Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/52

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

32

afraid, it is a friend." She recognised the voice of a Quaker. He took her into his house, time as they always are to the dictates of humanity, and the precepts of our religion, he fed, clothed, and sheltered her. She remained in his family some time, they being Abolitionists. She consulted the Quaker as to the propriety of attempting to rescue her daughter and grandchild from Slavery. He considered her too old, the distance too great, the difficulties to be overcome were more than she was capable of, besides the liability of forfeiting her own freedom; he, therefore, would not recommend her to attempt it. This advice, coming from an honest heart, was truly discouraging to her; nothing but a mother's love could have borne the burden of a broken-hearted mother.—Can a mother forget the child she bore? No! not while she remains a mother. She consulted other friends, and received similar advice. Notwithstanding, being provided with food and clothing, she made her way back, by the Providence of God, a distance of 400 miles, in the direction she came, through all kinds of weather. When her stock of provisions was exhausted, she fed, as before, on Indian corn.

Approaching the habitation of the hissing serpents, they (feeling an instinctive right to defend their domicils), warned the wearied traveller by their sound; nocturnal howls, the barking of the wolf-dog, the noise