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.