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24 left from my school duties. At length my whole soul was so filled with the subject that it would not leave me in school hours, and I saw I was giving to this duty less than its due. This decided me to resign. I had been wanting to pass a season with my mother, who was in failing health. My resignation was not accepted, but I persisted, and after two more terms I was released. My mother was in sympathy with me on the slavery question, and I told her fully the state of my mind, saying that, but for the fact that I had so little com- mand of language and no training in public speaking, I should think I had a divine call (as understood by Friends) to go forth and lecture.

"About this time there was a pressing call for funds from the anti-slavery societies, and I sold some of the most expensive articles of my wardrobe, and forwarded the proceeds to the treasury, feeling that I could not withhold even a feather's weight of help that might hasten the downfall of the terrible system which, by crushing and cursing the slave, had deprived the whole country of the liberty of speech and the press, and the right of peaceable assemblage and petition."

(It should be said at this point that Miss Kelley had already given to the society all her accumulated earnings and the small inheritance recently received from her father's estate.) "Not long after this, in one of our Scripture readings at breakfast, I read from a chapter containing these words: 'Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the polish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, . . . and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.' I closed the book and said to my mother: 'My way is clear now: a new light has broken on me. How true it is, as history records, that all great reforms have been carried forward by weak and despised means! The talent, the learning, the wealth, the Church, and the State, are pledged to the support of slavery. I will go out among the honest-hearted common people, into the highways and byways, and cry, "Pity the poor slave!" if I can do nothing more.' My mother still hoped that I might be spared from taking up so heavy a cross;. but I told her I had counted the cost, and though, as an abolitionist, I must take my life in my hand, and, as a public-speaking woman, must suffer more than the loss of life, yet all I could give, and all I was, was but as dust in the balance, if my efforts could gain over to our cause a few honest souls.

"I had a sister living in Connecticut, who was quite in accord with me, and at her house I now made my home, going out as opportunities were offered me by the few abolitionists of that vicinity. I was entirely unknown and uidicard of, except as some New York paper, in its denunciation and ridicule of the anti-slavery meetings, might refer to me as 'that monstrosity, a public-speaking woman.' I had no endorsement from any society, none but a few of my most intimate friends knowing of my purpose. The reason for my going out thus was my doubt of being able to serve the great cause in this way; and I did not wish to involve any other person in the trials, perils, and tribulations to which I should be liable."

Miss Kelley finally received an invitation to hold meetings in Washington, Conn. She says of them: "The first meeting was well attended, and another was called for, then still another and another, each with deepening interest and larger attendance. When a fifth was proposed, as I had engagements elsewhere, I promised to return in two weeks and speak again. It may seem remarkable that no opposition was manifested; but those who invited me were all members of the church, and Mr. Gunn was the superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and Mr. Piatt a sheriff of the county. . . . I was treated with much consitleration, receiving hospitality from those who stood first and best. But, when I returned, lo, what a change! Mr. and Mrs. Gunn met me with sorrowful faces and told me that in my absence Mr. H., the minister, had preached a sermon from the text. Rev. ii. 20: 'I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel to teach and to seduce my servants.'. ..