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

LETTERS. 143
TO SAMUEL IE. SEWALL.
WAYLAND, September 20, 1860.
I expect to be in Boston in a few days, and should
like to look at Rantoul's speech, if you have the volume at your office..
It seems as if slavery would be the death of me.
If all I suffer on the subject counts as vicarious atoneinent for the slave-holders, they are in a hopeful way.
Mly indignation rises higher than it used to in my
younger days. According to the general rule, I ought
to grow calmer, but I do not. If the monster had
one head, assuredly I should be a Charlotte Corday.
TO MISS LUCY OSGOOD.
WAYLAND, 1860.
You are almost constantly present with me, in
these days of this declining year, and to-morrow I
am sure my first waking thought will be of you and
the dear one who a year ago passed behind the veil;
that veil so dark and heavy, with merely a line of
golden light around its edges, intimating the inner,
invisible glory. More and more strongly do I feel, as
I grow older, that this unsatisfactory existence is the
mere threshold of a palace of glories; but reason is
importunate with its questions of how and where. I
strive to attain to an habitual state of child-like trust,
to feel always, as I do sometimes, like a little one
that places its hand within its father's, and is satisfied to be led, it knows not whither.
iMr. - is a great, good man, and when he lets
doctrines alone his preaching always edifies and
strengthens me. But he has no logic in his comnposition; not a jot; and sometimes I wishl I had no!,t.