Consequences of Denying a Traveler Overnight Lodging

As she drew near the center of the Island, she commenced, one evening at nightfall, to solicit the favor of a night's lodging. She had repeated her request a great many, it seemed to her some twenty times, and as many times she received a negative answer. She walked on, the stars and the tiny horns of the new moon shed but a dim light on her lonely way, when she was familiarly accosted by two Indians, who took her for an acquaintance. She told them they were mistaken in the person; she was a stranger there, and asked them the direction to a tavern. They informed her it was yet a long way-some two miles or so; and inquired if she were alone. Not wishing for their protection, or knowing what might be the character of their kindness, she answered, 'No, not exactly,' and passed on. At the end of a weary way, she came to the tavern,-or rather, to a large building, which was occupied as a court-house, tavern, and jail,-and on asking for a night's lodging, was informed she could stay, if she would consent to be locked in. This to her mind was an insuperable objection. To have a key turned on her was a thing not to be thought of, at least not to be endured, and she again took up her line of march, preferring to walk beneath the open sky, to being locked up by a stranger in such a place. She had not walked far, before she heard the voice of a woman under an open shed;

As she approached the center of the Island one evening, she began asking for a place to stay for the night. She asked many times, perhaps twenty by her own count, and was turned away each time. She walked on alone, with only the dim light of the stars and the tiny horns of the new moon. Then two Indians greeted her familiarly, mistaking her for someone they knew. She told them they had the wrong person. She was a stranger there, and she asked them for directions to a tavern. They told her it was still a long way off, about two miles or so. They also asked if she was alone. She did not want their protection, and she did not know what their kindness might mean. So she answered, 'No, not exactly,' and went on. After a weary walk, she came to the tavern. It was a large building used as a courthouse, tavern, and jail. She asked for a night's lodging and was told she could stay if she agreed to be locked in. For her, that was out of the question. She could not bear the thought of having someone turn a key on her. So she set out again, preferring to walk under the open sky rather than be locked up by a stranger in such a place. She had not gone far when she heard a woman's voice under an open shed.

she ventured to accost her, and inquired if she knew where she could get in for the night. The woman answered, that she did not, unless she went home with them; and turning to her 'good man,' asked him if the stranger could not share their home for the night, to which he cheerfully assented. Sojourner thought it evident he had been taking a drop too much, but as he was civil and good-natured, and she did not feel inclined to spend the night alone in the open air, she felt driven to the necessity of accepting their hospitality, whatever it might prove to be. The woman soon informed her that there was a ball in the place, at which they would like to drop in a while, before they went to their home.

She ventured to approach the woman and asked if she knew where she could stay for the night. The woman said she did not, unless Sojourner went home with them. Turning to her 'husband,' she asked if the stranger could stay with them for the night. He cheerfully agreed. Sojourner thought it was clear that he had drunk a little too much. But he was polite and good-natured, and she did not want to spend the night alone in the open air. So she felt she had to accept their hospitality, whatever it might turn out to be. The woman soon told her that there was a ball in town. They wanted to stop in for a while before going home.

Balls being no part of Sojourner's mission, she was not desirous of attending; but her hostess could be satisfied with nothing short of a taste of it, and she was forced to go with her, or relinquish their company at once, in which move there might be more exposure than in accompanying her. She went, and soon found herself surrounded by an assemblage of people, collected from the very dregs of society, too ignorant and degraded to understand, much less entertain, a high or bright idea,-in a dirty hovel, destitute of every comfort, and where the fumes of whiskey were abundant and powerful.

Balls were no part of Sojourner's mission, so she did not want to attend. But her hostess would not be satisfied without experiencing one. Sojourner had to go with her or leave their company at once. Leaving might expose her to more danger than going along. She went and soon found herself surrounded by people drawn from the very dregs of society. They were too ignorant and degraded to understand a lofty or bright idea, much less entertain one. They had gathered in a dirty hovel with no comforts, where the fumes of whiskey were strong and plentiful.

Sojourner's guide there was too much charmed with the combined entertainments of the place to be able to tear herself away, till she found her faculties for enjoyment failing her, from a too free use of liquor; and she betook herself to bed till she could recover them. Sojourner, seated in a corner, had time for many reflections, and refrained from lecturing them, in obedience to the recommendation, 'Cast not your pearls,' &c. When the night was far spent, the husband of the sleeping woman aroused the sleeper, and reminded her that she was not very polite to the woman she had invited to sleep at her house, and of the propriety of returning home. They once more emerged into the pure air, which to our friend Sojourner, after so long breathing the noisome air of the ball-room, was most refreshing and grateful. Just as day dawned, they reached the place they called their home. Sojourner now saw that she had lost nothing in the shape of rest by remaining so long at the ball, as their miserable cabin afforded but one bunk or pallet for sleeping; and had there been many such, she would have preferred sitting up all night to occupying one like it. They very politely offered her the bed, if she would use it; but civilly declining, she waited for morning with an eagerness of desire she never felt before on the subject, and was never more happy than when the eye of day shed its golden light once more over the earth. She was once more free, and while daylight should last, independent, and needed no invitation to pursue her journey. Let these facts teach us, that every pedestrian in the world is not a vagabond, and that it is a dangerous thing to compel any one to receive that hospitality from the vicious and abandoned which they should have received from us,-as thousands can testify, who have thus been caught in the snares of the wicked.

Sojourner's guide was so delighted by all the entertainment that she could not tear herself away. At last, she found she could no longer enjoy it because she had drunk too much liquor. So she went to bed until she could enjoy herself again. Sitting in a corner, Sojourner had time for many reflections. She did not lecture the people there, following the advice, 'Do not cast your pearls,' and so on. Late that night, the sleeping woman's husband woke her. He reminded her that she had not been very polite to the woman she had invited to sleep at their house. He also reminded her that it was time to go home. Once again, they stepped out into the pure air. After breathing the foul air of the ballroom for so long, our friend Sojourner found it wonderfully refreshing. Just as day dawned, they reached the place they called home. Sojourner saw that she had lost no rest by staying so long at the ball. Their miserable cabin had only one bunk or sleeping pallet. Even if there had been many, she would have preferred sitting up all night to sleeping on one like it. They politely offered her the bed if she wanted to use it, but she politely declined. She waited for morning more eagerly than she ever had before. She had never been happier than when daylight once again shed its golden light over the earth. She was free once more. As long as daylight lasted, she was independent and needed no invitation to continue her journey. Let these facts teach us that not everyone who travels on foot is a vagabond. It is dangerous to force anyone to accept hospitality from the vicious and abandoned that we should have offered ourselves. Thousands who have been caught in the snares of the wicked can testify to this.

The fourth of July, Isabella arrived at Huntingdon; from thence she went to Cold Springs, where she found the people making preparations for a mass temperance-meeting. With her usual alacrity, she entered into their labors, getting up dishes a la New York, greatly to the satisfaction of those she assisted. After remaining at Cold Springs some three weeks, she returned to Huntingdon, where she took boat for Connecticut. Landing at Bridgeport, she again resumed her travels towards the north-east, lecturing some, and working some, to get wherewith to pay tribute to Caesar, as she called it; and in this manner she presently came to the city of New Haven, where she found many meetings, which she attended-at some of which, she was allowed to express her views freely, and without reservation. She also called meetings expressly to give herself an opportunity to be heard; and found in the city many true friends of Jesus, as she judged, with whom she held communion of spirit, having no preference for one sect more than another, but being well satisfied with all who gave her evidence of having known or loved the Saviour.

On the Fourth of July, Isabella arrived at Huntingdon. From there she went to Cold Springs, where people were preparing for a large temperance meeting. With her usual eagerness, she joined in the work. She prepared dishes in the New York style, greatly pleasing those she helped. After about three weeks in Cold Springs, she returned to Huntingdon and took a boat to Connecticut. Landing at Bridgeport, she resumed her travels northeast. She gave some lectures and did some work to earn money to “pay tribute to Caesar,” as she called it. In this way, she soon reached the city of New Haven. There she found many meetings to attend. At some of them, she was allowed to express her views freely and without holding back. She also called meetings specifically to give herself a chance to be heard. In the city, she found many people she judged to be true friends of Jesus. She shared a spiritual bond with them and favored no one denomination over another. She was satisfied with all who showed her that they knew or loved the Saviour.

After thus delivering her testimony in this pleasant city, feeling she had not as yet found an abiding place, she went from thence to Bristol, at the request of a zealous sister, who desired her to go to the latter place, and hold a religious conversation with some friends of hers there. She went as requested, found the people kindly and religiously disposed, and through them she became acquainted with several very interesting persons.

After sharing her testimony in this pleasant city, she felt she still had not found a place to stay. So she went to Bristol at the request of a devoted sister. The sister wanted her to have a religious conversation with some friends there. She went as requested and found the people kind and religiously minded. Through them, she met several very interesting people.

A spiritually-minded brother in Bristol, becoming interested in her new views and original opinions, requested as a favor that she would go to Hartford, to see and converse with friends of his there. Standing ready to perform any service in the Lord, she went to Hartford as desired, bearing in her hand the following note from this brother:-

A spiritually minded brother in Bristol became interested in her new views and original opinions. He asked her as a favor to go to Hartford to meet and talk with his friends there. Ready to do any service for the Lord, she went to Hartford as he had asked. She carried the following note from him:

'SISTER,-I send you this living messenger, as I believe her to be one that God loves. Ethiopia is stretching forth her hands unto God. You can see by this sister, that God does by his Spirit alone teach his own children things to come. Please receive her, and she will tell you some new things. Let her tell her story without interrupting her, and give close attention, and you will see she has got the lever of truth, that God helps her to pry where but few can. She cannot read or write, but the law is in her heart.

'SISTER, I am sending you this living messenger because I believe God loves her. Ethiopia is reaching out her hands to God. This sister shows that God teaches his own children about things to come through his Spirit alone. Please welcome her, and she will tell you some new things. Let her tell her story without interrupting her. Listen closely, and you will see that she has the lever of truth. God helps her use it to pry where few others can. She cannot read or write, but the law is in her heart.