Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/183

163, and love of freedom. I need not tell you we immediately supplied her with provisions. Here were two Christian persons who had not attended a place of worship for sixteen months, not for want of holy zeal, strong and growing desires to do so, but their condition would not allow them.

We have a great many, both religious and irreligious, suffering in this respect, more from the want of suitable clothes to fit them for the weather, and to attend public worship, than the want of food. The latter cases are so numerous we are unable to supply them. To meet them the best way we can, we hold meetings in their dwellings on week evenings; they will assemble in each other's houses when they are absolutely unprepared to do so in public. I knew a man whose constitution was totally undermined by consumption from exposure to the cold, half naked, endeavouring to maintain his family; poor man, he finally died; but, thank God, he died in the full triumphs of Christian faith. I was in the habit of visiting the family of a pious good man, as I supposed, in whom I was not mistaken; but not seeing him attend church (as we call all places of divine service church), I began to think I might possibly be mistaken in my good opinion of him, I inquired as to the cause; he said, "I have not clothes suitable to go to church;" pointing