ionists were determined that it should remain in the possession
of the original owners until a bill of sale from the Almighty could be
produced. By the vigilance and ingenious arrangements of 'Father
Snowden' and Thankful Southwick, at a given signal the slaves were
spirited away from the crowded court-room, and out of the city. The
agent of the slaveholders standing near Mrs. Southwick, and gazing
with astonishment at the empty space, where an instant before the
slaves stood, she turned her large gray eyes upon him and said, 'Thy
prey hath escaped thee.' Wherever working or thinking was to be done
for our righteous cause, there was Thankful Southwick ever ready with
wise counsel and energetic action. She and her excellent husband were
among the very first to sustain Garrison in his unequal contest with
the strong Goliath of slavery. At that time they were in affluent
circumstances, and their money was poured forth freely for the
unpopular cause which had as yet found no adherents among the rich.
Their commodious house was a caravansary for fugitive slaves, and for
anti-slavery pilgrims from all parts of the country. At the
anniversary meetings when most of the Abolitionists were desirous to
have for their guests, Friend Whittier, the Hon. James G. Birney,
George Thompson, Theodore, or Angelia Weld, Joseph and Thankful
Southwick were quietly looking about for such of the anti-slavery
brothers and sisters as were too little known to be likely to receive
invitations. Always kindly unpretending, clear-sighted to perceive the
right, and faithful in following it wherever it might lead. They were
upright in all their dealings with the world, tender and true in the
relations of private life and the memory they have left is a
benediction."

[65] On a recent visit at the home of Robert Purvis, of Philadelphia,
in talking over those eventful days one evening in company with Daniel
Neale, it was amusing and gratifying to hear those gentlemen dilate on
the grandeur of her bearing through those mobs in Pennsylvania Hall.
It seems on that occasion she had a beautiful crimson shawl thrown
gracefully over her shoulders. One of these gentlemen remarked, "I
kept my eye on that shawl, which could be seen now here, now there,
its wearer consulting with one, cheering another; and I made up my
mind that until that shawl disappeared, every man must stand by his
guns."

[66] Abby Kelly.

[67] Just previous to this Convention Horace Mann, P