42 
KANSAS. 
to a person in the country, is explanation sufficient of its whole 
appearance; for the sun here soon curls the boards, every one 
shrinking from every other, leaving large cracks between. For a 
desk to support the gilded, morocco-covered Bible, sent to the 
Plymouth church, a rough box, turned endwise, and standing near 
one end of the hall, was used. The singers, with seraphine, were 
seated upon one side of the preacher, while upon the other side, 
also fronting the desk, were other seats — rough boards, used 
until the settees are finished. All this seemed rough and uncouth, 
and at the first moment we felt that two thousand miles lay be¬ 
tween us and the pleasant sanctuaries of our fathers, where they 
tread the aisles on soft carpets, listen to the word read from its 
resting-place of richest velvet, and to the pealing organ’s deep, 
rich tones. But when we looked upon the pleasant faces around 
us, so familiar all in look, in manner, in attire, and the services 
commenced with the singing of hymns learned long ago, and we 
heard, in the persuasive, winning tones of the preacher, the same 
heavenly truths which will render one’s life here as holy as else¬ 
where, let us so will it, we felt that New England was in our 
midst. We realized more fully the truth, which has been pervading 
our thoughts for many days, that “ a man’s life consisteth not in 
the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Happiness 
does not consist in the furnishings of the upholsterer. It may be 
as pure and unalloyed in “gypsy tent as in palace hall.” Most of 
us have come to this far-away land, with a mission in our hearts, a 
mission to the dark-browed race, and hoping here to stay the surg¬ 
ing tide of slavery, to place that barrier which utters, in unmis¬ 
takable language, “ Thus far shalt thou go, and no further.” This 
unlocks our hearts to each other, and at once we recognize a friend 
actuated by like sympathies and hopes. 
At the Sabbath school many children were gathered, who en¬ 
tered with zest into the exercises, while there were learners older 
in years, young men, buoyant in the active life opening before 
them, and some with whom gray hairs were honorable. 
