David L[ee] Child and L[ydia] M[aria] Child ALS to [Ellis Gray Loring] and Louisa [Loring], December 9, 1855

so short a time. When I see your pleasant
countenances, I want to come again; but when
I get home, I am impressed with the conviction
that it is my duty, under present circumstan-
ces, to stay at home.

The New York Evangelist is down upon me
with the sneering venom of an Inquisitor, but
suppressed a little in its tone, because it has not
the power of an inquisitor. How my bones would
broil, if it had! Jortin says "the Athanasian
Creed consists of two portions; curses and doc-
trines. The curses are intelligible enough; but
the doctrines are incomprehensible.

Let the orthodox thunder growl! I expected
it. It must be a narrow book indeed which
they did not anathematize! Now for a
Catholic clap, and flash of chain-lightning!
They also will adopt the sneering tone, and
talk of shallowness - as well as could be expect-
ed from a woman - [?] They find it difficult
to dispose of the facts, so they try the easier task
of disposing of me. For my own part, I am