Mrs. Mott was now sixty-three years of age.  For forty years she had been seen and loved by thousands.  Strangers would stop her on the street and say, “God bless you, Lucretia Mott!” Once, when a slave was being tried for running away, Mrs. Mott sat near him in the court, her son-in-law, Mr. Edward Hopper, defending his case.  The opposing counsel asked that her chair might be moved, as her face would influence the jury against him!  Benjamin H. Brewster, afterwards United States Attorney-General, also counsel for the Southern master, said:  “I have heard a great deal of your mother-in-law, Hopper; but I never saw her before to-day.  She is an angel.”  Years after, when Mr. Brewster was asked how he dared to change his political opinions, he replied, “Do you think there is anything I dare not do, after facing Lucretia Mott in that court-room?”

It seemed best at this time, in 1856, as Mrs. Mott was much worn with care, to sell the large house in town and move eight miles into the country, to a quaint, roomy house which they called Roadside.  Before they went, however, at the last family gathering a long poem was read, ending with:—­

“Who constantly will ring the bell,
And ask if they will please to tell
Where Mrs. Mott has gone to dwell? 

                                        The beggars.

“And who persistently will say,
’We cannot, cannot go away;
Here in the entry let us stay?’

                                        Colored beggars.

“Who never, never, nevermore
Will see the ‘lions’ at the door
That they’ve so often seen before? 

                                        The neighbors.

“And who will miss, for months at least,
That place of rest for man and beast,
from North, and South, and West, and East? 

          
                              Everybody.”

Much of the shrubbery was cut down at Roadside, that Mrs. Mott might have the full sunlight.  So cheery a nature must have sunshine.  Here life went on quietly and happy.  Many papers and books were on her table, and she read carefully and widely.  She loved especially Milton and Cowper.  Arnold’s Light of Asia was a great favorite in later years.  The papers were sent to hospitals and infirmaries, that no good reading might be lost.  She liked to read aloud; and if others were busy, she would copy extracts to read to them when they were at leisure.  Who can measure the power of an educated, intellectual mother in a home?

The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Mott was celebrated in 1861, and a joyous season it was.  James, the prosperous merchant, was proud of his gifted wife, and aided her in every way possible; while Lucretia loved and honored the true-hearted husband.  Though Mrs. Mott was now seventy, she did not cease her benevolent work.  Her carriage was always full of fruits, vegetables, and gifts for the poor.  In buying goods she traded usually with the small stores, where things were dearer, but she knew that for many of the proprietors it was a struggle to make ends meet.  A woman so considerate of others would of course be loved.