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| 544 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. thought that he was too "good a Christian to run away." Another thing which she referred to, apparently with much feeling, was this: On his way to Canada, he wrote to the governor, from Rochester, " that he need put himself to no trouble in hunting him up, as he had made up his mind to visit Canada." She thought that John was rather " naughty," to write thus to her " papa," nevertheless, she was disposed to forgive him, after she had frankly spoken her mind. JOHN found Richmond, which so long had held him in chains, fully humbled, and her slave power utterly cast down. His wondering eyes gazed until he was perfectly satisfied that it was the Lord's doings, and it was marvellous in his eyes. He was more than ever resolved to get an education, and go back to Virginia, to help teach his brethren who had been so long denied the privilege. It was not long before he was at Oberlin College, a faithful student, commanding the highest respect from all the faculty for his good deporttncnt and studious habits. After advanc-ing rapidly there, the way <>i>ened more fully to pursue his studies with greater facilities and less expense at a college in one of the Eastern States. He accepted the favors of friends who offered him assistance, with a view of preparing him for a mission among the freedmen, believing that he possessed in a high degree, the elements for a useful worker, preacher, organizer and teacher. As the friends alluded to, were about taking measures to start a college at Harper's Ferry, especially for the benefit of the Freedmen, they anticipated making this latitude the field of his future endeavors, at least for a time. Ere he graduated in view of the fuel that the harvest in the South so urgently called for laborers, lie was solicited to be an agent for the Storer College,* and subsequently to enter upon a mission under the auspices of the Free-Will Baptists, in Martins-burg, Virginia. For three or four years he labored in this field with commendable zeal and acceptably, gathering young and old in day and Sunday-schools, and also organizing churches. By his constant labors his health • The appended extract from an official circular, iasucd by the Board of Instruction of Storer College, will throw light upon this Institution : BTOBER COLLEGE, HARPER'8 FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA. This Institution, denying its name from John Storer, Esq., late of Sanford. Mo., who g»ve ten thousand dollars to aid in its establishment, ia loc&led at Harper's Ferrv. West Ya., and has b«en chartered with full powers by & ujwcial act of the Legislature. The Corporation has been regularly organized, about thirty thounaud dollars in money has been obtained, a large tract of land has ke«n purchased, amplo buildiogfl hare been arcnred, and a Normal School baa boon in successful operation during the last eighteen months. Tho U. S. authorities have repeatedly expressed their confidence in nod sympathy with this undertaking, by liberal grants of money EJid buildings, and tho »ient for the distribution of the Peabody Fund, his pledged pocuniary aid to the beat of the pupils in »ttc-Ddancc, who may be in need of such asaiiUnce. KEV. J. CALBIR, D. D., Prei., RKV. N. C. BRACKETT, Act. Sec'y., Hairisburg, Penna. Harper'1 Ferry, West V*. Harper's Ferry, W>«t V»., March 1, 1S6». |