8.

DEAR FRIEND STILL:--I entreat you not to infer from my tardiness
or neglect, that I am forgetful of my dear friend in
Philadelphia. For some time past I have done injustice to many
of my friends, in not paying my debts in epistolary
correspondence. Some of my dearest friends have cause to censure
me. But you must pardon me. I have two letters of yours on hand,
unanswered. One of them I read to the Sewing Circle; and part of
the other. For them I most heartily thank you. You are far
kinder to me than I deserve. May God reward you.

I long to see you. My head and heart is full of the cause of the
slave. I fear I give the subject too much relative importance.
Is this possible? I preach, lecture, and write for the slave
continually. And yet I don't do enough. Still I fear I neglect
the great concerns of religion at home, in my own heart, in my
congregation, and in the community.

I wish we were located near to each other. We are far separated.
I am almost isolated. You are surrounded by many friends of the
cause. Still we are laboring on the same wall, though far apart.
Are we not near in spirit?

You see by the papers that we have been trying to do something
in our Green Mountain State. The campaign has fairly begun. We
will carry the battle to the gate.

I see our friend, Miss Watkins, is still pleading for the dumb.
Noble girl! I love her for her devotedness to a good cause. Oh,
that her voice could be heard by the millions! I hope that we
can have her again in Vermont.

Give my kind regards to our mutual friend, Miller McKim. Will I
not see him and you at the anniversary in New York?

Do you ever see Rev. Willson? Is he doing anything for the
cause? I wish I could peep into your house to-night, and see if
there are any "packages" on hand. God bless you in your labors
of love.

Yours, truly, for the slave,

N.R. JOHNSTON.

While it was not in the power of Mr. Johnston and his coadjutors, to
render any great amount of material aid to the Committee, as they had
not been largely blessed with this world's goods, nevertheless, the
sympathy shown was as highly valued, as if they had given thousands of
dollars. Not unfrequently has the image of this singularly faithful
minister entered the writer's mind as he once appeared when visiting the
Synod of his church in Philadelphi