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| ABIGAIL GOOD WIN. 621 each week, might keep a supply always ready, they might, I should think, get the merchants or some of them, to give cheap materials—mention it to thy wife, and see if she cannot get up a society. I will do what I can here for it. I enclose five dollars for the use of fugitives. It was a good while that I heard nothing of your rail road concerns; I expected thee had gone to Canada, or has the journey not been made, or is it yet to be accomplished, or given up ? I was in hopes thee would go and see with thy own eyes, how things go on in that region of fugitives, and if it's a goodly land to live in. " This is the first of August, and I suppose you are celebrating it in Philadelphia, or some of you are, though I believe you are not quite as zealous as the Bostonians are in doing it. When will our first of August come ? oh, that it might be soon, very soon ! * * * It's high time the 'reign of oppression was over.'" Ever alive to the work, she would appeal to such as were able among her friends, to take stock in the Underground Kail Road, and would sometimes succeed. In a letter dated July 30, 185G, she thus alludes to her efforts: "I have tried to beg something for them, but have not got much ; one of our neighbors, S. W. Acton, gave me three dollars for them; I added enough to make ten, which thee will find inside. I shall owe three more, to make my ten. I presume they are still coming every day almost, and I fear it comes rather hard on thee and wife to do for so many ; but you no doubt feel it a satisfaction to do all you can for the poor sufferers." February 10, 1858, she forwarded her willing contribution, with the following interesting remarks: SALEM, February 10, 1858. DEAR FRIEND :—Thee will find enclosed, five dollars for the fugitives, a little for so many to share it, but better than nothing ; oh, that people, rich people, would remember them instead of spending so much on themselves; and those too, who are not called rich, might, if there was only a willing mind, give too of their abundance; how can they forbear to sympathize with those poor destitute ones—but so it is—there is not half the feeling for them there ought to be, indeed scarcely anybody seems to think about them. "Inasmuch as ye have not done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have not done it unto me." Thy friend, A. GOODWIN. When the long looked-for day of emancipation arrived, which she had never expected to witness, the unbounded thankfulness of her heart found expression in the appended letter: SALEM, September 23, 1862. DEAR FRIEND:—Thj letter dated 17th, was not received till last night I cannot tell where it has been detained so long. On the 22d, yesterday, Amy Reckless came here, after I began writing, and wished me to defer |