The Underground Railroad eBook

William Still
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,446 pages of information about The Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad eBook

William Still
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,446 pages of information about The Underground Railroad.
in hopes thee would go and see with thy own eyes, how things go on in that region of fugitives, and if it’s a goodly land to live in.
“This is the first of August, and I suppose you are celebrating it in Philadelphia, or some of you are, though I believe you are not quite as zealous as the Bostonians are in doing it.  When will our first of August come? oh, that it might be soon, very soon! ...  It’s high time the ‘reign of oppression was over.’”

Ever alive to the work, she would appeal to such as were able among her friends, to take stock in the Underground Rail Road, and would sometimes succeed.  In a letter dated July 30, 1856, she thus alludes to her efforts: 

“I have tried to beg something for them, but have not got much; one of our neighbors, S.W.  Acton, gave me three dollars for them; I added enough to make ten, which thee will find inside.  I shall owe three more, to make my ten.  I presume they are still coming every day almost, and I fear it comes rather hard on thee and wife to do for so many; but you no doubt feel it a satisfaction to do all you can for the poor sufferers.”

February 10, 1858, she forwarded her willing contribution, with the following interesting remarks: 

    SALEM, February 10, 1858.

DEAR FRIEND:—­Thee will find enclosed, five dollars for the fugitives, a little for so many to share it, but better than nothing; oh, that people, rich people, would remember them instead of spending so much on themselves; and those too, who are not called rich, might, if there was only a willing mind, give too of their abundance; how can they forbear to sympathize with those poor destitute ones—­but so it is—­there is not half the feeling for them there ought to be, indeed scarcely anybody seems to think about them.  “Inasmuch as ye have not done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have not done it unto me.”

    Thy friend,

    A. GOODWIN.

When the long looked-for day of emancipation arrived, which she had never expected to witness, the unbounded thankfulness of her heart found expression in the appended letter: 

    SALEM, September 23, 1862.

DEAR FRIEND:—­Thy letter dated 17th, was not received till last night.  I cannot tell where it has been detained so long.  On the 22d, yesterday, Amy Reckless came here, after I began writing, and wished me to defer sending for a day or two, thinking she could get a few more dollars, and she has just brought some, and will try for more, and clothing.  A thousand thanks to President Hamlin for his kindness to the contrabands; poor people! how deplorable their situation; where will they go to, when cold weather comes? so many of them to find homes for, but they must and will, I trust be taken care of, not by their former care-takers though.
I have read the President’s proclamation
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Project Gutenberg
The Underground Railroad from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.