Letters of Lydia Maria Child, with a biographical introduction by John G. Whittier and an appendix by Wendell Phillips.

LETTERS. 91
ness. Finding persuasion useless, he kept her in the
garret three days on bread and water. It was of
no use, the child always had the salne answer. " She
is a crruel monster. It is the truth. I am not sorry
I said it, and I can't say I am sorry." The grandfather's will gave up to the firmness of her conscientious convictions. M. never apologized. That early
incident shows that she is of the stuff martyrs are
made of....
I suppose you have heard what a glorious time
AMattie had when she emancipated her slaves. They
danced and sang and sobbed, and would have kissed
her feet, had she permitted. Then they began to
think of her, and insisted upon continuing to send
their wages to her, because she was not strong enough
to work. When she refutsed, they pleaded hard to
send her half their earnings. She wrote to me about
it, and added, " I assure you, dear Mrs. Child, there
are very few people who know the real beauty of the
African character." I believe it.
TO THE SAMIE.
WAYLAND, 1857.
I have seldom bad such a day as the delightful one
passed with you and David Wasson. I have marked
it in my pilgrimage by a golden pillar, hung with
amaranth garlands. I said he was poet, philosopher,
and priest. During the evening that I subsequently
spent with him I found he was also full of fun. I
might have known it, indeed, by those eyes of his,
that look out so smiling upon the world. It is many
a day since I have met with such a real child of God
and Nature. HIe will not be popular, of course; for
"Souls are dangerous things to carry straight
Through all the spilt saltpetre of this world."