Hiram Wilson to Frederick Douglass, December 8, 1857

Letter from Hiram Wilson.

St. Catharines C.W.

Dec. 8th, 1857.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS, ESQ.—DEAR SIR.—I affords me sincere pleasure to state that the sable pilgrims of liberty recently from the South are in a fair way of maintaining themselves in this Northern Canaan.

Some 40 or more have came to me within the last six weeks, mostly from Md., including two numerous families; one of seven, the other of eight persons. Their escapes was truly wonderful but God was their deliverer, and there is nothing too hard for Him to perform in favor of human freedom and elevation.

It would seem enough to move and melt an adamantine heart, to think of a poor but honest liberty-loving man, in the midst of the noontide of the nineteenth century and in what is called a christian land, with his six children badly afflicted with whooping cough, all on foo, male and female pressing their way thought the dismal darkness of midnight, chilled with cold and famished with hunger, and one of the flock, of tender years, sick and apparently nigh unto-death, the great hearted father struggled meanwhile between hope and fear awaiting with awful solicitude the dread moment when he would be compelled in haste, to dig a hole in the earth and bury his offspring, without daring to halt long enough to drop the tear of sorrow upon the thin covering of the little slumberer. Such were his liabilities, but by the mercy of Heaven it was spared to reach Canada. Or to think of the noble minded A. C. with his beloved wife and six children walking up by night out of the bloody state of Maryland, till one of the youngest of the little ones becomes exhausted and falls by the way, to excite the pity and call forth the Herculian energy of the care worn and already overburdened father, in the midst of his almost superhuman struggle; the tender mother at the same time though faint and weary with trembling step and aching anxiety and solicitude supporting a little infant at her breast. The latter family having run successfully the race of Freedom reached our house at midnight. They were immediately welcomed with a charming good relish we warmed up and administered to their comfort. We did not dream that there could be any sin in doing so. If there is I choose for one to remain a sinner as long as I live. In procurring for these families suitable houses to dwell in

and making myself responsible for first the months rent; getting them each a cooking stove and supplying them with fuel, clothing, bedding, provisions, &c. to begin with, and in meeting the temporary necessities of others who have rushed in upon us, as we long to have them do our expenditures and liabilities in their behalf are much greater than we can sustain without help.

The financial pressure is seriously felt in this quarter as well as in the United States which makes it more difficult for these new-comers to find employment. Still they are unwearied in their exertions, native and industrious in their habits and may be regarded as a valuable accession to the sable hosts of the North. May God bless and prosper them.

Yours for freedom,

HIRAM WILSON.