“It has made him wiser,” replied Isaac; “but I think it has not made him worse.  I have scruples about ordering him to be punished; for he professes to be conscientious about submitting to serve as a slave.  I have myself suffered because I could not conscientiously comply with military requisitions.  The Society of Friends have suffered much in England on account of ecclesiastical demands.  I have thus some cause to know how hateful are persecutors, in the sight of God and of men.  I cannot therefore be active in persecuting James, or any other man, on account of conscientious scruples.”

“It is your duty to have him punished,” rejoined the blacksmith.

“I am the best judge of that,” answered Friend Hopper; “and I do not feel justified in compelling him to submit to slavery.”

The blacksmith was greatly exasperated, and went off, saying, “I hope to mercy your daughter will marry a negro.”

At the expiration of the term of imprisonment allowed by law, James still refused to return to service, and he was committed for another thirty days.  His master called to see him again, and told him if he would return home, and behave well, he should have a new suit of clothes and a Methodist hat.  “I don’t want your new clothes, nor your Methodist hat,” replied James.  “I tell you I never will serve you nor any other man as a slave.  I had rather end my days in jail.”

His master finding him so intractable, gave up the case as hopeless.  When his second term of imprisonment expired, he was discharged, and no one attempted to molest him.  He earned a comfortable living, and looked happy and respectable; but his personal appearance was not improved by leaving his beard unshaved.  One day, when Friend Hopper met him in the street, he said, “Jim, why dost thou wear that long beard?  It looks very ugly.”

“I suppose it does,” he replied, “but I wear it as a memorial of the Lord’s goodness in setting me free; for it was Him that done it.”

ROMAINE.

A Frenchman by the name of Anthony Salignac removed from St. Domingo to New-Jersey, and brought with him several slaves; among whom was Romaine.  After remaining in New-Jersey several years, he concluded in 1802, to send Romaine and his wife and child back to the West Indies.  Finding him extremely reluctant to go, he put them in prison some days previous, lest they should make an attempt to escape.  From prison they were put into a carriage to be conveyed to Newcastle, under the custody of a Frenchman and a constable.  They started from Trenton late in the evening, and arrived in Philadelphia about four o’clock in the morning.  People at the inn where they stopped remarked that Romaine and his wife appeared deeply dejected.  When food was offered they refused to eat.  His wife made some excuse to go out, and though sought for immediately after, she was not to be found.  Romaine was ordered to get into the