Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-05-06
Communications.
LETTER FROM MRS. FOSTER.
Wo1corr.s NItLis. Anril 25. Il.


before tried by the antslavery lecturer, you will
not be surprised when l say that it was not till
within few days that the Bugc Of the 9Th inst.
came into my hands. When my eye rested on
the letter from New Lyme, announcing the sudden
death Of our gifted and devoted J. W. Walker,
felt that II could not be. read it again and again,
and still again. But still could not bring myself
to believe the dreadful intelligence. Since then
few days have passed. and rs get no later paper,
and am here among those who have never known
our friend, and therefore cannot sympathize with
me, Unjust speak Of him to you. II may relieve
me. Ever since lie threw himself into the anti
slavery cause, have valued him highly, and con-
sidered his services above all price But | have
never seen SO much Of him, and therefore have not
been able 50 fully to appreciate him, as during the
past winter. We attended several Conventions
with him in Michigan. Mr.. Foster and myself
were equally surprised and delighted to find how
powerful speaker he was We often remarked to
our friends, that he had made greater improvement
within the three last years. than any other person
within the circle Of our acquaintance. Not un-
frequently his power over his audiences was abso-
lutely irresistible. lie carried friends and foes all
along together, whether they would or no. and
compelled them to do homage to his cause. After
such triumphs, my husband would 20 to his cham
bcr, and when We were alone, say to me, that he
felt that he was never made for public speaker
lie realized so deeply his lack Of ability, when
listening to such eloquence. For myself, I always
felt that the one talent must not be withheld from
such work as must be performed before the slaves
shall be free
\ NOr Hol.N - r 4
seli-sacrihce. need not speak of more than one
instance, to illustrate this trait in his character.
His family was large. lie was in need Of funds
Still, when last winter an offer of $l8 per week,
with all expenses borne, was made him, to accom-
pany Dorama Of Uncle Toms Cabin, as delinoa-
tor, he declined tho offer, though he was then
receiving after the rate of $500 per year. and bear
ing his own travelling expenses, as agent of the
Michigan Anti-Slavery Society. We must remem
Der that he only lecturcd q part of tho year, and
received pay only for the time hc lccturcd. Again
his health was poor, and his octuring labors were
tar very far more severe than was the LABOR of de-
lincating. But he decided that he could be more
useful in the former than in the latter service. and
therefore declined what would have been to him
more than double tho salary he was then receiy-
ing.
The last tmo saw him he was full Of hope and
bright ipations-laying plans for his famly,
and for the advancement Of the cause to which he
had so long and ardcntly devoted himself The
Michigan friends were urging him to remove there,
that they might command more of his services
How much they were all expecting of him Yes
how much zee were all expecting of him How
often, as have lain my weary head on my pillow,
and felt how little l could endure now compared
with former years. have thanked God that our
friend, instead Of failing was strengthening and
increasing in ability. And is it possible he is
called away? oh, who shall rise to fill his place
in the great warfare for freedomS Let our young
friends answer this question. How much talent Is
wrapped in napkin! Would to God our Young
men and women would each one cry out in that
agony of spirit which the present anti-sayory crisis
demands, "Lord, what wouldst thou have me to
do?" The harvest is already perishing for lack of
reapers.
But, if the anti-slayery cause has lost so much
in the early departure of our friend, what has not
his family lost? That lone mother and those little
children! No relatives in this country, and but
small circle Of acquaintences Mr. Walker has been
so much engaged abroad that his family has been
very much retired, and therefore can have but few
acquaintance. lie was to them their all. Nv
heart bleeds for them. Ant-slavcry lecturers
don't grow rich Don't let us forget the widow
and the fatherless.
am still in Northern Indiana, having been here
some eight weeks. Mr.. Foster was here about
three weeks, before returning to attend to our
springs work on the farm. ] am to leave next
Monday on my way to the anniversary of the
American Anti-Slavery Society. Did my strength
permit, should remain in Indiana during the en-
tire summer, and lecture in the villages during the
busy season and the short evenings. have never
been in any new field where there was a more can
did spirit Of inquiry than here. Then, though il
is newly settled section and therefore possessed
OF little wealth, it puts to shame many of our older
fields in its generous contributions to fund to be
appropriated to the diffusion of our glorious prin.
ciples within this State Nearly 5000 have been
put into our hands for the treasury and upwards
Of eighty anti-savery papers have been subscribed
for The people, at large, eager to investigate
the whole question: and, | doubt not, that Indiana
Will be as ready to wipe out the black code as was
Ohio, when the American Society shall have done
in her what was done in Ohio some eight wears
SINCE The farther we go south, the greater will
be the opposition, Of course, as there We find so
large an admixture of the poor trash which, with
all its moral and intellectual degradation, slavery,
after cursing with its heaviest curses has crowded
north of the Ohio. Still, there is sufficiently
large element Of intelligence in the northern and
central portions of the State when called into nc
tion by thorough agitation, to relieve the State of
~ IA Il Il r.
We must have n large corps in Indiana.
In sorrow yet in hope,
Yours worry truly,
A. X. FOSTER.
LETTER FROM FRANCIS BARRY.
n (our, U.oyLa.. I ioI;o,a -, Cd