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

LETTERS. 15
knonwing good from evil, "but the moment we eat
thereof, we shall. surely die."
I believe it is more safe and useful to dwell upon
the necessity of keeping the heart pure, than of enlightening the understanding. An uneducated man
can nlore safely trust to his conscience than to his
understanting.
TO MIRS. ELLIS GRAYA LORING.
NEW YoRe;, Augu(st 15, IS35.
I am at Brooklyn, at the house of a very hospitable
Englishman, a friend of Mr. Thompson's. I have not
ventured into the city, nor does one of us dare to go to
church to-day, so great is the excitement here. You
can form no conception of it.'T is like the times
of the French Revolution, when no man dared trust
his neighbors. Private assassins from New Orleans
are lurling at the "corners of the streets, to stab
Arthur Tappan; and very large sums are offered for
any one who will convey Ir. Thompson into the
Slave States. I tremble for him, and love him in proportion Co my fears. He is almost a close prisoner
in his chamber, his friends deeming him in imminent
peril the moment it is ascertained where he is. We
hfave managed with some adroitness to get along in
safety so far; but I have faith that God will protect him, even to the end. Yet why do I make this
boast? MAy faith has at timnes been so weak that I
have started and trembled and wept., like a very
childl; and personal respect and affection for him
have so far gained the mastery over my trust in
Providence, that I have exclaimed in anguish of
heart, "Would to God, I could die for thee!" Your
husband could hardly be made to realize the terrible