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

LETTERS. 123
REPLY OF MRS. CHILD.
WVAYLAND [Mass.], December 17, 1859.
Prolonged absence from home has prevented my
answering your letter so soon as 1 intended. I have
no disposition to retort upon you the "' twofold damnation " to which you consign me. On the contrary,
I sincerely wish you well, both in this world and the
next. If the anathema proved a safety valve to your
own boiling spirit, it did some good to you, while it
fell harmless upon me. Fortunately for all of us, the
Heavenly Father rules his universe by laws, which
the passions or the prejudices of mortals have no
power to change.
As for John Brown, his reputation may be safely
trusted to the impartial pen of history; and his motives will be righteously judged by him who knoweth
the secrets of all hearts. Men, however great they
may be, are of small consequence in comparison with
principles; and the principle for which John Brown
died is the question at issue between us.
You refer me to the Bible, from which you quote
the favorite text of slave-holders: -
1" Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not
only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." — 1
Peter ii. 18.
Abolitionists also have favorite texts, to some of
which I would call your attention: —'" Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them.
-Heb. xiii. 3.
"E Hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth
Let mine outcasts dwell with thee. Be thou a covert to
them from the face of the spoiler." - Isa. xvi. 3, 4.
" Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which