Randolph County Journal

For the Randolph County Journal.

Letter from Rev. Daniel Worth, to his Nephew, Rev. Aaron Worth.

Asheboro, Randolph Co., N. C.
April 9th, 1860.

Very Dear Nephew:- I received your letter dated, Winchester, March 19, some days ago, and I now undertake to make a brief reply. Before receiving this you will doubtless have learned the result of my first trial.- My attorneys hoped to clear me, but far from it, I was found guilty. I was tried before one of the mildest Judges in the State. The statute provides for not less than one year's imprisonment, with pillory and whipping at the discretion of the Court. Most barbarous bloody law! The Judge was as favorable to me as the law would permit, and omitted the corporal punishment altogether. I was sentenced to a year's imprisonment, on which my attorneys appealed to the Supreme Court, though without any particular prospect of bettering the matter, but gaining a little time, in hopes something may turn to my advantage.

In two weeks I go back to Greensboro to stand second trial. If the prosecution persists, I see no earthly possibility but I must die, in prison; I have now lost I suppose at least sixty or seventy pounds of flesh, and I am weak and feeble. My leg too, is worse, and looks threatening. So, my dear brother in the ministry of Jesus, there is nothing to which I can look but the mercy of God, so I read His word, hang upon His promises, plead the merits of my dear Savior, and sometimes I have, I believe, precious visitations of His love to my soul. On the other hand I have had dark seasons when "the proud billows seemed almost to go over my soul." I have had awful wrestling, struggling, pleading, till the dark cloud of despair broke, and He that is "the way, the truth, and the light" again broke into my soul.

Some two months of the first of my confinement was in a cell the stench of which seemed as if it would suffocate me. Since then my condition has been better. The Sheriffs of both Counties have been kind to me, may God reward them for it. The Sheriff where I now am is as kind as a brother, and is much interested in my favor, may he find mercy at the hand of God, accordingly as he has showed mercy to me. My wife is a woman of mighty faith and prayer, and holds me up to God with all her power. O, what should I do without her! It is thought by several that when I get up to the next Court the Prosecutor will come to some terms of settlement. I can not tell, I must not build upon it, and then be disappointed by false hopes. If there be any hope, it will be developed at Greensboro. I do not believe I shall outlive the coming summer if confined in Jail. I understand that some persons in that County have represented me as coming South to interfere with the laws of Slavery. This is not true, I had no such purpose, and if there were not such a tempest of excitement I have no thought I should be found guilty.

I must now close. I need not say, pray for me, I know you do, also your dear wife. O, it is a comfort to know the many ten thousand hands and hearts lifted to God for me. O, how dear are these brethren and sisters to me, in this my trial hour. We may never meet at the prayer circle on earth, but blessed be God, I trust we shall meet in the "better land."

"There the prisoners rest together, and the voice of the oppressor is no more heard." Adieu, adieu. Though far sundered by distance now, we shall soon meet

"Where mountains rise, and oceans roll to sever us in vain."
From your affectionate brother in the Gospel, the prisoner of the Lord,
D. WORTH.

—Jay County Torch-Light please copy.