Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/287

EEV. SOLOMON TOWNSEND. 227 Joseph Avery of Norton, John Greenwood, ,^ . , rr^ ^ Rehoboth, David 1 urner, / Ebenezer White, Norton, Solomon Tovvnsend of Barrington, John Burt of Bristol. His prayers contained many gifted thoughts and he often quoted and used the same expressions. He prayed for those who traveled by land, for a horse is a vain thing for safety. Also for the sons of Zebulon, who went down upon the sea, and who did business on the mighty waters. The following incident illustrates " Father Townsend's " interest in young people and his kind treatment of his col- ored boy as a culprit : Hooker Low had a white boy bound to service and Mr. Townsend a colored apprentice. Both played truant and went fishing on Sunday. Both were brought before the magistrate and were sentenced to pay a fine or be whipped. Mr. Low allowed his boy to be whipped, but Mr. Townsend paid the fine and saved the boy the disgrace of a public whipping at the town whipping post. The colored boy, at the expiration of his service, went to sea, and, after many years' absence, returned to Barrington and called at Mr. Townsend's for a night's lodging. Mr. Townsend gave him food and lodgings, not recognizing his guest as his former servant. In the morning the man made himself known as the boy who once served him and then handed his old master a bag of money as a present in return for his former kindness. Mr. Townsend afterwards, in tell- ing the story, referred to it as an illustration of the parable of casting bread upon the waters and finding it again after many days. In the summer he preached two sermons on the Sabbath, and in the winter, only one. There was no Sabbath school and no Sabbath or week-day prayer-meetings. In the pre- paratory lecture, he was assisted by neighboring ministers.