Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 783   Enlarge and print image (54K)

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Still, William, Underground Rail Road:
A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, Etc.

Porter & Coales, Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1872
Call Number: 1400, MSA L1117

MSA L1117, Image No: 783   Enlarge and print image (54K)

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  << PREVIOUS   NEXT >>
752 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. that region for the services required, and adding that, indeed, they coald not stand upon the amount of pay, but must have help, if it oould be obtained, though not in a condition to bear undue expenditure. But, she said, the man " is unable to be removed; and if be were not, I know of no place •where the charge would not be equally severe." So, in perfect keeping with her character, she just quietly regarded it as a matter of course that it should still continue where it was. And there it did coutinuc until spring, when the man, now able to bear removal, was conveyed to the writer, and, after a time, went thence to Boston. There his foot, pronounced incurable, was amputated, and the abolitionists supplied him with a wooden limb. He then returned and spent another winter with the Lewises, assisting in the household work, and rendering services invaluable at a time when it was almost impossible to obtain female help. The next spring, hoping vainly to recover in a warmer climate from the disease induced by the drain his wounded foot had made upon his system, he went to Hayti, and there died; happy, we may well believe, to have escaped from slavery, though only to have won scarely two years of freedom as an invalid and a cripple. The sisters were so thoroughly united in their work, as well as in all the experiences of life, that this brief sketch has not attempted what indeed it could not have achieved—a separation of their spheres of beneficent activity. Yet they had each her individual traits and adaptations to their common task; "diversities of gifts, but the same spirit." Elizabeth, although for many years shut out by feeble health from any part requiring much bodily exertion, was ever a wise counsellor, as well as ready with such help as her state of health would -warrant. Though weak in body, in spirit she was strong and calm and self-reliant, with a clear, diaoriminatiug intellect, a keen sense of right, and a certain solidity and balanced symmetry of the spiritual nature which made her an appreciable power wherever she was known. Of Mariann, Grace Anna says, that if a flash of inspiration was required, it usually came from her. Taught by her love for others, and by a sensitiveness almost preternaturally quick, " she always knew exactly the right thing to do," and put all the poetry of a nature exquisitely fine into ber efforts to diffuse around her purity and peace and happiness. Her constant, utterly unselfish endeavors to this end contributed in ample measure to the blessedness of a delightful home, rich in the virtues, charities and graces which make home blessed. Veiled by her modest and retiring disposition, to few beyond the circle of her home were known the beauty and beneficeuce of her noiseless life ; but those who did look in upon it testified her worth in terms so strong as showed how deeply it impressed them. " Just the best woman I ever knew," said a young man for whom she had long cared like a mother. " I cannot remember," said another, " ever hearing from her one ungentle word f and it may be safely doubted whether she was ever heard to utter such. And one who " knew her every mood " cannot recall an instance of