to +discountenance all pragmatic interference with the legal and +constitutional rights of their brethren at the South. The Quakers have +always been distinguished for minding their own business, and permitting +others to attend to theirs. They would be the last people to meddle with +the rights of _property_." + +The Boston Times quoted the paragraph from the Philadelphia Ledger, with +the additional remark, "There is no logician like money." + +Whether Friends in New-York felt flattered by these eulogiums, I know +not; but they appear to have been well deserved. + +In 1842 and the year following, Friend Hopper travelled more than usual. +In August '42, he visited his native place, after an absence of twenty +years. He and his wife were accompanied from Philadelphia by his son +Edward and his daughter Sarah H. Palmer. Of course, the haunts of his +boyhood had undergone many changes. Panther's Bridge had disappeared, +and Rabbit Swamp and Turkey Causeway no longer looked like the same +places. He visited his father's house, then occupied by strangers, and +found the ruins of his great-grandfather's dwelling. Down by the +pleasant old creek, shaded with large walnut trees and cedars, stood the +tombs of many of his relatives; and at Woodbury were the graves of his +father and mother, and the parents of his wife. Every spot had something +interesting to say of the past. His eyes brightened, and his tongue +became voluble with a thousand memories. Had I been present to listen to +him then, I should doubtless have been enabled to add considerably to my +stock of early anecdotes. He seemed to have brought away from this visit +a peculiarly vivid recollection of "poor crazy Joe Gibson." This +demented being was sometimes easily controlled, and willing to be +useful; at other times, he was perfectly furious and ungovernable. Few +people knew how to manage him; but Isaac's parents acquired great +influence over him by their uniform system of forbearance and +tenderness; their own good sense and benevolence having suggested the +ideas which regulate the treatment of insanity at the present period. +The day spent in Woodbury and its vicinity was a bright spot in Friend +Hopper's life, to which he always reverted with a kind of saddened +pleasure. The heat of the season had been tempered by floating clouds, +and when they returned to Philadelphia, there was a faint rainbow in the +east. He looked lovingly upon it, and said, "These clouds seem to have +followed us all day, on purpose to make everything more pleasant." + +In the course of the same month he accepted an invitation to attend the +Anti-Slavery Convention at Norristown, Pennsylvania. His appearance +there was quite an event. Many friends of the cause, who were strangers +to him, were curious to obtain a sight of him, and to hear him address +the meeting. Charles C. Burleigh, in an eloquent letter to the +Convention, says: "I am glad to hear that Isaac T. Hopper is to be +present. That tried old veteran, with his eye undimmed, his natural +strength unabated, his resolute look, and calm determined manner, before +which the blustering kidnapper, and the self-important oppressor have so +often quailed! With the scars of a hundred battles, and the wreaths of +an hundred victories in this glorious warfare. With his example of half +a century's active service in this holy cause, and his still faithful +adherence to it, through evil as well as good report, and in the face of +opposition as bitter as sectarian bigotry can stir up. Persecution +cannot bow the head, which seventy winters could not blanch, nor the +terrors of excommunication chill the heart, in which age could not +freeze the kindly flow of warm philanthropy." + +I think it was not long after this excursion that his sister Sarah came +from Maryland to visit him. She was a pleasant, sensible matron, much +respected by all who knew her. I noted down at the time several +anecdotes of childhood and youth, which bubbled up in the course of +conversations between her and her brother. In her character the +hereditary trait of benevolence was manifested in a form somewhat +different from his. She had no children of her own, but she brought up, +on her husband's farm, nineteen poor boys and girls, and gave most of +them a trade. Nearly all of them turned out well. + +In the winters of 1842 and '43, Friend Hopper complied with urgent +invitations to visit the Anti-Slavery Fair, in Boston; and seldom has a +warmer welcome been given to any man. As soon as he appeared in Amory +Hall, he was always surrounded by a circle of lively girls attracted by +his frank manners, his thousand little pleasantries, and his keen +enjoyment of young society. A friend of mine used to say that when she +saw them clustering round him, in furs and feathered bonnets, listening +to his words so attentively, she often thought it would make as fine a +picture as William Penn explaining his treaty to the Indians. + +Ellis Gray Loring in a letter to me, says: "We greatly enjoyed Friend +Hopper's visit. You cannot conceive how everybody was delighted with +him; particularly all our gay young set; James Russell Lowell, William +W. Story, and the like. The old gentleman seemed very happy; receiving +from all hands evidence of the true respect in which he is held." Mrs. +Loring, writing to his son John, says: "We have had a most delightful +visit from your father. Our respect, wonder, and love for him increased +daily. I am sure he must have received some pleasure, he bestowed so +much. We feel his friendship to be a great acquisition." + +Samuel J. May wrote to me: "I cannot tell you how much I was charmed by +my interview with Friend Hopper. To me, it was worth more than all the +Fair beside. Give my most affectionate respects to him. He very kindly +invited me to make his house my home when I next come to New-York; and I +am impatient for the time to arrive, that I may accept his invitation." + +Edmund Quincy, writing to Friend Hopper's daughter, Mrs. Gibbons, says: +"You cannot think how glad we were to see the dear old man. He spent a +night with me, to my great contentment, and that of my wife; and to the +no small edification of our little boy, to whom breeches and buckles +were a great curiosity. My Irish gardener looked at them with reverence; +having probably seen nothing so aristocratic, since he left the old +country. I love those relics of past time. The Quakers were not so much +out, when they censured their members for turning _sans culottes_. Think +of Isaac T. Hopper in a pair of pantaloons strapped under his feet! +There is heresy in the very idea. But, costume apart, we were as glad to +see Father Hopper, as if he had been our real father in the flesh. I +hope he had a right good time. If he had not, I am sure it was not for +want of being made much of. I trust his visits to Boston will grow into +one of our domestic institutions." + +In the old gentleman's account of his visit to the Fair, he says: "I was +struck with the extreme propriety with which everything was conducted, +and with the universal harmony and good-will that prevailed among the +numerous friends of the cause, who had collected from all parts of the +old Commonwealth, on this interesting occasion. Many of the most +distinguished citizens were purchasers, and appeared highly gratified, +though not connected with the anti-slavery cause. Lord Morpeth, late +Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, attended frequently, made some presents to +the Fair, and purchased several articles. I would call him by his +Christian name, if I knew it; for it is plain enough that he was not +baptized, 'Lord'. His manners were extremely friendly and agreeable, and +he expressed himself highly pleased with the exhibition. I had an +interesting conversation with him on the subject of slavery; +particularly in relation to the Amistad captives, and the case of the +Creole." + +"I had an opportunity to make a valuable addition to my collection of +the works of ancient Friends. On the book-table, I found that rare old +volume, 'The Way Cast Up,' written by George Keith, while in unity with +the Society. I took it home with me to my chamber; and as I glanced over +it, my mind was moved to a painful retrospect of the Society of Friends +in its original state, when its members were at liberty to follow the +light, as manifested to them in the silence and secrecy of their own +souls. I seemed to see them entering places appointed for worship by +various professors, and there testifying against idolatry, superstition, +and a mercenary priesthood. I saw them entering the courts, calling upon +judges and lawyers to do justice. I saw them receive contumely and +abuse, as a reward for these acts of dedication. My imagination +followed them to loathsome dungeons, where many of them died a lingering +death. I saw the blood trickling from the lacerated backs of innocent +men and women. I saw William Robinson, Marmaduke Stevenson, Mary Dyer, +and William Leddra, pass through the streets of Boston, pinioned, and +with halters about their necks, on the way to execution; yet rejoicing +that they were found worthy to suffer, even unto death, for their +fidelity to Christ; sustained through those last bitter moments by an +approving conscience and the favor of God. + +"I now see the inhabitants of that same city surpassed by none on the +globe, for liberality, candor, and benevolence. I see them taking the +lead of very many of the descendants of the martyrs referred to, in many +things, and at an immeasurable distance. I compared the state of the +Society of Friends in the olden time with what it now is. In some +sections of the country, they, in their turn, have become persecutors. +Not with dungeons, halter, and fire; for those modes of punishment have +gone by; but by ejecting their members from religious fellowship, and +defaming their characters for doing that which they conscientiously +believe is required at their hands; casting out their names as +evil-doers for honestly endeavoring to support one of the most dignified +testimonies ever given to the Society of Friends to hold up before a +sinful world. These reflections pained me deeply; for all the +convictions of my soul, and all my early religious recollections, bind +me fast to the principles of Friends; and I cannot but mourn to see how +the world has shorn them of their strength. I spent nearly a sleepless +night, and was baptized with my tears." + +"In the morning, my mind was in some degree reassured with the hope that +there are yet left, throughout the land, 'seven thousand in Israel, all +the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which has not +kissed him;' and that among these shall yet 'arise judges, as at the +first, and counsellors, and lawgivers, as in the beginning.' My soul +longeth for the coming of that day, more than for the increase of corn, +and wine, and oil." + +In the Spring of 1843, Friend Hopper visited Rhode Island, and Bucks +County, in Pennsylvania, to address the people in behalf of the +enslaved. He was accompanied by Lucinda Wilmarth, a very intelligent and +kind-hearted young person, who sometimes spoke on the same subject. +After she returned to her home in Massachusetts, she wrote as follows, +to the venerable companion of her mission; "Dear Father Hopper, I see by +the papers that Samuel Johnson has gone home. I well remember our call +upon him, on the second Sunday morning of our sojourn in that land of +roses. I also remember his radiant and peaceful countenance, which told +of a life well spent, and of calm and hopeful anticipations of the +future. I love to dwell upon my visit to Pennsylvania. I never saw +happier or more lovely homes. Never visited dwellings where those little +household divinities, goodness, order, and cheerfulness, held more +universal sway. I was enabled to view men and things from an entirely +new point of view. I had previously seen nothing of Quakerism, except in +a narrow orthodox form, with which I had no sympathy. I was much pleased +with the apparent freedom and philanthropy of the Friends I met there. I +know not whether it was their peculiar _ism_, that made them so +comparatively free and liberal. Perhaps I unconsciously assigned to +their Quakerism what merely belonged to their manhood. But the fact is, +they came nearer to realizing the ideal of Quakerism, associated in my +mind with Fox and Penn, than any people I have ever seen. + +"I stopped at Providence on my way home. As soon as I entered Isaac +Hale's door, little Alice began to skip with joy, as she did that day +when we returned so unexpectedly to dine; but the next moment, she +looked down the stair-case, and exclaimed in a most anxious tone, 'Why +_did'nt_ Grandfather Hopper come? What _did_ you come alone for? What +_shall_ I do?' On my arrival home, the first noisy greetings of my +little brothers and sisters had scarcely subsided, before they began to +inquire, 'Why did'nt your _other_ father come, too?' They complained +that you had not written a single 'Tale of Oppression' for the Standard +since you were here. But a week after, my little sister came running +with an open newspaper in her hand, exclaiming, 'Father Hopper has made +another story!' She has named her doll for your little grand-daughter, +Lucy Gibbons, because you used to talk about her; and every day she +reads the book you gave her." + +Friend Hopper found great satisfaction in the perusal of the above +letter, not only on account of his great regard for the writer, but +because many of the Friends in Bucks County were the delight of his +heart. He was always telling me that if I wanted to see the best farms, +the best Quakers, and the most comfortable homes in the world, I must go +to Bucks County. In his descriptions, it was a blooming land of peace +and plenty, approaching as near to an earthly paradise, as could be +reasonably expected. + +At the commencement of 1845, the American Anti-Slavery Society made some +changes in their office at New-York, by which the duties of editor and +treasurer, were performed by the same person; consequently Friend +Hopper's services were no longer needed. When he retired from the office +he had held during four years, the Society unanimously voted him thanks +for the fidelity with which he had discharged the duties entrusted to +him. + +At that time, several intelligent and benevolent gentlemen in the city +of New-York were much interested in the condition of criminals +discharged from prisons, without money, without friends, and with a +character so blasted, that it was exceedingly difficult to procure +employment. However sincerely desirous such persons might be to lead a +better life, it seemed almost impossible for them to carry their good +resolutions into practice. The inconsiderate harshness of society forced +them back into dishonest courses, even when it was contrary to their own +inclinations. That this was a fruitful source of crime, and consequently +a great increase of expense to the state, no one could doubt who +candidly examined the subject. To meet the wants of this class of +sufferers, it was proposed to form a Prison Association, whose business +it should be to inquire into individual cases, and extend such sympathy +and assistance as circumstances required. This subject had occupied +Friend Hopper's mind almost as early as the wrongs of the slave. He +attended the meetings, and felt a lively interest in the discussions, in +which he often took part. The editor of the New-York Evening Mirror, +alluding to one of these occasions, says: "When Mr. Hopper rose to offer +some remarks, we thought the burst of applause which greeted the quaint +old man, (in the very costume of Franklin) was a spontaneous homage to +goodness; and we thanked God and took courage for poor human nature." + +His well-known benevolence, his peculiar tact in managing wayward +characters, his undoubted integrity, and his long experience in such +matters, naturally suggested the idea that he was more suitable than any +other person to be Agent of the Association. It was a situation +extremely well-adapted to his character, and if his limited +circumstances would have permitted, he would have been right glad to +have discharged its duties gratuitously. He named three hundred dollars +a year, as sufficient addition to his income, and the duties were +performed with as much diligence and zeal, as if the recompence had been +thousands. Although he was then seventy-four years old, his hand-writing +was firm and even, and very legible. He kept a Diary of every day's +transactions, and a Register of all the discharged convicts who applied +for assistance; with a monthly record of such information as could be +obtained of their character and condition, from time to time. The neat +and accurate manner in which these books were kept was really surprising +in so old a man. The amount of walking he did, to attend to the business +of the Association, was likewise remarkable. Not one in ten thousand, +who had lived so many years, could have endured so much fatigue. + +In his labors in behalf of this class of unfortunate people he was +essentially aided by Abby H. Gibbons, who resided nearer to him than his +other daughters, and who had the same affectionate zeal to sustain him, +that she had manifested by secretly slipping a portion of her earnings +into his pocket, in the days of her girlhood. She was as vigilant and +active in behalf of the women discharged from prison, as her father was +in behalf of the men. Through the exertions of herself and other +benevolent women, an asylum for these poor outcasts, called THE HOME, +was established and sustained. Friend Hopper took a deep interest in +that institution, and frequently went there on Sunday evening, with his +wife and daughters, to talk with the inmates in a manner most likely to +soothe and encourage them. They were accustomed to call him "Father +Hopper," and always came to him for advice when they were in trouble. + +When the Prison Association petitioned to be incorporated, it +encountered a great deal of opposition, on the ground that it would be +likely to interfere with the authority of the State over prisons. During +two winters, Friend Hopper went to Albany frequently to sustain the +measure. He commanded respect and attention, by the good sense of his +remarks, his dignified manner, and readiness of utterance. The +Legislature were more inclined to have confidence in him, because he was +known to be a benevolent, conscientious Quaker, entirely unconnected +with party politics. In fact, the measure was carried mainly by the +exertion of his personal influence. He sustained the petition of the +Association in a speech before the Legislature, which excited much +attention, and made a deep impression on those who heard it. Judge +Edmonds, who was one of the speakers on the same occasion, often alluded +to it as a remarkable address. He said, "It elicited more applause, and +did more to carry the end in view, than anything that was said by more +practised public speakers. His eloquence was simple and direct, but most +effective. If he was humorous, his audience were full of laughter; if +solemn, a deathlike stillness reigned; if pathetic, tears flowed all +around him. He seemed unconscious of his power in this respect, but I +have heard him many times before large assemblies at our Anniversaries, +and in the chapel of the State Prison, and I have been struck, over and +over again, with the remarkable sway he had over the minds of those whom +he addressed." + +The business of the Association made it necessary for Friend Hopper to +visit that city many times afterward. He came to be so well known there, +and was held in such high respect, that whenever he made his appearance +in the halls of legislation, the Speaker sent a messenger to invite him +to take a seat near his own. + +He often applied to the Governor to exert his pardoning power, where he +thought there were mitigating circumstances attending the commission of +a crime; or where the mind and health of a prisoner seemed breaking +down; or where a long course of good conduct seemed deserving of reward. +When Governor Young had become sufficiently acquainted with him to form +a just estimate of his character, he said to him, "Friend Hopper, I will +pardon any convict, whom you say you conscientiously believe I ought to +pardon. If I err at all, I prefer that it should be on the side of +mercy. But so many cases press upon my attention, and it is so difficult +to examine them all thoroughly, that it is a great relief to find a man +in whose judgment and integrity I have such perfect confidence, as I +have in yours." On the occasion of one of these applications for mercy, +the following quaint correspondence passed between him and the Governor: + + "Esteemed Friend, + + "John Young: + + "You mayst think this mode of address rather too familiar; but as it + is the spontaneous effusion of my heart, and entirely congenial + with my feelings, I hope thou wilt hold me excused. Permit me to + embrace this opportunity to congratulate thee upon thy accession + to the office of Chief Magistrate of the State. I have confidence + its duties will be faithfully performed. I rejoice that thou hast + had independence enough to restore to liberty, and to their + families, those infatuated men called Anti-Renters. Some, who live + under the old dispensation, that demanded 'an eye for an eye, and a + tooth for a tooth,' will doubtless censure this act of justice and + mercy. But another class will be glad; those who have embraced the + Christian faith, and live under the benign influence of its spirit, + which enjoins forgiveness of injuries. The approbation of such, + accompanied with an approving conscience, will, I trust, more than + counterbalance any censure that may arise on the occasion. + + "The object I particularly have in view in addressing thee now, is, + to call thy attention to the case of Allen Lee, who was sentenced + to twelve years' imprisonment for horse-stealing, in Westchester + County. He has served for eleven years and two months of that time. + It is his first offence, and he has conducted well during his + confinement. His health is much impaired, and he has several times + had a slight haemorrhage of the lungs. Allen's father was a regular + teamster in the army during all the revolutionary war. Though poor, + he has always sustained a fair reputation. He is now ninety years + old, and he is extremely anxious to behold the face of his son. + Permit me, most respectfully, but earnestly, to ask thy early + attention to this case. The old man is confined to his bed, and so + low, that he cannot continue many weeks. Unless Allen is very soon + released, there is no probability that he will ever see him. I have + no self-interested motives in this matter, but am influenced solely + by considerations of humanity. With sincere desires for thy health + and happiness, I am very respectfully thy friend, + + "ISAAC T. HOPPER." + +Governor Young promptly replied as follows. + + "My worthy friend, Isaac T. Hopper, + + "I have often thought of thee since we last met. I have received + thy letter; and because thou hast written to me, and because I know + that what thou writest is always truth, and that the old man, + before he lays him down to die, may behold the face of his son, I + will restore Allen to his kindred. When thou comest to Albany, I + pray thee to come and see me. Very respectfully thy friend, JOHN + YOUNG." + +The monitor within frequently impelled Friend Hopper to address the +assembled convicts at Sing Sing, on Sunday. The officers of the +establishment were very willing to open the way for him; for according +to the testimony of Mr. Harman Eldridge, the warden, "With all his +kindness, and the encouragement he was always ready to give, he was +guarded and cautious in the extreme, that nothing should be said to +conflict with the discipline of the prison." His exhortations rendered +the prisoners more docile, and stimulated them to exertion by keeping +hope alive in their hearts. On such occasions, I have been told that a +large portion of his unhappy audience were frequently moved to tears; +and the warmth of their grateful feelings was often manifested by +eagerly pressing forward to shake hands with him, whenever they received +permission to do so. The friendly counsel he gave on such occasions +sometimes produced a permanent effect on their characters. In a letter +to his daughter Susan, he says: "One of these poor fellows attacked the +life of the keeper, and I soon after had a private interview with him. +He received what I said kindly, but declared that he could not govern +his temper. He said he had no ill-will toward the keeper; that what he +did was done in a gust of passion, and he could not help it. I tried to +convince him that he had power to control his temper, if he would only +exercise it. A year and a half afterward, on First Day, after meeting, +he asked permission to speak to me. He then told me he was convinced +that what I had said to him was true; for he had not given way to anger +since I talked to him on the subject. He showed me many certificates +from the keepers, all testifying to his good conduct. I hardly ever saw +a man more changed than he is." + +I often heard my good old friend describe these scenes in the Prison +Chapel, with much emotion. He used to say, the feeling of confidence and +safety which prevailed, was sometimes presented to his mind in forcible +contrast with the state of things in Philadelphia, in 1787, as related +by his worthy friend, Dr. William Rogers, who was on the committee of +the first Society formed in this country "for relieving the miseries of +public prisons." That kind-hearted and conscientious clergyman proposed +to address some religious exhortation to the prisoners, on Sunday. But +the keeper was so unfriendly to the exertion of such influence, that he +assured him his life would be in peril, and the prisoners would +doubtless escape, to rob and murder the citizens. When an order was +granted by the sheriff for the performance of religious services, he +obeyed it very reluctantly; and he actually had a loaded cannon mounted +near the clergyman, and a man standing ready with a lighted match all +the time he was preaching. His audience were arranged in a solid column, +directly in front of the cannon's mouth. This is supposed to have been +the first sermon addressed to the assembled inmates of a State Prison in +this country. + +Notwithstanding Friend Hopper's extreme benevolence, he was rarely +imposed upon. He made it a rule to give very little money to discharged +convicts. He paid their board till employment could be obtained, and +when they wished to go to their families, in distant places, he procured +free passage for them in steamboats or cars; which his influence with +captains and conductors enabled him to do very easily. If they wanted to +work at a trade, he purchased tools, and hired a shop, when +circumstances seemed to warrant such expenditure. After they became well +established in business, they were expected to repay these loans, for +the benefit of others in the same unfortunate condition they had been. +Of course, some who expected to receive money whenever they told a +pitiful story, were disappointed and vexed by these prudential +regulations. Among the old gentleman's letters, I find one containing +these expressions: "When I heard you talk in the Prison Chapel, I +thought there was something for the man that had once left the path of +honesty to hope for from his fellow-men; but I find that I was greatly +mistaken. You are men of words. You can do the wind-work first rate. But +when a man wants a little assistance to get work, and get an honest +living, you are not there. Now I wish to know where your philanthropy +is." + +But such instances were exceptions. As a general rule, gratitude was +manifested for the assistance rendered in time of need; though it was +always limited to the urgent necessities of the case. One day, the +following letter, enclosing a dollar bill for the Association, was +addressed to Isaac T. Hopper: "Should the humble mite here enclosed be +the means of doing one-sixteenth part the good to any poor convict that +the sixteenth of a dollar has done for me, which I received through your +hands more than once, when I was destitute of money or friends, then I +shall have my heart's desire. With the blessing of God, I remain your +most humble debtor." + +From the numerous cases under Friend Hopper's care, while Agent of the +Prison Association, I will select a few; but I shall disguise the names, +because the individuals are living, and I should be sorry to wound their +feelings by any unnecessary exposure of past delinquences. + +C.R. about twenty-nine years old, called at the office, and said he had +been lately released from Moyamensing prison; having been sentenced for +two years, on account of selling stolen goods. When Friend Hopper +inquired whether it was his first offence, he frankly answered, "No. I +have been in Sing Sing prison twice for grand larceny. I served five +years each time." + +"Thou art still very young," rejoined Friend Hopper; "and it seems a +large portion of thy life has been spent in prison. I am afraid thou art +a bad man. But I hope thou seest the error of thy ways, and art now +determined to do better. Hast thou any friends?" + +He replied, "I have a mother; a poor hard-working woman, who sells fruit +and candies in the streets. If you will give me a start, I will try to +lead an honest life henceforth; for I want to be a comfort and support +to her. I have no other friend in the world, and nobody to help me. When +I left prison, I was advised to come to you. I am a shoemaker; and if I +had money to buy a set of tools, I would work at my trade, and take care +of my mother." + +Necessary tools were procured for him, and he seemed very grateful; +saying it was the first time in his life that he had found any one +willing to help him to be honest, when he came out of prison. Great +doubts were entertained of the success of this case; because the man had +been so many times convicted. But he occasionally called at the office, +and always appeared sober and respectable. A few months after his first +introduction, he sent Friend Hopper a letter from Oswego, enclosing +seven dollars for his mother. He immediately delivered it, and returned +with a cheerful heart to enter it on his Record; adding, "The poor old +woman was much pleased that her son remembered her, and said she +believed he was now going to do well." + +After that, C.R. frequently sent five or ten dollars to his mother, +through the same channel, and paid her rent punctually. He refunded all +the money the Association had lent him, and made some small donations, +in token of gratitude. Having behaved in a very exemplary manner during +four years and a half, Friend Hopper, at his earnest request, applied to +the Governor to have all the rights of citizenship restored to him. This +was readily obtained by a full and candid statement of the case. It is +entered on the Record, with this remark: "C.R. has experienced a +wonderful change for the better since he first called upon us. He said +he should always remember the kindness that had been extended to him, +and hoped he should never do anything to make us regret it." + +He afterward opened a store, with a partner, and up to this present +time, is doing well, both in a moral and worldly point of view. Five +years and a half after he began to reform, Dr. Russ, of New-York, sent a +discharged prisoner to him, in search of work. He wrote in reply, as +follows: "I have obtained good employment for the bearer of your note; +and it gives me much pleasure at my heart to do something for him that +wishes to do well. So leave him to me; and I trust you will be gratified +to know the end of charity from a discharged convict." A week elapsed +before the man could enter on his new employment; and C.R. paid his +board during that time. + +A person, whom I will call Michael Stanley, was sentenced to Sing Sing +for two years; being convicted of grand larceny when he was about +twenty-two years old. When his term expired, he called upon the Prison +Association, and obtained assistance in procuring employment. He +endeavored to establish a good character, and was so fortunate as to +gain the affections of a very orderly, industrious young woman, whom he +soon after married. In his Register, Friend Hopper thus describes a +visit to them, little more than a year after he was discharged from +prison: "I called yesterday to visit M.S. He lives in the upper part of +a brick house, nearly new. His wife is a neat, likely-looking woman, and +appears to be a nice housekeeper. Everything about the premises +indicates frugality, industry, and comfort. They have plain, substantial +furniture, and a good carpet on the floor. Before their door is a +grass-plot, and the margin of the fence is lined with a variety of +plants in bloom. He and his wife, and her mother, manifested much +gratification at my visit." + +In little more than two years after he began to retrieve the early +mistakes of his life, M.S. established a provision shop on his own +account, in the city of New-York, and was successful. He and his tidy +little wife called on Friend Hopper, from time to time, and always +cheered his heart by their respectable appearance, and the sincere +gratitude they manifested. The following record stands in the Register: +"M.S. called at my house, and spent an hour with me. He is a member of +the Society of Methodists, and I really believe he is a reformed man. It +is now more than four years and a half since he was released from Sing +Sing; and his conduct has ever since been unexceptionable." + +Another young man, whom I will call Hans Overton, was the son of very +respectable parents, but unfortunately he formed acquaintance with +unprincipled men when he was too young and inexperienced to be a judge +of character. Being corrupted by their influence, he forged a check on a +bank in Albany. He was detected, and sentenced to the State Prison for +two years. When he was released, at twenty-two years of age, he did the +best he could to efface the blot on his reputation. But after having +obtained respectable employment, he was discharged because his employer +was told he had been in prison. He procured another situation, and the +same thing again occurred. He began to think there was no use in trying +to redeem his lost character. In this discouraged state of mind, he +applied to the Prison Association for assistance. Inquiries were made of +the two gentlemen in whose employ he had been more than a year. They +said they had found him capable, industrious, and faithful; and their +distrust of him was founded solely on the fact of his being a +discharged convict. For some time, he obtained only temporary +employment, now and then; and the Association lent him small sums of +money whenever his necessities required. At one time, he was charged +with being an accomplice in a larceny; but upon investigation, it was +ascertained that he had become mixed up with an affair, which made him +appear to disadvantage, though he had no dishonest intentions in +relation to it. Finally, through the influence of the Association he +obtained a situation, in a drug store. His employer was fully informed +concerning his previous history, but was willing to take him on trial. +He remained there five years, and conducted in the most exemplary +manner. Having married meanwhile, he was desirous to avail himself of an +opportunity to obtain a higher salary; and the druggist very willingly +testified that his conduct had been entirely satisfactory during the +time he had been with him. But in about eight months, his new employer +discovered that he had been in prison, and he immediately told him he +had better procure some other situation; though he acknowledged that he +had no fault to find with him. Friend Hopper sought an interview with +this gentleman and represented the youthfulness of H.O. at the time he +committed the misdemeanor, which had so much injured the prospects of +his life. He urged his subsequent good conduct, and the apparent +sincerity of his efforts to build up a reputation for honesty. He +finally put the case home to him, by asking how he would like to have +others conduct toward a son of his own, under similar circumstances. It +was a point of view from which the gentleman had never before considered +the question, and his mind was somewhat impressed by it; but his +prejudices were not easily overcome. Meanwhile, the druggist was very +willing to receive the young man back again; and he returned. It seems +as if it would have been almost impossible for him to have avoided +sinking into the depths of discouragement and desperation, if he had not +received timely assistance from the Prison Association. How highly he +appreciated their aid may be inferred from the following letter to Isaac +T. Hopper: + +"My dear friend, as business prevents me from seeing you in the +day-time, I take this method to express my thanks for the noble and +generous mention made of me in your remarks before the Association; +which remarks were as pleasant and exciting to me, as they were +unexpected. I need scarcely assure you, my kind and generous friend, +(generous not only to so humble an individual as myself, but to all your +fellow creatures,) that it is out of my power to find words to thank you +adequately, or to express my feelings on that occasion. I was the more +gratified because my dear wife was present with me, and also my +brother-in-law. Oh, what a noble work the Society is engaged in. My most +fervent prayer is that your name may remain on its list for many years +to come. Then indeed should I have no fears for those poor unfortunates, +whose first unthinking error places them unconditionally within the +miasma of vice and crime. That you may enjoy a very merry Christmas, and +many happy New-Years, is the sincere desire of my wife and myself." + +T.B., who has been for several years in the employ of the Association, +was raised by their aid from the lowest depths of intemperance, and has +become a highly respectable and useful citizen. + +J.M., who was in Sing Sing Prison four years, for grand larceny, was +aided by the Association at various times, and always repaid the money +precisely at the appointed day. His industry and skilful management +excited envy and jealousy in some, who had less faculty for business. +They taunted him with having been a convict, and threw all manner of +obstacles in the way of his making an honest living. + +Among other persecutions, a suit at law was instituted against him, +which cost him seventy-five dollars. The charge was entirely without +foundation, and when brought before the court, was promptly dismissed. +It is now about six years since J.M. resolved to retrieve his +character, and he still perseveres in the right course. + +Ann W. was an illegitimate child, and early left an orphan. She went to +live with an aunt, who kept a boarding-house in Albany. According to her +own account, she was harshly treated, and frequently taunted with the +circumstances of her birth. At the early age of fourteen, one of the +boarders offered to marry her, and induced her to leave the house with +him. She lived with him some time, always urging the fulfilment of his +promise; and at last he pacified her by going to a person, who performed +the marriage-ceremony. She was strongly attached to him, and being a +capable, industrious girl, she kept everything nice and bright about +their lodgings. He pretended to have a great deal of business in +New-York; but in fact his frequent visits to that city were for purposes +of gambling. On one of those occasions, when he had been absent much +longer than usual, she followed him, and found him living with another +woman. He very coolly informed her that the marriage-ceremony between +them was a mere sham; the person who performed it not having been +invested with any legal authority. Thus betrayed, deserted, and +friendless, the poor young creature became almost frantic. In that +desperate state of mind, she was decoyed by a woman, who kept a +disreputable house. A short career of reckless frivolity and vice +ended, as usual, in the hospital on Blackwell's Island. When she was +discharged, she tried to drown her sorrow and remorse in intemperance, +and went on ever from bad to worse, till she became a denizen of Five +Points. In her brief intervals of sobriety, she was thoroughly disgusted +with herself, and earnestly desired to lead a better life. Being turned +into the street one night, in a state of intoxication, she went to the +prison called The Tombs, because its architecture is in imitation of the +ancient sepulchral halls of Egypt. She humbly asked permission to enter +this gloomy abode, in hopes that some of the ladies connected with the +Prison Association would visit her, and find some decent employment for +her. Her case being represented to Friend Hopper, he induced his wife to +take her into the family, as a domestic. As soon as she entered the +house, she said, "I don't want to deceive you. I will tell you +everything." And she told all the particulars of her history, without +attempting to veil any of its deformity. She was very industrious, and +remarkably tidy in her habits. She kept the kitchen extremely neat, and +loved to decorate it with little ornaments, especially with flowers. +Poor shattered soul! Who can tell into what blossom of poetry that +little germ might have expanded, if it had been kindly nurtured under +gentle and refining influences? She behaved very well for several +months, and often expressed gratitude that she could now feel as if she +had a home. Friend Hopper took great interest in her, and had strong +hopes that she would become a respectable woman. Before a year expired, +she relapsed into intemperate habits for a time; but he overlooked it, +and encouraged her to forget it. As she often expressed a great desire +to see her cousins in Albany, he called upon them, and told the story of +her reformation. They sent some little presents, accompanied with +friendly messages, and after a while invited her to visit them. For a +time, it seemed as if the excursion had done her good, both physically +and mentally; but the sight of respectable relatives, with husbands and +children, made her realize more fully the utter loneliness of her own +position. She used opium in large quantities, and had dreadful fits in +consequence. Sometimes, she stole out of the house in the evening, and +was taken up by the police in a state of intoxication. When she +recovered her senses, she would be very humble, and during an interval +of weeks, or months, would make an effort to behave extremely well. I +forget how often Friend Hopper received her back, after she had spent +the night in the Station House; but it was many, many times. His +patience held out long after everybody else was completely weary. She +finally became so violent and ungovernable, and endangered the household +so much in her frantic fits, that even he felt the necessity of placing +her under the restraining influences of some public institution. The +Magdalen Asylum at Philadelphia consented to receive her, and after much +exhortation, she was persuaded to go. While she was there, his daughters +in that city called on her occasionally, at his request, and he and his +wife made her a visit. He wrote to her frequently, in the kindest and +most encouraging manner. In one of these epistles, he says: "I make +frequent inquiries concerning thee, and am generally told thou art +getting along _pretty_ well. Now I want to hear a different tale from +that. I want thy friends at the Asylum to be able to say, 'She is doing +_exceedingly_ well. Her health is good, she is satisfied with her +condition, and we are all much gratified to find that she submits to the +advice of her friends.' When they can speak thus of thee, I shall begin +to think about changing thy situation. The woman who fills thy place in +my family does very well. Every day, she puts on the table the mug thou +gavest me, and she keeps it as bright as silver. Our little garden looks +beautiful. The Morning Glories, thou used to take so much pleasure in, +have grown finely. All the family desire kind remembrances. Farewell. +May peace and comfort be with thee." + +In another letter, he says: "Thy Heavenly Father has been kind, and +waited long for thee; and He has now provided a way for thy redemption +from the bondage under which thou hast suffered so much. I hope thou +wilt not think of leaving the Asylum for some time to come. Thou canst +not be so firmly established yet, as not to be under great temptation +elsewhere. What a sorrowful circumstance it would be, if thou shouldst +again return to the filthy and wicked habit of stupifying thyself with +that pernicious drug! I am glad thou hast determined to take my advice. +If thou wilt do so, I will never forsake thee. I will do all I can for +thee; and thou shalt never be without a home." + +Again he writes: "Thy letter occasioned joy and sorrow. Sorrow to find +thou hast not always treated the matron as thou oughtest to have done. I +am sure that excellent person is every way worthy of thy regard; and I +hope my ears will never again be pained by hearing that thou hast +treated her unkindly or disrespectfully. I did hope that after a year's +discipline, thou hadst learned to control thy temper. Until thou canst +do so, thou must be aware that thou art not qualified to render thyself +useful or agreeable in any family. But after all, I am glad to find that +thou art sensible of thy error, and hast a disposition to improve. When +thou liest down at night, I want thee to examine the deeds of the past +day. If thou hast made a hasty reply, or spoken impertinently, or done +wrong in any other way, be careful to acknowledge thy fault. Ask thy +Heavenly Father to forgive thee, and be careful to do so no more. I feel +a great regard for thee; and I trust thou wilt never give me cause to +regret thy relapse into vice. I hope better things for thee, and I +always shall." + +But his hopefulness and patience proved of no avail in this instance. +The wreck was too complete to admit of repair. The poor creature +occasionally struggled hard to do better; but her constitution was +destroyed by vice and hardship; her feelings were blunted by suffering, +and her naturally bright faculties were stupified by opium. After she +left the Asylum, she lived with a family in the country for awhile; but +the old habits returned, and destroyed what little strength she had +left. The last I knew of her she was on Blackwell's Island; and she will +probably never leave it, till she goes where the weary are at rest. + +An uncommon degree of interest was excited in Friend Hopper's mind by +the sufferings of another individual, whom I will call Julia Peters. She +was born of respectable parents, and was carefully tended in her early +years. Her mother was a prudent, religious-minded woman; but she died +when Julia was twelve years old. The father soon after took to drinking +and gambling, and spent all the property he possessed. His daughter was +thus brought into the midst of profligate associates, at an age when +impulses are strong, and the principles unformed. She led a vicious life +for several years, and during a fit of intoxication married a worthless, +dissipated fellow. When she was eighteen years old, she was imprisoned +for perjury. The case appeared doubtful at the time, and from +circumstances, which afterward came to light, it is supposed that she +was not guilty of the alleged crime. The jury could not agree on the +first trial, and she remained in jail two years, awaiting a decision of +her case. She was at last pronounced guilty; and feeling that injustice +was done her, she made use of violent and disrespectful language to the +court. This probably increased the prejudice against her; for she was +sentenced to Sing Sing prison for the long term of fourteen years. She +was naturally intelligent, active and energetic; and the limitations of +a prison had a worse effect upon her, than they would have had on a more +stolid temperament. In the course of a year or two, her mind began to +sink under the pressure, and finally exhibited signs of melancholy +insanity. Friend Hopper had an interview with her soon after she was +conveyed to Sing Sing, and found her in a state of deep dejection. She +afterward became completely deranged, and was removed to the Lunatic +Asylum at Bloomingdale. He and his wife visited her there, and found her +in a state of temporary rationality. Her manners were quiet and +pleasing, and she appeared exceedingly gratified to see them. The +superintendent granted permission to take her with them in a walk +through the grounds, and she enjoyed this little excursion very highly. +But when one of the company remarked that it was a very pleasant place, +she sighed deeply, and replied, "Yes, it is a pleasant place to those +who can leave it. But chains are chains, though they are made of gold; +and mine grow heavier every day." + +Her temperament peculiarly required freedom, and chafed and fretted +under restraint. Insanity returned upon her with redoubled force, soon +after. She used blasphemous and indecent language, and cut up her +blankets to make pantaloons. She picked the lock of her room, and tried +various plans of escape. When Friend Hopper went to see her again, some +weeks later, he found her in the masculine attire, which she had +manufactured. She tried to hide herself, but when he called her back in +a gentle, but firm tone, she came immediately. He took her kindly by the +hand, and said, "Julia, what does all this mean?" + +"It is military costume," she replied. "I am an officer of state." + +"I am sorry thou art not more decently clad," said he. "I intended to +have thee take a walk with me; but I should be ashamed to go with thee +in that condition." She earnestly entreated to go, and promised to +change her dress immediately. He accordingly waited till she was ready, +and then spent more than an hour walking round the grounds with her. She +told him the history of her life, and wept bitterly over the retrospect +of her erroneous course. It seemed a great relief to have some one to +whom she could open her over-burdened heart. She was occasionally +incoherent, but the fresh air invigorated her, and the quiet talk +soothed her perturbed feelings. At parting, she said, "I thank you. I +thought I hadn't a friend in the world. I was afraid everybody had +forgotten me." + +"I am thy sincere friend," he replied; "and I promise that I will never +forget thee." + +I make the following extract from a letter, which he wrote to her soon +after: "Now, Julia, listen to me, and mind what I say; for thou knowest +I am thy friend. I want thee, at all times, and upon all occasions, to +be very careful of thy conduct. Never suffer thyself to use vulgar or +profane language. It would grieve me, and I am sure thou dost not wish +to do that. Besides, it is very degrading, and very wicked. Be discreet, +sober, and modest. Be kind, courteous, and obliging to all. Thou wilt +make many friends by so doing, and wilt feel more cheerful and happy +thyself. Do be a lady. I know thou canst, if thou wilt. More than all, I +want thee to be a Christian. I sympathize with thee, and intend to come +and see thee soon." + +Dr. Earle, physician of the Asylum, said the letter had a salutary +effect upon her. Friend Hopper went out to see her frequently, and was +often accompanied by his wife, or daughters. Her bodily and mental +health continued to improve; and in the course of five or six months, +the doctor allowed her to accompany her kind old friend to the city, and +spend a day and night at his house. This change of scene was found so +beneficial, that the visit was repeated a few weeks after. Before winter +set in, she was so far restored that she spent several days in his +family, and conducted with the greatest propriety. He soon after applied +to the Governor for a pardon, which was promptly granted. His next step +was to procure a suitable home for her; and a worthy Quaker family in +Pennsylvania, who were acquainted with all the circumstances, agreed to +employ her as chambermaid and seamstress. When it was all arranged, +Friend Hopper went out to the Asylum to carry the news. But fearful of +exciting her too much, he talked upon indifferent subjects for a few +minutes, and then asked if she would like to go into the city again to +spend a fortnight with his family. She replied, "Indeed I would." He +promised to take her with him, and added, "Perhaps thou wilt stay longer +than two weeks." At last, he said, "It may be that thou wilt not have +to return here again." She sprang up instantly, and looking in his face +with intense anxiety, exclaimed, "Am I pardoned? _Am_ I pardoned?" + +"Yes, thou art pardoned," he replied; "and I have come to take thee +home." She fell back into her seat, covered her face with her hands, and +wept aloud. Friend Hopper, describing this interview in a letter to a +friend, says: "It was the most affecting scene I ever witnessed. Nothing +could exceed the joy I felt at seeing this child of sorrow relieved from +her sufferings, and restored to liberty. I had seen this young and +comely looking woman, who was endowed with more than common good sense, +driven to the depths of despair by the intensity of her sufferings. I +had seen her a raving maniac. Now, I saw her 'sitting and clothed in her +right mind.' I was a thousand times more than compensated for all the +pains I had taken. I had sympathized deeply with her sufferings, and I +now partook largely of her joy." + +As her nerves were in a very excitable state, it was thought best that +she should remain a few weeks under the superintendence of his daughter, +Mrs. Gibbons, before she went to the home provided for her. She was +slightly unsettled at times, but was disposed to be industrious and +cheerful. Having earned a little money by her needle, the first use she +made of it, was to buy a pair of vases for Friend Hopper; and proud and +pleased she was, when she brought them home and presented them! He +always kept them on the parlor mantel-piece, and often told their +history to people who called upon him. + +When she had become perfectly calm and settled, he and his wife +accompanied her to Pennsylvania, and saw her established among her new +friends, who received her in the kindest manner. A week after his +return, he wrote to assure her that his interest in her had not abated. +In the course of the letter, he says: "I need not tell thee how anxious +I am that thou shouldst conduct so as to be a credit to thyself, and to +those who have interested themselves in thy behalf. I felt keenly at +parting with thee, but I was comforted by the reflection that I had left +thee with kind friends. Confide in them upon all occasions, and do +nothing without their advice. Thy future happiness will depend very much +upon thyself. Never suffer thy mind to become excited. Remember that +kind friends were raised up for thee in the midst of all thy sorrows, +and that they will always continue to be thy friends, if thou wilt be +guided by their counsels. Thou wert with us so long, that we feel toward +thee like one of the family. All join me in love to thee." + +In her reply, she says: "Your letter was to me what a glass of cold +water would be when fainting. I have pored over it so much, that I have +got it by heart. Friend Hopper, you first saw me in prison and visited +me. You followed me to the Asylum. You did not forsake me. You have +changed a bed of straw to a bed of down. May Heaven bless and reward you +for it. No tongue can express the gratitude I feel. Many are the hearts +you have made glad. Suppose all you have dragged out of one place and +another were to stand before you at once! I think you would have more +than you could shake hands with in a month; and I know you would shake +hands with them all." + +For a few months, she behaved in a very satisfactory manner, though +occasionally unsettled and depressed. She wrote that the worthy woman +with whom she lived was 'both mother and friend to her.' But the country +was gloomy in the winter, and the spirit of unrest took possession of +her. She went to Philadelphia and plunged into scenes of vice for a week +or two; but she quickly repented, and was rescued by her friends. I have +seldom seen Friend Hopper so deeply pained as he was by this retrograde +step in one whom he had rejoiced over, "as a brand plucked from the +burning." After awhile, he addressed a letter to her, in which he says: +"I should have written to thee before, but I have been at a loss what to +say. I have cared for thee, as if thou hadst been my own child. Little +did I think thou wouldst ever disgrace thyself, and distress me, by +associating with the most vile. Thou wert wonderfully snatched from a +sink of pollution. I hoped thou wouldst appreciate the favor, and take a +fresh start in life, determined to do well. Better, far better, for thee +to have lingered out a wretched existence in Bloomingdale Asylum, than +to continue in such a course as that thou entered upon in Philadelphia. +My heart is pained while I write. Indeed, thou art seldom out of my +mind. Most earnestly, and affectionately, I beseech thee to change thy +course. Restrain evil thoughts and banish them from thee. Try to keep +thy mind quiet, and stayed upon thy Heavenly Father. He has done much +for thee. He has followed thee in all thy wanderings. Ask him to forgive +thy iniquity, and he will have mercy on thee. Thou mayest yet be happy +thyself, and make those happy who have taken a deep interest in thy +welfare. But if thou art determined to pursue evil courses, after all +that has been done for thee, let me tell thee thy days will be brief and +full of trouble; and I doubt not thou wilt end them within the walls of +a prison. I hope better things of thee. If thou doest well, it will +afford encouragement to assist others; but if thy conduct is bad, it may +be the means of prolonging the sufferings of many others. I am still thy +friend, and disposed to do all I can for thee." + +In her answer, she says: "Oh, frail woman! No steps can be recalled. It +is all in the future to make amends for the past. After all the good +counsel some receive, they return to habits of vice. They repent when it +is too late. How true it is that virtue has its reward, and vice its +punishment. I know that the way of transgressors is hard. If I only had +a few years of my life to live over again, how different would I live! +For the many blessings Providence has bestowed on me, may I be grateful. +In all my troubles, He has raised me up a friend. I believe He never +forsakes me; so there is hope for me. Don't be discouraged that you +befriended me; for, with God's blessing, you shall have no reason to +repent of it." + +He wrote thus to her, a short time after: "I very often think of thee, +and I yet hope that I shall one day see thee a happy and respectable +woman. I have lately had a good deal of conversation with the Governor +concerning 'my friends,' as he calls those whom he has pardoned at my +request. I did not tell him thou hadst behaved incorrectly. I hope I +shall never be obliged to do so. I have had pleasant accounts concerning +thee lately, and I do not wish to remember that thou hast ever grieved +me. As I passed down the river yesterday, from Albany, I saw +Bloomingdale Asylum. I remembered how I used to walk with thee about the +grounds; and my mind was for a time depressed with melancholy +reflections. I had deeply sympathized in thy sufferings; and I had +rarely, if ever, experienced greater pleasure than when I was the happy +messenger of thy redemption from the grievous thraldom, under which thou +wert suffering. Thou art blessed with more than common good sense, and +thou knowest how to make thyself agreeable. I earnestly advise thee to +guard well thy thoughts. Never allow thyself to use an immodest word, or +to be guilty of an unbecoming action. On all occasions, show thyself +worthy of the regard of those who feel an interest in thy welfare. +'There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over +ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.' With ardent +solicitude for thy welfare, I remain thy sincere friend." + +About two years afterward, Friend Hopper made the following record in +his Register: "J.P. continues to conduct very satisfactorily. She makes +a very respectable appearance, is modest and discreet in her deportment, +and industrious in her habits. As a mark of gratitude for the +attentions, which at different times I have extended to her, she has +sent me a pair of handsome gloves, and a bandana handkerchief. Taking +into consideration all the circumstances attending this case, this small +present affords me much more gratification than ten times the value from +any other person." Six months later, he made this record: "The Friend, +with whom J.P. lives, called upon me to say that she sent a world of +love to Isaac T. Hopper, whose kindness she holds in grateful +remembrance." The same Friend afterward wrote, "She is all that I could +wish her to be." + +Many more instances might be quoted; but enough has been told to +illustrate his patience and forbearance, and his judicious mode of +dealing with such characters. Dr. Russ, one of the most active and +benevolent members of the Prison Association, thinks it is a fair +statement to say that at least three-fourths of those for whom he +interested himself eventually turned out well; though in several cases, +it was after a few backslidings. The fullness of his sympathy was +probably one great reason why he obtained such influence over them, and +made them so willing to open their hearts to him. He naturally, and +without effort, put _his_ soul in _their_ soul's stead. This rendered it +easy for him to disregard his own interests, and set aside his own +opinions, for the benefit of others. In several instances, he procured +another place for a healthy, good-looking domestic, with whose services +he was well satisfied, merely because some poor creature applied for +work, who was too lame, or ill-favored, to obtain employment elsewhere. +When an insane girl, from Sing Sing, was brought to his house to wait +for an opportunity to return to her parents in Canada, he sent for the +Catholic Bishop to come and minister to her spiritual wants, because he +found she was very unhappy without religious consolation in the form to +which she had been accustomed in childhood. + +The peculiar adaptation of his character to this mission of humanity was +not only felt by his fellow laborers in the New-York Association, but +was acknowledged wherever he was known. Dr. Walter Channing, brother of +the late Dr. William Ellery Charming wrote to him as follows, when the +Boston Prison Association was about being formed; "I was rejoiced to +learn that you would stay to help at our meetings in behalf of +criminals. The demand which this class of brothers has upon us is felt +by every man, who examines his own heart, and his own life. How great is +every man's need of the kindness and love of his brethren! Here is the +deep-laid cause of sympathy. Here is the secret spring of that wide +effort, which the whole world is now making for the happiness and good +of the race. I thank you for what you have done in this noble work. I +had heard with the sincerest pleasure, of your labors for the +down-trodden and the poor. God bless you for these labors of love! Truly +shall I thank you for the light you can so abundantly give, and which +will make the path of duty plain before me." + +Incessant demands were made upon his time and attention. A great many +people, if they happened to have their feelings touched by some scene +of distress, seemed to think they had fulfilled their whole duty by +sending the sufferer to Isaac T. Hopper. Few can imagine what an arduous +task it is to be such a thorough philanthropist as he was. Whoever +wishes for a crown like his, must earn it by carrying the martyr's cross +through life. They must make up their minds to relinquish their whole +time to such pursuits; they must be prepared to encounter envy and +dislike; to be misrepresented and blamed, where their intentions have +been most praiseworthy; to be often disheartened by the delinquencies, +or ingratitude, of those they have expended their time and strength to +serve; above all, they must be willing to live and die poor. + +Though attention to prisoners was the mission to which Friend Hopper +peculiarly devoted the last years of his life, his sympathy for the +slaves never abated. And though his own early efforts had been made in +co-operation with the gradual Emancipation Society, established by +Franklin, Rush, and others, he rejoiced in the bolder movement, known as +modern anti-slavery. Of course, he did not endorse everything that was +said and done by all sorts of temperaments engaged in that cause, or in +any other cause. But no man understood better than he did the fallacy of +the argument that modern abolitionists had put back the cause of +emancipation in the South. He often used to speak of the spirit +manifested toward William Savery, when he went to the South to preach, +as early as 1791. Writing from Augusta, Georgia, that tender-hearted +minister of Christ says: "They can scarcely tolerate us, on account of +our abhorrence of slavery. This was truly a trying place to lodge in +another night." At Savannah the landlord of a tavern where they lodged, +ordered a cruel flogging to be administered to one of his slaves, who +had fallen asleep through weariness, before his daily task was +accomplished. William Savery says: "When we went to supper, this +unfeeling wretch craved a blessing; which I considered equally abhorrent +to the Divine Being, as his curses." In the morning, when the humane +preacher heard sounds of the lash, accompanied by piteous cries for +mercy, he had the boldness to step in between the driver and the slave; +and he stopped any further infliction of punishment, for that time. He +says: "This landlord was the most abominably wicked man that I ever met +with; full of horrid execrations, and threatenings of all Northern +people. But I did not spare him; which occasioned a bystander to +express, with an oath, that I should be 'popped over.' We left them +distressed in mind; and having a lonesome wood of twelve miles to pass +through, we were in full expectation of their waylaying, or coming after +us, to put their wicked threats in execution." + +As early as 1806, James Lindley, of Pennsylvania, had a large piece of +iron hurled at him, as he was passing through the streets, at Havre de +Grace, Maryland. Three of his ribs were broken, and several teeth +knocked out, and he was beaten till he was supposed to be dead. All this +was done merely because they mistook him for Jacob Lindley, the Quaker +preacher, who was well known as a friend to fugitives from slavery. + +In view of these, and other similar facts, Friend Hopper was never +disposed to blame abolitionists for excitements at the South, as many of +the Quakers were inclined to do. He had a sincere respect for the +integrity and conscientious boldness of William Lloyd Garrison; as all +have, who know him well enough to appreciate his character. For many +years, he was always an invited and welcome guest on the occasion of the +annual meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society in New-York. Mr. Garrison's +feelings toward him are manifested in the following answer to one of his +letters: "As there is no one in the world for whom I entertain more +veneration and esteem than for yourself, and as there is no place in +New-York, that is so much like home to me, as your own hospitable +dwelling, be assured it will give me the utmost pleasure to accept your +friendly invitation to remain under your roof during the approaching +anniversary week." It was on one of these occasions, that Garrison +addressed to him the following sonnet: + + "Thou kind and venerable friend of man, + In heart and spirit young, though old in years! + The tyrant trembles when thy name he hears, + And the slave joys thy honest face to scan. + A friend more true and brave, since time began, + Humanity has never found: her fears + By thee have been dispelled, and wiped the tears + Adown her sorrow-stricken cheeks that ran. + If like Napoleon's appears thy face, + Thy soul to his bears no similitude. + He came to curse, but thou to bless our race. + Thy hands are pure; in blood were his imbrued. + His memory shall be covered with disgrace, + But thine embalmed among the truly great and good." + +Until the last few years of his life, Friend Hopper usually walked to +and from his office twice a day, making about five miles in the whole; +to which he sometimes added a walk in the evening, to visit children or +friends, or transact some necessary business. When the weather was very +unpleasant, he availed himself of the Harlem cars. Upon one of these +occasions, it chanced that the long, ponderous vehicle was nearly empty. +They had not proceeded far, when a very respectable-looking young woman +beckoned for the car to stop. It did so; but when she set her foot on +the step, the conductor, somewhat rudely pushed her back; and she +turned away, evidently much mortified. Friend Hopper started up and +inquired, "Why didst thou push that woman away?" + +"She's colored," was the laconic reply. + +"Art thou instructed by the managers of the rail-road to proceed in this +manner on such occasions?" inquired Friend Hopper. + +The man answered, "Yes." + +"Then let me get out," rejoined the genuine republican. "It disturbs my +conscience to ride in a public conveyance, where any decently behaved +person is refused admittance." And though it was raining very fast, and +his home was a mile off, the old veteran of seventy-five years marched +through mud and wet, at a pace somewhat brisker than his usual energetic +step; for indignation warmed his honest and kindly heart, and set the +blood in motion. The next day, he called at the rail-road office, and +very civilly inquired of one of the managers whether conductors were +instructed to exclude passengers merely on account of complexion. + +"Certainly not," was the prompt reply. "They have discretionary power to +reject any person who is drunk, or offensively unclean, or indecent, or +quarrelsome." + +Friend Hopper then related how a young woman of modest appearance, and +respectable dress, was pushed from the step, though the car was nearly +empty, and she was seeking shelter from a violent rain. + +"That was wrong," replied the manager. "We have no reason to complain of +colored people as passengers. They obtrude upon no one, and always have +sixpences in readiness to pay; whereas fashionably dressed white people +frequently offer a ten dollar bill, which they know we cannot change, +and thus cheat us out of our rightful dues. Who was the conductor, that +behaved in the manner you have described? We will turn him away, if he +doesn't know better how to use the discretionary power with which he is +entrusted." + +Friend Hopper replied, "I had rather thou wouldst not turn him out of +thy employ, unless he repeats the offence, after being properly +instructed. I have no wish to injure the man. He has become infected +with the unjust prejudices of the community without duly reflecting upon +the subject. Friendly conversation with him may suggest wiser thoughts. +All I ask of thee is to instruct him that the rights of the meanest +citizen are to be respected. I thank thee for having listened to my +complaint in such a candid and courteous manner." + +"And I thank you for having come to inform us of the circumstance," +replied the manager. They parted mutually well pleased; and a few days +after, the same conductor admitted a colored woman into the cars +without making any objection. This improved state of things continued +several weeks. But the old tyrannical system was restored, owing to +counteracting influence from some unknown quarter. I often met colored +people coming from the country in the Harlem cars; but I never afterward +knew one to enter from the streets of the city. + +Many colored people die every year, and vast numbers have their health +permanently impaired, on account of inclement weather, to which they are +exposed by exclusion from public conveyances. And this merely on account +of complexion! What a tornado of popular eloquence would come from our +public halls, if Austria or Russia were guilty of any despotism half as +mean! Yet the great heart of the people is moved by kind and sincere +feelings in its outbursts against foreign tyranny. But in addition to +this honorable sympathy for the oppressed in other countries, it would +be well for them to look at home, and consider whether it is just that +any well-behaved people should be excluded from the common privileges of +public conveyances. If a hundred citizens in New-York would act as +Friend Hopper did, the evil would soon be remedied. It is the almost +universal failure in individual duty, which so accumulates errors and +iniquities in society, that the ultra-theories, and extra efforts of +reformers become absolutely necessary to prevent the balance of things +from being destroyed; as thunder and lightning are required to purify a +polluted atmosphere. Godwin, in some of his writings, asks, "What is it +that enables a thousand errors to keep their station in the world? It is +cowardice. It is because the majority of men, who see that things are +not altogether right, yet see in so frigid a way, and have so little +courage to express their views. If every man to-day would tell all the +truth he knows, three years hence, there would scarcely be a falsehood +of any magnitude remaining in the civilized world." + +In the summer of 1844, Friend Hopper met with a Methodist preacher from +Mississippi, who came with his family to New-York, to attend a General +Conference. Being introduced as a zealous abolitionist, the conversation +immediately turned upon slavery. One of the preacher's daughters said, +"I could'nt possibly get along without slaves, Mr. Hopper. Why I never +dressed or undressed myself, till I came to the North. I wanted very +much to bring a slave with me." + +"I wish thou hadst," rejoined Friend Hopper. + +"And what would you have done, if you had seen her?" she inquired. + +He replied, "I would have told her that she was a free woman while she +remained here; but if she went back to the South, she would be liable +to be sold, like a pig or a sheep." + +They laughed at this frank avowal, and when he invited them to come to +his house with their father, to take tea, they gladly accepted the +invitation. Again the conversation turned toward that subject, which is +never forgotten when North and South meet. In answer to some remark from +Friend Hopper, the preacher said, "Do you think I am not a Christian?" + +"I certainly do not regard thee as one," he replied. + +"And I suppose you think I cannot get to heaven?" rejoined the +slaveholder. + +"I will not say that," replied the Friend. "To thy own Master thou must +stand or fall. But slavery is a great abomination, and no one who is +guilty of it can be a Christian, or Christ-like. I would not exclude +thee from the kingdom of heaven; but if thou dost enter there, it must +be because thou art ignorant of the fact that thou art living in sin." + +After a prolonged conversation, mostly on the same topic, the guests +rose to depart. The Methodist said, "Well, Mr. Hopper, I have never been +treated better by any man, than I have been by you. I should be very +glad to have you visit us." + +"Ah! and thou wouldst lynch me; or at least, thy friends would," he +replied, smiling. + +"Oh no, we would treat you very well," rejoined the Southerner. "But +how would you talk about slavery if you were there?" + +"Just as I do here, to be sure," answered the Quaker. "I would advise +the slaves to be honest, industrious, and obedient, and never try to run +away from a good master, unless they were pretty sure of escaping; +because if they were caught, they would fare worse than before. But if +they had a safe opportunity, I should advise them to be off as soon as +possible." In a more serious tone, he added, "And to thee, who claimest +to be a minister of Christ, I would say that thy Master requires thee to +give deliverance to the captive, and let the oppressed go free. My +friend, hast thou a conscience void of offence? When thou liest down at +night, is thy mind always at ease on this subject? After pouring out thy +soul in prayer to thy Heavenly Father, dost thou not feel the outraged +sense of right, like a perpetual motion, restless within thy breast? +Dost thou not hear a voice telling thee it is wrong to hold thy fellow +men in slavery, with their wives and their little ones?" + +The preacher manifested some emotion at this earnest appeal, and +confessed that he sometimes had doubts on the subject; though, on the +whole, he had concluded that it was right to hold slaves. One of his +daughters, who was a widow, seemed to be more deeply touched. She took +Friend Hopper's hand, at parting, and said, "I am thankful for the +privilege of having seen you. I never talked with an abolitionist +before. You have convinced me that slave-holding is sinful in the sight +of God. My husband left me several slaves, and I have held them for five +years; but when I return, I am resolved to hold a slave no longer." + +Friend Hopper cherished some hope that this preaching and praying +slaveholder would eventually manumit his bondmen; but I had listened to +his conversation, and I thought otherwise. His conscience seemed to me +to be asleep under a seven-fold shield of self-satisfied piety; and I +have observed that such consciences rarely waken. + +At the time of the Christians riots, in 1851, when the slave-power +seemed to overshadow everything, and none but the boldest ventured to +speak against it, Friend Hopper wrote an article for the Tribune, and +signed it with his name, in which he maintained that the colored people, +"who defended themselves and their firesides against the lawless +assaults of an armed party of negro-hunters from Maryland," ought not to +be regarded as traitors or murderers "by men who set a just value on +liberty, and who had no conscientious scruples with regard to war." + +The first runaway, who was endangered by the passage of the Fugitive +Slave Law in 1850, happened to be placed under his protection. A very +good-looking colored man, who escaped from bondage, resided some years +in Worcester, Massachusetts, and acquired several thousand dollars by +hair-dressing. He went to New-York to be married, and it chanced that +his master arrived in Worcester in search of him, the very day that he +started for that city. Some person friendly to the colored man sent +information to New-York by telegraph; but the gentleman to whom it was +addressed was out of the city. One of the operators at the telegraph +office said, "Isaac T. Hopper ought to know of this message;" and he +carried it himself. Friend Hopper was then eighty years old, but he +sprang out of bed at midnight, and went off with all speed to hunt up +the fugitive. He found him, warned him of his danger, and offered to +secrete him. The colored man hesitated. He feared it might be a trick to +decoy him into his master's power. But the young wife gazed very +earnestly at Friend Hopper, and said, "I would trust the countenance of +that Quaker gentleman anywhere. Let us go with him." They spent the +remainder of the night at his house, and after being concealed elsewhere +for a few days, they went to Canada. This slave was the son of his +master, who estimated his market-value at two thousand five hundred +dollars. Six months imprisonment, and a fine of one thousand dollars was +the legal penalty for aiding him. But Friend Hopper always said, "I +have never sought to make any slave discontented with his situation, +because I do not consider it either wise or kind to do so; but so long +as my life is spared, I will always assist any one, who is trying to +escape from slavery, be the laws what they may." + +A black man, who had fled from bondage, married a mulatto woman in +Philadelphia, and became the father of six children. He owned a small +house in the neighborhood of that city, and had lived there comfortably +several years, when that abominable law was passed, by which the +Northern States rendered their free soil a great hunting-ground for the +rich and powerful to run down the poor and weak. In rushed the +slaveholders from all quarters, to seize their helpless prey! At dead of +night, the black man, sleeping quietly in the humble home he had earned +by unremitting industry, was roused up to receive information that his +master was in pursuit of him. His eldest daughter was out at service in +the neighborhood, and there was no time to give her notice. They hastily +packed such articles as they could take, caught the little ones from +their beds, and escaped before the morning dawned. A gentleman, who saw +them next day on board a steamboat, observed their uneasiness, and +suspected they were "fugitives from injustice." When he remarked this to +a companion, he replied, "They have too much luggage to be slaves." +Nevertheless, he thought it could do no harm to inform them that Isaac +T. Hopper of New-York was the best adviser of fugitives. Accordingly, a +few hours afterward, the whole colored colony was established in his +house; where the genteel-looking mother, and her bright, pretty little +children excited a very lively interest in all hearts. They made their +way to Canada as soon as possible, and the daughter who was left in +Philadelphia, was soon after sent to them. + +Friend Hopper's resolute resistance to oppression, in every form, never +produced any harshness in his manners, or diminished his love of quiet +domestic life. He habitually surrendered himself to pleasant influences, +even from events that troubled him at the time, he generally extracted +some agreeable incident and soon forgot those of opposite character. It +was quite observable how little he thought of the instances of +ingratitude he had met with. He seldom, if ever, alluded to them, unless +reminded by some direct question; but the unfortunate beings who had +persevered in reformation, and manifested gratitude, were always +uppermost in his thoughts. + +Though always pleased to hear that his children were free from pecuniary +anxiety, he never desired wealth for them. The idea of money never +seemed to occur to him in connection with their marriages. It was a +cherished wish of his heart to have them united to members of the +Society of Friends; yet he easily yielded, even on that point, as soon +as he saw their happiness was at stake. When one of his sons married +into a family educated under influences totally foreign to Quaker +principles, he was somewhat disturbed. But he at once adopted the bride +as a beloved daughter of his heart; and she ever after proved a lovely +and thornless Rose in the pathway of his life. Great was his +satisfaction when he discovered that she was grandchild of Dr. William +Rogers, Professor of English and Oratory in the University of +Pennsylvania, who, sixty years before, had preached the first sermon to +inmates of the State Prison, in Philadelphia. That good and gifted +clergyman was associated with his earliest recollections; for when he +was on one of his pleasant visits to his uncle Tatem, at six years old, +he went to meeting with him for the first time, and was seated on a +stool between his knees. The proceedings were a great novelty to him; +for Dr. Rogers was the first minister he ever saw in a pulpit. He never +forgot the text of that sermon. I often heard him repeat it, during the +last years of his life. The remembrance of these incidents, and the +great respect he had for the character of the prison missionary, at once +established in his mind a claim of old relationship between him and the +new inmate of his household. + +He had the custom of sitting with his wife on the front-door-step during +the summer twilight, to catch the breeze, that always refreshes the +city of New-York, after a sultry day. On such occasions, the children of +the neighborhood soon began to gather round him. One of the most +intelligent and interesting pupils of the Deaf and Dumb Institution had +married Mr. Gallaudet, Professor in that Institution, and resided in the +next house. She had a bright lively little daughter, who very early +learned to imitate her rapid and graceful way of conversing by signs. +This child was greatly attracted toward Friend Hopper. The moment she +saw him, she would clap her tiny hands with delight, and toddle toward +him, exclaiming, "Opper! Opper!" When he talked to her, she would make +her little fingers fly, in the prettiest fashion, interpreting by signs +to her mute mother all that "Opper" had been saying. Her quick +intelligence and animated gestures were a perpetual source of amusement +to him. When he went down to his office in the morning, all the nurses +in the neighborhood were accustomed to stop in his path, that he might +have some playful conversation with the little ones in their charge. He +had a pleasant nick-name for them all; such as "Blue-bird," or +"Yellow-bird," according to their dress. They would run up to him as he +approached home, calling out, "Here's your little Blue-bird!" + +His garden was another source of great satisfaction to him. It was not +bigger than a very small bed-room, and only half of it received the +sunshine. But he called the minnikin grass-plot his meadow, and talked +very largely about mowing his hay. He covered the walls and fences with +flowering vines, and suspended them between the pillars of his little +piazza. Even in this employment he revealed the tendencies of his +character. One day, when I was helping him train a woodbine, he said, +"Fasten it in that direction, Maria; for I want it to go over into our +neighbor's yard, that it may make their wall look pleasant." + +In the summer of 1848, when I was staying in the country, not far from +New-York, I received the following letter from him: "Dear Friend, the +days have not yet come, in which I can say I have no pleasure in them. +Notwithstanding the stubs against which I hit my toes, the briars and +thorns that sometimes annoy me, and the muddy sloughs I am sometimes +obliged to wade through, yet, after all, the days have _not_ come in +which I have no enjoyment. In the course of my journey, I find here and +there a green spot, by which I can sit down and rest, and pleasant +streams, where I sometimes drink, mostly in secret, and am refreshed. I +often remember the saying of a beloved friend, long since translated +from this scene of mutation to a state of eternal beatitude: 'I wear my +sackcloth on my loins; I don't wish to afflict others by carrying a +sorrowful countenance.' A wise conclusion. I love to diffuse happiness +over all with whom I come in contact. But all this is a kind of +accident. I took up my pen to tell thee about our garden. I never saw it +half so handsome as it is now. Morning Glories are on both sides of the +yard, extending nearly to the second story windows; and they exhibit +their glories every morning, in beautiful style. There are Cypress +vines, twelve feet high, running up on the pillar before the kitchen +window, and spreading out each way. They blossom most profusely. The +wooden wall is entirely covered with Madeira vines, and the stone wall +with Woodbine. The grass-plot is very thrifty, and our borders are +beautified with a variety of flowers. How thou wouldst like to look at +them!" + +I replied as follows: "My dear and honored friend: Your kind, cheerful +epistle came into my room as pleasantly as would the vines and flowers +you describe. I am very glad the spirit moved you to write; for, to use +the words of the apostle, I thank my God for every remembrance of you.' +I do not make many professions of friendship, because neither you nor I +are much given to professions; but there is no one in the world for whom +I have a higher respect than yourself, and very few for whom I cherish a +more cordial affection. You say the time has not _yet_ come when you +have no pleasure. I think, my friend, that it will _never_ come. To an +evergreen heart, like yours, so full of kindly sympathies, the little +children will always prattle, the birds will always sing, and the +flowers will always offer incense. _This_ reward of the honest and +kindly heart is one of those, which 'the world can neither give nor take +away.' + +"I should love to see your garden now. There is a peculiar satisfaction +in having a very _little_ patch all blooming into beauty. I had such an +one in my humble home in Boston, some years ago. It used to make me +think of Mary Howitt's very pleasant poetry: + + "'Yes, in the poor man's garden grow + Far more than herbs and flowers; + Kind thoughts, contentment, peace of mind, + And joy for weary hours.' + +"I have one enjoyment this summer, which you cannot have in your city +premises. The birds! not only their sweet songs, but all their little +cunning manoeuvres in courting, building their nests, and rearing their +young. I watched for hours a little Phoebe-bird, who brought out her +brood to teach them to fly. They used to stop to rest themselves on the +naked branch of a dead pear-tree. There they sat so quietly, all in a +row, in their sober russet suit of feathers, just as if they were +Quakers at meeting. The birds are very tame here; thanks to Friend +Joseph's tender heart. The Bob-o-links pick seed from the dandelions, +at my very feet. May you sleep like a child when his friends are with +him, as the Orientals say. And so farewell." + +Interesting strangers occasionally called to see Friend Hopper, +attracted by his reputation. Frederika Bremer was peculiarly delighted +by her interviews with him, and made a fine sketch of him in her +collection of American likenesses. William Page, the well-known artist, +made for me an admirable drawing of him, when he was a little past +seventy years old. Eight years after, Salathiel Ellis, of New-York, at +the suggestion of some friends, executed an uncommonly fine medallion +likeness. A reduced copy of this was made in bronze at the request of +some members of the Prison Association. The reverse side represents him +raising a prisoner from the ground, and bears the appropriate +inscription, "To seek and to save that which was lost." + +Young people often sent him pretty little testimonials of the interest +he had excited in their minds. Intelligent Irish girls, with whom he had +formed acquaintance in their native land, never during his life ceased +to write to him, and occasionally sent some tasteful souvenir of their +friendship. The fashionable custom of New-Year's and Christmas offerings +was not in his line. But though he always dined on humble fare at +Christmas, as a testimony against the observance of holy days, he +secretly sent turkeys to poor families, who viewed the subject in a +different light; and it was only by accidental circumstances that they +at last discovered to whom they owed the annual gift. + +[Illustration] + +Members of the Society of Friends often came to see him; and for many of +them he cherished high respect, and a very warm friendship. But his +character grew larger, and his views more liberal, after the bonds which +bound him to a sect were cut asunder. Friends occasionally said to him, +"We miss thy services in the Society, Isaac. Hadst thou not better ask +to be re-admitted? The way is open for thee, whenever thou hast an +inclination to return." He replied, "I thank thee. But in the present +state of the Society, I don't think I could be of any service to them, +or they to me." But he could never relinquish the hope that the +primitive character of Quakerism would be restored, and that the Society +would again hold up the standard of righteousness to the nations, as it +had in days gone by. Nearly every man, who forms strong religious +attachments in early life, cherishes similar anticipations for his sect, +whose glory declines, in the natural order of things. But such hopes are +never realized. The spirit has a resurrection, but not the form. "Soul +never dies. Matter dies off it, and it lives elsewhere." Thus it is with +truth. The noble principles maintained by Quakers, through suffering +and peril, have taken root in other sects, and been an incalculable help +to individual seekers after light, throughout the Christian world. Like +winged seed scattered in far-off soils, they will produce a +forest-growth in the future, long after the original stock is dead, and +its dust dispersed to the winds. + +In Friend Hopper's last years, memory, as usual with the old, was busily +employed in reproducing the past; and in his mind the pictures she +presented were uncommonly vivid. In a letter to his daughter, Sarah +Palmer, he writes: "I was deeply affected on being informed of the death +of Joseph Whitall. We loved one another when we were children; and I +never lost my love for him. I think it will not be extravagant if I say +that my soul was knit with his soul, as Jonathan's was to David's. I +have a letter, which I received from him in 1795. I have not language to +express my feelings. Oh, that separation! that cruel separation! How it +divided very friends!" + +In a letter to his daughter Susan, we again find him looking fondly +backward. He says: "I often, very often remember the example of thy dear +mother, with feelings that no language can portray. She was neat and +tasteful in her appearance. Her dress was elegant, but plain, as became +her Christian profession. She loved sincere Friends, faithfully +maintained all their testimonies, and was a diligent attender of +meetings. She was kind and affectionate to all. In short, she was a +bright example in her family, and to all about her, and finally laid +down her head in peace. May her children imitate her virtues." + +Writing to his daughter Sarah in 1845, he thus returns to the same +beloved theme: "I lately happened to open the Memoirs of Sarah Harrison. +It seemed to place me among my old friends, with whom I walked in sweet +unity and Christian fellowship, in days that are gone forever. I there +saw the names, and read the letters, of William Savery, Thomas +Scattergood, and a host of others, who have long since gone to their +everlasting rest. I hope, however unworthy, to join them at some day, +not very distant." + +"Next day after to-morrow, it will be fifty years since I was married to +thy dear mother. How fresh many of the scenes of that day are brought +before me! It almost seems as if they transpired yesterday. These +reminiscences afford me a melancholy pleasure, and I love to indulge in +them. No man has experienced more exquisite pleasure, or deeper sorrows +than I have." + +Perhaps the reader will say that I have spoken little of his sorrows; +and it is true. But who does not know that all the sternest conflicts of +life can never be recorded! Every human soul must walk alone through +the darkest and most dangerous paths of its spiritual pilgrimage; +absolutely alone with God! Much, from which we suffer most acutely, +could never be revealed to others; still more could never be understood, +if it were revealed; and still more ought never to be repeated, if it +could be understood. Therefore, the frankest and fullest biography must +necessarily be superficial. + +The old gentleman was not prone to talk of his troubles. They never made +him irritable, but rather increased his tenderness and thoughtfulness +toward others. His naturally violent temper was brought under almost +complete subjection. During the nine years that I lived with him, I +never saw him lose his balance but twice; and then it was only for a +moment, and under very provoking circumstances. + +The much-quoted line, "None knew him but to love him, none named him but +to praise," was probably never true of any man; certainly not of any one +with a strong character. Many were hostile to Friend Hopper, and some +were bitter in their enmity. Of course, it could not be otherwise with a +man who battled with oppression, selfishness, and bigotry, wherever he +encountered them, and whose rebukes were too direct and explicit to be +evaded. Moreover, no person in this world is allowed to be peculiar and +independent with impunity. There are always men who wish to compel such +characters to submit, by the pressure of circumstances. This kind of +spiritual thumb-screw was often, and in various ways, tried upon Friend +Hopper; but though it sometimes occasioned temporary inconvenience, it +never induced him to change his course. + +Though few old men enjoyed life so much as he did, he always thought and +spoke of death with cheerful serenity. On the third of December, 1851, +he wrote thus to his youngest daughter, Mary: "This day completes my +eightieth year. 'My eye is not dim, nor my natural force abated.' My +head is well covered with hair, which still retains its usual glossy +dark color, with but few gray hairs sprinkled about, hardly noticed by a +casual observer. My life has been prolonged beyond most, and has been +truly 'a chequered scene.' I often take a retrospect of it, and it fills +me with awe. It is marvellous how many dangers and hair-breadth escapes +I have experienced. If I may say it without presumption, I desire not to +live until I am unable to take care of myself, and become a burden to +those about me. If I had my life to live over again, the experience I +have had might caution me to avoid many mistakes, and perhaps I might +make a more useful citizen; but I don't know that I should greatly +improve it. Mercy and kindness have followed me thus far, and I have +faith that they will continue with me to the end." + +But the bravest and strongest pilgrim, when he is travelling toward the +sunset, cannot but perceive that the shadows are lengthening around him. +He did not, like most old people, watch the gathering gloom; but during +the last two or three years of his life, he seemed to have an increasing +feeling of spiritual loneliness. He had survived all his cotemporaries; +he had outlived the Society of Friends, as it was when it took +possession of his youthful soul; and though he sympathized with the +present generation remarkably for so old a man, still he was _among_ +them, and not _of_ them. He quieted this feeling by the best of all +methods. He worked continually, and he worked for others. In this way, +he brought upon himself his last illness. A shop had been built very far +up in the city, for a discharged convict, and the Association had +incurred considerable expense on his account. He was remarkably skilful +at his trade, but after awhile he manifested slight symptoms of +derangement. Friend Hopper became extremely anxious about him, and +frequently travelled back and forth to examine into the state of his +affairs. This was in the severe winter of 1852, and he was past eighty +years old. He took heavy colds, which produced inflammation of the +lungs, and the inflammation subsequently extended to his stomach. In +February of that year, declining health made it necessary to resign his +office in the Prison Association. His letter to that effect was +answered by the following Resolutions, unanimously passed at a meeting +of the Executive Committee: + +"This Association has received, with undissembled sorrow, the +resignation of Isaac T. Hopper, as their agent for the relief of +discharged convicts. + +"He was actively engaged in the organization of the Society, and has +ever since been its most active member. + +"His kindness of heart, and his active zeal in behalf of the fallen and +erring, whom he has so often befriended, have given to this Society a +lofty character for goodness, which, being a reflection of his own, will +endure with the remembrance of him. + +"His forbearance and patience, combined with his great energy of mind, +have given to its action an impetus and a direction, which, it is to be +earnestly hoped, will continue long after it shall have ceased to enjoy +his participation in its active business. + +"His gentleness and propriety of deportment toward us, his associates, +have given him a hold upon our affections, which adds poignancy to our +grief at parting with him. + +"And while we mourn his loss to us, our recollection of the cause of it +awakens within us the belief that the good he has done will smooth his +departure from among us, and gives strength to the cheering hope that +the recollection of a life well spent may add even to the happiness +that is in store for him hereafter." + +He sent the following reply, which I believe was the last letter he ever +wrote: + + "Dear Friends:--I received through your committee, accompanied by + Dr. Russ, your resolutions of the 13th of February, 1852, + commendatory of my course while agent for Discharged Convicts. My + bodily indisposition has prevented an earlier acknowledgment. + + "The kind, friendly, and affectionate manner in which you have been + pleased to express yourselves on this occasion, excited emotions + which I found it difficult to repress. The approbation of those + with whom I have long labored in a deeply interesting and arduous + concern, I value next to the testimony of a good conscience. + Multiplied years and debility of body admonish me to retire from + active life as much as may be, but my interest in the work has not + abated. Much has been done, and much remains to be done. + + "In taking a retrospect of my intercourse with you, I am rejoiced to + see that the great principles of humanity and Christian benevolence + have risen above and overspread sectarian prejudice, that bane of + Christianity, and while each has been allowed to enjoy his own + religious opinions without interference from his fellows, we have + labored harmoniously together for the promotion of the great object + of our Association. + + "May He who clothes the lilies, feeds the ravens, and provides for + the sparrows, and without whose Providential regard, all our + endeavors must be vain, bless your labors, and stimulate and + encourage you to persevere, so that having, through His aid, + fulfilled all your relative and social duties, you may in the end + receive the welcome, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the + kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I + was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me + drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed + me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came + unto me.' + + "That this may be our happy experience, is the fervent desire of + your sincere and affectionate friend, + + "ISAAC T. HOPPER. + + "NEW-YORK, 4th mo. 15, 1852." + +Early in the Spring, he was conveyed to the house of his daughter, Mrs. +Gibbons, in the upper part of the city; it being supposed that change of +air and scene might prove beneficial. It was afterward deemed imprudent +to remove him. His illness was attended with a good deal of physical +suffering; but he was uniformly patient and cheerful. He often observed, +"There is no cloud. There is nothing in my way. Nothing troubles me." +His daughters left all other duties, and devoted themselves exclusively +to him. Never were the declining hours of an old man watched over with +more devoted affection. Writing to his daughter Mary, he says: "I have +the best nurses in New-York, thy mother and sisters. I have every +comfort that industry and ingenuity can supply." + +Among the Quakers who manifested kindness and sympathy, several belonged +to the branch called Orthodox; for a sincere respect and friendship had +grown up between him and individuals of that Society, in New-York, after +the dust of controversy had subsided. He was always glad to see them; +for his heart warmed toward the plain dress and the plain language. But +I think nothing during his illness gave him more unalloyed satisfaction +than a visit from William and Deborah Wharton, Friends from +Philadelphia. He loved this worthy couple for their truly Christian +character; and they were, moreover, endeared to him by many tender and +pleasant associations. They stood by him generously during his severe +pecuniary struggles; they had been devoted to his beloved Sarah, whose +long illness was cheered by their unremitting attentions, and she, for +many years, had received from Hannah Fisher, Deborah's mother, the most +uniform kindness. William's father, a wealthy merchant, had been to him +an early and constant friend; and his uncle, the excellent mayor of +Philadelphia, had sustained him by his influence and hearty +co-operation, in many a fugitive slave case, that occurred in years long +past. It was, therefore, altogether pleasant to clasp hands with these +tried and trusty friends, before life and all its reminiscences faded +away. + +His physician, Dr. John C. Beales, was very assiduous in his attentions, +and his visits were always interesting to the invalid, who generally +made them an occasion for pleasant and animated conversation; often +leading the doctor off the professional track, by some playful account +of his symptoms, however painful they might be. He had been his medical +adviser for many years, and as a mark of respect for his disinterested +services to his fellow-men, he uniformly declined to receive any +compensation. + +Neighbors and acquaintances of recent date, likewise manifested their +respect for the invalid by all manner of attentions. Gentlemen sent +choice wines, and ladies offered fruit and flowers. Market people, who +knew him in the way of business, brought delicacies of various kinds for +his acceptance. He was gratified by such tokens of regard, and +manifested it in many pleasant little ways. One of his sons had +presented him a silver goblet, with the word "Father" inscribed upon it; +and whenever he was about to take nourishment, he would say, "Give it to +me in John's cup." When his little grand-daughter brought flowers from +the garden, he was careful to have them placed by the bedside, where he +could see them continually. After he was unable to rise to take his +meals, he asked to have two cups and plates brought to him, if it were +not too much trouble; for he said it would seem pleasant, and like old +times, to have Hannah's company. So his wife ate with him, as long as he +was able to partake of food. A china bird, which a ransomed slave had +given to his daughter, when she was a little girl, was placed on the +mantel-piece, because he liked to look at it. A visitor, to whom he made +this remark one day, replied, "It must be very pleasant to you now to +remember how many unfortunate beings you have helped." He looked up, and +answered with frank simplicity, "Yes, it _is_ pleasant." + +He made continual efforts to conceal that he was in pain. When they +asked why he was so often singing to himself, he replied, "If I didn't +sing, I should groan." Even as late as the day before he died, he +indulged in some little "Cheeryble" pleasantries, evidently intended to +enliven those who were nearly exhausted by their long attendance on him. +At this period, his son-in-law, James S. Gibbons, wrote to me thus: +"Considering his long bodily weakness, now ten weeks, he is in an +extraordinary state of mental strength and clearness. Reminiscences are +continually falling from his lips, like leaves in autumn from an old +forest tree; not indeed green, but rich in the colors that are of the +tree, and characteristic. Thou hast known him in the extraordinary vigor +and freshness of his old age; cheating time even out of turning his +hair gray. But thou shouldst see him now; when, to use his own words, he +feels that 'the messenger has come.' All his thoughts have tended to, +and reached this point. The only question with him now is of a few more +days. Though prostrate in body, his mind is like a sturdy old oak, that +don't care which way the wind blows. As I sat by his bedside, last +evening, I thought I never had seen so beautiful a close to a good man's +life." + +He had no need to make a will; for he died, as he had lived, without +property. But he disposed of his little keepsakes with as much +cheerfulness as if he had been making New-Year's presents. He seemed to +remember everybody in the distribution. His Quaker library was left in +the care of his children, with directions that it should be kept where +members of the Society of Friends or others interested could have ready +access to it. To his daughter Sarah he entrusted the paper written by +her mother, at fourteen years of age; still fastened by the pin she had +placed in it, which her dear hand had invested with more value than a +diamond, in his eyes. He earnestly recommended his wife to the +affectionate care of his children; reminding them that she had been a +kind and faithful companion to him during many years. He also gave +general directions concerning his funeral. "Don't take the trouble to +make a shroud," said he. "One of my night-shirts will do as well. I +should prefer to be buried in a white pine coffin; but that might be +painful to my family; and I should not like to afflict them in _any_ +way. It may, therefore, be of dark wood; but be sure to have it entirely +plain, without varnish or inscription. Have it made by some poor +neighbor, and pay him the usual price of a handsome one; for I merely +wish to leave a testimony against vain show on such occasions." He +appeared to be rather indifferent where he was buried; but when he was +informed that his son and daughter had purchased a lot at Greenwood +Cemetery, it seemed pleasant to him to think of having them and their +families gathered round him, and he consented to be laid there. + +I was summoned to his death-bed, and arrived two days before his +departure. I found his mind perfectly bright and clear. He told over +again some of his old reminiscences, and indulged in a few of his +customary pleasantries. He spoke of rejoining his beloved Sarah, and his +ancient friends William Savery, Nicholas Waln, Thomas Scattergood, and +others, with as much certainty and pleasure as if he had been +anticipating a visit to Pennsylvania. Sometimes, when he was much +exhausted with physical pain, he would sigh forth, "Oh, for rest in the +kingdom of heaven!" But nothing that approached nearer to complaint or +impatience escaped his lips. On the last day, he repeated to me, what +he had previously said to others, that he sometimes seemed to hear +voices singing, "We have come to take thee home." Once, when no one else +happened to be near him, he said to me in a low, confidential tone, +"Maria, is there anything peculiar in this room?" I replied, "No. Why do +you ask that question?" "Because," said he, "you all look so beautiful; +and the covering on the bed has such glorious colors, as I never saw. +But perhaps I had better not have said anything about it." The natural +world was transfigured to his dying senses; perhaps by an influx of +light from the spiritual; and I suppose he thought I should understand +it as a sign that the time of his departure drew nigh. It was a scene to +remind one of Jeremy Taylor's eloquent words: "When a good man dies, one +that hath lived innocently, then the joys break forth through the clouds +of sickness, and the conscience stands upright, and confesses the +glories of God: and owns so much integrity, that it can hope for pardon, +and obtain it too. Then the sorrows of sickness do but untie the soul +from its chain, and let it go forth, first into liberty, and then into +glory." + +A few hours before he breathed his last, he rallied from a state of +drowsiness, and asked for a box containing his private papers. He washed +to find one, which he thought ought to be destroyed, lest it should do +some injury. He put on his spectacles, and looked at the papers which +were handed him; but the old man's eyes were dimmed with death, and he +could not see the writing. After two or three feeble and ineffectual +attempts, he took off his spectacles, with a trembling hand, and gave +them to his beloved daughter, Sarah, saying, "Take them, my child, and +keep them. They were thy dear mother's. I can never use them more." The +scene was inexpressibly affecting; and we all wept to see this untiring +friend of mankind compelled at last to acknowledge that he could work no +longer. + +Of his sixteen children, ten were living; and all but two of them were +able to be with him in these last days. He addressed affectionate +exhortations to them at various times; and a few hours before he died, +he called them, one by one, to his bedside, to receive his farewell +benediction. At last, he whispered my name; and as I knelt to kiss his +hand, he said in broken accents, and at long intervals, "Maria, tell +them I loved them--though I felt called to resist--some who claimed to +be rulers in Israel--I never meant--." His strength was nearly +exhausted; but after a pause, he pressed my hand, and added, "Tell them +I love them _all_." I had previously asked and obtained permission to +write his biography; and from these broken sentences, I understood that +he wished me to convey in it a message to the Society of Friends; +including the "Orthodox" branch, with whom he had been brought into +painful collision, in years gone by. + +After several hours of restlessness and suffering, he fell into a +tranquil slumber, which lasted a long time. The serene expression of his +countenance remained unchanged, and there was no motion of limb or +muscle, when the spirit passed away. This was between eight and nine +o'clock in the evening, on the seventh of May, 1852. After a long +interval of silent weeping, his widow laid her head on the shoulder of +one of his sons, and said, "Forty-seven years ago this very day, my good +father died; and from that day to this, he has been the best friend I +ever had." + +No public buildings were hung with crape, when news went forth that the +Good Samaritan had gone. But prisoners, and poor creatures in dark and +desolate corners, wept when they heard the tidings. Ann W. with whose +waywardness he had borne so patiently, escaped from confinement, several +miles distant, and with sobs implored "to see that good old man once +more." Michael Stanley sent the following letter to the Committee of the +Prison Association: "When I read the account of the venerable Friend +Hopper's death, I could not help weeping. It touched a tender chord in +my heart, when I came to the account of his being the prisoner's friend. +My soul responded to that; for I had realized it. About six years ago, +I was one of those who got good advice from 'the old man.' I carried it +out, and met with great success. I was fatherless, motherless, and +friendless, with no home, nobody to take me by the hand. I felt, as the +poet has it, + + "'A pilgrim stranger here I roam, + From place to place I'm driven; + My friends are gone, and I'm in gloom; + This earth is all a lonely tomb; + I have no home but heaven.' + +"Go on in the work of humanity and love, till the Good Master shall say, +'It is enough. Come up higher.'" + +Nearly all the domestics in Friend Hopper's neighborhood attended the +funeral solemnities. One of these said with tears, "I am an orphan; but +while he lived, I always felt as if I had a father. He always had +something pleasant to say to me, but now everything seems gone." A very +poor man, who had been an object of his charity, and whom he had +employed in many little services, could not rest till he had earned +enough to buy a small Arbor-vitae, (Tree of Life,) to plant upon his +grave. + +The Executive Committee of the Prison Association met, and passed the +following Resolutions: + + "_Resolved:_--That the combination of virtues which distinguished + and adorned the character of our lamented friend, eminently + qualified him for the accomplishment of those benevolent and + philanthropic objects to which he unremittingly devoted _a life_ + far more extended than ordinarily falls to man's inheritance. + + "That in our intimate associations with him for many years, he has + uniformly displayed a character remarkable for its + disinterestedness, energy, fearlessness, and Christian principle, + in every good word and work. + + "That we tender to the family and friends of the deceased our + sincere condolence and sympathy in their sore bereavement, but + whilst sensible that words, however truly uttered, cannot + compensate for the loss of such a husband, father, and guide, we do + find both for ourselves and for them, consolation in the belief + that his peaceful end was but the prelude to the bliss of Heaven. + + "That in the death of Isaac T. Hopper, the community is called to + part with a citizen of transcendent worth and excellence; the + prisoner, with an unwearied and well-tried friend; the poor and the + homeless, with a father and a protector; the church of Christ, with + a brother whose works ever bore unfailing testimony to his faith; + and the world at large, with a philanthropist of the purest and + most uncompromising integrity, whose good deeds were circumscribed + by no sect, party, condition or clime." + +The American Anti-Slavery Society received the tidings while they were +in session at Rochester. Mr. Garrison, after a brief but eloquent +tribute to the memory of the deceased, offered the following Resolution: + + "_Resolved:_--That it is with emotions too profound for utterance, + that this Society receives the intelligence of the decease of the + venerable Isaac T. Hopper, on Tuesday evening last, in the city of + New-York; the friend of the friendless--boundless in his + compassion--exhaustless in his benevolence--untiring in his + labors--the most intrepid of philanthropists, who never feared the + face of man, nor omitted to bear a faithful testimony against + injustice and oppression--the early, steadfast, heroic advocate and + protector of the hunted fugitive slave, to whose sleepless + vigilance and timely aid multitudes have been indebted for their + deliverance from the Southern House of Bondage;--in whom were + equally blended the gentleness of the lamb with the strength of the + lion--the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove; + and who, when the ear heard him, then it blessed him, when the eye + saw him, it gave witness to him, because he delivered the poor that + cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The + blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he + caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. He put on righteousness, + and it clothed him; his judgment was as a robe and a diadem. He was + eyes to the blind, and feet was he to the lame. The cause which he + knew not he searched out, and he broke the jaws of the wicked, and + plucked the spoil out of its teeth." + +He moved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded in an official +form to the estimable partner of his life, and the children of his +love, accompanied by an assurance of our deepest sympathy, in view +of their great bereavement. + +Several spoke in support of the Resolution, which was unanimously and +cordially adopted. + +The Committee of the Prison Association desired to have public funeral +solemnities, and the family complied with their wishes. Churches of +various denominations were immediately offered for the purpose, +including the meeting-houses of both branches of the Society of Friends. +The Tabernacle was accepted. Judge Edmonds, who had been an efficient +co-laborer, and for whom Friend Hopper had a strong personal affection, +offered a feeling tribute to the virtues and abilities of his departed +friend. He was followed by Lucretia Mott, a widely known and highly +respected minister among Friends. In her appropriate and interesting +communication, she dwelt principally upon his efforts in behalf of the +colored people; for whose sake she also had encountered obloquy. + +The Society of Friends in Hester-street, to which he had formerly +belonged, offered the use of their burying-ground. It was kindly meant; +but his children deeply felt the injustice of their father's expulsion +from that Society, for no other offence than following the dictates of +his own conscience. As his soul had been too much alive for them, when +it was in the body, their unity with the lifeless form was felt to +avail but little. + +The body was conveyed to Greenwood Cemetery, followed only by the +family, and a very few intimate friends. Thomas McClintock, a minister +in the Society of Friends, addressed some words of consolation to the +bereaved family, as they stood around the open grave. Lucretia Mott +affectionately commended the widow to the care of the children. In the +course of her remarks, she said, "I have no unity with these costly +monuments around me, by which the pride and vanity of man strive to +extend themselves beyond the grave. But I like the idea of burial +grounds where people of all creeds repose together. It is pleasant to +leave the body of our friend here, amid the verdant beauty of nature, +and the sweet singing of birds. As he was a fruitful bough, that +overhung the wall, it is fitting that he should not be buried within the +walls of any sectarian enclosure." + +Three poor little motherless German boys stood hand in hand beside the +grave. Before the earth was thrown in, the eldest stepped forward and +dropped a small bouquet on the coffin of his benefactor. He had gathered +a few early spring flowers from the little garden plot, which his kind +old friend used to cultivate with so much care, and with childish love +and reverence he dropped them in his grave. + +Soon after the funeral Lucretia Mott called a meeting of the colored +people in Philadelphia, and delivered an address upon the life and +services of their friend and protector. There was a very large audience; +and among them were several old people, who well remembered him during +his residence in that city. At the Yearly Meeting also she paid a +tribute to his virtues; it being the custom of Friends, on such +occasions, to make tender allusion to the worthies who have passed from +among them in the course of the year. + +The family received many letters of sympathy and condolence, from which +I will make a few brief extracts. Mrs. Marianne C.D. Silsbee, of Salem, +Massachusetts, thus speaks of him, in a letter to his son John: "I have +thought much of you all, since your great loss. How you must miss his +grand, constant example of cheerful trust, untiring energy, and love to +all! What a joy to have had such a father! To be the son of such a man +is ground for honest pride. The pleasure of having known him, the honor +of having been in social relations with him, will always give a charm to +my life. I cherish among my most precious recollections the pleasant +words he has so often spoken to me. I can see him while I write, as +vividly as though he were with me now; and never can his benign and +beautiful countenance lose its brightness in my memory. Dear old +friend! We cannot emulate your ceaseless good works; but we can follow, +and we can love and remember." + +Mrs. Mary E. Stearns, of Medford, Massachusetts, wrote as follows to +Rosalie Hopper: "The Telegraph has announced that the precious life you +were all so anxiously watching has 'passed on,' and that mysterious +change we call death has taken it from your midst forever. It is such a +beautiful day! The air is so soft, the grass so green, and the birds +singing so joyously! The day and the event have become so interwoven +with each other, that I cannot separate them. I think of his placid +face, sleeping its last still sleep; and through the open window, I see +the springing grass and the bursting buds. My ears are filled with +bird-music, and all other sounds are hushed in this Sabbath stillness. +All I see and hear seems to be hallowed by his departed spirit. Ah, it +is good to think of his death in the Spring time! It is good that his +soul, so fresh, so young and hopeful, should burst into a higher and +more glorious life, as if in sympathy with the ever beautiful, ever +wonderful resurrection of nature. Dear, blessed old man! I shall never +see his face again; but his memory will be as green as this springing +grass, and we shall always think and talk of our little experience with +him, as one of the golden things that can never pass away." + +Dr. Russ, his beloved co-laborer in the Prison Association, wrote thus +in a note to Mrs. Gibbons: "I have found it for my comfort to change the +furniture of the office, that it might not appear so lonely without your +dear, venerable father. I felt for him the warmest and most enduring +friendship. I esteemed him for his thousand virtues, and delighted in +his social intercourse. I am sure no one out of his own immediate +family, felt his loss more keenly than myself." + +James H. Titus, of New-York, thus expresses himself in a letter to James +S. Gibbons: "I have ever considered it one of the happiest and most +fortunate events of my life, to have had the privilege of an +acquaintance with Friend Hopper. I shall always recur to his memory with +pleasure, and I trust with that moral advantage, which the recollection +of his Christian virtues is so eminently calculated to produce. How +insignificant the reputation of riches, how unsatisfactory the renown of +victory in war, how transient political fame, when compared with the +history of a long life spent in services rendered to the afflicted and +the unfortunate!" + +Ellis Gray Loring, of Boston, in a letter to John Hopper, says: "We +heard of your father's death while we were in Rome. I could not restrain +a few tears, and yet God knows there is no room for tears about the life +or death of such a man. In both, he was a blessing and encouragement to +all of us. He really lived out all the life that was given him; filling +it up to such an age with the beauty of goodness, and consecrating to +the divinest purposes that wonderful energy of intellect and character. +In a society full of selfishness and pretension, it is a great thing to +have practical proof that a life and character like his are possible." + +Edmund L. Benzon, of Boston, writing to the same, says; "You will +imagine, better than I can write, with what deep sympathy I learned the +death of your good father, whom I have always esteemed one of the best +of men. I cannot say I am sorry for his death. My only regret is that +more of us cannot live and die as he has done. I feel with regard to all +good men departed, whom I have personally known, that there is now +another witness in the spirit, before whose searching eyes my inmost +soul lies open. I shall never forget him; not even if such a green old +age as his should be my own portion. If in the future life I can only be +as near him as I was on this earth, I shall deem myself blest." + +From the numerous notices in papers of all parties and sects, I will +merely quote the following: The New-York Observer thus announces his +death: + + "The venerable Isaac T. Hopper, whose placid benevolent face has so + long irradiated almost every public meeting for doing good, and + whose name, influence, and labors have been devoted with an + apostolic simplicity and constancy to humanity, died on Friday + last, at an advanced age. He was a Quaker of that early sort + illustrated by such philanthropists as Anthony Benezet, Thomas + Clarkson, Mrs. Fry, and the like. + + "He was a most self-denying, patient, loving friend of the poor, and + the suffering of every kind; and his life was an unbroken history + of beneficence. Thousands of hearts will feel a touch of grief at + the news of his death; for few men have so large a wealth in the + blessings of the poor, and the grateful remembrance of kindness and + benevolence, as he." + +The New-York Sunday Times contained the following: + + "Most of our readers will call to mind in connection with the name + of Isaac T. Hopper, the compact, well-knit figure of a Quaker + gentleman, apparently about sixty years of age, dressed in drab or + brown clothes of the plainest cut, and bearing on his handsome, + manly face the impress of that benevolence with which his whole + heart was filled. + + "He was twenty years older than he seemed. The fountain of + benevolence within, freshened his old age with its continuous flow. + The step of the octogenarian, was elastic as that of a boy, his + form erect as the mountain pine. + + "His whole _physique_ was a splendid sample of nature's handiwork. + We see him now with our 'mind's eye'--but with the eye of flesh we + shall see him no more. Void of intentional offence to God or man, + his spirit has joined its happy kindred in a world where there is + neither sorrow nor perplexity." + +I sent the following communication to the New-York Tribune: + + "In this world of shadows, few things strengthen the soul like + seeing the calm and cheerful exit of a truly good man; and this has + been my privilege by the bedside of Isaac T. Hopper. + + "He was a man of remarkable endowments, both of head and heart. His + clear discrimination, his unconquerable will, his total + unconsciousness of fear, his extraordinary tact in circumventing + plans he wished to frustrate, would have made him illustrious as + the general of an army; and these qualities might have become + faults, if they had not been balanced by an unusual degree of + conscientiousness and benevolence. He battled courageously, not + from ambition, but from an inborn love of truth. He circumvented as + adroitly as the most practised politician; but it was always to + defeat the plans of those who oppressed God's poor; never to + advance his own self-interest. + + "Few men have been more strongly attached to any religious society + than he was to the Society of Friends, which he joined in the days + of its purity, impelled by his own religious convictions. But when + the time came that he must either be faithless to duty in the cause + of his enslaved brethren, or part company with the Society to which + he was bound by the strong and sacred ties of early religious + feeling, this sacrifice he also calmly laid on the altar of + humanity. + + "During nine years that I lived in his household, my respect and + affection for him continually increased. Never have I seen a man + who so completely fulfilled the Scripture injunction, to forgive an + erring brother 'not only seven times, but seventy times seven.' I + have witnessed relapse after relapse into vice, under circumstances + which seemed like the most heartless ingratitude to him; but he + joyfully hailed the first symptom of repentance, and was always + ready to grant a new probation. + + "Farewell, thou brave and kind old Friend! The prayers of ransomed + ones ascended to Heaven for thee, and a glorious company have + welcomed thee to the Eternal City." + +On a plain block of granite at Greenwood Cemetery, is inscribed: + + ISAAC T. HOPPER, + + BORN, DECEMBER 3D, 1771, + + ENDED HIS PILGRIMAGE, MAY 7TH, 1852. + + "Thou henceforth shalt have a good man's calm, + A great man's happiness; thy zeal shall find + Repose at length, firm Friend of human kind." + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11859 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4204421 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11859 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11859) diff --git a/old/11859.txt b/old/11859.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ae0bdc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11859.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12114 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Isaac T. Hopper, by L. Maria Child + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Isaac T. Hopper + +Author: L. Maria Child + +Release Date: March 31, 2004 [eBook #11859] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ISAAC T. HOPPER*** + + +E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant and Project Gutenberg Distributed +Proofreaders + + + +ISAAC T. HOPPER + +A True Life + +BY + +L. MARIA CHILD + +1853 + + + + + + +[Illustration: Isaac T. Hopper] + + + + + Thine was a soul with sympathy imbued, + Broad as the earth, and as the heavens sublime; + Thy godlike object, steadfastly pursued, + To save thy race from misery and crime. + + Garrison. + + + +TO + +HANNAH ATTMORE HOPPER, + +WIDOW OF THE LATE + +ISAAC T. HOPPER, + +THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED, BY HER +GRATEFUL AND ATTACHED FRIEND, + +L. MARIA CHILD. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This biography differs from most works of the kind, in embracing +fragments of so many lives. Friend Hopper lived almost entirely for +others; and it is a striking illustration of the fact, that I have found +it impossible to write his biography without having it consist largely +of the adventures of other people. + +I have not recounted his many good deeds for the mere purpose of +eulogizing an honored friend. I have taken pleasure in preserving them +in this form, because I cherish a hope that they may fall like good seed +into many hearts, and bring forth future harvests in the great field of +humanity. + +Most of the strictly personal anecdotes fell from his lips in familiar +and playful conversation with his sister, or his grand-children, or his +intimate friends, and I noted them down at the time, without his +knowledge. In this way I caught them in a much more fresh and natural +form, than I could have done if he had been conscious of the process. + +The narratives and anecdotes of fugitive slaves, which form such a +prominent portion of the book, were originally written by Friend Hopper +himself, and published in newspapers, under the title of "Tales of +Oppression." I have re-modelled them all; partly because I wished to +present them in a more concise form, and partly because the principal +actor could be spoken of more freely by a third person, than he could +speak of himself. Moreover, he had a more dramatic way of _telling_ a +story than he had of _writing_ it; and I have tried to embody his +unwritten style as nearly as I could remember it. Where-ever incidents +or expressions have been added to the published narratives, I have done +it from recollection. + +The facts, which were continually occurring within Friend Hopper's +personal knowledge, corroborate the pictures of slavery drawn by Mrs. +Stowe. Her descriptions are no more fictitious, than the narratives +written by Friend Hopper. She has taken living characters and facts of +every-day occurrence, and combined them in a connected story, radiant +with the light of genius, and warm with the glow of feeling. But is a +landscape any the less real, because there is sunshine on it, to bring +out every tint, and make every dew-drop sparkle? + +Who that reads the account here given of Daniel Benson, and William +Anderson, can doubt that slaves are capable of as high moral excellence, +as has ever been ascribed to them in any work of fiction? Who that reads +Zeke, and the Quick Witted Slave, can pronounce them a stupid race, +unfit for freedom? Who that reads the adventures of the Slave Mother, +and of poor Manuel, a perpetual mourner for his enslaved children, can +say that the bonds of nature are less strong with them, than with their +more fortunate white brethren? Who can question the horrible tyranny +under which they suffer, after reading The Tender Mercies of a +Slaveholder, and the suicide of Romaine? + +Friend Hopper labored zealously for many, many years; and thousands have +applied their best energies of head and heart to the same great work; +yet the slave-power in this country is as strong as ever--nay, stronger. +Its car rolls on in triumph, and priests and politicians outdo each +other in zeal to draw it along, over its prostrate victims. But, lo! +from under its crushing wheels, up rises the bleeding spectre of Uncle +Tom, and all the world turns to look at him! Verily, the slave-power is +strong; but God and truth are stronger. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +GENERAL INDEX. + +Allusions to his Parents. +Anecdotes of Childhood. +Allusions to Sarah his Wife. +Allusions to Joseph Whitall. +Anecdotes of Apprenticeship. +His Religious Experience. +Tales of Oppression and Anecdotes of Colored People. +Anecdotes of Prisoners and of Vicious Characters in Philadelphia. +His Love of Fun. +Allusions to his Private Life and Domestic Character. +Anecdotes connected with Quakers. +Schism in the Society of Friends. +Anecdotes connected with his Visit to England and Ireland. +Anti-Slavery Experiences in New-York. +His Attachment to the Principles and Usages of Friends. +Disowned by the Society of Friends in New-York. +His Connection with the Prison Association of New-York. +His Illness, Death, and Funeral. + + + + +PARTICULAR INDEX. + +His birth. +Anecdote of his Grandmother's Courage. +His Childish Roguery. +His Contest with British Soldiers. +His Violent Temper. +Conscientiousness in Boyhood. +Tricks at School. +Going to Mill. +Going to Market. +Anecdote of General Washington. +Pelting the Swallows. +Anecdote of the Squirrel and her young ones. +The Pet Squirrel. +The Pet Crow. +Encounter with a Black Snake. +Old Mingo the African. +Boyish Love for Sarah Tatum. +His Mother's parting advice when he leaves Home. +Mischievous Trick at the Cider Barrel. +He nearly harpoons his Uncle. +He nearly kills a Fellow Apprentice. +Adventure with a young Woman. +His first Slave Case. +His Youthful Love for Sarah Tatum. +Nicholas Waln. +Mary Ridgeway. +William Savery. +His early Religious Experience. +Letter from Joseph Whitall. +He marries Sarah Tatum. +His interest in Colored People. +Charles Webster. +Ben Jackson. +Thomas Cooper. +A Child Kidnapped. +Wagelma. +James Poovey. +Romaine. +David Lea. +The Slave Hunter. +William Bachelor. +Levin Smith. +Etienne Lamaire. +Samuel Johnson. +Pierce Butler's Ben. +Daniel Benson. +The Quick-Witted Slave. +James Davis. +Mary Holliday. +Thomas Harrison. +James Lawler. +William Anderson. +Sarah Roach. +Zeke. +Poor Amy. +Manuel. +Slaveholders mollified. +The United States Bond. +The tender mercies of a Slaveholder. +The Foreign Slave. +The New-Jersey Slave. +A Slave Hunter Defeated. +Mary Morris. +The Slave Mother. +Colonel Ridgeley's Slave. +Stop Thief! +The Disguised Slaveholder. +The Slave of Dr. Rich. +His Knowledge of Law. +Mutual Confidence between him and the Colored People. +Mercy to Kidnappers. +Richard Allen, the Colored Bishop. +The Colored Guests at his Table. +Kane the Colored Man fined for Blasphemy. +John McGrier. +Levi Butler. +The Musical Boy. +Mary Norris. +The Magdalen. +The Uncomplimentary Invitation. +Theft from Necessity. +Patrick M'Keever. +The Umbrella Girl. +The two young Offenders. +His courageous intercourse with violent Prisoners. +Not thoroughly Baptized. +The puzzled Dutchman. +Hint to an Untidy Neighbor. +Resemblance to Napoleon. +The Dress, Manners, and Character of Sarah, his wife. +The Devil's Lane. +Jacob Lindley's Anecdotes. +Singular Clairvoyance of Arthur Howell, a Quaker Preacher. +Prophetic Presentiment of his Mother. +The aged Bondman emancipated. +A Presentiment of Treachery. +The Quaker who purchased a Stolen Horse. +Elias Hicks and the Schism in the Society of Friends. +Pecuniary difficulties. +Death of his Wife. +Death of his son Isaac. +Journey to Maryland, and Testimony against Slavery. +His marriage with Hannah Attmore. +Removes to New-York. +Matthew Carey's facetious Letter of Introduction. +Anecdotes of his visit to England and Ireland. +Anecdote of the Diseased Horse. +Visit to William Penn's Grave. +The Storm at Sea. Profane Language rebuked. +The Clergyman and his Books. +His Book-store in New-York. +The Mob in Pearl-Street. +Judge Chinn's Slave. +One of his sons mobbed at the South. +His Letter to the Mayor of Savannah. +His Phrenological Character. +His Unconsciousness of Distinctions in Society. +The Darg Case. +Letter from Dr. Moore. +Mrs. Burke's Slave. +Becomes Agent in the Anti-Slavery Office. +His youthful appearance. +Anecdotes showing his love of Fun. +His sense of Justice. +His Remarkable Memory. +His Costume and Personal Habits. +His Library. +His Theology. +His Adherence to Quaker Usages. +Capital Punishment. +Rights of Women. +Expressions of gratitude from Colored People. +His fund of Anecdotes and his Public Speaking. +Remarks of Judge Edmonds thereon. +His separation from the Society of Friends in New-York. +Visit to his Birth-place. +Norristown Convention. +Visit from his Sister Sarah. +Visit to Boston. +Visit to Bucks County. +Prison Association in New-York. +Correspondence with Governor Young. +Preaching in Sing Sing Chapel. +Anecdotes of Dr. William Rogers. +Interesting Cases of Reformed Convicts. +Letter from Dr. Walter Channing. +Anecdotes of William Savery and James Lindley at the South. +Sonnet by William L. Garrison. +His sympathy with Colored People turned out of the Cars. +A Methodist Preacher from the South. +His Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Law. +His Domestic Character. +He attracts Children. +His Garden described in a Letter to L.M. Child. +Likenesses of him. +Letter concerning Joseph Whitall. +Letters concerning Sarah his wife. +Letter to his Daughter on his 80th Birth-day. +Allusions to Hannah, his wife. +Letter resigning the agency of the Prison Association. +His last Illness. +His Death. +Letter from a Reformed Convict. +Resolutions passed by the Prison Association. +Resolutions passed by the Anti-Slavery Society. +His Funeral. +Lucretia Mott. +Public Notices and Private Letters of Condolence. +His Epitaph. + + + + +I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched +out. + +When the ear heard me, then it blessed me: and when the eye saw me, it +gave witness to me: + +Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him +that had none to help him. + +The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused +the widow's heart to sing for joy. Job xxix. 10, 11, 12, 13. + + + + +LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER + + +Isaac Tatem Hopper was born in Deptford Township, near Woodbury, West +New-Jersey, in the year 1771, on the third day of December, which +Quakers call the Twelfth Month. His grandfather belonged to that +denomination of Christians, but forfeited membership in the Society by +choosing a wife from another sect. His son Levi, the father of Isaac, +always attended their meetings, but never became a member. + +A family of rigid Presbyterians, by the name of Tatem, resided in the +neighborhood. While their house was being built, they took shelter for a +few days, in a meeting-house that was little used, and dug a pit for a +temporary cellar, according to the custom of new settlers in the forest. +The country at that time was much infested with marauders; but Mrs. +Tatem was an Amazon in physical strength and courage. One night, when +her husband was absent, and she was alone in the depths of the woods +with three small children, she heard a noise, and looking out saw a +band of thieves stealing provisions from the cellar. They entered the +meeting-house soon after, and she had the presence of mind to call out, +"Hallo, Jack! Call Joe, and Harry, and Jim! Here's somebody coming." The +robbers, supposing she had a number of stout defenders at hand, thought +it prudent to escape as quickly as possible. The next day, her husband +being still absent, she resolved to move into the unfinished house, for +greater security. The door had neither lock nor latch, but she contrived +to fasten it in some fashion. At midnight, three men came and tried to +force it open; but every time they partially succeeded, she struck at +them with a broad axe. This mode of defence was kept up so vigorously, +that at last they were compelled to retreat. + +She had a daughter, who was often at play with neighbor Hopper's +children; and when Levi was quite a small boy, it used to be said +playfully that little Rachel Tatem would be his wife, and they would +live together up by the great white oak; a remarkable tree at some +distance from the homestead. The children grew up much attached to each +other, and when Levi was twenty-two years old, the prophecy was +fulfilled. + +The young man had only his own strong hands and five or six hundred +acres of wild woodland. He grubbed up the trees and underbrush near the +big white oak, removed his father's hen-house to the cleared spot, +fitted it up comfortably for a temporary dwelling, and dug a cellar in +the declivity of a hill near by. To this humble abode he conducted his +young bride, and there his two first children were born. The second was +named Isaac Tatem Hopper, and is the subject of this memoir. + +Rachel inherited her mother's energy and courage, and having married a +diligent and prudent man, their worldly circumstances gradually +improved, though their family rapidly increased, and they had nothing +but land and labor to rely upon. When Isaac was one year and a half old, +the family removed to a new log-house with three rooms on a floor, +neatly whitewashed. To these the bridal hen-house was appended for a +kitchen. + +Isaac was early remarked as a very precocious child. He was always +peeping into everything, and inquiring about everything. He was only +eighteen months old, when the new log-house was built; but when he saw +them laying the foundation, his busy little mind began to query whether +the grass would grow under it; and straightway he ran to see whether +grass grew under the floor of the hen-house where he was born. + +He was put to work on the farm as soon as he could handle a hoe; but +though he labored hard, he had plenty of time and strength left for all +manner of roguery. While he was a small fellow in petticoats, he ran +into a duck-pond to explore its depth. His mother pulled him out, and +said, "Isaac, if you ever go there again, I will make you come out +faster than you went in." He thought to himself, "Now I will prove +mother to be in the wrong; for I will go in as fast as I can, and surely +I can't come out any faster." So into the pond he went, as soon as the +words were out of her mouth. + +A girl by the name of Polly assisted about the housework. She was +considered one of the family, and always ate at the same table, +according to the kindly custom of those primitive times. She always +called her mistress "Mammy," and served her until the day of her death; +a period of forty years. The children were much attached to this +faithful domestic; but nevertheless, Isaac could not forbear playing +tricks upon her whenever he had opportunity.--When he was five or six +years old, he went out one night to see her milk the cow. He had +observed that the animal kicked upon slight provocation; and when the +pail was nearly full, he broke a switch from a tree near by, slipped +round to the other side of the cow, and tickled her bag. She instantly +raised her heels, and over went Polly, milk-pail, stool, and all. Isaac +ran into the house, laughing with all his might, to tell how the cow had +kicked over Polly and the pail of milk. His mother went out immediately +to ascertain whether the girl was seriously injured.--"Oh, mammy, that +little rogue tickled the cow, and made her do it," exclaimed Polly. +Whereupon, Isaac had a spanking, and was sent to bed without his supper. +But so great was his love of fun, that as he lay there, wakeful and +hungry, he shouted with laughter all alone by himself, to think how +droll Polly looked when she rolled over with the pail of milk after her. + +When he was seven or eight years old, his uncle's wife came one day to +the house on horseback. She was a fat, clumsy woman, and got on and off +her horse with difficulty. Isaac knew that all the family were absent; +but when he saw her come ambling along the road, he took a freak not to +tell her of it. He let down the bars for her; she rode up to the +horse-block with which every farm-house was then furnished, rolled off +her horse, and went into the house. She then discovered, for the first +time, that there was no one at home. After resting awhile, she mounted +to depart. But Isaac, as full of mischief as Puck, put the bars up, so +that she could not ride out. In vain she coaxed, scolded, and +threatened. Finding it was all to no purpose, she rode up to the block +and rolled off from her horse again.--Isaac, having the fear of her whip +before his eyes, ran and hid himself. She let down the bars for herself, +but before she could remount, the mischievous urchin had put the bars +up again and run away.--This was repeated several times; and the +exasperated visitor could never succeed in catching her tormentor. His +parents came home in the midst of the frolic, and he had a sound +whipping. He had calculated upon this result all the time, and the +uneasy feeling had done much to mar his sport; but on the whole, he +concluded such rare fun was well worth a flogging. + +The boys at school were apt to neglect their lessons while they were +munching apples. In order to break up this disorderly habit, the master +made it a rule to take away every apple found upon them.--He placed such +forfeited articles upon his desk, with the agreement that any boy might +have them, who could succeed in abstracting them without being observed +by him. One day, when a large rosy-cheeked apple stood temptingly on the +desk, Isaac stepped up to have his pen mended. He stood very demurely at +first, but soon began to gaze earnestly out of the window, behind the +desk. The master inquired what he was looking at. He replied, "I am +watching a flock of ducks trying to swim on the ice. How queerly they +waddle and slide about!" "Ducks swim on ice!" exclaimed the +schoolmaster; and he turned to observe such an unusual spectacle. It was +only for an instant; but the apple meanwhile was transferred to the +pocket of his cunning pupil. He smiled as he gave him his pen, and +said, "Ah, you rogue, you are always full of mischief!" + +The teacher was accustomed to cheer the monotony of his labors by a race +with the boys during play hours. There was a fine sloping lawn in front +of the school-house, terminating in a brook fringed with willows. The +declivity gave an impetus to the runners, and as they came among the +trees, their heads swiftly parted the long branches. Isaac tied a +brick-bat to one of the pendant boughs, and then invited the master to +run with him. He accepted the invitation, and got the start in the race. +As he darted through the trees, the brick merely grazed his hair. If it +had hit him, it might have cost him his life; though his mischievous +pupil had not reflected upon the possibility of such a result. + +There was a bridge across the brook consisting of a single rail. One +day, Isaac sawed this nearly in two; and while the master was at play +with the boys, he took the opportunity to say something very +impertinent, for which he knew he should be chased. He ran toward the +brook, crossed the rail in safety, and instantly turned it over, so that +his pursuer would step upon it when the cut side was downward. It +immediately snapped under his pressure, and precipitated him into the +stream, while the young rogue stood by almost killing himself with +laughter. But this joke also came very near having a melancholy +termination; for the master was floated down several rods into deep +water, and with difficulty saved himself from drowning. + +There was a creek not far from his father's house, where it was +customary to load sloops with wood. Upon one of these occasions, he +persuaded a party of boys to pry up a pile of wood and tip it into a +sloop, in a confused heap. Of course, it must all be taken out and +reloaded. When he saw how much labor this foolish trick had caused, he +felt some compunction; but the next temptation found the spirit of +mischief too strong to be resisted. + +Coming home from his uncle's one evening, he stopped to amuse himself +with taking a gate off its hinges. When an old Quaker came out to see +who was meddling with his gate, Isaac fired a gun over his head, and +made him run into the house, as if an evil spirit were after him. + +It was his delight to tie the boughs of trees together in narrow paths, +that people travelling in the dark, might hit their heads against them; +and to lay stones in the ruts of the road, when he knew that farmers +were going to market with eggs, in the darkness of morning twilight. If +any mischief was done for miles round, it was sure to be attributed to +Isaac Hopper. There was no malice in his fun; but he had such +superabounding life within him, that it _would_ overflow, even when he +knew that he must suffer for it. His boyish activity, strength, and +agility were proverbial. Long after he left his native village, the +neighbors used to tell with what astonishing rapidity he would descend +high trees, head foremost, clinging to the trunk with his feet. + +The fearlessness and firmness of character, which he inherited from both +father and mother, manifested itself in many ways. He had a lamb, whose +horns were crooked, and had a tendency to turn in. His father had given +it to him for his own, on condition that he should keep the horns +carefully filed, so that they should not hurt the animal. He had a small +file on purpose, and took such excellent care of his pet, that it soon +became very much attached to him, and trotted about after him like a +dog. When he was about five or six years old, British soldiers came into +the neighborhood to seize provisions for the army, according to their +custom during our revolutionary war. They tied the feet of the tame +lamb, and threw it into the cart with other sheep and lambs. Isaac came +up to them in season to witness this operation, and his heart swelled +with indignation. He sprang into the cart, exclaiming, "That's _my_ +lamb, and you shan't have it!" The men tried to push him aside; but he +pulled out a rusty jack-knife, which he had bought of a pedlar for +two-pence, and cut the rope that bound the poor lamb. A British officer +rode up, and seeing a little boy struggling so resolutely with the +soldiers, he inquired what was the matter. "They've stolen my lamb!" +exclaimed Isaac; "and they shan't have it. It's _my_ lamb!" + +"_Is_ it your lamb, my brave little fellow?" said the officer. "Well, +they shan't have it. You'll make a fine soldier one of these days." + +So Isaac lifted his lamb from the cart, and trudged off victorious. He +had always been a whig; and after this adventure, he became more decided +than ever in his politics. He often used to boast that he would rather +have a paper continental dollar, than a golden English guinea. The +family amused themselves by exciting his zeal, and Polly made him +believe he was such a famous whig, that the British would certainly +carry him off to prison. He generally thought he was fully capable of +defending himself; but when he saw four soldiers approaching the house +one day, he concluded the force was rather too strong for him, and +hastened to hide himself in the woods. + +His temper partook of the general strength and vehemence of his +character. Having put a small quantity of gunpowder on the stove of the +school-house, it exploded, and did some injury to the master. One of the +boys, who was afraid of being suspected of the mischief, in order to +screen himself, cried out, "Isaac Hopper did it!"--and Isaac was +punished accordingly. Going home from school, he seized the informer as +they were passing through a wood, tied him up to a tree, and gave him a +tremendous thrashing. The boy threatened to tell of it; but he assured +him that he would certainly kill him if he did; so he never ventured to +disclose it. + +In general, his conscience reproved him as soon as he had done anything +wrong, and he hastened to make atonement. A poor boy, who attended the +same school, usually brought a very scanty dinner. One day, the spirit +of mischief led Isaac to spoil the poor child's provisions by filling +his little pail with sand. When the boy opened it, all eagerness to eat +his dinner, the tears came into his eyes; for he was very hungry. This +touched Isaac's heart instantly. "Oh, never mind, Billy," said he. "I +did it for fun; but I'm sorry I did it.. Come, you shall have half of my +dinner." It proved a lucky joke for Billy; for from that day henceforth, +Isaac always helped him plentifully from his own stock of provisions. + +Isaac and his elder brother were accustomed to set traps in the woods to +catch partridges. One day, when he was about six years old, he went to +look at the traps early in the morning, and finding his empty, he took a +plump partridge from his brother's trap, put it in his own, and carried +it home as his. When his brother examined the traps, he said he was sure +_he_ caught the bird, because there were feathers sticking to his trap; +but Isaac maintained that there were feathers sticking to his also. +After he went to bed, his conscience scorched him for what he had done. +As soon as he rose in the morning, he went to his mother and said, "What +shall I do? I have told a lie, and I feel dreadfully about it. That +_was_ Sam's partridge. I said I took it from my trap; and so I did; but +I put it in there first." + +"My son, it is a wicked thing to tell a lie," replied his mother. "You +must go to Sam and confess, and give him the bird." + +Accordingly, he went to his brother, and said, "Sam, here's your +partridge. I did take it out of my trap; but I put it in there first." +His brother gave him a talking, and then forgave him. + +Being a very bright, manly boy, he was intrusted to carry grain several +miles to mill, when he was only eight years old. On one of these +occasions, he arrived just as another boy, who preceded him, had +alighted to open the gate. "Just let me drive in before you shut it," +said Isaac, "and then I shall have no need to get down from my wagon." +The boy patiently held the gate for him to pass through; but, Isaac, +without stopping to thank him, whipped up his horse, arrived at the mill +post haste, and claimed the right to be first served, because he was the +first comer. When the other boy found he was compelled to wait, he +looked very much dissatisfied, but said nothing. Isaac chuckled over +his victory at first, but his natural sense of justice soon suggested +better thoughts. He asked himself whether he had done right thus to take +advantage of that obliging boy? The longer he reflected upon it, the +more uncomfortable he felt. At last, he went up to the stranger and said +frankly, "I did wrong to drive up to the mill so fast, and get my corn +ground, when you were the one who arrived first; especially as you were +so obliging as to hold the gate open for me to pass through. I was +thinking of nothing but fun when I did it. Here's sixpence to make up +for it." The boy was well pleased with the amend thus honorably offered, +and they parted right good friends. + +At nine years old, he began to drive a wagon to Philadelphia, to sell +vegetables and other articles from his father's farm; which he did very +satisfactorily, with the assistance of a neighbor, who occupied the next +stall in the market. According to the fashion of the times, he wore a +broad-brimmed hat, and small-clothes with long stockings. Being +something of a dandy, he prided himself upon having his shoes very +clean, and his white dimity small clothes without spot or blemish. He +caught rabbits, and sold them, till he obtained money enough to purchase +brass buckles for his knees, and for the straps of his shoes. The first +time he made his appearance in the city with this new finery, he felt +his ambition concerning personal decoration completely satisfied. The +neatness of his dress, and his manly way of proceeding, attracted +attention, and induced his customers to call him "THE LITTLE GOVERNOR." +For several years, he was universally known in the market by that title. +Fortunately, his father had no wish to obtain undue advantage in the +sale of his produce; for had it been otherwise, his straight-forward +little son would have proved a poor agent in transacting his affairs. +One day, when a citizen inquired the price of a pair of chickens, he +answered, with the utmost simplicity, "My father told me to sell them +for fifty cents if I could; and if not, to take forty." + +"Well done, my honest little fellow!" said the gentleman, smiling, "I +will give you whatever is the current price. I shall look out for you in +the market; and whenever I see you, I shall always try to trade with +you." And he kept his word. + +When quite a small boy, he was sent some distance of an errand, and +arrived just as the family were about to sit down to supper. There were +several pies on the table, and they invited him to partake. The long +walk had whetted his appetite, and the pies looked exceedingly tempting; +but the shyness of childhood led him to say, "No, I thank you." When he +had delivered his message, he lingered, and lingered, hoping they would +ask him again. But the family were Quakers, and they understood yea to +mean yea, and nay to mean nay. They would have considered it a mere +worldly compliment to repeat the invitation; so they were silent. Isaac +started for home, much repenting of his bashfulness, and went nearly +half of the way revolving the subject in his mind. He then walked back +to the house, marched boldly into the supper-room, and said, "I told a +lie when I was here. I did want a piece of pie; but I thought to be sure +you would ask me again." This explicit avowal made them all smile, and +he was served with as much pie as he wished to eat. + +The steadfastness of his whig principles led him to take a lively +interest in anecdotes concerning revolutionary heroes. His mother had a +brother in Philadelphia, who lived in a house formerly occupied by +William Penn, at the corner of Second Street and Norris Alley. This +uncle frequently cut and made garments for General Washington, Benjamin +Franklin, and other distinguished men. Nothing pleased Isaac better than +a visit to this city relative; and when there, his boyish mind was much +occupied with watching for the famous men, of whom he had heard so much +talk. Once, when General Washington came there to order some garments, +he followed him a long distance from the shop. The General had observed +his wonder and veneration, and was amused by it. Coming to a corner of +the street, he turned round suddenly, touched his hat, and made a very +low bow. This playful condescension so completely confused his juvenile +admirer, that he stood blushing and bewildered for an instant, then +walked hastily away, without remembering to return the salutation. The +tenderness of spirit often manifested by him, was very remarkable in +such a resolute and mischievous boy. There was an old unoccupied barn in +the neighborhood, a favorite resort of swallows in the Spring-time. When +he was about ten years old, he invited a number of boys to meet him the +next Sunday morning, to go and pelt the swallows. They set off on this +expedition with anticipations of a fine frolic; but before they had gone +far, Isaac began to feel a strong conviction that he was doing wrong. He +told his companions he thought it was very cruel sport to torment and +kill poor little innocent birds; especially as they might destroy +mothers, and then the little ones would be left to starve. There was a +Quaker meeting-house about a mile and a half distant, and he proposed +that they should all go there, and leave the swallows in peace. But the +boys only laughed at him, and ran off shouting, "Come on! Come on!" He +looked after them sorrowfully for some minutes, reproaching himself for +the suffering he had caused the poor birds. He then walked off to +meeting alone; and his faithfulness to the light within him was followed +by a sweet peacefulness and serenity of soul. The impression made by +this incident, and the state of mind he enjoyed while in meeting, was +one of the earliest influences that drew him into the Society of +Friends.--When he returned home, he heard that one of the boys had +broken his arm while stoning the swallows, and had been writhing with +pain, while he had been enjoying the consolations of an approving +conscience. + +At an early age, he was noted for being a sure shot, with bow and arrow, +or with gun. A pair of king-birds built in his father's orchard, and it +was desirable to get rid of them, because they destroy honey-bees. Isaac +watched for an opportunity, and one day when the birds flew away in +quest of food for their young, he transfixed them both at once with his +arrow. At first, he was much delighted with this exploit; but his +compassionate heart soon became troubled about the orphan little ones, +whom he pictured to himself as anxiously expecting the parents that +would never return to feed them again. This feeling gained such strength +within him, that he early relinquished the practice of shooting, though +he found keen excitement in the pursuit, and was not a little proud of +his skill. + +Once, when he had entrapped a pair of partridges, he put them in a box, +intending to keep them there. But he soon began to query with himself +whether creatures accustomed to fly must not necessarily be very +miserable shut up in such a limited space. He accordingly opened the +door. One of the partridges immediately walked out, but soon returned to +prison to invite his less ventursome mate. The box was removed a few +days after, but the birds remained about the garden for months, often +coming to the door-step to pick up crumbs that were thrown to them. When +the mating-season returned the next year, they retired to the woods. + +From earliest childhood he evinced great fondness for animals, and +watched with lively interest all the little creatures of the woods and +fields. He was familiar with all their haunts, and they gave names to +the localities of his neighborhood. There was Turkey Causeway, where +wild turkies abounded; and Rabbit Swamp, where troops of timid little +rabbits had their hiding places; and Squirrel Grove, where many +squirrels laid in their harvest of acorns for the winter; and Panther +Bridge, where his grandfather had killed a panther. + +Once, when his father and the workmen had been cutting down a quantity +of timber, Isaac discovered a squirrel's nest in a hole of one of the +trees that had fallen. It contained four new-born little ones, their +eyes not yet opened. He was greatly tempted to carry them home, but they +were so young that they needed their mother's milk. So after examining +them, he put them back in the nest, and with his usual busy helpfulness +went to assist in stripping bark from the trees. When he went home from +his work, toward evening, he felt curious to see how the mother squirrel +would behave when she returned and found her home was gone. He +accordingly hid himself in a bush to watch her proceedings. About dusk, +she came running along the stone wall with a nut in her mouth, and went +with all speed to the old familiar tree. Finding nothing but a stump +remaining there, she dropped the nut and looked around in evident +dismay. She went smelling all about the ground, then mounted the stump +to take a survey of the country. She raised herself on her hind legs and +snuffed the air, with an appearance of great perplexity and distress. +She ran round the stump several times, occasionally raising herself on +her hind legs, and peering about in every direction, to discover what +had become of her young family. At last, she jumped on the prostrate +trunk of the tree, and ran along till she came to the hole where her +babies were concealed. What the manner of their meeting was nobody can +tell; but doubtless the mother's heart beat violently when she +discovered her lost treasures all safe on the warm little bed of moss +she had so carefully prepared for them. After staying a few minutes to +give them their supper, she came out, and scampered off through the +bushes. In about fifteen minutes, she returned and took one of the young +ones in her mouth, and carried it quickly to a hole in another tree, +three or four hundred yards off, and then came back and took the others, +one by one, till she had conveyed them all to their new home. The +intelligent instinct manifested by this little quadruped excited great +interest in Isaac's observing mind. When he drove the cows to pasture, +he always went by that tree, to see how the young family were getting +along. In a short time, they were running all over the tree with their +careful mother, eating acorns under the shady boughs, entirely +unconscious of the perils through which they had passed in infancy. + +Some time after, Isaac traded with another boy for a squirrel taken from +the nest before its eyes were open. He made a bed of moss for it, and +fed it very tenderly. At first, he was afraid it would not live; but it +seemed healthy, though it never grew so large as other squirrels. He did +not put it in a cage; for he said to himself that a creature made to +frisk about in the green woods could not be happy shut up in a box. This +pretty little animal became so much attached to her kind-hearted +protector, that she would run about after him, and come like a kitten +whenever he called her. While he was gone to school, she frequently ran +off to the woods and played with wild squirrels on a tree that grew +near his path homeward. Sometimes she took a nap in a large knot-hole, +or, if the weather was very warm, made a cool bed of leaves across a +crotch of the boughs, and slept there. When Isaac passed under the tree, +on his way from school, he used to call "Bun! Bun! Bun!" If she was +there, she would come to him immediately, run up on his shoulder, and so +ride home to get her supper. + +It seemed as if animals were in some way aware of his kindly feelings, +and disposed to return his confidence; for on several occasions they +formed singular intimacies with him. When he was six or seven years old, +he spied a crow's nest in a high tree, and, according to his usual +custom, he climbed up to make discoveries. He found that it contained +two eggs, and he watched the crow's movements until her young ones were +hatched and ready to fly. Then he took them home. One was accidentally +killed a few days after, but he reared the other, and named it Cupid. +The bird became so very tame, that it would feed from his hand, perch on +his shoulder, or his hat, and go everywhere with him. It frequently +followed him for miles, when he went to mill or market. He was never put +into a cage, but flew in and out of the house, just as he pleased. If +Isaac called "Cu! Cu!" he would hear him, even if he were up in the +highest tree, would croak a friendly answer, and come down directly. If +Isaac winked one eye, the crow would do the same. If he winked his other +eye, the crow also winked with his other eye. Once when Cupid was on his +shoulder, he pointed to a snake lying in the road, and said "Cu! +Cu!"--The sagacious bird pounced on the head of the snake and killed him +instantly; then flew back to his friend's shoulder, cawing with all his +might, as if delighted with his exploit. If a stranger tried to take +him, he would fly away, screaming with terror. Sometimes Isaac covered +him with a handkerchief and placed him on a stranger's shoulder; but as +soon as he discovered where he was, he seemed frightened almost to +death. He usually chose to sleep on the roof of a shed, directly under +Isaac's bed-room window. One night he heard him cawing very loud, and +the next morning he said to his father, "I heard Cupid talking in his +sleep last night." His father inquired whether he had seen him since; +and when Isaac answered, "No," he said, "Then I am afraid the owls have +taken him." The poor bird did not make his appearance again; and a few +days after, his bones and feathers were found on a stump, not far from +the house. This was a great sorrow for Isaac. It tried his young heart +almost like the loss of a brother. + +His intimacy with animals was of a very pleasant nature, except on one +occasion, when he thrust his arm into a hollow tree, in search of +squirrels, and pulled out a large black snake. He was so terrified, that +he tumbled headlong from the tree, and it was difficult to tell which +ran away fastest, he or the snake. This incident inspired the bold boy +with fear, which he vainly tried to overcome during the remainder of his +life. There was a thicket of underbrush between his father's farm and +the village of Woodbury. Once, when he was sent of an errand to the +village, he was seized with such a dread of snakes, that before entering +among the bushes, he placed his basket on an old rail, knelt down and +prayed earnestly that he might pass through without encountering a +snake. When he rose up and attempted to take his basket, he perceived a +large black snake lying close beside the rail. It may well be believed +that he went through the thicket too fast to allow any grass to grow +under his feet. + +When he drove the cows to and from pasture, he often met an old colored +man named Mingo. His sympathizing heart was attracted toward him, +because he had heard the neighbors say he was stolen from Africa when he +was a little boy. One day, he asked Mingo what part of the world he came +from; and the poor old man told how he was playing with other children +among the bushes, on the coast of Africa, when white men pounced upon +them suddenly and dragged them off to a ship. He held fast hold of the +thorny bushes, which tore his hands dreadfully in the struggle. The old +man wept like a child, when he told how he was frightened and distressed +at being thus hurried away from father, mother, brothers and sisters, +and sold into slavery, in a distant land, where he could never see or +hear from them again. This painful story made a very deep impression +upon Isaac's mind; and, though he was then only nine years old, he made +a solemn vow to himself that he would be the friend of oppressed +Africans during his whole life. + +He was as precocious in love, as in other matters. Not far from his +home, lived a prosperous and highly respectable Quaker family, named +Tatum. There were several sons, but only one daughter; a handsome child, +with clear, fair complexion, blue eyes, and a profusion of brown +curly hair. She was Isaac's cousin, twice removed; for their +great-grandfathers were half-brothers. When he was only eight years old, +and she was not yet five, he made up his mind that little Sarah Tatum +was his wife. He used to walk a mile and a half every day, on purpose to +escort her to school. When they rambled through the woods, in search of +berries, it was his delight to sit beside her on some old stump, and +twist her glossy brown ringlets over his fingers. A lovely picture they +must have made in the green, leafy frame-work of the woods--that fair, +blue-eyed girl, and the handsome, vigorous boy! When he was fourteen +years old, he wrote to her his first love-letter. The village +schoolmaster taught for very low wages, and was not remarkably +well-qualified for his task; as was generally the case at that early +period. Isaac's labor was needed on the farm all the summer; +consequently, he was able to attend school only three months during the +winter. He was, therefore, so little acquainted with the forms of +letter-writing, that he put Sarah's name inside the letter, and his own +on the outside. She, being an only daughter, and a great pet in her +family, had better opportunities for education. She told her young lover +that was not the correct way to write a letter, and instructed him how +to proceed in future. From that time, they corresponded constantly. + +Isaac likewise formed a very strong friendship with his cousin Joseph +Whitall, who was his schoolmate, and about his own age. They shared +together all their joys and troubles, and were companions in all boyish +enterprises. Thus was a happy though laborious childhood passed in the +seclusion of the woods, in the midst of home influences and rustic +occupations. His parents had no leisure to bestow on intellectual +culture; for they had a numerous family of children, and it required +about all their time to feed and clothe them respectably. But they were +worthy, kind-hearted people, whose moral precepts were sustained by +their upright example. His father was a quiet man, but exceedingly firm +and energetic. When he had made up his mind to do a thing, no earthly +power could turn him from his purpose; especially if any question of +conscience were involved therein. During the revolutionary war, he +faithfully maintained his testimony against the shedding of blood, and +suffered considerably for refusing to pay military taxes. Isaac's mother +was noted for her fearless character, and blunt directness of speech. +She was educated in the Presbyterian faith, and this was a source of +some discordant feeling between her and her husband. The preaching of +her favorite ministers seemed to him harsh and rigid, while she regarded +Quaker exhortations as insipid and formal. But as time passed on, her +religious views assimilated more and more with his; and about +twenty-four years after their marriage, she joined the Society of +Friends, and frequently spoke at their meetings. She was a spiritual +minded woman, always ready to sympathise with the afflicted, and +peculiarly kind to animals. They were both extremely hospitable and +benevolent to the poor. On Sunday evenings, they convened all the family +to listen to the Scriptures and other religious books.--In his journal +Isaac alludes to this custom, and says: "My mind was often solemnized by +these opportunities, and I resolved to live more consistently with the +principles of christian sobriety." + +When he was sixteen years old, it became a question to what business he +should devote himself.--There was a prospect of obtaining a situation +for him in a store at Philadelphia; and for that purpose it was deemed +expedient that he should take up his abode for a while with his maternal +uncle, whose house he had been so fond of visiting in early boyhood. He +did not succeed in obtaining the situation he expected, but remained in +the city on the look-out for some suitable employment. Meanwhile, he was +very helpful to his uncle, who, finding him diligent and skillful, tried +to induce him to learn his trade.--It was an occupation ill-adapted to +his vigorous body and active mind; but he was not of a temperament to +fold his hands and wait till something "turned up;" and as his uncle was +doing a prosperous business, he concluded to accept his proposition. +About the same time, his beloved cousin, Joseph Whitall, was sent to +Trenton to study law. This was rather a severe trial to Isaac's +feelings. Not that he envied his superior advantages; but he had sad +forebodings that separation would interrupt their friendship, and that +such a different career would be very likely to prevent its renewal. +They parted with mutual regret, and did not meet again for several +years. + +When Isaac bade adieu to the paternal roof, his mother looked after him +thoughtfully, and remarked to one of his sisters, "Isaac is no common +boy.--He will do something great, either for good or evil." She called +him back and said, "My son, you are now going forth to make your own way +in the world. Always remember that you are as good as any other person; +but remember also that you are no better." With this farewell +injunction, he departed for Philadelphia, where he soon acquired the +character of a faithful and industrious apprentice. + +But his boyish love of fun was still strong within him, and he was the +torment of all his fellow apprentices. One of them, named William +Roberts, proposed that they should go together into the cellar to steal +a pitcher of cider. Isaac pulled the spile, and while William was +drawing the liquor, he took an unobserved opportunity to hide it. When +the pitcher was full, he pretended to look all around for it, without +being able to find it. At last, he told his unsuspecting comrade that he +must thrust his finger into the hole and keep it there, while he went to +get another spile. William waited and waited for him to return, but when +an hour or more had elapsed, his patience was exhausted, and he began to +Halloo!--The noise, instead of bringing Isaac to his assistance, brought +the mistress of the house, who caught the culprit at the cider-barrel, +and gave him a severe scolding, to the infinite gratification of his +mischievous companion. + +Once, when the family were all going away, his uncle left the house in +charge of him and another apprentice, telling them to defend themselves +if any robbers came. Having a mind to try the courage of the lads, he +returned soon after, and attempted to force a window in the back part of +the house, which opened upon a narrow alley inclosed by a high fence. As +soon as Isaac heard the noise, he seized an old harpoon that was about +the premises, and told his companion to open the window the instant he +gave the signal. His orders were obeyed, and he flung the harpoon with +such force, that it passed through his uncle's vest and coat, and nailed +him tight to the fence. When he told the story, he used to say he never +afterward deemed it necessary to advise Isaac to defend himself. + +Among the apprentices was one much older and stouter than the others. He +was very proud of his physical strength, and delighted to play the +tyrant over those who were younger and weaker than himself. When Isaac +saw him knocking them about, he felt an almost irresistible temptation +to fight; but his uncle was a severe man, likely to be much incensed by +quarrels among his apprentices. He knew, moreover, that a battle between +him and Samson would be very unequal; so he restrained his indignation +as well as he could. But one day, when the big bully knocked him down, +without the slightest provocation, he exclaimed, in great wrath, "If you +ever do that again, I'll kill you. Mind what I say. I tell you I'll kill +you." + +Samson snapped his fingers and laughed, and the next day he knocked him +down again. Isaac armed himself with a heavy window-bar, and when the +apprentices were summoned to breakfast, he laid wait behind a door, and +levelled a blow at the tyrant, as he passed through. He fell, without +uttering a single cry. When the family sat down to breakfast, Mr. Tatem +said, "Where is Samson?" + +His nephew coolly replied, "I've killed him." + +"Killed him!" exclaimed the uncle. "What do you mean?" + +"I told him I would kill him if he ever knocked me down again," rejoined +Isaac; "and I _have_ killed him." + +They rushed out in the utmost consternation, and found the young man +entirely senseless. A physician was summoned, and for some time they +feared he was really dead. The means employed to restore him were at +last successful; but it was long before he recovered from the effects of +the blow. When Isaac saw him so pale and helpless, a terrible remorse +filled his soul. He shuddered to think how nearly he had committed +murder, in one rash moment of unbridled rage. This awful incident made +such a solemn and deep impression on him, that from that time he began +to make strong and earnest efforts to control the natural impetuosity of +his temper; and he finally attained to a remarkable degree of +self-control. Weary hours of debility brought wiser thoughts to Samson +also; and when he recovered his strength, he never again misused it by +abusing his companions. + +In those days, Isaac did not profess to be a Quaker. He used the +customary language of the world, and liked to display his +well-proportioned figure in neat and fashionable clothing. The young +women of his acquaintance, it is said, looked upon him with rather +favorable eyes; but his thoughts never wandered from Sarah Tatum for a +single day. Once, when he had a new suit of clothes, and stylish boots, +the tops turned down with red, a young man of his acquaintance invited +him to go home with him on Saturday evening and spend Sunday. He +accepted the invitation, and set out well pleased with the expedition. +The young man had a sister, who took it into her head that the visit was +intended as an especial compliment to herself. The brother was called +out somewhere in the neighborhood, and as soon as she found herself +alone with their guest, she began to specify, in rather significant +terms, what she should require of a man who wished to marry her.--Her +remarks made Isaac rather fidgetty; but he replied, in general terms, +that he thought her ideas on the subject were very correct. "I suppose +you think my father will give me considerable money," said she; "but +that is a mistake. Whoever takes me must take me for myself alone." + +The young man tried to stammer out that he did not come on any such +errand; but his wits were bewildered by this unexpected siege, and he +could not frame a suitable reply. She mistook his confusion for the +natural timidity of love, and went on to express the high opinion she +entertained of him. Isaac looked wistfully at the door, in hopes her +brother would come to his rescue. But no relief came from that quarter, +and fearing he should find himself engaged to be married without his own +consent, he caught up his hat and rushed out. It was raining fast, but +he splashed through mud and water, without stopping to choose his steps. +Crossing the yard in this desperate haste, he encountered the brother, +who called out, "Where are you going?" + +"I'm going home," he replied. + +"Going home!" exclaimed his astonished friend, "Why it is raining hard; +and you came to stay all night. What does possess you, Isaac? Come back! +Come back, I say!" + +"I won't come back!" shouted Isaac, from the distance. "I'm going home." +And home he went.--His new clothes were well spattered, and his red-top +boots loaded with mud; but though he prided himself on keeping his +apparel in neat condition, he thought he had got off cheaply on this +occasion. + +Soon after he went to reside in Philadelphia, a sea captain by the name +of Cox came to his uncle's on a visit. As the captain was one day +passing through Norris Alley, he met a young colored man, named Joe, +whose master he had known in Bermuda. He at once accused him of being a +runaway slave, and ordered him to go to the house with him. Joe called +him his old friend, and seemed much pleased at the meeting. He said he +had been sent from Bermuda to New-York in a vessel, which he named; he +had obtained permission to go a few miles into the country, to see his +sister, and while he was gone, the vessel unfortunately sailed; he +called upon the consignee and asked what he had better do under the +circumstances, and he told him that his captain had left directions for +him to go to Philadelphia and take passage home by the first vessel. +Captain Cox was entirely satisfied with this account. He said there was +a vessel then in port, which would sail for Bermuda in a few days, and +told Joe he had better go and stay with him at Mr. Tatem's house, while +he made inquiries about it. + +When Isaac entered the kitchen that evening, he found Joe sitting there, +in a very disconsolate attitude; and watching him closely he observed +tears now and then trickling down his dark cheeks. He thought of poor +old Mingo, whose pitiful story had so much interested him in boyhood, +and caused him to form a resolution to be the friend of Africans.--The +more he pondered on the subject, the more he doubted whether Joe was so +much pleased to meet his "old friend," as he had pretended to be. He +took him aside and said, "Tell me truly how the case stands with you. I +will be your friend; and come what will, you may feel certain that I +will never betray you." Joe gave him an earnest look of distress and +scrutiny, which his young benefactor never forgot. Again he assured him, +most solemnly, that he might trust him. Then Joe ventured to acknowledge +that he was a fugitive slave, and had great dread of being returned into +bondage. He said his master let him out to work on board a ship going to +New-York. He had a great desire for freedom, and when the vessel arrived +at its destined port, he made his escape, and travelled to Philadelphia, +in hopes of finding some one willing to protect him. Unluckily, the very +day he entered the City of Brotherly Love he met his old acquaintance +Captain Cox; and on the spur of the moment he had invented the best +story he could. + +Isaac was then a mere lad, and he had been in Philadelphia too short a +time to form many acquaintances; but he imagined what his own feelings +would be if he were in poor Joe's situation, and he determined to +contrive some way or other to assist him. He consulted with a prudent +and benevolent neighbor, who told him that a Quaker by the name of John +Stapler, in Buck's County, was a good friend to colored people, and the +fugitive had better be sent to him. Accordingly, a letter was written to +Friend Stapler, and given to Joe, with instructions how to proceed. +Meanwhile, Captain Cox brought tidings that he had secured a passage to +Bermuda. Joe thanked him, and went on board the vessel, as he was +ordered. But a day or two after, he obtained permission to go to Mr. +Tatem's house to procure some clothes he had left there. It was nearly +sunset when he left the ship and started on the route, which Isaac had +very distinctly explained to him. When the sun disappeared, the bright +moon came forth.--By her friendly light, he travelled on with a hopeful +heart until the dawn of day, when he arrived at Friend Stapler's house +and delivered the letter. He was received with great kindness, and a +situation was procured for him in the neighborhood, where he spent the +remainder of his life comfortably, with "none to molest or make him +afraid." + +This was the first opportunity Isaac had of carrying into effect his +early resolution to befriend the oppressed Africans. + +While the experiences of life were thus deepening and strengthening his +character, the fair child, Sarah Tatum, was emerging into womanhood. She +was a great belle in her neighborhood, admired by the young men for her +comely person, and by the old for her good sense and discreet manners. +He had many competitors for her favor. Once, when he went to invite her +to ride to Quarterly Meeting, he found three Quaker beaux already there, +with horses and sleighs for the same purpose. But though some of her +admirers abounded in worldly goods, her mind never swerved from the love +of her childhood. The bright affectionate school-boy, who delighted to +sit with her under the shady trees, and twist her shining curls over his +fingers, retained his hold upon her heart as long as its pulses +throbbed. + +Her father at first felt some uneasiness, lest his daughter should marry +out of the Society of Friends. But Isaac had been for some time +seriously impressed with the principles they professed, and when he +assured the good old gentleman that he would never take Sarah out of the +Society, of which she was born a member, he was perfectly satisfied to +receive him as a son-in-law. + +At that period, there were several remarkable individuals among Quaker +preachers in that part of the country, and their meetings were unusually +lively and spirit-stirring. One of them, named Nicholas Waln, was +educated in the Society of Friends, but in early life seems to have +cared little about their principles. He was then an ambitious, +money-loving man, remarkably successful in worldly affairs. But the +principles inculcated in childhood probably remained latent within him; +for when he was rapidly acquiring wealth and distinction by the practice +of law, he suddenly relinquished it, from conscientious motives. This +change of feeling is said to have been owing to the following incident. +He had charge of an important case, where a large amount of property was +at stake. In the progress of the cause, he became more and more aware +that right was not on the side of his client; but to desert him in the +midst was incompatible with his ideas of honor as a lawyer. This +produced a conflict within him, which he could not immediately settle to +his own satisfaction. A friend, who met him after the case was decided, +inquired what was the result. He replied, "I did the best I could for my +client. I have gained the cause for him, and have thereby defrauded an +honest man of his just dues." He seemed sad and thoughtful, and would +never after plead a cause at the bar. He dismissed his students, and +returned to his clients all the money he had received for unfinished +cases. For some time afterward, he appeared to take no interest in +anything but his own religious state of feeling. He eventually became a +preacher, very popular among Friends, and much admired by others.--His +sermons were usually short, and very impressive. A contemporary thus +describes the effect of his preaching: "The whole assembly seemed to be +baptized together, and so covered with solemnity, that when the meeting +broke up, no one wished to enter into conversation with another." He was +particularly zealous against a paid ministry, and not unfrequently +quoted the text, "Put me in the priest's office, I pray thee, that I may +eat a piece of bread." One of his most memorable discourses began with +these words: "The lawyers, the priests, and the doctors, these are the +deceivers of men." He was so highly esteemed, that when he entered the +court-house, as he occasionally did, to aid the poor or the oppressed in +some way, it was not uncommon for judges and lawyers to rise +spontaneously in token of respect.--Isaac had great veneration for his +character, and was much edified by his ministry. + +Mary Ridgeway, a small, plain, uneducated woman, was likewise remarkably +persuasive and penetrating in her style of preaching, which appeared to +Isaac like pure inspiration. Her exhortations took deep hold of his +youthful feelings, and strongly influenced him to a religious life. + +But more powerful than all other agencies was the preaching of William +Savery. He was a tanner by trade; remarked by all who knew him as a man +who "walked humbly with his God." One night, a quantity of hides were +stolen from his tannery, and he had reason to believe that the thief was +a quarrelsome, drunken neighbor, whom I will call John Smith. The next +week, the following advertisement appeared in the County newspaper: +"Whoever stole a lot of hides on the fifth of the present month, is +hereby informed that the owner has a sincere wish to be his friend. If +poverty tempted him to this false step, the owner will keep the whole +transaction secret, and will gladly put him in the way of obtaining +money by means more likely to bring him peace of mind." This singular +advertisement attracted considerable attention; but the culprit alone +knew whence the benevolent offer came. When he read it, his heart melted +within him, and he was filled with contrition for what he had done. A +few nights afterward, as the tanner's family were about retiring to +rest, they heard a timid knock, and when the door was opened, there +stood John Smith with a load of hides on his shoulder. Without looking +up, he said, "I have brought these back, Mr. Savery. Where shall I put +them?" "Wait till I can light a lantern, and I will go to the barn with +thee," he replied.--"Then perhaps thou wilt come in and tell me how this +happened. We will see what can be done for thee." As soon as they were +gone out, his wife prepared some hot coffee, and placed pies and meat on +the table. When they returned from the barn, she said "Neighbor Smith, +I thought some hot supper would be good for thee." He turned his back +toward her and did not speak. After leaning against the fire-place in +silence for a moment, he said, in a choked voice, "It is the first time +I ever stole anything, and I have felt very bad about it. I don't know +how it is. I am sure I didn't think once that I should ever come to be +what I am. But I took to drinking, and then to quarrelling. Since I +began to go down hill, everybody gives me a kick. You are the first man +who has ever offered me a helping hand. My wife is sickly, and my +children are starving. You have sent them many a meal, God bless you! +and yet I stole the hides from you, meaning to sell them the first +chance I could get. But I tell you the truth when I say it is the first +time I was ever a thief." + +"Let it be the last, my friend," replied William Savery. "The secret +shall remain between ourselves. Thou art still young, and it is in thy +power to make up for lost time. Promise me that thou wilt not drink any +intoxicating liquor for a year, and I will employ thee to-morrow at good +wages. Perhaps we may find some employment for thy family also. The +little boy can at least pick up stones.--But eat a bit now, and drink +some hot coffee. Perhaps it will keep thee from craving anything +stronger to-night. Doubtless, thou wilt find it hard to abstain at +first; but keep up a brave heart, for the sake of thy wife and children, +and it will soon become easy. When thou hast need of coffee, tell Mary, +and she will always give it to thee." + +The poor fellow tried to eat and drink, but the food seemed to choke +him. After an ineffectual effort to compose his excited feelings, he +bowed his head on the table, and wept like a child. After a while, he +ate and drank with good appetite; and his host parted with him for the +night with this kindly exhortation; "Try to do well, John; and thou wilt +always find a friend in me." + +He entered into his employ the next day, and remained with him many +years, a sober, honest, and faithful man. The secret of the theft was +kept between them; but after John's death, William Savery sometimes told +the story, to prove that evil might be overcome with good. + +This practical preacher of righteousness was likewise a great preacher +orally; if greatness is to be measured by the effect produced on the +souls of others. Through his ministry, the celebrated Mrs. Fry was first +excited to a lively interest in religion. When he visited England in +1798, she was Elizabeth Gurney, a lively girl of eighteen, rather fond +of dress and company. Her sister, alluding to the first sermon they +heard from William Savery, writes thus: "His voice and manner were +arresting, and we all liked the sound. Elizabeth became a good deal +agitated, and I saw her begin to weep. The next morning, when she took +breakfast with him at her uncle's, he preached to her after breakfast, +and prophesied of the high and important calling she would be led into." +Elizabeth herself made the following record of it in her journal; "In +hearing William Savery preach, he seemed to me to overflow with true +religion; to be humble, and yet a man of great abilities. Having been +gay and disbelieving, only a few years ago, makes him better acquainted +with the heart of one in the same condition. We had much serious +conversation. What he said, and what I felt was like a refreshing shower +falling upon earth that had been dried up for ages." + +This good and gifted man often preached in Philadelphia; not only at +stated seasons, on the first and fifth day of the week, but at evening +meetings also, where the Spirit is said to have descended upon him and +his hearers in such copious measure that they were reminded of the +gathering of the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Isaac was at an +impressible age, and on those occasions his thirsty soul drank eagerly +from the fountain of living water. He never forgot those refreshing +meetings. To the end of his days, whenever anything reminded him of +William Savery, he would utter a warm eulogium on his deep +spirituality, his tender benevolence, his cheerful, genial temper, and +the simple dignity of his deportment. + +Isaac was about twenty-two years old, when he was received as a member +of the Society of Friends. It was probably the pleasantest period of his +existence. Love and religion, the two deepest and brightest experiences +of human life, met together, and flowed into his earnest soul in one +full stream. He felt perfectly satisfied that he had found the one true +religion. The plain mode of worship suited the simplicity of his +character, while the principles inculcated were peculiarly well +calculated to curb the violence of his temper, and to place his strong +will under the restraint of conscience. Duties toward God and his fellow +men stood forth plainly revealed to him in the light that shone so +clearly in his awakened soul. Late in life, he often used to refer to +this early religious experience as a sweet season of peace and joy. He +said it seemed as if the very air were fragrant, and the sunlight more +glorious than it had ever been before. The plain Quaker meeting-house in +the quiet fields of Woodbury was to him indeed a house of prayer, though +its silent worship was often undisturbed by a single uttered word. +Blended with those spiritual experiences was the fair vision of his +beloved Sarah, who always attended meeting, serene in her maiden beauty. +The joy of renovated friendship also awaited him there, in that quaint +old gathering place of simple worshippers. When he parted from his dear +cousin, Joseph Whitall, they were both young men of good moral +characters, but not seriously thoughtful concerning religion. Years +elapsed, and each knew not whither the other was travelling in spiritual +experiences. But one day, when Isaac went to meeting as usual, and was +tying his horse in the shed, a young man in the plain costume of the +Friends came to tie his horse also. A glance showed that it was Joseph +Whitall, the companion of his boyhood and youth. For an instant, they +stood surprised and silent, looking at each other's dress; for until +then neither of them was aware that the other had become a Quaker. Tears +started to their eyes, and they embraced each other. They had long and +precious interviews afterward, in which they talked over the +circumstances that had inclined them to reflect on serious subjects, and +the reasons which induced them to consider the Society of Friends as the +best existing representative of Christianity. + +The gravity of their characters at this period, may be inferred from the +following letter, written in 1794: + + "Dear Isaac,-- + + "While I sat in retirement this evening, thou wert brought fresh + into my remembrance, with a warm desire for thy welfare and + preservation. Wherefore, be encouraged to press forward and + persevere in the high and holy way wherein thou hast measurably, + through mercy, begun to tread. From our childhood I have had an + affectionate regard for thee, which hath been abundantly increased; + and, in the covenant of life I have felt thee near. May we, my + beloved friend, now in the spring time of life, in the morning of + our days, with full purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord. May we + seek Him for our portion and our inheritance; that He may be + pleased, in his wonderful loving kindness, to be our counsellor and + director; that, in times of trouble and commotion, we may have a + safe hiding-place, an unfailing refuge. I often feel the want of a + greater dependance, a more steadfast leaning, upon that Divine Arm + of power, which ever hath been, and still is, the true support of + the righteous. Yet, I am sometimes favored to hope that in the + Lord's time an advancement will be known, and a more full + establishment in the most holy faith. 'For then shall we know, if + we follow on to know the Lord, that His going forth is prepared as + the morning, and He will come unto us as the rain, as the latter + and the former rain upon the earth.' May we, from time to time, be + favored to feel his animating presence, to comfort and strengthen + our enfeebled minds, that so we may patiently abide in our + allotments, and look forward with a cheering hope, that, whatever + trials and besetments may await us, they may tend to our further + refinement, and more close union in the heavenly covenant. And when + the end comes, may we be found among those who through many + tribulations have washed their garments white in the blood of the + Lamb, and be found worthy to stand with him upon Mount Zion. + + "So wisheth and prayeth thy affectionate friend, + + "JOSEPH WHITALL." + +The letters which passed between him and his betrothed partake of the +same sedate character; but through the unimpassioned Quaker style gleams +the steady warmth of sincere affection. There is something pleasant in +the simplicity with which he usually closed his epistles to her: "I am, +dear Sally, thy real friend, Isaac." + +They were married on the eighteenth of the Ninth Month, [September,] +1795; he being nearly twenty-four years of age, and she about three +years younger. The worldly comforts which a kind Providence bestowed on +Isaac and his bride, were freely imparted to others. The resolution +formed after listening to the history of old Mingo's wrongs was pretty +severely tested by a residence in Philadelphia. There were numerous +kidnappers prowling about the city, and many outrages were committed, +which would not have been tolerated for a moment toward any but a +despised race. Pennsylvania being on the frontier of the slave states, +runaways were often passing through; and the laws on that subject were +little understood, and less attended to. If a colored man was arrested +as a fugitive slave, and discharged for want of proof, the magistrate +received no fee; but if he was adjudged a slave, and surrendered to his +claimant, the magistrate received from five to twenty dollars for his +trouble; of course, there was a natural tendency to make the most of +evidence in favor of slavery. + +Under these circumstances, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society was +frequently called upon to protect the rights of colored people. Isaac T. +Hopper became an active and leading member of this association. He was +likewise one of the overseers of a school for colored children, +established by Anthony Benezet; and it was his constant practice, for +several years, to teach two or three nights every week, in a school for +colored adults, established by a society of young men. In process of +time, he became known to everybody in Philadelphia as the friend and +legal adviser of colored people upon all emergencies. The shrewdness, +courage, and zeal, with which he fulfilled this mission will be seen in +the course of the following narratives, which I have selected from a +vast number of similar character, in which he was the principal agent. + + + + +CHARLES WEBSTER. + + +In 1797, a wealthy gentleman from Virginia went to spend the winter in +Philadelphia, accompanied by his wife and daughter. He had a slave named +Charles Webster, whom he took with him as coachman and waiter. When they +had been in the city a few weeks, Charles called upon Isaac T. Hopper, +and inquired whether he had become free in consequence of his master's +bringing him into Pennsylvania. It was explained to him, that if he +remained there six months, with his master's knowledge and consent, he +would then be a free man, according to the laws of Pennsylvania. The +slave was quite disheartened by this information; for he supposed his +owner was well acquainted with the law, and would therefore be careful +to take him home before that term expired. + +"I am resolved never to return to Virginia," said he. "Where can I go to +be safe?" + +Friend Hopper told him his master might be ignorant of the law, or +forgetful of it. He advised him to remain with the family until he saw +them making preparations to return. If the prescribed six months expired +meanwhile, he would be a free man. If not, there would be time enough to +consult what had better be done. "It is desirable to obtain thy liberty +in a legal way, if possible," said he; "for otherwise thou wilt be +constantly liable to be arrested, and may never again have such a good +opportunity to escape from bondage." + +Charles hesitated, but finally concluded to accept this prudent advice. +The time seemed very long to the poor fellow; for he was in a continual +panic lest his master should take him back to Virginia; but he did his +appointed tasks faithfully, and none of the family suspected what was +passing in his mind. + +The long-counted six months expired at last; and that very day, his +master said, "Charles, grease the carriage-wheels, and have all things +in readiness; for I intend to start for home to-morrow." + +The servant appeared to be well pleased with this prospect, and put the +carriage and harness in good order. As soon as that job was completed, +he went to Friend Hopper and told him the news. When assured that he was +now a free man, according to law, he could hardly be made to believe it. +He was all of a tremor with anxiety, and it seemed almost impossible to +convince him that he was out of danger. He was instructed to return to +his master till next morning, and to send word by one of the hotel +servants in case he should be arrested meanwhile. + +The next morning, he again called upon Friend Hopper, who accompanied +him to the office of William Lewis, a highly respectable lawyer, who +would never take any fee for his services on such occasions. When Mr. +Lewis heard the particulars of the case, he wrote a polite note to the +Virginian, informing him that his former slave was now free, according +to the laws of Pennsylvania; and cautioning him against any attempt to +take him away, contrary to his own inclination. + +The lawyer advised Friend Hopper to call upon the master and have some +preparatory conversation with him, before Charles was sent to deliver +the note. He was then, only twenty-six years of age, and he felt +somewhat embarrassed at the idea of calling upon a wealthy and +distinguished stranger, who was said to be rather imperious and +irritable. However, after a little reflection, he concluded it was his +duty, and accordingly he did it. + +When the Southerner was informed that his servant was free, and that a +lawyer had been consulted on the subject, he was extremely angry, and +used very contemptuous language concerning people who tampered with +gentlemen's servants. The young Quaker replied, "If thy son were a slave +in Algiers, thou wouldst thank me for tampering with _him_ to procure +his liberty. But in the present case, I am not obnoxious to the charge +thou hast brought; for thy servant came of his own accord to consult me, +I merely made him acquainted with his legal rights; and I intend to see +that he is protected in them." + +When Charles delivered the lawyers note, and his master saw that he no +longer had any legal power over him, he proposed to hire him to drive +the carriage home. But Charles was very well aware that Virginia would +be a very dangerous place for him, and he positively refused. The +incensed Southerner then claimed his servant's clothes as his property, +and ordered him to strip instantly. Charles did as he was ordered, and +proceeded to walk out of the room naked. Astonished to find him willing +to leave the house in that condition, he seized him violently, thrust +him back into the room, and ordered him to dress himself. When he had +assumed his garments, he walked off; and the master and servant never +met again. + +Charles was shrewd and intelligent, and conducted himself in such a +manner as to gain respect. He married an industrious, economical woman, +who served in the family of Chief Justice Tilghman. In process of time, +he built a neat two-story house, where they brought up reputably a +family of fourteen children, who obtained quite a good education at the +school established by Anthony Benezet. + + + + +BEN JACKSON. + + +Ben was born a slave in Virginia. When he was about sixteen years old, +his mind became excited on the subject of slavery. He could not +reconcile it with the justice and goodness of the Creator, that one man +should be born to toil for another without wages, to be driven about, +and treated like a beast of the field. The older he grew, the more +heavily did these considerations press upon him. At last, when he was +about twenty-five years old, he resolved to gain his liberty, if +possible. He left his master, and after encountering many difficulties, +arrived in Philadelphia, where he let himself on board a vessel and went +several voyages. When he was thirty years of age, he married, and was +employed as a coachman by Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the +Declaration of Independence. He lived with him two years; and when he +left, Dr. Rush gave him a paper certifying that he was a free man, +honest, sober, and capable. + +In 1799, his master came to Philadelphia, and arrested him as his +fugitive slave. Ben had an extraordinary degree of intelligence and +tact. When his master brought him before a magistrate, and demanded the +usual certificate to authorize him to take his human chattel back to +Virginia, Ben neither admitted nor denied that he was a slave. He merely +showed the certificate of Dr. Rush, and requested that Isaac T. Hopper +might be informed of his situation. Joseph Bird, the justice before whom +the case was brought, detested slavery, and was a sincere friend to the +colored people. He committed Ben to prison until morning, and despatched +a note to Isaac T. Hopper informing him of the circumstance, and +requesting him to call upon Dr. Rush. When the doctor was questioned, he +said he knew nothing about Ben's early history; he lived with him two +years, and was _then_ a free man. + +When Friend Hopper went to the prison, he found Ben in a state of great +anxiety and distress. He admitted that he was the slave of the man who +claimed him, and that he saw no way of escape open for him. His friend +told him not to be discouraged, and promised to exert himself to the +utmost in his behalf. The constable who had arrested him, sympathized +with the poor victim of oppression, and promised to do what he could for +him. Finding him in such a humane mood, Friend Hopper urged him to bring +Ben to the magistrate's office a short time _before_ the hour appointed +for the trial. He did so, and found Friend Hopper already there, +watching the clock. The moment the hand pointed to nine, he remarked +that the hour, of which the claimant had been apprized, had already +arrived; no evidence had been brought that the man was a slave; on the +contrary, Dr. Rush's certificate was strong presumptive evidence of his +being a freeman; he therefore demanded that the prisoner should be +discharged. Justice Bird, having no desire to throw obstacles in the +way, promptly told Ben he was at liberty, and he lost no time in +profiting by the information. Just as he passed out of the door, he saw +his master coming, and ran full speed. He had sufficient presence of +mind to take a zigzag course, and running through a house occupied by +colored people, he succeeded in eluding pursuit. + +When Friend Hopper went home, he found him at his house. He tried to +impress upon his mind the peril he would incur by remaining in +Philadelphia, and advised him by all means to go to sea. But his wife +was strongly attached to him, and so unwilling to consent to this plan, +that he concluded to run the risk of staying with her. He remained +concealed about a week, and then returned to the house he had previously +occupied. They lived in the second story, and there was a shed under +their bed-room window. Ben placed a ladder under the window, to be ready +for escape; but it was so short, that it did not reach the roof of the +shed by five or six feet. His wife was an industrious, orderly woman, +and kept their rooms as neat as a bee-hive. The only thing which marred +their happiness was the continual dread that man-hunters might pounce +upon them, in some unguarded hour, and separate them forever. About a +fortnight after his arrest, they were sitting together in the dusk of +the evening, when the door was suddenly burst open, and his master +rushed in with a constable. Ben sprang out of the window, down the +ladder, and made his escape. His master and the constable followed; but +as soon as they were on the ladder, Ben's wife cut the cord that held +it, and they tumbled heels over head upon the shed. This bruised them +some, and frightened them still more. They scrambled upon their feet, +cursing at a round rate. + +Ben arrived safely at the house of Isaac T. Hopper, who induced him to +quit the city immediately, and go to sea. His first voyage was to the +East Indies. While he was gone, Friend Hopper negotiated with the +master, who, finding there was little chance of regaining his slave, +agreed to manumit him for one hundred and fifty dollars. As soon as Ben +returned, he repaid from his wages the sum which had been advanced for +his ransom. His wife's health was greatly impaired by the fear and +anxiety she had endured on his account. She became a prey to melancholy, +and never recovered her former cheerfulness. + + + + +THOMAS COOPER. + + +The person who assumed this name was called Notly, when he was a slave +in Maryland. He was compelled to labor very hard, was scantily supplied +with food and clothing, and lodged in a little ricketty hut, through +which the cold winds of winter whistled freely. He was of a very +religious turn of mind, and often, when alone in his little cabin at +midnight, he prayed earnestly to God to release him from his +sufferings. + +In the year 1800, he found a favorable opportunity to escape from his +unfeeling master, and made his way to Philadelphia, where he procured +employment in a lumber-yard, under the name of John Smith. He was so +diligent and faithful, that he soon gained the good-will and confidence +of his employers. He married a worthy, industrious woman, with whom he +lived happily. By their united earnings they were enabled to purchase a +small house, where they enjoyed more comfort than many wealthy people, +and were much respected by neighbors and acquaintances. + +Unfortunately, he confided his story to a colored man, who, for the sake +of reward, informed his master where he was to be found. Accordingly, he +came to Philadelphia, arrested him, and carried him before a magistrate. +Having brought forward satisfactory evidence that he was a slave, an +order was granted to carry him back to Maryland. Isaac T. Hopper was +present at this decision, and was afflicted by it beyond measure. John's +employers pitied his condition, and sympathized with his afflicted wife +and children. They offered to pay a large sum for his ransom; but his +savage master refused to release him on any terms. This sober, +industrious man, guiltless of any crime, was hand-cuffed and had his +arms tied behind him with a rope, to which another rope was appended, +for his master to hold. While they were fastening his fetters, he spoke +a few affectionate words to his weeping wife. "Take good care of the +children," said he; "and don't let them forget their poor father. If you +are industrious and frugal, I hope you will be enabled to keep them at +school, till they are old enough to be placed at service in respectable +families. Never allow them to be idle; for that will lead them into bad +ways. And now don't forget my advice; for it is most likely you will +never see me again." + +Then addressing his children, he said, "You will have no father to take +care of you now. Mind what your mother tells you, and be very careful +not to do anything to grieve her. Be industrious and faithful in +whatever you are set about; and never play in the streets with naughty +children." + +They all wept bitterly while he thus talked to them; but he restrained +his sobs, though it was evident his heart was well nigh breaking. Isaac +T. Hopper was present at this distressing scene, and suffered almost as +acutely as the poor slave himself. In the midst of his parting words, +his master seized the rope, mounted his horse, snapped his whip, and set +off, driving poor John before him. This was done in a Christian country, +and there was no law to protect the victim. + +John was conveyed to Washington and offered for sale to speculators, +who were buying up gangs for the Southern market. The sight of dejected +and brutified slaves, chained together in coffles, was too common at the +seat of our republican government to attract attention; but the +barbarity of John's master was so conspicuous, that even there he was +rebuked for his excessive cruelty. These expressions of sympathy were +quite unexpected to the poor slave, and they kindled a faint hope of +escape, which had been smouldering in his breast. Manacled as he was, he +contrived to trip up his master, and leaving him prostrate on the +ground, he ran for the woods. He was soon beyond the reach of his +tyrant, and might have escaped easily if a company had not immediately +formed to pursue him. They chased him from the shelter of the bushes to +a swamp, where he was hunted like a fox, till night with friendly +darkness overshadowed him. While his enemies were sleeping, he +cautiously made his way by the light of the stars, to the house of an +old acquaintance, who hastened to take off his fetters, and give him a +good supper. + +Thus refreshed, he hastened to bid his colored friend farewell, and with +fear and trembling set off for Philadelphia. He had several rivers to +cross, and he thought likely men would be stationed on the bridges to +arrest him. Therefore, he hid himself in the deepest recesses of the +woods in the day-time, and travelled only in the night. He suffered much +with hunger and fatigue, but arrived home at last, to the great +astonishment and joy of his family. He well knew that these precious +moments of affectionate greeting were highly dangerous; for his own roof +could afford no shelter from pursuers armed with the power of a wicked +law. He accordingly hastened to Isaac T. Hopper for advice and +assistance. + +The yellow fever was then raging in Philadelphia, and the children had +all been carried into the country by their mother. Business made it +necessary for Friend Hopper to be in the city during the day-time, and a +colored domestic remained with him to take charge of the house. This +woman was alone when the fugitive arrived; but she showed him to an +upper chamber secured by a strong fastening. He had been there but a +short time, when his master came with two constables and proceeded to +search the house. When they found a room with the door bolted, they +demanded entrance; and receiving no answer, they began to consult +together how to gain admittance. At this crisis, the master of the house +came home, and received information of what was going on up-stairs. He +hastened thither, and ordered the intruders to quit his house instantly. +One of the constables said, "This gentleman's slave is here; and if you +don't deliver him up immediately, we will get a warrant to search the +house." + +"Quit my premises," replied Friend Hopper. "The mayor dare not grant a +warrant to search my house." + +The men withdrew in no very good humor, and a message soon came from the +mayor requesting to see Isaac T. Hopper. He obeyed the summons, and the +magistrate said to him, "This gentleman informs me that his slave is in +your house. Is it so?" + +The wary Friend replied, "Thou hast just told me that this man _says_ he +is. Dost thou not believe him?" + +"But I wish to know from yourself whether he is in your house or not," +rejoined the magistrate. + +"If the mayor reflects a little, I think he will see that he has no +right to ask such a question; and that I am not bound to answer it," +replied Friend Hopper. "If he is in my house, and if this man can prove +it, I am liable to a heavy penalty; and no man is bound to inform +against himself. These people have not behaved so civilly, that I feel +myself under any especial obligations of courtesy toward them. Hast thou +any further business with me?" + +"Did you say I dared not grant a warrant to search your house?" asked +the mayor. + +He answered, "Indeed I did say so; and I now repeat it. I mean no +disrespect to anybody in authority; but neither thou nor any other +magistrate would dare to grant a warrant to search my house. I am a man +of established reputation. I am not a suspicious character." + +The mayor smiled, as he replied, "I don't know about that, Mr. Hopper. +In the present case, I am inclined to think you are a _very_ suspicious +character." And so they parted. + +The master resorted to various stratagems to recapture his victim. He +dressed himself in Quaker costume and went to his house. The once happy +home was desolate now; and the anxious wife sat weeping, with her little +ones clinging to her in childish sympathy. The visitor professed to be +very friendly to her husband, and desirous to ascertain where he could +be found, in order to render him advice and assistance in eluding the +vigilance of his master. The wife prudently declined giving any +information, but referred him to Isaac T. Hopper, as the most suitable +person to consult in the case. Finding that he could not gain his object +by deception, he forgot to sustain the quiet character he had assumed, +but gave vent to his anger in a great deal of violent and profane +language. He went off, finally, swearing that in spite of them all he +would have his slave again, if he was to be found on the face of the +earth. + +John Smith remained under the protection of Friend Isaac about a week. +Spies were seen lurking round the house for several days; but they +disappeared at last. Supposing this was only a trick to put them off +their guard, a colored man was employed to run out of the house after +dark. The enemies who were lying in ambush, rushed out and laid violent +hands upon him. They released him as soon as they discovered their +mistake; but the next day Friend Hopper had them arrested, and compelled +them to enter into bonds for their good behavior. On the following +evening the same man was employed to run out again; and this time he was +not interrupted. The third evening, John Smith himself ventured forth +from his hiding-place, and arrived safely in New-Jersey. + +He let himself to a worthy farmer, and soon gained the confidence and +good will of all the family. He ate at the same table with them, and sat +with them on Sunday afternoons, listening to their reading of the +Scriptures and other religious books. This system of equality did not +diminish the modesty of his deportment, but rather tended to increase +his habitual humility. + +He remained there several months, during which time he never dared to +visit his family, though only eight miles distant from them. This was a +great source of unhappiness; for he was naturally affectionate, and was +strongly attached to his wife and children. At length, he ventured to +hire a small house in a very secluded situation, not far from the +village of Haddonfield: and once more he gathered his family around him. +But his domestic comfort was constantly disturbed by fear of +men-stealers. While at his work in the day-time, he sometimes started at +the mere rustling of a leaf; and in the night time, he often woke up in +agony from terrifying dreams. + +The false friend, who betrayed him to his cruel master, likewise +suffered greatly from fear. When he heard that John had again escaped, +he was exceedingly alarmed for his own safety. He dreamed that his +abused friend came with a knife in one hand and a torch in the other, +threatening to murder him and burn the house. These ideas took such hold +of his imagination, that he often started up in bed and screamed aloud. +But John was too sincerely religious to cherish a revengeful spirit. The +wrong done to him was as great as one mortal could inflict upon another; +but he had learned the divine precept not to render evil for evil. + +The event proved that John's uneasiness was too well founded. A few +months after his family rejoined him, Isaac T. Hopper heard that his +master had arrived in Philadelphia, and was going to New-Jersey to +arrest him. He immediately apprised him of his danger; and the tidings +were received with feelings of desperation amounting to phrensy. He +loaded his gun and determined to defend himself. Very early the next +morning, he saw his master with two men coming up the narrow lane that +led to his house. He stationed himself in the door-way, leveled his gun, +and called out, "I will shoot the first man that crosses that fence!" +They were alarmed, and turned back to procure assistance. John seized +that opportunity to quit his retreat. He hastened to Philadelphia, and +informed Isaac T. Hopper what had happened. His friend represented to +him the unchristian character of such violent measures, and advised him +not to bring remorse on his soul by the shedding of blood. The poor +hunted fugitive seemed to be convinced, though it was a hard lesson to +learn in his circumstances. Again he resolved to fly for safety; and his +friend advised him to go to Boston. A vessel from that place was then +lying in the Delaware, and the merchant who had charge of her, pitying +his forlorn situation, offered him a passage free of expense. Kindness +bestowed on him was always like good seed dropped into a rich soil. He +was so obliging and diligent during the voyage, that he more than +compensated the captain for his passage. He arrived safely in Boston, +where his certificates of good character soon enabled him to procure +employment. Not long after, he sent for his wife, who sold what little +property they had in Philadelphia, and took her children to their new +home. + +When John left New-Jersey, he assumed the name of Thomas Cooper, by +which he was ever afterward known. He had early in life manifested a +religious turn of mind; and this was probably increased by his continual +perils and narrow escapes. He mourned over every indication of +dishonesty, profanity, or dissipation, among people of his own color; +and this feeling grew upon him, until he felt as if it were a duty to +devote his life to missionary labors. He became a popular preacher among +the Methodists, and visited some of the West India Islands in that +capacity. His Christian example and fervid exhortations, warm from the +heart, are said to have produced a powerful effect on his untutored +hearers. After his return, he concluded to go to Africa as a missionary. +For that purpose, he took shipping with his family for London, where he +was received with much kindness by many persons to whom he took letters +of introduction. His children were placed at a good school by a +benevolent member of the Society of Friends; and from various quarters +he received the most gratifying testimonials of respect and sympathy. +But what was of more value than all else to the poor harassed fugitive, +was the fact that he now, for the first time in his life, felt entirely +safe from the fangs of the oppressor. + +He remained in London about a year and a half. During that time he +compiled a hymn book which his friends published with his portrait in +front. He preached with great acceptance to large congregations: several +thousand persons assembled to hear his farewell sermon on the eve of his +departure for Africa. He sailed for Sierra Leone, in the latter part of +1818, and was greeted there with much cordiality; for his fame had +preceded him. All classes flocked to hear him preach, and his labors +were highly useful. After several years spent in the discharge of +religious duties, he died of the fever which so often proves fatal to +strangers in Africa. His wife returned with her children to end her days +in Philadelphia. + + + + +A CHILD KIDNAPPED. + + +In the year 1801, a Captain Dana engaged passage in a Philadelphia +schooner bound to Charleston, South Carolina. The day he expected to +sail, he called at the house of a colored woman, and told her he had a +good suit of clothes, too small for his own son, but about the right +size for her little boy. He proposed to take the child home to try the +garments, and if they fitted him he would make him a present of them. +The mother was much gratified by these friendly professions, and dressed +the boy up as well as she could to accompany the captain, who gave him +a piece of gingerbread, took him by the hand, and led him away. Instead +of going to his lodgings, as he had promised, he proceeded directly to +the schooner, and left the boy in care of the captain: saying that he +himself would come on board while the vessel was on the way down the +river. As they were about to sail, a sudden storm came on. The wind +raged so violently, that the ship dragged her anchor, and they were +obliged to haul to at a wharf in the district of Southwark. A +respectable man, who lived in the neighborhood, was standing on the +wharf at the time, and hearing a child crying very bitterly on board the +vessel, he asked the colored cook whose child that was, and why he was +in such distress. He replied that a passenger by the name of Dana +brought him on board, and that the boy said he stole him from his +mother. + +A note was immediately despatched to Isaac T. Hopper, who, being away +from home, did not receive it till ten o'clock at night. The moment he +read it, he called for a constable, and proceeded directly to the +schooner. In answer to his inquiries, the captain declared that all the +hands had gone on shore, and that he was entirely alone in the vessel. +Friend Hopper called for a light, and asked him to open the forecastle, +that they might ascertain whether any person were there. He peremptorily +refused; saying that his word ought to be sufficient to satisfy them. +Friend Hopper took up an axe that was lying on the deck, and declared +that he would break the door, unless it was opened immediately. In this +dilemma, the captain, with great reluctance, unlocked the forecastle; +and there they found the cook and the boy. The constable took them all +in custody, and they proceeded to the mayor's. The rain fell in +torrents, and it was extremely dark; for in those days, there were no +lamps in that part of the city. They went stumbling over cellar doors, +and wading through gutters, till they arrived in Front street, where Mr. +Inskeep, the mayor, lived. It was past midnight, but when a servant +informed him that Isaac T. Hopper had been ringing at the door, and +wished to see him, he ordered him to be shown up into his chamber. After +apologizing for the unseasonableness of the hour, he briefly stated the +urgency of the case, and asked for a verbal order to put the captain and +cook in prison to await their trial the next morning. The magistrate +replied, "It is a matter of too much importance to be disposed of in +that way. I will come down and hear the case." A large hickory log, +which had been covered with ashes in the parlor fire-place, was raked +open, and they soon had a blazing fire to dry their wet garments, and +take off the chill of a cold March storm. The magistrate was surprised +to find that the captain was an old acquaintance; and he expressed much +regret at meeting him under such unpleasant circumstances. After some +investigation into the affair, he was required to appear for trial the +next morning, under penalty of forfeiting three thousand dollars. The +cook was committed to prison, as a witness; and the colored boy was sent +home with Isaac T. Hopper, who agreed to produce him at the time +appointed. + +Very early the next morning, he sent a messenger to inform the mother +that her child was in safety; but she was off in search of him, and was +not to be found. On the way to the mayor's office, they met her in the +street, half distracted. As soon as she perceived her child, she cried +out, "My son! My son!" threw her arms round him, and sobbed aloud. She +kissed him again and again, saying, "Oh my child, I thought I had lost +you forever." + +When they all arrived at the mayor's office, at the hour appointed for +trial, the captain protested that he had no knowledge of anything wrong +in the business, having merely taken care of the boy at the request of a +passenger. When he was required to appear at the next court to answer to +the charge of kidnapping, he became alarmed, and told where Captain Dana +could be arrested. His directions were followed, and the delinquent was +seized and taken to Isaac T. Hopper's house. He was in a towering +passion, protesting his innocence, and threatening vengeance against +everybody who should attempt to detain him. Badly as Friend Hopper +thought of the man, he almost wished he had escaped, when he discovered +that he had a wife and children to suffer for his misdoings. His tender +heart would not allow him to be present at the trial, lest his wife +should be there in distress. She did not appear, however, and Captain +Dana made a full confession, alleging poverty as an excuse. He was an +educated man, and had previously sustained a fair reputation. He was +liberated on bail for fifteen hundred dollars, which was forfeited; but +the judgments were never enforced against his securities. + + + + +WAGELMA. + + +Wagelma was a lively intelligent colored boy of ten years old, whom his +mother had bound as an apprentice to a Frenchman in Philadelphia. This +man being about to take his family to Baltimore, in the summer of 1801, +with the intention of going thence to France, put his apprentice on +board a Newcastle packet bound to Baltimore, without having the consent +of the boy or his mother, as the laws of Pennsylvania required. The +mother did not even know of his intended departure, till she heard that +her child was on board the ship. Fears that he might be sold into +slavery, either in Baltimore or the West Indies, seized upon her mind; +and even if that dreadful fate did not await him, there was great +probability that she would never see him again. + +In her distress she called upon Isaac T. Hopper, immediately after +sunrise. He hastened to the wharf, where the Newcastle packet generally +lay, but had the mortification to find that she had already started, and +that a gentle breeze was wafting her down the stream. He mounted a fleet +horse, and in twenty minutes arrived at Gloucester Point, three miles +below the city. The ferry at that place was kept by a highly respectable +widow, with whom he had been long acquainted. He briefly stated the case +to her, and she at once ordered one of her ferrymen to put him on board +the Newcastle packet, which was in sight, and near the Jersey shore. +They made all speed, for there was not a moment to lose. + +When they came along-side the packet, the captain, supposing him to be a +passenger for Baltimore, ordered the sailors to assist him on board. +When his business was made known, he was told that the Frenchman was in +the cabin. He sought him out, and stated that the laws of Pennsylvania +did not allow apprentices to be carried out of the state without certain +preliminaries, to which he had not attended. The Frenchman had six or +eight friends with him, and as he was going out of the country, he put +the laws at defiance. Meanwhile, the vessel was gliding down the river, +carrying friend Hopper to Newcastle. He summoned the captain, and +requested him to put the colored boy into the ferry-boat, which was +alongside ready to receive him. He was not disposed to interfere; but +when Friend Hopper drew a volume from his pocket and read to him the +laws applicable to the case, he became alarmed, and said the boy must be +given up. Whereupon, Friend Hopper directed the child to go on deck, +which he was ready enough to do; and the ferryman soon helped him on +board the boat. + +The Frenchman and his friends were very noisy and violent. They +attempted to throw Friend Hopper overboard; and there were so many of +them, that they seemed likely to succeed in their efforts. But he seized +one of them fast by the coat; resolved to have company in the water, if +he were compelled to take a plunge. They struck his hand with their +canes, and pulled the coat from his grasp. Then he seized hold of +another; and so the struggle continued for some minutes. The ferryman, +who was watching the conflict, contrived to bring his boat into a +favorable position; and Friend Hopper suddenly let go the Frenchman's +coat, and tumbled in. + +When he returned to Philadelphia with the boy, he found the mother +waiting at his house, in a state of intense anxiety. The meeting between +mother and son was joyful indeed; and Wagelma made them all laugh by his +animated description of his friend's encounter with the Frenchmen, +accompanied by a lively imitation of their gesticulations. In witnessing +the happiness he had imparted, their benefactor found more than +sufficient compensation for all the difficulties he had encountered. + + + + +JAMES POOVEY. + + +Slavery having been abolished by a gradual process in Pennsylvania, +there were many individuals who still remained in bondage at the period +of which I write. Among them was James Poovey, slave to a blacksmith in +Pennsylvania. He had learned his master's trade, and being an athletic +man, was very valuable. During several winters, he attended an evening +school for the free instruction of colored people. He made very slow +progress in learning, but by means of unremitting industry and +application, he was at last able to accomplish the desire of his heart, +which was to read the New Testament for himself. + +The fact that colored men born a few years later than himself were free, +by the act of gradual emancipation, while he was compelled to remain in +bondage, had long been a source of uneasiness; and increase of knowledge +by no means increased his contentment. Having come to the conclusion +that slavery was utterly unjust, he resolved not to submit to it any +longer. In the year 1802, when he was about thirty-three years of age, +he took occasion to inform his master that he could read the New +Testament. When he observed that he was glad to hear it, James replied, +"But in the course of my reading I have discovered that it would be a +sin for me to serve you as a slave any longer". + +"Aye?" said his master. "Pray tell me how you made that discovery." + +"Why, the New Testament says we must do as we would be done by," replied +James. "Now if I submit to let you do by _me_, as you would not be +willing I should do by _you_, I am as bad as you are. If you will give +me a paper that will secure my freedom at the end of seven years, I will +serve you faithfully during that time; but I cannot consent to be a +slave any longer." + +His master refused to consent to this proposition. James then asked +permission to go to sea till he could earn money enough to buy his +freedom; but this proposal was likewise promptly rejected. + +"You will get nothing by trying to keep me in slavery," said James; "for +I am determined to be free. I shall never make you another offer." + +He walked off, and his master applied for a warrant to arrest him, and +commit him to prison, as a disobedient and refractory slave. When he had +been in jail a month, he called to see him, and inquired whether he were +ready to return home and go to work. + +"I _am_ at home," replied James. "I expect to end my days here. I never +will serve you again as a slave, or pay you one single cent. What do you +come here for? There is no use in your coming." + +The master was greatly provoked by this conduct, and requested the +inspectors to have him put in the cells and kept on short allowance, +till he learned to submit. Isaac T. Hopper was one of the board; and as +the question was concerning a colored man, they referred it to him. +Accordingly, the blacksmith sought an interview with him, and said, "Jim +has been a faithful industrious fellow; but of late he has taken it into +his head that he ought to be free. He strolled off and refused to work, +and I had him put in prison. When I called to see him he insulted me +grossly, and positively refused to return to his business. I have been +referred to you to obtain an order to confine him to the cells on short +allowance, till he submits." + +Friend Hopper replied, "I have been long acquainted with Jim. I was one +of his teachers; and I have often admired his punctuality in attending +school, and his patient industry in trying to learn." + +"It has done him no good to learn to read," rejoined the master. "On the +contrary, it has made him worse." + +"It has made him wiser," replied Isaac; "but I think it has not made him +worse. I have scruples about ordering him to be punished; for he +professes to be conscientious about submitting to serve as a slave. I +have myself suffered because I could not conscientiously comply with +military requisitions. The Society of Friends have suffered much in +England on account of ecclesiastical demands. I have thus some cause to +know how hateful are persecutors, in the sight of God and of men. I +cannot therefore be active in persecuting James, or any other man, on +account of conscientious scruples." + +"It is your duty to have him punished," rejoined the blacksmith. + +"I am the best judge of that," answered Friend Hopper; "and I do not +feel justified in compelling him to submit to slavery." + +The blacksmith was greatly exasperated, and went off, saying, "I hope to +mercy your daughter will marry a negro." + +At the expiration of the term of imprisonment allowed by law, James +still refused to return to service, and he was committed for another +thirty days. His master called to see him again, and told him if he +would return home, and behave well, he should have a new suit of clothes +and a Methodist hat. "I don't want your new clothes, nor your Methodist +hat," replied James. "I tell you I never will serve you nor any other +man as a slave. I had rather end my days in jail." + +His master finding him so intractable, gave up the case as hopeless. +When his second term of imprisonment expired, he was discharged, and no +one attempted to molest him. He earned a comfortable living, and looked +happy and respectable; but his personal appearance was not improved by +leaving his beard unshaved. One day, when Friend Hopper met him in the +street, he said, "Jim, why dost thou wear that long beard? It looks very +ugly." + +"I suppose it does," he replied, "but I wear it as a memorial of the +Lord's goodness in setting me free; for it was Him that done it." + + + + +ROMAINE. + + +A Frenchman by the name of Anthony Salignac removed from St. Domingo to +New-Jersey, and brought with him several slaves; among whom was Romaine. +After remaining in New-Jersey several years, he concluded in 1802, to +send Romaine and his wife and child back to the West Indies. Finding him +extremely reluctant to go, he put them in prison some days previous, +lest they should make an attempt to escape. From prison they were put +into a carriage to be conveyed to Newcastle, under the custody of a +Frenchman and a constable. They started from Trenton late in the +evening, and arrived in Philadelphia about four o'clock in the morning. +People at the inn where they stopped remarked that Romaine and his wife +appeared deeply dejected. When food was offered they refused to eat. His +wife made some excuse to go out, and though sought for immediately +after, she was not to be found. Romaine was ordered to get into the +carriage. The Frenchman was on one side of him and the constable on the +other. "_Must_ I go?" cried he, in accents of despair. They told him he +must. "And alone?" said he. "Yes, you must," was the stern reply. The +carriage was open to receive him, and they would have pushed him in, but +he suddenly took a pruning knife from his pocket, and drew it three +times across his throat with such force that it severed the jugular vein +instantly, and he fell dead on the pavement. + +As the party had travelled all night, seemed in great haste, and watched +their colored companions so closely some persons belonging to the prison +where they stopped suspected they might have nefarious business on hand; +accordingly, a message was sent to Isaac T. Hopper, as the man most +likely to right all the wrongs of the oppressed. He obeyed the summons +immediately; but when he arrived, he found the body of poor Romaine +weltering in blood on the pavement. + +Speaking of this scene forty years later, he said, "My whole soul was +filled with horror, as I stood viewing the corpse. Reflecting on that +awful spectacle, I exclaimed within myself, How long, O Lord, how long +shall this abominable system of slavery be permitted to curse the land! +My mind was introduced into sympathy with the sufferer. I thought of the +agony he must have endured before he could have resolved upon that +desperate deed. He knew what he had to expect, from what he had +experienced in the West Indies before, and he was determined not to +submit to the same misery and degradation again. By his sufferings he +was driven to desperation; and he preferred launching into the unknown +regions of eternity to an endurance of slavery." + +An inquest was summoned, and after a brief consultation, the coroner +brought in the following verdict: "Suicide occasioned by the dread of +slavery, to which the deceased knew himself devoted." + +Romaine and his wife were very good looking. They gave indications of +considerable intelligence, and had the character of having been very +faithful servants. His violent death produced a good deal of excitement +among the people generally, and much sympathy was manifested for the +wife and child, who had escaped. + +The master had procured a certificate from the mayor of Trenton +authorizing him to remove his slaves to the West Indies; but the jury of +inquest, and many others, were of opinion that his proceedings were not +fully sanctioned by law. Accordingly, Friend Hopper, and two other +members of the Abolition Society, caused him to be arrested and brought +before a magistrate; not so much with the view of punishing him, as with +the hope of procuring manumission for the wife and child. In the course +of the investigation, the friends of the Frenchman were somewhat violent +in his defence. Upon one occasion, several of them took Friend Hopper up +and put him out of the house by main force; while at the same time they +let their friend out of a back door to avoid him. However, Friend Hopper +met him a few minutes after in the street and seized him by the button. +Alarmed by the popular excitement, and by the perseverance with which he +was followed up, he exclaimed in agitated tones, "Mon Dieu! What is it +you do want? I will do anything you do want." + +"I want thee to bestow freedom on that unfortunate woman and her child," +replied Friend Hopper. + +He promised that he would do so; and he soon after made out papers to +that effect, which were duly recorded. + + + + +THE SLAVE HUNTER. + + +In July, 1802, a man by the name of David Lea, went to Philadelphia to +hunt up runaway slaves for their Southern masters. A few days after his +arrival, he arrested a colored man, whom he claimed as the property of +Nathan Peacock of Maryland. The man had lived several years in +Philadelphia, had taken a lot of ground in the Northern Liberties, and +erected a small house on it. + +In the course of the investigation, the poor fellow, seeing no chance of +escape, acknowledged that he was Mr. Peacock's slave, and had run away +from him because he wanted to be free. His friends, being unwilling to +see him torn from his wife and children, made an effort to purchase his +freedom. After much intreaty, the master named a very large sum as his +ransom; and the slave was committed to prison until the affair was +settled. + +David Lea was a filthy looking man, apparently addicted to intemperance. +Friend Hopper asked him if he had any business in Philadelphia. He +answered, "No." He inquired whether he had any money, and he answered, +"_No_." Friend Hopper then said to the magistrate, "Here is a stranger +without money, who admits that he has no regular means of obtaining a +livelihood. Judging from his appearance, there is reason to conclude +that he may be a dangerous man. I would suggest whether it be proper +that he should be permitted to go at large." + +The magistrate interrogated the suspicious looking stranger concerning +his business in Philadelphia; and he, being ashamed to acknowledge +himself a slave-catcher, returned very evasive and unsatisfactory +answers. He was accordingly committed to prison, to answer at the next +court of Sessions. It was customary to examine prisoners before they +were locked up, and take whatever was in their pockets, to be restored +to them whenever they were discharged. David Lea strongly objected to +this proceeding; and when they searched him they found more than fifty +advertisements for runaway slaves; a fact which made the nature of his +business sufficiently obvious. Friend Hopper, had a serious conversation +with him in prison, during which he stated that he was to have received +forty-five dollars for restoring the slave to his master. Friend Hopper +told him if he would give an order upon Mr. Peacock for that amount, to +go toward buying the slave's freedom, he should be released from +confinement, on condition of leaving the city forthwith. He agreed to do +so, and the money was paid. But the slave was found to be in debt more +than his small house was worth, and the price for his ransom was so +exorbitantly high, that it was impossible to raise it. Under these +circumstances, Friend Hopper thought it right to return the forty-five +dollars to David Lea; but he declined receiving it. He would take only +three dollars, to defray his expenses home; and gave the following +written document concerning the remainder: "I request Isaac T. Hopper to +pay the money received from the order, which I gave him upon Nathan +Peacock, to the managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, or to any other +charitable institution he may judge proper." + + His + DAVID x LEA. + Mark. + +He was discharged from prison, and the money paid to the Pennsylvania +Hospital. Next year, the following item was published in their accounts: +"Received of David Lea, a noted negro-catcher, by the hands of Isaac T. +Hopper, forty-two dollars; he having received forty-five dollars for +taking up a runaway slave, of which he afterward repented, and directed +the sum to be paid to the Pennsylvania Hospital, after deducting three +dollars to pay his expenses home." + +The slave was carried back to the South, but escaped again. After +encountering many difficulties, he was at last bought for a sum so +small, that it was merely nominal; and he afterward lived in +Philadelphia unmolested. + + + + +WILLIAM BACHELOR. + + +It was a common thing for speculators in slaves to purchase runaways for +much less than their original value, and take the risk of not being able +to catch them. In the language of the trade, this was called buying them +running. In April, 1802, Joseph Ennells and Captain Frazer, of Maryland, +dealers in slaves, purchased a number in this way, and came to +Philadelphia in search of them. There they arrested, and claimed as +their property, William Bachelor, a free colored man, about sixty years +old. A colored man, whom the slave-dealers brought with them, swore +before a magistrate that William Bachelor once belonged to a gang of +slaves, of which he was overseer; that he had changed his name, but he +knew him perfectly well. William affirmed in the most earnest manner, +that he was a free man; but Mr. Ennells and Captain Frazer appeared to +be such respectable men, and the colored witness swore so positively, +that the magistrate granted a certificate authorizing them to take him +to Maryland. + +As they left the office, they were met by Dr. Kinley, who knew William +Bachelor well, and had a great regard for him. Finding that his +protestations had no effect with the Marylanders, he ran with all speed +to Isaac T. Hopper, and entering his door almost out of breath, +exclaimed, "They've got old William Bachelor, and are taking him to the +South, as a slave. I know him to be a free man. Many years ago, he was a +slave to my father, and he manumitted him. He used to carry me in his +arms when I was an infant. He was a most faithful servant." + +Friend Hopper inquired which way the party had gone, and was informed +that they went toward "Gray's Ferry." He immediately started in pursuit, +and overtook them half a mile from the Schuylkill. He accosted Mr. +Ennells politely, and told him he had made a mistake in capturing +William Bachelor; for he was a free man. Ennells drew a pistol from his +pocket, and said, "We have had him before a magistrate, and proved to +his satisfaction that the fellow is my slave. I have got his +certificate, and that is all that is required to authorize me to take +him home. I will blow your brains out if you say another word on the +subject, or make any attempt to molest me." + +"If thou wert not a coward, thou wouldst not try to intimidate me with a +pistol," replied Isaac. "I do not believe thou hast the least intention +of using it in any other way; but thou art much agitated, and may fire +it accidentally; therefore I request thee not to point it toward me, but +to turn it the other way. It is in vain for thee to think of taking this +old man to Maryland. If thou wilt not return to the city voluntarily, I +will certainly have thee stopped at the bridge, where thou wilt be +likely to be handled much more roughly than I am disposed to do." + +While this controversy was going on, poor William Bachelor was in the +greatest anxiety of mind. "Oh, Master Hopper," he exclaimed, "Don't let +them take me! I am not a slave. All the people in Philadelphia know I +am a free man. I never was in Maryland in my life." + +Ennells, hearing the name, said, "So your name is Hopper, is it? I have +heard of you. It's time the world was rid of you. You have done too much +mischief already." + +When Friend Hopper inquired what mischief he had done, he replied, "You +have robbed many people of their slaves." + +"Thou art mistaken," rejoined the Quaker. "I only prevent Southern +marauders from robbing people of their liberty." + +After much altercation, it was agreed to return to the city; and William +was again brought before the alderman, who had so hastily surrendered +him. Dr. Kinley, and so many other respectable citizens, attended as +witnesses, that even Ennells himself was convinced that his captive was +a free man. He was accordingly set at liberty. It was, however, +generally believed that Mr. Ennells knew he was not a slave when he +arrested him. It was therefore concluded to prosecute him for attempting +to take forcibly a free man out of the state and carry him into slavery. + +When Friend Hopper went to his lodgings with a warrant and two +constables, for this purpose, he found him writing, with a pistol on +each side of him. The moment they entered, he seized a pistol and +ordered them to withdraw, or he would shoot them. Friend Hopper +replied, "These men are officers, and have a warrant to arrest thee for +attempting to carry off a free man into slavery. I advise thee to lay +down thy pistol and go with us. If not, a sufficient force will soon be +brought to compel thee. Remember thou art in the heart of Philadelphia. +It is both foolish and imprudent to attempt to resist the law. A pistol +is a very unnecessary article here, whatever it may be elsewhere. +According to appearances, thou dost not attempt to use it for any other +purpose than to frighten people; and thou hast not succeeded in doing +that." + +Rage could do nothing in the presence of such imperturbable calmness; +and Ennells consented to go with them to the magistrate. On the way, he +quarrelled with one of the constables, and gave him a severe blow on the +face with his cane. The officer knocked him down, and would have +repeated the blow, if Friend Hopper had not interfered. Assisting +Ennells to rise, he said, "Thou hadst better take my arm and walk with +me. I think we can agree better." + +When the transaction had been investigated before a magistrate, Mr. +Ennells was bound over to appear at the next mayor's court and answer to +the charge against him. The proprietor of the hotel where he lodged +became his bail. Meanwhile, numerous letters came from people of the +first respectability in Maryland and Virginia, testifying to his good +character. His lawyer showed these letters to Friend Hopper, and +proposed that the prosecution should be abandoned. He replied that he +had no authority to act in the matter himself; but he knew the Abolition +Society had commenced the prosecution from no vindictive feelings, but +merely with the view of teaching people to be careful how they infringed +on the rights of free men. The committee of that society met the same +evening, and agreed to dismiss the suit, Mr. Ennells paying the costs; +to which he readily assented. + + + + +LEVIN SMITH. + + +Levin was a slave in Maryland. He married a free woman and had several +children. In 1802, his master sold him to a speculator, who was in the +habit of buying slaves for the Southern market. His purchaser took him +to his farm in Delaware, and kept him at work till he could get a +profitable chance to sell him. His new master was a desperate fellow, +and Levin was uneasy with the constant liability of being sold to the +far South. He opened his heart to a neighbor, who advised him to escape, +and gave him a letter to Isaac T. Hopper. His wife and children had +removed to Philadelphia, and there he rejoined them. She took in +washing, and he supported himself by sawing wood. He had been there +little more than a month, when his master heard where he was, and +bargained with the captain of a small sloop to catch him and bring him +back to Delaware. + +The plan was to seize Levin in his bed, hurry him on board the sloop, +and start off immediately, before his family could have time to give the +alarm. They would probably have succeeded in this project, if the +captain had not drank a little too freely the evening previous, and so +forgotten to get some goods on board, as he had promised. Levin was +seized and carried off; but the sloop was obliged to wait for the goods, +and in the meantime messengers were sent to Isaac T. Hopper. He was in +bed, but sprang up the instant he heard a violent knocking at the door. +In his haste, he thrust on an old rough coat and hat, which he was +accustomed to wear to fires; for, in addition to his various other +employments, he belonged to a fire-company. He hurried to the scene of +action as quickly as possible, and found that the slave had been +conveyed to a small tavern near the wharf where the sloop lay. When the +landlord was questioned where the men were who had him in custody, he +refused to give any information. But there was a crowd of men and boys; +and one of them said, "They are up-stairs in the back room." The +landlord stood in the door-way, and tried to prevent Friend Hopper from +passing in; but he pushed him aside, and went up to the chamber, where +he found Levin with his hands tied, and guarded by five or six men. +"What are you going to do with this man?" said he. The words were +scarcely out of his mouth, before they seized him violently and pitched +him out of the chamber window. He fell upon empty casks, and his mind +was so excited, that he was not aware of being hurt. There was no time +to be lost; for unless there was an immediate rescue, the man would be +forced on board the sloop and carried off. As soon as he could get upon +his feet, he went round again to the front door and ascended the stairs; +but the door of the chamber was locked. He then returned to the back +yard, mounted upon the pent-house, by means of a high board fence, and +clambered into the window of a chamber, that opened into the room where +the slave was. He entered with an open penknife in his hand, exclaiming, +"Let us see if you will get me out so soon again!" Speaking thus, he +instantly cut the cords that bound the slave, and called out, "Follow +me!" He rushed down stairs as fast as he could go, and the slave after +him. The guard were utterly astonished at seeing the man return, whom +they had just tossed out of an upper window, and the whole thing was +done so suddenly, that Friend Hopper and the liberated captive were in +the street before they had time to recover their wits. + +A rowdy looking crowd of men and boys followed the fugitive and his +protector, shouting, "Stop thief! Stop thief!" until they came to the +office of a justice of the peace, half a mile from where they started. +The astonished magistrate exclaimed, "Good heavens, Mr. Hopper, what +brings you here this time of the morning, in such a trim, and with such +a rabble at your heels!" When the circumstances were briefly explained, +he laughed heartily, and said, "I don't think they would have treated +you so roughly, if they had known who you were." He was informed that +Levin was a slave in Maryland, but had been living in Delaware with a +man who bought him, and had thus become legally free. Measures were +taken to protect him from further aggression, and he was never after +molested. + +Friend Hopper went home to a late breakfast; and when he attempted to +rise from the table, he was seized with violent pains in the back, in +consequence of his fall. He never after entirely recovered from the +effects of it. + + + + +ETIENNE LAMAIRE. + + +This man was a slave to a Frenchman of the same name, in the Island of +Guadaloupe. In consideration of faithful services, his master gave him +his freedom, and he opened a barber's shop on his own account. Some time +after, he was appointed an officer in the French army, against Victor +Hughes. He had command of a fort, and remained in the army until the +close of the war. After that period, there were symptoms of insurrection +among the colored people, because the French government revoked the +decree abolishing slavery in their West India Islands. Etienne was a man +of talent, and had acquired considerable influence, particularly among +people of his own color. He exerted this influence on the side of mercy, +and was the means of saving the lives of several white people who had +rendered themselves obnoxious by their efforts to restore slavery. + +Affairs were so unsettled in Guadaloupe, that Etienne determined to seek +refuge in the United States; and an old friend of his master procured a +passport for him. A man by the name of Anslong, then at Guadaloupe, had +two slaves, whom he was about to send to the care of Dennis Cottineau, +of Philadelphia, with directions to place them on a farm he owned, near +Princeton, New-Jersey. When it was proposed that Etienne should take +passage in the same vessel, Anslong manifested much interest in his +behalf. He promised that he should have his passage free, for services +that he might render on board; and he took charge of his passport, +saying that he would give it to the captain for safe keeping. + +When the vessel arrived at Philadelphia, in March, 1803, Etienne was +astonished to find that Anslong had paid his passage, and claimed him +as his slave. Dennis Cottineau showed the receipts for the passage +money, and written directions to forward the _three_ slaves to +New-Jersey. In this dilemma, he asked counsel of a colored man, whom he +had formerly known in Guadaloupe; and he immediately conducted him to +Isaac T. Hopper. He related the particulars of his case very +circumstantially, and the two colored men, who were really the slaves of +Anslong, confirmed his statement. When Friend Hopper had cautiously +examined them, and cross-examined them, he became perfectly satisfied +that Etienne was free. He advised him not to leave the city, and told +him to let him know in case Dennis Cottineau attempted to compel him to +do so. He accordingly waited upon that gentleman and told him he had +resolved not to submit to his orders to go to New-Jersey. Whereupon +Cottineau took possession of his trunk, containing his papers and +clothing, and caused him to be committed to prison. + +A writ of _habeas corpus_ was procured, and the case was brought before +Judge Inskeep, of the Court of Common Pleas. It was found to be involved +in considerable difficulty. For while several witnesses swore that they +knew Etienne in Guadaloupe, as a free man, in business for himself, +others testified that they had known him as the slave of Anslong. It was +finally referred to the Supreme Court, and Etienne was detained in +prison several months to await his trial. Eminent counsel were employed +on both sides; Jared Ingersoll for the claimant, and Joseph Hopkinson +for the defendant. A certificate was produced from the municipality of +Guadaloupe, showing that Etienne had been an officer in the French army +for several years, and had filled the station in a manner to command +respect. The National Decree abolishing slavery in that Island was also +read; but Mr. Ingersoll contended that when the decree was revoked, +Etienne again became a slave. In his charge, Judge Shippen said that the +evidence for and against freedom was about equally balanced; and in that +case, it was always a duty to decide in favor of liberty. The jury +accordingly brought in a unanimous verdict that Etienne was free. The +court ordered him to refund the twenty dollars, which Anslong had paid +for his passage; and he was discharged. + +He was a dark mulatto, tall, well-proportioned, and stylish-looking. His +handsome countenance had a remarkably bright, frank expression, and +there was a degree of courteous dignity in his manner, probably acquired +by companionship with military officers. But he belonged to a caste +which society has forbidden to develop the faculties bestowed by nature. +Such a man might have performed some higher use than cutting hair, if he +had lived in a wisely organized state of society. However, he made the +best of such advantages as he had. He opened a barber's shop in +Philadelphia, and attracted many of the most highly respectable citizens +by his perfect politeness and punctuality. The colored people had +various benevolent societies in that city, for the relief of the poor, +the sick, and the aged, of their own complexion. Etienne Lamaire was +appointed treasurer of several of these societies, and discharged his +trust with scrupulous integrity. + +Isaac T. Hopper had been very active and vigilant in assisting him to +regain his freedom; and afterward, when he became involved in some +difficulty on account of stolen goods left on his premises without his +knowledge, he readily became bail for him. His confidence had not been +misplaced; for when the affair had been fully investigated, the recorder +declared that Mr. Lamaire had acted like an honest and prudent man, +throughout the whole transaction. + +His gratitude to Friend Hopper was unbounded, and he missed no +opportunity to manifest it. To the day of his death, some fourteen or +fifteen years ago, he never would charge a cent for shaving, or cutting +the hair of any of the family, children, or grand-children; and on New +Year's day, he frequently sent a box of figs, or raisins, or bon-bons, +in token of grateful remembrance. + + + + +SAMUEL JOHNSON. + + +Samuel Johnson was a free colored man in the state of Delaware. He +married a woman who was slave to George Black. They had several +children, and when they became old enough to be of some value as +property, their parents were continually anxious lest Mr. Black should +sell them to some Georgia speculator, to relieve himself from pecuniary +embarrassment; an expedient which was very often resorted to under such +circumstances. When Johnson visited his wife, they often talked together +on the subject; and at last they concluded to escape to a free state. +They went to Philadelphia and hired a small house. He sawed wood, and +she took in washing. Being industrious and frugal, they managed to live +very comfortably, except the continual dread of being discovered. + +In December, 1804, when they had been thus situated about two years, her +master obtained some tidings of them, and immediately went in pursuit. A +friend happened to become aware of the fact, and hastened to inform them +that Mr. Black was in the city. Samuel forthwith sent his wife and +children to a place of safety; but he remained at home, not supposing +that he could be in any danger. The master arrived shortly after, with +two constables, and was greatly exasperated when he found that his +property had absconded. They arrested the husband, and vowed they would +hold him as a hostage, till he informed them where they could find his +wife and children. When he refused to accompany them, they beat him +severely, and swore they would carry him to the South and sell him. He +told them they might carry him into slavery, or murder him, if they +pleased, but no torture they could inflict would ever induce him to +betray his family. Finding they could not break his resolution, they +tied his hands behind his back, and dragged him to a tavern kept by +Peter Fritz, in Sassafras-street. There they left him, guarded by the +landlord and several men, while they went in search of the fugitives. + +Some of Johnson's colored neighbors informed Isaac T. Hopper of these +proceedings; and he went to the tavern, accompanied by a friend. They +attempted to enter the room occupied by Samuel and his guard, but found +the door fastened, and the landlord refused to unlock it. When they +inquired by what authority he made his tavern a prison, he replied that +the man was placed in his custody by two constables, and should not be +released till they came for him. + +"Open the door!" said Friend Hopper; "or we will soon have it opened in +a way that will cost something to repair it. Thou hast already made +thyself liable to an action for false imprisonment. If thou art not +very careful, thou wilt find thyself involved in trouble for this +business." + +The landlord swore a good deal, but finding them so resolute, he +concluded it was best to open the door. After obtaining the particulars +of the case from Johnson himself, Friend Hopper cut the cord that bound +his hands, and said, "Follow me!" + +The men on guard poured forth a volley of threats and curses. One of +them sprang forward in great fury, seized Johnson by the collar, and +swore by his Maker that he should not leave the room till the constables +arrived. Friend Hopper stepped up to him, and said, "Release that man +immediately! or thou wilt be made to repent of thy conduct." The ruffian +quailed under the influence of that calm bold manner, and after some +slight altercation let go his grasp. + +Johnson followed his protector in a state of intense anxiety concerning +his wife and children. But they had been conveyed to a place of safety, +and the man-hunters never afterward discovered their retreat. + + + + +PIERCE BUTLER'S BEN. + + +In August, 1804, a colored man about thirty-six years old waited upon +the committee of the Abolition Society, and stated that he was born a +slave to Pierce Butler, Esq., of South Carolina, and had always lived +in his family. During the last eleven years, he had resided most of the +time in Pennsylvania. Mr. Butler now proposed taking him to Georgia; but +he was very unwilling to leave his wife, she being in delicate health +and needing his support. After mature consideration of the case, the +committee, believing Ben was legally entitled to freedom, agreed to +apply to Judge Inskeep for a writ of _habeas corpus;_ and Isaac T. +Hopper was sent to serve it upon Pierce Butler, Esq., at his house in +Chestnut-street. + +Being told that Mr. Butler was at dinner, he said he would wait in the +hall until it suited his convenience to attend to him. Mr. Butler was a +tall, lordly looking man, somewhat imperious in his manners, as +slaveholders are wont to be. When he came into the hall after dinner, +Friend Hopper gave him a nod of recognition, and said, "How art thou, +Pierce Butler? I have here a writ of _habeas corpus_ for thy Ben." + +Mr. Butler glanced over the paper, and exclaimed, "Get out of my house, +you scoundrel!" + +Feigning not to hear him, Friend Hopper looked round at the pictures and +rich furniture, and said with a smile, "Why, thou livest like a nabob +here!" + +"Get out of my house, I say!" repeated Mr. Butler, stamping violently. + +"This paper on the walls is the handsomest I ever saw," continued +Isaac. "Is it French, or English? It surely cannot have been +manufactured in this country." Talking thus, and looking leisurely about +him as he went, he moved deliberately toward the door; the slaveholder +railing at him furiously all the while. + +"I am a citizen of South Carolina," said he. "The laws of Pennsylvania +have nothing to do with me. May the devil take all those who come +between masters and their slaves; interfering with what is none of their +business." Supposing that his troublesome guest was deaf, he put his +head close to his ear, and roared out his maledictions in stentorian +tones. + +Friend Hopper appeared unconscious of all this. When he reached the +threshold, he turned round and said, "Farewell. We shall expect to see +thee at Judge Inskeep's." + +This imperturbable manner irritated the hot-blooded slave-holder beyond +endurance. He repeated more vociferously than ever, "Get out of my +house, you scoundrel! If you don't, I'll kick you out." The Quaker +walked quietly away, as if he didn't hear a word. + +At the appointed time, Mr. Butler waited upon the Judge, where he found +Friend Hopper in attendance. The sight of him renewed his wrath. He +cursed those who interfered with his property; and taking up the Bible, +said he was willing to swear upon that book that he would not take +fifteen hundred dollars for Ben. Friend Hopper charged him with +injustice in wishing to deprive the man of his legal right to freedom. +Mr. Butler maintained that he was as benevolent as any other man. + +"Thou benevolent!" exclaimed Friend Hopper. "Why, thou art not even +just. Thou hast already sent back into bondage two men, who were legally +entitled to freedom by staying in Philadelphia during the term +prescribed by law. If thou hadst a proper sense of justice, thou wouldst +bring those men back, and let them take the liberty that rightfully +belongs to them." + +"If you were in a different walk of life, I would treat your insult as +it deserves," replied the haughty Southerner. + +"What dost thou mean by that? asked Isaac. Wouldst thou shoot me, as +Burr did Hamilton? I assure thee I should consider it no honor to be +killed by a member of Congress; and surely there would be neither honor +nor comfort in killing thee; for in thy present state of mind thou art +not fit to die." + +Mr. Butler told the judge he believed that man was either deaf or crazy +when he served the writ of _habeas corpus_; for he did not take the +slightest notice of anything that was said to him. Judge Inskeep smiled +as he answered, "You don't know Mr. Hopper as well as we do." + +A lawyer was procured for Ben; but Mr. Butler chose to manage his own +cause. He maintained that he was only a sojourner in Pennsylvania; that +Ben had never resided six months at any one time in that State, except +while he was a member of Congress; and in that case, the law allowed him +to keep his slave in Pennsylvania as long as he pleased. The case was +deemed an important one, and was twice adjourned for further +investigation. In the course of the argument, Mr. Butler admitted that +he returned from Congress to Philadelphia, with Ben, on the second of +January, 1804, and had remained there with him until the writ of _habeas +corpus_ was served, on the third of August, the same year. The lawyers +gave it as their opinion that Ben's legal right to freedom was too plain +to admit of any doubt. They said the law to which Mr. Butler had alluded +was made for the convenience of Southern gentlemen, who might need the +attendance of their personal slaves, when Congress met in Philadelphia; +but since the seat of government was removed, it by no means authorized +members to come into Pennsylvania with their slaves, and keep them there +as long as they chose. After much debate, the judge gave an order +discharging Ben from all restraint, and he walked off rejoicing. + +His master was very indignant at the decision, and complained loudly +that a Pennsylvania court should presume to discharge a Carolinian +slave. + +When Ben was set at liberty, he let himself to Isaac W. Morris, then +living at his country seat called Cedar Grove, three miles from +Philadelphia. Being sent to the city soon after, on some business for +his employer, he was attached by the marshall of the United States, on a +writ _De homine replegiando_, at the suit of Mr. Butler, and two +thousand dollars were demanded for bail. The idea was probably +entertained that so large an amount could not be procured, and thus Ben +would again come into his master's possession. But Isaac T. Hopper and +Thomas Harrison signed the bail-bond, and Ben was again set at liberty, +to await his trial before the Circuit Court of the United States. +Bushrod Washington, himself a slaveholder, presided in that court, and +Mr. Butler was sanguine that he should succeed in having Judge Inskeep's +decision reversed. The case was brought in October, 1806, before Judges +Bushrod Washington and Richard Peters. It was ably argued by counsel on +both sides. The court discharged Ben, and he enjoyed his liberty +thenceforth without interruption. + + + + +DANIEL BENSON. + + +Daniel and his mother were slaves to Perry Boots, of Delaware. His +master was in the habit of letting him out to neighboring farmers and +receiving the wages himself. Daniel had married a free woman, and they +had several children, mostly supported by her industry. His mother was +old and helpless; and the master, finding it rather burdensome to +support her, told Daniel that if he would take charge of her, and pay +him forty dollars a year, he might go where he pleased. + +The offer was gladly accepted; and in 1805 he removed to Philadelphia, +with his mother and family. He sawed wood for a living, and soon +established such a character for industry and honesty, that many of the +citizens were in the habit of employing him to purchase their wood and +prepare it for the winter. Upon one occasion, when he brought in a bill +to Alderman Todd, that gentleman asked if he had not charged rather +high. Daniel excused himself by saying he had an aged mother to support, +in addition to his own family; and that he punctually paid his master +twenty dollars every six months, according to an agreement he had made +with him. When the alderman heard the particulars, his sympathy was +excited, and he wrote a note to Isaac T. Hopper, requesting him to +examine into the case; stating his own opinion that Daniel had a legal +right to freedom. The wood-sawyer started off with the note with great +alacrity, and delivered it to Friend Hopper, saying in very animated +tones, "Squire Todd thinks I am free!" He was in a state of great +agitation between hope and fear. When he had told his story, he was sent +home to get receipts for all the money he had paid his master since his +arrival in Philadelphia. It was easy to prove from these that he had +been a resident in Pennsylvania, with his owner's consent, a much longer +time than the law required to make him a free man. When Friend Hopper +gave him this information, he was overjoyed. He could hardly believe it. +The tidings seemed too good to be true. When assured that he was +certainly free, beyond all dispute, and that he need not pay any more of +his hard earnings to a master, the tears came to his eyes, and he +started off to bring his wife, that she also might hear the glad news. +When Friend Hopper was an old man, he often used to remark how well he +remembered their beaming countenances on that occasion, and their warm +expressions of gratitude to God. + +Soon after this interview, a letter was addressed to Perry Boots, +informing him that his slave was legally free, and that he need not +expect to receive any more of his wages. He came to Philadelphia +immediately, to answer the letter in person. His first salutation was, +"Where can I find that ungrateful villain Dan? I will take him home in +irons." + +Friend Hopper replied, "Thou wilt find thyself relieved from such an +unpleasant task; for I can easily convince thee that the law sustains +thy slave in taking his freedom." + +Reading the law did not satisfy him. He said he would consult a lawyer, +and call again. When he returned, he found Daniel waiting to see him; +and he immediately began to upbraid him for being so ungrateful. Daniel +replied, "Master Perry, it was not _justice_ that made me your slave. It +was the _law_; and you took advantage of it. Now, the law makes me free; +and ought you to blame me for taking the advantage which it offers me? +But suppose I were not free, what would you be willing to take to +manumit me?" + +His master, somewhat softened, said, "Why, Dan, I always intended to set +you free some time or other." + +"I am nearly forty years old," rejoined his bondsman, "and if I am ever +to be free, I think it is high time now. What would you be willing to +take for a deed of manumission?" + +Mr. Boots answered, "Why I think you ought to give me a hundred +dollars." + +"Would that satisfy you, master Perry? Well, I can pay you a hundred +dollars," said Daniel. + +Here Friend Hopper interfered, and observed there was nothing +rightfully due to the master; that if justice were done in the case, he +ought to pay Daniel for his labor ever since he was twenty-one years +old. + +The colored man replied, "I was a slave to master Perry's father; and he +was kind to me. Master Perry and I are about the same age. We were +brought up more like two brothers, than like master and slave. I can +better afford to give him a hundred dollars, than he can afford to do +without it. I will go home and get the money, if you will make out the +necessary papers while I am gone." + +Surprised and gratified by the nobility of soul manifested in these +words, Friend Hopper said no more to dissuade him from his generous +purpose. He brought one hundred silver dollars, and Perry Boots signed a +receipt for it, accompanied by a deed of manumission. He wished to have +it inserted in the deed that he was not to be responsible for the +support of the old woman. But Daniel objected; saying, "Such an +agreement would imply that I would not voluntarily support my poor old +mother." + +When the business was concluded, he invited his former master and Friend +Hopper to dine with him; saying, "We are going to have a pretty good +dinner, in honor of the day." Mr. Boots accepted the invitation; but +Friend Hopper excused himself, on account of an engagement that would +detain him till after dinner. When he called, he found they had not yet +risen from the table, on which were the remains of a roasted turkey, a +variety of vegetables, and a decanter of wine. Friend Hopper smiled when +Daniel remarked, "I know master Perry loves a little brandy; but I did +not like to get brandy; so I bought a quart of Mr. Morris' best wine, +and thought perhaps that would do instead. I never drink anything but +water myself." + +Soon after Daniel Benson became a free man, he gave up sawing wood, and +opened a shop for the sale of second-hand clothing. He was successful in +business, brought up his family very reputably, and supported his mother +comfortably to the end of her days. For many years, he was class-leader +in a Methodist church for colored people, and his correct deportment +gained the respect of all who knew him. + +If slavery were _ever_ justifiable, under _any_ circumstances, which of +these two characters ought to have been the master, and which the slave? + + + + +THE QUICK-WITTED SLAVE. + + +About the year 1805, a colored man, who belonged to Colonel Hopper, of +Maryland, escaped with his wife and children, who were also slaves. He +went to Philadelphia and hired a small house in Green's Court, where he +lived several months before his master discovered his retreat. As soon +as he obtained tidings of him, he went to Philadelphia, and applied to +Richard Hunt, a constable who was much employed as a slave hunter. +Having procured a warrant, they went together, in search of the +fugitives. It was about dusk, and the poor man just returned from daily +toil, was sitting peacefully with his wife and children, when in rushed +his old master, accompanied by the constable. + +With extraordinary presence of mind, the colored man sprang up, and +throwing his arms round his master's neck, exclaimed, "O, my dear +master, how glad I am to see you! I _thought_ I should like to be free; +but I had a great deal rather be a slave. I can't get work, and we have +almost starved. I would have returned home, but I was afraid you would +sell me to the Georgia men. I beg your pardon a thousand times. If you +will only forgive me, I will go back with you, and never leave you +again." + +The master was very agreeably surprised by this reception, and readily +promised forgiveness. He was about to dismiss the constable, but the +slave urged him to stay a few minutes. "I have earned a little money +to-day, for a rarity," said he; "and I want to go out and buy something +to drink; for I suppose old master must be tired." He stepped out, and +soon returned with a quantity of gin, with which he liberally supplied +his guests. He knew full well that they were both men of intemperate +habits; so he talked gaily about affairs in Maryland, making various +inquiries concerning what had happened since he left; and ever and anon +he replenished their glasses with gin. It was not long before they were +completely insensible to all that was going on around them. The colored +man and his family then made speedy preparations for departure. While +Colonel Hopper and the constable lay in the profound stupor of +intoxication, they were on the way to New Jersey, with all their +household goods, where they found a safe place of refuge before the +rising of the sun. + +When consciousness returned to the sleepers, they were astonished to +find themselves alone in the house; and as soon as they could rally +their wits, they set off in search of the fugitives. After spending +several days without finding any track of them, the master called upon +Isaac T. Hopper. He complained bitterly of his servant's ingratitude in +absconding from him, and of the trick he had played to deceive him. He +said he and his family had always been extremely comfortable in +Maryland, and it was a great piece of folly in them to have quitted such +a happy condition. He concluded by asking for assistance in tracing +them; promising to treat them as kindly as if they were his own +children, if they would return to him. + +Friend Hopper replied, "If the man were as happy with thee as thou hast +represented, he will doubtless return voluntarily, and my assistance +will be quite unnecessary. I do not justify falsehood and deception; but +I am by no means surprised at them in one who has always been a slave, +and had before him the example of slaveholders. Why thou shouldst accuse +him of ingratitude, is more than I can comprehend. It seems to me that +he owes thee nothing. On the contrary, I should suppose that thou wert +indebted to him; for I understand that he has served thee more than +thirty years without wages. So far from helping thee to hunt the poor +fugitives, I will, with all my heart, do my utmost to keep them out of +thy grasp." + +"Have you seen my man?" inquired the slaveholder. + +"He came to me when he left his own house in Green's Court," replied +Friend Hopper; "and I gave him such advice on that occasion, as I +thought proper. Thou art the first slaveholder I ever met with bearing +my name. Perhaps thou hast assumed it, as a means of gaining the +confidence of colored people, to aid thee in recapturing the objects of +thy avarice." + +The Colonel replied that it was really his name, and departed without +having gained much satisfaction from the interview. He remained in +Philadelphia a week or ten days, where he was seized with _mania a +potu_. He was carried home in a straight jacket, where he soon after +died. + +A few months after these transactions, the slave called to see Friend +Hopper. He laughed till he could hardly stand, while he described the +method he had taken to elude his old master, and the comical scene that +followed with him and the constable. "I knew his weak side," said he. "I +knew where to touch him." + +Friend Hopper inquired whether he was not aware that it was wrong to +tell falsehoods, and to get men drunk. + +"I suppose it _was_ wrong," he replied. "But liberty is sweet; and none +of us know what we would do to secure it, till we are tried." + +He afterward returned to Philadelphia, where he supported his family +comfortably, and remained unmolested. + + + + +JAMES DAVIS. + + +In 1795, James escaped from bondage in Maryland, and went to +Philadelphia, where he soon after married. He remained undisturbed for +ten years, during which time he supported himself and family comfortably +by sawing wood. But one day, in the year 1805, his master called to see +him, accompanied by two other men, who were city constables. He appeared +to be very friendly, asked James how he was getting along, and said he +was glad to see him doing so well. At last, he remarked, "As you left +my service without leave, I think you ought to make me some +compensation for your time. Autumn is now coming on, and as that is +always a busy season for wood-sawyers, perhaps you can make me a small +payment at that time." + +This insidious conversation threw James completely off his guard, and he +promised to make an effort to raise some money for his master. As soon +as he had said enough to prove that he was his bondsman, the slaveholder +threw off the mask of kindness, and ordered the constables to seize and +hand-cuff him. His wife and children shrieked aloud, and Isaac T. +Hopper, who happened to be walking through the street at the time, +hastened to ascertain the cause of such alarming sounds. Entering the +house, he found the colored man hand-cuffed, and his wife and children +making the loud lamentations, which had arrested his attention. The poor +woman told how her husband had been duped by friendly words, and now he +was to be torn from his family and carried off into slavery. Friend +Hopper's feelings were deeply affected at witnessing such a heartrending +scene, and he exerted his utmost eloquence to turn the master from his +cruel purpose. The wife and children wept and entreated also; but it was +all in vain. He replied to their expostulations by ridicule, and +proceeded to hurry his victim off to prison. The children clung round +Friend Hopper's knees, crying and sobbing, and begging that he would +not let those men take away their father. But the fact that the poor +fellow had acknowledged himself a slave rendered resistance hopeless. He +was taken before a magistrate, and thence to prison. + +Friend Hopper was with him when his master came the next day to carry +him away. With a countenance expressive of deepest anguish, the unhappy +creature begged to speak a word in private, before his master entered. +When Friend Hopper took him into an adjoining room, he exclaimed in an +imploring tone, "Can't you give me some advice?" Agitated by most +painful sympathy, the Friend knew not what to answer. After a moment's +hesitation, he said, "Don't try to run away till thou art sure thou hast +a good chance." This was all he could do for the poor fellow. He was +obliged to submit to seeing him bound with cords, put into a carriage, +and driven off like a sheep to the slaughter-house. + +He was conveyed to Maryland and lodged in jail. Several weeks after, he +was taken thence and sold to a speculator, who was making up a coffle of +slaves for the far South. After crossing the Susquehanna, they stopped +at a miserable tavern, where the speculator and his companions drank +pretty freely, and then began to amuse themselves by shooting at a mark. +They placed the slave by the tavern door, where they could see him. +While he sat there, thinking of his wife and children, feeling sad and +forlorn beyond description, he noticed that a fisherman drew near the +shore with a small boat, to which was fastened a rope and a heavy stone, +to supply the place of an anchor. When he saw the man step out of the +boat and throw the stone on the ground, Friend Hopper's parting advice +instantly flashed through his mind. Hardship, scanty food, and above +all, continual distress of mind, had considerably reduced his flesh. He +looked at his emaciated hands, and thought it might be possible to slip +them through his iron cuffs. He proceeded cautiously, and when he saw +that his guard were too busy loading their pistols to watch him, he +released himself from his irons by a violent effort, ran to the river, +threw the stone anchor into the boat, jumped in, and pushed for the +opposite shore. The noise attracted the attention of his guard, who +threatened him with instant death if he did not return. They loaded +their pistols as quickly as possible, and fired after him, but luckily +missed their aim. James succeeded in reaching the opposite side of the +river, where he set the boat adrift, lest some one should take it back +and enable them to pursue him. He bent his course toward Philadelphia, +and on arriving there, went directly to Friend Hopper's house. He had +become so haggard and emaciated, that his friend could hardly believe it +was James Davis who stood before him. He said he dared not go near his +old home, and begged that some place might be provided where he could +meet his wife and children in safety. This was accomplished, and Friend +Hopper was present when the poor harassed fugitive was restored to his +family. He described the scene as affecting beyond description. The +children, some of whom were very small, twined their little arms round +him, eagerly inquiring, "Where have you been? How did you get away?" and +his wife sobbed aloud, while she hugged the lost one to her heart. + +The next morning he was sent to Bucks County in a market wagon. Some +friends there procured a small house for him, and his family soon joined +him. He was enabled to earn a comfortable living, and his place of +retreat was never afterward discovered by enemies of the human family. + + + + +MARY HOLLIDAY. + + +A very light mulatto girl, named Fanny, was slave to the widow of John +Sears, in Maryland. When about twenty-four years old, she escaped to +Philadelphia, and lived in the family of Isaac W. Morris, where she was +known by the assumed name of Mary Holliday. She was honest, prudent, and +industrious, and the family became much attached to her. She had not +been there many months when her mistress obtained tidings of her, and +went to Philadelphia, accompanied by a man named Dutton. She was +arrested on the seventh of June, 1805, and taken before Matthew Lawler, +who was then mayor. Isaac W. Morris immediately waited on Isaac T. +Hopper to inform him of the circumstance, and they proceeded together to +the mayor's office. + +Dutton, being examined as a witness, testified that he knew a mulatto +named Fanny, who belonged to Mrs. Sears, and he believed the woman +present, called Mary Holliday, was that person. Mary denied that she was +the slave of the claimant, or that her name was Fanny; but her agitation +was very evident, though she tried hard to conceal it. + +Friend Hopper remarked to the mayor, "This case requires testimony as +strong as if the woman were on trial for her life, which is of less +value than liberty. I object to the testimony as insufficient; for the +witness cannot say positively that he _knows_ she is the same person, +but only that he _believes_ so. Wouldst thou consider such evidence +satisfactory in the case of a white person?" + +The mayor who was not friendly to colored people, replied, "I should +not; but I consider it sufficient in such cases as these." + +"How dark must the complexion be, to justify thee in receiving such +uncertain evidence?" inquired Friend Hopper. + +The mayor pointed to the prisoner and said, "As dark as that woman." + +"What wouldst thou think of such testimony in case of thy own daughter?" +rejoined Friend Hopper. "There is very little difference between her +complexion and that of the woman now standing before thee." + +He made no reply, but over-ruled the objection to the evidence. He +consented, however, to postpone the case three days, to give time to +procure testimony in her favor. + +Isaac W. Morris soon after called upon Friend Hopper and said, "Mary has +acknowledged to us that her name is Fanny, and that she belongs to Mrs. +Sears. My family are all very much attached to her, and they cannot bear +the thought of her being carried away into slavery. I will advance three +hundred dollars, if thou wilt obtain her freedom." + +Friend Hopper accordingly called upon Mrs. Sears, and after stipulating +that nothing said on either side should be made use of in the trial, he +offered two hundred dollars for a deed of manumission. The offer was +promptly rejected. After considerable discussion, three hundred and +fifty dollars were offered; for it was very desirable to have the case +settled without being obliged to resort to an expensive and uncertain +process of law. Mrs. Sears replied, "It is in vain to treat with me on +the subject; for I am determined not to sell the woman on any terms. I +will take her back to Maryland, and make an example of her." + +"I hope thou wilt find thyself disappointed," rejoined Friend Hopper. +The slaveholder merely answered with a malicious smile, as if perfectly +sure of her triumph. + +Finding himself disappointed in his attempts to purchase the woman, +Friend Hopper resolved to carry the case to a higher court, and +accumulate as many legal obstructions as possible. For that purpose, he +obtained a writ _De homine replegiando_, and when the suitable occasion +arrived, he accompanied Mary Holliday to the mayor's office, with a +deputy sheriff to serve the writ. When the trial came on, he again urged +the insufficiency of proof brought by the claimant. The mayor replied, +in a tone somewhat peremptory, "I have already decided that matter. I +shall deliver the slave to her mistress." + +Friend Hopper gave the sheriff a signal to serve the writ. He was a +novice in the business, but in obedience to the instructions given him, +he laid his hand on Mary's shoulder, and said, "By virtue of this writ, +I replevin this woman, and deliver her to Mr. Hopper." + +Her protector immediately said to her, "Thou canst now go home with me." +But her mistress seized her by the arm, and said she should _not_ go. +The mayor was little acquainted with legal forms, beyond the usual +routine of city business. He seemed much surprised, and inquired what +the writ was. + +"It is a _homine replegiando_," replied Friend Hopper. + +"I don't understand what that means," said the mayor. + +"It is none the less powerful on that account," rejoined Friend Hopper. +"It has taken the woman out of thy power, and delivered her to another +tribunal." + +During this conversation, the mistress kept her grasp upon Mary. Friend +Hopper appealed to the mayor, again repeating that the girl was now to +await the decision of another court. He accordingly told Mrs. Sears it +was necessary to let her go. She asked what was to be done in such a +case. The mayor, completely puzzled, and somewhat vexed, replied +impatiently, "I don't know. You must ask Mr. Hopper. His laws are above +mine. I thought I knew something about the business; but it seems I +don't." + +Mary went home with her protector, and Mrs. Sears employed Alexander J. +Dallas as counsel. The case was kept pending in the Supreme Court a long +time; for no man understood better than Friend Hopper how to multiply +difficulties. Mrs. Sears frequently attended, bringing witnesses with +her from Maryland; which of course involved much trouble and expense. +After several years, the trial came on; but it was found she had left +some of her principal witnesses at home. Most of the forenoon was spent +in disputes about points of law, and the admissibility of certain +evidence. The court then adjourned to three in the afternoon. + +Mrs. Sears was informed that even if the court adjudged Mary to be her +slave, Friend Hopper would doubtless fail to produce her, and they would +be compelled to go through another process to recover from him the +penalty of the bond. She had become exceedingly weary of the law, the +trouble and expense of which had far exceeded her expectations. She +therefore instructed her lawyer to try to effect a compromise. Friend +Hopper, being consulted for this purpose, offered to pay two hundred and +fifty dollars for Mary if the claimant would pay the costs. She accepted +the terms, well pleased to escape from further litigation. + +When the court met in the afternoon, they were informed that the matter +was settled; and the jury with consent of parties, rendered a verdict +that Mary was free. By her own earnings, and donations from sympathizing +friends, she gradually repaid Isaac W. Morris three hundred dollars +toward the sum he had advanced for the expenses of her trial. + +In his efforts to protect the rights and redress the wrongs of colored +people, Friend Hopper had a zealous and faithful ally in Thomas +Harrison, also a member of the Society of Friends. When recounting the +adventures they had together, he used to say, "That name excites +pleasant emotions whenever it occurs to me. I shall always reverence his +memory. He was my precursor in Philadelphia, as the friend of the slave, +and my coadjutor in scores of cases for their relief. His soul was +always alive to the sufferings of his fellow creatures, and dipped into +sympathy with the oppressed; not that idle sympathy that can be +satisfied with lamenting their condition, and make no exertions for +their relief; but sympathy, like the apostle's faith, manifesting itself +in works, and extending its influence to all within its reach." + +Thomas Harrison was a lively, bustling man, with a roguish twinkle in +his eye, and a humorous style of talking. Some Friends, of more quiet +temperaments than himself, thought he had more activity than was +consistent with dignity. They reminded him that Mary sat still at the +feet of Jesus, while Martha was "troubled about many things." + +"All that is very well," replied Thomas; "but Mary would have had a late +breakfast, after all, if it had not been for Martha." + +From among various anecdotes in which Friend Harrison's name occurs, I +select the following: + + + + +JAMES LAWLER. + + +James was a slave to Mr. McCalmont of Delaware. In 1805, when he was +about thirty years old, he escaped to New Jersey and let himself out to +a farmer. After he had been there a few months, several runaway slaves +in his neighborhood were arrested and carried back to the South. This +alarmed him, and he became very anxious that some person should advance +a sum of money sufficient to redeem him from bondage, which he would +bind himself to repay by labor. Finding that his employer abhorred +slavery, and was very friendly to colored people, he ventured to open +his heart to him; and Isaac T. Hopper was consulted on the subject. + +The first step was to write to Mr. McCalmont to ascertain what were the +lowest terms on which he would manumit his slave. The master soon came +in person, accompanied by a Philadelphia merchant, who testified that +his friend McCalmont was a highly respectable man, and treated his +slaves with great kindness. He said James would be much happier with his +master than he could be in any other situation, and strongly urged +Friend Hopper to tell where he might be found. + +He replied, "It does not appear that James _thought_ himself so happy, +or he would not have left his service. Even if I had no objection to +slavery, I should still be bound by every principle of honor not to +betray the confidence reposed in me. But feeling as it is well known I +do on that subject, I am surprised thou shouldst make such a proposition +to me." + +They then called upon Thomas Harrison, and tried to enlist him in their +favor by repeating how well James had been treated, and how happy he was +in slavery. Friend Harrison replied, in his ironical way, "O, I know +very well that slaves sleep on feather beds, while their master's +children sleep on straw; that they eat white bread, and their master's +children eat brown. But enclose ten acres with a high wall, plant it +with Lombardy poplars and the most beautiful shrubbery, build a +magnificent castle in the midst of it, give thee pen, ink, and paper, to +write about the political elections in which thou art so much +interested, load thee with the best of everything thy heart could +desire, still I think thou wouldst want to get out beyond the wall." + +The master, being unable to ascertain where his slave could be found, +finally informed Friend Hopper that he would manumit him on the receipt +of one hundred and fifty dollars. Mr. John Hart, a druggist, generously +advanced the sum, and James was indentured to him for the term of five +years. Before the contract was concluded, somebody remarked that +perhaps he would repeat his old trick of running away. "I am not afraid +of that," replied Mr. Hart. "I will tie him by the teeth;" meaning he +would feed him well. + +In fact, James now appeared quite satisfied. His new master and mistress +were kind to him, and he was faithful and diligent in their service. +When a year or two had elapsed, he asked permission to visit his old +master and fellow servants. Mr. Hart kept a carriage, which he seldom +used in the winter, and he told James he might take one of the horses. +This suited his taste exactly. He mounted a noble looking animal, with +handsome saddle and bridle, and trotted off to Delaware. When he +arrived, he tied the horse and went into the kitchen. Mr. McCalmont +coming home soon after, and observing a very fine horse in his yard, +supposed he must have some distinguished visitor. Upon inquiry, he was +informed that Jim rode the horse there, and was then in the kitchen. He +went out and spoke very pleasantly to his former slave, and said he was +glad to see him. Being informed that the horse belonged to his new +master, Mr. Hart, who had kindly permitted him to use it, he ordered the +animal to be taken to the stable and supplied with hay and oats. James +was treated kindly by all the family, and spent two days very agreeably. +When about to take leave, Mr. McCalmont said to him, "Well, Jim, I am +glad to find that you have a good master, and are happy. But I had +rather you would not come here again in the style you now have; for it +will make my people dissatisfied." + +James returned much pleased with his excursion, and soon went to give +Friend Hopper an account of it. He served out his time faithfully, and +remained afterward in the same family, as a hired servant. + + + + +WILLIAM ANDERSON. + + +William was a slave in Virginia. When about twenty-five years old, he +left his master and went to Philadelphia with two of his fellow slaves; +giving as a reason that he wanted to try whether he couldn't do +something for himself. When they had been absent a few months, their +master "sold them running" to Mr. Joseph Ennells, a speculator in +slaves, who procured a warrant and constable, and repaired to +Philadelphia in search of his newly acquired property. They arrived on +Saturday, a day when many people congregated at the horse-market. +Ennells soon espied the three fugitives among the crowd, and made an +attempt to pounce upon them. Luckily, they saw the movement, and dodging +quickly among the multitude, they escaped. + +After spending some days in search of them, Ennells called upon Isaac T. +Hopper and Thomas Harrison, and offered to sell them very cheap if they +would hunt them up. Friend Hopper immediately recognized him as the man +who had threatened to blow out his brains, when he went to the rescue of +old William Bachelor; and he thus addressed him: "I would advise thee to +go home and obtain thy living in some more honorable way; for the trade +in which thou art engaged is a most odious one. On a former occasion +_thou_ wert treated with leniency; and I recommend a similar course to +thee with regard to these poor fugitives." + +The speculator finally agreed to sell the three men for two hundred and +fifty dollars. The money was paid, and he returned home. In the course +of a few days William Anderson called upon Isaac T. Hopper for advice. +He informed him that Thomas Harrison had bought him and his companions, +and told him he had better find the other two, and go and make a bargain +with Friend Harrison concerning the payment. He called accordingly, and +offered to bind himself as a servant until he had earned enough to repay +the money that had been advanced; but he said he had searched in vain +for the two companions of his flight. They had left the city abruptly, +and he could not ascertain where they had gone. Thomas Harrison said to +him, "Perhaps thou art not aware that thou hast a legal claim to thy +freedom already; for I am a citizen of Pennsylvania, and the laws here +do not allow any man to hold a slave." + +William replied, "I am too grateful for the kindness you have shown me, +to feel any disposition to take advantage of that circumstance. If I +live, you shall never lose a single cent on my account." + +He was soon after indentured to Mr. Jacob Downing a respectable merchant +of Philadelphia, who agreed to pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars +for his services. This was half of the money advanced for all of them. +William served the stipulated time faithfully. His master said he never +had a more honest and useful servant; and he on his part always spoke of +the family with great respect and affection. + +When the time of his indenture had expired, he called upon his old +benefactor, Thomas Harrison. After renewing his grateful acknowledgments +for the service rendered to him in extremity, he inquired whether +anything had ever been heard from the two other fugitives. Being +answered in the negative, he replied, "Well, Mr. Harrison, you paid two +hundred and fifty dollars for us, and you have not been able to find my +companions. You have received only one hundred and twenty-five dollars. +It is not right that you should lose by your kindness to us. I am +willing you should bind me again to make up the balance." + +"Honest fellow! Honest fellow!" exclaimed Thomas Harrison. "Go about thy +business. Thou hast paid thy share, and I have no further claim upon +thee. Conduct as well as thou hast done since I have known thee, and +thou wilt surely prosper." + +Friend Hopper happened to be present at this interview; and he used to +say, many years afterward, that he should never forget how it made his +heart glow to witness such honorable and disinterested conduct. The two +other fugitives were never heard of, and Friend Harrison of course lost +one hundred and twenty-five dollars. William frequently called upon his +benefactors, and always conducted in the most exemplary manner. + + + + +SARAH ROACH. + + +Sarah Roach, a light mulatto, was sold by her master in Maryland to a +man residing in Delaware. The laws of Delaware prohibit the introduction +of slaves, unless brought into the state by persons intending to reside +there permanently. If brought under other circumstances they become +free. Sarah remained with her new master several years before she was +made aware of this fact. Meanwhile, she gave birth to a daughter, who +was of course free, if the mother was free at the time she was born. At +last, some one informed the bondwoman that her master had no legal claim +to her services. She then left him and went to Philadelphia. But she +remained ignorant of the fact that her daughter was free, in +consequence of the universal maxim of slave law, that "the child follows +the condition of the mother." + +When the girl was about sixteen years old, she absconded from Delaware, +and went to her mother, who inquired of Isaac T. Hopper what was the +best method of eluding the vigilance of her master. After ascertaining +the circumstances, he told her that her daughter was legally free, and +instructed her to inform him in case any person attempted to arrest her. + +Her claimant soon discovered her place of abode, and in the summer of +1806 went in pursuit of her. Being aware that his claim had no +foundation in law, he did not attempt to establish it before any +magistrate, but seized the girl and hurried her on board a sloop, that +lay near Spruce-street wharf, unloading staves. Fearing she would be +wrested from him by the city authorities, he removed the vessel from the +wharf and anchored near an island between Philadelphia and New-Jersey. A +boat was placed alongside the sloop, into which the cargo was unloaded +and carried to the wharf they had left. + +The mother went to Isaac T. Hopper in great distress, and informed him +of the transaction. He immediately made application to an alderman, who +issued a process to have the girl brought before him. Guided by two +colored men, who had followed her when she was carried off, he +immediately proceeded to the sloop, accompanied by an officer. When the +claimant saw them approaching, he went into the cabin for his gun, and +threatened them with instant death if they came near his vessel. Friend +Hopper quietly told the men to go ahead and pay no attention to his +threats. When they moored their boat alongside of the one into which +they were unloading staves, he became very vociferous, and pointing his +gun at Friend Hopper's breast, swore he should not enter the vessel. + +He replied, "I have an officer with me, and I have authority from a +magistrate to bring before him a girl now in thy vessel. I think we are +prepared to show that she is free." + +The man still kept his gun pointed, and told them to beware how they +attempted to come on board. + +"If thou shouldst injure any person, it would be impossible for thee to +escape," replied Friend Hopper; "for thou art a hundred and twenty miles +from the Capes, with hundreds of people on the wharf to witness thy +deed." + +While speaking thus, he advanced toward him until he came near enough to +seize hold of the gun and turn it aside. The man made a violent jerk to +wrest the weapon from him, and still clinging fast hold of it he was +pulled on board. In the scuffle to regain possession of his gun, the man +trod upon a roller on the deck, lost his balance, and fell sprawling on +his back. Friend Hopper seized that opportunity to throw the gun +overboard. Whereupon, a sailor near by seized an axe and came toward him +in a great rage. Even if the courageous Quaker had wished to escape, +there was no chance to do so. He advanced to meet the sailor, and +looking him full in the face said, "Thou foolish fellow, dost thou think +to frighten me with that axe, when thy companion could not do it with +his gun? Put the axe down. Thou art resisting legal authority, and +liable to suffer severely for thy conduct." + +In a short time they became more moderate, but denied that the girl was +on board. The vessel was nearly emptied of her cargo, and Friend Hopper +peeping into the hold found her stowed away in a remote part of it. He +brought her on deck and took her with him into the boat, of which his +companions, including the constable, had retained possession. + +The girl was uncommonly handsome, with straight hair and regular +European features. No one could have guessed from her countenance that +any of her remote ancestors were Africans. + +The claimant did not make his appearance at the alderman's office. A +warrant was obtained charging him and the sailor with having resisted an +officer in the discharge of his duty. Isaac T. Hopper returned to the +sloop with a constable and brought the two men before a magistrate to +answer to this charge. They did not attempt to deny the truth of it, but +tried to excuse themselves on the plea that they resisted an attempt to +take away their property. Of course, this was of no avail, and they were +obliged to enter into bonds for their appearance at court. Being +strangers in the city, it was difficult to obtain bail, and there seemed +to be no alternative but a prison. However, as there must unavoidably be +considerable trouble and delay in procuring all the necessary evidence +concerning the birth of the alleged slave, her friends agreed to dismiss +them, if they would pay all expenses, give each of the officers five +dollars, and manumit the girl. Under existing circumstances, they were +glad to avail themselves of the offer; and so the affair was settled. + + + + +ZEKE. + + +A man by the name of Daniel Godwin, in the lower part of Delaware, made +a business of buying slaves running; taking the risk of losing the small +sums paid for them under such circumstances. In the year 1806, he +purchased in this way a slave named Ezekiel, familiarly called Zeke. He +went to Philadelphia, and called on Isaac T. Hopper; thinking if he knew +where the man was, he would be glad to have his freedom secured on +moderate terms. While they were talking together, a black man happened +to walk in, and leaning on the counter looked up in Mr. Godwin's face +all the time he was telling the story of his bargain. When he had done +speaking, he said, "How do you do, Mr. Godwin? Don't you know me?" + +The speculator answered that he did not. + +"Then you don't remember a man that lived with your neighbor, Mr.----?" +continued he. + +Mr. Godwin was at first puzzled to recollect whom he meant; but when he +had specified the time, and various other particulars, he said he did +remember such a person. + +"Well," answered the black man, "I am he; and I am Zeke's brother." + +The speculator inquired whether he knew where he was. + +He replied, "O yes, Mr. Godwin, I know where he is, well enough. But I'm +sorry you've bought Zeke. You'll never make anything out of him. A bad +speculation, Mr. Godwin." + +"Why, what's the matter with Zeke?" asked the trader. + +"O, these blacks come to Philadelphia and they get into bad company," +replied he. "They are afraid to be seen in the day-time, and so they go +prowling about in the night. I'm very sorry you've bought Zeke. He'll +never do you one cent's worth of good. A bad speculation, Mr. Godwin." + +The prospect seemed rather discouraging, and the trader said, "Come now, +suppose you buy Zeke yourself? I'll sell him low." + +"If I bought him, I should only have to maintain him into the bargain," +replied the black man. "He's my brother, to be sure; but then he'll +never be good for anything." + +"Perhaps he would behave better if he was free," urged Mr. Godwin. + +"That's the only chance there is of his ever doing any better," +responded the colored man. "But I'm very doubtful about it. If I should +make up my mind to give him a chance, what would you be willing to sell +him for?" + +The speculator named one hundred and fifty dollars. + +"Poh! Poh!" exclaimed the other. "I tell you Zeke will never be worth a +cent to you or anybody else. A hundred and fifty dollars, indeed!" + +The parley continued some time longer, and the case seemed such a +hopeless one, that Mr. Godwin finally agreed to take sixty dollars. The +colored man went off, and soon returned with the required sum. Isaac T. +Hopper drew up a deed of manumission, in which the purchaser requested +him to insert that Zeke was now commonly called Samuel Johnson. The +money was paid, and the deed signed with all necessary formalities. When +the business was entirely completed, the colored man said, "Zeke is now +free, is he?" When Mr. Godwin answered, "Yes," he turned to Friend +Hopper and repeated the question: "Zeke is free, and nobody can take +him; can they, Mr. Hopper? If he was here, he would be in no danger; +would he?" + +Friend Hopper replied, "Wherever Zeke may now be, I assure thee he is +free." + +Being thus assured, the black man made a low bow, and with a droll +expression of countenance said, "I hope you are very well, Mr. Godwin. I +am happy to see you, sir. I am Zeke!" + +The speculator, finding himself thus outwitted, flew into a violent +rage. He seized Zeke by the collar, and began to threaten and abuse him. +But the colored man shook his fist at him, and said, "If you don't let +me go, Mr. Godwin, I'll knock you down. I'm a free citizen of these +United States; and I won't be insulted in this way by anybody." + +Friend Hopper interfered between them, and Mr. Godwin agreed to go +before a magistrate to have the case examined. When the particulars had +been recounted, the magistrate answered, "You have been outwitted, sir. +Zeke is now as free as any man in this room." + +There was something so exhilarating in the consciousness of being his +own man, that Zeke began to "feel his oats," as the saying is. He said +to the magistrate, "May it please your honor to grant me a warrant +against Mr. Godwin? He violently seized me by the collar; thus +committing assault and battery on a free citizen of these United +States." + +Friend Hopper told him he had better be satisfied with that day's work, +and let Mr. Godwin go home. He yielded to this expostulation, though he +might have made considerable trouble by insisting upon retaliation. + + + + +POOR AMY. + + +A Frenchman named M. Bouilla resided in Spring Garden, Philadelphia, in +the year 1806. He and a woman, who had lived with him some time, had in +their employ a mulatto girl of nine years old, called Amy. Dreadful +stories were in circulation concerning their cruel treatment to this +child; and compassionate neighbors had frequently solicited Friend +Hopper's interference. After a while, he heard they were about to send +her into the country; and fearing she might be sold into slavery, he +called upon M. Bouilla to inquire whither she was going. As soon as he +made known his business, the door was unceremoniously slammed in his +face and locked. A note was then sent to the Frenchman, asking for a +friendly interview; but he returned a verbal answer. "Tell Mr. Hopper to +mind his own business." + +Considering it his business to protect an abused child, he applied to a +magistrate for a warrant, and proceeded to the house, accompanied by his +friend Thomas Harrison and a constable. As soon as they entered the +door, M. Bouilla ran up-stairs, and arming himself with a gun, +threatened to shoot whoever advanced toward him. Being blind, however, +he could only point the gun at random in the direction of their voices, +or of any noise which might reach his ear. The officer refused to +attempt his arrest under such peril; saying, he was under no obligation +to risk his life. Friend Hopper expostulated with the Frenchman, +explained the nature of their errand, and urged him to come down and +have the matter inquired into in an amicable way. But he would not +listen, and persisted in swearing he would shoot the first person who +attempted to come near him. At last, Friend Hopper took off his shoes, +stepped up-stairs very softly and quickly, and just as the Frenchman +became aware of his near approach, he seized the gun and held it over +his shoulder. It discharged instantly, and shattered the plastering of +the stairway, making it fly in all directions. There arose a loud cry, +"Mr. Hopper's killed! Mr. Hopper's killed!" + +The gun being thus rendered harmless, the Frenchman was soon arrested, +and they all proceeded to the magistrate's office, accompanied by +several of the neighbors. There was abundant evidence that the child +had been half starved, unmercifully beaten, and tortured in various +ways. Indeed, she was such a poor, emaciated, miserable looking object, +that her appearance was of itself enough to prove the cruel treatment +she had received. When the case had been fully investigated, the +magistrate ordered her to be consigned to the care of Isaac T. Hopper, +who hastened home with her, being anxious lest his wife should +accidentally hear the rumor that he had been shot. + +He afterwards ascertained that Amy was daughter of the white woman who +had aided in thus shamefully abusing her. He kept her in his family till +she became well and strong, and then bound her to one of his friends in +the country to serve till she was eighteen. She grew up a very pretty +girl, and deported herself to the entire satisfaction of the family. +When her period of service had expired, she returned to Philadelphia, +where her conduct continued very exemplary. She frequently called to see +Friend Hopper, and often expressed gratitude to him for having rescued +her from such a miserable condition. + + + + +MANUEL. + + +Manuel was an active, intelligent slave in North Carolina. His master, +Mr. Joseph Spear, a tar manufacturer, employed him to transport tar, and +other produce of the place, down Tar river to Tarborough. After +laboring several years for another's benefit, Manuel began to feel +anxious to derive some advantage from his own earnings. He had children, +and it troubled him to think that they must live and die in slavery. He +was acquainted with a colored man in the neighborhood, named Samuel +Curtis, who had a certificate of freedom drawn up by the clerk of the +county, and duly authenticated, with the county seal attached to it. +Manuel thought he could easily pass for Samuel Curtis, and make his way +to Philadelphia, if he could only obtain possession of this valuable +paper. He accordingly made him a confidant of his plans, and he bought +the certificate for two dollars. + +The next time Manuel was sent to Tarborough, he delivered the cargo as +usual, then left the boat and started for the North. He arrived safely +in Philadelphia, where he assumed the name of Samuel Curtis, and earned +a living by sweeping chimneys. In a short time, he had several boys in +his employ, and laid by money. When he had been going on thus for about +two years, he was suddenly met in the street by one of the neighbors of +his old master, who immediately arrested him as a fugitive from slavery. +He was taken before Robert Wharton, then mayor. The stranger declared +that the colored man he had seized was a slave, belonging to one of his +near neighbors in North Carolina. Samuel denied that he was a slave, +and showed his certificate of freedom. The stranger admitted that the +document was authentic, but he insisted that the real name of the person +who had possession of the paper was Manuel. He said he knew him +perfectly well, and also knew Samuel Curtis, who was a free colored man +in his neighborhood. The mayor decided that he could not receive parole +evidence in contradiction to a public record; and Samuel Curtis was set +at liberty. + +To the honor of this worthy magistrate be it recorded that during forty +years whilst he was alderman in Philadelphia, and twenty years that he +was mayor, he never once surrendered a fugitive slave to his claimant, +though frequently called upon to do so. He used to tell Friend Hopper +that he could not conscientiously do it; that he would rather resign his +office. He often remarked that the Declaration, "All men are created +equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable +rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;" +appeared to him based on a sacred principle, paramount to all law. + +When Samuel Curtis was discharged, he deemed it expedient to go to +Boston; thinking he might be safer there than in Philadelphia. But he +had not been there many days, before he met the same man who had +previously arrested him; and he by no means felt sure that the mayor of +that city would prove as friendly to the colored people as was Robert +Wharton. To add to his troubles, some villain broke open his trunk while +he was absent from his lodgings, and stole a hundred and fifty dollars +of his hard earnings. The poor fugitive began to think there was no safe +resting-place for him on the face of the earth. He returned to +Philadelphia disconsolate and anxious. He was extremely diligent and +frugal, and every year he contrived to save some money, which he put out +at interest in safe hands. At last, he was able to purchase a small lot +in Powell-street, on which he built a good three-story brick house, +where he lived with his apprentices, and let some of the rooms at a good +profit. + +In 1807, he called upon Friend Hopper and told him that his eagerness to +make money had chiefly arisen from a strong desire to redeem his +children from bondage. But being a slave himself, he said it was +impossible for him to go in search of them, unless his own manumission +could be obtained. It happened that a friend of Isaac T. Hopper was +going to North Carolina. He agreed to see the master and ascertain what +could be done. Mr. Spear never expected to hear from his slave again, +and the proposition to buy him after so many years had elapsed, seemed +like finding a sum of money. He readily agreed to make out a bill of +sale for one hundred dollars, which was immediately paid. + +The first use Samuel Curtis made of the freedom he had purchased was to +set off for the South in search of his children. To protect himself as +much as possible from the perils of such an undertaking, he obtained a +certificate of good character, signed by the mayor of Philadelphia, and +several of the most respectable citizens. They also gave him "a pass" +stating the object of his journey, and commending him to the protecting +kindness of those among whom he might find it necessary to travel. With +these he carefully packed his deed of manumission, and set forth on his +errand of paternal love. When he went to take leave of Friend Hopper, he +was much agitated. He clasped his hand fervently, and the tears flowed +fast down his weather-beaten cheeks. "I know I am going into the midst +of danger," said he. "Perhaps I may be seized and sold into slavery. But +I am willing to hazard everything, even my own liberty, if I can only +secure the freedom of my children. I have been a slave myself, and I +know what slaves suffer. Farewell! Farewell, my good friend. May God +bless you, and may he restore to me my children. Then I shall be a happy +man." + +He started on his journey, and went directly to his former master to +obtain information. He did not at first recognize his old servant. But +when he became convinced that the person before him was the identical +Manuel, who had formerly been his slave, he seemed pleased to see him, +entertained him kindly, and inquired how he had managed to get money +enough to buy his children. + +The real Samuel Curtis, who sold him the certificate of freedom, was +dead; and since he could no longer be endangered by a statement of +particulars, the spurious Samuel related the whole story of his escape, +and of his subsequent struggles; concluding the whole by expressing an +earnest wish to find his children. + +Mr. Spear had sold them, some years before, to a man in South Carolina; +and thither the father went in search of them. On arriving at the +designated place, he found they had been sold into Georgia. He went to +Georgia, and was told they had been sold to a man in Tennessee. He +followed them into Tennessee, but there he lost all track of them. After +the most patient and diligent search, he was compelled to return home +without further tidings of them. + +As soon as he arrived in Philadelphia, he went to Isaac T. Hopper to +tell how the cherished plan of his life had been frustrated. He seemed +greatly dejected, and wept bitterly. "I have deprived myself of almost +every comfort," said he; "that I might save money to buy my poor +children. But now they are not to be found, and my money gives me no +satisfaction. The only consolation I have is the hope that they are all +dead." + +The bereaved old man never afterward seemed to take comfort in anything. +He sunk, into a settled melancholy, and did not long survive his +disappointment. + + + + +SLAVEHOLDERS MOLLIFIED. + + +In the winter of 1808, several Virginia planters went to Philadelphia to +search for eleven slaves, who had absconded. Most of these colored +people had been there several years, and some of them had acquired a +little property. Their masters had ascertained where they lived, and one +evening, when they returned from their accustomed labors, unconscious of +danger impending over them, they were pounced upon suddenly and conveyed +to prison. It was late at night when this took place, and Friend Hopper +did not hear of it till the next morning. + +He had risen very early, according to his usual custom, and upon opening +his front door he found a letter slipped under it, addressed to him. +This anonymous epistle informed him that eleven slaves had been +arrested, and were to be tried before Alderman Douglass that morning; +that the owners were gentlemen of wealth and high standing, and could +produce the most satisfactory evidence that the persons arrested were +their slaves; consequently Friend Hopper's attendance could be of no +possible benefit to them. It went on to say that the magistrate +understood his business, and could do justice without his assistance; +but if, notwithstanding this warning, he did attend at the magistrate's +office, for the purpose of wresting from these gentlemen their property, +his house would be burned while himself and family were asleep in it, +and his life would certainly be taken. The writer invoked the most awful +imprecations upon himself if he did not carry these threats into +execution. + +Friend Hopper was too much accustomed to such epistles to be disturbed +by them. He put it in his pocket, and said nothing about it, lest his +wife should be alarmed. A few minutes afterward, he received a message +from some colored people begging him to go to the assistance of the +fugitives; and when the trial came on, he was at the alderman's office, +of course. Richard Rush was counsel for the claimants. The colored +prisoners had no lawyer. This examination was carried on with much +earnestness and excitement. One of the Virginians failed in proof as to +the identity of the person he claimed. In the case of several others, +the power of attorney was pronounced informal by the magistrate. After a +long protracted controversy, during which Friend Hopper threw as many +difficulties in the way as possible, it was decided that four of the +persons in custody were proved to be slaves, and the other seven were +discharged. This decision greatly exasperated the Southerners, and they +vented their anger in very violent expressions. The constables employed +were unprincipled men, ready for any low business, provided it were +profitable. The man-hunters had engaged to give them fifty dollars for +each slave they were enabled to take back to Virginia; but they were to +receive nothing for those who were discharged. Hence, their extreme +anxiety to avoid Friend Hopper's interference. When they found that more +than half of their destined prey had slipped through their fingers, they +were furious. One of them especially raved like a madman. He had written +the anonymous letter, and was truly "a lewd fellow of the baser sort." + +Friend Hopper's feelings were too much interested for those who had been +decreed slaves, to think anything of the abuse bestowed on himself. All +of them, three men and one woman, were married to free persons; and it +was heart-breaking to hear their lamentations at the prospect of being +separated forever. There was a general manifestation of sympathy, and +even the slaveholders were moved to compassion. Friend Hopper opened a +negotiation with them in behalf of the Abolition Society, and they +finally consented to manumit them all for seven hundred dollars. The +money was advanced by a Friend named Thomas Phipps, and the poor slaves +returned to their humble homes rejoicing. They repaid every farthing of +the money, and ever after manifested the liveliest gratitude to their +benefactors. + +When the anger of the Southerners had somewhat cooled, Friend Hopper +invited them to come and see him. They called, and spent the evening in +discussing the subject of slavery. When they parted from the veteran +abolitionist, it was with mutual courtesy and kindliness. They said they +respected him for acting so consistently with his own principles; and if +they held the same opinions, they should doubtless pursue the same +course. + +This was a polite concession, but it was based on a false foundation; +for it assumed that it was a mere matter of _opinion_ whether slavery +were right or wrong; whereas it is a palpable violation of immutable +principles of justice. They might as well have made the same remark +about murder or robbery, if they had lived where a selfish majority were +strong enough to get those crimes sanctioned by law and custom. The +Bedouin considers himself no robber because he forcibly takes as much +toll as he pleases from all who pass through the desert. His ancestors +established the custom, and he is not one whit the less an Arab +gentleman, because he perpetuates their peculiar institution. Perhaps he +also would say that if he held the same opinions as more honest +Mahometans, he would do as they do. In former days, custom made it +honorable to steal a neighbor's cattle, on the Scottish border; as many +Americans now deem it respectable to take children from poor defenceless +neighbors, and sell them like sheep in the market. Sir Walter Scott says +playfully, "I have my quarters and emblazonments free of all stain but +Border Theft and High Treason, which I hope are _gentlemanlike crimes_" +Yet the stealing of cattle does not now seem a very noble achievement in +the eyes of honorable Scotchmen How will the stealing of children, +within bounds prescribed by law and custom, appear to future generations +of Americans? + + + + +THE UNITED STATES BOND. + + +A planter in Virginia, being pressed for money, sold one of his +bondwomen, of sixteen years old, to a speculator who was buying up +slaves for the markets of the South and South-west. The girl was +uncommonly handsome, with smooth hair, and a complexion as light as most +white people. Her new owner, allured by her beauty, treated her with +great kindness, and made many flattering promises. She understood his +motives, and wished to escape from the degradation of such a destiny as +he had in store for her. In order to conciliate her good will, he +imposed few restraints upon her. The liberty thus allowed gave her a +favorable opportunity to abscond, which she did not fail to improve. She +travelled to Philadelphia without encountering any difficulties on the +road; for her features and complexion excited no suspicion of her being +a fugitive slave. She maintained herself very comfortably by her own +industry, and after a time married a light mulatto, who was a very sober +industrious man. He was for many years employed by Joshua Humphreys, a +ship-carpenter of great respectability in the District of Southwark. By +united industry and frugality they were enabled to build a small house +on a lot they had taken on ground rent. The furniture was simple, but +extremely neat, and all the floors were carpeted. Every thing indicated +good management and domestic comfort. + +She had been in Philadelphia thirteen years, and was the mother of a +promising family, when in 1808 she was arrested by her last master, as a +fugitive slave. The Virginian who sold her, and two other persons from +the South, attended as witnesses. Isaac T. Hopper also attended, with +his trusty friend Thomas Harrison. When the witnesses were examined, her +case appeared utterly hopeless; and in private conversation with Friend +Hopper she admitted that she was a slave to the man who claimed her. Mr. +Humphreys, pitying the distress of his honest, industrious workman, +offered to advance one hundred dollars toward purchasing her freedom. +But when Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas Harrison attempted to negotiate with +the claimant for that purpose, he treated all their offers with the +rudest contempt. They tried to work upon his feelings, by representing +the misery he would inflict on her worthy husband and innocent children; +but he turned a deaf ear to all their entreaties. They finally offered +to pay him four hundred dollars for a deed of manumission, which at that +time was considered a very high price; but he stopped all further +discussion by declaring, with a violent oath, that he would not sell her +on _any_ terms. Of course, there was nothing to be done, but to await +the issue of the trial. + +When the magistrate asked the woman whether she were a slave, Friend +Hopper promptly objected to her answering that question, unless he would +agree to receive as evidence _all_ she might say. He declined doing +that. Friend Hopper then made some remarks, in the course of which he +said, "The most honest witnesses are often mistaken as to the identity +of persons. It surprises me that the witnesses in this case should be so +very positive, when the woman was but sixteen years old at the time they +say she eloped, and such a long period has since elapsed. + +"The question at stake is as important as life itself to this woman, to +her honest husband, and to her poor little innocent children. For my +own part, I conscientiously believe she has a _just_ claim to her +freedom." + +All this time, the woman stood holding her little girl and boy by the +hand. She was deeply dejected, but her manners were as calm and +dignified, as if she had been one of the best educated ladies in the +land. The children were too young to understand the terrible doom that +threatened their mother, but they perceived that their parents were in +some great trouble, and the little creatures wept in sympathy. + +When Friend Hopper described this scene forty years afterward, he used +to say, "I shall never forget the anguish expressed in her handsome +countenance, as she looked down upon her children. I see it as plainly +as if it all happened yesterday." + +At the time, it was almost too much for his sympathizing heart to +endure. He felt like moving heaven and earth to rescue her. The trial +came on in the afternoon, and it happened that the presiding magistrate +was accustomed to drink rather freely of wine after dinner. Friend +Hopper perceived that his mental faculties were slightly confused, and +that the claimant was a heavy, stupid-looking fellow. With these +thoughts there suddenly flashed through his brain the plan of eluding an +iniquitous law, in order to sustain a higher law of justice and +humanity. He asked to have the case adjourned till the next day, that +there might be further opportunity to inquire into it; adding, "Thomas +Harrison and myself will be responsible to the United States for this +woman's appearance to-morrow. In case of forfeiture, we will agree to +pay any sum that may be deemed reasonable." + +The claimant felt perfectly sure of his prey, and made no objection to +the proposed arrangement. It was accordingly entered on the docket that +Thomas Harrison and Isaac T. Hopper were bound to the United States, in +the sum of one thousand dollars, to produce the woman for further trial +at nine o'clock the next morning. + +When Friend Hopper had obtained a copy of the recognizance, signed by +the magistrate, he chuckled inwardly and marched out of the office. If +there was a flaw in anything, Thomas Harrison had a jocose way of +saying, "There is a hole in the ballad." As they went into the street +together, his friend said, "Thomas, there's a hole in the ballad. The +recognizance we have just signed is good for nothing. The United States +have not the slightest claim upon that woman." + +The next morning, at nine o'clock all parties, except the woman, were at +the mayor's office. After waiting for her about an hour, the magistrate +said, "Well gentlemen, the woman does not make her appearance, and I +shall be obliged to forfeit your recognizance." + +"A thousand dollars is a large sum to lose," rejoined Friend Hopper. +"But if it comes to the worst, I suppose we must make up our minds to +pay the United States all the claim they have upon us." + +"The United States! The United States!" exclaimed the magistrate +quickly. He turned to look at his docket, and after a slight pause he +said to the claimant, "There is difficulty here. You had better employ +counsel." + +Thomas Ross, a respectable lawyer, who lived a few doors above, was +summoned, and soon made his appearance. Having heard the particulars of +the case briefly stated, he also examined the docket; then turning to +Isaac T. Hopper, with a comical gesture and tone, he exclaimed, "Eh!" To +the claimant he said, "You must catch your slave again if you can; for +you can do nothing with these securities." + +Of course, the master was very angry, and so was the magistrate, who had +inadvertently written the recognizance just as it was dictated to him. +They charged Friend Hopper with playing a trick upon them, and +threatened to prosecute him. He told them he had no fears concerning a +prosecution; and if he _had_ played a trick, he thought it was better +than to see a helpless woman torn from husband and children and sent +into slavery. + +The magistrate asked, "How could you say you believed the woman had a +right to her freedom? You have brought forward no evidence whatever to +prove your assertion." + +He replied, "I did not say I believed she had a _legal_ right to her +freedom. That she had a _just_ right to it, I did believe; for I think +every human being has a just claim to freedom, unless guilty of some +crime. The system of slavery is founded on the grossest and most +manifest injustice." + +"It is sanctioned by the law of the land," answered the claimant; "and +you have no right to fly in the face of the laws." + +Friend Hopper contented himself with saying, "If I have broken any law, +I stand ready to meet the consequences. But no law can make wrong +right." + +The speculator spent several days in fruitless search after the +fugitive. When he had relinquished all hopes of finding her, he called +on Isaac T. Hopper and offered to manumit her for four hundred dollars. +He replied, "At one time, we would gladly have given that sum; but now +the circumstances of the case are greatly changed, and we cannot consent +to give half that amount." After considerable controversy he finally +agreed to take one hundred and fifty dollars. The money was paid, and +the deed of manumission made out in due form. At parting, the claimant +said, with a very bitter smile, "I hope I may live to see you south of +the Potomac some day." + +Friend Hopper replied, "Thou hadst better go home and repent of sins +already committed, instead of meditating the commission of more." + +When telling this story in after years, he was wont to say, "I am aware +that some will disapprove of the part I acted in that case; because they +will regard it as inconsistent with the candor which men ought always to +practice toward each other. I can only say that my own conscience has +never condemned me for it. I could devise no other means to save the +poor victim." + +Before we decide to blame Friend Hopper more than he blamed himself in +this matter, it would be well to imagine how we ourselves should have +felt, if we had been witnesses of the painful scene, instead of reading +it in cool blood, after a lapse of years. If a handsome and modest woman +stood before us with her weeping little ones, asking permission to lead +a quiet and virtuous life, and a pitiless law was about to tear her from +husband and children and consign her to the licentious tyrant from whom +she had escaped, should we not be strongly tempted to evade such a law +by any means that offered at the moment? + +It would be wiser to expend our moral indignation on statesmen who +sanction and sustain laws so wicked, that just and kind-hearted citizens +are compelled either to elude them, or to violate their own honest +convictions and the best emotions of their hearts. + + + + +THE TENDER MERCIES OF A SLAVEHOLDER. + + +In the year of 1808 a Southerner arrested a fugitive slave in +Philadelphia and committed him to prison. When he called for him, with +authority to take him back to the South, the poor fellow seemed +dreadfully distressed. He told the keeper that his master was very +severe, and he knew that terrible sufferings awaited him if he was again +placed in his power. He hesitated long before he followed the keeper to +the iron gate, through which he was to pass out of prison. When he saw +his oppressor standing there with fetters in his hand, ready to take him +away, he stopped and pleaded in the most piteous tones for permission to +find a purchaser in Philadelphia. His owner took not the slightest +notice of these humble entreaties, but in a peremptory manner ordered +him to come out. The slave trembled all over, and said in the fainting +accents of despair, "Master, I _can't_ go with you!" + +"Come out, you black rascal!" exclaimed the inexorable tyrant. "Come out +immediately!" + +The poor wretch advanced timidly a few steps, then turned back +suddenly, as if overcome with mortal fear. The master became very +impatient, and in angry vociferous tones commanded the keeper to bring +him out by force. + +All this time, the keeper had stood with his hand on the key of the iron +door, very reluctant to open it. But at last he unlocked it, and told +the poor terrified creature that he must go. He rushed to the door in +the frenzy of desperation, gazed in his master's face for an instant, +then flew back, took a sharp knife, which he had concealed about him, +and drew it across his throat with such force, that he fell senseless +near his master's feet, spattering his garments with blood. All those +who witnessed this awful scene, supposed the man was dead. Dr. Church, +physician of the prison, examined the wound, and said there was scarcely +a possibility that he could survive, though the wind-pipe was not +entirely separated. But even the terrible admonition of that ghastly +spectacle produced no relenting feelings in the hard heart of the +slaveholder. He still demanded to have his victim delivered up to him. +When the keeper declined doing it, and urged the reason that the +physician said he could not be moved without imminent danger to his +life, the brutal tyrant exclaimed, "Damn him! He's my property; and I +_will_ have him, dead or alive. If he dies, it's nobody's loss but +mine." + +As he had the mayor's warrant for taking him, the keeper dared not incur +the responsibility of disobeying his requisitions. He convened the +inspectors for consultation; and they all agreed that any attempt to +remove the wounded man would render them accessory to his death. They +laid the case before the mayor, who ordered that the prisoner should +remain undisturbed till the physician pronounced him out of danger. When +the master was informed of this, he swore that nobody had any right to +interfere between him and his property. He cursed the mayor, threatened +to prosecute the keeper, and was in a furious rage with every body. + +Meanwhile, the sympathy of Isaac T. Hopper was strongly excited in the +case, and he obtained a promise from the physician that he would let him +know if there was any chance that the slave would recover. Contrary to +all expectation, he lingered along day after day; and in about a week, +the humane physician signified to Friend Hopper, and Joseph Price, one +of the inspectors, that a favorable result might now be anticipated. Of +course, none of them considered it a duty to inform the master of their +hopes. They undertook to negotiate for the purchase of the prisoner, and +obtained him for a moderate price. The owner was fully impressed with +the belief that he would die before long, and therefore regarded the +purchase of him as a mere freak of humanity, by which he was willing +enough to profit. When he heard soon afterward that the doctor +pronounced him out of danger, he was greatly enraged. But his suffering +victim was beyond the reach of his fury, which vented itself in harmless +execrations. + +The colored man lived many years, to enjoy the liberty for which he had +been willing to sacrifice his life. He was a sober, honest, +simple-hearted person, and always conducted in a manner entirely +satisfactory to those who had befriended him in his hour of utmost need. + + + + +THE FOREIGN SLAVE. + + +Early in the year of 1808, a Frenchman arrived in Philadelphia from one +of the West India Islands, bringing with him a slave, whom he took +before one of the aldermen, and had him bound to serve him seven years +in Virginia. When the indenture was executed, he committed his bondman +to prison, for safe-keeping, until he was ready to leave the city. One +of the keepers informed Isaac T. Hopper of the circumstance, and told +him the slave was to be carried South the next morning. + +Congress had passed an Act prohibiting the importation of slaves, which +was to begin to take effect at the commencement of the year 1808. It +immediately occurred to Friend Hopper that the present case came within +the act; and if so, the colored man was of course legally entitled to +freedom. In order to detain him till he could examine the law, and take +advice on the subject, he procured a warrant for debt and lodged it at +the prison, telling the keeper not to let the colored man go till he had +paid his demand of a hundred dollars. + +When the Frenchman called for his slave next morning, they refused to +discharge him; and he obtained a writ of _habeas corpus_, to bring the +case before the mayor's court. Friend Hopper was informed that the slave +was on trial, that the Recorder did not think it necessary to notify +him, and had made very severe remarks concerning the fictitious debt +assumed for the occasion. He proceeded directly to the court, which was +thronged with people, who watched him with lively curiosity, and made a +lane for him to pass through. Mahlon Dickinson, the Recorder, was in the +act of giving his decision on the case, and he closed his remarks by +saying, "The conduct of Mr. Hopper has been highly reprehensible. The +man is not his debtor; and the pretence that he was so could have been +made for no other reason but to cause unnecessary delay, vexation, and +expense." The lawyers smiled at each other, and seemed not a little +pleased at hearing him so roughly rebuked; for many of them had been +more or less annoyed by his skill and ready wit in tangling their +skein, in cases where questions of freedom were involved. Friend Hopper +stood before the Recorder, looking him steadfastly in the face, while he +was making animadversions on his conduct; and when he had finished, he +respectfully asked leave to address the court for a few minutes. + +"Well, Mr. Hopper," said the Recorder, "what have you to say in +justification of your very extraordinary proceedings?" + +He replied, "It is true the man is not my debtor; but the court has +greatly erred in supposing that the step I have taken was merely +intended to produce unnecessary delay and expense. The Recorder will +doubtless recollect that Congress has passed an act prohibiting the +introduction of foreign slaves into this country. It is my belief that +the case now before the court is embraced within the provisions of that +act. But I needed time to ascertain the point; and I assumed that the +man was my debtor merely to detain him until the Act of Congress could +be examined." + +Jared Ingersoll, an old and highly respectable lawyer, rose to say, "May +it please your honors, I believe Mr. Hopper is correct in his opinion. A +National Intelligencer containing the Act of Congress is at my office, +and I will send for it if you wish." The paper was soon brought, and +Friend Hopper read aloud the section which Mr. Ingersoll pointed out; +placing strong emphasis on such portions as bore upon the case then +pending. When he had concluded, he observed, "I presume the court must +now be convinced that the censures so liberally bestowed on my conduct +are altogether unmerited." + +The counsel for the claimant said a newspaper was not legal evidence of +the existence of a law. Friend Hopper replied, "The court is well aware +that I am no lawyer. But I have heard lawyers talk about _prima facie_ +evidence; and I should suppose the National Intelligencer amounted at +least to that sort of evidence, for it is the acknowledged organ of +government, in which the laws are published for the information of +citizens. But if that is not satisfactory, I presume the court will +detain the man until an authenticated copy of the law can be obtained." + +After some discussion, the court ordered a copy of the law to be +procured; but the attorney abandoned the case, and the slave was set at +liberty. + +As soon as this decision was announced, the throng of spectators, white +and colored, began to shout, "Hurra for Mr. Hopper!" The populace were +so accustomed to see him come off victorious from such contests, that +they began to consider his judgment infallible. + +Many years afterward, when Friend Hopper met Mahlon Dickinson on board +a steam-boat, he inquired whether he recollected the scolding he gave +him on a certain occasion. He replied pleasantly, "Indeed I do. I +thought I _had_ you that time, and I intended to give it to you; but you +slipped through my fingers, as usual." + + + + +THE NEW-JERSEY SLAVE. + + +In the year 1809, a gentleman from East New-Jersey visited Philadelphia, +and brought a young slave to wait upon him. When they had been in that +city four or five months, the lad called upon Isaac T. Hopper to inquire +whether his residence in Philadelphia had made him free. He was informed +that he would not have a legal claim to freedom till he had been there +six months. Just as the term expired, somebody told the master that the +laws of Pennsylvania conferred freedom on slaves under such +circumstances. He had been ignorant of the fact, or had forgotten it, +and as soon as he received the information he became alarmed lest he +should lose his locomotive property. He sent for a constable, who came +to his door with a carriage. The lad had just come up from the cellar +with an armful of wood. When he entered the parlor, the constable +ordered him to put it down and go with him. He threw the wood directly +at the legs of the officer, and ran down cellar full speed, slamming the +door after him. As soon as the constable could recover from the blow he +had received, he followed the lad into the cellar; but he had escaped by +another door, and gone to Isaac T. Hopper. + +It was snowing fast, and when he arrived there in his shirt sleeves, his +black wool plentifully powdered with snow, he was a laughable object to +look upon. But his countenance showed that he was too thoroughly +frightened and distressed to be a subject of mirth to any compassionate +heart. Friend Hopper tried to comfort him by promising that he would +protect him, and assuring him that he was now legally free. His +agitation subsided in a short time, and he began to laugh heartily to +think how he had upset the constable. The master soon came to Friend +Hopper's house, described the lad's dress and appearance, and inquired +whether he had seen him. He admitted that he had, but declined telling +where he was. The master made some severe remarks about the meanness of +tampering with gentlemen's servants, and went away. In about half an +hour he returned with the constable and said Alderman Kepler desired his +respects to Isaac T. Hopper, and wished to see him at his office. He +replied, "I think it likely that Alderman Kepler has not much more +respect for me than I have for him. If he has more _business_ with me +than I have with him, I am at home, and can be spoken with." + +The master went away, but soon returned with two constables and a +lawyer, who was very clamorous in his threats of what would be the +consequences if the slave was not at once surrendered to the gentleman. +One of the officers said he had a warrant to search the house. "Very +well," replied Friend Hopper, "execute it." + +"I have great respect for you," rejoined the officer. "I should be sorry +to search your house by virtue of the warrant. I hope you will consent +to my doing so without." + +"There is no need of delicacy on this occasion," replied Friend Hopper. +"Thou hadst better proceed to the extent of thy authority." + +"You give your consent, do you?" inquired the officer. + +He answered, "No, I do not. If thou hast a warrant, of course my consent +is not necessary. Proceed to the full extent of thy authority. But if +thou goest one inch beyond, thou wilt have reason to repent of it." + +The party left the house utterly discomfited. He afterward learned that +they had applied for a search-warrant, but could not procure one. + +The first step in the process of securing the lad's freedom was to +obtain proof that he had been in Philadelphia six months. The landlord +of the hotel where the master lodged, refused to say anything on the +subject, being unwilling to offend his lodger. But the servants were +under no such prudential restraint; and from them Friend Hopper obtained +testimony sufficient for his purpose. He then wrote a note to the +alderman that he would be at his office with the lad at nine o'clock +next morning, and requesting him to inform the claimant. In the mean +time, he procured a writ of _habeas corpus_, to have it in readiness in +case circumstances required it. The claimant made his appearance at the +appointed hour, and stated how he had come to Philadelphia on a visit, +and brought a slave to attend upon him. He descanted quite largely upon +the courtesy due from citizens of one state to those of another state. + +Friend Hopper was about to reply, when the magistrate interrupted him by +saying, "I shall not interfere with the citizens of other states. I +shall surrender the boy to his master. If he thinks he has a legal claim +to his freedom, let him prosecute it in New-Jersey." + +Friend Hopper said nothing, but gave a signal to have the writ served. +The magistrate was highly offended, and asked in an angry tone, "What +was your object in procuring a writ of _habeas corpus_?" + +Friend Hopper replied, "From my knowledge of thee, I anticipated the +result that has just occurred; and I determined to remove the case to a +tribunal where I had confidence that justice would be done in the +premises." + +The Court of Common Pleas was then in session. The case was brought +before it the next day, and after the examination of two or three +witnesses, the lad was declared free. + + + + +A SLAVE HUNTER DEFEATED. + + +In 1810, a slave escaped from Virginia to Philadelphia. In a few months, +his master heard where he was, and caused him to be arrested. He was a +fine looking young man, apparently about thirty years old. When he was +brought before Alderman Shoemaker, that magistrate's sympathy was so +much excited, that he refused to try the case unless some one was +present to defend the slave. Isaac T. Hopper was accordingly sent for. +When he had heard a statement of the case, he asked the agent of the +slaveholder to let him examine the Power of Attorney by which he had +been authorized to arrest a "fugitive from labor," and carry him to +Virginia. The agent denied his right to interfere, but Alderman +Shoemaker informed him that Mr. Hopper was a member of the Emancipation +Society, and had a right to be satisfied. + +The Power of Attorney was correctly drawn, and had been acknowledged in +Washington, before Bushrod Washington, one of the judges of the Supreme +Court of the United States. Friend Hopper's keen eye could detect no +available flaw in it. When the agent had been sworn to answer truly all +questions relating to the case, he inquired whether the fugitive he was +in search of had been advertised; if so, he wished to see the +advertisement. It was handed to him, and he instantly noticed that it +was headed "Sixty Dollars Reward." + +"Art thou to receive sixty dollars for apprehending the man mentioned in +this advertisement?" said he. + +The agent replied, "I am to receive that sum provided I take him home to +Virginia." + +"How canst thou prove that the man thou hast arrested is the one here +advertised?" inquired he. + +The agent answered that he could swear to the fact. + +"That may be," rejoined Friend Hopper; "but in Philadelphia we do not +allow any person, especially a stranger, to swear sixty dollars into his +own pocket. Unless there is better evidence than thy oath, the man must +be set at liberty." + +The agent became extremely irritated, and said indignantly, "Do you +think I would swear to a lie?" + +"Thou art a stranger to me," replied Friend Hopper. "I don't know +whether thou wouldst swear falsely or not. But there is one thing I do +know; and that is, I am not willing to trust thee." + +The agent reiterated, "I know the man standing there as well as I know +any man living. I am perfectly sure he is the slave described in the +advertisement. I was overseer for the gentleman who owns him. If you +examine his back, you will find scars of the whip." + +"And perhaps thou art the man who made the scars, if he has any," +rejoined the Friend. + +Without replying to this suggestion, the slave-hunter ordered the +colored man to strip, that his back might be examined by the court. +Friend Hopper objected to such a proceeding. "Thou hast produced no +evidence that the man thou hast arrested is a slave," said he. "Thou and +he are on the same footing before this court. We have as good a right to +examine thy back, as are have to examine his." He added, with a very +significant tone, "In some places, they whip for kidnapping." + +This remark put the slave-hunter in a violent rage. The magistrate +decided that his evidence was not admissible, on the ground that he was +interested. He then proposed to summon two witnesses from a Virginian +vessel lying at one of the wharves. + +"Of course thou art at liberty to go for witnesses," replied Friend +Hopper. "But I appeal to the magistrate to discharge this man. Under +present circumstances, he ought not to be detained a single moment." The +alderman needed no urging on that point. He very promptly discharged the +prisoner. As soon as he left the office, the slave-hunter seized hold of +him, and swore he would keep him till witnesses were brought. But Friend +Hopper walked up to him, and said in his resolute way, "Let go thy hold! +or I will take such measures as will make thee repent of thy rashness. +How darest thou lay a finger upon the man after the magistrate has +discharged him?" + +Thus admonished, he reluctantly relinquished his grasp, and went off +swearing vengeance against "the meddlesome Quaker." + +Friend Hopper hastened home with the colored man, and wrote a brief +letter to his friend William Reeve, in New-Jersey, concluding with these +words: "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto the +least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." This letter was +given to the fugitive with directions how to proceed. His friend +accompanied him to the ferry, saw him safely across the river, and then +returned home. + +In an hour or two the slave-hunter came to the house, accompanied by a +constable and two witnesses from Virginia. "The slave I arrested was +seen to come here," said he. "Where is he? Produce him." + +Friend Hopper replied very quietly, "The man has been here; but he is +gone now." + +This answer made the agent perfectly furious. After discharging a volley +of oaths, he said he had a search warrant, and swore he would have the +house searched from garret to cellar. "Very well," replied Friend +Hopper, "thou art at liberty to proceed according to law; but be careful +not to overstep that boundary. If thou dost, it will be at thy peril." + +After the slave-hunter had vented his rage in a torrent of abuse, the +constable proposed to speak a few words in private. With many friendly +professions, he acknowledged that they had no search-warrant. "The +gentleman was about to obtain one from the mayor," said he; "but I +wished to save your feelings. I told him you were well acquainted with +me, and I had no doubt you would permit me to search your house without +any legal process." + +Friend Hopper listened patiently, perfectly well aware that the whole +statement was a sham. When the constable paused for a reply, he opened +the door, and said very concisely, "Thou art at liberty to go about thy +business." + +They spent several days searching for the fugitive, but their efforts +were unavailing. + + + + +MARY MORRIS. + + +A woman, who was born too early to derive benefit from the gradual +emancipation law of Pennsylvania, escaped from bondage in Lancaster +County to Philadelphia. There she married a free colored man by the name +of Abraham Morris. They lived together very comfortably for several +years, and seemed to enjoy life as much as many of their more wealthy +neighbors. But in the year 1810, it unfortunately happened that Mary's +master ascertained where she lived, and sent a man to arrest her, with +directions either to sell her, or bring her back to him. + +Abraham Morris was a very intelligent, industrious man, and had laid up +some money. He offered one hundred and fifty dollars of his earnings to +purchase the freedom of his wife. The sum was accepted, and the parties +applied to Daniel Bussier, a magistrate in the District of Southwark, to +draw up a deed of manumission. The money was paid, and the deed given; +but the agent employed to sell the woman absconded with the money. The +master, after waiting several months and not hearing from him, sent to +Philadelphia and caused Mary Morris to be arrested again. She was taken +to the office of Daniel Bussier, and notwithstanding he had witnessed +her deed of manumission a few months before, he committed her to prison +as a fugitive slave. When her husband called upon Isaac T. Hopper and +related all the circumstances, he thought there must be some mistake; +for he could not believe that any magistrate would be so unjust and +arbitrary, as to commit a woman to prison as a fugitive, when he had +seen the money paid for her ransom, and the deed of manumission given. +He went to Mr. Bussier immediately, and very civilly told him that he +had called to make inquiry concerning a colored woman committed to +prison as a fugitive slave on the evening previous. + +"Go out of my office!" said the undignified magistrate. "I want nothing +to do with you." + +He replied, "I come here as the friend and adviser of the woman's +husband. My request is reasonable, and I trust thou wilt not refuse it." + +In answer to this appeal, Mr. Bussier merely repeated, "Go out of my +office!" + +Friend Hopper offered him half a dollar, saying, "I want an extract from +thy docket. Here is the lawful fee." + +All this time, Mr. Bussier had been under the hands of a barber, who was +cutting his hair. He became extremely irritated, and said, "If you won't +leave this office, I will put you out, as soon as I have taken the seat +of justice." + +"I wish thou wouldst take the seat of justice," replied Friend Hopper; +"for then I should obtain what I want; but if thou dost, I apprehend it +will be for the first time." + +Mr. Bussier sprang hastily from his chair, and seated himself at the +magisterial desk, which was raised about a foot from the floor, and +surrounded by a railing. Conceiving himself now armed with the thunders +of the law, he called out, in tones of authority, "Mr. Hopper, I command +you to quit this office!" + +The impassive Quaker stood perfectly still, and pointing to Abraham +Morris, he again tendered the half dollar, saying, "I want an extract +from thy docket, in the case of this man's wife. Here is the lawful fee +for it. Please give it to me." + +This quiet perseverance deprived the excited magistrate of what little +patience he had left. He took the importunate petitioner by the +shoulders, pushed him into the street, and shut the door. + +Friend Hopper then applied to Jacob Rush, President of the Court of +Common Pleas for a writ of _habeas corpus._ The woman was brought before +him, and when he had heard the particulars of the case, and examined her +deed of manumission, he immediately discharged her, to the great joy of +herself and husband. + +Friend Hopper thought it might be a useful lesson for Mr. Bussier to +learn that his "little brief authority" had boundaries which could not +be passed with impunity. He accordingly had him indicted for assault +and battery. He and his political friends were a good deal ashamed of +his conduct, and finally, after many delays in bringing on the trial, +and various attempts to hush up the matter, Mr. Bussier called upon +Friend Hopper to say that he deeply regretted the course he had pursued. +His apology was readily accepted, and the case dismissed; he agreeing to +pay the costs. + + + + +THE SLAVE MOTHER. + + +Gassy was slave to a merchant in Baltimore, by the name of Claggett. She +had reason to believe that her master was about to sell her to a +speculator, who was making up a coffle for the markets of the far South. +The terror felt in view of such a prospect can be understood by slaves +only. She resolved to escape; and watching a favorable opportunity, she +succeeded in reaching the neighborhood of Haddonfield, New Jersey. There +she obtained service in a very respectable family. She was honest, +steady, and industrious, and made many friends by her cheerful, obliging +manners. But her heart was never at rest; for she had left in Baltimore +a babe little more than a year old. She had not belonged to an unusually +severe master; but she had experienced quite enough of the sufferings of +slavery to dread it for her child. Her thoughts dwelt so much on this +painful subject, that her naturally cheerful character became extremely +saddened. She at last determined to make a bold effort to save her +little one from the liability of being sold, like a calf or pig in the +shambles. She went to see Isaac T. Hopper and communicated to him her +plan. He tried to dissuade her; for he considered the project extremely +dangerous, and well nigh hopeless. But the mother's heart yearned for +her babe, and the incessant longing stimulated her courage to incur all +hazards. To Baltimore she went; her pulses throbbing hard and fast, with +the double excitement of hope and fear. She arrived safely, and went +directly to the house of a colored family, old friends of hers, in whom +she could confide with perfect safety. To her great joy, she found that +they approved her plan, and were ready to assist her. Arrangements were +soon made to convey the child to a place about twenty miles from +Baltimore, where it would be well taken care of, till the mother could +find a safe opportunity to remove it to New Jersey. + +Before she had time to take all the steps necessary to insure success in +this undertaking, her master was informed of her being in the city, and +sent constables in pursuit of her. Luckily, her friends were apprized of +this in season to give her warning; and her own courage and ingenuity +proved adequate to the emergency. She disguised herself in sailor's +clothes, and walked boldly to the Philadelphia boat. There she walked +up and down the deck, with her arms folded, smoking a cigar, and +occasionally passing and repassing the constables who had been sent on +board in search of her. These men, having watched till the last moment +for the arrival of a colored woman answering to her description, took +their departure. The boat started, and brought the courageous mother +safely to Philadelphia, where Friend Hopper and others rejoiced over the +history of her hair-breadth escape. + +A few weeks after, she went to the place where her child had been left, +and succeeded in bringing it safely away. For a short time, her +happiness seemed to be complete; but when the first flush of joy and +thankfulness had subsided, she began to be harassed with continual fears +lest she and her child should be arrested in some evil hour, and carried +back into slavery. By unremitting industry, and very strict economy, she +strove to lay by money enough to purchase their freedom. She had made +friends by her good conduct and obliging ways, while her maternal +affection and enterprising character excited a good deal of interest +among those acquainted with her history. Donations were occasionally +added to her earnings, and a sum was soon raised sufficient to +accomplish her favorite project. Isaac T. Hopper entered into +negotiation with her master, and succeeded in obtaining manumission for +her and her child. + + + + +COLONEL RIDGELEY'S SLAVE. + + +A slave escaped from Colonel Ridgeley, who resided in the southern part +of Virginia. He went to Philadelphia, and remained there undiscovered +for several years. But he was never quite free from anxiety, lest in +some unlucky hour, he should be arrested and carried back to bondage. +When he had laid up some money, he called upon Isaac T. Hopper to assist +him in buying the free use of his own limbs. A negotiation was opened +with Col. Ridgeley, who agreed to take two hundred dollars for the +fugitive, and appointed a time to come to Philadelphia to arrange the +business. But instead of keeping his agreement honorably, he went to +that city several weeks before the specified time, watched for his +bondman, seized him, and conveyed him to Friend Hopper's office. When +the promised two hundred dollars were offered, he refused to accept +them. + +"Why, that is the sum thou hast agreed upon," said Friend Hopper. + +"I know that," replied the Colonel; "but I won't take it now. He was the +best servant I ever had. I can sell him for one thousand dollars in +Virginia. Under present circumstances, I will take five hundred dollars +for him, and not one cent less." + +After considerable discussion, Friend Hopper urged him to allow his +bondman until ten o'clock next morning, to see what could be done among +his friends; and he himself gave a written obligation that the man +should be delivered up to him at that hour, in case he could not procure +five hundred dollars to purchase his freedom. + +When the master was gone, Friend Hopper said to the alarmed fugitive, +"There now remains but one way for thee to obtain thy freedom. As to +raising five hundred dollars, that is out of the question. But if thou +wilt be prompt and resolute, and do precisely as I tell thee, I think +thou canst get off safely." + +"I will do anything for freedom," replied the bondman; "for I have made +up my mind, come what may, that I never will go back into slavery." + +"Very well then," rejoined his friend. "Don't get frightened when the +right moment comes to act; but keep thy wits about thee, and do as I +tell thee. Thy master will come here to-morrow at ten o'clock, according +to appointment. I must deliver thee up to him, and receive back the +obligation for one thousand dollars, which I have given him. Do thou +stand with thy back against the door, which opens from this room into +the parlor. When he has returned the paper to me, open the door +quickly, lock it on the inside, and run through the parlor into the +back-yard. There is a wall there eight feet high, with spikes at the +top. Thou wilt find a clothes-horse leaning against it, to help thee up. +When thou hast mounted, kick the clothes-horse down behind thee, drop on +the other side of the wall, and be off." The premises were then shown to +him, and he received minute directions through what alleys and streets +he had better pass, and at what house he could find a temporary refuge. + +Col. Ridgeley came the next morning, at the appointed hour, and brought +a friend to stand sentinel at the street door, lest the slave should +attempt to rush out. It did not occur to him that there was any danger +of his running _in_. + +"We have not been able to raise the five hundred dollars," said Friend +Hopper; "and here is thy man, according to agreement." + +The Colonel gave back his obligation for one thousand dollars; and the +instant it left his hand, the fugitive passed into the parlor. The +master sprang over the counter after him, but found the door locked. +Before he could get to the back yard by another door, the wall was +scaled, the clothes-horse thrown down, and the fugitive was beyond his +reach. Of course, he returned very much disappointed and enraged; +declaring his firm belief that a trick had been played upon him +purposely. After he had given vent to his anger some little time, Friend +Hopper asked for a private interview with him. When they were alone +together in the parlor, he said, "I admit this was an intentional trick; +but I had what seemed to me good reasons for resorting to it. In the +first place, thou didst not keep the agreement made with me, but sought +to gain an unfair advantage. In the next place, I knew that man was thy +own son; and I think any person who is so unfeeling as to make traffic +of his own flesh and blood, deserves to be tricked out of the chance to +do it." + +"What if he is my son?" rejoined the Virginian. "I've as good a right to +sell my own flesh and blood as that of any other person. If I choose to +do it, it is none of your business." He opened the door, and beckoning +to his friend, who was in waiting, he said, "Hopper admits this was all +a trick to set the slave free." Then turning to Friend Hopper, he added, +"You admit it was a trick, don't you?" + +"Thou and I will talk that matter over by ourselves," he replied. "The +presence of a third person is not always convenient." + +The Colonel went off in a violent passion, and forgetting that he was +not in Virginia, he rushed into the houses of several colored people, +knocked them about, overturned their beds, and broke their furniture, +in search of the fugitive. Being unable to obtain any information +concerning him, he cooled down considerably, and went to inform Friend +Hopper that he would give a deed of manumission for two hundred dollars; +but his offer was rejected. + +"Why that was your own proposal!" vociferated the Colonel. + +"Very true," he replied; "and I offered thee the money; but thou refused +to take it." + +After storming awhile, the master went off to obtain legal advice from +the Hon. John Sergeant. Meanwhile, several of the colored people had +entered a complaint against him for personal abuse, and damage done to +their furniture. He was obliged to give bonds for his appearance at the +next court, to answer their accusations. This was a grievous humiliation +for a proud Virginian, who had been educated to think that colored +people had no civil rights. In this unpleasant dilemma, his lawyer +advised him to give a deed of manumission for one hundred and fifty +dollars; promising to exert his influence to have the mortifying suits +withdrawn. + +The proposed terms were accepted, and the money promptly paid by the +slave from his own earnings. But when Mr. Sergeant proposed that the +suits for assault and battery should be withdrawn, Friend Hopper +replied, "I have no authority to dismiss them." + +"They will be dismissed if you advise it," rejoined the lawyer; "and if +you will promise to do it, I shall be perfectly satisfied." + +"These colored people have been very badly treated," answered Friend +Hopper. "If the aggressor wants to settle the affair, he had better go +to them and offer some equivalent for the trouble he has given." + +The lawyer replied, "When he agreed to manumit the man for one hundred +and fifty dollars, he expected these suits would be dismissed, of +course, as a part of the bargain. What sum do you think these people +will take to withdraw them?" + +Friend Hopper said he thought they would do it for one hundred and fifty +dollars. + +"I will pay it," replied Mr. Sergeant; "for Colonel Ridgeley is very +anxious to return home." + +Thus the money paid for the deed of manumission was returned. Forty +dollars were distributed among the colored people, to repay the damage +done to their property. After some trifling incidental expenses had been +deducted, the remainder was returned to the emancipated slave; who thus +obtained his freedom for about fifty dollars, instead of the sum +originally offered. + + + + +STOP THIEF! + + +About the year 1826, a Marylander, by the name of Solomon Low, arrested +a fugitive slave in Philadelphia, and took him to the office of an +alderman to obtain the necessary authority for carrying him back into +bondage. Finding the magistrate gone to dinner, they placed the colored +man in the entry, while Mr. Low and his companions guarded the door. +Some of the colored people soon informed Isaac T. Hopper of these +circumstances, and he hastened to the office. Observing the state of +things there, he concluded it would be no difficult matter to give the +colored man a chance to escape. He stepped up to the men at the door, +and demanded in a peremptory manner by what authority they were holding +that man in duress. Mr. Low replied, "He is my slave." + +"This is strange conduct," rejoined Friend Hopper. "Who can tell whether +he is thy slave or not? What proof is there that you are not a band of +kidnappers? Dost thou suppose the laws of Pennsylvania tolerate such +proceedings?" + +These charges arrested the attention of Mr. Low and his companions, who +turned round to answer the speaker. The slave, seeing their backs toward +him for an instant, seized that opportunity to rush out; and he had run +two or three rods before they missed him. They immediately raised the +cry of "Stop Thief! Stop Thief!" An Irishman, who joined in the +pursuit, arrested the fugitive and brought him back to his master. + +Friend Hopper remonstrated with him; saying, "The man is not a thief. +They claim him for a slave, and he was running for liberty. How wouldst +thou like to be made a slave?" + +The kind-hearted Hibernian replied, "Then they lied; for they said he +was a thief. If he is a slave, I'm sorry I stopped him. However, I will +put him in as good a condition as I found him." So saying, he went near +the man who had the fugitive in custody, and seized him by the collar +with a sudden jerk, that threw him on the pavement. The slave instantly +started, and ran at his utmost speed, again followed by the cry of "Stop +Thief!" Having run some distance, and being nearly out of breath, he +darted into the shop of a watch-maker, named Samuel Mason, who +immediately closed and fastened his door, so that the crowd could not +follow him. The fugitive passed out of the back door, and was never +afterward recaptured. + +The disappointed master brought an action against Samuel Mason for +rescuing his slave. Charles J. Ingersoll and his brother Joseph, two +accomplished lawyers of Philadelphia, conducted the trial for him, with +zeal and ingenuity worthy of a better cause. Isaac T. Hopper was +summoned as a witness, and in the course of examination he was asked +what course members of the Society of Friends adopted when a fugitive +slave came to them. He replied, "I am not willing to answer for any one +but myself." + +"Well," said Mr. Ingersoll, "what would _you_ do in such a case? Would +you deliver him to his master? + +"Indeed I would not!" answered the Friend. "My conscience would not +permit me to do it. It would be a great crime; because it would be +disobedience to my own dearest convictions of right. I should never +expect to enjoy an hour of peace afterward. I would do for a fugitive +slave whatever I should like to have done for myself, under similar +circumstances. If he asked my protection, I would extend it to him to +the utmost of my power. If he was hungry, I would feed him. If he was +naked, I would clothe him. If he needed advice, I would give such as I +thought would be most beneficial to him." + +The cause was tried before Judge Bushrod Washington, nephew of General +Washington. Though a slaveholder himself, he manifested no partiality +during the trial, which continued several days, with able arguments on +both sides. The counsel for the claimant maintained that Samuel Mason +prevented the master from regaining his slave, by shutting his door, and +refusing to open it. The counsel for the defendant replied that there +was much valuable and brittle property in the watchmaker's shop, which +would have been liable to robbery and destruction, if a promiscuous mob +had been allowed to rush in. Judge Washington summed up the evidence +very clearly to the jury, who after retiring for deliberation a +considerable time, returned into court, declaring that they could not +agree upon a verdict, and probably never should agree. They were ordered +out again, and kept together till the court adjourned, when they were +dismissed. + +At the succeeding term, the case was tried again, with renewed energy +and zeal. But the jury, after being kept together ten days, were +discharged without being able to agree upon a verdict. Some, who were +originally in favor of the defendant, became weary of their long +confinement, and consented to go over to the slaveholder's side; but one +of them, named Benjamin Thaw, declared that he would eat his Christmas +dinner in the jury-room, before he would consent to such a flagrant act +of injustice. + +His patience held out till the court adjourned. Consequently a third +trial became necessary; and the third jury brought in a verdict in favor +of the watchmaker. + +The expenses of these suits were estimated at seventeen hundred dollars. +Solomon Low was in limited circumstances; and this expenditure in +prosecuting an innocent man was said to have caused his failure soon +after. + + + + +THE DISGUISED SLAVEHOLDER. + + +A colored woman and her son were slaves to a man in East Jersey. She had +two sons in Philadelphia, who had been free several years, and her +present master was unacquainted with them. In 1827, she and her younger +son escaped, and went to live in Philadelphia. Her owner, knowing she +had free sons in that city, concluded as a matter of course that she had +sought their protection. A few weeks after her flight, he followed her, +and having assumed Quaker costume, went to the house of one of her sons. +He expressed great interest for the woman, and said he wished to obtain +an interview with her for her benefit. His friendly garb and kind +language completely deceived her son, and he told him that his mother +was then staying at his brother's house, which was not far off. Having +obtained this information, the slaveholder procured a constable and +immediately went to the place described. Fortunately, the son was at +home, and it being warm weather he sat near the open door. The mother +was seated at a chamber window, and saw a constable approaching the +house, with a gentleman in Quaker costume, whom she at once recognized +as her master. She gave the alarm to her son, who instantly shut the +door and fastened it. The master, being refused admittance, placed a +guard there, while he went to procure a search-warrant. These +proceedings attracted the attention of colored neighbors, and a crowd +soon gathered about the house. They seized the man who guarded the door, +and held him fast, while the woman and her fugitive son rushed out. It +was dusk, and the uncertain light favored their escape. They ran about a +mile, and took refuge with a colored family in Locust-street. The +watchman soon got released from the colored people who held him, and +succeeded in tracing the woman to her new retreat, where he again +mounted guard. The master returned meanwhile, and having learned the +circumstances, went to the magistrate to obtain another warrant to +search the house in Locust-street. + +At this stage of the affair, Friend Hopper was summoned, and immediately +went to the rescue, accompanied by one of his sons, about sixteen years +old. He found the woman and her son stowed away in a closet, exceedingly +terrified. He assured them they would be quite as safe on the +mantel-piece, as they would be in that closet; that their being found +concealed would be regarded as the best evidence that they were the +persons sought for. Knowing it was dangerous for them to remain in that +house, he told them of a plan he had formed, on the spur of the moment. +After giving them careful instructions how to proceed, he left them and +requested that the street door might be opened for him. A crowd +immediately rushed in, as he had foreseen would be the case. He affected +to be greatly displeased, and ordered the men of the house to turn all +the intruders out. They obeyed him; and among the number turned out were +the two fugitives. It was dark, and in the confusion, the watchman on +guard could not distinguish them among the multitude. + +Friend Hopper had hastily consigned them to his son, with instructions +to take them to his house; and the watchman, seeing that he himself +remained about the premises, took it for granted that the fugitives had +not escaped. + +As soon as it was practicable, Friend Hopper returned home, where he +found the woman and her son in a state of great agitation. He +immediately sent her to a place of greater safety, and gave the son a +letter to a farmer thirty miles up in the country. He went directly to +the river Schuylkill, but was afraid to cross the bridge, lest some +person should be stationed there to arrest him. He accordingly walked +along the margin of the river till he found a small boat, in which he +crossed the stream. Following the directions he had received, he arrived +at the farmer's house, where he had a kindly welcome, and obtained +employment. + +The master being unable to recapture his slaves, called upon Isaac T. +Hopper to inquire if he knew anything about them. He coolly replied, "I +believe they are doing very well. From what I hear, I judge it will not +be necessary to give thyself any further trouble on their account." + +"There is no use in trying to capture a runaway slave in Philadelphia," +rejoined the master. "I believe the devil himself could not catch them +when they once get here." + +"That is very likely," answered Friend Hopper. "But I think he would +have less difficulty in catching the masters; being so much more +familiar with them." + +Sixty dollars had already been expended in vain; and the slave-holder, +having relinquished all hope of tracing the fugitives, finally agreed to +manumit the woman for fifty dollars, and her son for seventy-five +dollars. These sums were advanced by two citizens friendly to the +colored people, and the emancipated slaves repaid them by faithful +service. + + + + +THE SLAVE OF DR. RICH. + + +In the autumn of 1828, Dr. Rich of Maryland came to Philadelphia with +his wife, who was the daughter of an Episcopal clergyman in that city, +by the name of Wiltbank. She brought a slave to wait upon her, intending +to remain at her father's until after the birth of her child, which was +soon expected to take place. When they had been there a few months, the +slave was informed by some colored acquaintance that she was free in +consequence of being brought to Philadelphia. She called to consult with +Isaac T. Hopper, and seemed very much disappointed to hear that a +residence of six months was necessary to entitle her to freedom; that +her master was doubtless aware of that circumstance, and would probably +guard against it. + +After some minutes of anxious reflection, she said, "Then there is +nothing left for me to do but to run away; for I am determined never to +go back to Maryland." + +Friend Hopper inquired whether she thought it would be right to leave +her mistress without any one to attend upon her, in the situation she +then was. She replied that she felt no scruples on that point, for her +master was wealthy, and could hire as many servants as he pleased. +Finding her mind entirely made up on the subject, he gave her such +instructions as seemed suited to the occasion. + +The next morning she was not to be found; and Dr. Rich went in search of +her, with his father-in-law, Mr. Wiltbank. Having frightened some +ignorant colored people where she visited, by threats of prosecuting +them for harboring a runaway, they confessed that she had gone from +their house to Isaac T. Hopper. Mr. Wiltbank accordingly waited upon +him, and after relating the circumstances of the case, inquired whether +he had seen the fugitive. In reply, he made a frank statement of the +interview he had with her, and of her fixed determination to obtain her +freedom. The clergyman reproached her with ingratitude, and said she had +always been treated with great kindness. + +"The woman herself gives a very different account of her treatment," +replied Friend Hopper; "but be that as it may, I cannot blame her for +wishing to obtain her liberty." + +He asked if Friend Hopper knew where she then was; and he answered that +he did not. "Could you find her, if you tried?" inquired he. + +"I presume I could do it very easily," rejoined the Quaker. "The colored +people never wish to secrete themselves from me; for they know I am +their true friend." + +Mr. Wiltbank then said, "If you will cause her to be brought to your +house, Dr. Rich and myself will come here at eight o'clock this evening. +You will then hear her ask her master's pardon, acknowledge the kindness +with which she has always been treated, and express her readiness to go +home with him." + +Friend Hopper indignantly replied, "I have no doubt that fear might +induce her to profess all thou hast said. But what trait hast thou +discovered in my character, that leads thee to suppose I would be such +a hypocrite as to betray the confidence this poor woman has reposed in +me, by placing her in the power of her master, in the way thou hast +proposed?" + +Mr. Wiltbank then requested that a message might be conveyed to the +woman, exhorting her to return, and promising that no notice whatever +would be taken of her offence. + +"She shall be informed of thy message, if that will be any satisfaction +to thee," replied Friend Hopper; "but I am perfectly sure she will never +voluntarily return into slavery." + +Dr. Rich and Mr. Wiltbank called in the evening, and were told the +message had been delivered to the woman, but she refused to return. "She +is in your house now," exclaimed Dr. Rich. "I can prove it; and if you +don't let me see her, I will commence a suit against you to-morrow, for +harboring my slave." + +"I believe Solomon Low resides in thy neighborhood," said Friend Hopper. +"Art thou acquainted with him?" + +Being answered in the affirmative, he said, "Solomon Low brought three +such suits as thou hast threatened. They cost him seventeen hundred +dollars, which I heard he was unable to pay. But perhaps thou hast +seventeen hundred dollars to spare?" + +Dr. Rich answered that he could well afford to lose that sum. + +"Very well," rejoined his opponent. "There are lawyers enough who need +it, and still more who would be glad to have it." + +Finding it alike impossible to coax or intimidate the resolute Quaker, +they withdrew. About eleven o'clock at night, some of the family +informed Friend Hopper that there was a man continually walking back and +forth in front of the house. He went out and accosted him thus: "Friend, +art thou watching my house?" When the stranger replied that he was, he +said, "It is very kind in thee; but I really do not think there is any +occasion for thy services. I am quite satisfied with the watchmen +employed by the public." + +The man answered gruffly, "I have taken my stand, and I intend to keep +it." + +Friend Hopper told him he had no objection; and he was about to re-enter +the house, when he observed Dr. Rich, who was so wrapped up in a large +cloak, that at first he did not recognize him. He exclaimed, "Why +doctor, art thou here! Is it possible thou art parading the streets so +late in the night, at this cold season of the year? Now, from motives of +kindness, I do assure thee thy slave is not in my house. To save thee +from exposing thy health by watching at this inclement season, I will +give thee leave to search the house." + +The doctor replied, "I shall obtain a warrant in the morning, and search +it with the proper officer." + +"There appear to be several on the watch," said Friend Hopper; "and it +surely is not necessary for all of them to be out in the cold at the +same time. If thou wilt be responsible that nothing shall be stolen, +thou art welcome to use my parlor as a watch-house." This offer was +declined with freezing civility, and Friend Hopper returned to his +dwelling. Passing through the kitchen, he observed two colored domestics +talking together in an under tone, apparently planning something which +made them very merry. Judging from some words he overheard, that they +had a mischievous scheme on foot, he resolved to watch their movements +without letting them know that he noticed them. One of them put on an +old cloak and bonnet, opened the front door cautiously, looked up the +street and down the street, but saw nobody. The watchers had seen the +dark face the moment it peeped out, and they were lying in ambush to +observe her closely. After a minute of apparent hesitation, she rushed +into the street and ran with all speed. They joined in hot pursuit, and +soon overtook her. She pretended to be greatly alarmed, and called aloud +for a watchman. The offenders were arrested and brought back to the +house with the girl. Friend Hopper explained that these men had been +watching his house, supposing a fugitive slave to be secreted there; and +that they had mistaken one of his domestics for the person they were in +search of. After laughing a little at the joke practised upon them, he +proposed that they should be set at liberty; and they were accordingly +released. + +The next morning, as soon as it was light, he invited the watchers to +come in and warm themselves, but they declined. After sunrise, they all +dispersed, except two. When breakfast was ready, he urged them to come +in and partake; telling them that one could keep guard while the other +was eating. But they replied that Dr. Rich had ordered them to hold no +communication with him. + +Being firmly persuaded that the slave was in the house, they kept sentry +several days and nights. For fear she might escape by the back way, a +messenger was sent to Mr. Warrence, who occupied a building in the rear, +offering to pay him for his trouble if he would watch the premises in +that direction. His wife happened to overhear the conversation; and +having a pitcher of scalding water in her hand, she ran out saying, "Do +you propose to hire my husband to watch neighbor Hopper's premises for a +runaway slave? Go about your business! or I will throw this in your +face." + +When Dr. Rich called again, he was received politely, and the first +inquiry was how he had succeeded in his efforts to procure a +search-warrant. He replied, "The magistrate refused to grant one." + +"Perhaps Joseph Reed, the Recorder, would oblige thee in that matter," +said Friend Hopper. + +The answer was, "I have been to him, and he declines to interfere." + +It was then suggested that it might be well to retain a lawyer with a +portion of the seventeen hundred dollars he said he had to spare. + +"I have been to Mr. Broome," rejoined the doctor. "He tells me that you +understand the law in such cases as well as he does; and he advises me +to let the matter alone." + +"I will give thee permission to search my house," said Friend Hopper; +"and I have more authority in that matter than any magistrate, judge, or +lawyer, in the city." + +"That is very gentlemanly," replied the doctor; "but I infer from it +that the woman is not in your house." + +He was again assured that she was not; and they fell into some general +discourse on the subject of slavery. "Suppose you came to Maryland and +lost your horse," said the Doctor. "If you called upon me, and I told +you that I knew where he was, but would not inform you, would you +consider yourself treated kindly?" "In such a case, I should not +consider myself well treated," replied Friend Hopper. "But in this part +of the country, we make a distinction between horses and men. We believe +that human beings have souls." + +"That makes no difference," rejoined the Doctor. "You confess that you +could find my slave if you were so disposed; and I consider it your duty +to tell me where she is." "I will do it when I am of the same opinion," +replied Friend Hopper; "but till then thou must excuse me." + +The fugitive was protected by a colored man named Hill, who soon +obtained a situation for her as servant in a respectable country family, +where she was kindly treated. In the course of a year or two, she +returned to Philadelphia, married a steady industrious man, and lived +very comfortably. + +Mr. Hill had a very revengeful temper. One of his colored neighbors +brought suits against him for criminal conduct, and recovered heavy +damages. From that time he seemed to hate people of his own complexion, +and omitted no opportunity to injure them. The woman he befriended, when +he was in a better state of mind, had been married nine or ten years, +and had long ceased to think of danger, when he formed the wicked +project of making a little money by betraying her to her master. +Accordingly he sought her residence accompanied by one of those +wretches who make a business of capturing slaves. When he entered her +humble abode, he found her busy at the wash-tub. Rejoiced to see the man +who had rendered her such essential service in time of need, she threw +her arms about his neck, exclaiming, "O, uncle Hill, how glad I am to +see you!" She hastily set aside her tub, wiped up the floor, and +thinking there was nothing in the house good enough for her benefactor, +she went out to purchase some little luxuries. Hill recommended a +particular shop, and proposed to accompany her. The slave-hunter, who +had been left in the street, received a private signal, and the moment +she entered the shop, he pounced upon her. Before her situation could be +made known to Isaac T. Hopper, she was removed to Baltimore. The last he +ever heard of her she was in prison there, awaiting her day of sale, +when she was to be transported to New-Orleans. + +He used to say he did not know which was the most difficult for his mind +to conceive of, the cruel depravity manifested by the ignorant colored +man, or the unscrupulous selfishness of the slaveholder, a man of +education, a husband and a father, who could consent to use such a tool +for such a purpose. + +Many more narratives of similar character might be added; for I think he +estimated at more than one thousand the number of cases in which he had +been employed for fugitives, in one way or another, during his forty +years' residence in Philadelphia. But enough have been told to +illustrate the active benevolence, uncompromising boldness, and ready +wit, which characterized this friend of humanity. His accurate knowledge +of all laws connected with slavery was so proverbial, that magistrates +and lawyers were generally averse to any collision with him on such +subjects. + +In 1810, Benjamin Donahue of Delaware applied to Mr. Barker, mayor of +Philadelphia, to assist him in recovering a fugitive, with whose place +of residence he was perfectly sure Isaac T. Hopper was acquainted. After +a brief correspondence with Friend Hopper, the mayor said to Mr. +Donahue, "We had better drop this business, like a hot potato; for Mr. +Hopper knows more law in such cases as this, than you and I put +together." + +He would often resort to the most unexpected expedients. Upon one +occasion, a slave case was brought before Judge Rush, brother of Dr. +Benjamin Rush. It seemed likely to terminate in favor of the +slaveholder; but Friend Hopper thought he observed that the judge +wavered a little. He seized that moment to inquire, "Hast thou not +recently published a legal opinion, in which it is distinctly stated +that thou wouldst never seek to sustain a human law, if thou wert +convinced that it conflicted with any law in the Bible?" + +"I did publish such a statement," replied Judge Rush; "and I am ready +to abide by it; for in all cases, I consider the divine law above the +human." + +Friend Hopper drew from his pocket a small Bible, which he had brought +into court for the express purpose, and read in loud distinct tones the +following verses: "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant +which is escaped from his master unto thee: He shall dwell with thee, +even among you, in that place which he shall choose, in one of thy +gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him." Deut. 23: +15, 16. + +The slaveholder smiled; supposing, this appeal to old Hebrew law would +be considered as little applicable to modern times, as the command to +stone a man to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. But when the +judge asked for the book, read the sentence for himself, seemed +impressed by it, and adjourned the decision of the case, he walked out +of the court-house muttering, "I believe in my soul the old fool _will_ +let him off on that ground." And sure enough, the slave was discharged. + +Friend Hopper's quickness in slipping through loop-holes, and dodging +round corners, rendered him exceedingly troublesome and provoking to +slaveholders. He often kept cases pending in court three or four years, +till the claimants were completely wearied out, and ready to settle on +any terms. His acute perception of the slightest flaw in a document, or +imperfection in evidence, always attracted notice in the courts he +attended. Judges and lawyers often remarked to him, "Mr. Hopper, it is a +great pity you were not educated for the legal profession. You have such +a judicial mind." Mr. William Lewis, an eminent lawyer, offered him +every facility for studying the profession. "Come to my office and use +my library whenever you please," said he; "or I will obtain a clerkship +in the courts for you, if you prefer that. Your mind is peculiarly +adapted to legal investigation, and if you would devote yourself to it, +you might become a judge before long." + +But Friend Hopper could never overcome his scruples about entering on a +career of worldly ambition. He thought he had better keep humble, and +resist temptations that might lead him out of the plainness and +simplicity of the religious Society to which he belonged. + +As for the colored people of Philadelphia, they believed in his +infallibility, as devout Catholics believe in the Pope. They trusted +him, and he trusted them; and it is remarkable in how few instances he +found his confidence misplaced. The following anecdote will illustrate +the nature of the relation existing between him and that much abused +race. Prince Hopkins, a wood-sawyer of Philadelphia, was claimed as a +fugitive slave by John Kinsmore of Baltimore. When Friend Hopper went +to the magistrate's office to inquire into the affair, he found the poor +fellow in tears. He asked for a private interview, and the alderman gave +his consent. When they were alone, Prince confessed that he was the +slave in question. In the course of his narrative, it appeared that he +had been sent into Pennsylvania by his mistress, and had resided there +with a relative of hers two years. Friend Hopper told him to dry up his +tears, for it was in his power to protect him. When he returned to the +office, he informed the magistrate that Prince Hopkins was a free man; +having resided in Pennsylvania, with the consent of his mistress, a much +longer time than the law required. Mr. Kinsmore was irritated, and +demanded that the colored man should be imprisoned till he could obtain +legal advice. + +"Let him go and finish the wood he was sawing," said Friend Hopper. "I +will be responsible for his appearance whenever he is wanted. If the +magistrate will give me a commitment, Prince will call at my house after +he has finished sawing his wood, and I will send him to jail with it. He +can remain there, until the facts I have stated are clearly proved." + +The slave-holder and his lawyer seemed to regard this proposition as an +insult. They railed at Friend Hopper for his "impertinent interference," +and for the absurd idea of trusting "that nigger" under such +circumstances. + +He replied, "I would rather trust 'that nigger,' as you call him, than +either of you." So saying, he marched off with the magistrate's mittimus +in his pocket. + +When Prince Hopkins had finished his job of sawing, he called for the +commitment, and carried it to the jailor, who locked him up. +Satisfactory evidence of his freedom was soon obtained, and he was +discharged. + +The colored people appeared to better advantage with their undoubted +friend, than they possibly could have done where a barrier of prejudice +existed. They were not afraid to tell him their experiences in their own +way, with natural pathos, here and there dashed with fun. A +fine-looking, athletic fugitive, telling him his story one day, said, +"When I first run away, I met some people who were dreadful afraid I +couldn't take care of myself. But thinks I to myself I took care of +master and myself too for a long spell; and I guess I can make out." +With a roguish expression laughing all over his face, he added, "I don't +look as if I was suffering for a master; do I, Mr. Hopper?" + +Though slaveholders had abundant reason to dread Isaac T. Hopper, as +they would a blister of Spanish flies, yet he had no hardness of feeling +toward them, or even toward kidnappers; hateful as he deemed the +system, which produced them both. + +In 1801, a sober industrious family of free colored people, living in +Pennsylvania on the borders of Maryland, were attacked in the night by a +band of kidnappers. The parents were aged, and needed the services of +their children for support. Knowing that the object of the marauders was +to carry them off and sell them to slave speculators, the old father +defended them to the utmost of his power. In the struggle, he was +wounded by a pistol, and one of his daughters received a shot, which +caused her death. One of the sons, who was very ill in bed, was beaten +and bruised till he was covered with blood. But mangled and crippled as +he was, he contrived to drag himself to a neighboring barn, and hide +himself under the straw. + +If such lawless violence had been practised upon any white citizens, the +Executive of Pennsylvania would have immediately offered a high reward +for the apprehension of the aggressors; but the victims belonged to a +despised caste, and nothing was done to repair their wrongs. Friend +Hopper felt the blood boil in his veins when he heard of this cruel +outrage, and his first wish was to have the offenders punished; but as +soon as he had time to reflect, he said, "I cannot find it in my heart +to urge this subject upon the notice of the Executive; for death would +be the penalty if those wretches were convicted." + +There were many highly respectable individuals among the colored people +of Philadelphia. Richard Allen, who had been a slave, purchased freedom +with the proceeds of his own industry. He married, and established +himself as a shoemaker in that city, where he acquired considerable +property, and built a three-story brick house. He was the principal +agent in organizing the first congregation of colored people in +Philadelphia, and was their pastor to the day of his death, without +asking or receiving any compensation. During the latter part of his +life, he was Bishop of their Methodist Episcopal Church. Absalom Jones, +a much respected colored man, was his colleague. In 1793, when the +yellow fever was raging, it was extremely difficult to procure +attendants for the sick on any terms; and the few who would consent to +render service, demanded exorbitant prices. But Bishop Allen and Rev. +Mr. Jones never hesitated to go wherever they could be useful; and with +them, the compensation was always a secondary consideration. When the +pestilence had abated, the mayor sent them a certificate expressing his +approbation of their conduct. But even these men, whose worth commanded +respect, were not safe from the legalized curse that rests upon their +hunted race. A Southern speculator arrested Bishop Allen, and claimed +him as a fugitive slave, whom he had bought running. The constable +employed to serve the warrant was ashamed to drag the good man through +the streets; and he merely said, in a respectful tone, "Mr. Allen, you +will soon come down to Alderman Todd's office, will you?" + +The fugitive, whom they were seeking, had absconded only four years +previous; and everybody in Philadelphia, knew that Richard Allen had +been living there more than twenty years. Yet the speculator and his +sons swore unblushingly that he was the identical slave they had +purchased. Mr. Allen thought he ought to have some redress for this +outrage; "For," said he, "if it had not been for the kindness of the +officer, I might have been dragged through the streets like a felon." + +Isaac T. Hopper was consulted, and a civil suit commenced. Eight hundred +dollars bail was demanded, and the speculator, being unable to procure +it, was lodged in the debtor's prison. When he had been there three +months, Mr. Allen caused him to be discharged; saying he did not wish to +persecute the man, but merely to teach him not to take up free people +again, for the purpose of carrying them into slavery. + +The numerous instances of respectability among the colored people were +doubtless to be attributed in part to the protecting influence extended +over them by the Quakers. But even in those days, the Society of +Friends were by no means all free from prejudice against color; and in +later times, I think they have not proved themselves at all superior to +other sects in their feelings and practice on this subject. Friend +Hopper, Joseph Carpenter, and the few who resemble them in this respect, +are _exceptions_ to the general character of modern Quakers, not the +_rule._ The following very characteristic anecdote shows how completely +Isaac was free from prejudice on account of complexion. It is an unusual +thing to see a colored Quaker; for the African temperament is fervid and +impressible, and requires more exciting forms of religion. David Maps +and his wife, a very worthy couple, were the only colored members of the +Yearly Meeting to which Isaac T. Hopper belonged. On the occasion of the +annual gathering in Philadelphia, they came with other members of the +Society to share the hospitality of his house. A question arose in the +family whether Friends of white complexion would object to eating with +them. "Leave that to me," said the master of the household. Accordingly +when the time arrived, he announced it thus: "Friends, dinner is now +ready. David Maps and his wife will come with me; and as I like to have +all accommodated, those who object to dining with them can wait till +they have done." The guests smiled, and all seated themselves at the +table. + +The conscientiousness so observable in several anecdotes of Isaac's +boyhood was strikingly manifested in his treatment of a colored printer, +named Kane. This man was noted for his profane swearing. Friend Hopper +had expostulated with him concerning this bad habit, without producing +the least effect. One day, he encountered him in the street, pouring +forth a volley of terrible oaths, enough to make one shudder. Believing +him incurable by gentler means, he took him before a magistrate, who +fined him for blasphemy. + +He did not see the man again for a long time; but twenty years +afterward, when he was standing at his door, Kane passed by. The +Friend's heart was touched by his appearance; for he looked old, feeble, +and poor. He stepped out, shook hands with him, and said in kindly +tones, "Dost thou remember me, and how I caused thee to be fined for +swearing?" + +"Yes, indeed I do," he replied. "I remember how many dollars I paid, as +well as if it were but yesterday." + +"Did it do thee any good;" inquired Friend Hopper. + +"Never a bit," answered he. "It only made me mad to have my money taken +from me." + +The poor man was invited to walk into the house. The interest was +calculated on the fine, and every cent repaid to him. "I meant it for +thy good," said the benevolent Quaker; "and I am sorry that I only +provoked thee." Kane's countenance changed at once, and tears began to +flow. He took the money with many thanks, and was never again heard to +swear. + +Friend Hopper's benevolence was by no means confined to colored people. +Wherever there was good to be done, his heart and hand were ready. From +various anecdotes in proof of this, I select the following. + + + + +JOHN McGRIER. + + +John was an Irish orphan, whose parents died of yellow fever, when he +was very young. He obtained a scanty living by doing errands for +cartmen. In the year 1800, when he was about fourteen years old, there +was a long period during which he could obtain scarcely any employment. +Being without friends, and in a state of extreme destitution, he was +tempted to enter a shop and steal two dollars from the drawer. He was +pursued and taken. Isaac T. Hopper, who was one of the inspectors of the +prison at that time, saw a crowd gathered, and went to inquire the +cause. The poor boy's history was soon told. Friend Hopper liked the +expression of his countenance, and pitied his forlorn condition. When he +was brought up for trial, he accompanied him, and pleaded with the +judge in his favor. He urged that the poor child's education had been +entirely neglected, and consequently he was more to be pitied than +blamed. If sent to prison, he would in all probability become hardened, +if not utterly ruined. He said if the judge would allow him to take +charge of the lad, he would promise to place him in good hands, where he +would be out of the way of temptation. The judge granted his request, +and John was placed in prison merely for a few days, till Friend Hopper +could provide for him. He proposed to his father to have the boy bound +to him. The old gentleman hesitated at first, on account of his +neglected education and wild way of living; but pity for the orphan +overcame his scruples, and he agreed to take him. John lived with him +till he was twenty-one years of age, and was remarkably faithful and +industrious. But about two years after, a neighbor came one night to +arrest him for stealing a horse. Old Mr. Hopper assured him it was not +possible John had done such a thing; that during all the time he had +lived in his family he had proved himself entirely honest and +trustworthy. The neighbor replied that his horse had been taken to +Philadelphia and sold; and the ferryman from Woodbury was ready to swear +that the animal was brought over by Hopper's John, as he was generally +called. John was in bed, but was called up to answer the accusation. He +did not attempt to deny it, but gave up the money at once, and kept +repeating that he did know what made him do it. He was dreadfully +ashamed and distressed. He begged that Friend Isaac would not come to +see him in prison, for he could not look him the face. His anguish of +mind was so great, that when the trial came on, he was emaciated almost +to a skeleton. Old Mr. Hopper went into court and stated the adverse +circumstances of his early life, and his exemplary conduct during nine +years that he had lived in his family. He begged that he might be fined +instead of imprisoned, and offered to pay the fine himself. The +proposition was accepted, and the kind old man took the culprit home. + +This lenient treatment completely subdued the last vestige of evil +habits acquired in childhood. He was humble and grateful in the extreme, +and always steady and industrious. He conducted with great propriety +ever afterward, and established such a character for honesty, that the +neighbors far and wide trusted him to carry their produce to market, +receiving a small commission for his trouble. Eventually, he came to own +a small house and farm, where he lived in much comfort and +respectability. He always looked up to Isaac as the friend who had early +raised him from a downward and slippery path; and he was never weary of +manifesting gratitude by every little attention he could devise. + + + + +LEVI BUTLER. + + +Some one having told Friend Hopper of an apprentice who was cruelly +treated, he caused investigation to be made, and took the lad under his +own protection. As he was much bent upon going to sea, he was placed in +a respectable boarding-house for sailors, till a fitting opportunity +could be found to gratify his inclination. One day, a man in the employ +of this boarding-house brought a bill to be paid for the lad. He was +very ragged, but his manners were those of a gentleman, and his +conversation showed that he had been well educated. His appearance +excited interest in Friend Hopper's mind, and he inquired into his +history. He said his name was Levi Butler; that he was of German +extraction, and had been a wealthy merchant in Baltimore, of the firm of +Butler and Magruder. He married a widow, who had considerable property, +and several children. After her death, he failed in business, and gave +up all his own property, but took the precaution to secure all her +property to her children. His creditors were angry, and tried various +ways to compel him to pay them with his wife's money. He was imprisoned +a long time. He petitioned the Legislature for release, and the +committee before whom the case was brought made a report in his favor, +highly applauding his integrity in not involving his own affairs with +the property belonging to his wife's children, who had been intrusted to +his care. Poverty and persecution had broken down his spirits, and when +he was discharged from prison he left Baltimore and tried to obtain a +situation as clerk in Philadelphia. He did not succeed in procuring +employment. His clothes became thread-bare, and he had no money to +purchase a new suit. In this situation, some people to whom he applied +for employment treated him as if he were an impostor. In a state of +despair he went one day to drown himself. But when he had put some heavy +stones in his pocket to make him sink rapidly, he seemed to hear a voice +calling to him to forbear; and looking up, he saw a man watching him. He +hurried away to avoid questions, and passing by a sailor's +boarding-house, he went in and offered to wait upon the boarders for his +food. They took him upon those terms; and the gentleman who had been +accustomed to ride in his own carriage, and be waited upon by servants, +now roasted oysters and went of errands for common seamen. He was in +this forlorn situation, when accident introduced him to Friend Hopper's +notice. He immediately furnished him with a suit of warm clothes; for +the weather was cold, and his garments thin. He employed him to post up +his account-books, and finding that he did it in a very perfect manner, +he induced several of his friends to employ him in a similar way. + +A brighter day was dawning for the unfortunate man, and perhaps he might +have attained to comfortable independence, if his health had not failed. +But he had taken severe colds by thin clothing and exposure to inclement +weather. A rapid consumption came on, and he was soon entirely unable to +work. Under these circumstances, the best Friend Hopper could do for him +was to secure peculiar privileges at the alms-house, and surround him +with, all the little comforts that help to alleviate illness. He visited +him very often, until the day of his death, and his sympathy and kind +attentions were always received with heartfelt gratitude. + + + + +THE MUSICAL BOY. + + +One day when Friend Hopper visited the prison, he found a dark-eyed lad +with a very bright expressive countenance His right side was palsied, so +that the arm hung down useless. Attracted by his intelligent face, he +entered into conversation with him, and found that he had been palsied +from infancy. He had been sent forth friendless into the world from an +alms-house in Maryland. In Philadelphia, he had been committed to prison +as a vagrant, because he drew crowds about him in the street by his +wonderful talent of imitating a hand-organ, merely by whistling tunes +through his fingers. Friend Hopper, who had imbibed the Quaker idea that +music was a useless and frivolous pursuit, said to the boy, "Didst thou +not know it was wrong to spend thy time in that idle manner?" + +With ready frankness the young prisoner replied, "No, I did not; and I +should like to hear how _you_ can prove it to be wrong. God has given +you sound limbs. Half of my body is paralyzed, and it is impossible for +me to work as others do. It has pleased God to give me a talent for +music. I do no harm with it. It gives pleasure to myself and others, and +enables me to gain a few coppers to buy my bread. I should like to have +you show me wherein it is wrong." + +Without attempting to do so, Friend Hopper suggested that perhaps he had +been committed to prison on account of producing noise and confusion in +the streets. + +"I make no riot," rejoined the youth. "I try to please people by my +tunes; and if the crowd around me begin to be noisy, I quietly walk +off." + +Struck with the good sense and sincerity of these answers, Friend Hopper +said to the jailor, "Thou mayest set this lad at liberty. I will be +responsible for it." + +The jailer relying on his well-known character, and his intimacy with +Robert Wharton, the mayor, did not hesitate to comply with his request. +At that moment, the mayor himself came in sight, and Friend Hopper said +to the lad, "Step into the next room, and play some of thy best tunes +till I come." + +"What's this?" said Mr. Wharton. "Have you got a hand-organ here!" + +"Yes," replied Friend Hopper; "and I will show it to thee. It is quite +curious." + +At first, the mayor could not believe that the sounds he had heard were +produced by a lad merely whistling through his fingers. He thought them +highly agreeable, and asked to have the tunes repeated. + +"The lad was committed to prison for no other offence than making that +noise, which seems to thee so pleasant," said Friend Hopper. "I dare say +thou wouldst like to make it thyself, if thou couldst. I have taken the +liberty to discharge him." + +"Very well," rejoined the mayor, with a smile. "You have done quite +right, Friend Isaac. You may go, my lad. I shall not trouble you. But +try not to collect crowds about the streets." + +"That I cannot help," replied the youth. "The crowds _will_ come, when I +whistle for them; and I get coppers by collecting crowds. But I promise +you I will try to avoid their making any riot or confusion." + + + + +MARY NORRIS. + + +A stout healthy woman, named Mary Norris was continually taken up as a +vagrant, or committed for petty larceny. As soon as she was discharged +from the penalty of one misdemeanor, she was committed for another. One +day, Friend Hopper, who was then inspector, said to her, "Well, Mary, +thy time is out next week. Dost thou think thou shalt come back again?" + +"Yes," she replied sullenly. + +"Dost thou _like_ to come back?" inquired he. + +"No, to be sure I don't," rejoined the prisoner. "But I've no doubt I +_shall_ come back before the month is out." + +"Why dost thou not make a resolution to behave better?" said the kindly +inspector. + +"What use would it be?" she replied. "You wouldn't take me into your +family. The doctor wouldn't take me into his family. No respectable +person would have anything to do with me. My associates _must_ be such +acquaintances as I make here. If they steal, I am taken up for it; no +matter whether I am guilty or not. I am an old convict, and nobody +believes what I say. O, yes, I shall come back again. To be sure I shall +come back," she repeated bitterly. + +Her voice and manner excited Friend Hopper's compassion, and he thus +addressed her: "If I will get a place for thee in some respectable +family where they will be kind to thee, wilt thou give me thy word that +thou wilt be honest and steady, and try to do thy duty." + +Her countenance brightened, and she eagerly answered, "Yes I _will_! And +thank God and you too, the longest day I have to live." + +He exerted his influence in her behalf, and procured a situation for her +as head-nurse at the alms-house. She was well contented there, and +behaved with great propriety. Seventeen years afterward, when Friend +Hopper had not seen her for a long time, he called to inquire about her, +and was informed that during all those years, she had been an honest, +sober, and useful woman. She was rejoiced to see him again, and +expressed lively gratitude, for the quiet and comfortable life she +enjoyed through his agency. + + + + +THE MAGDALEN. + + +Upon one occasion, Friend Hopper entered a complaint against an old +woman, who had presided over an infamous house for many years. She was +tried, and sentenced to several months imprisonment. He went to see her +several times, and talked very seriously with her concerning the errors +of her life. Finding that his expostulations made some impression, he +asked if she felt willing to amend her ways. "Oh, I should be thankful +to do it!" she exclaimed. "But who would trust me? What can I do to earn +an honest living? Everybody curses me, or makes game of me. How _can_ I +be a better woman, if I try ever so hard?" + +"I will give thee a chance to amend thy life," he replied; "and if thou +dost not, it shall be thy own fault." + +He went round among the wealthy Quakers, and by dint of great persuasion +he induced one to let her a small tenement at very low rent. A few +others agreed to purchase some humble furniture, and a quantity of +thread, needles, tape, and buttons, to furnish a small shop. The poor +old creature's heart overflowed with gratitude, and it was her pride to +keep everything very neat and orderly. There she lived contented and +comfortable the remainder of her days, and became much respected in the +neighborhood. The tears often came to her eyes when she saw Friend +Hopper. "God bless that good man!" she would say. "He has been the +salvation of me." + + + + +THE UNCOMPLIMENTARY INVITATION. + + +A preacher of the Society of Friends felt impressed with the duty of +calling a meeting for vicious people; and Isaac T. Hopper was appointed +to collect an audience. In the course of this mission, he knocked at +the door of a very infamous house. A gentleman who was acquainted with +him was passing by, and he stopped to say, "Friend Hopper, you have +mistaken the house." + +"No, I have not," he replied. + +"But that is a house of notorious ill fame," said the gentleman. + +"I know it," rejoined he; "but nevertheless I have business here." + +His acquaintance looked surprised, but passed on without further query. +A colored girl came to the door. To the inquiry whether her mistress was +within, she answered in the affirmative. "Tell her I wish to see her," +said Friend Hopper. The girl was evidently astonished at a visitor in +Quaker costume, and of such grave demeanor; but she went and did the +errand. A message was returned that her mistress was engaged and could +not see any one. "Where is she?" he inquired. The girl replied that she +was up-stairs. "I will go to her," said the importunate messenger. + +The mistress of the house heard him, and leaning over the balustrade of +the stairs, she screamed out, "What do you want with me, sir?" + +In very loud tones he answered, "James Simpson, a minister of the +Society of Friends, has appointed a meeting to be held this afternoon, +in Penrose store, Almond-street. It is intended for publicans, sinners, +and harlots. I want thee to be there, and bring thy whole household with +thee. Wilt thou come?" + +She promised that she would; and he afterward saw her at the meeting +melted into tears by the direct and affectionate preaching. + + + + +THEFT FROM NECESSITY. + + +One day, when the family were in the midst of washing, a man called at +Isaac T. Hopper's house to buy soap fat, and was informed they had none +to sell. A minute after he had passed out, the domestic came running in +to say that he had stolen some of the children's clothes from the line. +Friend Hopper followed him quickly, and called out, "Dost thou want to +buy some soap-fat? Come back if thou dost." + +When the man had returned to the kitchen, he said, "Now give up the +clothes thou hast stolen." + +The culprit was extremely confused, but denied that he had stolen +anything. + +"Give them up at once, without any more words. It will be much better +for thee," said Friend Hopper, in his firm way. + +Thus urged, the stranger drew from his bosom some small shirts and +flannel petticoats. "My wife is very sick," said he. "She has a babe two +weeks old, wrapped up in an old rag; and when I saw this comfortable +clothing on the line, I was tempted to take it for the poor little +creature. We have no fuel except a little tan. A herring is the last +mouthful of food we have in the house; and when I came away, it was +broiling on the hot tan." + +His story excited pity; but fearing it might be made up for the +occasion, Friend Hopper took him to a magistrate and said, "Please give +me a commitment for this man. If he tells a true story, I will tear it +up. I will go and see for myself." + +When he arrived at the wretched abode, he found a scene of misery that +pained him to the heart. The room was cold, and the wife was in bed, +pale and suffering. Her babe had no clothing, except a coarse rag torn +from the skirt of an old coat. Of course he destroyed the commitment +immediately. His next step was to call upon the rich Quakers of his +acquaintance, and obtain from them contributions of wood, flour, rice, +bread, and warm garments. Employment was soon after procured for the +man, and he was enabled to support his family comfortably. He never +passed Friend Hopper in the street without making a low bow, and often +took occasion to express his grateful acknowledgments. + + + + +PATRICK McKEEVER. + + +Patrick was a poor Irishman in Philadelphia. He and another man were +arrested on a charge of burglary, convicted and sentenced to be hung. I +am ignorant of the details of his crime, or why the sentence was not +carried into execution. There were probably some palliating +circumstances in his case; for though he was carried to the gallows, +seated on his coffin, he was spared for some reason, and his companion +was hung. He was afterward sentenced to ten years imprisonment, and this +was eventually shortened one year. During the last three years of his +term, Friend Hopper was one of the inspectors, and frequently talked +with him in a gentle, fatherly manner. The convict was a man of few +words, and hope seemed almost dead within him; but though he made no +large promises, his heart was evidently touched by the voice of +kindness. As soon as he was released, he went immediately to work at his +trade of tanning leather, and conducted himself in the most exemplary +manner. Being remarkable for capability, and the amount of work he could +accomplish, he soon had plenty of employment. He passed Friend Hopper's +house every day, as he went to his work, and often received from him +words of friendly encouragement. + +Things were going on thus satisfactorily, when his friend heard that +constables were in pursuit of him, on account of a robbery committed the +night before. He went straight to the mayor, and inquired why orders +had been given to arrest Patrick McKeever. + +"Because there has been a robbery committed in his neighborhood," +replied the magistrate. + +He inquired what proof there was that Patrick had been concerned in it. + +"None at all," rejoined the mayor. "But he is an old convict, and that +is enough to condemn him." + +"It is _not_ enough, by any means," answered Friend Hopper. "Thou hast +no right to arrest any citizen without a shadow of proof against him. In +this, case, I advise thee by all means to proceed with humane caution. +This man has severely atoned for the crime he did commit; and since he +wishes to reform, his past history ought never to be mentioned against +him. He has been perfectly honest, sober, and industrious, since he came +out of prison. I think I know his state of mind; and I am willing to +take the responsibility of saying that he is guiltless in this matter." + +The mayor commended Friend Hopper's benevolence, but remained +unconvinced. To all arguments he replied, "He is an old convict, and +that is enough." + +Patrick's kind friend watched for him as he passed to his daily labors, +and told him that he would probably be arrested for the robbery that had +been committed in his neighborhood. The poor fellow bowed down his +head, the light vanished from his countenance, and hope seemed to have +forsaken him utterly. "Well," said he, with a deep sigh, "I suppose I +must make up my mind to spend the remainder of my days in prison." + +"Thou wert not concerned in this robbery, wert thou?" inquired Friend +Hopper, looking earnestly in his face. + +"No, indeed I was not," he replied. "God be my witness, I want to lead +an honest life, and be at peace with all men. But what good will _that_ +do me? Everybody will say, he has been in the State Prison, and that is +enough." + +His friend did not ask him twice; for he felt assured that he had spoken +truly. He advised him to go directly to the mayor, deliver himself up, +and declare his innocence. This wholesome advice was received with deep +dejection. He had lost faith in his fellow-men; for they had been to him +as enemies. "I know what will come of it," said he. "They will put me in +prison whether there is any proof against me, or not. They won't let me +out without somebody will be security for me; and who will be security +for an old convict?" + +"Keep up a good heart," replied Friend Hopper. "Go to the mayor and +speak as I have advised thee. If they talk of putting thee in prison, +send for me." + +Patrick acted in obedience to this advice, and was treated just as he +had expected. Though there was not a shadow of proof against him, his +being an old convict was deemed sufficient reason for sending him to +jail. + +Friend Hopper appeared in his behalf. "I am ready to affirm that I +believe this man to be innocent," said he. "It will be a very serious +injury for him to be taken from his business and detained in prison +until this can be proved. Moreover, the effect upon his mind may be +completely discouraging. I will be security for his appearance when +called for; and I know very well that he will not think of giving me the +slip." + +The gratitude of the poor fellow was overwhelming. He sobbed till his +strong frame shook like a leaf in the wind. The real culprits were soon +after discovered. For thirty years after and to the day of his death, +Patrick continued to lead a virtuous and useful life; for which he +always thanked Friend Hopper, as the instrument of Divine Providence. + + + + +THE UMBRELLA GIRL. + + +A young girl, the only daughter of a poor widow, removed from the +country to Philadelphia to earn her living by covering umbrellas. She +was very handsome; with glossy black hair, large beaming eyes, and "lips +like wet coral." She was just at that susceptible age when youth is +ripening into womanhood, when the soul begins to be pervaded by "that +restless principle, which impels poor humans to seek perfection in +union." + +At a hotel near the store for which she worked an English traveller, +called Lord Henry Stuart, had taken lodgings. He was a strikingly +handsome man, and of princely carriage. As this distinguished stranger +passed to and from his hotel, he encountered the umbrella girl, and was +attracted by her uncommon beauty. He easily traced her to the store, +where he soon after went to purchase an umbrella. This was followed up +by presents of flowers, chats by the wayside, and invitations to walk or +ride; all of which were gratefully accepted by the unsuspecting rustic; +for she was as ignorant of the dangers of a city as were the squirrels +of her native fields. He was merely playing a game for temporary +excitement. She, with a head full of romance, and a heart melting under +the influence of love, was unconsciously endangering the happiness of +her whole life. + +Lord Henry invited her to visit the public gardens on the Fourth of +July. In the simplicity of her heart, she believed all his flattering +professions, and considered herself his bride elect; she therefore +accepted the invitation with innocent frankness. But she had no dress +fit to appear in on such a public occasion, with a gentleman of high +rank, whom she verily supposed to be her destined husband. While these +thoughts revolved in her mind, her eye was unfortunately attracted by a +beautiful piece of silk, belonging to her employer. Could she not take +it, without being seen, and pay for it secretly, when she had earned +money enough? The temptation conquered her in a moment of weakness. She +concealed the silk, and conveyed it to her lodgings. It was the first +thing she had ever stolen, and her remorse was painful. She would have +carried it back, but she dreaded discovery. She was not sure that her +repentance would be met in a spirit of forgiveness. + +On the eventful Fourth of July, she came out in her new dress. Lord +Henry complimented her upon her elegant appearance, but she was not +happy. On their way to the gardens, he talked to her in a manner which +she did not comprehend. Perceiving this, he spoke more explicitly. The +guileless young creature stopped, looked in his face with mournful +reproach, and burst into tears. The nobleman took her hand kindly, and +said, "My dear, are you an innocent girl?" + +"I am, I am," she replied, with convulsive sobs. "Oh, what have I ever +done, or said, that you should ask me such a question?" + +The evident sincerity of her words stirred the deep fountains of his +better nature. "If you are innocent," said he, "God forbid that I should +make you otherwise. But you accepted my invitations and presents so +readily, that I supposed you understood me." + +"What _could_ I understand," said she, "except that you intended to make +me your wife?" + +Though reared amid the proudest distinctions of rank, he felt no +inclination to smile. He blushed and was silent. The heartless +conventionalities of the world stood rebuked in the presence of +affectionate simplicity. He conveyed her to her humble home, and bade +her farewell, with a thankful consciousness that he had done no +irretrievable injury to her future prospects. The remembrance of her +would soon be to him as the recollection of last year's butterflies. +With her, the wound was deep. In the solitude of her chamber she wept in +bitterness of heart over her ruined air-castles. And that dress, which +she had stolen to make an appearance befitting his bride! Oh, what if +she should be discovered? And would not the heart of her poor widowed +mother break, if she should ever know that her child was a thief? + +Alas, her wretched forebodings proved too true. The silk was traced to +her; she was arrested on her way to the store and dragged to prison. +There she refused all nourishment, and wept incessantly. On the fourth +day, the keeper called upon Isaac T. Hopper, and informed him that there +was a young girl in prison, who appeared to be utterly friendless, and +determined to die by starvation. The kind-hearted Friend immediately +went to her assistance. He found her lying on the floor of her cell, +with her face buried in her hands, sobbing as if her heart would break. +He tried to comfort her, but could obtain no answer. + +"Leave us alone," said he to the keeper. "Perhaps she will speak to me, +if there is no one to hear." When they were alone together, he put back +the hair from her temples, laid his hand kindly on her beautiful head, +and said in soothing tones, "My child, consider me as thy father. Tell +me all thou hast done. If thou hast taken this silk, let me know all +about it. I will do for thee as I would for my own daughter; and I doubt +not that I can help thee out of this difficulty." + +After a long time spent in affectionate entreaty, she leaned her young +head on his friendly shoulder, and sobbed out, "Oh, I wish I was dead. +What will my poor mother say when she knows of my disgrace?" + +"Perhaps we can manage that she never shall know it," replied he. +Alluring her by this hope, he gradually obtained from her the whole +story of her acquaintance with the nobleman. He bade her be comforted, +and take nourishment; for he would see that the silk was paid for, and +the prosecution withdrawn. + +He went immediately to her employer, and told him the story. "This is +her first offence," said he. "The girl is young, and she is the only +child of a poor widow. Give her a chance to retrieve this one false +step, and she may be restored to society, a useful and honored woman. I +will see that thou art paid for the silk." The man readily agreed to +withdraw the prosecution, and said he would have dealt otherwise by the +girl, if he had known all the circumstances. "Thou shouldst have +inquired into the merits of the case," replied Friend Hopper. "By this +kind of thoughtlessness, many a young creature is driven into the +downward path, who might easily have been saved." + +The kind-hearted man next proceeded to the hotel, and with Quaker +simplicity of speech inquired for Henry Stuart. The servant said his +lordship had not yet risen. "Tell him my business is of importance," +said Friend Hopper. The servant soon returned and conducted him to the +chamber. The nobleman appeared surprised that a stranger, in the plain +Quaker costume, should thus intrude upon his luxurious privacy. When he +heard his errand, he blushed deeply, and frankly admitted the truth of +the girl's statement. His benevolent visitor took the opportunity to +"bear a testimony" against the selfishness and sin of profligacy. He did +it in such a kind and fatherly manner, that the young man's heart was +touched. He excused himself, by saying that he would not have tampered +with the girl, if he had known her to be virtuous. "I have done many +wrong things," said he, "but thank God, no betrayal of confiding +innocence weighs on my conscience. I have always esteemed it the basest +act of which man is capable." The imprisonment of the poor girl, and the +forlorn situation in which she had been found, distressed him greatly. +When Friend Hopper represented that the silk had been stolen for _his_ +sake, that the girl had thereby lost profitable employment, and was +obliged to return to her distant home, to avoid the danger of exposure, +he took out a fifty dollar note, and offered it to pay her expenses. + +"Nay," said Isaac. "Thou art a very rich man, I presume. I see in thy +hand a large roll of such notes. She is the daughter of a poor widow, +and thou hast been the means of doing her great injury. Give me +another." + +Lord Henry handed him another fifty dollar note, and smiled as he said, +"You understand your business well. But you have acted nobly, and I +reverence you for it. If you ever visit England, come to see me. I will +give you a cordial welcome, and treat you like a nobleman." + +"Farewell, friend," replied the Quaker. "Though much to blame in this +affair, thou too hast behaved nobly. Mayst thou be blessed in domestic +life, and trifle no more with the feelings of poor girls; not even with +those whom others have betrayed and deserted." + +When the girl was arrested, she had sufficient presence of mind to +assume a false name, and by that means, her true name had been kept out +of the newspapers. "I did this," said she, "for my poor mother's sake." +With the money given by Lord Stuart, the silk was paid for, and she was +sent home to her mother well provided with clothing. Her name and place +of residence forever remained a secret in the breast of her benefactor. + +Years after these events transpired, a lady called at Friend Hopper's +house, and asked to see him. When he entered the room, he found a +handsomely dressed young matron, with a blooming boy of five or six +years old. She rose quickly to meet him, and her voice choked as she +said, "Friend Hopper, do you know me?" He replied that he did not. She +fixed her tearful eyes earnestly upon him, and said, "You once helped me +when in great distress." But the good missionary of humanity had helped +too many in distress, to be able to recollect her without more precise +information. With a tremulous voice, she bade her son go into the next +room for a few minutes; then dropping on her knees, she hid her face in +his lap, and sobbed out, "I am the girl who stole the silk. Oh, where +should I now be, if it had not been for you!" + +When her emotion was somewhat calmed, she told him that she had married +a highly respectable man, a senator of his native state. Being on a +visit in Friend Hopper's vicinity, she had again and again passed his +dwelling, looking wistfully at the windows to catch a sight of him; but +when she attempted to enter her courage failed. + +"But I must return home to-morrow," said she, "and I could not go away +without once more seeing and thanking him who saved me from ruin." She +recalled her little boy, and said to him, "Look at that gentleman, and +remember him well; for he was the best friend your mother ever had." +With an earnest invitation to visit her happy home, and a fervent "God +bless you!" she bade her benefactor farewell. + + + + +THE TWO YOUNG OFFENDERS. + + +In the neighborhood of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, there lived a man whose +temper was vindictive and badly governed. Having become deeply offended +with one of his neighbors, he induced his two sons to swear falsely that +he had committed an infamous crime. One of the lads was about fifteen +years old, and the other about seventeen. The alleged offence was of so +gross a nature, and was so at variance with the fair character of the +person accused that the witnesses were subjected to a very careful and +shrewd examination. They became embarrassed, and the flaws in their +evidence were very obvious. They were indicted for conspiracy against an +innocent man; and being taken by surprise, they were thrown into +confusion, acknowledged their guilt, and declined the offer of a trial. +They were sentenced to two years' imprisonment at hard labor in the +Penitentiary of Philadelphia. + +Isaac T. Hopper, who was at that time one of the inspectors, happened to +be at the prison when they arrived at dusk, hand-cuffed and chained +together, in custody of the sheriff. Their youth and desolate appearance +excited his compassion. "Keep up a good heart, my poor lads," said he. +"You can retrieve this one false step, if you will but make the effort. +It is still in your power to become respectable and useful men. I will +help you all I can." + +He gave particular directions that they should be placed in a room by +themselves, apart from the contagion of more hardened offenders. To +prevent unprofitable conversation, they were constantly employed in the +noisy occupation of heading nails. From time to time, the humane +inspector spoke soothing and encouraging words to them, and commended +their good behavior. When the Board of Inspectors met, he proposed that +the lads should be recommended to the governor for pardon. Not +succeeding in this effort, he wrote an article on the impropriety of +confining juvenile offenders with old hardened convicts. He published +this in the daily papers, and it produced considerable effect. When the +Board again met, Isaac T. Hopper and Thomas Dobson were appointed to +wait on the governor, to obtain a pardon for the lads if possible. After +considerable hesitation, the request was granted on condition that +worthy men could be found, who would take them as apprentices. Friend +Hopper agreed to find such persons; and he kept his word. One of them +was bound to a tanner, the other to a carpenter. But their excellent +friend did not lose sight of them. He reminded them that they were now +going among strangers, and their success and happiness would mainly +depend on their own conduct. He begged of them, if they should ever get +entangled with unprofitable company, or become involved in difficulty of +any kind, to come to him, as they would to a considerate father. He +invited them to spend all their leisure evenings at his house. For a +long time, it was their constant practice to take tea with him every +Sunday, and join the family in reading the Bible and other serious +books. + +At the end of a year, they expressed a strong desire to visit their +father. Some fears were entertained lest his influence over them should +prove injurious; and that being once freed from restraint, they would +not willingly return to constant industry and regular habits. They, +however, promised faithfully that they would, and Friend Hopper thought +it might have a good effect upon them to know that they were trusted. He +accordingly entered into bonds for them; thinking this additional claim +on their gratitude would strengthen his influence over them, and help to +confirm their good resolutions. + +They returned punctually at the day and hour they had promised, and +their exemplary conduct continued to give entire satisfaction to their +employers. A short time after the oldest had fulfilled the term of his +indenture, the tanner with whom he worked bought a farm, and sold his +stock and tools to his former apprentice. Friend Hopper took him to the +governor's house, dressed in his new suit of freedom clothes, and +introduced him as one of the lads whom he had pardoned several years +before; testifying that he had been a faithful apprentice, and much +respected by his master. The governor was well pleased to see him, shook +hands with him very cordially, and told him that he who was resolute +enough to turn back from vicious ways, into the paths of virtue and +usefulness, deserved even more respect than one who had never been +tempted. + +He afterward married a worthy young woman with a small property, which +enabled him to build a neat two-story brick house. He always remained +sober and industrious, and they lived in great comfort and +respectability. + +The younger brother likewise passed through his apprenticeship in a +manner very satisfactory to his friends; and at twenty-one years of age, +he also was introduced to the governor with testimonials of his good +conduct. He was united to a very respectable young woman, but died a few +years after his marriage. + +Both these young men always cherished warm gratitude and strong +attachment for Isaac T. Hopper. They both regularly attended the +meetings of the Society of Friends, which had become pleasantly +associated in their minds with the good influences they had received +from their benefactor. + +Friend Hopper was a strict disciplinarian while he was inspector, and it +was extremely difficult for the prisoners to deceive him by any artful +devices, or hypocritical pretences. But he was always in the habit of +talking with them in friendly style, inquiring into their history and +plans, sympathizing with their troubles and temptations, encouraging +them to reform, and promising to assist them if they would try to help +themselves. It was his custom to take a ramble in the country with his +children every Saturday afternoon. All who were old enough to walk +joined the troop. They always stopped at the prison, and were well +pleased to deliver to the poor inmates, with their own small hands, such +little comforts as their father had provided for the purpose. He was +accustomed to say that there was not one among the convicts, however +desperate they might be, with whom he should be afraid to trust himself +alone at midnight with large sums of money in his pocket. An +acquaintance once cautioned him against a prisoner, whose temper was +extremely violent and revengeful, and who had been heard to swear that +he would take the life of some of the keepers. Soon after this warning, +Friend Hopper summoned the desperate fellow, and told him he was wanted +to pile a quantity of lumber in the cellar. He went down with him to +hold the light, and they remained more than an hour alone together, out +of hearing of everybody. When he told this to the man who had cautioned +him, he replied, "Well, I confess you have good courage. I wouldn't have +done it for the price of the prison and all the ground it stands upon; +for I do assure you he is a terrible fellow." + +"I don't doubt he is," rejoined the courageous inspector; "but I knew he +wouldn't kill _me_. I have always been a friend to him, and he is aware +of it. What motive could he have for harming me?" + +One of the prisoners, who had been convicted of man-slaughter, became +furious, in consequence of being threatened with a whipping. When they +attempted to bring him out of his dungeon to receive punishment, he +seized a knife and a club, rushed back again, and swore he would kill +the first person who came near him. Being a very strong man, and in a +state of madness, no one dared to approach him. They tried to starve him +into submission; but finding he was not to be subdued in that way, they +sent for Friend Hopper, as they were accustomed to do in all such +difficult emergencies. He went boldly into the cell, looked the +desperado calmly in the face, and said, "It is foolish for thee to +contend with the authorities. Thou wilt be compelled to yield at last. I +will inquire into thy case. If thou hast been unjustly dealt by, I +promise thee it shall be remedied." This kind and sensible remonstrance +had the desired effect. From that time forward, he had great influence +over the ferocious fellow, who was always willing to be guided by his +advice, and finally became one of the most reasonable and orderly +inmates of the prison. + +I have heard Friend Hopper say that while he was inspector he aided and +encouraged about fifty young convicts, as nearly as he could recollect; +and all, except two, conducted in such a manner as to satisfy the +respectable citizens whom he had induced to employ them. He was a shrewd +observer of the countenances and manners of men, and doubtless that was +one reason why he was not often disappointed in those he trusted. + +The humor which characterized his boyhood, remained with him in maturer +years, and often effervesced on the surface of his acquired gravity; as +will appear in the following anecdotes. + +Upon a certain occasion, a man called on him with a due bill for twenty +dollars against an estate he had been employed to settle. Friend Hopper +put it away, saying he would examine it and attend to it as soon as he +had leisure. The man called again a short time after, and stated that he +had need of six dollars, and was willing to give a receipt for the whole +if that sum were advanced. This proposition excited suspicion, and the +administrator decided in his own mind that he would pay nothing till he +had examined the papers of the deceased. Searching carefully among +these, he found a receipt for the money, mentioning the identical items, +date, and circumstances of the transaction; stating that a due-bill had +been given and lost, and was to be restored by the creditor when found. +When the man called again for payment, Isaac said to him, in a quiet +way, "Friend Jones, I understand thou hast become pious lately." + +He replied in a solemn tone, "Yes, thanks to the Lord Jesus, I have +found out the way of salvation." + +"And thou hast been dipped I hear," continued the Quaker. "Dost thou +know James Hunter?" + +Mr. Jones answered in the affirmative. + +"Well, he also was dipped some time ago," rejoined Friend Hopper; "but +his neighbors say they didn't get the crown of his head under water. The +devil crept into the unbaptized part, and has been busy within him ever +since. I am afraid they didn't get _thee_ quite under water. I think +thou hadst better be dipped again." + +As he spoke, he held up the receipt for twenty dollars. The countenance +of the professedly pious man became scarlet, and he disappeared +instantly. + +A Dutchman once called upon Friend Hopper, and said, "A tief have stole +mine goots. They tell me you can help me, may be." Upon inquiring the +when and the where, Friend Hopper concluded that the articles had been +stolen by a man whom he happened to know the police had taken up a few +hours previous. But being disposed to amuse himself, he inquired very +seriously, "What time of the moon was it, when thy goods were stolen?" +Having received information concerning that particular, he took a slate +and began to cipher diligently. After a while, he looked up, and +pronounced in a very oracular manner, "Thou wilt find thy goods." + +"Shall I find mine goots?" exclaimed the delighted Dutchman; "and where +is de tief?" + +"Art thou quite sure about the age of the moon?" inquired the pretended +magician. Being assured there was no mistake on that point, he ciphered +again for a few minutes, and then answered, "Thou wilt find the thief in +the hands of the police." + +The Dutchman went away, evidently inspired with profound reverence. +Having found his goods and the thief, according to prediction, he +returned and asked for a private interview. "Tell me dat secret," said +he, "and I will pay you a heap of money." + +"What secret?" inquired Friend Hopper. + +"Tell me how you know I will find mine goots, and where I will find de +tief?" rejoined he. + +"The plain truth is, I guessed it," was the reply; "because I had heard +there was a thief at the police office, with such goods as thou +described." + +"But what for you ask about de moon?" inquired the Dutchman. "You make +figures, and den you say, you will find your goots. You make figures +again, den you tell me where is de tief. I go, and find mine goots and +de tief, just as you say. Tell me how you do dat, and I will pay you a +heap of money." + +Though repeatedly assured that it was done only for a joke, he went away +unsatisfied: and to the day of his death, he fully believed that the +facetious Quaker was a conjuror. + +When Friend Hopper hired one of two houses where the back yards were +not separated, he found himself considerably incommoded by the +disorderly habits of his next neighbor. The dust and dirt daily swept +into the yard were allowed to accumulate there in a heap, which the wind +often scattered over the neater premises adjoining. The mistress of the +house was said to be of an irritable temper, likely to take offence if +asked to adopt a different system. He accordingly resolved upon a +course, which he thought might cure the evil without provoking a +dispute. One day, when he saw his neighbor in her kitchen, he called his +own domestic to come out into the yard. Pointing to the heap of dirt, he +exclaimed, loud enough to be heard in the next house, "Betsy, art thou +not ashamed to sweep dust and litter into such a heap. See how it is +blowing about our neighbor's yard! Art thou not ashamed of thyself?" + +"I didn't sweep any dirt there," replied the girl. "They did it +themselves." + +"Pshaw! Pshaw! don't tell me that," rejoined he. "Our neighbor wouldn't +do such an untidy thing. I wonder she hasn't complained of thee before +now. Be more careful in future; for I should be very sorry to give her +any occasion to say she couldn't keep the yard clean on our account." + +The domestic read his meaning in the roguish expression of his eye, and +she remained silent. The lesson took effect. The heap of dirt was soon +removed, and never appeared afterward. + +Such a character as Isaac T. Hopper was of course well known throughout +the city where he lived. Every school-boy had heard something of his +doings, and as he walked the street, everybody recognized him, from the +chief justice to the chimney-sweep. His personal appearance was +calculated to attract attention, independent of other circumstances. +Joseph Bonaparte, who then resided at Bordentown, was attracted toward +him the first moment he saw him, on account of a strong resemblance to +his brother Napoleon. They often met in the steamboat going down the +Delaware, and on such occasions, the ex-king frequently pointed him out +as the most remarkable likeness of the emperor, that he had ever met in +Europe or America. He expressed the opinion that with Napoleon's uniform +on, he might be mistaken for him, even by his own household; and if he +were to appear thus in Paris, nothing could be easier than for him to +excite a revolution. + +But the imperial throne, even if it had been directly offered to him, +would have proved no temptation to a soul like his. In some respects, +his character, as well as his person, strongly resembled Napoleon. But +his powerful will was remarkably under the control of conscience, and +his energy was tempered by an unusual share of benevolence. If the +other elements of his character had not been balanced by these two +qualities, he also might have been a skilful diplomatist, and a +successful leader of armies. Fortunately for himself and others, he had +a nobler ambition than that of making widows and orphans by wholesale +slaughter. The preceding anecdotes show how warmly he sympathized with +the poor, the oppressed, and the erring, without limitation of country, +creed, or complexion; and how diligently he labored in their behalf. But +from the great amount of public service that he rendered, it must not be +inferred that he neglected private duties. Perhaps no man was ever more +devotedly attached to wife and children than he was. His Sarah, as he +was wont to call her, was endowed with qualities well calculated to +retain a strong hold on the affections of a sensible and conscientious +man. Her kindly disposition, and the regular, simple habits of her life, +were favorable to the preservation of that beauty, which had won his +boyish admiration. Her wavy brown hair was softly shaded by the delicate +transparent muslin of her Quaker cap; her face had a tender and benign +expression; and her complexion was so clear, that an old gentleman, who +belonged to the Society of Friends, and who was of course not much +addicted to poetic comparisons, used to say he could never look at her +without thinking of the clear pink and white of a beautiful +conch-shell. She was scrupulously neat, and had something of that +chastened coquetry in dress, which is apt to characterize the handsome +women of her orderly sect. Her drab-colored gown, not high in the neck, +was bordered by a plain narrow tucker of fine muslin, visible under her +snow-white neckerchief. A white under-sleeve came just below the elbow, +where it terminated in a very narrow band, nicely stitched, and fastened +with two small silver buttons, connected by a chain. She was a very +industrious woman, and remarkably systematic in her household affairs; +thus she contrived to find time for everything, though burdened with the +care of a large and increasing family. The apprentices always sat at +table with them, and she maintained a perfect equality between them and +her own children. She said it was her wish to treat them precisely as +she would like to have _her_ boys treated, if _they_ should become +apprentices. On Sunday evenings, which they called First Day evenings, +the whole family assembled to hear Friend Hopper read portions of +scripture, or writings of the early Friends. On such occasions, the +mother often gave religious exhortations to the children and +apprentices, suited to the occurrences of the week, and the temptations +to which they were peculiarly subject. During the last eight years of +her life, she was a recommended minister of the Society of Friends, and +often preached at their meetings. Her manners were affable, and her +conversation peculiarly agreeable to young people. But she knew when +silence was seemly, and always restrained her discourse within the +limits of discretion. When any of her children talked more than was +useful, she was accustomed to administer this concise caution: "My dear, +it is a nice thing to say nothing, when thou hast nothing to say." Her +husband was proud of her, and always manifested great deference for her +opinion. She suffered much anxiety on account of the perils to which he +was often exposed in his contests with slaveholders and kidnappers; and +for many years, the thought was familiar to her mind that she might one +day see him brought home a corpse. While the yellow fever raged in +Philadelphia, she had the same anxiety concerning his fearless devotion +to the victims of that terrible disease, who were dying by hundreds +around them. But she had a large and sympathizing heart, and she never +sought to dissuade him from what he considered the path of duty. When +one of his brothers was stricken with the fever, and the family with +whom he resided were afraid to shelter him, she proposed to have him +brought under their own roof, where he was carefully nursed till he +died. She was more reluctant to listen to his urgent entreaties that she +would retire into the country with the children, and remain with them +beyond the reach of contagion; for her heart was divided between the +husband of her youth and the nurslings of her bosom. But his anxiety +concerning their children was so great, that she finally consented to +pursue the course most conducive to his peace of mind; and he was left +in the city with a colored domestic to superintend his household +affairs. Through this terrible ordeal of pestilence he passed unscathed, +though his ever ready sympathy brought him into frequent contact with +the dying and the dead. + +Besides this public calamity, which darkened the whole city for a time, +Friend Hopper shared the common lot of humanity in the sad experiences +of private life. Several of his children died at that attractive age, +when the bud of infancy is blooming into childhood. Relatives and +friends crossed the dark river to the unknown shore. On New Year's day, +1797, his mother departed from this world at fifty-six years old. In +1818, his father died at seventy-five years of age. His physical vigor +was remarkable. When he had weathered seventy winters, he went to visit +his eldest son, and being disappointed in meeting the stage to return, +as he expected, he walked home, a distance of twenty-eight miles. At +that advanced age, he could rest one hand on his cane and the other on a +fence, and leap over as easily as a boy. He had long flowing black hair, +which fell in ringlets on his shoulders; and when he died, it was +merely sprinkled with gray. When his private accounts were examined +after his decease, they revealed the fact that he had secretly expended +hundreds of dollars in paying the debts of poor people, or redeeming +their furniture when it was attached. + +But though many dear ones dropped away from his side, as Friend Isaac +moved onward in his pilgrimage, many remained to sustain and cheer him. +Among his wife's brothers, his especial friend was John Tatum, who lived +in the vicinity of his native village. This worthy man had great +sympathy with the colored people, and often sheltered the fugitives whom +his brother-in-law had rescued. He was remarkable for his love of peace; +always preferring to suffer wrong rather than dispute. The influence of +this pacific disposition upon others was strikingly illustrated in the +case of two of his neighbors. They were respectable people, in easy +circumstances, and the families found much pleasure in frequent +intercourse with each other. But after a few years, one of the men +deemed that an intentional affront had been offered him by the other. +Instead of good-natured frankness on the occasion, he behaved in a +sullen manner, which provoked the other, and the result was that +eventually neither of them would speak when they met. Their fields +joined, and when they were on friendly terms, the boundary was marked +by a fence, which they alternately repaired. But when there was feud +between them, neither of them was willing to mend the other's fence. So +each one built a fence for himself, leaving a very narrow strip of land +between, which in process of time came to be generally known by the name +of Devil's Lane, in allusion to the bad temper that produced it. A brook +formed another portion of the boundary between their farms, and was +useful to both of them. But after they became enemies, if a freshet +occurred, each watched an opportunity to turn the water on the other's +land, by which much damage was mutually done. They were so much occupied +with injuring each other in every possible way, that they neglected +their farms and grew poorer and poorer. One of them became intemperate; +and everything about their premises began to wear an aspect of +desolation and decay. At last, one of the farms was sold to pay a +mortgage, and John Tatum, who was then about to be married, concluded to +purchase it. Many people warned him of the trouble he would have with a +quarrelsome and intemperate neighbor. But, after mature reflection, he +concluded to trust to the influence of a peaceful and kind example, and +accordingly purchased the farm. + +Soon after he removed thither, he proposed to do away the Devil's Lane +by building a new fence on the boundary, entirely at his own expense. +His neighbor acceded to the proposition in a very surly manner, and for +a considerable time seemed determined to find, or make some occasion for +quarrel. But the young Quaker met all his provocations with forbearance, +and never missed an opportunity to oblige him. Good finally overcame +evil. The turbulent spirit, having nothing to excite it, gradually +subsided into calmness. In process of time, he evinced a disposition to +be kind and obliging also. Habits of temperance and industry returned, +and during the last years of his life he was considered a remarkably +good neighbor. + +Friend Hopper's attachment to the religious society he had joined in +early life was quite as strong, perhaps even stronger, than his love of +kindred. The Yearly Meeting of Friends at Philadelphia was a season of +great satisfaction, and he delighted to have his house full of guests, +even to overflowing. On these occasions, he obeyed the impulses of his +generous nature by seeking out the least wealthy and distinguished, who +would be less likely than others to receive many invitations. In +addition to these, who were often personal strangers to him, he had his +own familiar and cherished friends. A day seldom passed without a visit +from Nicholas Wain, who had great respect and affection for him and his +wife, and delighted in their society. He cordially approved of their +consistency in carrying out their conscientious convictions into the +practices of daily life. Some of Isaac's relatives and friends thought +he devoted rather too much time and attention to philanthropic missions, +but Nicholas Wain always stood by him, a warm and faithful friend to the +last. He was a true gentleman, of courtly, pleasing manners, and amusing +conversation. Notwithstanding his weight of character, he was so playful +with the children, that his visits were always hailed by them, as +delightful opportunities for fun and frolic. He looked beneath the +surface of society, and had learned to estimate men and things according +to their real value, not by a conventional standard. His wife did not +regard the pomps and vanities of the world with precisely the same +degree of indifference that he did. She thought it would be suitable to +their wealth and station to have a footman behind her carriage. This +wish being frequently expressed, her husband at last promised to comply +with it. Accordingly, the next time the carriage was ordered, for the +purpose of making a stylish call, she was gratified to see a footman +mounted. When she arrived at her place of destination, the door of her +carriage was opened, and the steps let down in a very obsequious manner, +by the new servant; and great was her surprise and confusion, to +recognize in him her own husband! + +Jacob Lindley, of Chester county, was another frequent visitor at Friend +Hopper's house; and many were the lively conversations they had +together. He was a preacher in the Society of Friends, and missed no +opportunity, either in public or private, to protest earnestly against +the sin of slavery. He often cautioned Friends against laying too much +stress on their own peculiar forms, while they professed to abjure +forms. He said he himself had once received a lesson on this subject, +which did him much good. Once, when he was seated in meeting, an +influential Friend walked in, dressed in a coat with large metal +buttons, which he had borrowed in consequence of a drenching rain! He +seated himself opposite to Jacob Lindley, who was so much disturbed by +the glittering buttons, that "his meeting did him no good." When the +congregation rose to depart, he felt constrained to go up to the Friend +who had so much troubled him, and inquire why he had so grievously +departed from the simplicity enjoined upon members of their Society. The +good man looked down upon his garments, and quietly replied, "I borrowed +the coat because my own was wet; and indeed, Jacob, I did not notice +what buttons were on it." Jacob shook his hand warmly, and said, "Thou +art a better Christian than I am, and I will learn of thee." + +He often used to inculcate the same moral by relating another incident, +which happened in old times, when Quakers were accustomed to wear cocked +hats turned up at the sides. A Friend bought a hat of this description, +without observing that it was looped up with a button. As he sat in +meeting with his hat on, as usual, he observed many eyes directed toward +him, and some with a very sorrowful expression. He could not conjecture +a reason for this, till he happened to take off his hat and lay it +beside him. As soon as he noticed the button, he rose and said, +"Friends, if religion consists in a button, I wouldn't give a button for +it." Having delivered this short and pithy sermon, he seated himself, +and resumed the offending hat with the utmost composure. + +Once, when Jacob Lindley was dining with Friend Hopper, the conversation +turned upon his religious experiences, and he related a circumstance to +which he said he very seldom alluded, and never without feelings of +solemnity and awe. Being seized with sudden and severe illness, his soul +left the body for several hours, during which time he saw visions of +heavenly glory, not to be described. When consciousness began to return, +he felt grieved that he was obliged to come back to this state of being, +and he was never after able to feel the same interest in terrestrial +things, that he had felt before he obtained this glimpse of the +spiritual world. + +Arthur Howell was another intimate acquaintance of Friend Hopper. He was +a currier in Philadelphia, a preacher in the Society of Friends, +characterized by kindly feelings, and a very tender conscience. Upon +one occasion, he purchased from the captain of a vessel a quantity of +oil, which he afterward sold at an advanced price. Under these +circumstances, he thought the captain had not received so much as he +ought to have; and he gave him an additional dollar on every barrel. +This man was remarkable for spiritual-mindedness and the gift of +prophecy. It was no uncommon thing for him to relate occurrences which +were happening at the moment many miles distant, and to foretell the +arrival of people, or events, when there appeared to be no external +reasons on which to ground such expectations. + +One Sunday morning, he was suddenly impelled to proceed to Germantown in +haste. As he approached the village, he met a funeral procession. He had +no knowledge whatever of the deceased; but it was suddenly revealed to +him that the occupant of the coffin before him was a woman whose life +had been saddened by the suspicion of a crime, which she never +committed. The impression became very strong on his mind that she wished +him to make certain statements at her funeral. Accordingly, he followed +the procession, and when they arrived at the meeting-house, he entered +and listened to the prayer delivered by her pastor. When the customary +services were finished, Arthur Howell rose, and asked permission to +speak. "I did not know the deceased, even by name," said he. "But it is +given me to say, that she suffered much and unjustly. Her neighbors +generally suspected her of a crime, which she did not commit; and in a +few weeks from this time, it will be made clearly manifest to the world +that she was innocent. A few hours before her death, she talked on this +subject with the clergyman who attended upon her, and who is now +present; and it is given me to declare the communication she made to him +upon that occasion." + +He then proceeded to relate the particulars of the interview; to which +the clergyman listened with evident astonishment. When the communication +was finished, he said, "I don't know who this man is, or how he has +obtained information on this subject; but certain it is, he has +repeated, word for word, a conversation which I supposed was known only +to myself and the deceased." + +The woman in question had gone out in the fields one day, with her +infant in her arms, and she returned without it. She said she had laid +it down on a heap of dry leaves, while she went to pick a few flowers; +and when she returned, the baby was gone. The fields and woods were +searched in vain, and neighbors began to whisper that she had committed +infanticide. Then rumors arose that she was dissatisfied with her +marriage; that her heart remained with a young man to whom she was +previously engaged; and that her brain was affected by this secret +unhappiness. She was never publicly accused; partly because there was no +evidence against her, and partly because it was supposed that if she did +commit the crime, it must have been owing to aberration of mind. But she +became aware of the whisperings against her, and the consciousness of +being an object of suspicion, combined with the mysterious disappearance +of her child, cast a heavy cloud over her life, and made her appear more +and more unlike her former self. This she confided to her clergyman, in +the interview shortly preceding her death; and she likewise told him +that the young man, to whom she had been engaged, had never forgiven her +for not marrying him. + +A few weeks after her decease, this young man confessed that he had +stolen the babe. He had followed the mother, unobserved by her, and had +seen her lay the sleeping infant on its bed of leaves. As he gazed upon +it, a mingled feeling of jealousy and revenge took possession of his +soul. In obedience to a sudden impulse, he seized the babe, and carried +it off hastily. He subsequently conveyed it to a distant village, and +placed it out to nurse, under an assumed name and history. The child was +found alive and well, at the place he indicated. Thus the mother's +innocence was made clearly manifest to the world, as the Quaker +preacher had predicted at her funeral. + +I often heard Friend Hopper relate this anecdote, and he always said +that he could vouch for the truth of it; and for several other similar +things in connection with the ministry of his friend Arthur. + +A singular case of inward perception likewise occurred in the experience +of his own mother. In her Diary, which is still preserved in the family, +she describes a visit to some of her children in Philadelphia, and adds: +"Soon after this, the Lord showed me that I should lose a son. It was +often told me, though without sound of words. Nothing could be more +intelligible than this still, small voice. It said, Thou wilt lose a +son; and he is a pleasant child." + +Her son James resided with relatives in Philadelphia, and often went to +bathe in the Delaware. On one of these occasions, soon after his +mother's visit, a friend who went with him sank in the water, and James +lost his own life by efforts to save him. A messenger was sent to inform +his parents, who lived at the distance of eight miles. While he staid in +the house, reluctant to do his mournful errand, the mother was seized +with sudden dread, and heard the inward voice saying, "James is +drowned." She said abruptly to the messenger, "Thou hast come to tell me +that my son James is drowned. Oh, how did it happen?" He was much +surprised, and asked why she thought so. She could give no explanation +of it, except that it had been suddenly revealed to her mind. + +I have heard and read many such stories of Quakers, which seem too well +authenticated to admit of doubt. They themselves refer all such cases to +"the inward light;" and that phrase, as they understand it, conveys a +satisfactory explanation to their minds. I leave psychologists to settle +the question as they can. + +Those who are well acquainted with Quaker views, are aware that by "the +inward light," they signify something higher and more comprehensive than +conscience. They regard it as the voice of God in the soul, which will +always guard man from evil, and guide him into truth, if reverently +listened to, in stillness of the passions, and obedience of the will. +These strong impressions on individual minds constitute their only call +and consecration to the ministry, and have directed' them in the +application of moral principles to a variety of subjects, such as +intemperance, war, and slavery. Men and women were impelled by the +interior monitor to go about preaching on these topics, until their +individual views became what are called "leading testimonies" in the +Society. The abjuration of slavery was one of their earliest +"testimonies." There was much preaching against it in their public +meetings, and many committees were appointed to expostulate in private +with those who held slaves. At an early period, it became an established +rule of discipline for the Society to disown any member, who refused to +manumit his bondmen. + +Friend Hopper used to tell an interesting anecdote in connection with +these committees. In the course of their visits, they concluded to pass +by one of their members, who held only one slave, and he was very old. +He was too infirm to earn his own living, and as he was very kindly +treated, they supposed he would have no wish for freedom. But Isaac +Jackson, one of the committee, a very benevolent and conscientious man, +had a strong impression on his mind that duty required him not to omit +this case. He accordingly went alone to the master, and stated how the +subject appeared to him, in the inward light of his own soul. The Friend +was not easily convinced. He brought forward many reasons for not +emancipating his slave; and one of the strongest was that the man was +too feeble to labor for his own support, and therefore freedom would be +of no value to him. Isaac Jackson replied, "He labored for thee without +wages, while he had strength, and it is thy duty to support him now. +Whether he would value freedom or not, is a question he alone is +competent to decide." + +These friendly remonstrances produced such effect, that the master +agreed to manumit his bondman, and give a written obligation that he +should be comfortably supported during the remainder of his life, by him +or his heirs. When the papers were prepared the slave was called into +the parlor, and Isaac Jackson inquired, "Would'st thou like to be free?" +He promptly answered that he should. The Friend suggested that he was +now too feeble to labor much, and inquired how he would manage to obtain +a living. The old man meekly replied, "Providence has been kind to me +thus far; and I am willing to trust him the rest of my life." + +Isaac Jackson then held up the papers and said, "Thou art a free man. +Thy master has manumitted thee, and promised to maintain thee as long as +thou mayest live." + +This was so unexpected, that the aged bondman was completely overcome. +For a few moments, he remained in profound silence; then, with a sudden +impulse, he fell on his knees, and poured forth a short and fervent +prayer of thanksgiving to his Heavenly Father, for prolonging his life +till he had the happiness to feel himself a free man. + +The master and his adviser were both surprised and affected by this +eloquent outburst of grateful feeling. The poor old servant had seemed +so comfortable and contented, that no one supposed freedom was of great +importance to him. But, as honest Isaac Jackson observed, _he_ alone was +competent to decide _that_ question. + +Quakers consider "the inward light" as a guide not merely in cases +involving moral principles, but also in the regulation of external +affairs; and in the annals of their Society, are some remarkable +instances of dangers avoided by the help of this internal monitor. + +Friend Hopper used to mention a case where a strong impression had been +made on his own mind, without his being able to assign any adequate +reason for it. A young man, descended from a highly respectable Quaker +family in New-Jersey, went to South Carolina and entered into business. +He married there, and as his wife did not belong to the Society of +Friends, he was of course disowned. After some years of commercial +success, he failed, and went to Philadelphia, where Friend Hopper became +acquainted with him, and formed an opinion not unfavorable. When he had +been in that city some time, he mentioned that his wife owned land in +Carolina, which he was very desirous to cultivate, but was prevented by +conscientious scruples concerning slave-labor. He said if he could +induce some colored people from Philadelphia to go there and work for +him as free laborers, it would be an advantage to him, and a benefit to +them. He urged Friend Hopper to exert his influence over them to +convince them that such precautions could be taken, as would prevent any +danger of their being reduced to slavery; saying that if he would +consent to do so, he doubtless could obtain as many laborers as he +wanted. The plan appeared feasible, and Friend Hopper was inclined to +assist him in carrying it into execution. Soon after, two colored men +called upon him, and said they were ready to go, provided he thought +well of the project. Nothing had occurred to change his opinion of the +man, or to excite distrust concerning his agricultural scheme. But an +impression came upon his mind that the laborers had better not go; an +impression so strong, that he thought it right to be influenced by it. +He accordingly told them he had thought well of the plan, but his views +had changed, and he advised them to remain where they were. This greatly +surprised the man who wished to employ them, and he called to +expostulate on the subject; repeating his statement concerning the great +advantage they would derive from entering into his service. + +"There is no use in arguing the matter," replied Friend Hopper. "I have +no cause whatever to suspect thee of any dishonest or dishonorable +intentions; but there is on my mind an impression of danger, so powerful +that I cannot conscientiously have any agency in inducing colored +laborers to go with thee." + +Not succeeding in his project, the bankrupt merchant went to New-Jersey +for a time, to reside with his father, who was a worthy and influential +member of the Society of Friends. An innocent, good natured old colored +man, a fugitive from Virginia, had for some time been employed to work +on the farm, and the family had become much attached to him. The son who +had returned from Carolina was very friendly with this simple-hearted +old servant, and easily gained his confidence. When he had learned his +story, he offered to write to his master, and enable him to purchase his +freedom for a sum which he could gradually repay by labor. The fugitive +was exceedingly grateful, and put himself completely in his power by a +full statement of all particulars. The false-hearted man did indeed +write to the master; and the poor old slave was soon after arrested and +carried to Philadelphia in irons. Friend Hopper was sent for, and went +to see him in prison. With groans and sobs, the captive told how +wickedly he had been deceived. "I thought he was a Quaker, and so I +trusted him," said he. "But I saw my master's agent pay him fifty +dollars for betraying me." + +Friend Hopper assured him that the deceiver was not a Quaker; and that +he did not believe any Quaker on the face of the earth would do such an +unjust and cruel deed. He could devise no means to rescue the sufferer; +and with an aching heart he was compelled to see him carried off into +slavery, without being able to offer any other solace than an +affectionate farewell. + +The conduct of this base hypocrite proved that the warning presentiment +against him had not been without foundation. Grieved and indignant at +the wrong he had done to a helpless and unoffending fellow-creature, +Friend Hopper wrote to him as follows: "Yesterday, I visited the poor +old man in prison, whom thou hast so perfidiously betrayed. Gloomy and +hopeless as his case is, I would prefer it to thine. Thou hast received +fifty dollars as the reward of thy treachery; but what good can it do +thee? Canst thou lay down thy head at night, without feeling the sharp +goadings of a guilty conscience? Canst thou ask forgiveness of thy sins +of our Heavenly Father, whom thou hast so grievously insulted by thy +hypocrisy? Judas betrayed his master for thirty pieces of silver, and +afterward hung himself. Thou hast betrayed thy brother for fifty; and if +thy conscience is not seared, as with hot iron, thy compunction must be +great. I feel no disposition to upbraid thee. I have no doubt thy own +heart does that sufficiently; for our beneficent Creator will not suffer +any to be at ease in their sins. Thy friend, I.T.H." + +The worthy old Quaker in New-Jersey was not aware of his son's +villainous conduct until some time after. When the circumstances were +made known to the family they were exceedingly mortified and afflicted. + +Friend Hopper used to tell another story, which forms a beautiful +contrast to the foregoing painful narrative. I repeat it, because it +illustrates the tenderness of spirit, which has so peculiarly +characterized the Society of Friends, and because I hope it may fall +like dew on hearts parched by vindictive feelings. Charles Carey lived +near Philadelphia, in a comfortable house with a few acres of pasture +adjoining. A young horse, apparently healthy, though lean, was one day +offered him in the market for fifty dollars. The cheapness tempted him +to purchase; for he thought the clover of his pastures would soon put +the animal in good condition, and enable him to sell him at an advanced +price. He was too poor to command the required sum himself, but he +borrowed it of a friend. The horse, being well fed and lightly worked, +soon became a noble looking animal, and was taken to the city for sale. +But scarcely had he entered the market, when a stranger stepped up and +claimed him as his property, recently stolen. Charles Carey's son, who +had charge of the animal, was taken before a magistrate. Isaac T. Hopper +was sent for, and easily proved that the character of the young man and +his father was above all suspicion. But the stranger produced +satisfactory evidence that he was the rightful owner of the horse, which +was accordingly delivered up to him. When Charles Carey heard the +unwelcome news, he quietly remarked, "It is hard for me to lose the +money; but I am glad the man has recovered his property." + +About a year afterward, having occasion to go to a tavern in +Philadelphia, he saw a man in the bar-room, whom he at once recognized +as the person who had sold him the horse. He walked up to him, and +inquired whether he remembered the transaction. Being answered in the +affirmative, he said, "I am the man who bought that horse. Didst thou +know he was stolen?" With a stupified manner and a faltering voice, the +stranger answered, "Yes." + +"Come along with me, then," said Charles; "and I will put thee where +thou wilt not steal another horse very soon." + +The thief resigned himself to his fate with a sort of hopeless +indifference. But before they reached the magistrate's office, the voice +within began to plead gently with the Quaker, and turned him from the +sternness of his purpose. "I am a poor man," said he, "and thou hast +greatly injured me. I cannot afford to lose fifty dollars; but to +prosecute thee will not compensate me for the loss. Go thy way, and +conduct thyself honestly in future." + +The man seemed amazed. He stood for a moment, hesitating and confused; +then walked slowly away. But after taking a few steps, he turned back +and said, "Where can I find you, if I should ever be able to make +restitution for the wrong I have done?" + +Charles replied, "I trust thou dost not intend to jest with me, after +all the trouble thou hast caused me?" + +"No, indeed I do not," answered the stranger. "I hope to repay you, some +time or other." + +"Very well," rejoined the Friend, "if thou ever hast anything for me, +thou canst leave it with Isaac T. Hopper, at the corner of Walnut and +Dock-streets." Thus they parted, and never met again. + +About a year after, Friend Hopper found a letter on his desk, addressed +to Charles Carey. When it was delivered to him, he was surprised to find +that it came from the man who had stolen the horse, and contained twenty +dollars. A few months later, another letter containing the same sum, was +left in the same way. Not long after, a third letter arrived, enclosing +twenty dollars; the whole forming a sum sufficient to repay both +principal and interest of the money which the kind-hearted Quaker had +lost by his dishonesty. + +This last letter stated that the writer had no thoughts of stealing the +horse ten minutes before he did it. After he had sold him, he was so +haunted by remorse and fear of detection, that life became a burthen to +him, and he cared not what became of him. But when he was arrested, and +so unexpectedly set at liberty, the crushing weight was taken from him. +He felt inspired by fresh courage, and sustained by the hope of making +some atonement for what he had done. He made strenuous efforts to +improve his condition, and succeeded. He was then teaching school, was +assessor of the township where he resided, and no one suspected that he +had ever committed a dishonest action. + +The good man, to whom this epistle was addressed, read it with moistened +eyes, and felt that the reward of righteousness is peace. + +For many years after Isaac T. Hopper joined the Society of Friends, a +spirit of peace and of kindly communion prevailed among them. No sect +has ever arisen which so nearly approached the character of primitive +christianity, in all relations with each other and with their fellow +men. But as soon as the early christians were relieved from persecution, +they began to persecute each other; and so it was with the Quakers. +Having become established and respected by the world, the humble and +self-denying spirit which at the outset renounced and contended with the +world gradually departed. Many of them were rich, and not unfrequently +their fortunes were acquired by trading with slave-holders. Such men +were well satisfied to have the testimonies of their spiritual +forefathers against slavery read over among themselves, at stated +seasons; but they felt little sympathy with those of their +cotemporaries, who considered it a duty to remonstrate publicly and +freely with all who were connected with the iniquitous system. + +A strong and earnest preacher, by the name of Elias Hicks, made himself +more offensive than others in this respect. He appears to have been a +very just and conscientious man, with great reverence for God, and +exceedingly little for human authority. Everywhere, in public and in +private, he lifted up his voice against the sin of slavery. He would eat +no sugar that was made by slaves, and wear no garment which he supposed +to have been produced by unpaid labor. In a remarkable manner, he showed +this "ruling passion strong in death." A few hours before he departed +from this world, his friends, seeing him shiver, placed a comfortable +over him. He felt of it with his feeble hands, and made a strong effort +to push it away. When they again drew it up over his shoulders, he +manifested the same symptoms of abhorrence. One of them, who began to +conjecture the cause, inquired, "Dost thou dislike it because it is made +of cotton?" He was too far gone to speak, but he moved his head in token +of assent. When they removed the article of slave produce, and +substituted a woolen blanket, he remained quiet, and passed away in +peace. + +He was accustomed to say, "It takes _live_ fish to swim _up_ stream;" +and unquestionably he and his friend Isaac T. Hopper were both very much +alive. The quiet boldness of this man was altogether unmanageable. In +Virginia or Carolina, he preached more earnestly and directly against +slavery, than he did in New-York or Pennsylvania; for the simple reason +that it seemed to be more needed there. Upon one of these occasions, a +slaveholder who went to hear him from curiosity, left the meeting in +great wrath, swearing he would blow out that fellow's brains if he +ventured near his plantation. When the preacher heard of this threat, he +put on his hat and proceeded straightway to the forbidden place. In +answer to his inquiries, a slave informed him that his master was then +at dinner, but would see him in a short time. He seated himself and +waited patiently until the planter entered the room. With a calm and +dignified manner, he thus addressed him: "I understand thou hast +threatened to blow out the brains of Elias Hicks, if he comes upon thy +plantation. I am Elias Hicks." + +The Virginian acknowledged that he did make such a threat, and said he +considered it perfectly justifiable to do such a deed, when a man came +to preach rebellion to his slaves. + +"I came to preach the Gospel, which inculcates forgiveness of injuries +upon slaves as well as upon other men," replied the Quaker. "But tell +me, if thou canst, how this Gospel can be _truly_ preached, without +showing the slaves that they _are_ injured, and thus making a man of thy +sentiments feel as if they were encouraged in rebellion." + +This led to a long argument, maintained in the most friendly spirit. At +parting, the slaveholder shook hands with the preacher, and invited him +to come again. His visits were renewed, and six months after, the +Virginian emancipated all his slaves. + +When preaching in the free states, he earnestly called upon all to +abstain from slave-produce, and thus in a measure wash their own hands +from participation in a system of abominable wickedness and cruelty. His +zeal on this subject annoyed some of his brethren, but they could not +make him amenable to discipline for it; for these views were in +accordance with the earliest and strongest testimonies of the Society of +Friends; moreover, it would have been discreditable to acknowledge +_such_ a ground of offence. But the secret dissatisfaction showed itself +in a disposition to find fault with him. Charges were brought against +his doctrines. He was accused of denying the authority of Scripture, and +the divinity of Christ. + +It was a departure from the original basis of the Society to assume any +standard whatsoever concerning creeds. It is true that the early Quakers +wrote volumes of controversy against many of the prevailing opinions of +their day; such as the doctrine of predestination, and of salvation +depending upon faith, rather than upon works. All the customary external +observances, such as holy days, baptism, and the Lord's Supper, they +considered as belonging to a less spiritual age, and that the time had +come for them to be done away. Concerning the Trinity, there appears to +have been difference of opinion among them from the earliest time. When +George Fox expressed a fear that William Penn had gone too far in +defending "the true unity of God," Penn replied that he had never heard +any one speak more plainly concerning the manhood of Christ, than George +Fox himself. Penn was imprisoned in the Tower for "rejecting the mystery +of the Trinity," in a book called "The Sandy Foundation Shaken." He +afterward wrote "Innocency with her Open Face," regarded by some as a +compromise, which procured his release. But though various popular +doctrines naturally came in their way, and challenged discussion, while +they were endeavoring to introduce a new order of things, the +characteristic feature of their movement was attention to practical +righteousness rather than theological tenets. They did not require their +members to profess faith in any creed. They had but one single bond of +union; and that was the belief that every man ought to be guided in his +actions, and in the interpretation of Scripture, by the light within his +own soul. Their history shows that they mainly used this light to guide +them in the application of moral principles. Upon the priesthood, in +every form, they made unsparing warfare; believing that the gifts of the +Spirit ought never to be paid with money. They appointed committees to +visit the sick, the afflicted, and the destitute, and to superintend +marriages and funerals. The farmer, the shoemaker, the physician, or the +merchant, followed his vocation diligently, and whenever the Spirit +moved him to exhort his brethren, he did so. The "First, and Fifth Day" +of the week, called by other denominations Sunday and Thursday, were set +apart by them for religious meetings. Women were placed on an equality +with men, by being admitted to this free Gospel ministry, and appointed +on committees with men, to regulate the affairs of the Society. They +abjured war under all circumstances, and suffered great persecution +rather than pay military taxes. They early discouraged the distillation +or use of spirituous liquors, and disowned any of their members who +distilled them from grain. Protests against slavery were among their +most earnest testimonies, and it was early made a rule of discipline +that no member of the Society should hold slaves. When the Quakers +first arose, it was a custom in England, as it still is on the continent +of Europe, to say _thou_ to an inferior, or equal, and _you_ to a +superior. They saw in this custom an infringement of the great law of +human brotherhood; and because they would "call no man master," they +said _thou_ to every person, without distinction of rank. To the +conservatives of their day, this spiritual democracy seemed like +deliberate contempt of authority; and as such, deserving of severe +punishment. More strenuously than all other things, they denied the +right of any set of men to prescribe a creed for others. The only +authority they recognized was "the light within;" and for freedom to +follow this, they were always ready to suffer or to die. + +On all these subjects, there could be no doubt that Elias Hicks was a +Quaker of the old genuine stamp. But he differed from many others in +some of his theological views. He considered Christ as "the only Son of +the most high God;" but he denied that "the _outward person_," which +suffered on Calvary was properly the Son of God. He attached less +importance to miracles, than did many of his brethren. He said he had +learned more of his own soul, and had clearer revelations of God and +duty, while following his plough, than from all the books he had ever +read. He reverenced the Bible as a record of divine power and goodness, +but did not consider a knowledge of it essential to salvation; for he +supposed that a Hindoo or an African, who never heard of the Scriptures, +or of Christ, might become truly a child of God, if he humbly and +sincerely followed the divine light within, given to every human soul, +according to the measure of its faithfulness. + +Many of his brethren, whose views assimilated more with orthodox +opinions, accused him of having departed from the principles of early +Friends. But his predecessors had been guided only by the light within; +and he followed the same guide, without deciding beforehand precisely +how far it might lead him. This principle, if sincerely adopted and +consistently applied, would obviously lead to large and liberal results, +sufficient for the progressive growth of all coming ages. It was so +generally admitted to be the one definite bond of union among early +Friends, that the right of Elias Hicks to utter his own convictions, +whether they were in accordance with others or not, would probably never +have been questioned, if some influential members of the Society had not +assumed more power than was delegated to them; thereby constituting +themselves a kind of ecclesiastical tribunal. It is the nature of such +authority to seek enlargement of its boundaries, by encroaching more and +more on individual freedom. + +The friends of Elias Hicks did not adopt his views or the views of any +other man as a standard of opinion. On the subject of the Trinity, for +instance, there were various shadings of opinion among them. The +probability seems to be that the influence of Unitarian sects, and of +Orthodox sects had, in the course of years, gradually glided in among +the Quakers, and more or less fashioned their theological opinions, +though themselves were unconscious of it; as we all are of the +surrounding air we are constantly inhaling. + +But it was not the Unitarianism of Elias Hicks that his adherents fought +for, or considered it necessary to adopt. They simply contended for his +right to express his own convictions, and denied the authority of any +man, or body of men, to judge his preaching by the assumed standard of +any creed. Therefore, the real ground of the struggle seems to have been +resistance to ecclesiastical power; though theological opinions +unavoidably became intertwisted with it. It was a new form of the old +battle, perpetually renewed ever since the world began, between +authority and individual freedom. + +The agitation, which had for some time been heaving under the surface, +is said to have been brought into open manifestation by a sermon which +Elias Hicks preached against the use of slave produce, in 1819. A bitter +warfare followed. Those who refused to denounce his opinions were +accused of being infidels and separatists; and they called their +accusers bigoted and intolerant. With regard to disputed doctrines, both +claimed to find sufficient authority in the writings of early Friends; +and each side charged the other with mutilating and misrepresenting +those writings. As usual in theological controversies, the skein became +more and more entangled, till there was no way left but to cut it in +two. In 1827 and 1828, a separation took place in the Yearly Meetings of +Philadelphia, New-York, and several other places. Thenceforth, the +members were divided into two distinct sects. In some places the friends +of Elias Hicks were far the more numerous. In others, his opponents had +a majority. Each party claimed to be the genuine Society of Friends, and +denied the other's right to retain the title. The opponents of Elias +Hicks called themselves "Orthodox Friends," and named his adherents +"Hicksites." The latter repudiated the title, because they did not +acknowledge him as their standard of belief, though they loved and +reverenced his character, and stood by him as the representative of +liberty of conscience. They called themselves "Friends," and the others +"the Orthodox." + +The question which was the genuine Society of Friends was more important +than it would seem to a mere looker on; for large pecuniary interests +were involved therein. It is well known that Quakers form a sort of +commonwealth by themselves, within the civil commonwealth by which they +are governed. They pay the public school-tax, and in addition build +their own school-houses, and employ teachers of their own Society. They +support their own poor, while they pay the same pauper tax as other +citizens. They have burying grounds apart from others, because they have +conscientious scruples concerning monuments and epitaphs. Of course, the +question which of the two contending parties was the true Society of +Friends involved the question who owned the meeting-houses, the burying +grounds, and the school funds. The friends of Elias Hicks offered to +divide the property, according to the relative numbers of each party; +but those called Orthodox refused to accept the proposition. Lawsuits +were brought in various parts of the country. What a bitter state of +animosity existed may be conjectured from the fact that the "Orthodox" +in Philadelphia refused to allow "Hicksites" to bury their dead in the +ground belonging to the undivided Society of Friends. On the occasion of +funerals, they refused to deliver up the key; and after their opponents +had remonstrated in vain, they forced the lock. + +I believe in almost every instance, where the "Hicksites" were a +majority, and thus had a claim to the larger share of property, they +offered to divide in proportion to the relative numbers of the two +parties. After the separation in New-York, they renewed this offer, +which had once been rejected; and the "Orthodox" finally agreed to +accept a stipulated sum for their interest in the property. The Friends +called "Hicksites" numbered in the whole more than seventy thousand. + +Quakers in England generally took part against Elias Hicks and his +friends. Some, who were styled "The Evangelical Party," went much beyond +their brethren in conformity with the prevailing denominations of +Christians called Orthodox. Many of them considered a knowledge of the +letter of Scripture essential to salvation; and some even approved of +baptism by water; a singular departure from the total abrogation of +external rites, which characterized Quakerism from the beginning. +William and Mary Howitt, the well known and highly popular English +writers, were born members of this religious Society. In an article +concerning the Hicksite controversy, written for the London Christian +Advocate, the former says: "My opinion is, that Friends will see cause +to repent the excision of that great portion of their own body, on the +plea of heretical opinions. By sanctioning it, they are bound, if they +act impartially and consistently, to expel others also for heterodox +opinions. This comes of violating the sacred liberty of conscience; of +allowing ourselves to be infected with the leaven of a blind zeal, +instead of the broad philanthropy of Christ. Is there no better +alternative? Yes. To adopt the principle of William Penn; to allow +freedom of opinion; and while we permit the Evangelical party to hold +_their_ favorite notions, so long as they consent to conform to our +system of public worship, to confess that we have acted harshly to the +Hicksites, and open our arms to all who are sincere in their faith, and +orderly in their conduct." + +As the adherents of Elias Hicks at that time represented freedom of +conscience, of course Isaac T. Hopper belonged to that party, and +advocated it with characteristic zeal. In fact, he seems to have been +the Napoleon of the battle. It was not in his nature intentionally to +misrepresent any man; and even when the controversy was raging most +furiously, I believe there never was a time when he would not willingly +have acknowledged a mistake the moment he perceived it. But his +temperament was such, that wherever he deemed a principle of truth, +justice, or freedom was at stake, he could never quit an adversary till +he had demolished him completely, and _convinced_ him that he was +demolished; though he often felt great personal kindness toward the +individual thus prostrated, and was always willing to render him any +friendly service. He used to say that his resistance in this controversy +was principally roused by the disposition which he saw manifested "to +crush worthy, innocent Friends, for mere difference of opinion;" and no +one, who knew him well, could doubt that on this subject, as on others, +he was impelled by a sincere love of truth and justice. But neither he +nor any other person ever entered the lists of theological controversy +without paying dearly for the encounter. Perpetual strife grieved and +disturbed his own spirit, while his energy, perseverance, and bluntness +of speech, gained him many enemies. Wherever this unfortunate sectarian +schism was introduced, it divided families, and burst asunder the bonds +of friendship. For a long time, they seemed to be a Society of Enemies, +instead of a Society of Friends. In this respect, no one suffered more +acutely than Isaac T. Hopper. It was his nature to form very strong +friendships; and at this painful juncture, many whom he had long loved +and trusted, parted from him. Among them was his cousin Joseph Whitall, +who had embraced Quakerism at the same period of life, who had been the +friend of his boyhood, and the cherished companion of later years. They +had no personal altercation, but their intimacy gradually cooled off, +and they became as strangers. + +He had encountered other difficulties also, at a former period of his +life, the shadows of which still lay across his path. About twelve or +fifteen years after his marriage, his health began to fail. His +vigorous frame pined away to a mere shadow, and he was supposed to be +in a consumption. At the same time, he found himself involved in +pecuniary difficulties, the burden of which weighed very heavily upon +him, for many reasons. His strong sense of justice made it painful for +him to owe debts he could not pay. He had an exceeding love of imparting +to others, and these pecuniary impediments tied down his large soul with +a thousand lilliputian cords. He had an honest pride of independence, +which chafed under any obligation that could be avoided. His strong +attachment to the Society of Friends rendered him sensitive to their +opinion; and at that period their rules were exceedingly strict +concerning any of their members, who contracted debts they were unable +to pay. People are always ready to censure a man who is unprosperous in +worldly affairs; and if his character is such as to render him +prominent, he is all the more likely to be handled harshly. Of these +trials Friend Hopper had a large share, and they disturbed him +exceedingly; but the consciousness of upright intentions kept him from +sinking under the weight that pressed upon him. + +He was always a very industrious man, and whatever he did was well done. +But the fact was, the claims upon his time and attention were too +numerous to be met by any one mortal man. He had a large family to +support, and during many years his house was a home for poor Quakers, +and others, from far and near. He had much business to transact in the +Society of Friends, of which he was then an influential and highly +respected member. He was one of the founders and secretary of a society +for the employment of the poor; overseer of the Benezet school for +colored children; teacher, without recompense, in a free school for +colored adults; inspector of the prison, without a salary; member of a +fire-company; guardian of abused apprentices; the lawyer and protector +of slaves and colored people, upon all occasions. When pestilence was +raging, he was devoted to the sick. The poor were continually calling +upon him to plead with importunate landlords and creditors. He was not +unfrequently employed to settle estates involved in difficulties, which +others were afraid to undertake. He had occasional applications to exert +influence over the insane, for which he had peculiar tact. When he heard +of a man beginning to form habits likely to prove injurious to himself +or his family, he would go to him, whether his rank were high or low, +and have private conversations with him. He would tell him some story, +or suppose some case, and finally make him feel, "Thou art the man." He +had a great gift in that way, and the exertion of it sometimes +seasonably recalled those who were sliding into dangerous paths. + +When one reflects upon the time that must have been bestowed on all +these avocations, do his pecuniary embarrassments require any further +explanation? A member of his own Society summed up the case very justly +in few words. Hearing him censured by certain individuals, she replied, +"The whole amount of it is this:--the Bible requires us to love our +neighbor as well as ourselves; and Friend Isaac has loved them better." + +These straitened circumstances continued during the remainder of his +residence in Philadelphia; and his family stood by him nobly through the +trial. Household expenses were reduced within the smallest possible +limits. His wife opened a tea-store, as an available means of increasing +their income. The simple dignity of her manners, and her pleasing way of +talking, attracted many ladies, even among the fashionable, who liked to +chat with the handsome Quaker matron, while they were purchasing +household stores. The elder daughters taught school, and took upon +themselves double duty in the charge of a large family of younger +children. How much they loved and honored their father, was indicated by +their zealous efforts to assist and sustain him. I have heard him tell, +with much emotion, how one of them slipped some of her earnings into his +pocket, while he slept in his arm-chair. She was anxious to save him +from the pain of being unable to meet necessary expenses, and at the +same time to keep him ignorant of the source whence relief came. + +His spirit of independence never bent under the pressure of misfortune. +He was willing to deprive himself of everything, except the simplest +necessaries of life; but he struggled manfully against incurring +obligations. There was a Quaker fund for the gratuitous education of +children; but when he was urged to avail himself of it, he declined, +because he thought such funds ought to be reserved for those whose +necessities were greater than his own. + +The government added its exactions to other pecuniary annoyances; but it +had no power to warp the inflexibility of his principles. He had always +refused to pay the militia tax, because, in common with all +conscientious Quakers, he considered it wrong to do anything for the +support of war. It seems no more than just that a sect, who pay a double +school-tax, and a double pauper-tax, and who almost never occasion the +state any expense by their crimes, should be excused for believing +themselves bound to obey the injunction of Jesus, to return good for +evil; but politicians have decided that practical Christianity is not +always consistent with the duty of citizens. Accordingly, when Friend +Hopper refused to pay for guns and swords, to shoot and stab his fellow +men, they seized his goods to pay the tax. The articles chosen were +often of much greater value than their demand, and were sacrificed by a +hurried and careless sale. His wife had received a handsome outfit from +her father, at the time of her marriage; but she was destined to see one +article of furniture after another seized to pay the military fines, +which were alike abhorrent to her heart and her conscience. Among these +articles, was a looking glass, of an unusually large and clear plate, +which was valuable as property, and dear to her as a bridal gift from +her parents. She could not see it carried off by the officer, to meet +the expenses of military reviews, without a sigh--perhaps a tear. But +she was not a woman ever to imply a wish to have her husband compromise +his principles. + +Thus bearing up bravely against the pelting storms of life, he went on, +hand in hand with his beloved Sarah. But at last, he was called to part +with the steady friend and pleasant companion of his brightest and his +darkest hours. She passed from him into the spiritual world on the +eighteenth of the Sixth Month, (June,) 1822, in the forty-seventh year +of her age. She suffered much from the wasting pains of severe +dyspepsia; but religious hope and faith enabled her to endure all her +trials with resignation, and to view the approach of death with cheerful +serenity of soul. Toward the close of her life, the freshness of her +complexion was injured by continual suffering; but though pale, she +remained a handsome woman to the last. During her long illness, she +received innumerable marks of respect and affection from friends and +neighbors; for she was beloved by all who knew her. A short time before +her death, she offered the following prayer for the dear ones she was so +soon to leave; "O Lord, permit me to ask thy blessing for this family. +Thy favor is better than all the world can give. For want of keeping +close to thy counsel, my soul has often been pierced with sorrow. Pity +my weakness. Look thou from heaven, and forgive. Enable me, I beseech +thee, to renew my covenant, and so to live under the influence of thy +Holy Spirit, as to keep it. Preserve me in the hour of temptation. Thou +alone knowest how prone I am to err on the right side and on the left. +Bless the children! O Lord, visit and re-visit their tender minds. Lead +them in the paths of uprightness, for thy name's sake. I ask not riches +nor honor for them; but an inheritance in thy ever-blessed truth." She +left nine children, the youngest but six years old, to mourn the loss of +a most tender careful and self-sacrificing mother. + +While her bereaved husband was still under the shadow of this great +grief, he was called to part with his son Isaac, who in little more than +a year, followed his mother, at the early age of fifteen. He was a +sedate gentle lad, and had always been a very pleasant child to his +parents. His father cherished his memory with great tenderness, and +seldom spoke of him without expressing his conviction that if he had +lived he would have become a highly acceptable minister in the Society +of Friends; a destiny which would have been more agreeable to his +parental feelings, than having a son President of the United States. + +Soon after this melancholy event, Friend Hopper went to Maryland, to +visit two sisters who resided there. He was accompanied in this journey +by his wife's brother, David Tatum. At an inn where they stopped for +refreshment, the following characteristic incident occurred: A colored +girl brought in a pitcher of water. "Art thou a slave?" said Friend +Hopper. When she answered in the affirmative, he started up and +exclaimed, "It is against my principles to be waited upon by a slave." +His more timid brother-in-law inquired, in a low tone of voice, whether +he were aware that the mistress was within hearing. "To be sure I am," +answered Isaac aloud. "What would be the use of saying it, if she were +_not_ within hearing?" He then emptied the pitcher of water, and went +out to the well to re-fill it for himself. Seeing the landlady stare at +these proceedings, he explained to her that he thought it wrong to avail +himself of unpaid labor. In reply, she complained of the ingratitude of +slaves, and the hard condition of their masters. "It is very +inconvenient to live so near a free state," said she. "I had sixteen +slaves; but ten of them have run away, and I expect the rest will soon +go." + +"I hope they will," said Isaac. "I am sure I would run away, if I were a +slave." + +At first, she was disposed to be offended; but he reasoned the matter +with her, in a quiet and friendly manner, and they parted on very civil +terms. David Tatum often used to tell this anecdote, after they returned +home; and he generally added, "I never again will travel in a Southern +state with brother Isaac; for I am sure it would be at the risk of my +life." + +Time soothes all afflictions; and those who have dearly loved their +first companion are sometimes more likely than others to form a second +connexion; for the simple reason that they cannot learn to do without +the happiness to which they have been accustomed. There was an intimate +friend of the family, a member of the same religious Society, named +Hannah Attmore. She was a gentle and quiet person, of an innocent and +very pleasing countenance. Her father, a worthy and tender spirited man, +had been an intimate friend of Isaac T. Hopper, and always sympathized +with his efforts for the oppressed. A strong attachment had likewise +existed between her and Friend Hopper's wife; and during her frequent +visits to the house, it was her pleasure to volunteer assistance in the +numerous household cares. The fact that his Sarah had great esteem for +her, was doubtless a strong attraction to the widower. His suit was +favorably received, and they were married on the fourth of the second +month, (February) 1824. She was considerably younger than her +bridegroom; but vigorous health and elastic spirits had preserved his +youthful appearance, while her sober dress and grave deportment, made +her seem older than she really was. She became the mother of four +children, two of whom died in early childhood. Little Thomas, who ended +his brief career in three years and a half, was always remembered by his +parents, and other members of the family, as a remarkably bright, +precocious child, beautiful as an infant angel. + +It has been already stated that the schism in the Society of Friends +introduced much controversy concerning the theological opinions of its +founders. There was consequently an increased demand for their writings, +and the branch called "Hicksites" felt the need of a bookstore. Friend +Hopper's business had never been congenial to his character, and of late +years it had become less profitable. A large number of his wealthiest +customers were "Orthodox;" and when he took part with Elias Hicks, they +ceased to patronize him. He was perfectly aware that such would be the +result; but whenever it was necessary to choose between his principles +and prosperity, he invariably followed what he believed to be the truth. +He was considered a suitable person to superintend the proposed +bookstore, and as the state of his financial affairs rendered a change +desirable, he concluded to accede to the proposition of his friends. For +that purpose, he removed to the city of New-York in 1829. + +In the autumn of the following year, some disputed claims, which his +wife had on the estate of her maternal grandfather in Ireland, made it +necessary for him to visit that country. Experience had painfully +convinced him that theological controversy sometimes leads to personal +animosity; and that few people were so open and direct in their mode of +expressing hostility, as he himself was. Therefore, before going abroad, +he took the precaution to ask letters from citizens of various classes +and sects in Philadelphia; and he found no difficulty in obtaining them +from the most respectable and distinguished. Matthew Carey, the well +known philanthropist wrote as follows: "As you are about to visit my +native country, and have applied to me for a testimonial concerning your +character, I cheerfully comply with your request. I have been well +acquainted with you for about thirty-five years, and I can testify that, +during the whole of that time, you have been a perfect pest to our +Southern neighbors. A Southern gentleman could scarcely visit this city, +without having his slave taken from him by your instrumentality; so +that they dread you, as they do the devil." After enjoying a mutual +laugh over this epistle, another was written for the public, certifying +that he had known Isaac T. Hopper for many years as "a useful and +respectable citizen of the fairest character." + +When Friend Hopper arrived in Ireland, he found many of the Quakers +prejudiced against him, and many untrue stories in circulation, as he +had expected. Sometimes, when he visited public places, he would +overhear people saying to each other, in a low voice, "That's Isaac T. +Hopper, who has given Friends so much trouble in America." A private +letter from an "Orthodox" Quaker in Philadelphia was copied and +circulated in all directions, greatly to his disadvantage. It +represented him as a man of sanctified appearance, but wholly unworthy +of credit; that business of a pecuniary nature was a mere pretence to +cover artful designs; his real object being to spread heretical +doctrines in Ireland, and thus sow dissension among Friends. In his +journal of this visit to a foreign land, Friend Hopper says: "It is +astonishing what strange ideas some of them have concerning me. They +have been informed that I can find stolen goods, and am often applied to +on such occasions. I think it would be no hard matter to make them +believe me a wizard." This was probably a serious version of his +pleasantry with the Dutchman about finding his goods by calculating the +age of the moon. + +Many of the Irish Friends had formed from hearsay the most extravagant +misconceptions concerning the Friends called "Hicksites." They supposed +them to be outright infidels, and that the grossest immoralities were +tolerated among them; that they pointed loaded pistols at the "Orthodox" +brethren, and drove them out of their own meeting-houses by main force. +One of them expressed great surprise when Friend Hopper informed him +that they were in the constant habit of reading the Scriptures in their +families, and maintained among themselves the same discipline that had +always been used in the Society. Sometimes when he attended Quaker +meetings during the early portion of his visit, the ministers preached +at him, by cautioning young people to beware of the adversary, who was +now going about like a cunning serpent, in which form he was far more +dangerous, than when he assumed the appearance of a roaring lion. But +after a while, this tendency was rebuked by other preachers, who +inculcated forbearance in judging others; reminding their hearers that +the spirit of the Gospel always breathed peace and good will toward men. +As for Isaac himself, he behaved with characteristic openness. When a +stranger, in Quaker costume, introduced himself, and invited him to go +home and dine with him, he replied, "I am represented by some people as +a very bad man; and I do not wish to impose myself upon the hospitality +of strangers, without letting them know who I am." + +The stranger assured him that he knew very well who he was, and cared +not a straw what opinions they accused him of; that he was going to have +a company of Friends at dinner, who wished to converse with him. He went +accordingly, and was received with true Irish hospitality and kindness. + +Upon another occasion, a Quaker lady, who did not know he was a +"Hicksite," observed to him, "I suppose the Society of Friends are very +much thinned in America, since so many have gone off from them." He +replied, "It is always best to be candid. I belong to the party called +Hicksites, deists, and schismatics; and I suppose they are the ones to +whom thou hast alluded as having gone off from the Society. I should +like to talk with thee concerning the separation in America; for we have +been greatly misrepresented. But I came to this country solely on +business, and I have no wish to say or do anything that can unsettle the +mind, or wound the feelings of any Friend." She seemed very much +surprised, and for a minute or two covered her face with her hands. But +when the company broke up, some hours after, she followed him into the +entry, and cordially invited him to visit her. "What! canst thou +tolerate the company of a heretic?" he exclaimed. She replied with a +smile, "Yes, such a one as thou art." + +In fact, wherever he had a chance to make himself known, prejudices +melted away under the influence of his frank and kindly manners. Some +people of other sects, as well of his own, took an interest in him for +the very reasons that caused distrust and dislike in others; viz: +because they had heard of him as the champion of perfect liberty of +conscience, who considered it unnecessary to bind men by any creed +whatsoever. Among these, he mentions in his journal, Professor Stokes of +Dublin, who relinquished a salary of two thousand eight hundred pounds a +year, because he could not conscientiously subscribe to the doctrine of +the Trinity. It was proposed to dismiss him from the college altogether; +but he demanded a hearing before the trustees and students. This +privilege could not be denied, without infringing the laws of the +institution; and deeming that such a discussion might prove injurious, +they concluded to retain him, on a salary of eight hundred pounds. +Friend Hopper describes him thus: "He is an intelligent and +liberal-minded man, and has a faculty of exposing the errors and +absurdities of the Athanasian Creed to much purpose. He was of a good +spirit, and I was much gratified with his company. He insisted upon +accompanying me home in the evening, and though I remonstrated against +it, on account of his advanced age, he attended me to the door of my +lodgings." + +During this visit to Ireland, Friend Hopper was treated with great +hospitality and respect by many who were wealthy, and many who were not +wealthy; by members of the Society of Friends, and of various other +religious sects. He formed a high estimate of the Irish character, and +to the day of his death, always spoke with warm affection of the friends +he found there. In his journal, he often alludes with pleasure to the +children he met with, in families where he visited; for he was always +extremely partial to the young. Speaking of a visit to a gentleman in +the environs of Dublin, by the name of Wilson, he says: "I rose early +in the morning, and the eldest daughter, about ten or eleven years old, +very politely invited me to walk with her. We rambled about in the +pastures, and through beautiful groves of oak, beech and holly. The +little creature tried her very best to amuse me. She told me about the +birds and the hares, and other inhabitants of the woods. She inquired +whether I did not want very much to see my wife and children; and +exclaimed, 'How I should like to see you meet them! It would give you so +much pleasure!'" He speaks of a little girl in another family, who seemed +very much attracted toward him, and finally whispered to her father, "I +want to go and speak to that Friend." She was introduced accordingly, +and they had much pleasant chat together. + +In one of the families where he visited, they told him an instructive +story concerning a Quaker who resided in Dublin, by the name of Joseph +Torrey. One day when he was passing through the streets, he saw a man +leading a horse, which was evidently much diseased. His compassionate +heart was pained by the sight, and he asked the man where he was going. +He replied, "The horse has the staggers, and I am going to sell him to +the carrion-butchers." + +"Wilt thou sell him to me for a crown!" inquired Joseph. The man readily +assented, and the poor animal was led to the stable of his new friend, +where he was most kindly tended. Suitable remedies and careful treatment +soon restored him to health and beauty. One day, when Friend Torrey was +riding him in Phoenix Park, a gentleman looked very earnestly at the +horse, and at last inquired whether his owner would be willing to sell +him. "Perhaps I would," replied Joseph, "if I could get a very good +master for him." + +"He so strongly resembles a favorite horse I once had, that I should +think he was the same, if I didn't know he was dead," rejoined the +stranger. + +"Did he die in thy stable?" inquired Joseph. + +The gentleman replied, "No. He had the staggers very badly, and I sent +him to the carrion-butchers." + +"I should be sorry to sell an animal to any man, who would send him to +the carrion-butchers because he was diseased," answered Joseph. "If thou +wert ill, how wouldst thou like to have thy throat cut, instead of being +kindly nursed?" + +With some surprise, the gentleman inquired whether he intended to +compare him to a horse. "No," replied Joseph; "but animals have +feelings, as well as human beings; and when they are afflicted with +disease, they ought to be carefully attended. If I consent to sell thee +this horse, I shall exact a promise that thou wilt have him kindly +nursed when he is sick, and not send him to have his throat cut." + +The gentleman readily promised all that was required, and said he should +consider himself very fortunate to obtain a horse that so much resembled +his old favorite. When he called the next day, to complete the bargain, +he inquired whether forty guineas would be a satisfactory price. The +conscientious Quaker answered, "I have good reason to believe the horse +was once thine; and I am willing to restore him to thee on the +conditions I have mentioned. I have saved him from the carrion-butchers, +but I will charge thee merely what I have expended for his food and +medicine. Let it be a lesson to thee to treat animals kindly, when they +are diseased. Never again send to the butchers a faithful servant, that +cannot plead for himself, and may, with proper attention, again become +useful to thee." + +How little Friend Hopper was inclined to minister to aristocratic +prejudices, may be inferred from the following anecdote. One day, while +he was visiting a wealthy family in Dublin, a note was handed to him, +inviting him to dine the next day. When he read it aloud, his host +remarked, "Those people are very respectable, but not of the first +circles. They belong to our church, but not exactly to our set. Their +father was a mechanic." + +"Well I am a mechanic myself," said Isaac. "Perhaps if thou hadst known +that fact, thou wouldst not have invited _me_?" + +"Is it possible," exclaimed his host, "that a man of your information +and appearance can be a mechanic!" + +"I followed the business of a tailor for many years," rejoined his +guest. "Look at my hands! Dost thou not see marks of the shears? Some of +the mayors of Philadelphia have been tailors. When I lived there, I +often walked the streets with the Chief Justice. It never occurred to me +that it was any honor, and I don't think it did to him." + +Upon one occasion, Friend Hopper went into the Court of Chancery in +Dublin, and kept his hat on, according to Quaker custom. While he was +listening to the pleading, he noticed that a person who sat near the +Chancellor fixed his eyes upon him with a very stern expression. This +attracted the attention of lawyers and spectators, who also began to +look at him, Presently an officer tapped him on the shoulder, and said, +"Your hat, sir!" + +"What's the matter with my hat?" he inquired. + +"Take it off?" rejoined the officer. "You are in his Majesty Court of +Chancery." + +"That is an honor I reserve for his Majesty's Master," he replied. +"Perhaps it is my shoes thou meanest?" + +The officer seemed embarrassed, but said no more; and when the Friend +had stayed as long as he felt inclined, he quietly withdrew. + +One day, when he was walking with a lawyer in Dublin, they passed the +Lord Lieutenant's castle. He expressed a wish to see the Council +Chamber, but was informed that it was not open to strangers. "I have a +mind to go and try," said he to his companion. "Wilt thou go with me?" + +"No indeed," he replied; "and I would advise you not to go." + +He marched in, however, with his broad beaver on, and found the Lord +Lieutenant surrounded by a number of gentleman. "I am an American," said +he. "I have heard a great deal about the Lord Lieutenant's castle, and +if it will give no offence, I should like very much to see it." + +His lordship seemed surprised by this unceremonious introduction, but he +smiled, and said to a servant, "Show this American whatever he wishes to +see." + +He was conducted into various apartments, where he saw pictures, +statues, ancient armor, antique coins, and many other curious articles. +At parting, the master of the mansion was extremely polite, and gave him +much interesting information on a variety of topics. When he rejoined +his companion, who had agreed to wait for him at some appointed place, +he was met with the inquiry, "Well, what luck?" + +"O, the best luck in the world," he replied, "I was treated with great +politeness." + +"Well certainly, Mr. Hopper, you are an extraordinary man," responded +the lawyer. "I wouldn't have ventured to try such an experiment." + +At the expiration of four months, having completed the business which +rendered his presence in Ireland necessary, he made a short visit to +England, on his way home. There also his hat was objected to on several +occasions. While in Bristol, he asked permission to look at the interior +of the Cathedral. He had been walking about some little time, when a +rough-looking man said to him, in a very surly tone, "Take off your hat, +sir!" + +He replied very courteously, "I have asked permission to enter here to +gratify my curiosity as a stranger. I hope it is no offence." + +"Take off your hat!" rejoined the rude man. "If you don't, I'll take it +off for you." + +Friend Hopper leaned on his cane, looked him full in the face, and +answered very coolly, "If thou dost, I hope thou wilt send it to my +lodgings; for I shall have need of it this afternoon. I lodge at No. 35, +Lower Crescent, Clifton." The place designated was about a mile from the +Cathedral. The man stared at him, as if puzzled to decide whether he +were talking to an insane person, or not. When the imperturbable Quaker +had seen all he cared to see, he deliberately walked away. + +At Westminster Abbey he paid the customary fee of two shillings sixpence +for admission. The door-keeper followed him, saying, "You must uncover +yourself, sir." + +"Uncover myself!" exclaimed the Friend, with an affectation of ignorant +simplicity. "What dost thou mean? Must I take off my coat?" + +"Your coat!" responded the man, smiling. "No indeed. I mean your hat." + +"And what should I take off my hat for?" he inquired. + +"Because you are in a church, sir," answered the door-keeper. + +"I see no church here," rejoined the Quaker. "Perhaps thou meanest the +house where the church assembles. I suppose thou art aware that it is +the _people_, not the _building_, that constitutes a church?" + +The idea seemed new to the man, but he merely repeated, "You must take +off your hat, sir." + +But the Friend again inquired, "What for? On account of these images? +Thou knowest Scripture commands us not to worship graven images." + +The man persisted in saying that no person could be permitted to pass +through the church without uncovering his head. "Well friend," rejoined +Isaac, "I have some conscientious scruples on that subject; so give me +back my money, and I will go out." + +The reverential habits of the door-keeper were not quite strong enough +to compel him to that sacrifice; and he walked away, without saying +anything more on the subject. + +When Friend Hopper visited the House of Lords, he asked the +sergeant-at-arms if he might sit upon the throne. He replied, "No, sir. +No one but his majesty sits there." + +"Wherein does his majesty differ from other men?" inquired he. "If his +head were cut off, wouldn't he die?" + +"Certainly he would," replied the officer. + +"So would an American," rejoined Friend Hopper. As he spoke, he stepped +up to the gilded railing that surrounded the throne, and tried to open +the gate. The officer told him it was locked. "Well won't the same key +that locked it unlock it?" inquired he. "Is this the key hanging here?" + +Being informed that it was, he took it down and unlocked the gate. He +removed the satin covering from the throne, carefully dusted the railing +with his handkerchief, before he hung the satin over it, and then seated +himself in the royal chair. "Well," said he, "do I look anything like +his majesty?" + +The man seemed embarrassed, but smiled as he answered, "Why, sir, you +certainly fill the throne very respectably." + +There were several noblemen in the room, who seemed to be extremely +amused by these unusual proceedings. + +At a place called Jordans, about twenty-two miles from London, he +visited the grave of William Penn. + +In his journal, he says: "The ground is surrounded by a neat hedge, and +is kept in good order. I picked some grass and moss from the graves of +William Penn, Thomas Ellwood, and Isaac Pennington; and some ivy and +holly from the hedge; which I intend to take with me to America, as a +memorial of my visit. I entered the meeting-house, and sat on the +benches which had been occupied by George Fox, William Penn, and George +Whitehead, in years long since passed away. It brought those old +Friends so distinctly before the view of my mind, that my heart was +ready to exclaim, 'Surely this is no other than the house of God, and +this is the gate of heaven.' I cannot describe my feelings. The manly +and majestic features of George Fox, and the mournful yet benevolent +countenance of Isaac Pennington, seemed to rise before me. But this is +human weakness. Those men bore the burthen and heat of their own day; +they faithfully used the talents committed to their trust; and I doubt +not they are now reaping the reward given to faithful servants. It is +permitted us to love their memories, but not to idolize them. They could +deliver neither son or daughter by their righteousness; but only their +own souls." + +"In the great city of London everything tended to satisfy me that the +state of our religious Society is generally very low. A light was once +kindled there, that illuminated distant lands. As I walked the streets, +I remembered the labors, the sufferings, and the final triumph of those +illustrious sons of the morning, George Fox, George Whitehead, William +Penn, and a host of others; men who loved not their lives in comparison +with the holy cause of truth and righteousness, in which they were +called to labor. These worthies have been succeeded by a generation, who +seem disposed to garnish the sepulchres of their fathers, and live upon +the fruit of their labors, without submitting to the power of that +Cross, which made them what they were. There appears to me to be much +formality and dryness among them; though there are a few who mourn, +almost without hope, over the desolation that has been made by the +world, the flesh, and the devil." + +There were many poor emigrants on board the merchant ship, in which +Friend Hopper returned home. He soon established friendly communication +with them, and entered with sympathy into all their troubles. He made +frequent visits to the steerage during the long voyage, and always had +something comforting and cheering to say to the poor souls. There was a +clergyman on board, who also wished to benefit them, but he approached +them in an official way, to which they did not so readily respond. One +day, when he invited the emigrants to join him in prayer, an old Irish +woman replied, "I'd rather play a game o' cards, than hear you prache and +pray." She pointed to Friend Hopper, and added, "_He_ comes and stays +among us, and always spakes a word o' comfort, and does us some good. +But _you_ come and prache and pray, and then you are gone. One look from +that Quaker gintleman is worth all the praching and praying that be in +you." + +The vessel encountered a dense fog, and ran on a sand bank as they +approached the Jersey shore. A tremendous sea was rolling, and dashed +against the ship with such force, that she seemed every moment in +danger of being shattered into fragments. If there had been a violent +gale of wind, all must have been inevitably lost. The passengers were +generally in a state of extreme terror. Screams and groans were heard in +every direction. But Friend Hopper's mind was preserved in a state of +great equanimity. He entreated the people to be quiet, and try to keep +possession of their faculties, that they might be ready to do whatever +was best, in case of emergency. Seeing him so calm, they gathered +closely round him, as if they thought he had some power to save them. +There was a naval officer on board, whose frenzied state of feeling +vented itself in blasphemous language. Friend Hopper, who was always +disturbed by irreverent use of the name of Deity, was peculiarly shocked +by it under these solemn circumstances. He walked up to the officer, put +his hand on his shoulder, and looking him in the face, said, "From what +I have heard of thy military exploits, I supposed thou wert a brave man; +but here thou art pouring forth blasphemies, to keep up the appearance +of courage, while thy pale face and quivering lips show that thou art in +mortal fear. I am ashamed of thee. If thou hast no reverence for Deity +thyself, thou shouldst show some regard for the feelings of those who +have." The officer ceased swearing, and treated his adviser with marked +respect. A friendship was formed between them, which continued as long +as the captain lived. + +The clergyman on board afterward said to Friend Hopper, "If any other +person had talked to him in that manner, he would have knocked him +down." + +In about two hours, the vessel floated off the sandbar and went safely +into the harbor of New-York. At the custom-house, the clergyman was in +some perplexity about a large quantity of books he had brought with him, +on which it was proposed to charge high duties. "Perhaps I can get them +through for thee," said Friend Hopper. "I will try." He went up to the +officer, and said, "Isn't it a rule of the custom-house not to charge a +man for the tools of his trade?" He replied that it was. "Then thou art +bound to let this priest's books pass free," rejoined the Friend. +"Preaching is the trade he gets his living by; and these books are the +tools he must use." The clergyman being aware of Quaker views with +regard to a paid ministry, seemed doubtful whether to be pleased or not, +with _such_ a mode of helping him out of difficulty. However, he took +the joke as good naturedly as it was offered, and the books passed free, +on the assurance that they were all for his own library. + +Friend Hopper's bookstore in New-York was a place of great resort for +members of his own sect. His animated style of conversation, his +thousand and one anecdotes of runaway slaves, his descriptions of keen +encounters with the "Orthodox," in the process of separation, attracted +many listeners. His intelligence and well-known conscientiousness +commanded respect, and he was held in high estimation by his own branch +of the Society, though the opposite party naturally entertained a less +favorable opinion of the "Hicksite" champion. Such a character as he was +must necessarily always be a man of mark, with warm friends and bitter +enemies. + +His resemblance to Bonaparte attracted attention in New-York, as it had +done in Philadelphia. Not long after he removed to that city, there was +a dramatic representation at the Park Theatre, in which Placide +personated the French Emperor. While this play was attracting public +attention, the manager happened to meet Friend Hopper in the street. As +soon as he saw him, he exclaimed, "Here is Napoleon himself come back +again!" He remarked to some of his acquaintance that he would gladly +give that Quaker gentleman one hundred dollars a night, if he would +consent to appear on the stage in the costume of Bonaparte. + +About this period northern hostility to slavery took a new form, more +bold and uncompromising than the old Abolition Societies. It demanded +the immediate and unconditional emancipation of every slave, in a voice +which has not yet been silenced, and never will be, while the +oppressive system continues to disgrace our country. Of course, Friend +Hopper could not otherwise than sympathize with any movement for the +abolition of slavery, based on pacific principles. Pictures and +pamphlets, published by the Anti-Slavery Society were offered for sale +in his book-store. During the popular excitement on this subject, in +1834, he was told that his store was about to be attacked by an +infuriated rabble, and he had better remove all such publications from +the window. "Dost thou think I am such a coward as to forsake my +principles, or conceal them, at the bidding of a mob?" said he. +Presently, another messenger came to announce that the mob were already +in progress, at the distance of a few streets. He was earnestly advised +at least to put up the shutters, that their attention might not be +attracted by the pictures. "I shall do no such thing," he replied. The +excited throng soon came pouring down the street, with loud and +discordant yells. Friend Hopper walked out and stood on the steps. The +mob stopped in front of his store. He looked calmly and firmly at them, +and they looked irresolutely at him, like a wild animal spell-bound by +the fixed gaze of a human eye. After a brief pause, they renewed their +yells, and some of their leaders called out, "Go on, to Rose-street!" +They obeyed these orders, and in the absent of Lewis Tappan, a +well-known abolitionist, they burst open his house, and destroyed his +furniture. + +In 1835, Judge Chinn, of Mississippi, visited New-York, and brought with +him a slave, said to have cost the large sum of fifteen hundred dollars. +A few days after their arrival in the city, the slave eloped, and a +reward of five hundred dollars was offered for his apprehension. Friend +Hopper knew nothing about him; but some mischievous person wrote a note +to Judge Chinn, stating that the fugitive was concealed at his store, in +Pearl-street. A warrant was procured and put into the hands of a +constable frequently employed in that base business. At that season of +the year, many Southerners were in the city to purchase goods. A number +of them accompanied the judge to Pearl-street, and distributed +themselves at short distances, in order to arrest the slave, in case he +attempted to escape. They preferred to search the store in the absence +of Friend Hopper, and watched nearly an hour for a favorable +opportunity. Meanwhile, he was entirely unconscious of their +proceedings; and having occasion to call at a house a few doors below, +he left the store for a short time in charge of one of his sons. As soon +as he was gone, four or five men rushed in. Not finding the object of +their pursuit, they jumped out of a back window, and began to search +some buildings in the rear. When people complained of such +unceremonious intrusion upon their premises, the constable excused +himself by saying they were trying to apprehend a felon. Friend Hopper's +son called out that it was a slave, not a felon, they were in search of; +for he heard them say so. This made the constable very angry; for, like +most slave-catchers, he was eager for the reward, but rather ashamed of +the services by which he sought to obtain it. He swore roundly, and one +of his party gave the young man a blow on his face. + +Friend Hopper, being sent for, returned immediately; and for some time +after, he observed a respectable looking person occasionally peeping +into the store, and skulking out of sight as soon as he thought himself +observed. At last, he went to the door, and said, "My friend, if thou +hast business with me, come in and let me know what it is; but don't be +prying about my premises in that way." He walked off, and joined a group +of people, who seemed to be much excited. Friend Hopper followed, and +found they were the men who had been recently searching his store. He +said to their leader, "Art thou the impertinent fellow who has been +intruding upon my premises, in my absence?" The constable replied that +he had a warrant, and was determined to execute it. Though a stranger to +his countenance, Friend Hopper was well aware that he was noted for +hunting slaves, and being unable to disguise his abhorrence of the +odious business, he said, "Judas betrayed his master for thirty pieces +of silver; and for a like sum, I suppose thou wouldst seize thy brother +by the throat, and send him into interminable bondage. If thy conscience +were as susceptible of conviction as his was, thou wouldst do as he did; +and thus rid the community of an intolerable nuisance." + +One of the Southerners repeated the word "Brother!" in a very sneering +tone. + +"Yes," rejoined Friend Hopper, "I said brother." + +He returned to his store, but was soon summoned into the street again, +by a complaint that the constable and his troop of slaveholders were +very roughly handling a colored man, saying he had no business to keep +in their vicinity. When Friend Hopper interfered, to prevent further +abuse, several of the Southerners pointed bowie-knives and pistols at +him. He told the constable it was his duty, as a police-officer, to +arrest those men for carrying deadly weapons and making such a turmoil +in the street; and he threatened to complain of him if he did not do it. +He complied very reluctantly, and of course the culprits escaped before +they reached the police-office. + +A few days after, as young Mr. Hopper was walking up Chatham-street, on +his way home in the evening, some unknown person came behind him, +knocked him down, and beat him in a most savage manner, so that he was +unable to leave his room for many days. No doubt was entertained that +this brutal attack was by one of the company who were on the search for +Judge Chinn's slave. + +It was afterward rumored that the fugitive had arrived safely in Canada. +I never heard that he returned to the happy condition of slavery; though +his master predicted that he would do so, and said he never would have +been so foolish as to leave it, if it had not been for the false +representations of abolitionists. + +In 1836, the hatred which Southerners bore to Friend Hopper's name was +manifested in a cruel and altogether unprovoked outrage on his son, +which caused the young man a great deal of suffering, and well nigh cost +him his life. John Hopper, Esq., now a lawyer in the city of New-York, +had occasion to go to the South on business. He remained in Charleston +about two months, during which time he was treated with courtesy in his +business relations, and received many kind attentions in the intercourse +of social life. One little incident that occurred during his visit +illustrates the tenacious attachment of Friends to their own mode of +worship. When he left home, his father had exhorted him to attend +Friends' meeting while he was in Charleston. He told him that a meeting +had been established there many years ago, but he supposed there were +not half a dozen members remaining, and probably they had no ministry; +for the original settlers had died, or left Carolina on account of their +testimony against slavery. But as Quakers believe that silent worship is +often more blessed to the soul, than the most eloquent preaching, he had +a strong desire that his son should attend the meeting constantly, even +if he found but two or three to unite with him. The young man promised +that he would do so. Accordingly, when he arrived in Charleston, he +inquired for the meeting-house, and was informed that it was well nigh +deserted. On the first day of the week, he went to the place designated, +and found a venerable, kind-looking Friend seated under the preachers' +gallery. In obedience to a signal from him, he took a seat by his side, +and they remained there in silence nearly two hours. Then the old man +turned and shook hands with him, as an indication that the meeting was +concluded, according to the custom of the Society of Friends. When he +found that he was talking to the son of Isaac T. Hopper, and that he had +promised to attend meeting there, during his stay in Charleston, he was +so much affected, that his eyes filled with tears. "Oh, I shall be glad +of thy company," said he; "for most of the time, this winter, I am here +all alone. My old friends and companions have all died, or moved away. I +come here twice on First days, and once on Fifth day, and sit all, all +alone, till I feel it right to leave the house and go home." + +This lonely old worshipper once had an intimate friend, who for a long +time was his only companion in the silent meeting. At the close, they +shook hands and walked off together, enjoying a kindly chat on their way +home. Unfortunately, some difficulty afterward occurred between them, +which completely estranged them from each other. Both still clung to +their old place of worship. They took their accustomed seats, and +remained silent for a couple of hours; but they parted without shaking +hands, or speaking a single word. This alienation almost broke the old +man's heart. After awhile, he lost even, this shadow of companionship, +and there remained only "the voice within," and echoes of memory from +the empty benches. + +While Mr. Hopper remained in Charleston, he went to the Quaker +meeting-house every Sunday, and rarely found any one there except the +persevering old Friend, who often invited him to go home with him. He +seemed to take great satisfaction in talking with him about his father, +and listening to what he had heard him say concerning the Society of +Friends. When the farewell hour came, he was much affected; for he felt +it not likely they would ever meet again; and the conversation of the +young stranger had formed a link between him and the Quakerism he loved +so well. The old man continued to sit alone under the preacher's gallery +till the house took fire and was burned to the ground. He died soon +after that event, at a very advanced age. + +Another incident, which occurred during Mr. Hopper's stay in Charleston, +seemed exceedingly trivial at the time, but came very near producing +fatal consequences. One day, when a clergyman whom he visited was +showing him his library, he mentioned that his father had quite an +antiquarian taste for old documents connected with the Society of +Friends. At parting, the clergyman gave him several pamphlets for his +father, and among them happened to be a tract published by Friends in +Philadelphia, describing the colony at Sierra Leone, and giving an +account of the slave trade on the coast of Africa. He put the pamphlets +in his trunk, and started for Savannah, where he arrived on the +twenty-eighth of January. At the City Hotel, he unfortunately +encountered a marshal of the city of New-York, who was much employed in +catching runaway slaves, and of course sympathized with slaveholders. He +pointed the young stranger out, as a son of Isaac T. Hopper, the +notorious abolitionist. This information kindled a flame immediately, +and they began to discuss plans of vengeance. The traveller, not +dreaming of danger, retired to his room soon after supper. In a few +minutes, his door was forced open by a gang of intoxicated men, escorted +by the New-York marshal. They assailed him with a volley of blasphemous +language, struck him, kicked him, and spit in his face. They broke open +and rifled his trunk, and searched his pockets for abolition documents. +When they found the harmless little Quaker tract about the colony at +Sierra Leone, they screamed with exultation. They shouted, "Here is what +we wanted! Here is proof of abolitionism!" Some of them rushed out and +told the mob, who crowded the bar-room and entries, that they had found +a trunk full of abolition tracts. Others seized Mr. Hopper violently, +telling him to say his last prayers, and go with them. The proprietor of +the City Hotel was very naturally alarmed for the safety of the +building. He was in a great passion, and conjured them to carry their +victim down forthwith; saying he could do nothing with the mob below, +who were getting very impatient waiting for him. Turning to Mr. Hopper, +he said, "Young man, you are in a very unfortunate situation. You ought +never to have left your home. But it is your own doing; and you deserve +your fate." When appealed to for protection, he exclaimed, "Good God! +you must not appeal to me. This is a damned delicate business. I shall +not be able to protect my own property. But I will go for the mayor." + +One of the bar-keeper's confidential friends sent him a slip of paper, +on which was written, "His only mode of escape is by the window;" and +the bar-keeper, who had previously shown himself decidedly unfriendly, +urged him again and again to profit by this advice. He occupied the +third story, and the street below his window was thronged with an +infuriated mob, thirsting and clamoring for his blood. In view of these +facts, it seems not very uncharitable to suppose that the advice was +given to make sure of his death, apparently by his own act, and thus +save the city of Savannah from the disgrace of the deed. Of the two +terrible alternatives, he preferred going down-stairs into the midst of +the angry mob, who were getting more and more maddened by liquor, having +taken forcible possession of the bar. He considered his fate inevitable, +and had made up his mind to die. But at the foot of the stairs, he was +met by the mayor and several aldermen, whose timely arrival saved his +life. After asking some questions, and receiving the assurance that he +came to Savannah solely on commercial business, the magistrates +accompanied Mr. Hopper to his room, and briefly examined his books and +papers. The mayor then went down and addressed the mob, assuring them +that he should be kept in custody during the night; that strict +investigation should be made, and if there was the slightest evidence of +his being an abolitionist, he should not be suffered to go at large. +The mayor and a large body of civil officers accompanied the prisoner to +the guard-house, and a number of citizens volunteered their services, to +strengthen the escort; but all their efforts scarcely sufficed to keep +him from the grasp of the infuriated multitude. He was placed in a +noisome cell, to await his trial, and the customary guard was increased +for his protection. Portions of the mob continued howling round the +prison all night, and the mayor was sent for several times to prevent +their bursting in. A gallows was erected, with a barrel of feathers and +a tub of tar in readiness under it, that they might amuse themselves +with their victim before they murdered him. + +Next morning, at five o'clock, the prisoner was brought before the mayor +for further examination. Many of the mob followed him to the door of the +office to await the issue. The evidence was satisfactory that he +belonged to no anti-slavery society, and that his business in Savannah +had no connection whatever with that subject. As for the pamphlet about +Sierra Leone, the mayor said he considered that evidence in his favor; +because it was written in support of colonization. Before the +examination closed, there came a driving rain, which dispersed the mob +lying in wait round the building. Aided by this lucky storm their +destined victim passed out without being observed. At parting, the +mayor said to him, "Young man, you may consider it a miracle that you +have escaped with your life." + +He took refuge on board the ship Angelique, bound for New-York, and was +received with much kindness and sympathy by Captain Nichols, the +commander. There was likewise a sailor on board, who happened to be one +of the many that owed a debt of gratitude to Friend Hopper; and he swore +he would shoot anybody that attempted to harm his son. In a short time, +a messenger came from the mayor to announce that the populace had +discovered where Mr. Hopper was secreted, and would probably attack the +vessel. In this emergency, the captain behaved nobly toward his hunted +fellow-citizen. He requested him to lie down flat in the bottom of a +boat, which he himself entered and conducted to a brig bound for +Providence. The captain was a New-England man, but having been long +engaged in Southern trade, his principles on the subject of slavery were +adapted to his interest. He gave the persecuted young traveller a most +ungracious reception, and said if he thought he was an abolitionist he +would send him directly back to Savannah. However, the representations +of Captain Nichols induced him to consent that he should be put on +board. They had a tedious passage of thirty-five days, during which +there was a long and violent storm, that seemed likely to wreck the +vessel. The mob had robbed Mr. Hopper of his money and clothing. He had +no comfortable garments to shield him from the severe cold, and his +hands and feet were frozen. At last, he arrived at Providence, and went +on board the steamer Benjamin Franklin, bound for New-York. There he had +the good fortune to meet with a colored waiter, whose father had been +redeemed from slavery by Friend Hopper's exertions. He was assiduously +devoted to the son of his benefactor, and did everything in his power to +alleviate his distressed condition. + +When the traveller arrived at his home, he was so haggard and worn down +with danger and fatigue, that his family scarcely recognized him. His +father was much excited and deeply affected, when he heard what perils +he had gone through merely on account of his name. He soon after +addressed the following letter to the mayor of Savannah: + + "New-York, 4th month, 18th, 1836. + + "Friend, + + "My object in addressing thee is to express my heartfelt gratitude + for thy exertions in saving the life of my son, which I have cause + to believe was in imminent peril, from the violence of unreasonable + men, while in your city a few weeks ago. I am informed that very + soon after his arrival in Savannah, the fact became known to a + marshal of this city, who was then there, and who, by his + misrepresentations, excited the rabble to a determination to + perpetrate the most inhuman outrage upon him, and in all + probability to take his life; and that preparations were made, + which, if carried into effect, would doubtless have produced that + result. + + "Tar and feathers, as a mode of punishment, I am inclined to think + is rather of modern invention; and I am doubtful whether they will + be more efficient than whipping, cutting off ears, the rack, the + halter, and the stake. Superstition and intolerance have long ago + called in all these to their aid, in suppressing reformation in + religion; but they were unable to accomplish the end designed; and + if I am not greatly mistaken, they would prove entirely + insufficient to stop the progress of emancipation. + + "If it is the determination of the people of Savannah to deliver up + to a lawless and blood-thirsty mob every person coming among them + whose sentiments are opposed to slavery, I apprehend there are very + few at the North who would not be obnoxious to their hostility. For + I believe they all view slavery as an evil that must be abolished + at no very distant day. Would it not be well for the people of the + South to reflect upon the tendency of their conduct? Where such + aggressions upon humanity are committed, the slaves will naturally + inquire into the cause; and when they are informed that it is in + consequence of their oppressed and degraded condition, and that the + persons thus persecuted are charged with being their friends, they + cannot feel indifferent. One such scene as was witnessed in the + case of my son would tend more to excite a spirit of insurrection + and insubordination among them, than ten thousand 'incendiary + pamphlets,' not one word of which any of them could read. My son + went to Savannah solely on his own private business, without any + intention of interfering with the slaves, or with the subject of + slavery in any way. But even supposing the charge to have been + true, do not your laws award sufficient punishment? How could you + stand silently by, and witness proceedings that would put to blush + the Arab, or the untutored inhabitant of the wilderness in our own + country? The negroes, whom you affect to despise so much, would set + an example of benevolence and humanity, when on their own soil, if + a stranger came among them, which you cannot be prepared to + imitate, till you have made great improvements in civilization. + + "The people of Savannah profess Christianity; but what avails + profession, where latitude is given to the vilest and most depraved + passions of the human heart? Suppose the mob had murdered my son; a + young man who went among you in the ordinary course of his + business, and who, even according to _your_ understanding of the + term, had done no evil; a young man of fair reputation, with + numerous near relatives and friends to mourn over the barbarous + deed; would you have been guiltless? I think the just witness in + your consciences would answer No. + + "I have long deplored the evils of slavery, and my sympathy has + often been much excited for the master, as well as the slave. I am + aware of the difficulties attending the system, and I should + rejoice if I could aid in devising some mode of relief, that would + satisfy the claims of justice and humanity, and at the same time be + acceptable to the inhabitants of the South. + + "It is certainly cause of deep regret that the Southern people + suffer their angry passions to become so highly excited on this + subject, which, of all others, ought to be calmly considered. For + it remains a truth that 'the wrath of man worketh not the + righteousness of God,' neither can it open his eyes to see in what + his best interest consists. O, that your ears may be open to the + voice of wisdom before it is too late! The language of an eminent + statesman, who was a slaveholder, often occurs to me: 'I tremble + for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that his + justice will not sleep forever.' Surely we have high authority for + believing that 'For the crying of the poor, and the sighing of the + needy, God will arise.' I hope I shall not be suspected of + entertaining hostile or unkind feelings toward the people of the + South, when I say that I believe slavery must and will be + abolished. As sure as God is merciful and good, it is an evil that + cannot endure forever. + + "An inspired apostle says, that our gracious Creator 'hath made of + one blood all nations of men;' and our Saviour gave this + commandment: 'As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to + them likewise.' If we believe these declarations, and I hope none + doubt their authority, I should think reasoning unnecessary to + convince us that to oppress and enslave our fellow men cannot be + pleasing to Him, who is just and equal in all his ways. + + "My concern for the welfare of my fellow men is not confined to + color, or circumscribed by geographical lines. I can never see + human suffering without feeling compassion, and I would always + gladly alleviate it, if I had it in my power. I remember that we + are all, without distinction of color or locality, children of the + same Universal Parent, who delights to see the human family dwell + together in peace and harmony. I am strongly inclined to the + opinion that the proceedings of that portion of the inhabitants of + the North who are called abolitionists, would not produce so much + agitation and excitement at the South, if the people there felt + entirely satisfied that slavery was justifiable in the sight of + infinite purity and justice. An eminent minister of the Gospel, + about the middle of the seventeenth century, often urged upon the + attention of people this emphatic injunction: 'Mind the light!' + 'All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for + whatsoever doth make manifest is light.' Now, if this light, or + spirit of truth, 'a manifestation of which is given to every man to + profit withal,' should be found testifying in your consciences + against injustice and oppression, regard its admonitions! It will + let none remain at ease in their sins. It will justify for well + doing; but to those who rebel against it, and disregard its + reproofs, it will become the 'worm that dieth not, and the fire + that is not quenched.' + + "I am aware that complaints are often made, because obstacles are + thrown in the way of Southerners reclaiming their fugitive slaves. + But bring the matter home to yourselves. Suppose a white man + resided among you, who, for a series of years, had conducted with + sobriety, industry, and probity, and had given frequent evidence of + the kindness of his heart, by a disposition to oblige whenever + opportunity offered; suppose he had a wife and children dependent + upon him, and supported them comfortably and respectably; could you + see that man dragged from his bed, and from the bosom of his + family, in the dead time of night, manacled, and hurried away into + a distant part of the country, where his family could never see him + again, and where they knew he must linger out a miserable + existence, more intolerable than death, amid the horrors of + slavery? I ask whether you could witness all this, without the most + poignant grief? This is no picture of the fancy. It is a sober + reality. The only difference is, the men thus treated are black. + But in my view, this does not diminish the horrors of such cruel + deeds. Can it be expected then, that the citizens of this state, or + indeed of any other, would witness all this, without instituting + the severest scrutiny into the legality of the proceedings? More + especially, when it is known that the persons employed in this + nefarious business of hunting up fugitive slaves are men destitute + of principle, whose hearts are callous as flint, and who would send + a free man into bondage with as little compunction as they would a + slave, if they could do it with impunity. + + "Of latter time, we hear much said about a dissolution of the + Union. Far better, in my view, that this should take place, if it + can be effected without violence, than to remain as we are; when a + peaceable citizen cannot enter your territory on his own lawful + business, without the risk of being murdered by a ruthless mob. + + "With reverent thankfulness to Him, who numbers the hairs of our + heads, without whose notice not even a sparrow falls to the + ground, and to whose providence I consider myself indebted for the + redemption of my beloved son from the hands of barbarians, permit + me again to say that I feel sincerely grateful to thee and others, + who kindly lent aid, though late, in rescuing him from the violence + of unreasonable and wicked men, who sought his life without a + cause. I may never have it in my power to do either of you + personally a kindness; but some other member of the great family of + mankind may need assistance in a way that I can relieve him. If + this should be the case, I hope I shall not fail to embrace the + opportunity. + + "With fervent desires that the beneficent Creator and Father of the + Universe may open the eyes of all to see that 'the fast which he + hath chosen is to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy + burdens and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every + yoke.' + + "I am thy sincere friend, + + "ISAAC T. HOPPER." + +Soon after the circumstances above related, the mayor of New-York +revoked the warrant of the marshal, who had been so conspicuous in the +outrage. This step was taken in consequence of his own admissions +concerning his conduct. + +In 1837, a little incident occurred, which may be interesting to those +who are curious concerning phrenology. At a small social party in +New-York, a discussion arose on that subject; and, as usual, some were +disposed to believe and others to ridicule. At last the disputants +proposed to test the question by careful experiment. Friend Hopper was +one of the party, and they asked him to have his head examined by the +well-known O.S. Fowler. Having a good-natured willingness to gratify +their curiosity, he consented. It was agreed that he should not speak +during the operation, lest the tones of his voice might serve as an +index of his character. It was further stipulated that no person in the +room should give any indication by which the phrenologist might be +enabled to judge whether he was supposed to be speaking correctly or +not. The next day, Mr. Fowler was introduced blindfolded into a room, +where Isaac T. Hopper was seated with the party of the preceding +evening. Having passed his hands over the strongly developed head, he +made the following statement, which was taken down by a rapid writer, as +the words fell from his lips. + +"The first and strongest manifestation of this character is efficiency. +Not one man in a thousand is capable of accomplishing so much. The +strong points are very strong; the weak points are weak; so that he is +an eccentric and peculiar character. + +"The pole-star of his character is moral courage. + +"He has very little reverence, and stands in no awe of the powers that +be. He pays no regard to forms or ceremonies, or established customs, in +church or state. He renders no homage to great names, such as D.D.; +L.L.D.; or Excellency. He treats his fellow men with kindness and +affection, but not with sufficient respect and courtesy. + +"He is emphatically republican in feeling and character. He makes +himself free and familiar with every one. He often lets himself down too +much. This constitutes a radical defect in his character. + +"He will assert and maintain human rights and liberty at every hazard. +In this cause, he will stake anything, or suffer anything. This +constitutes the leading feature of his character. Every other element is +blended into this. + +"I should consider him a very cautious man in fact, though in appearance +he is very imprudent; especially in remarks on moral subjects. + +"He is too apt to denounce those whom he considers in error; to apply +opprobrious epithets and censure in the strongest terms, and the boldest +manner. + +"I have seldom, if ever, met with a larger organ of conscientiousness. + +"Nothing so much delights him as to advocate and propagate moral +principles; no matter how unpopular the principles may be. + +"He has very little credulity. + +"He is one of the closest observers of men and things anywhere to be +found. He sees, as it were by intuition everything that passes around +him, and understands just when and where to take men and things; just +how and where to say things with effect; and in all he says, he speaks +directly to the point. + +"He says and does a great many severe and cutting things. If anybody +else said and did such things, they would at once get into hot water; +but he says and does them in such a manner, that even his enemies, and +those against whom his censures are aimed, cannot be offended with him. +He is always on the verge of difficulty, but never _in_ difficulty. + +"He is hated mainly by those not personally acquainted with him. A +personal interview, even with his greatest enemies, generally removes +enmity; because of the smoothness and easiness of his manners. + +"He has at command a great amount of well-digested information on almost +every subject, and makes admirable use of his knowledge. He has a great +many facts, and always brings them in their right place. His general +memory of particulars, incidents, places, and words, is really +wonderful. + +"But he has a weak memory concerning names, dates, numbers, and colors. +He never recognizes persons by their dress, or by the color of anything +pertaining to them. + +"He tells a story admirably, and acts it out to the life. He makes a +great deal of fun, and keeps others in a roar of laughter, while he is +sober himself. For his fun, he is as much indebted to the manner as to +the matter. He makes his jokes mainly by happy comparisons, striking +illustrations, and the imitative power with which he expresses them. + +"He possesses a great amount of native talent, but it is so admirably +distributed, that he appears to have more than he actually possesses. + +"His attachment to his friends is remarkably strong and ardent. But he +will associate with none except those whose moral characters are +unimpeachable. + +"He expects and anticipates a great deal; enters largely into things; +takes hold of every measure with spirit; and is always overwhelmed with +business. Move where he will, he cannot be otherwise than a +distinguished man." + +That this description was remarkably accurate in most particulars will +be obvious to those who have read the preceding anecdotes. It is not +true, however, that he was enthusiastic in character, or that he had the +appearance of being so. He was far too practical and self-possessed, to +have the reputation of being "half crazy," even among those who are +prone to regard everything as insane that is out of the common course. +Neither do I think he was accustomed to "let himself down too much;" for +according to my radical ideas, a man _cannot_ "let himself down," who +"associates only with those whose moral characters are unimpeachable." +It is true that he was pleasant and playful in conversation with all +classes of people; but he was remarkably free from any tinge of +vulgarity. It is true, also, that he was totally and entirely +unconscious of any such thing as distinctions of rank. I have been +acquainted with many theoretical democrats, and with not a few who tried +to be democratic, from kind feelings-and principles of justice; but +Friend Hopper and Francis Jackson of Boston are the only two men I ever +met, who were born democrats; who could not help it, if they tried; and +who would not know _how_ to try; so completely did they, by nature, +ignore all artificial distinctions. Of course, I do not use the word +democrat in its limited party sense, but to express their perfect +unconsciousness that any man was considered to be above them, or any man +beneath them. If Friend Hopper encountered his wood-sawyer, after a +considerable absence, he would shake hands warmly, and give him a +cordial welcome. If the English Prince had called upon him, he would +have met with the same friendly reception, and would probably have been +accosted something after this fashion: "How art thou, friend Albert? +They tell me thou art amiable and kindly disposed toward the people; and +I am glad to see thee." Those who observe the parting advice given by +Isaac's mother, when he went to serve his apprenticeship in +Philadelphia, will easily infer that this peculiarity was hereditary. +Some men, who rise above their original position, either in character or +fortune, endeavor to conceal their early history. Others obtrude it upon +all occasions, in order to magnify themselves by a contrast between what +they have been and what they are. But he did neither the one nor the +other. The subject did not occupy his thoughts. He spoke of having been +a tailor, whenever it came naturally in his way, but never for the sake +of doing so. His having been born in a hen-house was a mere external +accident in his eyes; and in the same light he regarded the fact that +Victoria was born in a palace. What was the spiritual condition of the +two at any given age, was the only thing that seemed to him of real +importance. + +His steadfastness in maintaining moral principles, "however unpopular +those principles might be," was severely tried in the autumn of 1838. At +a late hour in the night, two colored men came to his house, and one +introduced the other as a stranger in the city, who had need of a +lodging. Friend Hopper of course conjectured that he might be a fugitive +slave; and this conjecture was confirmed the next morning. The stranger +was a mulatto, about twenty-two years old, and called himself Thomas +Hughes. According to his own account, he was the son of a wealthy +planter in Virginia, who sold his mother with himself and his twin +sister when they were eleven months old. His mother and sister were +subsequently sold, but he could never ascertain where they were sent. +When he was about thirteen, he was purchased by the son of his first +master. Being hardly dealt with by this relative, he one day +remonstrated with him for treating his own brother with so much +severity. This was, of course, deemed a great piece of insolence in a +bondman, and he was punished by being sold to a speculator, carried off +hand-cuffed, with his feet tied under the horse's belly, and finally +shipped for Louisiana with a coffle of five hundred slaves. He was +bought by a gambler, who took him to Louisville, Kentucky. When he had +lived there three years, his master, having lost large sums of money, +told him he should be obliged to sell him. Thomas had meanwhile +ascertained that his father had removed to Kentucky, and was still a +very wealthy man. He obtained permission to go and see him, with the +hope that he would purchase him and set him free. Accordingly, he +called upon him, and told him that he was Thomas, the son of his slave +Rachel, who had always assured him that he was his father. The rich +planter did not deny poor Rachel's assertion, but in answer to her son's +inquiries, he plainly manifested that he neither knew nor cared who had +bought her, or to what part of the country she had been sent. Thomas +represented his own miserable condition, in being sold from one to +another, and subject to the will of whoever happened to be his owner. He +intreated his father to purchase him, with a view to manumission; but +himself and his proposition were both treated with supreme contempt. +Thus rejected by his father, and unable to discover any traces of his +mother, he returned disheartened to Louisville, and was soon after sent +to New-Orleans to be sold. Mr. John P. Darg, a speculator in slaves, +bought him; and he soon after married a girl named Mary, who belonged to +his new master. Mr. Darg went to New-York, to visit some relatives, and +took Thomas with him. It was only a few days after their arrival in the +city, that the slave left him, and went to Isaac T. Hopper to ask a +lodging. When he acknowledged that he was a fugitive, intending to take +refuge in Canada, it was deemed imprudent for him to remain under the +roof of a person so widely known as an abolitionist; but a very +benevolent and intelligent Quaker lady, near eighty years old, named +Margaret Shoemaker, gladly gave him shelter. + +When Friend Hopper went to his place of business, after parting with the +colored stranger, he saw an advertisement in a newspaper called the Sun, +offering one thousand dollars reward for the apprehension and return of +a mulatto man, who had stolen seven or eight thousand dollars from a +house in Varick-street. A proportionate reward was offered for the +recovery of any part of the money. Though no names were mentioned, he +had reason to conjecture that Thomas Hughes might be the mulatto in +question. He accordingly sought him out, read the advertisement to him, +and inquired whether he had stolen anything from his master. He denied +having committed any theft, and said the pretence that he had done so +was a mere trick, often resorted to by slaveholders, when they wanted to +catch a runaway slave. That this remark was true, Friend Hopper knew +very well by his own experience; he therefore concluded it was likely +that Thomas was not guilty. He expressed this conviction in conversation +on the subject with Barney Corse, a benevolent member of the Society of +Friends, who was kindly disposed toward the colored people. In +compliance with Friend Hopper's request, that gentleman waited upon the +editor of the Sun, accompanied by a lawyer, and was assured that a large +amount of money really had been stolen from Mr. Darg, and that if he +could recover it, he was willing to give a pledge for the manumission of +the slave, beside paying the promised reward to whoever would enable him +to get possession of the money. Barney Corse called upon Mr. Darg, who +promptly confirmed the statement made by the editor in his name. The +Friend then promised that he, and others who were interested for the +slave, would do their utmost to obtain tidings of the money, and see it +safely restored, on those conditions; but he expressly stipulated that +he could not do it otherwise, because he had conscientious scruples, +which would prevent him, in all cases, from helping to return a fugitive +slave to his master. + +It is to be observed that the promise of manumission was given as the +highest bribe that could be offered to induce the slave to refund the +money he had taken; for though in argument slaveholders generally +maintain that their slaves have no desire for freedom, they are never +known to _act_ upon that supposition. In this case, the offer served a +double purpose; for it stimulated the benevolent zeal of Friend Hopper +and Barney Corse, and induced the fugitive to confess what he had done. +He still denied that he had any intention of stealing, but declared that +he took the money merely to obtain power over his master, hoping that +the promise to restore it would secure his manumission. It is +impossible to tell whether he spoke truth or not; for poor Thomas had +been educated in a bad school of morals. Sold by his father, abused by +his brother, and for years compelled to do the bidding of gamblers and +slave-speculators, how could he be expected to have very clear +perceptions of right and wrong? The circumstances of the case, however, +seem to render it rather probable that he really was impelled by the +motive which he assigned for his conduct. Mr. Darg declared that he had +previously considered him an honest and faithful servant; that he was in +the habit of trusting him with the key of his trunk, and frequently sent +him to it for money. The bank-bills he had purloined were placed in the +hands of two colored men in New-York, because, as he said, he could not +return them himself, but must necessarily employ somebody to do it for +him, in the intended process of negotiating for his freedom. + +Friend Hopper, his son-in-law James S. Gibbons, and Barney Corse, were +very earnest to recover the money, for the best of reasons. In the first +place, they greatly desired to secure the manumission of the slave. In +the second place, the honesty of their characters led them to wish that +the master should recover what was his own. In both instances, they +wished to restore stolen property to the rightful owner; to Thomas +Hughes the free use of his own faculties and limbs, which had been +stolen from him, and to Mr. Darg the money that had been purloined from +him. It is not likely that the Southerner would have ever regained any +portion of the amount stolen, had it not been for their exertions. But, +by careful and judicious management, they soon recovered nearly six +thousand dollars, which was immediately placed in one of the principal +banks of the city, with a full statement of the circumstances of the +case to the cashier. Over one thousand more was heard of as having been +deposited with a colored man in Albany. Friend Hopper proposed that +Barney Corse should go in pursuit of it, accompanied by the colored man +who sent it there. He agreed to do so; but he deemed it prudent to have +a previous interview with Mr. Darg, to obtain his written promise to +manumit Thomas, to pay the necessary expenses of the journey, and to +exonerate from criminal prosecution any person or persons connected with +the robbery, provided that assurance proved necessary in order to get +possession of the money. All this being satisfactorily accomplished, he +went to Albany and brought back the sum said to have been deposited +there. Ten or fourteen hundred dollars were still wanting to complete +the amount, which Mr. Darg said he had lost; but they had hopes of +obtaining that also, by confronting various individuals, who had become +involved with this complicated affair. Meanwhile, Barney Corse and +James S. Gibbons called upon Mr. Darg to inform him of the amount +recovered and safely deposited in the bank, and to pay him the sum +brought from Albany. Instead of giving the deed of manumission, which +had been his own voluntary offer at the outset, and which he knew had +been the impelling motive to exertion, Mr. Darg had two police-officers +in an adjoining room to arrest Barney Corse for having stolen money in +his possession. He was of course astonished at such an ungrateful return +for his services, but at once expressed his readiness to go before any +magistrate that might be named. + +It would not be easy to give an adequate idea of the storm of +persecution that followed. Popular prejudice against abolitionists was +then raging with uncommon fury; and police-officers and editors availed +themselves of it to the utmost to excite hostility against individuals, +who had been actuated by a kind motive, and who had proceeded with +perfect openness throughout the whole affair. The newspapers of the city +were pro-slavery, almost without exception. The idea of sending +abolitionists to the State Prison was a glorious prospect, over which +they exulted mightily. They represented that Thomas had been enticed +from his master by these pretended philanthropists, who had advised him +to steal the money, as a cunning mode of obtaining manumission. As for +the accused, all they asked was a speedy and thorough investigation of +their conduct. The case was however postponed from week to week, and +offers were made meanwhile to compromise the matter, if Barney Corse +would pay the balance of the lost money. He had wealthy connexions, and +perhaps the prosecutors hoped to extort money from them, to avoid the +disgrace of a trial. But Barney Corse was far from wishing to avoid a +trial. + +At this juncture of affairs, Friend Hopper took a step, which raised a +great clamor among his enemies, and puzzled some of his friends at the +time, because they did not understand his motives. He sued Mr. Darg for +the promised reward of one thousand dollars. He had several reasons for +this proceeding. In the first place, the newspapers continually pointed +him out as a man over whose head a criminal prosecution was pending; +while he had at the same time had good reason to believe that his +accusers would never venture to meet him before a court of justice; and +a proper regard for his own character made him resolved to obtain a +legal investigation of his conduct by some process. In the second place, +Mr. Darg had subjected Barney Corse to a great deal of trouble and +expense; and Friend Hopper thought it no more than fair that expenses +caused by his own treachery should be paid from his own pocket. In the +third place, David Ruggles, a worthy colored man, no way implicated in +the transaction, had been arrested, and was likely to be involved in +expense. In the fourth place, the police officers, who advised the +arrest of Barney Corse, made themselves very conspicuous in the +persecution. He believed they had been actuated by a desire to obtain +the reward for themselves; and as they had no just claim to it, he +determined to defeat them in this attempt. He therefore sued for the +reward himself, though he never intended to use a dollar of it. This was +manifested at the time, by a declaration in the newspapers, that if he +recovered the reward, he would give all over the expenses to some +benevolent society. It was frequently intimated to him that there should +be no further proceedings against him, if he would withdraw this suit; +but he constantly replied that a trial was what he wanted. Finding all +overtures rejected, a complaint was laid before the Grand Jury; and such +was the state of popular prejudice, that twelve out of nineteen of that +body concurred in finding a bill against men of excellent moral +character, without any real evidence to sustain the charge. Barney Corse +had never taken measures to prevent the arrest of Thomas Hughes. He +simply declined to render any assistance. He believed that he was under +no legal obligation to do otherwise; and he knew for a certainty that he +was under no moral obligation; because conscience would not allow him +to aid in returning a runaway slave to his master. Nevertheless, he and +Isaac T. Hopper, and James S. Gibbons, were indicted for "feloniously +receiving, harboring, aiding and maintaining said Thomas, in order that +he might escape from arrest, and avoid conviction and punishment." +Friend Hopper was advised that he might avail himself of some technical +defects in the indictment; but he declined doing it; always insisting +that a public investigation was what he wanted. + +The trial was carried on in the same spirit that characterized the +previous proceedings. A colored man, known to have had dishonest +possession of a portion of the lost money, was admitted to testify, on +two successive trials, against Barney Corse, who had always sustained a +fair character. The District Attorney talked to the jury of "the +necessity of appeasing the South." As if convicting an honest and +kind-hearted Quaker of being accomplice in a felony could do anything +toward settling the questions that divided North and South on the +subject of slavery! One of the jury declared that he never would acquit +an abolitionist. Mr. Darg testified of himself during the trial, that he +never intended to manumit Thomas, and had made the promise merely as a +means of obtaining his money. The newspapers spoke as if the guilt of +the accused was not to be doubted, and informed the jury that the +public expected them to convict these men. + +In fact, the storm lowered so darkly, that some friends of the +persecuted individuals began to feel uneasy. But Friend Hopper's mind +was perfectly undisturbed. Highly respectable lawyers offered to conduct +the cause for him; but he gratefully declined, saying he preferred to +manage it for himself. He informed the court that he presumed they +understood the law, and he was quite sure that he understood the facts; +therefore, he saw no need of a lawyer between them. The Court of +Sessions was held every month, and he appeared before it at almost every +term, to demand a trial. At last, in January 1840, when the hearing had +been delayed fifteen months, he gave notice that unless he was tried +during that term, he should appear on the last day of it, and request +that a _nolle prosequi_ should be ordered. The trial not coming on, he +appeared accordingly, and made a very animated speech, in which he dwelt +with deserved severity on the evils of the police system, and on the +efforts of a corrupt press to pervert the public mind. He said he did +not make these remarks to excite sympathy. He was not there to ask for +mercy, but to demand justice. "And I would have you all to understand +distinctly," continued the brave old man, "that I have no wish to evade +the charge against me for being an abolitionist. I _am_ an +abolitionist. In that, I am charged truly. I have been an abolitionist +from my early years, and I always expect to remain so. For this, I am +prosecuted and persecuted. I most sincerely believe that slavery is the +greatest sin the Lord Almighty ever suffered to exist upon this earth. +As sure as God is good and just, he will put an end to it; and all +opposition will be in vain. As regards myself, I can only say, that +having lived three-score and nearly ten years, with a character that +placed me above suspicion in such matters as have been urged against me, +I cannot now forego the principles which have always influenced my +conduct in relation to slavery. Neither force on the one hand, nor +persuasion on the other, will ever alter my course of action." + +One of the New-York papers, commenting on this speech, at the time, +states that "the old gentleman was listened to very attentively. He was +composed, dignified, and clear in his manner, and evidently had much +effect on the court and a large number of spectators. He certainly +needed no counsel to aid him." + +The court ordered a _nolle prosequi_ to be entered, and the defendants +were all discharged. The suit for the reward proceeded no further. David +Ruggles had been early discharged, and the whole case had been +completely before the public in pamphlet form; therefore the principal +objects for urging it no longer existed. + +Though the friends of human freedom made reasonable allowance for a man +brought up under such demoralizing influences as Thomas Hughes had been, +they of course felt less confidence in him, than they would have done +had he sought to obtain liberty by some more commendable process. Being +aware of this, he returned to his master, not long after he acknowledged +the theft. At one time, it was proposed to send him back to the South; +but he swore that he would cut his throat rather than return into +slavery. The best lawyers declared their opinion that he was legally +entitled to freedom, in consequence of his master's written promise to +manumit him if the money were restored; consequently some difficulties +would have attended any attempt to coerce him. He was tried on an +indictment for grand larceny, convicted, and sentenced to the State +Prison for two years; the shortest term allowed for the offence charged +against him. Through the whole course of the affair, he proved himself +to be a very irresolute and unreliable character. At one time, he said +that: his master was a notorious gambler; then he denied that he ever +said so; then he affirmed that his first statement was true, though he +had been frightened into contradicting it. When his time was out at Sing +Sing, he expressed to Friend Hopper and others his determination to +remain at the North; but after an interview with Mr. Darg, he consented +to return to the South with him. Although he was thus wavering in +character, he could never be persuaded to say that any abolitionist +advised him to take his master's money. He always declared that no white +man knew anything about it, until after he had placed it out of his own +hands; and that the friends who were willing to aid him in procuring his +manumission had always expressed their regret that he had committed such +a wrong action. He deserved praise for his consistency on this point; +for he had the offer of being exempted from prosecution himself, and +used as a witness, if he would say they advised him to steal the money. + +When Thomas Hughes consented to return to the South with Mr. Darg, it +was with the full understanding that he went as a free man, consenting +to be his servant. This he expressed during his last interview with +Friend Hopper, in Mr. Darg's presence. But the newspapers represented +that he had voluntarily gone back into slavery; and such was their +exultation over his supposed choice, that a person unacquainted with the +history of our republic might have inferred that the heroes of the +revolution fought and died mainly for the purpose of convincing their +posterity of the superior advantages of slavery over freedom. However, +it was not long before Thomas returned to New-York, and told the +following story: "A short time before my release from prison, Mr. Darg +brought my wife to see me, and told me we should both be free and enjoy +each other's society as long as we lived, if I would go with him. He +said I should suffer here at the North; for the abolitionists would do +nothing for me. I went with him solely with the hope of living with +Mary. I thought if he attempted to hold me as a slave, we would both run +away, the first opportunity. He told me we should meet Mary in +Washington; but when we arrived in Baltimore, he shut me up in jail, and +told me Mary was sold, and carried off South. I cannot describe how I +felt. I never expect to see her again. He asked me if I consented to +come with him on Mary's account, or on his own account. I thought it +would make it better for me to say on his account; and I said so. I hope +the Lord will forgive me for telling a falsehood. When I had been in +jail some time, he called to see me, and said that as I did not come +with him on account of my wife, he would not sell me; that I should be +free, and he would try to buy Mary for me." + +Thomas said he was informed that certain people in New-York wrote to Mr. +Darg, advising him not to sell him, because the abolitionists predicted +that he would do so; and he thought that was the reason why he was not +sold. If this supposition was correct, it is a great pity that his +master was not induced by some better motive to avoid an evil action. +Thomas uniformly spoke of Mrs. Darg with respect and gratitude. He said, +"She was always very kind to me and Mary. I know she did not want to +have me sold, or to have Mary sold; for I believe she loved her. I feel +very sorry that I could not live with her and be free; but I had rather +live in the State Prison all my life than to be a slave." + +I never heard what became of Thomas. Friend Shoemaker used to tell me, +years afterward, how she secreted him, and rejoiced in the deed. I heard +the good lady, when more than ninety years old, just before her death, +talk the matter over; and her kindly, intelligent countenance smiled all +over, as she recounted how she had contrived to dodge the police, and +avoid being a witness in the case. The Fugitive Slave Law would be of no +avail to tyrants, if all the women at the North had as much moral +courage, and were as benevolent and quick-witted as she was. + +Those who were most active in persecuting Friend Hopper and Barney Corse +convinced the public, by their subsequent disreputable career, that they +were not men whose word could be relied upon. + +Dr. R.W. Moore, of Philadelphia, in a letter to Friend Hopper concerning +this troublesome case, says: "I am aware thou hast passed through many +trials in the prosecution of this matter. Condemned by the world, +censured by some of thy friends, and discouraged by the weak, thou hast +had much to bear. But thou hast been able to foil thy enemies, and to +pass through the flames without the smell of fire on thy garments. Thy +Christian firmness is an example to us all. It reminds one of those +ancient Quakers, who, knowing themselves in the right, suffered wrongs +rather than compromise their principles. For the sake of mankind, I am +sorry there are not more such characters among us. They would do more to +exalt our principles, than a host of the professors of the present day." + +A year or two later, another incident occurred, which excited similar +exultation among New-York editors, that a human being had been so wise +as to prefer slavery to freedom; and there was about as much cause for +such exultation as there had been in the case of Thomas Hughes. + +Mrs. Burke of New-Orleans went to New-York to visit a relative by the +name of Morgan. She brought a slave to attend upon her, and took great +care to prevent her becoming acquainted with the colored people. I don't +know how city editors would account for this extreme caution, +consistently with their ideas of the blessedness of slavery. They might +argue that there was danger free colored people would be so attracted by +her charming pictures of bondage, that they would emigrate to the South +in larger numbers than would supply the slave-markets, and thus occasion +some depression in an honorable branch of trade in this republic. +However they might please to explain it, the simple fact was, Mrs. Burke +did not allow her slave to go into the street. Of course, she must have +had some other motive than the idea that _freedom_ could be attractive +to her. The colored people became aware of the careful constraint +imposed upon the woman, and they informed the abolitionists. Thinking it +right that slaves should be made aware of their legal claim to freedom, +when brought or sent into the free states, with knowledge and consent of +their masters, they applied to Judge Oakley for a writ of _habeas +corpus,_ by virtue of which the girl was brought before him. While she +was in waiting, Friend Hopper heard of the circumstance, and immediately +proceeded to the court-room. There he found Mr. Morgan and one of his +southern friends talking busily with the slave. The woman appeared +frightened and undecided, as is often the case, under such +circumstances. Those who wished her to return to the South plied her +with fair promises. They represented abolitionists as a set of +kidnappers, who seized colored strangers under friendly pretences, and +nobody could tell what became of them afterward. It was urged that her +condition would be most miserable with the "free niggers" of the North, +even if the abolitionists did not sell her, or spirit her away to some +unknown region. + +On the other hand, the colored people, who had assembled about the +court-room, were very eager to rescue her from slavery. She did not +understand their motives, or those of the abolitionists; for they had +been diligently misrepresented to her. "What do they want to do it +_for_?" she asked, with a perplexed air. "What will they do with me?" +She was afraid there was some selfish motive concealed. She dared not +trust the professions of strangers, whose characters had been so +unfavorably represented. Friend Hopper found her in this confused state +of mind. The Southerner was very willing to speak _for_ her. He gave +assurance that she did not want her freedom; that she desired to return +to the South; and that she had been in no respect distrained of her +liberty in the city of New-York. + +"Thou art a very respectable looking man," said Friend Hopper; "but I +have known slaveholders, of even more genteel appearance than thou art, +tell gross falsehoods where a slave was in question. I tell thee +plainly, that I have no confidence in slaveholders, in any such case. I +have had too much acquaintance with them. I know their game too well." + +The Southerner said something about its being both mean and wrong to +come between master and servant. + +"Such may be thy opinion," replied Friend Hopper; "but my views of duty +differ from thine in this matter." Then turning to the woman, he said, +"By the laws here, thou art free. No man has a right to make thee a +slave again. Thou mayest stay at the North, or go back to New-Orleans, +just as thou choosest." + +The Southerner here interposed to say, "Mind what that old gentleman +says. You can go back to New-Orleans, to your husband, if you prefer to +go." + +"But let me tell thee," said Friend Hopper to the woman, "that if thou +stayest here, thou wilt be free; but if they carry thee back, they may +sell thee away from thy husband. Dost thou wish to be free?" + +The tears gushed from her eyes in full flood, and she replied earnestly, +"I do want to be free. To be _sure I_ do want to be free; but then I +want to go to my husband." + +Mr. Morgan and his Southern friend grew excited. With an angry glance at +the old gentleman, the latter exclaimed, "I only wish we had you in +New-Orleans! We'd hang you up in twenty-four hours." + +"Then you are a set of savages," replied Friend Hopper. + +"_You_ are a set of thieves," retorted he. + +"Well, savages may be thieves also," rejoined the abolitionist, with a +significant smile. + +"You are no gentleman," responded the other, in an irritated tone. + +"I don't profess to be a gentleman," answered the impassive Quaker. "But +I am an honest old man; and perhaps that will do as well." + +This remark occasioned a general smile. Indeed it was pleasant to +observe, throughout this scene in the court-room, that popular sympathy +was altogether on the side of freedom. It was a strange blind instinct +on the part of the people, considering how diligently they had been +instructed otherwise by pulpit and press; but so it was. + +When the slave was summoned into the judge's room, Friend Hopper +followed; being extremely desirous to have her understand her position +clearly. He found Mr. Morgan and his Southern friend in close and +earnest conversation with her. When he attempted to approach her, he was +unceremoniously shoved aside, with the remark, "Don't push me away!" + +"I did not push thee," said Friend Hopper; "and see that thou dost not +push _me_!" He then inquired of the woman if he had rightly understood +that her husband was free. She replied in the affirmative. "Then let me +tell thee," said the kind-hearted old gentleman, "that we will send for +him, and obtain employment for him here, if it is thy choice to +remain." + +Again she wept, and repeated, "I do want to be free." But she was +evidently bewildered and distrustful, and did not know how to understand +the opposite professions that were made to her. + +On representation of the claimant's friends, Judge Oakley adjourned the +case till the next morning; telling the woman she was at liberty to go +with whom she pleased. The colored people had assembled in considerable +numbers, and were a good deal excited. Experience led them to suppose +that she would either be cajoled into consenting to return to slavery, +or else secretly packed off to New-Orleans, if she were left in Southern +hands. They accordingly made haste to hustle her away. But their +well-intended zeal terrified the poor bewildered creature, and she +escaped from them, and went back to her mistress. + +The pro-slavery papers chuckled, as they always do, when some poor +ignorant victim is deceived by false representation, alarmed by an +excitement that she does not comprehend, afraid that strangers are not +telling her the truth, or that they have not the power to protect her; +and in continual terror of future punishment, if she should attempt to +take her freedom, and yet be unable to maintain it. Great is the triumph +of republicans, when, under such trying circumstances, _one_ poor +bewildered wretch goes back to slavery; but of the _hundreds_, who every +month take their freedom, through fire and flood, and all manner of +deadly perils, they are as silent as the grave. + +In the spring of 1841, I went to New-York to edit the Anti-Slavery +Standard, and took up my abode with the family of Isaac T. Hopper. The +zealous theological controversy among Friends naturally subsided after +the separation between the opposing parties had become an old and +settled fact. Consequently the demand for Quaker books diminished more +and more. The Anti-Slavery Society, at that time, needed a Treasurer and +Book-Agent; and Friend Hopper was proposed as a suitable person for that +office. As only a small portion of his time was occupied with the sale +of books he had on hand, he concluded to accept the proposition. He was +then nearly seventy years old; but he appeared at least twenty years +younger, in person and manners. His firm, elastic step seemed like a +vigorous man of fifty. He would spring from the Bowery cars, while they +were in motion, with as much agility as a lad of fourteen. His hair was +not even sprinkled with gray. It looked so black and glossy, that a +young lady, who was introduced to him, said she thought he wore a wig +unnaturally dark for his age. It was a favorite joke of his to make +strangers believe he wore a wig; and they were not easily satisfied +that he spoke in jest, until they examined his head. + +The roguery of his boyhood had subsided into a love of little +mischievous tricks; and the playful tone of humor, that rippled through +his conversation, frequently reminded me of the Cheeryble Brothers, so +admirably described by Dickens. If some one rang at the door, and +inquired for Mr. Hopper, he always answered, "There is no such person +lives here." If the stranger urged that he had been directed by a man +who said he knew Mr. Hopper, he would persevere in saying, "There must +be some mistake. No such person lives here." At last, when the +disappointed visitor turned to go away, he would call out, "Perhaps thou +means Isaac T. Hopper? That is _my_ name." + +Being called upon to give a receipt to a Catholic priest for some money +deposited in his hands, he simply wrote "Received of John Smith." When +the priest had read it, he handed it back and said, "I am disbursing +other people's money, and shall be obliged to show this receipt; +therefore, I should like to have you write my name, the Reverend John +Smith." "I have conscientious scruples about using titles," replied +Friend Hopper. "However, I will try to oblige thee." He took another +slip of paper, and wrote, "Received of John Smith, who _calls_ himself +the Reverend." The priest smiled, and accepted the compromise; being +well aware that the pleasantry originated in no personal or sectarian +prejudice. + +He always had something facetious to say to the people with whom he +traded. The oyster-men, the coal-men, and the women at the fruit-stalls +in his neighborhood, all knew him as a pleasant old gentleman, always +ready for a joke. One day, when he was buying some peaches, he said to +the woman, "A serious accident happened at our house last night. I +killed two robbers." "Dear me!" she exclaimed. "Were they young men, or +old convicts? Had they ever been in Sing Sing?" "I don't know about +that," replied he. "I should think they might have been by the noise +they made. But I despatched them before they had stolen much. The walls +are quite bloody." "Has a Coroner's inquest been called?" inquired the +woman. When he answered, "No," she lifted her hands in astonishment, and +exclaimed, "Well now, I do declare! If anybody else had done it, there +would have been a great fuss made about it; but you are a privileged +man, Mr. Hopper." When he was about to walk away, he turned round and +said, "I did not mention to thee that the robbers I killed were two +mosquitoes." The woman had a good laugh, and he came home as pleased as +a boy, to think how completely his serious manner had deceived her. + +One day he went to a hosiery store, and said to the man, "I bought a +pair of stockings here yesterday. They looked very nice; but when I got +home, I found two large holes in them; and I have come for another pair. +The man summoned his wife, and informed her of what the gentleman had +said. + +"Bless me! Is it possible, sir?" she exclaimed. + +"Yes," replied Friend Hopper, I found they had holes as large as my +hand." + +"It is very strange," rejoined she; "for I am sure they were new. But if +you have brought them back, of course we will change them." + +"O," said he, "upon examination, I concluded that the big holes were +made to put the feet in; and I liked the stockings so well, that I have +come to buy another pair." + +At another time, he entered a crockery shop, where a young girl was +tending. He made up a very sorrowful face, and in whining tones, told +her that he was in trouble and needed help. She asked him to wait till +the gentleman came; but he continued to beseech that she would take +compassion on him. The girl began to be frightened by his importunity, +and looked anxiously toward the door. At last, the man of the shop came +in; and Friend Hopper said, "This young woman thinks she cannot help me +out of my trouble; but I think she can. The fact is, we are going to +have company, and so many of our tumblers are broken, that I came to +ask if she would sell me a few." + +One day, when he was walking quickly up the Bowery, his foot slipped on +a piece of orange-peel, and he fell prostrate on the sidewalk. He +started up instantly, and turning to a young man behind him, he said, +"Couldst thou have done that any better?" + +He very often mingled with affairs in the street, as he passed along. +One day, when he saw a man beating his horse brutally, he stepped up to +him and said, very seriously, "Dost thou know that some people think men +change into animals when they die?" + +The stranger's attention was arrested by such an unexpected question, +and he answered that he never was acquainted with anybody who had that +belief. + +"But some people do believe it," rejoined Friend Hopper; "and they also +believe that animals may become men. Now I am thinking if thou shouldst +ever be a horse, and that horse should ever be a man, with such a temper +as thine, the chance is thou wilt get some cruel beatings." Having thus +changed the current of his angry mood, he proceeded to expostulate with +him in a friendly way; and the poor beast was reprieved, for that time, +at least. + +He could imitate the Irish brogue very perfectly; and it was a standing +jest with him to make every Irish stranger believe he was a countryman. +During his visit to Ireland, he had become so well acquainted with +various localities, that I believe he never in any instance failed to +deceive them, when he said, "Och! and sure I came from old Ireland +meself." After amusing himself in this way for a while, he would tell +them, "It is true I did come from Ireland; but, to confess the truth, I +went there first." + +Once, when he saw two Irishmen fighting, he seized one of them by the +arm, and said, "I'm from ould Ireland. If thou _must_ fight, I'm the man +for thee. Thou hadst better let that poor fellow alone. I'm a dale +stouter than he is; and sure it would be braver to fight me." The man +thus accosted looked at him with surprise, for an instant, then burst +out laughing, threw his coat across his arm, and walked off. + +Another time, when he found two Irishmen quarrelling, he stepped up and +inquired what was the matter. "He's got my prayer-book," exclaimed one +of them; "and I'll give him a bating for it; by St. Patrick, I will." +"Let me give thee a piece of advice," said Friend Hopper. "It's a very +hot day, and bating is warm work. I'm thinking thou had'st better put it +off till the cool o' the morning." The men, of course, became cooler +before they had done listening to this playful remonstrance. + +Once, when he was travelling in the stage, they passed a number of +Irishmen with cart-loads of stones, to mend the road. Friend Hopper +suggested to the driver that he had better ask them to remove a very +large stone, which lay directly in the way and seemed dangerous. "It +will be of no use if I do," replied the driver. "They'll only curse me, +and tell me to go round the old road, over the hill; for the fact is, +this road is not fairly opened to the public yet." Friend Hopper jumped +out, and asked if they would turn that big stone aside. "And sure ye've +no business here at all," they replied. "Ye may jist go round by the +ould road." "Och!" said Friend Hopper, "and is this the way I'm trated +by my coontryman? I'm from Ireland meself; and sure I did'nt expect to +be trated so by my coontrymen in a strange coontry." + +"And are ye from ould Ireland?" inquired they. + +"Indade I am," he replied. + +"And what part may ye be from?" said they. + +"From Mount Mellick, Queen's County," rejoined he; and he began to talk +familiarly about the priest and the doctor there, till he got the +laborers into a real good humor, and they removed the stone with the +utmost alacrity. The passengers in the stage listened to this +conversation, and supposed that he was in reality an Irish Quaker. When +he returned to them and explained the joke, they had a hearty laugh over +his powers of mimicry. + +His tricks with children were innumerable. They would often be lying in +wait for him in the street; and if he passed without noticing them, they +would sometimes pull at the skirts of his coat, to obtain the customary +attention. Occasionally, he would observe a little troop staring at him, +attracted by the singularity of his costume. Then, he would stop, face +about, stretch out his leg, and say, "Come now, boys! Come, and take a +good look!" It was his delight to steal up behind them, and tickle their +necks, while he made a loud squealing noise. The children, supposing +some animal had set upon them, would jump as if they had been shot. And +how he would laugh! When he met a boy with dirty face or hands, he would +stop him, and inquire if he ever studied chemistry. The boy, with a +wondering stare, would answer, "No." "Well then, I will teach thee how +to perform a curious chemical experiment," said Friend Hopper. "Go home, +take a piece of soap, put it in water, and rub it briskly on thy hands +and face. Thou hast no idea what a beautiful froth it will make, and how +much whiter thy skin will be. That's a chemical experiment. I advise +thee to try it." + +The character of his wife was extremely modest and reserved; and he took +mischievous pleasure in telling strangers the story of their courtship +in a way that made her blush. "Dost thou know what Hannah answered, when +I asked if she would marry me?" said he. "I will tell thee how it was. +I was walking home with her one evening, soon after the death of her +mother, and I mentioned to her that as she was alone now, I supposed she +intended to make some change in her mode of living. When she said yes, I +told her I had been thinking it would be very pleasant to have her come +and live with me. 'That would suit me exactly,' said she. This prompt +reply made me suppose she might not have understood my meaning; and I +explained that I wanted to have her become a member of my family; but +she replied again, 'There is nothing I should like better.'" + +The real fact was, the quiet and timid Hannah Attmore was not dreaming +of such a thing as a proposal of marriage. She supposed he spoke of +receiving her as a boarder in his family. When she at last perceived his +meaning, she slipped her arm out of his very quickly, and was too much +confused to utter a word. But it amused him to represent that she seized +the opportunity the moment it was offered. + +There was one of the anti-slavery agents who did everything in a +dashing, wholesale style, and was very apt to give peremptory orders. +One day he wrote a letter on business, to which the following postscript +was appended: "Give the hands at your office a tremendous blowing up. +They need it." Friend Hopper briefly replied: "According to thy orders, +I have given the hands at our office a tremendous blowing up. They want +to know what it is for. Please inform me by return of mail." + +When the Prison Association of New-York petitioned to be incorporated, +he went to Albany on business therewith connected. He was then a +stranger at the seat of government, though they afterward came to know +him well. When he was seated in the senate-chamber, a man came to him +and told him to take off his hat. He replied, "I had rather not. I am +accustomed to keep it on." + +"But it is contrary to the rules," rejoined the officer. "I am ordered +to turn out any man who refuses to uncover his head." + +The Quaker quietly responded, "Very well, friend, obey thy orders." + +"Then, will you please to walk out, sir?" said the officer. + +"No," replied Friend Hopper. "Didst thou not tell me thou wert ordered +to turn me out? Dost thou suppose I am going to do thy duty for thee?" + +The officer looked embarrassed, and said, half smiling, "But how am I to +get you out?" + +"Carry me out, to be sure," rejoined Friend Hopper. "I see no other +way." + +The officer went and whispered to the Speaker, who glanced at the +noble-looking old gentleman, and advised that he should be let alone. + +Sometimes his jests conveyed cutting sarcasms. One day, when he was +riding in an omnibus, he opened a port-monnaie lined with red. A man +with very flaming visage, who was somewhat intoxicated, and therefore +very much inclined to be talkative, said, "Ah, that is a very gay +pocket-book for a Quaker to carry." + +"Yes, it is very red," replied Friend Hopper; "but is not so red as thy +nose." The passengers all smiled, and the man seized the first +opportunity to make his escape. + +A poor woman once entered an omnibus, which was nearly full, and stood +waiting for some one to make room. A proud-looking lady sat near Friend +Hopper, and he asked her to move a little, to accommodate the new comer. +But she looked very glum, and remained motionless. After examining her +countenance for an instant, he said, "If thy face often looks so, I +shouldn't like to have thee for a neighbor." The passengers exchanged +smiles at this rebuke, and the lady frowned still more deeply. + +One of the jury in the Darg case was "a son of Abraham," rather +conspicuous for his prejudice against colored people. Some time after +the proceedings were dropped, Friend Hopper happened to meet him, and +entered into conversation on the subject. The Jew was very bitter +against "that rascally thief, Tom Hughes." "It does not become _thee_ to +be so very severe," said Friend Hopper; "for thy ancestors were slaves +in Egypt, and went off with the gold and silver jewels they borrowed of +their masters." + +One day he met several of the Society of Friends, whom he had not seen +for some time. Among them was an Orthodox Friend, who was rather stiff +in his manners. The others shook hands with Isaac; but when he +approached "the Orthodox," he merely held out his finger. + +"Why dost thou offer me thy finger?" said he. + +"I don't allow people of certain principles to get very deep hold of +_me_," was the cold reply. + +"Thou needest have no uneasiness on that score," rejoined Friend Hopper; +"for there never was anything deep in thee to get hold of." + +The sense of justice, so conspicuous in boyhood, always remained a +distinguishing trait in his character. Once, after riding half a mile, +he perceived that he had got into the wrong omnibus. When he jumped out, +the driver called for pay; but he answered, "I don't owe thee anything. +I've been carried the wrong way." This troubled him afterward, when he +considered that he had used the carriage and horses, and that the +mistake was his own fault. He kept on the look-out for the driver, but +did not happen to see him again, until several weeks afterward. He +called to him to stop, and paid the sixpence. + +"Why, you refused to pay me, when I asked you," said the driver. + +"I know I did," he replied; "but I repented of it afterward. I was in a +hurry then, and I did not reflect that the mistake was my fault, not +thine; and that I ought to pay for riding half a mile with thy horses, +though they did carry me the wrong way." The man laughed, and said he +didn't often meet with such conscientious passengers. + +The tenacity of the old gentleman's memory was truly remarkable. He +often repeated letters, which he had written or received twenty years +before on some memorable occasion; and if opportunity occurred to +compare them with the originals, it would be found that he had scarcely +varied a word. He always maintained that he could distinctly remember +some things, which happened before he was two years old. One day, when +his parents were absent, and Polly was busy about her work, he sat +bolstered up in his cradle, when a sudden gust of wind blew a large +piece of paper through the entry. To his uneducated senses, it seemed to +be a living creature, and he screamed violently. It was several hours +before he recovered from his extreme terror. When his parents returned, +he tried to make them understand how a strange thing had come into the +house, and run, and jumped, and made a noise. But his lisping language +was so very imperfect, that they were unable to conjecture what had so +frightened him. For a long time after, he would break out into sudden +screams, whenever the remembrance came over him. At seventy-five years +old, he told me he remembered exactly how the paper then appeared to +him, and what sensations of terror it excited in his infant breast. + +He had a large old-fashioned cow-bell, which was always rung to summon +the family to their meals. He resisted having one of more modern +construction, because he said that pleasantly reminded him of the time +when he was a boy, and used to drive the cows to pasture. Sometimes, he +rang it much longer than was necessary to summon the household. On such +occasions, I often observed him smiling while he stood shaking the bell; +and he would say, "I am thinking how Polly looked, when the cow kicked +her over; milk-pail and all. I can see it just as if it happened +yesterday. O, what fun it was!" + +He often spoke of the first slave whose escape he managed, in the days +of his apprenticeship. He was wont to exclaim, "How well I remember the +anxious, imploring, look that poor fellow gave me, when I told him I +would be his friend! It rises up before me now. If I were a painter, I +could show it to thee." + +But clearly above all other things, did he remember every look and tone +of his beloved Sarah; even in the days when they trudged to school +together, hand in hand. The recollection of this first love, closely +intertwined with his first religious impressions, was the only flowery +spot of romance in the old gentleman's very practical character. When he +was seventy years of age, he showed me a piece of writing she had copied +for him, when she was a girl of fourteen. It was preserved in the +self-same envelope, in which she sent it, and pinned with the same pin, +long since blackened by age. I said, "Be careful not to lose that pin." + +"Lose it!" he exclaimed. "No money could tempt me to part with it. I +loved the very ground she trod upon." + +He was never weary of eulogizing her comely looks, beautiful manners, +sound principles, and sensible conversation. The worthy companion of his +later life never seemed troubled by such remarks. She not only "listened +to a sister's praises with unwounded ear," but often added a heartfelt +tribute to the virtues of her departed friend. + +It is very common for old people to grow careless about their personal +appearance, and their style of conversation; but Friend Hopper was +remarkably free from such faults. He was exceedingly pure in his mind, +and in his personal habits. He never alluded to any subject that was +unclean, never made any indelicate remark, or used any unseemly +expression. There was never the slightest occasion for young people to +feel uneasy concerning what he might say. However lively his mood might +be, his fun was always sure to be restrained by the nicest sense of +natural propriety. He shaved, and took a cold plunge-bath every day. Not +a particle of mud or dust was allowed to remain upon his garments. He +always insisted on blacking his own shoes; for it was one of his +principles not to be waited upon, while he was well enough to wait upon +himself. They were always as polished as japan; and every Saturday +night, his silver buckles were made as bright as a new dollar, in +readiness to go to meeting the next day. His dress was precisely like +that worn by William Penn. At the time I knew him, I believe he was the +only Quaker in the country, who had not departed from that model in the +slightest degree. It was in fact the dress of all English gentlemen, in +King Charles's time; and the only peculiarity of William Penn was, that +he wore it without embroidery or ornament of any kind, for the purpose +of protesting against the extravagance of the fashionable world. +Therefore, the _spirit_ of his intention and that of other early +Friends, would be preserved by wearing dress cut according to the +prevailing mode, but of plain materials, and entirely unornamented. +However, Friend Hopper was attached to the ancient costume from early +association, and he could not quite banish the idea that any change in +it would be a degree of conformity to the fashions of the world. The +long stockings, and small clothes buckled at the knee, were well adapted +to his finely formed limbs; and certainly he and his lady-like Hannah, +in their quaint garb of the olden time, formed a very agreeable picture. + +He had no peculiarities with regard to eating or drinking. He always +followed the old-fashioned substantial mode of living, to which he had +been accustomed in youth, and of which moderation in all things was the +rule. For luxuries he had no taste. He thought very little about his +food; but when it was before him, he ate with the vigorous appetite +natural to strong health and very active habits. When his health failed +for a time in Philadelphia, and he seemed wasting away to a shadow, his +physician recommended tobacco. He found great benefit from it, and in +consequence of the habit then formed he became an inveterate smoker, and +continued so till he was past seventy years old. + +Being out of health for a short time, at that period, the doctor told +him he thought smoking was not good for his complaint. He accordingly +discontinued the practice, and formed a resolution not to renew it. When +he recovered, it cost him a good deal of physical annoyance to conquer +the long-settled habit; but he had sufficient strength of mind to +persevere in the difficult task, and he never again used tobacco in any +form. Speaking of this to his son Edward, he said, "The fact is, whoever +cures himself of any selfish indulgence, becomes a better man. It may +seem strange that I should set out to improve at my age; but better late +than never." + +He was eminently domestic in his character. Perhaps no man ever lived, +who better enjoyed staying at home. He loved to invite his +grand-children, and write them pleasant little notes about the +squirrel-pie, or some other rarity, which he had in preparation for +them. He seldom went out of his own family circle, except on urgent +business, or to attend to some call of humanity. He was always very +attentive in waiting upon his wife to meeting, or elsewhere, and spent a +large portion of his evenings in reading to her from the newspapers, or +some book of Travels, or the writings of early Friends. No man in the +country had such a complete Quaker library. He contrived to pick up +every rare old volume connected with the history of his sect. He had a +wonderful fondness and reverence for many of those books. They seemed to +stand to him in the place of old religious friends, who had parted from +his side in the journey of life. There, at least, he found Quakerism +that had not degenerated; that breathed the same spirit as of yore. + +I presume that his religious opinions resembled those of Elias Hicks. +But I judged so mainly from incidental remarks; for he regarded +doctrines as of small importance, and considered theology an +unprofitable topic of conversation. Practical righteousness, manifested +in the daily affairs of life, was in his view the sum and substance of +religion. The doctrine of the Atonement never commended itself to his +reason, and his sense of justice was disturbed by the idea of the +innocent suffering for the guilty. He moreover thought it had a +pernicious tendency for men to rely on an abstract article of faith, to +save them from their sins. With the stern and gloomy sects, who are +peculiarly attracted by the character of Deity as delineated in the Old +Testament, he had no sympathy. The Infinite One was ever present to his +mind, as a loving Father to all his children, whether they happened to +call him by the name of Brama, Jehovah, God, or Allah. + +He was strongly attached to the forms of Quakerism, as well as to the +principles. It troubled him, when some of his children changed their +mode of dress, and ceased to say _thee_ and _thou_. He groaned when one +of his daughters appeared before him with a black velvet bonnet, though +it was exceedingly simple in construction, and unornamented by feather +or ribbon. She was prepared for this reception, and tried to reconcile +him to the innovation by representing that a white or drab-colored silk +bonnet showed every stain, and was therefore very uneconomical for a +person of active habits. "Thy good mother was a very energetic woman," +he replied; "but she found no difficulty in keeping her white bonnet as +nice as a new pin." His daughter urged that it required a great deal of +trouble to keep it so; and that she did not think dress was worth so +much trouble. But his groan was only softened into a sigh. The fashion +of the bonnet his Sarah had worn, in that beloved old meeting-house at +Woodbury, was consecrated in his memory; and to his mind, the outward +type also stood for an inward principle. I used to tell him that I found +something truly grand in the original motive for saying _thee_ and +_thou_; but it seemed to me that it had degenerated into a mere +hereditary habit, since the custom of applying _you_ exclusively to +superiors had vanished from the English language. He admitted the force +of this argument; but he deprecated a departure from their old forms, +because he considered it useful, especially to the young, to carry the +cross of being marked and set apart from the world. But though he was +thus strict in what he required of those who had been educated as +Quakers, he placed no barrier between himself and people of other sects. +He loved a righteous man, and sympathized with an unfortunate one, +without reference to his denomination. In fact, many of his warmest and +dearest friends were not members of his own religious society. + +Early in life he formed an unfavorable opinion of the effect of capital +punishment. His uncle Tatum considered it a useful moral lesson to take +all his apprentices to hear the tragedy of George Barnwell, and to +witness public executions. On one of these occasions, he saw five men +hung at once. His habits of shrewd observation soon led him to conclude +that such spectacles generally had a very hardening and bad influence on +those who witnessed them, or heard them much talked about. In riper +years, his mind was deeply interested in the subject, and he read and +reflected upon it a great deal. The result of his investigations was a +settled conviction that executions did not tend to diminish crime, but +rather to increase it, by their demoralizing effect on the community. He +regarded them with abhorrence, as a barbarous custom, entirely out of +place in a civilized country and a Christian age. + +Concerning the rights of women, he scarcely needed any new light from +modern theories; for, as a Quaker, he had been early accustomed to +practical equality between men and women in all the affairs of the +Society. He had always been in the habit of listening to them as +preachers, and of meeting them on committees with men, for education, +for the care of the poor, for missions to the Indians, and for financial +regulations. Therefore, it never occurred to him that there was anything +unseemly in a woman's using any gift with which God had endowed her, or +transacting any business, which she had the ability to do well. + +After his removal to New-York, incidents now and then occurred, which +formed pleasant links with his previous life in Philadelphia. Sometimes +slaves, whom he had rescued many years before, or convicts, whom he had +encouraged to lead a better life, called to see him and express their +gratitude. Sometimes their children came to bless him. There was one old +colored woman, who never could meet him without embracing him. Although +these demonstrations were not always convenient, and did not partake of +the quiet character of Quaker discipline, he would never say anything to +repress the overflowings of her warm old heart. As one of his sons +passed through Bond-street, he saw an old colored man rubbing his +knees, and making the most lively gesticulations of delight. Being asked +what was the matter, he pointed across the street, and exclaimed, "O, if +I was only sure that was Friend Hopper of Philadelphia! If I was only +_sure_!" When told that he was not mistaken, he rushed up to the old +gentleman, threw his arms about his neck, and hugged him. + +When I told him of Julia Pell, a colored Methodist preacher, whose +fervid untutored eloquence had produced an exciting effect on my mind, +he invited her to come and take tea with him. In the course of +conversation, he discovered that she was the daughter of Zeke, the slave +who outwitted his purchaser; as described in the preceding narratives. +It was quite an interesting event in her life to meet with the man who +had written her father's manumission papers, while she was in her +infancy. When the parting hour came, she said she felt moved to pray; +and dropping on her knees, she poured forth a brief but very earnest +prayer, at the close of which she said: "O Lord, I beseech thee to +shower down blessings on that good old man, whom thou hast raised up to +do such a blessed work for my down-trodden people." + +Friend Hopper's fund of anecdotes, especially with regard to colored +people, was almost inexhaustible. He related them with so much +animation, that he was constantly called upon to repeat them, both at +public meetings and in private conversation; and they never failed to +excite lively interest. Every stranger, who was introduced to him, tried +to draw him out; and it was an easy matter; for he loved to oblige +people, and it is always pleasant for an old soldier to fight his +battles over again. In this readiness to recount his own exploits, there +was nothing that seemed like silly or obtrusive vanity. It often +reminded me of the following just remark in the Westminster Review, +applied to Jeremy Bentham: "The very egotism in which he occasionally +indulged was a manifestation of a _want_ of self-thought. This unpopular +failing is, after all, one of the characteristics of a natural and +simple mind. It requires much _thought_ about one's self to _avoid_ +speaking of one's self." + +It has been already mentioned that Friend Hopper passed through a fiery +trial in his own religious society, during the progress of the schism +produced by the preaching of Elias Hicks. Fourteen years had elapsed +since the separation. The "Hicksite" branch had become an established +and respectable sect. In cities, many of them were largely engaged in +Southern trade. I have heard it stated that millions of money were thus +invested. They retained sympathy with the theological opinions of Elias +Hicks, but his rousing remonstrances against slavery would have been +generally very unwelcome to their ears. They cherished the names of +Anthony Benezet, John Woolman, and a host of other departed worthies, +whose labors in behalf of the colored people reflected honor on their +Society. But where was the need of being so active in the cause, as +Isaac T. Hopper was, and always had been? "The way did not open" for +_them_ to be so active; and why should _his_ zeal rebuke _their_ +listlessness? Was it friendly, was it respectful in him, to do more than +his religious Society thought it necessary to do? It is astonishing how +troublesome a living soul proves to be, when they try to shut it up +within the narrow limits of a drowsy sect! + +I had a friend in Boston, whose wealthy and aristocratic parents brought +him up according to the most approved model of genteel religion. He +learned the story of the Good Samaritan, and was early accustomed to +hear eulogies pronounced on the holy Jesus, who loved the poor, and +associated with the despised. When the boy became a man he joined the +Anti-Slavery Society, and openly avowed that he regarded Africans as +brethren of the great human family. His relatives were grieved to see +him pursuing such an injudicious and disrespectable course. Whereupon, a +witty reformer remarked, "They took most commendable pains to present +Jesus and the Good Samaritan as models of character, but they were +surprised to find that he had taken them at their word." + +The case was somewhat similar with Isaac T. Hopper. He had imbibed +anti-slavery principles in full flood at the fountain of Quakerism. +Their best and greatest men were conspicuous as advocates of those +principles. Children were taught to revere those men, and their +testimonies were laid up in honorable preservation, to be quoted with +solemn formality on safe occasions. Friend Hopper acted as if these +professions were in good earnest; and thereby he disturbed his sect, as +my Boston friend troubled his family, when he made practical use of +their religious teaching. + +That many of the modern Quakers should be blinded by bales of cotton, +heaped up between their souls and the divine light, is not remarkable; +for cotton is an impervious material. But it is a strange anomaly in +their history that any one among them should have considered himself +guided by the Spirit to undertake the especial mission of discouraging +sympathy with the enslaved. A minister belonging to that branch of the +Society called "Hicksites," who usually preached in Rose-street Meeting, +New-York, had imbibed very strong prejudices against all modern reforms: +and he manifested his aversion with a degree of excitement, in language, +tone, and gesture, very unusual in that quiet sect. Those who labored +in the cause of temperance, anti-slavery, or non-resistance, he was wont +to stigmatize as "hireling lecturers," "hireling book-agents," and +"emissaries of Satan." Soon after Thomas Hughes consented to return to +the South, in consequence of the fair professions of Mr. Darg, this +preacher chimed in with the exulting tones of the pro-slavery press, by +alluding to it in one of his public discourses as follows. After +speaking of the tendency of affliction to produce humility, he went on +to say, "As a slave, who had suffered the effects of his criminal +conduct, and been thus led to calm reflection, recently chose to go back +with this master into slavery, and endure all the evils of that +condition, notwithstanding his former experience of them, rather than +stay with those hypocritical workers of popular righteousness who had +interfered in his behalf. For my own part, I commend his choice. I had a +thousand times rather be a slave, and spend my days with slaveholders, +than to dwell in companionship with abolitionists." + +The state of things among Quakers in the city of New-York may be +inferred from the fact that this minister was exceedingly popular, and +his style of preaching cordially approved by a majority of them. One of +the editors of the Anti-Slavery Standard, at that time, wrote a severe, +though by no means abusive article on the subject, headed "Rare +Specimen of a Quaker Preacher." This gave great offence, and Isaac T. +Hopper was very much blamed for it. He, and his son-in-law James S. +Gibbons, and his friend Charles Marriott, then belonged to the Executive +Committee of the Anti-Slavery Society; and it was assumed to be their +duty to have prevented the publication of the sarcastic article. Charles +Harriot was absent from the city when it was published, and Friend +Hopper did not see it till after it was in print. When they urged these +facts, and stated, moreover, that they had no right to dictate to the +editor what he should say, or what he should not say, they were told +that they ought to exculpate themselves by a public expression of their +disapprobation. But as they did not believe the editorial article +contained any mis-statement of facts, they could not conscientiously say +any thing that would satisfy the friends of the preacher. It would be +tedious to relate the difficulties that followed. There were visits from +overseers, and prolonged sessions of committees; a great deal of talking +_with_ the accused, and still more talking _about_ them. A strong +disposition was manifested to make capital against them out of the Darg +Case. Robert H. Morris, who was presiding Judge while that case was +pending, and afterward Mayor of New-York, had long known Friend Hopper, +and held him in much respect. When he was told that some sought to cast +imputations on his character, he was greatly surprised, and offered to +give favorable testimony in any form that might be desired. J.R. +Whiting, the District Attorney, expressed the same readiness; and +private misrepresentations were silenced by a published certificate from +them, testifying that throughout the affair Friend Hopper had merely +"exhibited a desire to procure the money for the master, and the +manumission of the slave." + +The principal argument brought by Friends, against their members uniting +with Anti-Slavery Societies, was that they were thus led to mix +indiscriminately with people of other denominations, and brought into +contact with hireling clergymen. There seemed some inconsistency in this +objection, coming from the mouths of men who belonged to Rail Road +Corporations, and Bank Stock Companies, and who mingled constantly with +slaveholders in Southern trade; for the early testimonies of the Society +were quite as explicit against slavery, as against a paid ministry. +However, those of their members who were abolitionists were willing to +obviate this objection, if possible. They accordingly formed an +association among themselves, "for the relief of those held in slavery, +and the improvement of the free people of color." But when this +benevolent association asked for the use of Rose-street Meeting-house, +their request was not only refused, but condemned as disorderly. +Affairs were certainly in a very singular position. Both branches of the +Society of Friends were entirely inert on the subject of slavery. Both +expressed pity for the slave, but both agreed that "the way did not +open" for them to _do_ anything. If individual members were thus driven +to unite in action with other sects upon a subject which seemed to them +very important, they were called disorganizers. When they tried to +conciliate by forming an association composed of Quakers only, they were +told that "as the Society of Friends saw no way to move forward in this +concern, such associations appeared to reflect upon _them_;" implying +that they failed in discharging their duty as a religious body. What +could an earnest, direct character, like Isaac T. Hopper, do in the +midst of a sect thus situated? He proceeded as he always did. He walked +straight forward in what seemed to him the path of duty, and snapped all +the lilliputian cords with which they tried to bind him. + +Being unable to obtain any apology from their offending members, the +Society proceeded to administer its discipline. A complaint was laid +before the Monthly Meeting of New-York, in which Isaac T. Hopper, James +S. Gibbons, and Charles Marriott, were accused of "being concerned in +the publication and support of a paper calculated to excite discord and +disunity among Friends." Friend Hopper published a statement, +characterised by his usual boldness, and disturbed his mind very little +about the result of their proceedings. April, 1842, he wrote thus, to +his daughter, Sarah H. Palmer, of Philadelphia: "During my late +indisposition, I was induced to enter into a close examination of my own +heart; and I could not find that I stood condemned there for the part I +have taken in the anti-slavery cause, which has brought upon me so much +censure from those 'who know not God, nor his son Jesus Christ. They +profess that they know God, but in works they deny him.' I have not yet +given up our Society as lost. I still live in the faith that it will see +better days. I often remember the testimony borne by that devoted and +dignified servant of the Lord, Mary Ridgeway; which was to this import: +'The Lord, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has gathered this Society +to be a people, and has placed his name among them; and He has given +them noble testimonies to hold up to the nations; but if they prove +unfaithful, those testimonies will be given unto others, who may be +compared to the stones of the street; and _they_ will wear the crowns +that were intended for this people, who will be cast out, as salt that +has lost its savor.' We may plume ourselves upon being the _children_ of +Abraham, but in the days of solemn inquisition, which surely will come, +it will only add to our condemnation, because we have not done the +_works_ of Abraham." + +"The Yearly Meeting will soon be upon us, when we shall have a final +decision in our cases. I feel perfectly resigned to the result, be it +what it may. Indeed, I have sometimes thought I should be happier _out_ +of the Society than _in_ it. I should feel more at liberty to 'cry aloud +and spare not, to lift up my voice like a trumpet, and show the people +their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.' I believe no +greater benefit could be conferred on the Society. There are yet many in +it who see and deplore its departure from primitive uprightness, but who +are afraid to come out as they ought against the evils that prevail in +it." + +An aged and very worthy Friend in Philadelphia, named Robert Moore, who +deeply sympathized with the wrongs of colored people, wrote to Friend +Hopper as follows: "From 1822 to 1827, we had many interesting +conversations in thy little front room, respecting the distracted state +of our Society, and the efforts made to sustain our much beloved brother +Elias Hicks, against those who were anxious for his downfall and +excommunication. This great excitement grew hotter till the separation +in 1827; we not being able to endure any longer the intolerance of the +party in power. Well, it appears that the persecuted have now, in their +turn, become persecutors; and those who went through the fire aforetime +are devoted to pass through it again. But, my dear friend, I hope thou +and all who are doomed to suffer for conscience sake, will stand firm, +and not deviate one inch from what you believe to be your duty. They may +cast you out of the synagogue, which I fear has become so corrupt that a +seat among them has ceased to be an honor, or in any way desirable; but +you will pass through the furnace unscathed. Not a hair of your heads +will be singed." + +The ecclesiastical proceedings in this case were kept pending more than +a year, I think; being carried from the Monthly Meeting to the +Quarterly, and thence to the Yearly Meeting. Thirty-six Friends were +appointed a committee in the Yearly Meeting. They had six sessions, and +finally reported that, after patient deliberation, they found eighteen +of their number in favor of confirming the decision of the Quarterly +Meeting; fifteen for reversing it; and three who declined giving any +judgment in the case. Upon this report, the Yearly Meeting confirmed the +decision of the inferior tribunals; and Isaac T. Hopper, James S. +Gibbons, and Charles Marriott were excommunicated; in Quaker phrase, +disowned. + +I thus expressed myself at the time; and the lapse of ten years has not +changed my view of the case: Excommunication for _such_ causes will cut +off from the Society their truest, purest, and tenderest spirits. There +is Isaac T. Hopper, whose life has been one long chapter of benevolence, +an unblotted record of fair integrity. A man so exclusive in his +religious attachments that the principles of his Society are to his mind +identical with Christianity, and its minutest forms sacred from +innovation. A man whose name is first mentioned wherever Quakerism is +praised, or benevolence to the slave approved. + +There is Charles Marriott, likewise widely known, and of high standing +in the Society; mild as a lamb, and tender-hearted as a child; one to +whom conflict with others is peculiarly painful, but who nevertheless, +when principles are at stake, can say, with the bold-hearted Luther, +"God help me! I cannot otherwise." + +There is James S. Gibbons, a young man, and therefore less known; but +wherever known, prized for his extreme kindness of heart, his steadfast +honesty of purpose, his undisguised sincerity, and his unflinching +adherence to his own convictions of duty. A Society has need to be very +rich in moral excellence, that can afford to throw away three such +members. + +Protests and disclaimers against the disownment of these worthy men came +from several parts of the country, signed by Friends of high character; +and many private letters were addressed to them, expressive of sympathy +and approbation. Friend Hopper was always grateful for such marks of +respect and friendship; but his own conscience would have sustained him +without such aid. He had long felt a deep sadness whenever he was +reminded of the _spiritual_ separation between him and the religious +Society, whose preachers had exerted such salutary influence on his +youthful character; but the _external_ separation was of no consequence. +He attended meeting constantly, as he had ever done, and took his seat +on the bench under the preachers' gallery, facing the audience, where he +had always been accustomed to sit, when he was an honored member of the +Society. Charles Marriott, who was by temperament a much meeker man, +said to him one day, "The overseers have called upon me, to represent +the propriety of my taking another seat, under existing circumstances. I +expect they will call upon thee, to give the same advice." + +"I expect they _won't_," was Isaac's laconic reply; and they never did. + +His daughter, Abby H. Gibbons, soon after resigned membership in the +Monthly Meeting of New-York for herself and her children; and his sons +Josiah and John did the same. The grounds stated were that "the meeting +had manifestly departed from the original principles and testimonies of +the Society of Friends; that the plainest principles of civil and +religious freedom had been violated in the whole proceedings in relation +to their father; and that the overseers had prepared an official +document calculated to produce false impressions with regard to him; +accusing him of 'grossly reproachful conduct' in the well known Darg +Case; whereas there was abundant evidence before the public that his +proceedings in that case were influenced by the purest and most +disinterested motives." + +The Philadelphia Ledger, after stating that the Society of Friends in +New-York had disowned some of their prominent members for being +connected, directly or indirectly, with an Abolition Journal, added the +following remark: "This seems rather singular; for we had supposed that +Friends were favorably inclined toward the abolition of slavery. But +many of their members are highly respectable merchants, extensively +engaged in Southern trade. We are informed that they are determined to +discountenance all pragmatic interference with the legal and +constitutional rights of their brethren at the South. The Quakers have +always been distinguished for minding their own business, and permitting +others to attend to theirs. They would be the last people to meddle with +the rights of _property_." + +The Boston Times quoted the paragraph from the Philadelphia Ledger, with +the additional remark, "There is no logician like money." + +Whether Friends in New-York felt flattered by these eulogiums, I know +not; but they appear to have been well deserved. + +In 1842 and the year following, Friend Hopper travelled more than usual. +In August '42, he visited his native place, after an absence of twenty +years. He and his wife were accompanied from Philadelphia by his son +Edward and his daughter Sarah H. Palmer. Of course, the haunts of his +boyhood had undergone many changes. Panther's Bridge had disappeared, +and Rabbit Swamp and Turkey Causeway no longer looked like the same +places. He visited his father's house, then occupied by strangers, and +found the ruins of his great-grandfather's dwelling. Down by the +pleasant old creek, shaded with large walnut trees and cedars, stood the +tombs of many of his relatives; and at Woodbury were the graves of his +father and mother, and the parents of his wife. Every spot had something +interesting to say of the past. His eyes brightened, and his tongue +became voluble with a thousand memories. Had I been present to listen to +him then, I should doubtless have been enabled to add considerably to my +stock of early anecdotes. He seemed to have brought away from this visit +a peculiarly vivid recollection of "poor crazy Joe Gibson." This +demented being was sometimes easily controlled, and willing to be +useful; at other times, he was perfectly furious and ungovernable. Few +people knew how to manage him; but Isaac's parents acquired great +influence over him by their uniform system of forbearance and +tenderness; their own good sense and benevolence having suggested the +ideas which regulate the treatment of insanity at the present period. +The day spent in Woodbury and its vicinity was a bright spot in Friend +Hopper's life, to which he always reverted with a kind of saddened +pleasure. The heat of the season had been tempered by floating clouds, +and when they returned to Philadelphia, there was a faint rainbow in the +east. He looked lovingly upon it, and said, "These clouds seem to have +followed us all day, on purpose to make everything more pleasant." + +In the course of the same month he accepted an invitation to attend the +Anti-Slavery Convention at Norristown, Pennsylvania. His appearance +there was quite an event. Many friends of the cause, who were strangers +to him, were curious to obtain a sight of him, and to hear him address +the meeting. Charles C. Burleigh, in an eloquent letter to the +Convention, says: "I am glad to hear that Isaac T. Hopper is to be +present. That tried old veteran, with his eye undimmed, his natural +strength unabated, his resolute look, and calm determined manner, before +which the blustering kidnapper, and the self-important oppressor have so +often quailed! With the scars of a hundred battles, and the wreaths of +an hundred victories in this glorious warfare. With his example of half +a century's active service in this holy cause, and his still faithful +adherence to it, through evil as well as good report, and in the face of +opposition as bitter as sectarian bigotry can stir up. Persecution +cannot bow the head, which seventy winters could not blanch, nor the +terrors of excommunication chill the heart, in which age could not +freeze the kindly flow of warm philanthropy." + +I think it was not long after this excursion that his sister Sarah came +from Maryland to visit him. She was a pleasant, sensible matron, much +respected by all who knew her. I noted down at the time several +anecdotes of childhood and youth, which bubbled up in the course of +conversations between her and her brother. In her character the +hereditary trait of benevolence was manifested in a form somewhat +different from his. She had no children of her own, but she brought up, +on her husband's farm, nineteen poor boys and girls, and gave most of +them a trade. Nearly all of them turned out well. + +In the winters of 1842 and '43, Friend Hopper complied with urgent +invitations to visit the Anti-Slavery Fair, in Boston; and seldom has a +warmer welcome been given to any man. As soon as he appeared in Amory +Hall, he was always surrounded by a circle of lively girls attracted by +his frank manners, his thousand little pleasantries, and his keen +enjoyment of young society. A friend of mine used to say that when she +saw them clustering round him, in furs and feathered bonnets, listening +to his words so attentively, she often thought it would make as fine a +picture as William Penn explaining his treaty to the Indians. + +Ellis Gray Loring in a letter to me, says: "We greatly enjoyed Friend +Hopper's visit. You cannot conceive how everybody was delighted with +him; particularly all our gay young set; James Russell Lowell, William +W. Story, and the like. The old gentleman seemed very happy; receiving +from all hands evidence of the true respect in which he is held." Mrs. +Loring, writing to his son John, says: "We have had a most delightful +visit from your father. Our respect, wonder, and love for him increased +daily. I am sure he must have received some pleasure, he bestowed so +much. We feel his friendship to be a great acquisition." + +Samuel J. May wrote to me: "I cannot tell you how much I was charmed by +my interview with Friend Hopper. To me, it was worth more than all the +Fair beside. Give my most affectionate respects to him. He very kindly +invited me to make his house my home when I next come to New-York; and I +am impatient for the time to arrive, that I may accept his invitation." + +Edmund Quincy, writing to Friend Hopper's daughter, Mrs. Gibbons, says: +"You cannot think how glad we were to see the dear old man. He spent a +night with me, to my great contentment, and that of my wife; and to the +no small edification of our little boy, to whom breeches and buckles +were a great curiosity. My Irish gardener looked at them with reverence; +having probably seen nothing so aristocratic, since he left the old +country. I love those relics of past time. The Quakers were not so much +out, when they censured their members for turning _sans culottes_. Think +of Isaac T. Hopper in a pair of pantaloons strapped under his feet! +There is heresy in the very idea. But, costume apart, we were as glad to +see Father Hopper, as if he had been our real father in the flesh. I +hope he had a right good time. If he had not, I am sure it was not for +want of being made much of. I trust his visits to Boston will grow into +one of our domestic institutions." + +In the old gentleman's account of his visit to the Fair, he says: "I was +struck with the extreme propriety with which everything was conducted, +and with the universal harmony and good-will that prevailed among the +numerous friends of the cause, who had collected from all parts of the +old Commonwealth, on this interesting occasion. Many of the most +distinguished citizens were purchasers, and appeared highly gratified, +though not connected with the anti-slavery cause. Lord Morpeth, late +Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, attended frequently, made some presents to +the Fair, and purchased several articles. I would call him by his +Christian name, if I knew it; for it is plain enough that he was not +baptized, 'Lord'. His manners were extremely friendly and agreeable, and +he expressed himself highly pleased with the exhibition. I had an +interesting conversation with him on the subject of slavery; +particularly in relation to the Amistad captives, and the case of the +Creole." + +"I had an opportunity to make a valuable addition to my collection of +the works of ancient Friends. On the book-table, I found that rare old +volume, 'The Way Cast Up,' written by George Keith, while in unity with +the Society. I took it home with me to my chamber; and as I glanced over +it, my mind was moved to a painful retrospect of the Society of Friends +in its original state, when its members were at liberty to follow the +light, as manifested to them in the silence and secrecy of their own +souls. I seemed to see them entering places appointed for worship by +various professors, and there testifying against idolatry, superstition, +and a mercenary priesthood. I saw them entering the courts, calling upon +judges and lawyers to do justice. I saw them receive contumely and +abuse, as a reward for these acts of dedication. My imagination +followed them to loathsome dungeons, where many of them died a lingering +death. I saw the blood trickling from the lacerated backs of innocent +men and women. I saw William Robinson, Marmaduke Stevenson, Mary Dyer, +and William Leddra, pass through the streets of Boston, pinioned, and +with halters about their necks, on the way to execution; yet rejoicing +that they were found worthy to suffer, even unto death, for their +fidelity to Christ; sustained through those last bitter moments by an +approving conscience and the favor of God. + +"I now see the inhabitants of that same city surpassed by none on the +globe, for liberality, candor, and benevolence. I see them taking the +lead of very many of the descendants of the martyrs referred to, in many +things, and at an immeasurable distance. I compared the state of the +Society of Friends in the olden time with what it now is. In some +sections of the country, they, in their turn, have become persecutors. +Not with dungeons, halter, and fire; for those modes of punishment have +gone by; but by ejecting their members from religious fellowship, and +defaming their characters for doing that which they conscientiously +believe is required at their hands; casting out their names as +evil-doers for honestly endeavoring to support one of the most dignified +testimonies ever given to the Society of Friends to hold up before a +sinful world. These reflections pained me deeply; for all the +convictions of my soul, and all my early religious recollections, bind +me fast to the principles of Friends; and I cannot but mourn to see how +the world has shorn them of their strength. I spent nearly a sleepless +night, and was baptized with my tears." + +"In the morning, my mind was in some degree reassured with the hope that +there are yet left, throughout the land, 'seven thousand in Israel, all +the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which has not +kissed him;' and that among these shall yet 'arise judges, as at the +first, and counsellors, and lawgivers, as in the beginning.' My soul +longeth for the coming of that day, more than for the increase of corn, +and wine, and oil." + +In the Spring of 1843, Friend Hopper visited Rhode Island, and Bucks +County, in Pennsylvania, to address the people in behalf of the +enslaved. He was accompanied by Lucinda Wilmarth, a very intelligent and +kind-hearted young person, who sometimes spoke on the same subject. +After she returned to her home in Massachusetts, she wrote as follows, +to the venerable companion of her mission; "Dear Father Hopper, I see by +the papers that Samuel Johnson has gone home. I well remember our call +upon him, on the second Sunday morning of our sojourn in that land of +roses. I also remember his radiant and peaceful countenance, which told +of a life well spent, and of calm and hopeful anticipations of the +future. I love to dwell upon my visit to Pennsylvania. I never saw +happier or more lovely homes. Never visited dwellings where those little +household divinities, goodness, order, and cheerfulness, held more +universal sway. I was enabled to view men and things from an entirely +new point of view. I had previously seen nothing of Quakerism, except in +a narrow orthodox form, with which I had no sympathy. I was much pleased +with the apparent freedom and philanthropy of the Friends I met there. I +know not whether it was their peculiar _ism_, that made them so +comparatively free and liberal. Perhaps I unconsciously assigned to +their Quakerism what merely belonged to their manhood. But the fact is, +they came nearer to realizing the ideal of Quakerism, associated in my +mind with Fox and Penn, than any people I have ever seen. + +"I stopped at Providence on my way home. As soon as I entered Isaac +Hale's door, little Alice began to skip with joy, as she did that day +when we returned so unexpectedly to dine; but the next moment, she +looked down the stair-case, and exclaimed in a most anxious tone, 'Why +_did'nt_ Grandfather Hopper come? What _did_ you come alone for? What +_shall_ I do?' On my arrival home, the first noisy greetings of my +little brothers and sisters had scarcely subsided, before they began to +inquire, 'Why did'nt your _other_ father come, too?' They complained +that you had not written a single 'Tale of Oppression' for the Standard +since you were here. But a week after, my little sister came running +with an open newspaper in her hand, exclaiming, 'Father Hopper has made +another story!' She has named her doll for your little grand-daughter, +Lucy Gibbons, because you used to talk about her; and every day she +reads the book you gave her." + +Friend Hopper found great satisfaction in the perusal of the above +letter, not only on account of his great regard for the writer, but +because many of the Friends in Bucks County were the delight of his +heart. He was always telling me that if I wanted to see the best farms, +the best Quakers, and the most comfortable homes in the world, I must go +to Bucks County. In his descriptions, it was a blooming land of peace +and plenty, approaching as near to an earthly paradise, as could be +reasonably expected. + +At the commencement of 1845, the American Anti-Slavery Society made some +changes in their office at New-York, by which the duties of editor and +treasurer, were performed by the same person; consequently Friend +Hopper's services were no longer needed. When he retired from the office +he had held during four years, the Society unanimously voted him thanks +for the fidelity with which he had discharged the duties entrusted to +him. + +At that time, several intelligent and benevolent gentlemen in the city +of New-York were much interested in the condition of criminals +discharged from prisons, without money, without friends, and with a +character so blasted, that it was exceedingly difficult to procure +employment. However sincerely desirous such persons might be to lead a +better life, it seemed almost impossible for them to carry their good +resolutions into practice. The inconsiderate harshness of society forced +them back into dishonest courses, even when it was contrary to their own +inclinations. That this was a fruitful source of crime, and consequently +a great increase of expense to the state, no one could doubt who +candidly examined the subject. To meet the wants of this class of +sufferers, it was proposed to form a Prison Association, whose business +it should be to inquire into individual cases, and extend such sympathy +and assistance as circumstances required. This subject had occupied +Friend Hopper's mind almost as early as the wrongs of the slave. He +attended the meetings, and felt a lively interest in the discussions, in +which he often took part. The editor of the New-York Evening Mirror, +alluding to one of these occasions, says: "When Mr. Hopper rose to offer +some remarks, we thought the burst of applause which greeted the quaint +old man, (in the very costume of Franklin) was a spontaneous homage to +goodness; and we thanked God and took courage for poor human nature." + +His well-known benevolence, his peculiar tact in managing wayward +characters, his undoubted integrity, and his long experience in such +matters, naturally suggested the idea that he was more suitable than any +other person to be Agent of the Association. It was a situation +extremely well-adapted to his character, and if his limited +circumstances would have permitted, he would have been right glad to +have discharged its duties gratuitously. He named three hundred dollars +a year, as sufficient addition to his income, and the duties were +performed with as much diligence and zeal, as if the recompence had been +thousands. Although he was then seventy-four years old, his hand-writing +was firm and even, and very legible. He kept a Diary of every day's +transactions, and a Register of all the discharged convicts who applied +for assistance; with a monthly record of such information as could be +obtained of their character and condition, from time to time. The neat +and accurate manner in which these books were kept was really surprising +in so old a man. The amount of walking he did, to attend to the business +of the Association, was likewise remarkable. Not one in ten thousand, +who had lived so many years, could have endured so much fatigue. + +In his labors in behalf of this class of unfortunate people he was +essentially aided by Abby H. Gibbons, who resided nearer to him than his +other daughters, and who had the same affectionate zeal to sustain him, +that she had manifested by secretly slipping a portion of her earnings +into his pocket, in the days of her girlhood. She was as vigilant and +active in behalf of the women discharged from prison, as her father was +in behalf of the men. Through the exertions of herself and other +benevolent women, an asylum for these poor outcasts, called THE HOME, +was established and sustained. Friend Hopper took a deep interest in +that institution, and frequently went there on Sunday evening, with his +wife and daughters, to talk with the inmates in a manner most likely to +soothe and encourage them. They were accustomed to call him "Father +Hopper," and always came to him for advice when they were in trouble. + +When the Prison Association petitioned to be incorporated, it +encountered a great deal of opposition, on the ground that it would be +likely to interfere with the authority of the State over prisons. During +two winters, Friend Hopper went to Albany frequently to sustain the +measure. He commanded respect and attention, by the good sense of his +remarks, his dignified manner, and readiness of utterance. The +Legislature were more inclined to have confidence in him, because he was +known to be a benevolent, conscientious Quaker, entirely unconnected +with party politics. In fact, the measure was carried mainly by the +exertion of his personal influence. He sustained the petition of the +Association in a speech before the Legislature, which excited much +attention, and made a deep impression on those who heard it. Judge +Edmonds, who was one of the speakers on the same occasion, often alluded +to it as a remarkable address. He said, "It elicited more applause, and +did more to carry the end in view, than anything that was said by more +practised public speakers. His eloquence was simple and direct, but most +effective. If he was humorous, his audience were full of laughter; if +solemn, a deathlike stillness reigned; if pathetic, tears flowed all +around him. He seemed unconscious of his power in this respect, but I +have heard him many times before large assemblies at our Anniversaries, +and in the chapel of the State Prison, and I have been struck, over and +over again, with the remarkable sway he had over the minds of those whom +he addressed." + +The business of the Association made it necessary for Friend Hopper to +visit that city many times afterward. He came to be so well known there, +and was held in such high respect, that whenever he made his appearance +in the halls of legislation, the Speaker sent a messenger to invite him +to take a seat near his own. + +He often applied to the Governor to exert his pardoning power, where he +thought there were mitigating circumstances attending the commission of +a crime; or where the mind and health of a prisoner seemed breaking +down; or where a long course of good conduct seemed deserving of reward. +When Governor Young had become sufficiently acquainted with him to form +a just estimate of his character, he said to him, "Friend Hopper, I will +pardon any convict, whom you say you conscientiously believe I ought to +pardon. If I err at all, I prefer that it should be on the side of +mercy. But so many cases press upon my attention, and it is so difficult +to examine them all thoroughly, that it is a great relief to find a man +in whose judgment and integrity I have such perfect confidence, as I +have in yours." On the occasion of one of these applications for mercy, +the following quaint correspondence passed between him and the Governor: + + "Esteemed Friend, + + "John Young: + + "You mayst think this mode of address rather too familiar; but as it + is the spontaneous effusion of my heart, and entirely congenial + with my feelings, I hope thou wilt hold me excused. Permit me to + embrace this opportunity to congratulate thee upon thy accession + to the office of Chief Magistrate of the State. I have confidence + its duties will be faithfully performed. I rejoice that thou hast + had independence enough to restore to liberty, and to their + families, those infatuated men called Anti-Renters. Some, who live + under the old dispensation, that demanded 'an eye for an eye, and a + tooth for a tooth,' will doubtless censure this act of justice and + mercy. But another class will be glad; those who have embraced the + Christian faith, and live under the benign influence of its spirit, + which enjoins forgiveness of injuries. The approbation of such, + accompanied with an approving conscience, will, I trust, more than + counterbalance any censure that may arise on the occasion. + + "The object I particularly have in view in addressing thee now, is, + to call thy attention to the case of Allen Lee, who was sentenced + to twelve years' imprisonment for horse-stealing, in Westchester + County. He has served for eleven years and two months of that time. + It is his first offence, and he has conducted well during his + confinement. His health is much impaired, and he has several times + had a slight haemorrhage of the lungs. Allen's father was a regular + teamster in the army during all the revolutionary war. Though poor, + he has always sustained a fair reputation. He is now ninety years + old, and he is extremely anxious to behold the face of his son. + Permit me, most respectfully, but earnestly, to ask thy early + attention to this case. The old man is confined to his bed, and so + low, that he cannot continue many weeks. Unless Allen is very soon + released, there is no probability that he will ever see him. I have + no self-interested motives in this matter, but am influenced solely + by considerations of humanity. With sincere desires for thy health + and happiness, I am very respectfully thy friend, + + "ISAAC T. HOPPER." + +Governor Young promptly replied as follows. + + "My worthy friend, Isaac T. Hopper, + + "I have often thought of thee since we last met. I have received + thy letter; and because thou hast written to me, and because I know + that what thou writest is always truth, and that the old man, + before he lays him down to die, may behold the face of his son, I + will restore Allen to his kindred. When thou comest to Albany, I + pray thee to come and see me. Very respectfully thy friend, JOHN + YOUNG." + +The monitor within frequently impelled Friend Hopper to address the +assembled convicts at Sing Sing, on Sunday. The officers of the +establishment were very willing to open the way for him; for according +to the testimony of Mr. Harman Eldridge, the warden, "With all his +kindness, and the encouragement he was always ready to give, he was +guarded and cautious in the extreme, that nothing should be said to +conflict with the discipline of the prison." His exhortations rendered +the prisoners more docile, and stimulated them to exertion by keeping +hope alive in their hearts. On such occasions, I have been told that a +large portion of his unhappy audience were frequently moved to tears; +and the warmth of their grateful feelings was often manifested by +eagerly pressing forward to shake hands with him, whenever they received +permission to do so. The friendly counsel he gave on such occasions +sometimes produced a permanent effect on their characters. In a letter +to his daughter Susan, he says: "One of these poor fellows attacked the +life of the keeper, and I soon after had a private interview with him. +He received what I said kindly, but declared that he could not govern +his temper. He said he had no ill-will toward the keeper; that what he +did was done in a gust of passion, and he could not help it. I tried to +convince him that he had power to control his temper, if he would only +exercise it. A year and a half afterward, on First Day, after meeting, +he asked permission to speak to me. He then told me he was convinced +that what I had said to him was true; for he had not given way to anger +since I talked to him on the subject. He showed me many certificates +from the keepers, all testifying to his good conduct. I hardly ever saw +a man more changed than he is." + +I often heard my good old friend describe these scenes in the Prison +Chapel, with much emotion. He used to say, the feeling of confidence and +safety which prevailed, was sometimes presented to his mind in forcible +contrast with the state of things in Philadelphia, in 1787, as related +by his worthy friend, Dr. William Rogers, who was on the committee of +the first Society formed in this country "for relieving the miseries of +public prisons." That kind-hearted and conscientious clergyman proposed +to address some religious exhortation to the prisoners, on Sunday. But +the keeper was so unfriendly to the exertion of such influence, that he +assured him his life would be in peril, and the prisoners would +doubtless escape, to rob and murder the citizens. When an order was +granted by the sheriff for the performance of religious services, he +obeyed it very reluctantly; and he actually had a loaded cannon mounted +near the clergyman, and a man standing ready with a lighted match all +the time he was preaching. His audience were arranged in a solid column, +directly in front of the cannon's mouth. This is supposed to have been +the first sermon addressed to the assembled inmates of a State Prison in +this country. + +Notwithstanding Friend Hopper's extreme benevolence, he was rarely +imposed upon. He made it a rule to give very little money to discharged +convicts. He paid their board till employment could be obtained, and +when they wished to go to their families, in distant places, he procured +free passage for them in steamboats or cars; which his influence with +captains and conductors enabled him to do very easily. If they wanted to +work at a trade, he purchased tools, and hired a shop, when +circumstances seemed to warrant such expenditure. After they became well +established in business, they were expected to repay these loans, for +the benefit of others in the same unfortunate condition they had been. +Of course, some who expected to receive money whenever they told a +pitiful story, were disappointed and vexed by these prudential +regulations. Among the old gentleman's letters, I find one containing +these expressions: "When I heard you talk in the Prison Chapel, I +thought there was something for the man that had once left the path of +honesty to hope for from his fellow-men; but I find that I was greatly +mistaken. You are men of words. You can do the wind-work first rate. But +when a man wants a little assistance to get work, and get an honest +living, you are not there. Now I wish to know where your philanthropy +is." + +But such instances were exceptions. As a general rule, gratitude was +manifested for the assistance rendered in time of need; though it was +always limited to the urgent necessities of the case. One day, the +following letter, enclosing a dollar bill for the Association, was +addressed to Isaac T. Hopper: "Should the humble mite here enclosed be +the means of doing one-sixteenth part the good to any poor convict that +the sixteenth of a dollar has done for me, which I received through your +hands more than once, when I was destitute of money or friends, then I +shall have my heart's desire. With the blessing of God, I remain your +most humble debtor." + +From the numerous cases under Friend Hopper's care, while Agent of the +Prison Association, I will select a few; but I shall disguise the names, +because the individuals are living, and I should be sorry to wound their +feelings by any unnecessary exposure of past delinquences. + +C.R. about twenty-nine years old, called at the office, and said he had +been lately released from Moyamensing prison; having been sentenced for +two years, on account of selling stolen goods. When Friend Hopper +inquired whether it was his first offence, he frankly answered, "No. I +have been in Sing Sing prison twice for grand larceny. I served five +years each time." + +"Thou art still very young," rejoined Friend Hopper; "and it seems a +large portion of thy life has been spent in prison. I am afraid thou art +a bad man. But I hope thou seest the error of thy ways, and art now +determined to do better. Hast thou any friends?" + +He replied, "I have a mother; a poor hard-working woman, who sells fruit +and candies in the streets. If you will give me a start, I will try to +lead an honest life henceforth; for I want to be a comfort and support +to her. I have no other friend in the world, and nobody to help me. When +I left prison, I was advised to come to you. I am a shoemaker; and if I +had money to buy a set of tools, I would work at my trade, and take care +of my mother." + +Necessary tools were procured for him, and he seemed very grateful; +saying it was the first time in his life that he had found any one +willing to help him to be honest, when he came out of prison. Great +doubts were entertained of the success of this case; because the man had +been so many times convicted. But he occasionally called at the office, +and always appeared sober and respectable. A few months after his first +introduction, he sent Friend Hopper a letter from Oswego, enclosing +seven dollars for his mother. He immediately delivered it, and returned +with a cheerful heart to enter it on his Record; adding, "The poor old +woman was much pleased that her son remembered her, and said she +believed he was now going to do well." + +After that, C.R. frequently sent five or ten dollars to his mother, +through the same channel, and paid her rent punctually. He refunded all +the money the Association had lent him, and made some small donations, +in token of gratitude. Having behaved in a very exemplary manner during +four years and a half, Friend Hopper, at his earnest request, applied to +the Governor to have all the rights of citizenship restored to him. This +was readily obtained by a full and candid statement of the case. It is +entered on the Record, with this remark: "C.R. has experienced a +wonderful change for the better since he first called upon us. He said +he should always remember the kindness that had been extended to him, +and hoped he should never do anything to make us regret it." + +He afterward opened a store, with a partner, and up to this present +time, is doing well, both in a moral and worldly point of view. Five +years and a half after he began to reform, Dr. Russ, of New-York, sent a +discharged prisoner to him, in search of work. He wrote in reply, as +follows: "I have obtained good employment for the bearer of your note; +and it gives me much pleasure at my heart to do something for him that +wishes to do well. So leave him to me; and I trust you will be gratified +to know the end of charity from a discharged convict." A week elapsed +before the man could enter on his new employment; and C.R. paid his +board during that time. + +A person, whom I will call Michael Stanley, was sentenced to Sing Sing +for two years; being convicted of grand larceny when he was about +twenty-two years old. When his term expired, he called upon the Prison +Association, and obtained assistance in procuring employment. He +endeavored to establish a good character, and was so fortunate as to +gain the affections of a very orderly, industrious young woman, whom he +soon after married. In his Register, Friend Hopper thus describes a +visit to them, little more than a year after he was discharged from +prison: "I called yesterday to visit M.S. He lives in the upper part of +a brick house, nearly new. His wife is a neat, likely-looking woman, and +appears to be a nice housekeeper. Everything about the premises +indicates frugality, industry, and comfort. They have plain, substantial +furniture, and a good carpet on the floor. Before their door is a +grass-plot, and the margin of the fence is lined with a variety of +plants in bloom. He and his wife, and her mother, manifested much +gratification at my visit." + +In little more than two years after he began to retrieve the early +mistakes of his life, M.S. established a provision shop on his own +account, in the city of New-York, and was successful. He and his tidy +little wife called on Friend Hopper, from time to time, and always +cheered his heart by their respectable appearance, and the sincere +gratitude they manifested. The following record stands in the Register: +"M.S. called at my house, and spent an hour with me. He is a member of +the Society of Methodists, and I really believe he is a reformed man. It +is now more than four years and a half since he was released from Sing +Sing; and his conduct has ever since been unexceptionable." + +Another young man, whom I will call Hans Overton, was the son of very +respectable parents, but unfortunately he formed acquaintance with +unprincipled men when he was too young and inexperienced to be a judge +of character. Being corrupted by their influence, he forged a check on a +bank in Albany. He was detected, and sentenced to the State Prison for +two years. When he was released, at twenty-two years of age, he did the +best he could to efface the blot on his reputation. But after having +obtained respectable employment, he was discharged because his employer +was told he had been in prison. He procured another situation, and the +same thing again occurred. He began to think there was no use in trying +to redeem his lost character. In this discouraged state of mind, he +applied to the Prison Association for assistance. Inquiries were made of +the two gentlemen in whose employ he had been more than a year. They +said they had found him capable, industrious, and faithful; and their +distrust of him was founded solely on the fact of his being a +discharged convict. For some time, he obtained only temporary +employment, now and then; and the Association lent him small sums of +money whenever his necessities required. At one time, he was charged +with being an accomplice in a larceny; but upon investigation, it was +ascertained that he had become mixed up with an affair, which made him +appear to disadvantage, though he had no dishonest intentions in +relation to it. Finally, through the influence of the Association he +obtained a situation, in a drug store. His employer was fully informed +concerning his previous history, but was willing to take him on trial. +He remained there five years, and conducted in the most exemplary +manner. Having married meanwhile, he was desirous to avail himself of an +opportunity to obtain a higher salary; and the druggist very willingly +testified that his conduct had been entirely satisfactory during the +time he had been with him. But in about eight months, his new employer +discovered that he had been in prison, and he immediately told him he +had better procure some other situation; though he acknowledged that he +had no fault to find with him. Friend Hopper sought an interview with +this gentleman and represented the youthfulness of H.O. at the time he +committed the misdemeanor, which had so much injured the prospects of +his life. He urged his subsequent good conduct, and the apparent +sincerity of his efforts to build up a reputation for honesty. He +finally put the case home to him, by asking how he would like to have +others conduct toward a son of his own, under similar circumstances. It +was a point of view from which the gentleman had never before considered +the question, and his mind was somewhat impressed by it; but his +prejudices were not easily overcome. Meanwhile, the druggist was very +willing to receive the young man back again; and he returned. It seems +as if it would have been almost impossible for him to have avoided +sinking into the depths of discouragement and desperation, if he had not +received timely assistance from the Prison Association. How highly he +appreciated their aid may be inferred from the following letter to Isaac +T. Hopper: + +"My dear friend, as business prevents me from seeing you in the +day-time, I take this method to express my thanks for the noble and +generous mention made of me in your remarks before the Association; +which remarks were as pleasant and exciting to me, as they were +unexpected. I need scarcely assure you, my kind and generous friend, +(generous not only to so humble an individual as myself, but to all your +fellow creatures,) that it is out of my power to find words to thank you +adequately, or to express my feelings on that occasion. I was the more +gratified because my dear wife was present with me, and also my +brother-in-law. Oh, what a noble work the Society is engaged in. My most +fervent prayer is that your name may remain on its list for many years +to come. Then indeed should I have no fears for those poor unfortunates, +whose first unthinking error places them unconditionally within the +miasma of vice and crime. That you may enjoy a very merry Christmas, and +many happy New-Years, is the sincere desire of my wife and myself." + +T.B., who has been for several years in the employ of the Association, +was raised by their aid from the lowest depths of intemperance, and has +become a highly respectable and useful citizen. + +J.M., who was in Sing Sing Prison four years, for grand larceny, was +aided by the Association at various times, and always repaid the money +precisely at the appointed day. His industry and skilful management +excited envy and jealousy in some, who had less faculty for business. +They taunted him with having been a convict, and threw all manner of +obstacles in the way of his making an honest living. + +Among other persecutions, a suit at law was instituted against him, +which cost him seventy-five dollars. The charge was entirely without +foundation, and when brought before the court, was promptly dismissed. +It is now about six years since J.M. resolved to retrieve his +character, and he still perseveres in the right course. + +Ann W. was an illegitimate child, and early left an orphan. She went to +live with an aunt, who kept a boarding-house in Albany. According to her +own account, she was harshly treated, and frequently taunted with the +circumstances of her birth. At the early age of fourteen, one of the +boarders offered to marry her, and induced her to leave the house with +him. She lived with him some time, always urging the fulfilment of his +promise; and at last he pacified her by going to a person, who performed +the marriage-ceremony. She was strongly attached to him, and being a +capable, industrious girl, she kept everything nice and bright about +their lodgings. He pretended to have a great deal of business in +New-York; but in fact his frequent visits to that city were for purposes +of gambling. On one of those occasions, when he had been absent much +longer than usual, she followed him, and found him living with another +woman. He very coolly informed her that the marriage-ceremony between +them was a mere sham; the person who performed it not having been +invested with any legal authority. Thus betrayed, deserted, and +friendless, the poor young creature became almost frantic. In that +desperate state of mind, she was decoyed by a woman, who kept a +disreputable house. A short career of reckless frivolity and vice +ended, as usual, in the hospital on Blackwell's Island. When she was +discharged, she tried to drown her sorrow and remorse in intemperance, +and went on ever from bad to worse, till she became a denizen of Five +Points. In her brief intervals of sobriety, she was thoroughly disgusted +with herself, and earnestly desired to lead a better life. Being turned +into the street one night, in a state of intoxication, she went to the +prison called The Tombs, because its architecture is in imitation of the +ancient sepulchral halls of Egypt. She humbly asked permission to enter +this gloomy abode, in hopes that some of the ladies connected with the +Prison Association would visit her, and find some decent employment for +her. Her case being represented to Friend Hopper, he induced his wife to +take her into the family, as a domestic. As soon as she entered the +house, she said, "I don't want to deceive you. I will tell you +everything." And she told all the particulars of her history, without +attempting to veil any of its deformity. She was very industrious, and +remarkably tidy in her habits. She kept the kitchen extremely neat, and +loved to decorate it with little ornaments, especially with flowers. +Poor shattered soul! Who can tell into what blossom of poetry that +little germ might have expanded, if it had been kindly nurtured under +gentle and refining influences? She behaved very well for several +months, and often expressed gratitude that she could now feel as if she +had a home. Friend Hopper took great interest in her, and had strong +hopes that she would become a respectable woman. Before a year expired, +she relapsed into intemperate habits for a time; but he overlooked it, +and encouraged her to forget it. As she often expressed a great desire +to see her cousins in Albany, he called upon them, and told the story of +her reformation. They sent some little presents, accompanied with +friendly messages, and after a while invited her to visit them. For a +time, it seemed as if the excursion had done her good, both physically +and mentally; but the sight of respectable relatives, with husbands and +children, made her realize more fully the utter loneliness of her own +position. She used opium in large quantities, and had dreadful fits in +consequence. Sometimes, she stole out of the house in the evening, and +was taken up by the police in a state of intoxication. When she +recovered her senses, she would be very humble, and during an interval +of weeks, or months, would make an effort to behave extremely well. I +forget how often Friend Hopper received her back, after she had spent +the night in the Station House; but it was many, many times. His +patience held out long after everybody else was completely weary. She +finally became so violent and ungovernable, and endangered the household +so much in her frantic fits, that even he felt the necessity of placing +her under the restraining influences of some public institution. The +Magdalen Asylum at Philadelphia consented to receive her, and after much +exhortation, she was persuaded to go. While she was there, his daughters +in that city called on her occasionally, at his request, and he and his +wife made her a visit. He wrote to her frequently, in the kindest and +most encouraging manner. In one of these epistles, he says: "I make +frequent inquiries concerning thee, and am generally told thou art +getting along _pretty_ well. Now I want to hear a different tale from +that. I want thy friends at the Asylum to be able to say, 'She is doing +_exceedingly_ well. Her health is good, she is satisfied with her +condition, and we are all much gratified to find that she submits to the +advice of her friends.' When they can speak thus of thee, I shall begin +to think about changing thy situation. The woman who fills thy place in +my family does very well. Every day, she puts on the table the mug thou +gavest me, and she keeps it as bright as silver. Our little garden looks +beautiful. The Morning Glories, thou used to take so much pleasure in, +have grown finely. All the family desire kind remembrances. Farewell. +May peace and comfort be with thee." + +In another letter, he says: "Thy Heavenly Father has been kind, and +waited long for thee; and He has now provided a way for thy redemption +from the bondage under which thou hast suffered so much. I hope thou +wilt not think of leaving the Asylum for some time to come. Thou canst +not be so firmly established yet, as not to be under great temptation +elsewhere. What a sorrowful circumstance it would be, if thou shouldst +again return to the filthy and wicked habit of stupifying thyself with +that pernicious drug! I am glad thou hast determined to take my advice. +If thou wilt do so, I will never forsake thee. I will do all I can for +thee; and thou shalt never be without a home." + +Again he writes: "Thy letter occasioned joy and sorrow. Sorrow to find +thou hast not always treated the matron as thou oughtest to have done. I +am sure that excellent person is every way worthy of thy regard; and I +hope my ears will never again be pained by hearing that thou hast +treated her unkindly or disrespectfully. I did hope that after a year's +discipline, thou hadst learned to control thy temper. Until thou canst +do so, thou must be aware that thou art not qualified to render thyself +useful or agreeable in any family. But after all, I am glad to find that +thou art sensible of thy error, and hast a disposition to improve. When +thou liest down at night, I want thee to examine the deeds of the past +day. If thou hast made a hasty reply, or spoken impertinently, or done +wrong in any other way, be careful to acknowledge thy fault. Ask thy +Heavenly Father to forgive thee, and be careful to do so no more. I feel +a great regard for thee; and I trust thou wilt never give me cause to +regret thy relapse into vice. I hope better things for thee, and I +always shall." + +But his hopefulness and patience proved of no avail in this instance. +The wreck was too complete to admit of repair. The poor creature +occasionally struggled hard to do better; but her constitution was +destroyed by vice and hardship; her feelings were blunted by suffering, +and her naturally bright faculties were stupified by opium. After she +left the Asylum, she lived with a family in the country for awhile; but +the old habits returned, and destroyed what little strength she had +left. The last I knew of her she was on Blackwell's Island; and she will +probably never leave it, till she goes where the weary are at rest. + +An uncommon degree of interest was excited in Friend Hopper's mind by +the sufferings of another individual, whom I will call Julia Peters. She +was born of respectable parents, and was carefully tended in her early +years. Her mother was a prudent, religious-minded woman; but she died +when Julia was twelve years old. The father soon after took to drinking +and gambling, and spent all the property he possessed. His daughter was +thus brought into the midst of profligate associates, at an age when +impulses are strong, and the principles unformed. She led a vicious life +for several years, and during a fit of intoxication married a worthless, +dissipated fellow. When she was eighteen years old, she was imprisoned +for perjury. The case appeared doubtful at the time, and from +circumstances, which afterward came to light, it is supposed that she +was not guilty of the alleged crime. The jury could not agree on the +first trial, and she remained in jail two years, awaiting a decision of +her case. She was at last pronounced guilty; and feeling that injustice +was done her, she made use of violent and disrespectful language to the +court. This probably increased the prejudice against her; for she was +sentenced to Sing Sing prison for the long term of fourteen years. She +was naturally intelligent, active and energetic; and the limitations of +a prison had a worse effect upon her, than they would have had on a more +stolid temperament. In the course of a year or two, her mind began to +sink under the pressure, and finally exhibited signs of melancholy +insanity. Friend Hopper had an interview with her soon after she was +conveyed to Sing Sing, and found her in a state of deep dejection. She +afterward became completely deranged, and was removed to the Lunatic +Asylum at Bloomingdale. He and his wife visited her there, and found her +in a state of temporary rationality. Her manners were quiet and +pleasing, and she appeared exceedingly gratified to see them. The +superintendent granted permission to take her with them in a walk +through the grounds, and she enjoyed this little excursion very highly. +But when one of the company remarked that it was a very pleasant place, +she sighed deeply, and replied, "Yes, it is a pleasant place to those +who can leave it. But chains are chains, though they are made of gold; +and mine grow heavier every day." + +Her temperament peculiarly required freedom, and chafed and fretted +under restraint. Insanity returned upon her with redoubled force, soon +after. She used blasphemous and indecent language, and cut up her +blankets to make pantaloons. She picked the lock of her room, and tried +various plans of escape. When Friend Hopper went to see her again, some +weeks later, he found her in the masculine attire, which she had +manufactured. She tried to hide herself, but when he called her back in +a gentle, but firm tone, she came immediately. He took her kindly by the +hand, and said, "Julia, what does all this mean?" + +"It is military costume," she replied. "I am an officer of state." + +"I am sorry thou art not more decently clad," said he. "I intended to +have thee take a walk with me; but I should be ashamed to go with thee +in that condition." She earnestly entreated to go, and promised to +change her dress immediately. He accordingly waited till she was ready, +and then spent more than an hour walking round the grounds with her. She +told him the history of her life, and wept bitterly over the retrospect +of her erroneous course. It seemed a great relief to have some one to +whom she could open her over-burdened heart. She was occasionally +incoherent, but the fresh air invigorated her, and the quiet talk +soothed her perturbed feelings. At parting, she said, "I thank you. I +thought I hadn't a friend in the world. I was afraid everybody had +forgotten me." + +"I am thy sincere friend," he replied; "and I promise that I will never +forget thee." + +I make the following extract from a letter, which he wrote to her soon +after: "Now, Julia, listen to me, and mind what I say; for thou knowest +I am thy friend. I want thee, at all times, and upon all occasions, to +be very careful of thy conduct. Never suffer thyself to use vulgar or +profane language. It would grieve me, and I am sure thou dost not wish +to do that. Besides, it is very degrading, and very wicked. Be discreet, +sober, and modest. Be kind, courteous, and obliging to all. Thou wilt +make many friends by so doing, and wilt feel more cheerful and happy +thyself. Do be a lady. I know thou canst, if thou wilt. More than all, I +want thee to be a Christian. I sympathize with thee, and intend to come +and see thee soon." + +Dr. Earle, physician of the Asylum, said the letter had a salutary +effect upon her. Friend Hopper went out to see her frequently, and was +often accompanied by his wife, or daughters. Her bodily and mental +health continued to improve; and in the course of five or six months, +the doctor allowed her to accompany her kind old friend to the city, and +spend a day and night at his house. This change of scene was found so +beneficial, that the visit was repeated a few weeks after. Before winter +set in, she was so far restored that she spent several days in his +family, and conducted with the greatest propriety. He soon after applied +to the Governor for a pardon, which was promptly granted. His next step +was to procure a suitable home for her; and a worthy Quaker family in +Pennsylvania, who were acquainted with all the circumstances, agreed to +employ her as chambermaid and seamstress. When it was all arranged, +Friend Hopper went out to the Asylum to carry the news. But fearful of +exciting her too much, he talked upon indifferent subjects for a few +minutes, and then asked if she would like to go into the city again to +spend a fortnight with his family. She replied, "Indeed I would." He +promised to take her with him, and added, "Perhaps thou wilt stay longer +than two weeks." At last, he said, "It may be that thou wilt not have +to return here again." She sprang up instantly, and looking in his face +with intense anxiety, exclaimed, "Am I pardoned? _Am_ I pardoned?" + +"Yes, thou art pardoned," he replied; "and I have come to take thee +home." She fell back into her seat, covered her face with her hands, and +wept aloud. Friend Hopper, describing this interview in a letter to a +friend, says: "It was the most affecting scene I ever witnessed. Nothing +could exceed the joy I felt at seeing this child of sorrow relieved from +her sufferings, and restored to liberty. I had seen this young and +comely looking woman, who was endowed with more than common good sense, +driven to the depths of despair by the intensity of her sufferings. I +had seen her a raving maniac. Now, I saw her 'sitting and clothed in her +right mind.' I was a thousand times more than compensated for all the +pains I had taken. I had sympathized deeply with her sufferings, and I +now partook largely of her joy." + +As her nerves were in a very excitable state, it was thought best that +she should remain a few weeks under the superintendence of his daughter, +Mrs. Gibbons, before she went to the home provided for her. She was +slightly unsettled at times, but was disposed to be industrious and +cheerful. Having earned a little money by her needle, the first use she +made of it, was to buy a pair of vases for Friend Hopper; and proud and +pleased she was, when she brought them home and presented them! He +always kept them on the parlor mantel-piece, and often told their +history to people who called upon him. + +When she had become perfectly calm and settled, he and his wife +accompanied her to Pennsylvania, and saw her established among her new +friends, who received her in the kindest manner. A week after his +return, he wrote to assure her that his interest in her had not abated. +In the course of the letter, he says: "I need not tell thee how anxious +I am that thou shouldst conduct so as to be a credit to thyself, and to +those who have interested themselves in thy behalf. I felt keenly at +parting with thee, but I was comforted by the reflection that I had left +thee with kind friends. Confide in them upon all occasions, and do +nothing without their advice. Thy future happiness will depend very much +upon thyself. Never suffer thy mind to become excited. Remember that +kind friends were raised up for thee in the midst of all thy sorrows, +and that they will always continue to be thy friends, if thou wilt be +guided by their counsels. Thou wert with us so long, that we feel toward +thee like one of the family. All join me in love to thee." + +In her reply, she says: "Your letter was to me what a glass of cold +water would be when fainting. I have pored over it so much, that I have +got it by heart. Friend Hopper, you first saw me in prison and visited +me. You followed me to the Asylum. You did not forsake me. You have +changed a bed of straw to a bed of down. May Heaven bless and reward you +for it. No tongue can express the gratitude I feel. Many are the hearts +you have made glad. Suppose all you have dragged out of one place and +another were to stand before you at once! I think you would have more +than you could shake hands with in a month; and I know you would shake +hands with them all." + +For a few months, she behaved in a very satisfactory manner, though +occasionally unsettled and depressed. She wrote that the worthy woman +with whom she lived was 'both mother and friend to her.' But the country +was gloomy in the winter, and the spirit of unrest took possession of +her. She went to Philadelphia and plunged into scenes of vice for a week +or two; but she quickly repented, and was rescued by her friends. I have +seldom seen Friend Hopper so deeply pained as he was by this retrograde +step in one whom he had rejoiced over, "as a brand plucked from the +burning." After awhile, he addressed a letter to her, in which he says: +"I should have written to thee before, but I have been at a loss what to +say. I have cared for thee, as if thou hadst been my own child. Little +did I think thou wouldst ever disgrace thyself, and distress me, by +associating with the most vile. Thou wert wonderfully snatched from a +sink of pollution. I hoped thou wouldst appreciate the favor, and take a +fresh start in life, determined to do well. Better, far better, for thee +to have lingered out a wretched existence in Bloomingdale Asylum, than +to continue in such a course as that thou entered upon in Philadelphia. +My heart is pained while I write. Indeed, thou art seldom out of my +mind. Most earnestly, and affectionately, I beseech thee to change thy +course. Restrain evil thoughts and banish them from thee. Try to keep +thy mind quiet, and stayed upon thy Heavenly Father. He has done much +for thee. He has followed thee in all thy wanderings. Ask him to forgive +thy iniquity, and he will have mercy on thee. Thou mayest yet be happy +thyself, and make those happy who have taken a deep interest in thy +welfare. But if thou art determined to pursue evil courses, after all +that has been done for thee, let me tell thee thy days will be brief and +full of trouble; and I doubt not thou wilt end them within the walls of +a prison. I hope better things of thee. If thou doest well, it will +afford encouragement to assist others; but if thy conduct is bad, it may +be the means of prolonging the sufferings of many others. I am still thy +friend, and disposed to do all I can for thee." + +In her answer, she says: "Oh, frail woman! No steps can be recalled. It +is all in the future to make amends for the past. After all the good +counsel some receive, they return to habits of vice. They repent when it +is too late. How true it is that virtue has its reward, and vice its +punishment. I know that the way of transgressors is hard. If I only had +a few years of my life to live over again, how different would I live! +For the many blessings Providence has bestowed on me, may I be grateful. +In all my troubles, He has raised me up a friend. I believe He never +forsakes me; so there is hope for me. Don't be discouraged that you +befriended me; for, with God's blessing, you shall have no reason to +repent of it." + +He wrote thus to her, a short time after: "I very often think of thee, +and I yet hope that I shall one day see thee a happy and respectable +woman. I have lately had a good deal of conversation with the Governor +concerning 'my friends,' as he calls those whom he has pardoned at my +request. I did not tell him thou hadst behaved incorrectly. I hope I +shall never be obliged to do so. I have had pleasant accounts concerning +thee lately, and I do not wish to remember that thou hast ever grieved +me. As I passed down the river yesterday, from Albany, I saw +Bloomingdale Asylum. I remembered how I used to walk with thee about the +grounds; and my mind was for a time depressed with melancholy +reflections. I had deeply sympathized in thy sufferings; and I had +rarely, if ever, experienced greater pleasure than when I was the happy +messenger of thy redemption from the grievous thraldom, under which thou +wert suffering. Thou art blessed with more than common good sense, and +thou knowest how to make thyself agreeable. I earnestly advise thee to +guard well thy thoughts. Never allow thyself to use an immodest word, or +to be guilty of an unbecoming action. On all occasions, show thyself +worthy of the regard of those who feel an interest in thy welfare. +'There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over +ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.' With ardent +solicitude for thy welfare, I remain thy sincere friend." + +About two years afterward, Friend Hopper made the following record in +his Register: "J.P. continues to conduct very satisfactorily. She makes +a very respectable appearance, is modest and discreet in her deportment, +and industrious in her habits. As a mark of gratitude for the +attentions, which at different times I have extended to her, she has +sent me a pair of handsome gloves, and a bandana handkerchief. Taking +into consideration all the circumstances attending this case, this small +present affords me much more gratification than ten times the value from +any other person." Six months later, he made this record: "The Friend, +with whom J.P. lives, called upon me to say that she sent a world of +love to Isaac T. Hopper, whose kindness she holds in grateful +remembrance." The same Friend afterward wrote, "She is all that I could +wish her to be." + +Many more instances might be quoted; but enough has been told to +illustrate his patience and forbearance, and his judicious mode of +dealing with such characters. Dr. Russ, one of the most active and +benevolent members of the Prison Association, thinks it is a fair +statement to say that at least three-fourths of those for whom he +interested himself eventually turned out well; though in several cases, +it was after a few backslidings. The fullness of his sympathy was +probably one great reason why he obtained such influence over them, and +made them so willing to open their hearts to him. He naturally, and +without effort, put _his_ soul in _their_ soul's stead. This rendered it +easy for him to disregard his own interests, and set aside his own +opinions, for the benefit of others. In several instances, he procured +another place for a healthy, good-looking domestic, with whose services +he was well satisfied, merely because some poor creature applied for +work, who was too lame, or ill-favored, to obtain employment elsewhere. +When an insane girl, from Sing Sing, was brought to his house to wait +for an opportunity to return to her parents in Canada, he sent for the +Catholic Bishop to come and minister to her spiritual wants, because he +found she was very unhappy without religious consolation in the form to +which she had been accustomed in childhood. + +The peculiar adaptation of his character to this mission of humanity was +not only felt by his fellow laborers in the New-York Association, but +was acknowledged wherever he was known. Dr. Walter Channing, brother of +the late Dr. William Ellery Charming wrote to him as follows, when the +Boston Prison Association was about being formed; "I was rejoiced to +learn that you would stay to help at our meetings in behalf of +criminals. The demand which this class of brothers has upon us is felt +by every man, who examines his own heart, and his own life. How great is +every man's need of the kindness and love of his brethren! Here is the +deep-laid cause of sympathy. Here is the secret spring of that wide +effort, which the whole world is now making for the happiness and good +of the race. I thank you for what you have done in this noble work. I +had heard with the sincerest pleasure, of your labors for the +down-trodden and the poor. God bless you for these labors of love! Truly +shall I thank you for the light you can so abundantly give, and which +will make the path of duty plain before me." + +Incessant demands were made upon his time and attention. A great many +people, if they happened to have their feelings touched by some scene +of distress, seemed to think they had fulfilled their whole duty by +sending the sufferer to Isaac T. Hopper. Few can imagine what an arduous +task it is to be such a thorough philanthropist as he was. Whoever +wishes for a crown like his, must earn it by carrying the martyr's cross +through life. They must make up their minds to relinquish their whole +time to such pursuits; they must be prepared to encounter envy and +dislike; to be misrepresented and blamed, where their intentions have +been most praiseworthy; to be often disheartened by the delinquencies, +or ingratitude, of those they have expended their time and strength to +serve; above all, they must be willing to live and die poor. + +Though attention to prisoners was the mission to which Friend Hopper +peculiarly devoted the last years of his life, his sympathy for the +slaves never abated. And though his own early efforts had been made in +co-operation with the gradual Emancipation Society, established by +Franklin, Rush, and others, he rejoiced in the bolder movement, known as +modern anti-slavery. Of course, he did not endorse everything that was +said and done by all sorts of temperaments engaged in that cause, or in +any other cause. But no man understood better than he did the fallacy of +the argument that modern abolitionists had put back the cause of +emancipation in the South. He often used to speak of the spirit +manifested toward William Savery, when he went to the South to preach, +as early as 1791. Writing from Augusta, Georgia, that tender-hearted +minister of Christ says: "They can scarcely tolerate us, on account of +our abhorrence of slavery. This was truly a trying place to lodge in +another night." At Savannah the landlord of a tavern where they lodged, +ordered a cruel flogging to be administered to one of his slaves, who +had fallen asleep through weariness, before his daily task was +accomplished. William Savery says: "When we went to supper, this +unfeeling wretch craved a blessing; which I considered equally abhorrent +to the Divine Being, as his curses." In the morning, when the humane +preacher heard sounds of the lash, accompanied by piteous cries for +mercy, he had the boldness to step in between the driver and the slave; +and he stopped any further infliction of punishment, for that time. He +says: "This landlord was the most abominably wicked man that I ever met +with; full of horrid execrations, and threatenings of all Northern +people. But I did not spare him; which occasioned a bystander to +express, with an oath, that I should be 'popped over.' We left them +distressed in mind; and having a lonesome wood of twelve miles to pass +through, we were in full expectation of their waylaying, or coming after +us, to put their wicked threats in execution." + +As early as 1806, James Lindley, of Pennsylvania, had a large piece of +iron hurled at him, as he was passing through the streets, at Havre de +Grace, Maryland. Three of his ribs were broken, and several teeth +knocked out, and he was beaten till he was supposed to be dead. All this +was done merely because they mistook him for Jacob Lindley, the Quaker +preacher, who was well known as a friend to fugitives from slavery. + +In view of these, and other similar facts, Friend Hopper was never +disposed to blame abolitionists for excitements at the South, as many of +the Quakers were inclined to do. He had a sincere respect for the +integrity and conscientious boldness of William Lloyd Garrison; as all +have, who know him well enough to appreciate his character. For many +years, he was always an invited and welcome guest on the occasion of the +annual meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society in New-York. Mr. Garrison's +feelings toward him are manifested in the following answer to one of his +letters: "As there is no one in the world for whom I entertain more +veneration and esteem than for yourself, and as there is no place in +New-York, that is so much like home to me, as your own hospitable +dwelling, be assured it will give me the utmost pleasure to accept your +friendly invitation to remain under your roof during the approaching +anniversary week." It was on one of these occasions, that Garrison +addressed to him the following sonnet: + + "Thou kind and venerable friend of man, + In heart and spirit young, though old in years! + The tyrant trembles when thy name he hears, + And the slave joys thy honest face to scan. + A friend more true and brave, since time began, + Humanity has never found: her fears + By thee have been dispelled, and wiped the tears + Adown her sorrow-stricken cheeks that ran. + If like Napoleon's appears thy face, + Thy soul to his bears no similitude. + He came to curse, but thou to bless our race. + Thy hands are pure; in blood were his imbrued. + His memory shall be covered with disgrace, + But thine embalmed among the truly great and good." + +Until the last few years of his life, Friend Hopper usually walked to +and from his office twice a day, making about five miles in the whole; +to which he sometimes added a walk in the evening, to visit children or +friends, or transact some necessary business. When the weather was very +unpleasant, he availed himself of the Harlem cars. Upon one of these +occasions, it chanced that the long, ponderous vehicle was nearly empty. +They had not proceeded far, when a very respectable-looking young woman +beckoned for the car to stop. It did so; but when she set her foot on +the step, the conductor, somewhat rudely pushed her back; and she +turned away, evidently much mortified. Friend Hopper started up and +inquired, "Why didst thou push that woman away?" + +"She's colored," was the laconic reply. + +"Art thou instructed by the managers of the rail-road to proceed in this +manner on such occasions?" inquired Friend Hopper. + +The man answered, "Yes." + +"Then let me get out," rejoined the genuine republican. "It disturbs my +conscience to ride in a public conveyance, where any decently behaved +person is refused admittance." And though it was raining very fast, and +his home was a mile off, the old veteran of seventy-five years marched +through mud and wet, at a pace somewhat brisker than his usual energetic +step; for indignation warmed his honest and kindly heart, and set the +blood in motion. The next day, he called at the rail-road office, and +very civilly inquired of one of the managers whether conductors were +instructed to exclude passengers merely on account of complexion. + +"Certainly not," was the prompt reply. "They have discretionary power to +reject any person who is drunk, or offensively unclean, or indecent, or +quarrelsome." + +Friend Hopper then related how a young woman of modest appearance, and +respectable dress, was pushed from the step, though the car was nearly +empty, and she was seeking shelter from a violent rain. + +"That was wrong," replied the manager. "We have no reason to complain of +colored people as passengers. They obtrude upon no one, and always have +sixpences in readiness to pay; whereas fashionably dressed white people +frequently offer a ten dollar bill, which they know we cannot change, +and thus cheat us out of our rightful dues. Who was the conductor, that +behaved in the manner you have described? We will turn him away, if he +doesn't know better how to use the discretionary power with which he is +entrusted." + +Friend Hopper replied, "I had rather thou wouldst not turn him out of +thy employ, unless he repeats the offence, after being properly +instructed. I have no wish to injure the man. He has become infected +with the unjust prejudices of the community without duly reflecting upon +the subject. Friendly conversation with him may suggest wiser thoughts. +All I ask of thee is to instruct him that the rights of the meanest +citizen are to be respected. I thank thee for having listened to my +complaint in such a candid and courteous manner." + +"And I thank you for having come to inform us of the circumstance," +replied the manager. They parted mutually well pleased; and a few days +after, the same conductor admitted a colored woman into the cars +without making any objection. This improved state of things continued +several weeks. But the old tyrannical system was restored, owing to +counteracting influence from some unknown quarter. I often met colored +people coming from the country in the Harlem cars; but I never afterward +knew one to enter from the streets of the city. + +Many colored people die every year, and vast numbers have their health +permanently impaired, on account of inclement weather, to which they are +exposed by exclusion from public conveyances. And this merely on account +of complexion! What a tornado of popular eloquence would come from our +public halls, if Austria or Russia were guilty of any despotism half as +mean! Yet the great heart of the people is moved by kind and sincere +feelings in its outbursts against foreign tyranny. But in addition to +this honorable sympathy for the oppressed in other countries, it would +be well for them to look at home, and consider whether it is just that +any well-behaved people should be excluded from the common privileges of +public conveyances. If a hundred citizens in New-York would act as +Friend Hopper did, the evil would soon be remedied. It is the almost +universal failure in individual duty, which so accumulates errors and +iniquities in society, that the ultra-theories, and extra efforts of +reformers become absolutely necessary to prevent the balance of things +from being destroyed; as thunder and lightning are required to purify a +polluted atmosphere. Godwin, in some of his writings, asks, "What is it +that enables a thousand errors to keep their station in the world? It is +cowardice. It is because the majority of men, who see that things are +not altogether right, yet see in so frigid a way, and have so little +courage to express their views. If every man to-day would tell all the +truth he knows, three years hence, there would scarcely be a falsehood +of any magnitude remaining in the civilized world." + +In the summer of 1844, Friend Hopper met with a Methodist preacher from +Mississippi, who came with his family to New-York, to attend a General +Conference. Being introduced as a zealous abolitionist, the conversation +immediately turned upon slavery. One of the preacher's daughters said, +"I could'nt possibly get along without slaves, Mr. Hopper. Why I never +dressed or undressed myself, till I came to the North. I wanted very +much to bring a slave with me." + +"I wish thou hadst," rejoined Friend Hopper. + +"And what would you have done, if you had seen her?" she inquired. + +He replied, "I would have told her that she was a free woman while she +remained here; but if she went back to the South, she would be liable +to be sold, like a pig or a sheep." + +They laughed at this frank avowal, and when he invited them to come to +his house with their father, to take tea, they gladly accepted the +invitation. Again the conversation turned toward that subject, which is +never forgotten when North and South meet. In answer to some remark from +Friend Hopper, the preacher said, "Do you think I am not a Christian?" + +"I certainly do not regard thee as one," he replied. + +"And I suppose you think I cannot get to heaven?" rejoined the +slaveholder. + +"I will not say that," replied the Friend. "To thy own Master thou must +stand or fall. But slavery is a great abomination, and no one who is +guilty of it can be a Christian, or Christ-like. I would not exclude +thee from the kingdom of heaven; but if thou dost enter there, it must +be because thou art ignorant of the fact that thou art living in sin." + +After a prolonged conversation, mostly on the same topic, the guests +rose to depart. The Methodist said, "Well, Mr. Hopper, I have never been +treated better by any man, than I have been by you. I should be very +glad to have you visit us." + +"Ah! and thou wouldst lynch me; or at least, thy friends would," he +replied, smiling. + +"Oh no, we would treat you very well," rejoined the Southerner. "But +how would you talk about slavery if you were there?" + +"Just as I do here, to be sure," answered the Quaker. "I would advise +the slaves to be honest, industrious, and obedient, and never try to run +away from a good master, unless they were pretty sure of escaping; +because if they were caught, they would fare worse than before. But if +they had a safe opportunity, I should advise them to be off as soon as +possible." In a more serious tone, he added, "And to thee, who claimest +to be a minister of Christ, I would say that thy Master requires thee to +give deliverance to the captive, and let the oppressed go free. My +friend, hast thou a conscience void of offence? When thou liest down at +night, is thy mind always at ease on this subject? After pouring out thy +soul in prayer to thy Heavenly Father, dost thou not feel the outraged +sense of right, like a perpetual motion, restless within thy breast? +Dost thou not hear a voice telling thee it is wrong to hold thy fellow +men in slavery, with their wives and their little ones?" + +The preacher manifested some emotion at this earnest appeal, and +confessed that he sometimes had doubts on the subject; though, on the +whole, he had concluded that it was right to hold slaves. One of his +daughters, who was a widow, seemed to be more deeply touched. She took +Friend Hopper's hand, at parting, and said, "I am thankful for the +privilege of having seen you. I never talked with an abolitionist +before. You have convinced me that slave-holding is sinful in the sight +of God. My husband left me several slaves, and I have held them for five +years; but when I return, I am resolved to hold a slave no longer." + +Friend Hopper cherished some hope that this preaching and praying +slaveholder would eventually manumit his bondmen; but I had listened to +his conversation, and I thought otherwise. His conscience seemed to me +to be asleep under a seven-fold shield of self-satisfied piety; and I +have observed that such consciences rarely waken. + +At the time of the Christians riots, in 1851, when the slave-power +seemed to overshadow everything, and none but the boldest ventured to +speak against it, Friend Hopper wrote an article for the Tribune, and +signed it with his name, in which he maintained that the colored people, +"who defended themselves and their firesides against the lawless +assaults of an armed party of negro-hunters from Maryland," ought not to +be regarded as traitors or murderers "by men who set a just value on +liberty, and who had no conscientious scruples with regard to war." + +The first runaway, who was endangered by the passage of the Fugitive +Slave Law in 1850, happened to be placed under his protection. A very +good-looking colored man, who escaped from bondage, resided some years +in Worcester, Massachusetts, and acquired several thousand dollars by +hair-dressing. He went to New-York to be married, and it chanced that +his master arrived in Worcester in search of him, the very day that he +started for that city. Some person friendly to the colored man sent +information to New-York by telegraph; but the gentleman to whom it was +addressed was out of the city. One of the operators at the telegraph +office said, "Isaac T. Hopper ought to know of this message;" and he +carried it himself. Friend Hopper was then eighty years old, but he +sprang out of bed at midnight, and went off with all speed to hunt up +the fugitive. He found him, warned him of his danger, and offered to +secrete him. The colored man hesitated. He feared it might be a trick to +decoy him into his master's power. But the young wife gazed very +earnestly at Friend Hopper, and said, "I would trust the countenance of +that Quaker gentleman anywhere. Let us go with him." They spent the +remainder of the night at his house, and after being concealed elsewhere +for a few days, they went to Canada. This slave was the son of his +master, who estimated his market-value at two thousand five hundred +dollars. Six months imprisonment, and a fine of one thousand dollars was +the legal penalty for aiding him. But Friend Hopper always said, "I +have never sought to make any slave discontented with his situation, +because I do not consider it either wise or kind to do so; but so long +as my life is spared, I will always assist any one, who is trying to +escape from slavery, be the laws what they may." + +A black man, who had fled from bondage, married a mulatto woman in +Philadelphia, and became the father of six children. He owned a small +house in the neighborhood of that city, and had lived there comfortably +several years, when that abominable law was passed, by which the +Northern States rendered their free soil a great hunting-ground for the +rich and powerful to run down the poor and weak. In rushed the +slaveholders from all quarters, to seize their helpless prey! At dead of +night, the black man, sleeping quietly in the humble home he had earned +by unremitting industry, was roused up to receive information that his +master was in pursuit of him. His eldest daughter was out at service in +the neighborhood, and there was no time to give her notice. They hastily +packed such articles as they could take, caught the little ones from +their beds, and escaped before the morning dawned. A gentleman, who saw +them next day on board a steamboat, observed their uneasiness, and +suspected they were "fugitives from injustice." When he remarked this to +a companion, he replied, "They have too much luggage to be slaves." +Nevertheless, he thought it could do no harm to inform them that Isaac +T. Hopper of New-York was the best adviser of fugitives. Accordingly, a +few hours afterward, the whole colored colony was established in his +house; where the genteel-looking mother, and her bright, pretty little +children excited a very lively interest in all hearts. They made their +way to Canada as soon as possible, and the daughter who was left in +Philadelphia, was soon after sent to them. + +Friend Hopper's resolute resistance to oppression, in every form, never +produced any harshness in his manners, or diminished his love of quiet +domestic life. He habitually surrendered himself to pleasant influences, +even from events that troubled him at the time, he generally extracted +some agreeable incident and soon forgot those of opposite character. It +was quite observable how little he thought of the instances of +ingratitude he had met with. He seldom, if ever, alluded to them, unless +reminded by some direct question; but the unfortunate beings who had +persevered in reformation, and manifested gratitude, were always +uppermost in his thoughts. + +Though always pleased to hear that his children were free from pecuniary +anxiety, he never desired wealth for them. The idea of money never +seemed to occur to him in connection with their marriages. It was a +cherished wish of his heart to have them united to members of the +Society of Friends; yet he easily yielded, even on that point, as soon +as he saw their happiness was at stake. When one of his sons married +into a family educated under influences totally foreign to Quaker +principles, he was somewhat disturbed. But he at once adopted the bride +as a beloved daughter of his heart; and she ever after proved a lovely +and thornless Rose in the pathway of his life. Great was his +satisfaction when he discovered that she was grandchild of Dr. William +Rogers, Professor of English and Oratory in the University of +Pennsylvania, who, sixty years before, had preached the first sermon to +inmates of the State Prison, in Philadelphia. That good and gifted +clergyman was associated with his earliest recollections; for when he +was on one of his pleasant visits to his uncle Tatem, at six years old, +he went to meeting with him for the first time, and was seated on a +stool between his knees. The proceedings were a great novelty to him; +for Dr. Rogers was the first minister he ever saw in a pulpit. He never +forgot the text of that sermon. I often heard him repeat it, during the +last years of his life. The remembrance of these incidents, and the +great respect he had for the character of the prison missionary, at once +established in his mind a claim of old relationship between him and the +new inmate of his household. + +He had the custom of sitting with his wife on the front-door-step during +the summer twilight, to catch the breeze, that always refreshes the +city of New-York, after a sultry day. On such occasions, the children of +the neighborhood soon began to gather round him. One of the most +intelligent and interesting pupils of the Deaf and Dumb Institution had +married Mr. Gallaudet, Professor in that Institution, and resided in the +next house. She had a bright lively little daughter, who very early +learned to imitate her rapid and graceful way of conversing by signs. +This child was greatly attracted toward Friend Hopper. The moment she +saw him, she would clap her tiny hands with delight, and toddle toward +him, exclaiming, "Opper! Opper!" When he talked to her, she would make +her little fingers fly, in the prettiest fashion, interpreting by signs +to her mute mother all that "Opper" had been saying. Her quick +intelligence and animated gestures were a perpetual source of amusement +to him. When he went down to his office in the morning, all the nurses +in the neighborhood were accustomed to stop in his path, that he might +have some playful conversation with the little ones in their charge. He +had a pleasant nick-name for them all; such as "Blue-bird," or +"Yellow-bird," according to their dress. They would run up to him as he +approached home, calling out, "Here's your little Blue-bird!" + +His garden was another source of great satisfaction to him. It was not +bigger than a very small bed-room, and only half of it received the +sunshine. But he called the minnikin grass-plot his meadow, and talked +very largely about mowing his hay. He covered the walls and fences with +flowering vines, and suspended them between the pillars of his little +piazza. Even in this employment he revealed the tendencies of his +character. One day, when I was helping him train a woodbine, he said, +"Fasten it in that direction, Maria; for I want it to go over into our +neighbor's yard, that it may make their wall look pleasant." + +In the summer of 1848, when I was staying in the country, not far from +New-York, I received the following letter from him: "Dear Friend, the +days have not yet come, in which I can say I have no pleasure in them. +Notwithstanding the stubs against which I hit my toes, the briars and +thorns that sometimes annoy me, and the muddy sloughs I am sometimes +obliged to wade through, yet, after all, the days have _not_ come in +which I have no enjoyment. In the course of my journey, I find here and +there a green spot, by which I can sit down and rest, and pleasant +streams, where I sometimes drink, mostly in secret, and am refreshed. I +often remember the saying of a beloved friend, long since translated +from this scene of mutation to a state of eternal beatitude: 'I wear my +sackcloth on my loins; I don't wish to afflict others by carrying a +sorrowful countenance.' A wise conclusion. I love to diffuse happiness +over all with whom I come in contact. But all this is a kind of +accident. I took up my pen to tell thee about our garden. I never saw it +half so handsome as it is now. Morning Glories are on both sides of the +yard, extending nearly to the second story windows; and they exhibit +their glories every morning, in beautiful style. There are Cypress +vines, twelve feet high, running up on the pillar before the kitchen +window, and spreading out each way. They blossom most profusely. The +wooden wall is entirely covered with Madeira vines, and the stone wall +with Woodbine. The grass-plot is very thrifty, and our borders are +beautified with a variety of flowers. How thou wouldst like to look at +them!" + +I replied as follows: "My dear and honored friend: Your kind, cheerful +epistle came into my room as pleasantly as would the vines and flowers +you describe. I am very glad the spirit moved you to write; for, to use +the words of the apostle, I thank my God for every remembrance of you.' +I do not make many professions of friendship, because neither you nor I +are much given to professions; but there is no one in the world for whom +I have a higher respect than yourself, and very few for whom I cherish a +more cordial affection. You say the time has not _yet_ come when you +have no pleasure. I think, my friend, that it will _never_ come. To an +evergreen heart, like yours, so full of kindly sympathies, the little +children will always prattle, the birds will always sing, and the +flowers will always offer incense. _This_ reward of the honest and +kindly heart is one of those, which 'the world can neither give nor take +away.' + +"I should love to see your garden now. There is a peculiar satisfaction +in having a very _little_ patch all blooming into beauty. I had such an +one in my humble home in Boston, some years ago. It used to make me +think of Mary Howitt's very pleasant poetry: + + "'Yes, in the poor man's garden grow + Far more than herbs and flowers; + Kind thoughts, contentment, peace of mind, + And joy for weary hours.' + +"I have one enjoyment this summer, which you cannot have in your city +premises. The birds! not only their sweet songs, but all their little +cunning manoeuvres in courting, building their nests, and rearing their +young. I watched for hours a little Phoebe-bird, who brought out her +brood to teach them to fly. They used to stop to rest themselves on the +naked branch of a dead pear-tree. There they sat so quietly, all in a +row, in their sober russet suit of feathers, just as if they were +Quakers at meeting. The birds are very tame here; thanks to Friend +Joseph's tender heart. The Bob-o-links pick seed from the dandelions, +at my very feet. May you sleep like a child when his friends are with +him, as the Orientals say. And so farewell." + +Interesting strangers occasionally called to see Friend Hopper, +attracted by his reputation. Frederika Bremer was peculiarly delighted +by her interviews with him, and made a fine sketch of him in her +collection of American likenesses. William Page, the well-known artist, +made for me an admirable drawing of him, when he was a little past +seventy years old. Eight years after, Salathiel Ellis, of New-York, at +the suggestion of some friends, executed an uncommonly fine medallion +likeness. A reduced copy of this was made in bronze at the request of +some members of the Prison Association. The reverse side represents him +raising a prisoner from the ground, and bears the appropriate +inscription, "To seek and to save that which was lost." + +Young people often sent him pretty little testimonials of the interest +he had excited in their minds. Intelligent Irish girls, with whom he had +formed acquaintance in their native land, never during his life ceased +to write to him, and occasionally sent some tasteful souvenir of their +friendship. The fashionable custom of New-Year's and Christmas offerings +was not in his line. But though he always dined on humble fare at +Christmas, as a testimony against the observance of holy days, he +secretly sent turkeys to poor families, who viewed the subject in a +different light; and it was only by accidental circumstances that they +at last discovered to whom they owed the annual gift. + +[Illustration] + +Members of the Society of Friends often came to see him; and for many of +them he cherished high respect, and a very warm friendship. But his +character grew larger, and his views more liberal, after the bonds which +bound him to a sect were cut asunder. Friends occasionally said to him, +"We miss thy services in the Society, Isaac. Hadst thou not better ask +to be re-admitted? The way is open for thee, whenever thou hast an +inclination to return." He replied, "I thank thee. But in the present +state of the Society, I don't think I could be of any service to them, +or they to me." But he could never relinquish the hope that the +primitive character of Quakerism would be restored, and that the Society +would again hold up the standard of righteousness to the nations, as it +had in days gone by. Nearly every man, who forms strong religious +attachments in early life, cherishes similar anticipations for his sect, +whose glory declines, in the natural order of things. But such hopes are +never realized. The spirit has a resurrection, but not the form. "Soul +never dies. Matter dies off it, and it lives elsewhere." Thus it is with +truth. The noble principles maintained by Quakers, through suffering +and peril, have taken root in other sects, and been an incalculable help +to individual seekers after light, throughout the Christian world. Like +winged seed scattered in far-off soils, they will produce a +forest-growth in the future, long after the original stock is dead, and +its dust dispersed to the winds. + +In Friend Hopper's last years, memory, as usual with the old, was busily +employed in reproducing the past; and in his mind the pictures she +presented were uncommonly vivid. In a letter to his daughter, Sarah +Palmer, he writes: "I was deeply affected on being informed of the death +of Joseph Whitall. We loved one another when we were children; and I +never lost my love for him. I think it will not be extravagant if I say +that my soul was knit with his soul, as Jonathan's was to David's. I +have a letter, which I received from him in 1795. I have not language to +express my feelings. Oh, that separation! that cruel separation! How it +divided very friends!" + +In a letter to his daughter Susan, we again find him looking fondly +backward. He says: "I often, very often remember the example of thy dear +mother, with feelings that no language can portray. She was neat and +tasteful in her appearance. Her dress was elegant, but plain, as became +her Christian profession. She loved sincere Friends, faithfully +maintained all their testimonies, and was a diligent attender of +meetings. She was kind and affectionate to all. In short, she was a +bright example in her family, and to all about her, and finally laid +down her head in peace. May her children imitate her virtues." + +Writing to his daughter Sarah in 1845, he thus returns to the same +beloved theme: "I lately happened to open the Memoirs of Sarah Harrison. +It seemed to place me among my old friends, with whom I walked in sweet +unity and Christian fellowship, in days that are gone forever. I there +saw the names, and read the letters, of William Savery, Thomas +Scattergood, and a host of others, who have long since gone to their +everlasting rest. I hope, however unworthy, to join them at some day, +not very distant." + +"Next day after to-morrow, it will be fifty years since I was married to +thy dear mother. How fresh many of the scenes of that day are brought +before me! It almost seems as if they transpired yesterday. These +reminiscences afford me a melancholy pleasure, and I love to indulge in +them. No man has experienced more exquisite pleasure, or deeper sorrows +than I have." + +Perhaps the reader will say that I have spoken little of his sorrows; +and it is true. But who does not know that all the sternest conflicts of +life can never be recorded! Every human soul must walk alone through +the darkest and most dangerous paths of its spiritual pilgrimage; +absolutely alone with God! Much, from which we suffer most acutely, +could never be revealed to others; still more could never be understood, +if it were revealed; and still more ought never to be repeated, if it +could be understood. Therefore, the frankest and fullest biography must +necessarily be superficial. + +The old gentleman was not prone to talk of his troubles. They never made +him irritable, but rather increased his tenderness and thoughtfulness +toward others. His naturally violent temper was brought under almost +complete subjection. During the nine years that I lived with him, I +never saw him lose his balance but twice; and then it was only for a +moment, and under very provoking circumstances. + +The much-quoted line, "None knew him but to love him, none named him but +to praise," was probably never true of any man; certainly not of any one +with a strong character. Many were hostile to Friend Hopper, and some +were bitter in their enmity. Of course, it could not be otherwise with a +man who battled with oppression, selfishness, and bigotry, wherever he +encountered them, and whose rebukes were too direct and explicit to be +evaded. Moreover, no person in this world is allowed to be peculiar and +independent with impunity. There are always men who wish to compel such +characters to submit, by the pressure of circumstances. This kind of +spiritual thumb-screw was often, and in various ways, tried upon Friend +Hopper; but though it sometimes occasioned temporary inconvenience, it +never induced him to change his course. + +Though few old men enjoyed life so much as he did, he always thought and +spoke of death with cheerful serenity. On the third of December, 1851, +he wrote thus to his youngest daughter, Mary: "This day completes my +eightieth year. 'My eye is not dim, nor my natural force abated.' My +head is well covered with hair, which still retains its usual glossy +dark color, with but few gray hairs sprinkled about, hardly noticed by a +casual observer. My life has been prolonged beyond most, and has been +truly 'a chequered scene.' I often take a retrospect of it, and it fills +me with awe. It is marvellous how many dangers and hair-breadth escapes +I have experienced. If I may say it without presumption, I desire not to +live until I am unable to take care of myself, and become a burden to +those about me. If I had my life to live over again, the experience I +have had might caution me to avoid many mistakes, and perhaps I might +make a more useful citizen; but I don't know that I should greatly +improve it. Mercy and kindness have followed me thus far, and I have +faith that they will continue with me to the end." + +But the bravest and strongest pilgrim, when he is travelling toward the +sunset, cannot but perceive that the shadows are lengthening around him. +He did not, like most old people, watch the gathering gloom; but during +the last two or three years of his life, he seemed to have an increasing +feeling of spiritual loneliness. He had survived all his cotemporaries; +he had outlived the Society of Friends, as it was when it took +possession of his youthful soul; and though he sympathized with the +present generation remarkably for so old a man, still he was _among_ +them, and not _of_ them. He quieted this feeling by the best of all +methods. He worked continually, and he worked for others. In this way, +he brought upon himself his last illness. A shop had been built very far +up in the city, for a discharged convict, and the Association had +incurred considerable expense on his account. He was remarkably skilful +at his trade, but after awhile he manifested slight symptoms of +derangement. Friend Hopper became extremely anxious about him, and +frequently travelled back and forth to examine into the state of his +affairs. This was in the severe winter of 1852, and he was past eighty +years old. He took heavy colds, which produced inflammation of the +lungs, and the inflammation subsequently extended to his stomach. In +February of that year, declining health made it necessary to resign his +office in the Prison Association. His letter to that effect was +answered by the following Resolutions, unanimously passed at a meeting +of the Executive Committee: + +"This Association has received, with undissembled sorrow, the +resignation of Isaac T. Hopper, as their agent for the relief of +discharged convicts. + +"He was actively engaged in the organization of the Society, and has +ever since been its most active member. + +"His kindness of heart, and his active zeal in behalf of the fallen and +erring, whom he has so often befriended, have given to this Society a +lofty character for goodness, which, being a reflection of his own, will +endure with the remembrance of him. + +"His forbearance and patience, combined with his great energy of mind, +have given to its action an impetus and a direction, which, it is to be +earnestly hoped, will continue long after it shall have ceased to enjoy +his participation in its active business. + +"His gentleness and propriety of deportment toward us, his associates, +have given him a hold upon our affections, which adds poignancy to our +grief at parting with him. + +"And while we mourn his loss to us, our recollection of the cause of it +awakens within us the belief that the good he has done will smooth his +departure from among us, and gives strength to the cheering hope that +the recollection of a life well spent may add even to the happiness +that is in store for him hereafter." + +He sent the following reply, which I believe was the last letter he ever +wrote: + + "Dear Friends:--I received through your committee, accompanied by + Dr. Russ, your resolutions of the 13th of February, 1852, + commendatory of my course while agent for Discharged Convicts. My + bodily indisposition has prevented an earlier acknowledgment. + + "The kind, friendly, and affectionate manner in which you have been + pleased to express yourselves on this occasion, excited emotions + which I found it difficult to repress. The approbation of those + with whom I have long labored in a deeply interesting and arduous + concern, I value next to the testimony of a good conscience. + Multiplied years and debility of body admonish me to retire from + active life as much as may be, but my interest in the work has not + abated. Much has been done, and much remains to be done. + + "In taking a retrospect of my intercourse with you, I am rejoiced to + see that the great principles of humanity and Christian benevolence + have risen above and overspread sectarian prejudice, that bane of + Christianity, and while each has been allowed to enjoy his own + religious opinions without interference from his fellows, we have + labored harmoniously together for the promotion of the great object + of our Association. + + "May He who clothes the lilies, feeds the ravens, and provides for + the sparrows, and without whose Providential regard, all our + endeavors must be vain, bless your labors, and stimulate and + encourage you to persevere, so that having, through His aid, + fulfilled all your relative and social duties, you may in the end + receive the welcome, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the + kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I + was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me + drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed + me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came + unto me.' + + "That this may be our happy experience, is the fervent desire of + your sincere and affectionate friend, + + "ISAAC T. HOPPER. + + "NEW-YORK, 4th mo. 15, 1852." + +Early in the Spring, he was conveyed to the house of his daughter, Mrs. +Gibbons, in the upper part of the city; it being supposed that change of +air and scene might prove beneficial. It was afterward deemed imprudent +to remove him. His illness was attended with a good deal of physical +suffering; but he was uniformly patient and cheerful. He often observed, +"There is no cloud. There is nothing in my way. Nothing troubles me." +His daughters left all other duties, and devoted themselves exclusively +to him. Never were the declining hours of an old man watched over with +more devoted affection. Writing to his daughter Mary, he says: "I have +the best nurses in New-York, thy mother and sisters. I have every +comfort that industry and ingenuity can supply." + +Among the Quakers who manifested kindness and sympathy, several belonged +to the branch called Orthodox; for a sincere respect and friendship had +grown up between him and individuals of that Society, in New-York, after +the dust of controversy had subsided. He was always glad to see them; +for his heart warmed toward the plain dress and the plain language. But +I think nothing during his illness gave him more unalloyed satisfaction +than a visit from William and Deborah Wharton, Friends from +Philadelphia. He loved this worthy couple for their truly Christian +character; and they were, moreover, endeared to him by many tender and +pleasant associations. They stood by him generously during his severe +pecuniary struggles; they had been devoted to his beloved Sarah, whose +long illness was cheered by their unremitting attentions, and she, for +many years, had received from Hannah Fisher, Deborah's mother, the most +uniform kindness. William's father, a wealthy merchant, had been to him +an early and constant friend; and his uncle, the excellent mayor of +Philadelphia, had sustained him by his influence and hearty +co-operation, in many a fugitive slave case, that occurred in years long +past. It was, therefore, altogether pleasant to clasp hands with these +tried and trusty friends, before life and all its reminiscences faded +away. + +His physician, Dr. John C. Beales, was very assiduous in his attentions, +and his visits were always interesting to the invalid, who generally +made them an occasion for pleasant and animated conversation; often +leading the doctor off the professional track, by some playful account +of his symptoms, however painful they might be. He had been his medical +adviser for many years, and as a mark of respect for his disinterested +services to his fellow-men, he uniformly declined to receive any +compensation. + +Neighbors and acquaintances of recent date, likewise manifested their +respect for the invalid by all manner of attentions. Gentlemen sent +choice wines, and ladies offered fruit and flowers. Market people, who +knew him in the way of business, brought delicacies of various kinds for +his acceptance. He was gratified by such tokens of regard, and +manifested it in many pleasant little ways. One of his sons had +presented him a silver goblet, with the word "Father" inscribed upon it; +and whenever he was about to take nourishment, he would say, "Give it to +me in John's cup." When his little grand-daughter brought flowers from +the garden, he was careful to have them placed by the bedside, where he +could see them continually. After he was unable to rise to take his +meals, he asked to have two cups and plates brought to him, if it were +not too much trouble; for he said it would seem pleasant, and like old +times, to have Hannah's company. So his wife ate with him, as long as he +was able to partake of food. A china bird, which a ransomed slave had +given to his daughter, when she was a little girl, was placed on the +mantel-piece, because he liked to look at it. A visitor, to whom he made +this remark one day, replied, "It must be very pleasant to you now to +remember how many unfortunate beings you have helped." He looked up, and +answered with frank simplicity, "Yes, it _is_ pleasant." + +He made continual efforts to conceal that he was in pain. When they +asked why he was so often singing to himself, he replied, "If I didn't +sing, I should groan." Even as late as the day before he died, he +indulged in some little "Cheeryble" pleasantries, evidently intended to +enliven those who were nearly exhausted by their long attendance on him. +At this period, his son-in-law, James S. Gibbons, wrote to me thus: +"Considering his long bodily weakness, now ten weeks, he is in an +extraordinary state of mental strength and clearness. Reminiscences are +continually falling from his lips, like leaves in autumn from an old +forest tree; not indeed green, but rich in the colors that are of the +tree, and characteristic. Thou hast known him in the extraordinary vigor +and freshness of his old age; cheating time even out of turning his +hair gray. But thou shouldst see him now; when, to use his own words, he +feels that 'the messenger has come.' All his thoughts have tended to, +and reached this point. The only question with him now is of a few more +days. Though prostrate in body, his mind is like a sturdy old oak, that +don't care which way the wind blows. As I sat by his bedside, last +evening, I thought I never had seen so beautiful a close to a good man's +life." + +He had no need to make a will; for he died, as he had lived, without +property. But he disposed of his little keepsakes with as much +cheerfulness as if he had been making New-Year's presents. He seemed to +remember everybody in the distribution. His Quaker library was left in +the care of his children, with directions that it should be kept where +members of the Society of Friends or others interested could have ready +access to it. To his daughter Sarah he entrusted the paper written by +her mother, at fourteen years of age; still fastened by the pin she had +placed in it, which her dear hand had invested with more value than a +diamond, in his eyes. He earnestly recommended his wife to the +affectionate care of his children; reminding them that she had been a +kind and faithful companion to him during many years. He also gave +general directions concerning his funeral. "Don't take the trouble to +make a shroud," said he. "One of my night-shirts will do as well. I +should prefer to be buried in a white pine coffin; but that might be +painful to my family; and I should not like to afflict them in _any_ +way. It may, therefore, be of dark wood; but be sure to have it entirely +plain, without varnish or inscription. Have it made by some poor +neighbor, and pay him the usual price of a handsome one; for I merely +wish to leave a testimony against vain show on such occasions." He +appeared to be rather indifferent where he was buried; but when he was +informed that his son and daughter had purchased a lot at Greenwood +Cemetery, it seemed pleasant to him to think of having them and their +families gathered round him, and he consented to be laid there. + +I was summoned to his death-bed, and arrived two days before his +departure. I found his mind perfectly bright and clear. He told over +again some of his old reminiscences, and indulged in a few of his +customary pleasantries. He spoke of rejoining his beloved Sarah, and his +ancient friends William Savery, Nicholas Waln, Thomas Scattergood, and +others, with as much certainty and pleasure as if he had been +anticipating a visit to Pennsylvania. Sometimes, when he was much +exhausted with physical pain, he would sigh forth, "Oh, for rest in the +kingdom of heaven!" But nothing that approached nearer to complaint or +impatience escaped his lips. On the last day, he repeated to me, what +he had previously said to others, that he sometimes seemed to hear +voices singing, "We have come to take thee home." Once, when no one else +happened to be near him, he said to me in a low, confidential tone, +"Maria, is there anything peculiar in this room?" I replied, "No. Why do +you ask that question?" "Because," said he, "you all look so beautiful; +and the covering on the bed has such glorious colors, as I never saw. +But perhaps I had better not have said anything about it." The natural +world was transfigured to his dying senses; perhaps by an influx of +light from the spiritual; and I suppose he thought I should understand +it as a sign that the time of his departure drew nigh. It was a scene to +remind one of Jeremy Taylor's eloquent words: "When a good man dies, one +that hath lived innocently, then the joys break forth through the clouds +of sickness, and the conscience stands upright, and confesses the +glories of God: and owns so much integrity, that it can hope for pardon, +and obtain it too. Then the sorrows of sickness do but untie the soul +from its chain, and let it go forth, first into liberty, and then into +glory." + +A few hours before he breathed his last, he rallied from a state of +drowsiness, and asked for a box containing his private papers. He washed +to find one, which he thought ought to be destroyed, lest it should do +some injury. He put on his spectacles, and looked at the papers which +were handed him; but the old man's eyes were dimmed with death, and he +could not see the writing. After two or three feeble and ineffectual +attempts, he took off his spectacles, with a trembling hand, and gave +them to his beloved daughter, Sarah, saying, "Take them, my child, and +keep them. They were thy dear mother's. I can never use them more." The +scene was inexpressibly affecting; and we all wept to see this untiring +friend of mankind compelled at last to acknowledge that he could work no +longer. + +Of his sixteen children, ten were living; and all but two of them were +able to be with him in these last days. He addressed affectionate +exhortations to them at various times; and a few hours before he died, +he called them, one by one, to his bedside, to receive his farewell +benediction. At last, he whispered my name; and as I knelt to kiss his +hand, he said in broken accents, and at long intervals, "Maria, tell +them I loved them--though I felt called to resist--some who claimed to +be rulers in Israel--I never meant--." His strength was nearly +exhausted; but after a pause, he pressed my hand, and added, "Tell them +I love them _all_." I had previously asked and obtained permission to +write his biography; and from these broken sentences, I understood that +he wished me to convey in it a message to the Society of Friends; +including the "Orthodox" branch, with whom he had been brought into +painful collision, in years gone by. + +After several hours of restlessness and suffering, he fell into a +tranquil slumber, which lasted a long time. The serene expression of his +countenance remained unchanged, and there was no motion of limb or +muscle, when the spirit passed away. This was between eight and nine +o'clock in the evening, on the seventh of May, 1852. After a long +interval of silent weeping, his widow laid her head on the shoulder of +one of his sons, and said, "Forty-seven years ago this very day, my good +father died; and from that day to this, he has been the best friend I +ever had." + +No public buildings were hung with crape, when news went forth that the +Good Samaritan had gone. But prisoners, and poor creatures in dark and +desolate corners, wept when they heard the tidings. Ann W. with whose +waywardness he had borne so patiently, escaped from confinement, several +miles distant, and with sobs implored "to see that good old man once +more." Michael Stanley sent the following letter to the Committee of the +Prison Association: "When I read the account of the venerable Friend +Hopper's death, I could not help weeping. It touched a tender chord in +my heart, when I came to the account of his being the prisoner's friend. +My soul responded to that; for I had realized it. About six years ago, +I was one of those who got good advice from 'the old man.' I carried it +out, and met with great success. I was fatherless, motherless, and +friendless, with no home, nobody to take me by the hand. I felt, as the +poet has it, + + "'A pilgrim stranger here I roam, + From place to place I'm driven; + My friends are gone, and I'm in gloom; + This earth is all a lonely tomb; + I have no home but heaven.' + +"Go on in the work of humanity and love, till the Good Master shall say, +'It is enough. Come up higher.'" + +Nearly all the domestics in Friend Hopper's neighborhood attended the +funeral solemnities. One of these said with tears, "I am an orphan; but +while he lived, I always felt as if I had a father. He always had +something pleasant to say to me, but now everything seems gone." A very +poor man, who had been an object of his charity, and whom he had +employed in many little services, could not rest till he had earned +enough to buy a small Arbor-vitae, (Tree of Life,) to plant upon his +grave. + +The Executive Committee of the Prison Association met, and passed the +following Resolutions: + + "_Resolved:_--That the combination of virtues which distinguished + and adorned the character of our lamented friend, eminently + qualified him for the accomplishment of those benevolent and + philanthropic objects to which he unremittingly devoted _a life_ + far more extended than ordinarily falls to man's inheritance. + + "That in our intimate associations with him for many years, he has + uniformly displayed a character remarkable for its + disinterestedness, energy, fearlessness, and Christian principle, + in every good word and work. + + "That we tender to the family and friends of the deceased our + sincere condolence and sympathy in their sore bereavement, but + whilst sensible that words, however truly uttered, cannot + compensate for the loss of such a husband, father, and guide, we do + find both for ourselves and for them, consolation in the belief + that his peaceful end was but the prelude to the bliss of Heaven. + + "That in the death of Isaac T. Hopper, the community is called to + part with a citizen of transcendent worth and excellence; the + prisoner, with an unwearied and well-tried friend; the poor and the + homeless, with a father and a protector; the church of Christ, with + a brother whose works ever bore unfailing testimony to his faith; + and the world at large, with a philanthropist of the purest and + most uncompromising integrity, whose good deeds were circumscribed + by no sect, party, condition or clime." + +The American Anti-Slavery Society received the tidings while they were +in session at Rochester. Mr. Garrison, after a brief but eloquent +tribute to the memory of the deceased, offered the following Resolution: + + "_Resolved:_--That it is with emotions too profound for utterance, + that this Society receives the intelligence of the decease of the + venerable Isaac T. Hopper, on Tuesday evening last, in the city of + New-York; the friend of the friendless--boundless in his + compassion--exhaustless in his benevolence--untiring in his + labors--the most intrepid of philanthropists, who never feared the + face of man, nor omitted to bear a faithful testimony against + injustice and oppression--the early, steadfast, heroic advocate and + protector of the hunted fugitive slave, to whose sleepless + vigilance and timely aid multitudes have been indebted for their + deliverance from the Southern House of Bondage;--in whom were + equally blended the gentleness of the lamb with the strength of the + lion--the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove; + and who, when the ear heard him, then it blessed him, when the eye + saw him, it gave witness to him, because he delivered the poor that + cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The + blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he + caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. He put on righteousness, + and it clothed him; his judgment was as a robe and a diadem. He was + eyes to the blind, and feet was he to the lame. The cause which he + knew not he searched out, and he broke the jaws of the wicked, and + plucked the spoil out of its teeth." + +He moved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded in an official +form to the estimable partner of his life, and the children of his +love, accompanied by an assurance of our deepest sympathy, in view +of their great bereavement. + +Several spoke in support of the Resolution, which was unanimously and +cordially adopted. + +The Committee of the Prison Association desired to have public funeral +solemnities, and the family complied with their wishes. Churches of +various denominations were immediately offered for the purpose, +including the meeting-houses of both branches of the Society of Friends. +The Tabernacle was accepted. Judge Edmonds, who had been an efficient +co-laborer, and for whom Friend Hopper had a strong personal affection, +offered a feeling tribute to the virtues and abilities of his departed +friend. He was followed by Lucretia Mott, a widely known and highly +respected minister among Friends. In her appropriate and interesting +communication, she dwelt principally upon his efforts in behalf of the +colored people; for whose sake she also had encountered obloquy. + +The Society of Friends in Hester-street, to which he had formerly +belonged, offered the use of their burying-ground. It was kindly meant; +but his children deeply felt the injustice of their father's expulsion +from that Society, for no other offence than following the dictates of +his own conscience. As his soul had been too much alive for them, when +it was in the body, their unity with the lifeless form was felt to +avail but little. + +The body was conveyed to Greenwood Cemetery, followed only by the +family, and a very few intimate friends. Thomas McClintock, a minister +in the Society of Friends, addressed some words of consolation to the +bereaved family, as they stood around the open grave. Lucretia Mott +affectionately commended the widow to the care of the children. In the +course of her remarks, she said, "I have no unity with these costly +monuments around me, by which the pride and vanity of man strive to +extend themselves beyond the grave. But I like the idea of burial +grounds where people of all creeds repose together. It is pleasant to +leave the body of our friend here, amid the verdant beauty of nature, +and the sweet singing of birds. As he was a fruitful bough, that +overhung the wall, it is fitting that he should not be buried within the +walls of any sectarian enclosure." + +Three poor little motherless German boys stood hand in hand beside the +grave. Before the earth was thrown in, the eldest stepped forward and +dropped a small bouquet on the coffin of his benefactor. He had gathered +a few early spring flowers from the little garden plot, which his kind +old friend used to cultivate with so much care, and with childish love +and reverence he dropped them in his grave. + +Soon after the funeral Lucretia Mott called a meeting of the colored +people in Philadelphia, and delivered an address upon the life and +services of their friend and protector. There was a very large audience; +and among them were several old people, who well remembered him during +his residence in that city. At the Yearly Meeting also she paid a +tribute to his virtues; it being the custom of Friends, on such +occasions, to make tender allusion to the worthies who have passed from +among them in the course of the year. + +The family received many letters of sympathy and condolence, from which +I will make a few brief extracts. Mrs. Marianne C.D. Silsbee, of Salem, +Massachusetts, thus speaks of him, in a letter to his son John: "I have +thought much of you all, since your great loss. How you must miss his +grand, constant example of cheerful trust, untiring energy, and love to +all! What a joy to have had such a father! To be the son of such a man +is ground for honest pride. The pleasure of having known him, the honor +of having been in social relations with him, will always give a charm to +my life. I cherish among my most precious recollections the pleasant +words he has so often spoken to me. I can see him while I write, as +vividly as though he were with me now; and never can his benign and +beautiful countenance lose its brightness in my memory. Dear old +friend! We cannot emulate your ceaseless good works; but we can follow, +and we can love and remember." + +Mrs. Mary E. Stearns, of Medford, Massachusetts, wrote as follows to +Rosalie Hopper: "The Telegraph has announced that the precious life you +were all so anxiously watching has 'passed on,' and that mysterious +change we call death has taken it from your midst forever. It is such a +beautiful day! The air is so soft, the grass so green, and the birds +singing so joyously! The day and the event have become so interwoven +with each other, that I cannot separate them. I think of his placid +face, sleeping its last still sleep; and through the open window, I see +the springing grass and the bursting buds. My ears are filled with +bird-music, and all other sounds are hushed in this Sabbath stillness. +All I see and hear seems to be hallowed by his departed spirit. Ah, it +is good to think of his death in the Spring time! It is good that his +soul, so fresh, so young and hopeful, should burst into a higher and +more glorious life, as if in sympathy with the ever beautiful, ever +wonderful resurrection of nature. Dear, blessed old man! I shall never +see his face again; but his memory will be as green as this springing +grass, and we shall always think and talk of our little experience with +him, as one of the golden things that can never pass away." + +Dr. Russ, his beloved co-laborer in the Prison Association, wrote thus +in a note to Mrs. Gibbons: "I have found it for my comfort to change the +furniture of the office, that it might not appear so lonely without your +dear, venerable father. I felt for him the warmest and most enduring +friendship. I esteemed him for his thousand virtues, and delighted in +his social intercourse. I am sure no one out of his own immediate +family, felt his loss more keenly than myself." + +James H. Titus, of New-York, thus expresses himself in a letter to James +S. Gibbons: "I have ever considered it one of the happiest and most +fortunate events of my life, to have had the privilege of an +acquaintance with Friend Hopper. I shall always recur to his memory with +pleasure, and I trust with that moral advantage, which the recollection +of his Christian virtues is so eminently calculated to produce. How +insignificant the reputation of riches, how unsatisfactory the renown of +victory in war, how transient political fame, when compared with the +history of a long life spent in services rendered to the afflicted and +the unfortunate!" + +Ellis Gray Loring, of Boston, in a letter to John Hopper, says: "We +heard of your father's death while we were in Rome. I could not restrain +a few tears, and yet God knows there is no room for tears about the life +or death of such a man. In both, he was a blessing and encouragement to +all of us. He really lived out all the life that was given him; filling +it up to such an age with the beauty of goodness, and consecrating to +the divinest purposes that wonderful energy of intellect and character. +In a society full of selfishness and pretension, it is a great thing to +have practical proof that a life and character like his are possible." + +Edmund L. Benzon, of Boston, writing to the same, says; "You will +imagine, better than I can write, with what deep sympathy I learned the +death of your good father, whom I have always esteemed one of the best +of men. I cannot say I am sorry for his death. My only regret is that +more of us cannot live and die as he has done. I feel with regard to all +good men departed, whom I have personally known, that there is now +another witness in the spirit, before whose searching eyes my inmost +soul lies open. I shall never forget him; not even if such a green old +age as his should be my own portion. If in the future life I can only be +as near him as I was on this earth, I shall deem myself blest." + +From the numerous notices in papers of all parties and sects, I will +merely quote the following: The New-York Observer thus announces his +death: + + "The venerable Isaac T. Hopper, whose placid benevolent face has so + long irradiated almost every public meeting for doing good, and + whose name, influence, and labors have been devoted with an + apostolic simplicity and constancy to humanity, died on Friday + last, at an advanced age. He was a Quaker of that early sort + illustrated by such philanthropists as Anthony Benezet, Thomas + Clarkson, Mrs. Fry, and the like. + + "He was a most self-denying, patient, loving friend of the poor, and + the suffering of every kind; and his life was an unbroken history + of beneficence. Thousands of hearts will feel a touch of grief at + the news of his death; for few men have so large a wealth in the + blessings of the poor, and the grateful remembrance of kindness and + benevolence, as he." + +The New-York Sunday Times contained the following: + + "Most of our readers will call to mind in connection with the name + of Isaac T. Hopper, the compact, well-knit figure of a Quaker + gentleman, apparently about sixty years of age, dressed in drab or + brown clothes of the plainest cut, and bearing on his handsome, + manly face the impress of that benevolence with which his whole + heart was filled. + + "He was twenty years older than he seemed. The fountain of + benevolence within, freshened his old age with its continuous flow. + The step of the octogenarian, was elastic as that of a boy, his + form erect as the mountain pine. + + "His whole _physique_ was a splendid sample of nature's handiwork. + We see him now with our 'mind's eye'--but with the eye of flesh we + shall see him no more. Void of intentional offence to God or man, + his spirit has joined its happy kindred in a world where there is + neither sorrow nor perplexity." + +I sent the following communication to the New-York Tribune: + + "In this world of shadows, few things strengthen the soul like + seeing the calm and cheerful exit of a truly good man; and this has + been my privilege by the bedside of Isaac T. Hopper. + + "He was a man of remarkable endowments, both of head and heart. His + clear discrimination, his unconquerable will, his total + unconsciousness of fear, his extraordinary tact in circumventing + plans he wished to frustrate, would have made him illustrious as + the general of an army; and these qualities might have become + faults, if they had not been balanced by an unusual degree of + conscientiousness and benevolence. He battled courageously, not + from ambition, but from an inborn love of truth. He circumvented as + adroitly as the most practised politician; but it was always to + defeat the plans of those who oppressed God's poor; never to + advance his own self-interest. + + "Few men have been more strongly attached to any religious society + than he was to the Society of Friends, which he joined in the days + of its purity, impelled by his own religious convictions. But when + the time came that he must either be faithless to duty in the cause + of his enslaved brethren, or part company with the Society to which + he was bound by the strong and sacred ties of early religious + feeling, this sacrifice he also calmly laid on the altar of + humanity. + + "During nine years that I lived in his household, my respect and + affection for him continually increased. Never have I seen a man + who so completely fulfilled the Scripture injunction, to forgive an + erring brother 'not only seven times, but seventy times seven.' I + have witnessed relapse after relapse into vice, under circumstances + which seemed like the most heartless ingratitude to him; but he + joyfully hailed the first symptom of repentance, and was always + ready to grant a new probation. + + "Farewell, thou brave and kind old Friend! The prayers of ransomed + ones ascended to Heaven for thee, and a glorious company have + welcomed thee to the Eternal City." + +On a plain block of granite at Greenwood Cemetery, is inscribed: + + ISAAC T. HOPPER, + + BORN, DECEMBER 3D, 1771, + + ENDED HIS PILGRIMAGE, MAY 7TH, 1852. + + "Thou henceforth shalt have a good man's calm, + A great man's happiness; thy zeal shall find + Repose at length, firm Friend of human kind." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ISAAC T. HOPPER*** + + +******* This file should be named 11859.txt or 11859.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/8/5/11859 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. 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