[Lydia] Maria [Child] ALS to Anna Loring, December 8, 1845

rhythm. Well, I thank God for what he has been to
me. I shall never look upon his like again -
the strongest, the gentlest, the freshest of human beings.
One of the last things he said was, “Give my love to
my sweet little friend, Anna Loring”. Don’t you
like the March? There is a dignified simplicity about
it, which pleases me extremely.

I have not seen Margaret Fuller for the
last ten days. I thought she seemed refreshed by her
Boston visit. She has got quite established in a
literary set here. As for me, I grow more and more
of a hermit. I find books and music the safest as well
as the pleasantest companions; and they take deeper and
deeper hold of my life.

I am sorry you have an idea that I did not like
the Holy Family you were so kind as to send me.
I merely said to Margaret that I should not have it
framed, because I already had three holy families
in my room, and I did not like this quite as much
as I did either of them. But still I did think it had
a great deal of beauty, particularly the group of the
angel and the boy. You would not think I slighted
your little love tokens, if you could see how carefully
I treasure up the little holder you hurried yourself
to finish for me, when I was going away to Northampton;
and the little transparency of the girl trying on
grandmother’s spectacles, which you gave me when I
lived in Cottage Place. I have laid away in my
choicest corner your father’s first present to me -