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

264 APPENDIX.
How early her mind ripened and in what girlhood it
opened to the most advanced thought of her times! And
the first draught of fame, usually so intoxicating, never disturbed her clear judgment or tempted her to any undue
compromise.
There were few women authors when, in 1821-22, she
published her first novels. The success of these was so
brilliant, and a woman's success then so rare, that the Boston
Athenceumn, - still the most fashionable and aristocratic, and
then the only, public library - paid her the almost unique
compliment of sending her a free ticket of admission.
When, in 1833, she published her " Appeal in behalf of that
Class of Americans called Africans," she of course sent that
library a copy. Whether they ever placed the book on their
shelves I do not know, but at any rate the directors immediately withdrew her ticket of admission. And a prominent lawyer, afterwards a notorious attorney-general of
MIassachusetts, is said to have used tongs to fling the obnoxious volume out of his window.
This is a sad record; but to recall it is only fair tribute
to the young author, who never faltered; only gave to the
hated and struggling cause a more public adhesion and a
more liberal support. Hardly ever was there a costlier sacrifice. Few of us can appreciate it to-day. Narrow means
just changing to ease; after a weary struggle, fame and social position in her grasp; every door opening before her-;
the sweetness of having her genius recognized.
No one had supposed that independence of opinion on
a moral question would wreck all this. It was a thunderbolt from a summer sky. But confronted suddenly with
the alternative, gagged life or total wreck, - she never hesitated.
One blow, and the spreading tree is dead. At the call of
duty the young woman struck it without repining, and saw
the whole scene change at once. Obloquy and hard work
ill-paid; almost every door shut against her, the name she
had made a talisman turned to a reproach, and life hence