He set forth the powers and artifices of Jezebel, her learning, her marvellous blandishments, with the neglect of the minister to forbid her preaching until she had acquired such an influence that he dared not interfere. Then Mr.
H. charged that another Jezebel had arisen, and, with fascinations exceeding even these of her Scripture prototype, was aiming to entice and destroy this church. ... He added: *Do any of you ask for evidence of her vile character?
It needs no other evidence than the fact that in the face of the clearest commands of God, "Let your women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak," she comes here with brazen face, a servant of Satan in the garb of an angel of light, and tramples this command under her feet.' This is the purport of his discourse as reported to me.
"My friends invited me to go with them to the weekly prayer-meeting that afternoon. We hoped, though with little faith, to have an opportunity for my friend to say a few words in reply to the Sunday's sermon. But no one was allowed to speak except by the minister's invitation, and the meeting was soon closed. We stood near the door as the people passed out. With one exception, not one of those whom I had met on my first visit, not even those who had hospitably entertained me, gave me a hand or a look, but all passed me as if I had been a block. I doubt not that many of the members of that church thanked Mr. H. for his timely warning, by which they were saved from being led to death and hell. At my lecture that evening few were present, and those mainly from surrounding towns. I went to my chamber that night, but not to sleep. In agony of prayer and tears, my cry was, -Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fomitahi of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! 'My anguish was not because of anything personal to myself, but because I was thus cut off from the people who might rise up for the defence of the slave. The friends at whose house I was stood by me nobly, but we all saw that nothing more could be done at that time.
"Soon after this I was invited to speak in Torrington, where a Methodist church was opened to me, the minister being absent. I remained there about a week, holding several meetings, which created great interest, so that people came in from surrounding towns. There were many questions asked and answered, but very little opposition was apparent. At one of the last meetings, though nothing had been said about money, the people in passing out left contributions on the desk before me. No one said a word except an aged man, who, dropping a gold coin, remarked, ^The laborer is worthy of his hire.' The amount was several dollars.
"When I started on my mission, my funds were low. I could not ask for help, but de- cided that, when my supply should fail, it would be sufficient reason for my going home. At one time I had but ten cents left in my purse, and was about to write home for a loan, when a letter from an intimate friend was brought me, containing a five-dollar bill."
Among the places which Miss Kelley visited was Norfolk, Conn. Arriving in the absence of her host, several of the principal men of the town called on her, and informed her with threats that if she persisted in her attempt it would be at her own peril. With no friend at hand she had to yield; but it was Saturday night, and she could not get away before Monday. Her hostess was evidently in sympathy with the mob element, and Miss Kelley therefore tried to get lodgings at the hotel. She was told that the innkeeper would as willingly entertain the vilest woman from New York as herself. "Language," she writes, "cannot describe that long day and night of spiritual anguish and utter desolation." Monday morn- ing saw her depart. She went to the house of a friendly Quaker farmer in Canaan. "Once more I breathed freely. A terrible burden fell off me. W^hen left alone I went into the or- chard back of the house" (remember she was still young, only about twenty-five) "and ran about like a colt let loose. I hopped, skipped, and danced. I climbed the trees and sang with the birds. Such ecstasies of delight come rarely."
In this town she held good meetings, but in Salisbury her meeting was broken up by a
