Isaac T. Hopper: A True Life

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ISAAC A

L

.

HOPPER:

T.

TRUE LIFE

MARIA CHILD

Thine was a soul with sympathy imbueil, Brood as the earth, and as the heavens sublime;

Thy ijddlike object, steadfastly pursued, To save thy race from misery and crime. Garrison.

TWELFTH THOUSAND,

_

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY JOHN

P.

JEWETT & COMPANY,

CLEVELAND, OHIO: JEWETT, PROCTOR & WORTHINGTON.

LONDON: LOW 1854.

& CO.

Entered

according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853,

by

John Hoppee, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of

New- York.

TO

HANNAH ATTMORE HOPPER, WIDOW

ISAAC THIS VOLUME

IS

THE LATE

OF

T

.

HOPPER,

RESrECTFULLY AKD AFFKCTIONATELY

BY HER GRATEFUL AND ATTACHED FRIEKE,

L.

MAKIA CHILD.

tNSCHIBlSOj

PREFACE. This biography

from most works of the kind, in

differs

embracing fragments of so many almost entirely for others the fact, that I have found

without having

it

and

;

it

Friend Hopper lived

lives.

it is

a striking illustration of

impossible to write his biography

consist largely of the adventures of other

people. I

have not recounted his

many good deeds

purpose of eulogizing an honored friend. sure in preserving

hope that they

and bring

may

fall

like

good seed

strictly

personal anecdotes

the time, without his knowledge.

In

done

much more if

The

plea-^

I cherish a

many

into

fell

and playful conversation with his

and

a

mere

in this form, because

children, or his intimate friends,

in.

for the

have taken

hearts,

forth future harvests in the great field of humanity.

Most of the familiar

them

I

I

from his

noted them

this

lips in

sister, or his

way

I

grand-

down

at

caught them

fresh and natural form, than I could have

he had been conscious of the process.

narratives and anecdotes of fugitive slaves,

which form

such a prominent portion of the book, were originally written

V

VI

PREFACE.

-

by Friend Hopper himself, and published in newspapers, of " Tales of Oppression."

have re-modelled

under the

title

them

partly because I wished to present

all;

I

them

in a

more

concise form, and partly because the principal actor could be

spoken of more freely by a third person, than he could speak Moreover, he had a more dramatic

of himself.

a story than he had of writing

it

;

and

his unwritten style as nearly as 1 could

I

have

way

of telling

tried to

remember

it.

embody Where-

ever incidents or expressions have been added to the publish-

ed narratives,

•The

I

have done

from recollection.

it

which were

facts,

continually

occurring within

Friend Hopper's personal knov/ledge, corroborate the pictures of slavery

are no

more

drawn by Mrs. Stowe.

fictitious,

She has taken

Hopper.

Her

descriptions

than the narratives written by Friend living

characters

and

every-day occurrence, and combined them in light of genius,

ed story, radiant with the the glow of

feeling.

cause there

is

But

is

sunshine on

every dew-drop sparkle

and

a

facts

of

connect-

warm

with

a landscape any the less real, be-

it,

to bring out

every

tint,

and make

?

\Vlio that reads the account here given of Daniel Benson,

and William Anderson, can doubt that slaves are capable of as high moral excellence, as has ever been ascribed to in any work of

fiction %

Who

that reads

Witted Slave, can pronounce them a stupid race, freedom

?

Who

that

reads the

them

Zeke,and the Quick unfit for

adventures of the Slave

Mother, and of poor Manuel, a perpetual mourner for his enslaved children, can say that the bonds of nature are less

PREFACE. Strong with them,

Who

brethren?

which they

Vll

than with their more

can

fortunate

white

question the horrible tyranny under

suffer, after

reading

Slaveholder, and the suicide of

The Tender Mercies

Romaine

Friend Hopper labored zealously

for

of a

1

many, many years

;

and thousands have applied their best energies of head and

same great w'ork

heart to the

country

is

as strong as ever

in triumph,

zeal to

of Uncle

its

it

along, over

Its car rolls

its

prostrate victims.

on in

But, lo

!

crushing wheels, up rises the bleeding spectre

Tom, and

all

the

Verily, the slave-powder is

stronger.

yet the slave-power in this

and priests and politicians outdo each other

draw

from under

;

—nay, stronger.

w^orld

strong;

turns

but

to look

God and

at

him

!

truth are

CONTENTS.

GENERAL INDEX. Allusions to his Parents, from

1

to 3,

from 25 to 28, 252.

Anecdotes of Childhood, from 3 to 25. Allusions to Sarah his Wife, 24, 36, 43, 46, 249 to 252, 289 to 293, 377, 382, 466.

Allusions to Joseph Whitall, 25, 27, 44 to 46, 466.

Anecdotes of Apprenticeship, 27

His Religioijs Experience, 36

to 35.

to 46.

Tales of Oppression and Anecdotes of Colored People, 48 to 212.

Anecdotes of Prisoners and of Vicious Characters in Philadelphia,

from 212

to 243.

His Love of Fun, 244 to 248, 364 to 374. Allusions to his Private Life and Domestic Character, 249, 377 to 380, 458 to 464.

Anecdotes connected with Quakers, from 255 to 276.

Schism

in the Society of Friends,

273

Anecdotes connected with his Visit

to

to 286.

England and

Ireland,

296

to

313.

Anti-Slaveiy Experiences in 384, 385,

447

New- York, 314

to 334,

340 to 303,

to 458.

His Attachment to the Principles and Usages of Friends, 255, 380 to 383, 458.

Disowned by the Society of Friends

in

New-York, 386

to

399,

465.

His Connection with the Prison Association of New- York, 409 to 444, 470 to 473, 481 to 485.

His

Illness,

Death, and Funeral, 470 to 493.

ix

PARTICULAR INDEX. His

birth, 1.

Anecdote of his Grandmother's Courage, His Childish Roguery, 4 to

His Contest with British Soldiers,

His Violent Temper,

9.

10.

Conscientiousness in Boyhood,

Tricks at School,

2.

9.

11.

G, 7, 10, 11.

Going

to Mill, 12.

Going

to Market, 13.

Anecdote of General Washington,

15.

Pelting the Swallows, 16.

Anecdote of the Squirrel and her young ones,

18.

The Pet Squirrel, 20. The Pet Crow, 21. Encounter with a Black Snake,

23.

Old Mingo the African, 23.

Boyish Love

for

Sarah Tatum, 24.

His Mother's parting advice when he leaves Home, Mischievous Trick at the Cider Barrel, 28.

He He

nearly harpoons his Uncle, 29. nearly

kills

a Fellow Apprentice, 29.

Adventure with a young His

first

Plis

Youthful Love

Woman,

31.

Slave Case, 33. for

Sarah Tatum, 36.

Nicholas Wain, 37.

Mary Ridgeway,

38.

William Savery, 38. His early Religious Experience, 43. Letter from Joseph

He

"^"VTiitall,

44.

marries Sarah Tatum, 46.

X

PARTICULAR INDEX. His interest in Colored People, 47. Charles Webster, 48.

Ben

Jackson,* 51.

Thomas Cooper, 5.5. A CMId Kidnapped, Wagelma,

66.

70.

Janies Poovey, 73.

Romaine, 77. Da%ad Lea, 80.

The

Slave Hunter, 80.

William Bachelor, 83. Levin Smith, 88. Etienne Lamaire,

9L

Samuel Johnson,

96.

Pierce Butler's Ben, 98.

Daniel Benson, 104.

The Quick- Witted

Slave, 10§.

James Davis, 113.

Mary

Holliday, 116.

Thomas

.

Harrison, 122.

James Lawler, 123. William Anderson, 126. Sarah Roach, 12^. Zeke, 133.

Poor Amy, 137. Manuel, 139. Slaveholders mollified, 145.

The United The

States Bond, 149.

tender mercies of a Slaveholder, 157.

The Foreign Slave, 160. The New- Jersey Slave, 164.

A

Slave Hunter Defeated, 168.

Mary

The

Morris, 173.

Slave Mother, 176.

IJ

PARTICULAR INDEX.

Lll

Coionel Ridgeley's Slave, 179.

Stop Thief! 185.

The Disguised

The

Slaveholder, 189.

Slave of Dr. Rich, 192.

His Knowledge of Law, 202.

Mutual Confidence between hun and the Colored People, 204.

Mercy

to Kidnappers, 206.

Richard Allen, the Colored Bishop, 208.

The Colored Guests at Kane the Colored Man

his Table, 210.

fined for

Blasphemy, 211,

John Mc'Grier, 212. Levi Butler, 215.

The Musical Boy, 217. Mary Norris, 220. The Magdalen, 221.

The Uncomplimentary

Invitation, 222.

Theft from Necessity, 224. Patrick M'Kcever, 225.

The Umbrella Girl, 229. The two young Offenders,

237.

His courageous intercourse with violent Prisoners, 242.

Not thoroughly Baptized, 245.

The puzzled Dutchman,

^

245.

Hint to an Untidy Neighbor, 247.

Resemblance

The

to

Napoleon, 248, 314.

Dress, Manners, and Character of Sarah,

liis

wife,

249

to 253,

382, 466.

The

Devil's Lane, 254.

Jacob Lindlcy's Anecdotes, 250. Singular Clairvoyance of Arthur Howell, a Quaker Preacher, 258. Prophetic Presentiment of his Mother, 262.

The aged Bondman emancipated,

A

264.

Presentiment of Treachery, 266.

The Quaker who purchased

a Stolen Horse, 270.

PARTICULAR INDEX.

XIU

Elias Hicks and the Schism in the Society of Friends, 273 to 286.

Pecuniary

Death of

difficulties,

287

to 291.

his Wife, 291.

Death of his son

Isaac, 292.

Journey to Maryland, and Testimony against Slavery, 293.

His marriage with Hannah Attmore, 294.

Removes

to

New-York, 296.

Matthew Carey's

facetious Letter of Introduction, 296.

Anecdotes of his

visit to

England and

Ireland,

296

to 313.

Anecdote of the Diseased Horse, 302. Visit to

William Penn's Grave, 309.

The Storm

Profane Language rebuked, 312.

at Sea.

The Clergyman and his Books, 313. His Book-store in New- York, 313. The Mob in Pearl-Street, 315. Judge Chinn's Slave, 316.

One

of his sons

His Letter

mobbed

to the

at the South, 319.

Mayor of Savannah, 327.

His Phrenological Character, 335. His Unconsciousness of Distinctions in Society, 339.

The Darg

Case, 340.

Letter from Dr. Moore, 356.

Mrs. Burke's Slave, 357.

Becomes Agent

in the Anti- Slavery Ofiice, 363.

His youthful appearance, 363, 491. Anecdotes showing his love of Fun, 364 to 374. His sense of Justice, 374.

His Remarkable Memory, 375. His Costume and Personal Habits, 378 to 380. His Library, 380. His Theology, 381. His Adherence to Quaker Usages, 382. Capital Punishment, 383.

Rights of

Women,

384.

PARTICULAR INDEX.

XIV

Expressions of gratitude from Colored People, 95, 3S4, 385, 476.

His fund of Anecdotes and his Public Speaking, 385, 415.

Remarks of Judge Edmonds thereon,

412.

His separation from the Society of Friends in New- York, 386 to 399. Visit to his Birth-place, 399.

Norristown Convention, 400. Visit

from his Sister Sarah, 401.

Visit to Boston, 401. Visit to

,

Bucks County, 406.

Prison Association in Nov/- York, 409.

Correspondence with Governor Young, 413. Preaching in Sing Sing Chapel, 415.

Anecdotes of Dr. William Rogers, 417, 459. Interesting Cases of

Reformed Convicts, 419

to 443.

Letter from Dr. Walter Channing, 444.

Anecdotes of William Savery and James Lindley

at the South,

Sonnet by William L. Garrison, 448. His sympathy with Colored People turned out of the Cars, 448.

A Methodist

Preacher from the South, 452.

His Disobedience

to the Fugitive Slave Lav/, 455.

His Domestic Character, 249, 377

He

to 380,

458

to 464.

attracts Children, 460.

His Garden described in a Letter to L.

]\I.

Cliild,

461.

Likenesses of him, 464. Letter concerning Joseph V.liitall, 466. Letters concerning Sarah his wife, 466, 467.

Letter to his Daughter on his 80th Birth-day, 469.

Allusions to Hannah, his wife, 294, 370, 379, 470, 481. Letter resigning the agency of the Prison Association, 472.

His

last Illness,

470.

His Death, 481. Letter from a Reformed Convict, 481.

Resolutions passed by the Prison Association, 482.

446

PARTICULAR INDEX. Resolutions passed by the Anti-Slavery Society, 484.

His Funeral, 485. Lucretia Mott, 486, 487. Public Notices and Private Letters of Condolence, 487 to 493.

His Epitaph, 493.

XV

I

was

When

a father to

t'ue

poor

;

and the cause which

the ear heard me, then

gave witness to

Because

I

mc

it

blessed

me

:

I

knew

not

I

searched out.

and when the eye saw me,

it

:

delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and

him

that had

and

I

none to help him.

The blessing

of

him that was ready

the widow's heart to sing for joy.

to perish

Job xxix.

XVI

came upon me

16, 11, 12, 13.

:

caused

LIFE OF ISAAC

T.

HOPPER.

Tatem Hopper was born in Deptford Township, near Woodbury, West New-Jersey, in Isaac

the year 1771, on the third day of December, which

Quakers

call the

Twelth Month.

His grandfather

belonged to that denomination of Christians, but feited

membership

from another

sect.

in the Society

for-

by choosing a wife

His son Levi, the father of Isaac,

always attended their meetings, but never became a

member.

A

family of rigid Presbyterians, by the

Tatem, resided

in the neighborhood.

house w^as being

built,

pit for

of

their

they took shelter for a few

days, in a meeting-house that

dug a

name

While

was

little

used, and

a temporary cellar, according to the

custom of new

settlers in the forest.

The country

time was much infested with marauders but Tatem was an Amazon in physical strength and One night, when her husband was absent, courage. at that

;

Mrs.

and she was alone

in

the depths of the

woods with

LIFE OF ISAAC

2

T.

HOPrER.

three small children, she heard a noise, and looking

out

saw

a band of thieves stealing provisions from

entered the meeting-house soon af-

They

the cellar.

ter, and she had the presence of mind to call out, Call Joe, and Harry, and Jim! ''Hallo, Jack!

Here's somebody coming."

The

robbers, supposing

she had a number of stout defenders it

hand, thought

at

prudent to escape as quickly as possible.

next day, her husband being

still

The

absent, she resolved

to move into the unfinished house, for greater securiThe door had neither lock nor latch, but she ty.

contrived to fasten three

it

men came and

in

some

At midnight,

fashion.

tried to force

it

open

;

but every

time they partially succeeded, she struck at

them

This mode of defence was kept

with a broad axe.

up so vigorously, that

at last

they were compelled to

retreat.

She had

a daughter,

who was

neighbor Hopper's children quite a small boy,

would

live together

remarkable tree children

at

often at play with

and when Levi w^as

used to be said playfully that

Rachel Tat em would be

httle

The

it

;

his wife,

grew up much attached

five

a

to each other, old, the pro-

fulfilled.

The young man had and

;

some distance from the homestead.

and when Levi was twenty-two years

phecy was

and they

up by the great white oak

or six

only his

own

strong hands

hundred acres of wild woodland.

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

He

3

grubbed

up the trees and underbrush near the big white oak, removed his father's hen-house to the cleared spot, fitted it up comfortably for a temporary

dwelling, and

To

near by.

young

is

cellar in the

declivity of a hill

humble abode he conducted his his two first children were The second was named Isaac Tatem Hopper, this

and there

bride,

born.

and

dug a

the subject of this memoir.

Rachel inherited her mother's energy and courage, and having married a diligent and prudent man, their worldly circumstances gradually improved, though their family rapidly increased,

and they had nothing but land and labor to rely upon. When Isaac was one year and a half old, the family removed to anew log-house with three rooms on a floor, neatly whitewashed.

To

these the bridal hen-house

was append-

ed for a kitchen. Isaac was early remarked as a very precocious child.

He was

always peeping into everything, and

inquiring about everything.

months

old,

when

the

new

when he saw them laying

He was

only eighteen

log-house was built

;

but

the foundation, his busy

little mind began to query whether the grass would grow under it and straightway he ran to see whether grass grew under the floor of the hen-house where he was born. ;

He was

put to

work on

could handle a hoe

;

the farm as soon as he

but though he labored hard, he

LIFE OP ISAAC T. HOPPER.

4

had plenty of time and strength left for all manner of roguery. While he was a small fellow in petticoats, he ran into a

duck-pond to explore

His mother pulled him

out,

ever go there again, I will

than you went I

He

in."

and

said,

So

faster."

can,

into

faster

Now

thought to himself, "

and surely

I

you

if

make you come out

will prove mother to be in the wrong

in as fast as I

depth.

its

"Isaac,

for I will

;

go

can't come out any

the pond he went, as soon as the

words were out of her mouth.

A

by the name of Polly assisted about the housework. She was considered one of the family, and always ate at the same table, according to the She always kindly custom of those primitive times. girl

Mammy," and

called her mistress "

the day of her death children were tic

;

much

;

swerved her until '

a period of forty years.

The

attached to this faithful domes-

but nevertheless, Isaac could not forbear playing

tricks

When

upon her whenever he had opportunity. he was five or six years old, he went out one

night to see her milk the cow. that the animal kicked

when

upon

the pail was nearly

He had

observed

slight provocation

full,

;

and

he broke a switch from

a tree near by, slipped round to the other side of the

cow, and tickled her bag.

She

instantly raised her

heels, and over went Polly, milk-pail,

stool,

Isaac ran into the house, laughing with to tell

how

the

and

all his

all.

might,

cow had kicked over Polly and

the

LIFE OP ISAAC T. HOPPER.

His mother went out immediately

pail of milk.

ascertain whether the girl *'

Oh,

mammy,

made her do

5

that

it,"

little

was

to

seriously injured.

rogue tickled the cow, and

Whereupon, Isaac

exclaimed Polly.

had a spanking, and was sent

to

bed without

his sup-

per.

But so great was

there,

wakeful and hungry, he shouted with laughter

alone by himself, to think

all

when she

When

how

droll Polly

rolled over with the pail of

he w^as seven or eight years

wife

came one day

was

a

fat,

but

Isaac

knew

let

down

the bars for her

;

rolled off her horse,

She then discovered,

house.

off her

when he saw her come ambling tell

her of

it.

she rode up to the

horse-block with which every farm-house furnished,

She

that all the family

along the road, he took a freak not to

He

her.

old, his uncle's

to the house on horseback.

horse with difficulty. ;

looked

milk after

clumsy woman, and got on and

were absent

he lay

his love of fun, that as

was then

and went into the

for the first time, that

was no one at home. After But Isaac, she mounted to depart.

there

resting awhile, as full of mis-

chief as Puck, put the bars up, so that she could not ride out.

ened. to the

In vain she coaxed, scolded, and threat-

Finding

it

was

all to

no purpose, she rode up

block and rolled oiF from her horse again.

Isaac, having the fear of her

ran and hid himself. self,

She

let

whip before

down

his eyes,

the bars for her-

but before she could remount, the mischievous

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

6

urchin had put the bars up again and run away.

This was repeated several times

;

and the exasperat-

ed visitor could never succeed in catching her tor-

His parents came home in the midst of the

mentor. frolic,

He had

and he had a sound whipping.

culated upon this result feeling

had done much

to

cal-

the time, and the uneasy

all

mar

his sport

but on the

;

whole, he concluded such rare fun was well worth a flogging.

The boys

were apt

at school

to neglect their les-

munching

sons while they were

In order to

apples.

break up this disorderly habit, the master made rule to take

He

away every

it

a

apple found upon them.

placed such forfeited articles upon his desk, with

who

the agreement that any boy might have them,

could succeed in abstracting them without being observed by him.

One

day,

when

a large rosy-cheeked

apple stood temptingly on the desk, Isaac stepped

He

stood very demure-

up to have

his

ly at

but soon began to gaze earnestly out of

first,

pen mended.

the window, behind the desk.

what he was looking

at.

He

ing a flock of ducks trying to

queerly they waddle

Bwim on

ice

!"

and

The master replied,

*'

I

swim on the

slide

about

inquired

am watch-

exclaimed the schoolmaster

" ;

;

Ducks and he

was but the apple meanwhile was

turned to observe such an unusual spectacle. only for an instant

How

ice.

!"

It

transferred to the pocket of his cunning pupil.

He

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

smiled as he gave him his pen, and said, *'Ah, you rogue, you are always full of mischief

The

!"

teacher was accustomed to cheer the mono-

tony of his labors by a race with the boys during

There was a

play hours.

fine sloping

lawn

in front

of the school-house, terminating in a brook fringed

The

with willows.

declivity

gave an impetus to the

came among the

trees, their

heads swiftly parted the long branches.

Isaac tied

runners, and as they

a brick-bat to one of the pendant boughs, and then

He

invited the master to run with him.

accepted

the invitation, and got the start in the race.

As he

darted through the trees, the brick merely grazed If

his hair.

his life

flected

;

had

it

though

upon the

hit

him,

it

might have cost him

his mischievous pupil possibility of

such a

had not

re-

result.

There was a bridge across the brook consisting of a single rail. One day, Isaac sawed this nearly in two and while the master was at play w^ith the boys, ;

he took the opportunity to say something very impertinent, for

He

which he knew he should be chased.

ran toward the brook, crossed the

and instantly turned step

upon

it

when

it

rail in safety,

over, so that his pursuer

the cut side

would

was downward.

It

immediately snapped under his pressure, and pre-

young rogue But

cipitated

him

stood by

almost killing himself with laughter.

this joke also

into the stream, while the

came very near having

a melancholy

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

8 termination

;

for the

master was floated down several

rods into deep water, and with difficulty saved himself

from drowning.

There was a creek not

where

it

was customary

Upon one

far

from

his father's house,

of these occasions, he persuaded a party

wood and

of boys to pry np a pile of sloop, in a confused heap.

taken out and reloaded.

Of

course,

When

;

tip

it

must

it

he saw

labor this foohsh trick had caused, he

punction

wood.

to load sloops with

felt

into a all

be

how much some com-

but the next temptation found the spirit

of mischief too strong to be resisted.

Coming home from

his uncle's

one evening, he

stopped to amuse himself with taking a gate off hinges.

When

an old Quaker came out to see

its

who

was meddling with his gate, Isaac fired a gun over his head, and made him run into the house, as if an evil spirit It

was

were

after him.

his delight to tie the

boughs of trees

to-

gether in narrow paths, that people travelling in the dark, might hit their heads against stones in the ruts of the road,

them

;

and to lay

when he knew

that

farmers were going to market with eggs, in the darkness of morning twilight. for miles round,

Hopper.

it

was

If

any mischief was done

sure to be attributed to Isaac

There was no malice

had such superabounding

life

in his fun

;

but he

within him, that

it

would overflow, even when he knew that he must

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. sufler for

it.

His boyish

activity, strength,

ty were proverbial.

Long

village, the neighbors

used to

ishing rapidity he

9

he

after tell

and agihhis native

left

with what aston-

would descend high

head

trees,

foremost, clinging to the trunk with his feet.

The

,

fearlessness and firmness of character,

which

he inherited from both father and mother, manifested

many ways. He had a lamb, whose horns were crooked, and had a tendency to turn m. His father had given it to him for his own, on condition itself in

that he should keep the horns carefully

file

filed,

He had

they should not hurt the animal.

so that

a small

on purpose, and took such excellent care of his

pet, that

soon became very

it

much

attached to him,

When

and trotted about after him like a dog.

was about into the

five or six

They

ary war.

Isaac

it

and

to

tied the feet of the

them

tame lamb, and and lambs.

in season to witness this ope-

his heart swelled

iim aside

;

The men

it !"

??Z7/

lamb,

tried to

push

but he pulled out a rusty jack-knife,

which he had bought of a pedlar

for two-pence,

cut the rope that bound the poor lamb. officer

He

with indignation.

sprang into the cart, exclaiming, ''That's

and you shan't have

ar-

custom during our revolution-

into the cart with other sheep

came up

ration,

to their

he

came

neighborhood to seize provisions for the

my, according threw

years old, British soldiers

rode up, and seeing a 1*

little

A

and

British

boy struggling so

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

10

resolutely with the soldiers, he inquired

the matter.

Isaac

;

"They've

my

stolen

" and they shan't have

^'Is it

your lamb,

my

brave

lamb It's

it.

little

"Well, they shan't have

officer.

!"

what was exclaimed

my lamb !"

fellow?" said the it.

You'll

make

a fine soldier one of these days."

So Isaac hfted

lamb from the cart, and trudgHe had always been a whig and

his

ed off victorious.

;

he became more decided than

after this adventure,

ever

in his politics.

He

often used to boast that he

would rather have a paper continental golden English guinea.

The

dollar,

than a

family amused them-

by exciting his zeal, and Polly made him believe he was such a famous whig, that the British would certainly carry him off to prison. He geneselves

was fully capable -ijf defending himself; but when he saw four soldiers approaching the house one day, he concluded the force was rather rally thought he

too strong for him, and hastened to hide himself in the woods.

His temper partook of the general strength and

vehemence of his character. Having put a small quantity of gunpowder on the stove of the schoolhouse, ter.

it

exploded, and did some injury to the mas-

One

of the boys,

who was

afraid of being sus-

pected of the mischief, in order to screen himself, cried out, "Isaac

Hopper did

punished accordingly.

it!"

—and

Going home from

Isaac

was

school, he

U

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

seized the informer as they were passing through a

wood, tied him up to a

The boy

dous thrashing.

and gave him a tremen-

tree,

threatened to

tell

but he assured him that he would certainly if

he did

;

so he never ventured to disclose

of

kill

it;

him

it.

In gei\eral, his conscience reproved him as soon as

he had done anything wrong, and he hastened to

A

make atonement. same

One

poor boy,

who

day, the spirit of mischief led Isaac to spoil the

poor child's provisions by

When

sand.

filling his

the boy opened

his dinner, the tears

very hungry.

came

it,

with

pail

into his eyes

he was

for

;

This touched Isaac's heart instantly.

but I'm sorry dinner."

little

eagerness to eat

all

*'0h, never mind, Billy," said he.

my

attended the

school, usually brought a very scanty dinner.

I

did

It

it.

"I did

Come, you

shall

it

for fun;

have half of

proved a lucky joke for Billy

;

for

from that day henceforth, Isaac always helped him plentifully

from

own

his

stock of provisions.

Isaac and his elder brother were accustomed to set traps in the

woods

to catch partridges.

when he was about

six

One

day,

years old, he went to look

at the traps early in the

morning, and

fiTnding his

empty, he took a plump partridge from his brother's trap,

put

When was

it

in his

his brother

own, and carried

examined the

it

traps,

home

as his.

he said he

sure he caught the bird, because there

feathers sticking to his trap

;

were

but Isaac maintained

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

12

were feathers sticking

that there

he went

to

bed,

his

As soon

what he had done.

as he rose

morning, he went to his mother and shall I

about it

do ?

That was Sam's

it.

from

have told a

I

my

trap

and so

;

After

to his also.

conscience scorched him for

lie,

and

I feel dreadfully

partridge.

I did

;

in the

"What

said,

took

I said I

but I put

in there

it

first."

"My

son,

a wicked thing to

is

it

"You must go

replied his mother.

and give him the

confess,

a

tell

to

lie,"

Sam

and

bird."

Accordingly, he went to his brother, and said,

"Sam,

my

trap

here's ;

but

your partridge. put

I

take

I did

out of

it

His brother

in there first."

it

gave him a talking, and then forgave him.

Being a very bright, manly boy, he was intrusted to carry grain several miles to mill,

only eight years

On

old.

he arrived just as another boy,

had alighted in before

to

who preceded

him,

me

drive

" Just let

open the gate.

you shut

it,"

have no need to get down from for

but, Isaac, without stopping to

up

his horse,

first

comer.

my

him

I shall

wagon."

to pass

The

through

thank him, whipped

arrived at the mill post haste,

and

served, because he

was

the other boy found he

was

claimed the right to be the

"and then

said Isaac,

boy patiently held the gate

when he was

one of these occasions,

When

first

compelled to wait, he looked very

much

dissatisfied,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

but said nothing. at

13

Isaac chuckled over his victory

but his natural sense of justice soon sug-

first,

gested better thoughts. He asked himself whether he had done right thus to take advantage of that

The

obliging boy?

longer he reflected upon

more uncomfortable he

felt.

At

the stranger and said frankly, "I did

up

the mill so

to

when you

you were

for

me

for it."

wrong

my

and get

who

w^ere the one

as

but fun

fast,

arrived

it,

the

he went up to

last,

to drive

corn ground,

first

;

especially

so obhging as to hold the gate open

to pass through.

when I did it. The boy was

I

was thinking

of nothing

make up with the amend

Here's sixpence to well pleased

thus honorably offered, and they parted right good friends.

At nine years Philadelphia, to

from

his

factorily,

old,

he began to drive a wagon to

sell

vegetables and other articles

farm;

father's

with the

occupied the next

which he did very

assistance of a

stall in

satis-

neighbor,

the market.

who

According to

the fashion of the times, he wore a broad-brimmed hat,

and small-clothes with

lono: stocking-s.

Beinff

something of a dandy, he prided himself upon having his shoes very clean, and his white dimity small clothes without spot or blemish.

and to

sold

them,

till

He

he obtained

caught rabbits,

money enough

purchase brass buckles for his knees, and for

the straps of his

shoes.

The

first

time he

made

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

14

appearance

his

felt his

in the city

new

with this

he

finery,

ambition concerning personal decoration com-

The

pletely satisfied.

neatness of his dress, and his

manly way of proceeding, attracted attention, and induced his customers to call him " The Little For several years, he was universal-

Governor." ly

known

market by that

in the

ly, his father

had no wish

in the sale of his

to obtain

produce

;

for

his straight-forward little son

had

ens,

been otherwise,

One

affairs.

day,

a citizen inquired the price of a pair of chick-

"My

he answ^ered, with the utmost simplicity,

father told

and

undue advantage it

would have proved a

poor agent in transacting his

when

Fortunate-

title.

if

me

to sell

them

for fifty cents if I could

not, to take forty."

"Well

done,

my

honest

"I

gentleman, smiling, the current price.

market

;

fellow!"

will give

and whenever

I

said the

you whatever

I shall look out

try to trade with you."

When

little

you

for

is

in the

see you, I shall always

And he

quite a small boy, he

kept his word.

was

sent

some

dis-

tance of an errand, and arrived just as the family

were about

to

sit

down

to

supper.

There were

him

several pies on the table, and they mvited

partake. tite,

The long wa]k had whetted

his

to

appe-

and the pies looked exceedingly tempting; but

the shyness of childhood led

thank you."

When

him

to

say,

"No,

I

he had delivered his message,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

15

he lingered, and lingered, hoping they would ask

him

But the family were Quakers,

again.

and

they understood yea to mean yea, and nay to mean

They would have considered

nay.

compliment to repeat the invitation

He

revolving the subject in his mind. to the house,

room, and

marched boldly

"1

said,

told a lie

did w^ant a piece of pie

you would ask

me

made them

smile,

ail

;

but

again."

I

I

revolutionary heroes. Philadelphia,

who

by William Penn,

here.

I

thought to be sure

This explicit avowal

and he was served with as principles led

him

garments

for

His mother had a brother

at the corner of

Second Street and

Isaac better than a his

visit to this

Nothing pleased city relative

boyish mind was

much

with watching for the famous men, of

heard so

made

General Washington, Benjamin Frank-

and other distinguished men.

there,

in

lived in a house formerly occupied

This uncle frequently cut and

Norris Alley.

ington

was

a lively interest in anecdotes concerning

to take

when

then w^alked

into the supper-

when

much pie as he wished to eat. The steadfastness of his whig

lin,

repenting of

and went nearly half of the way

his bashfalness,

back

were

so they

;

much

Isaac started for home,

silent.

a mere worldly

it

much

talk.

came there

;

and

occupied

whom

he had

Once, when General Wash-

to order

some garments, he

lowed him a long distance from the shop.

fol-

The

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

16

General had observed his wonder and veneration, and was amused by it. Coming to a corner of the street, he turned round suddenly, touched his hat, and

made a

very low bow. This playful condescension so completely confused his juvenile admirer, that he stood blush-

ing and bewildered for an instant, then walked hastily

away, without remembering to return the salutation.

The

tenderness of

spirit

was very remarkable

There

boy.

chievous

barn

in the

in

often manifested

by him,

such a resolute and mis-

an

Avas

old

unoccupied

neighborhood, a favorite resort of swal-

lows in the Spring-time.

When

he was about ten

years old, he invited a number of boys to meet him the next

Sunday morning,

They

lows.

on

set off

tions of a fine frolic

;

to

go and pelt the swal-

this expedition

with anticipa-

but before they had gone far,

Isaac began to feel a strong conviction that he

He

doing wrong.

was very

told his

cruel sport to torment and kill poor

innocent birds

especially

;

mothers, and then the starve.

was

companions he thought

as

little

it

little

they might destroy

ones would be

left

to

There was a Quaker meeting-house about a

mile and a half distant, and he proposed that they

should

all

go there, and leave the swallows

But the boys-only laughed ing,

"Come

on

!

Come

at

on!"

in peace.

him, and ran off shout-

He

looked after them

sorrowfully for

some minutes, reproaching himself

for the suffering

he had caused the poor birds.

He

LIFE OF ISAAC

HOPPER.

T.

then walked off to meeting alone ness to the light within

and

;

this incident,

joyed while

in

his faithful-

him was followed by a sweet

peacefalness and serenity of soul.

made by

17

The

impression

and the state of mind he en-

meeting, w^as one of the earliest

influ-

ences that drew him into the Society of Friends.—

When

he returned home, he heard that one of the

boys had broken his arm while stoning the swallows,

and had been writhing wdth pain, while he had been enjoying the consolations of an approving conscience.

At an early age, he was noted shot, w^ith

bow and

for being

king-birds built in his father's orchard, and sirable to get rid of

a sure

A pair

arrow, or with gun.

it

was

of de-

them, because they destroy ho-

Isaac watched for an opportunity, and one day when the birds flew away in quest of food for ney-bees.

their young,

At

m^Yand.

I

leiian

*re^;l)y

discordant. (ey will l»o (lisinisstul

lawyrr; "and

lli(^

shall

\\c p('il«'cllv

yon

if

if

you

ed," answered

and

some

promise to do

will

I

it,

been very badly treat"If the aggressor

Hopper.

Vrieiul

1o settle the a (lair,

oilri-

lulvise it," lojoincil

satislicd."

"'riicst; ccdored ])tH)pl(i luivo

wants

IIOITER.

T.

he had better go to them the

for

(M|tiiv()l('nt

Iroidde he

has,

given."

The the

luil

"When

law ycr replied,

man

for

he

a!J,ree»l

pected these snils would he dismissed, a

to

nianii-

one hundred and fdly dollars, he exol

What sum do you

part of \\w bargain.

course, as

think th(\se

people will take to withdraw them?"

Hopper

I'riend for on(>

"1 wdl

Kidgtdey

[)ay it," repTuHl is

'I'hus tht>

i'olor(>d

tlieir

money

to

it

heiMi

dollars

to

"for Colontd

were distributed among

rej>ay the

some

After

;

homi\"

the deed of manumission

l>aid lor

l'\)rty

pc^ojde,

property.

ses had

Mr. Sergeaid.

very anxious to r(>turu

was returned. \\\c

he thoU!!,ht they would do

said

hundrml and fdty dollars.

damage done

to

trifling ineidtnital ex])en-

deducted, the remainder was returntnl

the emanei[)ated

fretulom for about originally ofl'ered.

slavt*

fifty

;

who

dollars,

thus obtained

instead of the

liis

sum

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

STOP THIEF of

185

!

About the year 1826, a Marylander, by the name Solomon Low, arrested a fugitive slave in Philaand took him

delphia,

to the office of

an alderman

obtain the necessary authority for^arrying into

bondage.

ner,

they placed the colored

Mr.

Low

Some

and

Finding the magistrate gone to din-

man

in the entry, vi^hilc

companions guarded the door.

his

of the colored people soon informed Isaac T.

Hopper of these circumstances, and he hastened concluded

would be no

it

man

colored

men

difficult

a chance to escape.

at the door,

matter to give the

up

Fie stepped

and demanded

in a

in duress.

"This

is

Low

Mr.

replied,

"He

is

"Who

What

proof

can

is

tell

whether he

there that

is

that

my slave."

strange conduct," rejoined Friend

per.

to

peremptory

manner by what authority they were holding

man

to

Observing the state of things there, he

the office.

the

to

him back

Hop-

thy slave or not

you are not a band of

?

kid-

? Dost thou suppose the laws of Pennsylvania tolerate such proceedings ?"

nappers

These charges arrested the attention of Mr. Lov/ and

his

companions,

speaker. for

The

who

turned round to answer the

slave, seeing their

backs toward him

an instant, seized that opportunity to rush out

and he had run two or three rods before they missed him.

They immediately

raised the cry of

" Stop

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

186

Thief! Stop Thief!"

An

Irishman,

who

joined in

the pursuit, arrested the fugitive and brought

back to

Friend Hopper remonstrated with him

"The man

is

The ;

they said he was a

I'm sorry in as

?"

I

dy, and seized

I

him by the

is

I will

a slave,

put him

So saying,

the fugitive in custo-

sudden jerk,

collar with a

that threw

him on the pavement.

ly started,

and ran

The

slave instant-

utmost speed, again follow-

Having run some

ed by the cry of "Stop Thief!" distance,

he

found him."

man who had

at his

If

thief.

However,

stopped him.

good a condition as

he w^ent near the

and being nearly out of breath, he darted

into the shop of a

son,

"Then they

kind-hearted Hibernian replied,

for

for a

How wouldst

for liberty.

thou like to be made a slave

lied

saymg,

;

They claim him

not a thief.

and he wasTrunning

slaA^e,

him

his master.

watch-maker, named Samuel Ma-

who immediately

closed and fastened his door,

go that the crowd could not follow him. tive passed out of the

The

fugi-

back door, and was never

af-

terward recaptured.

The

disappointed master brought an action against

Samuel Mason

for rescuinsr o his

slave.

Ingersoll and his brother Joseph,

Charles

J.

two accomplished

lavryers of Philadelphia, conducted the trial for him,

with zeal and ingenuity worthy of a better cause. Isaac T. Hopper

was summoned

as a witness,

and

in

LIFE OF ISAAC

HOPPER.

T.

187

was asked what course Friends adopted when a

the course of examination he

members

of the Society of

came

fugitive slave

wilhng to answer

to

for

"Well," said Mr. in

such a case

am not

rephed, " I

"what would you do him to his mas-

Ingersoll,

Would you

?

He

them.

any one but myself."

deliver

ter?"

" Indeed

"My

I

would not

!"

answered

conscience would,not permit

would be a great crime bedience to

my own

;

because

me it

the

Friend.

to do

It

it.

would be

diso-

dearest convictions of right.

I

should never expect to enjoy an hour of peace after-

ward.

I

would do

for a fugitive slave

whatever

I

should like to have done for myself, under similar circumstances.

extend

it

to

If

him

w-as hungry, I

he asked

my

to the utmost of

would feed him.

would clothe him.

If

protection, I

my If

he needed

power.

would If

he

he was naked, advice, I

I

would

give such as I thought would be most beneficial to

him."

The cause was ington,

Judge Bushrod Wash-

tried before

nephew of General Washington.

Though a

slaveholder himself, he manifested no partiality during the

trial,

which continued several days, with able

arguments on both ant

sides.

The

counsel for the claim-

maintained that Samuel Mason prevented the

master from regaining his slave, by shutting his door,

and refusing to open

it.

The

counsel for the defen-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

188

dant replied that there was tle

much

valuable and brit-

property in the watchmaker's shop, which would

have been miscuous

liable to

robbery and destruction,

mob had been

allowed to rush

if

a pro-

Judge

in.

Washington summed up the evidence very clearly the jury,

to

who

retiring for deliberation

after

a

consideralde time, returned into court, declaring that

they could not agree upon a verdict, and probably

They were ordered

never should agree.

and kept together

till

out again,

when

the court adjourned,

they were dismissed.

At the succeeding term, the case was with renewed energy and zeal.

tried again,

But the

jury, after

being kept together ten days, w^ere discharged without being able to agree upon a verdict.

Some, who

w^ere originally in favor of the defendant,

weary of

their long confinement,

go over to the slaveholder's

side

;

named Benjamin Thaw, declared his

became

and consented to but one of them, that he

would eat

Christmas dinner in the jury-room, before he

would consent

to

such a flagrant act of injustice.

His patience held out Consequently a third

till

trial

the court adjourned.

became necessary

;

and

the third jury brought in a verdict in favor of the

watchmaker.

The expenses

of these suits

seventeen hundred dollars. limited circumstances

;

and

w^ere estimated at

Solomon

Low was

in

this expenditure in prose-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

cuting an innocent

soon

failure

man was

said to

189

have caused

his

after.

THE DISGUISED SLAVEHOLDER. A

colored

woman and

man

in East-Jersey.

phia,

who had been

her son were slaves to a

She had two sons free several years,

in Philadel-

and her pre

was unacquainted with them.

sent master

In 1827,

she and her younger son escaped, and went to live in Philadelphia.

Her owner, knowing

she had free

sons in that city, concluded as a matter of course that she

had sought

after her flight,

their protection.

Quaker costume, went

He

sons.

A

few weeks

he followed her, and having assumed to the

house of one of her

expressed great interest for the

woman,

and said he wished to obtain an interview with her for her benefit.

His friendly garb and kind language

completely deceived her son, and he told him that his

mother was then staying

which was not

far

off.

at his brother's house,

Having obtained

this infor-

mation, the slaveholder procured a constable and im-

mediately went to the place described. the son

was

sat near the

at

open door.

Fortunately,

bemg warm weather he The mother was seated a1'

home, and

it

a chamber window, and saw a constable approaching the house, with a gentleman in

whom

Quaker costume,

she at once recognized as her master.

She

gave the alarm to her son, who instantly shut the

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

190

door and fastened

it.

The

master, being refused ad-

mittance, placed a guard there, while he went to pro-

cure a search-warrant.

These proceedings attracted

the attention of colored neighbors, and a crowd soon

They

gathered about the house.

who

guarded the door, and held

woman and

him

seized the fast, w^hile

her fugitive son rushed out.

It

man the

was

dusk, and the uncertain light favored their escape.

They

ran about a mile,

and took refuge with a co-

The w^atchman soon got released from the colored people who held him, and succeeded in tracing the woman to her new reThe master treat, where he again mounted guard.

lored family in Locust-street.

returned meanwhile, and having learned the circumstances,

went

to the magistrate to obtain another

warrant to search the house in Locust-street.

At this stage of the affair, Friend Hopper was summoned, and immediately went to the rescue, accompanied by one of his sons, about sixteen years He found the woman and her son stowed away old. in a closet, exceedingly terrified.

He

assured them

they would be quite as safe on the mantel-piece, as they would be

in that closet

;

that their being found

concealed w^ould be regarded as the best evidence that they were the persons sought for.

Knowing

it

was dangerous for them to remain in that house, he told them of a plan he had formed, on the spur of After giving them careful instructions the moment.

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

how

he

to proceed,

them and requested

might be opened

street door

mediately rushed case.

left

He

in,

as he

A

for him.

that the

crowd im-

had foreseen would be the

affected to be greatly displeased,

men of the house to turn all They obeyed him and among

dered the out.

191

the

;

turned out were the two fugitives.

It

and

or-

the intruders

was

number

dark, and

watchman on guard could not them among the multitude. Friend Hopper had hastily consigned them to his

in the confusion, the

distingush

son, with instructions to take

them

to his

house

;

and

the watchman, seeing that he himself remained about

the premises, took

it

for granted that the fugitiA^es

had not escaped.

As soon

as

it

was

practicable, Friend

turned home, where he found the

son in a state of great agitation.

Hopper

re-

woman and her He immediately

sent her to a place of greater safety, and gave the

son a letter to a farmer thirty miles up in the country.

was

He went afraid

to

directly to the river Schuylkill, but

cross the bridge, lest

should be stationed there to arrest him.

some person

He

ingly walked along the margin of the river

accordtill

he

found a small boat, in which he crossed the stream. Following the directions he had received, he arrived

where he had a kindly welcome, and obtained employment.

at the farmer's house,

The master being unable

to recapture his slaves,

;

LIFE OF ISAAC

j^92

called

upon Isaac T. Hopper

He

anything about them.

it

he knew

to inquire if

coolly replied, ''I believe

From what

they are doing very well.

judge

HOPPER.

T.

I

hear,

I

will not be necessary to give thyself any

further trouble on their account."

"There

is

no use

in trying to

capture a runaway

"I be-

slave in Philadelphia," rejoined the master.

them when

lieve the devil himself could not catch

they once get here." ''That

"But

is

very likely," answered Friend Hopper.

think he would have less difficulty in catch-

I

ing the masters

;

being so

much more

familiar with

them." Sixty dollars had already been expended in vain

and the

slav43-holder,

having relinquished

tracing the fugitives, finally agreed to

woman

for fifty dollars,

dollars.

and her son

manumit the citizens

and the emancipated

friendly to the colored people,

them by

of

for seventy-five

These sums were advanced by two

slaves repaid

hope

all

faithful service.

THE SLAVE OF

DR. RICH.

In the autumn of 1828, Dr. Rich of Maryland

came

to Philadelphia with his wife,

who was

daughter of an Episcopal clergyman in that the

name

upon

of Wiltbank.

her, intending to

She brought a slave remain

after the birth of her child,

city,

the

by

to wait

at her father's until

which was soon expected

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. to take place.

When

193

they had been there a few

months, the slave was informed by some colored acquaintance that she was free in consequence of being brought to Philadelphia.

She

called to consult

with Isaac T. Hopper, and seemed very

much

disap-

pointed to hear that a residence of six months

necessary to entitle her to freedom

;

was

that her master

was doubtless aware of that circumstance, and would probably guard against

it.

After some minutes of anxious reflection, she said,

"Then away

there for I

;

is

nothing

left for

am determined

me

to

do but to run

never to go back to Ma-

ryland."

Friend Hopper inquired whether she thought

would be to attend

right to leave her mistress without

upon

She replied

her,

that she felt no scruples on that point,

servants as he pleased.

made up on tions as

The

any one

in the situation she then was.

master was wealthy, and could hire as

for her

it

many

Finding her mind entirely

the subject, he gave her such instruc-

seemed suited

to the occasion.

next morning she was not to be found

;

and

Dr. Rich went in search of her, with his father-in-

Having frightened some ignorant colored people where she visited, by threats of law, Mr. Wiltbank.

prosecuting tliem for harboring a runaway, they confessed that she

T. Hopper.

had gone from

their house to Isaac

Mr. Wiltbank accordingly waited upon 9

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

194

him. and after relating the circumstances of the case, inquired whether he had seen the fugitive.

In reply,

he made a frank statement of the interview he had

and of her fixed determination to obtain

w^ith her,

The clergyman reproached

her freedom.

her with

and said she had always been treated

ingratitude,

with great kindness. ''The

woman

herself gives a very different ac-

count of her treatment," replied Friend Hopper;

"but be that as

may,

it

cannot blame her for

I

wishing to obtain her liberty."

He was

;

asked

find her, if *'I

Friend Hopper

if

knew where

and he answered that he did

you tried?" inquired

presume

Quaker.

I

"The

themselves from

could do

it

not.

she then

" Could you

he.

very easily," rejoined the

colored people never wish to secrete

me

;

they

for

know

I

am

their true

friend."

Mr. Wiltbank then

said,

"If you will cause her to

be brought to your house, Dr. Rich and myself will

come here

at eight o'clock this evening.

You

will

then hear her ask her master's pardon, acknowledge the kindness with which she has always been treated,

and express her readiness

to

go home with him."

Friend Hopper indignantly rephed, "I have no doubt that fear might induce her to profess hast said.

my

But what

trait hast

all

thou

thou discovered

character, that leads thee to suppose I

in

would

""

"

LIFE OP ISAAC

HOPPER.

T.

195

be such a hypocrite as to betray the confidence this poor

woman

has reposed in me, by placing her in

the power of her master, in the

way thou

hast pro-

?

''posed

Mr. Wiltbank then requested that a message might be conveyed to the woman, exhorting her

and promising that no notice whatever

to return,

would be taken of her offence.

"She

shall be informed of thy

message,

if

that

be any satisfaction to thee," replied Friend

w^ill

Hopper; "but

am

I

perfectly sure she will never

voluntarily return into slavery."

Dr. Rich and Mr. Wiltbank called in the eveninsr,

and were told the message had been delivered the

woman, but she refused

to return.

"She

your house now," exclaimed Dr. Rich. prove

it

and

;

commence a boring

my

if

you

don't

suit against

let

me

is

to in

"I can

see her, I wdll

you to-morrow,

for

har-

slave."

Low

resides in thy neighbor-

hood," said Friend Hopper.

"Art thou acquainted

" I believe

with him

Solomon

?

Being answered

mon Low threatened. lars,

which

perhaps spare

?

in the affirmative,

he

said,

"Solo-

brought three such suits as thou hast

They I

thou

him seventeen hundred dolheard he was unable to pay. But cost

hast

seventeen hundred

dollars

to

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

196

Dr. Rich answered that he could well afford to lose that sum.

"Very

who need

w^ould be glad to have

Finding

it

"There

rejomed his opponent.

w^ell,"

lawyers enough

it,

and

still

it."

alike impossible to coax or intimidate

About eleven

the resolute Quaker, they withdrew. o'clock at night,

Hopper

some of

house?"

When

was, he said, "It

is

do not think there

am

man

continually walking

He went

in front of the house.

and accosted him thus

I

the family informed Friend

that there w^as a

back and forth

my

are

more who

:

out

"Friend, art thou watching

the stranger replied that he

very kind in thee;

any occasion

is

but

I really

for thy services.

quite satisfied with the w^atchmen

employed by

the public."

The man answered stand, and I intend to

gruffly,

keep

"I have taken

my

it."

Friend Hopper told him he had no objection

and

;

he was about to re-enter the house, w^hen he observed Dr. Rich, w^ho was so wrapped up in a large cloak, that at

exclaimed, sible

thou

first

"Why art

night, at this cold season of the year

in

my house.

!

Is

To

I

?

pos-

it

parading the streets so late

motives of kindness,

He

he did not recognize him.

doctor, art thou here

Now,

do assure thee thy slave

th

in

frorp is

not

save thee from exposing thy health

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

by watching

at this

inclement season,

197

I will

give thee

leave to search the house."

The

doctor replied, "I shall obtain a warrant in

the morning, and search

it

with the proper officer."

"There appear to be several on the watch," said Friend Hopper "and it surely is not necessary for all If of them to be out in the cold at the same time. ;

thou wilt be responsible that nothing shall be stolen,

thou

art

This

house." ty,

welcome offer

to use

my

parlor as a watch-

was declined with

and Friend Hopper returned to

freezing his

civili-

dwelling.

Passing through the kitchen, he observed two colored domestics talking together in an under tone,

apparently planning something which

heard, foot,

made them

Judging from some words he over-

very merry.

they

that

had a mischievous scheme on

he resolved to watch their movements without

them know that he noticed them. One of them put on an old cloak and bonnet, opened the front door cautiously, looked up the street and down the street, but saw nobody. The watchers had seen letting

the dark face the

were lying

in

moment

ambusn

it

peeped

out,

and they

to observe her closely.

After

a minute of apparent hesitation, she rushed into the street

and ran

pursuit,

w^ith all speed.

and soon overtook

her.

They

joined in hot

She pretended

to

be greatly alarmed, and called aloud for a watch-

man.

The

offenders were arrested and brought back

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

198

to the house with the gh'l.

that these

men

Friend Hopper explained

had been watching

his house, suppos-

ing a fugitive slave to be secreted there

;

and that

they had mistaken one of his domestics for the person they were in search of. After laughing a little at the joke practised upon them, he proposed that

they should be set

at liberty

and they were accord-

;

ingly released.

The

next morning, a soon as

vited the w^atchers to

but they declined.

When

come

it

and

in

was

light,

he

in-

warm themselves

After sunrise, they

all

;

dispersed,

was ready, he urged telling them that one could keep guard while the other was eating. But they replied that Dr. Rich had ordered them to hold

except two.

them

to

come

in

breakfast

and partake

;

no communication with him.

Being firmly persuaded that the slave was in the house, they kept sentry several days and nights.

For fear she might escape by the back way, a messenger was sent to Mr. Warrence, w^ho occupied a building in the rear, offering to pay ble

him

for his trou-

he would watch the premises in that direction.

if

His wife happened to overhear the conversation

;

and

having a pitcher of scalding water in her hand, she ran out saying,

band

to

"Do you

propose to hire

watch neighbor Hopper's premises

away

slave

throw

this in

?

Go

about your business

vour face."

!

my

hus-

for a run-

or I will

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

When litely,

199

Dr. Rich called again, he was received po-

and the

inquiry

first

was how he had succeed-

He

ed in his efforts to procure a search-warrant. replied, *'

"The

Perhaps

magistrate refused to grant one."

Reed,

Joseph

the

Recorder, would

oblige thee in that matter," said Friend Hopper.

The answer was, "I have been

and he

to him,

declines to interfere."

was then suggested

It

that

it

might be well to

re-

tain a lawyer with a portion of the seventeen hun-

dred dollars he said he had to spare.

"I have been

"He

tor.

to

tells

Mr. Broome," rejoined the doc-

me

you understand the law

that

such cases as well as he does

;

and he advises

in

me to

the matter alone."

let

"I

my

will give thee permission to search

said Friend

Hopper; "and

that matter than

any

I

house,"

have more authority

in

m_agistrate, judge, or lawyer,

in the city."

"That "but

is

I infer

very gentlemanly," replied the doctor;

from

it

that the

woman

is

not in your

house."

He was ell

into

lavery.

again assured that she was not

your horse," said the Doctor.

me, and

;

and they

some general discourse on the subject of " Suppose you came to Maryland and lost I told

you that

I

"If you called upon

knew where he was,

but

would not inform you, would you consider yourself

200

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

"In such a case,

treated kindly ?"

myself well treated," replied Friend Hopper.

sider

" But in this part of the country, tion

between horses and men.

man

should not con-

I

we make

We

a distinc-

believe that hu-

beings have souls."

"That makes no

"You

confess that

you could

;

and

is."

"I

were so disposed

me where

difference," rejoined the Doctor.

she

same opinion,"

find

you

if

your duty to

tell

the

do

will

replied

slave

when I am of " but Friend Hopper

consider

I

my

it

it

till

;

then thou must excuse me."

The ed

fugitive

who

Hill,

was protected by a colored man nam-

soon obtained a situation for her as ser-

vant in a respectable country family, where she w^as kindly treated.

In the course of a year or two, she

returned to Philadelphia, married a steady industri-

ous man, and lived very comfortably.

One

Mr. Hill had a very revengeful temper. his colored neighbors brought

criminal

From

conduct,

that time he

complexion, and

them.

suits

against

him

of for

and recovered heavy damages.

seemed

omitted

The woman he

own

to hate people of his

no opportunity

befriended,

to

injure

when he was

in a

better state of mind, had been married nine or ten

years, and had long ceased to think of danger,

when

he formed the wicked project of making a

little

money by betraying her

to her master.

Accordingly

he sought her residence accompanied by one of those

LIFE OF ISAAC

who make

wretches

When busy

T.

HOPPER.

201

a business of capturing slaves.

he entered her humble abode, he found her

at the wash-tub.

Rejoiced to see the

had rendered her such

man who

essential service in time of

need, she threw her arms about his neck, exclaiming,

"O, uncle

how

Hill,

glad I

am

you !" She up the floor, and house good enough

to see

hastily set aside her tub, Aviped

was nothing in the for her benefactor, she went out to purchase some little luxuries. Hill recommended a particular shop, and proposed to accompany her. The slave-hunter, who had been left in the street, received a private signal, and the moment she entered the shop, he pounced upon her. Before her situation could be made known to Isaac T. Hopper, she was removed thinking there '

to Baltimore.

was she

The

lust

he ever heard of her she

in prison there, awaiting her

was

He

to

day of

sale,

when

be transported to New-Orleans.

know which was the mind to conceive of, the cruel depravity manifested by the ignorant colored man,

most

used to say he did not

dificult for his

or the unscrupulous selfishness of the slaveholder, a

man

of education, a husband and a father,

could consent to

Many more be added

;

who

use such a tool for such a purpose.

naratives of similar character might

for I think

he estimated at more than one

thousand the number of cases in which he had been

employed

for fugitives, in

9*

one

way or

another, during

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

202 his

forty years'

enough have been lence,

residence

in

Philadelphia.

But

told to illustrate the active benevo-

uncompromising boldness,

and

ready wit,

which characterized this friend of humanity. accurate knowledge of

all

His

laws connected with slave-

ry w^as so proverbial, that magistrates and lawyers

were generally averse

any

to

collision

with him on

such subjects. In 1810, Benjamin Donahue of Delaware applied to

assist

him

with whose place of

resi-

Mr. Barker, mayor of Philadelphia, to

in recovering a fugitive,

dence he was perfectly sure Isaac T. Hopper was acAfter a brief correspondence with Friend

quainted.

Hopper, the mayor said

to

Mr. Donahue,

"We

better drop this business, like a hot potato

Hopper knows more law you and I put together."

He would

such cases as

;

for

this,

Mr. than

often resort to the most unexpected ex-

Upon one

pedients.

in

had

occasion,

a

slave

case

was

brought before Judge Rush, brother of Dr. Benjamin

Rush.

It

seemed

slaveholder

;

that the judge

ment

likely to terminate in favor of the

but Friend Hopper thought he observed

wavered a

to inquire,

little.

"Hast thou not

a legal opinion, in

which

it

is

He

in

the Bible ?"

it

mo-

recently published

distinctly stated that

thou wouldst never seek to sustain a thou wert convinced that

seized that

human

conflicted with

law,

any

if

lav/

LIFE OP ISAAC T. HOPPER.

"I

did publish such a statement,"

Rush; ''audi am ready

to abide

by

203

rephed Judge it

for in all

;

law above the human."

cases, I consider the divine

Friend Hopper drew from his pocket a small Bible,

which he had brought

into

court for the express

purpose, and read in loud distinct tones the follow-

ing verses

:

"Thou

the servant which

thee

:

He

master

shalt not deliver unto his

escaped from his master unto

is

shall dwell with thee,

even among you,

in

that place which he shall choose, in one of thy gates,

where him."

it

liketh

him

best

:

thou shalt not oppress

Ueut. 23: 15, 16.

The slaveholder smiled supposing this appeal to old Hebrew law w^ould be considered as little applicable to modern times, as the command to stone a man to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. But when the judge asked for the book, read the ;

sentence for himself, seemed impressed by

it,

and ad-

journed the decision of the case, he walked out of the court-house muttering, "I believe in the old fool will let

my

him off on that ground." was discharged.

soul

And

sure enough, the slave

Friend

Hopper's quickness in slipping through

loop-holes, and dodging round corners, rendered

exceedingly troublesome holders.

He

him

and provoking to slave-

often kept cases pending in court three

or four years,

till

the

claimants were

completely

wearied out, and ready to settle on any terms.

His

SM

LIFE OF ISAAC

HOPPER.

T.

acute perception of the slightest flaw in a document, or imperfection in evidence, always attracted notice in the courts

Judges and lawyers

he attended.

ten remarked to him, "Mr. Hopper, pity

you were not educated

You have

such

for the

a judicial

it

is

of-

a great

legal profession.

Mr. William

mind."

Lewis, an eminent lawyer, offered him every facility for

''

studying the profession.

and use

my

Come

to

whenever you please,"

library

my

office

said he

;

*'or I will obtain a clerkship in the courts for you, if

you prefer

Your mind is peculiarly adapted and if you would devote your-

liat.

to legal investigation,

you might become a judge before long." But Friend Hopper could never overcome his scruples about entering on a career of worldly am-

self to

it,

He

bition.

thought he had better keep humble, and

temptations that might lead him out of the

resist

plainness and simplicity of the religious Society to

which he belonged.

As

for the colored people of Philadelphia,

they

believed in his infallibility, as devout Catholics believe in the

Pope.

them

it is

;

and

They

trusted him, and he trusted

remarkable

in

found his confidence misplaced.

how few instances he The following anec

dote will illustrate the nature of the relation ex isting

Prince

between him and that much abused Hopkins,

was claimed

a wood-sawyer

of

as a fugitive slave by

race.

Philadelphia,

John Kinsmore

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

When

of Baltimore.

205

Friend Hopper went to the

magistrate's office to inquire into the

He

the poor fellow in tears.

affair,

he found

asked for a private

in-

When

terview, and the alderman gave his consent.

they were alone, Prince confessed that he was the In the course of his narrative,

slave in question.

it

appeared that he had been sent into Pennsylvania

by up

and had resided there with a

his mistress,

his tears, for

When

was

it

relative

Friend Hopper told him to dry

two years.

of hers

in his

he returned to the

power

to protect him.

he informed the

office,

magistrate that Prince Hopkins was a free

man

having resided in Pennsylvania, with the consent of his mistress, a

much

longer time than the law re-

Mr. Kinsmore was

quired.

that the

colored

man

irritated,

and demanded

should be imprisoned

till

he

could obtain legal advice.

"Let him go and

finish the

said Friend Hopper.

"I

appearance whenever he trate will give at

my

and

main

is

wanted.

If the magis-

a commitment. Prince will call

house after he has finished sawing his wood, will

I

me

wood he was sawing,"

will be-responsible for his

send him to

jail

there, until the facts I

with

it.

He

can

re-

have stated are clearly

proved."

The

slave-holder and his lawyer

this proposition as

Hopper

an

insult.

seemed

They

to regard

railed at Friend

for his "impertinent interference,"

and

for

;

206

LIFE OF ISAAC

T.

HOPPER.

the absurd idea of trusting '*that nigger" under such

circumstances.

He you

rephed,

call

marched

''I

would rather

trust 'that nigger,' as

him, than either of you."

So

sayiiig,

he

off with the magistrate's mittimus in his

pocket.

When

Prince Hopkins had finished his job of

sawing, he called for the commitment, and carried to the jailor, w^ho

it

locked him up.

Satisfactory

evidence of his freedom was soon obtained, and he

was discharged.

The

colored people appeared to better advantage

with their undoubted friend, than they possibly could

They

have done where a barrier of prejudice existed.

were not afraid

own way, with with fun.

A

to tell

him

their experiences in their

natural pathos, here and there dashed fine-looking, athletic fugitive, telling

him his story one day, said, "When I first run away, I met some people who were dreadful afraid I could n't

take care of myself.

But thinks

I

to

myself

J

took care of master and myself too for a long spell

and

I

guess

I

can make out."

pression laughing don't look as

if

I

all

was

With a roguish

ex-

over his face, he added, "I suffering for a master

;

do

I,

Mr. Hopper?"

Though

slaveholders had abundant reason to dread

Isaac T. Hopper, as they would a blister of Spanish (lies,

yet he had no hardness of feeling toward them,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. or even toward, kidnappers

hateful as he

;

the system, which produced

207

them

deemed

hoth.

In 1801, a sober industrious family of free colored people, living

Pennsylvania on the borders of

in

Maryland, were attacked

The

kidnappers.

by a band of

in the night

parents were aged,

and needed

Knowing them

the services of their children for support. that the object of the marauders off

and

them

sell

was

to carry

to slave speculators, the old father

defended them to the utmost of his power.

was wounded by a

struggle, he

pistol,

In the

and one of

his

daughters received a shot, which caused her death.

One

of the sons,

and bruised

till

who was very

ill

in bed,

was beaten But

he was covered with blood.

mangled and crippled as he was, he contrived to drag himself to a neighboring barn, and hide himunder the straw.

self

If

such lawless violence had been practised upon

any white

citizens, the

Executive of Pennsylvania

would have immediately offered a high reward the apprehension of the aggressors

;

for

but the victims

belonged to a despised caste, and nothing was done to

repair

their

Friend Hopper

wrongs.

felt

the

blood boil in his veins when he heard of this cruel :)utrage,

punished

he

said,

and ;

his first

wish was to have the offenders

but as soon as he had time to

"I cannot

find

it

in

my

reflect,

heart to urge this

subject upon the notice of the Executive; for death

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

208

would be the penalty

those wretches were con

if

victed."

There

w^ere

many

highly respectable individuals

among

the colored people of Philadelphia.

Allen,

who had been

Richard

a slave, purchased

freedom

He

married

own

with the proceeds of his

industry.

and established himself as a shoemaker in that city where he acquired considerable property, and built a

He was

three-story brick house. in

organizing the

in Philadelphia, his death,

congregation of colored people

first

and was their pastor to the day of

without asking or receiving any compen-

During the

sation.

the principal agent

latter part of his life,

he was

Bishop of their Methodist Episcopal Church.

salom Jones, a

it

respected colored man, was

when the yellow fever was was extremely difficult to procure at-

his colleague.

raging,

much

In 1793,

tendants for the sick on any terms

who would

Ab-

;

and the few

consent to render service, demanded ex-

orbitant prices.

But Bishop Allen and Rev. Mr.

Jones never hesitated to go wherever they could be useful

;

and with them the compensation was always

a secondary consideration. abated, the

mayor

sent

When the pestilence had

them a

certificate expressing

his approbation of their conduct.

But even these men, whose worth commanded respect, were not safe from the legalized curse that rests upon their hunted race.

A

Southern speculator arrested Bishop Allen,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

and claimed him as a fugitive

The

bought running. the warrant

"Mr.

spectful tone, to

fugitive,

Allen,

you

you 1

and

lator

knew

that

come down

"

;

and everybody

in

Richard Allen had been

more than twenty

living there

man

in a re-

they were seeking, had ab-

sconded only four years previous Philadelphia

said,

will soon

office, will

whom

he had

drag the good

to

and he merely

;

Alderman Todd's

The

whom

slave,

constable employed to serve

was ashamed

through the streets

209

Yet the specu-

years.

swore unblushingly that he was

his sons

the identical slave they had purchased.

Mr. Allen

thought he ought to have some redress for this outrage

;

"For," said he, "if

kindness of the

officer, I

it

had not been

for the

might have been dragged

through the streets like a felon." Isaac T. Hopper

commenced.

was

consulted, and a civil suit

Eight hundred dollars bail was de-

manded, and the speculator, being unable it,

was lodged

in the debtor's prison.

to procure

When

he had

been there three months, Mr. Allen caused him discharged

;

to

be

saying he did not wish to persecute the

man, but merely

him not

up

free

people again, ior the purpose of carrying them

into-

to teach

to take

slavery.

The numerous

!

instances of respectability

among

the colored people were doubtless to be attributed in part to the protecting influence extended over

them

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

210

by the Quakers. But even in those days, the Society of Friends were by no means all free from prejudice against color

and

;

in later times,

think they

I

have not proved themselves at all superior to other sects in their feelings and practice on this subject. Friend Hopper, Joseph Carpenter, and the few

wh

resemble them in this respect, are exceptions to th general character of modern Quakers, not the rule.

The following very characteristic anecdote shows how completely Isaac was free from prejudice on account of complexion.

a colored Quaker fervid

It is

an unusual thing to see

for the African

;

temperament

is

and impressible, and requires more exciting

David Maps and

forms of religion.

his wife, a

very

worthy couple, were the only colored members of the Yearly Meeting to which Isaac T. Hopper be-

On

longed.

the occasion of the annual gathering in

Philadelphia, they

Society to question

came with other members of the

share the hospitality of his house.

arose

in the

family whether

A

Friends of

white complexion w^ould object to eating with them.

"Leave hold.

that to me," said the master of the house-

Accordingly when the time arrived, he an-

nounced

it

thus: "Friends,

David Maps and I

like to

have

dining with

all

his wife will

dinner

come

is

w^ith

accommodated, those

them can wait

guests smiled, and

all

till

now

ready

me

and a

who

;

object to

they have done."

The

seated themselves at the table.

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

The

conscientiousness

211

observable

so

several

in

anecdotes of Isaac's boyhood was strikingly manifested in his treatment of a colored printer,

Kane.

This

man was

named

noted for his profane swearing.

Friend Hopper had expostulated with him concerning .this

One

bad

producing the least

habit, without

him

day, he encountered

forth a volley of terrible oaths,

effect.

in the street, pouring

enough

to

make one

Believing him incurable by gentler means,

shudder.

he took him before a magistrate,

who

fined

him

for

blasphemy.

He

did not see the

man

asrain for a Ions;

time

but

;

twenty years afterward, when he was standing his door,

Kane passed

touched

by

appearance

his

and poor.

feeble,

The

by.

He

;

Friend's heart for

he looked

remember me, and how swearing

I

"Dost thou

caused thee to be fined

" ?

"Yes, indeed

how many

old,

stepped out, shook hands

with him, and said in kindly tones,

for

at

was

I do,"

he replied.

"I remember

dollars I paid, as well as if

it

were but

yesterday."

" Did

it

do thee any good

;

" inquired

Friend Hop-

per.

"Never a

mad

to

have

bit,"

answered he.

my money

"It only

made me

taken from me."

The poor man was invited to walk into the house. The interest was calculated on the fine, and every

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

212

"I meant

cent repaid to him.

the benevolent Quaker

provoked thee."

;

" and

many

thy good," said

for

am

sorry that I only

Kane's countenance changed

once, and tears began to flow.

with

it

I

thanks, and

He

took the

at

money

was never again heard

to

swear.

Friend Hopper's benevolence was by no means

Wherever there was heart and hand were ready.

confined to colored people.

good

to be done, his

From

various anecdotes in proof of this, I select the

following.

^JOHN Mc GRIER. John was an yellow fever,

Irish orphan, wdiose parents died of

when he was very young.

He

obtain-

ed a scanty living by doing errands for cartmen. the year 1800, old, there

was

when he was about

a long period during

obtain

scarcely any

friends,

and

employment.

in a state of

extreme

In

fourteen years

which he could Being without

destitution,

he was

tempted to enter a shop and steal two dollars from the drawer.

He was

pursued and taken.

Isaac T.

Hopper, who was one of the inspectors of the prison

saw a crowd gathered, and went to inThe poor boy's history was soon Friend Hopper liked the expression of his

at that time,

quire the cause. told.

countenance, and pitied his forlorn condition.

he was brought up

for trial,

When

he accompanied him,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

and pleaded with the judge

neglected, and consequently he

than blamed.

said

if

he would

The judge granted in

him

tleman hesitated

way

his request,

for him.

boy bound

at first,

education and wild

all

pro-

He

to take charge of

way

He

on account of ;

till

Friend

proposed to his

to him.

of living

of tempta-

and John was

prison merely for a few days,

Hopper could provide father to have the

m

promise to place him in good

hands, where he would be out of the

placed

to be pitied

not utterly ruined.

if

the judge would allow

the lad, he would

tion.

urged

been entirely

was more

If sent to prison,

become hardened,

He

in his favor.

that the poor child's education had

bability

213

The

old gen-

his neglected

but pity for the

orphan overcame his scruples, and he agreed to take

John lived with him

him.

till

he was twenty-one

years of age, and was remarkably faithful and in-

But about two years after, a neighbor came one night to arrest him for stealing a horse. Old Mr. Hopper assured him it was not possible

dustrious.

John had done such a thing

that during

;

all

the time

he had lived in his family he had proved himself entirely honest

and trustworthy.

that his horse sold to

;

The neighbor replied

had been taken to Philadelphia and

and the ferryman from Woodbury was ready

swear that the animal was brought over by Hop-

per's John, as

bed, but

was

he was generally called. called

up

to

John was

in

answer the accusation

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

214

He

did not attempt to deny

made him do distressed.

He

come

him

to see

dreadfully

ashamed and

begged that Friend Isaac would not in prison, for

he could not look him

His anguish of mind was so great, that

the face.

when

He was

it.

money know what

but gave up the

it,

at once, and kept repeating that he did

the trial

came

on,

he was emaciated almost to into court

and

stated the adverse circumstances of his early

life,

Old Mr. Hopper w^ent

a skeleton.

and

his

exemplary conduct during nine years that he

had lived

He

in his family.

begged that he might

be fined instead of imprisoned, and offered to pay

The

the fine himself. the kind old

man

proposition

was accepted, and

took the culprit home.

This lenient treatment completely subdued the last vestige of evil habits acquired in childhood.

was humble and

steady and industrious. propriety

He

grateful in the extreme, and always

ever afterward,

He

conducted with great

and established such a

character for honesty, that the neighbors far and

wide trusted him

to carry their

produce to market,

receiving a small commission for his trouble.

Even-

own a small house and farm, where he lived in much comfort and respectability. He always looked up to Isaac as the friend who had tually,

he came to

early raised

him from a downward and

slippery path

;

and he was never weary of manifesting gratitude by every

little

attention he could devise.

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

216

LEVI BUTLER, Some one having told Friend Hopper of an apwho was cruelly treated, he caused investigation to be made, and took the lad under his own protection. As he was much bent upon going to prentice

he was placed

sea,

for sailors,

till

One

to gratify his inchnation.

employ of

this

boarding-house

in a respectable

a fitting opportunity could be found

day,

man

a

boarding-house brought a

He was

paid for the lad.

in the

to

bill

be

very ragged, but his man-

ners were those of a gentleman, and his conversation

showed that he had been

w^ell

His ap-

educated.

pearance excited interest in Friend Hopper's mind,

and he inquired into

was Levi Butler tion,

;

his history.

He

that he w^as of

said his

German

and had been a wealthy merchant

of the firm of Butler and Magruder.

name

extrac-

in Baltimore,

He

married a

wddow, who had considerable property, and several After her death, he failed in business, and

children.

gave up

all

his

own

property, but took the precau-

tion to secure all her property to her children.

creditors

pel

him

were angry, and

to

pay them with

mprisoned a long time. lature for release,

the case

His

ways to commoney. He was

tried various his wife's

He

petitioned

the Legis-

and the committee before

was brought made a report

in

his

whom favor,

highly applauding his integrity in not involving his

216

own

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. affairs

children,

with the property belonging to his wife's

who had been

Po-

intrusted to his care.

verty and persecution had broken

down

his spirits,

and when he was discharged from prison he

left

Bal-

timore and tried to obtain a situation as clerk in

He

Philadelphia.

ployment.

His clothes became thread-bare, and he

had no money tion,

did not succeed in procuring em-

new

to purchase a

some people

ment treated him state of despair

to

whom

as if he

In this situa-

suit.

he applied for employ-

were an impostor.

But when he had put some heavy stones to

make him

calling to

sink rapidly, he

him

tions,

went

to forbear

seemed

hurried

and passing by a

sailor's

him.

in his

away

to avoid ques-

boarding-house, he

and offered to wait upon the boarders

in

pocket

to hear a voice

and looking up, he saw a

;

He

man watching

In a

he went one day to drown himself.

for his

They took him upon those terms and the gentleman who had been accustomed to ride in his own carriage, and be waited upon by servants, now roasted oysters and went of errands for common seamen. He was in this forlorn situation, when accifood.

;

dent introduced him to Friend Hopper's notice.

immediately furnished him with a clothes thin.

;

for the

weather was

He employed him

to

cold,

suit

and

his

of

He warm

garments

post up his account-

books, and fmding that he did

it

in a

very perfect

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

217

manner, he induced several of his friends to employ

him

in a similar

A

way.

brighter day

was dawning

for the unfortunate

man, and perhaps he might have attained independence,

table

if his

to comfor-

health had not

failed.

But he had taken severe colds by thin clothing and

A

exposure to inclement weather.

rapid consump-

came on, and he was soon entirely unable to work. Under these circumstances, the best Friend Hopper could do for him was to secure peculiar privileges at the alms-house, and surround him with all tion

the

little

him very

visited

and

comforts that help to alleviate

his

often,

until the

sympathy and kind

illness.

day of

attentions

his

He

death,

were always

received with heartfelt gratitude.

THE MUSICAL One day when

BOY.

Friend Hopper visited the prison,

he found a dark-eyed lad with a very bright expressive

His right

countenance

that the

arm hung down

intelligent face,

side

useless.

was

palsied,

so

Attracted by his

he entered into conversation with

him, and found that he had been palsied from infancy.

He had

been sent forth friendless into the world

rom an alms-house

in

Maryland.

In Philadelphia,

he had been committed to prison as a vagrant, because he drew crowds about him in the street by his

wonderful talent of imitating a hand-organ, merely 10

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

218

by whistling tunes through his fingers. Friend Hopwho had imbibed the Quaker idea that music

per,

was a

useless and frivolous pursuit, said to the boy,

"Didst thou not know time in that

was wrong

it

manner

idle

to

spend thy

?"

With ready frankness the young prisoner replied, "No, I did not; and I should like to hear how you can prove it to be wrong. God has given you sound

my

Half of

Umbs.

possible for

me

to

body

work

God to give me a harm with it. It gives ed

ers,

my

and enables bread.

wherein

it is

I

me

is

paralyzed, an-d

as others do.

It

for music.

talent

it is

im-

has pleas-

do no

I

pleasure to myself and oth-

to gain a

should like to

few coppers

to

buy

have you show me

wrong."

Without attempting

to

do

Friend Hopper sug-

so,

gested that perhaps he had been committed to prison

on account of producing noise and confusion in the streets.

"I make no

please people by

me

rejoined the youth.

riot,"

my

tunes

begin to be noisy,

;

and

I quietly

if

"I

try to

the crowd around

walk

off."

Struck with the good sense and sincerity of these "

Thou

answers. Friend Hopper said to the

jailor,

mayest

be responsible

set this lad at liberty.

I will

for it."

The and

jailer relying

his intimacy

on

his

well-known character,

with Robert Wharton, the mayor,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

219

did not hesitate to comply with his request.

moment,

the

mayor himself came

in

At that and

sight,

Friend Hopper said to the lad, " Step into the next

room, and play some of thy best tunes

"What's crot

this?" said Mr.

a hand-organ here

"Have you

Wharton.

!"

"Yes," replied Friend Hopper; " and it

to thee.

At

It is

the

first,

come."

I

till

I will

show

quite curious."

mayor could not

believe

the

that

sounds he had heard were produced by a lad merely

He

whistling through his fingers.

thought them

highly agreeable, and asked to have the tunes repeated.

"The oflTence

lad

was committed

to prison for

no other

than making that noise, which seems to thee

so pleasant," said Friend

w^ouldst like to

make

it

Hopper.

"I dare say thou

thyself, if

thou could st.

I

have taken the liberty to discharge him."

"Very

well," rejoined the mayor, with a smile.

"You have done may go, my lad.

quite right. I shall

Friend Isaac.

You

But try

not trouble you.

not to collect crowds about the streets."

"That

I

crowds will come, when get coppers

you

by

I will try to

fusion."

"The

cannot help," replied the youth. I whistle for

collecting crowds.

them

But

I

;

and

I

promise

avoid their making any riot or con-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

220

MARY NORRIS. A

woman, named Mary Norris was

stout healthy

continually taken up as a vagrant, or committed for

was discharged from the penalty of one misdemeanor, she was committed One day, Friend Hopper, who was" for another. As soon

petty larceny.

as she

then inspector, said to her, "Well, Mary, thy time is

Dost thou think thou shalt come

out next week.

back again?" "Yes," she replied sullenly.

"Dost thou

"Why better

?

come back?"

like to

"No, to be sure "But I've no doubt month is out."

I

inquired he.

don't," rejoined the prisoner. I shall

make

dost thou not

come back

before the

a resolution to behave

" said the kindly inspector.

"What

use would

would

n't

take

would

n't

take

me me

it

into

be?" she

The

your family.

into his family.

"You

replied.

No

doctor

respectable

person would have anything to do with me. associates inust here.

If

whether

be such acquaintances as

they

steal, I

am

guilty

I

again.

make

am taken up for it no matter or not. I am an old convict, ;

and nobody believes what

come back

I

My

To

I

say.

be sure

O, yes, I shall

I shall

come back,"

she repeated bitterly.

Her

voice and

manner excited Friend Hopper's

LIFE OF ISAAC

HOPPER.

T.

221

compassion, and he thus addressed her: "If get a place for thee

where they

in

I will

some respectable family

me

will be kind to thee, wilt thou give

thy word that thou wilt be honest and steady, and try to do thy duty."

Her countenance wered, "Yes

brightened, and she eagerly an-

I loill!

And thank God and you

too,

the longest day I have to live."

He

exerted his influence in her behalf, and pro-

cured a situation for her as head-nurse at the almshouse.

She was well contented

with great propriety.

there,

and behaved

Seventeen years afterward,

when Friend Hopper had

not seen her for a long

time, he called to inquire about her, and

formed that during

all

see

him

for the quiet

in-

those years, she had been an

honest, sober, and useful vroman. to

was

She

w^as rejoiced

again, and expressed lively gratitude,

and comfortable

life

she enjoyed through

his agency.

THE MAGDALEN. Upon one

occasion. Friend

plaint against

an old woman,

an infamous house for

many

Hopper entered a com-

who had years.

presided over

She was

tried,

He

and sentenced to several months imprisonment. went to see her several times, and talked very riously with her concerning the errors of her

se-

life.

Finding that his expostulations made some impres-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

222 sion,

he asked

"Oh,

I

she

if

"But who would an honest living?

game

felt

!" she exclaimed.

can

I

do to earn

Everybody curses me,

How can

of me.

it

What

me ?

trust

amend her ways.

willing to

should be thankful to do

I

or

be a better w^oman,

makes try

if I

ever so hard?"

"I

will give thee a

replied;

"and

if

chance to amend thy

thou dost not,

it

life,"

shall be thy

he

own

fault."

He by

went round among the wealthy Quakers, and

dint of great persuasion

he induced one to

a small tenement at very low rent.

A

her

let

few others

agreed to purchase some humble furniture, and a quantity of thread, needles, tape, furnish a small shop.

The poor

overflowed with gratitude, and

and buttons, to

old creature's heart it

was her pride to There she

keep everything very neat and orderly. lived contented

and comfortable the remainder of her

became much respected in the neighborThe tears often came to her eyes when she

days, and

hood.

"God "He has

saw Friend Hopper. she would

say.

bless that

good man!"

been the salvation

of

me."

THE UNCOMPLIMENTARY A

INVITATION.

preacher of the Society of Friends

felt

im-

pressed with the duty of calling a meeting for vicious

people

;

and Isaac T. Hopper was appointed to

col-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. lect

an audience.

knocked

at the

223

In the course of this mission, he

A

door of a very infamous house.

gentleman who was acquainted with him was passing by, and he stopped to say, "Friend Hopper,

you

have mistaken the house."

"No,

I

"But

that

have not," he rephed. is

a house of notorious

ill

fame," said

the gentleman.

"I know

rejoined he;

it,"

"but nevertheless

I

have business here." His acquaintance looked surprised, but passed on

A

without further query. door.

To

the

colored

came

girl

inquiry whether her mistress

within, she answered in the affirmative. I

to the

wash to see her," said Friend Hopper.

was evidently astonished

A

The

girl

at a visitor in Qucd?:er cos-

tume, and of such grave demeanor

and did the errand.

was

"Tell her

;

but she went

message was returned that

her mistress w^as engaged and could not see any one.

"Where

is

she ?" he inquired.

she was up-stairs.

"I

will

The

girl replied that

go to her," said the im-

portunate messenger.

The

mistress of the house heard him, and leaning

over the balustrade of the

"What

stairs,

she screamed out,

do you want with me, sir?"

In very loud tones he answered,

"James Simpson,

a minister of the Society of Friends, has appointed

a meeting

to be held this afternoon, in

Penrose

store,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

224

Almond-street.

It is

intended for publicans, sinners,

and harlots. I want thee to be there, and bring thy whole household with thee. Wilt thou come ?" She promised that she would and he afterward ;

saw her rect

meeting melted into tears by the

at the

di-

and affectionate preaching.

THEFT FROM NECESSITY. One

day,

washing, a

buy soap

A

sell.

when

man

fat,

called at Isaac T. Hopper's house to

and was informed they had none

to

minute after he had passed out, the domes-

came running

tic

the family were in the midst of

in to

say that he had stolen some

Friend Hop-

of the children's clothes from the line.

per followed him quickly, and called out, "Dost thou

want to buy some soap-fat

Come back

?

if

thou

dost."

When the man had returned to the kitchen, he said, "Now give up the clothes thou hast stolen." The that he

culprit

" Give It will

was extremely confused, but denied *

had stolen anything. be

them up

much

in his firm

at once,

without any more words.

better for thee," said Friend Hopper,

way.

Thus urged, the stranger drew from gome small shirts and flannel petticoats. is

very sick," said he.

old,

wrapped up

in

"

his

bosom

"My

wife

She has a babe two weeks

an old rag

;

and when

I

saw

this

I

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

comfortable clothing on the take

it

except a food It

line,

A herring

in the

I

house

;

is

was tempted

We

creature.

little

tan.

little

we have

was

poor

for the

225 to

have no fuel

the last mouthful of

and when

came away,

I

broiling on the hot tan."

His story excited pity

made up

to a magistrate

and

mitment

for this

will tear

it

When

but fearing

;

up.

man.

he arrived

"Please give

said,

I will

If

he

tells

go and see

at the

it

might be

Friend Hopper took him

for the occasion,

me

a com-

a true story,

I

for myself."

wretched abode, he found

a scene of misery that pained him to the heart.

The room was and

suffering.

cold,

and the wife was

Her babe had no

in bed, pale

clothing, except a

coarse rag torn from the skirt of an old coat.

Of

course he destroyed the commitment immediately.

His next step was his acquaintance,

to call

upon the rich Quakers of

and obtain from them contributions

of wood, flour, rice, bread, and

ployment was soon he was enabled

He

warm garments. Em-

after procured for the

to support his

man, and

family comfortably.

never passed Friend Hopper in the street without

making a low bow, and

often took occasion to ex-

press his grateful acknowledgments.

,

PATRICK Mc KEEVER. Patrick was a poor Irishman in Philadelphia.

and another

man were 10*

He

arrested on a charge of burgla-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

226 ry,

/

convicted and sentenced to be hung.

rant of the details of his crime, or

why

I

am

igno-

the sentence

was not carried into execution. There were probably some palhating circumstances in his case for though he was carried to the gallows, seated on his coffin, he w^as spared for some reason, and his companion was hung. He was afterward sentenced to ten ;

years imprisonment, and this was eventually short-

ened one year.

During the

last three

years of his

Hopper was one of the inspectors, and frequently talked with him in a gentle, fatherly manner. The convict was a man of few words, and term, Friend

hope seemed almost dead within him

made no

large promises, his

;

heart

touched by the voice of kindness.

was released, he went immediately

but though he w^as

evidently

As soon to work

as

he

at his

trade of tanning leather, and conducted himself in

the most exemplary manner. capability, plish,

Being remarkable

for

and the amount of work he could accom-

he soon had plenty of employment.

He

pass-

ed Friend Hopper's house every day, as he went to his

work, and often received from him words of

friendly encouragement.

Things were going on thus

satisfactorily,

his friend heard that constables

were

when

in pursuit

of

him, on account of a robbery committed the night before.

He went

straight to the

mayor, and inquired

LIFE OF ISAAC

why

orders

T.

had been given

HOPPER.

227

arrest Patrick

to

Mc-

Keever. *'

Because there has been a robbery committed

his neighborhood,"

He

rephed the magistrate.

inquired what proof there

had been concerned

"None

at

all,"

in

"It

is

that Patrick

"But he is^ condemn him."

rejoined the mayor.

not enough,

"Thou

was

it.

an old convict, and that

Hopper.

enough

is

to

by any means," answered Friend

hast no right to arrest any citizen

without a shadow of proof against him.

by

case, I advise thee

mane

This

caution.

all

form,' his past history

He

means

man

the crime he did commit

against him.

to

In this

proceed with hu-

has severely atoned for

and since he wishes

;

to re-

ought never to be mentioned

has been perfectly honest, sober,

and industrious, since he came out of prison. think

I

know

in

his state of

mind

;

and

I

am

take the responsibility of saying that he

I

willing to

is

guiltless

in this matter."

The mayor commended Friend Hopper's volence, but remained unconvinced.

ments he

replied,

"He

is

To

all

benearo-u-

an old convict, and that

is

enough." Patrick's kind friend watched for to his daily labors,

him

as he passed

and told him that he would pro-

bably be arrested for the robbery that had been committed in his neighborhood.

The poor

fellow

bowed

228

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

down

hght vanished from his counte-

his head, the

nance, and hope seemed to have forsaken him utter-

"Well," said he,

ly.

I

my mind

must make up

my

a deep sigh, "I suppose

v^^ith

spend the remainder of

to

days in prison."

"Thou wert thou

not concerned in this robbery, wert

inquired Friend Hopper, looking earnestly in

?"

his face.



" No, indeed witness,

I

want

peace with

me ?

was

I

to lead an honest

Everybody

Prison, and that

will say,

is

God be my and be

life,

But what good

men.

all

"

not," he replied.

will

he has been

that

at

do

State

in the

enough."

His friend did not ask him twice

he

for

;

He

sured that he had spoken truly.

felt

as-

advised him to

go directly to the mayor, deliver himself up, and declare

his

This wholesome advice was

innocence.

He had

received with deep dejection. his

fellow-men

;

they had been to him as ene-

for

mies.

"I know w^hat

"

will put

They

me

come

will

in prison

proof against me, or not.

of

"Keep up

"Go

to the

it,"

They

an old convict

w^on't

let

me

;

he.

is

any

me

out

and who

?"

a good heart," replied Friend

mayor and speak

said

whether there

without somebody will be security for will be security for

lost faith in

Hopper

as I have advised thee.

If they talk of putting thee in prison, send for

me."

Patrick acted in obedience to this advice, and was

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

229

Though

treated just as he had expected.

there

was

not a shadow of proof against him, his being an old convict

was deemed

sufficient reason for

sending him

to jail.

"I am

Friend Hopper appeared in his behalf.

ready to affirm that I believe this man to be inno " It will be a very serious injury foi cent," said he.

him

to

be taken from his business and detained

prison until this can be proved.

upon

his

mind may be completely discouraging.

will be security for his

and

I

know very

ing

me

the slip."

The ing.

when

appearance

gratitude of the poor fellow

He

sobbed

For

discovered.

till

;

for

his strong

The

called for

;

was overwhelm-

frame shook hke a

real culprits w^ere soon after

thirty years after

his death, Patrick life

I

well that he will not think of giv-

leaf in the wind.

useful

in

Moreover, the effect

and

to the

day of

continued to lead a virtuous and

which he always thanked Friend

Hopper, as the instrument of Divine Providence.

THE UMBRELLA A young

girl,

GIRL.

the only daughter of a poor widow,

removed from the country

to Philadelphia to

earn

her living by covering umbrellas.

She was very

handsome

large beaming

;

with glossy black

eyes, and "lips like that susceptible age

wet

hair,

She was

coral."

when youth

is

just at

ripening into wo-

290

LIFE OF ISAAC

HOPPER.

T.

manhood, when the soul begins

be pervaded by

to

"that restless principle, which impels poor humans to seek perfection in union."

At a hotel near the

store for

which she worked an

English traveller, called Lord Henry Stuart, had tak-

He was

en lodgings.

a strikingly

and df princely carriage.

handsome man,

As this distinguished stran-

ger passed to and from his hotel, he encountered the

umbrella

girl,

beauty.

He

and was attracted by her uncommon easily traced her to the store,

soon after went to purchase an umbrella.

where he This was

followed up by presents of flowers, chats by the w^ayall of which side, and invitations to walk or ride were gratefully accepted by the unsuspecting rustic ;

;

for she

was

were the

as ignorant of the dangers of a city as

of her native

squirrels

merely playing a game She, with a head

full

for

He was

fields.

temporary excitement.

of romance, and a heart melt-

ing under the influence of love, was. unconsciously

endangering the happiness of her whole

Lord Henry invited her on the Fourth of July.

life.

to visit the public

In

gardens

the simplicity of her

heart, she believed all his flattering professions,

considered herself his bride elect

;

But

cepted the invitation with innocent frankness. she had no dress casion, with

a

fit

to appear in

and

she therefore ac-

on such a public oc-

gentleman of high rank,

whom

verily supposed to be her destined husband.

she

While

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

231

these thoughts revolved in her mind, her eye

was un-

fortunately attracted by a beautiful piece of

silk,

longing to her employer.

be-

Could she not take

it,

without being seen, and pay for it secretly, when she had earned money enough? The temptation conquered her in a

ed the the

first

was

moment

of weakness.

and conveyed

silk,

it

She conceal-

to her lodgings.

It

was

thing she had ever stolen, and her remorse

She would have carried it back, but She was not sure that her repentance would be met in a spirit of forgiveness. painful.

she dreaded discovery.

On the eventful Fourth of July, she came out in new dress. Lord Henry complimented her upon

her

her elegant appearance, but she was not happy. their

way

to the gardens,

he talked to her

in a

On man-

ner which she did not comprehend. Perceiving this, he spoke more exphcitly. The guileless young creature stopped, looked in his face with mournful reproach, and burst into tears. The nobleman took

her hand kindl}^, and said,

nocent

"I am,

I

am," she

"Oh, what have isk

me

"My

dear, are

you an

in-

girl ?"

replied,

with convulsive sobs.

ever done, or said, that you should such a question ?" I

The evident sincerity of her words stirred the deep fountains of his better nature. "If you are innocent," said he,

you otherwise.

"God

forbid that I should

But you accepted

my

make

invitations

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

232

and presents so

readily, that I

supposed you under-

stood me."

''What could that

Though

understand," said

I

you intended

to

make me your

"except

she,

wife ?"

reared amid the proudest distinctions of

no inclination to smile.

rank, he

felt

and was

silent.

The

He

blushed

heartless conventionalities ol

the world stood rebuked in the presence of affectionate

simplicity.

He

conveyed her to her humble

home, and bade her farewell, with a thankful consciousness that he had done no irretrievable injury to

her

future

prospects.

would soon be

to

him

With

year's butterflies.

The remembrance

of her

as the recollection

of last

her, the

wound was

deep.

In the solitude of her chamber she wxpt in bitter-

ness of heart over her ruined air-castles. dress,

which she had stolen

befittin*^ his bride

covered

!'

that

make an appearance

to

Oh, what

And would

?

And

if

she should be dis-

not the heart of her poor wi-

dowed mother break, if she should ever know her child was a thief?

that

Alas, her wretched forebodings proved too true.

The way

silk

was traced

to the store

refused

all

the fourth

to her

;

she was arrested on her

and dragged to prison.

There she

nourishment, and wept incessantly. clay,

the keeper

called

On

upon Isaac T.

Hopper, and informed him that there was a young girl in prison,

who appeared

to be utterly friendless,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

and determined

to die

233

by starvation.

The kindhearted Friend immediately went to her assistance. He found her lying on the floor of her cell, with her face buried in her hands, sobbing as if her heart would break. He tried to comfort her, but could Obtain no answer. "Leave

us alone," said he to the keeper

haps she will .speak to me, When they were alone

if

there

is

no one

"Per to hear "

together, he put back the

hau- from her temples, laid his hand kindly on her beautiful head, and said in soothing tones, child consider me as

"My

thy father.

hast done. all

about

It.

Tell

me

all

thou

If ,hou hast taken this silk, let me know I will do for thee as I would for

my

own daughter

;

and

I

out of this difficulty."

doubt not that I can help thee

After a long time spent in affectionate entreaty Mie leaned her young

head on

and sobbed will

my

grace

out,

"Oh,

I

wish

poor mother say

when

?"

his friendly shoulder' I

was dead. Whai knows of my dis

she

•'

"Perhaps we can manage that she never shall It rephed he. Alluring her by this hope, he

know

'

gradually

obtained from her the whole story of her acquamtance with the nobleman. He bade her be comforted, and take nourishment; for he would see that the silk was paid for, and the prosecution with-

drawn.

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

234

He went him the

"The

girl is

poor widow. false step, ful

immediately to her employer, and told

"This

story.

is

her

young, and she

is

the only child of a

Give her a chance to retrieve

may

and she

girl, if

"Thou

see that thou art

I will

The man

draw the prosecution, and otherwise by the

readily agreed to with-

would have

said he

he had known

all

is

dealt

the

cir-

shouldst have inquired into the

merits of the case," replied Friend Hopper. this

one

this

be restored to society, a use-

and honored woman.

paid for the silk."

cumstances.

offence," said he.

first

kind of thoughtlessness,

many

driven into the dow-nward path,

a

"By

young creature

who might

easily

have been saved."

The tel,

for

kind-hearted

man

next proceeded to the ho-

and with Quaker simplicity of speech inquired

Henry

had not yet

Stuart. risen.

The

servant said his

"Tell him

my

portance," said Friend Hopper.

business

The

lordship is

of im-

servant soon

returned and conducted him to the chamber.

The

nobleman appeared surprised that a stranger,

in the

plain

Quaker costume, should thus intrude upon

luxurious privacy.

When

his

he heard his errand, he

blushed deeply, and frankly admitted the truth of the girl's

statement.

His benevolent

visitor

took the op-

portunity to "bear a testimony" against the selfish-

ness and sin of profligacy.

Fie did

it

in

such a kind

and fatherly manner, that the young man's heart was

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

235

He excused himself, by saying that he would not have tampered with the girl, if he had known her to be virtuous. "I have done many touched.

wrong

"but thank God, no betrayal

things," said he,

my

of confiding innocence weighs on

have always esteemed is

it

The imprisonment

capable."

conscience.

the basest act of which

I

man

of the poor girl, and

the forlorn situation in which she had been found,

him

distressed

When

greatly.

Friend Hopper re-

presented that the silk had been stolen for his sake, that the girl

had thereby

lost profitable

and was obliged to return

employment,

to her distant

home, to

avoid the danger of exposure, he took out a

and offered

lar note,

"Nay," I

I see in

She

is

to

fifty dol-

pay her expenses.

"Thou

said Isaac.

presume.

notes.

it

art a

very rich man,

thy hand a large

of such

roll

the daughter of a poor widov/, and

thou hast been the means of doing her great injury.

Give

me

another."

Lord Henry handed him another and smiled as he ness well.

treat

it.

I will

you

like a

If

you ever

visit

nobly.

to

blame

I

note,

busi-

reve-

England, come to

give you a cordial welcome, and

nobleman."

"Farewell, friend," replied the

much

fifty dollar

"You understand your

But you have acted nobly, and

rence you for see me.

said,

in this affair,

Quaker.

"

Though

thou too hast behav^ed

Mayst thou be blessed

in

domestic

life,

and

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

236

no more with the feelings of poor girls not even with those whom others have betrayed and de-

trifle

;

serted."

When

the girl was arrested, she had sufficient pre-

sence of mind to assume a false name, and by that

means, her true name had been kept out of the newspapers.

did this," said she, "for

*'I

my

poor mo-

money given by Lord Stuart, she was sent home to her and paid for, was the silk mother well provided with clothing. Her name and

ther's sake."

With

the

place of residence forever remained a secret in the breast of her benefactor.

Years after these events transpired, a lady called at

Friend Hopper's house, and asked to see him.

When

he entered the room, he found a handsomely

dressed young matron, with a blooming boy of five or six years old.

She rose quickly

to

meet him, and

her voice choked as she said, "Friend Hopper, do

you know me

?"

He

"You once

helped

me when

the good missionary

many more

in distress, to

She

replied that he did not.

upon him, and

said,

in great distress."

But

fixed her tearful eyes earnestly

of humanity had helped too

be able to recollect her without

precise information.

With a tremulous

voice,

she bade her son go into the next room for a few mi-

nutes

;

then dropping on her knees, she hid her face

in his lap,

and sobbed out, "I

am

the girl

who

stole

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. the

silk.

been

for

When told

him

Oh, where should

you

now

be, if

it

had not

!"

her emotion was somewhat calmed,

she

had married a highly respectable

that she

man, a senator of in

I

237

his native

Being on a

state.

visit

Friend Hopper's vicinity, she had again and again

passed his dwelling, looking wistfully at the windows to catch a sight of

him

;

but

when she attempted

to

enter her courage failed.

"But I must return home to-morrow," said she, "and I could not ^o away without once more seeing and thanking him who saved me from rain." She recalled her little boy, and said to him, " Look at that gentleman, and remember him well for he was the best friend your mother ever had." With an ;

earnest invitation to visit her happy home, and a fer-

vent "

God

bless

you

!"

she bade her benefactor fare-

well.

THE TWO YOUNG OFFENDERS. In the neighborhood of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, there lived a

man whose temper was

badly governed.

vindictive and

Having become deeply offended

w4th one of his neighbors, he induced his two sons to

swear falsely that he had committed an infamous

crime.

One

of the lads

and the other

was about

about seventeen.

fifteen

The

fence was of so gross a nature, and

was

years old,

alleged

of-

so at vari-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

238

ance with the

character of the person accused

fair

were subjected

that the witnesses

and shrewd examination. and the flaws

ed,

to a very careful

They became

embarrass-

were very obvi-

in their evidence

They were indicted for conspiracy against an and being taken by surprise, they innocent man ous.

;

were thrown into

confusion,

and declined the

guiltj

acknowledged

thei..

They were

offer of a trial.

sentenced to two years' imprisonment at hard labor in the Penitentiary of Philadelphia.

Isaac T. Hopper, Avho was at that time one of the

happened

inspectors,

to

be

at the prison

when they

arrived at dusk, hand-cuffed and chained together, in

custody of the

appearance

good heart,

sheriff.

excited

my

It is still in

effort.

and useful men.

He

his compassion.

poor lads," said he.

trieve this one false

ble

Their youth and desolate

step, if

you

will

"Keep up a "You can rebut make the

your power to become respectaI will

help you

all I

can."

gave particular directions that they should be

placed in a tagion of profitable

ployed

room by themselves, apart from

more hardened

offenders.

To

the con-

prevent un-

conversation, they were constantly

in

From time

em-

the noisy occupation of heading nails. to time,

the

humane

inspector

spoke

soothing and encouraging words to them, and com-

mended

their

good behavior.

When

the Board of

Inspectors met, he proposed that the lads should be

LIFE OP ISAAC T. HOPPER.

recommended propriety

of confining juvenile

papers, and

it

He

on the governor,

to wait

obtain a pardon for the lads

possible.

if

siderable hesitation, the request

such persons

them was bound But

to

After con-

was granted on con

worthy men could be found, who w^ould

take them as apprentices.

ter.

When

effect.

Hopper and Thomas

the Board again met, Isaac T.

find

offenders with old

published this in the daily

produced considerable

Dobson were appointed

dition that

suc-

he wrote an article on the im-

effort,

hardened convicts.

Not

governor for pardon.

to the

ceeding in this

239

Friend Hopper agreed to

and he kept

;

his word.

One

of

other to a carpen-

to a tanner, the

their excellent friend did not lose sight of

them.

He

among

strangers,

reminded them that they were now going

and their success and happiness

would' mainly depend on their

begged of them,

if

own

conduct.

He

they should ever get entangled

with unprofitable company, or become involved in difficulty of

any land,

come

to

He

to a considerate father. all their leisure

time,

it

was

to him, as they

invited

them

evenings at his house.

would

to spend

For a long

their constant practice to take tea with

him every Sunday, and

join the family in reading

the Bible and other serious books.

At the end of a year, they expressed a strong deSome fears were enter-

sire to visit their father.

tained lest his influence over

them should prove

in-

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

240 jurious

and that

;

l)eing

once freed from

restraint,

they would not wilUngly return to constant industry

and regular fully that

habits.

They, however, promised

faith-

they would, and Friend Hopper thought

might have a good they were trusted.

effect

He

upon them

to

know

it

that

accordingly entered into

them thinking this additional claim on their gratitude would strengthen his influence over them, and help to confirm their good resolutions. They returned punctually at the day and hour bonds

for

;

they had promised, and their exemplary conduct continued to give entire satisfaction to their employ-

A

ers.

short time after the oldest

had

his indenture, the tanner

term of

worked bought a farm, and to his former apprentice.

whom

stock and

sold his

the

fulfilled

with

he

tools

Friend Hopper took him

to the governor's house, dressed in his

new

suit of

freedom clothes, and introduced him as one of the lads

whom

he had pardoned several years before

testifying that

much

he had been a

respected by

faithful apprentice,

and

The governor

w^as

his master.

well pleased to see him, shook hands with cordially,

enough

him very

and told him that he who was resolute

to turn

back from vicious

w^ays,

into the

paths of virtue and usefulness, deserved even more respect than one

He

who had never been

tempted.

afterward married a worthy young

woman

with a small property, which enabled him to build a

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

He

neat two-story brick house.

241

always remained

sober and industrious, and they hved in great comfort

and respectability.

The younger

brother likewise passed through his

manner very

apprenticeship in a friends

;

and

at

satisfactory to his

twenty-one years of age, he also was

introduced to the governor with testimonials of his

He was united to a very respectable young woman, but died a few years after his margood conduct. riage.

Both these young men always cherished gratitude and strong attachment per.

They

^r

warm

Isaac T. Hop-

both regularly attended the meetings of

the Society of Friends, which had

become pleasantly

associated in their minds with the good influences

they had received from their benefactor. Friend Hopper was a

was

inspector,

and

it

strict

disciphnarian while he

w^as extremely difficult for the

him by any artful devices, or hypocritical pretences. But he was always in the habit of talking with them in friendly style, inquiring into

prisoners to deceive

their

and plans, sympathizing with

history

their

troubles and temptations, encouraging them to

form, and promising to assist to help themselves.

ramble

in the

It

was

them his

if

re-

they would try

custom

to take a

country with his children every Satur-

day afternoon.

All w^ho were old enough to walk

joined the troop. 11

They always

stopped at the prison,

242

LIFE OF ISAAC

and were well pleased with their

own

.their father

accustomed convicts,

whom

HOPPER.

T.

to deliver to the poor inmates,

small hands, such

had provided

comforts as

little

He was

for the purpose.

to say that there

was not one among the

however desperate they might

with

be,

he should be afraid to trust himself alone at

midnight with large sums of money in his pocket.

An

acquaintance once cautioned him against a

soner,

whose temper was extremely

vengeful, and

who had been heard

would take the

life

of

desperate fellow, and told him he

with him to hold the

light,

Soon

summoned

was wanted

a quantity of lumber in the cellar.

re-

swear that he

some of the keepers.

Friend Hopper

after this warning,

and

violent

to

pri-

the

to pile

He went down

and they remained more

than an hour alone together, out of hearing of everybody.

When

he told

this to the

man who had

cau-

tioned him, he replied, "Well, I confess you have

good courage. price of the

upon

;

"I

for I

I

would

prison and

n't all

do assure you he

have done the ground is

stands

a terrible fellow."

"but

I

knew he would

n't

kill

have always been a friend to him, and he it.

it

don't doubt he is," rejoined the courageous

inspector;

of

for the

it

What

is

7nc.

I

aware

motive could he have for harming

me?" One

of the prisoners,

who had been

convicted of

man-slaughter, became furious, in consequence of

'I

I

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

When

being threatened with a whipping.

tempted to bring him out of

243

dungeon

his

they

at-

to receive

punishment, he seized a knife and a club, rushed

back again, and swore he would

who came

near him.

in a state of

They

the

kill

first

person

Being a very strong man, and

madness, no one dared to approach him.

tried to starve

him

into submission

;

but finding

he was not to be subdued in that way, they sent for Friend Hopper, as they w^ere accustomed to do such

all

the

and

cell,

difficult

emergencies.

He went

boldly into

looked the desperado calmly in the face,

said, " It is foolish for thee to

authorities. I will

in

Thou

contend with the

wilt be compelled to yield at last.

inquire into thy case.

justly dealt by, I promise thee

If

thou hast been un-

it

shall be remedied."

This kind and sensible remonstrance had the des/red effect.

From

that time forward, he had great in-

fluence over the ferocious fellow, willing to be guided

by

his advice,

who was always

and

finally

became

one of the most reasonable and orderly inmates of the prison. I have heard Friend Hopper say that wiiile he was inspector he aided and encouraged about fifty young convicts, as n'early as he could recollect and all, except two, conducted in such a manner as to ;

satisfy the respectable citizens

to

employ them.

He was

whom

he had induced

a shrewd observer of the

countenances and manners of men, and doubtless

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

244 that

was one reason why he was not

pointed

The

in

often clisap

those he trusted.

humor

which characterized

remained with him

in

his

boyhood,

maturer years, and often

fervesced on the surface of his acquired gravity

appear

will

Upon a due

in the

man

called on

settle.

leisure.

it

and attend to

The man

and was willing to give a receipt

mind

sum were advanced. This would pay nothing

the papers of the deceased.

away,

as soon

six dol-

for the

whole

proposition excited

and the administrator decided

that he

among

it

and stated that he had need of

lars,

suspicion,

it

called again a short

after,

that

him with

Friend Hopper put

time

if

as

twenty dollars against an estate he had

saying he would examine

he had

ef-

following anecdotes.

a certain occasion, a

bill for

been employed to

as

;

till

in his

own

he had examined

Searching carefully

these, he found a receipt for the

money, men-

tioning the identical items, date, and circumstances

of the transaction

given and tor

when

lost,

;

stating that a due-bill had been

and was to be restored ^by the credi-

found.

When

the

payment, Isaac said to him, Jones,

He

I

man

called

in a quiet

understand thou hast become pious lately."

rephed

in

a solemn tone,

"Yes, thanks

the Lord Jesus, I ^^ave found out the vation."

a^ain for

way, "Friend

way

to

of sal-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

''And thou hast been dipped the Quaker.

245

I hear,"

continued

"Dost thou know James Hunter?"

Mr. Jones answered

in the affirmative.

"Well, he also was dipped some time ago," rejoined Friend Hopper; "but his neighbors say they did n't get the

crown of

his

head under water.

devil crept into the unbaptized part,

busy within him ever since.

I

get thee quite under water.

I

am

The

and has been

afraid they did n't

think thou hadst bet-

ter be dipped again."

As he spoke, he held up the

The countenance

dollars.

man became

scarlet,

receipt for twenty

of the professedly pious

and he disappeared

instantly.

A Dutchman once called upon Friend Hopper, and said, "A tief have stole mine goots. They tell me you can help me, may be."

Upon inquiring the Hopper concluded that the articles had been stolen by a man whom he happened to know the pohce had taken up a few hours previous. But being disposed to amuse himself, he

when and

the where. Friend

inquired very seriously,

was

it,

"What

when thy goods were

ceived information

time of the

stolen

?

moon

Having

re-

concerning that particular, he

took a slate and began to cipher diligently. After a while, he looked up, and pronounced in a very oracular manner, "Thou wilt find thy goods."

"Shall

I find

ed Dutchman

;

mine goots ?" exclaimed the delight-

"and where

is

de tief?"

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

216

"Art thou quite sare about the age of the moon?" Being assured mquired the pretended magician.

was no mistake on

there

that

point,

he ciphered

again for a few minutes, and then answered, "Thou wilt find the thief in the hands of the pohce."

The Dutchman went away,

evidently inspired with

Having found

profound reverence.

goods and

his

the thief, according to prediction, he returned and

asked

for a private interview.

said he,

"and

I will

pay you

"Tell

me

dat secret,"

a heap of money."

"What secret?" inquired Friend Hopper. "Tell me how you know I will find mine and where

"The

plain truth

"because office,

I

I

goots,

will find de tief ?" rejoined he. is,

I

guessed

it,"

was the reply

had heard there was a thief at the police

with such goods as thou described."

"But what for you ask about de moon?" inquired "You make figures, and den you the Dutchman. You make figures say, you wall find your goots. I go, and again, den you tell me where is de tief. find

mine goots and de

me how you

tief,

do dat, and

you

just as

I will

say.

Tell

pay you a heap of

money."

Though for a joke,

repeatedly assured that

he w^ent away unsatisfied

it :

was done only and to the day

of his death,

he fully beheved that the facetious

Quaker was a

conjuror.

When

Friend Hopper hired one of two houses

LIFE OF ISAAC

247

HOPPER.

T.

where the back yards were not separated, he found himself considerably incommoded by the disorderly

The

habits of his next neighbor.

dust and dirt daily

swept into the yard were allowed to accumulate there in a heap,

neater

which the wind often scattered over the

premises

take offence

He

The

adjoining.

house was said to be of an

mistress

irritable

of the

temper, likely to

asked to adopt a different system.

if

accordingly resolved upon a course, which he

thought might cure the

One

pute.

evil

without provoking a dis-

when he saw his neighbor in her own domestic to come out into

day,

kitchen, he called his

Pointing to the heap of

the yard.

dirt,

he exclaimed,

loud enough to be heard in the next house, "Betsy, art

thou not asham.ed to sw^eep dust and

such a heap.

yard

neighbor's

See how !

it

is

litter into

blowing about our

Art thou not ashamed of thy-

self?"

"I

sweep any

didn't

dirt there," replied

"They did it themselves." "Pshaw Pshaw don't tell me that," !

!

the

girl.

rejoined he.

" Our neighbor wouldn't do such an untidy thing.

I

wonder she hasn't complained of thee before now.

Be more

careful in future

;

for I should

be very sor-

ry to give her any occasion to say she couldn't keep the yard clean on our account."

The domestic read

his

meaning

in the roguish ex-

Dression of his eye, and she remained silent.

The

LIFE OF ISAAC

248

lesson took effect.

T.

The heap

HOPPER. of dh't

was soon

re-

moved, and never appeared afterward. Such a character as Isaac T. Hopper was of

known throughout

the city where he

course

well

lived.

Every school-boy had heard something of walked the street, everybody

doings, and as he

his re-

cognized him, from the chief justice to the chim-

His personal appearance was calculated

ney-sweep.

to attract attention, independent of other circumstan-

Joseph Bonaparte,

ces.

who then

resided at Borden-

town, was attracted toward him the

moment he

first

saw him, on account of a strong resemblance to hisbrother Napoleon. They often met in the steamboat going sions, the

down

the Delaware, and on such occa-

ex-king frequently pointed him out as the

most remarkable likeness of the emperor, that he

had ever met the

in

Europe

might be mistaken hold

He

or America.

expressed

opinion that with Napoleon's uniform on, he

;

and

if

for him,

even by his

he were to appear thus

own

house-

in Paris, noth-

ing could be easier than for him to excite a revolution.

But the imperial throne, exen

if it

had been

di-

rectly offered to him,

would have proved no tempta-

tion to a soul like his.

In some respects, his charac-

ter, as

well as his person, strongly resembled Napo-

leon.

But

his powerful will

was remarkably under was tern-

the control of conscience, and his energy

*

249

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

perod by an unusual share of benevolence.

If the

other elements of his character had not been balan-

ced by these two qualities, he also might have been a skilful diplomatist,

and a successful leader of armies.

Fortunately for himself and others, he had a nobler ambition than that of making widows and orphans

by wholesale slaughter.

The preceding anecdotes

show how" warmly he sympathized with and the erring, without

oppressed, country,

or complexion

creed,

he labored in

amount of public

how

and

;

diligently

service that he rendered,

it

not be inferred that he neglected private

Perhaps no to wafe

man was

must

duties.

ever more devotedly attached

and children than he was.

was wont

of

But from the great

behalf.

their

the poor, the limitation

His Sarah, as he

was endowed with

to call her,

qualities

well calculated to retain a strong hold on the affections

kindly disposition,

her

life,

and conscientious man.

a sensible

of

w ere

Her

and the regular, simple habits

ot

favorable to the preservation of that

"his boyish admiration. Her wavy brown hair was softly shaded by the delicate transparent mushn of her Quaker cap her face had

beauty, which had w^on

;

a tender

was

and benign expression

so clear, that

ari

much

and her complexion

old gentleman,

to the Society of Friends,

not

;

who belonged

and who was of course

addicted to poetic comparisons, used to say

he could never look 11*

at her w^ithout

thinking of the

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

250 clear pink

neat,

and had something of that

chastened coquetry in dress, which the

terize

Her

She

and white of a beautiful conch-shell.

was scrupulously

is

apt to charac-

handsome women of her orderly

sect.

drab-colored gown, not high in the neck,

was

bordered by a plain narrow tucker of fine muslin, visible

A

under her snow-white neckerchief.

under-sleeve

came

just

white

below the elbow, w^here

it

terminated in a very narrow band, nicely stitched,

and fastened with two small

by a chain.

silver buttons,

connected

She was a very industrious woman, and

remarkably systematic in her

household

affairs

thus she contrived to find time for everything, though

burdened with the care of a large and increasing

The

family.

apprentices always sat at table with

them, and she maintained a perfect equality between

them and her own

children.

She

said

it

was her

wish to treat them precisely as she would like to

have

he}'

Day

boys treated,

On Sunday

tices.

if

they should

become appren-

evenings, which they called First

evenings, the whole family assembled to hear

Friend Hopper read portions of scripture, or writings of the early Friends.

On

such occasions, the mother

often gave religious exhortations to the children and

apprentices, suited to the occurrences of the week,

and the temptations to which they were peculiarly subject.

During the

last eight

years of her

was a recommended minister of the

life,

she

Society of

LlfE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

251

Friends, and often preached at their meetings.

manners were

Her

and her conversation pecuhar-

affable,

ly agreeable to silence

young people. But she knew when was seemly, and always restrained her dis-

course within the hmits of discretion. When any of her children talked more than was useful, she was

accustomed

to administer this concise caution "My a nice thing to say nothing, when thou hast nothing to say." Her husband was proud of :

dear,

her,

it is

and always manifested great deference for her She suffered much anxiety on account of

opmion.

the perils to which he

was

often exposed in his con-

tests

with slaveholders and

kidnappers; and

many

years, the thought

familiar to her

was

for

mind

that she might one

day see him brought home a While the yellow fever raged in Philadelshe had the same anxiety concerning his fear-

corpse. phia,

less devotion to the victims

of that terrible disease,

who were dying by hundreds around them.

But she had a large and sympathizing heart, and she never sought to dissuade him from what he considered the path of duty.

When

one of his brothers was strick-

en with the fever, and the family with

whom

he

re-

sided were afraid to shelter him, she proposed to

have him brought under their

was

carefully nursed

till

own

he died.

roof, where he She was more re-

luctant to listen to his urgent entreaties that she

would

retire into the

country with the children, and

;

252

LIFE OF ISAAC

T.

HOPPER.

remain with them beyond the reach of contagion

was divided between the husband of her youth and the nurshngs of her bosom. But his anxiety concerning their children was so great, that for her heart

she finally consented to pursue the course most con-

ducive to his peace of mind

;

and he was

left in

the

city with a colored domestic to superintend his house-

hold affairs.

Through

this terrible ordeal of pesti-

lence he passed unscathed, though his ever ready

sympathy brought him

into frequent

contact with

the dying and the dead.

Besides this public calamity, which darkened the

whole

city for a time,

common private

lot

life.

tractive age,

of humanity in the sad experiences of

Several of his children died at that

when

childhood.

into

Friend Hopper shared the

the bud of infancy

is

Relatives and friends crossed the

dark river to the unknown shore.

On New

Year's

day, 1797, his mother departed from this world at ty-six years old. five

years of age.

fif-

In 1818, his father died at seventy-

His physical vigor was remarka-

ble.

When

went

to visit his eldest

in

at-

blooming

he had weathered seventy winters, he son,

and being disappointed

meeting the stage to return, as he expected, he

walked home, a distance of twenty-eight miles. that

advanced age, he could

rest

At

one hand on his

cane and the other on a fence, and leap over as easily as a boy.

He had

long flowing black hair, which

253

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. fell in ringlets it

was merely

on his shoulders

;

and when he

When

sprinkled with gray.

died,

his pri-

vate accounts were examined after his decease, they

revealed the fact that he had secretly expended hun-

dreds of dollars in paying the debts of poor people, or redeeming their furniture

when

it

was attached.

But though many dear ones dropped away from his side, as

Among

Friend Isaac moved onward in his

many remained

grimage,

to sustain

his wife's brothers, his especial friend

John Tatum, who lived This worthy

village.

pil-

and cheer him.

was

in the vicinity of his native

man had

great sympathy with

the colored people, and often sheltered the fugitives

whom

his brother-in-law

markable suffer

for his love of

wrong

;

rather than dispute.

this pacific disposition

two of

were respectable people, the families found

much

course with each other.

men deemed

He was

re-

always preferring to

The

influence of

upon others was strikingly

lustrated in the case of

of the

had rescued.

peace

in

his neighbors.

il-

They

easy circumstances, and

pleasure in frequent inter-

But

after a

few years, one

that an intentional affront

been offered him by the other.

had

Instead of good-na-

tured frankness on the occasion, he behaved in a sullen manner, which provoked the other, and the result

was that eventually neither of them would speak when they met. Their fields joined, and when they were on friendly terms, the boundary w^as marked

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

254

by a

when was

there

But

which they alternately repaired.

fence,

was feud between them, neither of them mend the other's fence. So each one

willing to

built a fence for himself, leaving a

very narrow

strip

of land between, which in process of time came be generally known by the name of Devil's Lane, allusion

the

to

bad temper that produced

it.

to in

A

brook formed another portion of the boundary be-

tween

But

their farms,

after

and was useful to both of them.

they became enemies,

if

a freshet occurred,

each watched an opportunity to turn the water on the other's land, by which ally done.

They were

so

much damage was mutumuch occupied with injur-

ing each other in every possible way, that they neg-

and grew poorer and poorer. One them became intemperate and everything about their premises began to wear an aspect of desolation

lected their farms

of

;

and decay.

At

last,

one of the farms was sold to

pay a mortgage, and John Tatum, who was then about to be married, concluded to purchase

it.

Many

people warned him of the trouble he would have

with a quarrelsome and intemperate neighbor. after

mature

reflection,

But,

he concluded to trust to the

influence of a peaceful and kind example, and ac-

cordingly purchased the farm.

Soon

away

after

he removed thither, he proposed to do

the Devil's

Lane by building a new fence on

the boundary, entirely at his

own

expense.

His

LIFE OP ISAAC

HOPPER.

r.

255

neighbor acceded to the proposition in a very

manner, and

mined

for

or

to find,

make some

But the young Quaker met

occasion for quarrel. his provocations w^ith

all

forbearance, and never missed an

opportunity to

oblige him.

Good

bulent

having nothing to excite

spirit,

subsided

finally

overcame

calmness.

into

surly-

a considerable time seemed deter-

The

evil.

In process

it,

of

tur-

gradually time,

he

evinced a disposition to be kind and obliging also.

Habits of temperance and industry returned, and during the last years of his

life

he was considered a

remarkably good neighbor. Friend Hopper's attachment to the religious society he had joined in early

life

was

quite as strong,

perhaps even stronger, than his love of kindred.

The Yearly Meeting

of Friends at Philadelphia

was

a season of great satisfaction, and he delighted to

have

On

his

house

full

of guests, even to overflowing.

these occasions, he obeyed the impulses of his

generous nature by seeking out the least wealthy

and distinguished, wbo would be

less

likely than

receive many invitations. In addition to who were often personal strangers to him, he had his own familiar and cherished friends. A day seldom passed without a visit from Nicholas Wain, who^ others to

these,

had great respect and affection and delighted

in their society.

for

He

him and

his wife,

cordially approv-

ed of their consistency in carrying out their consci-

!

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

256

entious convictions into the practices of daily

Some

life.

of Isaac's relatives and friends thought he de-

much time and attention to philanthropic missions, but Nicholas Wain always stood by him, a warm and faithful friend to the last. He was voted rather too

a true gentleman, of courtly, pleasing manners, and

Notwithstanding his w^eight

amusing conversation.

was

of character, he

so playful with the children,

were always hailed by them, as de-

that his visits

lightful opportunities for fun

and

He

frolic.

looked

beneath the surface of society, and had learned to estimate

men and things

according to their real value,

not by a conventional standard.

His wife did not

regard the pomps and vanities of the world with precisely the

same degree of indifference that he did. it would be suitable to their w^ealth and

She thought station to

have a footman behind her carriage.

This

husband

at last

w^ish being frequently expressed, her

promised to comply with

it.

Accordingly, the next

time the carriage w^as ordered,

making a

stylish call, she

man mounted.

When

was

gratified to see a foot-

she arrived at her place of

destination, the door of her carriage

the steps let the

new

down

servant

;

in a

purpose oi

for the

was opened, and

very obsequious manner, by

and great w^as her surprise and

confusion, to recognize in

him her own husband

Jacob Lindley, of Chester county, w^as another frequent visitor at Friend Hopper's house

;

and many

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

were the

lively conversations they

had

257

no opportunity, either

tioned Friends against laying too

He

much

often cau-

stress

on their

peculiar forms, while they professed to abjure^

He

forms.

had once received a

said he himself

much

son on this subject, which did him

when he was walked

in,

rain

Lindley,

!

dressed in a coat with large metal buttons,

He

consequence of a drench-

in

seated himself

who was

so

much

opposite

up

to the Friend

troubled him, and inquire

Jacob

him no good."

the congregation rose to depart, he

strained to go

to

disturbed by the glitter-

ing buttons, that ''his meeting did

When

les-

Once,

good.

seated in meeting, an influential Friend

which he had borrowed ing

and missed

in public or private, to protest

earnestly against the sin of slavery.

own

He

too^ether.

w^as a preacher in the Society of Friends,

why

who had

felt

so

con-

much

he had so grievousl}^

departed from the simplicity enjoined upon members of their Society.

The good man looked down upon

his garments,

and quietly

coat because

my own was

I did

replied,

wet

"I borrowed the

and indeed, Jacob,

not notice what buttons were on

shook his hand warmly, and ter Christian than I

He

;

am, and

it."

Jacob

said,

"Thou

I will

learn of thee."

art a bet-

same moral by relating another incident, which happened in old times, when Quakers were accustomed to wear cocked hats often used to inculcate the

turned up at the sides.

A

Friend bought a hat of

*253

LIFE OF ISAAC

this description,

T.

without observing that

As he

sat in

on, as usual, he observed

many

up

\\ith a button.

him,

He

HOPPER. it

was looped

meeting with

his hat

eyes directed toward

and some with a very sorrowful expression.

could not conjecture a reason for

happened to take off his hat and lay

As soon

this,

and

as he noticed the button, he rose

''Friends,

if

rehgion consists in a button,

give a button for

it.''

till

he

beside him.

it

Having delivered

I

said,

wouldn't

this

short

and pithy sermon, he seated himself, and resumed the offending hat with the utmost composure.

Once,

when Jacob Lindiey was

dining with Friend

Hopper, the conversation turned upon his religious experiences, and he related a circumstance to which

he said he very seldom alluded, and never without

Being seized with

feelings of solemnity and awe.

sudden and severe

illness, his soul

left

several hours, during which time he

the body for

saw

heavenly glory, not to be described. sciousness began to return, he

was obliged

to

come back

this

feel the

he had

felt

con-

grieved that he

to this state of being,

he was never after able to terrestrial things, that

felt

visions of

When

same

and

interest in

before he obtained

glimpse of the spiritual world.

Arthur Howell was another intimate acquaintance of Friend Hopper.

He was

a currier in Philadel-

phia, a preacher in the Society of Friends, charac-

terized

by kindly

feelings,

and a very tender con-

;

LIFE OF ISAAC

Upon one

science.

HOPPER.

T.

occasion, he purchased from the

captain of a vessel a quantity of

ward

259

which he

oil,

after-

Under these

sold at an advanced price.

cir-

cumstances, he thought the captain had not received so

much

as he ought to

have

;

and he gave him an

additional dollar on every barrel.

maikable

for

prophecy.

It

This

spiritual-mindedness

man was re-

and the

gift of

was no uncommon thing for him to which were happening at the mo-

relate occurrences

ment many miles

distant,

of people, or events,

and to

when

foretell the arrival

there appeared to be no

external reasons on which to ground such expectations.

One Sunday morning, he was suddenly impelled to proceed to Germantown in haste. As he approached the village, he met a funeral procession.

He had

no knowledge whatever of the deceased

him

that the occu-

pant of the coffin before him was a

woman whose

but

life

it

w^as suddenly revealed to

had been saddened by the suspicion of a crime,

The impression became very strong on his mind that she wished him to make certain statements at her funeral. Accordwhich she never committed.

ingly,

he followed the procession, and w^hen they

arrived at the meeting-house, he entered and listened to the prayer delivered

by her

customary services were rose,

pastor.

finished,

and asked permission

When

the

Arthur Howell

to speak.

"I

did not

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

260

know it

me

given

is

neighbors generally suspected her

of a crime, which she did not

weeks from

much and

to say, that she suffered

Her

unjustly.

this time,

it

commit

will be

;

made

and

few

in a

clearly mani-

A

the world that she w^as innocent.

to

fest

"But

the deceased, even by name," said he.

few

hours before her death, she talked on this subjec.

who

with the clergyman

who

is

now

present

and

;

the communication she

attended upon her, and given

is

it

made

me

to declare

him upon

to

that oc-

casion."

He

then proceeded to relate the particulars of the

interview; evident

was is,

ject

;

When

astonishment.

finished,

or

which the clergyman listened with

to

how he

he

said,

the

communication

"I don't know who

man

this

has obtained information on this sub-

but certain

is,

it

he has repeated, word for

word, a conversation which

I

supposed was known

only to myself and the deceased."

The woman

in question

had gone out

in the fields

one day, with her infant in her arms, and she turned without

it.

She

said she

had

laid

it

re-

down

on a heap of dry leaves, while she w^ent to pick a

few flowers gone.

The

;

and w^hen she returned, the baby was

fields

and woods were searched

and neighbors began mitted infanticide. dissatisfied

to

in

vain

whisper that she had com-

Then rumors

with her marriage

;

arose that she

was

that her heart re-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

mained with a young man viously engaged

her,

did

;

whom

she

was

pre-

and that her brain was affected by

;

She was never pubhcly ac-

this secret unhappiness.

cused

to

261

partly because there

and partly because

commit the crime,

it

it

was no evidence

against

v/as supposed that if she

must have been owing

to

But she became aware of the

aberation of mind.

whisperings against her, and the consciousness of

being an object of suspicion, combined with the mysterious disappearance of her child, cast a heavy cloud over her

life,

and made her appear more and

more unlike her former

This she confided to

self.

her clergyman, in the interview shortly preceding her death

man,

to

;

and she likewise told him that the young

whom

she had been engaged, had never for-

given her for not marrying him.

A

young man confessed that he had stolen the babe. He had followed the mother, unobserved by her, and had seen few weeks

after her decease, this

her lay the sleeping infant on

he gazed upon

it,

its

bed of leaves.

a m.ingled feeling of jealousy and

revenge took possession of his soul. to a

H

In obedience

sudden impulse, he seized the babe, and carried

off hastily.

He

subsequently conveyed

ant village, and placed

assumed name and alive

As

and

it

history.

The

child

well, at the place he indicated.

mother's innocence was

it

to a dis-

out to nurse, under an

made

was found Thus the

clearly manifest to the

262

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

world, as the

Quaker preacher had predicted

at

her

funeral. I often

heard Friend Hopper relate

this anecdote,

and he always said that he could vouch truth of

it

;

and

for the

for several other similar things in

connection with the ministry of his friend Arthur.

A

singular case of inward perception likewise oc-

own mother.

curred in the experience of his Diary, which

still

is

describes a visit to delphia,

me

and adds

*' :

preserved in the family, she

some of her children Soon

after this, the

that I should lose a son.

It

was

said.

intelligible

Thou

than this

wilt lose a son

still, ;

in Phila-

Lord showed

often told

me,

Nothing could he

though without sound of words.

more

In her

small voice.

and he

is

It

a pleasant

child."

Her son James

resided with relatives in Philadel-

Delaware.

On

one of these occasions, soon after his mother's

visit,

phia, and often

went

to bathe in the

who went with him sank in the water, and James lost his own life by efforts to save him. A messenger was sent to inform his parents, who lived a friend

at the distance of eight miles.

While he

staid in

the house, reluctant to do his mournful errand, the

mother was siezed with sudden dread, and heard the inward voice saying, "James is drowned." She said abruptly to the messenger, to tell

me

that

my

son James

is

"Thou drowned.

come

hast

Oh,

how

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. did

why of

happen

it

?

He was much

"

she thought so.

except that

it,

it

263

surprised,

and asked

She could give no explanation had been suddenly revealed to

her mind.

have heard and read many such

I

kers,

doubt.

They themselves

inward

light

to admit of

such cases to "the

and that phrase, as they understand

"

conveys a satisfactory explanation to their minds.

it,

I

;

refer all

Qua-

stories of

which seem too well authenticated

leave psychologists to settle the question as they

can.

'

Those who are are

acquainted with Quaker views,

w^ell

aware that by "the inward

light,"

they signify

something higher and more comprehensive than conscience. soul,

They

which

regard

will

as the voice of

always guard

guide him into truth, stillness

it

if

God

man from

in the

evil,

reverently listened

and

to,

in

of the passions, and obedience of the will.

These strong impressions on individual minds constitute their only call try,

and consecration to the minis-

and have directed them

in the

application of

moral principles to a variety of subjects, such as temperance, war, and w^ere impelled

by the

slaver]^.

interior

in-

Men and women monitor to go about

preaching on these topics, until their individual views

became what Society.

are called "leading testimonies" in the

The

abjuration of slavery

earliest "testimonies."

was one

of their

There was much preaching

264

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

against

in their public meetings,

it

and many com-

mittees were appointed to expostulate in private with

who

those

At an early

held slaves.

period,

it

be-

came an estabhshed rule of discipline for the Society disown any member, who refused to manumit his

to

bondmen. Friend Hopper used to in connection

of their

tell

an interesting anecdote

with these committees.

visits,

members, who held only one

their

He was

very old.

In the course

they concluded to pass by one of slave,

too infirm to earn his

and he was

own

living,

and as he was very kindly treated, they supposed he

would have no wish

freedom.

for

But Isaac Jack-

one of the committee, a very benevolent and

son,

conscientious man, had a strong impression on his

mind

He

that duty required

him not

how

case.

the subject appeared to him, in the inward light

of his

own

vinced.

soul.

He

The Friend was not easily conmany reasons for not

brought forward

emancipating his slave

was

that the

man was

;

and one of the strongest

too feeble to labor for his

support, and therefore freedom to

to omit this

accordingly went alone to the master, and stated

him.

Isaac Jackson replied,

thee without wages,

own

would be of no value

"He

labored for

whde he had strength, and it is Whether he would

thy duty to support him now. value freedom or not, petent to decide."

is

a question he alone

is

com-

LIFE OF ISAAC

These

T.

265

HOPPER.

friendly remonstrances produced such effect,

that the master agreed to

manumit

his

bondman,

and give a written obhgation that he should be comfortably supported during the remainder of his

by him or

his heirs.

When

life,

the papers were prepar-

ed the slave was called into the parlor, and. Isaac Jackson inquired, " Would'st thou like to be free ?"

He

promptly answered that he should.

suggested that he was

now too

The Friend

feeble to labor

much,

and inquired how he would manage to obtain a ing.

The

been kind

him the

liv-

man meekly replied, "Providence has me thus far and I am willing to trust

old to

;

rest of

my

life."

Isaac Jackson then held up the papers and said,

*'Thou

art

a free man.

Thy master

has manumitted

thee, and promised to maintain thee as long as thou

mayest

live."

This was so unexpected, that the aged, bondman

was completely overcome. remained

in

impulse, he short

For a few moments, he

profound silence fell

;

then, with a sudden

on his knees, and poured forth a

and fervent prayer of thanksgiving to

Heavenly Father,

for prolonging his life

till

his

he had

the happiness to feel himself a free man.

The master and and affected by feeling.

his adviser

were both surprised

this eloquent outburst of grateful

The poor

old servant had

seemed

so

com-

fortable and contented, that no one supposed freedom

12

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

266

was of great importance Isaac Jackson observed,

lie

to him.

alone

But, as honest

was competent

to

decide that question.

Quakers consider "the inward

light" as a guide

not merely in cases involving moral principles, but also in the regulation of external affairs

annals of their Society, are ces of dangers avoided

;

and

some remarkable

by the help of

in the

instan-

this internal

monitor.

Friend Hopper used to mention a case where a strong impression had been

made on

own mind,

his

without his being able to assign any adequate reason for

it.

A

spectable

young man, descended from Quaker family

in

a highly re-

New-Jersey, went to

South Carolina and entered into business. ried there,

and as

his wife did not

ciety of Friends, he

mar-

belong to the So-

was of course disowned.

some years of commercial went

He

After

success, he failed,

and

to Philadelphia, where Friend Hopper became

acquainted with him, and formed an opinion not unfavorable.

When

he had been in that city some

time, he mentioned that his wife lina,

owned land

which he was very desirous

to

in

Caro-

cultivate,

but

was prevented by conscientious scruples concerning slave-labor.

He

said

if

he could induce some colored

people from Philadelphia to go there and work. for

him

as free laborers,

it

would be an advantage

him, and a benefit to them.

He

to

urged Friend Hop-

267

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

per to exert his influence over them to convince

them

that such precautions could be taken, as

would

prevent any danger of their being reduced to slavery

saying that

;

he would consent to do

if

doubtless could obtain as

The

ed.

was

so,

Soon

him

in carrying

two colored men

after,

he

laborers as he want-

Hopper

plan appeared feasible, and Friend

inclined to assist

tion.

many

it

into execu-

called

upon him,

and said they were ready to go, provided he thought w^ell

Nothing had occurred to change

of the project.

man, or

his opinion of the

to excite distrust concern-

ing his agricultural scheme.

upon

mind

his

But an impression came

that the laborers

had better not go

an impression so strong, that he thought be influenced by

He

it.

had thought well of the

it

;

right to

accordingly told them he plan,

but his views had

changed, and he advised them to remain where they were. to

This greatly surprised the

employ them, and he called

subject

;

repeating

his

man who wished

to expostulate on the

statement

concerning

great advantage they would derive from entering

the in-

to his service.

"There

is

no use in arguing the matter," replied

Friend Hopper.

"I have no cause whatever

to sus-

pect thee of any dishonest or dishonorable intentions

;

but there

is

on

ger, so powerful that

my mind I

an impression of dan-

cannot conscientiously have

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

268

any agency

in

inducing colored laborers to go with

thee."

Not sncc^i^ing in his project, the bankrupt merchant went to New-Jersey for a time, to reside with his father, w^ho

was a worthy and

An

of the Society of Friends.

member

influential

innocent, good na-

tured old colored man, a fugitive from Virginia, had

some time been employed

for

to

work on the farm,

and the family had become much attached to him.

The son who had returned from Carolina was very friendly with this simple-hearted old servant, easily gained his confidence. his story,

him

ble

When

and

he had learned

he offered to write to his master, and ena-

to purchase his

freedom

sum which he The fugitive was

for a

could gradually repay by labor.

exceedingly grateful, and put himself completely in

power by a

his

full

statement of

The

false-hearted

ter

and the poor old slave was soon

;

man

and carried to Philadelphia in per was sent

I

irons.

sobs, the captive told

he had been deceived.

and so

particulars.

after arrested

Friend Hop-

and went to see him

for,

With groans and

all

did indeed write to the mas-

*'I

prison.

how wickedly

thought he was a Quaker,

trusted him," said he.

master's agent pay

in

him fifty dollars

saw

my

for betraying

me."

"But

I

Friend Hopper assured him that the deceiver was not a

Quaker

;

and that he did not beheve any Qua-

ker on the face of the earth would do such an unjust

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

He

and cruel deed. the sufferer

269

could devise no means to rescue

and with an aching heart he was com-

;

pelled to see

him

carried off into

slawy, without

being able to offer any other solace than an affectionate farewell.

The conduct

of this base hypocrite proved that

the w^^rning presentiment against himx had not been

without foundation.

wrong he had done

at the

and unoffending

Friend Hopper wrote to him as

lows-creature, low^s

Grieved and indignant

to a helpless

prison,

whom

fol-

man

''Yesterday, I visited the poor old

:

fel-

in

thou hast so perfidiously betrayed.

Gloomy and hopeless as his case is, I would prefer it Thou hast received fifty dollars as the re-

to thine.

ward of thy treachery thee

?

Canst. thou lay

;

what good can

but

down

it

do

thy head at night, with-

out feeling the sharp goadings of a guilty conscience

Canst thou ask forgiveness of thy

whom

enly Father,

by thy hypocrisy

?

Judas betrayed his master for

braid thee. sufficiently

I ;

fifty

;

and

if

thy

not seared, as with hot iron, thy com-

is

punction must be great.

any

and afterward hung himself.

hast betrayed thy brother for

conscience

Heav-

thou hast so grievously insulted

thirty pieces of silver,

Thou

sins of our

^

I feel

for

our beneficent Creator will not suffer

to be at ease in their sins.

The worthy

no disposition to up-

have no doubt thy ow^n heart does that

old

Quaker

in

Thy friend,

I.

T. H."

New-Jersey was not

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

270 aware of time

son's

When

after.

known

conduct until some

villainous

were made

the circumstances

were exceedingly morti-

to tJ^e family they

and

fied

his

afflicted.

Friend Hopper used to

another story, which

tell

forms a beautiful contrast to the foregoing painful narrative.

I

derness of

repeat

spirit,

it,

because

which has

it

illustrates the ten-

so peculiarly character-

ized the Society of Friends, and because I hope

may

like

fall

dew on

Charles Carey lived near Philadelphia,

feelings.

it

hearts parched by vindictive in

a comfortable house with a few acres of pasture ad-

A

joining. lean,

was one day

horse, apparently healthy, though

offered

him

in the

market

The cheapness tempted him

dollars.

for

young

he thought the clover of

for fifty

to purchase

would soon

his pastures

put the animal in good condition, and enable him to sell

him

at

command it

He was

an advanced price.

the required

The

of a friend.

sum

too poor to

himself, but he borrowed

horse, being well fed

and lightly

worked, soon became a noble looking animal, and

was taken

But scarcely had he

to the city for sale.

entered the market,

when

a stranger stepped up and

claimed him as his property, recently stolen. Carey's son,

who had charge

taken before a magistrate.

Charles

of the animal,

Isaac T. Hopper

was was

s«nt for, and easily proved that the character of the

young man and

his father

was above

all

suspicion.

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

271

But the stranger produced satisfactory evidence that he was the rightful owner of the horse, which was

When

accordingly delivered up to him.

Charles

Carey heard the unwelcome news, he quietly marked, "It T

am

glad the

is

me

hard for

man

money;

to lose the

re-

but

has recovered his property."

Al)out a year afterward, having occasion to go to

a tavern

room,

in

whom

who had

saw a man

Philadelphia, he

sold

in

the bar-

he at once recognized as the person

him the

He walked up

horse.

to

him

and inquired whether he remembered the transac tion.

"I

am

Being answered the

in the

man who bought

know he was

stolen ?"

affirmative, he

With

said

Didst thou

that horse.

a stupified

manner and

a faltering voice, the stranger answered, "Yes." "

Come

along with me, then," said Charles

I will put thee

where thou

w^lt not

steal

"and

;

another

horse very soon."

The

thief resigned himself to his fate with a sort

of hopeless indifference.

the magistrate's

office,

But before they reached the voice within began to

plead gently with the Quaker, and turned him from

"I

the sternness of his purpose.

am

a poor man,"

said he, " and thou hast greatly injured me.

not afford to lose will not

fifty dollars

compensate

me

;

for the

and conduct thyself honestly

The man seemed amazed.

I

can-

but to prosecute thee loss.

Go thy way,

in future."

He

stood for a

mo-

272

LIFE OF ISAAC

merit, hesitating

and confused

away.

But

and

"Where can I find to make restitution

after taking a

done

;

few

then walked slowly

steps,

you,

said,

be able

HOPPER.

T.

he turned back

if I

should ever

wrong

for the

I

have

r

Charles replied, "I trust thou dost not intend to jest with

me, after

all

the trouble thou hast caused

me?" "No, indeed

I

do not," answered the stranger.

"I hope to repay you, some time or other."

"Very

well," rejoined the Friend, "if thou ever

hast anything for me, thou canst leave

T. Hopper,

at

About a year on

Walnut and Dockmet again. Friend Hopper found a letter

parted, and never

after.

his desk, addressed to Charles

was delivered

came from

to him,

the

with Isaac

corner of

the

Thus they

streets."

it

Carey.

man who had

A

other letter containing the

same sum, was

Not long

after,

enclosing twenty dollars sufficient to

it

;

few months

it

and

stolen the horse,

contained twenty dollars.

same way.

When

he was surprised to find that

later,

an-

left in

the

a third letter arrived,

the whole forming a

sum

repay both principal and interest of the

money which

the kind-hearted

Quaker had

lost

by

his dishonesty.

This

last

letter

stated

that

the

writer had no

thoughts of stealing the horse ten minutes before he did

it.

After he had sold him, he

was

so haunted

by

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

remorse and fear of detection, that

273

became a

life

burthen to him, and he cared not what became of

But when he was

him.

arrested,

and so unexpect-

was taken

edly set at liberty, the crushing weight

He

from him.

felt

sustained by the hope of

fresh courage, and

making some atonement

He made

what he had done. improve

by

inspired

He was

and succeeded.

his condition,

for

strenuous efforts to

then

teaching school, was assessor of the township w^here

he resided, and no one suspected that he had ever

committed a dishonest action.

The good man, ed, read

it

w^ith

to

whom

moistened eyes, and

ward of righteousness For many years

is

spirit

prevailed

was address-

felt that

the re-

peace.

after Isaac

Society of Friends, a

communion

this epistle

T. Hopper joined the

of peace and of kindly

No

among them.

sect has

ever arisen which so nearly approached the character

of primitive

Christianity,

in

all

relations

each other and with their fellow men. as the early christians tion,

;

and so

nying

spirit

tended

w^ith the

at the outset

world

it

Having become established

and respected by the world, the humble and

which

as soon

were relieved from persecu-

they began to persecute each other

was with the Quakers.

But

with

self-de-

renounced and con-

gradually departed.

Many

them were rich, and not unfrequently their fortunes were acquired by trading with slave-holders.

of

12*

274

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

Such men were well of their spiritual

over

among

forefathers

against

slavery read

themselves, at stated seasons

sympathy with those of

felt little

who

have the testimonies

satisfied to

considered

freely with all

it

but they

;

their cotemporaries,

a duty to remonstrate publicly and

who were connected with

the iniqui-

tous system.

A

by the name of

strong and earnest preacher,

Elias Hicks,

made himself more

respect.

in -this

He

offensive than others

appears to have been a very

and conscientious man, with great reverence

just

God, and exceedingly

Everywhere,

in public

for

little

and

made by

He

lifted

up

his

would eat no

have been produced by

In a remarkable manner, he showed

"ruhng passion strong

this

to

for

authority.

and wear no gar-

slaves,

ment -which he supposed unpaid labor.

he

in private,

voice against the sin of slavery.

sugar that was

human

A

in death."

few hours

before he departed from this v/orld, his friends, seeing

him

felt

of

it

effort to

shiver,

push

it

He

placed a comfortable over him.

with his feeble hands, and

away.

When

made a

strong

they again drew

it

up

over his shoulders, he manifested the same symp-

toms of abhorrence.

One

of them,

who began

to

conjecture the cause, inquired, *'Dost thou dislike it

because

it is

made

of cotton?"

gone to speak, but he moved sent.

When

his

He was

head

in

too far

token of as-

they removed the article of slave pro-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

275-

duce, and substituted a woolen blanket, he remained quiet,

and passed away

He was

accustomed

in peace.

to say,

**

It

takes live fish to

swim up stream ;" and unquestionably he and his friend Isaac T. Hopper were both very much alive. The quiet boldness of this man was altogether unmanIn Virginia or Carohna, he preached more

ageable.

earnestly and directly against slavery, than he did in

New-York that

it

or Pennsylvania

seemed

to be

,

for the simple reason

more needed

of these occasions, a slaveholder

him from

curiosity, left the

there.

Upon one

who went

meeting

to hear

in great wrath,

swearing he would blow out that fellow's brains ventured near his plantation.

When

if

he

the preacher

heard of this threat, he put on his hat and proceeded In answer to his

straightway to the forbidden place. inquiries, a slave

informed him that his master was

then at dinner, but would see him in a short time.

He

seated himself and waited patiently until the

planter entered the room. fied

With a calm and

manner, he thus addressed him

:

digni-

"I understand

thou hast threatened to blow out the brains of Elias Hicks,

if

he comiCS upon thy plantation.

I

am

Elias

Hicks."

The Virginian acknowledged

that he did

such a threat, and said he considered tifiable to

do such a deed, when a

preach rebellion to his slaves,

it

make

perfectly jus-

man came

to

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

S76

"I came

to

preach the Gospel, which inculcates

forgiveness of injuries upon slaves as well as upon

"But

other men," replied the Quaker.

thou canst,

how

me,,

tell

if

Gospel can be truly preached,

this

the slaves that they are injured,

without showing

man

and thus making a

of thy sentiments feel as

if

they were encouraged in rebeUion."

This led to a long argument, maintained

most friendly

in the

At parting, the slaveholder

spirit.

shook hands with the preacher, and invited him to

come

again.

months

after, the

When called

His

were

visits

renewed,

Virginian emancipated

and

six

all his slaves.

preaching in the free states, he earnestly

upon

all

to

abstain from slave-produce, and

wash

thus in a measure

their

own hands from

parti-

cipation in a system of abominable wickedness and cruelty.

His zeal on

his brethren, but

they could not

ble to discipline for

annoyed some of

this subject

it

;

for these

make him am en a views were in ac-

cordance with the earliest and strongest testimonies of the Society of Friends

been discreditable offence. in

to

;

moreover,

it

would have

acknowledge such a ground of

But the secret

dissatisfaction

showed

a disposition to find fault with him.

were brought against

his doctrines.

He was

itself

Charges accused

of denying the authority of Scripture, and the

di-

vinity of Christ. Tt

was a departure from the

original basis of the

277

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

Society to

assume any standard whatsoever con-

cerning creeds.

It

is

true that the early

wrote volumes of controversy against prevailing opinions of their day

;

Quakers

many

of the

such as the doctrine

of predestination, and of salvation depending upon faith,

rather than upon worlis.

All the customary

external observances, such as holy days, baptism,

and the Lord's Supper, they considered as belonging to a less spiritual age,

for

them

there

to be

and that the time had come

done away.

Concerning the Trinity,

appears to have been difference of opinion

among them from the earliest time. When George Fox expressed a fear that William Penn had gone too far in defending "the true unity of God," Penn replied that he had never heard any one speak more plainly concerning the manhood of Christ, than George Fox himself. Penn was imprisoned in the Tower for "rejecting the mystery of the Trinity," in a book called " The Sandy Foundation Shaken." He afterward wrote "Innocency with her Open Face," regarded by some as a compromise, which

procured his release. doctrines naturally

But though various popular

came

in

their

way, and chal-

lenged discussion, while they were endeavoring to introduce a

new

feature of their

order of things, the characteristic

movement was

attention to practical

righteousness rather than theological tenets. did not require their

members

They

to profess faith in

any

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

278

They had

creed.

and that was the

but one single bond of union

man

belief that every

ought to be

guided in his actions, and in the interpretation of

by the

Scripture,

light within his

own

soul.

Their

history shows that they mainly used this light to

guide them in the application of moral principles.

Upon

the priesthood, in every form, they

sparing warfare

;

believing that the gifts of the Spirit

ought never to be paid with money.

committees to destitute,

The

and

made un-

visit

They

appointed

the sick, the afflicted, and the

to superintend marriages

and funerals.

farmer, the shoemaker, the physician, or the

merchant, followed his vocation diligently, and whenever the Spirit

The

did so. called

moved him

to exhort his brethren, he

"First, and Fifth

Day"

of the week,

by other denominations Sunday and Thurs-

day, were set apart by

Women

them

for rehgious meetings.

were placed on an equality with men, by

being admitted to this free Gospel ministry, and appointed on committees with men, to regulate the affairs of the

Society.

They

abjured war under

all

circumstances, and suffered great persecution rather

than pay military taxes.

They

early discouraged

the distillation or use of spirituous liquors, and dis-

owned any grain.

of their

members who

distilled

Protests against slavery were

most earnest testimonies, and rule of discipline that

it

was

them from

among their made a

early

no member of the Society

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. KOPPER.

When

should hold slaves. it

was a custom

in

279

the Quakers

England, as

it still

is

arose,

first

on the con-

tinent of Europe, to say thou to an inferior, or equal,

They saw in this custom an infringement of the great law of human brotherhood and because they would "call no man master," they and you

to a superior.

thou to every

said

To

rank.

person, without

distinction of

the conservatives of their day, this spirit-

ual democracy seemed like deliberate contempt of authority

ment.

;

and as such, deserving of severe punish-

More strenuously than

all

denied the right of any set of creed for others.

other things, they

men

to prescribe a

Tlie only authority they recog-

nized was ''the light w^ithin

;"

and for freedom to

follow this, they were always ready to suffer or to die.

On

all

these subjects, there could be no doubt

that Elias Hicks

stamp.

But he

was a Quaker of the

differed

of his theological views.

from many

He

old genuine

otiiers

in

some

considered Christ as

"the only Son of the most high God;" but he denied that "the outivard person,^'' which suffered on

Calvary was properly the Son of God. less

importance to miracles, than did

brethren. soul,

He

said he

He

attached

many

had learned more of

of his

his

own'

and had clearer revelations of God and duty,

while following his plough, than from

he had ever read.

He

all

the books

reverenced the Bible as a

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

280

record of divine power and goodness, but did not consider a knowledge of

essential to salvation

it

Hindoo

for he supposed that a

or an African,

who

never heard of the Scriptures, or of Christ, might

become

truly a child of God,

cerely followed the

every

human

divine

if

he humbly and

light

sin-

within, given

to

measure of

its

soul, according to the

faithfulness.

Many

whose views assimilated him of having departed from the principles of early Friends. But his predecessors had been guided only by the light of his

brethren,

more with orthodox

within

opinions, accused

and he followed the same guide, without de-

;

cidmg beforehand precisely how This principle,

him.

sistently applied,

if

of

all

coming ages.

might lead

lead to large and

for the progressive

It w^as so

be the one definite

it

sincerely adopted and con-

would obviously

liberal results, sufficient

far

growth

generally admitted to

bond of union among early

Friends, that the right of Elias Hicks to utter his

own

convictions,

whether they were

in

accordance

with others or not, would probably never have been questioned,

if

some

ty had not assumed to

them

;

members of the Sociemore power than was delegated

influential

thereby constituting themselves a kind of

ecclesiastical tribunal.

It is

the nature of such au-

thority to seek enlargement of

croaching more

its

boundaries, by en-

and more on individual freedom.

i

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

The

friends of Elias

Hicks did not adopt

or the views of any other

On

ion.

the

281

man

his

views

as a standard of opin-

subject of the Trinity, for instance,

there were various shadings of opinion

The probabihty seems

among them.

to be that the influence of

Unitarian sects, and of Orthodox sects had, in the

course of years, gradually glided in kers,

and more or

less

among

the Qua-

fashioned their theological

opinions, though themselves

were unconscious of

as w^e all are of the surrounding air

we

it

are constant-

ly inhaling.

But

it

was not the Unitarianism of Elias Hicks

that his adherents fought for, or considered

sary to adopt. to express his rity of

it

any man, or body of men,

to judge his preach-

ing by the assumed standard of any creed. fore, the real

with

it.

opinions It

There-

ground of the struggle seems to have

been resistance to ecclesiastical power logical

neces-

They simply contended for his right own convictions, and denied the autho-

;

unavoidably became

was a new form of the old

though theointertwisted battle,

per-

petually renewed ever since the world began, be-

tween authority and individual freedom.

The

agitation,

which had

heaving under the surface,

for is

some time been

said to

have

beeni

brought into open manifestation by a sermon which

Ehas Hicks preached duce, in 1819.

A

against the use of slave pro-

bitter

warfare followed.

Those

282

who

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

refused to denounce his opinions were accused

of being infidels and separatists

and

their accusers bigoted

;

and they called

With regard

intolerant.

to disputed doctrines, both claimed to find sufficient

authority in the writings of early Friends side charged the other with mutilating

;

and each

and misrepre-

As usual in theological controversies, the skein became more and more entangled, till there was no way left but to cut it in two. senting those writings.

In 1827 and 1828, a separation took place in the

Yearly Meetings of Philadelphia, New- York, and other

several

were divided

Thenceforth,

places.

into

two

distinct sects.

the

members

In some places

the friends of Elias Hicks were far the more nu-

merous.

In others, his opponents had a majority.

Each party claimed

to

be the genuine Society of

Friends, and denied the other's right to retain the title.

The opponents

of Elias Hicks called them-

selves ''Orthodox Friends," and

"Hicksites."

The

named

his adherents

latter repudiated the

title,

be-

cause they did not acknowledge him as their stan-

dard of

belief,

though they loved and reverenced

character, and stood by

of liberty of conscience.

him

his

as the representative

They

called themselves

"Friends," and the others "the Orthodox."

The

was the genuine Society of Friends was more important than it would seem to a mere looker on; for large pecuniary interests were question which

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

involved therein.

form a

It

well

is

known

283

that

Quakers

commonwealth by themselves, within commonwealth by which they are governed.

sort of

the civil

They pay the public school-tax, and in addition build their own school-houses, and employ teachers of itheir own Society. They support their own poor, while they pay the same pauper tax as other zens.

They have burying grounds

citi

apart from others,

because they have conscientious scruples concerning

monuments and epitaphs. Of course, the question which of the two contending parties was the true Society of Friends involved the question who owned the meeting-houses, the burying grounds, and the

The

school funds.

friends of Elias

Hicks offered

divide the property, according to the relative

bers of each party

;

but those called Orthodox refused

Lawsuits were brought

to accept the proposition.

in various parts of the country.

of animosity existed fact that the

to

num-

may

"Orthodox"

What

a bitter state

be conjectured from the in Philadelphia refused to

allow "Hicksites" to bury their dead in the ground

belonging to the undivided Society of Friends.

On

the occasion of funerals, they refused to deliver up the key

;

in vain,

they forced the lock.

I

and

believe

after their opponents

in

almost

had remonstrated

every instance, where the

"Hicksites" were a majority, and thus had a claim to the

larger share of property, they offered to di-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

284

vide in proportion to the relative

After the separation in Nev\^-York, they re-

parties.

newed

numbers of the two

this offer,

which had once been rejected

and

;

the " Orthodox" finally agreed to accept a stipulated

sum

for their interest in the property.

numbered

called "Hicksites"

in the

The

Friends

whole more than

seventy thousand.

Quakers

England generally took part against

in

Some, who were styled

Elias Hicks and his friends.

''The Evangelical Party," went brethren

in

of

nations

their

conformity with the prevailing denomiChristians

ture essential to salvation

by water

;

Orthodox.

called

them considered a knowledge of baptism

much beyond

;

Many

of

of the letter of Scrip-

and some even approved

a singular departure from the

total abrogation of external rites,

which characterized

William and Mary known and highly popular Enghsh were born members of this religious Society.

Quakerism from the beginning. Howitt, the well writers,

In an

article

concerning the Hicksite controversy,

written for the

mer says:

London Christian Advocate, the

"My

opinion

is,

for-

that Friends will see

cause to repent the excision of that great portion of their

By

own body, on

sanctioning

partially

it,

the plea of heretical opinions.

they are bound,

if

they act im-

and consistently, to expel others also

heterodox opinions.

This conies of violating the

cred liberty of conscience

;

for sa-

of allowing ourselves to

285

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

be infected with the leaveij of a blind zeal, instead Is there no of the broad philanthropy of Christ. better alternative

William Penn

we

while

?

to

;

To

Yes.

adopt the principle of

allow freedom of opinion

permit the Evangelical party to hold

favorite notions, so long as they consent to to our

and

;

tlieir

conform

system of public worship, to confess that

we

have acted harshly to the Hicksites, and open our

arms

to all

in their

who

are sincere in their faith, and orderly

conduct."

As the adherents of Elias Hicks

time

at that

represented freedom of conscience, of course Isaac

T. Hopper belonged to that party, and advocated with characteristic zeal.

In fact, he seems

been the Napoleon of the

battle.

It

was not

nature intentionally to misrepresent any

in

man

it

have

to

;

his

and

even when the controversy was raging most furiously, I

believe there never

was a time when he would

not willingly have acknowledged a mistake the mo-

ment he perceived

it.

such, that w^herever he justice, or

freedom was

an adversary

till

But

temperament was

his

deemed a at stake,

principle of truth,

he could never quit

he had demolished him completely,

and convinced him that he w^as demolished he often

felt

;

though

great personal kindness toward the indi-

vidual thus prostrated, and

was always

render him any friendly service.

He

that his resistance in this controversy

willing to

used to say

was

principally

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

286

roused by the dispositioii^ which he saw manifested

"to crush worthy, innocent Friends,

ence of opinion

;"

foj;

mere

differ-

and no one, who knew him welJ,

could doubt that on this subject, as on others, he was

But

impelled by a sincere love of truth and justice.

neither he nor any other person ever entered the lists

of theological controversy without paying dearly

for the encounter.

turbed his

own

Perpetual

spirit,

strife

grieved and dis-

while his energy, perseverance,

and bluntness of speech, gained him

many

Wherever

schism was

troduced,

this unfortunate sectarian it

in-

divided families, and burst asunder the

bonds of friendship. to

enemies.

For a long time, they seemed

be a Society of Enemies, instead of a Society of

Friends.

In this respect, no one suffered more acute-

ly than Isaac T. Hopper.

very strong friendships

;

It

was

and

his nature to

at this

form

painful junc-

many w^hom he had long loved and trusted, parted from him. Among them was his cousin Joseph Whitall, who had embraced Quakerism at the same period of life, who had been the friend of his

ture,

boyhood, and the cherished companion of later years.

They had no

personal altercation, but their intimacy

off, and they became as strangers. had encountered other difficulties also, at a

gradually cooled

He

former period of his lay across his path. after his

marriage,

life,

the shadows of which

About twelve or his health

began

still

fifteen years

to

fail.

His

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

vigorous frame pined

away

2S7

a mere shadow, and

to

he was supposed to be in a consumption.

same

time, he found himself involved in pecuniary

the burden of which weighed very heavi-

difficulties,

ly

At the

upon him,

justice

it

many

His strong sense of

reasons.

painful for

He had

not pay. others,

for

made

him

owe debts he could

to

an exceeding love of imparting to

and these pecuniary impediments tied down

his large soul

with a thousand

He

lilliputian cords.

had an honest pride of independence, which chafed under any obligation that could be avoided.

His

strong attachmitit to the Society of Friends rendered

him

sensitive to their opinion

were exceedingly

their rules

their

and

;

strict

at that

period

concerning any of

members, who contracted debts they were una-

ble to pay.

People are always ready to censure a

man who

unprosperous in worldly

is

his character is is all

the

more

affairs

;

and

if

such as to render him prominent, he likely to be

these trials Friend

Of

handled harshly.

Hopper had a large

they disturbed him exceedingly ness of upright intentions kept

;

share,

and

but the conscious-

him from sinking un-

der the weight that pressed upon him.

He was

always a very industrious man, and what-

ever he did

was well done.

But the

fact was, the

claims upon his tim.e and attention were too numer-

ous to be met by any one mortal man. large family to support, and during

many

He had

a

years his

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

288

house was a home

from

and near.

far

for

poor Quakers, and others,

He

had much business to trans-

which he was then

act in the Society of Friends, of

an

for

He

member.

respected

and highly

influential

was one

of the founders and secretary of a society

employment of the poor

the

;

for colored children

Benezet school

overseer of the ;

teacher, with-

out recompense, in a free school for colored adults inspector of the prison, without a salary of a fire-company

;

member

guardian of abused apprentices

;

;

the lawyer and protector of slaves and colored people,

upon

all

occasions.

When pe^lence was

he was devoted to the

ing,

continually calling upon

him

sick.

The poor were

to plead with importu-

nate landlords and creditors.

He was

not unfre-

quently employed to settle estates involved in culties,

which others were

He

to exert influence over

When

the insane, for which he had peculiar tact.

man

diffi-

afraid to undertake.

had occasional applications he heard of a

rag-

beginning to form habits likely to

prove injurious to himself or his family, he would go to him,

whether

his

rank were high or low, and have

He would

private conversations with him.

some him

story, or

feel,

in that

"Thou

art the

He

man."

way, and the exertion of

sonably recalled those ous paths.

tell

suppose some case, and finally

who were

it

him

make

had a great

gift

sometimes sea-

sliding into

danger

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

When

one

upon the time that must have

reflects

been bestowed on

289

these avocations, do his pecu-

all

niary embarrassments require any further explanation

?

A member

of his

own

summed up

Society

the case very justly in few words.

Hearing him

censured by certain individuals, she replied,

whole amount of

is

it

this

:

—the

to love our neighbor as well as ourselves

Isaac has loved

them

"The

Bible requires us ;

and Friend

better."

These straitened circumstances continued during the remainder of his residence in Philadelphia his

and

;

family stood by him nobly through the

trial.

Household expenses were reduced within the smallHis wife opened a tea-store, as

est possible limits.

an available means of increasing their income.

The way

simple dignity of her manners, and her pleasing of talking, attracted

who

many

ladies,

even among the

handsome Quaker matron, while they were purchasing house-

fashionable,

hold stores.

The

liked to chat with the

elder daughters taught school,

took upon themselves double duty

in the

How much

large family of younger children.

and

charge of a they

loved and honored their father, was indicated by their zealous efforts to assist and sustain him.

neard him slipped

tell,

with

much

emotion,

some of her earnings

he slept in his arm-chair.

I

have

of

them

into his pocket, while

She

w^as anxious to save

him from the pain of being unable 13

how one

to

meet necessary

290

LIFE OF ISAAC

HOPPER.

T.

same time

expenses, and at the

keep him ignorant

to

of the source whence rehef came.

His

spirit

.

of independence never bent under the

He was

pressure of misfortune.

w^ilhng to deprive

himself of everything, except the simplest necessaries of

life

but he struggled manfully against incurring

;

obligations.

There was a Quaker fund

education of children

tuitous

urged to avail himself of

but

;

for the gra-

when he

w^as

he declined, because

it,

he thought such funds ought to be reserved for those whose necessities were greater than his own.

The government added cuniary annoyances

;

but

its it

exactions to other pe-

had no power

the inflexibility of his principles.

He

refused to pay the militia tax, because, in

with

conscientious

all

wrong

to

warp

had always

common

Quakers, he considered

to do anything for the support of war.

seems no more than just that a

sect,

it

It

who pay a who

double school-tax, and a double pauper-tax, and

almost never occasion the state any expense by their crimes, should be excused for believing themselves

bound

to

for evil

obey the injunction of Jesus,

;

to return

good

but politicians have decided that practical

Christianity

of citizens.

is

not always consistent with the duty

Accordingly,

when Friend Hopper

re-

fused to pay for guns and swords, to shoot and stab his fellow

The

men, they seized

articles

his

goods to pay the

chosen were often of

much

tax.

greater value

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

291

than their demand, and were sacrificed by a hurried

and careless outfit

His wife had received a handsome

sale.

from her

father, at the time of her

marriage

but she was destined to see one article of furniture after another seized to

were

pay the military

alike abhorrent to her heart

Among

these articles,

fines,

which

and her conscience.

was a looking

glass,

of an

unusually large and clear plate, which was valuable as property, and dear to her as a bridal gift from her

parents. to

officer,

She could not see it carried off by the meet the expenses of military reviews,

without a sigh

woman

a

—perhaps

a tear.

But she was not

ever to imply a wish to have her husband

compromise

his principles.

Thus bearing up bravely against the pelting storms of life, he went on, hand in hand with his beloved Sarah. But at last, he was called to part w^ith the steady friend and pleasant companion of his brightest

and

She passed from him

his darkest hours.

into

the spiritual world on the eighteenth of the Sixth

Month, (June,) 1822, age.

severe dyspepsia

;

bled her to endure to

in the forty-seventh

year of her

She suffered much from the wasting pains of but religious hope and faith enaall

her

trials

with resignation, and

view the approach of death with cheerful serenity

of soul.

Toward

of her complexion

ing

;

the close of her

was

life,

the freshness

injured by continual suffer-

but though pale, she remained a handsome

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

292

woman

During her long

to the last.

illness,

she re-

ceived innumerable marks of respect and affection for she was beloved by from friends and neighbors ;

who knew

all

A

her.

short time before her death,

she offered the following prayer for the dear ones she

was

"O

leave;

so soon to

Lord, permit

Thy

thy blessing for this family. than

all

favor

me

to ask

is

better

For want of keeping

the world can give.

my soul has often been pierced my weakness. Look thou from

close to thy counsel,

Pity

with sorrow.

heaven, and forgive.

nuiew

my

fluence of thy

me

in the

Holy

Spirit, as to

hour of temptation.

how prone

I

am

to err

tender minds.

!

O

for

beseech thee, to

keep

Thou

Lord,

Lead them

rightness, for thy name's sake.

honor

I

it.

alone knowest

visit

in the I

blessed truth."

She

left

and

re-visit

paths of up-

ask not riches nor

them; but an inheritance

but six years old, to

Preserve

on the right side and on the

Bless the children

left.

tlieir

Enable me,

covenant, and so to live under the in-

in

thy ever-

nine children, the youngest

mourn

the loss of a most tender

careful and self-sacrificing mother.

While her bereaved husband was

still

under the

sliadow of this great grief, he was called to part with his son Isaac,

lowed

was

who

in little

more than a

his mother, at the early

age of

year, fol-

fifteen.

He

a sedate gentle lad, and had always .been a very

pleasant child to his parents.

His father cherished

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER. his

memory with

293

great tenderness, and seldom spoke

him without expressing his conviction that if he had hved he would have become a highly acceptable of

minister in the Society of Friends

;

would have been more agreeable

a destiny which to

his

parental

feehngs, than having a son President of the United States.

Soon went

Maryland, to

He

there.

melancholy event, Friend Hopper

after this

to

two was accompanied in

wife's brother,

visit

David Tatum.

sisters

this

who

resided

journey by his

At an inn where they

stopped for refreshment, the following characteristic incident occurred

A colored girl brought in a pitcher

:

"Art thou a slave ?" said Friend Hopper. she answered in the affirmative, he started up

of w^ater.

When

and exclaimed, "It

is

against

waited upon by a slave."

my

principles to be

His more timid brother-

in-law inquired, in a low tone of voice, whether he

were aware that the mistress was within hearing.

"To

be sure

I

am," answered Isaac aloud.

would be the use of saying hearing

He then

?"

went out

it,

"WTiat

she were not within

if

emptied the pitcher of water, and

to the well to re-fill

it

for himself.

Seeing

the landlady stare at these proceedings, he explained to her that

he thought

unpaid labor.

it

wrong

to avail himself of

In reply, she complained of the in-

gratitude of slaves, and the hard condition of their

masters.

"It

is

very inconvenient to

live so

near a

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

294

"I bad sixteen slaves; but them have run away, and I expect tJTe rest

free state," said she.

ten of

will soon go."

"I hope they will," said would run away, if I were a At first, she was disposed

Isaac.

"I

am

sure I

slave." to be offended

;

but he

reasoned the matter with her, in a quiet and friendly

manner, and they parted on very

Tatum

often used

returned

am

David

sure

they

generally added, "I never

home; and he

for I

;

terms.

to tell this anecdote, after

Southern state with brother

ag-ain will travel in a

Isaac

civil

it

would be

at the risk of

my

life."

Time

soothes

dearly loved

more

all

afflictions

and those who have

;

companion are sometimes

their first

likely than others to

for the simple reason that

form a second connexion

;

they cannot learn to do

without the happiness to which they have been ac-

customed.

There was an intimate friend of the fami-

a member of the same religious Society, named Hannah Attmore. She was a gentle and quiet per-

ly,

son, of

an innocent and very pleasing countenance.

Her father, a worthy and tender spirited man, had been an intimate friend of Isaac T. Hopper, and always sympathized w^th

A

his efforts for the oppressed.

strong attachment had likewise existed between

her and Friend Hopper's wife

quent

visits to

the house,

it

;

and during her

was her pleasure

fre-

to vol-

;

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

295

unteer assistance in the numerous household cares.

The

fact that his

Sarah had great esteem

for her,

was His

doubtless a strong attraction to the widower.

was favorably

suit

received,

and they were married

on the fourth of the second month, (February) 1824.

She was considerably younger than her bridegroom but vigorous health and elastic spirits his youthful

grave deportment,

mas,

made her seem

older than she

She became the mother of four

really was.

two of

had preserved

appearance, while her sober dress and

whom

died in early childhood.

who ended

children,

Little

his brief career in three years

The and

a

was always remembered by his parents, and other members of the family, as a remarkably bright, half,

precocious child, beautiful as an infant angel. It

has been already stated that the schism in the

Society of Friends introduced cerning

the

much

theological opinions

controversy conof

its

founders.

There was consequently an increased demand their writings, felt

and the branch called "Hicksites"

the need of a bookstore.

Friend Hopper's busi-

ness had never been congenial to and of late years it had become

A

for

his

character,

less

profitable.

number of his wealthiest customers were " Orthodox ;" and when he took part with Elias Hicks, they ceased to patronize him. He was perlarge

fectly

aware that such would be the

whenever

it

was necessary

to choose

result

;

between

but his

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

296

principles and prosperity, he invariably followed

He was

he behoved to be the truth. suitable person to store,

what

considered a

superintend the proposed book-

and as the state of

his financial affairs render-

ed a change desirable, he concluded to accede to the

For that purpose, he

proposition of his friends.

moved

to the city of

In the

New-York

re-

in 1829.

autumn of the following

some

year,

disput-

ed claims, which his wife had on the estate of her maternal grandfather in Ireland, made for

him

fully

him

that

necessary

Experience had pain-

to visit that country.

convinced

it

controversy

theological

sometimes leads to personal animosity

and that few

;

mode

people were so open and direct in their pressing hostility, as he himself was.

of ex--

Therefore,

before going abroad, he took the precaution to ask letters

from citizens of various classes and sects

Philadelphia

;

and he found no

them from the most respectable and

Matthew

Carey,

wrote as follows

:

the "

known

well

As you

monial concerning your character, I

distinguished.

philanthropist

are about to visit

native country, and have applied to

ply with your request.

me

my

for a testi-

I cheerfully

com-

have been wxll acquainted

with you for about thirty-five years, and that, during the

in

difficulty in obtaining

I

can testify

whole of that time, you have been a

perfect pest to our Southern neighbors.

gentleman could scarcely

visit

this

A Southern city,

without

297

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

having his slave taken from him by your instrumentahty

;

so that they dread you, as they do the devil."

After enjoying a mutual laugh over this epistle, another

vi^as

written for the public, certifying that he

had known Isaac T, Hopper

many

for

years as "a

useful and respectable citizen of the fairest character."

When many many

Friend Hopper arrived

he found

untrue stories

in circulation, as

he had expect-

Sometimes, when he visited public places, he

ed.

would overhear people saying voice, "That's

letter

Isaac

T. Hopper, who

low

has given

much

was copied and circulated his disadvantage.

It

in all directions, greatly to

represented him as a

man

of

but wholly unworthy of cre-

sanctified appearance, ;

to each other, in a

A private trouble in America." from an " Orthodox" Quaker in Philadelphia

Friends so

dit

in Ireland,

of the Quakers prejudiced against him, and

that business of a pecuniary nature

pretence to cover artful designs

was

a

mere

his real object be-

;

ing to spread heretical doctrines in Ireland, and thus

sow

dissension

among

Friends.

this visit to a foreign land, Friend is

astonishing

They have been informed

can find stolen goods, and such occasions.

make them

:

"It

what strange ideas some of them have

concerning me.

to

In his journal of

Hopper says

I

think

believe 13*

me

it

am

that I

often applied to on

would be no hard matter

a wizard."

This was pro-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

298

bably a serious version of his pleasantry with the

Dutchman about

finding his goods

by calculating the

age of the moon.

Many

of the Irish Friends had formed from hear-

say the most extravagant misconceptions concerning the Friends

them

called

They supposed

"Hicksites."

to be outright infidels,

immoralities were tolerated

and that the grossest

among them

;

that they

pointed loaded pistols at the "Orthodox" brethren,

and drove them out of

their

own meeting-houses by

One of them expressed great surprise when Friend Hopper informed him that they were in main

force.

the constant habit of reading the Scriptures in their families,

and maintained among themselves the same

discipline that

had always been used

in the Society.

Sometimes when he attended Quaker meetings during the

early portion

of his

visit,

the

ministers

preached at him, by cautioning young people to be-

ware of the adversary, who was now going about cunning serpent, in which form he was far more dangerous, than when he assumed the appearance of a roaring lion. But after a w^hile, this tendency was rebuked by other preachers, who inculcatlike a

ed forbearance in judging others

;

reminding their

hearers that the spirit of the Gospel always breathed

peace and good will toward men. self,

As

for Isaac

he behaved with characteristic openness.

him-

When

d stranger, in Quaker costume, introduced himself,

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

299

and invited him to go home and dine with him, he

am

repUed, "I

bad

man

the

hospitality

and

;

represented by some people as a veryI

do not wish to impose myself upon of strangers, without letting

know who I am." The stranger assured him who he was, and cared not

that he

them

knew very

well

a straw what opinions

they accused him of; that he was going to have a

company of Friends

at dinner,

He

verse with him.

who wished

to con-

was

went accordingly, and

re-

ceived wdth true Irish hospitality and kindness.

Upon another occasion, a Quaker lady, who did know he was a^Hicksite," observed to him, "I suppose the Society of Friends are very much thinned in America, since so many have gone off from not

He

them." did.

I

belong to the party called Hicksites,

and schismatics

whom

always best to be can-

replied, "It is

and

;

I

to

thou hast alluded as having gone off from the

Society.

I should like to talk

the separation in America

misrepresented.

on business, and

But I

I

;

for

came

have no

with thee concerning

we have been

and

for a

greatly

to this country solely

w^ish to

thing that can unsettle the mind, or ings of any Friend. ed,

deists,

suppose they are the ones

say or do any-

wound

She seemed very much

the feelsurpris-

minute or two covered her face with

her hands.

But when the company broke up, some

hours

she followed him into the entry, and cor-

after,

300

LIFE OF ISAAC

T.

HOPPER.

him to visit her. " What canst thou the company of a heretic ?" he exclaimed.

dially invited

tolerate

!

She replied with a

smile,

"Yes, such a one as thou

art."

In self

fact,

w^herever he had a chance to

make him-

known, prejudices melted away under the

Some

ence of his frank and kindly manners.

influ-

people

of other sects, as wxll of his ow^n, took an interest in

him

for the

dislike

very reasons that caused distrust and

in others

him

as the

who

considered

;

viz

:

because they had heard of

champion of perfect

liberty of conscience,

men by any

unnecessary to bind

it

creed whatsoever.

Among

these, he mentions in his

journal. Professor Stokes of Dublin,

who

relinquish-

ed a salary of two thousand eight hundred pounds a year, because he could not conscientiously subscribe to the doctrine of the Trinity.

dismiss

manded

him from the

It

was proposed

college altogether

;

to

but he de-

a hearing before the trustees and students.

This privilege could not be denied, without ing the laws of the institution

;

infring-

and deeming that

such a discussion might prove injurious, they concluded to retain him, on a salary of eight hundred

pounds. is

Friend Hopper describes him thus:

"He

an intelligent and liberal-minded man, and has a

faculty of exposing the errors and absurdities of the

Athanasian Creed to

good

spirit,

and

I

much

was much

purpose.

He was

gratified with his

of a

com-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

He

pany.

insisted

301

upon accompanying me home

the evening, and though I remonstrated against

me

on account of his advanced, age, he attended the door of

During treated

my

Hopper

Ireland, Friend

vras

many

great hospitality and respect by

and many who v^ere not weal-

vs^ho vrere vrealthy,

thy

to

lodgings."

this visit to

vs^ith

in it,

by members of the Society of Friends, and of

;

He

various other religious sects.

formed a high

estimate of the Irish character, and to the day of his

warm

always spoke with

death,

friends he found there.

alludes with pleasure to the children he

where he

families

of the

affection

In his journal, he often

visited

with, in

he was always ex-

for

;

met

Speaking of a

tremely partial to the young.

visit to

a gentleman in the environs of Dublin, by the of Wilson, he says:

name

rose early in the morning,

''I

and the eldest daughter, about ten or eleven years old,

very politely invited

rambled about

me

walk

to

in the pastures,

and through beautiful

groves of oak, beech and holly.

The

little

amuse me.

She

told

tried her very best to

We

w^ith her.

creature

me

about

the birds and the hares, and other inhabitants of the

She inquired whether

woods.

much

"How

to see I

I

did not want very

wife and children

;

and exclaimed,

should like to see you meet them

give you so girl in

my

much

pleasure

another family,

!

"

He

!

It

would

speaks of a

little

who seemed very much

at-

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER.

302

tracted toward him, and finally whispered to her father,

"I want

to

go and speak

She

to that Friend/'

was introduced accordingly, and they had much pleasant chat together.

In one of the families where he visited, they told

him an

instructive story concerning a

Quaker who

by the name of Joseph Torrey. One day when he w^as passing through the streets, he saw a man leading a horse, which was evidently much diseased. His compassionate heart was pained by the sight, and he asked the man where he was resided in Dublin,

He replied, "The horse has the staggers, am going to sell him to the carrion-butchers." "Wilt thou sell him to me for a crown !" inquired Joseph. The man readily assented, and the poor

going.

and

I

animal was led to the stable of his

careful treatment soon restored

beauty.

him

in

One

day,

new friend, where

Suitable remedies and

he w^as most kindly tended.

him

to health

when Friend Torrey was

and

riding

Phoenix Park, a gentleman looked very ear-

nestly at the horse, and at last inquired whether his

owner would be willing

to sell him.

would," replied Joseph, "if

I

"Perhaps

I

could get a very good

master for him."

"He

so strongly resembles a favorite horse I once

had, that I should think he

was the same,

if I

didn't

know he was dead," rejoined the stranger. "Did he die in thy stable?" inquired Joseph.

LIFE OF ISAAC T. HOPPER

The gentleman

replied,

gers very badly, and

1 sent

303

"No. He had the staghim to the carrion-butch-

ers."

"I should be sorry

who would send him

to sell an

animal to any man,

to the carrion-butchers because

he was diseased," answered Joseph. ill,

how wouldst thou

like to

"If thou wert

have thy throat

cut, in

stead of being kindly nursed ?"

With some

surprise, the

gentleman inquired whe-

ther he intended to compare replied Joseph;

as

human

disease,

him

beings

;

"No,"

to a horse.

"but animals have

feelings, as well

and when they are

afflicted

with

they ought to be carefully attended.

consent to

sell

If I

thee this horse, I shall exact a pro-

mise that thou wilt have him kindly nursed when he is

sick,

and not send him to have his throat cut."

The gentleman

readily promised

all

that

was

re-

quired, and said he should consider himself very for-

much resembled

tunate to obtain a horse that so old favorite.

When

plete the bargain, he inquired

whether forty guineas

The

w^ould be a satisfactory price.

conscientious

Quaker answered, "I have good reason the horse w^as once thine

;

and .

store I

him

to thee

his

he called the next day, to com-

am

I

.

to believe

w411in