Mrs. Sears was informed that even if the court adjudged Mary to be her slave, Friend Hopper would doubtless fail to produce her, and they would be compelled to go through another process to recover from him the penalty of the bond.  She had become exceedingly weary of the law, the trouble and expense of which had far exceeded her expectations.  She therefore instructed her lawyer to try to effect a compromise.  Friend Hopper, being consulted for this purpose, offered to pay two hundred and fifty dollars for Mary if the claimant would pay the costs.  She accepted the terms, well pleased to escape from further litigation.

When the court met in the afternoon, they were informed that the matter was settled; and the jury with consent of parties, rendered a verdict that Mary was free.  By her own earnings, and donations from sympathizing friends, she gradually repaid Isaac W. Morris three hundred dollars toward the sum he had advanced for the expenses of her trial.

In his efforts to protect the rights and redress the wrongs of colored people, Friend Hopper had a zealous and faithful ally in Thomas Harrison, also a member of the Society of Friends.  When recounting the adventures they had together, he used to say, “That name excites pleasant emotions whenever it occurs to me.  I shall always reverence his memory.  He was my precursor in Philadelphia, as the friend of the slave, and my coadjutor in scores of cases for their relief.  His soul was always alive to the sufferings of his fellow creatures, and dipped into sympathy with the oppressed; not that idle sympathy that can be satisfied with lamenting their condition, and make no exertions for their relief; but sympathy, like the apostle’s faith, manifesting itself in works, and extending its influence to all within its reach.”

Thomas Harrison was a lively, bustling man, with a roguish twinkle in his eye, and a humorous style of talking.  Some Friends, of more quiet temperaments than himself, thought he had more activity than was consistent with dignity.  They reminded him that Mary sat still at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was “troubled about many things.”

“All that is very well,” replied Thomas; “but Mary would have had a late breakfast, after all, if it had not been for Martha.”

From among various anecdotes in which Friend Harrison’s name occurs, I select the following: 

JAMES LAWLER.

James was a slave to Mr. McCalmont of Delaware.  In 1805, when he was about thirty years old, he escaped to New Jersey and let himself out to a farmer.  After he had been there a few months, several runaway slaves in his neighborhood were arrested and carried back to the South.  This alarmed him, and he became very anxious that some person should advance a sum of money sufficient to redeem him from bondage, which he would bind himself to repay by labor.  Finding that his employer abhorred slavery, and was very friendly to colored people, he ventured to open his heart to him; and Isaac T. Hopper was consulted on the subject.