Forinstance-agentlemanwhereshelivedwouldgiveheradollartohireapoormantoclearthenew-fallensnowfromthestepsandside-walks。Shewouldariseearly，andperformthelaborherself，puttingthemoneyintoherownpocket。Apoormanwouldcomealong，sayingsheoughttohavelethimhavethejob;hewaspoor，andneededthepayforhisfamily。Shewouldhardenherheartagainsthim，andanswer-’Iampoortoo，andIneeditformine。’But，inherretrospection，shethoughtofallthemiseryshemighthavebeenaddingto，inherselfishgrasping，andittroubledherconsciencesorely;andthisinsensibilitytotheclaimsofhumanbrotherhood，andthewantsofthedestituteandwretchedpoor，shenowsaw，assheneverhaddonebefore，tobeunfeeling，selfishandwicked。ThesereflectionsandconvictionsgaverisetoasuddenrevulsionoffeelingintheheartofIsabella，andshebegantolookuponmoneyandpropertywithgreatindifference，ifnotcontempt-beingatthattimeunable，probably，todiscernanydifferencebetweenamiserlygraspingatandhoardingofmoneyandmeans，andatrueuseofthegoodthingsofthislifeforone’sowncomfort，andthereliefofsuchasshemightbeenabledtobefriendandassist。Onethingshewassureof-thattheprecepts，’Dountoothersasyewouldthatothersshoulddountoyou，’’Loveyourneighborasyourself，’andsoforth，weremaximsthathadbeenbutlittlethoughtofbyherself，orpractisedbythoseabouther。
Hernextdecisionwas，thatshemustleavethecity;itwasnoplaceforher;yea，shefeltcalledinspirittoleaveit，andtotraveleastandlecture。Shehadneverbeenfurthereastthanthecity，neitherhadsheanyfriendsthereofwhomshehadparticularreasontoexpectanything;yettoheritwasplainthathermissionlayintheeast，andthatshewouldfindfriendsthere。Shedeterminedonleaving;butthesedeterminationsandconvictionsshekeptcloselockedinherownbreast，knowingthatifherchildrenandfriendswereawareofit，theywouldmakesuchanadoaboutitaswouldrenderitveryunpleasant，ifnotdistressingtoallparties。Havingmadewhatpreparationsforleavingshedeemednecessary，-whichwas，toputupafewarticlesofclothinginapillow-case，allelsebeingdeemedanunnecessaryincumbrance，-aboutanhourbeforesheleft，sheinformedMrs。Whiting，thewomanofthehousewhereshewasstopping，thathernamewasnolongerIsabella，butSOJOURNER;andthatshewasgoingeast。Andtoherinquiry，’Whatareyougoingeastfor？’heranswerwas，’TheSpiritcallsmethere，andImustgo。’
Sheleftthecityonthemorningofthe1stofJune，1843，crossingovertoBrooklyn，L。I。;andtakingtherisingsunforheronlycompassandguide，she’rememberedLot’swife，’andhopingtoavoidherfate，sheresolvednottolookbacktillshefeltsurethewickedcityfromwhichshewasfleeingwaslefttoofarbehindtobevisibleinthedistance;andwhenshefirstventuredtolookback，shecouldjustdiscernthebluecloudofsmokethathungoverit，andshethankedtheLordthatshewasthusfarremovedfromwhatseemedtoherasecondSodom。
Shewasnowfairlystartedonherpilgrimage;herbundleinonehand，andalittlebasketofprovisionsintheother，andtwoYorkshillingsinherpurse-herheartstronginthefaiththathertrueworklaybeforeher，andthattheLordwasherdirector;andshedoubtednothewouldprovideforandprotecther，andthatitwouldbeverycensurableinhertoburdenherselfwithanythingmorethanamoderatesupplyforherthenpresentneeds。Hermissionwasnotmerelytotraveleast，butto’lecture，’asshedesignatedit;’testifyingofthehopethatwasinher’-exhortingthepeopletoembraceJesus，andrefrainfromsin，thenatureandoriginofwhichsheexplainedtotheminaccordancewithherownmostcuriousandoriginalviews。Throughherlife，andallitschequeredchanges，shehaseverclungfasttoherfirstpermanentimpressionsonreligioussubjects。
Wherevernightovertookher，thereshesoughtforlodgings-free，ifshemight-ifnot，shepaid;atatavern，ifshechancedtobeatone-ifnot，ataprivatedwelling;withtherich，iftheywouldreceiveher-ifnot，withthepoor。