Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-24
A SABBATH IN NEW YORK.

Having heard much of "Black,Cers Lsltndr famous
OF late as resort for gentlemen politicians to get vot-
ers In cases of great necessity had the curiosity,
whether prompted by any benevolent principle or not,
to spend the Sabbath there with some brethren who
were in the habit of distributing tracts to the prisoners
and holding religious meetings with them. We first
visited place called he Farms" or more recently "tbe
nursery" where were congregated, six hundred chill
dren, from the age of five days up to twelve years:
none are retained, was told, after arriving at that age
was also told, that not one of these children were Or
phans, that they all children of egitimacy or of
abandoned protgato parents, supported at the public
expense Five hundred of these children were collect
ed III the chapel for Sabbath school and other religios
exercises, and with them some thirty adults mostly.
was informed, abandoned females The Superintend
en of he Sabbath school, conducted the exercises of
the school, on the Lancaseran plan. Every thing went
Like clock-work, being strictly mechanical. The most
perfect order was observed, except considerable de-
gree OF uneasness among the little fellows After the
usual exercises of the school were over was request
ed to address the school and others who were present.
need not say here, that "the sight ofmy eyes affect
ed my heart" | commenced. adapting my remarks to
the capacity and condition IF the children and others
present, and the effect produced was perfectly magic
al These hundreds of children were, almost to an
individual, aroused by the sound of new vo;e, and
their attention ryited The suppressed sobs of those
poor, triendess abandoned females were soon heard
and although repeated efforts were made by those 10
IN oil Il
undissembled, inrepressble anguish told them from
the uness omy heart of the dying love of Jesus for
lost sinners, even the chief The interest continued
without the least abatement until the meeting closed,
and they were obliged to leave the rvom have sell
dom had such of the love and condescension of
Christ After the close of the exercises inquired if
such deep and tender feeling was usual on such occa-
sons Q, said one, sit only the effect of syupa-
thy, they will soon forget it." thanked God for sym
pathy, and thanked him for the example of sympathy
set by the Saviour of the world. As in the language
of the poet Oils heart is made oftendencss His bow
els melt with love"
From this affecting scene, we went over to Black
wells Island where were a large number of prisoners
both male and female. We distributed tracts, and
held meetings. in the Chapel in the hospitals. Ishould
think there were betweent two hundred, and three
hundred females. Males and females were of course
kept separate, and the meetings were separate. We
staid here until near five o'clock. To give detailed
account of all these meetings would occupy too much
space. will give but one. In one department of the
hospital occupied by abandoned females, should think
there were near thirty persons occupying separate
BEDS The room was very large and the beds and
loom appeared remarkably clearly. After distrbu-
ting to each tract requested to lead in reHgi-
GUS exercises. The appearance of such hardness,
think never witnessed before. As was to address
them and cast my eye from one to another around and
over the room every eye was fixed sternly upon me
and seemed almost to flash vengeance and bid defiance
My heart almost sank within me, and it was with nc
small effort that | commenced speaking. Most o
these females were quite young in years, but evident
ly ripe in crime. remembered the pity of the Son o
God for SUCH that che came to- seek and to save tina
which was lost" | remembered, too that was a ia
ther And asked myself who has mede my love-