ledge of the history of our
times. A National Anti-Slavery Society was formed, which astonished the
country by its novelty, and awed it by its boldness. In five months its
first annual meeting was held in the identical city in which, only seven
antecedent months, Abolitionists were in peril of their lives. In
ability, interest, and solemnity it took precedence of all the great
religious celebrations which took place at the same time. During the
same month, a New England anti-slavery convention was held in Boston,
and so judicious were its measures, so eloquent its appeals, so
unequivocal its resolutions, that it at once gave shape and character to
the anti-slavery cause in this section of the Union. In the midst of all
these mighty movements, I have wooed "a fair ladye," and won her, have
thrown aside celibacy, and jumped body and soul into matrimony, have
sunk the character of bachelor in that of husband, have settled down
into domestic quietude, and repudiated all my roving desires, and have
found that which I have long been yearning to find, a home, a wife, and
a beautiful retreat from a turbulent city."

Garrison does not exaggerate the importance of the initiatives and
achievements of the year, or the part played by him in its history. His
activity was indeed phenomenal, and the service rendered by him to the
reform, was unrivaled. He was in incessant motion, originating,
directing, inspiring the agitation in all portions of the North. What
strikes one strongly in studying the pioneer is his sleeplessness, his
indefatigableness, his persistency in pursuit of his object. Others may
rest after a labor, may have done one, two, or three distinct tasks, but
between Garrison's acts there is no hiatus, each follows each, and is
joined to all like links in a chain. He never closed his eyes, nor
folded his arms, but went forward from work to work with the
consecutiveness of a law of nature.

But amid labors so strenuous and uninterrupted the leader found
opportunity to woo and win "a fair ladye." She was a daughter of a
veteran Abolitionist, George Benson, of Brooklyn, Conn., who with his
sons George W. and Henry E. Benson, were among the stanchest of the
reformer's followers and supporters. The young wife, before her
marriage, was not less devoted to the cause than they. She was in
closest sympathy with her husband's anti-slavery interests and purposes.
Never had husband found wife better fitted to his needs, and the need