A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. HavilandHaviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Religion
A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. Haviland
Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Freed persons; Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith), 1808-1898; Underground Railroad
Said he, "I am too much like the prodigal, too far away from my
Savior." How vividly did his words come before me! Oh, how these words
ran through my mind in this hour of sore trial. Is this the Isaac, I
dwelt upon as I was leaving my home, that I may be called to sacrifice?
I had in mind my son Daniel, who was fearful I would meet trouble from
slave-holders, as he remarked to his brother Harvey, "Mother is a
stranger to fear, though she might be in great danger."
"That fact, seems to me, secures her safety," replied Harvey.
As I overheard this conversation I shrank from the trial of leaving my
home circle, in which death had made such inroads, and for the time
being doubted whether I was called upon to make the sacrifice. But
prayer was now constant for an evidence of my son's condition, whether
prepared for exchange of worlds. He who spake peace to the troubled sea
granted the answer of peace, with an assurance that my prayer was
answered, and that in his own good time he would make it manifest.
I took the boat for Cincinnati, and on the morning after my arrival at
the home of my valued friends, Levi Coffin and wife, I awoke with a
comforting dream, which but for the circumstances I would not record. I
find in the written Word of divine truth that God, at sundry times,
made himself known to his faithful servants in dreams. And he is the
same in all ages, in answering their petitions and meeting their wants.
In the dream I thought I was living in the basement of a beautiful
mansion. Being rather dark, damp, and cool, I looked for some means of
warming my apartments, when I discovered the windows conveyed beautiful
rays of sunlight sufficient to dry and warm apartments designed for
only a temporary residence, as my future home was to be in the splendid
apartments above, which I was not to be permitted to enter until the
work assigned me in the basement was done. While busily engaged in
sweeping my room, and arranging my work, I saw my son Harvey,
descending from the upper portion of this limitless mansion, which I
thought was now his home. I hastened to the door to meet him. As the
thought struck me that he had been a slave, I cried out, "My son
Harvey, art thou free?"
"Oh yes, mother, I am _free_; and I knew your anxiety, and I came on
purpose to tell you that I went to my Master and asked if he would
grant my pardon? And he looked upon me and saw me in my blood as I
plowed in the field, and he said I should be free and live."
"Oh, what a relief is this glad news," I replied.
"I knew you desired me to go for my freedom long ago, but I did not
know that my liberty would be so easily granted--just for asking. I am
now free, indeed."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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