discomfited, in their hearts delivering him to Satan that he
might learn not to blaspheme. But Satan would have none of him,
we are sure.

Another instance of the same devotion to the cause of freedom
belongs to rather later days when they had removed to
Springfield, Massachusetts. There they lived with their wonted
simplicity, but it had been the fond design of mother and
daughter to furnish the parlour in due course. The moment had
arrived when the domestic finances seemed to allow of this modest
luxury, but already John Brown had designs of another removal to
North Elba, New York, where an estate was being occupied by
escaped slaves under the patronage of Gerrit Smith, a wealthy
Abolitionist. At this juncture he calls his family together and
asks for their mind as to whether they should now furnish the
parlour with their savings or retain them for the help of these
black settlers who require clothes and other equipment as they
start their new life of independence. The blood of the Browns
flows as one stream, and the ready response of all is 'Save the
money, father.'

His favourite books were well known by the children--JOSEPHUS,
Plutarch's LIVES, NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS, LIFE OF OLIVER
CROMWELL, Baxter's SAINTS' REST, Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, and
Henry ON MEEKNESS. What a significant medley of peace and war--
the wolf and the lamb--Napoleon and Henry on Meekness side by
side! But dearest ever was the Book which had been the oracle in
his father's house--itself the Book of battles and yet the gospel
of peace, the sacred charter of man's liberties and yet the holy
statute book for man's government--the Bible. Swift paternal