My visit to England is a memorable event in my life, from the fact of my having there received strong religious impressions.  The contemptuous manner in which the communion had been administered to colored people, in my native place; the church membership of Dr. Flint, and others like him; and the buying and selling of slaves, by professed ministers of the gospel, had given me a prejudice against the Episcopal church.  The whole service seemed to me a mockery and a sham.  But my home in Steventon was in the family of a clergyman, who was a true disciple of Jesus.  The beauty of his daily life inspired me with faith in the genuineness of Christian professions.  Grace entered my heart, and I knelt at the communion table, I trust, in true humility of soul.

I remained abroad ten months, which was much longer than I had anticipated.  During all that time, I never saw the slightest symptom of prejudice against color.  Indeed, I entirely forgot it, till the time came for us to return to America.

XXXVIII.  Renewed Invitations To Go South.

We had a tedious winter passage, and from the distance spectres seemed to rise up on the shores of the United States.  It is a sad feeling to be afraid of one’s native country.  We arrived in New York safely, and I hastened to Boston to look after my children.  I found Ellen well, and improving at her school; but Benny was not there to welcome me.  He had been left at a good place to learn a trade, and for several months every thing worked well.  He was liked by the master, and was a favorite with his fellow-apprentices; but one day they accidentally discovered a fact they had never before suspected—­that he was colored!  This at once transformed him into a different being.  Some of the apprentices were Americans, others American-born Irish; and it was offensive to their dignity to have a “nigger” among them, after they had been told that he was a “nigger.”  They began by treating him with silent scorn, and finding that he returned the same, they resorted to insults and abuse.  He was too spirited a boy to stand that, and he went off.  Being desirous to do something to support himself, and having no one to advise him, he shipped for a whaling voyage.  When I received these tidings I shed many tears, and bitterly reproached myself for having left him so long.  But I had done it for the best, and now all I could do was to pray to the heavenly Father to guide and protect him.

Not long after my return, I received the following letter from Miss Emily Flint, now Mrs. Dodge:—­