Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/181

161 I was called upon one day in mid-winter, by a man for a testimonial setting forth his suffering condition, that he might make applications to the benevolent of the community for assistance, without which from a Minister or some well known and accredited person or persons, such applications would be to little or no purpose; but before doing this, I made myself acquainted with the truth of what I was called upon to testify. For this purpose I immediately visited his family—his representations were quite true; even worse than he had said. I found in a miserable hut, which I will not attempt to describe, his wife and five children, whom they had been fortunate enough to bring with them from Slavery. Two of the children were crying, as she said, for something to eat; the poor woman weeping bitterly because she was unable to supply their wants. She said, "Sir, I have repeatedly prayed God to send us friends—I hope you are such a one." I said, "If I can do anything for you, I shall be most happy to do so." After a few questions as to her condition, her faith in Christ, &c., I asked her if she had ever been reduced to the like condition before. Her answer was substantially as follows:—"When I was in Slavery my two eldest children were sold a short distance from me; I was not even allowed to go to see them, nor were they allowed to come to see me. I thought I should