Isaac T. Hopper

Lydia Maria Francis Child

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• Publié par: ticis
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 17
• Langue: English

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L. Maria Child
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Title: Isaac T. Hopper
Author: L. Maria Child
Release Date: March 31, 2004 [eBook #11859]
Language: English
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG
EBOOK ISAAC T. HOPPER***
E-text prepared by Curtis Weyant and Project
Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
ISAAC T. HOPPER
A True LifeBY
L. MARIA CHILD
1853
[Illustration: Isaac T. Hopper]
Thine was a soul with sympathy imbued,
Broad as the earth, and as the heavens
sublime;
Thy godlike object, steadfastly pursued,
To save thy race from misery and crime.
Garrison.
TO
HANNAH ATTMORE HOPPER,
WIDOW OF THE LATEISAAC T. HOPPER,
THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY AND
AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED, BY HER
GRATEFUL AND ATTACHED FRIEND,
L. MARIA CHILD.PREFACE.
This biography differs from most works of the kind,
in embracing fragments of so many lives. Friend
Hopper lived almost entirely for others; and it is a
striking illustration of the fact, that I have found it
impossible to write his biography without having it
consist largely of the adventures of other people.
I have not recounted his many good deeds for the
mere purpose of eulogizing an honored friend. I
have taken pleasure in preserving them in this
form, because I cherish a hope that they may fall
like good seed into many hearts, and bring forth
future harvests in the great field of humanity.
Most of the strictly personal anecdotes fell from his
lips in familiar and playful conversation with his
sister, or his grand-children, or his intimate friends,
and I noted them down at the time, without his
knowledge. In this way I caught them in a much
more fresh and natural form, than I could have
done if he had been conscious of the process.
The narratives and anecdotes of fugitive slaves,
which form such a prominent portion of the book,
were originally written by Friend Hopper himself,
and published in newspapers, under the title of
"Tales of Oppression." I have re-modelled them all;
partly because I wished to present them in a more
concise form, and partly because the principal
actor could be spoken of more freely by a thirdperson, than he could speak of himself. Moreover,
he had a more dramatic way of telling a story than
he had of writing it; and I have tried to embody his
unwritten style as nearly as I could remember it.
Where-ever incidents or expressions have been
added to the published narratives, I have done it
from recollection.
The facts, which were continually occurring within
Friend Hopper's personal knowledge, corroborate
the pictures of slavery drawn by Mrs. Stowe. Her
descriptions are no more fictitious, than the
narratives written by Friend Hopper. She has taken
living characters and facts of every-day
occurrence, and combined them in a connected
story, radiant with the light of genius, and warm
with the glow of feeling. But is a landscape any the
less real, because there is sunshine on it, to bring
out every tint, and make every dew-drop sparkle?
Who that reads the account here given of Daniel
Benson, and William Anderson, can doubt that
slaves are capable of as high moral excellence, as
has ever been ascribed to them in any work of
fiction? Who that reads Zeke, and the Quick Witted
Slave, can pronounce them a stupid race, unfit for
freedom? Who that reads the adventures of the
Slave Mother, and of poor Manuel, a perpetual
mourner for his enslaved children, can say that the
bonds of nature are less strong with them, than
with their more fortunate white brethren? Who can
question the horrible tyranny under which they
suffer, after reading The Tender Mercies of a
Slaveholder, and the suicide of Romaine?Friend Hopper labored zealously for many, many
years; and thousands have applied their best
energies of head and heart to the same great
work; yet the slave-power in this country is as
strong as ever—nay, stronger. Its car rolls on in
triumph, and priests and politicians outdo each
other in zeal to draw it along, over its prostrate
victims. But, lo! from under its crushing wheels, up
rises the bleeding spectre of Uncle Tom, and all
the world turns to look at him! Verily, the slave-
power is strong; but God and truth are stronger.CONTENTS.
GENERAL INDEX.
Allusions to his Parents.
Anecdotes of Childhood.
Allusions to Sarah his Wife.
Allusions to Joseph Whitall.
Anecdotes of Apprenticeship.
His Religious Experience.
Tales of Oppression and Anecdotes of Colored
People.
Anecdotes of Prisoners and of Vicious Characters
in Philadelphia.
His Love of Fun.
Allusions to his Private Life and Domestic
Character.
Anecdotes connected with Quakers.
Schism in the Society of Friends.
Anecdotes connected with his Visit to England and
Ireland.
Anti-Slavery Experiences in New-York.
His Attachment to the Principles and Usages of
Friends.
Disowned by the Society of Friends in New-York.
His Connection with the Prison Association of New-
York.
His Illness, Death, and Funeral.PARTICULAR INDEX.
His birth.
Anecdote of his Grandmother's Courage.
His Childish Roguery.
His Contest with British Soldiers.
His Violent Temper.
Conscientiousness in Boyhood.
Tricks at School.
Going to Mill.
Going to Market.
Anecdote of General Washington.
Pelting the Swallows.
Anecdote of the Squirrel and her young ones.
The Pet Squirrel.
The Pet Crow.
Encounter with a Black Snake.
Old Mingo the African.
Boyish Love for Sarah Tatum.
His Mother's parting advice when he leaves Home.
Mischievous Trick at the Cider Barrel.
He nearly harpoons his Uncle.
He nearly kills a Fellow Apprentice.
Adventure with a young Woman.
His first Slave Case.
His Youthful Love for Sarah Tatum.
Nicholas Waln.
Mary Ridgeway.
William Savery.
His early Religious Experience.
Letter from Joseph Whitall.
He marries Sarah Tatum.