Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/79

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religion; a man of no ordinary natural abilities, moral courage, determination of will, a strong constitution, and, above all, a good Christian, praying man: such persons God always blesses in a way as to Him seems best. He became a Deacon of the Baptist Church, and a worthy one too. Now in a land of freedom, (for which he was as thankful as for many other blessings), he began to pray to God to send his wife to him. In all human probability this was a hopeless thing, but nothing is impossible with God. He well remembered that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." He continued to pray, year after year, but no wife came, and there was no prospect even of her coming, still he prayed. He had prayed so much for her, that it seemed impossible to cease, though all hopes had vanished from his mind: her image was so indelibly stamped on his heart that he now prayed for her as by instinct. He continued in this way for 12 years, and strange to say, one Sunday morning, in the town of Amherstburgh or Maiden, on Lake Erie, during service time, the Steamer from the United States to Canada, on this lake, arrived here. A lady came on shore, advanced immediately up the street, leading from the water, and when arrived at the chapel door, she accosted the Chapel-keeper, sayings "I am a stranger here. Sir." "I see you are," said he. "Where are you from?" continued he, being anxious to