The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-29
WASHINGTON, ID. G..
For the National Era.
STORY OF A LIFE.
CHAPTER III
The Prison and the Convict Ship.

Tho crash was Over-the timbers of the fall
-, house were mass Of ruins but although
tLo foundation had been severely shaken, 1t
,ros vet firm enough to bear superstruc-
ture. The energies of the partners were again
in exercise, and all hoped ere long to see the
dawn of brighter day.
From the time of their father DEATH the
sisters had continued an unbroken band, until
within few years previous to this unlocked
for misfortune. The rapid increase OF con-
sumptiye symptoms in Priscilla had foreboded
an early loosening of the silver cord, and pecu-
liarlv sorrowful it was to them all, to watch
her sinking day by day her bright complexion
st;lI giving her the hue of health, but her sun
NO brown hair was parted on brow as purely
white as Parian marble, and her uneven pulse
indicating that the night was at hand. 1t
came but it was a night all radiant with stars,
and her death seemed almost like transa-
ton. A short period of time elapsed, ere death
again entered the circle, and Rachel, perhaps
the most tenderly beloved by Elizabeth, was
called to her long home.
The brothers. with the exception Of the
Youngest, had married, and settled in life and
he was about taking bride to Earlham In
writing of this period Elizabeth says OF my
many outward blessings, the brothers and Sis
tiers yet have are among the greatest. Cath
arine with her simple powerful, yet humble,
mind; my three younger sisters, refined; ami
able, talented, and full of sympathy and kind
ness; my brothers, true friends and comfort
erso And of Joseph she sweetly says I" He is
the fruitful vine, whose branches hang over
the wall-my prophet, priest, and sympathizer,
and often the upholder of my soul" This good
and gifted man was indeed treasure to thank
God for
Of her own family, two of the daughters
We're married the eldest son also; and the girls
next in age now released her from much house
hold care, and assisted her in answering the
numerous letters of inquiry and encouragement
which began to flow in upon her in consequence
of her labors in the prisons Many in official
stations became interested in promoting her
views, and added the weight of their influence
to sustain her.
One of the natural consequences, perhaps OF
contemplating scenes of vice and wickedness,
is the desire to fathOm their causes, and if pos
slble, use a preventive, before cure becomes
needful Elizabeth efforts were devoted to this
end. The improvements in Newgate since her
first visit there had become subject of public
commentator and remark. Its courtyard
once peopled with beings scarcely human, bias
phemlng and fighting, now presented scene
where stiffness and prOpriety reigned; the
wards, once filthy and ill-cOnducted, were now
peopled by criminals, it is true, but who were
made to respect themselves, by being decently
dressed and employed; and the prisoners, in
stead of universal depravity, expressed in
their cOuntenances consciousness of their i'm
proved character. II is not our purpose to de-
tail the difficulties surmounted in these Hercu-
lean labors: but in showing their results, it is
necessary to allude to the fact that the indi-
vidual value of the souls of these poor creatures
was always placed before them, their best feel
ings were appealed to, and, though many of
them had a remarkably confused sense of right
and wrong, they were gently taught that they
also were the children of our common Father,
and that He who clothes the lilies of the field.
and feeds the ravens when they cry would clothe
them with the spirit of repentance, and feed
them with the bread of life. Not alone were
they animated by spiritual teachings they
were taught the dignity of labor, the manliness
OF selEdependence so that when the boon of
liberty was once again bestowed, they might
use and not abuse the gift Above all, the
great principle of love was inculcated, and ad-
mlrably was this mode of treatment adapted to
overcome the evil spirit which had SO long tri-
umphed within those prison walls. But the
tender heart of Elizabeth was deeply touched
by the frequency Of criminal executions The
sacrifice of human life was almost too fearful
to contemplate Crimes of almost all grades
and descriptions were then punishable by
death nearly every variety of robbery or fraud,
though unattended with personal violence,
could be treated as a capital offence.
Ellzabeth's humane mind was incapable Of
contemplating such a state of things without
serious reflection But case occurring in
which she was individually interested brought
her to the point of action.
In one OF the cells of the prison sat, or rather
cronched' girlish-lookng creature appearing
IN the dim twilight almost like an immovable
statue one bare arm, exquisitely rounded. was
thrown over brown marble slab, TO which
was attached rivet and chain her limbs were
uniettered-to cOnfne them would have been
needless cruelty, for she had scarcely moved
throughout the day; her cheek rested upon her
other hand, also placed upon the slab, and a
mass OF tangled black hair almost enveloped
her reclining form in its sable folds. Standing,
she might have been about the middle height
seated mus she appeared small in stature In
ne' countenance only could be seen the slight
"en Oh animation; but even there dull,
as"a.ng lethargy was settling az if thoughts
VIZ ur'ithg by her, which she had neither
snergy nor power to stay. She had been con-
ue,hneo 10 death and since morning when the
uniooked-for and dreadful sentence had been
Pronounced she had, upon reentering her
gloomy cell, thrown herself down in this de-
spanning attitude, and had neither spoken nor
moved
Now the iron sheathed door of her miserable
apartment grated on its hinges, but she took
no notice. Three times that day the turnkey
had entered, placing food and water upon the
rongh Stone bench fastened TO the wall and
"th rude compassion in his manner, tried to
speak kindly words to the detected girl She
eded hlm not, and the food remained I'M
stcd Tins time, however, he was accompa-
nued ~ another--t was Elizabeth The turn.
y fingered moment and left her with the
'sc"er Several minutes elapsed of profound
"ense and the audible beating of both hearts
=" HE anguish Of one, and the heightened
IN" of the other in the utterly forlorn girl
4. w""anly sympathy Of Elizabeth touched
nssords OF that despairing heart at last
her own soft white hand upon that Of
gu, she said, Harriet! poor child ~
'ne hrst time since the dreary morn, she
= = her face. A very child might have
"sf countenance-open, confdinG ex-
lug strong feeling, but neither hardened
srmAntynor capable Of cunning With a
bsn, gaze into the mild and plying eyes
dscI sadly upon her, and touched by the
had s.,nestness and pathos Of the voice, which
0poo" my uttered the heartfelt ejaculation,
Ian .s enid! she leaned her head upon the
m,.,s Vet ,lslter, and, in passionate abandon
FI;ssh her feelings wept unrestrainedly.
des,s :, remained silent only stroking ten
tLa 'he motherless head, till the heaying Of
on.,. om subsidized the sobs became less FIRE.