University of Virginia Library

33. XXXIII.
ELIZA'S MISSION.

Tasso's elegant signature was soon affixed, under oath
and in the presence of witnesses, to the paper Eliza
had drawn up. Next, Melissa's affidavit was secured.
Then, how to proceed, with these instruments, to effect
Abel's liberation, became the important question. For
now Eliza could not rest, day or night, until the requisite
steps had been taken to restore him to honor, and
freedom, and happiness.

She was dismayed when told that the sentence must
be set aside by due process of law; and that, to make
the necessary appeal, and await the slow course of justice,
would require patience and time, — perhaps months,
— when every moment was precious. “Besides,” she
was assured, “any confession Faustina might have
made, or might still make, would probably be insufficient
to exculpate her husband. They were one, by
marriage; for her actions he was in a certain sense accountable;
he had shared the fruit of her crime; and
her evidence, even if she chose to give it, could hardly
be received in court, she being his wife; and there were
many other difficulties to be overcome. Individuals

might be easily convinced of Abel's inocence; but the
law was not an individual. The law had no conscience;
it was without sympathy or understanding; it was a
machine.”

Still she was not disheartened, she would not rely
upon the law to right the wrong the law had done. She
would rely upon the human heart, and upon the justice
of her cause; and nothing should divert her from her
purpose, or induce her to waste an hour in idle delay, till
Abel was free.

In addition to the affidavits of Tasso and Melissa, she
procured those of John and Prudence Apjohn, in which
they, as chief witnesses against Abel, now declared their
conviction of his innocence, for reasons assigned. She
also visited the attorneys who had prosecuted him, the
judge who had sentenced him, and each individual
of the twelve who had found him guilty. She carried
with her a well-worded petition which she had
prepared; and such was her eloquence, such her magnetic
and persuasive earnestness, that lawyers, judge,
and jury, all signed it. To these names she found
no difficulty in adding the signatures of a hundred
of Abel's townsmen, including three ministers, a congressman,
two ex-members of the State legislature,
together with several selectmen, deacons, and other
prominent citizens.

Mere than a week was consumed in these preliminary
labors, notwithstanding Eliza's utmost endeavors to
despatch them in a day or two. From dawn to midnight

she was incessantly employed, with a vigor and
vigilance and hope that never flagged. At length all
was ready. And, armed with her affidavits, her petition,
and a formidable legal document which Abel's
counsel had furnished, she set out, one memorable
morning, on a journey.

The petition was to the governor of the State. Her
mission was to him. On the evening of the same day
she reached the capital of the State; and, without stopping
even to change her attire, inquired her way hurriedly
through the strange streets till she came to the
governor's house.

He was at home. How her heart throbbed on being
told this by the servant at the door, and being invited
in! And so, tremblingly, yet with a brave and resolute
heart, she entered the warmly-lighted hall of the house
in which she felt that the question of Abel's destiny was
to be finally decided.