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 LIFE AND LETTERS 
 
 Elizabeth L. Comstock. 
 
 Compiled by Jier Sister, 
 C. HARE. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 Headley Brothers, Publishers, Wormwood Street, E.G. 
 Printing Works : Ashford, Kent. 
 
 American Publishers : 
 John C. Winston & Co., North Seventh Street, Philadelphia. 
 
 1895.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 
 VI. 
 
 VII. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 XL 
 
 XII. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 
 Early Years. 1815—1829 
 Life as a Teacher — Marriage. 
 
 1829—1850 
 
 Residence in Balvewell, Derbyshire — Voyage to 
 America. 1850—1854 
 
 Earl}- Impressions of Canada. 1854 — 1857 
 
 Second Marriage — Fugitive Slave Law. 1858 
 
 Home Life in Michigan. 1858—1861 
 
 Philanthropic Labours. 1861—1862 
 
 Incidents of the American War 1862 — 1863 
 
 Visits to Prisons and Staten Island. 1862 — 1863- 
 
 Further Incidents of the War. 1863-1864 
 
 Visit to President Lincoln. 1864 - - - 
 
 Visit to Joliet Prison. 1864 - - . 
 
 Journey to Winchester. 1864 — 1865 
 
 Letters — Travels to Indian Territory — General 
 Meeting— Conference. 1865—1868 - 
 
 Papers written for American " Herald of Peace." 
 1868 - 
 
 Gospel Labours— Return to England. 1868 — 1873 
 
 Sunday School Conference — Address on Temper- 
 ance. 1874 ----- 
 
 Second Voyage to America — Home Life. 1875 — 
 
 1879 ------ 
 
 Work among the Freedmen in Kansas. 1879 — 
 
 1880 ------ 
 
 Further Labours in Kansas. 1880 
 
 Settlements of Freedmen — Interview with Presi- 
 dent Garfield. 1881 — 1883 - 
 
 Visit to England and Return — Death of her 
 Husband. 1883—1884 
 
 Removal to Union Springs. 1885—1890 - 
 
 Visit to Florida— Illness and Death. 1891 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 
 28 
 
 34 
 
 60 
 
 71 
 
 94 
 
 109 
 
 124 
 
 143 
 
 176 
 
 193 
 
 206 
 
 234 
 
 259 
 
 288 
 
 314 
 
 348 
 
 369 
 390 
 
 407 
 
 437 
 463 
 491
 
 Chapter I. 
 EARLY LIFE.— 1815-1829. 
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK was the daughter of 
 William and Mary Rous, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, 
 and was born there October 30th, 1815. She spent more 
 than half her eventful life in America, and the last time 
 she was in England, some nine or ten years ago, dictated 
 the commencement of an autobiography, from which, 
 and her numerous interesting letters, the following 
 pages are compiled. 
 
 We will quote first from the former : — 
 It has been truly said that " Everyone's life is 
 a Story " ; the first page of my life's story was opened 
 at the little country town of Maidenhead, in Berkshire, 
 England, six miles from the Royal Palace at Windsor. 
 In the lull that succeeded the battle of Waterloo, 
 when peace was restored to the European powers after 
 their long conflict, and Napoleon's restless spirit was 
 chafing on the rock-bound Island of St. Helena, my 
 eyes opened upon my mother's face, beaming upon me 
 with loving admiration. I Avas her first girl, the oldest 
 of seven daughters — one little brother had preceded 
 me, and another followed two years later, over whose 
 birth I rejoiced exceedingly, and in my excess of love 
 nearly ended his life prematurely. Wishing to share 
 with him a rosy apple that had been given me, I went 
 to his cradle and awoke him, saying " Baby, bite," and
 
 2 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 tried to thrust it into his mouth ; and a few days later 
 came still nearer choking him with a tiny biscuit, 
 which I succeeded in forcing in, thinking it "just 
 the size for baby to eat." Some exploits of this kind 
 made my dear mother willing to spare me to a kind 
 aunt, who kept a school near us, for two or three hours 
 daily, so that my literary education may be said to have 
 commenced very early, and also some more domestic 
 lessons. In later life, I found some letters written 
 from this aunt to my mother, acknowledging the 
 receipt of a pocket-handkerchief, " hemmed by little 
 Elizabeth, at two years old," which she thought an 
 extraordinary performance for so young a child. To 
 this dear aunt I was indebted for instruction during 
 several years of my childhood, until, Avhen in my 
 ninth year, on May 20th, 1824, I left home for the 
 Friends' School, at Islington. My dear mother took 
 me to London Yearly Meeting on the way, and there 
 for the first time, I had the privilege of listening to 
 that eminent servant of the Lord, Elizabeth Fry. I 
 shall never forget the impression she made upon my 
 young mind by her sweet voice, beautiful face, and her 
 earnest pleading, as she spoke of the prisoners, the 
 suffering and the outcast. I was too young to under- 
 stand one half of what she said, yet good seed was 
 sown then and there, which led to active labour in after 
 years. In the solemn silence that followed, after she 
 took her seat, my childish heart was lifted in the 
 prayer that I might grow as good as she was, and work 
 in the same way. Although an unusually wild, wilful, 
 and playful child, yet in my most sacred and secret
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 3 
 
 moments, I returned to the prayer of my childhood, 
 
 and these impressions ^vere deepened every time I had 
 
 the privilege of seeing and hearing her in after years. 
 
 Among the early and pleasant impressions of my 
 
 childhood, are my dear mother's teachings. On one 
 
 occasion, as I walked beside her along the banks of 
 
 the Thames, she talked to me about the rushing river 
 
 and the mighty ocean, the majestic trees and the lofty 
 
 hills, and the powerful Hand that made them all ; of 
 
 the sun, moon and stars, and the Heavenly Father, 
 
 " Who planned and formed, and still upholds a world 
 So fraught with beauty, for rebellious man." 
 
 A sensatioh of awe, accompanied by something like 
 
 discouragement, came into my childish heart, which I 
 
 expressed to my mother Avith a fear that He would 
 
 not care for a little child like me when He had so many 
 
 great and wonderful things to attend to. She replied 
 
 by lifting me up to see a bird's nest in the hedgerow, 
 
 and explaining to me that God taught the little bird to 
 
 build its nest, and to rear its young ; and then bade 
 
 me pluck a little flower at my feet, and j^ointed out 
 
 how nothing was so small as to escape His notice, Who 
 
 gave the violet its life and nourishment, its fragrance 
 
 and beaut}-. 
 
 My dear father took great delight in seating me on 
 
 his knee, and talking to me of the truth and beauty of 
 
 the distinguishing views of the Society of Friends, 
 
 which he had joined when quite a young man. Many 
 
 an hour I have listened with great interest as he told 
 
 me of the cruel persecutions and great sufferings of the 
 
 early Friends. He took pains to impress upon me the
 
 4 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 utter uselessness of water baptism and other outward 
 ceremonies, telling me that he was once baptised with 
 water, and was much disappointed to find that it did 
 not wash away a single sin, or help him at all, in his 
 efforts to be good. Of the horrors of war, he often 
 spoke, and of the sinfulness and cruelty of slavery. 
 His narrative of Leonard Fell Avas so vividly impressed 
 upon my mind that I have never forgotten it. Leonard 
 Fell, son of Margaret Fell, returning from meeting, 
 one Sunday evening, and passing along a solitary road, 
 was suddenly attacked by a highwayman, who seizing 
 the bridle rein, demanded " Your money or your 
 life." The young Friend immediately took out 
 his purse and handed it to him. As he did so, the 
 robber, seeing seals and watch-chain, became bolder, and 
 presenting his pistol again, demanded " Your watch or 
 your life." The watch was immediately given him, 
 and emboldened still more by this, and thinking he 
 had only a coward to deal with, he became still bolder, 
 and presenting his pistol again, said "Your horse or 
 your life." The young man dismounted, and the 
 robber mounted the horse, and would have ridden off, 
 but Leonard Fell took hold of the bridle rein, and 
 began to expostulate with him on his sinful course, 
 preaching to him, " of righteousness, temperance and 
 judgment to come." 
 
 Again the pistol was presented, with the threat " If 
 you do not stop, you are a dead man," but without 
 paying any regard to his threat, our young Friend 
 continued his earnest words of rebuke and exhortation, 
 to the great amazement of the robber who exclaimed.
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 5 
 
 "I thought you were a coward — j'ou gave me yoiir 
 money, your watch, and your horse to save your life, 
 and now you have nothing more to lose, you risk it 
 standing there, preaching to me." Leonard Fell's reply 
 is worthy of being written in letters of gold. 
 
 "Though I would not risk my life to save my 
 money, my watch, or my horse, yet I will risk it to 
 save thy soul." 
 
 The man dropped his pistol, listened to the words 
 of the young preacher, dismounted, restored all he had 
 taken from him, and with tears of contrition confessed 
 his sin, gave a sad detail of his past life, and the 
 circumstances that had led him to such a course, how 
 he had taken to drinking, lost his Avork and his 
 character, and when going down hill, found everyone 
 ready to give him a kick, so he had gone on from 
 bad to worse, until . with a sickly wife and starving 
 family, he had been driven to his present life. Leonard 
 Fell gave him his address and promised to provide 
 him with work if he would forsake his evil ways and 
 abstain from liquor. He did so and became a changed 
 character, and henceforth lived industriously and 
 honestly. How much better than if the life of either 
 had been sacrificed ! 
 
 In the conversations with my father, he would 
 sometimes mention John Rous, one of the early 
 champions of Truth, as held by Friends, who married 
 Margaret Fell's daughter, and suffered such cruel 
 persecution both in England and New England, having 
 his right ear cut off for returning to the latter country 
 after being banished. In Sewel's " History of Friends,"
 
 6 LIFE AND LETTERS OP 
 
 we read of some of John Rous's family settling in 
 Suffolk, which being my father's native county, he 
 thought we were probably descended from the same 
 good stock, and he imbued my young heart fully with 
 the idea that such ancestry Avas infinitely superior to 
 being able to prove our descent "From loins enthroned, 
 and rulers of the earth." 
 
 The following is a story we heard from our dear 
 father. We called it "The stolen hides." William 
 Savery, an eminent preacher in the Society of Friends, 
 was a tanner by trade, and known by all as "one 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 neighbour, whom I will call John Smith. The 
 next week, the following advertisement appeared in the 
 county newspaper, " Whoever stole a quantity 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 affair secret, and will gladly put him 
 into 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 who had made 
 the kind offer. When he read it, his heart melted 
 within him, and he was filled with sorrow for what he 
 had done. A few nights afterwards, as the tanner's 
 family were 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
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 7 
 
 looking up he said,"! have brought these back, Mr. 
 Savery ; where shall I put them?" "Wait till I can get 
 a lantern, and I will go to the barn with thee ; then 
 perhaps thou wilt come in, and tell nie how this 
 happened. We will see what can be done for thee." 
 As soon as they w^ere gone out, his wife prepared some 
 hot coffee, and placed pies and meat on the table. 
 When they returned from the barn, she said, "Neighbour 
 Smith, I thought some hot supper would be good for 
 thee." He turned his back to her and did not speak. 
 After leaning against the fire-place in silence a few 
 moments, he said in a choked voice, "It is the first 
 time I ever stole anything, and I have felt very bad 
 about it. I am sure I didn't once think that I 
 should ever come to wdiat I am. But 1 took to drinking, 
 and then to quarrelling. You are the first man that 
 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. 
 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 remains 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 on good wages. Thy little boy can 
 pick up stones. But eat now, and drink some hot 
 coffee. Perhaps it will keep thee from craving any- 
 thing stronger to-night. Doubtless thou wilt find it 
 hard to abstain at first, but keep up a brave heart for
 
 8 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 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 thee." 
 
 The poor fellow tried to eat and drink, but the 
 food seemed to choke him. 
 
 After vainly trying to compose his feelings, he 
 bowed his head on the table and wept like a child. 
 After a Avhile he ate and drank, and his host parted 
 from him for the night with the friendly words, " 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 show the power of 
 that love for God and man which the Gospel of Christ 
 inspires. Would to God that all men were as wise, as 
 patient, as eager to do good, as much like Christ as he 
 was 1 
 
 One of my chief troubles at school arose from the 
 difficulty of observing the very strict rules, a long list 
 of which was read to us once a month; and here I will 
 bear my testimony against the practice, then so sadly 
 prevalent, of inflicting so many strict rules upon little 
 children. One of them was " not a word to be spoken 
 from the time the bell rang, at 7.30 p.m., for evening 
 reading, until we came downstairs the next morning." 
 This silent system I constantly transgressed, for it was 
 impossible for a lively chatterbox of nine years to keep 
 quiet so long. Monitors were appointed in every room 
 to watch and inform against those who talked, and
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 9 
 
 punishment followed every transgression of the rule. 
 This encouraged deceit, and led to artful modes of 
 communication, which might elude the Vigilance of 
 the monitors. Another evil resulting from this Spartan- 
 like code of laws was, that we no sooner heard them 
 read, than we felt a desire to break them, proving that 
 now, as in days of old, " sin cometli by the law." 
 
 Thus, the rule forbidding us to walk on a certain 
 low wall, bounding our playground, at once suggested 
 an inclination in my wayward spirit to mount the same, 
 which I did, being the ringleader of a dozen more, who 
 followed in my track. For this transgression, my 
 " disobedience received a just recompense of reward," 
 for I was sentenced to solitary confinement until I had 
 committed to memory the twelfth chapter of Romans. 
 Another regulation was that no one should get on the 
 top of a high chest of drawers, which stood in the girls' 
 schoolroom. A few days after this was read, some of 
 my schoolfellows dared me to climb it, and to prove to 
 them my bravery, I soon accomplished the feat, and 
 was' seated on the top when governess suddenly made 
 her appearance in the room, and, with look and tone of 
 severe displeasure, ordered me to stay there until 
 permitted to descend, and, in this uncomfortable and 
 ignominious position, the gazing-stock of all who came 
 into the room, I (justly) remained for an hour or two. 
 
 Another of these written laws forbade us to climb 
 a fine chestnut tree at the lower end of the playground. 
 No sooner was this new rule made, than a number of 
 us, standing under the tree, gazed up with longing looks 
 at the delightful seats among its umbrageous branches,
 
 10 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 that we could find for sitting sheltered from the sun, 
 with onr fancywork or our reading : enjoying this 
 stolen pleasure, with several others, for many an hour 
 have I sat, perusing " Pilgrim's Progress," the only 
 interesting book that was allowed us, while one of our 
 playfellows would watch and give notice of the approach 
 of teachers, I taking my turn as sentinel. Thus were 
 seeds of deceit broadly sown through onr school by 
 stringent rules. 
 
 Before going to school I had not been a dainty 
 child, but soon after entering, received my first lesson 
 in this direction. I was told that only the poor 
 children liked the rice pudding, so with childish 
 vanity, and a strong wish to support the respectability 
 of my family, I soon took a dislike to it, and fancied 
 I could not eat it. Sometimes the rice was boiled, 
 and not very thoroughly, and I really found 
 difficulty in swallowing the hard grains, and made 
 a bargain with Hannah, the girl wdio sat opposite 
 to me at table, that if she would eat my rice pudding 
 for me at dinner, I would give her my treacle at 
 supper. For a long time, this transaction was regularly 
 carried on between us on a Tuesday. Should this ever 
 meet her eye, she may accept my cordial thanks for the 
 friendly help so long and constantly rendered, although 
 on that day, I not only gave away my dinner, for we 
 had only pudding, but had nothing but dry bread for 
 supper. On one memorable occasion, Hannah being 
 absent, and the pudding being worse than usual, very 
 hard and dry, I could not eat it, and after one or two 
 vain attempts to swallow it, was left behind with
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK, 11 
 
 a good many others in like predicament. We were all 
 requireel to clear our plates, and eat the whole of our 
 first helping at dinner, whether palatable or not ; one 
 of the teachers remaining v/ith us. As she walked to 
 and fro in the dining-room, I learned another lesson in 
 artfulness from my next door neighbour, who, when 
 the teacher's back was turned, deposited a spoonful at 
 a time of her pudding into a handkerchief in her lap, 
 which example I quickly followed, and soon the whole 
 of my rice was transferred to my pocket from my plate, 
 and I was allowed to leave thedining-room, the teacher 
 supposing I had eaten it. At the playroom door, I was 
 met by a merry group, waiting for me to join in their 
 play, and in the noisy, eager game of " I spy," I forgot 
 all about the contents of my pocket. In the afternoon 
 school, the monitor called out my name for talking, 
 and a bad mark was given me ; when I rose to make 
 excuse that I was speaking necessarily, another mark 
 was added, A feeling of indignation at the injustice, 
 drew from me the exclamation, *' It is a shame," 
 whereupon, I was called from my seat, and made to 
 stand at the teacher's table. A burst of tears led me to 
 draw forth my pocket-handkerchief, when behold, in 
 full view of the whole school, and all of the teachers, 
 the rice rattled down, and scattered all over the open 
 space between the teachers' tables and the girls' 
 desks. A solemn silence followed, in which we might 
 have heard a pin drop anywhere in the room. Happily 
 for me, governess was absent from the room, receiving, 
 in the teachers' parlour, a visit from the gentleman to 
 whom she was engaged to be married. I stood all the
 
 12 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 afternoon, in great fear of her appearance, but, thanks 
 to her friend, she did not come ; and after school, one 
 of the girls swept up the rice, and threw it away. 
 
 One of our favourite amusements at School, 
 was plajing at meeting and preaching. I had the 
 reputation of being an excellent mimic, but not quite 
 so distinguished as my school-fellow^ Susan, who was 
 particularly clever in imitating an aged minister, 
 concerning w^hom, a tradition was current amongst us 
 that he generally spoke from the text "Every tub must 
 stand upon its own bottom." This preacher was very 
 peculiar in his delivery, very tall and so upright as to 
 lean a little back\vard, and bring his hands down with 
 much emphasis upon the gallery-rail, in his loud 
 vociferations. One evening we had retired earlier than 
 usual, as cleaning was going on downstairs, and had 
 received the permission, very seldom accorded, to 
 converse in our bedrooms — the teacher's parting charge 
 as she left the room was that we should not talk very 
 loud, and only on serious subjects. This was followed 
 on our part by a request that Susan would " give us a 
 sermon, as there is no talk so serious as sermons." She 
 at once complied, to our exceeding amusement, and as 
 the tall girl standing up, just visible in the moonlight, 
 brought down her hands upon the bed-rail, with the 
 emphatic words, and the peculiar manner, " Every tub 
 must stand upon its own bottom," a merry peal of 
 laughter rang through the room, which reached the 
 ears of the governess below, and "G.G.," "G.G.," (great 
 governess) was whispered round the room,while the sound 
 of her advancing footsteps silenced the noise, so that
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. IH 
 
 when she entered our bedroom, Susan was in bed, and 
 apparently fast asleep — and I was the only one whose 
 laugh she detected. My risible faculties were of such 
 a nature that it always seemed easier to me to laugh, 
 and more difficult to stop laughing than to my 
 school-fellows. Advancing to the foot of my bed, 
 governess severely demanded "Elizabeth, what art thou 
 laughing at ? " If there was any character that was 
 specially despised among us, it was a tell-tale, and 
 therefore I was silent. After the question had been 
 repeatedly asked, with no reply, I was ordered to get 
 dressed and accompany governess downstairs. There 
 I was again plied with questions, but assuming the 
 heroic, I resolved that torture should not draw the 
 cause of my laughter from me. After repeated severe 
 reprimands, she seated me at the end of one of the 
 school-room desks, and giving me a Bible, directed me 
 to read m that and see how wicked it was to be making 
 fun and amusing the girls when we ought to have been 
 engaged in self-examination and devotion. 
 
 Instead of using my Bible for the purpose named, 
 I began seeking for the text " Every tub must stand 
 upon its own bottom," and trying to find out the 
 circumstances under which it was first spoken — in 
 vain — and have since learned that it is not a Scripture 
 quotation at all, but the language that Bunyan puts 
 into the mouth of one Presumption, whom he found 
 sleeping at the foot of the Hill Difficulty. 
 
 While thus engaged, the whole scene came so 
 vividly before my mind that I again laughed aloud, to 
 the great indignation of my governess who was within
 
 14 LIFE AND LETTERS OP 
 
 hearing, and immediately came to me, reproved me 
 severely and took the Bible away, saying I should not 
 make fun of that any longer, put out the light, and left 
 ine alone in the darkness and in tears, to think over 
 and repent of my sin. There I remained until ten 
 o'clock at night. The following Saturday, in play 
 afternoon, we amused ourselves with holding meeting. 
 We selected for our meeting house, a shady spot 
 beneath the spreading boughs of the chestnut tree, as 
 far removed as possible from the teachers' parlour. 
 Our favourite preacher was called upon to occupy the 
 pulpit, which was an empty water-butt turned upside 
 down. Susan mounted, and raising her hands and 
 eyes, and elevating herself to her utmost height, as she 
 in a very emphatic manner, brought down her hands 
 on the bough of the tree which made an admirable 
 gallery-rail, she gave out her text in a stentorian voice, 
 " Every tub must stand upon its own bottom." As 
 she spoke, the head of the cask fell in, and she made 
 a most ignominious descent into the depths below, 
 leaving nothing visible but the upper part of her face 
 — loud and long continued was the merry laughter 
 that followed, but being holiday afternoon, no evil 
 results ensued, or enquiries as to our laughter. 
 
 The next morning in meeting, unfortunately for 
 me, as subsequent events proved, 1 occupied a very 
 conspicuous place, the third seat from the aisle, and 
 facing the ministers. We had sat some time in silence 
 when the minister mentioned before rose, and with his 
 peculiar manner, which we had seen so cleverly 
 mimicked, gave out his text, " Every tub must stand
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 15 
 
 upon its own bottom." This was too much for my 
 risibility, and I laughed aloud. - The preacher stood as 
 if spell-bound ; had he been turned to stone he could 
 not have been more silent. The solemnity that followed 
 was awful to me, as the governess left her elevated 
 seat at the side, came to me, and led me out of meeting, 
 a poor little culprit of eleven years old, led down the 
 aisle in solemn silence in the presence of about 300. I 
 felt the disgrace most keenly, and as though I should 
 never be able to lift up my head again as long as I 
 lived. Without a word she led me back to the school. 
 I thought that if she had scolded me, or shaken me, or 
 even beaten me, I should have preferred it to this 
 awful silence. She took me into the house, through 
 the hall, up the stairs, and locked me up in a closet. 
 After meeting, I was brought down into the teachers' 
 parlour, where a solemn assembly was gathered — the 
 two ministers, two elders, two of the committee, 
 the superintendents, governess, and some of the 
 teachei's, numbering in all eighteen, like the judge 
 and jury, and I the prisoner at the bar before 
 them, trembling and weeping. The first command 
 given me was, " Put thy hands behind thee," a 
 thoughtless charge to give to a child with eyes swollen 
 and red with weeping. Next came the query, " What 
 didst thou laugh at ? " It would have been impossible 
 for me to explain had I been disposed to do so, and I 
 had determined to implicate no one. Each of the 
 members of this solemn conclave by turn addressed 
 me ; I do not remember what one, two, three, and four 
 said, but seventeen and eighteen will never be for-
 
 16 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 gotten. Number seventeen charged me with being 
 guilty of the same offence that the children of old 
 committed who mocked Elisha, reminding me of the 
 awful judgment that followed, when the bears came 
 out of the wood and tare forty-two of them. I was so 
 terrified that for a long while after T could seldom 
 walk in a lonely place or through a wood without 
 some fear that I might hear the growling of a bear. I 
 knew enough of natural history to understand there 
 were no wild bears in England, but did not know what 
 miracle might be wrought for my especial case. The 
 illustration was the more forcible, as glancing timidly 
 at the preacher, I noticed his head was very bald. 
 Number eighteen compared my fault to the sin of 
 Belshazzar, in making light of sacred things, in allusion 
 to his sacrilege in using the holy vessels of the Temple 
 for his feast. In after years it has seemed to me that 
 this was very far-fetched, but at that time I was much 
 frightened, and wlien taken upstairs again and locked 
 in the dark closet, I hardly dared open my eyes lest I 
 should see a hand writing on the wall. I was con- 
 demned to solitary confinement, with onlj" bread and 
 water for food, and what was worse still to me, to sit 
 by governess in meeting until I would tell what made 
 me laugh. 
 
 After sitting there three meeting-times, and having 
 through excessive crying to go to bed with a bad head- 
 ache directly I got back to the school, on the morning 
 of the fourth meeting-day, Susan found me weeping at 
 one of the schoolroom desks, and said to me, "Elizabeth 
 Rous, I do think thou art a little simpleton." This
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 17 
 
 I felt "the crnelest thrust of all." I turned upon her 
 with indignation, saying that if I had told of her, she 
 would have been in punishment instead of me. She 
 replied, " "Well, I do think thou art very foolish ; here 
 for three meeting-days thou hast sat by governess, cried 
 so much, and made thy head ache so badly, and had to 
 go to bed directly after meeting. If thou hadst had 
 a spark of sense, thou wouldst have had the headache 
 before meeting. I am sure thou hast a bad headache 
 now." "Whereupon she took me to L.B., one of the 
 kindest and most sympathizing of the teachers, and said 
 to her, " This poor little thing has a dreadful headache, 
 she was sobbing and crying all night, and kept all the 
 girls in our room awake ; may she go and lie down ? " 
 This appeal was rather a stretch of Susan's eloquence, 
 but it met with a kind response from the teacher, who 
 put her arm round me, and, with a loving kiss, said, 
 " Poor child ! I am very sorry for her, but her case is 
 under the care of the ministers and elders, and of the 
 committee, and I don't dare to interfere." 
 
 L.B. kindly allowed me to go and lie down till 
 meeting-time, and Susan saw me comfortably in bed, 
 and left me with the charge, " Now, of course, thou 
 won't hear the bell ring for meeting, and if anyone 
 comes to call thee, snore loud enough to let them know 
 thou art fast asleep." I must soon have fallen asleep, 
 as the next sounds I heard were those of the girls taking 
 their things off after meeting. "Whether they forgot 
 me, or relented and thought my punishment too severe, 
 I know not, but this was the last I heard of the matter, 
 and here ended my playing at meeting and preaching.
 
 18 LIFE AND LETTERS OP 
 
 In reference to the foregoing, it is due both to my 
 teachers and schoolfellows to explain that the former 
 would not have been so severe had they known the 
 circumstances, and they thought me incorrigibly 
 obstinate for refusing to tell what I laughed at ; and, 
 being cut off from all communication with the latter 
 while I was in disgrace, I had no opportunity of 
 explaining to them, or they would have cleared me, and 
 Susan herself would have explained all.
 
 ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 19 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 LIFE AS A TEACHER— MARRIAGE. 
 1829-1850. 
 
 ELIZABETH ROUS left Croydon School, after 
 attainino' the first place in it, in 1829 — and ten 
 years after returned there as a teacher. Her unfailing 
 energy and excellent spirits made her a great favourite 
 among her pupils. She was not only the teacher, but 
 the sharer of their out-of-door games and their indoor 
 amusements. She often accompanied them in long 
 walks through the pretty country around, Croham 
 Hurst and the Addington Hills being frequently 
 chosen for their afternoon strolls. 
 
 In 1842, she went to Ack worth, where she had 
 charge of the senior class of girls, and where, as at 
 Croydon, she was much beloved by her pupils. She 
 enjoyed their companionship both in the playroom 
 and schoolroom, and was ever ready to give up her 
 time to help them ; while her desire for their best 
 welfare was sincere and earnest. Her sense of the 
 responsibilitj- attached to the teacher's calling increased 
 and deepened. To one of her sisters who was about 
 to join the teaching staff at Ackworth, she wrote in 
 1844 : — "Let us strive togeiJier to serve the Lord. Let 
 this be our constant aim ; let us have no greater 
 pleasure, no more powerful attraction that might draw
 
 20 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [184G. 
 
 our hearts and onr affections from Him and from His 
 service. Let us be one another's help nnd strength in 
 the Lord. We may have trials and conflicts and bitter 
 cups to drink yet, but we can drink them together ; 
 we can bear one another's burdens ; we can watch 
 over one another for good." 
 
 Under date 18-6-1846, E. R. wrote from Ackworth 
 to her sister, then at Croydon, . . "But my dear 
 C. it requires no small qualification to be fit for an 
 Ackworth or a Croydon teacher either ; the longer 
 I live, the more I feel the importance and respon- 
 sibility of the position. A little circumstance has 
 occurred which has made me feel this just now with 
 increased Aveight, and as I think it calculated to 
 convey a lesson of instruction to all teachers, especially 
 to young and inexperienced ones, I hand it to thee. 
 During the recent hot weather, the girls have given a 
 good deal of trouble, in getting or wishing to get 
 water, before going to bed. One evening they were 
 spoken to all together, and told they could have as 
 much water as they wished before reading, but none 
 on any account, after. On the very next evening, one 
 of the young teachers brought two little girls to me 
 with the complaint that they had been into the 
 wash-house for water, instead of going straight to bed. 
 The teacher who told me spoke as though much 
 vexed with the little delinquents, whom she had been 
 blaming in no very gentle terms for their disobedience. 
 When she left them with me, I took them one in each 
 hand, and led them to sit down by themselves, instead 
 of going to bed with the rest, telling them as I did so,
 
 1846.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 21 
 
 that I was \erj sorry to have to punish them, for that 
 I had noticed them particularly during the week, as 
 behaving unusually w^ell. They were generally very 
 giddy and disorderly though interesting little creatures, 
 and I had several times commended them for their 
 care and watchfulness over themselves during this 
 week. When I made the above remark to them, I left 
 one sitting in the schoolroom alone, and was about to 
 leave the other in the playroom, when she burst into 
 tears, and sobbed and seemed so much distressed that 
 I did not like to leave her, and sat down by her on a 
 box to have a little conversation with her. I am truly 
 thankful that I did this, for by it, I was prevented 
 from committing an act of great injustice, by punish- 
 ing these little ones, and I fear to think of what might 
 have been the consequence in their state of mind, had 
 I done as 1 was going to. By mj- talk with little J., 
 I found that she and M. E. had been under very 
 serious impressions, that they had yielded to them, 
 and were striving to be good children, lambs of their 
 Saviour's fold, that they bad spoken to S. E. W. (one 
 of the teachers) on the subject, and asked her to let 
 them go to her every night to tell her how they had 
 behaved during the day, whether they had talked or 
 been disorderly, or done anything wrong, etc. On 
 the evening in question one of them had some flowers 
 in her hand, which the teacher who brought her to me 
 said she had been to her garden for. It was quite a 
 mistake ; they had not been to get water, they had not 
 been to their gardens. They had been told that 
 S. E. W. was in the wash-house, they looked in to see,
 
 22 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1846. 
 
 and did not enter, they got no water. The little girl 
 who had the flowers, shall speak for herself. After 
 I had heard the explanation about the wash-house, 
 I asked her, ' My dear M. E., why didst thou go to 
 thy garden after reading ? thou knew that was wrong,' 
 
 ^'■M.E. ' I did not go to my garden, please.' 
 
 "/. ' Then where didst thou get those flowers ?' 
 
 ^^M.E. ' I got them before reading, and laid them 
 there,'' pointing to a shelf. 
 
 ^ What for, dear ? ' said I. 
 
 "Tears again started into the dear child's eyes, and 
 into mine too, as she replied, ' S.E.W. has been very 
 kind to me, and I thought she would like some flowers 
 out of my own garden.' 
 
 "After dismissing the dear little lambs to their 
 respective bedrooms, I retired to my own, to pour out 
 my full soul to Him who sees the heart, and judges 
 not by the outward appearance. 
 
 "While I thanked Him for not permitting me to 
 commit an act of injustice, I bewailed, with bitter 
 tears, my own weakness and my liability to err in this 
 way, through ignorance of what the children were 
 feeling and thinking. And earnestly did I commit it 
 to His especial guidance, who alone knoweth the heart, 
 that he would watch over us all, and over our precious 
 charge, that we might never be permitted in ignorance, 
 to punish unjustly, or to check any good work in the 
 heart of the lambs committed to om^ care. I felt 
 relieved when I left my bedroom, but this circumstance 
 and the narrow escape that I felt I had had, rested 
 upon my mind. It has already been of use to me, and
 
 1847.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 23 
 
 I trust will be yet of greater use. May it be a lesson 
 to thee, too, my dearest, not to condemn too easily from 
 outward appearance, and not to judge or punish hastily. 
 . . . . I hope thou hast settled in again very nicely 
 and cheerfully, since I bade thee farewell, and that 
 
 dear is endeavouring to walk in the narrow path 
 
 of self-denial, the path which leads to peace." 
 
 Writing from Ackworth again, 21-12-1847, she 
 mentions several cases of indisposition in the school, 
 and continues, " I have just been upstairs with 
 the girls, a quarter at a time, to see the remains 
 of their late dear school-fellow, C.R. It is a solemn 
 sight to see this young and lovely flower so soon cut 
 off, transplanted, I trust, to a heavenly garden, there 
 to bloom for ever. She looked very beautiful. Dear 
 Thomas Pumphrey, governess, and I were present 
 while all the children went in to the chamber of death. 
 T.P. sweetly addressed them, and told them a little 
 about the last hours of their young companion. He 
 spoke of the body so soon cut down, told them that C, 
 after hearing of her danger, had, in conversation with 
 him, quoted those two lines, 
 
 " The body ! little is its worth, 
 
 " Oh ! let it mingle with the earth ! " 
 
 but that all her concern was for the soul. During the 
 very few hours that elapsed between her being 
 informed of her danger, and the summons going forth 
 ' Prepare to meet thy God,' she was twice heard, as if 
 in earnest prayer, to utter the words ' Forgive me ! oh 
 forgive me ! ' She was conscious to the last, her close 
 was remarkably quiet, as though sinking into a sweet
 
 24 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1847. 
 
 sleep. She bad hold of my hand when her spirit took 
 its flight from the weak tenement. The last who died 
 in that room, was our dear sister Mary.* T.P. and 
 I were forcibly reminded of that event, as we watched 
 the dying bed of this sweet lamb." 
 
 Elizabeth Rous left Ackworth in 1847, on her 
 marriage with Leslie Wright, who about this time, had 
 given up a lucrative business from conscientious 
 motives, and had taken a market garden at Waltham- 
 stow, in Essex. 
 
 Before this they had had some thought of settling 
 in Ireland, and re-opening a school there which had 
 been closed for some time. She went over to make 
 
 enquiries and wrote thus of her trip. " and 
 
 very kindly met me at the station, and went on board 
 and stayed half an hour with me before the steamer 
 started. 
 
 " The evening was very rough, and both wind and 
 tide against us. The stewardess greeted me with the 
 wnwelcome intelligence ' we shall have a blustering 
 night, and get late to Dublin.' To my great satisfaction 
 when seated in the saloon, feeling quite disconsolate, 
 I saw a Friend seated near me. A member of our 
 Society amidst forty other passengers, all men, was 
 quite cheering. He soon made himself known to me, 
 and in the course of half an hour, we were in 
 a very interesting and animated conversation about 
 Ireland, Irish character, and Irish schools. ... I 
 
 *^- Mary Kous, mistress of the Monitorial School, died at 
 Ackworth, in November, 1843, in her 21st year.
 
 1847.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 25 
 
 sat talking -with this Friend until half-past eight. Tea 
 and coffee, &c., were then set ovit,and having had nothing 
 since dinner, I enjoyed a good meal. This over, I 
 withdrew to my cabin, staggering as well as I could, 
 the motion of the vessel being considerable. I got into 
 bed, and being weary, soon fell asleep. After awhile, 
 it seemed an hour or two, I awoke, and was much 
 puzzled to find that all motion had ceased. All around 
 me was perfectly silent, but over-head was a fearful 
 noise, so much running, shouting, &c., I was quite 
 alarmed. There was also a noise of steam escaping. 
 I can't tell thee all the thoughts that rushed into my 
 mind, but amongst others most prominent, was the 
 recollection of ' the loss of the Kent,' and the vivid 
 description of the stillness in the cabin, and the absence 
 of all motion, that takes place when a vessel is 'settling 
 previous to going down.' That we might be in that 
 position seemed more than probable. I heard now 
 and then a deep groan, which seemed to proceed from 
 some one in an adjoining cabin. I endeavoured to stifle 
 all excitement, and to get as quiet in mind as possible, 
 and by no means disposed to add to the tumult upon 
 deck, feeling assured that if the steamer was ' going 
 down,' I should be as safe in my berth as on deck, and 
 more tranquil. After lying very still for awhile, 
 indulging these thoughts, I heard my name pronounced 
 by S. M. with an enquiry after me. ' How truly kind 
 of him to think of me, at such a season of danger ' I 
 thought, and starting ujd, I called out, 'What is the 
 matter ? ' The Stewardess replied ' We're in.' ' In 
 ■what' ? I enquired, with some alarm, picturing to
 
 26 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1847. 
 
 myself whirlpools, rocks, and all sorts of dangers to 
 voyagers. ' In Kingston Harbour.' ' In Kingston 
 Harbour, impossible,' said I, ' we've been so short a 
 time.' ' We have been longer than usual,' was her 
 reply, ' it is after seven o'clock.' I now started up in 
 reality, and with the greatest possible speed got dressed 
 and off by the half-past seven train to Dublin, and 
 thence by car to the other terminus to start for C — , 
 but too late ; the train started at eight o'clock, and 
 I arrived at three minutes past eight. Greatly annoyed' 
 I set out on a two miles' walk to the Imperial Hotel 
 to make enquiries, in reply to which I found that 
 I could not get to C— to-day. So I tried to feel 
 resigned to circumstances and to hope it might all 
 prove for the best. . . . After walking about for 
 
 an hour, I found our friend 's house, received a 
 
 hospitable welcome, and am staying till to-morrow 
 morning when I hope to catch the early train." 
 
 Soon after her marriage she wrote to one of her 
 gigters : — " My snug, quiet little home continues much 
 the same as Avhen I last wrote. Nothing has occurred 
 to break the even tenour of our way. We are very 
 retired. We have had no visitors since our brothers 
 and sister left, and we have not been out at all except 
 to meeting. L. finds his hands pretty full whenever 
 the weather admits of his being in the garden, and 
 I find plenty of occupation, amusement, and pleasure 
 in the house, at home, without going elsewhere to seek 
 it. . . . Peace be with thee, dear C. ! That peace 
 which the world can neither give nor take away, and 
 may each succeeding birthday, find thee progressing in
 
 1850.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 27 
 
 that path of self-denial, prayer, and watchfulness 
 which will lead thee ultimately to an incorruptible 
 inheritance in the land where that Peace will meet 
 with no alloy. Do not misunderstand me, I would 
 not imply that any good works or any care, &c., on thy 
 part would be suiiicient to take thee there. Thou art 
 well aware that there is but One who can enable thee 
 to steer clear from the snares that encompass thy path, 
 and guide thee to that Kingdom of rest and peace. 
 May He be with thee and guide thee, and guard thee, 
 and do thou commit thy way unto Him, in full 
 confidence adopting the language ' My Father, Thou 
 art the guide of my youth.' " 
 
 Her husband died two years after their marriage, 
 leaving her with an infant daughter.
 
 28 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1850. 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 RESIDENCE AT BAKEWELL.— VOYAGE TO 
 
 AMERICA.— 1850— 1854. 
 
 A FEW months subsequently, she went into business 
 at Bake well in Derbyshire. After writing of some 
 household cares, E.L.W. continues, " How well is it 
 for those who in the season of adversity can flee for 
 refuge to 'The Rock,' until the storm has passed over ; 
 who can ' cast their burden upon the Lord,' and feel 
 his sustaining arm. I look for the Rock, but it seems 
 far off, and so dense a cloud of doubts, anxieties, and 
 cares intercept my view that it is dimly seen, and 
 I cannot draw near enough to repose, under its shadow, 
 or to find 'a covert from the storm.' While at 
 Kettering I thought I might learn an instructive lesson 
 from contemplating the characters of M.E. and A. 
 They always look tranquil. We do not often see them 
 laugh, but they often smile and always look tranquil, 
 and whether in sorrow or in joy, they remind me of 
 the words, ' Nothing shall harm you if ye be 
 followers of that which is good.' They seem really to 
 possess ' quiet from God.'
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 29 
 
 *' How beautiful within our souls to keep 
 
 This treasure the All-merciful hath given, 
 To feel when we awake, and when we sleep. 
 His incense roiuid us like the breath of heaven. 
 Quiet at hearth and home, 
 
 Where tlie heart's joys begin, 
 Quiet where'er we roam, 
 Quiet around, within." 
 
 I can see its beauty, but ^ it is high, I cannot attain 
 unto it.' " 
 
 In aftei' years we cannot doubt this high attainment 
 was hers in an eminent degree, and in telling others of 
 that " incense round us like the breath of heaven," she 
 herself experienced that " quiet from God," that " peace 
 which passes all understanding." 
 
 In 1854, she emigrated with her little girl to 
 Canada. Her youngest sister accompanied them, and 
 wrote a graphic description of their voyage in the 
 " Sarah Sands," from which a few extracts are given 
 below. Steamers did not cross the Atlantic forty years 
 ago so quickly as they do now, and they were nearly 
 three weeks on their way. Contrary winds and rough 
 seas, occasionally, did not prevent much enjoyment in 
 their novel circumstances. The " wonders of the deep " 
 called forth their admiration from day to day, and the 
 rolling of the vessel sometimes occasioned amusing and 
 ludicrous scenes on board, "gentlemen crossing the 
 deck in two strides, ladies congratulating themselves 
 on having walked, or rather staggered, in safety to the 
 head of the cabin stairs, suddenly finding themselves 
 on their knees at the foot of them, others luxuriating 
 in real genuine salt shower baths, given gratis by the
 
 30 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 spray ; folks tumbling about in all directions, gentlemen 
 going over each other as though they were playing at 
 leapfrog, ladies, standing or sitting conversing together, 
 suddenly thrown into each other's arms with most 
 affectionate force, stewards hurling tureens full of soup 
 from one end of the saloon to the other, stewardesses 
 throwing teapots full of tea into the cabins, instead of 
 placing them on the table ; cups, saucers, and teaspoons 
 running races, all making a tremendous clatter, and 
 Mrs. ' Sarah Sands ' herself staggering from side to 
 side, like a teetotum that's tired of spinning, and just 
 going to fall — she also amused herself with submerging 
 the tops of her bulwarks in the water, first on one side 
 and then on the other. The captain and officers called 
 it 'a stiffish gale,' and one of the passengers exclaimed, 
 ' If they don't look sharp about those sails, they'll have 
 her on her beam ends directly.' The wind had risen so 
 suddenly, and the heavily falling i^ain and sleet so 
 completely saturated the thick, ponderous canvas, that 
 the sailors found the sails rather refractory. However, 
 I believe there was no sort of danger, for the captain 
 was coolly smoking a cigar, with his hands in his 
 pockets, while issuing his orders alternately to the man 
 at the wheel and to those aloft in the rigging." 
 
 A few days after — " About four p.m. an iceberg 
 ' hove in sight,' and the passengers inclining to pay 
 it a visit, the captain took us seven miles out of our 
 way, and we passed within 200 yards of it, between 
 nine and ten p.m. The captain estimated its height 
 above the water at 300 feet, but said six-sevenths of it 
 were submerged He said also that it was the largest
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 31 
 
 he had ever seen, and he had ' had more experience 
 with icebergs than he liked.' I wish I could describe 
 it to you properly — it was so magnificently grand and 
 transcendently glorious, the stars shining with the 
 most intense brilliancy, and the moon looking as 
 fiery as the ' red planet Mars ' in his hottest moods, 
 and the Aurora literally spanning the firmament with 
 its arrowy lustre, looking only one degree less cool 
 and white than the iceberg itself. Everything seemed 
 cold, quiet and grand, even the vessel seemed awed 
 into more steady behaviour than usual, so that we 
 could stand and admire, and offer real pure heart- 
 homage, without bodily obeisance." On the following 
 day — " To-day we are in the region of icebergs ; there 
 were six visible before breakfast, and most beautiful 
 they looked, and very cold we felt, but the air was so 
 pure and bracing, and, although some of the passengers 
 called it a ' Canadian day,' the sky was certainly an 
 * Italian blue.' A fortnight since Ave left Liverpool, 
 and 'no land yet'; we have had unusually adverse 
 winds, and our engine is so small that one of the 
 passengers remarked that when the wind is ahead, 
 the engine has no power to take us forward, but 
 merely prevents our going back. ... No vessel 
 is allowed to come up the St. Lawrence without a 
 pilot accustomed to the coast, on account of the 
 many hidden rocks and reefs ; the captain said 
 having to take a pilot would cost him £16. In the 
 afternoon a pilot-boat appeared in sight, and soon 
 sent off one of her crew in a small boat to us. During 
 the evening service on Sunday, we were in rather a
 
 32 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 perilous position for a few minutes, owing to a sailing 
 vessel (notwithstanding all our lights were hoisted, 
 and the captain, mate and pilot shouting at the top of 
 their voices to those on board her) crossing our path, 
 within two yards of our bows ; had we struck, it is 
 considered one of the vessels would inevitably, and 
 most probably both, have gone down — how thankful 
 ought we to be to that Allwise Pilot who mercifully 
 steered us clear of each other ! Great credit was due 
 to Captain Ilsley, who was as usual at his post, and 
 showed great skill, energy, decision and self possession." 
 " At ten minutes before twelve a.m. on the fourth 
 of September, 1854, the captain gave the order ' let go 
 the anchor,' the chain rattled, the anchor slipped down 
 into the water, and we were standing still in the midst 
 of more magnificent scenery than we had ever beheld, 
 or even dreamed of, in our most extravagant day-dreams. 
 There stood Quebec, that citj^ of cities, surrounded by 
 hills, or rather mountains . . . We had a good view 
 of the Citadel, and also of the (late) Parliament Houses 
 — they are now in ruins, being burned down about a 
 year ago. Here we left the ' Sarah Sands ' and went 
 on board the ' New Era ' a fine steamer, saloon 220ft. 
 long, and luxuriously furnished — this conveyed us 
 to Montreal, a large city with 75,000 inhabitants 
 and its Roman Catholic Cathedral, said to be the most 
 splendid building in North America. Here we again 
 changed steamer for the ' Bay of Quinte,' which took us 
 to Kingston, passing through the ' Lake of the Thousand 
 Isles,' the scenery most beautiful. The islands, of all 
 shapes and sizes, seem composed of masses of rock, out
 
 1853.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 33 
 
 of which grow various flowers and shrubs, though it 
 seems wonderful how they can find support." 
 
 The next letter from Elizabeth L. Wright, tells 
 of their kind reception in, and first impressions of, the 
 land of their adoption.
 
 34 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF CANADA.— 1854-1857. 
 
 At William MulleWs, Huntingdon, near Belleville, 
 10-9-1854. 
 
 "/^^UR introduction to this land has been very pro- 
 V_y mising, encouraging bright hopes for future 
 comfort. After posting my letter at Kingston, our voyage 
 in one of these splendid floating palaces up the beautiful 
 and winding Bay of Quinte, was very pleasant. We 
 reached Belleville at nine p.m. John Mullett, William 
 M.'s nephew, met us upon our arrival at the wharf, 
 and accompanied us to the hotel where we lodged, 
 and called upon us next morning at eight o'clock to see 
 whether he could render us any service. He is a 
 tanner, and keeps a currier's shop at Belleville. Before 
 breakfast, L.A. went to the post, and returned, to my 
 great delight, with four letters, which we very much 
 
 enjoyed You must know what it is to 
 
 emigrate to a distant land, to be 4,000 miles from your 
 country and your beloved relatives, before you can 
 fully understand the joy we experienced, and the 
 eagerness with which we perused those letters. We 
 have gone through them twice, and shall soon 
 commence a third reading. 11th — We called on 
 •Sheriff Moodie. As we drew near his house, he came
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 35 
 
 forward, and shaking hands with the greatest cordiality, 
 said, 'I think I can't be mistaken, is it not Mrs. 
 Wright ? ' A hearty welcome to Canada followed, and 
 an introduction to his house, wife, daughter and son — 
 the former looked like a comfortable, real, English 
 home, the latter three, all cordial, affable and agreeable. 
 After an hour or two spent pleasantly with them, we 
 accepted the kind and urgent invitation of our friends 
 William Mullett and wife, and came over here. Next 
 morning we went to look at the town — houses 
 are never long to let here, it being a thorough 
 go-ahead place, rapidly increasing in population, 
 especially now they are making a railroad to 
 join the Great Western Rail, which goes right 
 through West Canada to London, and on to Lake 
 Huron. I am rather disappointed by the first sight 
 of Belleville, and do not like it so well as Bakewell, 
 though it is very much larger. There is one principal 
 street, a mile-and-a-half long, and several smaller 
 ones intersecting it at right angles ; also another, 
 parallel to the best, of an inferior rank. But the best 
 does not come up to the best street at Henley, the 
 buildings being rather irregular, and streets narrow. 
 Some houses are of brick, some stone, some wood, 
 some a combination of all. The rents in the 
 best part of the town are very high, but in the back 
 streets we may get a house for a trifle. We cannot 
 learn the population of Belleville, having enquired 
 of many persons, and received very varied replies, 
 from 3,000 to 30,000. I fancy 10,000 or 12,000 is near 
 the mark in the actual town, but the suburbs and
 
 36 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 surrounding villages and townships would equal five 
 or six times the populatiou. There is no town so 
 large within eighty miles, Kingston being the nearest, 
 and all the large and widely-scattered population make 
 Belleville the central point, and go shopping there. 
 . . . . Everything we have heard since coming 
 here encourages the idea that Belleville is the right 
 place for us, except one, and that is to me a very 
 serious one, there is not a Friends' meeting here. 
 There are a few Friends' families residing four 
 miles from Belleville, but they go twelve miles to 
 
 meeting William Mullett and wife belong 
 
 to a very large family — their fathers are both living, 
 fine old men, eighty-five and eighty-seven. One of 
 them tells me his children and grandchildren number 
 ninety-six. They have intermarried very much, three 
 sons of one family having married three daughters of 
 another. They all seem to live in the greatest unity, 
 harmony and love. The cordial greeting that all whom 
 we have yet seen have given us, is wonderful. 
 Here we are entire strangers, without even a letter of 
 recommendation, and they receive us with all the 
 warm-hearted hospitality of near relatives. They — the 
 old folks — emigrated from Somersetshire thirty-five 
 years ago, some of the family from Ireland. They 
 were fourteen in number. They brought over a small 
 lot of merchandise with them, sold it at a good pi^ofit, 
 and with the money bought land. They had not been 
 at all accustomed to farming, but thought it a i)leasant 
 change after applying closely to a shop. They say 
 that in Canada it takes a very short time to learn how
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 37 
 
 to farm, and, if a man is willing to Avork, he cannot 
 help succeeding, so little labour being required to make 
 a farm produce the necessaries of life. I am so 
 amused to see how they manage : neither pigs nor 
 fowls are fed — when I ask what do they live on, the 
 reply is, 'Oh ! I guess they pick up plenty to eat — 
 corn, apples, pumpkins, in abundance.' Then they 
 have most of the skim milk, and scraps left at table 
 in great profusion are thrown into the yard for the 
 pigs to help themselves at pleasure. 
 
 "This meeting consists of from ninety to one 
 hundred members, some of them living ten or twelve 
 miles off. They think nothing of that to ride, but a 
 walk of a mile frightens them. 
 
 " They have a good many fine horses on this farm 
 on purpose for riding. The ploughing is done by oxen. 
 They pay Gd. per annum tax for a horse, i.e. 4^d. 
 English. Mutton is selling here at 3d. a pound, 2^d. 
 English money ; beef, prime joints, 4d., Canadian 
 money 3d. sterling ; apples and potatoes so plentiful 
 that a person may almost have them for asking. Eggs 
 used to be 3d. a dozen, they are now 5d., very good 
 and fine ones ; good cheese, 4^d. Flour is higher now 
 than it has ever been known, owing to the great 
 demand for the English and French markets, and a 
 failure in the crops here this season ; it is 1/9 per stone 
 of 14 pounds. We have not yet seen any pine-apples, 
 but melons and peaches in abundance, and very large 
 pumpkins. 
 
 " Now let me introduce ' mine host ' to my dear 
 sisters and brothers. He is a plain, consistent Friend,
 
 38 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 quite English in his manners, language and appearance, 
 a well-educated farmer. He and his wife superintended 
 the Friends' School, West Canada. He is a grey-haired 
 man of fifty-five, very active, and quite in his prime 
 apparently. His wife is his junior by ten years, but 
 looks rather more nearly approaching being worn out ; 
 a motherly kind-hearted woman, thin, working far too 
 hard for her station and her means. But she seems to 
 be most happy when actively engaged in her kitchen or 
 dairy. The cows go prowling about the fields at 
 pleasure all day, going to the water to drink of their 
 own accord when thirsty, and come when our friends 
 call them to be milked. It looks so droll to see 
 E. Mullett and her daughter Eliza Maria stand on the 
 doorstep and shout ' Possie,' ' Possie,' and presently 
 the cows come running down the hill. 
 
 " The sv/ine here are far more docile than in 
 England. All the pigs I have seen in the mother 
 country' persisted in going the opposite way to what 
 their driver wished ; here they come when called. 
 
 "This house is a square stone building, very strong 
 and pretty looking. The front (West) has a balcony or 
 colonnade, all along. On entering the house, we come 
 at once into a sort of hall, or keeping-room of the family, 
 a plain, substantial comfortable room, sixteen feet by 
 eighteen, ten feet high. It has two windows and six 
 doors. One of the latter opens to the yard, in front, 
 and to the stairs, one to the side, one to the kitchen, 
 three into bedrooms on the ground floor. Upstairs is 
 a square room of the same size, from which three 
 bedrooms open, and the stairs. A kitchen, pantry,
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 39 
 
 cupboards, outhouses, &c., complete this specimen of a 
 farmhouse in West Canada. The table is heaped with 
 abundance of all that is good ; cream, butter and eggs of 
 the best quality in particular. The floors are painted 
 or stained oak, not a carpet to be seen in the house, all 
 beautifully clean. 
 
 "This Meeting consists almost entirely of thriving 
 farmers and their families. It is called Huntingdon 
 Particular Meeting, a branch of Westlake Monthly 
 Meeting. The Friends here seem to have a very lively 
 recollection of John Pease's visit. We have had 
 many enquiries after him, and the Friends seemed so 
 pleased to hear we had seen him just before leaving 
 England. . . . Monthly Meeting at Picton, thirty- 
 eight miles distant, will be next week, and W.M. 
 promises to drive us to it in his four-wheeled chaise if 
 we vrill stay. I will post this at Belleville to-morrow, 
 and you will see how well we are faring, surrounded 
 by such kind friends— we have met with kindness and 
 courtesy from all classes since landing on these shores. 
 Whoever we speak to, gives us a kind reply. Women 
 here seem to be treated with much greater respect than 
 in England." 
 
 E.L.W. settled in Belleville. It was soon after her 
 arrival in Canada that she felt it her duty to speak in 
 our meetings, and this being acceptable to her friends, 
 she was recorded as a minister. 
 
 E.L.W. to S. and C.H. 
 
 " Belleville, 21-10-1854. 
 "Your very interesting letters have been a rich treat
 
 40 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 to US. Did you know how welcome they are to us in 
 this distant land, you would favour us with them rather 
 more frequently. Just now they are particularly 
 acceptable, for I have been feeling depressed and lonely. 
 Dear little C. is at Huntingdon, to stay there while we 
 :get settled in here, probably two or three weeks. 
 Notwithstanding all the kindness we have received 
 from all with whom our lot has been cast, yet there 
 are times when I feel a sinking of the soul, a loneliness 
 that longs for a communion of spirit with those I have 
 loved from childhood ; when I feel that I can unite in 
 the language 
 
 ' Friends, kindred, home and country — these 
 Are things from which we never part ; 
 From clime to clime, o'er land and seas, 
 We bear them with us in our heart.' 
 
 My experience since leaving my native land has been 
 more than ever a leaning upon one unfailing Friend. 
 Utterly helpless and unable to go forward without His 
 protecting and guiding care, ' Hitherto has He helped 
 me ' indeed, and provided friends for me, where I had 
 no friends but Himself. 
 
 " The accounts of cholera in England are very 
 distressing. Oh ! that those most dear to us may be 
 preserved from it ! I feel much for E.W., and for any 
 one who loses a precious child. C. dear, I fully 
 participate in thy enjoyment of thy little treasure, and 
 his father's too. May he long be spared, and prove a 
 blessing to his dear parents. I fear I love my C. too 
 well ! I seem to have mingled with my love, pleasure 
 and pride in that precious child, a constant fear of
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 41 
 
 losing her. I feel condemned in the conviction that 
 she is too dear to me. . . . Oh, that some of you 
 were here. I want to see you and talk to you, to ask 
 you many questions. Solomon Vermilyea, at whose 
 house we hope to spend to-morrow, and who will kindly 
 drive us to meeting, says that • farming is the best 
 trade in this country,' that he has cleared £300 per 
 annum for some time past, after providing abundantly 
 for his large family of twelve children. He thinks no 
 previous knowledge of farming needful, to enable 
 a man to get a living in this land, but ivith a previous 
 knowledge, he may soon get rich. This Friend is 
 renowned for his hospitality. He likes to see his house 
 full of visitors — often has twelve at a time under his 
 roof." 
 
 L.A.R. to C.H. 
 
 " Belleville, 9-9-54. 
 " I wish you could have gone to meeting with us 
 yesterday, so as to see the trees we passed. I thought 
 them unequalled a fortnight ago, but they were then 
 tame compared with their present hues, green, brown, 
 orange, scarlet, yes, a brilliant, genuine scarlet, crimson, 
 fiery golden, oh, they are so indescribably lovely. As 
 I stood gazing at them yesterday, with my body in 
 Canada, and my spirit in England, I almost fancied 
 I could see them change, while I gazed, like the scenes 
 in a dissolving view, only infinitely more splendid. 
 Really Canada is a glorious country, in its natural 
 beauties, and did not history assure us the Garden of 
 Eden was in the East, and America unknown until
 
 42 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1854. 
 
 1492, I should be strongly inclined to believe it was in 
 the backwoods of Canada that Adam awoke from his 
 sleep, and found a wife beside him, and the St. 
 Lawrence that was Eve's mirror. 
 
 "We are now feeling very anxious to get settled, 
 and I hope w^e may open this day two weeks, but it is 
 doubtful. Our ' store ' is a good-sized one, and has two 
 windows. It is fifty-two feet long, (but we are having 
 a small piece partitioned off at the far end, for a ' little 
 back parlour '), and twenty -two feet broad. There is 
 a cellar, extending the whole length, underneath. It 
 is a good situa tion for business and health. The weather 
 is still distressingly w^arm, the Indian summer has just 
 commenced — its chief characteristics are intense close- 
 ness and great haziness in the atmosjihere ; the sun by 
 day and the moon by night look like balls of fire 
 suspended in the sky. . . I am learning to milk, and 
 some other out-door employments. W.M.and I gathered 
 more than eleven bushels of apples between iis in one 
 morning, a few days ago — really, there is a very 
 independent feeling in being perched on one of the 
 topmost boughs of an apple tree, with a clear, blue sky 
 and bright sun above, and rosy fruit all around, and 
 when the wind blows, and it did pretty hard one day 
 when we were gathering apples, it's capital fun and 
 capital exercise to stick on. I have some Indian corn 
 for you — how shall I send it ? William Mullet gave 
 ma an ear, containing 520 grains — it is so pretty. . . 
 A few days since, I joined a large party of young people 
 in a picnic. Our destination was a beautiful spot on 
 the banks of the Moira, the river at whose mouth
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 43 
 
 Belleville is situated. The woods were beautiful, and 
 afforded me my first introduction to the snakes ; we 
 saw two very pretty ones, each about twenty inches 
 long — they were striped alternately with a dark olive 
 and light yellowish green — they were of a perfectly 
 harmless species. We dined by the water -side, table- 
 cloths were spread on the grass, and then covered with 
 knives and forks, plates and glasses, and a profusion of 
 appetising dishes. This feast in the wilderness was 
 garnished with various leaves, rich in all their autumnal 
 glory, and boughs of different sorts arched gracefully 
 across it. . . In the course of time if you should be 
 sending us a box, please enclose a bunch or two of 
 lavender, the people here do not know what it is, for it 
 ' comes out missing' in this country, as also daisies and 
 primroses." 
 
 '■^Huntingdon, 1-11-54. Our fifth, and, I suppose, 
 last Sunday at Huntingdon for some time. Eight weeks 
 yesterday we arrived here, friendless foreigners in 
 a strange land, and, really, going to Belleville to-morrow 
 will feel almost like a second emigration, we have 
 experienced such ceaseless, ever-varying kindness." 
 
 E.L.W. to S. and C.H. and L.R. 
 
 " You will be pleased to hear that thus far we are 
 bearing the Canadian winter well. It is colder than 
 in England, but so bright, fine, light and clear that we 
 do not seem likely to suffer from the cold more than 
 in England, though the thermometer stands 8° below 
 zero, and occasionally 11° or 12° — one day last week it 
 was 15° below zero. Yet we are all in good health.
 
 44 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 free from colds, coughs, and chilblains. Indeed we 
 quite enjoy the winter. The sleigh rides are delightful. 
 We very often have the offer of a ride into the country, 
 and frequently accept it to get to meeting. . . . 
 Three Friends have offered to take me to Kingston to 
 our Quarterly .Meeting next week. It is sixty or 
 sixty-five miles by land — two days' sleigh ride. I 
 anticipate going with much pleasure. I can give you 
 no adequate idea of the kindness of the Friends here. 
 I believe it is my being a widow, with a lovely little 
 girl, that attracts their sympathy and love, for both 
 I have received in large measure. Scarcely a day 
 passes without some proof of their considerate thought- 
 fulness. . . We get on very comfortably altogether, 
 and I am truly thankful that I came here, and shall be 
 still more so if you will all come too. Do come ! 
 There is abundance for you all to do. I believe we 
 shall promote our comfort in this world by coming, 
 and if we think of the future, I may say I never felt 
 so earnestly desirous to dedicate my heart, soul, 
 strength and life to the Creator of all the wonders 
 we have seen of late, since leaving England. . . . 
 I want to feel less engrossed in this world's affairs, 
 and more at leisure to dedicate the strength of my 
 days to Him, who has so helped me, and provided 
 friends for me here. Before leaving my native land, 
 I made a covenant with Him, that if He would be 
 with me and bless me, and preserve us on our voyage, 
 and provide me friends and a home here, that hence- 
 forth my life should, far more than ever before, be 
 devoted to Him, and to the promotion of His cause
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 45 
 
 and His truth upon the earth. He has fulfilled my 
 desire to the uttermost extent of my wishes, and I find 
 peace in endeavouring to fulfil my covenant. 
 For the most part since leaving England my spirit has 
 been preserved in quiet confidence and trust. 
 
 " I wish to get to meeting as regularly as possible, 
 and the great kindness of the Friends here in taking 
 me, makes it easy to do so, notwithstanding the 
 distance. They drive me to the Quarterly, Monthly, 
 and Particular Meetings, and so I attend as regularly 
 now as at any time since leaving Ackworth School. 
 At the close of the last Monthly Meeting the wife of 
 one of the ' substantial farmers ' at Westlake, came to 
 me and said, ' How glad I am thou art come ! My 
 husband says whenever thou canst get to Monthly 
 Meeting he will take thee back, if thou hast no 
 other way, and if thou wilt write and tell us whenever 
 thou wants to come and has no chance^ he will go and 
 fetch thee.' Is not this kind ? He lives nearly thirty 
 miles ofE the nearest way, that is across Uie bay when 
 it is frozen over, so that we can cross in a sleigh. 
 When that is not the case, it will be a journey of 
 nearly fifty miles. ... I wish you were all here — 
 you would enjoy this bright, clear, bracing air ; it 
 makes one feel all alive. Every perception seems 
 awakened to a new and keen enjoyment. Perhaps 
 you will think me ungrateful and wanting in natural 
 affection, if I tell you that I have tasted more real 
 lively pleasure and enjoyment, peace and tranquillity 
 since emigrating, than ever in the same space of time 
 in my life before. . . . C. often talks of you all —
 
 46 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 and wishes me to tell you how she likes sleigh rides, 
 and that the horses all have a row of pretty little bells 
 across their shoulders. The sleighs glide very quietly 
 and very noiselessly, but with great rapidity over the 
 snow. 'Tis a pretty sight, a pleasant sound, and delight- 
 ful feeling. Seated completely enveloped in buffalo 
 skins, and well muffled up, gliding along on the ground 
 so easily, too near the ground for the keen winds to be 
 much felt. There is no way of travelling I have ever 
 tried, in England or Canada, so enjoyable as sleigh 
 riding. It far surpasses first class railway travelling." 
 On January 28th, 1855, she writes,— "We had a 
 tremendous snow-storm yesterday, and few people left 
 their houses. We hear that the snow is lying a few 
 miles distant, four feet deep, not in drifts, but on a 
 level surface. Persons can ride along the top in their 
 sleighs, in a direct line, hindered by no impediments, 
 over three feet fences, hedges, ditches, &c. The farmers 
 are rejoicing over this snow, it protects the young 
 wheat which was growing too tall, and in danger of 
 suffering from frost. Pleasure hunters are rejoicing 
 in the snow, because they can ride about the country 
 with so much greater facility. Tradesmen rejoice 
 over the snow because it doubles their trade, by 
 enabling country people to come more easily to town. 
 Residents in the country rejoice to see the snow, 
 because it is so much easier to get over the ground, and 
 to take their produce to market, and to stock their 
 little country shops from the large Belleville stores. 
 Everyone looks bright and brisk after a heavy snow- 
 fall. The very horses seem filled with double life and
 
 1854.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 47 
 
 vigour, as they tear over the ground at an incredibly 
 rapid rate with sleighs and cutters, and their musical 
 bells in the rear. 
 
 "Winter is the season for enjoyment in Canada. 
 We do not suffer from the cold at all. Dear L.A. and C. 
 are bright and well, and happy, and I am also in good 
 health, and truly thankful to the Giver of every good, 
 for all His blessings. Tliis is a glorious country. The 
 prospect just noAV from our door is singular and beauti- 
 ful. The whole row of houses opposite have ornamented 
 roofs of spotless white, and a handsome fringe of 
 icicles, varying in length from one inch to four feet, 
 average perhaps three feet. The sun shines on them 
 at noon, and they glitter and sparkle like brilliants. 
 To see the number of people riding past in their sleighs 
 and cutters adds to the life and animation of the scene, 
 muffled so closely in buffalo and racoon skins, hoods, 
 veils, muffs, boas, victorines, &c., &c., in every variety, 
 they seem able to bid defiance to the cold, and look so 
 bright and happy. A good-sized sleigh will hold six 
 or eight passengers. A cutter is smaller, adapted to 
 carry two only. The latter is more stylish and prettier, 
 but not so warm and comfortable as a sleigh. W. M. 
 kindly took me in his cutter to the Monthly Meeting 
 at Westlake. We drove three miles on the ice across 
 the bay just as though we had been on terra firma. 
 There is a regular track or beaten road, the snow 
 trodden down, and we are told the ice is from twelve 
 to eighteen inches thick. Every now and then it cracks 
 with a report like distant cannon. This is considered 
 a good sign — I mean a sign that the ice is good and
 
 48 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 firm, because it only occurs when it is so, and seems 
 to be a sort of safety-valve to let the confined air escape 
 that has been kept close by the solidity of the ice. 
 Much as we admire the beauties of the Canadian 
 
 ■winter, we shall rejoice in the sj^ring thaw 
 
 People here are very loyal to our Queen and Govern- 
 ment. There is a feeling akin to acrimony towards 
 the Americans, as they call the inhabitants of the 
 ' States,' while the latter despise the Canadians. They 
 need not, for Canada is rapidly rising, and will soon 
 
 equal them in all that is worth boasting of 
 
 I have been interrupted in my writing by a call from 
 Mrs. Moodie (author of ' Roughing it in the Bush '). 
 She and the Sheriff are very kind friends to us." 
 
 About this time, to cheer one who had lost a 
 dear friend, and experienced a trying change of cir- 
 cumstances, E. L. W. writes, " We read of some who 
 ' knew no changes, therefore they feared not God.' I 
 trust none of us may be of that number, but that we 
 each one may in sincerity, adopt the language — 
 
 ' I will not waste one breath of life in sighing, 
 For other ends has life been given to me ; 
 Duties and self-devotion — daily dying 
 Into a higher, better life witli Thee, 
 Dear Lord, with Thee.' 
 
 " In my own heart's history, I can read some progress 
 during the last eight years' changes. At this j^resent 
 time, I know more of confidence in my Heavenly 
 Father's love, more of the tranquillity and peace that 
 the world cannot give, than at any former period of 
 my life. I hope I am not deceiving myself — I feel
 
 1855.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 4^ 
 
 that I am not, and that my whole soul and spirit are 
 more devoted and dedicated to the service of my God 
 than heretofore. Oh ! for an increase of faiih and love, 
 and a deeper soul-communion with Him, that He may 
 be increasingly, ' the chief among ten thousand, the 
 altogether lovely ' to me — to us all. The sense of entire 
 dependence upon his direction and protecting care, 
 since leaving my native land, has brought me nearer to 
 Him." 
 
 Belleville, S-11-1855. 
 
 " I am glad you are reading ' Roughing it in the 
 Bush.' It may make you a little better acquainted 
 with our adopted country, though ' times are altered ' 
 since the publication of that graphic volume. The 
 ' City of the Bay ' advances in civilization, and bears 
 something like an approach to a small country town in 
 our native land, in cultivation, refinement, mannerSj 
 and customs. But the country life twenty or thirty 
 miles back in the woods, assimilates itself with 
 sufficient nearness to enable us to comprehend Mrs. 
 Hoodie's descriptions. The Sheriff and his lady often 
 call upon me, and warmly shake hands with me when 
 they meet me in the street. They invite me often to 
 their house, but I have neither time nor inclination to 
 visit, beyond the visiting amongst Friends, that getting 
 regularly to meeting necessarily involves. 7-11-55 — 
 Day after day passes, and I find very little time for 
 writing. How I wish you were all here in Canada, 
 that we could hold communion without writing. . . 
 Provisions are pretty high in price just now for
 
 50 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855. 
 
 Canada. Bread 7kl. per four-pound loaf, Beef 4d. per 
 pound, Candles Ojd., Sugar 5d., Butter 9^d., Cheese 5d., 
 Ham 6d., Eggs 7d. a dozen. 
 
 "Thank thee dear, for thy birthdaj' congratulations, 
 they are very welcome though a day after time. I had 
 
 quite forgotten the day, when dear 's letter reminded 
 
 me. Amongst other good wishes, she hopes I shall 
 acquire a fortune in ten years, a desire in which I do not 
 unite. I believe that wealth in this world and in the 
 next, rarely falls to the lot of the same individuals, and 
 my ambition is to gain sufficient here to procure a 
 subsistence in this life ; and in that to come, ' a house 
 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens,' a real 
 and rich inheritance ' that fadeth not away,' one of the 
 many mansions promised to the followers of the meek 
 and loivly and humble Carpenter's Son, not a wealthy 
 gentleman, or rich merchant or noble peer. I hoj)e I 
 have not already comforts enough to weaken my faith 
 and dim my sight of the glories there, but I take the 
 words literally and in their fullest sense, ' How hard it 
 is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom.' ' It is easier 
 for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for 
 a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.' 
 
 "Therefore my dear sisters, all of you, let your 
 desires for me be of a different class ; you may say 
 with J. Montgomery, as I do for each of you, 
 
 ' I dare not wish thee beauty, 
 I dare not wish thee wealth, 
 But only a contented mind, 
 Peace, competence, and health.
 
 1856.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 51 
 
 Fond friends to love tliee deurly. 
 
 And honest ones to chide, 
 And faithful friends to succour thee 
 
 Whatever may betide.' " 
 
 The day passed very pleasantly with me." 
 
 Her first visit to Niagara was thus described : — 
 "3-8-1856. — We are now on board the steamer 'Arabian.' 
 The handsome saloon is decorated with the most 
 gorgeous painted glass. There are twenty-four windows 
 three feet by two feet at each end, and about fifty or 
 sixty smaller ones along each side, higher up. I can- 
 not think how they can afford all this splendour at the 
 price we pay, four dollars from Kingston to Toronto, a 
 night's lodging, and two meals, in which ' the table 
 groans with costly piles of food. And all is more than 
 hospitably good.' No charge for children under twelve 
 years. From Kingston to Belleville one-dollar-and- 
 a-half ; from Toronto to Niagara one dollar. . . , 
 And we have really seen the world's wonder, Niagara ! 
 Everyone who sees it, is expected to say something 
 about it, something great is generally looked for, but I 
 never in my life felt so small, so insignificant, so feeble, 
 as when I sat viewing the magnificent falls. 'What is 
 man that thou art mindful of him?' again and again 
 passed through my mind. My first feeling when the 
 sight broke upon my view, was a slight shade of 
 disappointment, that it was only a waterfall after all, 
 and so exactly what my imagination had depicted from 
 the pictures I had seen that I could scarcely believe I 
 had never seen it before ; I did not feel as if I was 
 looking at something entirely new. This, my first senti-
 
 52 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [185G. 
 
 meiit, I attribute to the incapacity of man's finite view, 
 to take in, appreciate and comprehend at a single glance, 
 a spectacle so grand, so extensive, so magnificent, so 
 glorious in resplendent beauty. The more we gazed, 
 the more we admired ; the longer we fixed our eyes 
 upon the scene, the more new and varied beauties 
 were presented to the astonished gaze. ' Transported 
 with the view, I'm lost in wonder, love and praise.' " 
 
 From Belleville, 25-7-56. — After mentioning a case 
 of disj)ute between two parties, one of whom threatened 
 to sue the other in order "to humble him a bit," E.L.W. 
 wrote : "Oh, if we could each seek to humble ourselves, 
 instead of each other, how much good might be done, 
 how much suffering and misery saved. How much 
 war and bloodshed might have been saved of late, if 
 nations, as well as individuals, could be found to act 
 upon this principle." 
 
 Towards the end of the year, one of her sisters 
 wrote from Belleville : "The last fortnight the ground 
 has been covered with snow, and it has been an amusing 
 sight to us to see the sleighs and cutters gliding about 
 in all directions, their drivers snugly wrapped up in 
 buffalo skins and other furs. There is a great deal more 
 travelling hei-e in winter than in summer, because the 
 people from the country can then journey over their 
 ' corduroy ' roads so much more easily than they can 
 when there is no snow on the ground to fill up the 
 interstices. The children have their small sleighs, in 
 which they can draw each other along. 
 
 • " There is a good deal of freshness in the kind of 
 life we lead here, and a good deal of freedom. It is
 
 1856.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 53 
 
 pleasant, too, to know that there is abundance of food 
 in the country, so that every man that will Avork can 
 easily maintain his family. Our friend, S.V., has 
 recently engaged a poor man from England on his farm ; 
 he boards the man, allows him £30 a year, and a house, 
 rent-free, on the farm for his wife and children. This 
 is for the first year : should he stay with him longer he 
 Avill then receive higher wages as he will be more useful 
 from having learned how to fell trees, saw wood, and 
 other Canadian arts. The more I see of this country, 
 the more convinced I am that it is a good thing for the 
 hard-working poor of England to emigrate. Here they 
 can maintain their families in comfort with far less toil 
 than is necessary in England to maintain them in 
 poverty, and they can enjoy also the pleasure of 
 independence. I have not seen a beggar since I came 
 into the country (nearly six months). For those who 
 are well off in England, this is not the country ; the 
 luxuries of life are much cheaper there than here. 
 . . . For the mechanic and labourer, who have 
 difficulty in supporting themselves and families, 
 emigration would prove a great blessing." 
 
 E.L.W. to C.H. 
 
 '' One of the difficulties of travelling in this country 
 is the mud-holes. One of the children rolled down 
 a steep hill into a mud-hole, and came out completely 
 plastered, as though she had been spread all over with 
 brimstone and treacle. A mud-hole is a curiosity that 
 the -patriots in England never see. Those, I mean, who 
 are too patriotic to leave their country. For j'our
 
 54 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1856. 
 
 instruction I may state that a mud-hole is a hole full 
 of mud, varying in depth from one foot to seven or 
 eight. When the frost ' comes out ' of the earth, it 
 leaves the ground very soft the depth of a foot or 
 two, so soft that the horses' feet sink in, ditto the 
 wheels. In some of the /•uts the water sinks very 
 deep ; and stories are told of horses sinking and never 
 being heard of again, in the poor roads through some 
 of the marshes ! If you read Bunyan's description of 
 the 'Slough of Despond,' you may form a pretty correct 
 idea of a Canadian mud-hole in spring and ' fall,' only 
 these are upon a much smaller scale. A sad accident 
 occurred a few months ago. An English woman, 
 probably not aware of the depth of our famous mud- 
 holes, was riding along in a ' lumber wagon.' She 
 ought to have held tight, but not doing so, she was 
 thrown out by the violent jerk produced from the 
 wheel entering a mud-hole and coming out again, and 
 the vehicle went over her and killed her. Be sure you 
 ' hold fast ' when you come here and travel over our 
 rough roads. This poor woman lost a son some time 
 before. A boy, eleven years of age, had come from 
 England with some neighbours, and on arriving at 
 Belleville, took his seat in a lumber wagon to ride 
 sixteen miles into the country to meet his mother, 
 who was anxiously looking for him, and prevented by 
 indisposition from meeting him at Belleville. When 
 rather more than half way to Huntingdon, they were 
 going over O'Brien's Bridge very fast. The boy full of 
 animation, of life and spirits, perhaps standing up to 
 admire the beauty of the scenery, I do not know, was
 
 1856.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 55 
 
 jolted off, and thrown into the river and drowned. 
 The stream is very broad there, and very beautiful, 
 like a calm lake surrounded with woods. It is a 
 lovely spot, but I never see it without thinking of 
 that bright boy, in his joy and pleasure, so suddenly 
 cut off, and of his mother's disappointment and sorrow. 
 . . . I hope this will reach thee on thy birthday, 
 with many more valuable epistles. On occasions 
 like this I feel sadly at a loss what to say, or in what 
 language to express my good wishes. The hackneyed 
 phrase ' I wish you many happy returns ' is so worn 
 out, I do not like to use it. After all, I do not know 
 any more expressive language than the ancient Jewish 
 mode of salutation, ' Peace be with thee ! ' Therefore let 
 this be the language w^ith which my spirit greets 
 thine, ' Peace be with thee,' my sister, in the fullest 
 sense of the word. . . . Since my last to you, 
 I have been a good deal from home with our dear 
 friend, Eliza Brewer, holding public meetings in 
 different parts of this county, and visiting the families 
 of Friends in this Monthly Meeting. It was a very 
 favoured time to me, and I can truly say many 
 opportunities we had were ' seasons of refreshing from 
 the presence of the Lord.' I felt it a privilege to be 
 dear E, B.'s companion in this service. I am just 
 placed upon a very singular appointment by our 
 Quarterly Meeting — to visit one of our Monthly 
 Meetings, Leeds, 110 miles East of this place. There 
 are not many Friends there. Two families, the most 
 intelligent, w^ealthy and influential, have become 
 Spiritualists : (the others seem to be following them)
 
 56 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1857. 
 
 one, a medium, has commenced speaking in meeting, 
 and preaches spiritual doctrines. So a committee of 
 six men and four women are appointed to visit them, 
 and give them ' such assistance as our place in the 
 body and tlieir state require.' I feel so very ignorant 
 that I may truly say 'I know not what this new 
 doctrine, whereof they speak, is!' Oh! I trust we 
 may be guided, led about, and instructed in this 
 matter, and preserved from doing any harm. Oh ! for 
 the wisdom of the serpent, and the harmlessness of 
 the dove ! " 
 
 The following letter was from her brother, who left 
 England for Canada in 1856 : — " 17-1-1857. Since I last 
 wrote to England, we have had some very severe 
 Aveather, thermometer for three successive nights, 24°, 
 24°, and ISo below zero. This was last week, and it so 
 happened that we (Elizabeth and myself) started on a 
 sleighing expedition on the preceding day, and were 
 out the whole of the time. We went to attend the 
 Quarterly Meeting near Kingston, Meetings here seem 
 to be kept carefully clear of towns. This was held at 
 Waterloo, about four miles from Kingston. We went 
 about eleven miles (between five and eight p.m.) the 
 first evening. I felt the cold I'ery much, although 
 defended by a massive top coat, with a thick cloak over 
 it, and several wrappers in front. The small part of 
 my face uncovered (nose, eyes, and brow), became so 
 painful from cold that I had at last to throw my plaid 
 completely over my head, with two thicknesses in 
 front. My dear R., being in the back seat, felt it less, 
 and E., who sat by me, bore it better than I did. The
 
 1857.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. ' 57 
 
 house Ave stopped at, quite a small Avooden one, had 
 several visitors besides ourselves. The sleeping 
 accommodation was amusing. At one side of one room 
 (there were three on the ground floor) were two beds, 
 in the middle a settee. R. and I occupied one of the 
 former, another Friend and his wife and child the 
 other, E. and a lady companion the settee. The process 
 adopted was this : the ladies retired first and located 
 themselves, the gentlemen then following, and dis- 
 covering by instinct, observation, or enquiry, to which 
 bed to betake themselves. In the morning the reverse 
 process took place. The following day was clear and 
 bright, and Ave much enjoyed the forty miles drive, 
 lasting from about nine till five, excepting an hour- 
 and-a-half for dinner and Avarming ourselves, as well as 
 resting the horses. The next two nights we lodged at 
 a Friend's house, Avho very comfortably accommodated 
 about thirty besides ourselves. He had built his house 
 expressly for the entertainment of Fi'iends, his former 
 one (quite large enough for himself and family) having 
 been too small for that purpose." 
 
 " 18-1-1857. Last night was, I think, the coldest 
 Ave have had, and I Avill just mention a few of the 
 phenomena. The windows Avere of course all frosted 
 over, and in a different fashion to what you see in 
 England. Here the frost-work, Avhich is very beautiful, 
 accumulates till it is over half-an-inch in thickness. 
 The water in my sponging tray, in our bedroom, Avas 
 about one-half of it changed to ice, and rattled curiously 
 as 1 used it. The sponge Avas frozen stiff. The water 
 splashed upon the floor, where there was no carpet.
 
 58 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1857. 
 
 became ice at once. The extremities of my hair were 
 frozen before I had used the comb and brush. The 
 towel was stiff a few minutes after being used. The 
 front door was covered with frost inside, like the 
 windows ' at home.' Dost thou understand this ex- 
 pression ? It is often used here in reference to the 
 ' old country,' for which a very strong attachment is 
 generally felt. I have just put into the stove a log, 
 which has been lying close to it for four hours, there 
 ivas snow on it, and a part of this yet remains in the 
 form of ice. Of course the floor may have ice upon it 
 quite near the stove. . . I was pumping to-day and 
 sprinkled the handle, by which I had just carried the 
 pail (wood to hold by), I tried at once to shake the drops 
 off but they had become solid. I might multiply my 
 illustrations, but Avish now to add that we do not find 
 the cold at all insupportable, unless when driving in 
 an open conveyance, or when, on very rare occasions, 
 the extreme frost is accompanied by wind. The air is 
 clear and dry, and our clothing is adapted to the weather, 
 To me, the winter seems quite a pleasant season, and 
 I am only apprehensive of the heat of summer, which 
 I think we have scarcely yet experienced." 
 
 After two or three years in business at Belleville, 
 E. L. W. wrote — " I think of retiring at the end of this 
 year. I shall have but a small income, but a little will 
 do for dear C. and me in this country, where everything 
 is so cheap that is necessary to live upon. We shall 
 have a neat little stone cottage, with a verandah, rent 
 free, an acre of land of our own, and as much fire-wood 
 as we can burn, for many years to come. Our own
 
 J857.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 59 
 
 fowls will supply us with eggs, and our wants will be 
 few. You will perhaps wonder at my readiness to 
 retire from a remunerative business so soon, and with 
 so small an income. My chief reason is, that I feel I 
 have a call for other work than shop-keeping, and that 
 a good soldier should not be ' too much entangled with 
 the things of this life.' I want to hold myself at 
 liberty for that work, in attending to which I find true 
 peace of mind."
 
 60 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1858. 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 REMOVAL TO MICHIGAN— FUGITIVE 
 SLAVE LAW. 
 
 1858. 
 
 SHE removed to the United States on her marriage 
 to John T. Comstock, of Rollin, Michigan, in 1858. 
 Her previous life had been marked by mucli energetic 
 labour in the varied avocations which had fallen to her 
 lot, and here, on what was then regarded as a Western 
 farm, she found scope in various ways for the exercise 
 of those natural talents, trained and mellowed by her 
 life's experience, which now began to be more con- 
 spicuously employed for the good of those around her. 
 
 Her friends soon found that she had received 
 a valuable gift in the ministry of the Word, and she 
 was made very helpful in building up the small 
 meeting which at that time assembled in Rollin. 
 
 Her labours were not long confined to that locality. 
 She visited first the meetings of Friends in her own 
 Yearly Meeting, and, later on, paid a general visit to 
 many of the prisons, asylums, and poorhouses in the 
 States, her ministrations proving exceedingly useful 
 and comforting to the objects of her loving concern. 
 In several instances she was the means of encouraging 
 the commencement of a new course of life, which led
 
 1858.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 61 
 
 in after years to the re-instatement of the individuals 
 in a position commanding the love and esteem of their 
 fellow-citizens. 
 
 In common with many other members of the 
 Society of Friends at this time, she felt a deep interest 
 in the condition of the coloured population, and was 
 able to aid, in some cases, the escape of fugitives to the 
 land of freedom. 
 
 The following is her own description of some of 
 these cases : — 
 
 " After the passing of the wicked Fugitive Slave 
 Law, which made it a penal offence to shelter an 
 escaped slave, many fugitives fled northward through 
 Michigan into Canada. Among these, the first who 
 largely called forth my sympathy by seeking refuge in 
 our house, in 1858, was Lucy, a tall, handsome quad- 
 roon, bearing in her arms a child of seven or eight 
 months. 
 
 "We did what we could to hide her away for awhile, 
 and then help her off on the Underground Railway 
 towards Canada. She was placed in the charge of a 
 well-known abolitionist, to take her on the last stage 
 towards lake Erie. Just as she was leaving the station 
 at Sandusky, she saw a placard, describing in large 
 letters herself and her baby, and offering 1,200 dollars 
 reward for her arrest. In great terror, she pointed it 
 out to the conductor, who took her back, and hid her 
 in the baggage-car, saying he expected soon to run the 
 train into Detroit, and could perhaps get her across the 
 river there. On landing in Detroit, the same difficulty 
 presented, a similar placard being posted there. Again
 
 62 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1858. 
 
 poor Lucy took refuge in the baggage-car, while the 
 kind-hearted conductor undertook to go into the city 
 and see a gentleman, who was an earnest abolitionist. 
 He brought his carriage in the dusk of the evening, 
 and took her home to his house. He and his wife 
 carefully secreted her for several days, while they 
 endeavoured to devise means for transporting her 
 across the river — in vain. In every direction the notice 
 of the large reward offered, met their eye. A.t length, 
 as a last resort, the lady proposed to Lucy the following 
 plan : that she and her husband should be travelling, 
 Lucy's baby in her arms, dressed up like her own, and 
 Lucy with her ringlets cut ofl", disguised as a porter, 
 should carry the trunk, and thus go on board the 
 steamer. To this plan, Lucy made great objection. 
 First, she was unwilling to lose her ringlets, and 
 secondly, to put on men's clothes ; but her objections 
 were overruled by the gentleman and lady, who told 
 her this was her only chance of escape. She was so 
 tall, and the description of her person and baby so 
 accurate that she could be easilj^ identified, unless 
 thoroughly disguised. They equipped accordingly, 
 the gentleman and lady in their carriage went down 
 just before the starting of the boat, the lady had the 
 baby in her arms, dressed just like her own, and closely 
 veiled ; the pretended porter carried the box before 
 them up the gangway. Lucy, as she walked on to the 
 boat, passed within a stone's throw of her master, who 
 was watching intently every passenger who went on 
 board. No sooner had the steam-boat moved from the 
 wharf, than Lucy throwing aside her disguise, her tur-
 
 1858.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 63 
 
 ban on her head, her baby in her arms, stood on deck, 
 under the light of the lamp, and waved an eternal 
 farewell to her master. 
 
 '' He frantically called out for the captain to stop, 
 shouting aloud that he would give him 1,000 dollars, 
 if he Avould put back for one quarter of an hour. 
 The captain, comprehending the whole situation, calmly 
 replied 'Don't be excited my dear sir, don't be excited, 
 there will be another boat soon.' It would have 
 taken more than 1,000 dollars to bribe that liberty- 
 loving captain to return the poor fugitive to her 
 master. Within half an hour, Lucy set foot upon the 
 Canadian soil, which she had so long been seeking 
 and travelling tow^ard. The first thing she did on 
 reaching land, was to prostrate herself upon the earth, 
 kiss the ground, and pray God to bless Queen Victoria 
 and all her people for providing a refuge for the 
 oppressed. 
 
 " Three years had passed away, when Lucy again 
 presented herself at our dwelling, during which time 
 she had not only provided for herself and little girl by 
 her industry in laundry work and millinery, but had 
 laid by 375 dollars, with which to purchase her 
 husband's freedom. We exerted ourselves to assist 
 her in this object, and found that her husband could 
 be purchased for 600 dollars (1,200 had been asked for 
 her — see the relative value of men and women at this 
 time in the United States). I took her with me to 
 meeting on Sunday, and at its close introduced her to 
 the congregation, stated the circumstances, and made 
 an urgent appeal for help. An aged and very
 
 64 LIFE AND LETTERS OP 
 
 conservative Friend arose, and objected to money 
 transactions being entered into on the Sabbath, and 
 in a meeting-house. As he took his seat, my sister- 
 in-law, Rachel S. Beal, stood up, and said ' If any 
 man among you have an ox or an ass fallen into a pit 
 on the Sabbath day, will he not straightway release 
 him ? ' These few words, spoken with the quiet 
 dignity of a woman whose voice was rarely heard 
 there, produced an effect almost magical. The result 
 was, a good collection was taken up ; this was followed 
 by similar efforts in surrounding neighbourhoods, and 
 other ineetings, and the desired sum was soon made 
 up, with the addition of sufficient money to pay her 
 husband's travelling expenses to Canada, where they 
 were soon comfortably settled with their little daughter. 
 "Another thrilling incident connected with the 
 escape of a fugitive slave I will here relate. The poor 
 fellow had run away from the south, travelled many 
 hundred miles by night, hiding away during the day, 
 when, foot-sore, weary, and exhausted, he rushed into the 
 barnyard of a Friend in Ohio, who was working with 
 straw and pitchfork among his cattle. In distress and 
 terror, poor Sam quickly made known his situation to 
 the Friend, who told him to lie down on the straw 
 and he would cover him up. He bade him not to fear, 
 saying he had had many a score of fugitives in his 
 hands, and not one had been recaptured. The pursuers 
 were close behind and quickly made their appearance. 
 They accosted the Friend, who was apparently very 
 busy at his work, demanding what had become of their 
 ' nigger,' whom they had seen come into his barnyard.
 
 1858.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 65 
 
 "A sudden deafness semed to have seized the 
 farmer, who apparently heard none of their queries. 
 Coming closer to him, and shouting much louder, he 
 looked up at them, and with his hand behind his ear, 
 asked, ' Lost a cow, did you say ? ' In very loud 
 tones they replied, 'No, a nigger, and we saw him 
 come through your gateway.' With his hand still up 
 to help his hearing, ' Did she have a white spot on her 
 forehead, Alderney breed?' 'No, you old fool,' was 
 the rejoinder, and with many rough words and much 
 profanity, they tried to make him comprehend they 
 were going to search his house and buildings for their 
 lost property, who they felt sure was concealed there. 
 He said he had not seen or heard any negro go into 
 his house, though he had been working there all the 
 afternoon. With sundry uncomplimentary epithets, 
 they intimated that he was such a dull, stupid old 
 fellow, that a whole regiment of soldiers might have 
 gone in without his seeing or hearing them. He 
 replied that he did not think any one could have gone 
 in without his seeing them, but that an honest 
 man need not be afraid of having his house searched^ 
 and they might search as much as they liked,. 
 but he felt sure they would not find him there. They 
 went in and searched every nook and corner from 
 garret to cellar, looking into every room, closet, clothes'' 
 press, between beds and mattresses, and even into the 
 old Dutch clock-case, then thoroughly examined the 
 barns, stables, and other out-buildings. ' Pity yon 
 didn't take the word of an honest man,' said the Friend, 
 as they were departing, ' I told you he wasn't there.'
 
 Q6 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1858. 
 
 " Near the gate they saw a boy, one of the farmer's 
 sons, and asked him if he had seen the negro, describing 
 his appearance. The youth, like most Friends' children 
 in those parts, was not disposed to help a slave-catcher, 
 and replied that he did see a man, looking something 
 like that, going up yon hill a mile away an hour ago. 
 He could not see his face, and did not know whether 
 he was black or white. The two men started in 
 pursuit in the direction indicated, and as soon as 
 they were quite out of sight and hearing, Jabez Brown 
 called to Sam to get up, and come into the house 
 for the greatly-needed refreshment, rest, and change 
 of apparel. With cordial greeting and kindly words 
 he cheered the poor fellow by saying, ' Now, Sam, my 
 house will be the safest place for thee for a mouth to 
 come ; thou art quite welcome and need not be at all 
 afraid, for I can outwit all the slave-hunters who may 
 come, and they cannot look a second time in the same 
 place — it is against the law.' Sam staid there quietly 
 for five or six weeks, and was then passed on by the 
 Underground Railway, and arrived safely in Canada, 
 adding to the 15,000 already there, fugitive slaves, or 
 the descendants of such, as healthy, honest, sober and 
 industrious a people as either race can present. . , 
 
 " My next narrative shall be of a beautiful 
 octoroon, who had been a great favourite with her 
 mistress. Upon the death of the latter, she was sold 
 at auction, and became the property of a young profligate 
 from the far south, who paid 1,800 dollars for her. 
 She was in exceeding distress at the prospect before 
 her, knowing she was destined to be ruined body and
 
 1858.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 67 
 
 soul. She endeavoured to restrain her tears, and hide 
 her feelings from her new owner, lest he should place 
 her in chains. He came and talked with her, speaking 
 smooth words and making fair promises. He told her 
 of his elegant carriage and horses, of his magnificent 
 home and beautiful gardens, and promised that she 
 should be the mistress of his house. She manifested 
 no repugnance, but appeared pleased. In the night 
 she made her escape, travelled nightafter night, hiding 
 away all day, until she reached Ohio. To her great 
 distress, she found she was pursued by two horsemen, 
 of whom now and then she caught sight in the distance. 
 In the afternoon of the third day after she made her 
 escape, with her feet bleeding, and dress soiled and 
 torn, she rushed into a barn, where a plainly dressed 
 Friend was busy at work. She hurriedly told of her 
 distress, and the pursuers were close behind. ' Don't 
 be alarmed, my child,' he said, as he led her through 
 the barn and a small door at the back, 'but go to James 
 Green at that house,' designating one near by, 'and 
 tell him that I say he must take thee on immediately, 
 without any delay, by the Underground Railway, and 
 I will detain the pursuers here, until thou art a 
 considerable distance on thy way to Canada — they will 
 never catch thee.' So saying, he went out again by the 
 large barn doors, and had only just time to fasten them 
 securely, and nail up three or four boards across them, 
 when the slave-catchers rode up, and demanded the 
 slave whom they had seen enter there. As the Friend 
 went on steadily with his work, paying very little 
 attention to them, they dismounted, hitched their
 
 68 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1858. 
 
 horses to the fence, and began trying to get the door 
 open. One of them caught up an axe that was lying 
 near, and was about to break it open, when the Friend, 
 laying his hand upon his arm, said to him quietly, 
 * Young man, thou art now in a free state ; we 
 have laws in Ohio, and it is a penitentiary offence to 
 break open another man's premises. I assure thee I 
 have none of thy property there, but if thou wilt not 
 take the word of an honest man and art determined to 
 search my barn, thou must do it legally. Thou wilt 
 have to bring a constable and a warrant." The two 
 men conferred together a few minutes, and after roundly 
 abusing him, agreed that one should stay there, and 
 watch that the girl did not make her escape, while the 
 other went in quest of a constable and w^arrant. This 
 proved no easy work, for while they had been talking 
 to the farmer, the boys had quietly unhitched the 
 horses, which were now seen wandering at some 
 distance. After awhile they were caught, and another 
 difficulty arose in finding their way to a constable, in 
 a strange country, where no one seemed disposed to aid 
 them, or to give reliable information as to the way. 
 Just as the young man was departing, the Friend called 
 out to him, that he might as well bring a carpenter too, 
 for, having a newly-painted barn, the work must be 
 done skilfully, the nails drawn carefully ; he would 
 expect to recover damages if anything was injured. 
 Two or three hours elapsed before his return, bringing 
 the constable, warrant, and carpenter, during which 
 time his companion never once lost sight of the barn, 
 watching closely that the girl should not make her
 
 185S.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. G9 
 
 escape. The Friend was still nailing up his boards, as 
 if desirous of making the place very secure, but in 
 reality to gain time. As the carpenter was beginning 
 to draw the nails, the Friend enquired of him who wa& 
 going to pay him for his work, and who would pay the 
 damage if the newly-painted barn was injured. This 
 occasioned some further delay, as the carpenter 
 stipulated he should not be responsible for damages, 
 and should be well paid by his employers. 
 
 " At length, as the sun went down, the nails were 
 drawn, barn-doors thrown open, the two young 
 southerners rushed in to seize their prey, and behold 
 the barn was empty ! A volley of oaths and curses 
 succeeded, which did not in the least ruffle the temper 
 or disturb the equanimity of the good man. He went 
 on quietly with his work until the strife of tongues- 
 had ceased, and then courteously invited the young 
 strangers to partake of the hospitalities of his house 
 for the night, reminding them that there was no hotel 
 within several miles, and that their horses would be 
 jaded and weary. Having no alternative, they very 
 reluctantly accepted his invitation, resolved that early 
 on the morroM^ they would resume the search for their 
 lost property. Their host took the opportunity that 
 evening to hold some converse with them on the evils 
 of slavery, but did not succeed in converting them into 
 abolitionists. One young man complained that his 
 case was very hard, having paid out 1,800 dollars, only 
 a few days before, for the poor slave, to which the 
 Friend replied it was a hard case, but would have been 
 a far harder one for her, had he succeeded in capturing
 
 70 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1858. 
 
 her. The best the house afforded was set before the 
 guests, and an excellent lodgment provided for both 
 them and their horses. 
 
 " On the following morning the family deviated 
 from their usual practice of breakfasting at six o'clock, 
 and sat down to table at nine with becoming delibera- 
 tion. After breakfast, the boys were an unusually long 
 time in preparing the horses, and when at length they 
 were ready to depart, their host gave them a few words 
 of parting admonition. He told them it would be 
 useless to pursue or search longer for the girl, that she 
 had gone on by the Underground Eailway, and was 
 now nearing Canada, and it would be impossible for 
 them to catch her. He advised them to return home, 
 and never to come to Ohio on similar business again, 
 but if any other business should call them this way, he 
 extended to them a cordial invitation to seek rest and 
 shelter beneath his roof ; his house was ever open to 
 
 those who needed it of either race I saw 
 
 the girl some months after in Canada, and heard the 
 account from her own lips, as well as from the Friend 
 who had with so much ingenuity saved her. She was 
 a skilful milliner and dressmaker, and earned a com- 
 fortable livelihood by her needle."
 
 1858.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 71 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 HOME LIFE IN MICHIGAN. 
 
 1858-61. 
 
 THE following letter was addressed to her young- 
 nephews and nieces in Canada : — 
 
 " 8mo. 7th, '59. I have just returned from a 
 most delightful day's ramble. I accompanied a party 
 to a school examination and picnic in the woods, eight 
 miles from here. J. and H. H. took me. J. H. is the 
 Friend wdio was convinced by reading G. P. R.'s tracts 
 on his way out from England twenty-eight years ago. 
 His son J. is C.'s friend, his daughter R. teaches 
 our district school. Of course C. and J. were of the 
 party. I wish all of you could have been with us, you 
 would have very much enjoyed it. We were a large 
 party ourselves. H. H., who is a most liberal house- 
 keeper, provided an elegant repast, which was conveyed 
 with us in baskets. We reached the encampment about 
 9.30 a.m. Many thousands were there before us. As 
 soon as we entered the woods the sound of music 
 attracted us to the spot. A land from Hudson had 
 been engaged for the purpose, composed of many of 
 the wealthiest tradesmen there. It was a beautiful 
 sight our eyes beheld when Ave ascended some rising 
 ground, mounted a log, and looked down upon a gentle 
 slope, where were seated about a thousand children,
 
 72 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1859. 
 
 looking as happy as children can look in this world. 
 The girls were nearly all dressed in white with a blue 
 sash, and a wreath of flowers round their heads. The 
 melody of their young voices singing so sweetly was a 
 sound that I could not help being enchanted by, 
 Quaker as I am. There was a pleasant breeze stirring 
 the trees and making us feel cool, while the dense 
 woods shaded us from the scorching beams of the sun. 
 All the schools of the township were assembled to- 
 gether, all the teachers of course, and the directors ; 
 most of the parents of the children, and multitudes of 
 visitors from surrounding townships. There was 
 something so imposing in the whole appearance, that 
 I felt fairly transported to Utopia or Paradise by a first 
 glance. How I wished you were all there ! R., thou 
 would'st have been delighted. The little ones would 
 have been beside themselves with glee. F. would 
 have joined multitudes of little boys that mounted the 
 trees and took a bird's eye view of the whole. The 
 trees looked alive with little boys, not the schools to 
 be examined, but the little visitors from other schools. 
 The examination was for the thirteen schools in 
 Wheatland township, not Rollin. The thirteen schools 
 had their different badges, banners, and devices, their 
 wreaths and garlands, &c. The whole assembly that 
 greeted our delighted eyes I wish I could daguerreo- 
 type for you. Above and around were our majestic 
 forest trees, rich in foliage, dotted with little boys, 
 eilent spectators of the scene. Below on an area, 
 between and amongst the trees, 1,000 children — 500 
 boys, 500 girls — their bright eyes and happy faces
 
 1859.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 73 
 
 radiant with delight and eager with expectation. On 
 a raised platform a committee of gentlemen, who took 
 the management, with some professors from Hillsdale 
 College, on the right hand raised seats for lady visitors, 
 opposite to them the same for the band, while in the 
 background were throngs of people eager to hear and 
 see. As far as the eye could reach, right and left, in 
 the front and rear, were more coming ; more, and 
 more, and more poured in, until we left off wondering 
 Avhere they would find seats, to wonder where they 
 came from. While looking hither and thither, lo, a 
 new wonder arose on my astonished gaze — F. M. W., 
 listen. Over there, a great way off, were people 
 building tables. They had props and sticks, and 
 poles and stumps, and all were put to some use 
 speedily, and soon a table was spread in the 
 wilderness — such a table — in the form of a 
 crescent or new moon. A. confidently affirmed it 
 to be half a mile long, some one else disputed the fact, 
 and was persuaded it was only a third of a mile, while 
 J. and C. after walking round it, were loud in their 
 assurances that it was a full mile. And these tables 
 were not empty. Do W. and D. and L. want to know 
 what was on them ? Very well, I will tell you, and 
 you can tell Lina. First, clean, white tablecloths, and 
 then bread, cheese, butter, boiled fowl, roast fowl, 
 chicken pie, ham, veal, roast sucking pig, all kinds of 
 cold meat, maple molasses, maple sugar formed into 
 hearts and eggs, and boys and girls, and dogs and cats, 
 and hens and chicks. Candies of every conceivable 
 shape and size, red candies, green candies, blue, yellow,
 
 74 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1859. 
 
 pink, white and orange coloured candies. Pies, cakes, 
 tarts, turnovers, jellies, preserves, pickles, puddings, 
 of all kinds and sizes, baked and boiled. Fruits of all 
 sorts that are in season, apples, pears, oranges, nuts, 
 raisins, dates. Custards, blancmange, and to crown 
 all, pyramids of sugar or iced cakes, not so large as 
 the pyramids of Egypt, F., but as large as a boy like 
 thee could carry. Some like churches, some like 
 chapels, some to imitate the pagodas of the East, some 
 like a full moon, some like a crescent, some like a 
 lighthouse. I thought of all of you, dear children, and 
 how pleasant it would have been if you could have come 
 and joined with C. and J. and walked round the 
 tables, and each have had your choice of one thing, 
 something you could carry away with you, and share 
 with papa and mamma at home. Well, when we had 
 had a good look at the tables, the music and singing 
 attracted us again to the schools. There was not much 
 of an examination. It might more properly be called 
 an exhibition. The children recited, read, and sang. 
 Some of the boys recited remarkably well— some young 
 
 orators are training there The morning 
 
 exercises over, they walked in procession to dinner, 
 two and two, and looked very pretty. The band 
 meantime played a lively tune. In the afternoon we 
 had a rich treat, the best lecture on education that 
 I ever heard, by an eloquent man, Professor Dunn, 
 from Hillsdale College, about twenty miles north of 
 this place. It was delivered from the platform from 
 which they had examined the schools, to more than 
 a thousand persons. He lectured about an hour. This
 
 1859.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 75 
 
 picnic, or feast, or whatever we may call it, differed 
 from any dinner or treat of the kind in England, in 
 two or three important particulars. The majestic trees, 
 the forest depths, the rustic seats, many of them 
 formed for the occasion by trees felled on purpose ; 
 the free untrammelled intercourse of all classes, ranks, 
 and denominations. The treat was not given by the 
 rich to the poor, but all contributed as they were 
 inclined. Every school supplied its own table, every 
 pupil contributed some provisions. The band, the 
 professor, the trustees and directors, received no pay, 
 but one of the splendid pyramidal iced cakes presented 
 publicly at the close of the lecture. Each district 
 presented a cake. The band, consisting of twelve 
 gentlemen, received six. Two newspaper editors were 
 there, who were each presented with a cake. No doubt 
 we shall see the fruits thereof in the next week's papers. 
 If I see them, and find any very interesting account, 
 I will send you them." 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 " One day last summer I was seated writing when 
 I heard two men in conversation outside. ' Go in and 
 ask her,' said one. ' I am afraid she won't come,' was 
 the reply. ' You must shake hands and talk Quaker, 
 and then she will,' said the first speaker, and forthwith 
 the man came in, a rough-looking country farmer, 
 with long, shaggy beard, and commenced trying his 
 skill at talking Quaker with offering his rough, hard 
 hand to shake hands, and saying ' I have come to ask 
 thou if you'll come and preach a funeral sermon for
 
 76 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1859. 
 
 Mrs. I.' I was so amused I could not frame an answer 
 suitable to the solemnity of the subject. The man 
 proceeded, finding I did not answer, 'You preached 
 the funeral sermon for the old man last year, and the 
 people want you to come again. I gave out notice that 
 you were coming, and we shall have a large funeral 
 and a full house.' As soon as I could regain my com- 
 posure, I rej)lied by enquiring about the deceased. 
 I found this was one of a large family of sons that she 
 had left behind. She died in her ninety-fourth year. 
 After a little conversation with the man, he told me 
 he had other business to do in town and Avould call 
 again in an hour or two. Upon his return, having well 
 considered the matter, 1 told liim that I must decline 
 going with him. He Avished to know my reasons. 
 I explained a little. Friends' views of the Gospel 
 ministry, and that I did not feel called to go. ' I gave 
 you the first call,' he said, ' I have not asked anyone 
 else.' I tried to make him understand what I meant 
 by a call, and told him that I could not go and preach 
 just when I wished or when 1 was invited, and said, 
 *■ I suppose if I go and have nothing to say you will 
 be disappointed.' ' Yes, very much indeed,' he 
 answered, ' for some people are coming a great luays to 
 hear you.' After vainly urging the point, he went 
 away and got a Methodist preacher to go with him. 
 For several days after this, every now and then someone 
 would ask me why I did not go and preach Mrs. I's 
 funeral sermon, telling me that public notice had been 
 ariven out that I was cooing to do so."
 
 18G0.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 77 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 EoUm, 8-2-1860. 
 *' Day by day, I am reproved by the sight of a silent 
 memento of thee, an unanswered letter in my desk. I 
 do sensibly feel and acknowledge that I am guilty of 
 neglecting thee and dear L., my relatives at Kettering, 
 our dear Aunts, and our Australian kindred. But how 
 to remedy the evil, is beyond my wisdom and skill to 
 say. No sooner do I get a day free from household 
 duties, than I take my desk and portfolio, and seat 
 myself with the resolution to write to one of my far 
 distant relatives. Well, thus seated and ready, it 
 becomes a question to which shall I write first — my 
 long list of letters labelled ' unanswered,' is cqjjjalling- 
 — I quickly decide, and in a sort of desperation, 
 commence three or four, resolved thus to secure, and 
 be certain of writing to these ; I am in a letter-writing 
 mood, and feel that I can accomplish wonders, but 
 alas! alas! before the first page is completed, visitors 
 number one, two, three, four, come pouring in, trying 
 my patience to the utmost, and my diligence too. My 
 writing has to be set aside, and the pies, cakes, custards, 
 sauces, &c., &c., prepared for my unwelcome and 
 untimely guests. ' Tell it not in Gath, publish it not 
 in the streets of Askelon,' that the wife of a Michigan 
 farmer has used so inhospitable an expression. 
 I should lose caste and character rapidly, if suspected 
 of such feelings. Hospitality, indiscriminate, open- 
 handed hospitality without partiality, is a cardinal 
 virtue in this country, the contrary, a capital offence. 
 It is nothing but the want of time that prevents my
 
 78 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1860. 
 
 writing two or three articles against so much visiting, 
 and sending them to some of our popular newspapers. 
 Dear C, canst not thou write something to the point 
 and send me. Oh, if thou would, I should be so 
 thankful, and beg of S. to do the same, and dear L. 
 too. They would do good. Our newspapers are read 
 at all the farm-houses and have iveight. Here comes 
 a pedlar, visitor No. 1. A gentlemanly, foreign looking 
 young man, with a satchel and tin box slung over 
 his shoulder with a leathern strap. . . . 10-2mo. 
 That young pedlar is a Polish Jew, with the flashing 
 black eye, dark cast of countenance, and strongly 
 marked features of his fatherland and his peculiar 
 people. He is selling jewellery, brooches, rings, pins, 
 lockets, and many other ' Babylonish vanities.' He 
 wanted supper, lodging, breakfast, &c. — was accom- 
 modated cheerfully with all — he offered to pay — we, 
 of course, declined receiving anything. A very 
 intelligent young man, only one year from Poland, 
 speaks English tolerably, and French fluently. John 
 has talked with him most earnestly on the New 
 Testament, commending it to his serious, prayerful 
 reading. He received it well. There is after all some 
 2)leasure in receiving such guests, and I hope a blessing 
 in store. Well, here comes another, No. 2, a tall 
 stalwart athletic frame, one of Af ric's sable sons. At the 
 sight of one of these oppressed people, our hearts, our 
 hands, our houses, our purses, are freely opened. 
 Would that the kindness, the sympathy, the liberality 
 shown by the abolitionists towards the fugitives who 
 cross their path, could wash away some of the dark
 
 18G0.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 79 
 
 stains, blotting the records of this nation, could lessen 
 the cruel wrongs heaped upon theit^ race by ours. 
 C, dear, tell me in thy next what is the origin, what 
 the cause of colour in the Africans. Give me S.'s 
 opinion, and John and Joseph Pease's, if you can get 
 it. It is an interesting question here, and the occasion 
 of much discussion. While J. is entertaining and 
 conversing with our black brother, I will give thee 
 a little sketch of his graphic and tragic history. His 
 father was kidnapped in Africa, and endured all the 
 horrors of crossing the Atlantic in a slave ship. Many- 
 died on the passage, fever and pestilence raged amongst 
 them, produced by the want of fresh air in the hold of 
 the ship, where they were too closely packed. This 
 poor fellow has had a dreadful time as a slave in 
 Virginia, and, at length, goaded by his sufferings, and 
 impelled by a thirst for liberty, he fled. Numberless 
 difficulties and dangers^ met him by the way and 
 . . , . knock at the door, visitors Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6. 
 Four men and four horses want supper, lodging, 
 breakfast, &c. No acquaintance. Dirty, rough-looking 
 fellows, going about with a thrashing machine. Farewell 
 to my writing for to-night and to-morrow. There will 
 be cooking to do, beds to prepare, &c., then bedding to 
 wash. Truly, this is a weary world — how delightful 
 if ever favoured to reach that land of rest and peace, 
 where nothing unclean shall enter. Where ' there 
 remaineth a rest for the people of God.' " 
 
 " 12th 2mo. A quiet day alone with my dear hus- 
 band. I believe it is almost the first since our marriage. 
 He is now gone out to milk, &c., and 1 propose to spend
 
 80 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1860. 
 
 a quiet hour writing to thee. I have many things to say, 
 but fear I may not have time for all. First, thank thee, 
 dear C, for thy last welcome letter ; it was very inter- 
 esting. How I should like to see my dear little nej)hew 
 and niece. . . . F.'s little lectures and instructions 
 must be beautiful to listen to. Do they ever quarrel ? 
 Does F. ever manifest any disposition to teaze or 
 tyrannize over his little sister ? Has M.C. any faults ? 
 Does she manifest enough of human nature to prove 
 herself a true child of Adam's fallen race ? They both 
 come of a pretty good stock, so I hope they are not 
 very faulty ! C. is a great comfort to me. She is 
 a strange combination of good and evil. She has very 
 quick sympathies, and is easily moved to tears by 
 seeing anyone or anything suffering. She shed many 
 tears over Martin's* broken leg, and devoted many an 
 hour of her playtime reading to him, to take his 
 attention, or drive away his pain. ' That little angel ! ' 
 he said one day, ' I do believe she was made to comfort 
 others ! ' When I have a bad headache or anything 
 the matter with me, she is a tender, gentle little nurse. 
 When we have any children visiting here, she is quite 
 in her element, the most boisterous and unruly will 
 submit to her control, the most fretful and irritable 
 will be soothed by her. Most of our circle here think 
 her decidedly the best hand at amusing and taking 
 care of children that they have ever known. She does 
 seem to have a peculiar gift that way. . . . Here 
 comes my dearest J., but I see we are not to have 
 
 * One of the farm men (?)
 
 I860.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 81 
 
 a quiet evening alone, for lie is bringing with him 
 visitor No. 7, a somewhat singular looking man with 
 the costume of the South, strong built, dark complexion, 
 
 fierce-looking A slave-driver ! Well, we 
 
 have all sorts. All classes are at home here, all claim 
 fellowship with us, and I suppose all should have our 
 sympathy. Poor man, he has lost his right arm. That 
 arm that has often swung tbe cat-o'-nine-tails, and 
 wielded the whip around the shrinking form of the 
 poor slave, is gone for ever — it shall torture suffering 
 humanity no more. It was torn off by the machinery of 
 a ' cotton-gin,' as he was driving the poor slaves. On 
 the whole, he seems a pleasant man in conversation. 
 He does not think slavery wrong, he believes a slave 
 is just as much the property of his master, as his horse 
 or sheep is. He has read ' Uncle Tom's Cabin,' and 
 does not like it. Thinks the slaves are a sort of middle 
 class between men and beasts, and that they are 
 generally well treated, that a man usually takes as 
 much care of his negroes as of his cattle, and that, if 
 set free, they could not provide for themselves, &c., &c. 
 He has left the plantations, and is going home to his 
 relatives in the north of this state. Farewell for 
 to-night." 
 
 " loth 2mo. Our Monthly Meeting is over ; we 
 have had quite a large company of Friends. Dr. E., 
 and family, from Ohio ; an intelligent man, very 
 abstemious, one who disapproves of the superfluous 
 loading of our tables, and thinks that ' most of the 
 inhabitants of this land eat twice as much as is good 
 for them ! ' An aged couple who have come ten miles
 
 82 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1800. 
 
 to meeting, seventy-five and seventy-eight years of age. 
 A Friend and wife, and five children, the youngest 
 five weeks old ; the mother, a pleasant woman, seems 
 as much at ease as though she had no children to see 
 to, while C. goes away Avith the four others and two 
 belonging to someone else, who willingly part with 
 them for awhile. C. seemed quite in her element with 
 them. 4th o)no. My letter does not progress very fast. 
 Other calls upon my time besides visitors have claimed 
 my attention since I last laid down my pen. We have 
 had three funerals at our meeting-house, and four at 
 the other meeting-house a few miles from here. There 
 has been a great deal of sickness and death around 
 us of late. Six times I have been sent for to visit the 
 sick and dying. One case was a peculiarly trying one. 
 A young man, recently disowned for disorderly conduct 
 by this Monthly Meeting, who had joined himself to 
 a gang of unprofitable associates, a hunting set, had 
 been out one night with them, stayed in the woods all 
 night, came home with a bad cold, neglected it, inflam- 
 mation on the lungs and bronchitis followed. A week 
 after I was sent for ; the messenger was very urgent, 
 told me that Charles was in great distress of mind, that 
 he was afraid to die, and the doctors had given him 
 up. Of course I answered the call. I cannot describe 
 that dying scene : the poor young man struggling 
 with the King of Terrors, and frantically pleading for 
 life, for time to prepare to die. Then wandering in 
 delirium and shrinking from the grasp of death. It 
 was a fearful sight. ' By many a deathbed I have 
 been, And many a sinner's parting seen. But never
 
 18(]0.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 83 
 
 aught like this ! ' He struggled, he trembled, he 
 Avrestled, he gasped, he groaned. In his lucid intervals 
 he entreated me to pray for him. Three days of great 
 bodily anguish and mental agony succeeded, then 
 a little season of tranquillity, a faint glimmer of hope, 
 and then the struggle was ended, and the spirit left the 
 suffering tabernacle. ' He is gone, the last day shall 
 tell where ! ' Though a young man, he has left a young 
 widow and three small children. Dost thou know it is 
 not an unfrequent thing here for me to be sent for by 
 those not Friends to pray with the sick and dying, and 
 to preach a ' funeral sermon ' . , . . our ministers 
 and elders encourage me to go and respond to such 
 calls. On one occasion lately a poor old man was 
 dying with a cancer, and urgently requested me to 
 attend his funeral. After his death his Avidow and 
 sons invited me ' to preach his funeral sermon.' I ex- 
 plained our views to them on the Ministry, after which 
 we heard they had engaged a Methodist minister to 
 come and preach if I did not. .... Friends here 
 lend their meeting-houses freely to others, and use 
 
 theirs as freely My health is not so good 
 
 as it was two years ago, our oppressively hot summer 
 weather does not suit me, it enfeebles me. During the 
 winter I have been much better than in the summer. 
 But I had a strange attack a month ago — all of a sudden 
 a dizzj" feeling came over me. I could not stand, and 
 should have fallen had it not been for M. A., who was 
 near at hand, and supported me. My head was in an 
 unusual heat, my hands and feet cold. They got me 
 to bed, with hot bricks to my feet, and in two or three
 
 84 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1(SC0. 
 
 hours I was quite well again, and have had no return 
 of it since, but my dear husband seems constantly 
 anxious and uneasy about me. He is so afraid of 
 apoplexy or something of that kind. He is exceedingly 
 tender, attentive, and kind to me. If he should be 
 taken away from me I don't know what I should do. 
 We have had many pleasant rides together this winter, 
 going to ' visit the fatherless and widows in their 
 affliction,' the sick and dying in their suffering. . . . 
 T have been learning to make soap and candles, and am 
 becoming quite au fait at farmhouse work." 
 
 " 5th 3mo. We have had a great many more 
 visitors, but time would fail me to tell of William, of 
 Samuel, of Joseph, of Welcome, of Pearce, of Ira, of 
 Peleg, of Addison, of Martha, of Charity, of Hiram also, 
 and of the pedlars who, through their love of visiting, 
 subdued and surmounted all difficulties and dangers, to 
 tarry for awhile under our roof. I have other things 
 to sjjeak of, and the time is far spent. M.A. has given 
 up her school, having found these sturdy young 
 republicans somewhat insubordinate. They have 
 studied the Declaration of Independence too much to 
 submit to petticoat government so well as the loyal and 
 liege subjects of our Queen do. They remind me of 
 an educational meeting I attended in New York. 
 About fifty persons spoke, and expressed about as many 
 different opinions. One said, ' It is high time to 
 establish a Yearly Meeting School, our young people 
 are becoming so ungovernable. It is not now as it was 
 fifty years ago ; when I was a boy there was some 
 g'overnment in families.' Another Friend responded
 
 I860.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 85 
 
 to the above with, ' I do not at all agree with the last 
 speaker, but think there is as much government in 
 families now as ever there was, but the difference is 
 just this, fifty years ago the old folks used to govern, 
 and now the children do.' Such is life in the ' Great 
 Republic ! ' . . . M.A. and I have just returned 
 from a delightful stroll in the woods. It is a bright 
 and beautiful spring day. How delightful it would 
 have been if you could have come too ! How thy little 
 treasures w'ould enjoy a ramble in our magnificent 
 forests ! How do J. and his wife like England after 
 their free life in the w^oods ? Do they settle down and 
 feel comfortable ? The Friends here are liberal and 
 tolerant in their views to all 'orthodox' bodies of 
 Christians, but they cannot endure Spiritualists, Univer- 
 salists, and Unitarians. They dread and shun these as 
 they would serpents and venomous snakes." 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. and C.H. 
 
 Rollin, 30-9-1860. 
 
 "Just able to sit up, recovering from an attack 
 of ' chill fever,' I take the pen to have a little talk with 
 thee, dear L., and to tell thee how often I have thought 
 of thee of late, and how I have longed to see thee, 
 and to feel thy cool soft hand upon my burning brow. 
 I have been ill of a complaint here designated 
 ' chill fever,' to which settlers in a new country are 
 peculiarly liable. There is scarcely a house in this 
 neighbourhood without an inmate who is suffering 
 from it now, or has done so within a year. It comes 
 on with a chill, a sinking low sensation, and as though
 
 86 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G0. 
 
 cold water was trickling down the back and through 
 the shivering limbs. This is succeeded by an uncom- 
 fortable degree of heat, gradually rising to a parching 
 fever, accompanied by mental aberration ; the climax 
 of heat subsides to a sort of physical zero in about 
 twelve hours, and back again in twelve more, perform- 
 ing a cycle in twenty-four hours. ... I was 
 interrupted in writing the foregoing by my dear 
 husband, who insisted on my laying down pen and 
 paper, and resting.'''' 
 
 " 10th mo. 3rd. John came in the other day, and 
 weak and feeble as I felt, I could not help laughing 
 outright at what he said. I felt a little returning 
 appetite, and asked him to kill a chicken, that I might 
 have a little chicken broth. He protested against it, 
 told me I was not nearly well enough, and he feared 
 it would throw me into a fever. However he added, 
 he would go and get me (and would cook it himself) 
 a piece of fat pork out of the pork barrel. The bare 
 mention of it was enough for me. He assured me 
 I should ' eat it with a great relish,' that ' everybody 
 does,' that 'there Avas not the least danger of it hiirting 
 me. People take it when they are very low, almost 
 dead, and eat it eagerly, and it is astonishing how soon 
 it raises them up after the fever leaves them.' Well, 
 I awaited its arrival with some anxiety, quite sure in 
 my OAvn mind that it would make me sick. But John 
 was very urgent and quite irresistible, so I tried to 
 take it, and strange to say after the first mouthful, all 
 nausea and repulsive feeling vanished, and I did eat it 
 with a relish, quite a thick slice of fat pork, and some
 
 I860.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 87 
 
 bread soaked in the fat, and cooked and smoked almost 
 black, while held over the top of our wood fire ! ! " 
 
 " 10th mo., 6th. I do not get on very fast with 
 my letter, I find so many things to do. I am 
 recruiting my strength pretty well, and shall not be 
 much the worse for the attack by and by, I hope. 
 A. happened to be here with her husband on a visit, 
 when I was taken ill, she stayed a week after my 
 attack came on, so I had her kind care. M. A. was 
 away at first, but she came home directly on hearing 
 that I was not well, and she stayed two weeks after A. 
 went away. My dear husband was most attentive and 
 indefatigable in his care of me, staying up with me 
 almost every night, and administering every dose of 
 medicine himself. With all their care, I did not 
 suffer for want of attention, but was uneasy during 
 lucid intervals about the housework, and for fear A. 
 and M.A. should be overdone." 
 
 "10th mo. 15th. Our English package has arrived 
 at last after considerable delay in New York, and 
 detention by the Avay. ... It was so pleasant to 
 see things just as your dear hands had packed them. 
 I wish you could both have been in one corner of our 
 sitting-room and seen it unpacked. It was a blustering, 
 dark, rainy evening, about seven o'clock, when the 
 cry went forth ' the English package is come, bring a 
 lantern.' Then John went out, and Charles to help 
 unload it, and C. to hold the light, M.A. and L.A. (my 
 servant pro tem.) to look on. I feared the cold wind, 
 and obeyed John's strict charge to remain in the 
 house. In a few minutes the case was in the dining-
 
 88 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G0. 
 
 room, with a lively company round it. That evening 
 was quite an era in J.'s life, and C.'s too. I do not 
 know which of the two was most delighted and excited 
 as one pretty thing after another was brought to light. 
 C.'s delight with her doll was greatly augmented by 
 her father's exclamations of wonder and astonishment 
 at seeing it open and shut its eyes. The slippers he is 
 much pleased with, and the knives and steel. He 
 talks of writing to acknowledge them himself, but in 
 the meantime, I may tell you that they have been 
 sources of great gratification to him. You cannot at 
 all understand the sensation excited here by the arrival 
 of ' a package from England.' There were fifty things 
 at least that were quite curiosities here to this farming 
 population, who seldom go from home except to market, 
 and do not see many things beside farm products. 
 For my presents, I am very much obliged." . . . 
 
 "10th mo. 30th. I am forty-five to-day. My ancle 
 is still swelled and rather lame, but I can walk a 
 quarter of a mile without suffering much inconvenience. 
 It is eleven weeks since I hurt it. We have had a 
 great many callers to see our ' English curiosities,' 
 which we hear are common topics of conversation in 
 our neighbourhood. ... Of C.'s enjoyment with 
 all her treasures, her beautiful little box and its 
 contents, I will leave her to tell. She has begun a 
 letter to you. Accept my thanks, my dear sisters, for 
 all the pains you have taken in purchasing and packing 
 for me. I shall take great delight in doing as much 
 for you some day. . . . John spent yesterday 
 afternoon pruning his peach trees. He has a fine peach
 
 1861.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 89 
 
 orchard, two or three huDclred trees. He hopes to 
 have the pleasure of offering you some peaches from 
 them some day. He came to fetch me to the cellar 
 just now to look at his fine show of winter apples. 
 They certainly do look beautiful. There are about 130 
 bushels. Some of them are remarkably fine. He 
 pointed to a large bin of the finest and said, ' There, 
 I wish I could deliver that bin of apples, just as they 
 are, to our English relatives ! ' There were fifty bushels 
 in the bin. Some of them will measure fourteen or 
 fifteen inches round the largest part.* We have not 
 nearly so many apples this year as sometimes. We 
 have raised nearly 1,000 bushels of grain this year ; 
 perhaps some of it may go to England. The crops in 
 this country have turned out remarkably well, except 
 potatoes, they are 'some' rotten, but not altogether 
 spoiled." 
 
 Writing from Rollin, 23-11-61, E.L.C. says : 
 *' I have been to Richmond to attend the Indiana 
 Yearly Meeting, and to Cincinnati, to the Sabbath 
 School Convention. Both were seasons of novel and 
 lively interest. The Yearly Meeting is a wonderful 
 sight. Friends in thousands, crowding into the 
 meeting-house yard, which covers an area of many 
 acres, in their various styles of carriages, from the neat 
 glass coach to the tilted wagon, and the open lumber 
 wagon. The house crowded, on First-day particularly. 
 Friends, seated fifty in a row, and from twenty-five to 
 
 ■" He did send over two barrels of these splendid apples, far 
 larger than any grown in England.
 
 90 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1861. 
 
 thirty rows, on the ground floor, as well as multitudes 
 in upstairs galleries, and 3,000 holding meeting in the 
 open air, outside the meeting-house, far enough off for 
 the faint sound of the voice of the distant preacher 
 now and then to be heard within the walls. Enos 
 Pray, the most popular preacher in that Yearly Meeting, 
 with a stentorian voice, electrifies with his eloquence 
 the thousands out of doors. I wanted much to be 
 there, but I had a bad cold, and as it was a drizzling 
 rain and wet under foot, all the women were advised to 
 remain in the house, and I lost that treat, and scarcely 
 heard this powerful preacher at all. At Cincinnati 
 we had a most animated, spirit-stirring 
 discussion, on matters of deep interest, connected with 
 education in Sabbath Schools. About 250 present ; 
 150 delegates from various parts of the union. Sister 
 R.S.B. and I from Michigan, and some from every 
 Yearly Meeting, except North Carolina, and a refugee 
 Friend, who had fled from that state, was present. 
 Men and women in about equal proportion. The 
 discussion was ably carried on both by men 
 and women indiscriminately. After the Convention 
 we went to see Benjamin Frankland's school. 
 He has many hundred of the lowest class of 
 children from the very dregs of that large city, in 
 a most interesting Sabbath School. He is a son of 
 Thomas Frankland, of Liverpool, once a noted minister 
 amongst Friends ; he was at Ackworth when I left that 
 school, being then a very little boy. Agnes, Mary, and 
 Anna are his sisters. I had a very pleasant visit with 
 them and their mother, now living near Cincinnati.
 
 1861.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 91 
 
 B.F. spends two hours with these degraded, ignorant 
 little ones every First-day. They sing a good many 
 sweet hymns, a young woman accompanying them on 
 an accordion. Their young voices, in unison, singing 
 thus, seemed sweet harmony to my ears. ... I have 
 been absent on my late journey seven weeks ; sister 
 R.S.B. was my companion. After leaving Cincinnati, 
 and spending two hours on the Kentucky mountains, 
 we went in a north-easterly direction, visiting the 
 meetings of Friends in Alum Creek Quarterly Meeting, 
 Ohio, &c. This journey occupied more time than 
 I expected, and I have returned that minute, and 
 procured another for visiting our State's prison at 
 Jackson, the Juvenile Penitentiary at Lansing, to hold 
 meetings in many of the cities and villages in this 
 State, the Northern Quarterly Meeting in Indiana, and 
 some other service that will probably occupy me two 
 or three months. 
 
 " As far as I can see in the dim distance, Canada 
 may then be my course. , . 
 
 " After one meeting I was at, a pleasant friendly- 
 looking man (not of our Society), came and advised me 
 not to speak on peace any more, 'or you will be niohhed,'' 
 he said, • for the people won't bear it.' 
 
 " The war spirit seems to prevail over every other 
 feeling. Farmers complain grievously of the badness 
 of the times. Produce of all kinds, raised on the farms, 
 sells very low, and those things we have to purchase 
 from other parts, groceries, cotton goods, &c., are very 
 high. Tea and coffee three times their usual price, 
 raisins, sugar, rice, almost beyond our reach. Friends
 
 92 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1861. 
 
 and others are leaving off the use of tea and coffee very 
 generally, and substituting rye, barley, Indian corn, 
 wheat and oats roasted for coffee, and hyssop, catnip, 
 sage, &c., for tea. 
 
 " We have had about sixty meetings in cities and 
 villages, and expect to have about twenty more, and 
 then return our minutes to our Monthly and Quarterly 
 Meetings in Third month. 
 
 " Upon returning this minute, I have some prospect 
 of requesting another for Canada, New York State, 
 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and some appointed 
 meetings with those out of our Society. 
 
 The States' Prisons of New York and Pennsylvania 
 it is probable I may visit also. I have entertained the 
 hope that my dear John would go with me to Canada, 
 
 but it seems doubtful 
 
 " Yes, I believe that preaching is one great and 
 powerful agency by which God is pleased to arouse, 
 awaken, and convert man. That now, as formerly. He 
 is 'pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them 
 that believe.' There is a joy and rejoicing in my heart 
 when visiting the sick and the prisoners, the suffering 
 and dying, to hear ' the blessing of him that is ready to 
 perish ' in my ear. 
 
 " I know that I have a gift to comfort the afflicted, 
 and for this power I do thank God, and strive to exercise 
 it whenever and wherever I can. I would not give 
 away this precious gift for a large property. I have no 
 unity with that sort of preaching that says' I have tried 
 to be excused,' ' I am reluctant to occupy the time of 
 this meeting,' ' I have spoken because I dared not keep
 
 18G1.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 93 
 
 silence.' But I rejoice in my gift, and it is willingly 
 that I use it, attending to the injunction 'Whatsoever 
 thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.' 
 
 " I rejoice that to me is given a dispensation of the 
 gospel, and I rejoice in 'the recompense of the reward.' "
 
 94 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1861. 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR— PHILAN- 
 THROPIC LABOURS.— 1861-62. 
 
 Rollin, 17-4-61. 
 
 '^ npHIS letter would have been finished and 
 -L sent off a month ago, but I have been so 
 much from home of late. We have been round, 
 holding public meetings, and visiting the sick and 
 dying, and attending funerals. The other day I received 
 a lawyer's letter enclosing a very unusual kind of 
 summons, viz., an urgent request to ' come and preach 
 a funeral sermon for my mother, who heard you preach 
 at Hudson one day, and wished you to be invited to 
 preach a funeral sermon for her.' Such requests are 
 very common here, we have one every week on an 
 average. This lawyer sent his man 17 miles for us, 
 over such I'oads as you would never see in England. 
 We were six hours going, and five-and-a-half returning, 
 and were from home two days. You will, perhaps, 
 wonder that we should accept such an invitation. It 
 would be thought very strange in England, but here 
 it is very common with Friends. When invited, they 
 rarely refuse. There are many persons not Friends, 
 whose mothers or fathers, or some of their connexions 
 have been Friends, and who prefer a 'Friends' funeral.'
 
 1801.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 95 
 
 " 18tli 4th mo., 1861. Our country, just now, is 
 in a state of great excitement. Civil war has commenced 
 in the South. In this ' North Countrie,' we are removed 
 far from the scene of warfare, and see and hear 
 comparatively little of it ; yet, just now, the excitement 
 is so great that it even reaches us. The President has 
 ordered 75,000 troops to be raised to quell the rebellion 
 in the South ; Fort Sumter is reported taken by the 
 Carolinians." 
 
 Writing from RoUin, 25-7-1861, E.L.C. says (after 
 referring to some photographs they had had taken) : 
 " But in the present state of affairs in our country, it 
 seems trifling to be talking of likenesses, or caring about 
 anything so trivial, and, while I write, I feel so much 
 uncertaintj" whether my letters will ever reach your 
 hands, that it takes away most of the pleasure of 
 writing. It is so long since I have heard from either of 
 you. I believe this is the fourth letter I have written since 
 hearing, and as I hear nothing from any of my English 
 relations or friends, I conclude some of your letters are 
 lost. In the present troubled state of our nation, our 
 mails and everything else are very uncertain. We have 
 now reached a terrible crisis in this land. Fearful 
 accounts reach us daily of war and bloodshed, affecting 
 details of killed and wounded. The latest account tells 
 us of the total defeat of the Northerners at Manasses 
 Junction, with a loss of 3,000 men, besides many 
 wounded. The poor wounded soldiers claim our earnest 
 sympathy, where, upon the space of one square mile, 
 3,000 dead are lying, with multitudes of wounded 
 mixed up with them. How fearful must be the
 
 96 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1861. 
 
 sufferings of the latter, in that warm country, at this 
 sultry season, lying there almost incapable of moving, 
 and their friends driven off the field, and compelled to 
 retreat to the place from which they started. We begin 
 to look forward, with serious apprehension, to the end 
 of all this. The effect of the excitement in the country 
 is disastrous. Trade and commerce are almost at 
 a standstill ; forty per cent, of the shopkeepers in New 
 York and many other cities have failed. Many of the 
 manufactories are closed. Taxes and rates rising. 
 Tariff upon tea, coffee, sugar, and other groceries so 
 great that many of us farmers are almost discontinuing 
 the use of them. Farm produce very low. Wool that 
 sold last year for fifty cents, now fetches twenty-two. 
 Wheat is only fifty cents per bushel, i.e. forty jjonnds 
 of flour. Its common price is from ninety-five cents 
 to one dollar twenty-five cents. Cutting off the supplies 
 from the Southerners seems to make grain a drug in the 
 market. My dear husband and other farmers around 
 here sensibly feel these things. We ought to be 
 thankful for the ahimdance of our harvest just gathered 
 in ; a most excellent crop, so that we have plenty of 
 
 provisions, but money we seldom see 
 
 John is always willing to go with me to all the meetings, 
 and to take me anywhere in the work of the ministry 
 where my mind seems drawn, if he can possibly leave 
 his work. But if this fearful civil war goes on, I do 
 not know what we shall do. We shall not be able to 
 go out thus, nor shall we have the means. More than 
 this, the way will not be clear before us, or the minds 
 of the people be open to receive us. A strong prejudice
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 97 
 
 against our Society seems springing up, because of our 
 testimony against war ; . people look upon us as a sort 
 of half-secessionists, because we will not fight for the 
 Union, and oppose all war. It is wonderful how high 
 the war spirit runs, and how eager the people are to 
 fight or to licar that they are fighting. . . . If times 
 mend, brother W. and sister R.B. and I hope to attend 
 the Indiana Yearly Meeting, which commences Second 
 of Tenth Month. It is about 200 miles from here. 
 I hope you will write to me as often as you can, and 
 do not imy your letters, then those that may be lost 
 will have cost nothing but the time. I do not pay 
 my letters out of ' The Union ' ; what a mockery that 
 word seems now ! We begin to apprehend that the 
 balance of power between the North and South is more 
 equal than we had supposed. With characteristic self- 
 respect and independence, the Northerners have all along 
 thought themselves infinitely superior to the South, and 
 have boasted that they would soon crush the rebellion 
 and punish the rebels ; and now our eyes seem suddenly 
 opening to perceive that they too have power, and that 
 they may prevail and punish us, at least for awhile." 
 
 Mississinwewa, Indiana. 20-2-1862. 
 
 My deak Sisters, 
 
 " Since writing my last, six weeks ago, I have 
 accomplished this much of my minute, viz., visited the 
 prisoners in the House of Correction at Lansing, the 
 capital of our state, situated 100 miles north of Rollin, 
 and had a meeting in the Senate House with the
 
 98 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 members of our State Legislature, and one with the 
 citizens of Lansing. In these somewhat formidable 
 engagements, it has been a great comfort to me to have 
 the company of my dear husband. We went with our 
 own horses and buggy. We took a round of about 400 
 miles, total cost being about $15 or £3. In the 
 round we went, we paid a visit to some of John's 
 relatives. ... In the Senate House I felt myself 
 in a place altogether new. Upon entering the house, 
 the Sergeant-at-Arms marshalled us up to our seats. 
 I had to sit in the Speaker's chair, on a high elevation, 
 a sort of throne. Above me was a spread-eagle, 
 blazoned in gold, around me soft velvet cushions, 
 crimson hangings, rich tassels, etc., etc. All my 
 surroundings were new and strange ; before me, the 
 members of our State Legislature. Some were writing, 
 some reading newspapers, etc. John whispered to me 
 that I had better explain that it was a religious meeting, 
 and our usual modes of commencing our meetings. 
 I said a few words to this effect. A most profound 
 silence ensued, which was broken by the Sergeant-at- 
 Arms again marching up to us, to tell me 'it was not 
 time to begin ; we must wait until half jjast seven,' it 
 being then only a quarter past seven, and half past seven 
 being the usual time for meeting there. He then 
 made a similar announcement to the congregation. 
 The writing and reading were then resumed by some, 
 others sat still. At half past seven, the Sergeant near 
 the door kept looking up at the clock, and then at us, 
 and finding all his signs were ineffectual, he once more 
 came to us and announced, ' It is time to begin.'
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 99 
 
 Rather an unusual mode of proceeding in a Friends' 
 Meeting ! I felt dismayed and somewhat losing con- 
 fidence, but I endeavoured to look to the source whence 
 alone strength is to be found, and after a pause, felt 
 able to rise above the fear of man, and to declare to 
 that large and formidable audience, that 'Righteousness 
 exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.' 
 I had to point out the national sins of this nation ; 
 slaverj', scepticism, infidelity, and coveteousness among 
 the higher classes ; swearing, drunkenness, and depra- 
 vity among the poor. I pointed out the responsibilities 
 resting upon the legislators, in their speeches, votes, 
 and influence, as well as their example. The many 
 proofs in past history, of sin not only bringing reproach, 
 but ruin, upon flourishing nations and cities, viz., 
 Egypt, Babylon, Nineveh, Jerusalem, Rome. I dwelt 
 upon the character and disposition of Moses, as a 
 model legislator, not seeking his own pleasure or 
 emolument, but the welfare of the people over whom 
 he ruled, etc. The meeting lasted about two hours 
 with very little silence, and after its close the members 
 came crowding round John, and Avishing ' to be intro- 
 duced to his lady.' The Lieutenant-Governor was very 
 kind, and urgently invited us to go and visit him." . . 
 . "The meeting at the House of Correction was a very 
 different scene. Young people varying in age from 
 seven to eighteen years, were there, 156 in number. 
 They spend five hours per diem in study, five in labour, 
 two in active play. They seem to be in excellent 
 order, warm and clean clothing, and good and 
 substantial plain fare. One little fellow, having heard
 
 100 LIFE AIS^D LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 US say we were going to the States Prison, sidled up to 
 me and enquired ' Have you any connection at the 
 States Prison ? ' I spoke kindly to the poor child, and 
 felt my heart touched with near sympathy Avhen he 
 told me that ' his mother was dead, and his father in 
 the States Prison.'" 
 
 . . . . "The fearful excitement that prevailed 
 respecting England, and fears that she would inter- 
 meddle and help the South, seem to be subsiding. T am 
 ashamed of my native land, when I think of their 
 threatening attitude, and their imperious demand of 
 Mason and Slidell, under present circumstances. 
 I united in the opinion prevalent here, that they would 
 not have taken such a step, but for the present tried 
 and conflicting state of this nation. What do they 
 want with our rebels, and why, in a time of strict 
 neutrality, did the British captain assist them in 
 running our blockades ? These are queries put to me 
 to which I can find no answer, except the one current 
 here, that they are acting in a mean and cowardly 
 manner, because at the present crisis, they feel their 
 own strength and our weakness, and so try to provoke 
 a war. But I cannot believe that the best men in 
 England approve or sanction the step. Did John 
 Bright ? My husband wishes particularly to know. 
 
 " Our Peace Society has turned and goes with the 
 stream, and advocates this war as a mere sustaining 
 the power of the civil magistrate, and keeping up the 
 government. Too many of our Society have turned 
 also, and laid down our Peace principles. When we 
 applied for the Legislative Hall for our meeting, they
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 101 
 
 made enquiry whether ' the lady was going to speak 
 against the war,' &c." 
 
 Laport, Indiana, fifteen miles south of Lake Michigan, 
 3mo., 1862. 
 " We have stood upon the southern shore of Lake 
 Michigan, and we have visited the States Prison for 
 the northern division of Indiana in the City of 
 Michigan. It was an affecting sight. The chaplain of 
 the prison escorted us, and introduced us there, and 
 gained permission for me to have an audience of the 
 prisoners, near three hundred in number. The sight 
 of their misery and wretchedness almost overpowered 
 me. It was well that I had an hour to recover my 
 composure, after first seeing them in their cells, before 
 they were assembled for our meeting. Some of their 
 countenances bore the impress of hardened depravity 
 and vice. Others looked indifferent and apathetic, 
 and some ashamed and distressed, 1 spoke to them 
 for about an hour, on the mercy of God to the penitent 
 sinner, referring to David, Peter, the thief on the 
 cross, and the prodigal son. I referred to their happy 
 innocence in childhood's hours, their mothers' care 
 and fathers' counsels, and I saw many heads bowed 
 low, and countenances with an expression of softness 
 and awakened feelings while I appealed to memories 
 of their mothers, sisters, wives, and little ones. I 
 urged upon them the importance of cherishing every 
 right feeling, and fostering every good impression and 
 resolution, as these beginnings of a better life, though 
 small at first, would grow if encouraged — that the
 
 102 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 commencement of both good and evil in our hearts is 
 small at first, yet may largely increase, and illustrated 
 my meaning by tracing the growth of evil and sin in 
 their hearts since they first began to wander from the 
 paths of rectitude. When I had finished, cousin 
 P. B. Hathaway, my companion, offered a very 
 appropriate prayer. When our meeting ended we 
 mingled with them, and entered into conversation, 
 many of them pressed round us eager to shake hands, 
 and asked us to come again. A company of fifteen or 
 twenty was introduced to me by their chaplain, with 
 the announcement ' Mrs. Comstock, these men have 
 resolved to lead difi^erent lives.' I shook hands with 
 the little group, and spoke a few words of encourage- 
 ment to them to persevere in their resolution. They 
 urgently requested me to stay and attend their- prayer 
 meeting, which they have got up amongst themselves. 
 I would willingly have done so, but we had to hasten 
 to a meeting we had appointed for the citizens in the 
 Methodist Church." 
 
 " lo-S-62. We are working home gradually, hold- 
 ing meetings in most of the cities and villages as we 
 move along. In three days I hope to see the beloved 
 ones at home again. W. H. has driven us from place 
 to place with his team and sleigh. When we reach 
 home we shall have travelled near one thousand miles 
 in six or seven weeks by sleigh — at a cost of about 
 three dollars each." 
 
 After sending messages of loving remembrance to 
 several dear relatives she says, " Please let them know 
 the reason of mv long silence is not forgetfulness, but
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 103 
 
 from the pressure of duties that occupy my time so 
 fully. My meeting with the legislative body at 
 Lansing, Michigan, was a regularly appointed meeting. 
 About three-quarters of the senate and legislature were 
 there, and two or three hundred of the citizens of 
 Lansing also. We have visited some prisons, alms- 
 houses, and hospitals in Delaware, New Jersey, and 
 Pennsylvania, but we have yet to go through New 
 York and Canada, and may not get home for two 
 months. "We do not work every day qiiite so hard as 
 the one I described to you, but are seldom less than six 
 hours per diem engaged in our mission, and First-day 
 much more. There has been great openness to receive 
 us. The Twelfth Street Meeting, Philadelphia, was 
 very cordial to ns, and that Monthly Meeting read our 
 minutes, and expressed great satisfaction and unity 
 with our labours amongst them. They were exceed- 
 ingly kind to us out of meeting also, and did all they 
 could for our comfort and help. . . There is so much 
 refinement, mental cultivation and true hospitality, 
 cordiality and benevolence. They are foremost in all 
 the philanthropic movements, and principal in all the 
 noble institutions." 
 
 E. L. C. to her Sisters. 
 
 New York, 7-6-1862. 
 " Friends here are like those amongst whom our 
 lot was cast in Philadelphia, very kind. Robert L. 
 Murray and his wife, at whose house we are staying, 
 are very pleasant Friends. His father, nephew of the 
 grammarian, died about the time of the great money
 
 104 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G2. 
 
 panic in 1857. Robert's anxieties at that time so prej'ed 
 upon his health and spirits, that he was taken very ill ; 
 for awhile his life was despaired of, but gradually he 
 recovered, though for six months he was too ill to 
 attend to business at all. There is a chastened, subdued 
 manner about him still, that it is touching to see. His 
 wife struggled manfully with her trials, she bore them 
 with true woman's fortitude as long as her husband 
 required her care ; then her spirit flagged and her 
 health sunk, and by the time her husband was restored 
 to health, she was prostrated. I have been reading 
 parts of your very interesting letters to them. They 
 both unite with my view, and the view taken by the 
 author of ' Doing and SuflEering,' as to the source 
 whence our trials come. ' Whom the Lord loveth He 
 chasteneth, and correcteth every son whom He 
 receiveth.' This is our motto. This our comfort. 
 ' As gold is tried in the fire, so are acceptable men in 
 the furnace of affliction.' ... It seems to us all 
 a strong argument in favour of this view of the case, 
 that the most righteous men in all ages have generally 
 had the greatest afflictions. The children of this world, 
 wiser in their generation than the children of light, 
 do not get into these business troubles quite so much. 
 The most covetous man is often the richest ; the 
 proudest and most ambitious manages to gain the most 
 power. Why, it seems to us that you hold the same 
 views that Job's three friends had. They were for 
 charging him with being the cause of all his own 
 afflictions. They thought he must have been wicked, 
 or he could not have had so much trouble. I wish you
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 105 
 
 could viev/ the matter as I do, you would be much 
 happier. F. thinks 1 take more comfort in life than 
 you do. Tlie difference lies here. My trials I can look 
 upon as coming directly from the loving hand of a 
 tender Father, so I can bear them, and hope some day 
 to arrive at the state the Apostle was in when he 
 
 said, ' I rejoice in tribulation.' We have 
 
 had a very good Yearly Meeting, longer than usual, and 
 man}" Friends from other Yearly Meetings present. 
 E. M., from New England, green in old age. F. W. T. 
 an able and eloquent pleader for the faith once delivered 
 to the saints, very skilful on doctrinal points, a man in 
 the prime of life. J. H. D., twenty-nine years of age, 
 with w^onderful eloquence and command of language, 
 preaches the unsearchable riches of Christ. The doctrine 
 of the atonement, of salvation by Christ, seems his 
 favourite theme. These two last named are both from 
 Indiana. J. S., from Baltimore. W. J., from Western 
 Yearly Meeting. J. S., from New Jersey, Philadelphia 
 Yearly Meeting, though residing only a few miles from 
 this city. Our Yearly Meeting has been conducted in 
 great harmony, ample time was allowed for the 
 ministry, and great encouragement given to those from 
 other Yearly Meetings. I have just mailed L. a New 
 York Tribune. There is nothing very particular in it 
 except a short account of our Yearly Meeting, which 
 R. L. M. wrote at the particular request of one of the 
 editors, who wished him to write something that would 
 show the difference between our views and the Hicksite 
 doctrines. The Yearly Meeting of Hicksites concluded 
 just after ours commenced. R. B, M. was there, and, by
 
 106 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1862. 
 
 her strong and unitarian doctrine, she has quite alarmed 
 their bodj-, very few of them being able to go with her. 
 . . . . About recording ministers, there might be 
 some advantages in doing away with the practice. 
 I believe it was resorted to in the dark ages of our 
 Society, to encourage a right ministry, and suppress a 
 spurious one. You might get on better without this 
 form in England than we should here. I imagine that 
 here there might be many more travelling than would 
 be for the good of the Church, for the honour of truth, 
 or their own private benefit, if this needful ceremony 
 of recommending and liberating was not required. . . . 
 '- John Bright is the most popular man in this city, 
 and in Philadelphia, I believe. I see very little of the 
 newspapers and know very little of what is passing in 
 the political world, beyond what the last page of the 
 'Friends' Review' gives once a Aveek. I cannot get 
 time to read the papers, and our own are so little to be 
 depended on. Unless we read the whole paper, we are 
 sure to get a false impression, as I did when I read 
 Tennessee had surrendered and become loyal. I read 
 two whole columns one day, containing the most 
 astounding intelligence, and as soon as I commenced 
 the third, 'Later news' contradicted all the other two 
 contained. The editors do in this way to attract notice 
 
 and to sell their papers John and I do not 
 
 take any political paper. We take no pleasure in 
 reading the horrid details of the battle-field. We long 
 and pray for the day when the proclamation of peace 
 may be made ; when the swords shall be beaten into 
 ploughshares, and the spears into pruning-hooks, and
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 107 
 
 the nations shall not learn war any more. ... As 
 I came into New York Harbour last week I had a good 
 view of the 'Great Eastern,' lying near this city. It is 
 one of the wonders of the age, but I suppose it is not 
 a remunerative concern. . . . Cousin P. B, H. (our 
 husbands are second cousins) is my companion in this 
 journey. . . . We are very much engaged from 
 9 a.m. to 5 or G p.m. in visiting the prisons, hospitals, 
 almshouses, poorhouses, orphan, blind, lunatic, and 
 other asylums, &c., &c. Yesterday we Avent to the 
 ' Tombs,' a large prison in the very heart of this city, 
 a sort of Newgate. It Avas a mournful sight to me to 
 see the hardened, depraved, degi-aded countenances of 
 some of the poor women tliere ; yet there was evidence 
 during our meeting with them that they were not 
 wholly lost to feeling. My dear sisters, it is a blessing 
 if we can do anything to encourage, to comfort, to 
 soothe these poor outcasts and wanderers ; if we may 
 only be the favoured instruments of leading a few of 
 them to seek to walk in a happier and better course. 
 There are thousands of children in this city from three 
 to eighteen or nineteen years, in houses of refuge, 
 houses of correction, reform schools, and asylums of 
 various kinds. We saw about two thousand ; had 
 meetings with them last First-day. They were classi- 
 fied, the Nurseries containing those under seven. I 
 spoke to tliem a short time, trying to give them a little 
 lesson on the goodness of God in taking care of them, 
 as manifested in the different parts of their bodies, the 
 eye, ear, foot, and hand. When I told them of a pretty 
 little boy of six years old I had seen a few days before
 
 108 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G2. 
 
 in a hospital, who had gone too near some machinery 
 and had his hand so iujured that it had to be taken off, 
 some of the pretty little creatures held up their hands 
 and looked at them, and I think rejoiced for once in 
 their lives over their two useful hands, their eyes, and 
 their feet. It is very touching to go to the hospitals 
 and see the suffering there, and it is very-sweet to feel 
 that the poor sufferers are a little soothed and cheered 
 by our loving words of sympathy."
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 109 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.— 1862-63. 
 
 IN Jnly, 1862, Elizabeth L. C. wrote :—" The war 
 news are terrible, more and more awful as the strife 
 goes on. We hear of many young Friends taking up 
 arms for the North. One day three young soldiers 
 were conversing together in Maryland, when one of 
 them used the plain language accidentally. ' It seems to 
 me you are a Quaker,' said another. 'Yes,' he said, 
 ' I am a son of Dr. Tobey.' (Dr. T. is the clerk of the 
 New England Yearly Meeting.) ' Well,' said the 
 second, 'you have heard of Sybil Jones, I guess, she is 
 my mother.' Their surprise had scarcely subsided, 
 when the third announced himself as the son of 
 William Henry Chase, an eminent minister at Union 
 Springs, and a leading man on the committee of our 
 
 Yearly Meeting School." 
 
 "We have paid a visit of spirit-stirring yet harrow- 
 ing interest to Sing Sing, the largest State prison in 
 this land. There are 1,250 men, and 150 women in it. 
 The chaplain seems to be a very good man, a self- 
 denying, dedicated Christian, who labours indefatigably 
 for the comfort and spiritual aid of the prisoners. 
 It is beautiful to see the love and reverence they bear 
 him, some of them I should say. Others look too 
 hardened to appreciate his 'life of self-renouncing
 
 110 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 love.' Mary Wood, wife of William Wood, clerk to 
 New York Yearly Meeting, accompanied us, and several 
 other Friends. M.W. spent two days with me in going 
 from cell to cell amongst the prisoners. One poor woman 
 attracted our sympathy greatly. She is a beautiful 
 woman, refined and pleasant in her manners, her conver- 
 sation very intelligent, except occasionally when some 
 mental aberration is apparent. She was born in Quebec 
 of wealthy parents, and delicately brought up until 
 the age of sixteen with every indulgence and refine- 
 ment that wealth could give. At sixteen she was 
 engaged in marriage to a young man whom she loved 
 devotedly, but her parents thought him not quite 
 equal to her in birth and family, and they separated 
 her from him, and compelled her to marry a young 
 Englishman of aristocratic family, an officer in the 
 army, although she told him at the altar that she did 
 not love him, and never could, for her heart was 
 irrevocably given to another. After their marriage, her 
 husband took her to England. She does not complain 
 of his being unkind to her at all, but says her heart 
 was broken, and she could not love him, though he 
 tried to win her love. From the time of her leaving 
 Canada, she was subject occasionally to attacks of 
 mental derangement, produced by distress of mind. In 
 the hope of restoring her to health and peace, her 
 husband travelled on the Continent with her for three 
 years — in vain. When in her twentieth year, she was 
 in Liverpool, and went on board a Canadian ship, left 
 her husband, returned to Canada, and presented herself 
 at her father's door, the home of her childhood, from
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. Ill 
 
 which she was spurned with a torrent of reproaches. 
 The young man she had so loved was dead. With a 
 weakened mind, the poor outcast wandered about from 
 place to place, finding no rest, and fell an easy prey to 
 the seductions of a man whom she calls her protector. 
 For four years she seems to have been provided with great 
 abundance. There is some iucoherency in this part of her 
 narrative, but as nearly as the chaplain can gather it, 
 this ' protector ' was a very wealthy man, who 
 occasionally visited her, and kept her living in luxury, 
 but she was subject at intervals to distressing attacks, 
 and uncontrollable outbursts of mental derangement 
 and insanity. In one of these she put some poison 
 (arsenic) in some beer, and gave a glass each to two 
 poor people, who drank it, and both died from the 
 effects thereof, in a few hours. There seemed to have 
 been no motive to have led to this crime, she owed 
 them no grudge, she mixed the poison in the beer, in 
 their presence, and told them it was sugar. She made 
 no attempt at concealment, did not try to hide herself, 
 or deny what she had done, but laboured under the 
 delusion that her own life was in danger, that some 
 enemies were watching to injure her, and always carried 
 a revolver about with her. She was arrested and 
 convicted of murder, and sentenced to be executed. 
 When told of her sentence, she manifested the most 
 extravagant joy. When told afterwards that through 
 the philanthropic efforts of some individuals, her 
 sentence had been changed to imprisonment for life, 
 she was in paroxysms of grief and distress, tore her 
 hair and her clothes, and was so violent that she was
 
 112 LIFE AND LETTEES OF [1862. 
 
 kept in chains in the black dungeon for some time. 
 When she was first arrested she was most magnificently 
 attired ; now, of course, she is in prison dress. She has 
 been eight or nine years a prisoner in Sing Sing prison, 
 and during that long space of time, no friend or relative 
 has ever been to see her, or enquired after her. She is 
 now thirty-three years of age, and is in prison for life. 
 The matron says she is generally quiet and manageable, 
 but occasionally violent, and then she is placed in 'the 
 black dungeon,' where not a ray of light penetrates, 
 and kept there until quiet, perhaps tAvo or three days ; 
 then exhausted she is brought back to her cell. I spent 
 half an hour with her, she was quiet and tranquil, and 
 conversed not only rationally, but with much feeling. 
 Her spirit seems to be galled by the society into which 
 she is thrown in the prison, more than anything else. 
 They are repulsive to her, and they dislike her and 
 call her proud, and talk of her ' airs.' 
 
 " Poor thing ! my heart aches for her, but I cannot 
 help her ! The chaplain often goes to her when she 
 is depressed or excited, and soothes her. She speaks 
 of him as the only person in the wide world who cares 
 for her, and sometimes speaks touchingly of her 
 childhood's days, and the love and care she enjoyed 
 then. ..." 
 
 The Society of Friends has always denounced war 
 as unchristian, and the heart-rending scenes Elizabeth 
 L. C. witnessed during the American War, of which 
 John Bright in his excellent Peace address in 1887 
 said it was the only war during the past fifty years 
 for which he thought any palliation could be made —
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 113 
 
 show, indeed, how cruel and inhuman, and foolish 
 and wicked it is. 
 
 E.L.C. witnessed terrible sufferings, and could at 
 times scarcely speak of them without a shudder. In one 
 letter she says : — " It is harrowing to see the sufferings 
 of the poor wounded soldiers ; I have heard piercing 
 shrieks from them as I walked outside, while the 
 wounds were being dressed, and the limbs amputated." 
 
 . . . " I went into a hospital in Virginia one 
 day. A youth of about nineteen seemed to be dying. 
 The soldier who was waiting upon him said, ' It's of 
 no use for you to speak to him — he don't know nothing.' 
 He had been badly wounded in the battle of Fredericks- 
 burg — lay thirty-six hours on the battlefield before he 
 was picked up, and brought to the hospital, and 
 during the two or three days he had been there, had 
 not been able to answer any questions, or give any 
 information ; had only spoken in incoherent ramblings, 
 or in the ravings of delirium. I enquired his name, 
 but they could not tell it ; said the nurse and doctor 
 had both been trying in vain to find out ; I asked for 
 his knapsack, thinking that by searching it I might 
 find some paper, book, name or initials, by which he 
 might be identified. In vain, for knapsack, coat, cap 
 and belt had all been lost on the battle-field. I stood 
 looking upon the youthful face, and remembering that 
 there is one Name that will sometimes reach the dying 
 ear, and touch a chord of memory when all others 
 
 were forgotten, I said, — 
 
 ' Jesus can make a dying bed 
 
 Feel soft as downy pillows are, 
 While on His breast I lean my head, 
 And breathe my life out sweetly there.'
 
 114 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1862. 
 
 He opened his eyes, and, with an earnest appealing look 
 at me, tried to speak. There was sufficient of memory 
 and of reason left for him to remember his mother, and 
 of sight to see that a woman stood beside him ; and, 
 mistaking me for his far-distant mother, he said, 
 ' Mother, I knew you would come.' I longed to know 
 that another name, besides that of mother, Avas precious 
 in that solemn hour, and I spoke of Him who said, 
 ' As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort 
 you.' I spoke of Him whom God hath highly exalted, 
 and hath given Him a name that is above every name, 
 that ' at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and 
 every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the 
 glory of God the Father.' Again the large blue eyes 
 opened, and rested upon me with an appealing look, and 
 he spoke once more. Listening attentively, I caught 
 the words, u ttered with feeble, faltering accents, 'Mother, 
 I am going to Jesus.' They were the last he spoke. 
 I tried vainly to get the mother's name ; the lucid 
 interval had passed away, or the power of speech was 
 gone. I stood beside him until his voice was silenced 
 by the hand of death, and closed his eyes. 
 
 " Looking carefully to see if there was anything by 
 which he could be identified and his mother discovered, 
 I saw upon the little finger of his left hand a gold ring. 
 The hand had been tightly clasped, as if he had^desired 
 to hide or retain it, but when death had relaxed his 
 hold, I removed it easily from the thin, Avasted finger. 
 I thought, perhaps, that by means of it I might discover 
 his friends. Soon, however, I replaced it, remembering 
 a sight I had witnessed a few days before, which made
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 115 
 
 me think it more likely that some one would go there 
 to seek for him, than that I should discover his friends 
 by the ring. 
 
 " The sight I had witnessed was this. I went into 
 the dead-house, where were the bodies of eighteen 
 soldiers waiting for interment. As I stood there, 
 pondering the wonderful mysteries of life and death, 
 thinking of the desolation of the sword in our beloved 
 country, there came into the house two mothers, in 
 great grief and bitter weeping, searching for their lost 
 sons. 
 
 " Theiy had been looking in the hospitals, in vain, 
 and now came to search in this place ; and one went to 
 the head and the other to the foot of the same young 
 soldier, each claiming him for her own. The faces 
 were so changed, blackened with gunpowder, altered 
 by wounds, loss of blood and the hand of death, that 
 a mother would not be able to distinguish her own 
 child. One of the women passing her hand caressingly 
 through the hair, and kissing the cold forehead, 
 exclaimed in an agony of grief, 'Oh ! Harry, my darling 
 Harry, will your mother never hear your loved voice 
 again ? Shall I never have that strong young arm to 
 lean upon any more ? ' To which the other woman 
 responded, ' No it is not your Harry, it is my Charley, 
 I know it is my boy by the socks which I knit for him, 
 with my own hands.' She took possession of the 
 remains to bury her dead at home. The remembrance 
 of this scene led me to replace the ring, and a year-and- 
 a-half elapsed ere I discovered the mother of the 
 boy whose dying words I referred to. Having stated
 
 116 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 the circumstances in a meeting, 600 miles from the 
 place where the boy had died, a lady came to me in 
 a flood of tears, and said, ' It seems to me you have been 
 talking about my dear boy.' She accompanied me to 
 the house where I was staying, brought the boy's photo 
 and some of his letters. She told me of their parting 
 at the railway station, when he went to join his 
 regiment, and he earnestly claiming her promise, 
 ' Mother, you won't forget that if I am sick or wounded, 
 you have promised to come to me.' In the last 
 letter he had written, which was just before the 
 battle of Fredericksburg, he had again reminded 
 her of her promise, and told her that he always wore 
 the gold ring on the little finger of his left hand, 
 sending a message to the giver of it. From the mother's 
 description of her boy, a lock of hair which I had saved 
 for her, and other concurrent circumstances, it became 
 pretty clear that this was her son. And the mother, 
 while she wept over the loss of her dear boy, was com- 
 forted with hearing of his last words, and with the 
 consolation of the child of the Lord, • I shall go to him 
 but he shall not return to me.' .... 
 
 "During the war the large Hospital for the Insane, 
 in the district of Columbia, called St. Elizabeth's Hos- 
 pital, was set at liberty for sick and wounded soldiers, 
 the insane patients being removed and provided for 
 farther north. As I entered one of the wards the nurse 
 approached me with a very warm greeting, saying how 
 glad she was to see me, for yesterday two young soldiers 
 died who had anxiously wished in vain for someone to 
 pray with them. I asked where the chaplain had
 
 18G3.] . ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 117 
 
 been ; she said he was out visiting or pleasure-taking 
 ■with some of the others. She took me to a small room 
 where lay a poor young soldier whom she thought very 
 near death. As I stood by his bedside, a rough-looking 
 New York soldier, his attendant, said to me, ' It ain't 
 no use for you to talk to him, he don't know nothing, 
 and can't talk ; he has had a bullet through his wind- 
 pipe,' he added, as he snatched roughly the bandages 
 from his throat and exposed a ghastly throat and neck, 
 fearfully swelled and inflamed. This rough attendant 
 was one of a thousand men who had been imprisoned 
 in the ' Workhouse ' at New York for short terms for 
 drunkenness, vagrancy, &c., to whom was given their 
 choice to finish out their sentences or serve in the 
 army ; much to the indignation of some of the most 
 respectable families, whose sons were in the army, were 
 these men allowed to enlist. I replaced the bandage 
 tenderly and carefully, and as I looked at the youthful 
 face and open brow I said, ' Poor boy, how I wish his 
 mother was here.' The blue eyes opened and he cast 
 an earnest, appealing look at me, and seeing he was 
 conscious I spoke a few words to him about mother 
 and home, Jesus and heaven. Large tears gathered 
 in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks as he 
 made an effort to speak — nothing but inarticulate 
 sounds escaped him. I had a little book with me, 
 ' Words of healing for the sick soldier,' from which I 
 read him a few sentences. He seemed to understand, 
 and looked longingly at the book, which I handed to 
 him ; my name was in it, and I wrote beneath it ' to,' 
 -wishing to add his name, but this he could not
 
 118 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 articulate. I handed him my pencil, and tried to 
 
 steady his hand while he made an attempt at writing 
 
 his name. He succeeded in indistinctly inscribing 
 
 ' Henry Burhans,' but the effort was too much ; book 
 
 and pencil fell from his hand, and he fainted. I 
 
 called the nurse, and while she endeavoured to 
 
 restore him, I went to speak to the surgeon 
 
 and officer for the day. I explained the case, 
 
 and enquired if they could tell me where the boy came 
 
 from, and whether his wounds were fatal. In answer 
 
 to my enquiries, they said that he had not been able to 
 
 articulate a sentence since he was picked up on the 
 
 battle-field, thirty-six hours previously. Both chaplain 
 
 and nurse had tried to discover who he was in vain, 
 
 but from the part of the battle-field in which he was 
 
 found it was probable he belonged to a New York 
 
 regiment. He had been robbed of his cloak, cap, belt, 
 
 and everything by which he might have been identified 
 
 while lying on the battle-field, and was brought to the 
 
 hospital wrapped up in a blanket. The surgeon said 
 
 his wounds were not necessarily fatal, but he thought 
 
 he would die. ' Why ? ' I asked. ' Because he will 
 
 not attempt to take any nourishment, and is very 
 
 home-sick,' adding, ' We lose more from home-sickness 
 
 than we do from wounds.' I returned to my poor 
 
 patient, determined to make further efforts to discover 
 
 from whence he came. I found him conscious, and 
 
 the nurse was trying to persuade him to take a little 
 
 nourishment. She could not prevail upon him to 
 
 make any effort — ' It hurts him dreadfully to swallow,' 
 
 she explained to me, 'and he cannot live unless he
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 119 
 
 take some food.' I told him that the surgeon said his 
 wounds were not necessarily fatal, and that he might 
 live, and that I was going to write to his mother, and 
 represented what a sad thing it would be if she came 
 such a long distance to find him gone. Cheered and 
 animated by these tidings, he made a great effort, 
 and succeeded in swallowing a spoonful, though it 
 seemed as though it would almost choke him. I 
 handed him a card and pencil to see if he could write 
 his mother's post office address. I tried to steady his 
 hand, and held the book on which the card lay. 
 Feebly the poor hand moved up and down, back and 
 forth, and very earnest was the gaze fixed upon my 
 face as I tried to read the lines he had made. A look 
 of disappointment and sorrow passed over his face as I 
 tried vainly to decipher it, and tears again filled his 
 eyes. ' Don't be discouraged,' I said, ' cheer up, and I 
 think I shall discover thy mother's address.' I dried 
 his tears, gave him a clean, soft pocket handkerchief, 
 and said, ' Henry, in a few minutes, after thou hast 
 rested, I want thee to try and speak one word, do not 
 attempt more, but simply one word, and that one must 
 be thy mother's post office town. I will watch the 
 motion of thy lips and listen intently.' Presently I 
 saw he was framing to speak, and listening, watching, 
 and guessing, I thought he was trying to say 'Catskill.'' 
 ' Mrs. Burhans, Catskill, New York,' I said, ' Is that 
 right ' ? A flash of joy lighted up the poor, pale face, 
 as he found I had it right. I talked to him a little 
 longer, told him I felt assured he had a good mother, 
 and queried, ' can I write to her, and tell her that
 
 120 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1863. 
 
 while she has been at home, praying for her wandering 
 boy, he has been praying for himself ' ? I requested 
 him to press my hand if I could say so ; there was a look 
 of sadness, but he gave no sign. I queried, ' can I tell 
 her that her dear boy is now seeking his Saviour, that he 
 will now seek his soul's salvation ' ? An earnest pressure 
 of the hand was the response. After a short season of 
 prayer, I was about to leave him, when he kept tight 
 hold of my hand, as though unwilling to let me go, 
 until I said that I wanted to write to his mother, and 
 had only one hour to catch the out-going mail. Instantly 
 he let go. When seated at my lodgings, I felt some 
 doubt whether 'Mrs. Burhans, Catskill, New York,' 
 would reach his mother, not knowing whether Catskill 
 was simply a mountain range, a district with many 
 post offices in it, or a village or town. I therefore 
 wrote to my dear friend, Mary Wood, who I knew 
 often spent her summers at Catskill, told her I thought 
 this poor boy strongly resembled her only son, gave 
 full particulars, and begged her to do all that she could 
 to communicate them to Mrs. Burhans, as quickly as 
 possible. This proved satisfactory, and the mother 
 came to her boy, who recovered at least for a time. 
 
 I heard of him once or twice after 
 
 " Another very sad case was that of ' Poor Harry.' 
 I was walking from one hospital to another, when 
 I saw a man digging what seemed to be a grave at the 
 roadside. I stopped and spoke to him as he worked 
 with his pickaxe and shovel, and said, ' It looks to me 
 like a grave thou art digging.' He replied, 'I 
 am digging a grave.' 'Well,' I said, 'that is an
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 121 
 
 extraordinary place for a grave — why is it not in 
 the cemetery or churchyard?' To which he replied 
 that the grave he was digging was for 'a young 
 man who was living and well.' From him and 
 some ladies who gathered round me, I heard a 
 part of the dismal history, which was afterwards 
 corroborated, and completed the story of poor Harry, 
 the only son of a widowed mother, far away in 
 Minnesota. His father had died when he was a little 
 infant, in a fit of delirium tremens. The mother had 
 moved to a distant part of the country, where he was 
 not known, and carefully shielded her little boy and 
 girl from knowing how their father had died, and from 
 ever tasting the intoxicating draught. The boy had 
 been all that a loving mother could wish till he grew 
 up to be eighteen years of age, when the war broke out, 
 and he enlisted in the army. Thinking she was doing 
 a brave and a right act, the poor widow gave up her 
 only son, to fight for his country ; and, taking leave of 
 him at the railway station, as he went to join his regi- 
 ment, her parting charge, as she placed her little Bible 
 in his hand, was, ' Harry, do not neglect your Bible, do 
 not neglect prayer, do not forget your Saviour, and 
 remember your promise to your mother — you have 
 promised me that you will never drink.' 
 
 " Eight months had scarcely passed away after 
 leaving his mother, until he was court-martialled and 
 sentenced to be shot. He had been placed under a 
 drinking captain, who had invited him to drink with 
 him. For awhile, he steadily refused, saying, ' I have 
 promised my mother that I will never drink.' After
 
 122 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1863. 
 
 a time, it became evident that the vindictive-spirited 
 captain resented his refusal to drink with him as an 
 insult. One of the young soldier's comrades said to 
 him, ' Harry, you are getting out with your captain, you 
 had better not offend him or it will be the worse for you.' 
 
 " Finding that he was losing the captain's favour, 
 Harry consulted a lady at whose house he sometimes 
 visited, who gave him this advice, after hearing the 
 story of his promise to his mother and the captain's 
 invitation to him to drink ; ' Harry, if your mother knew 
 all the circumstances, she would absolve you from your 
 promise. You know you need not drink to excess, but 
 just take a glass with the captain, if he invites you 
 again, to show good fellowship.' Poor Harry followed 
 the advice, and it was soon evident that he had 
 inherited his father's weakness. No sooner had he 
 tasted the intoxicating draught than he craved for more, 
 and, under its influence, soon lost all self-control, and 
 rapidly ran his down-hill career, until, after frequent 
 acts of insubordination and drunkenness, he, one day, 
 knocked his captain down, was tried by court-martial, 
 and sentenced to be shot. While I was listening to this 
 sad story, unusual sights and sounds attracted my 
 attention. I heard the approaching solemn death march 
 of a company of soldiers, their muffled drums beating, 
 who came and arranged themselves on one side of 
 a square, another occupied a second side, and another 
 a third side, and with the third, in a wagon, seated upon 
 his own coffin, a common pine box, was young Harry. 
 
 " The young soldier was led out to a rising knoll, 
 and twelve soldiers placed in front, armed with guns,
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 123 
 
 taken up indiscriminately, six of which were loaded 
 
 with bullets, and six with blank cartridges, that they 
 
 might not know who fired the fatal shots. I entreated 
 
 the officer commanding, to delay the execution of the 
 
 sentence^f or twenty-four hours, that I might have time 
 
 to hasten to Washington and report the case to our 
 
 noble President, Abraham Lincoln. The officer refused 
 
 to grant my request, and would not even allow me to 
 
 speak to the prisoner, being urged on by the resentful 
 
 captain, who had caused all poor Harry's troubles, to 
 
 the immediate execution of the sentence. The General 
 
 remarked that there had been so much drunkenness 
 
 and insubordination among the soldiers, that thej^must 
 
 make an example of Harry. Finding that I could not 
 
 help him I hastened away, but did not get out of 
 
 hearing until the signal was given, and the shots were fired 
 
 that took away that young man's life ; and Harry fell, 
 
 covered with wounds inflicted by his own brothers in 
 
 arms. . . I went to Washington shortly after, and 
 
 represented the case with several others to the Secretary 
 
 of War, Edwin M. Stanton. That kind-hearted gentleman 
 
 expressed much regret that such a circumstance should 
 
 have transpired, adding, ' It is one of the terrible 
 
 exigencies of war, and such things will sometimes 
 
 happen in the best regulated armies.' My heart was 
 
 lifted up with the earnest petition, and I wished that 
 
 all mothers and ministers of the Gospel would unite in 
 
 the same — 
 
 ' Oh ! hasten, great Father, the hlest consummation. 
 When nation shall not h'ft up sword against nation, 
 Wlien war shall no more be the Christian's vocation, 
 When the spear shall be shivered, and broken the bow.'"
 
 124 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 VISITS TO PRISONS AND STATEN ISLAND. 
 1862-1863. 
 
 Baltimore, 18-10-62. 
 My dear Sisters, 
 
 ""T TOU will wonder at receiving a letter from me, 
 X dated from this place. Soon after my arrival at 
 home from Canada, I received a minute from my 
 Monthly Meeting to visit the Prisons, Hospitals, Houses 
 of Refuge, Asylums, and other institutions in many of 
 our large cities, also for going into 'the streets and 
 lanes of the cities, to bring in the poor, the maimed, 
 the halt, and the blind ' : and for attending the Yearly 
 Meetings of Indiana and Baltimore. There was a very 
 full expression of sympathy and unity, and I have 
 a beautiful and comprehensive certificate from Rollin 
 Monthly Meeting, endorsed by Adrian Quarterly 
 Meeting, 28-10. I have had so much to do since com- 
 mencing this that you must excuse the delay. We 
 have had a very good though small Yearly Meeting, 
 not larger than Ackworth Particular Meeting was fifteen 
 years ago, including the schools. Eliza P. Gurney was 
 in attendance, and ' had good service to the edification 
 and strengthening of many minds.' 
 
 "There is a wonderful difference between this 
 Yearly Meeting and Indiana ; it is very striking thus
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 125 
 
 to come direct from one to the other. My dear sister, 
 R. S. Beal, came with me from home, but could not 
 stay all through this long journey. She was unwilling 
 to come so far from home in the present excited con- 
 dition of our country. E.Y. is my companion from 
 Cincinnati here, but I hope my dear husband will join 
 me before long, and be my companion to the end of 
 this journey. I have many a heart-sinking and home- 
 yearning, and a longing for the home circle. I have 
 the likenesses of my dear husband and children, and 
 long and earnestly do I look at them. But the belief 
 that I am in the path of duty at this present time, and 
 that my labours for the benefit of my poor suffering 
 fellow-creatures are blessed, raises me above undue 
 depression. Indeed, there are times when I am able to 
 rejoice over my gift to comfort those in affliction, even 
 though it leads me so much from those I hold dear. 
 
 In visiting the Penitentiary here I found 
 
 a fine, intelligent man, about thirty-five years of age, 
 sentenced for forty-five years for helping a slave with 
 his wife and family to escape. They were nine, father 
 and mother and seven children, and five years' im- 
 prisonment was the penalty for each. The prisoner 
 had ' harboured ' them, given them food, and shown 
 them the way to Pennsylvania. Another man, a 
 coloured preacher, a very respectable man, is under 
 sentence for fifteen years for having ' Uncle Tom's 
 Cabin ' in his house. By the iniquitous laws of this 
 Slave State, not only these outrages have been legally 
 perpetrated, but coloured freemen, when committed 
 for State Prison offences, have been sold back into
 
 126 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 slavery in South Carolina or other States ! These 
 Slave State laws are terrible. If I continue long in 
 this State I may get committed to prison for some 
 breach of such laws, or for lifting up my voice against 
 them." 
 
 Additional particulai^s of these cases are given in 
 the next letter. 
 
 Sandy Sprmgs, Ilaryland, 19-11-62. 
 
 (Six miles from the contending armies.) 
 "" By the date of this you will perceive that I am 
 still out on a journey. My minute is an extensive one, 
 and will probably occupy some months. It is for 
 visiting the prisons, hospitals, poor houses, and other 
 institutions in Baltimore, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and 
 other cities, extending as far as Trenton, New Jersey, 
 in the east, Cleveland and Chicago on the north, 
 Cincinnati and Baltimore on the south. On the west 
 as far as Jeffersonville and the Illinois. In this service 
 I have now been engaged eight weeks. In another 
 month I hope my dear husband will join me, and 
 continue with me through the winter. Being a farmer, 
 he cannot leave home comfortably, except during the 
 winter season. In my present arduous labours, way 
 has been remarkably made for me by the most 
 influential members of our Society in the cities where 
 Friends reside, and by the prison authorities, &c., 
 where there are no Friends. In ever}' institution 
 I have been kindly received, and in most my visits 
 have been greatly encouraged by those in authority. 
 Way has been made, not only for holding meetings 
 with the prisoners collectively, but for me to visit
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 127 
 
 them from cell to cell, and labour with them in private, 
 which visits have seemed very acceptable to the poor 
 prisoners, who seldom see the face of one whom they 
 feel to be their friend, or hear the voice of sympathy. 
 In the penitentiary for this State, I found one poor 
 man incarcerated for forty-five years. He has been 
 here five years, and had forty yet to continue. He 
 had helped a family of nine slaves to escape, a father, 
 mother, and seven children. They were recaptured, 
 and by the whip and other means of torture, the name 
 of the man who had given them assistance was wrung 
 from them. He was torn from his comfortable home, 
 his wife and six little children, who are mourning over 
 his absence, and reduced from comfort to want the 
 necessaries of life. A very respectable free coloured 
 man, a preacher, has been taken from his family and 
 his flock, who seem devoted to him, and shut up in the 
 penitentiary for having ' Uncle's Tom's Cabin ' in his 
 house ; he was sentenced for fifteen years. After 
 serving five years. Friends here succeeded in procuring 
 his release, and aiding him out of the State. There are 
 now seven prisoners in thepenitentiary for 'harbouring,' 
 or giving food or clothing to fugitive slaves. One, 
 a very respectable man, who was in business in the 
 city. A beautiful mulatto girl, in great distress, came 
 to his door, begged a piece of bread and permission to 
 rest awhile ; both were granted, and a few kind words 
 spoken to her on parting. There were spies around, 
 seeking her ; she was seen leaving his house, recaptured, 
 and he was immediately arrested, and taken to prison. 
 When tried, he was sentenced to fifteen years' imprison-
 
 128 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 ment in the penitentiary. His shop has gone to ruin, his 
 poor heart-broken wife and little daughter are in great 
 distress. There seems little prospect that she 
 will ever see her husband again. As I stood by 
 this poor man's cell, and tried to comfort him. I 
 told him I would rather be a prisoner for what 
 he had done than for anything else, and assured him 
 that I thought he had done quite right, and that in 
 a coming world he would receive his reward. I 
 reminded him of a higher tribunal, at which he would 
 stand, and where, instead of being condemned for 
 giving food and shelter to a wanderer and outcast, he 
 might hear the welcome assurance, ' Inasmuch as ye 
 did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did 
 it unto me.' What I said to him seemed to comfort 
 him much, and especially when I promised to go and 
 visit his wife and daughter and try to comfort them. 
 As I was speaking to him, I saw great uneasiness 
 depicted upon the countenances of the three Friends 
 who were with me. Just as I remarked ' I would 
 rather be a prisoner for that than for anything else,' 
 the dear Friend, my elder, touched my arm, and said 
 ' Hush ! there are many eyes upon us, and ears open ; and 
 thou may'st get a chance of trying how thou wilt like 
 it, if thou speaks so loud.' Upon leaving the prison, 
 he explained to me the importance of my being very 
 careful what I said, and I am inclined to believe that 
 his counsel was needed, and that his kind care may 
 have saved me from being lodged as a prisoner there. 
 It was as much as I could do to restrain my indignation, 
 and to forbear lifting up my voice in the prison before
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 129 
 
 the authorities, to testify against their iniquitous laws, 
 'What good would it do?' said he, 'the result might 
 be for thee to be their fellow-prisoner, but I believe 
 thou canst do far more good at large than shut up 
 there !' He furthermore represented that by speaking 
 out plainly, I should block up my own way and that 
 of many others, who were now able to administer a 
 little consolation and help to the poor prisoners, 
 against whom the doors would be closed if they were 
 not ' inoderate.^ Perhaps he may be right, but it is a 
 terrible thing to live in a Slave State and be subject 
 to such laws, and to think that the voice of a just and 
 righteous man cannot be raised against such iniquity. 
 . . . . You are mistaken in supposing that I 
 had been to Congress. I had a meeting, a year ago, 
 with our State Legislature in Michigan, and was very 
 well received. It was a satisfactory and relieving 
 meeting, but I have not yet been to Washington. 
 I expect to go there next week, not to see the President 
 or the legislative body, but the poor and suffering in 
 the hospitals, prisons, and asylums, and ' in the streets 
 and lanes of the city.' E. P. Gurney visited the 
 President last month. She had some difficulty in 
 getting access to him, as he is almost overwhelmed 
 with business ; but, after a long and patient waiting, 
 she succeeded in obtaining an audience, and had a 
 very satisfactory and relieving opportunity. She 
 addressed him in a most appropriate manner upon his 
 present perplexities and trials, and directed him to 
 seek for wisdom and counsel where alone they can be 
 found. Her sympathy and her counsel seemed very 
 
 10
 
 130 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G2. 
 
 acceptable, and when she had done, he took her hand 
 aiid held it long, while deeph' moved, he acknowledged 
 how appropriate and acceptable her message had been to 
 him under his peculiar and pressing difficulties. I have 
 heard the above particulars through one of the Friends 
 who was present. Thus one is sent to the high, another 
 to the low, and others to the Churches, and all have 
 the promise, 'As thy day, so shall-thy strength be.' The 
 great and good Shepherd condescends to go before, and 
 prepare the way for his followers. It is very distressing 
 and harrowing to the feelings to see the great sufferings 
 of the poor wounded soldiers. What a terrible thing this 
 war is ! I suppose there are now a million men in the 
 field in the Northern army, and near 100,000 sick and 
 wounded — 35,000 in and around Washington, George 
 Town, and Alexandria D.C., and 12,000 in Baltimore. 
 About half of the latter I have seen, and endeavoured, 
 as way opened, to direct the poor sufferers to 'the Lamb 
 of God which taketli away the sin of the world.' They 
 eagerly listen, and very urgent are their requests, 'Pray 
 for me, pray for me ! ' Poor things ! It is touching 
 to hear their cries for their mothers, for the homes of 
 their childhood. The groans, the agonised moans, and 
 almost shrieks of the poor sufferers, seem to enter into 
 m}' very soul. But I have felt that it is a blessed 
 commission to comfort the afflicted, to soothe the 
 sufferer, to guide the wanderer to the fold. And, my 
 dear brother and sister, I may say, notwithstanding 
 the arduous labour, the weariness of the flesh, the 
 difficulties and disagreeables of my present duties, the 
 reward is great, the peace is sweet, the consolation of
 
 1862.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 131 
 
 feeling myself an humble instrument to administer 
 comfort to these sufferers, amply repays the sacrifice 
 made of home comforts, and the society of those most 
 dear to me. The cross is sometimes heavy, but the 
 crown is kept in view. I serve a good Master. I have 
 not time now to depict the sufferings of the poor in the 
 streets and lanes of our large cities. The wretched 
 cellars, destitute of outlet for the smoke, or inlet for 
 light and air, except a trap-door on the pavement of 
 the street, where mothers with their wretched little 
 ones dwell in squalid poverty, without suitable food 
 or clothing, and emphatically dwelling in heathen 
 darkness, and in the shadow of death. Oh ! that 
 
 light may spring up amongst them 
 
 " Washington, 20-12-62. This city is in a fearful 
 state of excitement. The Fredericksburg calamity has 
 filled all the North with sorrow, horror, and indignation ; 
 great mistrust of those high in authority, suspicion, fear, 
 disloyalty, everywhere prevailing. Our prospects are 
 very dark and gloomy. Our President and governors, 
 who ought to have our earnest sympathy and our 
 fervent prayers in this time of utmost need, are every- 
 where spoken against. In this city, there is a strong 
 current in favour of secession. There are elements of 
 rebellion and secession thickly interspersed in the 
 North. There are traitors all over the land, and there 
 are those who unhesitatingly affirm that we are on the 
 eve of a revolution. Anarchy and confusion prevail 
 everywhere. The Cabinet have resigned. There is a 
 freedom of speech that is very injurious, and a want of 
 unity. The Contrabands are in a fearful condition.
 
 132 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1862. 
 
 Smallpox, measles, fever, croup, carrying them off ; 
 fourteen dying in a day. In their mortuary, some left 
 unburied two weeks. The greatest want of system 
 and order, the same in the hospitals. Government 
 provides plenty of money for sick and suffering soldiers, 
 and for Contraband also. But there is a fearful amount 
 of peculation, cheating, squandering, etc., etc. The 
 poor soldiers are dying off rapidly for want of proper 
 care and nourishment. Alas ! for our poor country ! 
 The North are losing everywhere. I hope to leave 
 this city this week. Dorothea L. Dix has kindly placed 
 her ambulance and driver at my disposal, to go round 
 to the hospitals in, when she is not using them. She 
 is doing a great work for her Lord. She is devoting 
 a large income, her time, talents, and strength to the 
 hospitals. Where her influence extends, order and 
 cleanliness prevail ; but her sphere is only over one- 
 fourth of the whole. The population of the city is 
 about 60,000 generally. Now there are 180,000 soldiers 
 in and around Washington. All the churches, asylums, 
 and public buildings are converted into hospitals, there 
 being 60,000 wounded and sick soldiers here now. 
 The mortality in the city is great. There are thirty-six 
 hospitals ; the surgeon who attends three of them, 
 repoi'ts ninety-six deaths in a week in these three. 
 Our farming districts are suffering from want of 
 labourers. Mothers, wives, and sisters are mourning 
 over their poor murdered boys and men. Murdered 
 we may call it, when they are made to stand to be shot 
 at by soldiers behind their entrenchments, as at 
 Fredericksburg."
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 133 
 
 " Philadelphia, 9-1 -Go. 
 " My dear Sisters, 
 
 " A sense that you will rejoice in my being safe 
 out of Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware, leads me to 
 take an early opportunity of informing you of my safe 
 arrival here. I am thankful to feel clear of the Slave 
 States. In Alexandria, Virginia, I went into a slave- 
 pen, which had been converted ^:»ro tern, into a guard 
 house. It was an abominable place. As we drew near, 
 the most fearful imprecations saluted our ears, obscene 
 jests, scurrilous abuse, profane oaths, mingled with loud, 
 hollow, unearthly laughs. All these noises were 
 restrained for a moment when we entered the gloomy 
 regions. Gloomy indeed, high, naked, dirty walls, no 
 light admitted but from dingy small windows in the 
 roof. No beds, no seats, no fire, no accommodation of 
 any kind. The dirt, filth, stench, were beyond 
 description. Into this place were crowded forty or 
 fifty men, many of them soldiers. These were some of 
 them committed here for drunkenness, some for rioting, 
 some for sedition, some for stealing, some for night 
 vagrancy, some for immorality, for assault, &c. Many 
 of them, being desperadoes, were chained. They were 
 silent a moment as they gazed in astonishment upon 
 us, then, after, some exclamations, as ' a lady ! ' ' here's 
 a nice parlour for a lady ! ' ' can't you find her a chair ?'' 
 &c., &c., one ruffian-like looking soldier, who looked 
 as though he had been rolling in the mud, the worse 
 for liquor, came right up in front of us, and, shaking 
 his manacled hand in our faces, said, ' This is the way 
 Uncle Sam treats his brave volunteers, he sends us to
 
 134 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 stand before a fire as hot as hell, at Fredericksburg, and 
 if we escape death there he brings us here to finish us 
 up.' This speech produced a laugh from some of the 
 other soldiers. I was chilled with horror to look at 
 the hardened, vicious, depraved countenances of the 
 men, and the wretched condition they were in. I spoke 
 to them a very few words, to which they listened with 
 quiet attention, and we withdrew. 
 
 " The jail in Washington was almost as bad as this 
 slave-pen, as far as impure air and filth go. The 
 frequent sight of such extreme wretchedness and 
 misery, has a very depressing effect upon my mind. 
 Only to think that these are our brethren, created by 
 the same Father, that our blessed Saviour died for 
 them as well as for us. Oh ! why is it thus ? Why is 
 there such a vast amount of sin and misery in the 
 world ? Our afiilicted country at this time is over- 
 whelmed with an ocean of sin, and deluged with 
 blood. The sorrows of the mourning mothers, the 
 widows, orphans, and sisters, the sufferings of 100,000 
 sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals, rise up 
 before a God of mercy. Surely He will hear their cries, 
 surely He will be touched with compassion for their 
 affliction, and come down to help them. Battle after 
 battle is being fought, and we meet with reverses, both 
 in our army and our navy. What is our poor country 
 coming to ? We see many mourning, anxious, troubled 
 countenances now 
 
 "Tell F. and M.C. here is a little story for them, 
 that they may prize their privileges, and value the 
 instruction that mamma *gives them, in those nice
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 135 
 
 little Bible stories, I have been lately holding some 
 meetings and visiting families and meetings in the 
 midst of the Alleghany mountains. There in a lovely 
 spot, with high hills visible from every door and window 
 in the house, I found a family of ten, father and mother 
 and eight children. A bright looking little boy in his 
 eighth year, came near to us, and began talking about 
 his father's horses, sheep, and cattle. After a little 
 conversation on these topics, my companion began to 
 speak to him on more serious matters, his bright, 
 animated, intelligent look passed away, and he seemed 
 sorely perplexed. One question my companion J.V. 
 asked him, was 'Johnnie, do thee know who made 
 thee ?' It seemed a new idea to the child, and by his 
 look, one was prepared to receive the reply of Topsy 
 'I specs I growed.' He did not say so, but he seemed 
 ignorant upon the subject. She pressed him a little 
 further thus, 'Do thee know who Jesus Christ is?' 
 The boy looked out of window, up and down the road, 
 and at some of the houses of the neighbours, then 
 replied, 'I don't know him, he don't live near here.' 
 'Johnnie, do thee know who takes care of thee ?' 
 'Father and mother,' was the prompt reply. 'But at 
 night, when father and mother are gone to bed ?'' 
 ' Milton ' (this was his elder brother who slept with 
 him). ' But when Milton and sisters are all asleep ? ' 
 The boy gave an arch look as if he hardly knew 
 whether she was in earnest, then said ' I guess no one 
 don't stay awake to take care of me.' 
 
 " In another cottage we found a little girl, who in 
 her ninth year, knew nothing about Adam and Eve,
 
 13G LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 and Cain and Abel. She listened with amazement 
 while I told her the story of the Garden of Eden, and 
 its inmates, and of Cain killing his brother. With 
 eyes and mouth open, she seemed eagerly drinking 
 in every word, and enquired, ' Where did all the rest 
 of the people live, when they were in the garden ? 
 Did they have such a beautiful garden too ? ' When 
 I told her no one else was living then, she was 
 astonished, and turned to some girl near her, and said, 
 ' Only think, there were only two people living in the 
 world, how dreadful lonesome it must be ! I'm glad 
 I did not live there then.' The girl to whom she said 
 this looked awe-struck, and looking round and out of 
 the windows at the ' great world for only two people,' 
 brought out an emphatic ' Do tell now ! ' " 
 
 E. L. C. to L. R. and C. H. 
 
 " Philadelphia, 0-1-63. 
 
 " It was a bright, beautiful morning last summer 
 that our party left New York harbour in one of those 
 splendid floating palaces that glide over sunny seas, 
 placid lakes, and smooth rivers in our western world, 
 for Staten Island, a twelve miles' trip. Our party were 
 my companion and self, William Cromwell and 
 daughter, and Hannah Underhill. The latter is a sister 
 of Elizabeth U. Willis and of Mary Wood. E. U. W. 
 has been for many years Clerk of the Women's Yearly 
 Meeting, New York, and M. W. is the wife of William 
 Wood, the Clerk of the Men's Meeting. We arrived at 
 the wharf on Staten Island about one o'clock. The 
 Governor, a gentleman of the old school, with a
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 137 
 
 sort of stately grace and dignity, met us on the wharf, 
 and welcomed ns to the island. 
 
 " Arrangements had previously been made for us to 
 have a meeting with the sailors in the " Snug Harbor," 
 a comfortable home for superannuated and worn-out 
 sailors, calculated to accommodate 500 ; when past 
 going 10 sea, they end their days here in quiet, the 
 sea water of the beautiful bay washing the shore, 
 and they sit in the piazzas, summer-houses, on the 
 green, and under the shade of the beautiful and 
 ornamental trees, or near the water's edge, smoking 
 their pipes or cigars, and reading their newspapers, &c. 
 They each have a comfortable bedroom and easy chair, 
 and every comfort that an elderly gentleman can 
 desire. The Governor has been fifty years a sailor, 
 and near forty a sea-captain, and is about seventy 
 years of age. 
 
 "The same island has three other institutions for 
 sailors, viz., a hospital, a home for their wives and 
 widows, and a school for sailors' children. After his 
 cordial Avelcome, the Governor said, ' Mr. Cromwell, 
 will you please to inform me which of these ladies is 
 going to preach to the sailors ' ? W. C. replied by 
 introducing us each by name. The old gent then 
 offered me his arm, W. Cromwell took my companion, 
 the others followed, and we proceeded through the 
 beautiful grounds to the chapel. As we walked along, 
 the Governor entered on a style of conversation 
 altogether new to me. He made a polite apology for 
 the freedom he used, and then proceeded to give me a 
 little information about sailors, their characters, disposi-
 
 138 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 tions, tastes, &c., that I might the better know how to 
 speak to them. ' You know, madam, that sailors cannot 
 sit still like landsmen ; they cannot keep their attention 
 so long fixed, we are not used to very long sermons.' He 
 requested me to say nothing to them about the abolition 
 of slavery, and ' nothing about peace or war, unless I 
 spoke in favour of the war, &c.' After this, he looked 
 as though he had a request that he hardly knew how 
 to frame, and brought it out with, ' I beg your pardon, 
 madam, but will you be so good as to let me look at 
 your sermon ? ' To this new and strange request, 
 I replied by telling him something of Friends' views 
 of the ministry, and that we do not prepare our sermons 
 beforehand, &c. He looked completely puzzled and 
 somewhat alarmed as he replied, ' There are 470 men 
 seated in the chapel waiting for you to preach to them, 
 and you have not got your sermon ready ! You won't 
 disappoint them, will you .'' ' He then proceeded to 
 inform me that he had had some difficulty in getting 
 the chapel for us, ' For,' said he, ' the chaplains, Avho 
 usually officiate here, do not believe in women's 
 preaching, but I pleaded hard, and they consented on 
 condition that I should examine your sermon before- 
 hand, and see whether it was suitable, and now you 
 have not got it ready ; will you please to tell me what 
 you are going to say ? Our chaplains cannot understand 
 what a woman can have to say to all these men.' 
 A little more in this new style of eldering I received 
 from him, as to be so kind as to begin promptly and 
 not sit still long, and to conclude in time to be at his house 
 to dine at two o'clock. ' Mrs. Dupuyster wishes the
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 139 
 
 honour of your company to dine ; she is a very punctual 
 lady and does not like her dinner arrangements dis- 
 organized, &c.' By this time we had reached the chapel, 
 and looking in, he whispered, 'There sit the two 
 ministers, one Episcopalian, the other Presbyterian ; 
 I hope you will do the best you can, and let them see 
 that a lady can do something ! ' With this he led me 
 in, and up to my seat ; in no very enviable state of mind 
 did I feel. Sorely tried I was with all this unusual 
 style of remark and counsel on my mind. No sooner 
 had we gathered into silence, than the old man rose, 
 and said, ' Mr. Cromwell, will you please to introduce 
 the ladies to the audience ? ' By the faltering voice 
 and hesitating manner in which W. C. complied, I am 
 inclined to believe he felt almost as ill at ease as I did. 
 He just informed the audience that we had come from 
 Michigan, stated the object of our journey and meetings, 
 with a few remarks on Friends' mode of worship. 
 
 " Two or three minutes only had elapsed after he 
 took his seat, when the governor leaned forward, 
 looked earnestly at me, and beckoned with his hand, 
 making signs that it was time to commence. I believe, 
 although I have been in many a close and strait place, 
 I never felt quite so much tried before any audience 
 as upon this occasion, and, perhaps, never looked so 
 earnestly for help in time of need, and to the honour 
 of Him, who is a God, hearing and answering prayer, 
 I may say I never felt strength in weakness and in 
 a season of need to be more signally poured forth on 
 me. Soon I felt raised above the fear of man ; the two 
 ministers and the governor were alike lost sight of, and
 
 140 LIFE AND LETTERS OP 
 
 a solemn sense of the importance of the salvation of the 
 souls of those men, and my responsibilitj" as I stood 
 there before them, were the prevailing coverings of my 
 spirit. The sailors listened with earnest attention and 
 serious de^Dortment. After a relieving opportunity in 
 testimony, I felt constrained to bow the knee in prayer, 
 commending us all to the God of all grace. With quiet 
 order we dispersed, the governor again leading me out 
 of the meeting, and towards his house. For a little 
 while, the loquacious old gentleman was very quiet, 
 then he broke out with the earnest ejaculation, ' God 
 bless you ! what made you leave off so soon ? ' I looked 
 at him in surprise, for I was sensible that I had exceeded 
 my time, and asked, 'What time is it?' ' A quarter 
 past two.' ' What will thy wife say about her dinner ? ' 
 ' Oh, bless you, Mrs. Dupuyster was there, and we could 
 have staid till midnight.' After some flattering and 
 complimentary remarks, which I checked by trying to 
 explain the nature of Friends' views of the ministry, 
 he replied, 'Well, I don't understand Quaker doctrine, 
 but I think the Quakers show their policy in appointing 
 their women to preach, instead of their men. It seems 
 to me, women can reach the hearts of these men in 
 a way that the men never do.' After a little more in 
 this strain, the old man turned suddenly to me, and 
 said, ' But, madam, you made one great mistake in your 
 sermon ! ' ' What was that ? ' ' When you talk to the 
 sailors about a steamef, you must never say " she set 
 sail," you must say " she got under ivag.^'' There was 
 not a sailor in the room but would know you were 
 a landsman. If you had only told me, before, what
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 141 
 
 you were going to say, I would have set you right.' 
 I was somewhat relieved to find that my mistake was 
 no more serious. As we were on our way to Staten 
 Island, we had seen a steamer U7ider ivay for San 
 Francisco, her sails up, and her passengers crowding 
 the deck. I had referred to this steamer in illustrating 
 the brightness, yet uncertainty, of the voyage of life. 
 
 "After partaking of a sumptuous dinner, and 
 great kindness and courtesy, the Governor had his 
 carriage brought to the door and took us to the school 
 for sailors' children, where he sat and listened intently, 
 as though he had been a child himself, while I spoke 
 to the children for half or three-quarters of an hour. 
 Then he took us for a pleasant drive through the de- 
 lightful grounds and thence to the wharf. As we 
 went through the grounds a beautiful, picturesque 
 cottage, on rising ground, built in Gothic style, at- 
 tracted my attention. A lovely flower garden, and 
 many umbrageous and ornamental trees, and the water 
 washing the foot of the shrubbery looked very alluring. 
 1 exclaimed in delight, ' What a beautiful spot ! What 
 a little paradise ! ' ' Do you like it ? ' he said ; ' I am 
 glad you do ! Well now, I'll make a bargain with 
 you. If you will agree to come and live here, and 
 preach two sermons a week to these men, I will deed 
 you that place, and take care that you have enough to 
 live on as long as you live ! ' ' But she has a husband 
 and children at home,' said H. Underhill. ' Oh, has 
 she ? ' he said, and then asked about them. ' The 
 children are girls, all married but two.' ' Oh ! well, 
 they'll soon marry off.' ' How about Mr. Comstock ?
 
 142 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 Can he preach as well as you ? ' My replies to his 
 enquiries seemed pretty satisfactory, for he replied, 
 ' I wish you would write to the old gentleman and tell 
 him he may as well leave o£f following the plough and 
 come and take it easy for the rest of his life. I'll pay 
 you well, and let those two chaplains go, they don't 
 know how to get at the men's hearts.' 
 
 " If I had written to my husband, and the elders 
 of my meeting, and told them the liberal offer that 
 had been made to me, I fear I should have met with 
 no encouragement from them to accept it, and if I 
 did, probably the two sermons would ' come out 
 missing.' The Governor gave a parting charge to 
 William Cromwell to 'bring all the Quakers that 
 came to the city out there to preach to his men, 
 es23ecially the women.' ' Do you know,' he said, ' we 
 were very near refusing to let you have the chapel ? 
 If ever you go anywhere and are refused, do you begin 
 to preach right away, and then they'll let you in ! ' 
 
 " Just as we reached the wharf and were about to 
 part, the old man led me aside and made a beautiful 
 request. ' I want an interest in your prayers. Pray 
 that a poor old sailor, who has weathered many a 
 storm, may cast anchor safely in the port of heaven at 
 last.' "
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 143 
 
 Chaptek X. 
 
 FURTHER INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. 
 1863-1864. 
 
 F.T.K. to E.L.C. 
 
 " Baltimore, 22-3-63. 
 " My Dear Friend, Eliz. L. Comstock, 
 
 I AM writing some English letters to-night, but 
 must send thee a few lines in reply to thy 
 acceptable letter. 
 
 " I saw Uncle Lewin this p.m., and he was about 
 as thou left him ; thy messages of love and sympathy 
 were very acceptable to him and the family. The 
 beautiful lines for Mary were left with Lewina for her. 
 
 " I have very frequently thought of thee and thy 
 work since we were together at Blackwell's Island. 
 I would much like to meet and unite with thee 
 again before thou finally leaves for thy home, but thou 
 art among stronger and better people w^ho can help 
 thee, and I am engrossed as usual with many pressing 
 duties and cares. 
 
 "Within the past month our city has felt the 
 pressure of the w^ar with renewed force, on account of 
 certain new business regulations, and we all feel 
 discouraged about matters and things in general. We 
 have, I fear, a two years' war still before us ; the 
 armistice, which the bad roads caused to be proclaimed,
 
 144 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1863. 
 
 is nearly over, and the rebels will move again upon 
 our lines at Harper's Ferry or Winchester. Twenty 
 thousand men are landing to-day from fortress Monroe 
 to be sent forward to Rosencrans, in Tennessee. How 
 my heart sickens at these evidences of the war — oh, 
 that they would cease the world over, and Christ's 
 Kingdom reign from sea to sea. 
 
 " The Dr. occasionally exercises his 
 
 gift to edification and comfort ; still I feel discouraged 
 about our meeting — we are so weak and poor — such an 
 outside pressure of care and trial from this sad war 
 with some valuable ones ; and excitement and interest 
 absorbing the time and feelings of others — how weak 
 and frail we are — what creatures of sight and sense, 
 instead of faith. 
 
 " I hope that the Dr. will be instrumental in 
 building us up. . . . As to myself, I think I have 
 some gift in putting others to work and helping them 
 on — how I should love to serve these dear friends or 
 any others. Oh, that the work may go on among us — 
 I think there is a little more evidence among some of 
 willingness. Continue, my dear sister, to pray for us. 
 often remember us before the throne of grace. 
 
 " I am glad thy minute was a comfort to thee — 
 when thy work is over, may thou know the sweet and 
 full flowings of that peace which is promised, even as 
 
 a river. My love to thee. 
 
 " Thy friend, 
 
 " F.T.K." 
 One of E. L. C.'s sisters, writing from Rollin in 
 December, 1863, gives the following particulars of her
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 145 
 
 Michigan home, &c. : — " There is still a large district of 
 uncleared land (brother John T. Comstock's farm covers 
 about eighty acres) ; a very pleasant wood it is for us 
 to ramble about in. I wish you could have seen how 
 beautiful the trees looked before they lost their leaves; 
 the autumn foliage is very varied and brilliant. A week 
 or two since, we took a pleasant drive to see the lakes 
 a few miles from here. When brother John first 
 emigrated here, the beavers built in these waters, and 
 the large bald eagles had their nests in the trees that 
 grew around ; the wolves howled in the forest, the 
 bears carried off his hogs, and the wild deer devoured 
 his grain. The Indians, too, were very numerous then, 
 but they are all gone, wild men and animals have 
 been driven further west. I have not seen a single 
 Indian in Michigan, though there are some in the 
 northern part of the State. Most of the Friends here 
 are farmers, they have no tithe troubles, and, as they 
 are their own landlords, rents are not very high. We 
 live chiefly on the products of the farm, but now and 
 then get a little fresh meat elsewhere. Brother John 
 has a great many sheep, but he raises them for their 
 wool, and not for their mutton ; we never eat mutton 
 here ; beef, pork, and chickens are our chief animal 
 food. We make our own coffee, that is, we roast red 
 wheat in the grain, grind it, and mix a little coffee 
 essence with it ; it is by no means a despicable beverage 
 when a good supply of rich cream is added, and of 
 this we have plenty. Tea is very costly now, partly 
 owing to the war-tax, and partly to these infamous 
 privateer vessels. All articles of drapery are very high,
 
 146 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 common unbleached calico that would have been 3d. 
 a yard in England before the scarcity of cotton, is now 
 forty cents here, a sum nearly equal to 1/8 of our 
 English money. Silks, ribbons, &c. are enormously 
 high. . . . Labour commands a high price, and it 
 is very difficult to obtain help even at a high price. 
 J. T. C. had extreme difficulty in getting men this 
 autumn, so many of the young men usually employed 
 in agriculture are in the army. Farm labourers are 
 now receiving about a dollar (4/-) a day ; in the busiest 
 seasons of the year they can earn a dollar and a 
 
 half 
 
 " The war still continues, but the Confederates are 
 getting pressed into narrower space, and their resources 
 are becoming exhausted. They have treated, and are 
 treating the Union prisoners very cruellj' in not allow- 
 ing them sufficient food. Forty out of one hundred 
 and eighty returned prisoners died of exhaustion 
 within a week of their release. Some Friends of this 
 meeting, T. B. and wife, are now in great trouble from 
 the death of their son. He was taken prisoner after 
 the battle of Gettysburgh, and was then in robust 
 health and not wounded. One of his fellow-prisoners, 
 Avho has just been liberated, writes to T. B. that his 
 son ' was starved to death in the Richmond prison,' 
 and the lieutenant of the regiment, who was likewise 
 a prisoner, endorses the sad account. They do not 
 mean that the rebel authorities refused him all food, 
 but the quantity supplied was insufficient, and he 
 pined away. In one respect I think it a good thing 
 that the war has been thus protracted — it has helped
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 147 
 
 the cause of the negro. I am afraid the North might 
 have compromised the question of slavery if they had 
 been able to subdue the South too easily. Now there 
 is no fear of this ; the longer the war continues the 
 more thorough abolitionists the Federals become. The 
 Government at Washington has shown every disposition 
 to treat the Friends who refuse to fight leniently ; in 
 many instances their penalties have been paid for 
 them by some unknown benefactor. In the State of 
 Michigan most of those who have been drafted have 
 just paid the fine of 300 dollars rather than go, and it 
 is not looked upon as a violation of their peace 
 principles, because the money thus paid goes into the 
 general treasury'. I have not heard of a single Friend 
 who has declined to buy tea on account of the war-tax 
 (fifteen cents per lb.) imposed upon it, and there is not 
 much difference as far as principle is concerned in 
 paying war-tax in one form or the other." 
 
 In a letter to her sister (Eliza Wright), dated from 
 Rollin, 8-12-63, E. L. C. writes :— " Thy graphic and 
 interesting description of the trip thou and E. enjoyed 
 in Ireland was very gratifying to me, as I had travelled 
 on the very same ground, stood at the foot of Powers- 
 court Waterfall, and admired its feathery spray, 
 wandered through the Dargle, and spent near a month 
 midst the romantic beauties of Wicklow, Wexford, 
 Waterford, and Dublin counties. In one of my 
 Ackworth vacations, my dear brother and I enjoyed 
 this trip together. The Vale of Avoca we spent two 
 days in. Far different have been the scenes that have 
 claimed my attention during the past year. In a
 
 148 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 journey of 5,750 miles I have witnessed some beauties 
 and varieties in the scenes of nature, but far more has 
 my attention been directed to scenes of suffering, woe, 
 anguish, degradation, vice, and misery, in the large 
 cities in this land. Most of the State prisons, peniten- 
 tiaries, and many of the county gaols, and city prisons 
 in our Northern States (except New England) I have 
 seen, and many a tale of woe have I listened to, and 
 endeavoured, as way has opened before me, and as 
 strength has been vouchsafed, to comfort the afflicted 
 and warn the careless. *In Baltimore Penitentiary, I 
 found amongst the convicts a respectable, intelligent 
 looking man under sentence for forty-five years. He 
 has served five years of his time. The charge for which 
 he was committed was a breach of the Fugitive-Slave 
 Law. He had aided a family of fugitives to escape 
 from slavery. They were nine in family, they were 
 recaptured and returned to their cruel master, and he 
 was sentenced to the State Prison, five years for each 
 member of the family, 9x5 = 45 years of rigorous 
 imprisonment. He is between thirty and forty years 
 of age. Another convict greatly attracted my sympathy^ 
 His offence against the laws of his country was on this 
 wise. One evening a sweet looking mvilatto girl, weary 
 and footsore, hungry and forlorn, begged for food and 
 shelter. He could not refuse her, though he suspected 
 she was a fugitive, and knew he was breaking the law. 
 He gave her supper, bed, and breakfast, and directed 
 
 '■' The cases wliich follow are named in a former letter, hut 
 some fm'ther particulars are here given.
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 149 
 
 her northwards. Before night she was returned to 
 
 bondage, and he lodged in gaol. His sentence was 
 
 fifteen years. He poured out his tale of woe to me 
 
 with many tears, and told me that he had not been able 
 
 ever since his imprisonment to converse with a single 
 
 sympathising friend. It seemed a great comfort to him 
 
 to talk to me. It is a blessed mission to visit the poor 
 
 prisoners, and to know 
 
 ' That mercy to the bon(hnan shown, 
 It is mercy unto Him ' 
 
 who may one day say ' Inasmuch as ye did it unto one 
 
 of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.' 
 
 The poor man was in great affliction about his aged 
 
 mother, his wife, and child. His mother, in her 
 
 eighty-seventh year, had been entirely dependent upon 
 
 his exertions ; he used to keep a store in Baltimore, 
 
 but since his imprisonment, the business had run down, 
 
 his home broken up, his mother had gone to live with 
 
 a married daughter a few miles from Philadelphia, his 
 
 wife had to go out washing and charing to get her 
 
 daily bread, and his little girl was taken to an asylum. 
 
 He begged me, ' for the love of God,' to go and see his 
 
 poor old mother. When in Philadelphia a few weeks 
 
 after, I went to visit her, a most touching time we had 
 
 together, she wept, she wrung her hands, smiled, 
 
 poured out her gratitude at seeing anyone who had 
 
 seen her ' poor boy,' her ' dear Daniel.' She was too 
 
 old and feeble, either to go and see him, or to write to 
 
 him, and I was the very first person she had met with 
 
 who had seen him since his imprisonment. Poor old 
 
 woman, she complained of rheumatism, the weather
 
 150 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G3. 
 
 was cold, and she was very thinly clad. I told her she 
 must dress warmer, the tears came into her eyes as she 
 told me that she was entirely dependent upon the son- 
 in-law she lived with, adding he is in poor health, and 
 it is as much as he can do to provide for liis wife and 
 large family. When I put five dollars into her han^l, 
 (the means for this and other similar offerings being 
 provided by a wealthy Friend in Philadelphia) to get 
 herself a warm winter dress, she seemed as though she 
 could hardly express her gratitude. 
 
 " Another prisoner was sentenced fifteen years for 
 having ' Uncle Tom's Cabin ' in his house ! ! He was 
 a coloured man, a preacher amongst his own people. 
 The Baltimore Friends and some others exerted them- 
 selves with the Governor of the State, and got him 
 liberated upon the condition that he would leave the 
 State, and never return to it. He had made himself 
 obnoxious by being suspected of aiding slaves to escape. 
 The two former cases of prisoners, I have made known 
 to F. T. King, and he has stated them to those in 
 authority. Francis T. King is a leading and influential 
 Friend in Baltimore, an intimate friend of the Governor 
 of the State of Maryland ; and after considerable pains 
 he writes me word that he hopes these two prisoners 
 will shortly be released, without serving their time. 
 I rejoice in this very much. I have met with so many 
 interesting and spirit-stirring cases in prisons, hospitals, 
 and asylums, and a letter will contain so very small a 
 portion of it, that I believe I must give thee some 
 statistics of it, and leave the details. During the past 
 year, I have travelled 5,750 miles, have visited and had
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 151 
 
 meetings with 52,850 sick and wounded soldiers, 17,100 
 prisoners, 1G,060 inmates of almshouses, 520 blind, 
 1,125 widows, 3,250 insane, 5,450 orphans, 5,850 children 
 in refuges and asylums, 1,987 poor fallen women, 
 6,900 coloured people ; I have had twelve meetings 
 with Hicksite Friends, twenty-six with citizens in 
 large cities, two with young men, one with mothers, 
 two with Christian ladies. With children altogether, 
 from the little ones in infant schools to the young 
 aspirants for collegiate honours, I have visited or had 
 meetings with 26,500, many of them in Sabbath schools 
 and mission schools. 
 
 " During this long journey I have been favoured 
 with unbroken health, and strength equal to my day, 
 though ti'avelling through scenes of danger, and visiting 
 hospitals where great sickness raged. My visit to 
 Nashville, Tennessee, was the most exercising and most 
 painful part of my service. Wickedness seemed to 
 abound in that city, immorality to a fearful extent, 
 drunkenness, swearing, rebellion, etc., infidelity, and 
 scepticism. The accommodation in taverns and board- 
 ing-houses very inferior and exorbitant in charges. 
 We (my companion and self) took private lodgings. 
 On entering our comfortless apartment, I sat down in a 
 rocking chair, being very weary ; in a moment I found 
 myself on the floor, one rocker and part of one leg 
 being gone, it lost its balance. I rose somewhat shaken 
 and bruised, and repaired to the bed, which was so rickety 
 and dilapidated that I feared I should again descend to 
 the floor, but it did sustain my weight. While lying there 
 resting, I had leisure to take a survey of my room, and
 
 152 ' LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 found the result to be ver}^ unsatisfactory. Two 
 windows minus the lower sash, which was entirely 
 gone, the upper sash being so thick with fiy-specks and 
 dirt as to require no blinds. There was one chair 
 without a seat, one Avithout a back ; a looking-glass 
 frame without a particle of glass ; chest of drawers 
 minus one leg, and no handles ; no washing apparatus 
 at all. I enquired for these, and Avas told Ave could go 
 downstairs to Avasli. However, upon being someAvhat 
 larged, they brought us a cracked basin, and ewer 
 without handle, a pitcher of hard water Avith no spout, 
 and rummer without stand, so that Avhen not drinking 
 Ave had to turn it down. Most unpropitiously for my 
 appetite, I got a peep into the kitchen. The family 
 were Avaited on by fi\'e slaves. Seeing a poor black 
 Avoman and tAVO or three dirty children standing by the 
 door of a sort of outhouse I mistook for a stable, I Avent 
 to speak to them ; in reply, the Avoman said, 'Bless you, 
 I'm very Avell off, this is the kitchen, and I'm the cook 
 here.' She invited me in ; a look, and the odour 
 arising from her domains, were sufficient to keep me 
 outside ; but the condition of meat, milk, butter, eggs, 
 fish, and onions, took away my appetite effectually 
 during my stay there. I could eat nothing but bread, 
 and drank a little tea, Avhicli tasted strongly of peach 
 leaves. We Avere nearly tAvo Aveeks in Nashville, and 
 for our board at this boarding-house, Ave had to pay two 
 dollars per day each ! ! 
 
 "We visited every sick and wounded soldier in the 
 city. Provisions are at an enormous price. The 
 city has changed OAvners three times since this terrible
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L, COMSTOCK. 153 
 
 war began. The whole had a very warlike appearance. 
 Breastworks cast up in the streets, fortifications and 
 rifle-pits, arsenals, &c., all around the city. As navi- 
 gation is closed on the Cumberland river during the 
 summer, the only avenue of communication with 
 Rosencrans' army and the Northern States was by a 
 single line of railway from Louisville on the Ohio to 
 Nashville, Tennessee, about 200 miles. There is one 
 track only. The rebels are around it on all sides, and 
 they frequently waylay and pillage a train of horses, 
 provisions, and army stores. This is the cause of the 
 high price of things in Nashville. The trains by which 
 we travelled to and fro were guarded by 100 soldiers 
 in the cars, the martial music sounding as we Avent 
 along : a detached engine a few rods in advance of 
 us passed before us all the way, to see that the enemy 
 had done no damage to bridges, tunnels, &c. ; another 
 engine within hail behind, all ready to hook on to the 
 passenger cars and mail, and return to Nashville or 
 Louisville in case of danger ahead. This precaution is 
 taken continually, and is a source of great expense to 
 the Government. On our return from Nashville we 
 came safely half way, and then great alarm was 
 excited, because the down train, which had been due 
 near an hour, had not arrived, and on trying the 
 telegraph wires they would not work ; they had been 
 cut. Earnest consultations were held, and then it was 
 voted unsafe to proceed, and decided to remain still 
 until some scouts had scoured the country. One 
 hundred cavaliers were sent off with orders to search 
 diligently for ten miles ahead. After three hours
 
 154 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 delay they returned, reporting the coast clear so far. 
 We then moved on very slowly and cautiously ten 
 miles to the next depot. There we waited while 100 
 cavaliers again were sent off. In less than an 
 hour they returned, reporting that the rebels had 
 intercepted the down freight train, pillaged it of 300 
 horses, war store of 'great value,' provisions, cloth- 
 ing, &c., on their way from Murfreesboro' to General 
 Rosencrans' head-quarters. After robbing it of all 
 they could carry off, they compelled the engineer and 
 men to leave it, and setting it on fire, started it alone 
 at full sjieed on our track, designing that it should 
 meet our train and destroy it. This design was 
 frustrated through the watchful care of a kind 
 Providence, and the prudence and patience of the 
 conductor and authorities, who delayed our train four 
 or five hours, during which the flaming train spent 
 itself before we came upon it. It had come up within 
 three miles of this our second stopping place. The 
 rebel raid had come out from the fastnesses of the 
 mountains in Kentucky, 300 in number. They 
 were all dressed in the Northern uniform, which they 
 had pillaged from a former freight train. Our govern- 
 ment has had soldiers stationed all along this line of 
 railway, not a mile unguarded. But there are so many 
 secessionists scattered about, residing in Kentucky and 
 Tennessee, that the Union troops are harassed and 
 impeded in many ways. It was with thankful hearts 
 that we arrived in Louisville, Kentucky, at the termin- 
 ation of our perilous journey at midnight. The train 
 was due at 5.30 p.m. There was quite a sensation in
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 155 
 
 Louisville ; they feared that the rebels had taken our 
 train, and in the newspapers the following morning 
 was a statement to that effect, adding that the two 
 Quaker missionary ladies, who had been so successfully 
 labouring, &c., &c., were expected to be in that train, 
 and a hope expressed that the rebels would not hurt 
 us, and that we jnight do as much good to them as we 
 had done to the Union soldiers. 
 
 " It is very pleasant to be at my dear comfortable 
 home again, with my beloved husband and child. But 
 the sufferings I have witnessed and sympathized with 
 are almost continually present with me. I have truly 
 known what it was to be baptized into suffering, with 
 a suffering people. I have slept in prisons, poorhouses, 
 and hospitals, and all kinds of accommodation 1 have 
 had by night and by day ; anything that would 
 facilitate my labours with the poor sufferers, I have 
 submitted to. In the prisons I have generally had 
 liberty to visit from cell to cell, as well as having 
 meetings with them, and many an evening, after their 
 day's hard labour was ended, I have spent in going from 
 cell to cell until ten o'clock ; then occupied a small 
 room provided by the jailer, and at five o'clock the 
 next morning I have commenced again until their 
 work hours, which are from six to six. Oft-times 
 I have been standing or walking about seven, eight, or 
 nine hours per day, in prisons, hospitals, and wretched 
 huts." 
 
 The following are specimens of the many letters 
 she received from those in authority, sanctioning her 
 work.
 
 156 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 " Head Quarters, 
 
 " District of Ohio, 
 
 " Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 " April 24th, 1868. 
 "To the Military Commandant at Louisville, and other 
 Hospital posts in the department of Ohio. 
 " Gentlemen, — Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock, of 
 the Society of Friends, is engaged in visiting the 
 hospitals of the army, for the purpose of administering 
 religious consolation and instruction to the sick and 
 wounded. Her character and the value of her services 
 to the soldiers, entitle her to every courtesy and aid in 
 her labours, and you are respectfully requested to permit 
 her to visit all hospitals and convalescent camps, and to 
 afford her the facilities for so doing, which may be 
 reasonably within your power. I am authorized by 
 Major-General Burnside, Commanding the Department, 
 to give her authority to pass within our lines, which 
 may be safe for her, and in the proper line of her 
 
 duties as stated. 
 
 " Very respectfully, 
 
 " J. D. Cox, Brig.-Gen., Commanding." 
 
 " ?7.*S'. General Hospital, 
 
 " DavicVs Island, N.Y., 
 
 ''Feb. 28th, 1863. 
 "Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock, 
 
 "I listened to your address to our sick and 
 wounded soldiers last evening with profound interest, 
 and I cannot forbear giving my testimony in favour 
 of the noble work to which you have devoted your
 
 1863.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 157 
 
 time and your energies. If I were to speak my real 
 
 feelings it would be to wish that the door of every 
 
 United States Hospital may be thrown open to you, 
 
 that our noble men in every department of the Union 
 
 may have the opportunity of listening to words so full 
 
 of consolation and comfort as those which greeted our 
 
 ears last night. 
 
 " With great respect, 
 
 "Robert Lowry, 
 
 " Chaplain U.S. Army." 
 
 " Official. 
 
 '^Assessor's Office, First District, 
 
 " Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, 
 "To '' AiJril 28th, 1868. 
 
 " Edgar Needham, Esq., 
 
 "Louisville. 
 
 "Dear Sir, — It is quite a relief at times to hear 
 something outside of an Assessor's Office — and to 
 afford you as much pleasure as was my good fortune. 
 I introduce to your acqiiaintance Mrs. Elizabeth L, 
 Comstock and Mrs. Sarah Smith, both Ministers of the 
 Society of Friends. They are also accompanied by 
 James Tayler, Esq., a very worthy and influential 
 citizen of this city, and a member of the same Society. 
 
 " These ladies are visiting the sick and wounded 
 in the various hospitals throughout the county, and 
 their mission thus far has proved a complete success. 
 Being a member of the Sanitary Commission, I ac- 
 companied these good "Angels of Mercy" in one of 
 their visits to the hospitals here, and never witnessed 
 closer attention than that bestowed upon Mrs. Com- 
 stock in her address to the soldiers.
 
 158 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1863. 
 
 " Mr. Taj'ler will ask for them the privilege of 
 
 extending their visit to the City Prison of Louisville, 
 
 and, from your position, I have taken the liberty of 
 
 asking you to aid them in procuring the necessary 
 
 pass. 
 
 " Very respectfully, 
 
 " Your friend, 
 
 " Charles R. Fosdick." 
 
 " U.S. Sanitary Commission, 
 
 " Louisville, Kentucky , 
 
 ''June 4th, 1863. 
 " Miss Castleman, 
 
 " Murfreesboro', Tennessee, 
 
 " This is to introduce to your kind attention Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Comstock and Mrs. Sarah Smith, of Michigan, 
 members of the Friends' Society. Their mission is to 
 our poor suffering soldiers in hospital, and to the 
 inmates of such benevolent and reformatory institu- 
 tions as may lie in their way. 
 
 " To the many testimonials which have elsewhere 
 been given, of their zealous and successful efforts in 
 the direction above stated, it affords me great pleasure 
 to add mine, concerning their truly evangelical work 
 here. As they leave for Nashville to-morrow, and will 
 be likely to visit Murfreesboro', I thought I would 
 take the liberty of giving them a letter to you, know- 
 ing how deeply you are interested in the same good 
 
 work. 
 
 " With sincere respect, 
 
 " Yours trulj', 
 
 " Robert F. Thorne."
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 159 
 
 " Baltimore, 9-4-18G4. 
 "We were yesterday at Washington. I am not 
 very fond of sight-seeing, and returned excessively 
 weary, and felt as though I should have enjoyed the 
 time better in the penitentiaries or hospitals, and 
 should have spent it to more purpose. I went just for 
 the sake of L.'s company and to gratify her. But there 
 is something very trying to my nature in seeing the 
 splendour, extravagance, and waste in these large public 
 buildings, while thousands are suffering from want. 
 One day I spent with the wretched inmates of the alleys 
 and lanes, and the next amid all the grandeur and 
 superfluities that luxury can invent. As I walk through 
 the marble halls and see the statuary and fine paintings, 
 my heart turns to the poor outcasts in near sympathy, 
 and more fellow-feeling than with the ' silken sons of 
 luxury ' in the palaces of ease and splendour. I have 
 now done with sight-seeing until thou and S. favour 
 us with a visit, and then, if you wish, I will stejD out of 
 my element with you. I rejoice to tell you that L. is 
 going with me, down to York Town, Fortress Monroe, 
 and Norfolk, to visit the contrabands. I wish you could 
 join us. This will be an event in L.'s life. These 
 coloured people seem likely to be a great people. The 
 rapidity with which they learn^ not only literary 
 acquirements, but farming, mechanism, housekeeping, 
 gardening, &c., seems beyond all parallel in our race. 
 There are many thousands of them in these parts to 
 which we go next week ; perhaps we may see 10,000 
 of them. It seems, as though by magic, a change passes 
 over our ladies and gentlemen when they go to visit
 
 160 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 them. Ladies of refinement, delicately brought up, 
 gentlemen, professors of literature, go and visit them, 
 and become so infatuated, or so overpowered, or so 
 wrought upon by Divine influence, they stay to teach 
 them. They seem capable of enduring hardships of all 
 kinds, bearing discomforts, wretched accommodation, 
 hard fare, &c., &c., to instruct these poor ignorants. 
 I am so glad L. is going ! 0, how I wish it might 
 shortly be said of her, 'Is Saul also among the prophets ?' 
 ' Is L. also among the missionaries ?' .... I wish 
 you could come and see us and bring the children, when 
 the war ends. Do not come before that, for we have 
 many hardships to bear, and heavy expense and lack 
 of labour, consequent upon the war. I hope thou wilt 
 have a happy birthday, and that thy happiness may 
 increase with each returning anniversary. 
 
 " We had a rich treat yesterday, listening to Charles 
 Sumner in the Senate chamber, but, as L. will, no doubt, 
 tell you of it, and nothing is so tedious as a 'twice-told 
 tale,' I will forbear. We heard a small portion of a speech 
 from the opposite side, Powell, of Kentucky, who 
 thought that if Sumner's measure was carried, it would 
 bring ' eternal infamy ' upon those who passed it. For 
 this strong language he was called to account by an 
 earnest, warm, and eloquent, though brief, appeal from 
 Hale, of New Hampshire. Powell immediately made 
 a pretty fair apology, rather withdrawing the two 
 opprobrious words, ' eternal Infcimij.'' 
 
 " The view of the landscape from the Capitol is very 
 fine. The city of Washington looks far better from 
 this elevation than from a level, as the surface of the
 
 1864] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 161 
 
 ground is of a nature that perpetually inflicts upon the 
 pedestrian the annoyance of wading thro' an ' ocean of 
 mud ' or a ' desert of sand.' 
 
 " But from the Capitol, on a clear daj', the view is 
 very fine. The city with its spires and roofs sparkling 
 in the sun, the avenues and streets straight, and squares 
 green and pleasant this time of the year, the Potomac, 
 ' sparkling with sunbeams, and dimpled with oars,' and, 
 beyond the broad river (two miles wide here), the 
 Arlington heights, surmounted with the Union flag, the 
 stars and stripes, present a fair prospect to the beholder. 
 Arlington, the home of General Lee, has been confiscated 
 by the Federal government." 
 
 Her sister, who was with E. L. C, in Massachusetts, 
 thus writes to a friend in England : — "We spent a night 
 at Newhaven (Yale College), where I was on classic 
 ground ; it is a beautiful city, with the finest avenues 
 of elms I ever saw. This morning we are going to 
 Boston that I may see Farwell Hall, hear the great 
 organ, and be introduced to the other lions of the place. 
 Yesterday we went to Harvard, Cambridge, and Mount 
 Auburn — the last, as thou probably knows, is the 
 cemetery for Boston, and contains many very interesting 
 memorials — amongst others those of Dr. Channing, 
 Margaret Fuller Ossoli, J. F. Torry, Spurzheim, and 
 Bowditch. There are stones to the memory of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Fuller (Margaret's father and mother), and several 
 other members of the family — above the monument 
 erected to Margaret F. 0. is a cross, beneath which is 
 sculptured a portrait of her, with a book and sword — 
 then follows a long inscription to the memory of the
 
 162 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 three who were lost in that sad shipwreck, ' United in 
 life by mutual love, labours and trials, the merciful 
 Father took them together, and in death they were not 
 divided.' The chapel is a beautiful granite building — 
 within are four marble statues, one by Story of his 
 father, who was a very eminent lawyer, a judge in the 
 supreme court ; one of Winthrop, the first Governor of 
 Massachusetts, by Greenough ; one of John Adams ; 
 and one of Otis — these are all very beautiful pieces of 
 of sculpture. 
 
 Providence, Sunday, Sept. 18tJi.—'' We came here 
 last evening and are now the guests of Dr. Tobey, did 
 thou see him and his wife when they were in England ? 
 They are very delightful people, they have two nice 
 daughters residing with them, and just now their son 
 from the army is at home on furlough, he might retire 
 from the army if he liked but lie feels it his duty to 
 continue in it ; he is evidently a serious, thoughtful 
 young man, he was at the battle of Fredericksburg, and 
 it was his company that was so fearfully exposed (for 
 some hours after they had expended all their ammuni- 
 tion) to the fire of three batteries. Did I tell thee of 
 my dear sister's visit to Sybil Jones ? She found her 
 very much depressed as might be expected, but still 
 able to take comfort in the belief that all was well with 
 her son — the evidence, continually increasing, that 
 reaches E. and S. Jones, of their son's usefulness in the 
 army, of his Christian influence there, cannot but be 
 gratifying. Thou Avould perhaps hear that the poor 
 widow of Major Jones was prematurely confined on 
 hearing the terrible tidings of her husband's death ; the
 
 18G4.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 163 
 
 child lived a few days only. There was another child 
 of nearly three years, the darling of the household. 
 He drooped after his father's death, and, without any 
 apparent cause, gradually sank away ; just before he 
 died, the child fixed his eyes earnestly on one part of 
 the room, and exclaimed, 'Papa,' then ' wait a minute 
 for me papa, I'm coming, and there's little sis too,' and 
 so joyously his yoimg spirit passed away to rejoin his 
 
 father and baby sister in the spirit land 
 
 "Three p.m. The afternoon meeting begins at 
 four o'clock, and my dear sister is resting a little 
 before it — while I sit beside her, I'm glad to have the 
 opportunity of adding to my letter. We had a grand 
 day yesterday in Boston, w^e went to Farwell Hall, 'the 
 cradle of liberty,' spent an hour in the music hall, 
 listening to the grand organ, the second largest in the 
 world. I enjoyed this very much. Mendelsshon's 
 ' Finale to the forty-second Psalm ' was very beautiful, 
 and a 'slumber song' arranged for the organ was most 
 exquisite — the low soft tones might have sent us all 
 into an entranced and ecstatic slumber if they had 
 continued a little longer— and we might have slept 
 until the 'Hallelujah Chorus,' which was grand indeed, 
 awoke us — in the afternoon, we went to the Athena3um, 
 and saw the paintings, statuary, and libraries. We 
 walked across Boston Common, the scene so intimately 
 connected with the War of Independence. America 
 has its hallowed spots as well as England. As I was 
 walking under the beautiful elms on Boston Common, 
 it seemed strange to think that if all were well, in four 
 Aveeke' time, I should be walking about in Darlington.
 
 164 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1804. 
 
 I am almost sorry I arranged to go before the 
 presidential election comes off— still it is very cheering 
 to see how confident the New Englanders are of 
 Lincoln's success. The Yearly Meeting Boarding 
 School is at Providence. My sister has a meetiDg 
 Avith the children this evening, but she is not going to 
 visit any more prisons, etc., while I remain. After 
 I leave, Sarah F. Tobey (Dr. Tobey's wife) accompanies 
 Elizabeth to all the penal and pauper establishments. 
 I am glad to think E. will have so efficient a companion 
 and co-labourer. We go to-morrow to spend a few 
 days with Susanna Howland, and then back to Lynn 
 until I embark. C. Coffin took me to Nahant on fifth 
 day to show me the summer residences of Longfellow, 
 Prescott, Agassiz, and Fremont." 
 
 E. Y. to E. L. C. 
 
 7-5-1864. 
 " My Dear Friend, 
 
 " I have been wishing very much to answer thy 
 kind and acceptable letter, which was extremely 
 interesting to us all, but each day has been so full that 
 I could not accomplish it. And now we are grieved 
 to hear of thy being sick, and are very desirous to 
 know about thee. Thy work at Washington has 
 proved very arduous, and we fear thou hast overdone 
 thyself ; if thou canst not write thyself, I hope we 
 shall hear from thee through others ; how well that 
 
 thou got back among such kind friends 
 
 P. A. W., from New York, has been visiting some of 
 the sick and afflicted, and is still here, I believe. D. B. 
 Jiad large service at our Western Meeting, and would
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 165 
 
 be a very interesting and impressive minister if he did 
 not scream so : he would do for those who like to have 
 the words ' driv ' into them. 
 
 "We shall indeed long feel the loss of dear 
 
 H. W. B. to our meeting, the most disastrous 
 
 which we could have sustained in the death of any one 
 
 individual. Dr. B. has been so upheld by a sense 
 
 of the mercy and goodness which surround him, and 
 so taken out of himself by the contemplation of her 
 gain, that for some time he seemed sustained above 
 grief ; but latterly he told Charles he felt more cast 
 down, which is very natural. E. P. Gurney feels it 
 very much, and Mary Whitall too mourns — indeed all 
 who knew her feel their loss. I have not seen the 
 memoranda taken during the last day and night, but 
 her readiness and willingness to go were very remark- 
 able — no messages, no arrangements, no anxieties about 
 husband or children, ajDpeared to oppress her — the 
 work was done, and her lamp trimmed, and she ' went 
 forth to meet the bridegroom,' ready to leave all, and 
 enter into the joys of heaven 
 
 " "We are making our preparations to get into the 
 country, and if it continues warm, shall probably go 
 week after next : we are hoping that thou wilt be able 
 to spend a few days at Netherwood as thou passes to 
 New York — do try to do so, 
 
 " It hardly does to think much of the impending 
 events in Virginia: such a momentous struggle, which 
 let the result be as it may, must cause great loss of life, 
 is very solemn. I should like to have seen Burnside's 
 army, yet could scarcely bear it. We read thy letter to
 
 166 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 H. W. Scnll, and are truly glad thou hast traced the 
 lost family of coloured people. We had an interesting 
 exhibition of the ' Institute for Coloured Youth,' last 
 fifth day evening, in one of the largest halls in our 
 city — it was crowded." 
 
 E. Y. to L. R. 
 
 Netliericood, 2S-9-1864. 
 " I was quite troubled, dear L., Avhen I found A. 
 had sealed her letter to thee without sending a 
 particular message of love from me, and feel that 
 I cannot allow thee to leave our country without again 
 saying farewell, and expressing my desire that thy 
 voyage may be both safe and pleasant. We very often 
 think and speak of thee, and are very apt when anything 
 of interest occurs, to wish for thee ; accordingly we 
 should have liked thee to have been here yesterday 
 when our friend -Julia Valentine and her nephew 
 Colonel Fairlamb, recently released from the Libby 
 Prison, Avere here — he was discharged upon parole, 
 with about twenty others, chiefly it is supposed because 
 they were deemed too seriously wounded ever to take 
 the field again. His story confirms the worst accounts 
 of the treatment our men have received from the 
 rebels ; he was four months in prison, three in bed, 
 and during that time had not a kind word spoken to 
 him, so that when he passed from the walls, the 
 strangest thing he met with, was a kind voice and 
 words of sympathy — his wounds were skilfully treated, 
 more so than usual, in consequence of his being a 
 doctor and able to direct and choose, and possibly from 
 some esprit de corps still alive even in a rebel heart.
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 167 
 
 But it is wonderful that he survived the extreme 
 reduction consequent, totally deprived as he was of any 
 stimulant or proper food. They had each about an 
 eighth of a pound of boiled meat (taken out of the 
 soup) once a day, and a small piece of bread — 
 occasionally some wretched soup — and another piece 
 of hard, dirty bread, made of Indian corn and the cob 
 ground with it, very productive of disease, in the 
 evening ; hunger was at times almost intolerable, 
 and they sold nearly everything to obtain food, 
 some parting with all their clothes to appease the 
 painful longing : Colonel Fairlamb sold his old 
 boots for forty dollars, and came away in slipj^ers: 
 but the dirt Avas almost as great an annoyance 
 as the want of food — his face was not washed 
 for two months ! Imagine the discomfort and 
 wretchedness through which so many of our poor 
 men struggle ! He met with two or three persons who 
 had been prisoners in the North, who had the gratitude 
 and candour to speak warmly of the kind treatment 
 they had met with — one saying, ' If we had known 
 what yoii unionists were, we would never have gone to 
 fight you.' While he lay in the ditch, into which he 
 crept for safety, after being wounded, a rebel officer 
 came up and called out ' Who are you ? ' ' You can see 
 for yourself who I am ' (meaning his uniform told his 
 rank as a U. S. officer). ' Where are you from ? ' 
 ' Pennsylvania,' ' Oh, I have been in Pennsylvania 
 myself — after Gettysburg, and I was never more kindly 
 treated — you shall not be disturbed' ; and he did protect 
 him from the pillage which the wounded suffer, except
 
 168 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 that a General took his old spurs — when the Colonel 
 remarked, ' He was sorry his wardrobe was so reduced.'' 
 I believe the chief cause of his bearing so much trial 
 was his unconquerable hope, self-control, and the 
 strength he had acquired by the exposure in the field ; 
 but I must not tire thee with my details — I longed for 
 thee to hear his recital that thou may tell any Southern 
 sympathisers in England what humane, generous people 
 
 they are upholding I hope thou hast been 
 
 enjoying the beautiful environs of Boston during this 
 fine weather — w^e have had some most charming days — 
 just now it is rather too warm, really sinnmer-like and 
 our grass is as green and the flowers blooming again, as 
 if spring were here instead of autumn— still a red 
 branch here and there (like a few white hairs) betrays 
 the advance of the season. Our love to Elizabeth — I 
 think the rest must be most welcome to her — tell her 
 we shall be glad to see her. We shall hope to receive 
 from her all the particulars of thy embarkation — she 
 must expect many questions — she will please write in 
 time wlien we shall meet her — how pleasant if you were 
 again coming together." 
 
 C. Y. to L. R. 
 
 2S-9-1864. 
 
 " Since thou left us, I have often felt that it was 
 inhospitable in me to speak so strongly as I sometimes 
 did of what we call the wrong-doing of some of thy 
 countrymen toward us. Most truly do we appreciate 
 the generous spirit in which many Englishmen have 
 ■written and spoken of our countrj'. Yet, was it quite 
 without reason that we were vexed when we found
 
 18()4.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 1G9 
 
 those on whom we most relied, those whom your 
 whole (modern) literature had told us were the highest 
 types of man, were seemingly united against us in this 
 death struggle ? We know better now, we know that 
 human nature is pretty much the same everywhere, 
 that the highest excellence is the product of Christianity 
 as a power, not a profession ; and that the true type of 
 what man was designed to be, is he who loves his 
 neighbour as himself. Many such men glorify your 
 country ; some are found here ; and whether there or 
 here, they are bound by ties that nothing shall sever. 
 Since thou left us, our political atmosphere has cleared ; 
 I am told that there is little doubt that our own noble 
 State will place itself right, before the country, and 
 that the defeat of the Pro-Slavery party, misnamed 
 that of peace, but really that of oppression, intermin- 
 able war, anarchy, and bai'barism, will be decisive. 
 
 " Is it not a grand spectacle, the submission of the 
 vast issues involved in this election to iini versed 
 suffrage ? Will not the ascendancy of the national 
 party, the party of permanent peace and freedom to 
 all, under the pressure of war, taxation, and intense 
 domestic sorrow, prove that men may be fitted to 
 govern themselves, without a State Church, an aristoc- 
 racy, or a monarchy ? 
 
 "I wish that intelligent men from all parties in 
 Europe, men of half the sagacity of De Tocqueville, 
 and with the fourth of the magnanimity and clear- 
 headedness of Arnold (the father, not the son), could 
 study the presidential elections on the spot. There is 
 much that is displeasing ; much on the surface from
 
 170 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 which thoughtful men turn with disgust ; but when 
 all the deductions are made for the passions which are 
 aroused, for the evil agencies which are called into 
 action, for the vulgarity and the coarse vituperation, 
 which are the natural weapons of sordid and corrupt 
 men, it will be found that there is much in the free 
 discussion (some think it very bad English or even 
 American) which informs and cultivates the minds 
 of our people, which even tends to infuse a true 
 patriotism, and to elevate them above their ordinary 
 pursuits. 
 
 "A great mistake made by foreigners results from 
 the impression that our large cities are the seats of 
 power — New York is the centre of money operations, 
 Washington, the political capital, but neither in any 
 sense the London, and much less the Paris, of America. 
 Our agricultural interest is really the depository of 
 power, and thou knows that every farmer in America, 
 with very few exceptions, owns the land which he 
 tills. He may be very rude, he may be wholly ignorant 
 of conventionalities, and is too often sordid and preju- 
 diced. But he is sagacious, and, as a rule, honest, and 
 a safer depositary of power, as we think, than the 
 aristocracy or the commercial class. I have read 
 Gold win Smith's letter with deep interest and admira- 
 tion of the man, and now I have only to add my 
 earnest wishes for thy comfortable and safe return to 
 thy native land, and the sincere esteem with which I 
 am, 
 
 "Thy attached friend, 
 
 "C. Y."
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 171 
 
 E. Y. to L. R. 
 
 14-11-1864. 
 . . . "Before I say anything else, I must speak 
 of our great delight in the result of our election — so 
 far beyond our hopes — out of the twenty-five States 
 that voted, only three have given a majority for 
 McClellan, is it not a rare triumph for free institutions 
 and universal suffrage ! For several weeks before the 
 election, it was apparent that Lincoln would be re- 
 elected, but we did not venture to expect so decided 
 and large a majority, which completely holds the 
 opponents in check, and gives the Administration great 
 additional strength. There is also two-thirds majority 
 in the House, which is necessary to amend the 
 Constitution ; so now we have only to hope that our 
 future actions may be wisely and cautiously directed, 
 leaving nothing to regret. I think thou sees The 
 Trihitne — did thou read the President's speech the 
 evening he was serenaded, and did thou not admire 
 the noble Christian feeling and sound sense which 
 pervaded it ? And did thou contrast it with Jeff. 
 Davis' 'Message,' which in our paper was immediately 
 below it ? The criticisms of the latter by ' the Richmond 
 Whig' were very good, showing the great inconsistency 
 of offering freedom as a reward, when slavery had 
 always been declared ' a divinely appointed condition 
 for the highest good of the slave' ; as also of his 
 determining to give them 'arms' without consulting 
 the States: does not the very suggestion of such a thing 
 as arming their slaves show their desperation ? A 
 friend of ours lately asked an intelligent coloured man
 
 172 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 Avhat he thought the slaves woiikl do if they had arms 
 given them — wouhl they fight for their masters? 
 'They will be very quiet until they get them.' ' Do 
 they generally understand our position?' 'As well 
 as anj-one. There is a telegraphic communication 
 throughout the South, and all the slaves know very 
 well how matters stand.' Our city was in a state of 
 great excitement before the election, but no riot or 
 disturbance occurred except on the night of the demo- 
 cratic procession, and now all have settled down as 
 quietly as if all were well pleased. But really I must 
 not fill my sheet with these details, which I daresay 
 thou gathers from the papers, but I could not but 
 express a part of what has so engrossing an interest to 
 us, believing too, that the subject will not be tedious 
 to thee. 
 
 "Thou may probably have heard that the English 
 Friends were not allowed to enter the Southern lines, 
 Jeff Davis refusing them permission after their cer- 
 tificates were sent to him. William Norton is now in 
 Baltimore quite unwell, while Joseph James Neave 
 has gone to visit some of the meetings in Baltimore 
 Yearly Meeting. We have not yet seen them, but hear 
 
 them well spoken of I am very glad ray 
 
 account of Col. Fairlamb has answered so good 
 a purpose — I only regret thou did not hear it from his 
 own lips, as a knowledge of his character would have 
 enhanced its value — he is so averse to making a hero 
 of himself, or in any way exaggerating his suflEerings. 
 What will your Southern sympathizers say now ? 
 I shall like to see the Times upon Lincoln's re-election.
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 173 
 
 . . . Thou knows ere this that thy sister Elizabeth 
 did not stop here on her way south — we have 
 not heard direct from her lately, but she has been in 
 Washington, and intends going to Norfolk in Virginia, 
 before she comes to us. We forwarded thy letter to 
 F, T. King, who knew her address, and no doubt sent 
 it : we hope to receive a letter from her soon. Has 
 she told thee of her visit to the President ? I often 
 wished for thee on our bright, lovely, autumn days, 
 when the woods look so brilliant and dreamy. I Avas 
 truly pleased thou saw so much of New England 
 society — thy description of M. C. is admirahle. We 
 have heard nothing of J. G. Whiftier since — some of 
 his relations near Providence, wish him to spend the 
 winter with them, but we do not know how he will 
 decide. . . . No, we have not seen the book thou 
 mentions by Conway. Charles says, ' tell her we now 
 think of slavery so much as a thing that is past, that W' e 
 do not take quite so much interest in testimonies about it, 
 but they may be useful to some English folks.' But, 
 in earnest, we should like to see it, supposing it must 
 be good, if the Brights liked it so well. With much 
 dear love, I must say farewell, 
 
 "Emma C. Yarnall." 
 Edith Griffith writes from Fayetta County, Brownsville, 
 
 Pennsylvania, 5-6-64. 
 " Beloved Friend, E. L, C, 
 
 " It was indeed a sweet little intellectual feast to 
 read those interesting lines penned by thee among my 
 own childhood's scenes, the first received since our 
 parting at Pittsburg. Thou hast often been a subject of
 
 174 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1864. 
 
 enquiry, and always one of deep interest. Thy self- 
 sacrificing mission claims the cordial co-operation and 
 deep sympathy of all who are the friends of the blessed 
 Jesus, whose peculiar characteristic was ' going about 
 doing good.' I sometimes think and fear that the love 
 and services of such are not duly appreciated, even by 
 the professed followers of the Lamb, that many 
 amongst us, or bearing our name, who seem to wish 
 well to the cause, nevertheless, in every way, shrink 
 from any part of the burden. They cleave to their 
 lands and their oxen, their gold and their silver, their 
 wives and their children, leaving the Ark of the 
 Testimony to be borne about by the ivealcer sex. Is it 
 any wonder that these should receive most eminently 
 of the heavenly anointing ? and it is seen and known 
 that the Lord has made these strong for Himself, to go 
 forth in the might of His power, to fight His battles, to 
 preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the gathering 
 of the people, yea, even of the outcasts, and the 
 conversion and salvation of their immortal souls. Be of 
 good cheer, my dear sister, and go on in the work of thy 
 day. Be not weary in well-doing, thou cannot serve a 
 better Master, thou cannot dedicate thy heart, time and 
 talents to a better work than winning souls to Christ. 
 Oh, the mourning parents, bereaved widows, and 
 fatherless children, needing the consolations of the 
 Gospel, whose ears are pained, whose souls are sick, 
 with the wrongs and cruelty of war and bloodshed, 
 mourning their loved and lost ones fallen on the battle- 
 field ; as well as the wounded, sick and suffering ones, 
 perishing for lack of care, and perchance for ' lack of
 
 18G4.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 175 
 
 knowledge.' There is indeed work enough for us all 
 in the great harvest field, and the day calls loudly for 
 
 faithful labourers I think as thou dost, 
 
 that tve could work together in this great strife for the 
 promotion of the cause of the great Prince of Peace — 
 but thou art so much my junior in age, and so much 
 my senior in courage and magnanimity of soul, that I 
 very much question my ability to keep way with thee 
 in thy untiring and assiduous labours up and down in 
 the land, &c., &c."
 
 176 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [18G4. 
 
 Chapter XT. 
 VISIT TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN.— 1864. 
 
 UNDER date 29-10-64, E. L. C. writes from 
 Washington, " Joseph Grinnell has just been 
 to visit the President (Abraham Lincoln) to make an 
 arrangement for us to see him, the time fixed upon for 
 the interview being two p.m., to-morrow (First day). 
 Edward and Gulie Rowland, and Edward and Ann 
 Earle, of Worcester, Massachusetts, came as a delegation 
 from the New England Yearly Meeting, on the Contra- 
 band question. They visited Lincoln two or three 
 days ago, and as soon as he heard E. and G. H. were 
 from New Bedford, he enquired after Joseph Grinnell, 
 and said he had sat side by side with him in the 
 House of Representatives, and had visited him in his 
 home in New Bedford, and when Edward H. told him 
 of our desire to call upon him, he said it would give 
 him great pleasure to see us. I must tell you something 
 in connection with Jos. G.'s call upon our chief 
 Magistrate, too amusing to be omitted. There were a 
 great many gentlemen and ladies, alias men and women, 
 waiting for an audience. Jos. G. went to Seward 
 (Secretary for War) first, and told him he would like 
 to speak with Abraham Lincoln a few minutes. Seward 
 at once wrote a note to the President's private secretary, 
 begging, as a particular favour, that he would get an
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 177 
 
 audience for J. G, as soon as possible. He was then 
 shown into a room, where forty or fifty other special 
 cases had been admitted, some of them of a sad, some 
 of an amusing character. After waiting an hour or 
 more, the doors of the audience chamber were thrown 
 open, and the crowd passed in. Joseph Grinnell drew 
 as near as he could with propriety, and as soon as 
 Lincoln saw him, he stretched out his hand over the 
 heads of some others, to shake hands with him. They 
 were both very tall men. While J. G. was waiting, he 
 was a little amused with noticing the objects and 
 matters which had drawn others there. Two ladies 
 had presented themselves simply to procure the 
 President's autograph. Two women, with many tears 
 and moving entreaties, pleaded for pardon for a deserter, 
 who had been three years in the service, and on the 
 expiration of his time had returned home. After 
 awhile, he re-enlisted, received the bounty, and deserted. 
 The President enquired, 'What is his sentence ?' 'Im- 
 prisonment for some years,' was the 'reply. Lincoln 
 answered, with firmness but much gentleness, 'That is 
 the mildest form of punishment that can be awarded 
 for such an offence. I should soon have the army 
 disorganised if I pardoned such.' They importuned, 
 but he was firm. 
 
 " A great rough man was the next. His business 
 was to tell ' Uncle Abraham ' what he thought of him. 
 He did not vote for him, he had been a democrat, but 
 now had changed his politics, was much pleased with 
 what the President had done, and meant to vote for 
 him in future. 
 
 13
 
 178 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 " Then followed a great many applicants for office. 
 These pressed around him and teazed him until he 
 looked weary and almost worn out. Just imagine the 
 Queen of England so beset ! Now for the amusing 
 scene. The previous day (not a reception day) a stout 
 lady had presented herself at the White House, and 
 insisted on seeing the President. She was informed 
 that she ' could not see him to-day, so she need not 
 wait.' She replied that she must see him. The 
 response was, he was engaged with his Cabinet. ' I 
 will wait until he has done with them.' ' He may be 
 two hours.' 'Very well, if he is four or six hours, I 
 must wait, I cannot return home without seeing him.' 
 As she was so very persevering and importunate, and 
 would not tell her business, they began to think it 
 possible she had some very important matter to intro- 
 duce, and an intimation was sent to the President to 
 that effect. He smiled, and said to his Cabinet, 'Well, 
 gentlemen, I do not see that we can do better than 
 take a recess for five minutes,' and the lady was 
 admitted. 
 
 She marched into the room quite erect, right up to 
 the President, without the least deference or any sense 
 of being in an august presence, and stretching out her 
 hand to him said, ' Well now, I've got what I have so 
 long been desiring, a chance to shake hands with you. 
 I should have been quite ashamed to go home to my 
 nine sons, and tell them that I had been to Washington, 
 and had not seen old Uncle Abe.' The President, with 
 a hearty laugh, cordially shook hands with her, and 
 sent a kind message to her nine sons, with which she
 
 1846.] ELIZABETH L, COMSTOCK. 179 
 
 retired well pleased to return to Ohio, where her home 
 was." 
 
 ^^ First-Dai/, 10th Month 80th.— 1 have just returned 
 from visiting the President. I was careful not to 
 occupy much of his time, only twenty minutes from 
 the time he entered until we left the room. We were 
 shown into a pleasant parlour, nothing very stylish, no 
 ceremony, but were requested to be seated. A bright 
 coal fire was burning in the grate, the sofas crimson 
 velvet, the chairs embroidered, or imitation of it, 
 Brussels carpet, &c. Over the whole, there was more 
 of an air of comfort than ostentation. It was much 
 such a parlour as any private family among the higher 
 classes might enjoy. After waiting five minutes, the 
 President entered ; we rose, he advanced and shook 
 hands with Joseph Grinnell, who introduced us, and 
 he shook hands with us and courteously bade us 
 welcome, telling J. G. he was pleased to see him. 'Us' 
 means Mary Bradford and myself. 
 
 " In a few minutes we settled into solemn silence, 
 and, without much delay, I delivered my short message, 
 which was somewhat to this effect, that the language 
 was his, 'Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee ; 
 fear thou not for I am with thee,' see Isaiah, forty-first 
 chapter, ninth and tenth verses ; alluding to the great 
 work that the Lord was doing by his instrumentality, 
 referring to the proclamation of liberty to the captive, 
 the opening of the prison doors to them that are bound, 
 the rod of the oppressor broken by his means. I told 
 him of my visits to the Contrabands, their earnest 
 loyalty, and fervent prayers for him, that the blessing
 
 180 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1804. 
 
 of him that is ready to perish shall not fall unheard, 
 and that not only from this generation, but unborn 
 millions will yet rise up, and call him blessed. I referred 
 to the earnest loyalty and loving sympathy of a people 
 (Society of Friends) in whose hearts he was enshrined, 
 our testimony against war, yet our loyalty, the univer- 
 sality of our devotion to the government, etc. My visits 
 to the military hospitals, the feelings of the soldiers, 
 and the earnest ejaculations, 'God bless our noble 
 President ! ' that had often fallen upon my ears. A few 
 words of sympathy with him under his heavy load of 
 care, ' Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sus- 
 tain thee' — the superintending care of a kind and tender 
 Father. ' The Lord reignetli ' — his supreme rule. 
 ' Him that honouretli me, I will honour ; and he that 
 despiseth me, shall be lightly esteemed.' The one way 
 of salvation by Jesus Christ, &c. A season of prayer 
 followed. The chief magistrate of this vast Republic 
 was on his knees beside us, bowed before ' the King 
 eternal, immortal, invisible.' I felt that very near 
 access unto the mercy-seat was our blessed privilege. 
 When we rose from our knees, and were about to leave, 
 the President shook hands with me very cordially ; he 
 stood some minutes with my hand grasped in both of 
 his, and thanked me for my visit, and spoke something 
 to this effect, that he entirely agreed with me in my 
 sense of the over-ruling power and supremacy of our 
 Heavenly Father. 'Perhaps there is no position like 
 mine, and no man living better able than myself to 
 recognise the necessity of Divine guidance, Divine 
 grace, or to see the band of the Lord in the great events
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 181 
 
 that are now transpiring. I appreciate your desires 
 for me and I hope that your prayers may be answered, 
 &c.' As he expressed his satisfaction in our visit, we 
 were about withdrawing when I asked for a flower 
 from a stand on the table, which he readily and cordially 
 gave me liberty to take, and the others the same." 
 
 Soon after this visit, E. L. C. wrote : — " I have just 
 received a kind message from President Lincoln and 
 his wife. He was comforted and strengthened by my 
 visit, and she was greatly disappointed that sickness 
 prevented her from being present on the occasion. She 
 was in bed all day. 
 
 " From the Executive Mansion, we went to a very 
 different scene — straight to a Contraband meeting, 
 where John de Baptist, a full-blooded negro, quite a 
 character, was holding forth, in the style of their 
 devotional and demonstrative race, to a large, out-door 
 audience, quite an acre of coloured people, from a rude 
 pulpit erected for the occasion. Just as my friends 
 and I approached, and took a seat placed in the suburbs 
 of the congregation ' for de white gentry,' from his 
 elevated pulpit the preacher was introducing himself 
 to his audience as follows, ' Bredren and sisters, you 
 see before you John de Baptist — my mother named me 
 John de Baptist, 'coz she loved her Bible, and was a 
 great admirer of de 'postles. When I was in de land 
 of Egypt, and de house of bondage, I had to take de 
 name my massa gib me, but now, tank God, I am de 
 Lor's free man, I take de name my mudder gib me ; 
 bredren and sisters, (with an oratorical flourish) you 
 see before you John de Baptist.'
 
 182 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 " Here he broke off to give me the most extraor- 
 dinary introduction I have ever had to any audience, 
 ' Bredren and sisters, dere is a lady come here who 
 stands in de occupation of a clergyman, and when 
 I have finished my discourse, den she will speak to 
 you, and den, my dear bredren and sisters, I do spec 
 we shall hear something extry.' 
 
 " 'Bredren and sisters, we will read a little from de 
 blessed book.' He had a large handsomely-bound 
 Bible before him, the worse for wear, or rather the 
 worse for being handled by soiled fingers, of which he 
 said, * I borrowed dis ere Bible from my massa, when 
 I left de land of Egypt and de house of bondage, as 
 Moses commanded de Hebrews of old to borrow de gold 
 and de silbur from dere massas and missusses, and not 
 to return dem.' He then proceeded, without opening 
 the book, to read as he said ' Dere was a certain rich 
 man ' (Luke xvi., 19 to 31), and went through a good 
 part of the chapter, giving the sense of it with very little 
 variation from the original, except changing the 
 beautiful Anglo-Saxon for the negro lingo. He then 
 charged his audience with being great, big, wicked 
 sinners. ' Bredren and sisters, you am, ebery one of 
 you, great, big, wicked sinners. You begin wid little 
 bits of sins, like dat (showing the tip end of his finger), 
 and when you hab sinned ten, twenty, or thirty days, 
 your sins will grow as big as your fist. If you no repent 
 den, it will not take twenty or thirty days more for your 
 sins to grow as big as dat,' showing both fists. ' Den, 
 in twenty or thirty days more, if you go on sinning, 
 your sins will grow as big as your heads,' giving his
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 183 
 
 head a resounding clap, suiting the action to the word. 
 It gave a hollow sound, but he soon proved he had 
 plenty of brains there. His discourse was accompanied 
 by an immense amount of action and flourishes, which 
 would have delighted Dio Lewis, or any professor of 
 calisthenics, and' made us fear that he would suddenly 
 descend upon the heads of his audience. ' And den, 
 bredren and sisters, when your sins hab grown as big 
 as your heads, dey will tumble you down, down, down 
 into hell-fire ' (suiting the action to the word, and 
 looking down with a horrified expression of countenance, 
 as he depicted the terrors to be found there), adding, 
 ' Bredren and sisters, dem as lubs de swearing dey'll 
 find plenty of swearing down dere, and dem as lubsde 
 cussing will find plenty of cussing down dere, and dem 
 as lubs de fighting will find plenty of fightin' down 
 dere, and dem as lubs de smokin' will find plenty of 
 smoke down dere.' Here the whole congregation, 
 wrought up into a pitch of excitement, began to shake 
 their heads, and make a deprecatory motion with their 
 hands, crying out, ' Dear Lord, not me, not me ! 
 No-o-o-ho-o-o, not me ! No-o-o-ho-o-o, not me ! ' creating 
 a sort of prolonged howl that went through the whole 
 congregation. 
 
 " Then suddenly wiping his face with his hand- 
 kerchief, and making it shine as a negro's face will 
 shine when in health, he looked up with a completely 
 altered expression of countenance. With a radiant 
 face and an expression of ecstacy, he said, ' But tanks 
 be unto de blessed Lord, dere is water ; and it is not a 
 little, shallow, Avinding stream, dat you can only get
 
 184 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 into ancle deep, but a great, big, mighty ocean, dat will 
 wash away sins as big as your head. Den de berry 
 nex' day, after your sins am washed away, you begin 
 to go up de ladder dat Moses saw (meaning Jacob's 
 ladder) dat reached from de earth to de heaven. De 
 nex' day, you will step on de first round of de ladder, 
 and you will leave off stealing, nex' day you will get 
 up one round higher, and you will leave off lyin', and 
 de nex' day you will get on de tird round of de 
 ladder, and you will leave off drinkin', and de nex' 
 day you will get on de fourth round, and you will 
 leave off beatin' your wives, den de nex' round, you 
 will leave off scoldin' your chil'en ; ' and so he went on 
 describing the gradual work of sanctification, until on 
 the upper round of the ladder, he said, 'And den, 
 bredren and sisters, wdien de golden gates is opened 
 for some poor sinner to go in, we shall see de glory, 
 and hear de singin' and de music. It is not like dose 
 ole banjos dat we see down South, but it is de golden 
 harps, bredren and sisters ; and de singin', it will be 
 better than your'n, it will be like the mighty thun- 
 derin's ; and den we shan't want any more of dese 
 here filthy rags, (taking hold of his garments) we shall 
 be clothed in de yellow, and de gold, and de orange, 
 and de red, and de blue, and de green — all de colours 
 of de rainbow, bredren and sisters.' Then followed a 
 lengthened and prolonged shout of 'Glory ! Halleluia.' 
 " Then heartily shaking hands all over the congre- 
 gation, and pointing eagerly upwards, and making 
 signs to those he could not reach ' You and me,' ' You 
 and me,' he suddenly came down from his elevation,
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 185 
 
 and his description of the heavenly glories, with the 
 announcement, ' And now, bredren and sisters, de lady 
 who stands in de occupation of a clergyman, she will 
 speak to you.' Which I did for a short time. 
 
 " The same evening at half past seven, I had an 
 appointed meeting in one of the large and fashionable 
 churches. The audience was of rather a higher class 
 than I commonly speak to. Some of the President's 
 Cabinet were there. The house is calculated to hold 
 1,500, but the minister said there were 1,800, or more, 
 there. When I looked on the vast assembly, I had a 
 fear that my voice could not reach them all, but there 
 was such intense silence, and the building is so well 
 constructed for hearing, that the minister told me I was 
 distinctly heard in every part of the house. Three 
 other ministers have since invited me to use their pulpits. 
 So an open door is still before me. I cannot tell you how 
 greatly I have been helped and strengthened by our dear 
 friend, Samuel Bettle. I have had much of his company 
 of late, and he has, both publicly and privately, given 
 me much encouragement in my work and mission. 
 We had together a very pleasant visit to Judge Bates, 
 Attorney-General, one of the President's Cabinet. 
 We spent a most interesting evening with the Judge 
 and his family, by special invitation. We had a 
 religious opportunity, and the Judge and his wife 
 seemed very much comforted thereby. They had been 
 in much anxiety on account of their son in the army, 
 who has of late been exposed to much danger." 
 
 ^'- Tliird-day, 11th month 1st. — President Lincoln 
 has been in great danger recently. He was standing
 
 186 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1(^64. 
 
 on the fort, four miles from this city, just taking 
 a survey, when suddenly an officer sprang on to the 
 wall, and entreated him to withdraw, as he was in 
 imminent danger from the enemy, a skirmishing party 
 being very near. The President, thanking him for his 
 care, had only time to step aside, and see the brave 
 officer shot dead at his side. This was told us last 
 evening by a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln's, 
 and no account of it was in the papers, it being thought 
 best to keep it private." 
 
 A newspaper of the day thus describes the evening 
 meeting on October 30th, mentioned by E.L.C. in her 
 letter : — 
 
 " Wesley Chapel was again crowded to its utmost 
 capacity with a brilliant assemblage (amongst whom 
 we noticed Mrs. President Lincoln, Attorney-General 
 Bates and other prominent gentlemen of the depart- 
 ment and of the army) to hear a second discourse from 
 the pious and eloquent minister of the Society of 
 Friends, Mrs. Elizabeth Comstock. . . At the close 
 of the singing, she invited the audience to unite with 
 her in prayer. This address to the Supreme Being 
 consisted in heartfelt adoration and humble confession 
 of our iniquities ; national, as having sinned against 
 the African race, and the Indian tribes, swearing, 
 debauchery, scepticism, and infidelity ; personal, as 
 having neglected God, and followed the devices of our 
 wicked hearts. Then the condition of our country 
 was laid before the throne of heavenly grace, with the 
 earnest petition that the blessings of wisdom and divine 
 favour might be poured upon our beloved President,
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 187 
 
 the members of his Cabinet, the judges, and all in 
 authority. The sick, wounded, and suffering in 
 hospitals, were committed to the care of Heaven, and 
 their agonized and bereaved relatives in distant places 
 were affectionately remembered. The prayer was one 
 of great eloquence, appropriateness, and power. . . 
 Every eye was now turned towards the lady preacher, 
 who advanced and announced her subject, the basis 
 of which was the text, ' For here we have no con- 
 tinuing city, but we seek one to come.' The exordium 
 consisted of a vivid description of our own metropolitan 
 city, with its grandeur, and the skill and power of its 
 inhabitants, which point she improved, with an exhort- 
 ation to our citizens especially, that it is not our 
 continuing city. The history of the nations of past 
 ages was then reviewed, and the dealings of the Most 
 High towards them, with comments upon the words 
 of Holy Writ, ' Righteousness exalteth a nation, but 
 sin is a reproach to any people.' 
 
 " The preacher then glanced at our national great- 
 ness, our churches, our agriculture, our mechanical 
 arts, and almost boundless prosperity. Then she 
 charged upon our land the sin of ingratitude in not 
 acknowledging God in these blessings. The wickedness 
 which abounds in our large cities was also brought to 
 view, and deprecated. The Cross was then referred to 
 as the sovereign remedy for all our ills, national or 
 personal ; humiliation and repentance toward Heaven 
 the means of attaining the blessing of that Cross. . . 
 Throughout the whole discourse (fifty minutes in 
 delivery) the lady enchained the vast audience in
 
 188 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1864. 
 
 perfect silence, her firm, clear, silvery voice being 
 distinctly heard in every part of the house." 
 
 Her labours among the wounded soldiers and the 
 prisoners were fully appreciated by the government 
 authorities from the President downwards. In a letter 
 dated 22-11-1864, Dr. Samuel Boyd Tobey, writing 
 from Providence, says : — '' When we visited the hospi- 
 tal at Portsmouth Grove, the use of the chapel was 
 refused by the of&cer in command, on account of his 
 prejudice against women's preaching, and we visited 
 the soldiers in diflPerent wards. When we left, 
 E. Comstock told them she thought she might see 
 them again. A few days since I received from the 
 President a pass written by himself in the following 
 words, 'AlloAv Friend Dr. Samuel Boyd Tobey and 
 such ministering women as he may take with him, 
 to speak at the chapel at Portsmouth Grove Hospital to 
 such soldiers as may choose to hear. A LINCOLN.' 
 " November 14th, 1864." 
 
 It was during this visit to Washington, that E.L.C. 
 had an enterview with Secretary Stanton. Her message 
 was something to this effect : — " I stood m the presence 
 of the Secretary of War, as an ambassador of the Prince 
 of Peace. I referred to the heavy burden he had resting 
 upon him, and the arduous labours and weariness ; 
 reminding him of the gracious and tender language of 
 invitation, ' Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest'; referred to his 
 great exertions for the Government, and unwearied 
 diligence in the service of his country, and my prayer- 
 ful, earnest desire for him that the same zeal and
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 189 
 
 perseverance might be exercised in the service of his 
 God ; that as a valiant soklier of the cross of Christ, he 
 might stand. ' Be thou faithful unto death, and I will 
 give thee a crown of life.' " 
 
 The Secretary gave her passes to visit the rebel 
 prisoners, accompanied by the following letter : — 
 
 " War Dejjartment , Washington, 
 
 " November 3rd, 1864. 
 " Dear Madam, 
 
 " It affords me great pleasure to give you the 
 passes requested this morning to visit the camps of the 
 rebel prisoners of war now held by the United States, 
 and I trust that by the blessing of Divine Providence your 
 ministrations may be of service to them. 
 " Truly your friend, 
 
 " Edwin M. Stanton. 
 " Mrs. Elizabeth Comstock." 
 
 In a letter to Dr. S. B. Tobey, E.L.C. writes :— 
 " When I told Secretary Stanton that his pass gave me 
 more liberty than I required, for I did not expect so 
 extensively to visit the rebels and the soldiers, he 
 replied, ' I hope the Lord will send you there and bless 
 your labours, for I am sure you will do them good, 
 and they need such ministrations.' " 
 
 Dr. Tobey, writing to E.L.C. on the 1-11-64, says, 
 " In reviewing thy experiences at Baltimore, it appears 
 to us that our hearts should be filled with gratitude, 
 and our spirits raised in thanksgiving. He whose will 
 thou delights to do, whose thou art, and whom thou 
 serves, in a very remarkable manner in the 5th day
 
 190 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 meeting for worship made it manifest to all that He 
 was near thee, and that His injunction was ' touch not 
 mine anointed, and do my prophet no harm,' the Lord 
 will continue to shield thee, and to prosper His work 
 in thy hands. Our hearts overflow in a continued 
 stream of love towards thee, and our prayers are poured 
 
 forth abundantly for thee Let us keep 
 
 as nearly as possible to all the usages of our dear 
 Society, in all our religious engagements, for under its 
 ?egis, I fully believe Ave can do more in the cause of 
 our adorable Saviour than we can without it. I do not 
 say this supposing there is any difference of views, 
 between thee and me, my precious sister, on this point. 
 My daughters with some other Friends have gone 
 to-day again to Portsmouth Grove. They are very 
 much engaged in relieving the sufferings of those now 
 there, about 600 having been added from recent battles. 
 
 "Please to say to our dear M. that much as we 
 value thy letters, we cannot consent that thou shouldst 
 appropriate hours that ought to be devoted to sleep to 
 write them. Thou must take care of the poor body. 
 It is thy positive duty to do it. A single line from 
 either of you, if it can tell you are well, is all we ought 
 to ask." 
 
 A few weeks later. Dr. Tobey writes, under date 
 
 27-12-64, " is a capital elder, her remarks are 
 
 instructive to me, and well worth reading. Are they 
 not just and true ? I unite with her entirely as to our 
 adhering to Quakerism. It opens a door, especially to 
 women, to labour in the Gospel, not to be found in any 
 other denomination of Christians. Thou knows this to
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 191 
 
 be true fi*om an abundant and blessed experience, and 
 I have no fear of thy leaving it. It is as precious to 
 
 thee as to or me, for I think William Penn 
 
 rightly defined it 'a new nickname for old Christianity.' 
 I am rejoiced that Dr. M. has taken thee in hand, and 
 is giving thee sound, wholesome, sanitary lectures. 
 Thou must not offend against thy good Master by 
 offending against the laws of health. It is not for us 
 to expect miraculous interpositions when we disregard 
 what we have already been taught. Don't disregard 
 what I say. I am very serious in saying it. Thou 
 art, I think, constituted very much like Henry Kirk 
 White — 'A soul of fire in a tenement of straw.' Take 
 care that the tenement be not consumed. I do not for 
 a moment tolerate the thought of thy going back to 
 Annapolis. I presume those prisoners are liberated, 
 and if they are not, thou hast done what thou couldst. 
 Thou hast discharged thy whole duty towards them, so 
 far as personal efl'ort can do anything, and if thou 
 shouldst find that they are not set free, write one of 
 thy touching appeals to Governor Bradford, but don't 
 go back again to Maryland. . . . And now, dear 
 Mary, where art thou ? Thou art very, very precious 
 to us. Lay fast hold of dear E. L. C, and don't let her 
 go back to Annapolis." 
 
 Under date 30-1-65, Dr. Tobey writes to E. L. C, 
 " I saw E. R. to-day. He washed me to convey his 
 and his wife's love most affectionately to thee. Thou 
 hast left the sweetest possible impression on the citizens 
 of Woonsocket ; E. was moved to tears in telling me 
 about it. Thus the Lord established ' the work of thy
 
 192 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 hands.' Let it be for thy comfort and encouragement. 
 Thou art very close to Him, and Jesus loves thee, and 
 those that love Him, love thee. Surely this is all thou 
 canst desire. Now let me caution thee not to overwork 
 thy dear self in Boston this week. Remember thou 
 art yet in the body, and for us it is better that thou 
 shouldst long remain so. Let no one lay out exhausting 
 labour for thee. The Lord will tell thee all He wants 
 thee to do. It is true I did propose that thou shouldst 
 hold a meeting at Woonsocket, but I thought the 
 blessed Master directed me to do so, and when thou 
 asked Him, it was told thee to attend to it, and art 
 thou not fully convinced it was in His ordering ? 
 I am."
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 193 
 
 Chapter XII. 
 VISIT TO JOLIET PRISON. 
 
 AMONG the disadvantages of war, may be ranked 
 the evils of a disbanded army, of idle, dissolute 
 soldiers, scattered abroad all over the land. Our 
 Government, forseeing this, tried to avert the evil in 
 some measure by offering to every soldier when the 
 army was disbanded, 160 acres of wild land in the 
 West, on condition that he should go and live upon it, 
 and work it. Among those who accepted this offer 
 were Harry Wilson and his comrade. After going out 
 to Kansas and pre-empting their land, these two young 
 soldiers were returning to New York, through Southern 
 Illinois, a part of the country then almost in Egyptian 
 darkness, as regards law and order, judge and jury. 
 They put up at a third-rate tavern, and were jolaying 
 cards and drinking in the bar room, when they were 
 arrested and committed to prison, upon a charge of 
 burglary committed three nights previously, the only 
 witnesses against them being two men who swore to 
 their identity, and said they had seen them running 
 away in the moonlight ! The trial came on very soon 
 after their arrest, or they might have proved an alibi 
 if they had had time to do so, or friends near to aid 
 them. They were sentenced for five years at Joliet, 
 the State prison for Illinois. There, six months later,
 
 194 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 I found Harry Wilson. After having a meeting with 
 the 1,800 prisoners together one Sabbath morning, 
 I obtained leave of the Warden, General Dornblazer, to 
 go round frorri cell to cell, to speak a few kind motherly 
 words to the young prisoners, and give them each 
 a tract. As I did so, one young man accosted me 
 with " I think I have seen you before, is it not Mrs. 
 Comstock? " Upon my replying in the affirmative, he said, 
 "I was in the Douglas Hospital, at Washington, when you 
 visited us, and you gave me a tract called ' The Fool's 
 Pence.' " " Then," I said, " I fear thou hast not followed 
 my advice, or thou probably wouldst not be here." He 
 replied by telling me his name was Harrj^ Wilson, and 
 giving me the foregoing particulars of his arrest and 
 imprisonment. Upon my enquiring for his companion, 
 he said he had written to his father, who had made an 
 appeal to the Governor of the State, proved an alibi, and 
 got him released, but, added the poor prisoner with great 
 emotion, " I had no father to plead for me, only a poor 
 widowed mother in New York, in feeble health, and 
 I don't dare to write to her, it would break her heart to 
 know that her boy is in prison." My heart was deeply 
 touched by his narrative, and I assured him that he 
 should not linger in prison for want of someone to plead 
 for him, that I would go myself to Springfield and see 
 Governor Palmer, if General Dornblazer and the 
 Chaplain confirmed his story. Upon conferring with 
 these gentlemen, they assured me that Wilson's story 
 was quite correct and they believed him entirely 
 innocent of the crime he was charged with, and informed 
 me there were three other prisoners in that Penitentiary
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 195 
 
 equall}" innocent, and requested me to present their 
 cases also to the Governor, One was a woman over 
 seventy years of age, charged with child murder, whose 
 innocence was fully proved by the confession of the 
 real murderer on her death-bed, a year previously, yet 
 this pool- old woman still languished in prison for want 
 of someone to go and plead her cause with the Chief 
 Executive of the State. She was a most pitiable object, 
 her health had completely broken down under the 
 rigorous confinement, hard work, and harder fare. She 
 had fallen down on the smooth stone floor of the prison 
 and broken her right arm, which was bound in splints 
 when I saw her. 
 
 Another was a man under middle age, very intelli- 
 gent, sentenced for life, for murder ; he was a 
 Canadian, who, while travelling in Southern Illinois, 
 walking on the railway over a deep chasm, picked 
 up a coat, hanging over one of the sleepers ; he carried 
 the coat to a house at some little distance ; there was 
 a considerable sum of money in the pocket, and he 
 was arrested for murdering the owner, who was found 
 lying dead at the bottom of the chasm. He had 
 offended the prosecutor, the brother of the deceased, 
 by urging in his own defence on the trial, the dead 
 man might have been intoxicated, and fallen off the 
 railroad at that dangerous pass. He had been five 
 years in prison. Upon hearing of his committal, 
 a great friend of his, his pastor, had undertaken the 
 long journey from Canada to Springfield, Illinois, to 
 plead his cause with the Governor of the State. The 
 minister said he had known him from his boyhood
 
 196 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18t)5. 
 
 up, and he had borne an irreproachable character, and 
 that all who knew him felt sure he was innocent of 
 the charge ; his wife and four little children were in 
 the deepest distress. This plea on the part of the 
 minister was unavailing, because of the vindictive 
 spirit evinced by the prosecutor, who opposed his 
 being pardoned. By the laws of Illinois (at that time) 
 the Governor could not pardon if the prosecutor 
 objected. The warden and chaplain both spoke in the 
 highest terms of this prisoner, and were fully convinced 
 of his innocence. 
 
 The third was a \erx honest, simple-looking, 
 home-spun Kentuckian, charged with horse-stealing — 
 sentenced for ten years. He had been travelling in 
 Southern Illinois, when he fell in company with 
 another man on horseback. After riding together two 
 or three days, he said, " the other gentleman, who was 
 well-dressed and very agreeable," offered "to trade 
 horses " ; he did so, and a few hours after they parted, 
 was arrested for stealing the horse, which doubtless 
 the trader had stolen. No one, on conversing with 
 this poor man, could doubt his innocence of the theft, 
 but being hundreds of miles from home, with no one 
 to plead for him, they concluded he had fallen a victim 
 to the sharp-witted horse-thief, with whom he had 
 traded. Upon hearing these sad details, my spirit was 
 stirred within me, and I telegraphed to Governor 
 Palmer, to query when he would give me an interview, 
 and requested a quarter of an hour of his valuable time. 
 
 He replied by ready acquiescence in my proposal, 
 and named a time, two o'clock next Tuesday. I took
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 197 
 
 the cars, and presented myself at the time appointed ; a 
 mutual friend introduced me to him in the Executive 
 Mansion at Springfield. I briefly stated to him Harry 
 Wilson's case; he remembered liberating his comrade, 
 and expressed surprise and regret that no one had earlier 
 spoken for Wilson's release, as an alibi had been clearly 
 proved for his companion, and the two young men had 
 been together. 
 
 Turning to the Secretary of State, the Governor 
 directed him to write out a pardon for young Wilson, 
 which he would sign and seal, and give to me. 
 
 I then related to him the circumstances of the poor 
 old woman, with the same result. Then I proceeded 
 to state the cases of the other two men, and was 
 interrupted by his exclamation, "Why, Mrs. Comstock, 
 you surely don't mean that you want to open the prison 
 doors for all the convicts at Joliet ; I think you may 
 leave those two men to take care of themselves." 
 " That is just what they would like to do," I responded. 
 
 Then fearing that he was about to take leave, I 
 urged the point with the words, " Governor Palmer, 
 the prerogative of mercy is vested in thee ; it is a blessed 
 prerogative, and a time is coming when thou and all of 
 us may have to cry for mercy, I hope that in that solemn 
 hour thou wilt be able to think of the words of our Lord, 
 * Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,' 
 with joy, and not with fear," to which he replied, " It 
 is indeed a blessed prerogative, but don't you see, Mrs. 
 Comstock, that if I pardon all for whom an appeal is 
 made, without any opportunity for investigation, there 
 will be an end to all law and order, and anarchy and
 
 198 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 confusion will be the result." Then, seeing I was still 
 disposed to plead for these two men, he added, " I have 
 no time to examine into their cases, my time is expired," 
 and he offered his hand to bid me good-bye. In 
 parting, I thanked him cordially for what he had done, 
 and said, " My time is precious, but I will remain in 
 Springfield until thou hast time to investigate these two 
 cases, as I feel very sure that thou wilt not suffer these 
 two innocent men longer to languish in prison upon 
 false charges." Then, leavingwith him,forexamination, 
 the papers that had been given me by the prison Warden, 
 I took leave. On the following morning, I received 
 from him all four pardons duly signed and sealed, also 
 a note to the conductor of the train, requesting him to 
 show me the same courtesy that he (the Governor) 
 always received, and set me down at the prison gates, 
 instead of taking me to the station, two miles beyond, 
 from which I should have had to walk the same distance 
 back, after dark. The conductor complied with this 
 request, slackening speed as we neared the prison gates, 
 and then set me down, with a hearty " God bless you 
 and prosper you in your work." The stopping of the 
 train there brought some of the officials out in a hurry, 
 to see if the Governor had arrived, as that was usually 
 the only occasion for their pulling up before they reached 
 the station. A cordial welcome, bright fire, and good 
 supper awaited me on entering the Warden's parlour, 
 to the last of which they were about to sit down, and 
 General Dornblazer, with a warm shake of the hand, 
 said, " I need not ask you how you have succeeded, for 
 I see it in your face." " I have obtained a pardon for
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 199 
 
 all four of the prisoners," was my reply, " and I would 
 like to see Harry Wilson." 
 
 The General persuaded me it was best to sit down 
 to supper first, as Harry Wilson could not leave the 
 prison to-night ; after supper he was summoned. A 
 look of apprehension passed over his face as he crossed 
 the hall, as the prisoners were rarely sent for by the 
 Warden, except for reprimand or impending punish- 
 ment, and it was a great comfort to me to see the rapid 
 transition from fear to joy, when his eye rested on 
 my countenance. I shook hands with him and queried, 
 " What boon wouldst thou most desire ? if I had the 
 power to grant it." "To go and see my dear mother 
 in New York Citj-," Avas his prompt reply. "Thou 
 mayst go," I said, "to-morrow.'" He cast a look of 
 enquiry toward the Warden, who stood beside me, as if 
 he could scarcely realize the good news. " It's all right, 
 Wilson," said the Warden, " Mrs. Comstock has been to 
 see Governor Palmer, and obtained your pardon." 
 The young soldier immediately fell on his knees, and 
 gave thanks to God, in a w^onderful outpouring of a 
 grateful heart. As I handed him the papers containing 
 his pardon, he grasped my hand, covered it with tears 
 and kisses, saying, "I shall pray for you every night as 
 long as I live." Ere he left for the night I said to him, 
 " Harry, I am not accustomed to travel without an 
 escort ; to-morrow I expect to go to Chicago, and shall 
 be glad of thy company." He assured me how gladly 
 he would be my fellow-traveller ; and accordingly on 
 the rnorrow we started, he having laid aside his convict 
 suit, and was apparelled in the identical soldier's cap
 
 200 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 and cloak which had caused his arrest. Seated side by 
 side in the railway-car, I persuaded him to sign the 
 temperance pledge, and gave him some earnest motherly 
 counsel that henceforth he should avoid drinking 
 saloons and gaming houses, and such society as would 
 lead to them, and seek the companionship of Christian 
 people, and regularly attend a place of worship. He 
 promised readily to accede to my wishes, and after 
 expressing his earnest gratitude for all I had done for 
 him, said he had one more favour to ask of me. 
 " I think I have anticipated," I said, handing him a 
 roll of bills, twenty-five dollars, that some wealthy, 
 benevolent people in Springfield, had given me for 
 him, to take him to his mother in New York. For a 
 few minutes, he was too much overwhelmed for 
 expression, and then told me that was not what he 
 was going to ask for. While in prison for six months, 
 he had learned a part of the shoe-making business so 
 thoroughly, that the foreman had told him he would 
 now be able to earn four dollars a day in a shoe factory, 
 in Chicago, and he wanted me to use my influence to 
 get him employment, where he would not be know^n, 
 and pointed at, as a prison-bird. I stepped into one of 
 the large shoe factories with him, and asked the 
 proprietor, " Do you want a hand .? " introducing 
 the young soldier as one I had found ill in a hospital 
 in "Washington some time ago, and been greatly 
 interested in, and whom I thought they would find a 
 steady, skilful, and industrious hand. He took him 
 into one of the workrooms, and requested the foreman 
 to test his powers. Wilson soon returned to me with
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L, COMSTOCK. 201 
 
 a smiling face, to tell me he was engaged at four 
 dollars a day, and after a very cordial leave-taking, we 
 parted. I heard from him once, a year later, telling 
 me he had saved money, found his mother living and 
 well, and removed with her to Kansas. One little 
 circumstance, which perhaps told in the young man's 
 favour, when introduced at the shoe factory, was this. 
 The proprietor remarked, "He has a good name," being 
 the same as the very popular Vice-President of the 
 United States, Henry Wilson. 
 
 We have been very much interested in visiting the 
 different settlements of the poor freedmen, and in 
 hearing of them. Something in their mode of Avorship 
 is novel, striking, and ludicrous, though earnest 
 devotion seems to pervade the whole. In one of their 
 Methodist Revival meetings at Alexandria, Virginia, 
 there was a great rough man, known by the cognomen 
 of " Big Pete Jackson," who was addicted to swearing, 
 drinking, and fighting, and would sometimes stray into 
 their meetings and make a disturbance. A negro 
 woman of almost colossal frame, great vehemence, and 
 earnest gesticulation, knelt to give thanks for the many 
 conversions they had had, and expressed herself as 
 follows, " dear Lord, we tank you for de good work 
 you is doing amongst us. We tank you dat you has 
 converted Tom, Dick, and Harry, and Jeff, and Mose, 
 and Sam, and Andy. We tank you dat you has 
 converted Sail, and Moll, and Bess, and Dinah, and 
 Chloe, and Topsy, and Kate. But dear Lord, why 
 don't you lay hold of and convert some of dem great, 
 big wicked sinners, den you'll bring glory to yourself.
 
 202 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 Dere's great, big Pete Jackson, if you'll only reach out 
 your big tongs of Eternal Justice, and grab big Pete 
 Jackson, and hold him ober de bottomless pit of Hell, 
 until he smells de smoke, and tastes de brimstone, and 
 feels de flames how hot dey is, and begins to squirm 
 and squirm (but dear Lord, don't drop him in, but 
 hold him dere till you has converted him), den we will 
 all cry 'glory, glory hallelujah.' " She kept suiting the 
 action to the word all along, with earnest and violent 
 gesticulations, until the audience almost felt as though 
 we could see the big tongs grah the man, and as though 
 we witnessed his squirming, and were doing the same 
 ourselves. Poor Pete, Avho was in the house at the 
 time, was so wrought upon by this extraordinary 
 prayer for him, that he elbowed his Avay through the 
 crowd, near a thousand being present, and threw himself 
 down in front of the altar, exclaiming in agony " Lord, 
 help me ! God, Save me from the pains of hell " ! The 
 whole scene was most striking to bystanders. I could 
 describe many equally strange, did time permit. 
 
 The following is a copy of the pass from Secretary 
 Stanton, alluded to on page 189, and the next letter 
 tells of the visit for which leave was thus given. 
 "'War Dejicirtment, Washington, B.C. 
 
 ''November 3rd, 1864. 
 
 "Pass Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock, of the Society of 
 Friends, and her travelling companions, not exceeding 
 two, to visit the camps of rebel prisoners and contra- 
 bands at Norfolk, Point Lookout, Annapolis, Elmira, 
 Camp Chase, Camp Morton, and Camp Douglas. 
 
 " Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War."
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 203 
 
 On the 22nd and 23rd of November, 1864, we visited 
 the rebel camp at Elmira, and found there about 7,810 
 prisoners in an enclosure of nearly fifty acres, in the 
 valley of the Chemung, surrounded by imposing hills. 
 The buildings are good, and so arranged as to give free 
 circulation around them. We found their rations only 
 two ounces short of full army rations of bread, beef, 
 and pork. They also have beans, onions, cabbage, &c., 
 but mostly as soups. We believe they are better provided 
 than ever any prisoners of war were in the world. 
 Still there is never anything inviting about a prison. 
 The confinement and want of employment is evidently 
 dispiriting ; absence from home, want of sympathy, and 
 a harsh climate all combine, with the sameness of fare, 
 to destroy the appetite, hence a large per cent, look pale 
 and somewhat emaciated. A quarter of them are ailing. 
 The surgeon separates about 1,.500 under his charge. 
 Some are employed on the roads, and as carpenters, &c., 
 at five to ten cents a day, and have full rations. They are 
 all well clothed and have good shoes. The hospital is in 
 excellent order, and is provided with everything Elmira 
 could command for the sick. Pneumonia and diarrhoea 
 are the prevailing diseases, and some smallpox. They 
 need more buildings — so many are sick that one-half 
 are in the common quarters, and lie two in a bunk. We 
 spent an hour in their schools, where they have had over 
 500 scholars, but now, on account of the excitement about 
 exchange, there were only about sixty in. In the sick 
 wards many enjoy their Bibles, and love to hear of Jesus. 
 
 There are cases of Northern men, and even of slaves 
 nearly white, and men not of the army there, who
 
 204 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 should be released. You see there all classes of men, 
 and all shades of mental vigour and debility. On our 
 way we met Dr. Hammond, medical director for 
 Western New York. His experience with the black 
 soldiers was very interesting to hear. He made what 
 seems to be a very valuable suggestion, that the 
 coloured man needs different medical treatment from 
 the white man, and that a scientific commission should 
 be appointed to report upon the proper practice to be 
 had in their diseases, and to study them physiologically. 
 
 Of Colonel B. F. Tracy, the Commandant, we 
 received every facility for our service, also from Colonel 
 More at the camp, and from Major Beall, the executive 
 officer in camp, we had all due civility. With the 
 surgeon in charge. Dr. Stocker, and with the steward, 
 Lewis Babbitt, we were much pleased, as being kind 
 and very energetic officers. There seems to be a need 
 of someone whose duty it should be to an-ange the 
 patients as they grow worse or better. 
 
 Suggested that Government employ a Commission 
 to visit and investigate with regard to the propriety of 
 liberating such prisoners as may with safety be released, 
 many being drafted men — some foreigners, who had 
 never borne arms against Government — some maimed 
 and disabled from ever bearing them again. 
 
 Isaac Newton to E.L.C. 
 " Departmetit of Agriculture, 
 
 " Washington, D.C., llmo. 30th, 64. 
 "Elizabeth Comstock, 
 
 "Esteemed Friend, 
 "I received thy kind and interesting letter for
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 205 
 
 which I am very much obliged, and one for Mary 
 Lincoln also. I read that part of thy letter that alludes 
 to the nine Abrahams* to the President — he had a good 
 laugh over it. I am much pleased that thou approves 
 of the proposition that Friends should show their high 
 regard for, and appreciation of his kindness to them, 
 by purchasing a handsome home, as a testimonial of 
 their respect for him. 
 
 "A few days since, I got a pass for John and Joseph 
 Tatum to visit Norfolk and Point Lookout — they 
 returned to-day -, when there, they found three Friends 
 that had recently been taken prisoners. They were 
 forced into the Rebel army from North Carolina, and 
 suffered very much ; they were taken by our forces. 
 The President gave an order to John Tatum for their 
 release at once. They will be sent up here ; I shall 
 send them to Philadelphia. How providential it was 
 John Tatum and his brother were there, and saw these 
 Friends with the Rebel prisoners. The President has 
 shown many special kind acts towards Friends. I 
 have shed many tears to see his noble acts of kindness. 
 I send thee the President and his wife's autographs ; 
 they were much pleased to give them to me for thee. 
 
 "When thou comes to Washington again, make my 
 house thy home. 
 
 " Thy sincere Friend, 
 
 " Isaac Newton." 
 
 * E.L.C. had met with nine negro baby boys, called Abraham, 
 after President Lincoln.
 
 206 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 Chapter XIII. 
 
 JOURNEY TO WINCHESTER— DEATH OF 
 PRESIDENT LINCOLN— 1864-1865. 
 
 " Department of Agriculture, 
 
 " Washingf/m, B.C., 12mo 2nd, 1864. 
 " Elizabeth Comstock, 
 
 " Esteemed Friend, 
 " T SEND thee two autographs, one from my friend 
 X Bates, the other W. H. Seward's. I received 
 a letter from Francis T. King, stating thou wished 
 a pass to go to Winchester. I will obtain one for thee 
 to-morrow. Our Friend Bates leaves for his home 
 to-morrow morning — I regret very much his leaving 
 his position — he was a useful man in the Government 
 — he was in the Cabinet Council, a very important 
 man. 
 
 " I was speaking to some Friends who were here 
 yesterday, on the subject of Friends purchasing 
 a comfortable home for our noble President, and they 
 are much pleased with the proposal — thou can do 
 much to aid in this good work. 
 
 "At any time that thou may require my assistance, 
 it will afford me much pleasure to aid thee. 
 "Thy sincere friend, 
 
 " Isaac Newton." 
 The " pass " above alluded to was obtained by 
 Isaac Newton, and was to the following effect :
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 207 
 
 " TFar Department, 
 
 " Washington, B.C., Dec. 3rd, 1864. 
 " Pass Mrs. Elizabeth Comstock, Mrs. Mary- 
 Bradford, and Mrs. E. Sharpless, to Winchester, 
 Virginia, and return. 
 
 " By order of the Secretary of War: 
 "Jas. a. Hardie, 
 
 " Col. and Inspr. Gen. U.S. Army." 
 
 " Having heard that the hospital at Winchester, 
 Virginia, was very much neglected, and sick and 
 wounded soldiers suffering very much in consequence, 
 I felt an anxiety to go and visit them. General 
 Sheridan had at that time an army of 60,000 men, 
 stationed along the hill-side, overlooking the Shenan- 
 doah Valley. Their encampment extended from the 
 extreme right to the extreme left of his army, twenty 
 miles. Friends of Baltimore spoke rather discourag- 
 ingly, fearing the perils that would threaten us so near 
 the front. But having a very courageous companion, 
 Mary Bradford, wife of William Bradford, the marine 
 artist, I was not discouraged by them, though they 
 were afraid to send any of their young men with us as 
 escorts, lest they should be conscripted into the 
 Northern Army, or taken prisoners down south. 
 Elizabeth Sharpless of Philadelphia, formerly from 
 Winchester, Virginia, being very desirious to accompany 
 us, we three unprotected women set out together. As 
 the train drew near Harper's Ferry, on the Baltimore 
 and Ohio Railway, some officers seated near us were 
 talking of the dangers of the way. One of them said 
 ' When we approach the point of rocks, we shall be
 
 208 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 the hottest,' as the chiklren say when they phiy at 
 Blind Man's Buff. ' If we pass the point without 
 attack, we may get through.' In reply to Mary Brad- 
 ford's query about the danger, the officer said that he 
 had heard that Col. Mosby and his raiders were on the 
 lookout for the train, hoping to pillage it of the 
 provisions, clothing and ammunition for the army, with 
 which it was heavily laden, and he told us we need not 
 be surprised if bullets came whizzing through the 
 windows. This comforting intelligence made us look 
 out occasionally with some anxiety. We reached 
 Harper's Ferry in safety, and there our course was 
 suddenly arrested by finding a bridge burned down, 
 and a tunnel blocked up. The train could proceed no 
 further, and we were informed that our only possibility 
 of proceeding to Winchester, would be by alighting 
 and going on foot for a mile, part of which we walked 
 on sleepers, over a ravine of eighty feet, and one false 
 step might have precipitated us to the bottom. As I 
 was hesitating and doubting whether I could cross the 
 chasm, a young soldier stepped up to me and said, 
 'Why Auntie, I am glad to see you,' offering to carry 
 my carpet bag with one hand, while he extended the 
 other to guide me while crossing the dangerous pass. 
 
 " He was one whom I had visited and spoken to 
 while lying ill, in a hospital in Baltimore, some time 
 before. 
 
 " His help was gladly accepted. After our 
 dangerous walk of one mile, taken with all possible 
 speed, we just reached the train on the other side in 
 time to step on board, and Avithout any further perils,
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 209 
 
 proceeded to Stephenson's Landing, five miles from 
 Winclaester, when the conductor suddenly informed 
 the passengers that he could take them no further as 
 the rails were torn up by the rebels. And now came 
 a time of real danger. We were landed, near sundown, 
 five miles from our place of destination ; as far as the 
 eye could reach, not a human habitation was visible 
 except in ruins, or damaged by the cannon, but camp- 
 fires, horses, mules, baggage or army wagons, tents and 
 ambulances, and ammunition of war, &c. A loud 
 shout from the railway officials bade us clear the track 
 quickly, for fear of our dresses being caught by the 
 train about to back, and we had to jump down from 
 the railway embankment, about two feet, there not 
 being room to stand safely there, and alight ankle deep 
 in mud and mire. It was the last month of the year ; 
 the snoAv which had covered the earth a few days 
 previously had all thawed ; my courageous companion, 
 Mary B. Bradford, looked appalled for a minute or two, 
 as she saw the fierce, rough countenances of the 
 thousands of soldiers so near the front, who had for 
 months been out of the reach of the civilizing influence 
 of mothers, wives, and sisters. But she was equal to 
 the emergency. She put the question repeatedly to 
 one after another of the soldiers, as to the best way for 
 us to get to Winchester. Some were rough and some 
 were rude, and one catching hold of her carpet bag, 
 said, ' I'll show you the way,' and started at a full run ; 
 she saw that his object was to get the bag, and only 
 recovered her property by calling ' Stop thief,' when 
 he immediately dropped it. One of whom she enquired,
 
 210 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G4. 
 
 told her she must go into the mail tent, that it was their 
 business to take us. She summoned courage, and 
 though the curtain was drawn, raised it and stepped in. 
 The officials there were busily engaged sorting the 
 letters. One of them immediately lifted the curtain, 
 and turned her out, very unceremoniously. She stepped 
 back again at once, saying that we had a free pass from 
 President Lincoln, and documents from, the Secretary of 
 War, for General Sherman. One of the officials answered 
 very roughly, ' We know nothing about Lincoln or 
 Stanton here, Sheridan is boss, and he has given orders 
 that no woman should go to the front,' and again 
 turned her out. Mary B. B, scolded and lectured in 
 vain ; and then changing her tactics, tried the effect 
 of smooth w^ords. Turning to one of the soldiers, who 
 looked a little more civilized than the rest, she remarked, 
 ' It is pleasant to see one gentleman among so many 
 ruffians.' I have a very lively imagination, but yet 
 found it difficult to transform him into a gentleman ; 
 but he seemed both surprised and pleased with the 
 appellation, and at once volunteered his services to 
 help her in any way he could. She stated our dilemma, 
 and our wish to get on as quickly as possible to 
 Winchester, as it was impossible for three ladies to 
 stay there all night. He pointed to the news wagon, 
 which was about to start for Winchester, saying, 
 'They will take you.' Mary B. B. stepped briskly 
 round in front ; the driver had four horses in hand, 
 and raising his whip was about to start them. Raising 
 her hands in front, she said, ' Stay a minute, stay 
 a minute, stay a minute — I have something impor-
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 211 
 
 tant to say to you.' The man swore at her and 
 ordered her to clear the road, or he would run over 
 her. She replied by a very earnest appeal, telling 
 him that we three ladies had come on purpose to visit 
 the sick and wounded soldiers, adding, 'If your mother 
 and sister were here, you would not suffer them to stay 
 in a place like this all night.' Her appeal seemed to be 
 in vain, until Mary's ' gentleman,' coming up to the side, 
 said he had better be civil to us, as we were personal 
 friends of Mr. Lincoln, and he might lose his position, 
 and persuaded him to take us. ' Bring your women 
 then, quick,' he said, ' and let's be off, 1 want to get to 
 Winchester before the letters.' There was considerable 
 difficulty in climbing into the wagon — a two-storey 
 army ambulance, piled up with bales of newspapers — 
 the two steps both being broken off. I looked somewhat 
 doubtfully, and queried, ' How am I to get in ? ' to which 
 Mary's gent replied, as he took my carpet bag, and set 
 it down in the mire, ' You must set one foot on the 
 hind spoke of the wheel, and the other on the carpet 
 bag, and swing round and spring on.' I still looked 
 somewhat doubtfully, when the driver, looking through 
 the tunnel-like top, growled out in a stormy voice, 
 ' Ladies as cannot climb, has got no business here.' 
 Though not much accustomed to swinging round and 
 springing in, I summoned up all my courage and 
 dexterity, and, with the assistance of Mary's gent, 
 scrambled in. While I was doing so, Mary Bradford, 
 in great dismay, discovered that Elizabeth Sharpless 
 was not with us. Elizabeth S. was a lady of great 
 beauty, dignity, and grace, and, in her gentle tones, had
 
 212 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 asked one of the soldiers to tell us the best way of 
 getting to Winchester. ' Follow me,' he said, ' and I'll 
 tell you.' He started to a run, got into a waggon that 
 was moving, and she soon found that she could not keep 
 up with him, or spring into a moving vehicle — and we 
 saw her in the distance, surrounded by hundreds of 
 mules and horses and baggage wagons. 'What's her 
 name ? ' said Mary's gent. ' Elizabeth Sharpless ' was 
 the reply. 'Elizabeth Sharpless,' he shouted, 'pass it 
 on.' ' Elizabeth Sharpless, pass it on,' and a hundred 
 voices echoed the call. Mary's 'gent ' helped her through 
 the living crowd of quadrupeds and bipeds, and, with 
 something of the gallantry of the Elizabethan age, held 
 out his hand for her to step upon, as he helped thus to 
 raise her into the wagon. Mary Bradford soon made 
 her way in, but when there our difficulties were by no 
 means ended. Seated on the top of the bales of paper, 
 the tilted cover did not allow room for us to sit upright, 
 and the closely packed papers did not give comfortable 
 room for our feet, so that we sat in a cramped and 
 uneasy position, and had to hold on with all our might 
 to prevent our being shot out in front or tipped out 
 behind, by the violent motion of the wagon, as the 
 leaders, first appearing as though going up a mountain, 
 and then down out of sight, drew the wagon with the 
 right-hand wheel down into a deep mud-hole, and the 
 left over a boulder as big as a cannon ball. The parting 
 words of Mary's ' gent ' had been, ' Now you'll go like 
 lightning,' and something like lightning it seemed, 
 indeed. Finally, amid pitch darkness, we reached the 
 city of Winchester, where the driver suddenly shouted
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 213 
 
 * Halt ! ' and we stopped with a violence almost enough 
 to throw us out. At the same instant, the driver called 
 out, ' Out with you, if you don't want to be pitched 
 out.' 
 
 " Very quickly we alighted, having hard work to 
 secure our things (bags and umbrellas) and now we 
 found ourselves in Egyptian darkness, in a city under 
 martial law — gas works destroyed, telegraph wires 
 cut, and nearly all the houses under the control of 
 the army. We tried to make our way from the 
 middle of the road to a side-walk ; whichever way we 
 turned, we were ankle deep in mire. Every now and 
 then a moving torch or a lantern announced a soldier 
 approaching. In answer to the enquiry, 'Will you 
 please tell us the way to Aaron Gritiith's?' soldier 
 No. 1 replied ' Women here ! you are breaking the law 
 to be on the street after dark.' No. 2 said, with an 
 oath, ' You'll be put in the lock-up if you don't mind ; 
 you won't find very good accommodation there.' No. 3 
 swore at us and declared that ' General Sheridan had 
 given positive orders for no women to come in the 
 front.' No. -4 announced that we should be run over 
 by the rapidly approaching mail, if we didn't get out 
 of the road, for he heard the hoofs of the horses. No. 5, 
 the first courteous voice, said 'Aaron Griffith, Mr. 
 Griffith, the Union man do you mean ? Yes, I 
 know him, he is one of our best friends.' General Crook 
 was the speaker, and calling upon a couple of soldiers 
 near by, he ordered them to carry the ladies' carpet 
 bags, while he carefully held his lantern, piloting us 
 to Aaron Griffith's door, which was very near. Aaron
 
 214 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 Griffith answered the knock at the door by appearing in 
 the hall in person, with a lamp in his hand, which he 
 set down on the table, and raising his hand, with a 
 look of amazement, said, 'Elizabeth Comstock ! is it 
 possible thou hast made thy way here ? I can't think 
 how you have found your way, except the Lord has 
 brought you here.' To which Mary Bradford replied, 
 ' The Lord lias brought us, and now w^e will thank 
 Aaron Griffith to let us in.' 
 
 "A most cordial welcome followed, and a delightful 
 visit. With great sympathy we heard our friends tell 
 of the perils they had been in, and their great suffer- 
 ings through the war. For nine months they had not 
 been able to make their way to Baltimore to attend the 
 meetings there, or to purchase groceries ; they had 
 been stripped by the soldiers of all they had, and were 
 living on army rations, which had been supplied by 
 General Sheridan, and without which they must have 
 starved, although an ancient and wealthy family. 
 They had no resident minister of our Society in those 
 parts, and no Friend with certificate had been there 
 since the first month of the war, and then the meeting 
 had been broken up, and the Friends hurriedly 
 dispersed by the rebels, before a word had been 
 spoken.. They escaped with great danger, fleeing 
 before General Lee's army. On one occasion we went 
 out six or seven miles from Winchester to visit 
 Aaron Griffith's father, whom we found in great afflic- 
 tion because he had lost his spectacles. The old man, 
 over fourscore years, had borne the loss of crops, horses, 
 cattle, and produce of various kinds bravely, but a
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 215 
 
 short time before we were there, as he sat in his porch, 
 reading the Bible, having left it a minute, he returned 
 in time to see his gold-framed spectacles carried off by 
 two Confederate soldiers, probably for the sake of the 
 gold. The old man, who had borne the loss of every- 
 thing so heroically, shed tears over this, because he 
 could no longer have the comfort of reading his Bible. 
 
 "On our way to see old John Griffith we were 
 very near falling into the hands of the rebel raider, 
 Colonel Mosby, and his clan. M. B. Bradford, who 
 kept a sharp look out for them, suddenly announced, 
 ' Here they come,' and we saw with some alarm, Colonel 
 Mosby mounted at the head of his twenty-eight 
 soldiers, in Southern uniform, descending the hill in 
 rapid pursuit of us, having seen in the distance a 
 carriage and horses, which would have been a great 
 boon to them. Aaron Griffith, who knew the locality 
 Avell and saw the danger, ordered the coachman to turn 
 round into a hollow, out of the public road, where we 
 could hide among the woods and rocks ; and while in 
 this position we heard Colonel Mosby and his men 
 ride past, seeking for us. 
 
 " Hatty Griffith, Aaron Griffith's daughter, was not 
 so fortunate as to escape him. She rode out one after- 
 noon to visit her grandfather, getting a boy, her cousin, 
 in the Quartermaster's department, to borrow a horse and 
 buggy of one of the officers and drive out with her. 
 The brave girl was somewhat appalled when the youth, 
 trembling with fear, said, ' Here comes Colonel Mosby 
 with his raiders.' Hatty instantly took the reins, 
 desiring the youth to sit back, almost hidden by her,
 
 216 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1864. 
 
 and Colonel Mosby, coming swiftly down the hill 
 upon them, suddenly shouted ' Halt.'' He and his men 
 came to a full stop, and she did the same. The Colonel, 
 coming on in advance of his men, enquired her name 
 and where she had been. Her ready and fearless 
 answer was, ' My name is Hatty Griffith, and I have 
 been to visit my grandfather, John Griffith.' 'Griffith ! 
 Griffith ! ' said Mosby, ' are you the daughter of 
 Griffith, the Union man ? ' ' My name is Hatty Griffith. 
 I am the daughter of Aaron Griffith, and proud to say 
 that I am a Union girl.' He took the bridle rein of 
 her horse to lead it out of the road. She said, ' I would 
 thank you to let me go home, for my mother will be 
 very anxious about me.' 'I dare say she will, but I 
 have a little private business to transact down here ; 
 and I do not wish any Union spectators to report me to 
 General Sheridan.' Leading her horse into a field near 
 by, he told her that if she would remain quietly there, 
 not a hair of her head should be hurt, for he honoured 
 her braverj" ; but if she attempted to go away, he would 
 not answer for her life. 
 
 " Leaving her with four of his men to guard her, 
 he went to transact his private business, which was to 
 rob a Union family near by. He then returned to her, 
 led the horse back again into the road, told her he 
 hoped she would get home safely, and find her mother 
 well, and with a military salute, bade her good night. 
 It was nearly dark when she reached home, and found 
 her mother in great distress about her, who extended 
 an earnest entreaty that she would not go out so much, 
 or stay out so late, and expressed her fear that she
 
 1864.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 217 
 
 Avould see her some day brought home dead. She did not 
 tell her mother the peril she had been in, but just 
 answered ' If I am shot, it will be by a stray bullet in the 
 house; you know there have been twelve bullets through 
 the windows, three through that door, and one is lodged 
 in that table drawer.' The next day General Crook 
 called, and Hatty's secret of her encounter with Mosby 
 could no longer be kept from her mother ; for in the 
 presence of her parents, the General said to her, ' Well, 
 Miss Hatty, how do you like Colonel Mosby ? ' ' How 
 do I like Colonel Mosby,' she answered, 'a pretty 
 question for a Union General to ask a Union girl, how 
 she likes a rebel raider ! ' ' You need not pretend not 
 to understand me,' said the general, ' for I know that 
 you were taken yesterday by Colonel Mosby and his 
 men, and I want to know how they treated you ;' and 
 then the whole story came out to her mother's great 
 alarm. Although Aaron Griffith had been a man of 
 comparative wealth, he had lost nearly all his property, 
 one thing after another having been taken by the 
 rebel army. 
 
 " It was near the end of the year when we arrived, 
 and very cold ; but there was hardly any fuel in the 
 house, all the wood and trees around had been taken. 
 Mary Bradford and I paid a visit to General Sheridan 
 the other day (thou knows he is in command of the 
 army of the Shenandoah valley). We also went to 
 the front — what a sight it was ! As far as the eye 
 could reach to our right and left, on the brow of the 
 hill, overlooking the beautiful quiet valley, were tents, 
 camp fires, horses, wagons, soldiers, etc., etc., such
 
 218 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 a sight as I never could have imagined. For miles, no 
 trees or fences were visible. I looked and pondered — 
 I thought of Israel in the wilderness. But as the 
 cannons, the guns, the bomb-shells met my eye, I could 
 not say, ' How goodly are thy tents, Jacob, and thy 
 tabernacles, Israel !' — I was rather inclined to mourn 
 over ' the terror by night, the arrow that flieth by day, 
 and the destruction that wasteth at noonday.' As 
 I surveyed the vast army — 50,000 — I Avas inclined to 
 query, ' where will these find bread in the wilderness.* 
 For miles the ground looked as hard trodden down 
 as the street of a city. 
 
 "General Scott presented General Grant with 
 a beautiful volume, on the fly-leaf of which was written 
 this nice little compliment, ' From the oldest to the 
 ablest General in the world.'" 
 
 E. Y. to L. R. 
 
 " PMladelpMa, 2-1-1865. 
 
 " I promised dear Elizabeth that, as she had not 
 been able to write to thee, I would try to give thee 
 some account of her movements, though I fear if I am 
 not more clear than in my last note, thou wilt hardly 
 have thy curiosity satisfied : indeed, if I had not 
 supposed that thou wast more fully posted of all their 
 doings up to the time of leaving for Winchester, I should 
 not have written as I did, but I hope thou gathered from 
 my fragments that the exposing and dangerous journey 
 had been safely performed, though notwithout incurring 
 great fatigue, and a narrow escape from typhoid fever. 
 I told thee how exhausted dear E. Avas, and how she 
 slept most of the day and night for nearly a week,
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 219 
 
 during which she had some fever each day, and a cough 
 that troubled her in the evening. We kept her very 
 quiet, she saw very few, and recovered her strength so 
 nicely that she paid several visits the last few^ days, 
 though she still avoided being out in the evening. It 
 was most happy that she had^^o icorli on her mind, and 
 really could thoroughly enjoy the rest — not at all too 
 sick to be with us and entertain us, or indulge in 
 reading some agreeable book — so that the two weeks 
 w^ere, I do think, refreshing to her, and the quiet just 
 what she needed. I cannot tell thee how vei^'y often we 
 wished for thee, nor how frequently thou wast our 
 
 theme as we sat together Dear Elizabeth 
 
 left us last Fourth-day (28th), with Mary Bradford and 
 Samuel Boyce as escort, the latter having been to 
 Washington, and returning just in time to accompany 
 them. I had a letter from E. this morning, telling of 
 their safe arrival at New York without her having 
 increased her cold. Jos. Grinnell had not yet joined 
 them, but was expected that day, and arrangements had 
 been made for them to visit Sing-sing on First-day. 
 She says, ' Give my dear love to Lydia, and let her know 
 I received her acceptable letter, through Dr. Tobey, on 
 my arrival here, and hope some time to reply to it, but 
 shall not be able just yet. I have rested so long in 
 Philadelphia, and am now about commencing active 
 service, and probably shall be doing all my strength is 
 equal to at present.' She expected to return to New 
 York, and spend this week there, then go to New Haven 
 for a few days, thence to Providence for two weeks, 
 and then to Boston and Lynn for another fortnight,
 
 220 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 then cross the country to Vermont, thence through 
 Albany, Utica, &c., to Union Springs, which she hopes 
 to reach during her C.'s vacation, but I doubt if she 
 knows how long this programme will take. I cannot 
 but think her health is requiring care, and that she is 
 not able to do as much as formerly. Her cough, she 
 says, is improving, but not quite gone, and we are sorry 
 she goes into those cold climates at this season. 
 However the cold there is constant, and the air generally 
 dry, so that perhaps the exposure is not so great as in 
 our frequent tJiaics.'''' 
 
 A. Y. adds to the foregoing, " I must tell thee how 
 very much I enjoyed thy sister's visit. Thou knows I 
 always did think her very lovely — but I never really 
 knew her until this visit when we had such nice talks. 
 . . . . We had such a beautiful sermon from her 
 on Christmas Day, and a nice, pleasant Christmas." 
 
 C. Y. writes, " I should have been truly glad to 
 have had thee with us a few evenings since at a public 
 meeting, called to give an expression of the public 
 sentiment against the iniquitous exclusion of coloured 
 people from our street cars. It was called by our 
 prominent men, opened by prayer from Bishop Potter, 
 and addressed by some leading citizens, with great 
 earnestness and effect. Two coloured men were among 
 the most effective speakers, one an Episcopal clergyman, 
 the other from South Carolina, a man of wealth, and 
 highly finished manners. He told us how he had 
 been refused a passage many years ago, in one of the 
 packet lines to Liverpool, a certain Virginian of 
 high family, having objected to his presence in the
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 221 
 
 cabin, and how, after paying his visit to Europe, he 
 sailed from Liverpool with the same person and his 
 family, with several other Southern gentlemen, was 
 received as a South Carolina gentleman of rank, danced 
 with the daughter of the party who had caused his 
 rejection on the outer voyage, was feted and toasted, 
 and finally, on his arrival in New York, announced to 
 the astonished company that he was a Mack man, or 
 rather had negro blood in his veins, for he is really 
 white — I do wish thou could have heard him — he is 
 such a thorough gentleman. The story has long been 
 current in private circles, but thou may imagine how 
 effective it was, told with tact and vivacity, and not 
 a little evidence of high breeding. The result, I doubt 
 not, will be the speedy removal of the restriction." 
 
 A. Y. to L. R. 
 
 Philadelphia, Jan. 6th, 1865. 
 
 " Miss Smiley who has been among the freed 
 people at Norfolk this winter, has just been paying us 
 a short visit. She gives us very interesting accounts 
 of the poor things. Norfolk is a receiving depot, 
 and the runaways are continually coming in. The 
 men are all employed by the government, and most of the 
 women find work, so they are doing pretty well there — 
 now people are beginning to bestir themselves about 
 Savannah. Miss S. has told us some curious stories 
 about the queer ways of the freed men, but some of 
 their sayings are very pretty. One old man of 105, 
 when she asked what he Avanted most — he had 
 just been begging for some 'baccy,' — answered 
 fervently ' I wants the grace of God most, missus,'
 
 222 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 and another poor old invalid who was a great sufferer, 
 said she was Yevj happy, the Lord gave her so much 
 intrust. Miss S. says that their native politeness is 
 wonderful, but no doubt it is partly the result of the 
 long servitude. She says she never asked even a little 
 child the way to any place, no matter how distant, 
 without his insisting on going with her to show her ; 
 and she has repeatedly seen coloured men leave their 
 work, unasked, to carry a little child across a crowded 
 street. She has a sewing school for the women, and 
 a mothers' meeting ; they learn astonishingly fast to 
 sew, even the field hands. She told us too the story 
 of a prisoner who escaped from a prison in Columbia 
 S.G., which she heard from his own lips. After he 
 and his companions had got off from the prison, an 
 old negro woman and her daughter dragged a boat 
 across the fields half a mile to the river, gave them 
 sweet potatoes, and rice, and directed them to other 
 plantations. The negroes hid them in the woods in 
 the day-time, and at night they rowed down the river, 
 so at last, through the help of the slaves, they reached 
 our gun-boats at the river's mouth. There's a long 
 rigmarole for thee, most of which thou may very likely 
 hear again from thy sister, Avhom Miss S. saw in New 
 York a day or two ago, or some of the New England 
 Friends. Miss S. brought us good accounts of thy 
 sister ; she seemed pretty well, and left yesterday for 
 Providence and Boston. After a meeting she had 
 somewhere in New York the other day, where she had 
 spoken of good mothers who gave the Bible to their 
 children, and of their influence, a little boy came
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 223 
 
 to her and said ' Mother died last week.' When she 
 asked him about his mother, he said in amazement, 
 'Why you know her, you spoke of her just now — she 
 gave me the Bible.' Poor little fellow ! 1 wonder 
 what will become of him." 
 
 A.Y. to L.R. 26-2-1865. 
 
 . . . . " And now I must tell thee of thy 
 sister's letter — she wrote from Union Springs, where 
 she had gone with the Rowlands, without going to 
 Vermont at all. She expected to go home this last 
 week, so I hope now she is safely established there. 
 She charged me to tell thee of an adventure she had 
 had in Rhode Island. She was speaking at a meeting 
 held in some small town of the Contrabands — Freed- 
 men, I mean — and prisoners, and sick soldiers ; and 
 noticed that one gentleman seemed much affected. 
 He came and spoke to her afterwards, and told her 
 she should have i^rayed for the soldiers in the army, 
 and the success of our arms. The next morning, as 
 she was going to the depot, the same gentleman 
 appeared, and asked her if she would like his autograph. 
 She laughed, and said 'yes,' so he handed her a cheque 
 for 1,000 dollars for the Freedmen ! She tried to 
 persuade him to give it to the Committee of Friends 
 in New England, but he refused, so she handed it to 
 Edward Rowland, and they concluded to found 
 a ' Harris Home ' — his name is Edward Harris — in 
 Washington, for poor coloured women, and afterwards 
 this same man sent 510 dollars more — isn't it remark- 
 able ? The whole letter was so sweet and kind — was 
 it not good of her to write to me .'' "
 
 224 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 The deplorable assassination of President Lincoln, 
 which followed a few months after E.L.C.'s visit, 
 and filled all loyal Americans with consternation and 
 grief, is referred to in the following letters. 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. 
 Bollin, Lenawee Co., Michigan, 17-4-1865. 
 
 " In seasons when oppressive sorrow and grief 
 overwhelm us, we feel a longing for the society of 
 those we love. Our hearts seem to turn instinctively 
 to those we love, and to those who love us. 
 
 "Thus my spirit turned to thee on Seventh-day 
 afternoon, when the appalling news of the death of 
 our noble President reached us. It was onr Monthly 
 Meeting day. Richard Harkness and wife, and several 
 other Friends had dined with us. John had business 
 and went to Hudson in the afternoon ; I was enter- 
 taining our visitors with a detailed account of my 
 travels and visits, to sick and wounded soldiers, 
 contrabands, prisoners, and finally to the President, 
 Secretary of War, and others in Washington. 
 
 " While thus engaged Wilber Ross called. ' What 
 is the matter ? ' I enquired, as I saw his countenance, 
 expressive of horror, ' Have you heard the dreadful 
 news .'' ' he asked, ' The most terrible that vv^e have heard 
 since the war commenced. The President is shot by 
 an assassin and Secretary Seward and his two sous 
 stabbed.' 
 
 " I was dumb with silence ! A solemnity pervaded 
 our little circle, stillness prevailed, until another, and 
 then a third messenger called, each one confirming the 
 tragic story. I could not join in the conversation (of
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 225 
 
 which there was but little) until, in a season of solemn 
 prayer and supplication, I found some relief. Is it not 
 dreadful ! Our beloved President, honoured and 
 revered as he was, slain bj- an assassin while surrounded 
 by his friends and his loyal subjects ! Anger, grief, 
 indignation, everywhere prevail in this part of the 
 country. In Hudson, every house is draped in 
 mourning. One man, on hearing the dreadful news, 
 replied, ' I fear that's too good to be true ! ' He was 
 instantly knocked down, received several severe blows, 
 
 and narrowly escaped with his life 
 
 " 26-4. Since writing the foregoing, I have been 
 holding meetings in Addison, Hudson, Adrian, and 
 our meeting house here, endeavouring ' to improve the 
 sad event ' of the death of our noble President. This 
 did not take me more than one night from home, 
 which I am much enjoying after all my wanderings. 
 John is well and happy. C. still at home." 
 
 E. C. Y. to L. R. 
 
 Philadelphia, 18-4-65. 
 " I am sure, my dear friend, that thou wilt feel 
 with me that words are entirely insufficient to give an 
 adequate idea of the effects of the shock we have 
 received, of the thrill of anguish and horror which 
 penetrated our hearts, when the awful news reached 
 us : — of the almost overwhelming grief which the loss 
 of our honoured and beloved President has caused. 
 The sudden revulsion of feeling gave a deeper shade 
 to the gloom ; since the fall of Richmond, so quickly 
 followed by the surrender of Lee, our city, and indeed 
 the whole country, had been in a state of joyful
 
 226 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 excitement, the streets crowded with all classes, showing 
 their exhilaration in a variety of waj's — music, bells, 
 whistles, day and night, hundreds of flags flying 
 proudly in the breeze, and every one of us rejoicing 
 that our terrible war seemed nearly ended ; when, just 
 at the moment of our highest triumiDh, the dreadful 
 blow fell upon us, and sorrow seized every heart, the 
 tokens of mourning have replaced those of joy, and the 
 countenances of all show their participation in this great 
 calamity, which we almost thought would be irreparable 
 to our country. Indeed, we feel we have each lost a 
 dear friend, a father, one in whom we relied most 
 confidingly, whom we trusted with the certainty he 
 would never betray our confidence, on whose upright- 
 ness, purity, and conscientiousness we might safely 
 depend. His character grows on us wonderfully, his 
 entire simplicity in some sort hid his greatness, but 
 now his excellencies stand out boldly — his utter 
 unselfishness, his true kindness of heart, the total 
 absence of all malice, revenge, evil thoughts, of all party 
 feeling, of one-sided motives — the great sagacity which 
 enabled him to see the right moment to act, the caution 
 ■which held him back from too hasty a step, the firmness 
 which resisted every attack or persuasion, and the 
 evident deep religious feeling which influenced him, 
 the settled conviction that he was but an instrument in 
 the Divine hand to work out purposes which he hardly 
 saw or understood — all now impress forcibly, and, 
 while they enhance the value of our loss, make us feel 
 that for him death has but brought the peace and rest 
 and perfect happiness of Heaven.
 
 18Go.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 227 
 
 " It is an inexpressible comfort that he did not 
 suffer — that no consciousness of pain disturbed his last 
 hours. There are, too, other causes for consolation — 
 such awful fiendish crime brings its own punishment 
 — if there were any influences which might induce a 
 difference of sentiment in the North they are now 
 forgotten, and all are more than ever united in one 
 common effort to sustain our country — our rulers — to 
 for ever crush the sin which has been the sole cause of 
 all our suffering, the only fear being lest indignation 
 should carry us too far in visiting upon the whole 
 South the crime of a few. They have lost their hesi 
 friend. Our estimation of our new President is 
 constantly increasing, though as yet but little has 
 transpired to require much exposition of his views : 
 yet, as there is no change of Cabinet, and our late 
 beloved President had, in a very important meeting 
 the day of his death, given his plans for future action, 
 we trust they will be regarded, and on the whole, not 
 varied. There is the strongest feeling to uphold 
 Johnson, and not the least depression about our entire 
 triumph and final reconstruction, as a Union, not again 
 to be easily broken. It is impossible to think of 
 anything else — the horror has not passed away from 
 our minds — the deep feeling of sorrow is yet too 
 strong. I cannot speak of our Y.M. which is now in 
 session, nor dwell on other topics, which at another 
 
 time would occur to me I wish I could 
 
 spend an hour or two with thee — there are so many 
 things I want to tell thee, so many details I could give 
 of the great event which still fills our minds and hearts.
 
 228 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 " To-morrow evening the remains are to arrive here, 
 and lie in Independence Hall on First-day— the public 
 having the privilege of passing in to see them. I should 
 not wish to view them in such a crowd; but if it had been 
 possible to have the privilege, as my friend S. F. Smiley 
 had, of looking at him in the quiet of his home, greatly 
 should I have valued it. I had a letter from her 
 describing her visit in "Washington, and thinking thou 
 wouldst like to see it, I have copied all relating to our 
 dear President. I wish thou could see our city with 
 the signs of mourning — there is such universal, true, 
 heartfelt sorrow. On fourth day, all stores were shut, 
 all houses barred — even Friends, who so seldom give 
 public demonstrations of either joy or sorrow, were 
 participants in this, so far as closed shutters, though 
 we of course showed no draped flags. The churches 
 were open and the streets, during the noon hours, 
 almost deserted — in the afternoon the great thorough- 
 fares were crowded with the lower classes looking at 
 the various mourning draperies, &c., but all moving in 
 a quiet subdued manner — no boisterous talking, no 
 confusion — it was very imj^ressive — such a different 
 scene from the joyous one we had anticipated in the 
 great illumination we were to have had for Lee's 
 surrender. A friend of mine had a most touching 
 account from Bishop Simpson (Methodist), of the last 
 day of our lamented President's life, which he had 
 from Mrs. Lincoln herself, when he visited her in her 
 sick room, where she has been ever since the sad 
 tragedy. It was a remarkably happy day, beautifully 
 clear, bright and lovely externally, and wonderfully
 
 18G5.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 229 
 
 full of events. His son, the captain, breakfasted with 
 them, and gave many narrations of recent affairs in 
 Richmond, which greatly pleased his father — then 
 a most satisfactory interview with Grant, and afterwards 
 with the whole Cabinet except Seward — a most impor- 
 tant meeting, in which he spoke of his future policy. 
 
 " After dinner he took a drive with his wife, who 
 said he was so happy — he spoke of his delight at the 
 near approach of peace — his great satisfaction in the 
 unanimity of his Cabinet, and on the whole prospect 
 before him as regarded the country — she scarcely 
 thought she had seen him so buoyant with pleasure 
 since he came to Washington, Was not his work done, 
 and has he not passed away at the moment of his 
 greatest triumph, when his fame was at its zenith, and 
 can never now be dimmed ! . . . . 
 
 " Three hours after the death of President Lincoln, 
 his successor was inaugurated without commotion — 
 without any unnecessary ceremony — no confusion 
 anywhere ; and all the people in the length and 
 breadth of our land, move quietly on with an increased 
 confidence in their strength, and a firmer determination 
 to uphold their chief. I think every one, even the 
 rebels themselves, feel that the awful tragedy 
 strengthens our cause. They regret it sincerely, 
 knowing the injury it must do them. His voice, who 
 always pleaded for mercy and pardon, being silenced, 
 they can but dread that justice and judgment will take 
 their places — we trust, not with any feelings of revenge, 
 though some fears are felt that our new Head may 
 prove in some cases too severe. But public confidence
 
 230 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 in him has increased, and we hope for good out of ,all 
 
 this terrible evil. 2Srd. The body of our beloved 
 
 President is lying in Independence Hall, and from 
 
 a very early hour this morning, Chestnut Street has 
 
 been crowded with people passing in to see him — no 
 
 confusion — no loud words — but with hushed, yet 
 
 impatient feeling, each awaits his turn. Canst thou 
 
 not picture the scene in that old room where thou 
 
 lingered one morning ? His head rests at the foot of 
 
 the great bell whose motto is so appropriate ' Proclaim 
 
 liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants 
 
 thereof.' F. Y. tells me that the carrying in of the 
 
 bier through the long avenue by night, was most 
 
 solemn and imposing : while the wide walk was 
 
 lighted with intense brilliancy, all the rest was in 
 
 darkness, and the hushed tread of the bearers, amid 
 
 a voiceless multitude, while he whom they so loved 
 
 was borne past, was something never to be forgotten. 
 
 We can neither think nor speak of much else. S. Betile's 
 
 sermon was upon the same subject, and touched us much. 
 
 Oh ! my dear friend, how much we have lost ! Yet 
 
 we do try not to lose sight of the mercy which has 
 
 been mingled with this awful stroke, and prevented 
 
 the consummation of the horrible crime at an earlier 
 
 period : for certainly there was no time since he first 
 
 was chosen President, when his death would not have 
 
 been far more disastrous— and many crises when it 
 
 might have been fatal to our cause. We tremble when 
 
 we think of the consequences which would probably 
 
 have ensued if it had happened before his last election ! 
 
 And we strive to still trust the protecting hand of our
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 231 
 
 Almighty Father, Avho has so marvellonsly helped iis 
 so far. Though I have written so much, I have only 
 showed the truth of my first sentence that words are 
 utterly inadequate to give a just idea of all we feel — 
 but thou wilt supply what the poor words do not give, 
 for I know thou wilt feel with us." 
 
 S. F. S. to E. C. Y. (extract referred to above). 
 
 "On 2nd day, the 17th of 4th month, the third 
 day after the death of our beloved President, I remem- 
 bered hearing of Isaac Newton, and I gradually recalled 
 the fact that he was in the Agricultural Department, 
 and that I st(p2Josed, was in the Patent Office — so I 
 groped on, expecting to find that closed, but no one 
 questioned me at the door, and I walked in and found 
 him at last. Taking little notice of us at first, he went 
 on to despatch some important business, and then, 
 taking his hat, said he would go now — that he Avas 
 about taking his wife and daughters and Sybil Jones 
 to the White House, and would take us also. It 
 seemed like a dream, that a favour so unthought of, and 
 so unsought, should be given. Isaac Newton was so 
 well known to all. that the mounted guards lowered 
 their swords to let the Friends pass, where only 
 a chosen few could pass that day, and the physicians 
 took not a little trouble to arrange for our going up. 
 We waited half an hour in the East room, Avhere the 
 preparations were going on rapidly for his lying in 
 state. But the subdued and noiseless manner of the 
 workmen betokened a real feeling far beyond a mere 
 sense of propriety. Then we were ushered up to the 
 room known as the Guest Chamber.
 
 232 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 " The memory of that scene I count one of the most 
 precious possessions of my life. I thinlc none of us 
 saiv him for some time. When I was able to lift my 
 own eyes it was to see the whole group in tears. There 
 were in the room three Generals (I think these were 
 not his guard of honour) and a few other officers of 
 high rank, besides two physicians. I knew that those 
 noble faces had so lately borne unmoved the dreadful 
 shock of battle, but they were not ashamed now to 
 weep as children for one they had loved as a father ; 
 and when the fresh gush of feeling was subdued, the 
 settled sadness that remained gave an indescribable 
 dignity to those noble countenances, helping me to 
 realize the greatness of him around whom we stood. 
 The face was very life-like, and I could trace easily 
 the expression of those qualities that made him what 
 he was. The lips wore a placid and benignant smile, 
 yet mingled with the lines that showed the firm 
 purpose and power of self-restraint. The forehead was 
 higher -than I had thought from his likeness, and when 
 I passed to his head and glanced down upon it its 
 receding was less noticed, and there was a loftiness 
 about it which the rigidity of death touched with a 
 something almost sublime. But the associations, the 
 thoughts called up in such a place, I cannot describe. 
 There we stood on the sad spot where the sorrow- 
 ing hearts of a whole nation were turning — no 
 jostling crowd, no need of any sword to protect 
 him noiv — and there he lay, in his own house, as 
 any of the people might lie, with only the simple 
 surroundings of daily life ; no token at all of rank or
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 233 
 
 grandeur about him — only the orange blossoms upon 
 his pillow, betokening love ; no token at all of 
 that awful tragedy visible ; and then, that small 
 strange group — half of them the noblest and most 
 valiant in the land, the rest, only simple, quiet Quakers 
 —and all in tears. But as I stood there, with thought 
 after thought of all he had been and all he had done, 
 so simple, yet so great, I could almost adopt the simple 
 faith of that people whose deliverer he had been, that 
 here was a man whom God had raised up as truly as he 
 raised up Moses. Surely there must have been some 
 great and solemn purpose in the counsels of the 
 Almighty, when he suffered such a man to fall in such 
 a way and at such a time ; whether that purpose be 
 one of mercy or wrath, who can now tell ? Reason is 
 perplexed, judgment is blinded, and hope paralyzed, 
 unquestioning faith alone looks to God, and is not 
 gi^eatly moved. 
 
 " We went to the Capitol afterwards, so bright in the 
 early beauty of Spring— so sad with those dark folds 
 of mourning. It was a strange day to see it for the 
 first time, and I felt no curiosity, no disappointment 
 in not entering. But it was a day above all others to 
 feel the greatness of our country ; the rich blessing 
 God had given us in so wise and good a government 
 that staggered for a moment at the suddenness of this 
 great blow, and then moved calmly and stately on."
 
 234 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1865. 
 
 Chapter XIV. 
 
 LETTERS— TRAVELS TO INDIAN TERRITORY- 
 GENERAL MEETING CONFERENCE— 18(;5-1868. 
 
 E. L. C. to L. R. and C. H. 
 
 Bollin, 4th Mo., 1865. 
 
 WE are delighted, dear C, to find, by thy letter, 
 that you are doing so much in Darlington 
 for the ' Contrabands,' or coloured refugees as some 
 prefer calling them. I have no conscientious objection 
 to the shorter and more common epithet. Tell F. some 
 little coloured boys in their school in Norfolk, Virginia, 
 came to the long word ' irrational' in their lesson. 
 •Their teacher enquired if any of them knew the 
 meaning of the word. To her surprise, many hands 
 were raised. One little, bright-eyed fellow raised both 
 hands, standing on tip-toe, so sure he was that he knew. 
 'Well, Charlie,' enquired the teacher, 'what does 
 " irrational " mean ? ' 'When you gets your rations, 
 that's " rational," when you doesn't get them, that's 
 " irrational," ' replied the little fellow promptly. . . . 
 "My last evening, on my late visit to Boston, was 
 very pleasantly spent. Ellen Johnson had previously 
 informed me that Governor AndreAV, Judge Russell, 
 William L. Garrison, and a few more, including Long- 
 fellow, had expressed an urgent desire to meet with 
 me, or to have more of my company. To this end she
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 235 
 
 invited me to her house, and, upon my consenting to 
 go, she notified the above-named and many more, and 
 invited them to meet me. The company gathered 
 about 7 p.m. A lively, interesting conversation was 
 carried on, standing mostly in groups. There were 
 about seventy in company. R. Collins, from New York, 
 came, and her daughter Anna. She and her daughters 
 are going to England soon. M. and R. Rowland, R. and 
 S., who yvere visiting at New Bedford, and were about 
 to return home, Dr. and Sarah Tobey were invited, and 
 came from Providence on purpose. Harriet Beecher 
 Stowe came from her home, but was too poorly to join 
 the evening party ; she spent two hours with me in the 
 morning, instead. A very delightful time we had. 
 Longfellow was detained at home by indisposition. . 
 "At nine p.m., we were all invited upstairs to 
 partake of an elegant repast. Mine host handed me to 
 the supper table, and then gave me over to Dr. Tobey's 
 care. On returning to the parlour, William L. Garrison, 
 came and took a seat opposite me — there were a few 
 seats. He had been to visit the President, and was 
 greatly pleased with him, and told me all about his 
 visit. On his way, he had gone to the Baltimore 
 Penitentiary, and wanted to visit his old cell, where he 
 was confined for nine months for aiding slaves in 
 escaping from slavery. He was refused admittance, 
 and on stating this to Abraham Lincoln, the President 
 replied, ' Well sir, it seems to me that the difference 
 between IS-iG and 1804 was just this — in 46 you were 
 in and could not get out, and in 64 you were out and 
 could not get in.' ....
 
 236 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1865. 
 
 " The chaplain at Portsmouth Grove Hospital, 
 was absent when we went ; the other oiiicials, upon 
 seeing President Lincoln's pass, were all civility, and 
 seemed to vie with each other in shewing us every 
 possible attention and kindness, and we had a good 
 meeting in the chapel. After our return home, Dr. 
 Tobey received a most polite note from the Chaplain, 
 expressive of great concern that he had been absent at 
 
 the time of our visit and his prayer that 
 
 the Divine blessing inight rest upon the good meeting 
 he heard we had had, and upon the words of truth 
 there spoken. 
 
 " Yes, dear L., I did feel parting with Dr. and 
 Sarah Tobey, and their lovely and loving family, very 
 much. I hope we may meet again some day. They 
 Avere very kind to me, we had a delightful time 
 together. Many pleasant seasons, in the evenings we 
 sometimes read, conversed, repeated poetry, and closed 
 with Bible reading and prayer. 
 
 " If we never meet with our beloved friends with 
 whom we have mingled, and from whom we have 
 parted, here on earth, how sweet to look forward to 
 meeting and mingling with them in heaven. Some- 
 times when I think of my dear sisters and relatives in 
 England, Canada, and Australia, and the thought 
 comes over me of the great distance that separates us, 
 and that we may never meet again upon the shores of 
 time, I remember 
 
 ' In the Christian's home of glory, 
 There remains a land of rest, 
 Tliere my Saviour's gone before me 
 To f ultil my soul's request.
 
 1865.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 237 
 
 On the other side of Jordan, 
 
 In tlie sweet fields of Eden, 
 Where the tree of life is blooming, 
 
 We shall met^t again ! '" 
 
 John G. Whittier to E. L. C. 
 
 Amesburi/, 27-5-65. 
 " My Dear Friend, 
 
 " Our excellent mutual friend, Rebecca C. 
 Kingsman, who has been my guest during her attend- 
 ance of the Quarterly Meeting, mentioned a request of 
 thine for the lines on the tombstone of Charles S. 
 Torrey. I am sorry that I have not a copy of them, 
 and that my memory does not fully recall them. 
 
 " We had a very satisfactory Quarterly Meeting, 
 the attendance large, and the weather uncommonly 
 fine. I wish thou could have been with us. It was 
 a disappointment to me that thou wast unable to visit 
 us when in New England, but I suppose thy time and 
 labour of love were better occupied elsewhere. 
 
 " Is not thy heart full of thankfulness at the return 
 of peace — jjeace with freedom ? I stand, for my part, 
 awe-struck before the wonderful revelations of the 
 Divine Providence ; and a sense of the infinite 
 goodness which brings good out of evil, and makes 
 the wrath of man to praise Him, deeply impresses 
 me. 
 
 " I hope and believe that Friends will, in view of 
 their merciful protection during this terrible war, do 
 all in their power to aid in the good work of educating 
 and caring for the freed people. It is a blessed 
 privilege, not a task ; and we should do it joyfully,
 
 238 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1866. 
 
 thanking God for the precious opportunity. With 
 much love and sympathy, 
 
 "Thy friend, 
 
 " John G. Whittier." 
 
 C. S Torrey, an intimate friend of Whittier's died 
 in prison, having been condemned for aiding fugitive 
 slaves to escape. 
 
 A few years after this, E. L. C. was attending 
 New England Yearly Meeting, and met Whittier in 
 a large party of Friends one evening. She was seated 
 next to him, and was giving a thrilling account of 
 some of the fugitive slaves, and of others whom she 
 found imprisoned for helping them to escape their 
 cruel bondage, when Whittier suddenly rose and left 
 the room. 
 
 He came to her next morning and apologised for 
 doing so, saying that he had felt so completely over- 
 powered and unmanned in the remembrance of his loved 
 friend Charles S. Torrey, that he had gone alone to 
 
 weep. 
 
 Dr. Tobey to E. L. C. 
 
 ''Providence, 3rd Mo. 25th, 1866. 
 
 " My dear and honoured friend, 
 
 " Elizabeth L. Comstock, 
 
 " Thy capital and most interesting and instructive 
 
 letter of the 16th instant, addressed to Sarah and myself, 
 
 is received. It is most gratifying to us to be thus 
 
 remembered by thee. Our hearts leap with gladness 
 
 when a letter comes to hand with thy well-known 
 
 superscription upon it (I don't know that I am using a 
 
 proper word, so I will say ' handwriting '). I like thy
 
 1866.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 239 
 
 ' sermon ' exceedingly, and think thy inferences and 
 comments on the seventh of Revelations just and 
 appropriate — I should like to preach just such a sermon 
 from our gallery. We were greatly delighted with thy 
 vision of the family circle in our library. Oh ! how we 
 wish it could be realized, with the addition of one — thy 
 own honoured husband. I think as he loves thee, and 
 thou loves us, that he would love us too. Thou mayst 
 be assured that we love him in advance of knowing 
 him. Thou judgest rightly that many and great have 
 been our afflictions during the past few months. The 
 removal by death of many dear friends (some of whom 
 thou knew), with whom I have been wont for many 
 years to take sweet counsel, is severely felt. I greatly 
 miss them ; they have gone to heaven, I long to meet 
 them there, but desire to toil on here until my day's 
 work is finished. Oh ! for more diligence in the 
 discharge of duty, more unreserved faithfulness in the 
 service of the Lord. Thou art steadily engaged in 
 turning and winning souls to Jesus, thou tells them of 
 a loving Saviour, how sweet it is to serve Him, thou 
 cites them to the joys of heaven, and tells them how 
 they may witness those joys their own by serving Jesus, 
 by loving Him who first loved them, who died and 
 who lives to save them. Blessed employment, glorious 
 engagement, may the work of thy hands continue to be 
 established, and the peace which passeth all under- 
 standing be thine now and for ever. Amen 
 
 I sincerely hope thy dear husband will go to Yearly 
 Meeting with thee, I love to hear of your labouring 
 together, I wish I could encourage him to go. I did
 
 240 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1866. 
 
 not take my pen with any view of adequately acknow- 
 ledging thy letter. My dear wife will write soon. 
 Every member of my household unites with me in dear 
 love to thee and thine. 
 
 " Most affectionately farewell, 
 
 " Samuel Boyd Tobey." 
 
 S. B. to E. L. C. 
 
 ''Providence, 6th Mo. 26th, 1866. 
 " My dearly beloved E.L.C. 
 
 " I cannot tell thee how glad we were to get 
 thy most kind letter last evening, and now I must 
 send thee a line this very warm morning to tell thee 
 that we are all pretty well. My dear Doctor has rested 
 a little, and seems rather better, and I have faith to 
 believe that if we can get to Saratoga in a fortnight ; he 
 will be greatly improved by taking the waters, and by 
 the enjoyment of that perfect rest he gets there, and 
 there only. I think he will write thee a line with his 
 own hand to-day. We are so very glad to hear of thy 
 good meetings in Boston and vicinity. Surely the Lord 
 loves thee, of this thou can never doubt. He w^lio came 
 not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, and 
 who ate with publicans and sinners, will bless thee in 
 thy work, and give thee souls for thy wages. I have 
 often said in my heart as I have seen thee performing 
 the service. His will appoints, and in a spirit of self- 
 renouncing love, doing those things which were so 
 revolting to others, how Jesus must love her, and it is 
 this love, with His approving smile, that heljDS thee on 
 in thy work of mercy and of love. 
 
 " I am glad to hear that Mary Bradford is with
 
 1866.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 241 
 
 thee, and that thou art going to New Bedford for a 
 little rest. Thou wilt find dear J. Grinnell's such 
 a nice place to stop a little and 'take in ballast,' as dear 
 David Hunt once said. Do give very, very much love 
 to the dear good man, Joseph Grinnell, and his beloved 
 Rebecca, and accept a large portion for thy dear self 
 from all our household. We think thou had some 
 flights oi fancy, on thy way to Boston the day thou left 
 us. 
 
 Give my dear love please to Mary Bradford, and 
 tell her I am glad to hear that she is trying to be 
 a good girl, and I feel sure she will succeed ! ! I might 
 have said in the right place, that C. and L. were greatly 
 amused with one portion of thy letter, but concluded 
 thou had a clearer sense of spiritual than temporal 
 matters. Farewell, my dear, sweet, precious friend. . 
 " Ever thine lovingly, 
 
 "Sarah L. Tobey." 
 
 " Department of the Interior, 
 
 " Washington, D. C, June 28th, 1866. 
 "To Morgan L. Martin, 
 
 "Agent of the Oneida Indians, 
 
 " Green Bay, Wisconsin ; 
 "And all other Indian Agents to whom this may come. 
 " Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock, a minister of the 
 Society of Friends — a lady who devoted her time and 
 labour, during the late war, to ameliorate the condition 
 of our sick and wounded soldiers — desires to visit the 
 Oneida Indians in Wisconsin, and it may be other 
 Indian tribes, for the purpose of ministering to their 
 spiritual wants. 
 
 17
 
 242 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1866. 
 
 " Mrs. Comstock is hereby specially recommended 
 to the care and protection of the agent of the Oneida 
 Indians, and other agents in charge of tribes she may 
 visit, and they are requested to furnish her every 
 facility in their power to enable her to communicate 
 with the Indians, and carry out her views. 
 
 "Jas. Harlar, 
 
 " Secretary." 
 E. L. C.toC. H. 
 JIackinaiv Straits, Evergreen City Steamer, 
 First-day, 29-7-1866. 
 
 " A few lines from dear R. that met me in Detroit 
 yesterday, told me of the serious loss thou and dear 
 S. had met with ... I am very sorry for you . . , 
 and my fervent prayer for you under this trial is that 
 the Comforter may be very near at hand, keeping and 
 sustaining you, that through Him, this affliction may 
 be sanctified, this sorrow blessed. Perhaps through 
 this your eyes may be directed the more surely, in 
 earnest living faith to those enduring riches that shall 
 never fade away, laid up for you, for ever, where moth 
 and rust do not corrupt, where thieves do not break 
 through nor steal ! ' Peace be with you ' in your 
 trouble, under your privation and loss. 
 
 " You will wonder at the date of this. Here are 
 John and I, on missionary work, going to visit the 
 islands in Green Bay. I have a minute from my 
 Monthly Meeting 'to visit in Gospel love the inhabi- 
 tants of the islands of Green Bay, consisting chiefly of 
 poor fishermen and their families, also the fishermen, 
 Indians, and others on the shores of the lake in the
 
 1866.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 243 
 
 vicinity of Green Bay,' to proclaim unto them the glad 
 tidings of salvation through a crucified Saviour, and 
 to distribute among them Bibles, testaments, tracts, 
 primers, detached portions of the Scriptures, and other 
 reading matter. My dear husband is my welcome and 
 most suitable companion in this service. Equipped 
 with a good supply of the above-named books, with 
 some large, warm shawls and an air pillow, we took a 
 steamer in Detroit for Washington Harbour, Green 
 Bay, via Lakes St. Clair, Huron, Mackinaw, and Lake 
 Michigan. Thus far we have proceeded with a clear 
 sky and a calm sea, or rather lake. We have been out 
 of sight of land many times. This morning at four- 
 forty we put in at Mackinac Village, Mackinaw Straits, 
 and tarried there four hours, lading and unlading, 
 while the passengers visited the romantic scenery on 
 the island. Among our fellow-passengers are B. F., of 
 Cincinnati, his wife and baby, his sister A. F., a 
 missionary and his wife, who have been here before 
 (R. H. L.), from Cleveland, Ohio. We were very glad 
 of their company on this expedition. They are earnest 
 Christians, very pleasant people, and being acquainted 
 here, are very useful to us, who are on new and 
 untried ground. B. F. comes partly as a missionary, 
 partly to spend his summer vacation ; his wife and 
 sister for the benefit of their health, which is poor. 
 
 "The scenery of Mackinaw Island is very wild and 
 new to us. While the steamer, which is a freight 
 propeller, not designed for many passengers, was 
 detained at the wharf, J. and I and six or seven more set 
 out on an exploring expedition ; we walked three
 
 244 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1866. 
 
 miles to the Natural Bridge, a beautiful arch, near 
 200 feet high. We came suddenly upon it, about 100 feet 
 from its base, and 100 from its summit, and had a very 
 fine view. Looking through it the landscape was 
 most beautiful, the rich green, luxuriant foliage on 
 the left hand, the bright, clear, sparkling waters of the 
 bay and lake, seen through the arch, and also stretching 
 far away, as far as the eye could reach on the right, the 
 precipitous crags and rough ragged rocks, the wonder- 
 ful arch itself, solid stone, just broad enough for a 
 person to walk across ; the span, as near as we can 
 judge, 80 or 90 feet. We are forcibly reminded, as we 
 stand and look at it, of Elihu Burritt's graphic 
 description of the Natural Bridge in Virginia — the 
 addition of the water here adds to its wonderful 
 beauty. The arch is as well-formed, as complete, as 
 though chiselled out or planned by a mason or 
 architect ; a perfect arch in shape, but of course there 
 are asperities, projections and rough points. 
 
 " Second-day . We have reached Washington 
 Island. The last two hours on board it was very 
 rough, and a qualmishness, the precursor of sea- 
 sickness, seized me, so that I was very glad to leave the 
 boat and come ashore here." 
 
 " Rollin, 11th Mo. 4-66. 
 
 " If ever I should be honoured with a mission to 
 my native land, it would be very delightful to have 
 thee for my companion, but I ha\^e no such prospect. 
 . . . Here, in this land, is ample scope for my energies 
 and faculties, and here I feel in my very heart, while 
 labouring in the Lord's great harvest field, the sweet
 
 1866.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 245 
 
 and gracious benediction, ' I will bless thee and make 
 thee a blessing.' Far more than silver and gold do I 
 value this, it is to me more precious than life. David 
 Hunt, of Iowa, John Henry Douglas, of Indiana, are 
 about to embark for your land. I am well acquainted 
 with them both, and often we have laboured together 
 in the same meetings. We have felt very near and 
 precious unity with each other. We all I'ejoice in our 
 work, we do endeavour, not by constraint but willingly, 
 to exercise our gifts. I wish I could just see them for 
 an hour or two before they embark, and send something 
 by them to you, but that is out of the question, they 
 are 800 miles from us. They embark at New York, 
 I believe. J. H. D.'s companion, Murray Shipley, is 
 a very interesting, pleasant man, an earnest worker. 
 J. and I were kindly entertained several days in his 
 house, when in Cincinnati." . . . 
 
 After attending New York and New England 
 Yearly Meetings, having spent a few days at Joseph 
 Grinnell's, and visited at Dr. Tobey's home in Provi- 
 dence, Rhode Island, E. L. C. went with her daughter 
 to visit the State Prison at Clinton. The latter writes, 
 *' We went dowm Lake Champlain, between the Green 
 Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks of New 
 York, to get to the prison, where mamma was introduced 
 to the inmates by the manager, as the ' Elizabeth Fry 
 of America.' We stayed over First-day, and mamma 
 visited the prisoners from cell to cell. On my awaking 
 in the morning, she said to me, ' C, Dr. Tobey has just 
 been here.' ' Oh, no,' I replied, 'that cannot be, thou 
 must have been dreaming, for we are in Clinton, not
 
 246 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1867. 
 
 in Providence.' *I feel sure I was awake, I saw him 
 plainly, and he so earnestly encouraged me to go on 
 with my work, and ended with, " Be faithful, be diligent, 
 the time is short." ' I have often heard her relate the 
 circumstances since. She wrote that day to Dr. Tobey's 
 wife, telling her the vision, and in reply was told that, 
 allowing for the difference in time and distance, it must 
 have been just the hour that Dr. T. died, and that he 
 must have visited her on his way to his home above." 
 
 From the account of a General Meeting of Friends, 
 held in Grant County, Indiana, 14-8-1867, the following 
 extracts are taken : — 
 
 " Invocations went up for light — light from the 
 Eternal Spirit, and this was the key-note to the 
 religious exercise of the morning. The opening prayer 
 was followed by E. L. Comstock in ministry, 
 commencing with Barton's beautiful hymn : 
 
 ' Let there be light ! So spake thy Sovereign power. 
 
 Fortli burst the beams of new created day, 
 Applauding angels liailed the eventful liour, 
 
 Enraptured seraphs blessed the cheering ray.' 
 
 . . . . The ritual worship of the Jews under the 
 old dispensation was sublimely grand, but the 
 Christian's adoration, in spirit and in truth, is still 
 more surpassingly grand. Solomon's temple crumbled 
 to dust long centuries ago, but the temple of the human 
 heart, where this true worship is offered, shall endure 
 to endless ages ! . . . . Eighteen hundred years 
 ago, when Christ was taking leave of his little band of 
 followers, he gave the command ' Go ye into all the 
 world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.' As
 
 1867.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 247 
 
 by the Evangelist, he declared to the ancient churches 
 that he beheld their works, or knew their works, so he 
 still knows what work the church is performing. It 
 is not necessary to be rich, or great, or learned, in 
 order to labour successfully for Christ. He has not in 
 any age worked by these chiefly. No need for anyone 
 to say, ' If I had the eloquence of such an one, or the 
 wealth of another,' I would work. . . It is a blessed 
 thing to work for Jesus. It has been given to us to 
 labour for Him. If He should ask the angels to come 
 to our world to instruct the ignorant, and to reclaim 
 wanderers, methinks multitudes would be ready. But 
 this is not required of angels ; it is my work, and your 
 work, the work of all God's obedient children. 
 
 "It is woman's peculiar business to labour for the 
 reclamation of other wandering sisters. The number 
 of these is appalling. Twenty thousand in the city of 
 New York, twelve or thirteen thousand in Chicago, as 
 many more in Cincinnati ; in Boston, ten thousand, 
 and St. Louis contains still a larger number in pro- 
 portion to its population. Yet Christians and Christian 
 ministers hardly ever speak of this turbid stream of 
 vice and shame. It is producing disease and death all 
 over the land. I have had intelligent Christian 
 physicians intreat me to help to reclaim these, in 
 order to arrest the stream of physical disease. 
 How many of these poor creatures are ' more sinned 
 against than sinning ? ' I have known instances 
 of daughters of ministers of the Gospel falling through 
 destitution, &c." The young were earnestly appealed 
 to, to become workers in the cause. " Some you can
 
 248 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1867. 
 
 relieve — some you can take to your houses, and assist 
 them to redeem themselves, &c. You can tell them 
 they have a Friend, who can save them to the uttermost. 
 I wish I had a voice that could reach to the ends of 
 the lands, so that I might be instrumental in rescuing 
 
 these erring ones 
 
 " Emily, the beautiful and accomplished daughter 
 of a wealthy family, was taken ill. Her fond parents 
 were filled with alarm, fearing that they might lose 
 their darling. A skilful physician was summoned. 
 Days and nights of anxious suspense and careful 
 watching followed ; then the skill of the doctor and 
 the careful nursing of the family were repaid by 
 Emily's restoration to health. A liberal fee paid to the 
 physician testified the gratitude of the parents. They 
 felt that their precious child had been snatched from 
 the very jaws of death. A few weeks passed away, and 
 this petted child of luxury disappeared from the home 
 of her childhood. Weeping and w^ailing, sorrow and 
 grief were there. They sought her but she could not 
 be found, and a greater alarm than they had ever 
 known before — a denser darkness overshadowed the 
 once bright home, and settled upon the hearts of the 
 stricken, bereaved parents, as they mourned with un- 
 availing anguish their lost child. And where was 
 Emily ? The story is soon told. The young physician 
 also had disappeared. The young, impressible, un- 
 suspecting heart of the girl of fifteen had been won, 
 and with promises of marriage, of a life of happiness, 
 of pleasure and of indulgence, she had been enticed 
 from the loving, trusting parents, from the bright,
 
 1867.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 249 
 
 joyous home, from the innocent companions of her 
 girlhood, and led into sorrow, shame, and woe. Bitter 
 disappointment was her portion, as day after day the 
 prospect of marriage was delayed, and seemed more 
 and more remote. The seducer tried to cheer his poor 
 victim by taking her to the theatre, the opera, the 
 concert, by the wine-cup, by change of scene, travel- 
 ling, witnessing the beautiful variety of landscape, 
 resting in large hotels luxuriantly fitted up, and 
 elegantly furnished apartments. For a season, intoxi- 
 cated by what the world calls pleasure, reflection was 
 drowned out, conscience was deadened, and the better 
 feelings seemed to sleep. After a few months of this 
 indulgence there came a bitter awakening — conscience 
 would be heard — remorse was gnawing at her heart. 
 Her beauty was fading, her vivacity and sprightliness 
 gone, her attractiveness passing away, and finding her 
 no longer able to minister to his enjoyments, the cruel 
 seducer deserted his heart-broken victim. Weak and 
 ill, she took refuge for awhile in a hospital. After 
 months of suffering, strong enough, physically, to 
 walk about, she was dismissed from this refuge, yet 
 not strong enough to battle with the world or to earn 
 her own living. Comfortless, lonely, she wandered 
 homeless, seeking for occupation, for the means of 
 sustenance. Timidly she ventured to call on a 
 * Christian lady,' and enquired for work. She was 
 coldly repulsed — ' I do not Avant one like you in my 
 house, to associate with my daughters ! ' A second 
 effort was made ; the poor young heart was longing 
 for sympathy, yearning for a home, * What can you
 
 250 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1867. 
 
 do ? ' was the query. She could not teach, and if she 
 could, they did not want one like her to teach their 
 children. * Could she sew ? ' 'make dresses ? ' ' under- 
 stand millinery ? ' ' the sewing machine ? ' No ! Alas ! 
 poor child, there was no place for her there. 
 
 " ' So she turned again to sin, 
 What had she to lose or win.' 
 
 " After a few more months passed in the paths her 
 
 soul loathed, she was again deserted, and ill, suffering, 
 
 destitute, took refuge in a hospital. Months of physical 
 
 prostration and acute pain succeeded ; then, thrown 
 
 once more upon the world, she strove to find some 
 
 means of earning her living in an honest reputable 
 
 way. Again she failed — wandering about, cold, hungry, 
 
 faint, helpless, comfortless ; 
 
 " 'So she turned again to sin, 
 What had she to lose or win.' 
 
 "Step by step, falling lower and lower, just five 
 years after leaving the pleasant, hapj^y home of her 
 childhood, she was picked up on the street, the very 
 off-scouring of one of our large cities, and conveyed to 
 a hospital to die. Some Christian ladies visited her 
 there, in the love of Him who came ' to seek and to 
 save the lost.' Plucked as a brand from the burning, 
 the poor penitent was brought at last to the Saviour's 
 feet. 
 
 "And where, during these five years of disappointed 
 hopes, of blighted affections, of weariness, of dreary 
 loneliness, of deep contrition, of keen remorse, of 
 degradation and shame, where was the heartless seducer 
 — the deceiver ? Rising high in his profession. In
 
 1867.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 251 
 
 the houses of the wealthy and influential, practising 
 as a physician, received into the best families in the 
 land as medical adviser, and as an honoured guest ; 
 seated at their tables, riding in their carriages, mingling 
 freely with the chaste, the pure, the high-minded. 
 Two other victims attest his power to deceive, to 
 entice, to ruin — dying in agon}-, in ignominy — heart 
 broken. Three homes have been made desolate, from 
 which he has enticed unsuspecting girls. Visiting the 
 hospital professionally^ where Emily was dying, he 
 drew near the repulsive looking object, not imagining 
 that his eyes looked upon the once lovely, accomplished 
 girl. As he bent over her, she recognised him. Those 
 dying eyes rested a moment upon his countenance, 
 and the feeble voice articulated, 'Harold, do you not 
 know Emily?' Well might his cheek blanch with 
 horror. Well might his knees smite together as he 
 looked upon the wreck he had wrought. Christian 
 women, this is no fancy sketch, but a true unvarnished 
 fact. Emily is gone to her last resting-place. Other 
 Emilys still live, still suffer. Will you not extend to 
 them your sympathy, your pity, your love ? Reach 
 out your hands to snatch them as a brand from the 
 burning. Harold still lives. There are many Harolds 
 abroad in our land — admired, honoured, entertained, 
 trusted. Do you recognise one such in your circle of 
 acquaintance ? Does he visit in your house, sit at 
 your table, ride in your carriage, converse with your 
 daughters ? contaminate your sons ? Beiuare ! " 
 
 After many wanderings, and visits to meetings and 
 Friends, E. L. C. writes on the 27th of 7th Mo., 68,
 
 252 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1867. 
 
 " I have been at home about two weeks, and never 
 enjoyed my sweet, quiet, rural home more than I do 
 now. The evergreens, mountain ash, acacias, and 
 sumachs have grown a great deal since dear L. and 
 L. A. have visited here. The house white-painted, with 
 green Venetian blinds outside each window, seems 
 fairly embosomed in trees. The song of the birds and 
 the beautiful foliage are delightful to the eye and 
 harmonious to the ear. The graceful, feathery blossoms 
 of the acacias, very fragrant, loading the air with 
 perfumes, and attracting the bees in large quantities. 
 The blue jay, a handsome bird, has built her nest and 
 reared her young in the Norway spruce, near our 
 bedroom window. The Baltimore oriole refreshes us 
 with her melody. I have been sitting sewing, dear C. 
 beside me, at our chamber window, and am thankful 
 and happy. I often stayed my needle to look, to drink 
 in a draught of the beauty and luxuriance that God's 
 bountiful hand hath showered around us in rich 
 profusion. The sumachs to the west of the house, a 
 horse chestnut, the tall poplars and some young weeping 
 willows, add to the varied beauty of the landscape, 
 which is as pleasant a picture as we can look upon in 
 this level country. I am enjoying the rest and quiet 
 of home exceedingly. . . . Thank thee, dear C, for 
 thy addition to dear L.'s very interesting letter. We 
 are rather amused at your account of that large meeting 
 at Jordans,* 200. John thinks thou omitted a cipher, 
 and meant to say 2,000. We think our Quarterly 
 
 '*Small meeting house at Jordany, Buckinghamshire, in the 
 graveyard of whicli William Penn was buried.
 
 1867.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 253 
 
 Meeting small, when there are less than 700 or 800 
 present. Indiana Yearly Meeting House will seat 3,000, 
 and on First-day, during the Y. M., is generally crowded, 
 and two or three lai'ge meetings out of doors also. Do 
 you read the ' Herald of Peace ? ' I will send you one 
 or two copies ; if you desire more, say so, and I will 
 send them. You will detect ' E. L. C.'s ' and ' Aunt 
 Elizabeth's ' contributions, of course, as mine. I wish 
 you would each send a paper for the ' Herald.'' 
 
 The following is an extract from one of the papers 
 referred to, and is headed, "Go work in My vineyard." 
 She writes, " For years I had heard the language," and 
 then describes her going to the Yearly Meeting, when 
 eight and a half years old, and listening to Elizabeth 
 Fry, as narrated on page 2. E.L.C. continues, "Year 
 after year, when amid the vanities of youth, the day- 
 spring from on high visited my soul, the longing of my 
 childhood was renewed, and the prayer of my heart at 
 times was, when I witnessed distress and suffering, 
 ' Here I am, send me.' .... When the duties 
 and responsibilities of a minister rested upon me, like 
 most others in our Society I devoted my attention to 
 the meetings of Friends, chiefly. The thought was 
 often present of the poor, the outcast, the wanderers, 
 the prisoners, accompanied by a wish that Friends 
 would labour with such. There was a shrinking from 
 walking in a new track, from entering upon a path 
 that I had not heard of any Friends engaging in, this 
 side the Atlantic. It was while attending the General 
 Sabbath School Conference of Friends, in Cincinnati, 
 that the wide field of Mission labour was opened before
 
 254 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1867. 
 
 me in an unexpected way, accompanied by the 
 commission, ' Go work in My vineyard.' 
 
 " The last sitting of tliat Conference was a memerable 
 season to me. Benjamin Frankland, the able and 
 successful Sabbath School Superintendent of the 
 Bethel mission, was called upon to speak. He made 
 some admirable and very practical remarks upon the 
 subject, and wound up with language something like 
 this, as he turned to the seats where the ministers were 
 sitting, ' Friends, when you go into your nice, com- 
 fortable meeting houses, and invite the people to come 
 up there to you, to listen to the preaching of the Gospel, 
 and stop there, you are not following the example of 
 your Saviour. While he was found at times in the temple 
 and the synagogue, he was found far more frequently 
 going from place to place, among, and surrounded by 
 the wandering, the suffering and the outcasts.' 
 
 " This earnest, impressive appeal from a young, 
 devoted servant of the Lord, met the witness for truth 
 in my heart. That night sleep departed from my eyes, 
 and slumber from my eyelids. I could not rest. I 
 was led into a close, searching self-examination as to 
 the reason why, after the early visitations of my child- 
 hood, I had not been labouring long ago among the 
 poor and the suffering, the outcasts and the wanderers. 
 Serious reflection led me to the conclusion that I had 
 been too easily discouraged, and had, through this, been 
 negligent and unfaithful. I had let in the reasoner ; 
 the enemy had suggested, ' Friends don't do this,' 
 ' Friends don't do that.' ' Thy Monthly Meeting will 
 not give thee a minute for service so unusual,' &c.
 
 1867.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 255 
 
 Excuses like this had withheld me. After spending 
 some hours in the night season thus reflecting, and in 
 prayer before the Lord, I felt my peace concerned in 
 entering into solemn covenant with my Heavenly 
 Father, henceforth to dedicate myself to Him and to 
 His service in this direction, as he was pleased to open 
 the way before me. Before the dawn of the morning, 
 not only was this resolution taken, but a letter 
 written to the elders of my Meeting and dear home 
 friends, seeking their unity and sanction to my 
 prospect of labour in prisons, hospitals, asylums, 
 in the streets and lanes of some of our large cities, and 
 in the highways and hedges of our rural districts. My 
 letter was cordially responded to by them, and my 
 Monthly Meeting, with full, cordial unity, granted me 
 a minute. Never have they hesitated from that day to 
 this present time, but way has opened for every service, 
 and the words, ' I have set before thee an open door,' 
 have been sounded in my ear. No man can shut it. 
 Peace has been the reward of faithfulness. I have 
 found more comfort, more substantial enjoyment in 
 this work, than in my whole life before. I have 
 proved the truth of the words. 
 
 ' There is work in the crowded street, 
 
 There is work in the silent cell ; 
 Midst the noisiest hum, and the busiest feet, 
 In halls where thronging multitudes meet, 
 
 In the hovel where outcasts dwell. 
 Stay not to choose your path, 
 
 Shrink not from heat or cold ; 
 There nourish the seed by- prayer and faith. 
 
 You will gather a hundred fold! "
 
 256 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1867. 
 
 In another contribution to the " Herald of Peace," 
 she says, "I want to call the attention of your readers to 
 the difference between the labours of the disciples in this 
 day, and those of the primitive labourers in the church 
 of Christ. In those days three thousand were converted 
 and added to the church in one day. Now, we may look 
 at some of our Friends' meetings, and see one converted 
 ill three thousand days ! A wide difference, indeed ! 
 Christ designed that His followers should be in the 
 world, but not of the world. The churches were planted 
 in the cities ; now we find in many places our meeting 
 houses are built in some quiet, retired, out of the way 
 spot, as far as may be from the wicked world, instead 
 of standing as a light in the world, 'The common 
 people heard Him gladly,' 'the multitudes followed 
 Him,' and 'this man receiveth sinners,' was proverbial 
 about Him. Now, we sometimes hear it said, 'Quaker- 
 ism is not adapted to the masses.' When the poor 
 outcasts, wanderers and sinners have their hearts 
 touched, and are awakened, and led to cry out ' What 
 shall I do to be saved? ' where shall we find a home for 
 these in the church? They need its fostering care, 
 its tender sympathy. . . These matters claim the 
 earnest, prayerful thought of our members at this crisis, 
 when so many are enquiring after the truth, as we 
 profess it, and many hearts are touched in our tract- 
 reading, our social, religious, and circulating meetings. 
 " The time is come for us to show that our Society, 
 like the churches in the days of the Apostles, is 
 adapted to the poor. ' To the poor, the Gospel shall be 
 preached.' ' Go work to-day in My vineyard.' ' Go
 
 1867.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 257 
 
 out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and 
 compel them to come in.' 
 
 " ' Go ! to the hungry food impart, 
 
 To paths of peace the wanderer guide ; 
 And lead the thirsty panting heart, 
 
 Where streams of living water glide ! 
 ! faint not in the day of toil, 
 
 When harvest waits the reaper's hand ; 
 
 Go, gather in the glorious spoil. 
 And joyous in his presence stand. 
 
 Thy love a rich reward shall iind, 
 
 From Him who sits enthroned on high. • 
 
 For they who turn the erring mind, 
 
 Shall shine like stars in yonder sky ! ' 
 
 " Spirit-stirring language like this has led mefortk 
 from a pleasant, quiet rural home— nerving me for the 
 warfare against indolence and selfishness. It has led me 
 to surmount all opposition, and to brave all weather, 
 and made me feel that with the poor, the toiling and 
 the outcast, ' It is sweet to work for Jesus.' 
 
 " From cellar to attic in the densely crowded city, 
 or from cottage to cottage, where the lowly, the poor 
 and the suffering are found, there is good soil to work 
 upon, and there ' It is sweet to work for Jesus ! ' In 
 the city hospitals, in the poor houses, in the various 
 asylums — how sweet to the ear of the lonely, feeble, or 
 aged inmates, comes the message : 
 
 ' There is rest for the soul that on Jesus relies ; 
 There's a home for the homeless prepared in the skies, 
 There's a joy in believing, a hope and a stay, 
 That the world cannot give, nor the world take away.' 
 
 " In the military hospitals, during the last few 
 years, there has been a wide field of labour ; I trust
 
 258 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1867. 
 
 such another may never open in this beautiful and 
 prosperous land. I have been requested to relate some 
 incidents of the late war that came under my notice in 
 the hospitals." 
 
 (Here follow several thrilling incidents that the 
 speaker witnessed during the war narrated in former 
 pages of this volume).
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 259 
 
 Chapter XV. 
 
 Papers ivritten for Ainerican ^'■Herald of Peaces 
 
 LITTLE PHILIP— A TRUE STORY. 
 
 THERE was a poor little ignorant, bare-footed slave 
 boy, living in South Carolina ninety years ago, 
 named Philip. He had never attended a meeting, had 
 never been to school — did not even know his letters, 
 had never heard of Jesus or of heaven, he had never 
 heard the name of God but in profane swearing, so that 
 he did not know that God is good, and great, and kind, 
 and loving. 
 
 One day, a preacher passing along the road, saw 
 the poor ragged boy, and spoke kindly to him. He 
 laid his hand upon his head and said, "Poor little boy : 
 what is your name ? " " Philip," was his reply. " Then," 
 said the minister very solemnly, "little Philip must 
 be a good boy, then he will some day be an angel in 
 heaven. Here little Philip goes about bare-headed ; 
 there he will wear a golden crown. Here he has only 
 his one coarse, ragged garment ; there he will wear a 
 beautiful white robe. Here little Philip is bare-foot ; 
 there he may wear silver slippers and walk on golden 
 streets." The poor little boy looked and listened with 
 astonishment, and thought how wonderful a man that 
 was that knew so-much about God and heaven. Philip 
 thought a great deal about what the minister said to
 
 260 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 him. For many days he wandered about and looked 
 up at the sky and the clouds, and at the tree-tops, and 
 longed to see God. He wanted to know more about 
 Him, and in his ignorant simplicity, thought he should 
 see Him. Day after day, he wandered and watched 
 for Him. Night after night he looked up at the 
 tranquil moon and peaceful looking stars, thinking 
 perhaps God was there. When he heard the sweet 
 song of the birds, or listened to the wind swaying the 
 tree-tops, he looked up with awe, saying, " Is God 
 there ?" One day, as he thus looked and listened, he 
 thought he could hear a voice saying, '" Child, pray ! 
 Child, pray ! " He went and told Aunt Rhoda, the old 
 coloured woman, who said, " Philip, that was God 
 talking to you. You must mind what God says ; you 
 must pray !" Poor little Philip did not know what 
 this meant, but she explained to him that he must 
 kneel down and say, " God, make Philip a good boy ! " 
 He went alone and prayed. In the woods, in the 
 solitary places, by day and by night, he called upon God, 
 who heard his prayer; and "all at once," he said, he 
 felt as though God was with him, over him, all round 
 about him, he felt Him in his heart, and seemed as 
 though he could see Him in everything around him. 
 Now he was happy. The next thing Philip did was 
 to talk to little July, one of his companions, and tell 
 him how happy he was. He led him to one of 
 his places of prayer, and the two little boys prayed 
 together, and were very happy and rejoiced together. 
 When their master heard of their prayer, he scolded 
 them, threatened to whip them, and ordered them
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 261 
 
 to leave off praying. Then they rose at three o'clock 
 in the morning that they might go out alone in the 
 woods before day and pray. Their cruel master, 
 hearing of it, swore at them, and threatened to " stop 
 their praying or stop their breath." A few days after, 
 the slave-driver caught them praying, and their master 
 had them stripped, tied up, and severelj* whipped, 
 twenty lashes with the bull-whip and ten strokes with 
 the paddle. Then with angry words he enquired, 
 would they leave off praying now. The helpless little 
 sufferers meekly answered, " please, massa, do let us 
 pray to God." " Give them another round," was the 
 harsh command. Twenty more lashes and ten more 
 strokes they received, and then they were asked if 
 they would leave off praying. " please, massa, do let 
 us pray to God," was all the answer of the poor little 
 boys, who were ordered to receive " another round." 
 Then when cut down, they were so weak they could 
 not stand, but dropped down to the ground that was 
 crimsoned with their blood. Much kindness was shewn 
 to Philip and July by the negroes as soon as they had 
 crawled away out of sight of the "great house"; an 
 old "aunty" washed and dressed their wounds tenderly, 
 while many tears were shed by those who could not, 
 and dared not, help them. The children did not 
 give up praying, but cried all the more earnestly to 
 God for help. The master then turned his tactics, and 
 tried another plan to put an end to these prayer- 
 meetings, in which others were beginning to join. 
 He tried the effect of ridicule, called the child the 
 ♦'big preacher," "howling Philip," and other names
 
 262 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 in derision. He told him he should build a high 
 pulpit under a tree, and send for all the negroes on 
 the plantations near, and all the white people round, 
 and if he would preach and pray, he should do so 
 before them all the next Sabbath. The child was in 
 an agony of terror, and prayed to God more earnestly 
 than ever, and asked Him to send some minister to 
 preach in his stead, as he did not know a single text of 
 Scripture, or a word to say. But when the time came, 
 the two little boys, hand in hand, mounted to the 
 pulpit, all trembling with fear, as their master stood 
 near, deriding and mocking them. They did not know 
 a letter of the alphabet, and there stood their master, 
 saying he would "hold the Bible open for them to 
 preach from, for of course they could not preach 
 without the Bible." The little boys as they stood 
 trembling, lifted up their hearts in prayer, and then 
 broke forth into singing, and as their little voices rose 
 upon the air with the following lines, many hearts 
 were touched, and many tears were drawn from the 
 eyes of the by-standers : 
 
 " My Saviour ! my Almighty Friend ! 
 
 When shall I begin Thy praise ? 
 When shall the growing numbers end — 
 
 The numbers of Thy grace ? " 
 
 By the time they had sung three verses of that 
 Bweet hymn, a great many were bathed in tears, and on 
 their knees crying for mercy. " Lord, have mercy on 
 me, a sinner ! " " Lord, help me ! " " Jesus, save me ! " 
 and other earnest prayers were heard. The children 
 gained courage as they sang, but their master was filled
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 263 
 
 with fear, as he heard all the slaves crying out for 
 mercy, and closing the Bible in haste and throwing it 
 aside, he left them and went to his bedroom, and shut 
 himself up there, alone, for the rest of the day. He 
 never opposed them afterwards, or tried to hinder their 
 prayers. The poor slaves held their prayer-meeting 
 regularly from that time, and many were converted 
 unto God. " Little Philip" is still living, an earnest 
 servant of the Lord, nearly ninety-nine years old. In 
 speaking of these things he says, " God did hear my 
 prayers, and came and helped ' little Philip.' He 
 thrashed a big mountain with this poor little worm that 
 day." He is now quietly waiting, " Only waiting," he 
 says, " till God calls him home." — E. L. C. 
 
 This true and interesting story is given more fully in Laura 
 S. Haviland's " Life Work." 
 
 The Prison a Sphere for Woman's Labour. 
 
 Written for the Herald of Peace. 
 
 " Wouldst tliou from sorrow find a sweet relief, 
 
 Or is thy heart oppressed with woes untold ; 
 Balm wouldst thou gather for corroding grief, 
 
 Pour blessings round thee like a shower of gold ? 
 'Tis when the rose is wrapped in many a fold, 
 
 Close to its heart, the worm is wasting there 
 Its life and beauty ; not when all unrolled, 
 
 Leaf after leaf, it blossoms rich and fair, 
 Breathes freely perfumes through the ambient air." 
 
 Go to the cell of the convict. Listen with a 
 sympathizing ear to the story of sorrow, the tale of woe. 
 Speak, in the name of Jesus, such messages of love and
 
 264 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 mercy, or of earnest warning as He shall give thee power 
 to utter, asking for His blessing thereupon. Often 
 have I seen the head of the strong man bowed, and the 
 tears trickling down the bronzed cheek, at the sound 
 of a woman's voice. ' Oh ! how you remind me of my 
 mother," said one. " I had a good mother ; if I had 
 taken her advice, I should never have been here." 
 *' I have never heard a kind sympathizing word since 
 my mother died," said another, "and you speak just 
 as she did." 
 
 Do you say that you have not the power to go 
 and speak to the prisoners ? Remember Who it is that 
 hath said that He would account a deed of kindness or 
 of self-renouncing love to any of His suffering children 
 as done unto Himself. He was once a prisoner, and 
 enjoins visiting the prisoners, as a mark of love for, 
 and allegiance to Himself. Art thou lacking in power 
 and wisdom, and skill for the work ? Go, ask Him for 
 power. Ask Him for wisdom, "who giveth to all men 
 liberally, and upbraideth not." Ask Him what He 
 would have thee to do. Perhaps He may give thee 
 skill to reach the heart by speaking to them collectively, 
 or He may be pleased to commission thee to go from 
 cell to cell, with words of loving sympathy, with a few 
 tracts or a few flowers, and He will bless the seed thus 
 sown. 
 
 Two dear young ladies of my acquaintance, after 
 our meeting with 1,350 prisoners at Sing Sing, 
 spent a little time in going to visit the women in their 
 cells, and gave them each a little bouquet of flowers, 
 and a sweet hymn or tract.
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 265 
 
 These little presents gave great pleasure to those 
 poor convicts, who have so few comforts, and so few 
 friends to care for them. The prison hospital is often 
 good ground, well prepared for the seed to fall upon. 
 When the prisoners are ill, their hearts are often tender, 
 and peculiarly susceptible of good impressions. Among 
 all the interesting cases that have come under my 
 notice, was one that I shall never forget while memory 
 remains. 
 
 In the hospital in Sing Sing prison, I found an intelli- 
 gent, youthful-looking convict, far gone in pulmonary 
 consumption. Beside his bed was a stand, and on the stand 
 a Bible. " Would you like to see my mother's Bible ? " 
 he enquired, after I had conversed with him a few 
 minutes. As I took it from his feeble, trembling hand. 
 I observed that it bore the marks of being well used, 
 I noticed pencillings in the margin, and twenty little 
 slips of paper scattered through the book, between the 
 leaves, each one containing a text from the Bible, and 
 numbered one, two, three, to twenty. It was a sad 
 story that I heard, partly from himself, and partly 
 from the chaplain at his bedside. When brought to 
 the prison, six months previously, " he was the only son 
 of his mother, and she was a widow," a pious woman, 
 but too indulgent to her fatherless boy. She loved him 
 dearly, but could not bear to thwart him. The result 
 was that he grow up headstrong and self-willed, 
 resisting all restraint, choosing evil associates, he was 
 led into mischief and sin, and finally, when only 
 eighteen or nineteen years of age, the mother's heart 
 was almost broken by the heavy tidings that her boy
 
 266 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 had been arrested, tried, and sent to the State prison 
 for three years, in company with some others, old 
 offenders, who had led him into sin. 
 
 This painful intelligence seemed to be the one drop 
 too much for his mother's cup of bitterness. Always 
 delicate, her strength seemed to give way, and she felt 
 that she was not long for this world. Her heart's desire 
 was to see her boy once more before her death. Sum- 
 moning all her energy, gathering her little remaining 
 strength, she undertook the journey by easy stages, and, 
 within the precincts of the prison, her only child was 
 brought before her in his convict's suit. What tongue 
 can portray the feelings of that stricken mother, in that 
 last sad interview with her wandering boy ? Who 
 shall describe that loving mother's last counsels, her 
 tender embrace, her parting words, her looks of love, 
 her earnest, prayerful benediction ? Her Bible, his 
 father's wedding present upon the bridal morn, that 
 she had read daily for twenty-one years, she placed in 
 the hand of her boy, with the few words, " Read it 
 every day, my child, for my sake. May it be your 
 consolation in sorrow and loneliness, as it has been 
 mine. May God have mercy upon you, and grant that 
 we may meet in heaven, for Christ's sake, for we shall 
 never, never meet again on earth." 
 
 The fainting mother was borne back to the carriage 
 which was to convey her to her desolate home, there to 
 pine, to droop, to die. Her son was remanded to his 
 cell, to ponder upon the desolation that his sin had 
 wrought, with his mother's Bible for his only com- 
 panion. Never very strong, inheriting his mother's
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 2G7 
 
 constitutional weakness, the prison discipline, hard 
 work, hard fare, reduced his physical strength, and 
 when, three weeks after this trying scene, the 
 announcement was suddenly made to him, " Your 
 mother is dead," he could bear no more. He was taken 
 to the hospital, in which I found him, and where he 
 had been six weeks. Opening his Bible, I found on 
 the slip of paper No. 1 the words, " Oh, wretched man 
 that I am : who shall deliver me from the body of 
 this death ? " Upon these words he had pondered for 
 manj" days, in an agony of distress, exclaiming at 
 intervals, " Oh, my mother, my dear mother ! I have 
 killed the best of mothers." His remorse was fearful 
 as he upbraided himself with being his mother's 
 murderer. His anguish of mind produced fever, and, 
 at times, mental aberration. When reason had deserted 
 her throne, he would cry out for his mother to come 
 and smooth his pillow, to lave his burning brow, to 
 moisten his parched lips, and alleviate his sufferings, 
 and minister to him as she used to do in former times, 
 when he was a little boy, sick and suffering. Then, as 
 the fever subsided, a terrible season of exhaustion 
 and helplessness would ensue, accompanied by a sense 
 of utter desolation, and his now thoroughly awakened 
 conscience would upbraid him with destroying his 
 mother. " Now I shall never, never hear her sweet 
 voice again," he said, " her arms will never be lovingly 
 thrown around me. She will never more watch over me 
 in sickness, or soothe me in sorrow, or shield me from 
 shame. Oh, my mother, my dear, dear mother ! " 
 
 While thus mourning in unavailing anguish, his
 
 268 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 attention was attracted by some of his mother's marginal 
 pencillings, by the text No. 2, upon a slip of paper, 
 " God so loved the world that He gave His only 
 begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should 
 not perish but have everlasting life." The mother's 
 feeble hand had traced the words, "God loves you, my 
 child." Here was comfort for the comfortless boy. 
 
 No. 3 contained the words " This is a faithful 
 saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ 
 came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." 
 Here were words of consolation, long pondered upon. 
 
 No. 4, " Verily I say unto thee, except a man be 
 born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 
 
 No. 5, " Now the fraits of the flesh are . . ." 
 
 No. 6, " Now the fruits of the spirit are love and 
 peace." 
 
 Thus, step by step, it seemed, the poor penitent, 
 alone and desolate, had the way of life and salvation 
 unfolded before him. The Spirit of the Lord, as a 
 convictor of sin, a comforter, a counsellor, an instructor, 
 was Avitli him, teaching him, leading him along. As 
 so many stepping-stones, these beautiful passages 
 followed each other, depicting the Christian's course 
 upward and onward, until on reaching Nos. 18, 19 and 
 20, I found the joys of the redeemed portrayed, as in 
 the seventh, fourteenth and twenty-first chapters of 
 Revelations. 
 
 No. 18 told of the "great multitude which no man 
 could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, 
 and tongues, clothed with white robes and with palms 
 in their hands."
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 269 
 
 No. 19, " These are they which came out of great 
 tribulation, and have washed their robes and made 
 them white in the blood of the Lamb," etc. 
 
 No. 20, "And they sing the song of Moses, the 
 servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 
 ' Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God 
 Almighty, jnst and true are thy ways, thou King of 
 Saints.' " 
 
 These striking passages had been arranged as a 
 string of precious pearls by the prisoner, who was now 
 feeling the sweet peace resulting from the language 
 " Thy sins be forgiven thee," and trusting in his 
 Saviour, he was patiently waiting until he should 
 receive the summons to stand before his God. After 
 a Bweet season of prayer and thanksgiving, we parted. 
 A few months later, upon visiting Sing Sing, I went 
 into the hospital. I found the bed ; it was empty. 
 The stand was there — the Bible gone. Inquiring for 
 the young prisoner, I was prepared to hear the news, 
 "He is dead." "He died happily," said one of the 
 attendants. My spirit rejoiced with, and for, the 
 ransomed prisoner. I gave thanks that another 
 redeemed one was added to the countless multitude 
 above — another gem in the Saviour's crown — another 
 blood-bought soul to celebrate the wonders of creative 
 power, the riches of redeeming love. 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 Sheboygan Falls, 23-6-68, 
 
 Wisconsin, on the Western shore of Lake Michigan, 
 200 miles North of Chicago. 
 
 " Thy very welcome letter of the 24th ult. reached 
 me last week in Chicago. I commenced a reply, and
 
 270 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 have left it there, so begin another here. ... I 
 feel that we dp not keep up so brisk a correspondence as 
 would be pleasant. My own very pressing engagements 
 in a ministerial and missionary line, almost absorb 
 my thoughts and feelings, and I do not get much time 
 for writing social or family correspondence. Thou 
 and I are Avell assured of each other's tender and 
 sisterly love, and this will be a comfort to us both 
 oft-times when it is not expressed. For two years, 
 I had looked forward toward spending a winter in the 
 South. The prisons in the Southern States, I had 
 heard, were in a sad condition, quite as bad as Newgate, 
 when Elizabeth Fry visited it in 1816, and as the 
 prisons on the European Continent when John 
 Howard visited them. Two years ago it was on my 
 mind to go there, when dear Sybil Jones went, and she 
 and I had some correspondence about it. I named it 
 to my dear husband, and he said, 'Wait until next 
 winter, and I will let out my farm and go with thee.' 
 I waited. The next winter came — he could not go, 
 but earnestly pleaded 'wait another year, and then 
 I think I can go.' Again I delayed, and the prospect 
 weakened with each delay, and other servants of the 
 Lord were sent to work in that vineyard, and have 
 accomplished a great deal there. There is no longer 
 the urgent call for me to go, and as that prospect 
 closed, another opened in Chicago, and J.'s mind has 
 been gradually preparing for it. He is now arranging 
 to let his farm in the fall, and he and I expect to spend 
 next winter- in Chicago. We are not likely to move 
 our household furniture away from Rollin, but simply
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 271 
 
 to board there for a few months. It is a great comfort 
 to me to have my dear husband with me in my work. 
 We have been so much separated during our short 
 married life, and now that we have the last three years 
 been more together, we feel more closely united, less 
 willing to be separated, more absolutely necessary to 
 each other ; and if we can work together in the 
 vineyard of the Lord, we rejoice. Dear C. is now in 
 the Rowland Institute ; we expect her home next 
 month. She will spend the winter with us in Chicago. 
 It will be very delightful to me to have her again with 
 me, and to her also. She and her father keep up a 
 regular correspondence, and seem to appreciate each 
 other. 
 
 " I was very much interested in thy graphic 
 description of the pleasant home and surroundings of 
 our uncle and aunt at Maidenhead, and at Maidstone 
 likewise. No wonder Aunt A. begins to look like an 
 aged woman. She is sixteen years older than I am. 
 My hair is getting grey, and my memory is failing, 
 except upon a few points that it has been much 
 exercised upon, as Scripture passages, beautiful poetry 
 that I learned when a chiM, and scenes of suffering 
 that I have witnessed in prisons, hospitals, and lunatic 
 asylums. People will sometimes accost me with 
 'Mrs. Comstock, what a wonderful memory you have,' 
 ' I wish I had your memory,' &c. It is a great mista::e, 
 my memory runs in o^uts and grooves, and does not run 
 at all out of these. I am now in the house of friends 
 likely to revive past associations, to call before memory's 
 page the scenes of my childhood and j'outh. H.H.
 
 272 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 and wife, very pleasant Friends in a very comfortable 
 home. He and his sister, M.A.H., were Croydon 
 scholars. They, with their parents, live here in a 
 beautiful village near the lake. A Friend from 
 Chicago, R.P., is my companion. There are seven or 
 eight families of Friends scattered over a space of 
 sixteen or eighteen miles, west of Lake Michigan. 
 They have no meeting. We are encouraging them to 
 start one. I expect to hold a public meeting each 
 evening for a week, and visit the Friends and families 
 and the schools during the day, in two or three villages 
 or towns. . . . Thy sketch of the Yearly Meeting 
 interested me. There is one thing in your Y.M. 
 I do not like. Why should you call the Men's Meeting 
 ' The Yearly Meeting ? ' For our Society, of all others, 
 to allow the self-styled ' Lords of the Creation ' to 
 arrogate so much to themselves, is outrageous. We 
 profess to be the only pure democracy in the world — 
 men and women being one — on an absolute equality in 
 the Lord Jesus, is one of our fundamental doctrines. 
 Such a thing as calling themselves the Yearly Meeting, 
 would not be suffered in our men. We have one 
 Y.M. in New York, with two branches, equal in every 
 respect. The same in Ohio, Indiana, &c. We expect 
 another General Meeting in Indiana, to be held in or 
 near Wabash, next Eighth month, that will be very 
 interesting probably. It will partake of the nature of 
 a Y.M. minus the tedioiiSy uninteresting queries. When 
 we were girls we disliked the queries. Then it was a 
 sort of instinct ; now mature reason comes in with a 
 powerful force, confirming the childish judgment.
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 273 
 
 I do not think the queries do any good. They do not 
 at all represent the state of the Society. I hope to live 
 to see the day when they will be materially altered or 
 abolished. 
 
 " I am sorry the Y.M. of London refused liberty for 
 that foreigner to sit the meeting." 
 
 Go WORK TO-DAY IN MY VINEYARD. 
 
 Written for the AmericaQ Herald of Peace. 
 
 ' Blessed is the man that liath found his work ; lie need desire, 
 no greater blessedness." — Carlyle. 
 
 I cannot go forth and preach the gospel as John 
 H. Douglas does. I have neither eloquence of tongue 
 nor fluency of speech. I cannot go, like those faithful 
 missionaries, Louis and Sarah Street, to Madagascar, 
 to instruct the heathen. I cannot go, like Elizabeth 
 Fry, to the prisons, and speak comforting words to the 
 convicts, or to the houses of ill-fame, to snatch the 
 poor wanderers as '• brands from the burning." 
 I cannot visit the drinking saloons to persuade the 
 victims of intemperance to turn away from the 
 intoxicating cup ; neither can I allure the young sons 
 of our land to leave the gaming table and the insinuating 
 enticements of the billiard room. I am poor and cannot 
 even go round to minister to the wants of the destitute 
 and suffering, by giving them food and clothing. Yet 
 I love my Saviour, and desire to work for Jesus. 
 What can I do ? Such language is sometimes spoken 
 to me, and in reply I say : —
 
 274 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 " If you have not gold and silver 
 
 Ever read}^ to command ; 
 If you cannot towards the needy 
 
 Reach an ever open hand ; 
 You can visit the afflicted, 
 
 O'er the erring you can weep ; 
 You can be a true disciple, 
 
 Sitting at the Saviour's feet. 
 
 Do not then stand idly waiting 
 
 For some greater work to do ; 
 Fortune is a lazy goddess. 
 
 She will never come to you ; 
 Go and toil in any vineyard. 
 
 Do not fear to do or dare, 
 If you want a field of labour, 
 
 You can find it anywhere ! " 
 
 " Go out into the streets and lanes of the city." 
 Turn into the narrow alley — descend into the damp 
 cellar, or climb the rickety stairs into the sultry attic — 
 sit beside the bed of the sufferer— tell the lonely, tried 
 spirit of an ever present friend and comforter. Read a 
 psalm, repeat a hymn, or kneel in prayer, as your best 
 feelings may dictate, or circumstances prompt. Visit 
 the wife of the drunkard, soothe and cheer her, aid her 
 by your sympathy and counsels. Her heart is oppressed, 
 her spirit crushed by a weary weight of woe, she 
 receives bat little human sympathy. To the voice of 
 kindness she is almost a stranger. Harsh words, unkind 
 reproaches, and oft-times heavy blows, poverty, and 
 severe privations are her lot. Comfort her in her tribu- 
 lation, soothe her in her sorrow. Do not forget to take 
 tracts, leaflets for the children, and distribute as you go. 
 Visit the county poor-house and the city infirmary.
 
 1868,] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 275 
 
 Such a company as the compassionate Saviour beheld 
 at Bethesda's pool we find in the poor-houses and alms- 
 liouses — " a multitude of impotent folk, blind, halt, 
 withered, &c." Tell these of his tender care for such. 
 Read the first few verses of the fifth chapter of John^ 
 and point out to them the similarity, and at the same 
 time the diversity, between the account here narrated 
 and their own case — that whereas 
 
 " At times and at seasons the angel had power, 
 
 At the pool of Bethesda to heal, 
 Wlienever his people are willing, that hour 
 Christ heareth the sinner's appeal. 
 The' their sins be as scarlet, or crimson their dye. 
 He will make them as snow, unto mercy's meek eye." 
 
 In one of my visits to a city almshouse my 
 attention was arrested by a countenance of uncommon 
 intelligence. A meek, patient sufferer, in lingering 
 consumption, was quietly awaiting the summons to 
 quit the clay tenement and enter into the joy of her 
 Lord. She was in her thirty-fifth year, " had known 
 better days," having been in early life the beloved and 
 only child of a minister of the Gospel. Her mother 
 was removed by death when she was a child, and her 
 tender and beloved father when she was twenty-five 
 years of age, leaving her a comfortable cottage home 
 and a property of about ten thousand dollars. The 
 failure of a bank deprived her of the greater part of 
 her little patrimony — ill-health and other adverse and 
 unlooked for circumstances swept away the rest, so 
 that in three or four years after her father's death she 
 found herself without a home and without funds, no 
 near relatives, and in poor health. In speaking of her
 
 276 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1868. 
 
 past trials and losses, and her present privations, she 
 said, " And yet I have enjoyed more real peace of mind 
 during the six or seven years I have been in this 
 house than in my whole life before. When I found 
 myself homeless, ill, and friendless, I looked to my 
 Saviour as I had never looked before. I clung to Him 
 as my only friend ! " She spoke of her joy and peace 
 in believing in Him, of her entire trust in Him, of the 
 happiness awaiting her in the unseen eternal world. 
 During three or four successive visits that I paid her 
 she seemed to have no cloud to mar the bright future, 
 no doubt, no fear. Her trust was confiding and simple 
 as that of a little child, and almost the last words I 
 heard from her feeble, faltering voice were snatches 
 from that sweet hymn of Alexander Pope's : 
 
 " Vital spark of lieavenly flame ! 
 Quit, oil quit this mortal frame ! 
 Trembling, hoping, lingering, flying, 
 Oh the pain, the bliss of dying ; 
 Cease, fond nature ! cease tliy strife, 
 And let me languish into life ! 
 
 Hark ! they whisper — angels say. 
 
 Sister spirit, come away ! 
 
 The world recedes ! — it disappears ! 
 
 Heaven opens on my eyes ! — my ears 
 
 With sounds seraphic ring ; 
 
 Lend, lend your wings ! I mount ! I fly ! 
 
 grave ! where is thy victorj' ? 
 
 death ! where is thy sting ? " 
 
 The following are specimens of the Bible lessons 
 with which E.L.C. often amused and interested the 
 children around her : —
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 277 
 
 I.— The Bible Lesson : or What Aunt Elizabeth 
 
 SAW. 
 
 "Auntie, do tell us about the State prison near 
 Chicago," said my niece M. 
 
 "Oh, yes, auntie, do please tell us all about the 
 prisoners, and how they acted, and what they said," 
 responded L. 
 
 " Auntie, did they have chains on, and were all 
 the doors locked and bolted ? " inquired W. 
 
 " Some of them were chained, and most of them 
 w^ere shut up in small cells, and there were chains, and 
 bars, and bolts, but I will tell you about another 
 prison now, and let you know about Joliet State 
 prison another time." 
 
 " Oh yes, auntie, shut your eyes, and look with 
 your mind, and tell us what you see." 
 
 "I see a prison, and a prisoner sitting in it. He 
 is a very good man. A wicked king shut him up there 
 because he loved Jesus, and used to preach to the 
 people about Him. The prisoner has a chain fastened 
 by an iron ring round each wrist, and a soldier is 
 chained to each of his hands, for fear he should try to 
 get away. He has been tried, and sentence has been 
 passed upon him, and he is to be executed on the 
 morrow. His friends had a prayer meeting, and prayed 
 all night to God to save him. God heard their prayer, 
 and sent an angel down from heaven to the prison, in 
 the middle of the night. The angel found the prisoner 
 fast asleep, he awoke him, told him to get up quickly* 
 and follow him. The chains fell off the prisoner's
 
 278 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 wrists when the angel touched him, bnt did not wake 
 the guards, who were chained to him. The prisoner 
 rose up, put on his girdle, his sandals and cloak, at 
 the command of the angel, and followed him. There 
 Avas a bright light shining in the dark and gloomy 
 prison while the angel was there, but when he had 
 gone away, it was dark as before. The prisoner was 
 so much astonished that he thought he must be 
 dreaming, as he followed his guide out of the prison, 
 and right to the iron gate of the city. Fortified cities, in 
 those days, had large, strong, heavy gates at every en- 
 trance. When they reached the gate, it opened to them 
 of its own accord, and they went safely through, and 
 down one street. Then the angel left him, and the 
 prisoner was free. The first thing he did was to go 
 to the house where his friends were praying for him. 
 When he knocked at the gate, a girl went to open it, 
 and when she heard his voice she Avas so glad that she 
 ran into the house to tell them. They were so aston- 
 ished that they could not believe her, but thought she 
 was mad. Some said, ' It is his angel,' but when they 
 had opened the door, and found that it was really he, 
 they were astonished. Then he told them how the 
 Lord had sent His angel to deliver him from the prison 
 and from death ; and they rejoiced together. In the 
 morning there was a great stir in the prison when the 
 guards awoke, and found that their prisoner had 
 escaped. They made a great search for him, but could 
 not find him. He lived for many years, and was an 
 able minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 "Who was the prisoner ?
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 279 
 
 " What wicked king imprisoned him ? 
 " Where was the prison ? 
 
 " Whose house was the prayer meeting held in? 
 " Who was the girl that went to the gate ? 
 " What dear friend of the prisoner did the same 
 wicked king kill ? 
 
 " Where do we read this story in the Bible ?" 
 
 II.— The Bible Lesson : or What Aunt Elizabeth 
 
 SAW. 
 
 " I see a beautiful country, diversified with moun- 
 tain and valley, hill and dale, wood and water. I see 
 a beautiful city also, one of the oldest cities on the 
 face of the earth. It was a flourishing city 4,000 years 
 ago, and it is so still. It is situated at the confluence 
 of two beautiful rivers, and a range of lofty mountains 
 near at hand, from the summit of which there is a 
 fine sea view. 1 see a king, a powerful monarch. 
 He is not a good one. He was a proud, wicked man. 
 
 " I see a great, victorious general, who has been in 
 many battles, and gained great renown. He has a 
 splendid palace home, and plenty of horses and chariots. 
 He has a beautiful garden with flowers and fruits. 
 
 " ' There the feathery pahn trees rise, 
 And the date grows ripe under sunny skies.' 
 
 There are orange groves and vineyards, abundance 
 of apricots, chestnuts, olives and pomegranates. He 
 has a great many servants to wait upon him, and 
 friends to flatter him, and a purse full of money. Yet 
 he is not happy. What ails him ? He looks very ill. 
 His skin is very white, covered with purple spots.
 
 280 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G8, 
 
 He has a terrible disease, which no doctor in the whole 
 land can cure. 
 
 " I see a young girl. She is in trouble also. She 
 looks lonely and sad, and she has been weeping. Poor 
 child, she has been stolen away from her parents, and 
 taken to a foreign land, and she thinks she will never 
 see her father and mother again . The rich man brought 
 her home a captive when he returned from battle, and 
 now she is a slave in his house and waits upon his 
 wife. She sees her master suffering, and (i^eturning 
 good for evil) she tells her mistress that in her native 
 land there is a holy man, a prophet of the Lord, who 
 can cure him. 
 
 " The sick man, with much pomp and many 
 servants, went to the land the girl had spoken of, and 
 presenting himself at the house of the prophet, expected 
 that he would be handsomely received, and great respect 
 shown to him. But when the holy man of God sent 
 him a message to ' Go, and wash seven times,' in a small 
 river, he was offended, and went away in a rage, and 
 would have gone home again as ill as he came. It was 
 well for the proud man that he had good servants. 
 
 " One of his retinue expostulated with him, saying, 
 ' If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, 
 wouldst thou not have done it ? ' and represented to 
 him how much easier it was to do this simple thing, 
 to 'wash and be clean.' The general listened to the 
 advice of his faithful servant, and went and dipped 
 himself seven times in the river, though it was not so 
 beautiful as those of his native city. He was immedi- 
 ately healed, and felt himself quite strong and well.
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 281 
 
 "With a heart filled with gratitude, he returned to 
 the prophet, and confessed that he now felt that there 
 was only one true God ruling the earth, and that 
 henceforth he should worship Him alone. In the 
 gratitude of his heart, he presented the prophet with 
 some handsome and valuable presents, which he refused 
 to take ; but his servant coveting the good things, 
 followed after the rich man when he was on his way 
 home, and by inventing a tissue of falsehood, procured 
 from him two talents of silver and two changes of 
 raiment, and hid them away, supposing the prophet 
 would not know anything about them. But he was 
 mistaken, for the next time he entered his presence, 
 he accosted him with the words 'Whence comest 
 thou ?' The lying lips made answer, 'Thy servant 
 went no whither.' He could not deceive the prophet, 
 who replied, ' Went not my heart with thee, when the 
 man turned again from his chariot to meet thee?' 
 Then he pronounced sentence upon him, that for his 
 deception and fraud, the very disease of which the 
 general had been cured, should cleave unto him as 
 long as he lived. 
 
 " What country do I see ? What city ? 
 
 " Name the two beautiful rivers. 
 
 " What mountains ? 
 
 " Who was the king ? 
 
 " What was the general's name ? 
 
 " What was his disease ? 
 
 " Who was the young girl ? 
 
 " What did she say to her mistress ? 
 
 " What prophet did she refer to 1
 
 282 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18G8. 
 
 " What river did he wash in ? 
 " Who was the king of Israel at that time ? 
 " Who was the prophet's servant ? 
 "What is the last we read of this wicked and 
 covetous servant ?" 
 
 III. — The Bible Lesson : or what Aunt 
 Elizabeth saw. 
 
 L. — "Now Auntie, do please come and sit here 
 with us, and tell us a good Bible story." 
 
 W. — " Auntie, I never knew before that there were 
 such beautiful stories in the Bible." 
 
 L. — " Are there a great many more, or have you 
 told us nearly all of them ?" 
 
 Au7itie. — "There are a great many more ; I might 
 tell you one every evening for a year, and not get to 
 the end of them." 
 
 A. — " ! I am so glad ! one every evening for a 
 year ! — that will be more than 300. Now, we are all 
 ready, listening." 
 
 Auntie. — " I see a lady sitting under a palm tree." 
 
 L. — " Was she a beautiful lady, auntie ? " 
 
 Auntie. — " The Bible does not speak of her beauty, 
 but she was a good lady. Her name begins with D., 
 the wife of L. Her people had been suffering cruel 
 oppression for twenty years, from a cruel king, J., of 
 C. One day, seated beneath the shade of her palm 
 tree on the side of Mount T., beautiful valleys, and 
 pleasant, fertile gardens and vineyards before her, a 
 little rippling stream gushing from the hillside, 
 splashing down and widening as it wound along the 
 distant valley, until it was wide and deep enough to
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 283 
 
 deserve the name of the river K. As she sat she 
 pondered upon the wrongs of her oppressed people. 
 Those fields of waving grain ripening for the sickle, 
 would soon be reaped by the oppressor. The fruit of 
 those olive-yards and vineyards, her people could not 
 enjoy. The wheat must be threshed in some secret 
 spot, behind the winepress, that their rulers might not 
 see it, and rob them of the fruit of their toil. The 
 highways looked desolate and unoccupied, and the 
 people passed in secret through the bye-ways ; the 
 inhabitants of the villages dwindled down, trade was 
 impeded, commerce stopped, and the people were 
 greatly cast down. As the lady thought of all these 
 wrongs, she sent for the General of the army, B., the 
 son of A. to come to her. He came, she consulted with 
 him, and requested him to resist the enemy and the 
 oppressor, and to drive them back to their own land, 
 H. of the G. The general listened to her plans, and 
 promised to go if she would accompany the army. 
 She consented, and the next day they were ready with 
 10,000 soldiers to withstand their tyrannical oppressor. 
 Then was the strange sight seen of a lady riding with 
 an army of soldiers, leading them on to battle." 
 
 " Oh, now I know all about it," said Fred, " it was Joan 
 of Arc. I read about her in my history the other day." 
 Auntie — "Wait, my boy, until I have finished my 
 story, and then guess. Now we turn to another scene. 
 There are some ladies sitting at a window. One of 
 them is the mother of S., the General of the invading 
 army. He had gained so many victories and brought 
 home so much spoil every time he had been out, that
 
 284 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 they quite expected he would be successful again. As 
 they watched and waited they said, 'Why is his 
 chariot so long in coming ? Why tarry the wheels of 
 his chariot ? ' The}^ wondered what detained him, and 
 hoped he was gaining victories, and going to bring 
 home some beautiful captives, and some costly dresses 
 and jewellery. 
 
 "And now another sight I see. Soldiers fleeing 
 away in haste — the invading army is completely routed 
 — the proud General is running fast and alone in the 
 heat of the day. He is weary, hot, and hungry, sees a 
 tent by the way-side, enters it, and asks for water to 
 drink of a woman named J., the wife of H. the K. 
 He asked for water and she gave him milk. She 
 brought forth butter in a lordly dish. After taking a 
 meal he lay down to rest, and when asleep the woman 
 sees the enemy of her people, the oppressor, the tyrant, 
 in her power. She resolves to destroy him, and to 
 deliver her oppressed people. With a long nail in one 
 hand and a hammer in the other she approaches him 
 and drives the nail through his temples, rejoicing that 
 her nation is avenged, that her people are free. 
 
 "This happened thousands of years ago. What 
 
 reason we have to be thankful that since that day the 
 
 Prince of Peace has come into the world, and now we 
 
 may love our enemies and ' overcome evil with good.' 
 " Down tlie dark f utTire, thro' long generations 
 
 The echoing somids grow fainter, and then cease ; 
 And, like a bell, with solemn, sweet vibrations, 
 
 I hear once more the voice of Christ say ' Peace,' 
 Peace ! and no longer from its bi-azen portals 
 
 The blast of War's great organ shakes the skies ! 
 But beautiful as songs of the immortals, 
 
 The holy melodies of love arise."
 
 18G8.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 285 
 
 " Now can you tell me the names of all the persons 
 whose initials I have given ? " 
 
 Addressing some children in a Sabbath school, 
 E.L.C. endeavoured to impress upon them the need 
 for their own sakes of parental care and restriction, 
 and the desirableness of strict submission to the 
 requirements of those set over them. She related the 
 case of a boy in America, whose parents did not succeed 
 in controlling his will, and who so completely got the 
 law into his own hands that all attempts to govern him 
 were given up. This had not gone on long before the 
 boy was taken up for some misdemeanour, and placed 
 in the State penitentiary. Here he attempted to con- 
 tinue his determination not to be over-ruled, and 
 underwent one punishment after anotlier, Avithout 
 result, when he was condemned to be placed in the 
 pump-room. This was a room built of stone in a bason- 
 like shape, perfectly water-tight, and lighted from the 
 roof. The prisoner was placed alone in the apartment, 
 and locked in, when water was allowed gradually to enter, 
 and soon covered the floor. In the centre was placed 
 a pump, by working which the inmate could get rid 
 of the water, but in no other way. The youth declared 
 he would never woi'k that pump, he was not going to 
 do what they told him. The water rose to his knees, 
 then to his waist, but he was still resolute and defiant. 
 The process gradually went on, and at last the poor 
 fellow, now completely broken down, seeing that his 
 life was in danger, commenced pumping in real earnest. 
 From that time he became amenable to the rules of 
 the penitentiary, and under kind but firm discipline,
 
 286 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 during the remainder of his term of imprisonment he 
 improved so much that, on his release, he entered on 
 a course of patient industry, which in time resulted in 
 his establishment in business, and his eventually 
 occupying a very respectable social position. 
 
 On tract distribution, E. L. C. writes : — " Wisely 
 and carefully selected tracts may be a great element 
 of good ; but carelessly and indiscriminately scattered, 
 they may not only be useless, but absolutely pernicious 
 reading. On one occasion, while passing through the 
 military hospitals in Washington, I was accosted by a 
 plainly dressed Friend, who kindly offered to supply 
 me with all the tracts I wanted, if I would confine 
 myself to those which w^ere issued by the Tract 
 Association of Friends in Philadelphia. I could not 
 accede to his request, as those tracts, though very 
 excellent, were not adapted to the class of people I was 
 visiting. Leaving him, I entered the hospital ward 
 he had just passed through. A young soldier was 
 sitting up in bed, reading a tract against dancing. At 
 the end of the first paragraph he exclaimed, 'Comrades, 
 I have taken my last step in the giddy dance.' This 
 was followed by a merry peal of laughter through the 
 ward. Another sentence he read, and made merry 
 over with his companions, advising them not to be so 
 wicked as to dance again, but to follow his example ! 
 When the laughter subsided, I enquired of the nurse 
 what was amusing them so much, as I could see 
 nothing in what he had read to cidl forth such 
 merriment. She replied, *A Quaker gentleman has 
 just been here distributing tracts, and he has given
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 287 
 
 that poor fellow, who has lost both his feet, one against 
 dancing.' 
 
 " In the Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia, 
 where were many hundred prisoners, I found one with 
 a tract on ' Plainness of Dress,' and the owner of it 
 handed it to me saying, ' I like what that gentleman 
 says first-rate, and I wish the authorities here were all 
 Quakers. I should like a broad-cloth suit a great deal 
 better than these stripes,' referring to his convict's 
 costume.* In another cell, a prisoner was poring 
 over a tract, ' On the Superstitious Observance of the 
 First Day of the Week.' He had been arrested for an 
 offence committed while drunk on the Sabbath, and 
 I could not but think how much better it would have 
 been for him if he had observed the day, however 
 superstitiously. In a third cell was a convict with a 
 soiled and well-thumbed tract in his hand. I enquired 
 ' Hast thou an interesting tract there V to which he 
 replied by reading the title, 'AWarning against Seducing 
 Spirits,' adding, ' I can't make head nor tail of it — 
 I don't know what kind of spirit them ere war, but 
 I reckon they warn't gin, nor rum, nor whiskey.' . . . 
 I exchanged his tract for ' The Fool's Pence,' an 
 excellent temperance story." 
 
 * In many of the American prisons the convicts wear a 
 striped costume, and E. L. C. who had visited several of them, 
 once stopped her sister on one of her visits to England, as they 
 were out walking, and came in sight of a lively game at 
 football, with the question, " What are all those convicts doing 
 in that field ? "
 
 288 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1868. 
 
 Chapter XVI. 
 
 GOSPEL LABOURS— VISIT TO ENGLAND— 
 
 1868-1873. 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 ^'' Bloomington, Illinois, 30-10-68. 
 " T WAS awoke this morning by L.A. kissing me, 
 X and wishing me ' many happy returns of my 
 birthday.' Very varied have been the scenes amid 
 which these anniversaries have come round to me 
 during the past twelve or fourteen years. One as a 
 stranger in a strange land, L.A. and C. Avith me to give 
 their loving greetings, and a letter from thee, hailing 
 me lovingly across the Atlantic. One amid prosperity 
 and joy in Canada, when I felt that I could erect an 
 altar, and inscribe thereon, ' Ebenezer, hitherto hath the 
 Lord helped me ! ' Again in Canada, dear L. with me, 
 with loving greetings, and dear F. and R. and the little 
 ones, so that I could almost adopt the language again, 
 ' I dwell among mine own people,' though still 
 remembering some loved relatives in a distant land. 
 
 " Another anniversary found me a wanderer, 
 travelling among strangers, but rejoicing in this 
 benediction, ' Blessed is the man that hath found his 
 work, he need desire no greater blessedness.' In 
 comforting the afflicted and soothing the sorrowing I 
 found a joy I had never known before.
 
 1868.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 289 
 
 "Another anniversary came round and found me 
 in a humble home of my own, yet one of His providing. 
 I felt a peaceful contentment with such things as I had. 
 After awhile, other scenes than my quiet rural home 
 marked my anniversaries. One was passed in a State 
 Prison, comforting, soothing, and counselling the poor 
 convicts, another was characterized by a visit to the 
 President, in the Executive Mansion at Washington, 
 and, while the Union flag of our country floated aloft, 
 I felt the language of my grateful heart to be the 
 inscription of Moses upon his altar, ' Jehovah Nissi, the 
 Lord my banner.' 
 
 " Another anniversary found me in the hospitals, 
 surrounded by sick and wounded and sufl:ering soldiers. 
 Amid the shrieks of the sufi'ering and the groans of the 
 dying my altar was erected — my inscription and prayer 
 alike that of Gideon formerly, 'Jehovah Shalom, the 
 Lord send peace ! ' Now, the fifty-third anniversary 
 finds me here. I was at Adrian, attending our Quarterly 
 Meeting, when a despatch reached me, summoning me 
 here ; a dear friend was dying, and very much desired 
 my presence, and that I should attend her funeral. 
 The telegram invited me to hasten immediately to 
 Bloomington, B40 miles. I obeyed the summons, and 
 brought L. A. with me. Our friends received us lovingly, 
 and are entertaining us most kindly. The dear sufferer 
 breathed her last, and the redeemed spirit took its flight 
 just as our train steamed into the town, so that I did 
 not have the satisfaction of seeing and conversing with 
 her, but her death-bed has been so peaceful and happy 
 that we have the assurance that all was well. Her dear
 
 290 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1869. 
 
 Saviour was with her, 'the lamp of His love was her 
 guide through the gloom ' of the otherwise dark valley, 
 His love and His mercy were her constant themes 
 during the three weeks she was ill, and now her themes 
 for ever and for evermore will be the wonders of creative 
 power, the riches of redeeming love. . , In a few 
 days, we go to Chicago. Dear love to all your circle." 
 
 J.T.C. to L.R. 
 
 Backwoods of America, Rollm, Lenawee Go., Michigan, 
 
 5-8-1869. 
 
 " The thought of writing to thee has gleamed across 
 my mind frequently since thy departure from our 
 shores. Feeling little of consequence at the same time 
 to communicate, that might interest thee, and thinking 
 also that life witli thy dear self, as with many others 
 is full of cares, and imposes much every way, the idea, 
 like a flickering rushlight, passes away. 
 
 " We are all quite well. Elizabeth is at Chicago, 
 "where she has been three-fourths of her time, perhaps, 
 for the past five months. Sister L.A. is here taking 
 a short rest ; soon returns to that city again. Chicago 
 is growing. Thirty thousand inhabitants are said to 
 be added to its population annually, with some eight 
 thousand buildings 
 
 " Friends are doing something in this country. 
 They have now some eighteen Schools in Virginia, 
 among the people of colour. Our new President 
 has the confidence and sympathies of the people 
 generally, here. His home is at Galona, Illinois, on 
 the Mississippi. On the night following the election 
 he sat up until two o'clock, when it was fully
 
 1869.] ELIZABETH L, COMSTOCK. 291 
 
 ascertained at the Telegraph Office of that place that 
 Grant had received that day, in the different States, 
 more than two-thirds the votes cast for elections. He 
 then retired for the night and slept well ; though every- 
 one around him seemed much excited, yet he waB 
 perfectly cool and calm. 
 
 " We understand he has recently appointed a 
 Friend in Philadelphia as Commissioner of Indian 
 affairs. Grant, like every honest man in this 
 country, fully believes our debts will and must be 
 paid promptly in coin. The right of suffrage, as a 
 question for the people of colour, is coming round 
 right. They will be no longer considered as being 
 ineligible for office. Such has passed one Congress, 
 by way of amendment to the Constitution, and will be 
 ratified by two-thirds of the members of the different 
 legislative bodies. People at the South are awaking 
 to their interests, and wish to have the best men 
 chosen to fill the most important places ; and in many 
 cases, those men will prove to be men of colour, made 
 of nature's best stuff. The Pacific Railway will 
 undoubtedly be finished within the present year. 
 
 " We hear many good things of John Bright, his 
 name rings in America just now more than ever. 
 Sometimes we hear it connected with Victor Hugo, 
 sometimes with that of Gladstone and many others, 
 and always to his credit, be it spoken. It seems by 
 the papers, he was sent for, abroad even, and long 
 importuned before he would consent to become one 
 of the Queen's Cabinet. So it is in every country, as 
 a general thing, the very man who is least anxious for
 
 292' LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1869, 
 
 office, is the most fit for office. Is he also President of 
 the Board of Trade ? So ^ve understand it. This 
 uphill business I hope is to be done away with 
 measurably in both countries ; your Tories, and our 
 ex-President Johnson and his party, are to be driven 
 up ' Salt River ' I trust. 
 
 " We have had a series of meetings in our 
 meeting - house every evening for three weeks. 
 Elizabeth was not with us, or scarcely at all. All of 
 our Christian neighbours came in for quite a distance 
 round, of different denominations. Every arrow was 
 put into its quiver, none were seen flying, a happy 
 state of things. None will deny but that there was a 
 heavenly feeling prevalent, and much good done I 
 think. Once in a while a little singing, no one hurt 
 or wounded, were we not fortunate ? 
 
 The allusion in the following letter is to the death 
 by an accident, of a dear little adopted daughter, aged 
 four years and seven months. 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 Rollin. Michigan, 18-4-69. 
 " C. brought me, just now, two photographs, which 
 we have looked upon with a long, earnest, loving look. 
 They contained your little family group. Sweet little 
 N. we looked at the longest. Then came the thought, 
 'More lovely, more beautiful still, now.' The angelic 
 fortn, how far surpassing the little one laid, beneath 
 the sod. Think of her, my precious sister, as she is 
 now^ Let thy thoughts dwell upon her 2^'^^^^'*^^ ^^ 
 often as they ponder upon her past, and then look 
 to the future. Think of the time when standing before .
 
 1869.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. :293 
 
 the eternal throne, a little one will lovingly greet thee, 
 and say, ' I was motherless and she cared for me, and 
 was a mother to me, I was hungry and she fed me, 
 I was naked and she clothed me.' It is a joy to have 
 one loved and cherished one gone before thee there, one to 
 bear such testimony. What thou hast done for that 
 dear, motherless child will be an eternal joy to thee ! 
 A bright star in thy crown immortal ! For thee and 
 dear S. and F., this is a very bitter cup, but for the 
 precious child an easy death, a sudden transition, a 
 great joy ! For her, how much better than a lingering 
 sickness — days and nights of suffering and restless 
 agony. Sometimes in our sorrows and trials we are apt to 
 think .it was not a Father's hand that gave us the bitter 
 cup, but we can trace the affliction to the sins, or 
 weaknesses, or carelessness of our fellow-beings, and 
 therefore it was or is the harder to bear. 
 
 " In this case there is no room for any such 
 conclusion. A loving Father's own hand has given 
 you the cup to drink of, and the mourning spirit, I 
 doubt not, will meekly say, ' The cup which my Father 
 hath given me, shall I not drink it ? ' Yes ! drink it, 
 dear mourning ones, and the power of Jehovah will 
 change it into a sweeter draught, will transmute it into 
 gold — will transform it into a rich blessing. 
 
 "A dear friend of mine had a terrible grief some 
 little time ago. As her daughter lay dying she gave 
 her sweet babe, a week old, to her, and requested her 
 to ' take it home with her and be a mother to it.' The 
 precious treasure was taken right to the heart of its 
 grandmother, and reared with the most tender care. It
 
 294 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1869. 
 
 was a bright sunbeam in the house, the joy and delight 
 of the whole family. When about three years old, 
 a fearful accident cut short its life. The eldest son, 
 a boy of eighteen had put the oil-can in the oven, to 
 take the frost out of it, and carelessly left it there until 
 boiling hot, then recollecting it, hurriedly went to 
 remove it. His little niece, his pet and plaything, came 
 running up to him and clinging to his knees, when her 
 busy prattle was exchanged for a piercing shriek as the 
 bottom fell out of the over-heated can, and the boiling 
 oil descended upon the little upturned face and head. 
 Twenty-four hours of indescribable agony followed, 
 before the spirit was released from the suffering body. 
 
 " When my friend, R.C., related these particulars 
 to me, a year after they transpired, she added, that 
 if the darling child had died by any other means than 
 through her son's carelessness, she could have borne it 
 better. I comforted her a little by relating the story 
 of the ' Hermit,' in the ' Sequel,' particularly dwelling 
 upon the lines, 'To all but thee in fits he seemed to go, 
 And 'twas my ministry to deal the blow.' I believe it 
 is often really thus, and things look so different to us 
 with our contracted, finite vision, to what they really 
 are in the Divine sight. I have scarcely experienced 
 a trial in my life that I cannot look back upon and 
 recognise as a blessing. 
 
 " My dear brother and sister, it is an unspeakable 
 consolation to know that a dear Father is watching 
 over us all the time, and that ' He doeth all things well.* 
 The painful tidings of your great loss were handed to 
 me just the evening before I left Chicago. I reached
 
 1869.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 295 
 
 home safely and well. You were upon my mind all 
 yesterday as I journeyed home, and I take the first 
 quiet hour to express my sisterlj' love and tender 
 
 sympathy. has had a great affliction. His young 
 
 and lovely wife was suddenly removed, leavingan infant 
 a week old, a boy, and a sweet little girl of two years. 
 . . . I send by this mail a sweet little tract called 
 'The Awakening,' I think it will comfort thee in thy 
 trouble .... Dearest love to S., thyself, and the 
 dear children." 
 
 Hannah Hobbs, writing of attending Indiana 
 Yearly Meeting, and of W.L. meeting herself and friends 
 at the station, goes on to state, '* We had not gone many 
 steps when I perceived a woman Friend coming towards 
 us. I said to W.F., 'She looks like an English Friend.' 
 Just as I uttered it she quickened her steps, and 
 instantly and heartily saluted me ; my salutation was 
 no less cordial. It Avas dear Elizabeth Comstock ; she 
 could not see much alteration in me, she said ; I could 
 see more in her. She looks well and hearty, and in 
 some way changed, still there is the same expression of 
 countenance. She, with her companion, Rachel Beale, 
 her husband's sister, were likewise staying at W. 
 Lefevre's. E.G. was furnished with a certificate from 
 her meeting in Michigan, to attend, in her ministerial 
 capacity, our Indiana Yearly Meeting, and some meet- 
 ings in the way and on her return home ; and her 
 companion, an elder, was also liberated to accompany 
 her. We were quite a company of English Friends, 
 others coming to mingle with us during portions of the 
 Y.M. Thou wilt guess we had a nice time of enjoyment
 
 296 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1869. 
 
 in various ways. When suitable time admitted, E.G. 
 enquired much about thyself and very many others ; 
 in return, she gave me all the intelligence she could. 
 She is a remarkable woman. She attended all the 
 sittings of the Y.M., besides Committee meetings, 
 Educational, Tract, and Bible meetings ; rose very early 
 in the morning to make caps and walk before breakfast, 
 mostly sat up to twelve o'clock writing to various 
 friends. She is a most indefatigable individual, doing 
 so much daily, yet not appearing wearied. Her ministry 
 is excellent, so perfect in quoting Scripture, and her 
 illustrations are beautiful ; the manner of her delivery 
 is so good, clear and distinct ; whatever meeting she 
 attended, she had something appropriate to say. At 
 the Educational Meeting she was well qualified to 
 speak, so well grounded ; at the Tract and Bible 
 meetings she was ready to impart interesting facts of a 
 pleasing and edifying character. Whenever she spoke 
 she riveted the attention of the company. Again in 
 the family circle, dear Elizabeth was so bright, I may 
 say for one and all, her company was enjoyable ; she 
 was several times engaged in addressing us, in a 
 religious capacity, something for every one. Some- 
 times later on in the evenings, Ave had repeating 
 poetry, reminding us of our English cap-verse, which 
 
 is not a custom here On the evening of 
 
 First-day, a large company of young people were at 
 meeting, in accordance with the request of E. C. Her 
 testimony was sound, comprehensive and striking. 
 She described the Creation in a most beautiful manner, 
 and repeated a few lines composed by an English
 
 1871.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 297 
 
 author ou the subject — her manner was truly sublime, 
 and the greatest attention was observed by the large 
 company. I have heard many remark, both Friends 
 and others, how wonderful are her descriptive powers, 
 and what a great knowledge she possesses of Scripture 
 
 Truth The time for separation had 
 
 arrived — we bade farewell to one another, dear E. C. 
 commending us to the continued care of our Heavenly 
 Father, who she believed would be our Comforter and 
 Caretaker during our pilgrimage here." 
 
 From Farmington, N .Y., 22-9-1871, E.L.C. writes: — 
 " Ohio Yearly Meeting has been very interesting. We 
 have adopted the ' Western ' proposition for a General 
 Conference of all the Yearly Meetings, and appointed 
 a Committee of one of each sex from each Quarterly 
 Meeting, and six from the body of the Yearly Meeting, to 
 attend the first Conference to be held in New York in 
 the sixth mouth next year. I am sorrj- London will 
 not unite with us. I think all the Yearly Meetings 
 on this Continent will, except Philadelphia. I mailed 
 you a report of our General Meeting here. Iowa, 
 Indiana, Western, Ohio, New York, and North Carolina 
 hold these General Meetings, and seasons of wonderful 
 out-pouring of the Holy Spirit they are thought to be. 
 Great accessions to our numbers follow them every- 
 where. Indiana's report last year showed an increase 
 of 1,760 to their number during the year." 
 
 Writing from New York, 29-11-1871, E.L.C. says :— 
 *'■ Two nights, one day and a half, spent in travelling 
 iinfit me for doing much to-day. This evening we go 
 to a prayer meeting to pray for an especial blessing
 
 298 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1871. 
 
 upon the coming General Meeting, which is to com- 
 mence to-morrow. I wish you conkl attend one of 
 these meetings. They are very enjoyable, and to yon 
 they would seem very extraordinary. Imagine a 
 thousand people gathered together (as they were in 
 Poughkeepsie) in a Presbyterian Church, to hold 
 something like a Yearly Meeting, without any queries, 
 minutes, or business of any kind. A presiding officer, 
 called a chairman or president, sits at the head of 
 the meeting. His business is to control or guide 
 matters a little in a quiet way. If any unsuitable 
 offerings are presented, to check them. If several 
 rise at a time he prevents disorder by remark- 
 ing aloud, ' John Brown has the floor, wait a 
 minute Joseph ! ' Then he will call upon Joseph 
 next that he may also have a chance. Sometimes seven 
 or eight will be on their feet together, and the chairman 
 takes care that they each one shall have an opportunity 
 to speak in turn. Sometimes five or six prayers will 
 be offered in rapid succession. We do not rise in 
 prayer, but avoid the confusion this would produce by 
 bowing the head reverentially, and closing the eyes. 
 We expect J.H.D., S.F.S., W.W., C.E.T., and many 
 others of our ablest ministers will be present at this 
 General Meeting, at Brooklyn, which will probably last 
 near a week. Brooklyn is a city of near 400,000, 
 almost like a continuation of this city ; only the East 
 Eiver between them, which is crossed by steam ferries. 
 There are eight ferries from different wharves. Some 
 of these start one every minute, some every two, and some 
 every five minutes, some ten, so they keep on all day,
 
 1871.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 299 
 
 and half the night, eighteen hours out of the twenty- 
 four at least. 
 
 At the commencement of every sitting of these 
 General Meetings, after two or three opening prayers, 
 one of our ablest ministers usually preaches a good 
 sermon of varying length, from thirty to forty or fifty 
 minutes, then the voices of the multitude are heard, 
 and thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty follow in brief experi- 
 ences, or prayers, or ejaculatory confessions of the 
 Saviour's name before men. There was no previous 
 arrangement, no rule laid down, but I observed that it 
 resolved itself into this sometimes ; at others three or 
 four rather brief, pointed sermons would be delivered, 
 and then a shorter time for confession. Occasionally, 
 the Pastor of the Church would give us a brief accept- 
 able address entirely in unison with the burden of the 
 meeting at the time. Now and then, if a tedious, prosy 
 speaker got the floor, and could not ' hold his audience,' 
 a gentle hint to be brief would be given. In the event 
 of that failing to produce effect, he would be informed 
 by the ' chair I ' that many others were waiting, desiring 
 an opportunity, &c. 
 
 " I have attended five of these General Meetings, 
 and five of the biennial Sabbath School Conferences, 
 and it has been beautiful to see the good order, the 
 complete harmony, and the delightful variety in unity 
 of the whole. Indiana led off in the General Meeting 
 movement, Iowa followed, then other Yearly Meetings, 
 until all are now holding them, except Philadelphia, 
 Canada, and New England. The latter will adopt 
 them next year, no doubt. These meetings are usually
 
 300 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1872. 
 
 followed by large accessions to our meetings, ou7' 
 Society, I mean." 
 
 Boll in, Lenawee Co., Michigan, 8-4-1872. 
 
 . . . . " I staj-ed in Rochester two weeks, and 
 upon leaving that city, spent two days at Clifton Springs 
 Water Cure, forty miles east of Rochester, with Sarah 
 F. Smiley. We two received a very cordial invitation 
 to go and stay a few weeks there and rest, and hold 
 a few meetings with the patients, of whom there are 
 200. S. stayed there two weeks, and enjoyed the quiet 
 rest very much. The result of the General Meeting 
 in Rochester has been to stir up the few Friends there, 
 and the citizens, to try to get subscriptions for building 
 a large Friends' meeting house in a central locality, 
 and they have written urgently to us (John and me) 
 to go and reside there, and help to build up a large 
 meeting. ... J. has replied that we could not 
 leave our home entirely, but may go and labour among 
 them a few months in the year. I have added to his 
 letter that ' my minute for service in New York and 
 New England is not yet completed, and may occupy 
 me for some months longer. When that service is 
 accomplished, should way open clearly, it would be 
 a pleasure to sojourn among them for awdiile.' I attend 
 our Monthly Meeting held here on 7th day, a Missionary 
 Meeting in the evening, our regular gathering this 
 morning, and a meeting for seekers after holiness this 
 afternoon." 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 Lake MoJionk House, nr. Pu'lceepsie, N.Y., 12-8-72. 
 
 " Thy deeply interesting and touching letter of
 
 1872.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 301 
 
 the 24th xilt. came to hand two hours ago, and has 
 awakened my tender sympathy for thee and dear 8., 
 and indeed for your whole family. While reading 
 it I have been again reminded of my favourite lines, 
 
 " 'I cannot always trace the way, 
 Where Thou, Almighty One, dost move, 
 But I can always, always say. 
 That God is Love ! ' 
 
 I trust, my dear sister, that in all thy trials, severe 
 though they have been, thou hast been able in con- 
 tiding, child-like trust, to adopt this language. There 
 is great consolation to me in the hour of trial, in a 
 sense that nothing can happen to any of us, but in the 
 permissive wisdom of Him, ' who doeth all things 
 well.' Grief and sorrow dispensed or permitted by 
 Him, cannot hurt us, but sanctified and blessed by 
 Him, must prove mentally a blessing. Already when 
 thou wast writing to me, thou wast able, my dear 
 sister, to begin to count the blessings resulting from 
 the sorrows. The development in your dear children 
 of the sympathies and affections, dear M.'s motherly 
 care for her little brother removed from thy tender 
 guardianship, when so greatly needing it. The 'life 
 of self-renouncing love' thus early practised, must all 
 be ranked among the silver linings to these dark 
 clouds. The change of air benefiting all of them, was 
 also a blessing. And now, my dear C, feeling that in 
 the past a Father's love 'hath stayed the rough wind, 
 in the day of His East wind,' can we not trust Him 
 with all the future, and leave our all in His hands, 
 and at His all-wise disposal ? . . . J. and I have
 
 302 LIFE AND LETTEKS OF [1872. 
 
 been toiling in the heat, visiting prisoners, sick, poor 
 and afflicted people for some weeks ; and receiving a 
 kind and pressing invitation to come here and rest a 
 week or two in this cool, calm, romantic spot, we felt 
 free to accept it. Albert K. Smiley is Sarah's brother. 
 Two or three years ago he purchased 180 acres here, 
 wild, mountainous land. He has beautified and 
 adorned it, built a large boarding-house, and made it 
 a very pleasant place of summer resort. I enclose a 
 .picture or two, showing something of the picturesque 
 scenery by which we are surrounded. ... I hope 
 I may hear from thee again very soon, for I shall be 
 anxious to hear how S. gets up his strength, and how 
 thou art after thy long time of nursing thy dear 
 husband and child." 
 
 '^ RoUin, Lenawee Co., Michigan, 16-12-1812. 
 
 " I have just been attending a very interesting 
 General Meeting, and will try to give a little outline of 
 this one as a specimen. Meeting commenced in a large 
 Friends' Meeting House in Salem, Ohio, seventy miles 
 south of Cleveland, at 2 p.m.. Sixth-day. The Com- 
 mittees of Ohio Yearly Meeting and Salem Quarterly 
 Meeting met for consultation and preliminary arrange- 
 ments earlier in the day. I am upon the Yearly 
 Meeting's Committee. About twenty-five Friends on 
 Committees present. It was decided to hold three 
 meetings per day, at ten, two, and seven o'clock. In 
 
 addition to these, at the request of and others, an 
 
 extra meeting for enquirers and seekers, and for con- 
 ference, &c., was arranged for 8.80 a.m. 
 
 "Considerable anxiety was manifested by the Com-
 
 1872.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 303 
 
 mittee on account of the approaching General Meeting, 
 because in the town of Salem were three meetings of 
 those who pass by the name of Friends — Hicksite, 
 Wilburite, and Gurneyite ; or Unitarian, Old School, 
 and New School Quakers, as some call them, Hicksite 
 there being the larger body and ours the smallest of the 
 three. I was rather uneasy when the meeting gathered 
 to find no other co-labourers from a distance except 
 
 . However, he proved equal to the emergency 
 
 and preached an able sermon for three-quarters of an 
 hour, after I had offered a prayer. I then spoke upon 
 the same subject, the Divinity of Christ, and the power 
 of our blessed faith to uphold and sustain in the most 
 afflictive dispensations of life and in the solemn hour 
 of death. Eight or nine short prayers were offered, 
 and two others spoke briefly. Our meeting in the 
 evening was much larger, the stores being closed, the 
 shop-keepers, teachers, students, &c., were at liberty to 
 attend. Salvation through faith was dwelt upon, and 
 many voices spoke a few words out of the abundance 
 
 of the heart, after and I had each preached over 
 
 half -an -hour. These two meetings each held over two 
 hours. At 8.30 a.m. on Seventh-day a small gathering 
 met — some prayers, some confessions, some questions 
 asked and answered, some thanksgiving and praise. 
 At ten o'clock a larger number gathered than on the 
 
 previous day. , with»added power, preached near 
 
 an hour. I followed for half-an-hour ; several prayers 
 offered, four in succession, by others. In the after- 
 noon , one of our greatest ministers from Indiana, 
 
 was added to our staff of labourers. We rejoiced to
 
 304 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1873. 
 
 welcome him. He occupied half-an-hour or more, and 
 I think we were all sorry when he sat down. On First- 
 day morning two or three other labourers joined us. 
 The beautiful variety we have in the ministry is very 
 
 striking." 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 Water ville, Maine, 27-2-1873. 
 . . . . " For four days we have been ' snow- 
 bound ' in the village of Unity. No cars could run. 
 They had no telegraph wires, and we seemed shut out 
 from the world. We had very good meetings there ; 
 just the people in the village attended. Friends two 
 or three miles out could not get there. Some had 
 travelled fifty or sixty miles to attend the General 
 Meeting, some 150. They put up with Friends two or 
 three miles from Unity for the night. Before morning 
 eighteen inches of snow fell. The country was hilly ^ 
 and the wind roared, almost a hurricane ; the snow 
 drifted so much that in places it was sixteen or seven- 
 teen feet deep, and many Friends for several days 
 could not move either homeward or meeting-ward. It 
 was very trying for them. Yesterday morning the 
 sky and clouds looked ominous of more snow. E.H., 
 M.B., E.J., and other leading men took counsel to- 
 gether, and came to the conclusion that it was best to 
 ' cut through,' or they might be kept there another 
 week. So preparations were made ; oxen, men with 
 shovels, horf^es and sleighs, we moved slowly and 
 solemnly out of Unity, like a funeral procession, 
 except for the merriment amongst us. There were 
 seven sleighs in our caravan, nine went a few hours
 
 1873.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 305 
 
 earlier over a few miles of the same road. Sixteen 
 teams altogether. The men went ahead, the women 
 in the rear. Thus we went nine miles in six or seven 
 hours. Had it not been for the cavalcade that went on 
 ahead, it would have taken much longer. We are now 
 at a hotel where we have been staying for the night en 
 route for Winthrop, where we hope to arrive in season 
 for their Monthly Meeting, and the series of meetings 
 to commence on Seventh-day next. My present com- 
 panion is a pleasant young Friend, A.C., from Sing- 
 Sing, N.Y, I hope my dear J. will join me again in 
 the Spring, about the time of New York Yearly 
 Meeting, which is to be held in Rochester this year." 
 
 Writing from Philadelphia, in Fourth month, 1873, 
 E.L.C. says, " I am very much interested in the 'Higher 
 Christian Life.' To me there is sweet rest in the 
 thought that all responsibility, all care, all dependence 
 are given up to Him who careth for us. I can trust 
 Him with my present, for my past and future, knowing 
 that no ill from Him can come to me, and that all must 
 work together for good to them that love Him, and to 
 me personally. 
 
 '* With regard to present trials, and all yet to come, 
 I can now say, 
 
 ' I would rather walk in the dark with God, 
 
 Than walk alone in the light ; 
 I would rather walk by faith with Him, 
 
 Than walk alone by sight.' 
 
 " My dear C. is living this life of trust and rest, and 
 she is tranquilly and peacefully happy. Do you hear 
 much about this higher life in England now ? Here
 
 306 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1873. 
 
 God is working wonderfully, stirring up all the churches, 
 and there is a general awakening in every branch of the 
 church almost, to a sense that we are living far below 
 our privileges, and meetings are being everywhere held 
 especially for those who seek ' a closer walk with God,' 
 
 " In some places, meetings for seekers after 
 holiness are held three times a week among Friends, 
 besides our regular meetings." 
 
 Writing from New Bedford, on the 8-4-73, after 
 referring to the trials of some very dear to her, E.L.C. 
 continues, "However, I cast this, with all other burdens, 
 upon Him who careth for us, and for all, trusting that 
 He will overrule all our mistakes for good. It is an 
 exceedingly precious promise to me that 'all things 
 shall work together for good to them that love the 
 Lord.' So I wait and watch for the good. 
 
 " So our dear friend Joseph Theobald is gone ! 
 His dear wife was one of the kind friends of our 
 childhood. He was the same. Onr dear father 
 loved him much. I do not grieve over his death, nor 
 over Cousin William's, I have a sort of sense that they 
 are nearer to us now than when living on earth so far 
 from us. Didst thou read ' The Awakening ? ' I think 
 I sent it to thee some time ago. I believe in it, and also in 
 'Gates Ajar.' . . . Truly 'length of days' is not now 
 a blessing as in the days of Moses, when 'the first com- 
 mandment with promise was given forth.' . . . Our 
 Manchester (Maine) Meeting was a very good and 
 a very interesting one. C. and her cousin attended, and 
 enjoyed it very much. J.H.D. and S.F.S. had previous 
 engagements which prevented their attendance. From
 
 1873.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 307 
 
 Manchester we went to North Berwick, and had a good 
 General Meeting there, thence to North Weare, N.H., 
 and had the crowning meeting there. W.W. was Mer- 
 curius (Acts xiv., 12) in both the hist-named. He 
 is now a powerful Gospel preacher and a great 
 revivalist . . I was somewhat startled in Manchester 
 Meeting when I saw mj- dear C. rise and sing a sweet 
 hymn. Immediately afterwards a Friend knelt, asking 
 the Lord's blessing upon the various exercises, alluding 
 especially to the ' sweet singing.' This was done 
 again and again. The ministers would occasionally 
 refer to it. W. W. said ' Amen ' frequently, and 
 once immediately followed C. with 'That's what 
 I call true Quaker singing.' He then quoted 
 Barclay upon ' singing, praying, and preaching,' 
 placing them all on the same footing, when 
 done ' with the spirit and understanding.' Some 
 Friends came to her after meeting and spoke very 
 encouragingly to her. One minister pressed through 
 the crowd, saying, ' I want to speak to this sweet little 
 singer in Israel.' Most were kind and approving — one 
 contrariwise said, ' My dear, if thou feels like doing 
 something for thy Saviour, would it not" be better to 
 speak like thy mother, instead of singing ? ' C. replied, 
 * It will be many years before I can speak like my 
 mother.' .... There is a young minister risen 
 up amongst us, who is a great man, and doing good 
 work for his Lord, Rufus King. He is twenty-nine 
 years of age. When a poor boy of thirteen, he was 
 ' bound out ' to a very cruel, hard master in North 
 Carolina, who promised to clothe, feed, and educate
 
 308 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1873. 
 
 him, but, instead of this, he made him work very hard, 
 and often cruelly beat him. He was driven to his work 
 daily with the negroes, and received short allowance of 
 food like them, three pounds of coarse beef a week, and 
 some Indian meal, and never went to school a day. He 
 endured this for five years, then ran away. Soon after 
 he was pressed into the rebel army, refused to fight, 
 and suffered cruel persecution for a year-and-a-half, 
 then deserted, and after perils and hardships almost 
 incredible, and protracted, he made his way into 
 Indiana, and there first mingled with Friends. There 
 is an innocent simplicity about him, perfectly charming. 
 He rose in a meeting of 1,000, and commenced, 'Friends, 
 I don't know much, and I come from a part of the 
 country where they don't know much, and what little 
 I do know I sometimes find it hard to tell. Five years 
 ago, I did not know how to read or write my name. 
 Five years ago, I did not know that the earth was 
 round, but Friends, before I could read and write my 
 name, and before I knew that the earth was round, 
 I knew that the Lord Jesus Christ had washed away 
 my sins.' This commenced a sermon, which enchained 
 his audience for near an hour. ... I have been at 
 our dear friend Joseph Grinnell's a week. In a few 
 days I go to Providence, and after a week there to 
 Philadelphia, where my address will be for three 
 weeks at the pleasant home of Elizabeth H. Farnum, 
 713, Arch Street. After getting through in Phila- 
 delphia I hope to attend the New York Yearly Meeting, 
 to be held this year at Rochester. I pick up C. and 
 her baby en route near Albany, and go home with
 
 1873.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 309 
 
 them. After a few weeks' rest my husband will 
 probably return with me to Rochester, N.Y., for 
 awhile. How terrible the loss of the Atlantic steamer ! 
 The hearts of our people have been wonderfully stirred 
 with sympathy for the poor sufferers. The whole 
 trouble, and agony, and anguish in this case, and the 
 terrible loss of life seem to have originated in reckless 
 carelessness. . . . Indignation against the Captain 
 runs high just now." 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 Rollin, 29-6-73- 
 
 " By a young woman living near Philadelphia, 
 who was expecting shortly to visit Darlington, and who 
 said she was acquainted with thee, I sent two books. 
 One for thy dear F., ' The Record of a Happy Life,' 
 a beautiful biography of a youth of eighteen, written 
 by his mother, Hannah Whitall Smith. This volume 
 has been blessed to the conversion of many boys and 
 young men, both in this land and in England. The 
 other book, ' The Sunset Land,' you will read with 
 interest, I think, and dear L. also. My husband likes 
 it very much, so do I. 
 
 " 7-7-73, — Perhaps you have heard from L.A. of 
 my fall down stairs, eighteen steps ! It was well that 
 they were well carpeted, and that no bones were 
 broken in the rapid descent into the hall below. 
 I was much bruised, but I am thankful to say that 
 otherwise I am uninjured, and the bruises are nearly 
 well now. This accident occurred in our kind friends' 
 Robert and Susanna Howland's house at Union 
 Springs. I had a complete rest, chiefly in bed, for near
 
 310 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1873. 
 
 a week afterwards. This rest did me a great deal of 
 good, my former malady being benefited thereby. 
 The bruises acted as a counter irritant, and have also 
 been beneficial. I hope our dear aunt E.S. has entirely 
 recovered from her fall downstairs. R. is nearly well 
 again. Very singular that we three should all be 
 suffering near the same time from the same cause, in 
 such remote parts of the earth ! I hope all the rest of 
 our friends will take warning by us, and 'walk circum- 
 spectly !'.... Farewell, my dear brother and 
 sister. Write soon. My dearest love to you both, and 
 to L. I hope she is taking care of her health, and not 
 
 overdoing." 
 
 Sybil Jones to E.L.C. 
 » MY VERY DEAR E.L.C, " Winthrop, 16-9-73. 
 
 " I am just recovering from severe illness ; was 
 attacked at the beginning of the General Meeting in 
 
 this place. 
 
 " It has been a wonderful display of the mighty 
 power of the glorious gospel of the Son of God, and 
 hundreds have been turned unto the Lord. I can pen 
 but little— details when we meet. I have been near 
 the crossing, and folded in Jesus' arms, was in perfect 
 peace, which still fills my soul. I am being led back 
 gradually to earthly fields of toil, and long to point 
 dying men to Jesus. 
 
 " I write at this time to sound forcibly the 
 ' Macedonian cry.' Will thy Lord send thee to us ? 
 Ask Him, and then follow. Thou can come on half fare, 
 only buy a ' minister's ticket,' and thy expenses will be 
 paid after thy arrival here.
 
 1873.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 311 
 
 " A General Meeting will be held at the North 
 Parish, near the City of Augusta, beginning the 27th 
 instant, at ten o'clock, being Seventh-day, a.m. Please 
 come directly to Oak Grove Seminary. God speed 
 thee and bring thee to my side, if it may be His 
 blessed will. Dear love in Christ to thy husband. 
 
 " Always thine in Christ, my dearest E. Farewell. 
 
 " Sybil Jones." 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 " Clifton S'j^rings, N.Y., 31-10-73. 
 
 " C. and I are seriously thinking of visiting our 
 native land if our lives are spared until next year. As 
 to the time of our visit, we should wish to be guided 
 by your convenience. What season of the year would 
 suit you best to receive us ? Have you any choice ? 
 C. says she ' should so like to be in England when the 
 Spring flowers are in bloom.' Then we both think it 
 would be so nice to be with you in the summer, and 
 escape the excessive heat, the flies and mosquitoes. I 
 turn longingly to the cosy winter evenings, when we 
 can sit and sew or knit around the open fire that we 
 can see, while S. reads to us. So we leave the choice 
 of time with you as to seasons. To me it seems the 
 American Autumn carries the palm, in its abundance 
 of fruit and profusion of rich, varied foliage. The 
 other three seasons I prefer in England. Baby lies 
 sleeping on the bed while I write. When C. was tele- 
 graphed to come to me she left her little boy with his 
 father's parents. She could not suitably leave her C.L., 
 and brought her with her. We get along very well 
 with her, only we have some fears that the great atten-
 
 312 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1873. 
 
 tion and petting she receives from so many ladies may 
 spoil her. Some of them invite her to ride out with 
 them — she has been out twice to-day driving in the 
 carriages with the ladies. She is a sweet, winsome 
 little maid, with blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and flaxen 
 hair, and a perfect blonde in complexion, but she begins 
 to manifest a pretty strong will of her own, and to show 
 that she is not all angel. ... I long to introduce 
 her to her cousins at Darlington. I think F. will be 
 delighted with her, and she will be much pleased to 
 have a little boy the age of her brother to play with. 
 How pleasant it will be for dear C. also to be introduced 
 to her cousins, wdiom she has never seen. M. C. and C. will 
 be very good friends. Now that I have really concluded 
 to go to England if my life be spared and health permit, 
 it seems long to wait until spring or summer. My 
 friend H. W. S. goes on the 15th of this month by 
 the 'Philadelphia,' steamer from that city. Have you 
 seen her husband, R. P. S. ? He has been in England 
 for some time for the benefit of his health. He is a 
 higher-life preacher. The physicians order him to 
 stop preaching or he will die of softening of the brain. 
 He replies that he must preach as long as he lives and 
 can do so. I have repeatedly been advised to stop 
 preaching for awhile, for I am wearing myself out. 
 I think of resting in England a few months with my 
 dear relatives, and doing but little preaching com- 
 paratively, during that time. H. W. S. takes her 
 children with her I think. Little R. is a lovely little 
 darling. When about three years old, one morning in 
 family worship, they had read the chapter about
 
 1873.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 313 
 
 turning water into wine. The next day, there was a 
 drunken man making a great noise in the street, near 
 their door. The child looked in astonishment and 
 horror. In answer to her questions, some one told her 
 he was a naughty man who had drunk too much wine. 
 She looked very serious and thoughtful, and in her 
 little prayer before going to bed that night, she said, 
 * Dear Jesus, don't make any more wine, please don't, 
 if the naughty mans does tell Thee to.' 
 
 ''^ 3rd 11th mo. I have just been having a talk 
 with Dr. F., who strongly advises me to sail for 
 England without delay. He says this month is a good 
 one for the voyage. He tells me that if I do not take a 
 change and rest, and that very soon, I shall break quite 
 down, and never rally again. "With said voyage and a 
 year''s rest, he thinks I may live to a good old age, and 
 enjoy good health. I must write to J. at once, and try 
 to arrange to sail with H. W. S., if there is room, and 
 I can find the means. So you may see us much sooner 
 than you expected. I will write again in a few days, 
 D.V. Dearest love to S. and the dear children." 
 
 Our dear sister with her daughter and little grand- 
 daughter, sailed from Philadelphia, in the "Indiana" 
 on the 27th of November, and landed safely in 
 Liverpool on the 9th of December. They were met 
 l)y her brother, S. H., and travelled to Darlington same 
 day, where a happy reunion took place.
 
 314 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 Chapter XVII. 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOL CONFERENCE— ADDRESS ON 
 TEMPERANCE. 
 
 1874. 
 
 AFTER a qviiet rest in the North of England, 
 occasionally broken by large meetings in 
 Friends' Meeting-houses and other places of worship 
 to which she was often invited, E.L.C. visited relatives 
 and Friends in the South — and towards the end of 
 April crossed to Ireland to attend Dublin Yearly 
 Meeting, accompanied by her sister. Jnst a week after 
 leaving England, the latter was summoned home by 
 telegram, on account of the illness and subsequent 
 death of a beloved daughter. There are references to 
 this sad event in the following letters. 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 ''Dublin, 8-5-1874. 
 " I mailed thee a postal card to-day, not being able 
 to do better then, but now, having half-an-hour to 
 spare, I resume the pen. The Yearly Meeting proper 
 closed with its eighth session about 2 p m. yesterday. 
 They had rather aimed at concluding the previous 
 evening, but adjourned to have a short session to-
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 315 
 
 morrow morning. I took the opportunity of this short 
 session to pay a visit of one hour to the Men's Meeting. 
 I wish thou hadst been with me ; L.G. accompanied 
 me. I had felt some little drawing towards this ser- 
 vice for two or three days, but it did not mature in my 
 mind until Fourth-day night. The proposal was 
 received with overwhelming approval by the Women's 
 Meeting, and (I have since been told) by the Men's 
 also, and that it was at the very right time, for just then 
 they were discussing the liquor question, and 1 blew a 
 blast against the three great sins that have been such 
 curses to Christian lands in this our day, viz.. Intemper- 
 ance, Licentiousness, and War. I spoke thirty-five or 
 forty minutes, and offered a short prayer. Then 
 followed a true, warm-hearted Irish welcome, so much 
 approval with my visit and message as almost over- 
 whelmed me. This occupied fifteen minutes at least. 
 Last evening a meeting was held for young Friends at 
 their own request, and they were the chief speakers. 
 I did not attend this, as the closing session of the 
 Meeting on Ministry and Oversight, held after the 
 close of the Yearly Meeting, and I felt weary. I was 
 expecting tg go out to Moyallen with J.M.R., when, 
 at the close of an excellent meeting, J.G.R. announced 
 that he had not had the opportunity of consulting 
 me, but that it was the urgent request of some 
 of the earnest young Friends that I would meet 
 them in the Committee Room at the close of 
 this sitting, also that I would meet them this 
 evening at seven o'clock for a continuation of the same 
 kind of meeting as we had the other evening, a sort of
 
 316 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 fellowship or conference meeting. Also that a very 
 urgent and particular request had been made for an 
 appointed meeting for the public in this house on 
 First-day evening. Then all eyes turned to me for a 
 reply. R.W.D. had previously handed me a pencilled 
 note, querying ' Ought we not to have another meeting 
 this evening ' ? Though I felt empty, and poor, and 
 weak, I did not feel at liberty to say ' no ! ' and to close 
 a door that I felt the Lord had opened, and after a brief 
 silent prayer, I gave my assent to said meetings 
 being appointed, if the Friends thought it best, and 
 the other ministers felt like uniting in them, I also 
 felt it right to appoint a meeting for to-morrow at 
 twelve o'clock for mothers and Christian women. So 
 you see I have my hands full. A letter from dear 
 H.W.S. to-day urges me to go to London on Fifth-day 
 next, and apiaointments are given out for several 
 meetings for her and me jointly in Stoke Newington 
 Friends' Meeting House. Notices are issued in both 
 our names. I have given up Bessbrook and Moyallen 
 for the present. They expect to have a General Meet- 
 ing in that vicinity soon, and I have promised to attend 
 it (D.V.) if it is not in the Seventh month, which I 
 
 hope to spend with dear L Now, my dear 
 
 sister, do not think that because left till last it is the 
 least thought of, thou and thy trial and thy precious 
 child. I have thought of thee very often, and with 
 much tender sympathy. The report in thy letter we 
 all thought quite as encouraging as we could look for. 
 I trust the doctor's hopes are being realized, and that 
 the worst is past."
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 317 
 
 E.L.C. to S.H. 
 " Parkfield, U2)per Cla2iton, 14-5-1874. 
 " I arrived here safely after a tolerably comfortable 
 voyage and journey. B.P., her mother, and sister 
 accompanied me on board the boat. M.E. and daughters 
 also came to see me off. With so good an escort, of 
 course we all and our baggage were well looked after, 
 and J.E. placed us and our things safely in J.B.B.'s and' 
 S.A.'s son's hands before he left us. These kind friends 
 were waiting on the platform on our arrival at Euston 
 
 Square Station Thy kind letter awaited me 
 
 here on my arrival. . . I am glad you have another 
 doctor as well as an experienced nurse. I most sincerely 
 hope and pray that his efforts and skill may be blessed, 
 and that your precious child may be restored to you. 
 . . . I think very much of you in your sorrow, and 
 pray that you may be sustained under it, and blessed 
 
 in it R.W.D. was to be at Grange Monthly 
 
 Meeting to-day (near Belfast, I think). He expected to 
 spend next First-day at Leominster, with J.G.R. and 
 party, en route for London Yearly Meeting. His 
 health has been a little benefited by his quiet rest at 
 Willow Park. . . . He expects to sail for America 
 
 immediately after the Yearly Meeting. seems full 
 
 of anxiety about the coming solemnity, very fearful of 
 it not going off just right. He expressed this to me 
 during the few minutes we were together, and spoke 
 of the necessity of dwelling deep and being frequent 
 and earnest in prayer. I have faith to believe that we 
 shall have a good Yearly Meeting, if we pray for the 
 spirit of the Lord and do not quench it, but let it have
 
 318 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 free course and abound. I am very thankful that the 
 responsibility rests with the Lord and not with me. 
 . , . A very interesting young man is putting up 
 here, Theophilus Waldemeier, one of whom I have often 
 heard Eli and Sybil Jones speak as a missionary to 
 Syria from Switzerland, or some European country. He 
 adopted Friends' views without any knowledge of our 
 Society. He has made known to some Friends his 
 great desire to attend the Yearly Meeting. Some are 
 fearful of opening their doors, &c., and timid about 
 precedent. My fears run in a different channel. I 
 should fear worse results from one refusal than from 
 one hundred permissions given." 
 
 In consequence of her dear niece's death, E.L.C. 
 gave up her appointments in London and the Yearly 
 Meeting, and joined the bereaved family at Saltburn. 
 
 E.L.C. to M.P. 
 
 Salthmm-hy-the-Sea, 27-5-74. 
 
 " We arrived safely here. . . . We have greatly 
 enjoyed W.'s Yearly Meeting letters. We were most 
 especially interested in John Bright's speech about 
 
 's testimony and the cheering. I am glad they 
 
 let him know that he was appreciated. (' Tell it not in 
 Gath.') It was all right also not to let that sort of 
 thing go too far, and for Henry Pease to remind 
 Friends that they were not in the House of Commons, 
 &c., and to maintain the dignity and solemnity of the 
 
 Yearly Meeting. I hope the censors of will go to 
 
 heaven, and meet him cordially there. If they were 
 the judges of the human family, I fear that not only the
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 319 
 
 Church militant, but the Church triumphant would be 
 very small ! 
 
 " I hear from Stafford Allen of a goodly company 
 of Friends gathered in their hospitable home. R. W. 
 Douglas, Louis and Sarah Street, Rebecca Thursfield, 
 Theophilus Waldemeier and others. It makes me long 
 to be with them at times, and yet I would not be 
 absent from my dear sister at this crisis. We are having 
 a pleasant, quiet time here. L. came on Seventh-day 
 and tarried until Third ; we three sisters much enjoyed 
 each others' company. The Ayton group joined us 
 yesterday so we are all together now. The weather is 
 delightful. We all went down to the beach this 
 morning about nine o'clock, and stayed three or four 
 hours, the children greatly enjoying working in the sand 
 with spades and little pails, &c., and doing their part 
 towards fulfilling the ancient prophecy, ' Every valley 
 shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be 
 made low.' Piling up mountains of sand, then levelling 
 them, digging trenches, canals, rivers, &c. Making 
 fortresses and flooding them, then filling up all their 
 valleys, wells, and moats. W. was master-builder and 
 architect, F. and C. junior workers, and C. a go-between, 
 taking care that the rising tide did not come in upon 
 them and overwhelm them, as it ruthlessly destroyed 
 their work. Dear C. and I walked and talked mean- 
 while, casting a frequent, loving look upon the band of 
 toilers." . . . 
 
 Writing to her sister of the Sabbath School Confer- 
 ence in Darlington, under date 6-8-74, E.L.C. says, 
 " The Conference seems to have given general satisfac-
 
 320 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 tion. I did not attend yesterday p.m. at the closing' 
 session, nor at the nine a.m. one, feeling that the other 
 three in one day were enough for me, viz., meeting for 
 worship at ten, conference from twelve to two (during 
 which I was summoned to the desk to give an object 
 lesson with magnets), and the evening meeting in 
 Bondgate Chapel. 
 
 "In the latter I spoke twelve minutes. H.W.S. 
 offered prayer at the commencement, M.S. near the 
 close. The other speakers were A. P. president, J.S.F., 
 W.W., W.S.L., M.S., E.B., James H.B., and two or three 
 more Friends, followed by two of the pastors of the 
 Darlington churches. Two others were invited to 
 speak, but declined, and gave as their reason a wish to 
 
 ' give their time to the American speakers.' made 
 
 a little mistake (to my mind) in dwelling entirely upon 
 woman's sphere and woman's duties in the kitchen, 
 at the wash-tub and ironing board, cooking, mending, 
 staying at home to make the home comfortable for her 
 lord and master. M.L., who sat near me and near the 
 speaker, looked infinitely disgusted. She did not reply 
 to him, but I did. My indignation was aroused, and I 
 could not keep silence. I told the audience that a 
 woman had a mind to cultivate and a soul to be saved 
 as well as a man, and that if they wished the next 
 generation of men to be better than the present, the 
 women must be educated and elevated. . . There is 
 to be a meeting for ladies only, S.S. teachers mainly, at 
 nine a.m. to-morrow, by the request of J.C, from 
 Birmingham, and two or three other earnest teachers. 
 They wrote a note to me, before giving out the notice,
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 321 
 
 to ask me to meet with them. I consented, and the 
 notice was read from the President's chair. At 11.30, 
 J.G. and I have a public meeting for such as are 
 remaining and wish to attend ; also, a meeting in the 
 evening for servants, waiters, and cab-drivers, &c., who 
 have waited upon Friends during the Conference. 
 These have received very respectful letters of invitation 
 to a tea party at six p.m., and meeting after." 
 
 Extracts from two short addresses of E.L.C.'s, 
 given at the Conference, are subjoined : — 
 
 " Looking at Christ as a Teacher, our example and 
 model, I think we find His object lessons exceedingly 
 simple in illustration. In teaching the multitudes and 
 common people, He usually spoke to them by illustration 
 and by incident, such as, ' A sower went forth to sow,' 
 when it might be they could see the sower scattering 
 the seed ; the woman kneeling down, and hiding her 
 leaven in the meal ; the builders erecting the foundation 
 of a house — one having chosen a good foundation, and 
 the other a poor one, and the result of building on 
 a rock or on sand. I think in these object lessons the 
 teachers would have great power over their scholars, 
 especially over the poor and ignorant. 
 
 " On one occasion, while I was out on a mission, 
 and visiting the military hospitals, I came upon a 
 General as I walked from one hospital to another. 
 I went within the reach of his voice, and found the 
 General haranguing his troops the evening before an 
 engagement. He gave them the following instructions : 
 — * Fire low ; don't fire over the heads of your enemies.' 
 Sabbath school teachers, fire low ! " 
 
 22
 
 322 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 At another sitting of the Conference she said, 
 " My husband is a shepherd, and has a large flock to 
 tend ; where there is good pasture the sheep never 
 wander away, but if bad, no matter how high or strong 
 the fence, the lambs will escape, and the sheep will 
 either break through or jump over the fences. On the 
 other hand, if the pasture be good, they will all find 
 their way into the enclosure. I think this will apply 
 spiritually. And I am bound to express my conviction 
 that many of your meetings would be far more profitable 
 and useful, but for the way in which the Holy Spirit's 
 influences are often restrained and kept down. 1 have 
 heard great preaching ability in some of your schools. 
 But, on entering the Friends' meetings, we come 
 into a difi'erent atmosphere. Silence is the order 
 of the day, and Friends, I fear, only prove them- 
 selves as so many dead weights, instead of living 
 stones. When I have called attention to this circum- 
 stance, the reply has mostly been — that it requires a 
 different gift to speak in the meeting-house from the 
 qualification necessary in the school. I don't believe 
 it. Much of the ability which is felt to be an acquisition 
 in school, would not be unsuitable in the Friends' 
 meetings. I find that our English women are too 
 much given to keeping silence ; and how few have we 
 heard during this Conference ! The women defer too 
 much to the men, and shirk their responsibilities ; 
 and the men, it is interesting to observe, are quite 
 willing to let them. Where the men have so much to 
 say and the women so little, I am not astonished that 
 but little is accomplished. Why do not our dear sisters
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 323 
 
 take their proper places, and use the gifts that God has 
 given them ? " 
 
 E.L.C. had been an earnest teetotaller from early 
 life. The following is part of an address she delivered 
 in Devonshire House Friends' Meeting House, during 
 this visit to her native land : — 
 
 " 1 remember when I was a very little girl in 
 England, I used to learn some lines from one of 
 Cowper's poems, which I admired very greatly indeed. 
 They began, ' Slaves cannot breathe in England,' and 
 went on to show that the very moment they set foot on 
 English soil, that moment they were free. Now after 
 being away from England twenty years, I return, and 
 one of the first things I hear is, 'There are 600,000 
 slaves in England.' I say that it is a remarkable thing ; 
 but what has become of the truth of Cowper's lines, 
 that we used so very much to like to learn, and that 
 used to make us rejoice so much — that there were no 
 slaves in England, but that all men here were free ? 
 And then I am told that the 600,000 are slaves of drink, 
 to the bondage of custom, of fashion, and of liquor. 
 Another thing I have been told, on very high authority, 
 is that the people of the United Kingdom of Great 
 Britain and Ireland spentin the year 1873, £133,500,000 
 sterling for intoxicating drinks, I could not have 
 credited it, ^ " I had not had it on good authority, and if 
 it had not been put in black and white before me — so 
 much for the excise, so much for the customs, so much 
 for the malt, and so forth. The revenue to the country 
 being £30,000,000 out of the £133,500,000 that you 
 drink up. In 1834, the British people paid £20,000,000
 
 324 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 sterling to free their slaves. In 1(S73, they paid 
 £30,000,000 to the Government revenue for the liberty 
 to make slaves. When I was talking to a gentleman 
 a few days ago, and saying what a fearful thing it 
 was, and how I wished that every drop of liquor 
 could be sunk into the bottom of the Atlantic, 
 he said, 'The British Government must inevitably 
 collapse in a case like that.' But, oh ! what do 
 we get in return for that revenue ? — Criminals, 
 paupers and prisoners. It is the same in your country 
 as it is in mine, probably worse. I have visited 
 115,000 prisoners in the United States during the last 
 eighteen years, and out of that number 105,000 seemed 
 to have been brought there, eitherdirectly or indirectly, 
 through liquor. I have visited the inmates of poor- 
 houses to the number of 75,000, and out of that 
 number it is supposed that 65,000 and more, could 
 trace their poverty and distress, and coming to the 
 poor-house, to the same cause. And now a word with 
 regard to this slavery. If my dear friend, Anna R. 
 Whiting, had been here I am sure she could have 
 described to you scenes that she has witnessed in 
 England, and that her sister in Liverpool has witnessed. 
 She could tell you of scenes something like this : A little 
 boy found dying, his mother away, intoxicated in a 
 public-house, and her only child, with none but dogs for 
 his companions, in his dying hour. Oh ! what terrible 
 slavery must that be ! I have heard A.R.W. tell some 
 of the thrilling scenes that she has witnessed in 
 England, and though I have not seen so much here as 
 she has, yet I can give you a picture of slavery as it was
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 325 
 
 in America some few years ago ; I would like to intro- 
 duce you to a young woman, a Quadroon, with her 
 baby, two years old, in her arms. She is about to be 
 put up to the auction-block to be sold. There are 
 crowds of people around who are bidding for the 
 young woman. She takes her child up in her arms 
 and clasps it with an agonising sense that it is about to 
 be separated from her. In a few minutes she is 
 ordered to put down the little girl. She resists. She 
 will not part with her. It is torn from her arms, and set 
 aside by some hard-hearted people who have no love 
 for it, and the little pleading voice of the child 
 is heard above the tumult crying, ' Mammy, mammy ! 
 take me ! ' And then the overseer, with his heavy 
 whip, threatens the child, and uses rough and brutal 
 language to it. Presently, as the child still cries every 
 now and then, ' Mammy ! mammy ! mammy ! ' down 
 comes the heavy whip on the neck, the shoulders, the 
 head, and even the face of the little tender child of 
 two years ; but in spite of all, the mother's feeling is 
 there — the mother's strong, loving, tender feeling. 
 That slavery did not and could not destroy the mother's 
 feeling for her child, but the slavery that both your 
 country and mine are groaning under, the slavery of 
 the intoxicating cup, takes away all better feelings, 
 destroys the fatherly instincts and the mother's love, 
 and all the noble and generous feelings in the hearts 
 of its victims. 
 
 " A dear friend of mine was walking through one 
 of our large towns in the United States, and, as she 
 proceeded, she passed by a group of boys, and heard
 
 326 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 one of them make use of profane language. She 
 turned quicklj', and laid her hand on the head of 
 a little boy about eight years old, half -starved, bare- 
 footed and ragged, and said, ' Is this the little boy 
 I heard swear ? ' One of his companions answered 
 jeeringly, ' No, he don't swear ; he prays.' And then 
 the mother's heart was drawn out towards the little 
 boy with great sympathy. She found out that the child 
 was all covered with bruises inflicted by his own father's 
 hand, that father being a slave to the intoxicating cup. 
 This slavery had destroyed his manhood and his pity, 
 for his cruelty had been the cause of the death of 
 a good and pious wife, and the little boy said, ' It's 
 so hard to be good, now" that mother's dead. Mother 
 died three weeks ago, and now I have no one 
 to pray with me, and to teach me to pray, 
 and to teach me to be good.' Then the question 
 was put by my friend, 'Has thou no father, then ? ' 
 The little boy said, ' Oh yes, I have a father, but father 
 isn't like mother. Father don't pray. Father drinks 
 and swears and strikes me.' And so the little fellow, 
 having found a sympathetic ear, poured into it the tale 
 of his sorrow. He had not had half enough to eat his 
 appearance showed ; the condition of his clothes was 
 wretched, and his body bore the marks of the ill-usage 
 he had received ; and yet that little boy could remember 
 the time when his father was a kind man, when he 
 used to come home sober in the evening ; but all that 
 was before he began to drink. The child could also 
 tell how his father had been good to mother before he 
 began to drink, but now mother was dead, and it was
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 327 
 
 'so hard to be good now!' And then the little boy- 
 acknowledged, in answer to my friend's questions, 
 that ' father came home drunk last night and beat me 
 cruelly, and this morning sent me away without my 
 breakfast, and I am so hungry.' My friend led him to 
 a baker's shop to give him something to satisfy the 
 cravings of hunger, and when he had made a good 
 meal she said, ' I want thee to take me to the house 
 where thy father spends his time and money in drink- 
 ing.' The little boy looked frightened. ' I dare not 
 go,' he said, ' he will whip me if he knows I told you.' 
 She promised not to tell, and then prevailed on the 
 child to walk with her to the place. When he had led 
 her to the house he drew back, afraid of being seen by 
 that father who had once been a kind and good man. 
 The little slave baby was not afraid of her mother, she 
 loved her mother, and the mother loved her. This 
 father, the slave to the drink, had lost his love to his 
 child ; he had caused by his brutality the death of the 
 best of wives, and the little boy was afraid of his 
 father seeing him. He just designated his father to 
 my friend, who said to the boy : ' Now I want thee to 
 go home, and kneel down and pray to the Lord Jesus, 
 that he will help me to bring thy father home, and 
 soon we will go to your home together.' The little 
 boy said, ' No, he won't come.' ' Oh, yes,' said this 
 praying woman — the trusting child of the Lord — ' he 
 will surely come, for the Lord Jesus has promised that 
 if two of us should ask Him for anything. He will 
 grant it ; do thou go home and ask Him, and I will 
 ask Him also.' And the little boy went home, and
 
 ■328 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 that servant of the Lord lifted up her heart to her 
 Saviour, asking Him to go with her, and He gave her 
 words to speak to reach the hearts of those who were 
 in the public-house. She went right into it, and saw 
 eight or ten men drinking — it being only eleven 
 o'clock in the morning. She looked steadily at the 
 father of the boy, and said ' Is this the man who has a 
 little hungry, neglected, motherless boy at home ' ? 
 The man looked at her fiercely, and said — ' Who told 
 you about my boy ' ? She didn't answer that question, 
 but just replied by a very earnest appeal to the whole 
 company, and preached to them of 'righteousness' 
 temperance, and judgment to come.' Some of them 
 trembled, and were filled with fear, and some listened 
 to what she had to say, and many of them, when she 
 had done, went out of that place with her. She then 
 walked along the street with the father of the child, 
 and said ' I want thee to take me to thy home,' ' Oh, 
 no,' he said, ' it's not a fit place for you ; there has been 
 no woman in it since the day my dead wife was 
 carried away.' She said, ' I will go with thee.' She 
 prevailed upon him, and they went to his home to- 
 gether, and there, kneeling down in one corner, was 
 the little boy with his hands clasped in prayer. 
 My friend took the profane drinking man by 
 the hand, and said to him, ' Thy little boy is 
 kneeling down praying to his Saviour ; come, 
 let us kneel down and pray with him.' The 
 father resisted a little while, and said 'I can't remember 
 a prayer — I have never prayed once in my life since 
 I was a child'; but she persuaded him, and presently
 
 .1874] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 329 
 
 he knelt down beside her, and there the three were 
 together, the holy praying woman, with the little boy 
 on one side and the father on the other, lifting up her 
 voice to God in prayer. And it seemed as though the 
 very heavens were opened, and the prayer went right 
 up to the Mercy Seat, and brought instant blessing 
 down, for in a few minutes that rough man was 
 broken down, and every now and then responded to 
 her prayer by a sincere and earnest 'Amen.' When 
 she had finished she said, 'Now I want thee to pray 
 for thyself.' 'Oh ! I cannot,' he said. The tears were 
 flowing, and every now and then a deep sigh escaped 
 him. 'Oh, tell me,' he exclaimed, 'what to say ; I do 
 not know what to say' ; and then she said to the poor 
 contrite sinner, ' Say, " God be merciful to me a sinner, 
 for Jesus' sake,"' and he repeated the words after her. 
 The prayer of the poor man rose up to heaven that 
 day, and I doubt not the song was heard that had been 
 heard 1,800 years previously, only it was of a sinner of 
 a different stamp — 'Behold he prayeth,' and there was 
 joy in heaven over a sinner who had repented. When 
 he rose from his knees my friend told him that now 
 it was the will of the Lord that this very hour should 
 be the turning point in his life, that he should leave off 
 drinking and gambling, that he should leave off going 
 to the public-houses, and that he should commence 
 praying earnestly, attending the prayer-meeting and the 
 place of worship ; and before she left the city, she 
 heard that he had been six times to the prayer- 
 meeting or place of worship, and that he had asked for 
 the prayers of the congregation in the Methodist meet-
 
 330 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 ing ; and we heard later still that he was continuing to 
 hold out steadily, and being a skilful mechanic was 
 earning sixteen shillings a day — a little more perhaps 
 in the middle of summer and a little less in the middle 
 of winter. What a pity that such a one should have 
 been spending his time and money in the alehouse and 
 ginshop ! His little boy was now well fed, clothed, and 
 going to school ; the man had joined the Methodist 
 Church, and was rejoicing in his Saviour, in the sense 
 that his sins were forgiven ; and he was a happy man, 
 looking forward in the hope of meeting the beloved 
 wife, whom he had treated with such great cruelty, in 
 that better land beyond the grave. Which slavery is 
 the worst — that which separates families but still leaves 
 the loving feeling in the heart of the mother and child, 
 or that which brutalises the father, and takes away all 
 the love of his heart and all his interest in his wife and 
 child? I think we may say, without using strong 
 language, the curse of these two nations, America and 
 Great Britain, is strong drink. The two greatest nations 
 upon the face of the earth, the two in which are to be 
 found the most schools, the most Bibles, the most places 
 of worshi^D, and probably the most worshippers — to 
 think that in these two great nations there should be 
 this terrible and deadly iniquity, and such a vast 
 amount of liquor consumed ; 60,000 in this land, and 
 nearly as many in my own, every year going down to 
 a drunkard's grave — I say to think of all this should 
 stir the heart of every one to help to remove so great 
 amass of evil. It should raise the question, ' What 
 can we do to help it .'" I am endeavouring to do
 
 .1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 331 
 
 what I can by speaking to you this evening. But 
 some may say, ' We cannot do that, and therefore we 
 can do nothing,' We have, every one of us, influence 
 which we might throw in to aid the efforts of those 
 who are labouring for the suppression of intemperance. 
 If there is ever to be a change in this land or in the 
 United States, in the drinking usages of the people,- 
 it will have to commence amongst the religious people 
 and amongst those, who, perhaps, may be called the 
 upper classes. It is of no use to invite the poor 
 drunkard to sign the pledge, if others will not sign it 
 with him. Your names are wanted to give sanction 
 and respectability to the pledge, and to help on the 
 great temperance reformation. The American ladies 
 are doing a great deal in the work. In Michigan 
 much effort has been put forth since I left home, and is 
 highly spoken of by some of our ablest writers and 
 thinkers. The ladies have made a movement of this 
 kind in this and other States. They have met and 
 endeavoured, by their prayers and little meetings, to 
 effect a change for the better in the drinking habits of 
 the people. Some of these ladies are of the highest 
 rank and social position, and I can only bid them 
 God-speed, and hope that they will prosper in their 
 work. It may be that this method of work would not 
 do for the English people. There they have adopted eight 
 pledges which have been found very useful. One of 
 them is simply ' We will abstain from the intoxicating 
 draught.' The next is 'We will not offer it to others ; ' 
 another, ' We will not have it in our homes ; ' the 
 fourth is a declaration which we hand to grocers in the
 
 332 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 city, requesting them to sign the pledge, and not sell 
 any intoxicating liquors. If they will sign such a 
 pledge, the ladies on their part will sign a pledge that 
 they will deal with them in preference to those 
 -who do sell the intoxicating draught. Thus we 
 may help each other very much. Then there 
 is another pledge that is presented to the physician, 
 and a great number have signed it — that they will not 
 prescribe intoxicating liquor if anything else can be 
 found to answer — and the ladies have signed a pledge 
 that they will prefer such physicians, and such chemists 
 and druggists to any others. There were some Good 
 Templars in Indiana, who were very vigilant and doing 
 a good work amongst the intemperate. A man there 
 was selling liquor against the law, and the Templars 
 prosecuted him, and he was fined for it. When he paid 
 his fine, he went on again, and a second and a third time 
 this was done. The ladies of the place had a prayer 
 meeting, and they thought that something must be done 
 by them. If the men could not prevail by law, they 
 would try and prevail by the Gospel, with love, charity, 
 kindness, gentleness, and the prayer of faith. Four of 
 them used to go every evening and take their seats in 
 that prayer meeting in the place where the liquor was 
 being drunk. They had a little piece of knitting or 
 something that didn't require much thought, and there 
 they sat for hours. They behaved with great courtesy 
 and kindness to the proprietor, and they tried all they 
 could to persuade him to give up his avocation. 
 "Whether he would have done so or not is uncertain, 
 but, finding that his craft was in danger and that he
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 333 
 
 could not sell liquor, be was at length prevailed upon 
 to give it up, and commenced business as a butcher, 
 ■when they did all they could to support him. I think 
 something can be done in that Avay by the churches. 
 The question was put to Mr. Moody. He has been 
 a friend of mine for eight years, and in Chicago I have 
 used his pulpit several times. The question put to 
 him was with reference to intemperance, and he 
 said, ' There have been more questions in my question 
 drawer on the subject of intemperance than any other.' 
 He came into a meeting in Dublin with a large bundle 
 of papers, all of them about intoxicating drinks. He 
 was asked whether a converted man, who had given 
 his heart to the Lord, could continue to be a distiller, 
 or engage in the selling of intoxicating liquors, and he 
 said, ' I want it to be understood that I stand upon the 
 teetotal platform fair and square. If any man is in 
 doubt whether he is right in selling that which is 
 poison to others, just let him kneel down by a cask of 
 whisky and see whether he can ask God's blessing on 
 his trade, and if he cannot, why that will be his clear 
 and distinct answer. It is not right and lawful to do 
 anything upon which God's blessing cannot be asked.' 
 Then comes the question — ' How are those to get out 
 of the traffic who are engaged in it .? ' I have heard of 
 some who are very uneasy because they are in the 
 trade, and they do not know how to get out of it. It 
 seems to me that it is a question the church should 
 take up, so that the burden should not be borne simply 
 by the few. Let each separate branch of the church 
 take it up. I will allude to the Friends especially,
 
 :334 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 because it is the body to which I belong, and because 
 this is their place of worship. Suppose they say, ' We 
 do not approve of our members selling or making 
 intoxicating liquors.' Oh, try to encourage them to 
 give it up, and if some of those members say, ' Well, it 
 is a hard thing for us ; it will be sacrificing our whole 
 living and property ; ' let the church take the burden 
 upon itself, and enable them to enter upon something 
 that will give them a blessing ; there would be a great 
 gain to the body if this were done. 
 
 " Certainly, it is trying for persons engaged in the 
 liquor traffic to feel that they cannot ask God's blessing 
 upon it, and when the time of death comes, what a 
 fearful time for them ! How terrible to look forward 
 into the future world for some one who will say, ' He 
 tempted me to drink ! ' ' He made the liquor I drank !' 
 Our dear friend, Caroline Talbot, saw a man unloading 
 a cask of whisky, and, in doing so, he hurt his finger. 
 He swore very much at the accident, and C.T. spoke to 
 fhim. The proprietor of the distillery stepped out as she 
 was about commencing to read to the men a little tract 
 she held in her hand, entitled, ' The Swearer's Prayer.' 
 The employer said, ' These men are in my employ, and I 
 will thank you not to hinder them ; theirtime is precious.' 
 She answered, with a pleasant smile, 'I dare say they 
 .are, and that their time is very precious, but I have a 
 tract here, and it will not take long to read, perhaps 
 it will suit thy case as well as theirs.' The gentleman 
 looked on in utter amazement, but remained there 
 until she had finished reading her tract. By that 
 itime she had a congregation of some twenty-five
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 335 
 
 or thirty people. She told them she was to speak 
 in the Methodist church in the evening, and invited 
 them all to be present. The man with the hurt finger 
 said ' I will be there,' his employer said the same, and 
 60 said the others. In the evening she saw them 
 coming into the meeting. It was one to unfold the 
 truths of the Gospel, and she felt, as many ministers 
 do, that it was right to preach of ' righteousness, and 
 temperance, and judgment to come.' Consequently, 
 amongst other things, she preached against intemper- 
 ance, and the still greater iniquity of making money 
 out of that which spread desolation and ruin around, 
 and she used this rather remarkable expression, ' I 
 would rather walk through the streets, and beg my 
 bread from door to door, or sit like Lazarus waiting 
 for the crumbs that fall from the rich man's table, 
 than I would ride through the streets of your city in 
 chariots of gold, drawn by elegant horses purchased 
 with the price of the precious souls of men.' She 
 made a most earnest and thrilling appeal to them, 
 founded on the text, ' What shall it profit a man, if he 
 shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ? or 
 what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ' ? 
 The result of her faithful pleading was this — many 
 hearts were stirred there, and the distiller shortly after 
 gave up his business, and spent some thousands of 
 dollars of his ill-gotten gold in helping the inebriate 
 asylums, and caring for the widows, wives, and chil- 
 dren of drunkards. There is a very simple text in the 
 Bible that might apply to some one present, ' Go, and 
 do thou likewise.' Through the earnest pleading of
 
 336 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1874. 
 
 that one feeble Christian woman, this change was 
 brought about ; through the earnest pleading of the 
 same individual, the little boy's father of whom 
 I have been speaking, was converted under the blessing 
 of God. I must tell you of an incident in connection 
 with our war. It shows the deadly nature of the two 
 great evils of war and intemperance. (Here E.L.C. 
 related the pathetic story of ' Poor Harry,' already 
 given in a former page of this volume.) She continued 
 — I saw two mothers weeping in excessive grief, and 
 one said to me, ' I could have borne it if he had only 
 been killed while doing duty to his country, but,' 
 she said, 'my boy was butchered,' and so said the 
 other mother. 1 asked what they meant, and amidst their 
 sobs and tears, they told me that the regiment their 
 sons belonged to had been surrounded on three sides 
 by the enemy, who had been pouring into them a hot 
 fire for nearly an hour, and that all the ammunition 
 of the regiment had been spent. What was the reason 
 of that ? Whj^, the general in command had ordered 
 them into that position, and the General was drunk. 
 This required some investigation before I could make 
 any complaint. I therefore made considerable inquiry, 
 and think it was putting the thing too strongly to say 
 he was drunk ; but certainly he had drunk sufficient 
 wine, by his own confession, to have somewhat dimmed 
 his judgment, and that at a time when, humanly 
 speaking, thousands of lives were in his hand. I went 
 to the Secretary of War, and presented this case and 
 two or three others. I stated them as things that ought 
 not to be allowed to go on. Secretary Stanton was
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 337 
 
 a very kind-hearted man, whose mother had been 
 a member of the Society of Friends. His eyes filled 
 with tears as I spoke about the poor widowed mother 
 in Minnesota, and he said, ' My dear madam, I am 
 very sorry that such things should occur, but they are 
 among the terrible exigencies of w^ar. Such things 
 will sometimes happen in the best regulated armies.' 
 I thought what a terrible thing w^ar must be, and if in 
 the best regulated armies such things will inevitably 
 happen, what must happen in the worst ! and my 
 prayer rose up then, and many a time since to this 
 effect : — 
 
 " ' Oh ! hasten, great Father, the blest consummation. 
 When nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 
 When war shall no more be the Christians vocation, 
 When the spear shall be shivered, and broken the bow.' 
 
 " It was a very interesting circumstance to me 
 when in Ireland, on a visit which lasted some four 
 months, to hear one day of an order, which had 
 come down from headquarters, that every one of the 
 ministers of the Presbyterian Church should preach 
 a temperance sermon, and should read a manifesto on 
 the same subject. If all the ministers of the gospel 
 would preach of temperance, as well as of righteous- 
 ness, and of judgment to come, and practise it, and 
 then if all the Christian people in the position of those 
 gathered here this evening, Avould throw^ in their 
 influence on the right side, there would be very soon 
 a great difference made in the drinking usages of the 
 country. I have visited many wealthy families in 
 Ireland, where I find they are laying aside wine. I do 
 
 23
 
 338 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 not very often advocate the following of fashion, but 
 should a fashion be started by the wealthy families 
 not to introduce wine on their tables, I think it would 
 be a very good one, and one I would recommend you 
 all to follow. Some say that legislation Avill do so 
 much, but I am rather of John Bright's opinion, that 
 legislation can do nothing until the minds of the 
 people are more changed, because they will not other- 
 wise carry it out. . . . There must be, on the 
 part of Christian people, a fire of love that is 
 willing to renounce personal interests, tastes and 
 pleasures, and, with the blessing of God on our 
 efforts, the drinking usages of the land will be 
 changed. Supposing the mothers of these 60,000 
 drunkards who exist in this present year had persuaded 
 their children to sign the pledge when they were 
 young, and they had kept it, what a difference there 
 would be in those 60,000 persons. To those who wish 
 to do the temperance cause a service by circulating 
 literature, I cannot do better than recommend ' The 
 Little Captain,' and ' The Fool's Pence.' I have already 
 heard of eight or ten cases in which the former has 
 been very much blessed. In one large city, I heard of 
 some who had given up the traffic in liquor from 
 reading that book. There is a little incident connected 
 with the tract called 'The Fool's Pence,' which I 
 should like to relate. About twelve or fourteen years 
 ago I was in Indiana, when the agent of the Tract 
 Society was there, who had given me a very liberal 
 supply of publications for gratuitous circulation. 
 He said, ' I want thee to read this tract, and to
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 339 
 
 see whether it is suitable for us to bring out a reprint 
 of it.' As I was travelling in one of the railway cars, 
 I took out the tract and read it, putting my name in 
 pencil in the corner. A man very much the Avorse for 
 liquor staggered in, and asked a gentleman near me 
 where they sold liquor. Wishing to get rid of him, he 
 said, ' You will get some at the next shop,' and so the 
 man passed on. As he passed me, I pushed this tract 
 — 'The Fool's Pence' — into his pocket. A lady saw 
 me and said, ' That is what I call casting pearls before 
 swine. What is the use of giving a tract to a drunken 
 man ?' I told her I had put the tract into the man's 
 pocket with a prayer for a blessing. Eight months 
 passed away, and I was travelling again not fifty miles 
 from that line, and missed connection with the train 
 I wished to take. That gave me three or four hours 
 to wait in the town where I was put down. I walked 
 about for a long time, and as I was returning to the 
 station, I saw a man sitting at a cottage door. He had 
 two little boys beside him, and he was reading a tract. 
 I went to the children to give them a picture-tract, and 
 as I drew near, I observed the man was reading the 
 tract entitled 'The Fool's Pence.' It is rather a striking 
 looking tract, with a picture on the face of it. I said 
 to him, ' That is an interesting tract.' ' Yes, very,' he 
 said, and he put it into my hand, and there I saw, in 
 faint pencil marks in the corner, my own name. 
 Then immediately I remembered all about the tract 
 I put into the man's pocket in the car, and I asked 
 'Where did you get that tract ?' He looked a little 
 embarrassed, and I felt at liberty to indulge my
 
 340 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 curiosity still further. I said to him, ' I do not ask 
 from idle curiosity, but I have seen that tract before.' 
 He said, 'I have never been an habitual drunkard, 
 but three times have been the worse for liquor, 
 and the last time Avas when I was out on a journey and 
 came home intoxicated ; the next day, when I was 
 feeling miserable, I found that tract in my pocket.' 
 He then went on to say that he was not able to go to 
 work that day, and he read and re-read that tract, and 
 after reading it twice he had gone to a neighbour who 
 had before invited him to sign the pledge, and he 
 signed it. It is a very good idea to keep a pledge 
 book in our houses, so as to be useful to our moderate- 
 drinking neighbours. I think if it is introduced 
 kindly they would not take offence, and, more than 
 that, I think that at a time when their hearts are 
 impressed they would come in and sign it. The man 
 also told me that he was bringing up his two boys to 
 be temperance boys. I then said to him, ' I put that 
 tract into your pocket, and that is my name in the 
 corner.' He dropped his tract and got hold of my 
 hand, giving it a squeeze that I felt for some time 
 after. He then said I must come and see his wife, 
 for he said, ' she has prayed for you every night since 
 I read that tract and signed the pledge.' Without 
 knowing who it was, she had prayed for the person who 
 had put that tract into her husband's pocket. ... I 
 do not mention any of these things to show you what 
 I have done for the Lord, for I have done but very 
 little, but what He has done for me, and also because 
 I believe that in speaking thus of what I have done^
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 341 
 
 and seen, and heard, it is more likely to inapress you 
 than telling what otber people have witnessed and done. 
 I believe every one in this room may do some good in 
 this cause. The first thing to do is, as regards those 
 who have not done it yet, to sign the pledge, and ask 
 the Lord to bless the act, and then endeavour to 
 induce the members of your families to do the same. 
 Some can write a tract that may be a blessing to thousands 
 —such as 'The Little Captain' and 'The Fool's Pence' 
 have been. Some may say 'I can't write ' : no,butyoucan 
 distribute, I believe everyone can do something. A. 
 friend of mine sat at the table of a lady on which the 
 wine cup stood. The lady's son was there, and my friend 
 imagined thathesippeditasthoughheliked itverymuch, 
 and put the question to her if she was not afraid of her 
 boy becoming intemperate — he seemed to like it so 
 much. The mother Avas quite offended, though my 
 friend had spoken to her in a Christian spirit. She 
 said, ' My A. becorde a drunkard ? Impossible ! He 
 knows how to control himself, and when to stop ! ' 
 When my friend wanted to persuade her to let her boy 
 sign the pledge, the mother would not encourage it, 
 but rather laughed at the idea. It was only eighteen 
 months afterwards that that mother was in an agony 
 of grief beside the coffin of her son, who had died in a 
 fit of delirium tremens. He had been of a very genial 
 disposition, and unhappily, those are the people who 
 fall victims most easily to this vice. My friend went 
 to her to try to comfort her ; but oh ! dear, it is a hard 
 case in which to give comfort. She was at a loss what 
 to say ; the mother almost frantic at one moment, and
 
 342 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1874. 
 
 at another in the most abject grief, amidst floods of 
 tears, said, ' Don't talk to me about comfort when you 
 know that there lies my only son, who has died in 
 delirium tremens. Don't talk to me of comfort when 
 you know that his mother's hand gave him the first 
 glass of wine, and his mother's voice encouraged him 
 to drink when you would have had him abstain.' Then 
 came a fresh burst of grief, ' Don't talk to me of comfort 
 when you know it is written that no drunkard shall 
 inherit the kingdom of God ! ' and my friend had 
 to leave her in her anguish and sorrow. God forbid 
 that any dear mother here should have to feel 
 that her hand has given the first glass of wine to 
 her child ! There are three young men in the State 
 of Maine who left this country as drunkards, and went 
 there that they might be saved from the constant 
 temptation to drink that assailed them here. They have 
 all of them become reclaimed, and all of them con- 
 verted. One of them is a very able minister of the 
 Gospel ; the second speaks frequently in meetings, and 
 with great approval ; and the third is an earnest 
 Christian and sober man. What a blessed thing it 
 would be for this laud if all the liquor shops were 
 closed here as they are there ! I believe there is 
 something stirring the hearts of the people now, and 
 they only want that we should look to God for direction* 
 From a somewhat enlarged experience, having visited 
 195,000 sick and wounded soldiers, and seen a great 
 amount of human sufllering, I can say that I believe 
 there is nothing so great, so elevating, and so conducive 
 to personal happiness, as endeavouring to cheer and to
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 343 
 
 soothe the afflicted by whom we are surrounded ; and 
 indeed there is great truth in the words of one of 
 our American poets : — 
 
 " ' Rouse to some work of high and l)oly love, 
 And thou an angel's happiness slialt know, 
 Shalt bless the earth, while in the world above 
 The work begun by thee shall onward flow, 
 In many a branching stream, and wider grow. 
 The seed that in these few and fleeting hours. 
 Thy hands unwearied and unsparing sow. 
 Shall deck thy grave with amaranthine flowers, 
 And yield thee fruit divine in Heaven's immortal bowers.'" 
 
 After the Conference, E.L.C. spent several weeks 
 in Ireland. "Writing from Moyallen House, where she 
 was most kindly entertained, on the 22-9-74, she says : 
 " I have urgent invitations from Anner Mills, Belfast, 
 Lurgan, Lissue, Lisburn, Mountmellick, Carlow, 
 Waterford, Clara, Dublin, Cork or Bessboro', Bessbrook, 
 and several other places, with earnest representations 
 of the ' amount of good we might do ' in these various 
 localities. One thing is evident to me, if I undertake 
 to do half the work in Ireland that the Friends seem to 
 be laying out for me, I shall close my pilgrimage here, 
 and have my body deposited in one of their green 
 cemeteries, in this Emerald Isle. . . . 
 
 " I was much shocked last evening, when seated 
 in an appointed meeting beside John Grubb Richardson. 
 After a few prefatory remarks upon the uncertainty of 
 life, he read a letter from Francis T. King, of Baltimore, 
 announcing the death of my long-loved and valued 
 friend, Robert L. Murray, who was killed by being 
 thrown out of his carriage. Then J.G.R. turned to me
 
 344 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1874. 
 
 and whispered to me to follow it np by some of my 
 striking incidents on the uncertainty of life. I felt too 
 much overcome by the sad tidings to do so for awhile, as 
 I thought of the bereaved wife, one of my dearest 
 friends, and of her young family, and the great loss to 
 New York Yearly Meeting of one of its brightest stars. 
 I think he was, beyond a doubt, the most useful 
 member of New Yox-k Yearly Meeting. 
 
 " We are about to start for Lurgan ; return here 
 for another meeting this afternoon ; go (D.V.) to M.E.'s 
 on Sixth-day afternoon, and accompany her to Carlo w 
 next day. We have not been to Bessbrook yet, but 
 hope for a few days there after Carlow. I expect to be 
 a week in Dublin." 
 
 From Crumlin Terrace, Belfast, 15-10-74, E. L. C. 
 w'rites : — " My proposed ' two or three weeks ' are spun 
 out, and when they will end I do not know. I can 
 see no way out of Ireland yet. Meetings with the 
 public every evening this week thus far, and meetings 
 in the large churches in the afternoons with the ladies, 
 keep me fully occupied. The door seems to widen 
 every day. Yesterday two Presbyterian ministers 
 came to request me to use their pulpits, and speak to 
 the ladies of their congregations. To-day a similar 
 request comes from a Baptist minister in this city. We 
 have thronged, overflowing meetings every time. It 
 is a great comfort to me to have C. with me, and I 
 daily and almost hourly, while I see and enjoy her, 
 think of thee and thy great loss, and feel more 
 sympathy than Avords can express for thee in thy lone- 
 liness. I am glad you have had dear D. C. T. and
 
 1874.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 345 
 
 M. R. H., and have been a little cheered by their visit." 
 Writing to a sister from Foxrock, Dublin, 9th 
 of 12th Mo., E. L. C. says :— " This time last year- 
 noon— C. and I were anxiously looking toward the 
 small boat approaching our ship, to see whether any- 
 one we knew was there, with a longing, but scarcely a 
 hope, that we might see a familiar face — then the sight 
 of my dear brother waving his hand and hat, then the 
 loving greeting, the landing, the railway journey, the 
 meeting dear L. and M. looking so bright and well at 
 York, our little visit there, the cheerful Christmas at 
 Darlington. How much has one short year produced ! 
 " The joy has been great. The clouds and darkness 
 also great. Perhaps before another year has rolled 
 away, we may be able to see the reason, or the ' need-be ' 
 for some of these trials. Meantime, let us rest in the 
 words ' All things shall work together for good to them 
 that love the Lord ! ' You will have a sad and lonely 
 Christmas, I should like to spend it with you, but I cannot 
 leave Ireland just yet. There seems a very open field 
 for labour, and an eagerness to hear the Gospel. Our 
 meetings are large, some to overflowing. ... I am 
 longing for home. Can S. get me any shipping intelli- 
 gence ? When we have decided upon the vessel, and 
 secured our passage, we shall seem nearer home. I 
 have good accounts from them all, except that my 'own 
 meeting is dwindling,' and 'we miss thee very much.' 
 . . . Moody's meetings were very much owned and 
 blessed here — sixty young men in the employ of one 
 firm were converted, and they meet every morning at 
 seven o'clock for a prayer meeting, before opening shop.
 
 346 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1875. 
 
 Nearly all the Dublin Friends attended their meetings, 
 and some came from Waterford, Cork, Clonmel, Wex- 
 ford, and many other parts of the Island to attend. 
 . . . . Dear C.E.T. is daily gaining strength — she 
 expects to attend the General Meeting, to be held at 
 Cork after their Quarterly Meeting next week. I 
 remain here (D.V.) until Seventh-day, when M.E. 
 purposes going with me to Wexford Co. We shall 
 probably continue there a few days or near a week. I 
 do not know at all where I shall spend Christmas, but 
 shall probably be at home in spirit. There will be a 
 family meeting, a large gathering, and I shall long to 
 be there ! May you and I, and C, and dear F. and R., 
 and L., and all of us, who feel stripped and lonely during 
 the coming Christmas week, find the Comforter very 
 near at hand, and in Him enjoy sweet rest and peace." 
 E.L.C. writes from Plymouth, 20-2-1875 :— " We 
 are having good large meetings. There is a wonderful 
 eagerness on the part of the people here to hear the 
 Gospel message. All classes throng to our meetings. 
 Yesterday morning Ave visited two schools, 800 boys 
 and 400 girls. They were very attentive. A mothers' 
 meeting in the evening of nearly 400, including some 
 ladies. I did not count them, but give the numbers as 
 they were given to me. ... At noon to-day we 
 have a meeting with ladies. This evening a social 
 religious meeting (with tea at the ' British Workman ') 
 with Friends. To-morrow (First-day) the public are 
 invited to Friends' Meeting in the morning. Soldiers 
 are especially invited to an appointed meeting in the 
 evening. Second-day, a.m.. Children's Meeting ; p.m.,
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 347 
 
 Temperance Meeting. Third-day, go to Torquay. 
 A.R.W.'s love ; she is a most excellent caretaker, and 
 great help to me." 
 
 From Torquay, 25-2-75 : — " The weather is so cold 
 and foggy that I can see nothing of the scenery of this 
 beautiful spot. I am afraid to stir out of doors, except 
 to ride in a close carriage to the meetings, which are 
 appointed and must be attended. I wish thou wast 
 here. Thy eloquent and stirring description of this 
 spot when thou spent six months here some years ago 
 made me long to visit it. And now that I am here, 
 the weather, and the still susceptible condition of my 
 bronchial tubes, prevent my seeing and enjoying much 
 of it. From what I do see I can form an idea of its 
 exquisite variety and beauty. 
 
 "Falmouth, 26-2-75. I cannot bear to think of 
 delaying my voyage until the 5th Mo. I am home- 
 sick, and longing to see my dear husband and family 
 again. I have not told J. of the proposed delay, and 
 am hoping ' something may turn up ' to prevent. Our 
 meetings in this south land are crowded, and seem 
 satisfactory. We -are just going to the 'Ganges,' a 
 training ship for boys, then to the poor-house, and this 
 evening to a large Temperance Meeting."
 
 348 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1875. 
 
 Chapter XVIII. 
 
 SECOND VOYAGE TO AMERICA.— HOME LIFE. 
 
 1875—1879. 
 
 EL. C, with her daughter and little grand- 
 • daughter, started on their return voyage in 
 the " City of Paris," towards the end of April. On the 
 twelfth day at sea, she writes under date 3-5-75 : — 
 '' My dear sisters, uncle and aunt, and dear friends, 
 I meant to have written an interesting letter or a 
 graphic journal, but alas! 'When I would do good 
 evil is present with me.' When I take the pen it does 
 not follow my will. The table shakes, the steamer 
 rocks, my head swims, and I feel that my letter 
 or journal will be a miserable failure. My dear 
 A. R. Whiting will find that she was gi'eatly mistaken 
 in her estimation of my powers as ' a racy letter- 
 writer.' I have had some hope that C. would be 
 able to make up for my deficiency, but she is as bad or 
 worse than I. Sea-sickness has completely unmanned 
 or univomanned us both. I fear that my description 
 of the horrors of sea-sickness will not encourage the 
 dear young people to accept my invitation to visit our 
 land for a wedding trip. Perhaps the Bessemer Saloon 
 may be in use for crossing the Atlantic by that time,
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 349 
 
 or they may be better sailors than I. Certainly my 
 distress has been such as I would not wish the worst 
 convict in the land to suffer as the penalty for his 
 offence. Query, how would it answer to exchange the 
 prison cell for an ocean voyage ? In cases of extreme 
 stubbornness or insubordination it might prove 
 effectual. My poor prisoner at the pumps could never 
 have held out through a voyage like this. I never felt 
 so meek in my life, or so utterly unable to resist or 
 oppose. ! those long, weary nights, those days of 
 languor and exhaustion ! After changing my cabin, 
 my head was brought into nearer contact with the 
 engine or the machinery, and the thud, thud, thump, 
 thump, of the engine incessantly, so near me, was 
 distressing beyond measure. Hour after hour, day 
 after day, night after night, the same dull, heavy, 
 monotonous sound. As I lay there, all sorts of scenes 
 passed through my brain. The slavers and slave-trade. 
 The horrors of the poor negroes as they crossed the 
 ocean, not with the comforts offered to us, but chained, 
 and lying as close together as they could be placed. 
 The cry seemed to me to ring in my ears for liours. 
 
 " ' By our blood in Af ric wasted, 
 
 Ere our necks received the chain, 
 By the misery that we tasted, 
 
 Crossing, in your barks, tlie main. 
 
 ' Thud, thud, went the engine, saying. Crossing in your 
 barks the main, in your barks the main, in your barks 
 the main, in your barks the main ' ; so it seemed to 
 keep on for hours, and I could not get rid of it. Then 
 it would change to
 
 350 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1875. 
 
 " ' It seemed that on ocean afloat, 
 Asleep at the dawn of the day, 
 I dreamed what I cannot but sing. 
 So pleasant it seemed as I lay.' 
 
 And the last line seemed mockingly echoed by the 
 heavy thud of the engine. Meantime we were tossing 
 and pitching in a style that made it difficult to remain 
 in our berths. My phantoms, and visions, and fancies 
 were put to flight by C. rushing into my room in the 
 middle of the night to tell me in alarm that the sea 
 was beating so violently against the window, under 
 which baby was lying, that the water had found an 
 •entrance somewhere and the floor was sopping wet. 
 So the night watchman was called. He soon took up 
 the carpet, dried the floor, fixed the leakage, and again 
 we returned to the monotony of the night. To main- 
 tain the pei'pendicular when out of bed, and the 
 horizontal when in bed, were alike impossible. When 
 in our berths, sometimes the head, sometimes the feet, 
 were in the ascendant, more frequently the latter. 
 This steamer, 'The City of Paris,' is 418 feet long, 
 40 broad, 69 deep, 3,000 tons burden. Captain 
 Tibbetts has crossed the Atlantic 347 times, and 
 ' knows the road well, and understands all the mile- 
 stones,' he says. He is a pleasant man. We 
 hope to reach New York on Fourth-day, and to 
 post this immediately on landing. Dear little 
 C. L. sits beside me reading with the book wrong way 
 up, the most extraordinary miscellany. I quote from 
 her ' Mary had a little lamb,' ' What made the lamb 
 love Mary so ? Why Mary loved the lamb you know.' 
 Then raising her sweet little baby voice, she sung
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 351 
 
 * There were ninety and nine that safely lay,' &c. 
 Then, ' Jesns loves me, this I know.' The book out 
 of which she pretends to be reading is, ' Across the 
 Ferry,' by James Macaulay, editor of ' The Leism-e 
 Hour,' a volume we are reading with great interest, 
 
 * Across the Ferry ' meaning across the Atlantic. Poor 
 child, she has been very ill — I almost feared we should 
 lose her. There seemed nothing she could eat, and 
 the milk did not suit her. She was the first to be ill, 
 the morning after we left Queenstown ; and such a 
 quiet, patient, little sufferer. Yesterday, our eleventh 
 day at sea, we were told we were still 700 or 800 miles 
 from New York. The Liverpool Agent told me we 
 should probably arrive on the 1st of May, and it is 
 now the 3rd. It is a wearisome voyage, and has been 
 one of much suffering to us all thus far. ' Up to the 
 heights, down again to the depths, our souls melted 
 because of trouble. Then we cried unto the Lord in 
 our trouble, and he delivered us out of our distresses. 
 He made the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof 
 are still. Then they are glad, because they be quiet. 
 So He bringeth them unto their desired haven.' A 
 few hours of this quiet we enjoyed yesterday, and 
 went up on deck, and sat under an awning, and one 
 of the stewards brought our little invalid well wrapped 
 up, and carried her about on deck, in the sunshine. It 
 has refreshed her, and done her so much good, and 
 she is smiling again, and her appetite returning. We 
 are so thankful. We are all feeling better, and trust 
 the worst is past, and that our drooping little Lily will 
 revive, and pick up as fast as she lost flesh and strength.
 
 352 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1875. 
 
 " We have 999 steerage passengers on board, 
 reckoning the children, of whom there are a great 
 many. Hundreds came on board at Queenstown — 
 such a set ! In poverty, wretchedness, and dirt. The 
 Purser tells me that they average more than 1,000 per 
 trip during the summer months by this line. 
 
 " I have suffered more from thirst than on any 
 previous voyage. The tea is poor, coffee poorer, water 
 poorest. I tried lemonade for awhile, but soon tired 
 of it. They offered me wine, brandy, lager beer, 
 porter, Allsopp's pale ale, Guinness' porter, and the 
 whole round of what Moody denominates 'infernal 
 drinks.' At length, on the ninth day, we tried 
 gingerade, which the steward assured me I could not 
 get drunk on, if I took a gallon. We were satisfied 
 with a sixpenny bottle per day between us ; they 
 called it a pint bottle, but I believe an imperial quart 
 would hold three or four of them. How I wished we 
 had not refused dear C.'s kind offer of raspberry 
 vinegar. I wished for some oranges also. Through 
 ' some unaccountable neglect, the supply ordered and 
 expected were not put on board.' Dear little Calla 
 longed for one often in vain, when she could take 
 nothing else. As I look upon her now, 1 think of her 
 as she sat at table at Dr. T.'s at Liverpool, the last 
 dinner we took in England. I had asked a blessing 
 closing with ' Jesus Christ, our Saviour.' She looked 
 up at me so brightly, and said, ' Dan-ma, I fought you 
 were doing to say ' Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear,' 
 alluding to the sweet little hymn that her aunt C. and 
 little cousin F. taught her.
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L, COMSTOCK. 353 
 
 " ' Thou who once on mothers knee 
 Wert a little one like me, 
 Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear, 
 Let me feel thee very near.' 
 
 Little darling, I am so thankful that she is getting 
 better, and to believe that my last ocean voyage will be 
 over in a few days, llie last, the very last, I hope and 
 believe. I must leave sea voyages to younger persons 
 and better sailors. 
 
 " First-day. Captain Tibbetts read the Church 
 services in the saloon this morning. We each had 
 a prayer-book. There were forty or fifty steerage 
 passengers present, some of the officers of the ship, 
 and about half of our saloon company. Baby thought 
 she must do her part in the responses, etc. She could 
 not understand what the rest said, and put in a 
 few original touches and irrelevant quotations. As 
 she spoke in a low voice, an occasional sentence 
 reached my ears as under, ' Twinkle, twinkle, little 
 star, how I vender vot you are. Amen ! ' ' Dere 
 vos a little budder, just five years old, and I've 
 dot four nuts ve captain dave me to take to him. Amen !' 
 ' Little Jack Horner, he sat in a torner. Amen ! ' 
 Then followed something about 'little tuzin Feddie, 
 and aunt Tarline, and ve bath, and play-room, 
 and rocking-horse, and swing, etc. Amen !' She 
 brought in the 'Amen' whenever she heard others 
 say it. 
 
 " 9 p.m.. Thirteenth day on the sea. — Rainy and 
 foggy, but calm. We took the pilot on board this p.m. 
 Captain T. says they often meet with pilot boats 200 
 
 24
 
 354 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1875. 
 
 miles from New York. They are sometimes out two 
 or three days watching for the ships. They pay them. 
 250 dollars — £50 — each trip. He thinks he could do 
 very well without one, but in case of an accident, the 
 underwriters might make a stir. 
 
 " C. was reading out of the pretty little testament 
 cousin B. gave her. Baby wanted mamma to give her 
 the tiny, pretty little book, and take the large Bible herself. 
 B. would have been amused at the extraordinary 
 theology the child ' read ' in her sweet baby way out 
 of the said testament. She ' read ' in a low tone, and 
 seemed too much absorbed by her subjects to notice 
 W'hether anyone was listening. ' Jesus ' and ' heaven,' 
 *papa' and 'little buzzer, kittens, mittens, and Christ- 
 mas pie ' (bringing out of the treasury ' things new 
 and old ' truly). 
 
 A few lines from her youngest sister, dated New 
 York, May 5th, 1875, told of their arrival. She wrote, 
 "A few hasty lines just to let you all know that our 
 darling trio are safe here, all looking well. They had 
 a long, tedious, sea-sick, cold passage, but a safe one. 
 A telegram was handed to me ])etween five and six 
 o'clock a.m. saying the ' City of Paris ' would be ' in ' 
 at ' 6.15.' I was about four miles from the wharf, but 
 was soon very wide awake, and at twenty minutes 
 before eight stood on the quay, to which the boat was 
 then slowly approaching, near enough to see our wee 
 dear Calla, who was on deck in one of the officer's arms, 
 looking so bright and pretty. They are all going on 
 to Canada about six p.m., so, as I have just told dearest 
 E., I have only three or four hours in which to do
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 355 
 
 eighteen months' talking, I will stop writing till after 
 my return to Philadelphia to-morrow." 
 
 E.L.C. to S. and C.H. 
 
 ''Rollin, 22-7-75. 
 
 " The intelligence conveyed by dear L.'s letter of 
 the removal of our dear Aunt was not unlooked for, 
 though it seemed rather sudden at the last. Dear 
 patient sufferer ! it would not be to her too sudden a 
 summons. It must have been a delightful change. My 
 spirit has seemed at times to rise and participate in her 
 joy. ' First and foremost ' in that most blessed moment 
 when she saw Jesus, her Saviour and Redeemer, then 
 the meeting and greeting with loved relatives and 
 friends. Our dear mother and father, Uncle D., dear 
 M.C., would doubtless be among the first to meet and 
 welcome her, and to enquire what news she had brought 
 of her dear parents and loved ones. Aunt would tell 
 that her dear mother was with her but a few days ago, 
 and how she looked, and what she said, and how she 
 was bearing up under her trial and bereavement, and 
 whether she is preparing to join and live with her in 
 her new and delightful home. Although I doubt not 
 that your dear M. has often seen you, yet such I imagine 
 would be a part of their converse, and the loving 
 daughter would delight to talk with one who had so 
 recently seen her dear mother. Did C. send any 
 message to M. by Aunt ? How they will enjoy visiting 
 each other now, walking in the woods, admiring the 
 flowers and gardens, sitting down in those bowers of 
 beauty, watching the birds of Paradise, listening to the
 
 356 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1875. 
 
 rippling cascades or the cataracts, in comparison with 
 ■which Niagara would sink into insignificance, enjoying 
 together the summer fruits, the grapes more luscious 
 and finer than the grapes of Eshcol. How these 
 re-united portions of families will have family gather- 
 ings, and converse together over the love and the mercy 
 that have led and gathered them safely home. The 
 trials they have passed through will now seem to them 
 indeed as comparatively ' light affliction and but for a 
 moment,' in comparison with the ' far more exceeding 
 and eternal weight of glory.' 
 
 " We expect to start early to-morrow morning 
 with a horse and buggy for a small meeting 210 miles 
 west." 
 
 " 7-8-75. Though I do not find time to write as 
 often as I wish to, my mind is often with you, and 
 memory busy recalling the pleasant hours we have 
 spent together in the past, and imagination picturing 
 the future. I find myself constantly querying, how is 
 it with you in the jjrese^it ? I hope you are sustained 
 in 'peace, even though you may feel at times that the 
 joy and brightness have fled from your home. I have 
 often in seasons of sorrow taken comfort from the 
 remembrance that it was in a season of heavy affliction, 
 and not in the time of prosperity that our loving, com- 
 passionate Saviour left the sweetest legacy of ' Peace * 
 to his sorrowing little band of followers. May peace 
 be your portion, and consolation from the Lord, until 
 the rapidly revolving wheel of time brings you to the 
 joyful and triumphant reunion, which shall never 
 again know a painful parting. Grace, mercy, and peace
 
 1875.] ELIZAIJETH L. COMSTOCK. 357 
 
 be with you ! Very mysterious and unaccountable to 
 us are some of the dealings of our Heavenly Father. 
 's sudden bereavement, the large family of mother- 
 less children. 's great suffering and helplessness, 
 
 his dear wife's sorrow. Your dear M.'s removal. 
 
 's being cut off in the very midst of his days, taken 
 
 from a career of usefulness, leaving a feeble mourning 
 widow and a large family. These things seem to us 
 inscrutable, and truly ' past finding out.' Yet, as we 
 look back upon the past, we find it has been so in past 
 ages, and the Lord has jjermitted, if he has not ordered 
 these things ; and he has brought blessings out of 
 heart-breaking griefs to his own trusting children. 
 Jacob mourning over his son, Joseph's hard lot and 
 undeserved imprisonment. Daniel being carried away 
 from the home of his childhood, from his beloved 
 fatherland, and the persecution, even to the lion's den. 
 These and many more records of the past show clearly 
 that the Lord can and will bring good out of evil, to 
 those who suffer, trusting in Him, and to give us con- 
 fidence for the future in the precious promise, ' All 
 things shall work together for good to those that love 
 the Lord.' 
 
 " J hope thou art taking some rest and recreation 
 this delightful weather. The intense heat has passed 
 away, and now it is genial and pleasant, the thermometer 
 ranging from sixty-eight to seventy-five degrees in 
 this room, where J, and I spend a good deal of our 
 time when at home. The room has four windows, 
 which we keep open day and night in fine weather. 
 The prospect is pleasant. Our ^door yard'' (I wish
 
 358 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1875. 
 
 thou could suggest another name) looks beautiful 
 just now. The trees, every one planted by my dear 
 husband's own hand, all looking well. Towards the 
 north we see Norway spruce, lilachs, mountain ash, 
 and in the distance, along the front line by the road, 
 six tall poplars. The birds of many-coloured plumage, 
 hriglit yellow, green, red, blue, &c., add to the liveliness 
 and variety of beauty. Looking towards the east, we 
 have the early morning sun, fine evergreens, and 
 beyond, the orchard and gardens for small fruits ; on 
 the west, Scotch pines, interspersed with sumachs, and 
 in the background some handsome maples. Three 
 weeping willows at the gates look graceful and pretty. 
 We enjoy this room very much. ... I wish you 
 could come and see us, and thus be able to yicture us 
 in our own home and surroundings. We are destitute 
 of mountain scenery, or sea, or lake views, and have a 
 
 level and very fertile country Ohio 
 
 Yearly Meeting commences 26th 8th Mo., and will 
 probably hold seven or eight days. It will take us two 
 days to get there, being held in Jefferson Co., S.E. of 
 the State, eight miles from the Virginia Line. J. and 
 I go together, which will be very pleasant. We have 
 been out on a trip of twelve or thirteen days together 
 recently. . . . Since writing the above I have had 
 a visit from a gentleman and lady, with a pressing 
 invitation to go and hold Temperance Meetings in 
 Adrian, Hillsdale, and two other towns in this State, 
 and have received two letters also with invitations to 
 two Camp Meetings in Martha's Vineyard and Maine, 
 with the offer of free passes over the railway ; one of
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 359 
 
 the localities is 1,000 miles distant, the other 1,200. I 
 decline both. There are ten Temperance Camp Meet- 
 ings being held this season, ranging from ten days to 
 two or three weeks each. Several similar gatherings 
 for Holiness. The pressure is very great upon me, but 
 
 I think of and take warning, and hope not to get 
 
 overdone. My health still keeps good." 
 
 The following extract from a letter, dated Rollin, 
 30-8 to 8th of y, 1875, tells a little of her busy life, 
 at home and abroad. " I have been preparing a 
 certificate from our Select Yearly Meeting to London 
 and Dublin, for Eli and Abarilla Cowgill, who feel 
 drawn to visit the small meetings in England and 
 Ireland, more especially. J.B. and E.T. were on the 
 committee with me to prepare said certificate. They 
 had their credentials from their Quarterly and Monthly 
 Meetings, including the Continent of Europe as usual, 
 but withdrew the latter part at my suggestion, and 
 with the cordial unity of the Select Meeting. I had 
 not met with them previously, though a member of the 
 same Yearly Meeting. I think they may be very 
 acceptable in some of your small meetings, and in 
 labouring in some of your missions. . . . 7-9-75. 
 My letter progresses slowly, I cannot tell thee how 
 difficult it is to me to sit down quietly and write a 
 letter. I have so many interrui^tions. It is quite 
 amusing how people take me to be a person of 
 leisure, and so come and lay their burdens upon me, 
 and make prolonged calls, and ask for my help in 
 various ways. ' I wanted some one to write a letter for 
 me,' said one neighbour, 'and I thought I would come
 
 360 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1875. 
 
 to you, because you can ■write so easy, and so much 
 better than I can, and I knew you didn't have any 
 baking, or cooking, or wasliing to do.' ' My wife is a 
 person of leisure,' said my good husband to another. 
 ' She has no household cares, and she likes to make 
 herself useful,' Letters come pouring in about 
 Temperance, Mission Work, Sabbath School Con- 
 ventions, Centennial arrangements, &c., many that 
 I cannot pretend to answer. During the Yearly 
 Meeting they put me upon appointments to organize 
 Mission Boards and start Temperance Societies, 
 to write epistles, to visit small meetings, to go 
 as a delegate to the biennial Sabbath School Con- 
 vention of Friends to be held in Philadelphia in 11th 
 month next, and above all, and worse than all, they 
 have appointed me ' Solicitor,' to beg funds for re- 
 building the Yeai'ly Meeting School, which has been 
 burned down. ... I am also on an appointment 
 to go a journey of 300 miles to meet a Committee 
 to revise our discipline. Add to all these the home calls, 
 to visit the sick and suffering, to soothe the irritated 
 and cross, to comfort the afflicted, to attend all our 
 meetings for worship and discipline, extra meetings for 
 prayer and fellowship, General and Social-religious 
 meetings." 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. and C.H. 
 
 Indianapolis, 26-11-1875. 
 Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and 
 
 Girls. 
 
 " Thus far on my way to St. Louis, Missouri. 
 R.M.C. my companion. "We shall have a long weari-
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 361 
 
 some journey, but I trust, with the Lord's presence 
 and his blessing, we shall find our strength equal to 
 our day. We expect to be in that desperately wicked 
 city two weeks. We propose to hold two meetings 
 daily, one of which will be in the churches of the city 
 each evening, the other with the various workers in 
 the Mission and Temperance work, or public prisons 
 and institutions. In addition to this, we hope to 
 gather together into a compact body, the scattered 
 Friends in and around the city, and to organize them 
 
 into a good Friends' meeting I am here 
 
 now at the celebrated Women's Prison for this State 
 of Indiana, the best institution of the kind in the 
 land, and under the care of our dear friend, Sarah J. 
 Smith, formerly of Sheffield, a valued minister of our 
 Society. It was considered quite an experiment to place 
 a woman at the head of such an establishment, but 
 S..T.S. has been here two years, and it has proved a 
 complete success. The voice of love and gentleness, of 
 sympathy and womanly kindness has proved far more 
 efPectual in controlling, winning, and reforming women 
 and girls than all the harshness, strength, and power of 
 the sterner sex. Indiana is proud of her women's 
 prison and girls' reformatory, both under one roof and 
 
 one manager, 206 inmates in all We have 
 
 had an exceedingly interesting Convention in Cincinnati. 
 The Committee of Arrangement met on the 17th 
 instant. The Convention proper had three sessions, 
 besides a prayer meeting of one hour each day, and a 
 children's meeting. Seventeen ladies preached in 
 pulpits in the city on First-day, some of us three or four
 
 362 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1875. 
 
 times — so that this city of 300,000 has been pretty 
 thoroughly moved during the past week. One evening 
 was given up for young ladies to speak to young ladies, 
 who were to invite their young gentlemen acquaintance 
 and friends to come with them. A thousand or more 
 of these had the front seats, about a thousand older 
 behind them. The platform was occupied by young 
 ladies only, who, with the greatest propriety and 
 grace, addressed the audience. There was enough 
 of girlish diffidence to add to the charms of youth 
 and beauty, wit and genius. I had no idea of 
 the amount of talent, culture, intellectual power, 
 and deep religious feeling employed in this crusade 
 until now. I felt myself as a grasshojiper in their 
 midst. The most wonderful feature in the Convention 
 was the religious element. We can call it nothing less 
 than the Holy Spirit's i^oiver. M. C. J., a dear Chris- 
 tian woman, heretofore averse to woman's appearance 
 in public, is one of the leaders, and one of the ablest 
 speakers. She is at the head of the work in Brooklyn, 
 New York, where the ladies have visited 2,000 or 3,000 
 of the saloons, and 1,000 of them have been closed 
 through their efforts in one year. She works in a very 
 lady-like way, a way that Avould suit the English 
 workers, not as the Crusade in the Western States 
 commenced I am appointed on a com- 
 mittee to visit the large representative religious and 
 medical bodies in our land, and present the claims of 
 Temperance to them. 
 
 "We have appointed a Lecture Bureau, whose 
 business it will be to arrange for lectures to be
 
 1875.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 363 
 
 delivered by suitable and able persons at moderate 
 charges, and the whole is systematized and well 
 arranged for working all over the land. I am on a 
 committee for securing one day in connection with the 
 coming Centennial for an International Temperance 
 Convention, to which I here officially invite my dear 
 friend, A. R. W., to come and take part ; please inform 
 her of the same, and that she must not fail to appear. 
 
 " One lady spoke thus at the Convention, 'I have 
 spent twenty -five years of my life rocking the cradle, and 
 caring for the babies, &c., so yon must not expect much 
 from me as a public speaker.' Then she went on to tell 
 ns that she had nine sons and tAvo daughters, that she 
 sometimes learned much from them, and from a little 
 two-and-a-half year old baby boy she had learned a 
 sweet lesson. He had been playing for hours in the 
 sand with another little one, and when she had brought 
 him in, and taken off the little shoes, and shaken out 
 the sand, and taken off the little socks, and done the 
 same with them, and given him his bath, and put on 
 his clean white night-dress, she heard him repeat his 
 little prayer, ' Now I lay me down to sleep.' Then she 
 sung to him, ' I want to be an angel,' talked awhile 
 about the angels and the beautiful home in heaven, and 
 asked if he would not like to go up to heaven and be a 
 beautiful angel there. ' Xo,' he said, ' he wants to be a 
 booful angel down here in de sand and dirt.' The mother 
 pondered the baby's words, and felt that she must be 
 as an angel in the dirt, in the rough and dark places, 
 and work for Him among those whom He died to save. 
 
 " There were about twenty or twenty-five very
 
 364 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1876. 
 
 able speakers at this Convention, all ladies, and peidiaps 
 fifteen or twenty more a grade lower. One lovely, 
 brilliant woman, Mrs. F., an attorney-at-law, from Iowa, 
 an earnest Christian also, pleads the cause of the poor 
 and suffering. 
 
 " Two able ladies, licensed preachers of the M. E. 
 Church, and some Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, 
 and Baptists, &c." 
 
 Writing to one of her sisters from Rollin, 19-7-76, 
 E. L. C. gives some idea of the domestic difficulties 
 sometimes experienced in the homes of the far West 
 at that time. 
 
 " I do not wonder that thou wast surprised at 
 Lina's coming here, seeing thou hast not l)een with us 
 during the past few weeks, and dost not know the time 
 we have had in getting a ' help,' or trying to get one. 
 R. had the measles two months ago, and C. sent her 
 home to be nursed ; L. had them at the same time, 
 and C. could not nurse them both, and could not get 
 help. Servants are very scarce here. I was in Adrian 
 
 lame at the time To give thee an idea of 
 
 how they were perplexed, I will describe some of 
 John Harkuess's efforts, and the result thereof. He 
 left his corn-planting, and rode three miles to get girl 
 No. 1. She ' was not strong, and feared the work 
 would be too hard for her.' He returned home, and 
 set out for No. 2, in an opposite direction. Being 
 very much urged, No. 2 consented as a great favour, to 
 oblige him for two or three days. At the end of the 
 three days he had to take No. 2 home again, and go in 
 quest of No. 3, who never hired out except ' just once
 
 1876.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 365 
 
 in awhile to earn money to buy herself a new dress or 
 pair of shoes,' and upon great urging consented to 
 come for a week. Then she must be taken home. 
 No. 4 came for two weeks, and could not possibly stay 
 longer. No. 5 came for one week. Her mother was 
 sick, and she had to go and take care of her. A ride 
 of "eight miles in a very busy time (on the farm) to 
 fetch her, and another to take her home. Finally, we 
 heard of D. H., a girl of some pretensions, whom we 
 were given to understand it would be a great favour 
 if we could get. After some enquiry, hearing from 
 her mother that she would be glad to come and stay 
 some months, J. went at the time appointed, eight 
 miles for her, over desperate roads — in vain ; she was 
 not ready, but if he would come again in a few days, 
 she would return with him. Back again over the 
 eight miles of bad road he came, and returned bringing 
 D, H. and her trunk. Almost the first thing she said 
 after entering the house was, ' I shall have to get J. to 
 take me home again on Saturday afternoon, as we 
 expect company Sunday.' Poor J., he could not help 
 himself, he must have this sixteen miles' travel again 
 after she had given us four days of her valuable 
 services ! He took her home ; on her return on First- 
 day evening, she informed C. that she must go home 
 next Saturday and stay a week. This girl, No. 6, went 
 home for the week, charged two-and-a-half dollars per 
 week for her services, spoiled two batches of bread, and 
 proved herself very incompetent in many ways. . . . 
 And thus it came about that we asked Lina to ' come 
 over and help us,' which she did."
 
 366 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1876. 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 New YorJr, 9-6-78. 
 
 " I have thought many times during the past week 
 of thee and S., and wished you had been able to take 
 a peep at us. S. would have enjoyed more than a 
 peep ! 
 
 " The New York Yearly Meeting gathered in un- 
 usually large numbers, and the new Meeting-house at 
 Glens Falls would not at all accommodate the de- 
 votional meetings, so there was a tent borrowed or 
 hired of the Methodists at Round Lake, It was a 
 beautiful sight to see the tent filled with 2,000 
 worshippers, and to hear their voices singing ' Rock of 
 Ages,' ' All hail the power of Jesus' name ! ' &c. The 
 first meeting in the morning usually commenced at 
 8 or 8.30 Frequently we were in the Meeting-house 
 or tent nine or ten hours a day. This would have been 
 too much for thee, but S. would have enjoyed it, I 
 think. Among the earnest, eloquent, and able speakers 
 were J. H. D., D. B. U., A. K., E. B. and Avife. Seven- 
 teen ministers with minutes, and twenty-seven belong- 
 ing to their ow^n Yearly Meeting, 
 
 " 18-6. I find Yearly Meetings and letter-writing 
 do not blend w^ell — four meetings daily, and the effort 
 to do the amiable out of meeting in the houses of our 
 kind entertainers, is as much as I am equal to. We 
 are now at Newport, Rhode Island. This Yearly 
 Meeting lies between Philadelphia and New York in 
 the scale of progress. In New York the Select Meet- 
 ings were thrown open to companions of ministers, to 
 overseers, and all ' concerned Friends.' Not so here.
 
 1876.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 367 
 
 To-day we had a discussion two hours long on singing, 
 introduced by a very conservative Friend, who wished 
 that this Yearly Meeting should legislate that there be 
 no singing allowed in West-town School. They could 
 not carry their point. A. K. S. has so successfully 
 ' run the school ' for several years ; it is full, pros- 
 perous, and self-sustaining under his administration, 
 and the desire of the masses was, manifestly, that he 
 should not be interfered with. The conservatives had 
 to give up the point, with as good a grace as they 
 could. 
 
 " The day after New York Yearly Meeting closed at 
 Glens Falls, S.S. and H.T. kindly took my companion and 
 self out in a carriage to Lake George, ten miles. The 
 weather was delightful, the scenery grand, the lake, 
 surrounded by mountains, enchanting — ' like Winder- 
 mere,' they said. While driving, we had our Bibles in 
 the carriage, and a delightful Bible lesson on ' Restora- 
 tion ' or final restitution. I had a list of nearly 100 
 texts, a complete chain on the subject. As we studied 
 and read we talked of Canon Farrar. Are his views 
 making much stir on your side the water .' I think F. 
 would enjoy his ' Eternal Hope.' Has he read it yet ? 
 I think it will suit thee also. Do read it, and let me 
 know how you like it." 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 Rollin, 1-4-1879. 
 
 " I am seated at the desk at which F. has often sat, 
 
 in R.H.'s house, to write to thee. Isaac H. came for 
 
 me to attend the funeral of L.'s father. He died 
 
 in his ninety-sixth year. He made a very peaceful
 
 368 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1876. 
 
 close. His last words were ' It's all right.' But he 
 was not a believer in the Christian faith. ' A sceptic ' 
 they called him, ' an infidel,' and sometimes he would 
 not hesitate, in a moment of excitement, to use a 
 ' gentlemanly ' oath. Bright and clear in his faculties 
 to the last, and sight and hearing good. The father of 
 eleven children, ten of whom are still living, lawyers, 
 doctors, &c. They speak very highly of their deceased 
 father. I felt in a difficulty how to act. He had for 
 many years had a prejudice against the Methodists, and 
 a long-standing objection to them. 
 
 " His request and that of his family was that 
 I would come and preach his funeral sermon. After 
 some prayerful thought, I chose three texts instead of 
 one. First, ' God is love ' ; second, ' He is the Saviour 
 of all men, especially of them that believe ' ; and third, 
 the dying words of the departed, ' It is all right.' 
 While upholdingthe Christian standard, and the doctrine 
 of the Atonement, as my own faith and creed, I dwelt 
 upon the love of God, the great comfort I take in my 
 Bible and my faith, and how earnestly I could commend 
 the same to all present who do not yet enjoy them. 
 
 " I then addressed myself particularly to the high 
 professors present, on the duty of Christian charity 
 and toleration, &c., &c."
 
 1879.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 369 
 
 Chapter XIX. 
 
 WORK AMONG THE FREEDMEN IN KANSAS. 
 
 1879—1880. 
 
 AS the country slowly settled down after the war, 
 it became evident that the fact of even so 
 desirable a result as the abolition of slavery, following 
 from such a cause, was not immediately the great boon 
 which the ardent Abolitionists of the North had 
 ventured to anticipate. Even with all the efforts which 
 the North so generously put forth to soothe the wounded 
 feelings of the conquered South, while they firmly 
 endeavoured to check any tendency to treat with 
 harshness the now liberated slaves, it seemed impossible 
 to control altogether the feelings of the former masters. 
 A sentiment of distrust and apprehension spread 
 among the coloured population in the South, which 
 led to a very extensive emigration towards the North ; 
 and the then new State of Kansas was regarded as the 
 land of promise to which the alarmed Freedmen 
 directed their steps. They arrived in that State in such 
 numbers, and in so destitute a condition, that the 
 somewhat sparse population then resident there were 
 
 25
 
 370 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1879. 
 
 utterly unable to cope with the situation. Elizabeth 
 Comstock felt impelled at once to proceed to Kansas, 
 and to put forth her earnest efforts to meet the 
 emergency. She found Governor St. John ready to co- 
 operate in the work, and to give all the assistance 
 which his position enabled him to afford. Appeals for 
 aid in money and clothing were widely distributed, and 
 help came from all parts of the Northern States, and 
 also from England, owners of vessels offering to convey 
 the gifts free, and the American government exempting 
 the goods from duty, while the railway companies con- 
 veyed them without cost to the new homes of the 
 freedmen. The labour involved was continuous and 
 arduous, and though much discomfort, and even dis- 
 tress, could not be avoided, the coloured people 
 gradually settled down, either finding employment, 
 or supporting themselves on the lands allotted to them. 
 E.L.C. found much satisfaction in being enabled to 
 assist in this good work, and only returned to her 
 home when the difficulties of the position were mostly 
 overcome. 
 
 Writing from Topeka, 31-10-79, E.L.C. says, " C. 
 rides out every day, and walks as much as her strength 
 is equal to, going round to see the poor refugees, 
 enquiring into their wants, -and seeking to alleviate 
 them as much as she possibly can. It is pitiful to see 
 them going about the streets, shivering and in rags, and 
 it is delightful to be able to see, in many cases, the rags 
 laid off, and warm, clean clothes put on. Through the 
 liberality of our friends in different parts of the land, 
 we have received large supplies of secondhand clothes
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 371 
 
 and bedding, (some of these are very old, but clean 
 and well mended), old bed quilts re-covered, &c. More 
 than a thousand warm bed covers have been sent, and 
 4,000 or 5,000 articles of clothing, including those for 
 babies, which are in great demand. A company of a 
 little over 200 emigrants from Missouri have thirty- 
 seven Kansas babies, and their mothers are so proud 
 that they are ' natives of this good State.' I am 
 concerned to see by our papers that so many English 
 farmers are emigrating to Texas. . . . They will be 
 almost beyond the reach of civilization, and the climate 
 will be too hot for them. I think they would do much 
 better in Kansas. The one great trouble that American 
 farmers have to contend with is the high price they and 
 their wives have to pay for wages to farm labourers and 
 domestics. This evil will be remedied in this State by 
 the coloured emigrants. The labourers will be well 
 paid, and well satisfied here with half what they want 
 in Michigan, and the coloured people make the very 
 best of household servants. ..." 
 
 Under date 4-1-1880, E.L.C. writes again from 
 Kansas. " Thy welcome New Year's greeting came 
 duly to hand with the very pretty cards. . . Canst 
 thou get me a few more of the black hand grasping the 
 white one. If not too costly, I should like to have 
 fifty of them. Some of our coloured friends will 
 greatly value one, if I can give them one, and our noble 
 Governor (St. John) admired it so much, I should like 
 to give him one. 
 
 " ' And the tyrants of the slave land shall tremble 
 at that sign ! ' Oh, those tyrants, the cruelties they are
 
 372 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 practising upon these poor people still, it makes one's 
 blood run cold to hear of. Poor, gentle, timid, meek, 
 inoffensive sufferers ! It is pitiful, mean, contemptible, 
 of their oppressors, who are great cowards. Our 
 indignation is aroused, and our warmest sympathy 
 awakened daily. Many thanks to S. for his care about 
 the crates of crockery. I had hoped before this to be 
 able to acknowledge their safe arrival, but they have 
 not reached Topeka yet. Some of our packages have 
 been delayed by snow drifts. Freight trains are 
 switched off, and left on side tracks, for express and 
 passenger trains to pass, as we have no double tracks 
 west of New York State. I think I wrote S. that W.D.M., 
 the New York agent of Bristol S.S. Line, has passed 
 them through the Custom House with paying a mere 
 nominal duty, and secured free transportation to this 
 city, and we hope very soon to receive them without 
 any charges, and a wonderful boon they will be ! 
 Hundreds of the refugees are utterly destitute of plates, 
 bowls, cups and saucers, pitchers, &c. In case of 
 sending us any more, it may be well to omit tea-pots, 
 sugar basins, and the handles of cups. These poor 
 refugees have neither sugar nor tea. With these 
 exceptions, we shall probably be thankful to have the 
 crockery crates duplicated. We can tell better when 
 we have unpacked them, and seen the condition they 
 
 are in There is great suffering among 
 
 the refugees now. Feet and fingers frozen. Cramped 
 and distorted limbs with rheumatism, coughs, colds, 
 pneumonia and dysentery, and we greatly fear famine 
 fever will follow. They come faster than we can
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 373 
 
 shelter them. Half starved, half clad, full of fear and 
 distress, they come and ask for help and protection." 
 
 J. G. Whittibr to E. L. C. 
 " Oak KnoU, Danvers, Mass., 8-11-79. 
 " My Dear Friend, 
 
 " I had just finished reading thy communication 
 in The Friends'' Review, when thy letter was handed 
 me. I feel deeply for the fugitives from the oppression 
 of the South, and have already given as large a sum as 
 I could well afford, to aid them. Our contributions 
 here were mostly sent to the committee at St. Louis. 
 Our lamented Wm. L. Garrison, before his death, 
 solicited subscriptions, and I think $1,000 was raised, 
 but where it was sent I am not aware. 
 
 " It is to be hoped that the emigration will not 
 continue through the cold weather. If it does, the 
 suffering must be terrible. 
 
 " Governor St. John has done nobly, and deserves 
 the thanks of every lover of justice and friend of 
 humanity. I am too weak in health to do much, but 
 what I can, I will do. I am glad that thee have been 
 led among this poor persecuted people. May the Lord's 
 strength and wisdom be with thee, is the prayer of thy 
 friend, " JOHN G. Whittier." 
 
 G.O.H. to C.H. 
 
 Topeka, Kansas, 19-2-1880. 
 
 " Forgive me for so long neglecting to write to 
 
 you. There has been so much to do that had to be 
 
 done, or someone must suffer, that I have felt as though 
 
 my small talents should be made the most of in allevi-
 
 374 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 ating the suffering of the poor refugees as far as I was 
 able. 
 
 " We are not quite so crowded now, as we have 
 been sending off and finding homes for about 180 a 
 day for a fortnight, and now they are not uncomfort- 
 ably packed in at the barracks as they have been 
 nearly all winter. We have a hospital built now, and 
 divided into two rooms, one for the men, the other for 
 the women ; we have good nurses, and all that are 
 willing to go into the hospital when they are ill get 
 good care and attention, a clean and comfortable place 
 with a cot for each. There are some who have a 
 prejudice, and think if they are taken to the hospital 
 they will be sure to die, but most of them go willingly. 
 One woman died after much suffering, leaving a very 
 tiny baby two weeks old, she had the measles and 
 afterwards pneumonia. The poor little babe being 
 left without any father or mother, I found a nice 
 coloured woman who had no children and was anxious 
 to adopt a little one, so I made necessary arrangements, 
 provided it with clothes, and she is very fond of it, 
 and will feel towards it as though it was her own — it 
 will not lack love or care, poor little thing, I never saw 
 such a tiny baby — it is named 'Caroline De Greene 
 Swanson ' by Mrs. Swanson its adopted mother. One 
 poor man has recently died, also his daughter and 
 grandchild. Their story is very sad, the poor man 
 was worn out with nursing, and anxiety, and disappoint- 
 ment, because his money was all gone and he could 
 not get a home as he had hoped, and his family were 
 all ill. His widow is still ailing— I hope she will not
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 375 
 
 follow. There is a little girl at the barracks named 
 * Susan Nebuchadnezzar Love.' There was a boy not 
 long since called ' Bayliss August Sixteenth Peg,' another 
 'John Richard Atwell Louisville,' several of the black 
 baby girls have been named ' Elizabeth Comstock ' (or 
 Cornstalk), and a great many baby boys have been 
 honoured with the name of 'Abraham Lincoln.'" 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 Topeka, Kansas, 9-2-1880. 
 " My warmest sympathy is drawn out towards 
 these poor, down-trodden, long-oppressed, and long- 
 suffering people. Day after day we hear their sad, 
 pitiful stories of their wrongs and sufferings. We 
 wrote thee a few weeks ago of a very touching letter 
 written by a company of refugees, sixty-six families, 
 who had fled away from Southern Texas, and when 
 they had travelled hundreds of long weary miles, and 
 arrived within 200 of this city, their supplies all gone, 
 weather intensely cold, they Avrote to Governor St. 
 John, entreating him to help them. The letter was 
 enough to move every reader to tears. He could not 
 help them. I could not rest night or day for thinking 
 of them, and said to the Governor, ' I feel as though 
 I must go to them and help them.' ' It would be as 
 much as your life is worth,' was his reply. I entreated 
 him to send them help, or to try to devise some means 
 to aid them. He said he had no funds for the purpose, 
 and that it would take thousands of dollars, for he had 
 had another letter from another company, of ninety- 
 seven families, 300 or 400 miles away, and that if 
 we could keep all that came here from starving and
 
 376 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 freezing, we should do well. The poor, emaciated, 
 
 ragged, barefoot remnant of that company has reached 
 
 our Southern boundary in a most distressed condition, 
 
 hungry, shivering, many with hands and feet frozen ; 
 
 with sad hearts and weeping eyes, they tell of their 
 
 sufferings on the roads, and of five of their company 
 
 who were left in the wilderness, frozen to death ! And 
 
 yet they do not repent leaving the South. Nothing 
 
 would induce them to go back. I send you a clipping 
 
 from a ' Boston Transcript.' You will see there an 
 
 extract from a private letter of C.'s, about a poor man 
 
 she was much interested in, in 'Utesy,' who had spent 
 
 his all in coming from the South, and bringing a number 
 
 of his friends and neighbours with him. Exposure by 
 
 the way, trouble and sorrow, produced sickness, which 
 
 was augmented by the want of fresh air and comfort in 
 
 our crowded barrack, and he died there a few days ago. 
 
 His poor wife and daughter, forlorn, ill, penniless, and 
 
 among strangers, are greatly to be pitied. They have 
 
 known better days, and were pretty well off for 
 
 coloured x)eople in the South. Yet they do not wish to 
 
 return. They are glad that they are in a free State, 
 
 where the laws are the same for white and coloured, 
 
 and where they will be treated as human beings, and be 
 
 free to speak and act. Three women are here, whose 
 
 husbands are in Southern Penitentiaries, for what, think 
 
 you ? Because they voted the Republican ticket, they 
 
 were turned off by their employers, and then before 
 
 they could get employment were arrested as vagrants. 
 
 They all three lived near together, and entreated their 
 
 wives to bring the children and flee for their lives, and
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 377 
 
 when they reached Kansas to get Governor St. John to 
 help them out of prison ! " 
 
 The following letter from Susan T. Perry to 
 E.L.C.'s sister, tells something of her work at this time : 
 
 Topeka, Kansas, April 16tli, 1880. 
 '' Dear Friend, 
 
 " Your dear sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Comstock, wished 
 this morning that she could find time to write to you, 
 and tell you some of the many interesting facts 
 connected with her work among the coloured refugees. 
 But there are so many demands upon her hands and 
 heart, that she cannot possibly get a leisure moment to 
 devote to those so dearly loved by her, and so often in 
 her thoughts. Could you be here one day, and see the 
 many duties that are constantly calling for her 
 immediate presence and counsel, you would not wonder 
 that she does not find time to write her dearest friends. 
 
 " Indeed, we all feel that the Lord has given her a 
 double portion of His Spirit and grace, and endowed 
 her with almost superhuman physical strength ; she 
 accomplishing much more than ten ordinary persons 
 could. Mrs. Comstock went a few weeks ago, at the 
 request of the Governor of this State, to Illinois, and 
 held a meeting in Farwell Hall, in the city of Chicago, 
 to try to induce the people of that State to open the way 
 for large numbers of these coloured emigrants that are 
 literally filling Kansas to overflowing. The result of 
 her meeting there was very satisfactory, as the people 
 in that State resolved to take 50,000 of the coloured 
 emigrants, and assist them in getting places of employ- 
 ment. After her return from Illinois, she went to
 
 378 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 Nebraska, at the request of the Governor, and ha& 
 succeeded in turning some of the tide of emigration 
 into that State. It is now contemplated making another 
 headquarters for relief at a point in Nebraska, called 
 White Cloud, which lies near the line of three States^ 
 Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. It is impossible to 
 find homes and employment for the large coloured 
 population that are coming. 
 
 " Although the objective point in all the minds of 
 the coloured race is Kansas, yet, by persuasion and 
 offers of steady work, many are induced to believe that 
 there are other States as good to live in as Kansas. 
 Thousands of coloui'ed refugees have found places of 
 employment in different localities, through the efficient 
 workers in our Relief Office. It is besieged all day long 
 with dusky faces imploring for relief in some form. 
 Some of their tales are pitiful in the extreme. They 
 all tell the same story of cruelty, wrong, and oppression 
 at the South. There are no laws there to protect the 
 black man, no equal rights for him. His labour is 
 poorly compensated, and many cannot get their wages 
 at all. 
 
 " All the coloured refugees who come here are 
 anxious to earn money enough to send back after their 
 friends. I will quote you from a letter a poor man 
 brought to us to read, he cannot read himself. It is 
 from his wife, ' I am well in health, but not in mind 
 to think that I cannot see you — there is no chance for 
 me to come to you unless you send me the money — 
 please send me word whether you can borry any money, 
 or hire me out to someone to work, and I can pay it
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 379 
 
 when I come — times is hard here, no money to be had 
 an' nine chiklren to feed. If you don't send me no 
 money, I will have to hire myself to some farmer, it 
 seems as if you might hire me and Andrew out to 
 somebody up there, and get the money. The fare is 
 forty-one dollars for each person. Tell me whether you 
 are trying to pray — there isn't an hour past but what I 
 pray for you — times is serious with us. I don't know 
 what minit I may be taken away, and what will the 
 poor little things do without me ? Pray, my dear 
 husband, pray, for the Lord is so good to us, for though 
 we are so many miles away, He can permit us to meet 
 again. Kiss this letter for me. I kisses your letter. 
 "With much love, good-bye ! Your devoted wife.' 
 
 " Another letter came to Mrs. Comstock yesterday 
 from a coloured preacher who is very anxious to get his 
 wife here. He says : — 
 
 ' Dear Sister in Christ, 
 
 ' The object of this letter is one of great 
 importance to me, I was obliged to leave Texas 
 clandestinely last Spring to save my life, leaving my 
 poor wife and daughter behind. Since that time I 
 have tried in vain to get money enough to send to 
 them, to bring them here. I am a minister of the 
 Gospel, and was assigned to do mission work here 
 among the poor freedmen. I cannot do my full duty 
 here, while my heart is so burdened, knowing that my 
 poor wife is suffering. I beg of you to assist me in 
 getting her away from that rebel stronghold. She has 
 been very ill — I must care for her. Shall I return to
 
 380 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 the rebels' land to die with my wife ? or will you help 
 me to bring her to the land of liberty ? My wife is a 
 useful mother in the Sabbath School. Unless I can 
 succeed in bringing my family away, I must return to 
 them and share their fate. Help me, and God will 
 bless you. — Yours in distress .' 
 
 " To a heart so sympathetic as your beloved sister's, 
 these distressing appeals weigh upon her, and cause 
 her many tears and sleepless hours. It is impossible 
 to do many things for these poor people, because the 
 money sent is only sufficient to keep them from 
 starving and freezing, and to pay their railway fares to 
 different localities, where employment is offered them. 
 There has been a great deal of sickness among them, 
 our doctors' bills and undertakers' bills have been 
 enormous. 
 
 " At the present time we have a coloured preacher, 
 W. 0. Lynch, a very bright and capable man, at Cairo, 
 a point where the coloured refugees are transferred on 
 their way to Kansas. He is making a strong effort to 
 turn some of the tide of emigration into other States. 
 Mrs. Comstock is expecting a summons to Washington 
 any day to give her testimony regarding the exodus to 
 the Investigation Committees assembled there. If she 
 goes, her daughter will go with her. Mrs. C. de G. and 
 her little C.L. are here with Mrs. C. . . . Now I 
 must beg your attention to a few commissions about 
 the English goods. They came to us in good order, 
 and at a time when they were greatly needed. I have 
 attempted to write to every name that I found enclosed 
 in the bale, if there were an address attached to it. I
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 381 
 
 may have omitted some, if so, and you hear anything 
 relative to it, please assure them of our gratitude and 
 thanks. R.H. is one name ; I could not write to for 
 want of her address. If you know her will you please 
 notify her that her generous donation was received, 
 and is already doing good service among these unfortu- 
 nate and destitute people. ... I cannot begin to 
 tell you how much good the valuable and serviceable 
 goods from the dear English Friends did us, and how 
 gratefully they were received by us all. We did enjoy 
 the bags, pincushions, and needlebooks so much. The 
 bags were a novelty in this country. The women and 
 girls were enthusiastic in their expressions of delight. 
 We would be thankful for a few thousands of these 
 bags, fitted up with articles for sewing. Mrs. C. wishes 
 me to say that J.J.'s bale was very valuable, also the 
 York packages. Mrs. de G.'s visits to the sick, sufiier- 
 ing, and dying have been very comforting. Many a 
 ' God bless you ' has come to her from dying lips. 
 Truly yours, 
 
 " Susan T. Perry." 
 
 E. L. C. to L. R. 
 
 EoUin, 29-5-1880. 
 " When we left Topeka last week the weather was 
 oppressively warm, and here it is cool enough for us to 
 enjoy a fire. I often long for an English climate, 
 where these sudden changes and extremes of heat and 
 cold are not known. I hope thou art enjoying a quiet 
 rest with the comforts of thy new home ! . . . 
 I like York Meeting very much, and am glad thou art 
 located in that famous old citv. Tell me how thou
 
 382 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 spends thy time. . . . One of the greatest treats 
 to me when weary, is to sit down with my knitting, 
 and have L. A. or C. read to me. It used to be L. A., 
 now it is C. They are both very pleasant, easy readers. 
 Dear L, A., shall I ever see her again ? I often think 
 of her in my Kansas work, she would so enjoy it, if 
 healthy and strong. Every now and then, in my very 
 busy time, suddenly comes the thought of thee. ' If 
 thy Aunt L. could see us now, what would she say ? 
 How would she like this work ?' I sometimes say. 
 * Oh mamma, she would be so disgusted,' was C.'s reply 
 on one occasion, when the multitude had literally been 
 thronging and pressing us, and we were completely 
 hemmed in by the dirty, ragged, wretched, starving 
 crowd. And I felt in my inmost soul the ivisdom that 
 had dispensed the diversity of talents, as I thought of 
 thee in the midst of the Mount group of bright, 
 intelligent, earnest young people whom thou wast 
 training to become ' lights in the world ' of sorrow and 
 darkness. I thought of L. A. in her blessed mission 
 of dispelling clouds from those darkened minds, and 
 scattering sunbeams among them. I thought of dear 
 C. amid her home duties and home treasures, making 
 a happy home for husband and children, entertaining 
 with great hospitality sick, and feeble, and weary 
 sisters, and many guests. I trust that 'her children 
 do rise up and call her blessed,' and we know that ' her 
 husband praiseth her.' C. has found her vocation. 
 I trust F. and W. have found theirs. ' Blessed is the 
 man that hath found his work, he need desire no 
 greater blessedness,' I think Carlyle said. C. says
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 383 
 
 the last eight months have been the happiest part 
 of her life, and I can say the same of mine. I am 
 thankful to find our family band all in usual health, 
 all pursuing the even tenor of their way. John 
 is busy and happy about his new book and an 
 epistolary correspondence he is carrying on, on the 
 subjects of water baptism, secret societies, and the 
 conservatism of some Friends. On these points he is 
 very strong, and nothing suits him better than to do 
 battle 
 
 " ' With the keen joy that warriors feel, 
 In foemen worthy of their steel.' 
 
 " J. W. H. is reading the ' Fool's Errand,' and 
 informs us that he is one of the fools. C. is always 
 happy and busy. She is an excellent housekeeper and 
 always at it. 
 
 " ' She never tires nor stops to rest, 
 But round the house she vioves.^ 
 
 " In Topeka I trust things will go on all right. 
 Laura S. Haviland will remain there through the 
 summer. John Watson, and wife also, and most of 
 our staff of workers. I hope you have received our 
 semi-annual report, and had time to look it over. 
 Henceforth reports will be issued monthly. It is 
 anticipated that the work next winter will be much 
 larger than last. The refugees continue to come. 
 Every train brings some, and trains from three different 
 points reach Topeka daily. The city is growing fast. 
 At the last census the population was 9,000 — now it 
 must be more than double that number. John has 
 cautioned me ' not to fill my letter with negroes.' He
 
 384 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 says L. will be more interested about something else. 
 ■I think I have paid attention to his caution. My dear 
 love to L.A., tell her I want to hear from her very 
 much. Do you often meet ? Do you walk together 
 sometimes ? How I wish I could meet you sometimes 
 in my walks ! The prairies in Kansas are beautiful. 
 Ditto the woods in Michigan. Sister mine, dost thou 
 feel very lonely ? I know thou dost often in thinking 
 of thy loved departed friends, whose society thou 
 wouldst so enjoy in thy home. M.E., thy faithful, 
 devoted friend, E.E., thy chosen companion so many 
 years ago. Time flies swaftly on ; they cannot visit 
 thee in thy quiet pleasant home, but soon thou mayst 
 visit them in theirs ! 
 
 " ' Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 
 
 Soon shall end thy pilgrim days, 
 Hope shall change to glad fruition, 
 
 Faith to sight, and prayer to praise ! ' " 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. 
 
 Lake Molionk, Mountain House, 21-8-80. 
 . . . , "I was interrupted in my writing 
 yesterday by a very pleasant call from Judge Tourgee, 
 the author of ' A Fool's Errand.' He washed to see me 
 and get some facts, &c., from me, respecting the exodus, 
 before bringing out his new book, 'Bricks without 
 Straw,' which he hopes to have published by the First 
 of next month . I had written to him a few wrecks 
 since, requesting him to bring out a cheap edition for 
 the million. Upon the receipt of his reply, I wrote to 
 his publishers, requesting them to send me 100 copies 
 of ' A Fool's Errand ' to Lake Mohonk by Express.
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 385 
 
 C. and I were resting in that cool retreat during the 
 intensely hot weather, through the generous kindness 
 of our friend, E. H. Farnum, While there I had some 
 exodus meetings, and sold forty ' Fools ' at seventy-five 
 cents each to the guests. We had a meeting with the 
 waiters, girls from respectable farmhouses round in 
 that vicinity. I thought it desirable to get the book 
 into circulation among the farmers, and told them if 
 any of them desired a copy I would sell them one 
 at fifty cents. I paid fifty-seven dollars for the 
 hundred. Express charges, telegrams, &c., increased 
 the cost to sixty-two cents each. To my surprise, forty 
 of the waiters and servants came for one. I go to- 
 every book-store I pass and ask for the book, and 
 enquire for it of everj' Book-agent in the cars, and 
 recommend it in all my meetings. The Democrats are 
 so busy denying all my statements in the papers, and 
 by the circulation of this book I am confirming the 
 statements we receive from the poor refugees, who 
 are flocking to Kansas in large numbers, since the 
 result of the Chicago Convention disappoints all their 
 hopes of having Grant for President. 
 
 " I have requested Albion W. Tourgee to send thee, 
 from his publishers, his new illustrated edition of ' A 
 Fool's Errand.' It has considerable addition beside the 
 illustrations. There is great political excitement in 
 this country at the present time. ' The Fool's Errand * 
 is doing good. 100,000 copies have already been sold 
 in this country. . . I have met with Dr. Benbow 
 recently, in New England and in Philadelphia. We 
 talked about Judge Tourgee's book. He confirms 
 
 26
 
 386 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 everything but the love story, that is soinewliat 
 embellished and clothed with fiction. 
 
 "We receive good accounts from home. I have 
 been trying to prevail upon John to go to Kansas with 
 me and spend next winter there, but fear I shall not 
 succeed. I think he would not find it hard to get an 
 absorbing interest in these poor, long-sufi:ering people. 
 There is something about them so grateful and 
 affectionate, so simple and yet so original, so helpless, 
 dependent, trusting and appealing to our sympathy. 
 I asked John for a contribution to the poor starving 
 refugees. He replied that he thought he was giving a 
 contribution larger than anyone else ! ! and declined to 
 give more. ... I am very glad to hear so good an 
 account of our clear LA. . . . She has the power 
 pre-eminently of soothing and cheering the afflicted. 
 You will be pleased to hear that C.'s health continues 
 to improve, though she is not yet strong enough to take 
 charge of her children, day and night. She is very 
 valuable to me, and has her Aunt L.A.'s faculty of 
 soothing the sick and comforting the afflicted. This 
 life with me suits her. Her ministrations among the 
 poor refugees are highly prized by them. While 
 administering to their temporal wants, she soothes and 
 comforts them with ' Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual 
 songs.' 
 
 " Well, my dear sister, I must leave off writing, 
 for a reporter from the New York Trihune will be 
 here in a few minutes, to ' inter view ' me in order to 
 write an article for the paper on the exodus. Poor 
 refugees are flocking into Kansas faster than ever, now
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 387 
 
 that they are disappointed in their hopes of having 
 Grant for President. They thought he would protect 
 their lives and property. Atrocities continue to be 
 perpetrated upon them in the South. Hanging, shoot- 
 ing, whipping, mutilation have not ceased. Governor 
 St. John writes me that the exodus in the coming 
 season is likely to eclipse and far exceed that of last 
 year. I hope our dear friends and others in England 
 will continue to send clothing, bedding, and crockery 
 as they did last year. Thomas Ryan's bill for free 
 release from the Custom House, stands good for a year. 
 The Americans have sent a quarter of a million dollars 
 in money and food for the starving Irish. I hope yon 
 will send one-fifth as much to aidour starving, freezing 
 Americans ! We look forward with considerable anxiety 
 towards the coming Fall and Winter. The Kansas people 
 are wearying of the great pressure upon them. They re- 
 ceived the coloured people with hospitality and kindness 
 at first. I think they treated them better than any 
 other State in the Union would have done. Now a re- 
 action is taking place. Kansas is a new and poor State; 
 it had a population at the last census of only 900,000. 
 The farmers are poor, their houses are small. Being a 
 Prairie State, building materials are very costly. Many 
 farmers, who cannot afford to hire, would shelter and 
 feed and partially employ a family, and at least keep 
 them from starving and freezing if they had house- 
 room. Some Friends offered to take a large family as 
 above, and deed them an acre of land, if we would 
 build them a cot or shanty, but as the cost of doing 
 this would be eighty dollars at least, and we have only
 
 388 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 had 40,000 dollars to provide for 30,000 people, the state 
 of our treasury will not admit of our doing this. A 
 letter from Governor St. John a few days since, seriously 
 advises a change of our headquarters from Topeka to 
 White Cloud. The last-named place is located close to 
 the Nebraska line, north-east point of Kansas, and on 
 or near the Missouri River. Governor thinks that by 
 locating there we might intercept the tide of emigrants 
 and turn them aside to Nebraska, Iowa, and other parts, 
 before they reach Topeka. That city is so flooded now 
 as to arouse the opposition even of their Republican 
 friends. The Board of Trade are very desirous for us 
 to take this step, and I suppose we ought to do it. But 
 to me to move to a small village with only a few 
 hundred people, and they for the most part poor and 
 without talent or influence, and to erect new barracks 
 and mission-house and store-house, and to gather a new 
 set of workers or helpers around me, is a very for- 
 midable matter, and I shrink from it exceedingly. But 
 •I suppose I must attempt it, unless someone better 
 qualified should turn up. Some of our present stafE of 
 helpers will go with us if we go, but we shall have to 
 find others. 
 
 "Give my love to Jemima SjDence and E. G. Dims- 
 dale, and thank them cordially for their generous 
 donations of bags, aprons, scissors, and other things. 
 I wish they and their co-workers in York could witness 
 the joy and gratitude with which their kind gifts are 
 received ! ! A similar message to F. and A. J. Thorp. 
 , . . . I have received a present of Ben Hur — - 
 hast thou read it ? They tell me the writer was a friend
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 389 
 
 of Robert Ingersol, who requested him to read the New 
 Testament, and write a refutation of it. He read it 
 and became converted, and this is the result." 
 
 Writing from Newport, R. I., 31-8-1880, C. de G. 
 says, " Mamma has ordered ' A Fool's Errand,' illus- 
 trated, to be mailed to thy address, and hopes you will 
 all read and enjoy it, and circulate it extensively among 
 your friends. It is as true an account as you will find. 
 "We received a call from the author. Judge Tourgee ; it 
 is his own life in the South, with little variation 
 towards the end of the story in the romance of 
 Lily and Mel Gurney, as his daughter is now but nine 
 years old. ' The ride for life ' did really take place, but 
 in another character ; the illness of the 'fool' also at the 
 end, but in the book he was made to die, to show up 
 another phase in the character of the Southern people. . 
 , , We have been holding exodus meetings successfully 
 in New York, &c. Mamma, gone out to call on citizens 
 of Newport for contributions for the refugees, unites in 
 love."
 
 390 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 Chapter XX. 
 FURTHER LABOURS IN KANSAS. 
 
 1880. 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. 
 
 New Bedford, 27-10-80. 
 " T TAKE the pen in haste to tell thee that the money 
 jL has just come safely to hand. It left Darlington 
 8-10-80, and has come pretty direct. Many thanks for 
 it. It has come in a time of great need, and will do 
 much good. I will try to write to Jemima Spence in a 
 day or two. We are having a very pleasant and 
 successful visit here. Meetings daily, good audiences, 
 good collections. Our friends here are extremely kind. 
 We are organizing ' sewing circles ' and ' aid societies ' 
 wherever we go, and large quantities of clothing and 
 bedding are being prepared, but the supplies will fall 
 far short of the demand. There is great suffering 
 among the refugees now, and before the winter is over 
 it will be fearful. The atrocities and barbarities 
 perpetrated upon these poor people in the South 
 continue, the persecution grows fiercer and hotter, we 
 know not what is before us. Some think that if 
 Hancock should be elected, the Southerners will get 
 the control of the whole nation. They will demand 
 payment for their negroes, and pensions for their 
 maimed and injured soldiers, on the same terms as the
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 391 
 
 Federal army. Others say, ' If Garfield should be elected 
 he will be assassinated, or there will be another war.' 
 Some of the more intelligent of the coloured men, 
 recently from the South, tell us they are as ready for war 
 now as they were in 1860, and are making great pre- 
 parations for it. I do not know how it may be, but I rest 
 in the sense that ' the Lord reigneth,' and that ' nothing 
 shall harm us if we be followers of that which is good.' 
 
 " We hope to go to New York in a few days, and 
 then home via Philadelphia. A free j^ass from New 
 York via Pennsylvania we shall have for Kansas, via 
 Toledo and Chicago. After a few weeks at home I 
 must return to Kansas, unless I can find someone to 
 take my place. Governor St. John writes urgently for 
 me to return before the cold winter sets in. If I could 
 find anyone else to undertake the work and do it 
 proj)erly I should be very glad, but I cannot resign it 
 otherwise, I should feel like Jonah, turning away from 
 positive duty. I do believe I have been called to enter 
 upon this work and have received strength for it. 
 Nearly 40,000 dollars have been consigned to my care 
 for these poor people. I have my account book, con- 
 taining every dollar, from whom received and how ex- 
 pended. I requested J.U.H. to cast up my columns of 
 figures ; he found only one dollar mistake. I have 
 shown my book to J.L.B. and two or three other busi- 
 ness men, who pronounce it 'quite correct' and a 
 ' remarkable production,' &c., &c. It has entries of 
 three, four, and five cents, and so on up to 500 dollars, 
 and one subscription of 1,000 dollars." . . . 
 
 We take from the Neiv Bedfurd Mercury the
 
 392 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1880. 
 
 following sketch of an address delivered at one of the 
 
 meetings referred to in the above letter. 
 
 The Freedmen. 
 
 Interesting address concerning the exodus, by 
 Elizabeth L. Comstock. 
 
 " A large audience assembled at the Friends' 
 meeting house on Spring Street last evening, to listen 
 to an address by Elizabeth Ij. Comstock on the exodus 
 of the freedmen from the South into Kansas. Mrs. 
 Comstock is thoroughly familiar with the subject, 
 having been engaged several months in relieving the 
 necessities of the sufferers, helping them to employment, 
 and doing many good works in their behalf. 
 
 " In the spring of 1879, she said, the people of 
 Kansas were one morning greatly surprised to find that 
 the night boats up the river had left 1,500 coloured 
 people on the shores of their State. They were kindly 
 and courteously received, made welcome to Kansas, and 
 hospitably treated. In a short time all who were able 
 to work found employment, Tiie sick and the aged, 
 the blind and the lame were provided with shelter and 
 food, and had their various needs supplied. The people 
 of the North contributed generously to relieve the wants 
 of the refugees. New Bedford gave largely, and when 
 the poor fugitives received the grateful donations of 
 warm clothing, many a prayer ascended to heaven for 
 their unknown benefactors. But these 1,500 were only 
 the advance guard. They were followed by thousands, 
 and it became a matter of earnest enquiry to know why 
 they had thus sought new homes. Many of them were 
 asked the reason. One said he came northward to
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 393 
 
 escape the ' regulators.' He Lad lodged in the woods, 
 hiding for fear of them. One night, because his wife 
 would not tell them where he was, they dragged her 
 out of the cabin and hung her. With his infant, and 
 twenty or thirty of his neighbours, he came to Kansas. 
 They wanted to hang him on account of political 
 differences. A woman said that her husband, Charles 
 Robinson, was a sober, industrious working man. He 
 had begun to accumulate a little property, and was told 
 repeatedly, ' You are too smart for a nigger.' He also 
 refused to sell his vote. One night, he was taken from 
 his house by the ' regulators,' and the last heard from 
 him he was begging for mercy for the sake of his wife 
 and children. The next morning he was found dead, 
 hanging to a tree near his home. Many had fled from 
 that part of Mississippi on that account. Six coloured 
 men rented the Morgan plantation in Southern Mississ- 
 ippi, and did well. They, too, were told they were 
 * getting too smart for niggers.' All of them were 
 taken from their cabins in the same night, hung with 
 their own bed cords, tied to a raft, and sent floating 
 down the Mississippi, with a notice attached that the 
 persons who buried them should share the same fate. 
 
 " The wives of some of these men, with 
 a large number of their neighbours, fled to Kansas. 
 Another large party from another part of the State told 
 of many outrages, of coloured men being shot in broad 
 daylight, and no redress or protection possible. They 
 were asked to sell their votes, and for refusing, a father 
 and his three sons were hung in the woods. This 
 caused the exodus from that region. There was
 
 394 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 abundant testimony to the truth of every one of these 
 statements. Governor St. John wrote to an inquirer 
 that the tales of outrage could not be exaggerated. 
 No outrages were redressed. Hundreds of coloured 
 men were murdered. Coloured men could not collect 
 a debt from white men. If they demanded their pay 
 they were arrested for impudence or shot in cold 
 blood. A young man came to Kansas with the advance 
 guard of the exodus. He was industrious, and in a 
 few months earned and saved enough to buy a little 
 home for his family. He then went South to get them, 
 but he never returned. Some of the coloured people 
 who came from that section, said that the daj' after he 
 rejoined his family some of the white people cut off 
 his hands, threw them into the lap of his wife, and 
 while he was bleeding to death, said, 'Now go to 
 Kansas, and earn a living for your family.' 
 
 "The testimony of these people all agrees. When 
 they tell their stories separately they tell them all 
 alike. Some contemptuously say, ' Oh, it's nothing 
 but nigger testimony.' She would rather have the 
 testimony of the men who fled than that of the men 
 who drove them away. 
 
 "Mrs. Comstock said the book entitled 'The Fool's 
 Errand ' w-as a faithful picture of the condition of 
 many parts of the South. She had conversed with a 
 gentleman who knew of his own knowledge that many 
 of the things related in that book are accounts of actual 
 occurrences. Since slavery was abolished, many of 
 the coloured people in some localities have been forced 
 to as much unrequited toil as ever before. Some of
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 305 
 
 them say they never suffered so much in slaverj-. It 
 was sometimes said ' Why don't they defend themselves? ' 
 The speaker was afraid unless they received better 
 protection, they would defend themselves, and in a 
 fearful manner, bye-and-bye. Senator Widom had 
 told her that now in the South, there is an organization 
 of 95,000 of the most intelligent coloured men, holding 
 weekly meetings ; and, said he, ' If a democratic presi- 
 dent is elected, there will be such a stampede for the 
 North as was never known before, or something worse.' 
 Mrs. Comstock was no politician ; she was merely 
 trying to help suffering humanity of whatever colour 
 or party, but we have reason, she thought, to be anxious 
 about the future. It is time for every man who loves 
 humanity, to show that he is on the side of God, and 
 of the oppressed. The speaker did not mean to imply 
 that these outrages were common all over the South. 
 There are many kind-hearted people of both parties, 
 who utterly denounce them. But the negro fugitives 
 all agree that they cannot by law recover a debt due to 
 them from a white man ; that they have been cheated 
 out of their right dues ; that they have to work for a 
 small pittance ; that they are swindled in their trading ; 
 that the sanctity of home is in no Avay respected. 
 Then there are numberless difificulties in the way of 
 their educating their children. Schoolhouses have 
 been burned, and teachers brutally treated. For 
 indignities are heaped, not only upon the coloured 
 people, but upon those of the white race who are their 
 friends. 
 
 "Resuming her remarks, Mrs. Comstock said the
 
 396 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 coloured people would far rather remain in the South 
 if they could be protected there. They endure fatiguing 
 journeys and incredible hardships for the sake of 
 reaching other homes. During the middle of last 
 winter, Governor St. John received letters from several 
 large parties who were on their way to Kansas, asking 
 assistance in reaching that State. It was impossible to 
 furnish them any aid, but several weeks after, the 
 remnant reached Southern Kansas in a pitiable con- 
 dition, famished, half-frozen, and in deep sorrow. Five 
 of their number were frozen to death. Many had their 
 hands and fingers frozen. At that very time, locked 
 up in the New York Custom House, was a large quantity 
 of blankets, clothing, shoes, and other supplies on which 
 the Government wanted a duty of forty or fifty per 
 cent. These were contributions from benevolent friends 
 in England who had sent some 8,000 dollars in money 
 and 20,000 dollars in goods. They were brought freely 
 over the ocean, and the railroads would transport them 
 freely to their destination. But it was hard work to 
 get them through the Custom House. A bill to admit 
 them free of duty was introduced in Congress, and was 
 got through the House with difficulty. The Senate 
 refused to pass it on the very day it passed a bill for 
 sending aid to the sufferers in Ireland. These people 
 demand our care and sympathy. They were forced 
 here by slavery, and would never have come to the 
 land where they have found little but oppression, of 
 their own accord. 
 
 " Nearly 00,000 of them have reached Kansas. 
 Great pains have been taken to find them homes and
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 397 
 
 employment. They are generally doing well. Some 
 of them have gone into other States, but there are 
 nearly 50,000 now in Kansas. About a third have 
 found permanent employment, or have taken up land. 
 Another third have found Avork of a temporary character, 
 and the other third need care. Kansas has done much 
 for them and has used them well, but her burden is 
 heavy and she needs help. 
 
 *' Mrs. Comstock had come East to do what she 
 could for these people. She thought many might be 
 absorbed into New England as labourers in various 
 capacities, without injuring anybody. Efforts were 
 making to build little houses for some of the larger 
 families on land that is given for that purpose, but the 
 very cheapest shanty costs one hundred dollars. Aid 
 was wanted for this plan. It was hoped to train these 
 people to pay for their houses, and thus the money can 
 be used over and over. One dollar will feed three 
 persons a week, and all the dollars that can be had will 
 be needed. It is desired to make these people self- 
 Bustaining, and not to pauperize them. What is desired 
 of the friends of humanity is, first, to help them support 
 themselves by giving them work ; second, gifts of 
 money — for present needs of food and shelter, and for 
 seed for sowing. Clothing of every description is 
 needed, especially overcoats for men. Almost anything 
 that is a garment is useful. Bed ticks are very welcome. 
 Bags with materials for sewing and knitting are 
 especially desired. Garments for 15,000 children are 
 wanted. There is urgent need of all these things 
 before the very cold weather comes."
 
 398 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 At the close of Mrs. Comstock's very interesting 
 address, of which the foregoing is a mere sketch, a 
 collection, amounting to seventy-six dollars, was taken. 
 
 ' E. L. C. to L. R. 
 
 Rollin, 7-12-1880. 
 
 " How shall I thank thee for all thy labour of love 
 for our poor refugees ! Most welcome will these nice 
 warm clothes and blankets be, of which I have just 
 received the inventory. There will be joy and thanks- 
 giving, and shouts of 'Glory to God,' from poor, 
 shivering, ragged, crippled people, when your warm 
 blankets, flannels, suits and wraps are distributed. 
 Before these things reach them, alas ! there will be 
 great suffering. Letters have reached me here from 
 nine different persons, in different localities in Kansas, 
 telling of 'many new arrivals' in 'destitution and 
 rags,' ' snow a foot deep,' ' thermometer below zero,' 
 * piercing, cutting winds,' ' 100 arrived last night, 
 many will perish if we cannot speedily receive sup- 
 plies,' ' ninety-three arrived here yesterday in great 
 destitution ' says one agent. Another writes—' 250 
 during the past week have arrived in Coffeyville. Not 
 a hut, shed, or hovel to be found to shelter them ; 
 send us building materials, warm clothing, and bed- 
 ding speedily, or they will freeze.' Such appeals in 
 such weather make our hearts ache. The winter has 
 set in very early, and the weather is intensely and un- 
 usually cold. No poor-houses for the aged and help- 
 less, no city hospitals for the sick and dying. A 
 prairie State ; you can travel forty, fifty, or even sixty 
 miles, and not see a tree to break the wind, which
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 399 
 
 comes sweeping and howling over the land in a way 
 I never experienced the other side the Atlantic. Lizzie 
 Officer writes me of her great delight in receiving and 
 distributing some of the English packages to those in 
 exceeding need. . . . We must return to Kansas 
 the latter part of next week. Address us there North 
 Topeka. I hope you have received the little monthly 
 report ere this. . . . There are seventeen different 
 parts of the State in which the refugees are locating, 
 and there are several thousands in and around Topeka, 
 not in the Barracks." 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. 27-11-80. 
 
 " Many thanks for tljy two kind letters, and for 
 all that thou and our kind friends in your ancient 
 and famous city are doing for our poor refugees. I 
 was in New York City when James Clark's letters 
 reached Wm. F. Mott about the Custom House. He 
 went immediately to see Morgan and found that the 
 goods had been sent on to Topeka. I expect daily 
 tidings of their arrival in that city. I am in a great 
 strait. I long for the rest and quiet of home, but am 
 urged so strongly to go back to Kansas speedily that I 
 fear I shall have to go soon. When we went there 
 last year the work was very heavy, there were only 
 10,000 refugees there then, now there are 50,000, and 
 more coming daily. Laura S. Haviland is sick, and 
 has had to go home, and the Governor and J. M, Brown 
 and other workers are very desirous for our speedy 
 return. There are many refugees now in Kansas 
 without a shelter over or a bed under them."
 
 400 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. 
 
 EijUin, 10-12-80. 
 " Sarah E. Jenkins was not a schoolmate of thine. 
 She is a daughter of Rebecca Updegraff , sister of David 
 U., and has been many years clerk of Ohio Yearly 
 Meeting (Women's). She is a talented woman of great 
 executive ability. Thou mayst have heard of her 
 grandparents, Jonathan and Ann Taylor, of great fame 
 long ago. He died while on a religious visit, years ago, 
 at Mary James Lecky's, and while dying, a little bird 
 flew in at the window, lighted on the bed or bedstead, 
 and sung a sweet song. Thou probably heard of 
 the circumstance when a young girl. Ann Taylor, 
 the widow, lived at Mount Pleasant, Ohio, many years, 
 and was a noted minister, more for depth and power 
 than persuasive eloquence, I imagine — I never saw her. 
 I think she must have been more like Ann Jones, 
 R. Ridgway, and S. Grubb, than Elizabeth Fry or 
 J. J. Gurney. It is told of her, that one time, during 
 the races, she preached a very strong sermon against 
 Buch amusements : a Friend said to her after the 
 meeting, ' Thy two young grandsons (David and 
 Jonathan) were at the races.' The old woman of near 
 100 years, looked at the Friend a minute, and then 
 said, 'Well, they beat, didn't they?' D. and his 
 brother were famous for riding fast horses in their 
 early life ; now D. is one of our very ablest 
 ministers, and the doctor is an influential man in Con- 
 gress. A Philadelph ia Friend said to me, ' Old Ann Taylor 
 is not yet dead ! ' 'Oh yes ! ' I replied, ' She died many 
 years ago ! ' ' She yet lives in her grandson, David
 
 1880,] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 401 
 
 Updegraff ! ' We have scarcely a minister in our 
 Society that can draw so large an audience, and hold 
 them so long as D.U. ' There is not one who can 
 produce so great an effect in bringing sinners to 
 Christ,' my husband says, and many others say the 
 same. 'He preaches with great converting power.' 
 There has been great discussion and con- 
 troversy in our Friends' papers recently — how I wish 
 they would leave off disputing about non-essentials, 
 and unite all our forces, our energy and strength, to 
 aid poor suffering humanity. The time and talent 
 and money would be better spent caring for the 
 refugees. 
 
 " Last evening I received a dispatch and two letters 
 to-day, urging me to meet Governor St. John in Chicago, 
 and unite with him in an exodus meeting in Farwell 
 Hall. I cannot go. It would be very pleasant to me 
 to listen to him on this subject, also on Temperance, on 
 Second-day evening, but I cannot go. It is by no means a 
 matter of necessity, for he is a host in himself, and can 
 fill that vast Hall and hold the 4,000 people just as well 
 without me as with my help. Next week I must return 
 to Kansas. The poor refugees are suffering greatly this 
 intensely cold weather, and I must go and see to the 
 distribution as speedily as possible of the supplies that 
 will reach Kansas City about that time. Did I tell thee 
 in my last of the urgent invitation I have received from 
 one of the ministers (through his brother. General Arm- 
 strong, of Hampton College, Virginia, coloured College,) 
 of the King of the Sandwich Islands, to go to those 
 Islands, and after seeing for myself the desirability of 
 
 27
 
 402 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1880. 
 
 the climate, the snug homes, the abundant fertility, the 
 suitable occupation and employment offered, to return 
 and persuade 5,(>00 labouring men, with their wives and 
 children, to go and settle there. An agent from Hono- 
 lulu has been to Kansas and cannot prevail upon a 
 single refugee to go. The great distance frightened 
 them, the talk of ' planters, contracts, and plantations ' 
 did not reassure them. General Armstrong thought 
 I was the only person who could prevail upon the 
 refugees to go. He said : ' They have unbounded con- 
 fidence in you and will follow you to the ends of the 
 earth.' E. H. Farnum came into the room while he was 
 talking to me ; she listened in astonishment, and said 
 to him: ' General Armstrong, do I understand that thou 
 art trying to prevail upon my friend Elizabeth Corn- 
 stock to go to the Sandwich Islands?' 'That is just 
 what 1 have come to see her about,' he replied. She 
 thought it 'outrageous and preposterous,' but after lis- 
 tening to him for a quarter of an hour she acknow- 
 ledged the force of his arguments, and said she 'would 
 like very much to go with me.' I believe I have written 
 all this before to dear C, I am not sure, I did not 
 promise to go, nor did I absolutely refuse. But I told 
 him that I should want a very clear evidence that it 
 was right before 1 could consent. I should want to 
 confer with Governor St. John and others, and that I 
 had a great dread of a sea voyage, etc., etc. As 1 look 
 upon the atlas I see that Kansas seems about midway 
 between England and the Sandwich Islands. 
 
 " C, C. L., M. and F. go with me to Kansas next week 
 D. V. The ground is covered with snow, thermometer
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 403 
 
 at zero. But in a Pulman Palace Car we shall be pretty 
 comfortable, I hope." 
 
 From a Western paper, The Inter Ocean, Dec. 11, 
 1880, we take the following, headed 
 
 "Governor St. John. 
 
 " The eloquent Kansan's address on the ' Exo- 
 dusters' in his State. They are now mostly self- 
 supporting, and all good citizens, strong for prohibition. 
 
 " Governor St. John, of Kansas, spoke last night 
 at Farwell Hall, on the subject of the negro exodus. 
 The Governor has come into national prominence lately, 
 not only by reason of his connection with the Northern 
 movement of the coloured men of the South, but by 
 his recent re-election to the gubernatorial chair on a 
 platform, which pledges the State government to 
 prohibition, and forbids the manufacture as well as 
 the sale of liquor within the State of Kansas. On the 
 latter movement, he will speak to-night at Farwell 
 Hall. In reference to the exodus, he spoke with the 
 deep feeling born of intimate acquaintance with the 
 people, whom it fell to his lot as Governor to welcome 
 to the State, and for whom the State has generously 
 provided. His manner as a speaker is singularly 
 breezy and enthusiastic, and he held the attention of 
 his audience to the close. 
 
 " He expressed a regret, in opening, that so few 
 people were present, because he was to speak of a 
 subject that before many years, possibly before many 
 months, might become of interest and importance to the 
 entire country. Twenty-five years ago, the pro-slavery
 
 404 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 men, with guns in their hands, were fighting to 
 force the negroes into Kansas as slaves. Free men 
 met them, fought them back, and won a glorious 
 victory. To-day, the very element that fought to 
 force the negro into Kansas, is opposed to his enter- 
 ing the State, on the ground that the climate is too 
 cold, and the poor coloured man would freeze to 
 death there. When they first began to arrive at Wyan- 
 dotte, in 1873, penniless, naked, friendless, miserable- 
 looking objects of pity, and the people of Kansas were 
 told that thousands more were on their way from the 
 South, he was appealed to, as Governor of the State, to 
 issue a proclamation forbidding their coming. But he 
 remembered that of the 150,000 white emigrants into 
 Kansas, 100,000 were poor men ; that to the bone and 
 muscle and brain of poor men Kansas owed her 
 glorious position as a State ; that at Ossawatomie the 
 tree of liberty was planted by old John Brown, whose 
 soul was still marching on ; he had seen it actually 
 demonstrated that corn planted and hoed by coloured 
 men grew as rapidly as that planted and hoed by white 
 men, brought as much money ; he remembered that 
 corn was wealth, and a bushel of corn was worth a ton 
 of race prejudice, and he said ' Let them come.' 
 
 " Speaking of the causes of the exodus, he cited 
 the case of an old coloured man nearly ninety, without 
 money, food, or friends, who told him he knew he 
 couldn't work, ' but,' he added, ' massa, der's one thing 
 I kin do — I kin be buried here in free Kansas.' The 
 investigating committee which he organised, and. 
 which enquired into the causes of the exodus among
 
 1880.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 405 
 
 the refugees themselves, found that they had been 
 outraged, cheated, wronged in every conceivable way, 
 not permitted to vote, their leaders killed, and the 
 masses of them intimidated and frightened till they 
 did not dare even to talk about going to Kansas. As 
 showing how the coloured people were swindled by 
 the dominant race at the South, he exhibited a bill 
 produced by one of the refugees who came from 
 Edward's Landing, Mississippi, and curiously enough 
 one of the white men who came from Mississippi to 
 enquire of Governor St. John as to how the exodus 
 might be stopped, was the man who made out this 
 bill. In this account everything was considerably 
 overcharged. 
 
 " The money sent for the relief of the refugees had 
 been spent in erecting barracks for their accommodation, 
 a general headquarters with store houses, &c., and in 
 forwarding them westward. 
 
 " Governor St. John took occasion to pay a tribute 
 to Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock and Mrs. Laura Haviland, 
 who, in this work, had been faithful, honest, earnest, 
 and prayerful, stinting themselves in order to do more 
 for these oppressed people. ' God,' said Governor St. 
 John, 'never made two nobler, grander women.' He 
 estimated that 60,000 coloured people had come into 
 Kansas since 1879, of whom, perhaps, 40,000 remained, 
 while 20,000 had been forwarded to Coloi-ado, Nebraska, 
 Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. There had been 
 spent about 50,000 dollars in their behalf. Ninety per 
 cent, of them, perhaps, needed help at the start, but 
 only temiDorarily, because they quickly became self-
 
 406 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1880. 
 
 supporting. God's hand was in this work, and whenever 
 they fell short of funds, help invariably arrived from 
 some unexpected quarter. Morally, the refugees were 
 getting along well. They were well behaved, sober, 
 industrious ; and fully eighty per cent, of their votes 
 this fall, were in favour of prohibition. He felt if 
 Abraham Lincoln were living, that greatest and truest 
 of all Americans would prefer to see some of these 
 people acquire homes in his own State of Illinois. He 
 appealed to the country whose captive soldiers, escaping 
 from Southern prison pens, had always found a friend 
 in the log cabin of the coloured man, not to turn away 
 now from the refugees from Southern tyranny. 
 
 " Governor St. John predicted that the exodus 
 would continue, and Avould increase in magnitude 
 ■until the people of the South gave to the black man 
 protection at the ballot-box, protection for his property, 
 allowed him to vote according to the dictates of his 
 own conscience, and respected the sanciity of his 
 home. These given them, they would prefer to stay in 
 the South, but as matters now stood, their feeling was 
 expressed in the remark of a coloured man to him, that 
 he would rather be shot than sent back. We had had 
 enough temporizing on this question, and he (Governor 
 St. John) favoured assuring the black man in the South 
 all the rights that we now enjoyed in the Northern 
 States."
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 407 
 
 Chapter XXI. 
 
 SETTLEMENTS OF FREEDMEN — INTERVIEW 
 WITH PRESIDENT GARFIELD. 
 
 1881-1883. 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 Columbus, Kansas, 18-1-1881. 
 " /"^^ OULDST thou see ns in our present and recent 
 \.-y surroundings, I do not know Avhether thou 
 wouldst be the most shocked or amused. 
 
 " Six clays ago such a cry of suffering reached us 
 from the southern part of this State, that C. and I 
 felt called upon to leave Topeka for a little while, and 
 go round to visit the poor refugees scattered abroad in 
 different parts of the State, more especially South and 
 East. We have been to Emporia, Parsons, Oswego, 
 and Baxter Springs. We stay here to-night, to unite 
 with M.H.R. in one of her meetings. She is holding 
 a protracted meeting in a Methodist Episcopal Church, 
 in conjunction with the pastor and others. We see 
 very little of Friends in our Topeka work, we have no 
 Friends' meeting there ; and it is quite a treat to meet 
 with some, and engage a little in their work. . . . 
 One day last week a danger I had never thought of 
 met me. Walking with C. on a bleak open prairie, the 
 thermometer 18° below zero, a keen, cutting, piercing 
 wind blowing in our faces, 1 came very near freezing
 
 408 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 to death. I had passed the stage of aching and stinging 
 cokl, and a drowsy torpor was succeeding. I leaned 
 against an old shed, and felt that I could not go a step 
 farther, and there, I doubt not, I should have found an 
 easy death, had it not been for C. My usually dutiful, 
 gentle, obedient daughter, roused up, assumed the 
 imperative mood, paid no attention to my earnest 
 entreaty to ' let me alone,' and 'go on without me.' She 
 took off her own w^arm shawl, wrapped it around me. 
 and acting the ' importunate widow,' or the imperative 
 dictator, insisted, nay compelled me to go on. I made 
 a vigorous effort, and reached a place of shelter, but 
 we have both suffered from that cold walk, though it 
 was scarcely half a mile. The lower parts of our faces 
 are sore, as though they had been burned, and the ends 
 of our fingers also. . . . 
 
 " Our accommodations in this trip are varied. Poor, 
 hard beds, cold rooms, small, crowded, badly ventilated. 
 We have to think often of Him, who ' had not where 
 to lay His head.' To see the condition of these poor 
 exodites is distressing, to witness sufferings we are 
 able to do so little to alleviate, brings tears to oiir eyes 
 and makes our hearts ache often ; yet there is comfort 
 in helping all that we can and hearing their earnest, 
 fervent 'God bless you.' I think much suffering has 
 been relieved and many lives spared through the 
 liberality of our dear friends on your side the Atlantic. 
 We have received many benedictions for you from 
 grateful hearts, and we remembered that it is written : 
 ' The blessing of him that is ready to perish ' shall not 
 fall unheeded. I hope the benevolent donors have
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 409 
 
 realized that 'It is more blessed to give than to 
 receive.' . . . We have good accounts from home ; 
 mj dear J. is well cared for by his daughter C, and is 
 cheerful and well, except increasingly lame from a sin- 
 gular rheumatic affection that produces no pain. He 
 is able to walk about a mile daily, and he is very care- 
 ful to keep this up. 'Use your limbs and have them,' 
 he often quotes. He was quite willing for us to come 
 here, and is rather proud of the work we are engaged 
 in. He was one of the old Abolitionists, and kept a 
 station on the ' Underground Railway.' . . . 
 
 "How long we shall be detained here now we do not 
 know, but we cannot leave for four or five weeks yet, 
 it is very clear. While our friends send such liberal 
 supplies, and the refugees keep coming and requiring 
 so much, we cannot go away unless someone comes to 
 take our jjlace." 
 
 J. G. Whittier writes to his friend, H. M. Pitman, 
 in 1st mo., 1881 : — 
 
 " I am much concerned for the poor coloured 
 people who are crowding into Kansas in this bitter 
 winter. I think they had better stay in their old 
 homes, but it will not do to let them starve and freeze. 
 There is great need of money and clothing. Our 
 Quaker friend, Elizabeth L. Comstock, is working hard 
 at Topeka, and doing a great deal with comparatively 
 small means. How much of sin, and want, and pain 
 there is in the world ! I wonder if it is all necessary — 
 if it cannot be helped. The terrible mystery some- 
 times oppresses me, but I hold fast my faith in God's 
 goodness, and the ultimate triumph of that goodness.
 
 410 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 I know in my own experience that some things which 
 seemed evil have proved good, or the means of good." 
 The distress among the poor refugees was so 
 great, and so constantly increasing, that E. L. C. issued 
 an earnest appeal for help, heading it " Haste to the 
 Rescue," dated 2nd mo. 28th, 1881. We give the 
 following extracts from it. "The unusually severe 
 weather of the last few weeks has produced more 
 suffering and sickness among the coloured refugees in 
 Kansas than has been known since the exodus com- 
 menced. We are obliged to make an earnest appeal 
 for aid in our present extremity. Food is wanted to 
 keep them alive until they can get work. Fuel is 
 needed, and it is very high in price here. Medicine 
 for the sick, who are very numerous now. . . . 
 Some of the refugees have been sheltered in wretched 
 out-houses, hovels, and sheds, that Northern farmers 
 would not think suitable for their cattle and pigs. 
 Some have slept in tattered tents and old wagons. A 
 great many have been without beds, and but few have 
 had sufficient bedding and clothing. The result is 
 many are cramped, with limbs twisted and distorted 
 with rheumatism ; frozen feet and fingers are not un- 
 common ; coughs, colds, pneumonia, consumption, &c., 
 are carrying them off. Little children cry for bread ; 
 aged people lack sufficient food, fuel, warm clothing and 
 bedding. A cry comes to us from eighteen different 
 parts of the State for food, fuel, and shelter from the 
 pitiless storm and piercing winds. A few extracts 
 from letters we have received tell the sad story." 
 After quoting from several of these, which do indeed
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 411 
 
 reveal a sad, a terrible story, E. L. C. continues, 
 " Kansas has done nobly, but she will soon be over- 
 whelmed. She has shown as much hospitality and 
 kindness to the stranger within her gates, as any other 
 State in the Union would have done, or more, "Who 
 will help her now to bear this burden ? Who will 
 come up to the help of the Lord, against the mighty ? 
 The cruelty and oppression exercised towards these 
 long-suffering people, has driven them from their 
 homes and friends, and on the side of the oppressor 
 there is power. Who will send a few dollars to feed 
 the hungry ? Who will give of their abundance to 
 clothe the naked ? Who will give a bed to a family 
 that have none ? Who will give the price of a pair of 
 shoes or boots, that these bare feet, and frost-bitten 
 feet, may be covered, and the poor men go out to work 
 when able to get employment ? Who will give garden 
 tools, farming implements, seed to sow, that a harvest 
 may be reaped in due season ? 
 
 "'What thou doest, do quickly!' Haste to the 
 rescue ! Save those who are ready to perish ! Many a 
 strong man has already been laid low through want. 
 Many a poor woman has come to an untimely end for 
 want of proper food, fuel, and shelter. Many a little 
 innocent child has pined, and drooped, and gone down 
 to the grave for want of the necessaries of life. Others 
 are pining, others are drooping, others are hungry, 
 shivering, homeless, shelterless. Haste to the rescue ! 
 
 "A little band of earnest workers are doing the 
 very best we can for them with the means at our 
 disposal. To aid the 60,000 or more who have come to
 
 412 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 Kansas, we have only had about 70,000 dollars in 
 money. Twice as much could have been wisely and 
 well used, and would have saved much sickness, 
 suffering, and death. A very small percentage has been 
 paid in salaries. Our devoted little band, seeking to 
 follow closely in the footsteps of our Lord and Master, 
 in lives of self-renouncing love for Him and His poor 
 and lowly children, ask our friends to aid us by their 
 prayers. Pray for us that our faith, patience, and 
 strength fail not, that we may hold out to the end, and 
 receive the welcome plaudit : — 
 
 " ' Servant of God, well done ! 
 Rest from thy loved employ, 
 The battle fought, the victory won, 
 Enter thy Master's joy.' " 
 
 This appeal was generously responded to, and the 
 " little band of workers " toiled on from day to day in 
 their Christ-like Avork. 
 
 The following interesting sketch of "A Day among 
 the Kansas Refugees " was written about this time. 
 
 " Having shared in the general interest awakened 
 by the graphic recitals and urgent appeals of our friends 
 Elizabeth L. Comstock and Laura S. Haviland, on 
 behalf of the coloured refugees in Kansas, we availed 
 ourselves of the opportunity afforded by a visit to that 
 State, in the Tenth month last, to spend a day at Topeka 
 among them. Driving from the railroad station of 
 the Atchison and Santa Fe Road, across the bridge, 
 into North Topeka, where the headquarters of the 
 Kansas Freedmen's Relief Association are located, we 
 came upon their mission and storehouse — a large frame
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 413 
 
 building, well adapted to its purpose. One side is 
 occupied with offices and household rooms, the other 
 divided off into apartments for receiving, storing, and 
 distributing the clothing and other supplies, as they 
 come from the cars. Good order and system seem to 
 pervade all these arrangements. As the boxes arrive, 
 they are opened, the contents sorted and registered, 
 some placed upon the shelves for distribution, some 
 repacked for shipment to one of the other relief stations 
 in Kansas, according to the reports of their most press- 
 ing needs. The matron told us thankfully of the 
 recent receipt of a cart-load of clothing from Chicago, 
 at a time when their shelves were empty, and when 
 a fresh arrival of destitute refugees made it especially 
 acceptable. This supply, however, would soon be ex- 
 hausted, they told us, under the continual demands. 
 
 " The distribution is not made without careful 
 discrimination ; the applicants presenting themselves 
 at a counter, having been first provided with tickets 
 by the Inspector of the Association, who had examined 
 their claims, and specified the supplies which they 
 were entitled to. The matron told us that the 
 vegetables used in the mission family were mostly 
 furnished at the time we were there by those who had 
 received aid in the way of clothing, and who thus 
 made such return as they were able to do. John 
 Brown, the General Superintendent of the Association, 
 a coloured man of unusual cultivation and executive 
 ability, accompanied us in our inspection of the 
 ' barracks,' and in a drive through the quarters of the 
 refugees, in and around the city, which occupied parts
 
 414 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 of two days. We were favoui-ably impressed with bis 
 earnestness and devotion to the cause of his brethren 
 at the South, and with his efforts to elevate and assist 
 to an independent position those who had come under 
 his care. We learned from him, as well as from the 
 other officers, that this great movement of the coloured 
 people from their Southern homes was not initiated, 
 and has not been encouraged by the Kansas Association, 
 which from the first confined its efforts to the neces- 
 sary relief and provision for the absolute wants and 
 the after independence of the refugees arriving within 
 their borders. We were confirmed in the judgment 
 which they expressed to us that these poor people 
 believed they followed the leading of the Lord, and 
 without much human advice or assistance, but with a 
 certain divine instinct, ' having no guide, overseer, or 
 ruler,' they had found their way into Kansas, where 
 the hearts of the Governor and the people were 
 gradually prepared to receive them, until now they are 
 welcomed into the State, even by those who looked 
 coldly upon them at first. 
 
 "We saw that the aid extended to them in all the 
 departments of the Association was strictly provisional 
 in its character ; just a hand of kindness, as it were, 
 reached forth to set them upon their feet — to help each 
 one to help himself. We realized from the daily 
 arrivals even while we were there how necessary this 
 aid has been, and how many must have been rescued 
 from death by starvation and exposure through its 
 timely exercise. Yet we saw that the recipients were 
 not permitted to settle down into a state of chronic
 
 1881,] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. . 415 
 
 pauperism, but that their condition was one of con- 
 tinual improvement under the watchful care and pro- 
 tection of the Association. 
 
 " We were especially impressed with this fact in 
 driving through their various settlements in the suburbs 
 of Topeka — Littletown, Redville, on the north side, 
 Tennessee Town and others on the south side of 
 the river. 
 
 " Tracts of land had been carefully selected, 
 divided into house lots, and sold at cost to the refugees. 
 On these they had erected small frame houses within 
 the past year, some, it is true, as yet hardly more than 
 mere shelter, others evincing some skill in their con- 
 etruction, and even the simplest having an air of 
 homelike comfort about them. Tennessee Town, a 
 settlement commenced eighteen months ago, is really 
 a thriving place, now quite self-supporting. Topeka, 
 the capital of Kansas, is a city of rapid growth and 
 "Western enterprise, new buildings were going up on 
 •every side, and its streets were astir with life. As we 
 rode through them, the coloured people seemed all to 
 be busy, some working on the buildings, some hauling 
 boards, others digging sand ; we observed no idlers. 
 Some extraordinary cases of thrift and industry were 
 pointed out to us, 
 
 " ' Do you see that coloured man standing there at 
 the corner, superintending the erection of that brick 
 building ? ' said our friend, John Brown, to us. 
 ■'Eighteen months ago, he came here a refugee, but 
 gradually worked into the business of supplying his 
 people with groceries and provisions at fair rates. He
 
 416 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 was honest and energetic, and secured a large trade 
 among them ; and now he is putting up that corner 
 building himself, to open, with the New Year, a com- 
 modious grocery and provision store.' So, on another 
 street, he pointed out a coloured man busily at work 
 in the erection of the third house of a row of small, 
 two-story brick buildings. This man, after eventful 
 experiences at the South, had reached Kansas destitute. 
 He started a little temperance restaurant and lodging 
 house, and has, since that time, built, mostly with his 
 own hands, these three houses which he now owns. 
 John Brown told us that the vote of these refugees 
 would be ' cast solid ' for the prohibition amendment 
 at the coming election in Kansas, and that, appreciating 
 the importance of their vote, the liquor men had placed 
 a sum of money in the hands of an agent to buy it, but 
 the whole amount was returned to his principals, with 
 the report that not a coloured vote was in the market to 
 be sold or bought. 
 
 " The next morning we walked out to the ' barracks,' 
 a group of fine wooden buildings erected around a 
 kind of square or court-yard, by the Association, as a 
 temporary shelter for the refugees on their first 
 arrival. During the winter of 1879-80, these quarters 
 were crowded, and rations were daily issued to the 
 destitute ; but now those who lodge here, are expected 
 to go out each day and get ' jobs of work,' and to 
 provide their own food and that of their families. As 
 we passed through, we saw farmers negotiating with 
 groups of these lodgers to engage in their service. 
 
 " The barracks are divided into compartments,
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 417 
 
 each containing eight double bunks and a cooking 
 stove, so that on arrival, the refugees have conveniences 
 for sleeping and preparing their food. The buildings 
 are well drained, ventilated, and neatly whitewashed ; 
 and the space of ground which they enclose is carefully 
 kept clean. We passed from one compartment to 
 another, and were deeply impressed in our conversations 
 with their inmates, by the cheerfulness with which 
 these poor exiles face their great hardships, and the 
 faith with which they leave the future to the Lord 
 as well as the gentleness with which they would bury 
 the unspeakable sorrows of the past. Only in response 
 to our sympathetic enquiries did any of them allude to 
 the sufferings they had endured, and not a word of 
 complaint did we hear ; but their simple recitals and 
 the facts of their condition, were appeals more touching 
 than any importunity could have been. 
 
 " ' I can tote as much on my head as others can on 
 their shoulders,' said Aunt Harriet cheerfully, as she 
 stood before us, her strong frame bent, not from natural 
 deformity, but from a spine broken in her early woman- 
 hood by a blow from the heavy heel of an angry 
 mistress. There was no trace of bitterness on the 
 kindly black face as she added, ' God forgave and God 
 forgot it, and why should not I ? ' She then went on 
 to tell how her hands tended that ' missus ' on her 
 dying bed, and that in response to their united prayers, 
 she died in hope of mercy at the last. 
 
 " In one of the first compartments, we found among 
 the group around the stove, a fine-looking blind man 
 and his wife. He did not seem to notice our entrance
 
 418 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 nor to rouse from his abstraction while his wife told us 
 the story of their wrongs, a story which is almost too 
 sad to repeat. Having undertaken a suit to redress his 
 own wrongs and those of others in the settlement of 
 wages, the testimony he had given was so clear that he 
 won the verdict in their favour, but on his way home 
 from the court he was waylaid, shot in the face, 
 destroying his sight and touching the brain ; so that 
 he who had been a stalwart, vigorous man — 'a No. 1 
 man,' as she expressed it — was brought back to her a 
 helpless wreck for life. Then she told us of the long 
 sickness, and how his strength and life slowly returned, 
 but his sight was gone ; and how finally, they gathered 
 up their portable effects, and with 1 dollar and 60 cents, 
 started for their lives away from that dark neighbour- 
 hood. ' But how did you get here on a dollar and 
 60 cents ? ' we asked. ' Oh, we washed our way up. 
 Pretty hard sometimes — but not when we crossed the 
 river, there was heaps of washing then, and we got 
 along fust rate.' ' Heaps of washing ! ' echoed a bright- 
 eyed, coloured woman on the other side of the stove, 
 who had been listeniug attentively. They seemed to 
 recall this as a pleasing part of their experience. During 
 all this recital, the husband had maintained his appear- 
 ance of apathetic indifference, sitting erect and un- 
 moved. But when, before leaving, one of us asked, 
 ' Does he love the Lord Jesus, is his Saviour with him 
 in his darkness .'' ' a wondrous transformation passed 
 like a gleam of light over the vacant, bullet-scarred 
 face, and it kindled into glowing animation. Leaning 
 forward, and turning his head from side to side, he
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 419 
 
 asked eagerly : ' What's dat you's all talkin' about ? 
 What's dat you say, does I love de Lord Jesus — does I 
 know my Saviour ? ' Then with sightless eyes uplifted, 
 he continued : ' Oh, my Lord, he is all my joy and 
 glory, and my triumph now ! ' His whole heart seemed, 
 overflowing with praises to His name. 
 
 '"You's started him up and he'll go on now,' said 
 his wife, as we left, after telling him of the land not 
 very far off, where his eyes should see ' the King in 
 His beauty,' even as in rapture he seemed to see 
 Him now. 
 
 "We found representatives from many different 
 sections of the South as we passed from one barrack to 
 another — Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, 
 Texas, and Tennessee. On the sunny side of the build- 
 ing stood some who had just arrived. Among them 
 two little boys, clad literally in rags, sent forward by 
 their poor mother with some old people from Kansas 
 City by the cars, while she was toiling over the same 
 route on foot. We were told that some parties walked 
 the whole distance from the Gulf States, taking a year 
 on the journey, 'working and scuffling' their way 
 through to Kansas and freedom. The tattered gar- 
 ments of these new-comers, hardly holding together, 
 made us renewedly thankful for the decent clothing 
 ready and waiting for them at the mission house. 
 Another group from Mississippi gave us a wonderful 
 account of the Lord's interposition on their behalf. 
 This tale was the same — of robbery and oppression, the 
 long years of toil, the disappointed hope of any return, 
 all swallowed up by charges against them ; their final
 
 420 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 resolve to leave everything they could not bring away, 
 and come North for life. They drew a vivid picture 
 of the coloured people collecting together with their 
 boxes and bundles, two horses and a wagon, and a few 
 cows, waiting to embark on the Mississippi river 
 steamer; of a body of horsemen, 'gemmen who we 
 never has seed before,' who gathered in ominous silence 
 around them, and at whose dictation the captain of the 
 regular steamer had swung off without taking them on 
 board. ' But de Lord helped us just as we give up,' they 
 said, and a new Ohio steamer, which had never stopped 
 before, came by and took them all on board, defying 
 the threats of the ' gemmen on horseback,' and they 
 were saved. We had held a meeting with some of the 
 refugees in one of their churches the evening 
 before, but at the close of our visit to the barracks, 
 we invited those who were there to an open-air 
 meeting in the courtyard. A motley company, 
 indeed, gathered in the warm, bright, autumn sunshine; 
 old and young, the halt, the maimed, and the blind, 
 were among them. Every man reverently bared his 
 head as he stood ; and as they were reminded of that 
 heavenly home, where ' the wicked cease from 
 troubling, and the weary are at rest,' where there shall 
 be no more hunger, or thirst, or sorrow, the tears stole 
 down their cheeks, and sobs and ejaculations of praise, 
 and hearty nods of assent told of their sympathy and 
 appreciation. And when, at last, we knelt down on 
 bare ground, in a double circle, as they all kneeled 
 around us, Ave felt, indeed, that the Lord Jesus was in 
 our midst, and that in his dear name, living petitions
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 421 
 
 ascended acceptably to our Father in heaven for 
 a blessing upon us all. As we rose from our knees, 
 * Uncle Pete,' a leader among them, gave out, line by 
 line, from memory, a hymn, which the little company 
 of worshippers, assembled from so many different 
 sections of the South, most of them for the first, and 
 probably, the last time together, caught up with 
 wondrous accuracy, and sang with real pathos and 
 sweetness. And what was the theme which these 
 poor refugees selected for their parting melody — exiles 
 from their home and friends, down-trodden, bereft of 
 everything but the direst necessities of this life, and the 
 bright hope of the life to come ? Was it an invocation of 
 judgment on their oppressors, like the mighty sonnet 
 of Milton, calling on the Lord to ' avenge his 
 slaughtered saints ? ' Was it ' a doleful sound from the 
 tombs,' which they mournfully echoed ? 
 
 " ' Come ye tliat love the Lord 
 And let your joys be known,' 
 
 were the first lines of their cheerful song of praise ; 
 and the last words that died away on the soft autumn 
 wind Avere, 
 
 " ' Religion sure was never meant 
 To make our pleasures less,' 
 
 chanted, with swaying forms, to one of their old planta- 
 tion tunes, that seemed to be understood equally by 
 the fugitives from the cane-bi'akes of Alabama or 
 Mississippi, and from the sugar plantations of Louisiana. 
 "'Farewell ! dear friends and fellow worshippers,' 
 we thought as we left them, 'farewell till we meet 
 again in that bright, happy home where all will be made
 
 422 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18<S1. 
 
 right that seems so wrong here ; farewell, till once more 
 we shall stand together, singing the praises of our Lord 
 and King before His great, white throne, with that 
 innumerable company out of every nation, and kindred, 
 and tongue, and people, who have come out of great 
 tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them 
 white in the blood of the Lamb.'— T. and M.S.K." 
 
 E. L. C. to L. R. 
 
 North TopeJca, Kansas, 2-3-81. 
 " I paid a visit to our State Legislature the other 
 day to try to get our senators to despatch to Washington 
 an earnest entreaty to re-enact for another year the Bill 
 for the admission, duty free, of English goods donated 
 for the refugees. I spoke to some of our leading 
 senators and representatives, and after some labour, 
 succeeded. I had previously written to Washington 
 and to many leading prominent persons in different 
 parts of the country who I thought had influence 
 there, but Thomas Ryan, our representative in 
 Washington, replied to me that ' it was impossible to 
 get the Bill through this term.' I do not believe in 
 impossibilities in a case like this, and went to Governor, 
 judges, magistrates, &c., in this city, and urged them 
 to telegraph to Washington, also to our august Senate, 
 as above named, and to-day I am rejoicing exceedingly 
 over a despatch that the Bill is before Congress, and 
 likely to pass. I could not for a moment think it 
 right or just for our Government to seize upon forty or 
 sixty per cent, of the very valuable donations of our 
 dear English Friends. I am delighted with brother
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 423 
 
 S/s very excellent selection of crockery, I suppose it 
 is now on the ocean ? Dost thou know, do the kind 
 generous donors know, that 'dry goods merchants' 
 and other store-keepers here estimate the value of the 
 English goods received here during the last four 
 months at 25,000 dollars by the time they reached 
 Kansas ? Thej^ cost us nothing from the time they 
 left England until they reached this State. 
 
 "Tell dear Jemima Spence, Elizabeth Dimsdale, 
 Sarah Grace Harvey, and all the other dear friends 
 who have laboured so hard for us, how gratefully we 
 feel that much suffering has been averted, and many 
 precious lives spared through their kindness, and 
 accept, my dear sister, thyself, for all thy toil and care, 
 our cordial thanks ! Your names are as household 
 words now among our little band of workers, and from 
 the grateful, emotional recipients of your bounty, 
 blessings unnumbered and without measure are 
 showered down upon you. Some of my helpers will 
 write to every one whose name and address we find in 
 any package. Farewell, my precious sister, 'the bless- 
 ing of him that is ready to perish is upoQ thee.' " 
 
 On the 20-6-1881, E. L. C. wrote to a Friend in 
 England, "Thou wilt be interested in hearing that we 
 have had a very pleasant visit with President Garfield, 
 Augustus Taber, clerk of New York Yearly Meeting, 
 and his wife, and Edward Tatum and his wife, accom- 
 panied me. The President received us in his library, 
 and devoted half an hour to the discussion of the 
 exodus and refugees. He expressed lively interest in 
 the freedmen, and a determination to do all in his
 
 424 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1881. 
 
 power for them. There were four points to which 
 1 particailarly directed his attention. 
 
 " 1st. — The importance of the negroes being pro- 
 tected in the South. 
 
 "2nd. — That a tract of land be set apart for those 
 now in Kansas, and such aid be extended as will 
 give them a fair chance to become speedily American 
 citizens. 
 
 " 3rd. — The importance of a national organization 
 in some older State, where they can be received, 
 relieved, and from which they can more easily be 
 scattered to other States where they can find employ- 
 ment. 
 
 " 4th. — The re-enactment of the law for the ad- 
 mission of English donations of supplies, duty free. 
 
 "I told him also of our Agricultural and Industrial 
 Institution and Training School, near Columbus,Kansas, 
 where we are seeking to employ as many as come for 
 aid, and to teach, train, and elevate them as fast as 
 possible. He heartily approved this, and hoped we 
 should be supported and sustained in so noble an 
 enterprise. In reply to my first suggestion he said, 
 * You are probably aware that the President of the 
 United States has no power to interfere in the internal 
 government of any State, unless the authorities of that 
 State call for aid,' (or words to that effect). I replied 
 that I am no politician — but from some of the more 
 intelligent of the refugees, I had learned that President 
 Hayes had removed all their friends and protectors 
 from the government offices in the South, and sub- 
 Btituted their former slave-owners, oppressors, rebels,
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 425 
 
 and Ku-Klnx-Klan leaders, which these coloured people 
 tell me caused their great suffering, cruelty, and 
 oppression, and helped to bring on the exodus. I 
 added that I did not wish to speak against President 
 Hayes ; that I believed he was a good man, and was 
 actuated by pacific principles and a desire to conciliate 
 the South, but some of us thought he had made a great 
 mistake. ' Perhaps President Garfield has as much 
 power as his predecessor,' I said, 'and may be able in 
 some measure to undo the mischief.' The New York 
 Friends tell me they saw a merry twinkle in his eye 
 as he heard this, and replied, 'I can promise one thing. 
 I will not put any of their enemies in power over 
 them.' 
 
 " 2nd. — He informed me that in his official capacity 
 he could not control an acre of Government land, but 
 he thought it would be eminently right and just, &c., 
 and he would use his influence. 
 
 " 3rd. — A National Relief Association he quite 
 approved of, &c. Advised New Mexico as the locality. 
 
 "4th. — The law, he thought, would be enacted 
 without any difficulty by the next Congress, who meet 
 in December. He advised me to come to Washington 
 then, and present these various points, and promised 
 his influence to carry them. I told him I could not 
 return there, I thought. He said, ' Write to us, and 
 state your plans and wishes on paper, and I will do all 
 lean.'" 
 
 President Garfield was treacherously shot by the 
 bullet of an assassin on the 2nd of July, a fortnight 
 after the above visit — he died on the 19th of September.
 
 426 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 Writing from Belleville, on the 12th Seventh month 
 E.L.C. says, " Poor Garfield lies suffering so severely 
 this hot weather. It is very sad to think of it, when so 
 recently I saw him looking strong and well, felt the 
 warm grasp of his hand, and heard his earnest words ! 
 
 " I think Grant has sunk greatly in the estimation 
 of our people by leaguing with the Vice-President and 
 Conkling in carrying on a fierce warfare with our kind- 
 hearted President." 
 
 E. L. C. to L. R. 
 
 Indianapolis, 16-9-81. 
 
 " Iowa Yearly Meeting was in some respects a very 
 
 trying one. There is great diversity in three or four of 
 
 their quarters. . . . The two elements, radical and 
 
 conservative, seem to be in an irrepressible conflict. 
 
 , . . The chief bone of contention was sanctification 
 
 by faith, instantaneous or gradual. Some maintained 
 
 the latter, ' First the blade, then the ear, then the full 
 
 corn in the ear." Others persistently declared it to be 
 
 the fortner, and the gift of God consequent upon entire 
 
 consecration on our part. Another apple of discord 
 
 was the Inner Light, some declaring it to be in the 
 
 hearts of all. Others say it is only in the hearts of the 
 
 converted. There is so determined and iinivaveiing an 
 
 adherence on both sides to their own views, and so 
 
 little condescension to each other, that I fear the result. 
 
 On almost every point that came before the meeting a 
 
 strong party spirit was manifest, and it was often very 
 
 difficult for the Clerk to decide the voice and judgment 
 
 of the meeting. One hundred Friends would express 
 
 themselves in favour of one view, and then a still larger
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 427 
 
 number would speak on the other side. I tried as 
 much as possible either to keep silence or to act as a 
 peacemaker. I spoke of the urgent need at the present 
 time for us all to unite and work hand in hand and 
 heart to heart against sin and oppression and wrong, 
 and to aid in the v-arious missions and benevolent work, 
 especially with and for the six million freedmen. I 
 wanted Friends to discontinue their controversies on 
 minor shades of doctrine, and labour for the salvation of 
 souls and the doing away with tyranny and oppression, 
 drunkenness, profanity, and other great national sins. 
 This brought upon me criticisms from both sides. One 
 said: 'Is the doctrine of the Inner Light a trifle?' 
 Another, ' Is sanctification by faith to be so lightly 
 esteemed ?' These strictures were after meeting. Both 
 parties united heart and hand and purse when I spoke 
 of the refugees. They took up a collection of 200 
 dollars, and have engaged to provide a teacher for one 
 year for the Agricultural and Industrial Institute, in 
 Cherokee Co., Kansas. Also they are going to start a 
 Normal School at Parsons, Kansas, for the refugees. I 
 am so thankful ! 
 
 " Western Yearly Meeting begins to-morrow ; we 
 have 15 miles to go, starting at 7 a.m. by rail. I wrote 
 to S. and C. about our refugee work, begging them to 
 use every effort to induce Friends and others to aid us 
 this coming winter. Thou wilt probably see that letter, 
 and also one I have written to Jemima Spence. There 
 is likely to be more suffering this winter than either 
 of the preceding ones, because their number is increas- 
 ing, and their friends diminishing. Kansas has suffered
 
 428 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1881. 
 
 again severely from dronght. "White, as well as coloured ; 
 so that the former will not be able to aid the latter, or 
 to hire them to any extent. I hope to be able to prevail 
 upon the Kansas Yearly Meeting, aided by the Western, 
 Indiana and Iowa, to adopt the Institute ; then I can 
 leave it in their hands, and go home and rest, after 
 visiting Washington to see what Government will do. 
 I suppose I shall have to go there in Twelfth month. 
 There is ' no doubt ' about our getting the Bill re-enacted 
 for the admission of English donations, free of duty. 
 So Dr. Updegraff (David U.'s brother in Congress) tells 
 m.e, and he will do all he can to aid me in Washington." 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. 
 
 6-11-1881. 
 
 " My reply to thy welcome and loving letter must 
 be brief, as Dr. Jackson prescribes, ' No writing or 
 m.ental efEort of any kind. Live in the open air as 
 much as possible, walk, sleep, eat, vegetate!' No 
 medicine is prescribed, an occasional bath, oil-rub, and 
 pack. My symptoms are similar in many respects to 
 what they were eight years ago, but my strength and 
 energy are much less than then. I feel like a pre- 
 maturely old woman, ' shrivelled and shrunken ' as one 
 woman called me. I fear my usefulness is over, and 
 that I shall be a helpless burden the rest of my days. 
 But I am told if anyone can help me. Dr. J. can. These 
 poor refugees ! I do hope I may be well enough to go 
 to Washington next month, and get them some help 
 from Government. I am advised 'not to think, or talk, 
 or write about them ! ' S.F.S. says when she was a 
 little girl she was advised to ' sit still and think of
 
 1881.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 429 
 
 nothing in meeting,' This would be about as easy as 
 the advice given to me now. 
 
 " Kansas Yearly Meeting endorses our Institute, 
 gives us warm unity and sanction, and express this and 
 much more on their minutes, but decline assuming any 
 financial responsibility, because of the poverty of the 
 Friends and the condition of the Yearly Meeting 
 Treasury. This leaves a heavy responsibility ujjon 
 Laura S. Haviland and me. ' Mrs. Heavenly ' the 
 refugees call her, but they give me a name most 
 essentially earthly, ' Mrs. Co7mstalk.' L.S.H. is in her 
 seventy-fourth year. I think our next effort will be to 
 prevail upon our own Yearly Meeting to adopt the 
 Agricultural and Industrial Institute at Columbus, and, 
 in the interval between the present date and the time 
 of the next Yearly Meeting, to sustain it financially by 
 sending one collector to England and another to 
 different parts of this country, 
 
 " Yes ! my memory is failing fast about everything, 
 except about the refugees. John says he is afraid I 
 am getting a prejudice against white people ! He 
 thinks I have refugees upon the brain and heart. My 
 sight and hearing are failing. John is younger in both 
 these senses than I am, though eight years my senior, 
 but he is very lame, though he manages to walk about 
 half a mile every day. . . . We much enjoyed 
 Anna Priscilla Mounsey both in Indiana and Kansas. 
 We read with eager interest the newspaper reports of 
 the Irish troubles, and the ivise policy of Gladstone, 
 Forster & Co., and I know you all read with equal 
 interest of our trials and sorrows. Our grief for
 
 430 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1882. 
 
 Garfield. It is no lack of interest prevents onr writing 
 on these points, but we know that the cable brings the 
 news, and takes it so rapidly, that by the time our 
 comments reach you, the news would be stale. . . . 
 Farewell, my dear sister. My dearest love is with all 
 my three dear sisters. Your letters always give me 
 great pleasure." 
 
 The following is taken from an American paper 
 of January 14th, 1882. 
 
 "Mrs. Comstock. 
 
 " The friends of Mrs. Elizabeth L. Comstock will 
 regret to learn that her health has failed, and she is at 
 this time in a Sanatorium in New York. It is hoped 
 she may be able to resume her work, but her physicians 
 advise her to leave it to younger and more vigorous 
 philanthropists. 
 
 " Few women or men have accomplished what 
 this brave woman has in the past forty years of her 
 eventful life, which has been devoted to mission work 
 in Europe and America. 
 
 " Mrs. Comstock is a Quakeress of English birth, 
 and from the earliest opportunity until the present 
 time, has been the friend of the oppressed of all nation- 
 alities, more especially of the coloured race. 
 
 " When the great exodus movement began, she 
 entered, heart and soul, into the work of relieving the 
 refugees as they landed in Kansas. In less than two 
 years she collected about 60,000 dollars in cash ; 
 30,000 dollars came from England in money and new 
 goods, one consignment in 1881, being valued by
 
 1882.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 431 
 
 Topeka merchants at 12,000 dollars. The amount of 
 supplies collected from the different States of the Union 
 cannot be estimated. They consisted of every con- 
 ceivable necessary, from a tin cup to corn-planters and 
 ploughs. 
 
 " It is estimated that 60,000 refugees passed through 
 Topeka, every one of whom received more or less aid. 
 At one time 700 were in the barracks prepared for them, 
 unable to procure work, and many being sick were 
 compelled to stay for months in the hospital. 
 
 " For all this work and self-sacrifice Mrs. Comstock 
 has never received a salary, even paying board at the 
 aid-house for her only daughter, who spent some time 
 with her. 
 
 " The relief work being no longer needed at 
 Topeka, an Industrial and Agricultural Institute was 
 established bj' her for the coloured people at Columbus, 
 Kansas. • On account of the failing health of Mrs. Com- 
 stock, in all probability this work will be turned over 
 by the Board of Trustees to other parties. 
 
 " Mrs. Comstock has always been a warm friend of 
 Half Acre Mission, in Kansas City, and has done all she 
 could by her substantial sympathy to encourage and 
 support the work here, which is being so successfully 
 carried on at so great a sacrifice with limited means." 
 
 E. L. C. to L. R. and C. H. 
 
 " Laura S. Haviland sent one of her books to John 
 O. Whittier. In acknowledging it he sends a very kind 
 message to me. You will be interested in a quotation 
 from his letter :
 
 432 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1882. 
 
 " ' I am pained to hear of our dear Elizabeth Com- 
 stock's illness — the result of her noble labours in 
 conjunction with thyself. It would seem that humanity 
 can only be lifted up and saved by renunciation, self- 
 sacrifice and suffering. It is Christ-like to do the 
 work, it is like Him also to suffer in doing it. I know 
 what it is to suffer from over-tasks, and to be compelled 
 to be an onlooker while the need and duty of labour are 
 felt. I sympathize with our dear friend in her disa- 
 bility, and hope, by entire rest, she may be restored." 
 
 E. L. C. toC. H. 
 
 Dansville, N. Y., 14-1-82. 
 
 " Having permission from my physician to play 
 
 Avith the children, so long as they give me no care or 
 
 anxiety, and to read children's books ! and write a 
 
 little, not ahout Kansas, I sit down to have a talk with 
 
 thee about the children ; as thou hast had forty years 
 
 experience as a teacher, thou may give me some ideas, 
 
 for I may confess I feel my need of them with our 
 
 little F. This three-and-a-half -year-old young American 
 
 often puzzles me. I have been trying to teach him the 
 
 little prayer, 
 
 " ' Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me, 
 Bless thy little Iamb to-night.' 
 
 He does not talk very plainly, but is somewhat back- 
 Avard in the use of his vocal organs. He asks many 
 questions, ' What is tender ?' ' What is shepherd ?' etc. 
 I explain, ' A shepherd is one who takes care of the 
 little lambs.' After trying to make him understand it 
 for two or three evenings, he came with the eager
 
 1882.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 433 
 
 enquiry 'Is tender shepherd come ?' ' Did he bring my 
 little lamb?' * M. said dat to-morrow,' meaning last 
 night; 'Did she have a little lamb?' Upon close 
 watching his lisping words, I found he substituted 
 ^ Fetch my little lamb to-night' for the petition 'Bless 
 thy little lamb,' etc. He seems so disappointed 
 that no lamb comes, that I fear his faith may be 
 weakened in prayer, as I do not succeed in rectifying 
 his theology. To-day at dinner, he greatly diverted 
 some of the company by shouting ' that dish run away 
 with the spoon,' when one of the waiters carelessly 
 sent a dish and spoon spinning on the floor. The next 
 exclamation was something about 'the cow that jumped 
 over the moon.' I asked him who told him that — 
 'I saw it,' he said, and persisted in it. 'Where?' 
 I enquired, and to my astonishment, he replied, 
 ' In Sabbath School.' He persisted in his statement, 
 and would not be satisfied until he had coaxed 
 and pulled and dragged me to the room where 
 the children have Sabbath School here every First-day, 
 and pointing triumphantly to the wall-paper, he 
 pointed out the pictures of Mother Goose's Melodies : 
 'Dare's de cow jumping over the moon, dare's the dish 
 running away with the spoon.' What can be done 
 with a boy so precocious in remembering and believing 
 nonsense and so dull at comprehending Divine truths ? 
 This reminds me of his funny baby speeches one moon- 
 light night, or rather early evening, when the crescent 
 moon was near setting, when he wanted to know 
 ' who broke it off ? ' ' Did the cow kick it ? ' I can- 
 not pretend to instruct him in astronomy, and as 
 
 29
 
 434 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1882. 
 
 to theology, at present it seems a hopeless case. The 
 little fellow has a small bed in my room and is a great 
 source of pleasure and amusement to me. His ques- 
 tions are so numerous and original and difficult to 
 answer. When he is asked how old he is, he replies : 
 * I'm not old, I'm noo.' 
 
 "i5-7. I have detained my letter a few days, 
 hoping for more valuable contributions to accompany 
 it, and make it better worth sending across the Atlantic, 
 but C. is so busy with her children and writing some 
 letters of importance for me that she has not been able 
 to add much. 
 
 " Since commencing this scrawl I have spoken to 
 Mrs. L., the Sabbath School teacher here, about what 
 F. said he had learned in Sabbath School. She laughed 
 heartily, and said she could tell a story to match that, 
 of another little pupil. She had given them the text 
 to learn : ' He shall blot out as a cloud their trans- 
 gressions, and as a thick cloud their sins,' etc. One 
 little fellow, too young to understand a word of it, not 
 knowing what transgressions are, or what blotting out 
 means, begged that he might say instead, 'Jack and 
 Jill went up the hill.' Did thy little F. ever manifest 
 so great a want of reverence for sacred things, or so 
 depraved a taste for the nonsense in the literary line ? 
 I hope the dear boys and their father are all enjoying 
 good health and happy in their occupations. Tell F. 
 he has left warm friends in Michigan, who often 
 enquire after him and send their love. I think A. 
 would much enjoy a trip to this country, and a visit to 
 this Sanatorium and others of a like kind before he
 
 1882.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 435 
 
 commences regular practice, may be not only pleasant, 
 but profitable in his profession. I must say farewell, 
 as very moderate use of the pen is as yet allowed me. 
 Dear love to you all." 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 Rollin 27-8-82. 
 
 "As C. and I drove over in our buggy drawn by 
 Barnabas (a favourite horse) to Hudson, to take the 
 cars for the Yearly Meeting, we met the stage which 
 brings the mail, and stopped the driver, to ask him to 
 give us any letters he had for us. He kindly complied 
 with our request, and handed us thy welcome letter, 
 mailed at Grasmere, which we read with great interest 
 and pleasure while driving. 
 
 " We did not reach the Yearly Meeting, though we 
 started. The weather was intensely hot, I got scarcely 
 any sleep that night, the mosquitoes were an intolerable 
 nuisance, and I felt so poorly the next day that I dared 
 not proceed, but returned home. 
 
 " A few days of complete rest and quiet in my 
 cool chamber, and C's cool and pleasant parlour, have 
 helped me considerably, and I feel better, though still 
 suffering from the heat. How I long for the cool 
 breezes and congenial temperature of my native land 
 during this hot summer weather ! . . . Before 
 thou reads these lines, the hottest part of the season 
 will probably have passed over. 
 
 "We were intensely interested in thy account of 
 the young doctor being capped. I should like to see 
 him in his ' regimentals ! ' 
 
 " While we are ')nelting in the heat, how you are
 
 436 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1883. 
 
 enjoying that trip amid mountains and lakes. I do 
 not envy yon, but should have very much liked to be 
 with you." 
 
 In a letter dated 20-4-1883, E.L.C. writes, " I am 
 much disappointed that Congress has not refunded 
 what we paid out for customs and duties on the valuable 
 gifts sent from England for the poor Kansas refugees. 
 President Garfield told me he had no doubt they would 
 do it, and said, ' If you will come to Washington next 
 winter, I will help you to get the Bills through.' Alas ! 
 before winter he died, and I was ill. So nothing was 
 done. L. S. Haviland went to Washington and stayed 
 there some weeks ; she received fair promises from 
 many of the senators and representatives, but there was 
 such a pressure of business that this was crowded out, 
 with several hundred other Bills." 
 
 A year later, E.L.C. wrote, " The Bill passed 
 Congress 28th of Second month last, good for one year, 
 for English goods for Kansas refugees, duty free. No 
 mistake ! "
 
 1883.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 437 
 
 Chapter XXII. 
 
 VISIT TO ENGLAND AND RETURN — DEATH 
 OF HER HUSBAND. 
 
 1883-1884. 
 
 AS E.L.C.'s health still continued in a critical 
 condition, she was strongly advised once more 
 to visit her native land, this having proved so beneficial 
 eight or nine years before ; and she crossed the Atlantic, 
 accompanied by her granddaughter, and landed at 
 Liverpool on the 18th of July, 1883. She was warmly 
 welcomed by her sister, and proceeded to Darlington. 
 A few weeks later, a stay at Marske-by-the-Sea, in 
 Yorkshire, refreshed her much, and she afterwards 
 visited relatives and friends in the South of England, 
 and spent nearly a month with her dear friend and 
 early pupil at Ackworth School, Louisa Hurnard, of 
 Lexden, Colchester. 
 
 The 30th of October was her kind host's fiftieth 
 birthday, and her own sixty-eighth, and they spent it 
 together and made it a season of rejoicing and festivity. 
 Among many gifts, letters, and congratulations, she 
 received Whittier's and Longfellow's poems, with the 
 following rhyme : 
 
 " Sixty-eiglit summers now have glided by, 
 
 Since first thou gladdened a dear mother's eye ; 
 
 Sixty-eight winters cold, have o'er thee past, 
 
 May many another come before the last !
 
 438 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 As summer suus give gladness to the earth, 
 So has thy presence cheered full many a hearth. 
 Nor in the home alone, thy kindly word, 
 To comfort and encourage, has been lieard ; 
 In Hospital — in Prison — or where'er 
 Humanity has woe or pain to bear. 
 Hast thou been found, intent to cheer alway. 
 And point earth's sufEereis to a brighter day. 
 To black and white alike thy strength was given, 
 And to sow seeds of peace and love thou'st striven. 
 Thy life might richly fill a poet's lay. 
 Therefore two poets rich, we send to-day — 
 Whittier thou knows and loves — in his pure line 
 The lessons thou acts out for ever shine — 
 In length of days, his lot be also thine ! 
 Longfellow too, born under western skies. 
 At his loved name what pleasant memories rise. 
 ' A heroijie in the strife,' thou hast proved to be, 
 On ' the world's broad field of battle,' thou hast set the 
 bond-man free ! " 
 
 Her tarriance in England greatly benefited her 
 health, and on the 26th of January, 1884, she sailed 
 from Liverpool for New York. The following letter 
 describes the voyage. 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 E.M.S. Gallia, 8-2-1884. 
 " I believe I gave thee a conditional promise to 
 write a journal of our voyage. It is well it ivas 
 conditional, for it is likely to prove nothing but a few 
 fragmentary scraps gathered up from the eight days of 
 shaking and suffering that have sadly made havoc of 
 physical and mental power. This is the first time 
 I have been able to venture into the saloon, or to sit at 
 table, either for writing or for meals. It is First-day,
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 439 
 
 a beautiful, clear, cold day. We had Episcopal services 
 here this morning ; we attended and were refreshed in 
 so doing, and able to sit through the hour. To begin 
 where we parted. As we saw your loved forms on the 
 deck of the tender, gradually receding from our sight, 
 our hearts sank within us with the thought that we 
 should see your faces no more. . . . My next care 
 was to go to my berth, and carefully put on and adjust 
 my electric belt. (This was given just as she started, 
 as a protection against sea-sickness.) I have had many 
 eager enquiries from ladies how it answered. I could 
 only reply by ghastly looks and broken speech that I 
 never was so sick in my life before. It was not a fair 
 trial for the belt, because we entered into a gale, or a 
 tremendous gale swept over us that afternoon. During 
 said gale, imagine us seated on the floor of the deck 
 saloon, clutching frantically anything within reach, that 
 we could hold on to for safety. Some time during the 
 gale, some gentlemen near by were discussing the 
 storm. I do not pretend to remember all they said, or 
 to give any detailed account of their conversation, but 
 two or three sentences penetrated my confused head, 
 memory and heart, and stayed there. ' Will she stand 
 this ? ' ' Can she live in such a sea .'' ' ' As she is a 
 Cunarder, I say Yes. If she had been a White Star, I 
 should doubt it. The Cunard alivays slacken speed in 
 a storm. They never rush headlong into a gale like 
 this, at usual speed.' Memory does not serve me with 
 other items of interest of that dreadful day and night, 
 during which the Gallia seemed to be tossed about on 
 the billows, like the large footballs I saw the young
 
 440 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 men kicking about on the tennis grounds in York and 
 Darlington. 
 
 " How we got to bed that night I do not remember, 
 but at 2 p.m. next day, the stewardess, Mrs. Cameron, 
 a stout, strong, kind, motherly-looking Scotchwoman, 
 came and persuaded me to let her help me 'to get up, 
 and go into the air a little, as the Gallia is now standing 
 still, and may be for three or four hours.' I had no 
 strength to resist, and was passive in her hands. I felt 
 weak, exhausted, sore, bruised, and ' gone ' ; too ill to 
 write, though I knew how much you Avould all want 
 to hear from Queenstown, I scribbled a few lines and 
 gave to a gentleman who was mailing some letters of 
 his own there. 
 
 "The stewardess told me she had never known 
 such a night as last night, and in the midst of the storm, 
 a little waif had entered this world of woe. ' She is to 
 be named Gallia,' she said. From a little paper, printed 
 on board, and called ' The Gallia Journal,' I will quote. 
 
 " DAILY NEWS. 
 '' ' Left Queenstown, Sunday, 12.45 a. m., 240 miles. 
 Monday, 134 miles. Tuesday, 297. Wednesday, 215. 
 Thursday, 340.' This is about all I can tell of those 
 days and nights of agony and horror. Farewell for 
 to-day. Stli day. On returning to my berth on 
 First-day night I found two letters. I seized them 
 eagerly, but could not read them. I was weak, dizzy, 
 faint — the letters seemed all blurred to my dazed sight. 
 I pocketed them carefully, and on Sixth-day I was able 
 to read and enjoy them, and think of the loved hands 
 that traced them — hands never more to be felt in
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 441 
 
 earnest, loving grasp. Dearest C, thy letter has cheered 
 and comforted me. I do thankfully feel that we have 
 been privileged with many happy hours together, six 
 months of as great enjoyment as often falls to the lot 
 of mortals in this changing world. . . . S^id dat/. 
 2nd mo. 4. A calm sea below us, a clear sky above, 
 favourable winds, carrying us on fifteen knots an hour, 
 homeward bound. We are able to stand alone, and 
 dress ourselves, the first time since coming on board. 
 This is the tenth day at sea. ' Then are they glad 
 because they be quiet ; so He bringeth them unto their 
 desired ha\*en.' Dear Calla is having a happy birthday, 
 though she is not at home. I woke her this morning 
 at 7.30 with birthday kisses and good wishes, and 
 placed in her berth beside her the three little packets 
 that had been given me at Liverpool for her. For half 
 an hour she had great enjoyment in exploring and 
 examining her treasures, and wishing she could see her 
 dear aunts, and give them some kisses and thank them. 
 Cousin Bessie, too ; the beautiful ' Bible Forget-me- 
 nots.' She read to me the texts for the day in this, 
 and also in her ' Morning Bells,' and ' Little Pillows.' 
 Fielden Thorp would be pleased to know how she 
 values his kind presents, and how often she has read 
 her daily text, even during the sufferings of the last 
 ten days. 
 
 "Among the dim recollections of the past, the 
 confused reminiscences of sayings and doings a week 
 ago come before me now. Hearing someone say in a 
 loud voice, amidst the storm, ' I feel safe in a Cunard, 
 she has never lost a ship, and has been forty years
 
 442 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 afloat.' ' Don't boast too soon, wait till this voyage is 
 over ! This is terrible weather, this may be the first 
 Canard lost.' The sound seemed to be repeated in my 
 ears for hours, a solemn dirge, a low requiem, echoed 
 by winds howling, weaves dashing, engine working, 
 screw propeller shaking, every sound seemed to say, 
 'First Cunard lost! first Cunard lost! Cunard lost ! 
 'nard lost, 'nard lost, 'ard lost, lost, lost, lost, lost, 'ost, 
 'st ' ! ! ! ! 
 
 " One morning, it must have been the fourth or 
 fifth day out, my languor, sickness, faiutness, qualm- 
 ishness, &c., &c., were interrupted and varied by Mrs. 
 Cameron perseveringly urging, exhorting, entreating 
 me to eat something. She tried to arouse me, and 
 argued the utter impossibility of living in this world 
 without eating. ' Eat ! ' I replied at last in desperation, 
 ' I feel as though I should never want to eat again.' 
 She tells me now ' how obstinate ' I was. I have a dim 
 recollection that she and everybody, else were very 
 unfeeling. The doctor, for instance, when sent for by 
 a lady, declined to come, saying no one ever died of 
 sea sickness. Cruel man ! he would not even send a 
 dose, but said he only knew of two specifics for sea 
 sickness, one to stay on land, the other to bear it 
 patiently. It did seem cruel, the poor lady was very 
 ill. I thought of a certain kind-hearted young doctor 
 I knew, and wished he was here to aid and comfort 
 the poor lady. As for myself, I felt I was past all 
 doctor's skill. I think I must have been in bed two 
 days and nights when the stewardess undertook to get 
 me up. I do not remember clearly how she managed
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 443 
 
 to get me dressed. I was helpless as a baby, but 
 just remember her ou one side, and the stout, strong 
 steward on the other, labouring hard to get me up 
 the stairs. Near the top, a sudden lurch of the 
 vessel nearly precipitated us all three headlong down 
 again. A loud call from my bearers, to lend a hand for 
 God's sake, brought two more speedily to their aid, 
 and towed by four, I was soon placed securely in a 
 reclining chair, which was safely lashed to the deck. 
 The sea-breeze, and the spray, revived me a little. I 
 had no longer any need to hold on. This Avas a 
 Avonderful relief. I was well wrapped up, and soon 
 fell asleep. How long I continued in the arms of 
 Morpheus, I do not know. Awaking, just able to turn 
 my head, I saw I was not a solitary sufferer. A long 
 line of reclining chairs on deck, each one with a 
 mummy-like, ghastly, death-like figure lying on it. 
 Some one said there were sixty of us. I did not count, 
 and felt as though I never should count again. Hour 
 after hour I lay quiescent on the flood. Presently 
 someone spoke to me. ' Would I not like to move ? ' 
 'Move! never again,' I said. 'The black smuts from 
 the chimney are coming down on you.' ' Let them, 
 come,' was my only reply. I closed my eyes ; presently 
 a fearful shaking, a plunge and loud splashing, followed 
 by shrieks and screams, aroused me — we had ' shipped 
 a sea.' A river seemed to be pouring down the decks. 
 Very quickly there Avas a great commotion. Every 
 mummy betAveen me and the fore end of the deck, Avas 
 being unrolled, and aided by stewards, and by gents 
 Avho looked half drowned, Avere being pulled, pushed,
 
 444 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 dragged, into the deck cabin for shelter. Every man 
 had to cling Avith one hand to a cable fixed the whole 
 length of the ship, Avhile the kindlj- aid was given with 
 the other to the ladies. Two friendly voices spoke to 
 me, and urged me to let them help me in. They spoke 
 of the storm. 'Never mind,' I said. 'You will be 
 half drowned.' I wished I might be quite. ' Here 
 come the waves.' ' Let them come,' I said, closing my 
 eyes, and feeling quiescent and resigned to everything 
 but moving. Another lurch, a rush, a few shrieks and 
 screams, a furious splashing and drenching, and the 
 great wave had swept over me. Happily I was com- 
 pletely enveloped in my kind friend John Whiting's 
 plaid. One of the gentlemen pulled or tore it from 
 me, and gave it a shake. The water poured off it, like 
 water from a duck's back. It was unhurt, and I was 
 dry and comfortable under it, my head, face, and hands 
 only, being wet, and these were cooled and refreshed 
 by the sea water. My hood, A. R. W.'s kind present, 
 alone suffered. I kept my place until orders came 
 from the captain for all the ladies to be taken below 
 stairs because of the storm. How many days I had 
 been at sea before Captain McMickan's kind, benevolent 
 face beamed down upon me, I don't know. There was 
 something quieting in his very look, as he remarked, 
 ' I fear you have been very ill.' I repi ied by a fervently 
 expressed wish that the ship would cease its motion, 
 and stand still a little while. Either his voice or some 
 other grated on my ears and aching head with the 
 words, ' 'Tis to be hoped she won't, until we are in 
 New York Harbour.'
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 445 
 
 " As soon as I was well enough to think of 
 
 anything but my own wretched condition, I enquired 
 
 after little Miss Gallia, ' Dead, and consigned to the 
 
 waves ; she only lived three days.' And the little boy 
 
 who was only four weeks old when his mother brought 
 
 him on board, is dead and buried too. 
 
 " ' Such is life, 'tis a delicate shell 
 Thrown up on Eternity's strand.' 
 
 " Noon, 4-2-84. C. sits beside me at the table in 
 the large dining-saloon while I write. She is wholly 
 absorbed in her book, ' Hid in the Cevennes,' aunt L.'s 
 kind birthday present. There are several children on 
 board, a whole family of G.'s from New York City, the 
 eldest about G.'s age. Before she commenced reading, 
 she amused them for some time exhibiting her 
 treasures ; the little girl in her sled, and the thimble, 
 were very much admired. ' The Forget-me-nots' also, 
 the book with its beautiful pictures, its ornamental 
 cover and gilt edges, all duly noted and commented 
 on. 
 
 " The letter, cards, poetry all examined, and read 
 to admiring auditors. I am thankful for the dear child 
 to be so well and happy to-day. She has had a sad 
 time since she came on board. For some time I was 
 too ill to give her any attention. I could hear her 
 moaning, and could only answer groan for groan. Once, 
 as I knew by sundry sounds, she was suffering much. 
 I reached down my hand, which was immediately 
 clasped in her cold little fingers. But even this token 
 of sympathy could not long be indulged in, as we often 
 had to hold on with both hands, to prevent falling from
 
 446 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1884. 
 
 our berths. One lady, Mrs. G., did fall out, and was 
 very mncli hurt ; her face is sadly disfigured with 
 bruises. ... 3 p.m. We are having a very pleas- 
 ant time, quite calm, very little motion, verdict of 
 many passengers, ' never knew such a bad beginning of 
 a voyage, nor so smooth an ending.' ' Don't talk of 
 the end yet,' says one. ' Captain M. predicts a storm. 
 It is so unnaturally still for this time of year.' 
 
 " 5-2-84, 9 a.m. All quiet, no sign of a storm — 
 don't believe Captain M. predicted one, it is not like 
 him. He is a very pleasant, cheery-looking gent, not 
 at all likely to throw a gloom over his passengers by 
 ' prophesying evil.' He read the services from the 
 Episcopal Prayer Book with such solemnity. He is a 
 beautiful reader. Dr. N., pastor of a Protestant Church 
 in Rome, gave us an excellent sermon. He had been 
 one of the ' Germanic ' passengers, and came on board 
 at Queenstown. I have been amused with hearing 
 various opinions and discussions upon the different 
 lines of steamships. Some praise up the ' Guion,' some 
 the ' White Star,' but more seem loyal to the ' Cunard,' 
 One argues : ' The beds are hard here, the cabins small, 
 the table not equal to the other lines. White Star, all 
 spring beds, roomy cabins, very superior table supplies.' 
 One says : 'The White Star Co. give directions to their 
 captains — be sure to take the steamer into New York 
 or Liverpool by such a date.' The Cunard say : ' Land 
 all your passengers safely, however long it takes.' 
 They always slacken speed in a gale. Result: They 
 have been afloat forty-three years and never lost a ship, 
 nor even a passenger. No other line can say as much.
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 447 
 
 "I have crossed the ocean five times, and decidedly 
 prefer the Cunard, especially for a winter passage. 
 The stewards and stewardesses are very attentive, 
 ofiBcers all very kind, table very good. Four meals 
 a day for all who desire the 9 p.m. supper. The 
 6 p.m. dinner is rather too late for me, and I have 
 occasionally felt a longing to be near my dear sister 
 L.'s teapot. This condensed milk spoils my tea. 
 I doubt whether the best spring beds would be 
 comfortable during sea sickness. "We have now had 
 three days of real comfort and enjoyment. Many of 
 the passengers and stewards think they never knew a 
 more stormy commencement to a voyage or a more 
 pleasant, quiet time the last few days, especially in 
 winter. The plaid my kind friend J.W. gave me for 
 my husband has been invaluable. Enveloped in its 
 folds, I could remain on deck in stormy weather 
 secure from harm. I have seen others drenched 
 with the sea washing over us all, and I have not been 
 hurt. 
 
 " I have been complimented as • a very brave old 
 lady to undertake such a voyage in such weather,' and 
 again one said, ' By Jove,' and another, ' By Jingo, she 
 is a plucky old lady to stay on deck all day, with such 
 A sea washing over us, when nearly all the gentlemen 
 were driven under shelter.' How undeserved their 
 praises ! I was a veritable coward, I dared not move. 
 My chair held me safe, my plaid kept me warm. ' My 
 .strength was to sit still,' as dear C. said, when on the 
 tender. "We had two reclining chairs, which, being 
 lashed to the deck, we could rest in, without having to
 
 448 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 hold on for dear life. When sadly bruised and weary 
 with clinging to something to prevent our being tossed 
 about like a shuttlecock with every rock or lurch of the 
 storm-tossed vessel, it was a wonderful comfort to 
 recline in safety and rest. Many hours a day, in stormy 
 weather, we thus rested. The warm salt-water baths 
 were also a great comfort and refreshment. 
 
 " Noon. We understand that we are expected to 
 make New York sometime to-night, but will not be 
 able to go ashore until nine or ten o'clock to-morrow^ 
 Quarantine and Custom House will delay us, but I 
 understand that if we give our letters to the purser 
 this evening, he will hand a mail bag to the outward 
 bound Canard steamer to-morrow, which will pass 
 out before we land. We will do so. . . . Motion 
 increases — it is difficult to write. Shake, shake, shake, 
 I can't write more now. Later — more quiet — only a 
 few hours more of this rocking and shaking. I am so 
 thankful we are so near the end of our voyage. 
 
 " ' Who is that sweet-looking old lady ? ' was the 
 query I overheard, and turned quickly, hoping to 
 make acquaintance with said old lady. ' She means 
 you,' said one at my elbow. Just then I caught a view 
 in one of the many mirrors of the saloon, of myself. 
 C. reminded me that I have on that handsome cap 
 aunt L. gave me, and added, ' You do look well, grand- 
 ma, and so rosy. I saw her just now looking at that 
 satin hood.' Truly it must be a contrast to my appear- 
 ance a week ago, when I entreated the steward to 
 remove that looking-glass, which reflected such a 
 ghastly visage.
 
 1884.] elizabeth l. comstock. 449 
 
 "Advices to Voyagers. 
 
 " 1st. — Be sure to take passage in a Cunarcl steamer. 
 
 " 2nd. — Do not omit to bring with you an electric 
 belt ; if it should not save you from sea-sickness, it 
 may from sciatica. 
 
 "3rd. — Provide yourself with a waterproof plaid. 
 
 " 4th. — A large, grey, Shetland shawl is a desidera- 
 tum. 
 
 " 5th, — An eider-down jacket and a bottle of 
 
 smelling salts are valuable. 
 
 " Gth. — A ' nightingale' is a great comfort. 
 
 " 7th. — Hire a reclining chair for five shillings for 
 the voyage, and live in it on deck. 
 
 "8tli. — Do not voyage in the winter, if possible to 
 avoid. 
 
 "9th. — Provide yourself with ' Rudder Grange,' or 
 similar literature ; books easy to hold, good type, not 
 too deep. 
 
 " 10th. — A ' tablet ' for writing will be a convenience, 
 something stationary, not easily removed. Everything 
 has a tendency to keep moving, to elude your grasp. 
 The last eleven or twelve days, I have known and 
 experienced more of perpetual motion than ever before. 
 
 " 11th. — A good supply of faith and courage." 
 
 The dear voyagers landed safely at New York on 
 7th of February. E.L.C. writes from Union Springs, 
 17-2-84 : "We declined the urgent invitations of our 
 hospitable New York Friends, and went on to Union 
 Springs on Seventh-day, and attended the small 
 meeting there on First-day. I did not feel equal to 
 attending that large meeting in New York city, my 
 
 30
 
 450 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 head was dizzy and I was very weary. We had a nice 
 pleasant rest with our kind friends, J. J. and M. H. 
 Thomas. On Second-day we went on to Buffalo — 
 were met at the station by E.H., who took us to his 
 house, and we had a pleasant evening with him and 
 his wife, and their son and daughter. The next 
 morning he took us for a sleigh ride in a luxurious 
 sleigh, well wrapped in buffalo and fox robes, to show 
 us the suburbs and environs of that beautiful and 
 rapidly growing city of 200,000 inhabitants. A.H. 
 took us to Niagara, twenty -two miles by rail. He hired 
 a sleigh for a three miles' ride around the Falls. The 
 finest views I ever had of this ' Sovereign of the world 
 of floods.' We had a glimpse from many points of 
 view of this magnificent Niagara, from the Canadian as 
 well as the American shore, in his winter costume. 
 The mountain of ice formed by the spray was 
 stupendous, the fringe of icicles grand, the trees 
 dazzlingly beautiful, shining like diamonds in 
 the sunshine. The day was lovely, the landscape 
 perfect ! C. was delighted, she ascended the 
 ice mountain with our friend and a guide. I 
 thought ' prudence the better part of valour,' and 
 stayed below. The climbers were shod with clogs, 
 armed with iron spikes. On the evening of the same 
 day we took the night train for Hudson. In passing 
 Adrian Station, where the train halted five minutes, it 
 cheered me to see the face of our granddaughter, B. F., 
 with her father. I had dropped them a postal, stating 
 the train by which we expected to travel, and they 
 came with a loving welcome and warm congratulations
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 451 
 
 that we had survived the fearful storms that had caused 
 our relatives much anxiety this side the water, as well 
 as the dear ones left in England. B. brought us from 
 their breakfast table a delicious repast, which we much 
 enjoyed, as we did not reach Hudson till 9 a.m., and 
 had then a sleigh-ride of seven miles to bring us home. 
 Before leaving the train, I saw the beaming, happy face 
 of my dear C, who came to help me out, and to prevent 
 my slipping on the glare of ice under our feet. I need 
 not tell you how happy we were to meet again, or how 
 great our joy to be restored to each other, after our long 
 separation, in health. Carrie looks icell. W. L. (hus- 
 band of my eldest step-daughter) had brought his 
 capacious sleigh, and plenty of warm wraps, and a very 
 warm welcome, and we were soon seated and our three 
 trunks, etc., etc., placed on board, and amid the lively 
 sound of the merry sleigh bells ringing, we were soon 
 on our way home. Warm welcomes, loving greetings, 
 glad congratulations met us on all hands. My husband 
 is in good health and spirits, and tells me I ' look much 
 younger and better than when I went away.' C.'s little 
 ones are well and happy. J. and C.'s also. . . . F. 
 tells me confidentially that ' Mamma was so afraid you 
 would be drowned, when it was so stormy, but I knew 
 you wouldn't, for I asked Jesus to take care of you, 
 and bring you back safe, and so He did, didn't He ?' " 
 Six brief months had barely passed after that 
 glad reunion, when a terrible trial darkly shadowed 
 the happy household, in a fearful accident to the 
 honoured head of the family. Our dear niece wrote 
 from Rollin, " This letter must be the bearer of sad
 
 452 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 news to you. Poor father has been thrown out of a 
 buggy and seriously injured ! We cannot tell how 
 much, but his forehead near the temple is so hurt that 
 mamma said it is a wonder that did not kill him with- 
 out the other injuries he has received. He started this- 
 a.m. for Quarterly Meeting, intending to visit his 
 daughter Amy on the way ; he was in pretty good 
 health, and in pretty good spirits. He had not gone 
 more than four or five miles before the horse took 
 fright, and he was thrown out, and was picked up in- 
 sensible. He was brought home in a large chair, while 
 they were at dinner. J. and C, Avith three or four of 
 the Avorking men on the farm, and the man who 
 brought him home, lifted him right out of the wagon, 
 chair and all, and took him to C.'s room, which was 
 down stairs. After awhile they brought his own bed 
 down, and set it up in the large parlour, the best room 
 in the house. . . . His back and hip are hurt, and 
 cause him great pain. . . . The doctor came and 
 gave him a hypodermic injection, which has caused 
 him to sleep quietly, and is a great relief, both to him 
 and those who were taking care of him. He cannot 
 even lift his feet, and has to be lifted and turned every 
 few minutes, when awake, to get a change of position, 
 the pain is so great. It is distressing to see him suffer 
 so. I told him I was sorry to see him in such pain. 
 He replied, ' It does me good to suffer ' (evidently in 
 allusion to the words 'perfect through suffering'). . . 
 Poor father, I fear he will never walk again, if he 
 should live, though the doctor hopes he may get over 
 it, but I saw him just as he was going away, and he
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 453 
 
 told me father ' was hurt worse than they thought at 
 first.' He is feverish, temperature very high, and 
 tongue furred. It may be only caused by the shock, or 
 there may be something further developed that we do 
 not at present know of. ' He is such a heavy man, and 
 getting on in years,' the doctor added, *and it is a 
 serious injury of course, twenty-four or forty-eight 
 hours will show to what extent.' .... 
 
 " This letter has been waiting for mamma to add, 
 but as father requires her constant attention, and does 
 not like her to leave him a moment, she has not been 
 able to write, and gave it back to me to finish. 
 
 " Doctor is very doubtful how this sad illness will 
 end ; he says father almost broke his back, and that 
 his spine is sadly injured. He was such a careful man, 
 always cautioning oth ers, and that very morning, when he 
 lefthome,he made such particular enquiry of his young 
 driver whether the horse was perfectly safe and quiet, 
 adding in his facetious manner, ' I hope he is, for my 
 life is not insured ! ' Darwin replied by assuring him 
 that ' all was safe, the women drive him everywhere ! ' 
 Three hours later, father was brought home sadly 
 injured." 
 
 E. L. C. to F. H. R. 
 Rollin, Lenawee Co., Michigan, 28-7-1884. 
 
 " * Faint, yet pursuing ' expresses my present con- 
 dition. I am extremely weary, yet pursuing my daily 
 duties with all the strength I have left. My poor 
 husband lingers in a very feeble, sufilering state. 
 There is very little mental power left, what little there 
 is seems absorbed in the one idea that he will 'die
 
 454 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 to-morrow.' This he reiterates coiitinuallj'. It will 
 be three weeks to-morrow since his accident. Two 
 weeks after it occurred, he laboured under a similar 
 impression. On the morning of that day, the 22nd 
 inst,, we thought he was dying. He thought so himself, 
 and sent for the absent near relatives, who were in 
 the neighbourhood, and had a solemn season of leave- 
 taking. The twenty-third Psalm was read. He called 
 for Carrie and Cherrie to sing sweet hymns to 
 him. They did so to his comfort and satisfaction. 
 We were around him, fifteen or sixteen of us in tears, 
 listening to his dying words, and endeavouring to 
 minister to his comfort by fanning him, repeating 
 texts of scripture, &c., &g., when the doctor suddenly 
 appeared upon the scene and speedily dispelled the 
 illusion. He is a very practical man, with more skill than 
 religion. He broke up the solemn assembly, felt his 
 patient's pulse, and assured him he was getting better. 
 He cleared the room of part of the crowd, and set 
 others to work, in a way evidently designed rather to 
 add to his patient's life, than to soothe his dying moments. 
 Soon the appearance of the dying chamber was changed 
 to one of living and suffering. The pain which had 
 all disappeared for a short season, came back again. 
 Groans and moans followed hymn singing and bible 
 reading. What shall be on the morrow, we cannot 
 foresee. The past week has been one of exceeding 
 distress and suffering to poor John, and most wearying 
 and exhausting to me. The heat of the weather tries 
 me much. The night watching still more. Witnessing 
 my dear husband's sufferings distresses me greatly. I
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 455 
 
 am almost worn out. I am generallj' his principal 
 attendant during the day, and watch with him until 
 twelve or one o'clock at night. Then E. L. or E. G. 
 takes my place, or one of the other near relatives. By 
 having three changes during the night, we divide the 
 labour. The men who have been hard at work in the 
 harvest-field do not sit up with him, but are called 
 when needful. Sometimes we have to call two of them 
 twice in the night, to turn him in bed, or place him in 
 his easy chair. He cannot remain in the same position, 
 and is so heavy to move. When well, he weighed 220 lbs. 
 It takes all the strength of two men and a woman to 
 turn him in bed. . . A few days later. I take the 
 first scrap of paper that comes to hand, as I sit beside 
 my poor suffering husband, to tell you how^ he is, and 
 how we all are. He is growing weaker from day to 
 day, more death-like, more helpless. It is very sad to 
 see a vigorous frame like his, gradually wasting away. 
 He is having a desperate struggle for life. For forty 
 years he has enjoyed unbroken health without the 
 least interruption, having never been ill enough to lose 
 a day's food, or a night's sleep. . . . J.'s limbs are 
 frightfully swollen, a bad symptom this. My own 
 health and strength are giving way, I fear. I feel so 
 different from what I did a month ago. Pray for me, 
 that strength equal to my day may be granted." 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 Rollin, Jlichigan, 5-8-84. 
 
 " At last the hard struggle for life is ended, and 
 
 my dear husband is at rest. I have witnessed many a 
 
 dying bed, but for a protracted death agony, this has
 
 456 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1884. 
 
 been the worst. ! I cannot describe what the past 
 month has been to the poor sufferer, or to us ! Four 
 nights we looked on, and thought he was dying. Four 
 times in the day we gathered around his bed, watching 
 for the hist breath. At last, from Sixth day evening to 
 First day morning, at seven o'clock, he was dying 
 absolutely. All the symptoms indicated the near 
 approach of the King of Terrors, until, as the clock 
 struck seven, the struggle became feebler, the hard 
 breathing gentler, the pulse sinking, and in ten or 
 fifteen minutes, we could scarcely tell when, the last 
 faint breath was drawn. No groan, or gasp, or struggle 
 at the close. We who had witnessed the long conflict, 
 the death agony, feeling our utter inability to relieve 
 him, could only thank God for him when he was 
 released. Perhaps you remember the accounts in the 
 papers of the death of poor Garfield. The extreme 
 distress and agony he repeatedly complained of in his 
 feet and heels. The two doctors who attended my dear 
 husband, say that there was some similarity in the two 
 cases. This acute sufi'ering in the heels proceeded from 
 a wound or injury to the spine. Garfield's from a 
 bullet passing through the spine. John was not able 
 to lie on the bed much. He was easier in a large 
 reclining chair, A frequent change of position was a 
 relief to him, but being a large, heavy man, it was very 
 difficult to move him. It required all the strength of 
 J. and L. to change his position ever so little, and also 
 one of us women at the same time to move his feet and 
 legs, even an inch or two, but after such movement he 
 would seem easier and more quiet for two or three
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L, COMSTOCK. 457 
 
 hours. Then again the restlessness and pain would be 
 so great that another change was indispensable. So 
 we went on for near a month. The doctors said they 
 had seldom s6en so vigorous a frame in so old 
 a man. ' Lungs sound, digestive organs good,' 
 every part of the physical frame sound enough 
 to ensure many years more of the enjoyment of life 
 and health, had it not been for this accident. . . . 
 Yesterday we committed his body to the grave, ' in the 
 sure and certain hope of a blessed resurrection.' The 
 funeral was very largely attended, many came twenty 
 or thirty miles. So large a gathering has never been 
 known at our meeting-house on such an occasion 
 before. The house was crowded uncomfortably, and 
 not half the people could get in. There were more 
 outside than in the building. . . . The coffin was 
 taken into the meeting-house, and after a meeting of 
 an hour and a half, all the company, in solemn pro- 
 cession, walked round in single file to take a last look. 
 All this is distressing to me. I do not like the nearest 
 and dearest relatives to be weeping over an open coffin, 
 and exhibiting their grief to hundreds of spectators. I 
 took my last look in the room in which my dear J. had 
 died, and where he had taken his last look at me, as he 
 pressed my hand with a strong grasp, saying : ' 0, my 
 precious wife, my darling wife ! ' These words he 
 often repeated, sometimes querying in a pitiful appeal 
 of helpless agony : ' Can nothing be done ? Can 
 nothing be done ? ' Alas ! we could do little or nothing 
 at times to relieve his distress but give him morphine. 
 Yesterday afternoon, after the funeral, when our friends
 
 458 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1884. 
 
 were all gone, and a sense of exceeding loneliness was 
 upon us, your two dear sympathizing letters were 
 handed to me. One from each of my dear sisters. 
 They were most opportune and very welcome. . . . 
 You had just heard of the accident, and your letters 
 were filled with loving sympathy for us and for him, 
 and kind messages to him — too late to avail him, but 
 comforting to us. Our poor A. is in very poor health 
 and still blind, quite blind — cannot see any light in 
 the room. She has recently suffered more pain again 
 in her eyes. . . . Now that my care for her dear 
 father is ended, I think as soon as I can suitably leave 
 home I shall go to her and try to comfort her, for she 
 is greatly depressed. Her father's death is a great 
 additional affliction to her. He was on his way to 
 visit her when he met with this accident, and the 
 following morning he requested me to get pen and ink 
 and sit beside him and write, from his dictation, a letter 
 to her. I did so — a touching letter, telling of her 
 father's love and sympathy, etc. I wrote word for 
 word, as he dictated. This letter, commencing ' My 
 dear, dear Amy,' was a great comfort to her. Only 
 for half an hour was his mind clear enough for 
 this, and at no time since has he had sufficient mental 
 power for such an effort, . . . C. is pretty well, 
 she was frequently here during her father's illness, 
 and he would call for her, and ask her to sing to him 
 ' sweet hymns.' She feels his loss keenly. I nm 
 thankful indeed that I had not gone to Canada, and 
 that I came home from England when I did, instead 
 of waiting until the Spring. Scarcely six months have
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 459 
 
 we enjoyed of each other's society since my retvirn 
 home. How little could we foresee what these six 
 months would produce ; so much sickness, and labour 
 and sorrow. I should have sunk under it a year ago, 
 but the health and strength my trip to my native 
 land gave me, have enabled me to work and to suffer, and 
 to bear all of it without my health being materially 
 affected, for which I am truly thankful. The weather 
 here has been unusually cool for this time of the year, 
 and this also has helped me, as the heat is sometimes 
 overpowering." 
 
 A few weeks after her dear husband's death, E.L.C. 
 paid a visit to her brother at Belleville, in Canada. Her 
 daughter accompanied her. She was a good deal 
 exhausted with nursing and anxiety, and the quiet 
 rest refreshed her much. She wrote from Belleville, 
 on the 8th of Ninth mo., " Where C. and I will decide 
 to reside we cannot tell yet. We have the ' whole world 
 before us, where to choose our place of rest, and 
 Providence our guide ! ' . . . It was thirty years 
 on Seventh-day since we first set foot on American 
 shores. How many changes these thirty years have 
 produced. Fraught with joys and sorrows, rich with 
 blessings, chequered with griefs ! . . C. and I think 
 that we cannot be separated again as long as we live." . 
 
 Invitations came to them from various places, and 
 after much consideration. Union Springs, in the State 
 of New York, was decided upon as their future home, 
 and they removed there towards the end of the year. 
 Some of their kind friends had selected the house, and 
 generously helped them in its purchase.
 
 460 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1884. 
 
 Under date 9th mo.l4tli, 1884, E. L. C. writes from 
 Belle-ville :— "I have spent several hours with our dear 
 friend, J. B. Braithwaite. I have seen Thomas Harvey, 
 also, and spent an hour with him. I have not met the 
 other two English Friends.* Poor J. B. B. has had a 
 sad accident, and is still suffering much, though it is 
 two weeks since the injuries were received. You will 
 have heard how he was thrown out of a buggy and 
 stunned, his head and face bruised, and his right arm 
 broken, a compound fracture. . . . Hearing that 
 he was so hurt, and laid by at Picton, so far from home, 
 suffering, and a stranger in a strange place, I requested 
 a friend of ours, wdio was acquainted with his doctor, 
 to deliver a message for me, and to tell him that I 
 would come and see him if he was likely to remain 
 there a few days longer, and a visit would be accept- 
 able. A very warm message of invitation was the 
 result, from J. B. B., and also from his son-in-law, from 
 Baltimore, who had arrived in consequence of a tele- 
 gram, telling him of the accident. I was escorted to 
 the house where they were staying. He seemed much 
 moved on seeing me. Dr. Thomas gave me a hearty 
 welcome, and said : ' Here is a friend that I am sure 
 will do thee good, father ; I will leave thee with her 
 while I go and see Thomas Harvey.' So I sat down 
 by him, and we had a very pleasant time, talking over 
 the state of the various meetings of Friends the world 
 over, especially this side the Atlantic, of many Friends 
 
 -J. B. Braithwaite, Thomas Harvey, Tliomas Pumpbrey, and 
 Wm. Robinson were at tbis time visiting Friends in Canada, as a 
 deputation from London Yearly Meeting.
 
 1884.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 461 
 
 well known to ns both, of his visit to the East, of the 
 sad affliction he had had in the untimely death of his 
 dear friend and travelling companion, Charles Reade, 
 who had been dashed to pieces by precipitation from an 
 Alpine crag, of my dear husband's accident (so like 
 his own) and his severe suffering and death, etc. 
 We had a sweet season of prayer together, and both of 
 us felt refreshed and comforted by the two hours that 
 we thus spent. When Dr. T. returned, he said, ' Why 
 father, thou looks like another man, I was sure that a visit 
 from Elizabeth Comstock would put new vigour into 
 thee.' Before parting, J. B. B. got me to promise to 
 call again to-morrow morning at half past nine, and 
 stay until the boat was to go at noon. I went accord- 
 ingly ; we had a most delightful Bible reading together. 
 The twenty-third Psalm ; he with his Hebrew Bible, 
 I with my English. He made it very interesting, as 
 he took the word shepherd, and traced it through 
 many parts of the sacred volume. He related a most 
 interesting anecdote about his cousin, the Bishop of 
 Lincoln and the Archbishop, and their disiDute with 
 the Methodists, on their appropriation of the word 
 Reverend, applied to their ministers. He read some 
 letters to me from leading members of our Society, 
 commenting on the present changes sweeping over our 
 body. . . . Our pleasant chat was interrupted by 
 the call of some Friends : as I was leaving, J. B. B. 
 asked if I could not come again and see him. He said, 
 ' I can't part with thee yet.' I told him the boat would 
 go in an hour, and I must return to Belleville in it. 
 He then requested me to come back next Fifth-day,
 
 462 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1884. 
 
 and said my visit had cheered him, and done him so 
 much good. I told him I would trj' to come again on 
 the day he named."
 
 1885.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 463 
 
 Chapter XXIII. 
 REMOVAL TO UNION SPRINGS. 
 
 1885-1890. 
 
 EL. C. wrote from Union Springs, 12-2-85, " If 
 • we could have a visit from thee, my dearest C, 
 when dear L. comes, the pleasure would be doubled, 
 and if S. could come too, it would be trebled. One 
 dear one is gone, who had greatly desired to see you, 
 and to ' welcome you,' as he used to say, ' to our large 
 and magnificent country.' What a joy it would have 
 been to him to see and entertain you. Now, alas ! 
 that can never be ! Perhaps from a higher sphere he 
 may already have taken a bird's-eye view of his 
 
 English relatives We are located in a very 
 
 pleasant spot. The lake, the little, bubbling, dashing, 
 splashing streams, hurrying down to the lake, are 
 beautiful in the season, and harmonious in sound. The 
 hills are more attractive to me than the level prairie 
 lands of Michigan. While I write, the merry sleigh 
 bells are ringing and the sun shining brightly in an 
 almost cloudless sky. The weather has been very cold 
 of late ; for a few days, thermometer 15° below zero, 
 but most of the time, ranging from 10° to 20° above, 
 and they tell me this is an unusually cold winter. 
 There is deep snow on the ground, to the delight of
 
 464 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1885. 
 
 the boys and girle. ... So thou art reading 
 ' Paradise Lost ' again. F.'s experience in that volume 
 seems something like his uncle, John T. C.'s. He told 
 me that he read Milton when he was a boy, until he 
 found his sympathy all going out towards Satan. 
 Then he closed the book, and had ever since considered 
 it a pernicious volume." 
 
 "56-5-55. Two loving and very acceptable letters 
 from thee await a reply from me. Do not measure my 
 love by my letters. My time is very limited for 
 indulgence in this luxury of correspondence, even 
 with my dearest relatives and friends." 
 
 " 80-8. A call from a Friend interrupted me in 
 writing, and I have had again to delay my letter. Thou 
 has no idea what a busy life I lead. . . . Friends 
 seem determined to get me into religious work again. 
 Gospel Temperance work, funerals. Monthly and Quar- 
 terly Meetings, Bible readings, Sabbath School work, 
 etc., etc. I enjoy it, but do not know how to spare the 
 time from home duties ; my correspondents are all 
 neglected, and a high pile of unanswered letters in my 
 desk appals me. . . . We have been to our Quar- 
 terly Meeting, at Skaneateles, C, C. L., M. and I. We 
 left home at 9 a.m., walked a mile and a quarter 
 to railway station, took the cars for six miles, 
 and after several changes, were kindly met by P. S., 
 with her carriage. She took us to her elegant home, a 
 beautiful mansion, overlooking the Skaneateles Lake, 
 more lovely the view than from our house to Cayuga 
 Lake, because the land rises higher, and on each side 
 hills and waterfalls abound more. We admire this
 
 1885.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 465 
 
 country much more than the level plains of Michigan, 
 but my dear husband would say it was ' not half so 
 valuable.' He used laughingly to remark that if I had 
 had the selecting of his farm it would have been no more 
 use for agricultural purposes than so many acres of 
 blue sky, because of my great admiration for the moun- 
 tains, rocks, cascades and woods. . . . I was telling 
 thee about the Quarterly Meeting when I left off. The 
 Friends I like very much ; their cordial welcome to us 
 all, not only to the meeting, but to their pleasant homes, 
 was gratifying. . . . C. and I. expect to go to our 
 Yearly Meeting. It is to be held at Glens Falls, near 
 Saratoga, this year. It is much more accessible to us 
 than RoUin was to Ohio Yearly Meeting. ... I 
 am reading dear H. S. Allen's Life with exceeding 
 interest. I enclose H. W. S.'s tract on the ' Chariots 
 of God.' I like it very much, and hope thou and S. 
 and L. will like it." 
 
 " 80-10-85. Thank thee for thy loving birthday 
 greeting ; dear L.'s society helps to make this, as thou 
 says, 'a red-letter day.' We had a very precious season 
 at our evening reading. The dear Lord seemed very 
 near us. C.'s outpouring of grateful thanksgiving for 
 her mother, and allusion to what I had been to her, 
 and pleading for her little flock that they might follow 
 on, etc., etc., were very touching to me. Little F. 
 followed with a chapter of Lamentations, weeping 
 with the tears rolling down his soft, fat little cheeks, 
 because ' grandma is so old, I'm afraid she is going to 
 die.' His mother's kisses and soothing words comforted 
 him as she put him to bed." 
 
 31
 
 466 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1885. 
 
 ^^3-11-85. This is the anniversary of our dear 
 mother's entrance into life. Fort3'-one years she has 
 enjoyed a citizenship in a country, the inhabitants 
 whereof never say 'I am sick.' What a blessed release 
 from all encumbering care, and laborious toil, and 
 from all the infirmities that advancing years would 
 have brought to her. The meeting with her dear 
 brother, Daniel Kekwick, when his time came to 
 follow her, would be a happy one. She felt the 
 separation so keenly, when he and his family left for 
 Australia." 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 Neiv York, 26-12-85. 
 
 " Yesterday was an anniversary that often brings 
 before my mind our dear father and brother William. 
 (They both died on Christmas Day.) Not so much in 
 sorrow and sadness, as in the anticipation of a reunion, 
 not far distant. This Meeting has just sustained a 
 great loss, in the removal yesterday of one of the pillars 
 of the Church, Benjamin Tatham, who died of pneu- 
 monia, in his seventy-first year. There are so very few 
 of the old-fashioned, weighty, solid, substantial Friends 
 remaining in this city, that his removal will be greatly 
 felt. 
 
 " The Friends here have been extremely kind to 
 me, in helping me in my work in the prisons, hospitals, 
 asylums, &c. In a charity hospital near here is a poor 
 man very ill. He says he is a Quaker, and upon 
 enquiry whether he belonged to London Yearly Meet- 
 ing, he replied, '0 no ! indeed ! I am a member of 
 William White's meeting at Birmingham.' He is very
 
 1885.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 467 
 
 loyal to W. W., and says it would make him so happy 
 if he conld only see him once more before he died. He 
 seems to be a trusting Christian, and ready to depart in 
 peace, though in some anxiety about his wife and 
 family. I hope to get to see them in a few days, and 
 to bring them a little under the notice of Friends in 
 this city, who do not seem to know anything about 
 them. 
 
 " I was interested in that scrap of J. H.'s letter, and 
 in all thou tells me of M. and N. I do not at all unite 
 in J. H.'s construction of that beautiful text ' Eye hath 
 not seen, nor ear heard.' He has not only omitted half, 
 but in doing so perverted its meaning, see I Cor., 2, 9. 
 Request him to read the context, and he will find that 
 the whole chapter has no reference to the 7iext ivorld, 
 but to the Apostle's preaching here, that the wisdom of 
 the natural man, does not enable us to understand it, 
 neither can the natural eye see, nor ear hear, &c., &c., 
 but God revealeth them unto us by His Spirit, here^ to 
 enable us to understand and appreciate said preaching. 
 Tell J. H. that I take a great deal of comfort in reading 
 about Heaven in my Bible, and feel very sorry for 
 those who think ' we know nothing about it.' I have 
 found more than 200 passages about it, and expect yet 
 to find many more. 
 
 " I came here the last day of last month, and 
 expect to start for home the first Second day in the Ncav 
 Year, so shall, all being well, hope to see my dear home 
 and loved ones on Third day, the .5th prox. I receive 
 very good accounts of them all. I hear two or three 
 times a week from C, and as many from our dear
 
 468 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1886. 
 
 friends J. J. and M. H. Thomas, who kindly watch 
 over them in my absence." 
 
 Union Springs, 22-2-86. 
 " I have been much interested in reading the 
 account of a recent Quarterly Meeting, especially in one 
 question which arose for discussion, A dear Friend's 
 testimony was read, and mentioned that he could not 
 recall any particular time when he experienced con- 
 version, &c. Some Friends wished this passage ' stricken 
 out,' in which opinion others did not unite. I li02)e it 
 was not stricken out. In some of our Western meetings 
 there is a fulsomeness, I may almost say a flippancy of 
 expression, in telling the day, hour, and place of 
 conversion, of regeneration, of consecration, of sancti- 
 fication, and of receiving the baptism of the Holy 
 Spirit. To me it seems awful when such experiences 
 are lightly told, as it usually is by those whose daily 
 Avalk by no means confirms their words. I feel more 
 disposed to make the simple acknowledgment, 'Whereas 
 I was blind, now I see,' and gratefully to declare, ' I 
 know who it is that hath opened my eyes.' Our dear 
 parents, and other valued Friends of their generation, 
 would have gone no farther than this, and would have 
 been exceedingly shocked to hear others make these 
 high professions. What is your judgment in these 
 
 matters ?....! unite most fully in 's remarks 
 
 about the Man of Sorrows, that He bore our sorrows 
 that we might enjoy a peace and a joyful, victorious 
 faith. 'That your joy may be full,' 'a joy unspeakable 
 and full of glory.' ' Rejoicing in tribulation.' ' Count 
 it joy that ye fall into divers temptations.' (trials ?) 'All
 
 1886.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 4G9 
 
 ■we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned 
 every one to his own way,' but we may well be 
 glad and rejoice when we can say, 'We were all 
 as sheep going astray, but now are we returned 
 to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.' I suppose 
 the committee on American correspondence is now 
 in session. I hope some women Friends are on 
 that committee. We await with much interest the 
 decision of that committee. My own private desire is 
 that our dear Friends in England may see it right to 
 address 'An Epistle to all calling themselves Friends 
 or Quakers.' This would embrace in fraternal. Christian 
 love and sympathy those we call Hicksites, Wilburites, 
 and Orthodox Friends. The Hicksites in New York 
 and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings and in Baltimore 
 are more numerous, and what outsiders call more 
 respectable and influential, in other words more wealthy 
 than our branch. I have attended many of their 
 meetings, and am personally and very pleasantly 
 acquainted with some of their leading members. I think 
 that fully half of them are as orthodox as we are. They 
 allow great liberty of conscience, and do not require 
 their ministers to sign any creed. As a body, in 
 appearance, costume, manners, and way of holding 
 their meetings, they very closely resemble us, only 
 plainer in dress, address, and the furniture of their 
 houses. We look into their libraries, and see all of 
 our standard works. They bear as faithful a testimony 
 as we do, to the spirituality of the New Dispensation, 
 the freedom of the Gospel ministry, against slavery, 
 war, oaths, conformity to the world, the sacraments,
 
 470 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1886. 
 
 ordinances, and ceremonies, etc., etc. On the doctrine 
 of the Atonement they have some diversity. Many 
 of them hold it as we do, and trust their soul's salva- 
 tion to our dear Saviour. Some of them are Unitarian. 
 I have heard many of them express a wish that London 
 Friends would send them a Yearly Epistle, and in two of 
 their meetings they have read a stray Yearly Meeting's 
 Epistle from London that had fallen into their hands. 
 Many of their members are very desirous for a reunion 
 of the two branches of the Society of Friends. The 
 Wilburites are not unitarian, but are more rigid and 
 less approachable. They consider that we are depart- 
 ing from our ancient testimonies and practices. We 
 have given them some reason for such opinions. I 
 wish they had remained with us. They have an excess 
 of some elements we greatly need. Had they not left 
 us, we might have carried more ballast and less sail, 
 and have been less likely to blow over. An Epistle 
 from London Friends would, I believe, produce a soften- 
 ing, tendering influence, and bring them and us nearer 
 together. ... I have attended everj' Yearly Meet- 
 ing on this continent twice, and many of them seven 
 or eight times, some of them twelve or fourteen times. 
 It is near midnight, and I must conclude." 
 
 " 19-6-86. I am growing old ! It is not so easy to 
 me to write letters as it was once. . . . My recent 
 illness has completely broken me down. My energy 
 and strength seem all gone. For eight weeks 1 have 
 not been to meeting, and feel like a very different per- 
 son from what I was nine weeks ago. I understand 
 experimentally the meaning of the words : 'The grass-
 
 1886.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 471 
 
 hopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail, and 
 fears be in the way.' " 
 
 She gradually rallied, and partially regained her 
 strength, and in the autumn was again liberated by 
 her Friends for religious and philanthropic service. 
 
 Under date 3-10-86., E.L.C. writes from Union 
 Springs, " I have just obtained a minute from my 
 Monthly and Quarterly Meetings for attending the 
 ensuing Yearly Meeting at Baltimore, and some of its 
 subordinate meetings, and for visiting prisons, 
 hospitals, poor-houses, and benevolent and reformatory 
 institutions in Maryland and Philadelphia, and some 
 other service going or returning. I asked for the 
 minute with some diffidence, not feeling so strong or 
 able to work as a few years ago, but the cordial 
 response of both Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, the 
 earnest prayers offered for me, and loving greetings 
 with which they bid me ' God-speed,' have renewed 
 my courage and confirmed my faith." 
 
 One of her sisters having remonstrated on her 
 leaving home and travelling as winter approached, she 
 replied, 27-10-86, " I think thou need not be uneasy 
 about my health, in going out in Eleventh month. It 
 is a very pleasant month in Maryland and "Virginia. 
 I am going to a warmer, not a colder climate. It will 
 be very pleasant to meet Mary Ann Marriage Allen 
 in Baltimore, and perhaps visit some of the poor 
 coloured people with her. I am very glad she is 
 coming to this country to work for and help them. 
 I shall take the very first opportunity of giving her as 
 warm a welcome as she gave thee and me to the ' Irish
 
 472 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1886. 
 
 Cabin.'* I fear she will not be able to do those poor 
 creatures so much good, as if she went to Kansas. The 
 prejudice against them is so strong among the whites 
 in Maryland and Virginia, more so than in Kansas. 
 
 " I remember our visit to Guisborough well, and 
 also going with thy dear S. to D. B.'s. I am glad that 
 he remembers my sermon better than he does me and 
 my visit to his house to dine. C.'s remark, as we read 
 thy interesting letter together, was 
 
 " ' Though they may forget the singer, 
 They will not forget the song.' 
 
 " Thou wilt recognise this quotation from Abraham 
 Lincoln's favourite hymn, ' Your Mission.' C. and I 
 have been much interested lately in reading together 
 a book entitled ' Letters from Hell.' It was lent to me 
 while staying at the ' Cayuga Lake Hotel.' Two ladies 
 who had read it through with great interest said they 
 wished every fast young man in Auburn (where they 
 resided) could read it. They thought it would do them 
 a great deal of good. Two other ladies, who had just 
 glanced at it and read a passage here and there, 
 pronounced it a dreadful volume that ought to be 
 suppressed. One elderly gent, a Presbyterian minister, 
 read a few pages of the volume I had, and returning it 
 to me, remarked, ' Do you know, I think the awful 
 consequences of sin are not sufficiently dwelt upon by 
 modern preachers ; the very first thing I shall do when 
 I return to my home in Philadelphia will be to purchase 
 that book.' If thou hast the opportunity, do read it, 
 
 ~' In ushering us into her beautiful mansion, near Dublin, in 
 May, 1874, M.A.A. had playfully called it " Our Irish Cabin."
 
 1886.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 473 
 
 and let me have thy criticisms upon it. I think thy F. 
 would rather enjoy reading it, though he would not 
 unite with the whole of it, neither do I. But there are 
 some passages in it I greatly admire, and, taken as a 
 whole, it does rather meet my ideas of that future 
 condition of the lost, especially where the dim hope is 
 held out of a future escape therefrom, and that the 
 sufferers may be purified through suffering. Two or 
 three pages near the end of the volume about the 
 Apostle Peter I like much. The preface is written by 
 George Macdonald. I expect to start on my journey 
 on the 3rd prox., the anniversary of our dear mother's 
 removal to a brighter and better world." 
 
 Again in Nov. 1886, E. L. C. wrote from Win- 
 chester, Virginia : " I am passing over the very same 
 ground that I visited during the war, twenty-three or 
 twenty-four years ago. Not quite the same scenes meet 
 my eye, though. No signs of the desolations of the 
 sword. Very few tokens of the presence of the cannon 
 ball, or the exploding shell. Northern and Southern 
 soldiers and their children living peaceably side by 
 side. All vestiges of the former hatred and revenge 
 gone." 
 
 " 6-12-86, Darlington, Maryland. The name of 
 this village brings thee and dear S. continually to 
 mind. It was settled more than a century ago by 
 ' Friends from the old country,' it is supposed, who 
 started a Friends' Meeting here, but the Friends I am 
 with cannot give me further information. The town 
 is small, old-fashioned, and straggling. The meeting- 
 house a mile from the town, and called ' Deer Creek,'
 
 474 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1886. 
 
 after the small river near by. We are holding a series 
 of meetings here, two or three every day. I am stay- 
 ing with very kind Friends at a farmhouse, who do all 
 they can for my comfort. We go to meeting in sleighs." 
 
 E. L. C. to L. K. 
 
 Darlington, Harvard Co., Maryland, 9-12-1886. 
 
 " Let me have a card as soon as possible after thou 
 
 reaches Philadelphia to tell me of thy safe arrival. It 
 
 was with much concern that I read thy postal at ten p.m. 
 
 yesterday, and found by it that thou wast then probably 
 
 on thy long and wearisome journey. I have thought 
 
 of thee in the night as travelling alone, feeling thyself 
 
 solitary, a stranger in a strange land, and possibly 
 
 snow-bound somewhere. I have been thinking how 
 
 different it was with me wdien in England, and what 
 
 tender care thou and dear C. took of me, accompanying 
 
 me on all my journeys and visits, and nearly all my 
 
 walks, and the contrast brings self-reproach, and 
 
 " ' A feeling of sadness comes o'er me, 
 That my soul cannot resist.' 
 
 " Fifth-daij, ten a.m. Joseph Edge has been look- 
 ing over the daily papers, and we are glad to find no 
 very recent snowstorms in the part thou hast had to 
 travel through, so we hope thou hast not been snow- 
 bound anywhere, and that thou art now drawing near 
 to Philadelphia. This is a lovely, bright, beautiful 
 morning, so that if not too weary, thou mayst be able 
 to enjoy the scenery on the Hudson River to New 
 York, and then to Philadelphia. I hope thou wilt 
 have no trouble with baggage, or changing cars. I long
 
 1887.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 475 
 
 to hear of thy safe arrival, and hope thou wilt take no 
 cold. It is near meeting time— three meetings to-day. 
 We commenced a series of meetings here last Seventh- 
 day. Dr. Jas. C. Thomas and wife were here for 
 two or three days, they are gone now, and Mary 
 Snowden Thomas has come. Dr. Richard T. and wife 
 (Anna Braithwaite) are expected on Seventh-day. The 
 ground is covered with snow, which will not be long 
 probably, as the sun is shining brightly. We have had 
 three or four days of unusually severe weather for this 
 climate. The thermometer has been down to 14'^ in 
 the night, but the worst seems past, for the nights and 
 the days are lovely. My health is good. I expect to 
 remain here until the 18th inst., then return to 
 Baltimore to the Quarterly Meeting in that city, and 
 do a little more in mission, poor-house and prison 
 visiting, before going to Richmond, Virginia. H. M. 
 has returned home ; she could not stay away longer. 
 She told me that if I would liberate her, she would go 
 home and see after my family as well as her own. 
 She will take little F. and nurse him up, and get his 
 cough cured. She lives in a large farmhouse, warm 
 and comfortable, and her 'little granddaughter, seven 
 years old, will be delighted to have a play-fellow.' 
 She is very kind. She said she felt that I was 
 ' engaged in a blessed work that very few could do,' 
 and that others could help take care of my family, 
 who could not do what I am doing." 
 
 E. L. C. writes from Jerusalem, Southampton 
 County, Virginia, 16-2-1887, "Thanks for thy wee 
 letter of 30th ult., with enclosure from M. A. W. Her
 
 476 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1887. 
 
 SOU was much comforted with information of the 
 arrangement for his removal, but died before the 
 Aveather would permit the change to be made. I went 
 through Jericho, to go to meeting to-day ; to-morrow 
 expect to go to CorintJi, so thou sees I am moving 
 about. My health is good, weather is lovely most of 
 the time. Friends very kind. Meetings large 
 generally. Write often." 
 
 E. L. C. to L. R. 
 
 Baltimore, 4-3-1887. 
 
 " I arrived here safely last evening somewhat 
 weary, but in good health. In Washington I had a 
 meeting with the few Friends there on Third-day even- 
 ing, three meetings on Fourth-day, and two on Fifth-day. 
 Six meetings in forty-eight hours. I do not often attempt 
 so much, but the arrangements were made for me before 
 my arrival, and I felt best satisfied to accept the situation, 
 and do the best I could, having faith to believe that 
 strength equal to my day would be vouchsafed. It was 
 BO, and these meetings seemed to be entirely satisfactory 
 to the Christian ladies, earnest workers there, who had 
 made the arrangements, and relieving to my own mind. 
 
 " In the cars, I sat beside a pleasant lady just from 
 Florida, returning to her Northern home. She amused 
 me with her conversation about the large cities, and 
 their distinctive characteristics. She said in Philadel- 
 phia the question is, ' Who was your grandmother ? ' 
 Pride of pedigree ! In New York, ' What are you 
 worth ? ' Purse proud ! In Boston, ' How much do 
 you know ? ' An aristocracy of intellect. The best, 
 perhaps. She did not seem to know about London,
 
 1887.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 477 
 
 and I could not tell her. Perhaps we may say the 
 query to a stranger would be, 'Where are your 
 credentials ? ' 'What about Washington ?' I queried. 
 ' Do you dance ? ' was the answer. M. S. T. says in 
 Baltimore the query is, respecting a stranger, ' Is she 
 pretty ? ' The lady who travelled with me, thinks the 
 best society in the world, is to be found in Washington, 
 during the season, when there is a galaxy of the bright 
 stars of Philadelphia, New York, Boston, &c., congre- 
 gated in this, the most beautiful city she had ever seen. 
 She praised up the beautiful buildings, the whiteness 
 of the marble, &c., &c. Alas ! I hope it may not prove 
 a whited sepulchre ! But I fear there is a vast amount 
 of corruption and sin in it. A ' White Star ' League is 
 started, and seems to be the commencement of a good 
 work that is greatly needed. 
 
 In Washington and in Virginia we see a great 
 many coloured people. In some places they seem 
 more numerous than the white. Mary S. Thomas tells 
 of a coloured woman who named her baby ' Virgin 
 Mary.' Upon enquiry why she selected that name, 
 she said she had seen a beautiful picture of a lady that 
 name. She w^as advised to change the name to Vir- 
 ginia Mary, and did so ! 
 
 " I see some very amusing scenes, and some very sad 
 ones. The southern prisons seem to be crowded with 
 coloured people, most of them sent there for a term of 
 years for petty larceny — while white convicts for great 
 offences are placed over them with the lash as over- 
 seers, while they work in the chain-gang. ... I 
 expect to leave this city on Third-day next, with C. E.
 
 47(S LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1888. 
 
 Talbot, for German Towd. ... I do not know 
 how much work is hxid out for us, or how many days 
 we may be there. The weather has just set in very 
 cold, the ground is covered with snow four or five 
 inches deep, and still storming at noon. I have not 
 seen any snow previously for many weeks. I hope the 
 weather may not be very cold when I reach Phila- 
 delphia, or it may affect my chest and bronchial tubes." 
 
 E.L.C. to C.H. 
 
 Clintondale, near Poughkeepsie^ N.Y,, 16-6-1888. 
 
 " Thy welcome and very interesting letter received 
 a few days since, written from London, was forwarded 
 to us by our Union Springs postmaster. Dear L.'s 
 postal two days later. We have been, the last two 
 weeks, in the most charming scenery. The Hudson 
 river, which for 200 miles northward from New York 
 is in many parts two miles wide, and navigable all the 
 way, is a clear, sparkling stream, bearing on its waters 
 a continued flow of steamers, tugs, barges, rafts, sail- 
 boats, row-boats, &c., &c. It looks sometimes as though 
 a whole city must be moving up and down. Two large 
 steamboats lashed together, drawing a number of barges 
 or rafts, three abreast, nearly a quarter of a mile in 
 length. It is an imposing sight ! From our seat on 
 the balcony at the house of our kind hostess we look 
 down on this magnificent river. At the same time, we 
 hear the shrill whistle, and see, this side of the river, 
 in apparently close and dangerous proximity to it, a 
 passenger train moving towards the Imperial City, and, 
 at the very same time, on the opposite side of the 
 river's bank, a long, heavy freight train, drawn by two
 
 1888.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 479 
 
 immense engines, so long that we cannot see either end 
 of it for a few minutes. The lofty mountains in the 
 distance add to the beauty of the scenery. We are 
 seated 300 or 400 feet above the river, so near that it 
 almost seems to iis we could throw a stone into it. How 
 our dear brother would enjoy this landscape if he could 
 sit here beside us. Perhaps he is near, perhaps he can 
 enjoy it with us, though unseen by vis. I love to think 
 him sometimes near us. 
 
 " These long, freight trains are laden with grain, 
 lumber, cattle, sheep, butter, cheese, eggs, flour, Indian 
 corn, potatoes, &c., &c., from our vast Western prairies, 
 towards New York, for use in our eastern cities, or for 
 exportation. Several freight trains pass in the course 
 of the twenty-four hours. More on First-day than any 
 other, because the track is more clear of passenger 
 trains on that day. These long freight trains on their 
 return trip are often laden with emigrants going West, 
 with their large families and household goods. . . 
 I was greatly interested in thy account of your Yearly 
 Meeting, and especially about the animated discussion 
 on the ' Richmond Declaration.' My dear C, I see a 
 great difference between jjersons issuing a declaration 
 of their own faith, and their undertaking, under pain 
 of excommunication, to compel or urge, everyone else 
 to subscribe to it. We, of New York Yearly Meeting, 
 have accepted and praised it, and extolled it, but do 
 not adopt it. Dost see the difference between 
 accepting and adopting ? I do. I do not think many 
 Friends unite in the whole of that document. Yet 
 they think as a whole, it is a pretty good presentation
 
 480 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1888. 
 
 of the doctrines held by the Society at large. I fully 
 
 unite in dear 's view that it may be needed in 
 
 some of our Western Yearly Meetings, where they are 
 receiving new members wholesale, without their 
 knowing much about our distinguishing views, but 
 London, New York, and Philadelphia do not need it. 
 Still, I was willing we should ' accept ' it, hoping it 
 might be a substitute for the proposed ' creed,' and I 
 think it will !".... 
 
 Soon after her return home, E. L. C. wrote from 
 "Union Springs : " We have read with exceeding interest 
 in 'The Friend ' about Walter McLaren, John Bright's 
 nephew, and his able speech on the Indian question 
 and C. D. A. May he fill his uncle's place, when he has 
 passed away ! I am glad he has joined Friends. I 
 was very glad the ladies cheered him. We are just 
 now very much interested about Ramabai and India. 
 We are busily doing fancy work for a fair for her. I 
 am knitting tiny hoods and shoes, and making a small 
 bed-quilt of silk scraps, log-cabin pattern. C. and the 
 children will assist, also the girls from the school, in 
 making pincushions, needle-books, work-bags, holders, 
 etc., etc. The school-girls enjoy coming on Seventh- 
 day at 2 p.m., and stay till 9 o'clock. Twelve girls and 
 six or eight boys at a time. In ' The Friend ' that 
 to-day's mail brought us we have been reading about 
 the cruelty practised on the seals, ' skinning them alive, 
 notwithstanding their cries and tears ; they cry like 
 children.' ! how can they be so cruel ? It eeems to 
 me that I shall never want to wear anything made of 
 sealskin, and I will lift up my voice against this
 
 1888.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 481 
 
 iniquity, as I do against ladies adorning themselves 
 with the beautiful little birds, that are being rapidly 
 exterminated." 
 
 Writing to her sisters from the Park Hotel, 
 Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 14-12-1888, E. L. C. says, 
 " We stayed last night with my niece C. C, at Canan- 
 daigua. She and two other ladies are joint proprietors 
 of the Granger Place School in that aristocratic town. 
 . . . They have a beautiful old palatial dwelling, 
 the home of the Granger family, with delightful 
 surroundings of garden, grand old trees, &c., &c. We 
 stay here to-night, and to-morrow go on to Baltimore 
 (D.V.). We find already a decided difference in the 
 temperature, and my cold is better. We are now 200 
 miles south of Union Springs. . . . R. H. is bright 
 and well, and is now holding a series of meetings in 
 Boston. ... I have recently been reading (or C. 
 has read to me) ' John Ward, Preacher,' with great 
 interest, yet there is one fault we tind in the book. 
 The authoress represents the only character possessing 
 real religion to be the Presbyterian, with his high 
 Calvinistic doctrine, and views of eternal punishment. 
 C. has felt so much on this point, that she has written 
 to Margaret Deland, and requested her to write a sequel 
 exhibiting vital Christianity and high principle in 
 some of the other characters. Episcopal Ministers, and 
 the Widow. She has received a very nice answer from 
 the authoress, who is ' writing another book, which 
 she thinks will be more satisfactory on these points,' 
 or words to that effect. We have for our travelling 
 companion ' Robert Elsmere.' I read in a paper yester- 
 
 32
 
 482 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1889. 
 
 day, that Dr. T. of Chicago says that 100,000 ministers 
 of the Gospel have come out strongly condemning 
 Mrs. Ward, and sharply criticising her book. Of 
 course I resolved at once to read it. If 100,000 
 ministers attack one woman, a countrywoman of mine, 
 
 I am on the defensive at once. told me the other 
 
 day that he and his wife began to read it with great 
 interest, but had laid it aside half read, because of its 
 strong Unitarianism. Another lady, a Congregationalist, 
 praised it highly, and sat up all night reading it. 
 . . . We are in some concern about our State 
 Prisons, 1,600 convicts in New York State are kept in 
 idleness, to satisfy the 'knights of labour,' who got an 
 act passed through our State Legislature, because the 
 labourers outside could not compete with the prison 
 labour. The proportion of population in prison and 
 out being one in 100. So ninety-nine 'knights of 
 labour ' torment one poor prisoner lest his labour 
 should reduce their wages one cent per annum. Our 
 politicians, wishing to get their votes, passed the law 
 to please them. I am going to see General Powderly 
 about it. The law is working very badly. Our con- 
 victs are going insane and rebellious, and great excite- 
 ment prevails. I am told that General Powderly is a 
 reasonable and humane man, and that a word from him 
 will go a great way with his followers. I want to set a 
 ball rolling that may increase until this cruel wrong 
 can be righted." 
 
 Sandy Spring, Maryland, 3-12 of 1st mo., 1889. 
 "My Dear Sisters, 
 
 " Dear L.'s postal of 22-12 came to hand as a New
 
 1889.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 48B 
 
 Year's greeting, and was very welcome. It was for- 
 warded from Baltimore. Our letters are carefully and 
 promptly forwarded to us. We have not seen Henry 
 Stanley Newman yet. 
 
 " StJi. We have had a meeting at Mount Zion. 
 
 " Gth. Just passed in sight of Mount Carmel, and 
 
 expect soon to visit Jericho, Jerusalem, Corinth, and 
 
 Smyrna Your welcome letters of 
 
 'Dec. 28' have just come to hand, with your kind, 
 
 loving wishes for the new year, which are heartily 
 
 reciprocated. Truly I can respond a hearty 'Amen !' 
 
 to dear L.'s desire, that ' our faith in the love and 
 
 goodness of God, may be strengthened as the end 
 
 draws near.' For myself, I can say, ' To one fixed 
 
 thought, my spirit clings, I know that God is good.' 
 
 ' To know His love, to do His will, I have no higher 
 
 aim!' . . . ." 
 
 Philadelphia, 1 7-3-89. 
 
 " My health seems quite broken down, and I fear 
 
 I can do no more for the poor prisoners. The last 
 
 three weeks I have been resting and doctoring; one 
 
 week at Elizabeth H. Farnum's, one week with Anna 
 
 Yarnall, and this week at Rebecca White's. Day after 
 
 to-morrow, if I am well enough, we go to J. C. T.'s at 
 
 Baltimore. There the little ones at Westtown are to join 
 
 us next week, and we propose to go with them to board 
 
 for three weeks with some nice Friends, G. and L. T., 
 
 of Glenelg, Howard Co., Maryland. They have a very 
 
 large, old-fashioned house, built by a planter in the 
 
 days of slavery, on a plantation of 800 or 900 acres, in 
 
 a beautiful part of the country. They take summer
 
 484 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1889. 
 
 boarders. Doctor says I must not ^o home until warm 
 weather comes. He orders me not to over exert myself, 
 not to walk fast, not to go up and down stairs much, 
 not to preach in prisons or large rooms, but to devote 
 myself to rest and restoration of health. Such a 
 do-nothing existence will be very trying." 
 
 Writing from Union Springs, 20-11-89, E. L. C. 
 mentions a letter that had gone astray, and tells us that 
 another Mrs. Comstock had come to reside in the 
 locality. "A few days after she came," E. L. C. con- 
 tinues, " a letter designed for her came to me. The 
 first words convinced me it was not mine, it commenced 
 with 'My dear wife,' and then followed the information 
 of ."BIOOO sent by the writer for her. I read no more, 
 but took it to the postmaster and explained. He 
 replied, ' It must be for you, I think, for there is no 
 other Mrs. Comstock residing in this village, etc' A 
 few days later, the other Mrs. C. applied at the post- 
 office, and received her letter. While in Kansas, I had 
 an amusing experience at a post office. The postmaster 
 was a sturdy democrat, who disapproved of Kansas 
 refugees and their helpers. One day when he was 
 cashing some P. 0. orders for me, he was barely civil. 
 After leaving the post-office, I found he had given me 
 ten dollars too much. He was cashing several hundred. 
 When I told him he had made a mistake, he impatiently 
 informed me, 'We never correct mistakes, unless you 
 speak of them before leaving the office.' ' Oh, very 
 well,' I replied quietly, ' it is no loss to us, it is only 
 that you have given me ten dollars too much, but I 
 can give it to the refugees, and they will be very thank-
 
 1890.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 485 
 
 f ul for it ! Good morning ! ' and I was leaving the 
 office. The change in the man's countenance was 
 indescribable, as he rushed after me, apologised for 
 his rudeness, and with an amount of bowing and 
 scraping that would have disgusted George Fox, he 
 tried to persuade me to re-enter the office. Of course 
 I was not implacable, but returned, handed him the 
 ten dollars, and we ' were good friends ever after.' " 
 
 Union Springs, New York, 26-8-'j0. 
 "My Dear Sisters, 
 
 " I have had a very refreshing month at Sheldrake, 
 Seneca Co., N. Y. There were more than one hundred 
 guests there. We gathered in the large parlours at 1) 
 a.m. and had a Bible reading and service, lasting about 
 half an hour. Most of the guests attended after the 
 first day or two, and seemed much interested in my 
 remarks, reading and prayer, I had expected to remain 
 there two weeks longer, but a letter from M., telling 
 me that they had altered their plans, and were coming 
 here two weeks earlier, led me to come home. It was 
 hard to break away. J. J. L. entreated me to remain 
 until the end of this month, the visitors added their 
 persuasions very urgently that I 'would not break up 
 these meetings that the Lord was owning and blessing 
 BO much.' I found it difficult to resist their loving 
 pleadings, but of course I felt that I must be at home 
 to welcome our dear nieces on this their first visit to 
 me at Union Springs. So I broke away. Such a 'send 
 off ' as they'gave me ! It was very embarrassing. Fifty 
 or sixty of them accompanied me to the steamer. The 
 amount of kissing and hugging from the ladies, and
 
 486 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1890. 
 
 the parting cheer of the gentlemen, and the earnest 
 parting salutations and benedictions, are beyond my 
 powers of description, also the waving of handker- 
 chiefs as long as the boat was in sight. While there I 
 used my knitting needles .diligently. I earned seven- 
 teen dollars for my Ramabai Mission, in knitting little 
 hoods, etc., such as dear Mary S. Rowntree taught me. 
 These were eagerly bought up as fast as I could make 
 them, and I have orders on hand for more to be sent. 
 While I sat knitting, the ladies would gather round 
 me, and I talked hour after hour to very attentive, 
 appreciative audiences of twelve, fourteen, or twenty. 
 I have tried to sow a little seed for good, and to interest 
 the pleasure-hunting throng in the various kinds of 
 philanthropic work for poor, suffering humanity. The 
 Missions, the jDrisoners, the afflicted and suffering in 
 the many hospitals and poor-houses in our land. Many 
 of the guests were from Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New 
 York and Baltimore. A very interesting circumstance 
 occurred that aroused their sympathy early on in my 
 visit there. A gentleman arrived who looked very 
 earnestly at me for a minute or two, turned aside and 
 whispered an enquiry to some one near him, then, 
 advancing toward me with an apology and a verj^ 
 cordial grasp of the hand, told me he had seen me 
 before, and heard me speak to the wounded soldiers in 
 a hospital at Nashville, Tenessee, twenty-seven years 
 ago. He made some very flattering remarks respecting 
 my address on that occasion. He told me what my 
 text had been, and asked me if I remembered Dr. 
 Harlowe. We had a very interesting talk then, and
 
 1890.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 487 
 
 many times since. We conversed about Charlie Harris, 
 the drummer-boy, of whom I think dear C. has some 
 record in the memoranda for my autobiography. 
 When I visited the military hospitals in Nashville, 
 Sarah Smith, formerly of Sheffield, was my companion. 
 While I had a meeting with the convalescents, she 
 went round to those who were too ill to leave their 
 beds. After my meetings in several wards, I 
 was about leaving the hospital, when S. S. 
 begged me to go and see a little drummer-boy, who 
 seemed to be dying ; he was still conscious, but unable 
 to speak distinctly. I went to him, he looked at me 
 very earnestly, and putting up his lips, tried to say 
 ' Kiss me, mother.' I kissed him, smoothed his hair, 
 wiped his brow, and gave him a clean linen pocket- 
 handkerchief. Then I went to speak to Dr. Harlowe 
 about him ; he was much interested in his case, but 
 feared he could not save him. He was in more danger 
 from home-sickness than from his wounds. This I 
 was told about many of the poor sufferers. ' If we 
 could find out his home address, and get his mother to 
 come to him, he might be saved,' said Dr. H. I went 
 back to the poor boy, and by patience and perseverance 
 succeeded in finding out that his name was Charlie 
 Harris, from Cleveland, Ohio. I wrote immediately to 
 his mother, telling her of his condition, etc. I left 
 Nashville the next day, and heard no more of the 
 young soldier, until two or three years later I was 
 travelling through from Indiana to low^a Yearly Meet- 
 ing, in company with my husband, Bevan Braithwaite, 
 and several other Friends. I noticed that J. B. B. and
 
 488 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1890. 
 
 a young man who sat beside him kept whispering 
 together and looking at me, and after awhile J. B. B. 
 came to me and said would I change seats with him, 
 that young man seemed to know me and wanted to 
 speak to me, that he believed I had saved his life when 
 he was badly wounded and lying in a Nashville 
 hospital. I changed seats, and soon found this 
 was 'Charlie, the Drummer Boy.' He told me that 
 as soon as his mother received my letter, she 
 went to him, and nursed him back to life when 
 he was nearly gone. He spoke most gratefully 
 of Dr. Harlowe's kindness and care. Dr. H. was very 
 glad to hear of him again. I wonder whether J.B.B. 
 ever saw him again, and can tell me anything more 
 about him. He seemed much interested in him, and, 
 understanding that he was studying for a lawyer and 
 expecting soon to go to Europe, J.B.B. kindly invited 
 him to call on him at Lincoln's Inn Fields, &c., &c. 
 The young soldier told me he thought he should go and 
 see him. While J.B.B. and I were talking together 
 about Charlie, my husband had met with another soldier, 
 who asked him my name, and said I had spoken to him 
 in a hospital, and given him a tract, 'The Fool's Pence.' 
 Excuse the tediousness of a tale twice told, if you have 
 heard all this before. I left Cayuga Lake House 
 reluctantly, there seemed so wide an opening fordoing 
 a little good. Well before I reached home, I received 
 a letter postponing our dear niece's visit for a week, 
 and now comes another postponing it still longer. They 
 are not here yet. I might have continued there ten or 
 twelve days longer, if I had known in time. . . But
 
 1890.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 489 
 
 I have nearly left off worrying about trifles like this, 
 that we cannot remedy, hoping that they may prove 
 among the ' All things that shall work together for 
 good ! ' I have received a letter from one of the 
 associated editors of the 'New York Tribune,' requesting 
 me to send him a sketch of my life work and my photo 
 
 for their paper. says, ' By all means send it, it 
 
 will add to my income. They give ten dollars a column 
 for such.' I do not like to blow my ow^n trumpet, and 
 
 publish thus my doings I think I have two 
 
 "welcome and loving letters from thee unanswered, and 
 here I have written this long, egotistical letter all about 
 myself, and can only add to each of my dear sisters, 
 * Go thou and do likewise ! ' 
 
 " I often think of William and Margaret Parker. 
 Give my dear love to them, and tell her how truly I 
 sympathize with her, in the loss of her dear brother, 
 in the loss of her sight, and in her physical sufiTering. 
 When I sit hour after hour, knitting, sewing, or 
 reading, and enjoying these so much, I often think of 
 her in her blindness, and pray that she may be 
 comforted in her afflictions. My dear daughter Amy 
 is almost blind, she can only just distinguish light 
 from darkness in a room. When she first lost her 
 sight she grieved excessively and w^ept continually ; 
 but now, after six years, she is very happy. She has 
 been brought nearer to her heavenly Father in this 
 affliction than ever before. She feels very sure that He 
 will not inflict one needless pain, and that whatever 
 he arranges for her must be for the best. She feels 
 assured that as a tender parent watches more lovingly,
 
 490 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1890. 
 
 if possible, over a blind child or a crippled one, so 
 does our loving Father tenderly care for his blind and 
 afflicted children. A. looks forward longingly to the 
 time, that she feels sure is approaching, full of joy to 
 her, when her ' eyes shall see the King in his beauty,' 
 and she will behold the land that she thinks now is 
 not far off. Talk to dear M.P. often about that land, 
 cheer her with frequent pictures of it, taken from the 
 Bible. I wish I were near her. I should so enjoy 
 sitting beside her, and talking with her of the prospects 
 before her, and the joys in store for her, also of the 
 present comfort for her in the love of Him, concerning 
 whom it was said, ' In all theirafflictions He was afflicted, 
 and the angel of His presence saved them ! ' " 
 
 Nuncio, Indiana, 16-10-90. 
 " We are now in a locality where for fuel they 
 liave neither coal nor wood, but natural gas ! They 
 bore down into the ground, 800 feet or more, as they 
 would for artesian wells, and up comes, not a fountain 
 of pure water, but a stream of gas. They have 
 machinery for corking it up and passing it through 
 pipes and tubes. J. and M. G., our kind hosts, tell us 
 they joined a Co-operative Co. One hundred and 
 twenty-five united and opened a well of their own, 
 three years ago. Sometimes they have seven fires 
 burning at one time, generally only four. They burn 
 as much of the gas as they like, and do not pay more 
 for seven fires than one. All they have yet had to pay 
 has been fifty dollars, and they do not expect to have 
 any more to pay for three or four years, unless the 
 supply fails."
 
 1890.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 491 
 
 Chapter XXIV. 
 
 VISIT TO FLORIDA— ILLNESS AND DEATH. 
 1890-1891. 
 
 TOWARDS the end of the year 1890, E. L. C.'s 
 health was so much impaired, that she was 
 strongly recommended to winter in Florida. Her 
 daughter accompanied her there. On their way they 
 stopped at Atalanta, Georgia, from which place she 
 
 wrote, 
 
 16-11-90. 
 
 " We are staying here a few days (en route for 
 Florida) attending the National Women's Christian 
 Temperance Union Annual Convention ; 1,400 or 1,500 
 gather three times a day in the largest M. E. church in 
 this city, a very handsome building. We have a 
 delightful home with a family of Israelites, wealthy, 
 hospitable people, absolutely charming ! Three sisters 
 have married three brothers, and they all reside near 
 together, in three houses so much alike that we can 
 scarcely tell them apart, near the Jewish Temple, a 
 solid, substantial, respectable edifice, better than any 
 I have seen in London." 
 
 '''■17-11. The whole Convention was invited to a 
 reception in the Governor's mansion this evening. 
 When he shook hands with me, I felt flattered by a
 
 492 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1890, 
 
 very warm grasp of his hand, and the remark that the 
 reason he had looked at me so often and. so steadily at 
 the Convention, was that I looked so like his mother. 
 We met a strange mixture of costume in the 1,000 
 ladies here gathered ; some from Canada, wrapped in 
 fur cloaks, complaining of the heat ; some from Florida, 
 Louisiana, and Alabama, with flowers and fruits, exotics, 
 and clothed in summer apparel. We are having a very 
 harmonious Convention. Dear C.'s letter has just 
 arrived. Thanks for the help for C. E. T. I am glad 
 that thy young friends are trying to collect a little 
 more for her. The loss of _ property through that 
 disastrous fire was .s2,000. The barn was very large, 
 nearly 100 tons of hay in it, beside much wheat and 
 other grain, and farming utensils. 
 
 " We expect to leave here for Archer, Florida, in 
 a few days. Address us there. If the climate suits 
 my health, and all seems favourable as represented to 
 us, we shall probably winter there. As soon as we 
 ai'rive there, we will write again, D.V. My health is 
 improving, though far below the vigour of former 
 years." 
 
 E.L.C. to L.R. and C.H. 
 
 Archer, Florida, S-12-90. 
 
 "While so far separated from all our relatives and 
 near friends, our hearts turn lovingly and longingly 
 toward you. We often think and talk of you, and 
 wonder whether we shall ever see your dear faces again 
 on earth. Probably I shall not, but how glad a meeting 
 and a greeting it will be on the other side of the river ! 
 What a pleasure it was for us to meet you in Liverpool,
 
 1890.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 493 
 
 York, Darlington, and to meet dear F. and L. at Union 
 Springs. There, it will be better still ! How many 
 things we shall have to ask each other, how many past 
 scenes to talk over 
 
 " We have lively talks here at table. One of onr 
 company is a very decided Seventh-day Adventist, 
 rigid, conscientious, and steadfast, a good Scripture 
 scholar, very intelligent, and an able reasoner. He tries 
 to convince us all that all our departed loved ones are 
 still sleeping in their graves, and will not awake or have 
 any sense of joy or sorrow until the final resurrection 
 and day of judgment ; that then all the dead from Adam 
 downward will arise bodily and be sentenced, and pass 
 to heaven or hell, according to the deeds done in the 
 body, &c. Strange belief ! It would be no comfort to 
 me to think that our dear parents, and brothers, and 
 sisters, are still sleeping in the grave, even though they 
 had for their bedfellows and companions Adam and 
 Eve, Abraham, Isaac, David, Job, Moses, Daniel, and 
 the prophets and apostles. To me the doctrine is very 
 clear from the Scripture, that those who love the Lord, 
 and trust and serve Him, go to Him when they leave 
 the body, and meet their loved ones who have gone 
 before ; that the simple fact of death makes no 
 difference in disposition and character, but simply the 
 laying aside a heavy, encumbering, diseased garment, 
 that has hindered our rising to our highest aspirations, 
 and obstructed our close communion with God. 
 
 " So there are times when I feel a longing to lay it 
 down, to leave the body, and soar aloft. Then comes 
 the thought, C. and the children need me a little longer.
 
 494 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1890. 
 
 I am not yet fit to associate with the redeemed in glory. 
 There is too much of the earth about me still. Patience 
 has not yet done her perfect work. There is much yet 
 to be done in preparing me for a blessed mansion, as 
 well as preparing C. and. the little ones to do without 
 me. Do you, my dear sisters, feel as I do ? As we 
 draw nearer to our journey's end, do you feel a longing 
 to go ? or a lingering desire to stay ? " 
 
 " 9-12-90. It is very warm and summer-like here. 
 The other day I selected the coolest place I could find, 
 when the thermometer was at 82""^. I was sitting out 
 of doors knitting, when a letter from Union Springs 
 came to hand, telling of deep snow and thermometer 
 4^ above zero, and cutting, piercing winds. I felt 
 thankful that I am in a warmer clime, but the happy 
 medium might be better still. On the whole, I like 
 Southern Virginia better than Florida for a winter resi- 
 dence. Everything here is beautiful to the eye, but 
 the table does not suit me at all. Milk is an unattain- 
 able luxury, except at rare intervals. Ten cents per 
 quart, and near a mile to go for it, and when we get it, 
 it will not keep twenty-four hours. Butter is very 
 poor, bread ditto." 
 
 '■'■11-12-90. Since writing the other sheet, the 
 weather has changed suddenly. In twenty-four hours 
 the thermometer sunk 40*^, from 82'^* to 42*^, and then 
 next night to 36° and 32^. 
 
 " To-day it is sunnj', warm, bright and pleasant 
 again. Our friends tell us they never have over two or 
 three days so cold during the whole winter as it has 
 t>een of late. Archer is located about 100 miles S.S.E.
 
 1890.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 495 
 
 from Jacksonville, perhaps twenty or thirty from 
 Cedar Keys, on the Gulf of Mexico. I will enclose a 
 small map of Georgia and Florida. Our attractions 
 here were first some agreeable Friends from Archer, 
 Avho attended Indiana Y. M. They gave a very pleasant 
 report of this locality, on sanitary grounds, for a winter 
 residence for invalids ; told of the Friends' meeting 
 needing help, and extended the Macedonian invitation, 
 * Come over and help us.' They told us of the utterly 
 degraded condition of the negroes here, and the wide 
 scope for Mission work among them. You will suppose 
 these were inducements to me. My health has 
 decidedly improved during the three weeks I have 
 spent in the Sunny South." 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 Archer, Alachna Co., Florida, 12-12-1890. 
 " Every time I take a walk almost, I think of thee, 
 and how we used to enjoy our walks together in 
 England. But alas, walking here is a very different 
 matter ! The first time we set out to walk, the woods 
 looked so attractive, the sky with its unclouded, 
 ethereal blue, the November sun looking very warm 
 and bright. We had not gone a hundred yards from 
 the house before we felt strange ^jr/cAs in our ankles, 
 legs, and feet. Another hundred yards, and we seemed 
 drawn into a complete network of thorns, thistles, and 
 brambles. Our skirts were puckered up, scalloped in a 
 most extraordinary fashion. After several hair-breadth 
 escapes from falling flat on the ground, I managed to 
 emerge from the gins and snares, and to retrace my 
 steps to the house. There, after forty minutes of
 
 4% LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1890. 
 
 laborious toil, in which our hostess aided me, I was 
 extricated from the sand-spurs, or 'vegetable porcu- 
 pines,' and was glad to find myself without broken 
 bones or sprains, and only some skin-deep lacerations, 
 scratches, and pricks that had drawn blood. My dress 
 was more injured than my physical frame. 'People 
 don't walk out here in silk, you had better wear cotton,' 
 said our hostess. So we have donned cotton, and have 
 learned to walk more circumspectly, and keep to the 
 deep sand instead of the grassy edges of the road . We 
 have repeatedly been comforted by remarks like this, 
 '0, they are nothing, those sand-spurs, you'll soon get 
 used to them, we don't mind them at all.' We are 
 getting used to them, or rather learning how to avoid 
 them. We can do this by wading through ankle-deep 
 sand part of the way, and half that depth the rest. . 
 
 . . I feel a longing and yearning at times for the 
 home and the children, yet as my health is so much 
 better, I must be resigned and thankful, though it will 
 be a long time before Ave can return to our cold 
 Northern climate. They write of snow a foot deep, 
 thermometer near zero, and chilly, blustering winds. 
 
 . The table does not quite suit my English taste. 
 Good butter is a rare luxury. Ditto milk and cream. 
 Fresh meat can be procured one day in the week only, 
 and in this climate it will not keep good over two or 
 three days. The well 120 feet deep, water too warm 
 to drink when drawn, has to be set out to cool a few 
 hours before drinking it. Fruit and vegetables are 
 abundant and cheap. Fine large oranges, one cent 
 each. Excellent sweet potatoes at a very low price.
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 497 
 
 Turnips, cabbages, beans, &c., ditto. I wish our dear 
 brother S. could come to this delightful climate. I am 
 sitting near an open window (December Tivelfth) in 
 our pleasant bedroom, writing. We have three 
 windows with lovely prospects ; we keep one of them 
 open all night. There is a large balcony opening 
 from them ; I delight to walk there, free from 
 sandspikes." .... 
 
 " 8-1-91. I am feeling a great longing to be home 
 again. Florida is a poor place to be ill in. Poor 
 doctors ! poor nurses ! poor butter ! poor milk ! poor 
 coffee ! Not a comfortable invalid chair ! Poor fires, 
 or plenty of smoke. My dear C, if thou continues my 
 biography, do not tell, as most such do, of my ' great 
 patience in bearing a lingering illness,' for alas ! my 
 patience by no means indicates that I may be a lineal 
 descendant of the Patriarch Job, unless, indeed, I took 
 after his wife, instead of himself! I wish I had more 
 patience and more charity. Have you r^ad that won- 
 derful little book about charity ? ' The greatest thing 
 in the world.' It is very good ! Dearest L., after read- 
 ing thy letter about William Booth's book, a great 
 desire to read it took hold of me, and seeing it adver- 
 tised for fifty cents, I ordered it, and am now reading 
 it with great interest ! ! Had I been ten years younger, 
 how I should have enjoyed helping on in his great 
 work ! I do wish to bid him Godspeed ! I do believe 
 he is inspired to do the work, and the money will be 
 raised, I have faith to believe, and the work will be 
 accomplished. . . . I had no trouble about ' unleav- 
 ened bread,' or anything else, with our Jewish friends, 
 
 33
 
 498 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1891. 
 
 at Atalanta. As we sat at breakfast table, I told mine 
 hostess, her husband being absent, that our usual prac- 
 tice was either in silence or with words to ask a bless- 
 ing, and she begged that I would feel as free as though 
 at home, etc. She told me that her husband had to 
 rise at G a.m. and go to his business place early. J. H. 
 and brothers and families are of the ' Liberal Jews.' 
 There are three kinds of Jews. ' Black Beauty ' is sell- 
 ing fast in this land. A very neat copy, good type, for 
 twenty-five cents. Another, cheaper, at ten cents per 
 copy." 
 
 A few days later E. L. C. wrote : — " I have longed 
 very much to see Dr. H. of late. I have just risen up 
 from a sick bed, where I have suffered much, partly 
 from the ignorance of Dr. B. C. Avas much alarmed at 
 mysymptoms, and sent for him. 'A good old man,' 'An 
 honest old man.' ' A pious and poor old man,' he was 
 pronounced by this family, who are shocked at me 
 that I do not appreciate him, and am not willing 
 to try him again, or to take any more of his medicine. 
 Why not ? On his first visit, he stood here preparing 
 a dose for me, and when I took it, it seemed to take the 
 skin off my tongue and throat, and Mimed me. I called 
 out for water. He said very coolly, ' Did you take it 
 raw ? You should have had water mixed with it.' 
 After he had gone, I gave C. and the others to under- 
 stand that I wanted no more of liini or his medicines, 
 &c. To my vexation, he came again the next day, and 
 mixed another dose. I was very unAvilling to take it, 
 but C. coaxed, and there stood the old man who had 
 prepared it, and, as soon as I had, with a great effort,
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 499 
 
 swallowed the half-teacupful he had prepared, he 
 looked alarmed as he said, ' Why, you ought only to 
 have taken a teaspoon!' ul for one dose ! ' He called for 
 an emetic to be administered immediately. 1 called 
 for water, and positively refused to have anything to do 
 with him, or his emetic, or his potions. I drank water 
 freely. I suffered for several days from sickness and 
 indigestion. I resorted to wet compresses, sitz-bath, 
 &c., as remedies. Ask Dr. H. was this right ? and what 
 shall I do in case of a return of the malady, what diet, 
 and what medicine ? " 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 Archer, Florida, 5-2-1891. 
 " Thy welcome letter, with Dr. H.'s enclosed, 
 arrived last evening. I am glad to tell thee that I am 
 well again. But I shall observe all of A.'s directions to 
 avoid a relapse, and take care of his prescription, and 
 use it when needful, should it become so. I have no 
 intention to consult with any more Archer medical 
 men, I have no confidence in them. If I should be 
 very ill, I would rather die in peace without their aid 
 and blunders. If not alarmingly ill, I will use Dr. H.'s 
 directions and prescriptions, and sensible counsels. 
 As long as reason and power of resistance are granted, 
 I will not see another Archer doctor ! ! A few days 
 ago, the weather was oppressively warm here, ther- 
 mometer 86° at noon, and we could not sleep at night 
 for the heat. We began to look longingly homeward, 
 and to think perhaps we had better move some degrees 
 northward, lest the Spring heat should weaken and 
 relax our physical frames, and unfit us for the Northern
 
 500 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1891. 
 
 climate. We are now in the midst of Spring here. 
 Peach trees in full bloom ; radishes, lettuce, and 
 early vegetables on the table ; strawberries will soon 
 be ripe. One of our friends reports having had them 
 for supper last week. . . . We like our present 
 boarding place better than our former one. The 
 Friends we are with are very pleasant. They have no 
 other boarders, and take great pains to make us com- 
 fortable. The chief di-awback is, our bedroom is 
 inconveniently small, and we are much crowded. 
 I should not like to live in Florida nearly so well as 
 in Union Springs. I prefer our own home to any house 
 I have seen here ! We have some thoughts of com- 
 mencing our homeward journey next month, going by 
 slow degrees, stopping one or two nights at Jacksonville, 
 then moving north-east, toward Southern Virginia. 
 I have dear friends there, who will give us a hearty 
 welcome. After two or three weeks there, we might 
 proceed to Washington or Baltimore. A loving 
 welcome awaits us at either place. Then, health 
 and weather permitting, we might go on to Phila- 
 delphia. Then C. can go home, and get assistance to 
 have the house warmed and comfortable, and in good 
 order ; have F, and M. home from school for their 
 Spring vacation, of ten days, the latter part of Fourth 
 month. By that time I may be able to complete my 
 journey, and reach home early in the Fifth month, 
 after an absence of seven months. If I can only 
 be permitted to return in health, how thankful I shall 
 be ! Of course the above plans are not as unchange- 
 able as the laws of the Medes and Persians. The state
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 501 
 
 of my health or the weather may bring about a change, 
 but as things appear at present, these arrangements 
 seem to me suitable and practicable. The journey, 
 taken by instalments, will be comparatively easy. The 
 dear children will be wild with joy and delight at 
 seeing their mother, and being at home again. . . . 
 My dear friend, M.H.T., does not altogether approve 
 of that delightful little book of Drummond's, ' The 
 greatest thing in the world,' because there is no 
 mention of the Atonement. Just the same objection 
 that thy Scotch lady made. Do you (thou and S.) 
 approve of the creeds ? Do you not think Satan was 
 the originator of them ? It seems to me that there 
 have been more quarrels, disputes, hard feelings, and 
 malice engendered by them than by any other source. 
 The fires of Smithfield, the tortures of the Inquistion, 
 the persecutions of the Waldenses and Piedmontese 
 mountaineers, of the Pilgrim Fathers, of the early 
 Friends, the Covenanters, &c., &c. ; all were caused by 
 creeds. I wish all Christians could rest satisfied with 
 the Bible and the Apostle's Creed, and not quarrel over 
 minute and unimportant details." 
 
 Paradise, Florida, U. S. A., 24-3-91. 
 "We propose to return to Archer to-day, D. V., and 
 health and weather permitting, start for Baltimore on 
 Fourth-day, the 1st prox. Thence to Philadelphia, in 
 time for the Yearly Meeting, commencing the 20th, 
 from thence homeward bound the 1st of Fifth month. 
 I suppose thou art now again in thy pleasant home, 
 enjoying it more than ever ! If I am favoured to reach
 
 502 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1891. 
 
 mine safely, I feel as though I shall never be willing 
 to go far from it again ! " 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 BicJnnond, Virginia, 20-4-91. 
 "Many happy returns of thy birthday. May an 
 increase of peace be thy gain with each passing year. 
 May the infirmities of age press more lightly on thee 
 than they do on me, when thou art my age. I cannot 
 walk half a mile. I scarcely dare venture even a few 
 steps without a walking cane or umbrella, and every 
 time I go up or down steps my dearest C. takes my 
 hand, or gives me her arm. My hearing is failing a 
 little, I lose much of the general conversation, but can 
 hear what is addressed to me, when the speaker looks 
 at me, and I at the speaker. There is a nice little meet- 
 ing of Friends in this city, fifty members, including 
 children. Not much appearance of Friends, in cos- 
 tume, and very little regard for the Scriptural and 
 grammatical thee and thou." 
 
 Baltimore, Maryland, 30-4-91. 
 "I have just taken leave of J. C. T. and his 
 daughter, who start for England to-morrow, via New 
 York, and 'Umbria,' and Liverpool. The thought that 
 in eight or ten days they may be in England, and will 
 probably see thee and S. and dear L. sends a thrill 
 through my heart. Oh ! that I could go, too ! What a 
 foolish wish, a vain thought ! I shall never see my dear 
 sisters and brother again, except it be a bird's-eye view 
 from a higher altitude. If we are permitted to visit our 
 loved ones (in spirit) when no longer encumbered by the
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 503 
 
 body, be assured that I shall frequently ' give you a 
 call.' A postal from dear L, tells me of your great loss 
 in the removal of our dear friends, W. and M. P., both 
 taken away in one week. I look for thy next eagerly, 
 
 desiring further information How was 
 
 the ' silver cord loosened,' and the ' golden bowl 
 broken ? ' 
 
 " I handed M.T. a tiny packet to take for thee and. 
 dear L., just a small token of sisterly love, put up in 
 haste, two pincushions, and some samples of my knit- 
 ting, such as occupy my leisure in my old age. I 
 always have my knitting at hand, and every few 
 spare minutes, when I am visiting or when visitors 
 call, I catch up my knitting. I have made over six 
 hundred pairs of tiny shoes, like the samples sent you, 
 and over one hundred pincushions, and near two 
 hundred dolls' hoods, and an innumerable quantity of 
 other useful (?) articles of fancy work, for the various 
 missions. I think Ramabai for her Indian mission has 
 received one hundred dollars' worth from me ; the 
 Coloured Missions in New York about the same ; and 
 the N.C.T.U., for the Temperance Temple in Chicago, 
 seventy dollars' worth. You may have read of the 
 * Comstock Knitting Band ' in the papers. The ladies 
 BO named it from me, and my efforts in the knitting 
 line. We are now reading, with great interest, the 
 ' Life of Mary Sewell,' the author of ' Mother's Last 
 Words,' and other sweet and touching ballads. Have 
 you read 'A Quaker Family,' recently published ? Is 
 it interesting and worth reading .'^ . . . Y. D. L. to 
 all of your family."
 
 504 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1891. 
 
 E. L. C. to C. H. 
 
 Union SjJrings, 30-5-91. 
 
 " It seems very pleasant to be at home again. My 
 health has improved since reaching home. If I should 
 live to another winter, I think I shall not attempt to 
 go so far south. We were just within the tropics. 
 We found people greatly wanting in energy. We lost 
 our energy while there. Now we are regaining it a 
 little ; I walked down to meeting this morning, the 
 longest walk I have taken for many months. It is a 
 very warm day, thermometer 86 '^ in the shade." 
 
 ^^ 1st of Sixth montli, 91. Twenty-two years to-day 
 since C.'s marriage ! Seventeen last month since thy 
 dear M. went to her heavenly home. How much 
 sorrow she has been spared, and how joyfully she will 
 welcome thee, when thou goes there ! I wish L. A. 
 could 'give me a call.' By day or by night she would 
 be heartily welcome. If thou goes before I do, come 
 and see me if thou canst. I have no fear, only an 
 intense longing to see my loved ones again. 
 Have you read ' The Haydock's Testimony ' ? A good 
 peace story, about Friends during the War. How do 
 you like ' Friend Olivia,' a serial running through 
 IVie Century Magazine last year .? It seems the fashion 
 just now for novelists to make Friends their subjects. 
 I am glad of it, as long as they speak well of them ! " 
 
 Her last letter to her sisters was written from 
 Union Springs, on the 22nd and 24th 7th mo., 1891." 
 "My dear Sisters, 
 
 " Your letters do me good and comfort me, and 
 they deserve better answers than you receive. You
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 505 
 
 enquire after my health. It is pretty good for a woman 
 near seventy-six years of age, and especially for one 
 Avho has been in prison as much as I have ! My fall, 
 of which you have heard so much, has left no traces 
 behind, except a torn and soiled cap. The doctor 
 thinks the heat was the cause of it, and he says it is a 
 common thing with old people. Mine was ' a slight 
 heat-stroke. Aged persons are frequently carried off 
 by it, in excessively hot weather.' My family are so 
 alarmed, they are afraid for me to walk about the house 
 and garden alone, and actually nervous if I go near a 
 cold stove." 
 
 After naming the various members of the family, 
 &c., she adds—'' I have much more to say and to ask, 
 but more writing, just now, will not do. Do not worry 
 about my health. The doctors have made C. needlessly 
 nervous. If I should slip away suddenly, rejoice with 
 me in my laying aside this encumbering body, and 
 believe that I shall be nearer to you then, than I am 
 noAv, and happier too. How glad I shall be to see dear 
 F. again, and R., and L., and our dear parents, and you 
 will soon follow, if I should go first. ... I am 
 having a nice, quiet, easy time, here in my pleasant 
 room. Truly I may say I have a lovely room ; does L. 
 remember it ? On the ground floor, opening out of 
 the sitting-room. ... A glass door to the East 
 opens on to our lawn and garden, two windows on the 
 West command a fine view of the lake, half a mile 
 distant. A large wardrobe on the South side, and a 
 window looking southward on to cherry and apple 
 trees. A dear daughter who exercises a watchful care
 
 506 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1891. 
 
 over me by night and hj day, and two dear grand- 
 daughters ever ready to wait upon me. Am I not 
 blessed ? " 
 
 Two days after writing the above she walked to 
 meeting — it was the last time she was there. She rode 
 half the way back. Her daughter writes she was 
 entirely unfit for the walk. She spoke for a short 
 time, urging others to work for the Master, dwelling 
 upon the blessedness of the work, and ending with a 
 few lines of poetry : 
 
 " Rouse to some work of high and holy love, 
 And thou an angel's happiness shalt prove. 
 Shalt bless the earth, while in the world above 
 The work begun by thee shall onward flow 
 In many a branching stream, and wider grow. 
 The seeds that in these few and fleeting hours 
 Thy hands unsparing and unwearied sow, 
 Shall deck thy grave with Amaranthine flowers. 
 And yield thee fruits divine in Heaven's immortal 
 bowers." 
 
 After this she gradually became weaker from day 
 to day, and was obliged to keep her bed — just a week 
 after she was assisted to bed, on Second-day evening, 
 3rd of Eighth month, she quietly and peacefully 
 breathed her last on earth. That day, seven years 
 previously, her dear husband had passed away. From 
 her daughter's letter, telling us of the sad event, the 
 following extracts are given : " The last day mamma 
 was conscious was on First-day, August 2nd. She 
 asked two or three times if this was First-day morning, 
 and once she said to me : ' The parting is drawing near.'
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 507 
 
 She only said a few words at a time, and towards the 
 latter part of the day only spoke in a whisper. She 
 said later : ' Don't leave me much to-day,' and I saw 
 she believed it was her last day of consciousness. I 
 told her I was writing to her sisters in England, and 
 asked if she wished to send any message. ' Yes, dear 
 love,' she replied. One time she said: 'Beautiful! 
 Beautiful ! It's a marvel to me how we are put 
 together,' meaning the soul and body, I suppose. She 
 often spoke of the Calvinistic creed, and she thought 
 their belief so cruel ; she said she wanted ' Gospel 
 love,' 
 
 " Three times she said ' Yes,' as though speaking 
 to some one we could not see. I believe she sav/ the 
 dear ones gone before, and answered them when asked 
 if ready. . . Oh ! for one more embrace, one more 
 loving kiss from those dear lips for ever closed. I know 
 she is at rest and happy, free from all pain, but I miss 
 her so much. . . I hope you were prepared for 
 what followed from my last letter, I could not write 
 again, I was so exhausted and worn out with the 
 constant watching with my darling mother. The nurse, 
 our dear friend E.H. sent, arrived the next morning 
 after all was over. 
 
 "J. and C, in response to a telegram, came to the 
 funeral ; they left a Conference of Ministers, who 
 had met on the Educational question, and a telegram 
 came on Fifth-day evening, addressed to J., with these 
 words, ' During the hour of the funeral services, the 
 Conference had a season of prayer for the relatives of 
 the departed saint, Elizabeth Comstock.' "
 
 508 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1891. 
 
 C. 0. H. to L. R. and C. H. 
 
 Earlliam College, 14-10-91. 
 
 " We have received several kind letters from you 
 both, since the sad parting with my precious mother, 
 and I will trj" to give you a few further particulars of 
 the funeral. . , . R. B. Rowland was in Union 
 Springs at the time, and had not heard before his 
 arrival of otir sad loss ; he called in the evening, and 
 told us he had felt all the afternoon, after hearing of 
 my dear mother's death, 'One of the princes has fallen.' 
 He spoke a few words just before the close of the 
 meeting, expressing his appreciation of her love to 
 humanity, mentioned having visited a prison with her 
 at the time of the War, and her kindness to the 
 prisoners of war, the Southerners in a Northern prison. 
 
 " Dear mamma had requested that there should be 
 as little expense as possible, when she was called 
 away — she did not wish a preacher sent for from a 
 distance, but wanted a regular Friends' Meeting, held 
 in the usual way. And so it was; notices were sent to 
 the Friends, and cards prepared by Mary H. Thomas, 
 who kindlj' did all she could for us, almost wearing 
 herself out in our service — her husband was not well, 
 and was unable to attend meeting. The Friends of 
 our Monthly Meeting pretty generally attended, and 
 several of them were ministers, and spoke very lovingly 
 of dear mamma, and her life and work, and how she 
 Avould be missed. Elizabeth Jones offered a beautiful 
 prayer. . . . Friends of the family were allowed
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 509 
 
 to look at the sweet face at the house, and there was a 
 little service held before starting for the meeting house. 
 Many flowers were kindly sent, and one tuberose, with 
 the request that it should be placed in her hand, which 
 was done." * 
 
 Many kind letters of sympathy flowed in after our 
 dear sister's death. One friend wrote : "We are much 
 touched by the tidings of dear E. Comstock having 
 received the call to her Heavenly Home. To you dear 
 sisters, who are in England, it almost seems to me she 
 will be nearer now, but even that thought, if you 
 share it with me, cannot, I know, prevent your feeling 
 very tenderly the loss of one so very dear. Can we 
 not a little imagine the welcome she has received from 
 the Master whom she loved and folluiced, and also from 
 many, many of those whom she led from darkness to 
 light ? Seldom has anyone seemed to me so likely to 
 receive, in all its fulness, the glorious reward for all 
 labour on earth, in the words : ' Well done, good and 
 faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,' 
 yet would she be amongst the first to tell us the work 
 was not hers, but His, into whose joy she truly entered, 
 even whilst here below. If my thoughts have been 
 wearisome, please forgive them. I took up my pen to 
 express our very true sympathy, but as my mind dwelt 
 on the life of this very dear friend, it certainly went 
 
 * The Christian, in noticing her decease, S9,ys, "The death of 
 Elizabeth L. Comstock, 'the Elizabeth Fry of America,' removes 
 a venerable and devoted Friend from the ranks of the Churcii 
 militant to the Church triumphant."
 
 510 LIFE AND LETTERS OP [1891. 
 
 on more to her joy than to your sorrow. May you be 
 able to do this, also, and find your sadness even some- 
 times taken all away, whilst you look within the Veil 
 where your precious one has entered." 
 
 Another friend wrote — " I was so sorry to hear of 
 Mrs. Comstock's death, but it was not dying for her. 
 Hers was a splendid life, and she was only going to be 
 nearer her Master, and to be able to do His work 
 better." One much esteemed friend says : " I feel the 
 decease of our late dear friend Elizabeth Comstock, 
 announced in the 'Friends' Review.' I knew her well. 
 She was a noble advocate of the rights of the coloured 
 people, and a very impressive preacher of the precious 
 Gospel. She will long live in the recollection of those 
 who knew her. I well remember my intercourse 
 with her during my first visit to America, and the 
 impression made by the striking manner in which she 
 was enabled to deliver the message given her by her 
 Lord. The way in which she repeated, on one occasion, 
 the closing lines of Pope's ' Messiah,' was particularly 
 striking. It gave a new and unexpected charm, often 
 as I had heard it before." 
 
 The following are the lines referred to : — 
 
 " No more the rising sun sliall gild the morn, 
 Or evening Cynthia fill lier silver horn, 
 But lost, dissolved in thy superior rays. 
 One tide of glory, one unclouded blaze 
 O'erflow thy courts ; the light himself shall shine 
 Eevealed ; — and God's eternal day be thine.
 
 1891.] ELIZABETH L. COMSTOCK. 511 
 
 The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay, 
 Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away. 
 But fixed His word, his saving power remains. 
 Thy realm for ever lasts, thy own Messiah reigns." 
 
 HEADLEY BROS., PRINTERS, LONDON, AND ASHFORD, KENT.